Chapter 617: The List

Encrypted diary…

What could be inside?

Mo Hua's eyes lit up, his curiosity surging.

This Jiang Laoda, amid a pile of rambling journal entries, had hidden some illicit information…

And he sealed it first, then encrypted it—going to such great lengths to hide it, there must be something valuable inside!

Mo Hua's lips curled into a sly smile.

He wanted to decrypt it and take a look.

Zheng Fang had said that sealing and encryption are different.

Sealing constructs an irregular magnetic pattern, forming a blank "mist-like magnetic ink" to obscure the text.

Encryption is "disguising" the text.

More precisely, it distorts the secondary thunder pattern, alters the magnetic flow, and subverts the "agreement" between fixed and irregular patterns, causing the displayed text to change and form a "disguise."

The text you see is not the true content within the jade slip.

"To decrypt it, you must decipher the 'secret pattern,' correct the distorted secondary thunder pattern, and restore the jade slip's original text…"

In other words, you must rectify the "agreement" between fixed and irregular magnetic patterns.

The key is still the secondary thunder pattern…

Every action a cultivator takes leaves traces.

Jade slip encryption is no exception.

If Jiang Laoda used a "secret pattern" to view the jade slip's true content, that secret pattern would generate a magnetic flow and leave a trace.

Other cultivators might not perceive this trace, but Mo Hua, whose spiritual sense had undergone a transformation and fused with the uncanny calculation and the derivation calculation, could sense it.

This is the same principle Mo Hua used to "unseal" the jade slip.

Perceive the trace, deduce the secondary thunder pattern, then compare and match it against known secondary thunder patterns to uncover the true secret pattern.

But decryption is more complex than unsealing.

To contemplate the jade slip and perceive the magnetic patterns, you cannot use the Dao Stele to deduce.

Therefore, you cannot deduce for long.

Otherwise, the spiritual sense will be torn apart by the uncanny calculation and the derivation calculation due to excessive strain, causing damage.

So it will also take more time.

Mo Hua endured patiently, methodically calculating each magnetic flow step by step.

Fortunately, the "diary" jade slip's sealing pattern and encryption secret pattern belonged to the same category, so after more than half a month, Mo Hua finally deciphered the true "secret pattern."

Mo Hua let out a deep breath.

After successfully deciphering the first "sealing pattern," he had now successfully deciphered his first "secret pattern"!

His collection of secondary thunder patterns had grown richer.

His mastery of thunder-magnetic arrays had taken another solid step forward.

He just didn't know what he'd end up becoming if he kept learning like this, all the way to the extreme…

Mo Hua frowned, pondering.

To comprehend magnetic flows and fully master secondary thunder patterns is to possess countless keys.

Then, would all sealed and encrypted jade slips across the cultivation world become meaningless to him?

Would that mean he could plunder every single transmission in the world?

"Too terrifying…"

Mo Hua himself dared not imagine it.

Mo Hua shook his head, discarded this "foolish fantasy," and returned to fiddling with Jiang Laoda's "diary."

Zheng Fang had explained exactly how to decrypt it.

Mo Hua recalled it, then sank his spiritual sense into the jade slip, condensing a secondary thunder pattern—hard-won after much effort—into scattered magnetic ink.

He overlaid this secondary thunder pattern, as the "secret pattern," one by one onto the text bearing magnetic flow traces.

The secondary magnetic flow generated by the secret pattern seeped from the surface magnetic ink, penetrated the irregular magnetic patterns, flowed downward, corrected the distorted magnetic flow caused by the "disguise," and "rectified it to truth," thereby constructing the true bridge.

Within the jade slip, Jiang Laoda's diary text began to warp and twist, then stabilized, revealing its true form beneath the disguise.

Mo Hua looked eagerly.

As he read, his expression grew enigmatic.

These words…

Were they a "list"?

The list was filled with a string of cultivation-world nicknames:

"Poison Rakshasa, Fire Foreman, Golden Luo Han, Young Master, Butcher, Blood Woodcutter, Yin Leizi, Lady Miao, Ghost Mask Fiend, River Dragon…"

Full of underworld flavor, utterly unorthodox.

The cultivators behind these names were surely at least criminal cultivators, many likely evil cultivators, even demonic cultivators.

Mo Hua was greatly surprised, muttering to himself:

"You really can't judge a person by appearance—could Jiang Laoda have such an extensive network?"

"But that doesn't make sense…"

These nicknames sounded brutal; these cultivators clearly weren't good people—how could they possibly be associates of someone with such an ordinary name as 'Jiang Laoda'?

"These people may not all be acquaintances of Jiang Laoda…"

"Then is this list something Jiang Laoda stumbled upon?"

"Or did he pick it up while going down a dark path—murdering, arson, swindling, cheating—by hearing these names on the underworld?"

Or is it the same organization?

What organization?

……

Mo Hua couldn't figure it out.

