Chapter 557

In the Demon Hall, all demons fell silent.

Mo Hua was shaken within.

This was his "Senior Uncle"…

So powerful…

He had truly slaughtered every single demon cultivator in this hall!

Using the Deceitful Heaven-Sealing Array to seal the Demon Hall, employing the Mind-Seed Demon Technique to slaughter Jin Dan cultivators, then controlling those Jin Dan to surround and attack Liu Yuhua, forcing Liu Yuhua to perish under the heavenly tribulation!

This chain of events was turbulent, breathtaking, and relentless.

It left a profound impression on Mo Hua.

"This is the 'Deceitful' Daoist…"

"Methodical and devious, not a single wasted word—when to trap, he traps; when to kill, he kills!"

"All under heaven is Dao."

"The heavenly tribulation is also a weapon of slaughter!"

All of this opened Mo Hua's eyes and greatly benefited him.

For the first time, he learned that one could act this way, could kill this way…

What surprised him even more was the Deceitful Heaven-Sealing Array.

This array was utterly unlike any array he had previously studied.

It did not belong to the Five Elements array system, nor to any of the systems like Yin-Yang, Three Talents, Four Symbols, Seven Stars, or Eight Trigrams.

Even the basic array elements—array medium, array patterns, array pivot, array core—were obscure and incomprehensible.

What was the array medium? Was it the Demon Hall itself?

But it seemed to be more than that…

Besides, Mo Hua could see the array patterns, but could not understand them.

These array patterns were constantly transforming, constantly proliferating; the underlying array principles were extremely complex.

There was no array pivot, and the array core was beyond Mo Hua's comprehension.

Mo Hua had previously deduced that this Deceitful Heaven-Sealing Array was based on a special "Derivation" method.

But now, thinking again, something felt off.

Derivation meant understanding, dissecting, contemplating, and perceiving arrays.

Yet this array now seemed more like it was built upon "Derivation"…

This Derivation seemed to aid each array pattern in differentiating and self-generating, endlessly, in an extremely peculiar and eerie manner.

Mo Hua frowned.

His master had taught him a Derivation method called Mind-Derivation.

But that was the most basic form.

From Mo Hua's observations, he realized that at advanced levels, this Derivation method could, like his master, derive heavenly fate and trace cause and effect.

Thus, this kind of Derivation should more accurately be called "Heavenly Fate Derivation."

Only now, his level was too limited to derive heavenly fate.

Additionally, by a strange coincidence, Mo Hua had also learned another Mind-Derivation method.

It was the method used by the Wuxing Sect to categorize array patterns.

Mo Hua did not know the name of the Wuxing Sect's Derivation method, but if he had to name it himself, it should be called "Source-Return" Derivation.

Categorizing array patterns, unifying their origins.

It was a Mind-Derivation method for tracing and synthesizing source patterns.

Then, what should his Senior Uncle's "Derivation" be called?

How was this Derivation different? What was its essence? What was its principle?

Mo Hua tilted his small head, eyes gleaming, staring fixedly at the Deceitful Heaven-Sealing Array above him, lost in thought.

All transformations of the array patterns unfolded one by one in Mo Hua's mind.

The array patterns were breached by demon cultivators, yet repaired themselves;

The array patterns were erased by tribulation lightning, yet regenerated anew;

The Deceitful Heaven-Sealing Array, pattern after pattern, resembled the blooming of the Yama flowers—rising and falling, dark yet magnificent, eerie and profound…

After staring for an unknown length of time, Mo Hua suddenly widened his eyes; within his pupils reflected countless array transformations, and a sudden awakening struck him.

"I understand!"

"It's Mind-Seed Demon!"

This Deceitful Heaven-Sealing Array was the same as Mind-Seed Demon.

Mind-Seed Demon plants a demon seed; the demon thoughts then spread and parasitize on their own.

Deceitful Heaven-Sealing deploys array patterns; the patterns then self-transform and proliferate.

The so-called Deceitful Heaven-Sealing Array was, in essence, a massive, array-form version of "Mind-Seed Demon."

Within the array's pivot, a demon seed is planted; through the demon seed, array patterns are generated, causing the entire array's deceitful patterns to mutually give birth, flow endlessly, and remain nearly unbreakable.

"In an array… Mind-Seed Demon…"

Mo Hua thought again, then frowned.

"Still not right…"

The scene inside the Demon Hall replayed again and again in Mo Hua's mind.

The Deceitful Daoist had fully unleashed Mind-Seed Demon, infecting every single Jin Dan demon cultivator, driving them mad, and thus completely dominating them…

This entire process contained…

Dividing the demonic seed…

Planting the demonic seed in the Dao heart…

And also… the demonic seed's derivatives, contamination, domination…

Mo Hua's heart startled—he suddenly understood.

