Chapter 588: Genius

Afterward, Elder Shen began discussing other matters.

The entry permit, having been recorded in the records and placed on hold as "pending deliberation," was effectively voided and returned.

The disciple handed the entry permit to Mo Hua.

"The matter of entry still requires deliberation…"

"How long will deliberation take?" Mo Hua asked.

The disciple replied with polite indifference: "Elders' deliberations are not for disciples to question—I don't know. Let fate decide…"

Mo Hua understood roughly.

Accept me or don't accept me—it's that simple.

I already have an entry permit, yet they still delay and evade deliberation.

It's clearly a polite refusal…

He didn't believe a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like himself warranted five-tiered Qiandao Sect spending ten days or half a month in deliberation.

It would most likely fizzle out.

Mo Hua shook his head.

He hadn't expected that after traveling over mountains and rivers, making this long journey, he hadn't even crossed the threshold of Qiandao Sect…

He glanced at the threshold before Qiandao Sect's main gate and sighed inwardly:

"Qiandao Sect's threshold is truly high…"

Mo Hua put away the entry permit.

Though useless now, it was still a gift from his master—better to keep it as a memento.

If you're not of the same family, you don't enter the same door.

This kind of grand, lavish sect, with such a high threshold, accepting only "geniuses," simply wasn't suited for him…

The entire Qianxue Province is vast—he'd find another sect!

"If this place won't have me, another will!"

Mo Hua rallied his spirits; the small disappointment vanished instantly. He lifted his head, straightened his chest, and marched out of Qiandao Sect's gate with proud, resolute steps.

Yet as he descended the mountain, he brushed past a cultivator clad in Qiandao Sect elder's robes, his hair and beard half-gray, his brows and eyes stern and upright.

One ascended; one descended.

They passed each other without noticing.

This stern-faced Qiandao Sect elder bore four golden stripes on his robe.

He walked with authority straight into the main gate.

Along the way, disciples bowed and saluted; he nodded slightly in return, until he entered Qiandao Sect's deliberation hall, where he frowned.

Elder Shen looked up, glanced at him, and said coolly:

"Elder Zheng, you're late."

Elder Zheng sat down without ceremony and snorted, "Arriving early or late makes no difference."

The atmosphere grew tense.

Elder Shen smiled, unconcerned, and said:

"Let's continue deliberating… With the incoming disciples approaching, affairs are numerous. We must handle them promptly, avoid delays, and finish quickly—so everyone can rest easier…"

All present agreed.

The atmosphere returned to normal.

Matters were raised one by one: disciple admissions, improvements to sect regulations, teaching rewards and punishments, elder benefits, and more…

The elders debated, each offering opinions, then gauged Elder Shen's expression before reaching consensus.

Only Elder Zheng either stayed silent or, when he spoke, uttered sharp words that tightened the atmosphere.

But he was only one man—one voice—and could change nothing.

For most outcomes, he could only pretend to overlook and reluctantly "agree."

Yet half an hour later, when a certain matter was raised, Elder Zheng's stance hardened, even turning angry.

"Only the highest-grade spiritual roots qualify for admission?"

Elder Zheng slammed his fist on the table, "What nonsense are you spouting?!"

Elder Shen's face twitched slightly, but he restrained his anger with composure and said coolly:

"Elder Zheng, as a teacher, don't use vulgar language—it's a breach of decorum…"

Elder Zheng spat, "Hypocritical! What decorum? You've already abandoned your dignity—why should I care about decorum?"

Elder Shen grew slightly angry, "Elder Zheng!"

He took a deep breath, "Only the highest-grade spiritual roots qualify for admission—that was the unanimous decision of all elders after deliberation…"

Elder Zheng sneered, "Unanimous? You mean you just read everyone's expression?"

At these words, the faces of all present elders darkened.

Elder Shen said coldly, "Are you implying I, Shen, run a one-man regime?"

"Not you, Shen—you, the Shen family!" Elder Zheng scoffed bluntly:

"Who are you? Just a Liu Yuhua. Why should anyone give you face?"

"The face they give you is your Shen family's face!"

"Your Shen family is a colossal, ten-thousand-year clan, deeply entrenched! You're merely your Shen family's flesh-and-blood 'message talisman'…"

Elder Shen flew into a rage, "Insolent!"

The other elders murmured in shock.

Elder Zheng sneered, silent.

Elder Shen said coldly, "Elder Zheng, you speak reckless slander — you are slandering not only Shen, but the Shen family itself!"

"Whether it is slander or not, you know perfectly well in your heart. What the customs of Qiandao Sect are like, do I really need to spell it out?"

