Chapter 519: Farewell

Mo Hua knew nothing of cause and effect or destiny patterns.

He remembered only one phrase:

A firm Dao heart repels all evil.

As long as he focused on learning arrays, comprehended the Great Dao, hardened his Dao heart, continuously honed his spiritual awareness, strengthened his spiritual awareness to its peak, and achieved crystal-clear insight into the principles of all things, no evil could frighten him.

Mo Hua continued to cultivate and study arrays as before.

But the Dao tribulation clearly refused to give up.

The shadow of the Corpse King occasionally appeared mysteriously in his spiritual sea, its eyes blood-red, its expression cruel as it stared at Mo Hua.

This entity was utterly different from the green-faced goblin or the Zhang family's ancestral spirit.

It seemed real, yet insubstantial.

It was clearly tangible, yet illusory.

It was not like a true spiritual awareness—more like, as Mr. Zhuang had said, a karmic residue lodged in the past.

The Corpse King's shadow appeared repeatedly.

At first, Mo Hua was startled and worried, but then he recalled Mr. Zhuang's words:

"Just maintain your ordinary mind, hold fast to your Dao heart, don't worry, don't fear, don't even think about it…"

Mo Hua no longer cared.

The Corpse King in his spiritual sea was merely a bronze corpse.

He had killed bronze corpses before.

He had even "eaten" the Zhang family's ancestor—though back then it had been many against one, somewhat dishonorable—but now it was different.

Now, his spiritual awareness had reached the peak of the Thirteen Markings, vastly changed from before.

Even in direct combat, one-on-one, he could subdue the bronze corpse formed by the Zhang ancestor's avatar.

Moreover, this Corpse King had once been controlled by Mo Hua's Ling Shu Array.

While alive, it obeyed him.

Even in death, it could not escape his palm.

Mo Hua knew little of karmic matters.

The ignorant are fearless.

Precisely because of "ignorance," he was "fearless."

And precisely because he was fearless, Mo Hua's spiritual awareness remained firm, his aura strong, and he paid no heed to this Corpse King radiating Dao tribulation energy.

The Corpse King roared.

Mo Hua frowned and said, "Don't bother me!"

The Corpse King, rebuked by Mo Hua, instinctively trembled, then grew furious and bared its fangs—but it truly had no recourse, so it let out another low growl and retreated reluctantly…

The Corpse King appeared in Mo Hua's heart every few days.

But Mo Hua ignored it entirely, even showing contempt, occasionally telling it to get lost.

The Corpse King could only glare with murderous intent and lie dormant in silence.

Later, the Corpse King appeared less and less…

Mo Hua's spiritual sea also grew much quieter.

But he did not know that his karmic destiny pattern had thus become far more perilous…

…

With the affairs of Nan Yue City settled, the Corpse King subdued, Lu Chengyun dead, and the Ling Shu Array learned, it was time to leave.

Before departing, Mo Hua placed the ashes of all past elders of the Little Lingyin Sect into a gold-inlaid black jade urn and handed it to Yan Jiaoxi.

Yan Jiaoxi held the ashes, his expression stirred.

Then he sighed with sorrow and guilt: "This disciple is incompetent—letting the sect's revered elders suffer such misfortune…"

Yan Jiaoxi's eyes turned red, tears glistening at the corners, his emotions long uncalmed.

Years of anger, confusion, hardship, loneliness, and despair churned within his chest.

To bring the traitor to justice, to recover the sect's ancestral array.

These were the things he had thought of day and night for so many years.

Yet he never imagined there would truly come a day when his dream would come true.

Yan Jiaoxi looked again at Mo Hua, gratitude and self-reproach mingling, and sighed:

"This matter… thanks to you."

To track down the traitor, uncover his identity, sabotage his schemes, make him pay with blood, and appease the spirits of his master and the past elders of the Little Lingyin Sect…

These were supposed to be my duties.

Yet it was all Mo Hua who resolved this grudge.

And this matter involved the Lu family, the corpse mines, the Corpse King, and even stirred the Dao Court, forcing it to send Dao soldiers to suppress it.

How many dangers were involved—Mo Hua never spoke of them, but he could guess.

These dangers should have been borne by me…

Yet they all fell upon this child, Mo Hua.

I did almost nothing.

Yan Jiaoxi felt profound shame: "As a teacher, I am truly without a place to hide…"

But Mo Hua shook his head. "Teacher, you've already done much."

Yan Jiaoxi froze, then smiled sadly in a gentle tone:

"You don't need to comfort me…"

Mo Hua shook his head. "It's not comfort—I've heard it from my master: all things in this world follow cause and effect; every sip and bite has its law."

"Lu Chengyun was executed, the corpse plague calmed—that's the good fruit from the good seed you planted."

