Chapter 645: Water-Hidden Jade

The next day, Mo Hua took leave and left the Grand Void Gate, first going to the Dao Ting Si in Qianxue Zhou.

This was what he and Gu Changhuai had agreed upon.

They would meet at the Dao Ting Si, then set out together for Bishan City.

Inside the Dao Ting Si, Gu Changhuai had specifically returned to meet Mo Hua and handed him a storage bag.

"What's this?" Mo Hua asked.

"It's supplies issued by the Dao Ting Si for an official mission," Gu Changhuai said coolly.

Mo Hua opened the storage bag and saw some pills, some spirit stones, some talismans, and a set of standard Dao Ting Si robes.

"Don't wear your Grand Void Gate clothes—they're too conspicuous. Change into the standard robe…"

"Oh."

Mo Hua changed into the Dao Ting Si robe, looking cute and dignified.

But the robe hung loosely, the sleeves too long—clearly one size too big.

"Uncle Gu, the robe's too big…"

"Make do—it's already the smallest size we have…"

"Can't you get it custom-made?"

Gu Changhuai sighed in exasperation. "You're an outsider. Make do. Who's going to custom-make for you?"

Mo Hua muttered under his breath, "So stingy…"

A fifth-rank Dao Ting Si in Qianxue Zhou was this cheap?

No choice—Huo Fotuo's case was urgent.

Mo Hua tightened his belt, rolled up his sleeves, and said eagerly:

"Let's go."

Seven days to catch Huo Fotuo and obtain the Meteor Fire Technique—no time to waste.

"Mm." Gu Changhuai nodded.

Afterward, Gu Changhuai led Mo Hua toward the exit of the Dao Ting Si.

Halfway there, they met a middle-aged man in a black Gu Diansi robe, with narrow eyes, a pale complexion, and a wide smile.

"Gu Diansi."

The man greeted him with a smile.

Gu Changhuai's gaze grew cold, and he replied reluctantly:

"Xiao Diansi."

Mo Hua watched from the side, noticing Gu Changhuai's cold expression—he clearly had no fondness for this Xiao Diansi.

Probably their relationship was poor.

Xiao Diansi was about to speak when he noticed Mo Hua and showed a flicker of surprise.

"This young cultivator…"

Wearing a Dao Ting Si robe, but clearly ill-fitting—as if he'd grabbed the first one he found and thrown it on.

Wearing the robe meant he was Dao Ting Si personnel.

Yet his height and face suggested only a naive young cultivator—impossible for him to be in the Dao Ting Si.

And worse—he was trailing behind "Cold-Faced Judge" Gu Changhuai.

That made it even stranger…

"Who is this young brother…?"

Xiao Diansi smiled warmly, but his eyes held a shadow of malice, making one uneasy.

Mo Hua silently gave him the nickname "Smiling Tiger" in his mind.

Just as he was thinking how to fabricate an excuse to fool this Smiling Tiger, Gu Changhuai spoke coldly:

"Xiao Diansi, we have official duties."

Interrupted, Xiao Diansi turned back to Gu Changhuai, his gaze slightly altered, yet his smile unchanged.

"Gu Diansi, still working on the Huo Fotuo case?"

"Yes."

"It's been dragging on for a long time…"

Gu Changhuai remained silent.

Xiao Diansi sighed. "Huo Fotuo's massacre was too heinous—it's caused widespread panic. The higher-ups are deeply concerned, and Zhangsi is under great pressure…"

"Still… though the case is difficult, dragging it out this long is truly hard to explain."

"It's not the higher-ups' fault—it's Gu Diansi's incompetence."

"Why not…" Xiao Diansi's gaze sharpened, and he whispered, "arrest a few people, close the case, and give the higher-ups something to show?"

Gu Changhuai's eyes grew deep. "Is that Zhangsi's order—or your own idea?"

Xiao Diansi froze, his smile turning stiff and hollow.

"Gu Diansi, don't joke like that…"

"We're both Diansi. We follow orders from above. Don't forget…"

Xiao Diansi's smile faded slightly, his tone laden with meaning: "Don't act on your own initiative…"

Gu Changhuai grew impatient, his face darkening instantly.

"Do your own job as Diansi. Don't try to teach me how to do mine."

Xiao Diansi froze.

Gu Changhuai snorted and swept his sleeve aside, walking off.

Mo Hua stared at his nose, then his lips, pretending not to hear a thing, following Gu Changhuai step by step as they left.

Only Xiao Diansi remained standing in place.

His smile slowly faded as he let out a quiet, derisive chuckle:

"The Gu family still has such blunt hearts—they'll die clean someday…"

…

Sitting in the carriage bound for Bishan City, Mo Hua asked softly:

"Uncle Gu, does that Xiao Diansi have a grudge against you?"

Gu Changhuai, lost in thought, said nothing.

Mo Hua asked again: "Could he be a mole inside Dao Ting Si?"

Gu Changhuai froze at the words. "How did you figure that out?"

"It just felt like it…"

Gu Changhuai sighed helplessly. "Dao Ting Si doesn't operate on feelings alone…"

"Xiao Diansi…"

Mo Hua murmured the name, then pondered: "Someone who reaches the rank of Diansi must be from a prominent family. The surname Xiao—does this 'Xiao' family, like the Gu family, also have close ties to Dao Ting Si?"

Gu Changhuai was slightly surprised but nodded.

