Chapter 618

"Three days ago, south of Canglang Mountain, on Luo Pan Mountain Path, outside Qianxue Prefecture, three family disciples were killed, and their storage bags stolen…"

"Dao Ting Si has requested inquiry and investigation…"

"All three disciples were at the Foundation Establishment realm; after a gathering to discuss the Dao, they were returning to the sect along Luo Pan Mountain Path when they passed Canglang Mountain—someone approached them silently from behind and stabbed each through the chest with a dagger-like spiritual artifact coated in Cuishui poison."

"And all three died without the slightest awareness…"

"No suspicious cultivators were seen ascending or descending the mountain…"

"The identity of the killer remains unknown…"

Below was a note:

"The perpetrator is undoubtedly cunning, highly alert, and exceptionally skilled in concealment techniques…"

"Those who accept this bounty must proceed with extreme caution!"

Here it is!

Mo Hua's spirit perked up.

Concealment technique!

But it was slightly different from what he had imagined…

He had thought concealment techniques were used for stealing, but never imagined someone would use them to murder in secret—and with such brutality.

Mo Hua immediately sent a useless message via Grand Void Token to Elder Murong:

"Senior sister, are you there?"

After a moment, Elder Murong replied wearily:

"What is it? Say it."

"Senior sister, are you free? Want to take a mission?"

Before Elder Murong could answer, Mo Hua rushed on: "I found a great mission—will you take it? If you do, can you take me along?"

"My authority is too low; I can't access many missions."

Elder Murong hesitated, then sent a message:

"What mission?"

Mo Hua immediately sent the entry: "A Strange Ambush and Murder Case."

Elder Murong stared at it for a long time, still unable to understand what made this a "great mission"…

Ambush and murder.

Three died under mysterious circumstances; the killer's identity, appearance, cultivation technique, accomplices, criminal record, and realm—all unknown.

The only speculation was that the killer was exceptionally skilled in concealment.

But that was still just speculation.

Beyond that, there were no clues whatsoever.

Even just finding the person would take considerable time, let alone tracking and capturing him—likely a waste of time with no result.

Elder Murong was about to decline gently when she saw another string of "Senior sister, senior sister, senior sister, please take it…" from Mo Hua in the Grand Void Token.

She could almost see Mo Hua staring at her with wide, watery eyes, full of hopeful expectation.

Elder Murong couldn't bring herself to refuse.

Even the thought of Mo Hua's disappointed face afterward filled her with an inexplicable sense of guilt…

Elder Murong sighed.

Fine, I'll take it.

Even if I fail, it's only two days of leave—wasted time is nothing; I've had plenty of fruitless missions before.

Elder Murong replied: "Alright…"

Mo Hua was overjoyed: "Thank you, senior sister!"

Senior Sister Murong is truly a kind soul!

True to form, Elder Murong accepted the bounty: "Concealment Ambush Murder," then invited Mo Hua.

Mo Hua immediately clicked "Accept."

Thus, the investigation into the "Concealment Ambush Murder Case" was settled.

Mo Hua withdrew his spiritual sense from the Grand Void Token and found Cheng Mo and the others staring at him.

"What?"

Mo Hua looked utterly clueless.

"You…" Sister Situ asked curiously, "what were you looking at in the Grand Void Token?"

Mo Hua blinked.

Authority levels, bounties, merit points—these were all backdoors opened for him by Master Xun.

It wasn't something he could mention openly.

And "bounties, manhunts, pursuit of criminal cultivators, slaying evildoers"—these were still too early for them…

They were sheltered within their family, "unexposed to the world," unprepared for such risks.

He was different—he was the "Little Senior Brother."

Dangerous tasks? Let him handle them.

Mo Hua nodded with a strong sense of "responsibility," then made an excuse:

"I was checking the class schedule—seeing what lessons I have next, what spells I'll learn…"

The other disciples stared at him skeptically.

Their expressions said plainly: I'd believe you if pigs could fly…

Seeing they didn't believe him, Mo Hua had no choice but to say:

"Alright, I was just thinking about how much homework to assign you all in the Array Class..."

Instantly, the crowd erupted in outrage.

No one doubted it.

"Mo Hua!"

"Can we still be friends?"

"I advise you to think carefully..."

"My array skills are my own business—I advise you not to meddle!"

"Don't forget our fellow-disciple bond!"

"Array idiot!" Cheng Mo was nearly crying, "Bro, please, enough already—so much homework, I can't finish it all..."