Mo Hua had just learned a little about cause and effect from Mr. Zhuang, and now he was using it on Yan Jiaxi.

Yan Jiaxi frowned. "What does this have to do with me?"

"Of course it does!"

Mo Hua explained earnestly:

"Without your enlightenment, I might never have taken the path of arrays; without your recommendation, I could never have become Mr. Zhuang's disciple; without becoming Mr. Zhuang's disciple, I would never have mastered arrays so well, nor traveled far and wide seeking them."

"Coming to Nanyue City was not only to seek arrays, but also to find you."

"If you hadn't been in Nanyue City, I wouldn't have come."

"With your clues, I was able to trace step by step, unraveling thread by thread, until I learned of Zhang Quan, the Corpse Village, the Corpse Mine, and Lu Chengyun and the Corpse King's conspiracy..."

"Only then could I kill Lu Chengyun, subdue the Corpse King, end the corpse plague, and recover the stolen heritage of Xiao Lingyin Sect."

"Lu Chengyun was killed by the Corpse King; the Corpse King was controlled by the Lingshu Array."

"So, Lu Chengyun essentially died beneath the heritage of Xiao Lingyin Sect."

"Each and every one of these events is a cycle of cause and effect."

"Had you not upheld your principles and passed on the arrays, planting that good seed, none of this would have happened—none of this would have been the outcome of the Corpse Mine..."

Yan Jiaxi stared blankly, lost in thought for a long while.

Good seed, good fruit...

After a long silence, he let out a bitter laugh:

"You've always been good with words, kid."

And these words were so logical, he had no rebuttal.

So it was true—because I once valued this child, taught him arrays, gave him an opportunity, now he's helped me so greatly, resolving Xiao Lingyin Sect's old grudge.

In that light, maybe I haven't been entirely useless after all?

Yan Jiaxi felt a deep emotion, gazing at Mo Hua's sincere face, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

Not letting Mo Hua's talent go to waste—perhaps this was the most correct thing I've ever done in my life...

Yan Jiaxi felt his years-long inner knot slowly unravel.

His frown eased.

But then came a hollow sense of loss.

Lu Chengyun was dead; vengeance was complete; his wish fulfilled.

He suddenly didn't know what to do next.

Revenge had become his obsession, his reason to live for all these years—now that it was done, he felt suddenly lost.

Mo Hua understood, his eyes brightening slightly as he asked softly:

"Jiaxi, what do you plan to do with the ashes of Xiao Lingyin Sect's elders?"

Yan Jiaxi froze, then thought for a moment and sighed:

"Xiao Lingyin Sect is gone; its gate has been sold off—we can't return... I plan to find a place, build a tomb, and properly entomb these elders, to visit and pay respects on festivals..."

And I, too, can live out the rest of my days in quiet peace.

Mo Hua asked again:

"Where will you bury them?"

"This..."

Yan Jiaxi hesitated—he hadn't decided where exactly.

These days, finding good land wasn't easy, and it would cost a lot of spirit stones.

"What if we bury them in Xiancheng?" Mo Hua said.

"Xiancheng?" Yan Jiaxi was startled.

"Yes." Mo Hua nodded, patted his chest, and said confidently:

"I know Xiancheng well—Zhou Zhangsi, Elder Yu, Old Master An, Master Luo... I've got some connections with every prominent cultivator there..."

"I'll write you a letter. Take it back, explain the situation—they'll all help you."

"Then you can bury Xiao Lingyin Sect's elders wherever you like."

Yan Jiaxi was stunned.

One letter could help him like this?

You're not just "some connections"—your connections are absurdly strong...

But that doesn't make sense.

He hadn't misremembered—Zhou Zhangsi, Elder Yu, Old Master An—all were Foundation Establishment cultivators, and held high status in Xiancheng.

Master Luo was even a senior Grade-One Array Master...

How did Mo Hua get so close to them?

Even if he was a young, promising Grade-One Array Master, his network couldn't possibly be this vast...

Yan Jiaxi was dazed.

What had happened in Xiancheng during the past two or three years since I left?

Has this kid become so influential now?

"Jiaxi?" Mo Hua called out.

Yan Jiaxi snapped back to reality.

"What do you think?" Mo Hua asked.

Instructor Yan hesitated for a moment, then said slowly: "Xiancheng isn't wealthy even on its mountain peaks—this…"

Mo Hua teased:

"Don't worry—Xiancheng is no longer what it was. You'll see for yourself when you return."

Instructor Yan was puzzled but didn't press further.

Under the current circumstances, placing these former elders of the Little Lingyin Sect in Xiancheng was already the best choice.

"Alright," Instructor Yan nodded.