Elder Zheng sneered again, "I've heard that even a great cultivator of the Dongxu realm, if he wishes to take a post in Qiandao Sect, must bend his waist and toast you, Elder Shen, a cup of wine?"

Elder Shen still only said, "Nonsense!"

Elder Zheng continued to expose his shortcomings, "Over these years, how many quotas have you secretly withheld? And just who exactly did you give those quotas to?"

"To the Shen family?"

"Or sold them at a high price to the noble houses that share the same trousers as the Shen family?"

"You want to change Qiandao Sect's name and surname?!"

……

These words were extremely grave, and the elders present all turned pale one after another.

Elder Shen, on the contrary, calmed down. He waved his hand at the crowd, "Everyone disperse for now, we'll discuss this matter later. Elder Zheng, he… has suffered some deviation in his cultivation, damaging his sea of consciousness, and occasionally talks nonsense. Please bear with him…"

The elders felt as if granted a great reprieve, and one after another cupped their hands and dispersed.

In the empty great hall, only Elder Zheng and Elder Shen remained.

Elder Shen's face was grim and silent. He said lightly:

"Our Qiandao Sect was able to develop from a small local faction to where it is today entirely because of our sect's Dao lineage, and because of the many extraordinary, gifted disciples."

"Spirit root determines a disciple's talent, determines a disciple's upper limit on the Dao…"

"A fine horse deserves a fine saddle, a precious sword is gifted to a hero."

"Our Qiandao Sect, being a top-tier sect, naturally needs disciples of top-tier talent."

"Only heaven-grade spirit root prodigies are worthy of our Qiandao Sect."

"I don't understand — what exactly is improper about this, that it should make Elder Zheng lose all composure and utter such 'treasonous' words?"

Elder Zheng sneered and asked in return, "Among the successive ancestors of Qiandao Sect, how many had heaven-grade spirit roots?"

"Upper-middle, upper-lower, even mid-low grade — all of them had…"

"By that logic, our Qiandao Sect's ancestors were also unworthy of being disciples of our Qiandao Sect?"

Elder Shen frowned, "That is sophistry!"

He paced back and forth angrily, then opened his mouth to say:

"Times have changed. The great Dao evolves — today is not as the past. Nowadays, among the cultivators of the world, upper-grade spirit roots are everywhere. Why can we not…"

Elder Zheng questioned, "Everywhere — who exactly?"

Elder Shen froze.

Elder Zheng's gaze was sharp, "Those with upper-grade spirit roots everywhere are the noble houses, the clans! Not the cultivators of the world!"

Elder Zheng said word by word, "Not the cultivators of the world!"

"You've forgotten your roots!"

Elder Shen's gaze flickered slightly, and he fell silent.

Elder Zheng's mood was agitated and indignant. After calming slightly, he slowly began:

"Our Qiandao Sect's ancestors, who blazed the trail in rags and built the sect from nothing — was it to make the sect powerful?"

"Yes!"

"But after becoming powerful, for what?"

"So that we could chase fame and profit, rest on our laurels and grow arrogant?"

"No!"

"It was so that we could establish a sect to spread the Dao, make the methods of cultivation accessible, and transmit them to the world — this is what is meant by 'Qiandao'!"

Elder Zheng said in a trembling voice, "The foundation of our Qiandao Sect is 'establishing a sect to spread the Dao'…"

"Spread the Dao to whom? To the cultivators of the world!"

"Only by spreading the Dao to the world does Qiandao Sect have its foundation, its future. Otherwise, if we mindlessly grow powerful and pursue private gain, then no matter how rich, no matter how prosperous our Qiandao Sect becomes, it will be nothing but a tree without roots, a castle in the air!"

Elder Shen's face was utterly indifferent, "Elder Zheng, what you have said does not actually conflict with what I have done…"

Elder Zheng looked at him, his gaze filled with the deepest disappointment.

Elder Shen said, "When all is said and done, our Qiandao Sect can only teach a portion of cultivators. It is impossible to truly spread the Dao to every cultivator under heaven…"

"Since that is so, we can only first teach geniuses, then extend it outward, seeking blessings for the world."

"Heaven-grade spirit roots — those are geniuses…"

Elder Zheng's gaze sharpened, "What is a genius?"

Elder Shen froze once more.

Elder Zheng sneered, "Heaven-grade spirit root equals genius? What a colossal joke!"

"Only those of great talent who carry the world in their hearts deserve to be called geniuses!"

"What is our Qiandao Sect raising?"