Mo Hua wore an expression of reluctant surrender and sighed:

"If that's how it is, then forget it."

Cheng Mo immediately beamed, slinging an arm around Mo Hua's shoulder and shouting, "Good! From now on, you're my brother—my real brother!"

Two days later, the ten-day break arrived.

For safety's sake, Mo Hua took another day off, bringing the total to three days.

After class, Mo Hua left the Grand Void Gate's main gate and met everyone at their usual spot—the large rock at the foot of the Grand Void Gate mountain.

This time, there were still five of them.

Elder Murong Caiyun, Ouyang Feng, Hua Qianqian, and Shangguan Xu were all there.

Shangguan Xu had recovered from his injuries and could now fight again.

Though the Shangguan family was a great clan, it had many disciples; Shangguan Xu was a direct-line member, but not among the most central ones, so merits had to be earned through personal effort.

Hua Qianqian was the daughter of a True Transmission elder of the Hundred Flowers Valley, deeply cherished, and destined to enter the inner sect and receive the True Transmission of the Hundred Flowers Valley.

But she didn't want gossip, so she wished to earn her own merits and rise to become a True Transmission disciple of the Hundred Flowers Valley's inner sect.

All this Mo Hua had pieced together from what Elder Murong had told him, combined with cases among the other disciples.

It was probably more or less accurate.

After all, across the Qianxue State border, among so many sect disciples, no one didn't want to earn merits.

Shangguan Xu, being more familiar with Mo Hua, nodded and smiled.

Hua Qianqian also smiled sweetly, her eyes sparkling as she greeted Mo Hua.

But Mo Hua always felt that this Sister Hua's gaze toward him carried a hint of "malicious intent."

He couldn't tell what she was plotting in her mind.

Seeing Mo Hua look at her, Hua Qianqian's eyes glowed even brighter, radiating an unusual luster.

Mo Hua felt danger and immediately edged closer to Elder Murong.

Elder Murong Caiyun looked helplessly resigned.

After gathering, they set off toward the vicinity of Canglang Mountain.

Canglang Mountain was not far from the Qianxue State border, and the Five-Grade Dao Ting Si, which governed the Qianxue State border, lay along the road to Canglang Mountain.

The five of them first had to visit the Dao Ting Si to verify their identities, pick up the bounty, and inquire about clues regarding the victim.

The sound of hooves clattered for over an hour before they arrived at the Dao Ting Si.

Mo Hua stepped down from the carriage and looked up—before him stood an immensely grand and imposing Ting Si pavilion, its towers soaring, eaves crowned with golden wings, solemn and dignified.

It looked like a massive seal stamped upon the mountainside, guarding the entire Qianxue State border.

Above it were seven large characters: Qianxue State Border Dao Ting Si.

This was the Five-Grade Dao Ting Si of the Qianxue State border...

Mo Hua was deeply awed.

Before such a vast and stern Dao Ting Si, Mo Hua felt like a sapling at the foot of Dashan—fragile and powerless.

Ouyang Feng patted Mo Hua's shoulder and said gently:

"This grandeur contains an element of bluffing—you'll understand after coming here a few more times..."

Mo Hua froze, looked up again, and suddenly realized:

"An array?"

Ouyang Feng was momentarily surprised, then laughed:

"Correct. When this Dao Ting Si pavilion was built, an array was incorporated to amplify its aura of authority, so first-time visitors feel insignificant—and also feel..."

Ouyang Feng pointed upward and whispered, "... that the Dao Ting Si's authority is mighty and inviolable..."

"So that's how it is..."

Mo Hua nodded.

Knowing the trick, his awe lessened somewhat; then, following Elder Murong Caiyun inside, he was even more disappointed.

From the outside, the Dao Ting Si was indeed imposing.

But inside, it was bloated with idle officials, cluttered with redundant institutions, and steeped in lethargy.

Most of the officers and Gu Diansi wore grim faces, speaking with rigid, condescending disdain.

Their expressions were sour, their words harsh.

If they were Third or Fourth Grade, that would be understandable.

But even a few lowly Second Grade officers acted as if they were something extraordinary.

Occasionally, there were Dao Ting Si cultivators with sharp eyes, keen demeanor, and deep cultivation—clearly formidable—but they were few, and utterly out of place within the Dao Ting Si's overall atmosphere.

