Chapter 370: Cangyun Sect

Several days later, Mo Hua boarded a Dao Ting Si carriage and set off for Qingshan City's Cangyun Sect.

Since it was only for the assessment, the accompanying party was small: just a few Dao Ting Si officers and his father, Seeing Mo Shan.

The carriage was Dao Ting Si's official one, pulled by spirit beasts raised by cultivators—common bloodlines, not particularly valuable.

The vehicle flew the Dao Ting Si banner and traveled the main road; few dared to provoke it.

This was Mo Hua's first journey far from home.

He sat inside the carriage, pulled back the curtain, and stuck out his small head, gazing at the scenery along the way.

Whenever he saw something new, unfamiliar, or a cultivator with strange, bizarre appearance, he turned to ask his father, Seeing Mo Shan:

"Father, what mountain is that?"

"Why are there no fish in this river?"

"Why does that cultivator carry a giant sword?"

"We've been spotted!"

This year's designated location was Elder Li.

I have a method to probe with spiritual sense.

Why was I so cold toward that father and son?

"That's Qingping Mountain; the river water is poisonous, so no fish. The cultivator carries a sword because he's hired for hire. The roadside vendors sell mountain hawthorns—barely enough to fill your stomach…"

"My apologies for the intrusion, please forgive me. Please register your details there."

Though his bearing was extraordinary, he did not resemble an array master.

If so, this child's background cannot be underestimated.

Previously, I introduced myself to you:

The registration area had no complex soundproofing arrays; we could not hear what Mo Hua and the others were saying, nor did we know what had transpired…

The disciple's demeanor grew even more respectful; he bowed and said, "Please," then led Mo Hua and the others to a gracefully decorated hall on the right.

"This map is a simplified sketch of Lishan, marking its buildings and terrain—where you may go, where you may not, all indicated."

I turned to the sect master and asked, "Are you this child's father?"

"I am eighteen!"

"How old is he?"

The Tian Shu Pavilion selects assessment locations; in each province, array masters with qualifying ranks gather together for evaluation.

A young Dao Ting Si officer named He Hongyuan said: "We are here to take the Array Passage examination in Xiancheng."

His spiritual sense is so weak, he indeed lacks the foundation to study array arts—and likely, he has never passed the rank assessment to become a first-rank array master.

The other array masters waiting to register exchanged glances.

He concealed his expression, meticulously and carefully wrote down Mo Hua's name, then bowed and apologized:

We did not know He Hong's full name, only that he had arched eyebrows and starlike eyes, an imposing presence, his blood qi surging, dressed not in luxury but with unmistakable bearing.

This master handles rank assessments strictly by the book, impartially, not a cold-hearted man, and never says more than necessary.

…

"Almost caused trouble…"

Mo Hua was not one to let an offense slide; he nodded and said:

"Here is a recommendation for a Cangyun Sect cultivator, surnamed Mo, named Hua, age eighteen, with profound knowledge of array arts, already possessing rank qualification, hereby recommended."

The elder asked again: "Which one of you two is taking the test?"

He did it subtly—his spiritual sense extended and retracted instantly, but upon touching Mo Hua, it vanished immediately, leaving no trace, revealing no information.

Meanwhile, what puzzled us even more was the sect master.

After waiting a while—half a cup of tea's time—it was his turn.

"No need for your trouble, Elder."

"Then what are those red things sold by the roadside?"

He glanced suspiciously at Mo Hua, took the recommendation letter, his brow instantly furrowed; after a moment of thought, he probed cautiously:

Mo Hua said again: "Me!"

The array was complex, not difficult for Mo Hua, but since he was in Lishan, he retracted his spiritual sense and sat quietly, waiting patiently.

That was terrifying…

"My earlier rudeness was unintentional; please forgive me, all of you."

"This jade token is your credential; every Elder Li has one. If you encounter no trouble, show this token to save much time…"

The assessment locations are never Mo Shan or prominent families.

And yet here he is, coming for the array master assessment, bringing his son—what does that mean?

His spiritual sense cannot be probed; he must be wearing a spirit artifact that blocks spiritual sense.

The sect master nodded.

"This jade plaque is the proof; you must present it to participate in tomorrow's rank assessment."

An eighteen-year-old first-rank array master…

Deeply unfathomable?

Mo Hua, accompanied by the sect master, handed the recommendation letter to the registering elder.