"Cold, arrogant geniuses who pursue their own selfish interests?"

"Carry the world in their hearts? Would they? Do they even know what 'the world' means? Do they know what kind of lives the cultivators of this world actually live?"

"Their gaze only ever looks up at the sky, only ever concerns itself with themselves. Would they ever notice the dust at their own feet?"

Elder Shen frowned, "This has nothing to do with spirit roots…"

Elder Zheng nodded, "Yes, originally this had nothing to do with spirit roots, but…"

He pointed at Elder Shen, "What the noble houses have done — surely you are not unaware?"

Elder Shen's face twitched, his expression turning slightly savage.

Yet Elder Zheng continued:

"What a marvelous inheritance of spiritual roots…"

"Through clan marriages, each generation's spiritual roots grow better than the last."

"For those at the bottom, just scraping by for a meal is enough—what's the point of talking about spiritual roots?"

"In a few hundred or even a thousand years, every clan disciple will possess at least an upper-grade, even supreme-grade spiritual root."

"Bottom-tier cultivators are only worthy of middle-grade, or even lower-grade spiritual roots."

"What a brilliant tactic…"

Zheng's voice carried a bone-chilling chill: "Then, our sects will use spiritual roots as a filter—every future student admitted will be upper-grade, every one a clan scion!"

"Those bottom-tier cultivators, born in poverty, don't deserve to enroll, don't deserve to receive the transmission!"

"In this world of cultivation seeking immortality, they deserve only a hundred years of toil, like beasts of burden!"

Shen's expression erupted in fury: "Nonsense!"

His gaze sharpened, coldly stating: "Are you implying, Senior Zheng, that all those born into clans are selfish and self-serving? That they lack concern for the world?"

"I recall—you yourself were born into a clan, weren't you?"

Zheng said: "Human nature is unrelated to one's standing…"

"Those born into clans naturally include those who care for the world;"

"Those born at the bottom naturally include those who fawn on power;"

"But these moral qualities of human nature have nothing to do with the cold hierarchy. Though there may be minor variations, the fundamental truth remains unchanged."

"Those born into clans will naturally defend clan interests;"

"Only those born at the bottom, who have suffered and witnessed the hardships of cultivators, might possibly strive to protect the interests of the powerless, unaffiliated cultivators of this world."

"This Qiandao Sect Sect, which gathers all cultivation transmissions of the world, serves only the private interests of the clans, monopolizes the study of cultivation, violates the founding principles of Li Sect, and disgraces the teachings of our ancestors!"

Shen remained unmoved, sidestepping the issue:

"Senior Zheng, you're exaggerating. The fact that Qiandao Sect has grown so strong proves our method of transmitting the Dao is sound…"

"Sound method?" Zheng's face darkened with anger. "What exactly is Qiandao Sect—no, the entire Qixue Province—teaching now?"

"Our ancestors established the Dao Debate and Sword Discourse gatherings to unite disciples, unite their efforts, and elevate their cultivation and Dao understanding!"

"But now?"

"What used to be Dao Debate and Sword Discourse has become a tool for competition and profit!"

"Clans fabricate false prestige for their so-called 'chosen children,' putting on grand displays…"

"The sect even encourages this, attributing the achievements of one to the whole!"

"If this continues, every disciple we train will be selfish, arrogant, and self-centered!"

"They possess cultivation, but no Dao heart!"

"Other mid- and small-clan cultivators will become hounds of the great clans, tools of the powerful!"

"Is this what you call 'transmitting the Dao well'?"

"Is this what our Qiandao Sect disciples have become?"

"These disciples, selfish and greedy, though high in cultivation, are consumed by private desires. They hold high positions, pursue only personal and clan gain, tower above all, draining the blood of all cultivators in the world—where will this leave the Nine Provinces and the countless beings of this cultivation realm?!"

Shen's expression shifted, his tone dripping with sarcasm: "Senior Zheng, you're overstating it. You've said all this, yet Qixue Province remains prosperous, doesn't it?"

Zheng's gaze pierced like a blade: "Qixue's prosperity? It's the clans who prosper."

"The clans bask in splendor, but you don't see the entire Nine Provinces, laid waste…"

"Qiandao Sect is aiding the tyrant—helping clans monopolize power, rise above all beings, seize the world's wealth for themselves. This is the injustice of the Dao…"

Shen's expression remained indifferent, deaf to his words.