I got it backwards!

It's not that within the Deceitful Dao Seal Yang Tianzhen, the Dao heart plants the demonic seed.

Rather, the Dao heart planting the demonic seed employs the very core of the Deceitful Dao Seal Yang Tianzhen's spiritual perception calculations!

Both belong to the same school, both grounded in this peculiar, strange spiritual perception calculation.

Both are methods of exquisitely refined, peerless mastery of spiritual energy!

Mo Hua recalled the Holy Son, his face filled with disbelief upon seeing the Deceitful Daoist wield Dao heart planting the demonic seed.

The Deceitful Daoist's Dao heart planting the demonic seed is nothing like what he knew!

This method of Dao heart planting the demonic seed is utterly different from ordinary demonic planting techniques.

Because Uncle's Dao heart planting the demonic seed relies on that peculiar, special spiritual perception algorithm.

Conversely, Uncle's "Dao heart planting the demonic seed"…

Contains the supreme, spiritual perception calculation method!

Mo Hua grew more and more astonished as he thought.

The more he thought, the clearer it became.

His gaze grew brighter and brighter, like the stars above, shining brilliantly, dazzlingly radiant.

Mo Hua still gazed upward, fixed on the Deceitful Dao Seal Yang Tianzhen above him—but as he stared, he sensed something was wrong; beside him, an unfamiliar aura had appeared.

Mo Hua looked down and saw his uncle standing beside him.

While he had been staring at the array, his uncle had been silently staring at him.

At this moment, the Deceitful Daoist had already used Dao heart planting the demonic seed to inhabit Xuan Sanren.

White-haired, childlike face, handsome features, cold expression.

Mo Hua's "stealth learning" had been caught; under his uncle's gaze, he felt uneasy, so he smiled sweetly:

"Uncle, you've become more handsome!"

The Deceitful Daoist extended his long fingers and lightly tapped Mo Hua's forehead.

Mo Hua went limp and fainted, collapsing onto the ground.

His small face was Bai Xi, his eyelashes jet-black, his breath fine and even.

The Deceitful Daoist gazed at Mo Hua, his emotions shifting repeatedly, unsettled.

Brother… what exactly did he teach this little thing?

How did he raise such a… utterly baffling disciple?

The Deceitful Daoist recalled Mo Hua's earlier gaze.

Clear, transparent, bright, with a faint glimmer of enlightenment toward the Dao…

What exactly had this little thing seen… within the Deceitful Dao Seal Yang Tianzhen?

What had he figured out?

Could it be…

The Deceitful Daoist frowned, his gaze indifferent, pondered for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

Impossible.

He had checked before—this little thing, though decent in array skills, had never studied the Immortal Yang Tianzhen School.

The Immortal Yang Tianzhen School is the most orthodox lineage of our sect.

Brother didn't teach him, which means he isn't the most orthodox core disciple.

Without studying the Immortal Yang Tianzhen School, without the foundational source of array knowledge, he could not possibly have achieved comprehensive mastery of array arts or learned the Heavenly Mechanism Calculation.

Without calculation ability, what could he possibly understand?

The Deceitful Daoist's gaze flickered slightly.

Yet, no matter what this little thing understood…

He must not be allowed to look again.

Who knows what strange things this odd little thing might perceive…

The Deceitful Daoist's gaze hardened; he reached out, picked up Mo Hua, and slowly walked out of the Ten Thousand Demons Hall.

After stepping out of the Ten Thousand Demons Hall, the Deceitful Daoist flicked his hand backward.

The Deceitful Dao Seal Yang Tianzhen reversed; its patterns twisted grotesquely, swallowing the entire demon hall—and the demon cultivators buried within—gradually erasing them…

Then the Deceitful Daoist did not look back once, but strode toward Shancheng, toward the Five Elements Mountain Protection Array, and toward the one within the array—the brother he had not seen for hundreds of years…

"The grudges of hundreds of years… should finally be settled…"

…

Outside Dali Mountain.

A white-robed Golden Core late-stage cultivator, along with a dozen or so Golden Core deputy Zhou Zhangsi and Zhisi, was escorting Bai Zisheng and Bai Zi Xi toward the nearby Qingshan City.

The white-robed cultivator was none other than the Zhou Zhangsi of Liyuan City.

He was also the highest-ranking, most powerful Zhou Zhangsi across the entire Dali Mountain region.

Upon entering Qingshan City, Xue Yi bowed and thanked him:

"Thank you, Your Excellency Zhou Zhangsi, for this escort. Without you, the demon cultivators' rampage would have made the journey unbearable."