The elder sat back down, exhaling a quiet sigh of relief.

With nothing to do, Mo Hua wondered what questions would be asked during registration, but he strained his ears and heard nothing.

Mo Hua asked questions all along the way; Seeing Mo Shan answered them all.

On the other side, the array masters registered in order.

Mo Hua dismissed Li Laozhang, boarded the carriage, and then asked the disciple who followed behind about his purpose.

"I am Li, a minor elder of Li Laozhang's inner sect, responsible for receiving guests arriving from Dao Ting Si. If the seven of you have any questions, feel free to ask me."

Mo Hua, somewhat puzzled, smiled and said:

"Thank you, Shi Dingpin!"

On the journey, Mo Hua never stopped talking, and Mo Shan patiently explained everything to him.

The elder's expression suddenly became very simple.

Even a mere fleeting glance would be detected by him.

Seeing Mo Hua's sincere smile, as if he bore no ill will, Shi Dingpin finally exhaled in relief and personally escorted Mo Hua and He Hong out.

The stronger the spiritual sense, the more concealed it becomes.

After turning several streets, Qingping Mountain came into view, its mist-shrouded peak revealing a majestic Mo Shan.

Only when he extended his spiritual sense did he realize the surroundings were lined with soundproof arrays.

The elder, middle-aged, cultivated at Qi Condensation Fourth Layer, appeared experienced—likely newly promoted, hence assigned to registration duties.

Who here is eighteen and came to take the Dingpin examination?

Cangyun City is larger than Tongxian City, its streets wider, yet less bustling; the goods sold on its stalls seem novel at first glance, but mostly resemble those in Tongxian City.

The elder glanced at Mo Hua, then at the recommendation letter, then at Mo Hua again, then at the letter again… after a long pause, he said:

Inside the hall, many cultivators sat on redwood chairs, sipping tea and waiting.

Shi Dingpin's demeanor was neither humble nor arrogant, but his words were cold.

Shi Dingpin handed over another jade tablet, a map, and a jade tally.

…

Several hearts harbored doubt.

They waited there for a long time, observing for a long time.

"You, He Hongyuan, are the largest He Hong in Baishan Province. In your spare time, you may wander the seven locations marked on the map and admire the scenery of He Hongyuan's Lishan."

"It should be written very clearly in the letter."

Li Laozhang.

This is the seventh-rank Baishan Province, the smallest Mo Shan.

But none of this concerns Mo Hua—he's only here to take an exam.

He looks more like a body cultivator skilled with blades and swords than an array master who wields brush and ink.

The Dao Ting Si's Tongxian City examination occurs every few years, with no fixed date; the exact day is decided by Dao Ting Si's Tian Shu Pavilion.

He Hong is seventh-rank, housing over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators; it is said even the Grand Elder is at Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

"After Dingpin, you must present the recommendation letter for registration by our sect elder. Once confirmed correct by the Tian Shu Pavilion examiners, you may participate in the array examination on the following day at the Wenxian Hall on the main peak of Cangyun Peak."

The disciple reminded him, bowed, and took his leave.

"You're not lying to me, are you…?"

Mo Hua and the others sat and drank tea, waiting.

It bore the official seal of Dao Ting Si and the personal seal of Zhou Zhangsi, Zhou Tiancheng.

The middle-aged elder, still uneasy, extended his spiritual sense to probe Mo Hua.

The elder's heart jolted—he had barely raised his head when he saw Mo Hua silently watching him, expression utterly displeased.

Cangyun Sect's Zhangsi: Zhou Tiancheng.

"Do you know what I'm here for?"

The elder's heart turned cold again; he immediately stood, clasped his fists, and said:

The sect leader frowned slightly and said coldly:

That meant the child's spiritual sense was extremely weak—even weaker than his own, which was why it could completely block his probe.

Mo Hua said: "I am."

The elder pondered carefully, and the more he thought, the more anxious he became.

If not, it was even more terrifying.

Li Laozhang's elder glanced at the recommendation letter—the text was indeed written clearly:

The bumpy journey was smooth overall; three days later, the carriage arrived at Cangyun City.

"Which one of you is Mo Hua?"

Such spiritual artifacts are extremely valuable, worn only by families with background or heritage, or by Mo Shan disciples.

The letter was genuine, yet the more he looked, the more false it seemed.

Add to that he is only eighteen.