Chapter 599: Merit

Mo Hua was still uneasy when a group of fellow disciples—some nearly his age, some one or two years older, others clearly older than him—called him "Little Senior Brother."

These disciples shouted it hesitantly, awkwardly.

As if ashamed, their voices were like mosquitoes', afraid of being heard.

But this was Mr. Xun's wish.

Mr. Xun was of high virtue and great prestige; even some true transmission elders in the inner sect dared not lightly defy him.

How much less these new outer sect disciples?

First time awkward, second time familiar.

Keep calling, and they'd grow used to it.

Say it a few more times, and they'd become proficient.

Yet some still resented it inwardly.

Occasionally, a few "troublemakers" would find an excuse to "provoke" Mo Hua.

Mo Hua didn't take them seriously—he didn't need to fight back; just invoking Mr. Xun's name and asserting his authority as "Little Senior Brother," assigning them extra array exercises, was enough.

These "troublemaker" disciples immediately became obedient.

The spiritual sense of a Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivator ranged between ten and thirteen patterns.

These disciples, newly entering Foundation Establishment, mostly had only ten or eleven patterns of spiritual sense; drawing one or two arrays was fine, but drawing too many truly left them "wishing for death."

Mo Hua drew arrays daily, so he understood spiritual sense capacity with extreme precision.

He assigned exercises just beyond their limits—difficult, agonizing, yet not enough to damage their spiritual seas.

A small lesson.

Fearing Mr. Xun's authority, they dared not refuse.

After Mo Hua had dealt with them a few times, no disciple dared openly challenge his "authority" anymore.

Over time, Mo Hua's identity as "Little Senior Brother" was gradually accepted by the disciples.

Though called "Little Senior Brother," Mo Hua held no airs; he treated others and acted exactly as before.

Soon, many disciples began secretly approaching Mo Hua during or after class to ask about arrays.

Some questions they couldn't understand in class, yet dared not ask Mr. Xun, now came to Mo Hua.

Mo Hua was far more likable than Mr. Xun.

When others asked about arrays, Mo Hua answered fully, leaving nothing unsaid.

He still remembered Instructor Yan's former advice:

"The Way of Arrays is like water—only by passing it on can it flow endlessly…"

Hoarding knowledge only rots the arrays, turning them into stagnant pools.

Thus, to any disciple sincerely willing to learn arrays, Mo Hua taught sincerely and explained thoroughly.

Having received Mo Hua's teachings, the disciples called him "Little Senior Brother" more readily.

Thereafter, Mr. Xun grew even more "lazy," and Mo Hua taught more classes, deepening his bond with these fellow disciples.

The "half-teacher, half-friend" camaraderie grew even stronger.

Mr. Xun silently observed all this, feeling inwardly comforted.

With this bond, over time, Mo Hua had established a foothold within the Grand Void Gate.

The longer the time, the deeper the bond, the firmer the foundation.

Yet the number was still too small…

Taiyi Pavilion had only about a hundred disciples; only these hundred, attending the same array class, called Mo Hua "Little Senior Brother."

This generation's prodigies numbered nearly a thousand.

Not in the same teaching chamber, naturally, they never received Mo Hua's instruction…

Mr. Xun silently thought:

"I must find an opportunity to have all these disciples attend Mo Hua's 'classes,' and all call him 'Little Senior Brother'…"

Not one can be left out!

Mr. Xun thought far ahead.

The sect's foundation is people—these disciples who carry the sect's legacy.

Bonding with the sect's disciples is bonding with the sect itself.

The Grand Void Gate is one of the Eight Great Sects; though its disciples don't match the Sida Sect in number, they are still the elite across the cultivation continents.

If Mo Hua cultivates good relations with his fellow disciples, when he leaves the sect and travels the world, he will naturally have connections.

The Nine Provinces share the same sect; Ji Sihai holds old friends.

Wherever he goes, someone calls him "Little Senior Brother"—this makes things easier.

With fellow disciples to sustain him, he won't forget the sect's bond.

With the sect as his backing and fellow disciples to aid him, even if he walks alone, he won't fear noble families' exclusion or the Mo Sect's seduction.