Mo Hua wanted to ask something, but thought of walls having ears, especially inside a Five-Grade Dao Ting Si filled with senior cultivators—his words might be overheard the moment he opened his mouth—so he held his tongue.

Murong Caiyun led the way, verified their identities, accepted the bounty, then collected several fenjuan, completing all the procedures.

As a scion of a prominent family and a disciple of the Grand Void Gate, she possessed both striking looks and exceptional talent, and the Dao Ting Si cultivators treated her with considerable courtesy.

Throughout the entire process, they encountered no cold shoulders or harassment.

"So it's all about who you know…"

Mo Hua muttered to himself.

Just as they were about to leave, they were stopped by an officer: "Wait a moment—Gu Diansi has something to tell you…"

Gu Diansi?

Mo Hua froze slightly, his heart leaping—could it be…?

After a moment, a figure approached from afar; Mo Hua glanced once and thought—just as I suspected…

The man was handsome, clad in the robes of a Dao Ting Si Diansi, elegant and composed; his demeanor was not arrogant, yet a hint of defiant individuality lingered in his brow.

It was Gu Changhuai, the Young Master of the Gu family, whom Mo Hua had met a few times before.

Gu Changhuai's voice was cool, calm, and measured, yet carried an undercurrent of self-assurance:

"This matter is extremely delicate. I didn't want any of you disciples to take it—I notified Dao Ting Si and just had the task withdrawn, only to find you've already accepted it…"

"Everything follows protocol. Since you've taken it, there's nothing to be done—but I must give you a few warnings…"

As he walked, Gu Changhuai spoke to himself, barely glancing at Murong Caiyun and the others.

Until his peripheral vision swept over Mo Hua…

Gu Changhuai clearly froze.

Mo Hua could even see Gu Changhuai blink slightly, as if confirming he hadn't mistaken the person.

A face of innocent innocence, eyes clear and profound—throughout the entire Qianxue Zhou, there was no second such person; he could not be mistaken.

Gu Changhuai fell silent for a moment, then spoke slowly:

"Mo… Hua?"

"Mm-hmm." Mo Hua nodded vigorously, politely saying: "Hello, Uncle Gu."

Murong Caiyun looked stunned; the nearby officer was clearly surprised that Mo Hua knew Gu Changhuai.

Gu Changhuai restrained his emotions as best he could, yet couldn't help asking Mo Hua:

"What are you doing here?"

Mo Hua pointed at Murong Caiyun. "I'm here with my senior sister to take the bounty."

Gu Changhuai frowned. "What bounty?"

Mo Hua said: "The one you just mentioned…"

Gu Changhuai's eyelid twitched. Looking at Mo Hua's still-childish face, he asked, puzzled: "You just joined, right…?"

How could someone who just joined take on a mission?

And how did he get a senior disciple to take him along?

This kid… has that much influence?

Gu Changhuai was utterly baffled.

Mo Hua shook his head to correct him: "I didn't just join—I've been in for half a year!"

The implication was that he already considered himself quite accomplished.

Gu Changhuai's head throbbed.

But with so many people present, he couldn't very well "catch up" with Mo Hua, so he nodded stiffly, coldly and formally.

"I see."

Gu Changhuai cast another sidelong glance at Mo Hua, then began speaking of the matter at hand:

"The perpetrator is roughly at mid-Foundation Establishment, excels in concealment, and strikes with cold, ruthless precision—extremely elusive, impossible to guard against…"

"Even a late-Foundation Establishment cultivator, even one newly arrived at that stage, would be in grave danger facing such a 'stealth assassin.'"

"Once he closes in unseen, you won't have time to block his killing strike…"

"You are all sect disciples with little experience—you stand little chance against such a cunning and venomous cultivator."

"And this killer is certainly a repeat offender."

"I reviewed the Juan Sect records. Among the criminal cultivators skilled in stealth killing with a long record of atrocities, one fits best—his real name remains unknown to Dao Ting Si, but among cultivators, he is known as 'Yin Laoer'…"

Yin Laoer…

Ouyang Feng and the others fell into deep thought.

Only Mo Hua nodded silently—he knew his guess was correct.

Gu Changhuai noticed this and was startled again.

Was Mo Hua's reaction… because he already knew the killer was Yin Laoer?

I had to sift through Dao Ting Si's classified records for hours to find him—how could this young disciple, secluded within the sect, know this?