Moreover, there was one most critical question.

Keeping this "list" for oneself seemed useless…

"Hand it over to Dao Ting Si for merit?"

Catching no actual criminal isn't real merit, and without an official task issued, even if turned in, it might not earn any merit.

What if Dao Ting Si asks how you obtained this "list"?

What would you answer?

That you just happened to be kidnapped by traffickers, then slaughtered them, killed Jiang Laoda, stripped his storage bag, took his Broken Gold Jade Slip, mastered the Yuan Magnet Array, deciphered the "Seal Script," broke the "Secret Script," and found this "list"?

This whole chain of events couldn't possibly be told to Dao Ting Si.

If you lied, you'd have to weave a tightly logical big lie—or you'd surely be exposed.

Even if your actions were deemed "self-defense" and Dao Ting Si didn't pursue it, they'd still label you a "dangerous element" and keep a close watch on you.

Your future actions would become inconvenient.

"But if I don't hand it over to Dao Ting Si, what use is this list I worked so hard to decode?"

Mo Hua lay on his bed, propping his head on his arm, staring at the ceiling, blinking as he pondered.

Suddenly, Mo Hua had a flash of inspiration, his eyes brightening.

Names, nicknames…

As the saying goes: a man's name, a tree's shadow.

There are wrong names, but no wrong nicknames.

That bald eagle was one.

Mo Hua didn't know his real name, but since his nickname was "Bald Eagle," he was almost certainly bald, and his scalp bore the Four Symbols Eagle Array.

One "bald," one "eagle."

Perfectly accurate—not a single word of falsehood.

So these many nicknames on the list were likely derived from these cultivators' physiques, cultivation arts, Dao methods, or their signature techniques in the cultivation world.

For instance, "Poison Rakshasa"—clearly skilled in poison;

"Fire Foreman" must cultivate fire-affinity arts and excel in fire Dao methods;

"Golden Luo Han"—an Luo Han, so his body is robust; the "golden" prefix suggests he cultivates metal-affinity Dao, and very likely practices a defensive technique like "Golden Bell Shield."

"Young Master"—certainly a slick, powdered-faced seducer, practicing a heretical cultivation art of "absorbing essence."

……

In other words, each of these cultivators must carry a "legacy"!

To thrive and make a name for themselves near Qian Xue Zhou, a land teeming with geniuses, sects, and deep roots…

Their legacies must be no ordinary thing!

Jiang Laoda's list was not only a list of heretical cultivators—it could also be considered a…

Legacy List!

Mo Hua's mind cleared suddenly.

One's perspective must be broader.

Don't just think about milking the sect for merit.

The merit of heretical cultivators can be milked too!

As long as you capture them, "persuade them with reason," and extract the whereabouts of their legacies, you won't need to spend merit buying techniques anymore.

In fact, capturing them could even earn you merit!

Pure profit!

As for how to choose a legacy…

Mo Hua had already decided.

If you want to learn a certain type of technique or legacy, go capture a heretic or cultist with the same affinity.

For example, if you want fire-affinity techniques, hunt down heretics on the list with nicknames containing "fire," "flame," or "blaze."

If you want metal-affinity techniques, target villains with names containing "gold," "vajra," or "golden arhat."

If you want water-affinity techniques, go after villains with names containing "water," "wave," "river," "fish," or "dragon."

……

"Follow the map to find the horse"—you'll hit the mark every time.

Whether you find a suitable technique will still depend somewhat on luck.

But even if no suitable technique appears, you'll still earn merit.

Mo Hua's big eyes glowed brightly.

"Jiang Laoda was a good man!"

This list was practically another "Merit Record!"

As for which technique to learn first, which heretic to target, how to find him, how to take on the task…

These details still needed careful planning.

Once everything was prepared and ready, he could begin "naming targets"…

Mo Hua clutched the jade slip, an involuntary smile spreading across his face.

The dead Jiang Laoda didn't know he was dead, but the diary he left behind had become a "Death Diary."

……

What spell should I learn first?

After half a day of deep deliberation, Mo Hua decided he should first learn a more refined concealment technique.

It could be used for offense, defense, or escape.

His current concealment technique was too inconvenient.

The concealment technique Mo Hua had learned was meant only for those with a single Water elemental root.

He had a Minor Five Elements root; though it contained Water, it was too impure, making his invisibility incomplete—sometimes a hand or head would slip through.

Adding a concealment array doubled the effect, making it somewhat better.

But now he had reached Foundation Establishment and had entered Tai Xu Sect, one of the Eight Great Sects; future opponents would not just be prodigies, but mostly dangerous criminal cultivators and demonic cultivators—he needed to upgrade his concealment methods.

Mo Hua began flipping through the list.

Criminal cultivators skilled in concealment were mostly thieves or bandits; their names might contain the character "Yin," or words like "Miao Shou" or "Zhai Xing."