Only then can he have the resolve to uphold his original heart, avoid the dark path, and seek the true Dao…

Mr. Xun's gaze grew deep, and he nodded.

Suddenly, he remembered something else, frowned, and realized another issue:

"Though the sect's foundation is people, the sect itself still has its own system of legacy…"

"The sect's rules must still exist; he must still be exposed to the sect's logic of transmission."

"Things gained too easily are often not valued…"

"I cannot favor this child too much—that would rob him of the chance to grow."

"He must still endure the hardships he needs to face…"

Mr. Xun slightly raised his eyebrows.

……

Mo Hua did not yet know of Mr. Xun's painstaking intentions.

He was busy every day—cultivating, attending classes, then also responsible for "teaching," and even the little time left over had to be spent learning arrays.

What Mo Hua was currently studying was the "Rain Nourishment Array."

It was a Bagua Ze-system array, second-rank with fifteen patterns, and the most difficult array Mo Hua had learned so far under the limit of his current spiritual sense.

This array was also given to him by Mr. Xun.

Mr. Xun seemed to want Mo Hua to cultivate a kind heart and a gentle approach to array arts, so all the arrays he gave Mo Hua afterward were water-wood or earth-stone types—arrays that nourished all things and promoted Daoist industries.

Not a single killing array.

Mo Hua, having come this far, accepted it as it was—as long as he could learn, it was enough.

The Grand Void Gate had a peaceful atmosphere: no cultivators of sin, no demonic cultivators, no human traffickers, no evil spirits or curses—he had no immediate need for killing arrays.

His main goal was to strengthen his spiritual sense through array study.

Then, after strengthening his spiritual sense, he would learn even more difficult arrays…

Thus, spiritual sense and array arts would mutually reinforce each other, advancing together.

His cultivation breakthroughs were also closely tied to his spiritual sense and array arts.

He cultivated the Great Expansion Scripture; its bottleneck lay in spiritual sense, requiring him to solve mystery arrays—especially for major realm breakthroughs, the array he must solve was the Heavenly Mystery Array.

This time, when he broke through again, he would no longer have his Senior Uncle "helping" him.

He would have to rely on himself, so his spiritual sense must be strong, his array arts precise.

All his cultivation techniques also depended on the strength of his spiritual sense.

Spiritual sense is the path to Dao; spiritual sense is the foundation.

Cultivation progress always relies on daily accumulation, natural progression—there was no rush for now.

Mo Hua's current plan was to study fifteen-pattern arrays, honing his spiritual sense to sixteen patterns, and even higher, so that when his cultivation advanced, the bottleneck would be easier to break through.

First fifteen-pattern arrays, then sixteen patterns, then seventeen—he would continue learning like this…

But after half a month, Mr. Xun told Mo Hua there were no more arrays for him to study.

Mo Hua froze.

Mr. Xun sighed. "I forgot to tell you earlier—the Grand Void Gate has its rules."

"Rules?"

Mo Hua blinked.

"Rules!" Mr. Xun emphasized, then patiently explained to Mo Hua.

"This rule was set by Laozu. I cannot change it…"

Mo Hua nodded, finding it perfectly reasonable—he did not realize at all that Mr. Xun himself was one of the "Laozu" he spoke of.

Mr. Xun continued:

"The arrays taught in class are mandated by the sect—they are given to you for free…"

"But outside-class arrays, in principle, require payment."

"Especially since you are newly initiated, only at Foundation Establishment early stage—technically, the highest array you should study should not exceed eleven patterns."

"Twelve or thirteen-pattern arrays, even if you learn fastest, won't be taught until next year or the year after."

"Moreover, this is not mandatory."

"Most Foundation Establishment early stage array masters—even those at the peak of early stage—still struggle with twelve-pattern arrays, let alone thirteen…"

Mr. Xun glanced at Mo Hua. "So the fourteen and fifteen-pattern arrays you've studied are all seriously beyond the curriculum—I taught them to you as a special exception."

Mo Hua felt deeply moved and thanked him: "Thank you, Mr. Xun!"