This child is highly suspicious…

Gu Changhuai stared deeply at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua sensed Gu Changhuai's gaze and immediately fixed his eyes on his nose, his nose on his mouth, feigning earnest, obedient stillness.

Gu Changhuai continued:

"Such a seasoned criminal, skilled in concealment, should normally be eliminated by a third-grade Diansi using Lei Ting force…"

"But Dao Ting Si has limited personnel—each rank of officer handles criminals of matching rank."

"Foundation Establishment criminals are not the concern of Jin Dan cultivators."

"Yet this man is truly difficult to handle, so I came to warn you—if you withdraw from the task, there will be no punishment."

Ouyang Feng and the others exchanged glances, then all shook their heads.

They were all children of heaven, each with pride in their hearts.

A Foundation Establishment mid-stage criminal cultivator, no matter how troublesome, was not enough to make them retreat.

In Gu Changhuai's gaze, a hint of approval surfaced as he handed out several fenjuan.

"These are the fenjuan on Yin Laoer—his place of origin, cultivation methods, Dao techniques, and more. Study them carefully and stay alert."

Murong Caiyun took the fenjuan and bowed respectfully.

"Thank you, Master Gu."

Gu Changhuai gave a slight nod and turned to leave, but as he departed, he glanced again at Mo Hua—seeing the boy's relaxed, oblivious expression—and couldn't help frowning.

Yin Laoer was cunning and treacherous, hard to deal with.

Even seasoned Zhisi might fail to pierce Yin Laoer's concealment, let alone guard against his ambush.

He didn't understand why this little brat Mo Hua was getting involved.

Gu Changhuai thought Mo Hua, though cute, was strange and suspicious, and had originally had no intention of caring for him.

But after thinking it over, remembering that Mo Hua had saved Yu'er and was deeply favored by his cousin, Gu Changhuai sighed faintly and warned:

"Be careful…"

Mo Hua blinked in surprise.

The others were even more startled.

Especially the Zhisi of Dao Ting Si—he never expected that Master Gu, cold and aloof to all, would actually worry about someone…

What a ghostly thing…

Mo Hua smiled. "Alright, Uncle Gu."

Gu Changhuai nodded and turned away.

With all formalities settled, the group set off to apprehend Yin Laoer.

According to the fenjuan, Yin Laoer was over two hundred years old and had once been a disciple of Wu Yin Sect, one of the hundred sects of Qianzhou.

But Wu Yin Sect's lineage was too esoteric, making it hard to recruit disciples, and it gradually declined until it could no longer cover its debts, sold its mountain gate, and relocated entirely beyond Qianxuezhou fifty years ago.

The rise and fall of sects was normal.

But when Wu Yin Sect left, Yin Laoer stayed behind—and used his sect's ultimate techniques to commit evil deeds.

That ultimate technique was a concealment art called: Xiao Wu Xing Nizong Shu.

Mo Hua's heart leapt with joy.

Xiao Wu Xing…

His own spiritual roots were Xiao Wu Xing spiritual roots—he felt this concealment art had been made just for him.

The Heavenly Mechanism Calculations truly worked wonders.

The group left Dao Ting Si.

Murong Caiyun and the others remembered Master Gu's words and remained solemn.

Mo Hua, however, walked lightly, his spirits high.

He felt Xiao Wu Xing Nizong Shu was already beckoning to him.

Mo Hua was unremarkable in every way except for his exceptionally strong spiritual sense.

Thus, he most loved—and was most skilled at—harassing cultivators who specialized in concealment, sneaking around, and skulking like Cheng Guigui…

…

And at this moment, in the Shenshan of Canglang Mountain.

In the previously empty Lin Mu, a figure suddenly appeared.

He was a withered, short, grim-faced cultivator, his skin lined with wrinkles.

He looked around, then frowned tightly.

After killing three people, he had fled to this deep mountain to lie low.

This was his usual practice.

But these past days, he had felt a persistent unease.

As if some malicious "evil thing" was watching him…

Yin Laoer was puzzled.

Without cause, without leaving a trace—who could be watching him, and how?

Yin Laoer shook his head.

Regardless, this was a critical moment—he must endure, and not make another mistake.

Those three had already been a slip-up.

If he slipped again, Mr. Tu would surely kill him, dissect him, and offer his flesh to the god's half-human, half-beast servants.

Yin Laoer shuddered.

He liked to gut people alive—but hated the thought of being gutted himself and fed to those half-human, half-beast things…

(End of Chapter)