"Oh, it's nothing…"

The white-robed cultivator, surnamed Shangguan, with a gentle face, also bowed his hands and said: "As long as Young Master Bai and Young Lady Bai are safe, that's all that matters..."

Shangguan Zhou Zhangsi let out a long, relieved breath.

Thank goodness...

Thank goodness these two little Zu weren't harmed.

Though the Life-Sustaining Talismans were shattered, neither of them suffered serious injury, and all the ignorant demonic cultivators along the way were dealt with by me.

Now that I've escorted them safely to Qingshan City, and Bai family cultivators are here to meet them, there should be no further worries.

"The Bai family..."

Shangguan Zhou Zhangsi's heart sank slightly, "They're actually... children of the Bai family..."

The Bai family is a colossus in the cultivation world.

Though the Shangguan family's status is also high, it still cannot be compared to the Bai family.

Shangguan Zhou Zhangsi felt some concern.

"I hope the Bai family won't blame me..."

After all, those were two Life-Sustaining Talismans!

Only ancient patriarchs of noble families, with little lifespan left, no hope of advancing further in the Dao, and permanently unable to reach the next realm, would expend their life-force to forge such talismans.

Patriarchs capable of crafting such talismans are already exceedingly rare.

And noble scions worthy of bearing such talismans are rarer still.

Once a Life-Sustaining Talisman is shattered, finding another patriarch to re-implant it becomes as difficult as climbing to heaven...

And if not re-implanted, such prodigies, once entering the cultivation world, will face relentless dangers.

Trouble will come later...

Shangguan Zhou Zhangsi frowned, pondering long, then suddenly realized he had no right to worry about such matters...

He shook his head and placed the Bai siblings and Snow Auntie in the largest inn of Shancheng.

He only waited for the Bai family to arrive and take these two little Zu away safely, then he could rest easy.

As for himself... he may have had no merit, but he had at least endured hardship.

Even if he didn't claim merit, as long as he wasn't blamed, that would suffice...

After all, the incident occurred suddenly; the Bai family surely wouldn't be unreasonable or overly harsh on him.

The group stayed at the inn for several days, and then the Bai family arrived.

A white-robed, masked female cultivator, accompanied by a group of Bai family cultivators, entered the inn.

Her figure seemed real yet illusory, substantial yet insubstantial.

Those around her clearly saw her, yet somehow, seemed to see nothing at all...

Shangguan Zhou Zhangsi had been wondering who from the Bai family would come, but when he looked up and saw the woman's silhouette, his heart jolted—he immediately lowered his head and respectfully said:

"I, Shangguan Jing, humbly serve as Commandant of Lishancheng, bowing before the True Person!"

The woman wore a veil, obscuring her face, but her aura was cold and noble, possessing a peerless elegance.

More importantly, her energy was ethereal, distant, and unfathomably deep.

Xu Hua realm!

This woman was a True Person of the Xu Hua realm!

Shangguan Zhou Zhangsi bowed his head even lower, fearing even the slightest offense might anger this True Person.

The woman nodded slightly, her voice clear and melodious, yet carrying authority:

"Thank you, Shangguan Zhou Zhangsi."

Shangguan Zhou Zhangsi finally relaxed completely.

Snow Auntie beside him bowed deeply and said: "Lady."

Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi both showed expressions of filial devotion and called out together: "Mother..."

This woman was the mother of Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi.

She was also the Xu Hua True Person of the Bai family—Bai Qingcheng.

These two cries of "Mother" made Bai Qingcheng's heart tremble, yet she restrained her emotions, nodding with a calm, indifferent expression.

Shangguan Zhou Zhangsi was also startled.

These two children had a mother who was a Xu Hua True Person.

No wonder they were granted Life-Sustaining Talismans...

"Since both Young Master and Young Lady are unharmed, I am relieved. I shall not disturb further."

Shangguan Zhou Zhangsi said, with tact.

Bai Qingcheng nodded slightly.

Shangguan Zhou Zhangsi withdrew.

The room now held only Bai Qingcheng, Bai Zisheng, Bai Zixi, and Snow Auntie.

Bai Qingcheng waved her slender hand, dispelling her veil, revealing a face of breathtaking beauty.

Resembling Bai Zixi, she had ice-like skin and jade-like bones, flawless features, possessing a stunning beauty—yet unlike Bai Zixi, she lacked youthful innocence and gentleness, instead radiating maturity, pride, and the authority of the Xu Hua realm.

Snow Auntie's face showed shame. "Lady, I am powerless—the Life-Sustaining Talismans..."

Bai Qingcheng shook her head. "It's not your fault..."

Twenty or so Jin Dan demonic cultivators.