Then he grew worried. "You… won't demand payment in Spirit Stones later, will you…"

Although he didn't know how many Spirit Stones a second-rank fourteen-pattern or fifteen-pattern array cost.

But such official sect-recorded, proper Bagua-system arrays surely weren't cheap…

Especially since he'd learned so many.

Unconsciously, Mr. Xun had already given him many array diagrams.

There was only one fifteen-pattern array—the Rain Nourishment Array—but Mo Hua had studied a great many thirteen and fourteen-pattern arrays.

If they demanded back payment in Spirit Stones, his Mu Baobao's meager savings would instantly go "bankrupt."

Mo Hua frowned, troubled.

Mr. Xun silently glanced at Mo Hua, letting him worry for a moment, then said:

"No need for that. Since I gave them to you, study freely—no Spirit Stones required. Moreover, within the Grand Void Gate, sect inheritance is not bought with Spirit Stones."

"No Spirit Stones?" Mo Hua blinked in surprise. "Then what?"

Mr. Xun said: "Merit."

"Merit?"

Mo Hua frowned—he had never been told this upon entering.

Mr. Xun explained:

"Merit refers to a disciple's contributions or achievements to the sect…"

"Not just the Grand Void Gate—in the entire Qianxue Province, the Sida Sect, the Eight Gates, the Twelve Streams, the Hundred Qianxue Sects, and the thousands of sects beneath them, all implement the 'Merit System'…"

"This rule was established by the ancestors of Qianxue Province to reform sects, enhance sect cohesion, reduce disparities in wealth among disciples, and ensure every disciple has an opportunity to obtain Daoist resources and elevate the sect's status."

"If disparities in wealth and status are too great upon entry, it inevitably leads to flattery, favoritism, and vain competition."

"The poor become the beasts of burden for the rich; the weak cling to the powerful."

"In this way, the sect will naturally be mired in foul air; the Dao heart will be corroded by fame and fortune, and no one will single-mindedly seek the Dao."

Mo Hua came to a sudden realization. "So when entering the sect, that's why the sect imposes a quota on the spirit stones disciples bring into the sect, and there are also controls on other pills, spiritual artifacts, and heavenly materials and earthly treasures…"

Mr. Xun nodded. "Correct. Once you enter the sect, you naturally have to rely on your own efforts."

"Disciples from well-born noble families also need to rely on their own ability to earn merit, in exchange for cultivation resources, and thereby come to appreciate how difficult cultivation is;"

"Ordinary disciples from humble backgrounds can, through effort, be self-reliant, using sect merit to exchange for heavenly materials and earthly treasures they could never obtain outside, thereby breaking through the realm and striving for the great Dao…"

It's just that…

Now, among these eight great sects, such disciples with "humble backgrounds" have become fewer and fewer…

Mr. Xun sighed faintly in his heart.

"Merit…"

Mo Hua's eyes lit up. "Then this merit—can it be exchanged for good things?"

Mr. Xun nodded. "Better than you imagine…"

Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly recalled that name:

The Grand Void Divine Sense Sword Transformation True Art!

If his merit were high enough, could he exchange for this extremely powerful Divine Sense Sword Art that might be hidden within the Grand Void Gate?

Mo Hua considered it for a moment, but still did not ask Mr. Xun.

This kind of matter must be kept secret…

If he told Mr. Xun and Mr. Xun asked how he knew, and he couldn't answer, or answered poorly, it would be easy to expose the secret of "Heavenly Mystery Derivation Calculation."

Moreover, besides this Divine Sense Sword Art, could he also exchange for…

A second-grade absolute formation?

Mo Hua's eyes gleamed slightly, his heart full of anticipation.

Mr. Xun, unaware of Mo Hua's little schemes, continued explaining to Mo Hua:

"…Therefore, merit is extremely important to sect disciples."

"The sect's merit system can also enhance the disciples' sense of solidarity and belonging to the sect."

You contribute to the sect, and the sect gives you rewards to aid your cultivation—back and forth, this relationship deepens…

In this world, affection without benefit is mostly a moonlit flower reflected in water, unable to withstand any setback.

Mr. Xun, having lived so long, naturally understood this principle.