After flipping for a long time, Mo Hua finally found his first lucky find:

Yin Laoer.

Only a name, no description—but Mo Hua had a gut feeling this person was definitely a concealment master!

The name was settled; next step was to find Yin Laoer…

But how to find him?

Mo Hua frowned. Should he start with Dao Ting Si?

He was just a lowly Tai Xu Sect disciple—Dao Ting Si wouldn't know who he was…

He had a bronze waist token from Dao Ting Si.

But this token was unofficial, from Tongxian City, a remote second-class Xiancheng in Lizhou—here in Gan Zhou, it might not even be recognized.

And even if he found Yin Laoer, he'd still need someone to help him capture him.

Otherwise, a Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivator like himself might not be able to subdue a seasoned veteran like Yin Laoer.

After much thought, Mo Hua realized there was only one way: take a mission.

He needed to test his luck and see if the sect's reward list had a mission to capture Yin Laoer.

All the cultivators on Jiang Laoda's list were near the Gan Xue Zhou border.

If Yin Laoer committed crimes, Dao Ting Si would surely take notice.

Dao Ting Si was short-staffed—they'd definitely post rewards to the sects.

That way, he could "logically" go capture Yin Laoer and extract his concealment technique inheritance.

This required a bit of luck and "fate."

In the days that followed, during breaks between classes and after meals, Mo Hua would pull out his Tai Xu Token and scan the "Reward List," flipping through each mission one by one.

Whenever he saw keywords like "bandit," "concealment," or "hidden," he'd take note.

But such rewards were rare; after eight or nine days, he made no progress.

One afternoon, after eating his fill, Mo Hua sat with several fellow disciples in the disciples' quarters, chatting.

There was the big-built Cheng Mo, the Lizhou sword prodigy Sister Situ, Zheng Fang of the Zheng family from Zhen Zhou, and a few other disciples he got along with well.

Mo Hua told them stories.

He spoke of how terrifying the demonic beasts of Great Heishan were.

How dangerous and thrilling beast-hunting was.

What zombies looked like.

What a walking corpse was, what a iron corpse was, what a bronze corpse was, and how one became a Corpse King.

What a corpse tide across Manshan looked like.

And some tales of remote mountains and wilds—demonic cultivators stealing souls, dark cultivators devouring humans.

He terrified the aristocratic clan prodigies, who had never left their family compounds.

Cheng Mo opened his mouth wide and muttered:

"Mo Hua, you're not lying to me, are you…"

"Fine, don't believe me…"

Mo Hua grew thirsty, picked up the teapot, and gulped down several mouthfuls.

Cheng Mo still didn't believe him. "How old are you? Hunting beasts, corpse tides, demonic cults… you must be blowing smoke."

"Believe it or not!" Mo Hua ignored him.

"I don't believe it…"

"Then why were you listening so intently just now?"

Cheng Mo fell silent. Though he didn't believe, Mo Hua's tale was so vivid and gripping, it felt real.

Sister Situ was also captivated, but something else came to mind.

"Speaking of beast-hunting…" Sister Situ said, "the sect also does beast-hunting."

"The sect? Beast-hunting?" Mo Hua blinked. "There's such a thing?"

Sister Situ frowned. "You didn't know?"

Mo Hua nodded.

He was a lone cultivator, new to Gan Xue Zhou, new to the sect—no one had told him these things.

Wen Ren Wan had mentioned some, but she couldn't cover everything—some details were inevitably left out.

Mo Hua asked: "Where can I hunt beasts?"

Sister Situ said: "In the Qianxue Province, there is a 'Demon Refining Mountain' inside which many demonic beasts reside—placed there deliberately by powerful cultivators so that sect disciples may hone their Dao arts and cooperate in slaying demons…"

"But it's still a bit far."

"New disciples are forbidden from entering the Demon Refining Mountain; they must at least reach Foundation Establishment mid-stage."

"The Demon Refining Mountain holds many rare demonic beasts, whose materials are highly valuable and specifically used to forge spirit weapons, especially spirit swords…"

"Forging swords?!"

Mo Hua's eyes lit up.

Sister Situ also looked eager: "Yes, it's said some spirit swords can only be forged using bones from certain demonic beasts within the Demon Refining Mountain of Qianxue Province…"

Mo Hua nodded slightly, recalling that among the inheritance of the broken Han Jinyu Sword Art he held, there was a category called "Method of Sword Forging."

It explained how to forge the swords required for sword mastery…

He wanted to ask further, but suddenly his heart leapt—as if something he had long awaited had just occurred.

Concealment Technique!

Mo Hua immediately opened the Grand Void Token and found a new batch of tasks had appeared on it.

One task, though seemingly ordinary, stood out sharply to Mo Hua's eyes:

"Dao Ting Si of Qianxue Province has issued a bounty…"

"A strange assassination case…"

Today's bonus chapter will be added a bit later~