The Demon Sect's Holy Son.

And... the machinations of the Deceiver Sage...

In such a situation, no one could have protected those two Life-Sustaining Talismans.

Bai Qincheng looked again at her two children, her icy gaze softening slightly as she asked, "Are you alright…?"

"Mm."

Bai Zisheng and the other nodded, yet both remained stiff and restrained.

Bai Zisheng hesitated a moment, then spoke: "Mother…"

Bai Qincheng's expression was calm. "What is it?"

Bai Zisheng hesitated; he had always been somewhat afraid of his cold mother and didn't know how to begin…

Bai Zixi said: "Mother, please save Mo Hua."

Bai Qincheng frowned. "Mo Hua?"

Xue Yi said: "He's… Master Zhuang's young disciple, also your younger brother…"

A flicker of surprise crossed Bai Qincheng's exquisitely beautiful face.

A young disciple?

My elder brother actually took on a disciple?

Impossible…

How could he possibly take on another student?

Bai Qincheng's gaze grew slightly cold as she turned to Xue Yi.

Xue Yi's heart jolted; she immediately bowed her head. "Master Zhuang forbade me to tell you…"

Bai Qincheng paused, then her expression softened slightly.

Her elder brother always hated others prying into his affairs.

Whether he took a disciple or not, he naturally didn't want her to know…

Bai Qincheng's emotions were complicated; after a moment, she asked: "What happened to him?"

Bai Zixi said: "He was taken… by the Deceptive Daoist…"

Bai Zisheng nodded beside her: "He was captured because of me and Zixi—originally, they meant to take us two…"

After speaking, Bai Zisheng lowered his head in guilt.

He seemed to blame himself for failing to protect his younger brother.

Bai Qincheng's expression didn't change, but her heart gave a sudden pang.

The Deceptive Daoist!

So that's why…

She had wondered—given the Deceptive Daoist's power, her own "eldest brother," Zisheng and Zixi's shattered Lifespan Talismans should have fallen into his hands.

She had been deeply worried about it before.

But she never imagined her eldest brother had let Zisheng and Zixi go…

Bai Qincheng had pondered this endlessly before; now she understood—her eldest brother had found a "substitute."

Namely, the young disciple Master Zhuang had taken: "Mo Hua."

But why?

How could this young disciple be so important?

The Deceptive Daoist had let Zisheng and Zixi go just for him?

Master Zhuang's actions were always deeply calculated, flawless in planning.

Could this young disciple of his hide some unfathomable secret?

Bai Qincheng's gaze sharpened.

"Mother…" Bai Zixi whispered.

Bai Qincheng snapped back to herself, turned to look at Bai Zixi, and as their eyes met, her heart trembled—her thoughts churned, complex and hard to name.

Yet her expression remained cold; she merely nodded faintly. "I understand."

Bai Zisheng wanted to say more, but Xue Yi quietly pulled him back.

She knew—this much was enough. Given the Lady's nature, saying more might backfire.

Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi glanced at Bai Qincheng, then swallowed their words.

Afterwards, Xue Yi recounted in detail the entire journey to Bai Qincheng.

Bai Qincheng listened, nodded, and spoke in a melodious but icy voice:

"Rest here tonight. Tomorrow, leave with me…"

Her words were soft, yet unmistakably final.

Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi withdrew, both visibly dejected.

…

That night, the moonlight was cold and exquisite.

Bai Qincheng sat in her room, before her lay a Celestial Mechanism Compass, its surface tangled with karmic threads, celestial fate ebbing and flowing.

Bai Qincheng frowned; after a long while, she sighed.

"Celestial Mechanism calculations… I still can't match my elder brothers…"

No matter how she calculated, this celestial fate remained incomprehensible.

What, then, was her elder brother's destiny…?

Bai Qincheng shook her head, and suddenly the two words "Mo Hua" rose again in her mind.

She recalled again how, that day, Zisheng and Zixi had pleaded with her—her thoughts were tangled.

Zisheng's nature was somewhat crude, impulsive, yet also proud.

Among all the prodigies of the clan, he had always looked down on others, and she had rarely seen him care so deeply for anyone else.

And Bai Zixi…

The expression she wore—calling herself "Mother" and begging her to save her junior brother—flashed again in her mind.

Those eyes, usually cold and distant, as pure and elegant as a snow lotus, now faintly revealed a hint of… pleading?

How could a mother fail to read the emotion brewing in that glance?

But how could this possibly be?

She had always understood her daughter's nature…

And precisely because of that, she felt stunned.

"Mo Hua…"

Bai Qingcheng's gaze sharpened slightly as she silently memorized the name.

(End of Chapter)