Mo Hua thought of another matter and asked:

"Sir, you said merit is also related to one's standing in the sect. Do you mean promotion from outer to inner gate?"

Mr. Xun was somewhat surprised, and nodded. "Yes."

He pondered briefly, then asked Mo Hua in return:

"Mo Hua, in your opinion, when a sect takes on disciples, is talent more important, or character?"

Mo Hua thought for a moment and said, "Both talent and character are important, but character is actually more important than talent."

Mr. Xun nodded. "Correct. It's just a pity that nowadays, when sects take on disciples, they only value talent and no longer look at character…"

"Although the human heart is hidden behind a face, fickle and changeable—those with poor character may not fail to turn from evil to good, and those with good character may also be influenced and become devious."

"But aptitude—good is good, bad is bad, simple and clear…"

"Yet even so, cultivating the Dao without regard for the heart, possessing only cultivation, will in the end amount to nothing, and may even easily become a puppet for another's Divine Sense…"

Mo Hua nodded in deep agreement.

He had seen too many cultivators whose Dao hearts were planted with demons, dying at the hands of his martial uncles.

Those with firm minds could usually hold on for a while.

Those with shallow character would only need one glance from his martial uncle to immediately go mad…

But…

Why did Mr. Xun suddenly bring this up?

Mo Hua was somewhat puzzled and asked:

"Sir, what does this have to do with merit?"

Mr. Xun sighed deeply, recalling the past:

"In the very beginning, the sects of the Qianxue State boundary had no such merit system. Back then, there were few rules, and taking on disciples placed extreme emphasis on talent."

"A top-grade or upper-middle-grade prodigy would often be frantically fought over by numerous sects."

"Cultivation methods, Dao techniques, spiritual energy, spiritual pills, heavenly materials and earthly treasures—whatever they wanted, they got, whatever they had was given."

"However…"

"This also made these prodigies far too arrogant, feeling that everything was obtained through their own ability, and forgetting the sect's dedication and grace."

"'Heaven's favored children' who forgot their roots, betrayed the sect, or even fell into demonic cultivation were everywhere."

"The sects paid an enormous price and raised a pack of Bai Yanlang."

"After that, the ancestors, having learned a painful lesson, established the rule of 'merit.' No matter how good one's talent, if one wished to obtain true inheritance, one must make sufficiently great contributions to the sect."

"For outer disciples to be promoted to inner disciples, besides aptitude, one must also look at their merit."

"Inner disciples—whether ordinary disciples or true transmission disciples—must also have made certain contributions to the sect before they are qualified to be promoted to elder."

"In other words, as long as your contribution to the sect is great enough, you can enter the inner gate, become a true transmission disciple, or even a true transmission elder, or even…"

"Be promoted to Sect Master!"

Mr. Xun's tone was impassioned.

After speaking, he glanced at Mo Hua. Seeing that Mo Hua only nodded but showed no look of anticipation, he understood in his heart that Mo Hua had no intention of joining the inner gate.

Joining the inner gate requires taking a master.

Mo Hua doesn't want to join the Inner Sect, which means he doesn't want to abandon his original master.

Even the possibility of becoming Grand Void Gate's leader seems to hold little appeal for him.

This proves that the boy indeed has a master.

And he values loyalty and righteousness, recognizing only his first teacher.

Mr. Xun felt a touch of regret, yet also a spark of admiration.

Mr. Xun added a few more remarks afterward, explaining to Mo Hua the origin and purpose of the Merit System, then said:

"Therefore, if you wish to study arrays, you must contribute to the sect, earn Merit, and only then can you exchange for array diagrams with fifteen or sixteen patterns—or even higher levels."

Mo Hua thought it over and found it reasonable.

There's no such thing as a free chicken leg.

The sect can't let its disciples freely take advantage of it.

If too many disciples like you appeared and drained the sect dry until it collapsed, that would be bad…

Mo Hua nodded and asked:

"Mr. Xun, how do I earn this Merit?"