Zheng, beyond rage, spoke softly after a pause:

"The Dao of Heaven diminishes what is excessive and supplements what is lacking…"

"When human justice is unjust, Heaven's Dao will… forcibly twist and corrupt…"

Shen felt a cold chill surge to the crown of his head; he trembled uncontrollably, eyes bulging as he shrieked: "Audacious!"

"You—"

He pointed at Zheng, his finger shaking, voice thundering: "Reckless!"

"Ignorant!"

"Absurd!"

"Your words deserve death!"

Zheng's face showed no expression.

Shen calmed his fury and dread, staring coldly at Zheng: "Senior Zheng, I urge you to watch your tongue. If you continue speaking such heresy, Qiandao Sect may no longer tolerate a radical elder like you…"

Zheng snorted coldly, his face stern and unmoved.

…

Outside Qiandao Sect.

Mo Hua began his quest for cultivation education.

Since Qiandao Sect refused him, he had no choice but to find a way to join another sect.

Mo Hua specifically bought a clearer map.

Qixue Province was vast, with many sects, and beyond them, numerous small and large Xianchengs dependent on the sects.

These Xianchengs, adjacent to sects, had risen because of them.

Their facilities were complete, allowing cultivators to buy and sell artifacts, eat, rest, and some even resided there.

These Xianchengs resembled Lizhou City outside Wuxing Sect, but were far more proper, and strictly forbade large-scale construction to prevent profit disputes from disturbing the sect's peace.

To reach any sect, one must inevitably pass through the Xiancheng outside it.

Within Xiancheng, there were also large carriages that traveled along fixed routes, passing by the outer outskirts of various sects' Xianchengs.

The fare was a bit expensive, but still within Mo Hua's means.

Mo Hua began carefully planning his routes.

After planning, he systematically submitted his home region and resume to each of the "Sida Sect" except Qiandao Sect.

Though the hope was slim, one must always try.

He planned to start with the best sects and submit downward one by one.

It was just a matter of whether a blind cat might stumble upon a dead rat.

Yet his resume was rejected without exception.

This was exactly what Mo Hua had expected.

He felt a slight disappointment, then began submitting to the "Bamen" below the Sida Sect.

The Bamen were numerous—eight in total.

And they were spaced far apart; he couldn't cover all the routes in one go, so he picked a few to submit to, just to test the waters.

As expected, all were rejected.

The reason, without exception, was always "incompatible spiritual root."

The Sida Sect and Bamen both required at least a high-grade spiritual root.

Among them, the Sida Sect had already begun requiring spiritual roots of mid-high grade or higher.

"Probably in a few years, they'll demand nothing less than high-high grade…"

Mo Hua muttered to himself.

The Bamen were slightly more lenient, but still required at least mid-high or high-low grade spiritual roots—Mo Hua was still far from qualifying.

"If the Bamen won't take me, then the Shierliu it is…"

Mo Hua thought silently.

Among the Shierliu, surely a few sects specialized in arrays.

With his array skills, he might have some chance.

But to Mo Hua's surprise, he was still rejected.

"Young Master, your spiritual root… is still insufficient…"

A trainer at Wanzhen Gate, responsible for admissions, gently told Mo Hua.

He felt deeply regretful.

Just moments ago, he had asked Mo Hua several questions on array theory, and Mo Hua answered fluently; moreover, some of his insights left him in awe.

He then asked Mo Hua to draw several arrays.

The flawless array patterns, the effortless layouts, the calm, composed brushwork, and the faint yet unmistakable aura of a master's demeanor made him almost doubt his eyes.

That was the bearing only an array master elder of the sect possessed.

Yet Mo Hua's face was youthful, his demeanor pure, appearing no older than fifteen or sixteen.

The trainer found it absurd, yet profoundly regretful.

"At Wanzhen Gate, only those with high-grade spiritual roots are eligible to enter; if one is a first-grade array master, the requirement may be relaxed to mid-high grade…"

"But…"

The trainer sighed.

Mo Hua had only a mid-low grade spiritual root—far below the mid-high grade.

"No exceptions?" Mo Hua asked, puzzled.

The trainer said regretfully: "None…"

The rules were set by the sect master and the elders—they were fixed. He, a mere trainer, had no authority to change them.

Without rules, nothing can be properly formed.

Wanzhen Gate had never in its history altered its admission requirements.

Only those with sufficient background could sneak in through back doors.

But in such cases, it had nothing to do with the admission requirements.

Mo Hua asked, confused: "For an array sect, is spiritual root really that important?"

The trainer, who genuinely liked Mo Hua, patiently explained: "Spiritual root determines cultivation methods and cultivation level—naturally, it's important."