Mo Hua's expression brightened, then he asked: "Instructor, would you like to rebuild the Little Lingyin Sect?"

Rebuild… the Little Lingyin Sect?

Instructor Yan's heart trembled; he turned his head, staring at Mo Hua in disbelief.

Mo Hua said: "Of course, this can't be rushed—we can take it step by step…"

"When you return to Xiancheng, start by teaching free cultivators array techniques. Once you have enough students learning arrays, slowly build a mountain gate…"

"Master Yu will surely help you with this."

"Dao Ting Si won't object either."

"Master Luo and Elder Qian will support you in array arts…"

"It will just take time—rebuilding a sect is no small matter, impossible to accomplish overnight. It demands long-term perseverance, even generations of effort…"

"… "

Mo Hua laid everything out clearly.

Instructor Yan's heart surged with emotion, yet he still hesitated—clearly burdened by many concerns, unsure how to decide.

Mo Hua spoke again, in a low voice:

"Rebuilding the Little Lingyin Sect, preserving the array arts, and expanding their legacy—these former elders of the Little Lingyin Sect will have more disciples to pay homage to…"

Preserving the array arts, expanding their legacy, having more disciples pay homage…

Instructor Yan's heart thudded hard.

The confusion in his gaze faded, replaced by hope and longing.

Mo Hua said no more.

He knew Instructor Yan had already made his decision; nothing more needed to be said.

Instructor Yan revered his teachers and held the transmission of array arts in the highest regard.

For all these years, he had never given up chasing the traitor Lu Chengyun. Now, the chance to revive the sect and pass on the array arts lay before him—he would not let it slip away.

No matter how difficult, he would find a way to overcome it.

Several days later, Instructor Yan set off.

He would return to Xiancheng to choose a scenic, serene place to bury the ancestors of the Little Lingyin Sect.

At the same time, the idea of rebuilding the Little Lingyin Sect and transmitting the array arts gradually took root in his heart.

Mo Hua gave him many array texts, along with his own insights on array techniques.

He had carefully dismantled the Ling Shu Array diagram, explaining it from simple to complex, from shallow to deep, with clear annotations.

Easy to learn, easy to teach.

He also gave this array diagram to Instructor Yan.

Instructor Yan accepted it solemnly, his hands trembling slightly.

In addition, Mo Hua gave him some specialty goods from Nanyue City, provisions for the journey, and several pills for protection: Soul-Defending Pills, Miasma-Repelling Pills, Demon-Deterrent Pills, and others.

Mo Hua escorted Instructor Yan all the way to the city gate.

Along the way, Mo Hua chattered nonstop, offering repeated advice:

"First, get your rank…"

"Once you have your rank, things will be much easier."

"Xiancheng has plenty of people of your own; getting ranked will go smoothly, and Dao Ting Si even provides official transport…"

"After you're ranked, focus on establishing your Foundation. Borrowing Spirit Stones is fine—ask Master Yu… no, Master Yu is poor. Ask Old Master An—An family is rich. Their young master is even called An Xiaofu—he knows me well…"

"Once you become a Foundation Establishment cultivator and your spiritual sense reaches twelve patterns, you can learn the Ling Shu Array."

"Learn slowly, don't rush—start with the simplest, progress step by step…"

…

Instructor Yan was half-amused, half-touched.

Mo Hua's words had greatly benefited him.

He, the instructor, now had to learn array arts from his own disciple…

In his heart, he felt both sorrow and comfort.

After finishing with array arts, Mo Hua turned to other matters:

"When you return, give my regards to my parents…"

"Tell them I'm safe, eating well, drinking well, sleeping well, growing plump and healthy, studying arrays diligently, and encountering no danger—they needn't worry…"

"And Master Yu, Grandpa Feng, Master Chen, the hunters' uncles and aunts…"

"And Brother Da Hu, Chen Dazhu…"

"Also give them my regards…"

Mo Hua listed off a long string of names.

"Alright, alright, slow down…"

Instructor Yan's head was spinning; he sighed inwardly—this child, how did he have so many friends…?

Unconsciously, they reached the city gate.

To see you off a thousand miles must end in parting—Mo Hua too had to say farewell to Instructor Yan.

When the moment of parting truly arrived, neither of them knew what to say, and the atmosphere fell silent for a time.

Mo Hua's eyes flickered, reluctant to part.

Instructor Yan gazed at Mo Hua intently, as if trying to imprint Mo Hua's appearance deep in his heart.

After a moment, he patted Mo Hua on the shoulder and said with expectation:

"Study hard!"

"Mm!" Mo Hua nodded.

Instructor Yan then waved his hand and said gently:

"Alright, go back. I'm leaving."