Seeing Mo Hua showed no dissatisfaction, Mr. Xun nodded slightly and explained:

"Achieving an 'A' in any subject exam grants you some Merit…"

"Crafting weapons, refining pills, inscribing talismans, or drawing arrays for the sect can also be converted into Merit…"

"Participating in major sect events—such as the Dao Debate Assembly or the Sword Debate Assembly—and earning a ranking will reward you with Merit…"

"Additionally, the sect occasionally assigns tasks—such as cooperating with Dao Ting Si to capture criminal cultivators, heretical cultivators, demonic cultivators, and so on—which also count as sect Merit…"

"Of course, such matters are too bloody and dangerous for you at your current stage…"

…

Mr. Xun listed a long series of ways.

Mo Hua silently memorized them, then asked hesitantly: "Mr. Xun, why didn't I ever hear about any of this before?"

Mr. Xun raised an eyebrow. "Because you didn't have the clearance to know."

"Clearance?"

Mr. Xun pointed at Mo Hua's waist.

Mo Hua suddenly understood. "Grand Void Token?"

"Correct," said Mr. Xun. "When you entered, someone must have told you how vital the Grand Void Token is, and warned you not to lose it…"

"It's not just for attending classes or entering and leaving the sect—more importantly…"

"The Grand Void Token determines your sect clearance!"

"As a new recruit, your Grand Void Token is only in its initial state—beyond attending Dao studies and accessing the disciples' quarters, you have virtually no clearance at all."

"Once you've cultivated in the sect for a full year, and the sect has thoroughly assessed your character and background, only then will it unlock your true Grand Void clearance…"

"This is what we call 'Merit clearance.'"

"With clearance, you can perform tasks listed on the Grand Void Token, earn Merit, and exchange it for a range of sect-preserved Dao arts, cultivation techniques, array lineages, as well as spirit stones, pills, and spiritual items…"

Mo Hua was stunned, then frowned:

"But I've only been in the sect for four or five months—I can't possibly have my Grand Void Token's clearance unlocked yet…"

"No problem," said Mr. Xun. "I'll unlock it for you ahead of time."

"Huh?" Mo Hua blinked. "Can you do that?"

Mr. Xun nodded. "You've studied arrays under me for this long—you're already 'thoroughly known.' Unlocking clearance early is no big deal."

"Give me your Grand Void Token," Mr. Xun instructed.

Mo Hua respectfully handed over his initial, simple Grand Void Token, bearing only a single sword pattern.

Mr. Xun took it, stirred his spiritual sense slightly—and a faint glow flashed across the token.

Then he returned the Grand Void Token to Mo Hua. "Done."

Mo Hua was surprised. "That's it?"

Unlocking clearance was this simple…

He pondered inwardly, sensing a guess: Mr. Xun must have used his spiritual sense to activate the array within the Grand Void Token and altered the clearance…

But exactly what he did remained beyond Mo Hua's understanding—he was only at Foundation Establishment.

Mo Hua took back the Grand Void Token, swept his spiritual sense over it, and immediately felt it was different—something new had been added inside.

Before he could examine it further, another question came to mind.

"Mr. Xun, you said the sect's rules can't be changed…"

Mo Hua eyed Mr. Xun suspiciously. "But isn't what you just did changing the rules?"

Mr. Xun fell silent.

This kid—how fast does his mind work…

Mr. Xun's expression turned stern. "It's not!"

"Really not…?"

Mr. Xun nodded. "I say it's not—it's not!"

"… "

Mo Hua didn't know what to say.

But since Mr. Xun had unlocked his Grand Void Token's clearance, it was a good thing—he let it go.

Rules or not—he was just a new disciple; what did he know?

Mo Hua held the Grand Void Token, eyes bright with anticipation, already imagining what tasks lay inside—and what treasures he could exchange for.

Mr. Xun looked at Mo Hua and finally warned him:

"For cultivators, stability comes first; do not reach too high…"

"Though I've granted you access, you are still new, your cultivation is shallow, and you have little experience…"

"At first, take on low-level, beginner tasks—painting arrays, sweeping the dao grounds, guarding the gate, and such…"

"Things like chasing down criminal cultivators, slaying heretical cultivators, wiping out major and minor Mo Sects…"

"You must not accept such dangerous missions…"

"Mm-hmm!"

Mo Hua nodded obediently.

6k words, again a bit late

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