"The higher your cultivation, the stronger your spiritual awareness becomes, and only then can you become a higher-grade array master…"

"Otherwise, no matter how well you learn arrays, if your cultivation is only Foundation Establishment, you'll never rise above a second-grade array master—you'll never learn arrays above second-grade in your life…"

"But that said, spiritual root doesn't affect array mastery as drastically as one might think…"

"The reason the requirements keep tightening…"

The trainer pointed upward, "is because the Sida Sect set the precedent. They lead, and below them, the Bamen, the Shierliu, even the Qianxue Hundred Gates, all follow suit."

"After all, other sects' disciples are all high-high grade or mid-high grade; if your own sect has mostly high-low and mid-grade, mixed with a few mid-grade, your face won't hold up."

"Moreover, there are too many cultivators now—especially those with high-grade spiritual roots; they're not scarce at all."

"So the threshold has been slowly raised step by step…"

The trainer shook his head, helpless.

He truly wanted to take Mo Hua in, but he had no power—he couldn't decide.

He dared not even ask the elders.

Because previously, when he encountered disciples with decent array talent but slightly inferior spiritual roots and tried to admit them, the elders had always refused.

As the elders said, "We are an array sect. Three-legged toads are hard to find, but two-legged array masters? Aren't they everywhere?"

"Rules are rules. One more or one less second-grade or first-grade array master makes no difference—it's not worth breaking the rules."

Mo Hua sighed and could only give up.

He had no choice but to accept reality, lower his standards again, and look among the "Hundred Gates of Qian Province."

The entry standards for the Hundred Gates of Qian Province were mostly "high-grade" spiritual roots, but some had special requirements—such as expertise in alchemy, artifact forging, talisman crafting, or array drawing—that allowed for relaxed conditions.

They knew they weren't on par with the Sida Sect, the Bada Men, or the Shier Liu, so they weren't so strict.

Indeed, among the Hundred Gates of Qian Province, there were sects willing to accept Mo Hua.

They were willing to lower their spiritual root requirement to "mid-low grade."

But Mo Hua couldn't go.

Because…

It was too expensive…

The spirit stone tuition fees of the Hundred Gates of Qian Province were several times higher than those of elite sects like the Sida Sect, the Bada Men, and the Shier Liu!

They had lowered their spiritual root standard, but not their tuition standard.

Mo Hua couldn't pay the tuition, so he still couldn't enter…

The worse the sect, the higher the tuition!

Mo Hua sighed deeply, helplessly.

Qian Province seemed different from what it appeared to be.

It was completely unlike what he had imagined.

This didn't seem to be a pure place for "learning"…

"What should I do now?"

Mo Hua thought and thought, found no good solution, and finally decided to find a place and just bide his time for now.

If all else failed, he'd start learning array techniques, try to pass the Second-Rank Beginner Array Master exam, then travel across the Xianchengs of Qian Xue Province, painting arrays to earn spirit stones, and see if other opportunities arose…

…

Several days later, Wen Ren Wan learned of Mo Hua's situation.

She was busy caring for Yu'er, and had asked a Wen family alchemist to examine Yu'er's body—for injuries, hidden illnesses, or demonic influences.

Shangguan Yi also hired someone to calculate Yu'er's karmic fate, checking for ominous signs.

After several days, Yu'er remained unharmed.

Wen Ren Wan sighed in relief, and naturally began thinking of Mo Hua.

Mo Hua had clearly said he needed no reward, but Wen Ren Wan felt guilty and still sent someone to secretly protect Mo Hua and observe what he would do next.

When she heard Qiandao Sect had rejected Mo Hua, Wen Ren Wan angrily said:

"How dare they refuse my son's savior?!"

When she heard Mo Hua had submitted many applications but been rejected everywhere, she grew even angrier:

"Blind fools!"

"Such a good boy, and they still won't take him!"

Shangguan Yi, beside her, laughed and groaned.

What does this have to do with that…

Sects take disciples based on spiritual roots, bloodline, and family background—what does it matter whether he saved Yu'er or whether he's a good boy…

This is just unreasonable…

But Shangguan Yi dared not say those four words aloud—if he did, he was finished, and would have to sleep in the study for months…

Shangguan Yi could only nod and say, "Yes, yes…"

Shangguan Yi knew his wife's nature: loyal and righteous, usually very smart, but when it came to those she cared about, she became emotional and overly protective.

He had once been the person she cared about most, but since their son was born, he had been pushed to the side…

Shangguan Yi felt helpless.

Only one update today—I'll try harder and aim to add another by month's end~

(End of Chapter)