He shouldered his pack, stepped onto the mountain road, and left South Yue City, but every now and then he would look back. Seeing Mo Hua still standing at the city gate, he would wave, motioning for Mo Hua to go back. After a few steps, he would look back again and wave…

The mountains and fields stretched vast and wild.

Instructor Yan's figure grew farther and farther away, gradually vanishing into the rugged mountains.

Mo Hua's expression grew solemn. Gazing at the distant mountain range, he bowed deeply once more…

Just as in those years past, at the foot of the mountain in Xiancheng, when he had bid Instructor Yan farewell.

……

After parting from Mo Hua, Instructor Yan left South Yue City and walked alone along the mountain road, heading northwest. Passing several mountain peaks, he came upon a chain of connected mines.

Within the mines stood a massive mine shaft.

At that moment, the mine cultivators were at work; amid the clamor there was also a touch of liveliness.

Though the mine cultivators in the shaft toiled hard, their faces no longer wore bitterness, no longer repression, no longer anguish.

Instead, there was a measure of hope.

The hope that, so long as they relied on their own efforts, they could live a little better.

This was utterly different from the scene he had witnessed when he first arrived.

Instructor Yan recalled again what Mo Hua had said—plant good causes, and you shall reap good fruits.

Could these mines also count as a kind of good fruit?

If he himself had not planted good causes back then, would the mines today still be as they once were—by day the people living like corpses, by night the corpses living like people, toiling away just like men?

If so, he might never have been able to see the scene before his eyes…

A sense of relief welled up in Instructor Yan.

"Yes, I too have not lived entirely for nothing…"

His own abilities were indeed limited; he could not help many people.

He did not understand the Dao, could not slay villains.

His skill in array formations was middling; he knew no profound arrays, nor could he construct large-scale ones.

All he could do was pass the array legacy down.

So that those with talent for arrays would not waste their years.

So that those with the ability to do good for others would not be buried and forgotten.

So long as one plants more good causes, naturally one will reap more good fruits…

At this thought, Instructor Yan's gaze brightened.

His own lifespan was limited, but there were still many things he could do!

He looked back once more, toward the direction of South Yue City, and stole a glance.

The mountains screened his view; he could no longer see Mo Hua before the city gate.

Yet Mo Hua's figure remained imprinted in his mind.

The first—and the only—little cultivator at the Qi Refining realm who had mastered the sect-guarding first-grade twelve-pattern Spirit Pivot Array of the Minor Spirit Hidden Sect.

Who knew what heights this child would one day reach…

Instructor Yan's eyes brimmed with hope.

……

In South Yue City, several days later.

Instructor Yan had left, and now Mo Hua too was about to go.

He had already said his goodbyes to Elder Su, Sister Situ, Sister Qinglan, and Yang Jishan and the others.

Elder Su was quite reluctant to part.

He was very fond of Mo Hua, and had given him a pile of fine tea.

Mo Hua was a little puzzled. "You're giving me this much?"

"Mm," Elder Su said wistfully. "Just take it all. Once you're gone, drinking alone is pointless, and these fine teas will lose their flavor."

Mo Hua nodded and said, "Cutting down on tea is good for you too. You should spend more thought on your son."

Elder Su's old face flushed. "What son?"

Mo Hua silently gazed at him.

Elder Su gave an awkward smile, then sighed:

"The past is too painful to look back on—they've all come to collect debts."

Yet in his eyes, a measure of tender affection still showed through.

Sister Situ and Sister Qinglan also gave Mo Hua some gifts, and invited him, saying:

"Be sure to visit the Situ family when you have the time, so I may in some small way play the host."

Mo Hua replied, "Definitely, definitely."

Yang Jishan, however, felt a touch of regret.

What a fine talent.

If only he could enter the Dao Soldier Bureau, how wonderful that would be!

The Yang family members all tended to think along the same lines.

At the same time, he also said something quite similar to what Yang Jiyong had said:

"If you ever want to enter the Dao Soldier Bureau in the future, just give the name of our Yang family — we'll have your back!"

Mo Hua smiled and thanked him: "Thank you, Uncle Yang!"

Once everything was prepared, Mo Hua, along with his senior brother, senior sister, Kui-lao, and Mr. Zhuang, boarded the cart pulled by Da Bai, and the clopping of hooves carried them off onto a new journey.

The road was rugged, but inside the cart it was steady and secure.

Mo Hua asked, "Master, where are we headed next?"

"Straight south."

"South?"

"Mm." Mr. Zhuang nodded. "It's about time."

He looked at Mo Hua, his gaze far away:

"It's time for you to begin Foundation Establishment…"

Thank you to Yunze Hanfeng, pyhuang, and Qingfeng Ye Ran Mingyue Chou for the tips~

(End of chapter)