"Yes. The Xiao family's influence within Dao Ting Si is greater than the Gu family's. The current Zhou Zhangsi of the third-grade Dao Ting Si in Qianxue Province is a Xiao."

"Oh…"

Mo Hua nodded, then asked curiously:

"Then this Xiao Diansi…"

"Don't ask," Gu Changhuai cut him off. "Don't pry into Xiao family matters. Stay away from them if you can—don't invite trouble."

"Don't get falsely accused of some baseless crime. I won't go pull you out of Dao Yu."

"Alright…"

Mo Hua agreed.

Listening obediently to others' advice is a good habit.

He would not ask about the Xiao family—it had nothing to do with him anyway.

The carriage sped along, jolting over rough roads.

But they still had a way to go before reaching Bishan City, so Mo Hua used the time to ask about Huo Fotuo.

"Uncle Gu, can't we enter the Demon Cave?"

Gu Changhuai gazed out the window and sighed. "There's an array…"

"What kind of array?"

Gu Changhuai gave Mo Hua a silent look.

Mo Hua suddenly understood.

Uncle Gu was an "array blind"—if he knew anything, he wouldn't have brought me here.

But it was lucky he was an "array blind"—otherwise I wouldn't have had a chance to get involved with Huo Fotuo…

Gu Changhuai shot Mo Hua a suspicious glance; his gut told him Mo Hua was definitely thinking something unkind.

"Were you just making fun of me in your head?"

Mo Hua denied it. "No!"

Gu Changhuai gave a light hum.

Mo Hua asked again: "Does Dao Ting Si have other array masters?"

Gu Changhuai's expression grew complicated.

With no one else around, and knowing he'd need Mo Hua's help soon, Gu Changhuai dropped all pretense and spoke plainly:

"The best array masters in the cultivation world are mostly in Tian Shu Pavilion."

"Tian Shu Pavilion's array masters are refined and aloof—even Dao Ting Si usually can't get them to come."

"The array masters Dao Ting Si can hire are generally inferior in skill."

"And this Huo Fotuo case occurred in the second-grade Bishan City; the criminals are all second-grade, so despite its severity, it's still classified as a second-grade case."

"Second-grade cases are beneath third-grade array masters."

"But these criminals are ruthless—second-grade array masters dare not come."

"Even routine scene investigations and array deciphering are risky enough; for a full-scale ambush, ordinary array masters have no means of self-preservation—it's extremely dangerous."

"Still, I used the Gu family's connections in Dao Ting Si to bring in several second-grade array masters—but…"

Gu Changhuai frowned deeply and sighed:

"The mountain paths are hidden, the arrays obscure."

"They couldn't discern anything—let alone offer any real help."

Mo Hua now understood roughly.

No wonder Uncle Gu, who always clung to his pride, had finally agreed to let me help.

Mo Hua said: "Don't worry, Uncle Gu—as long as it's a second-grade array, I've got it."

Then he realized he'd overclaimed, so he added:

"As long as it's below high-grade second-grade, I'm fine."

Given the current situation, Huo Fotuo's gang must include an array master.

Huo Fotuo is at the late Foundation Establishment stage—he's the leader—so his array master probably isn't above Foundation Establishment either.

And array masters' skill levels usually lag behind their own realm.

For example, at mid-Foundation Establishment, one becomes a Grade-Two Low-Rank Array Master.

At late-Foundation Establishment, one becomes a Grade-Two Mid-Rank Array Master.

Only at peak late-Foundation Establishment or Jin Dan can one become a Grade-Two High-Rank Array Master.

These are all normal circumstances.

Array Masters whose rank matches their cultivation realm are already among the elite.

Such Array Masters are considered array prodigies and would never sink to associating with criminal cultivators or evil cultivators.

Therefore, the arrays within the Bishan Demon Cavern should be no higher than Grade-Two Mid-Rank—I can handle them easily.

Mo Hua looked utterly confident.

For the first time, Gu Changhuai found Mo Hua's air of confidence and smugness somewhat pleasing…

……

After that, the two traveled in silence until they reached Bishan City.

Entering Bishan City, they passed through its streets and walked all the way to the foot of the northern mountain, where steep peaks rose before them, jagged and towering, layered in endless ridges.

Gu Changhuai led Mo Hua to a cave entrance.

The entrance was concealed by green vines, but inside, the cavern was spacious—a temporary outpost of the Dao Ting Si, where dozens of Zhisi were whispering among themselves.

Gu Changhuai and Mo Hua entered the cave.

All the Zhisi immediately rose and bowed respectfully to Gu Changhuai, though their glances at Mo Hua were filled with confusion.

What does the Gu Diansi mean by bringing a lowly cultivator here?

Gu Changhuai gave no explanation, but pointed to two men: "Gu Quan, Gu An, come with me."

From the crowd, two cultivators in Zhisi robes, identical in build and appearance, stepped forward.

They bowed and said: "Yes, Young Master."

"Surnamed Gu…"

Mo Hua didn't need to guess—he knew these two were from the Gu family, and their identical looks suggested they were twins.

Gu Changhuai led Mo Hua, along with Gu Quan and Gu An, out of the cave and walked through the mountains for the duration of a cup of tea, stopping before a massive boulder.

Mo Hua looked up and saw a rock spanning the mountain peak.

In its center was a natural fissure, flanked on both sides, resembling a single thread of heaven and earth.

"One-Thread Sky…"

Mo Hua murmured, then turned to Gu Changhuai: "The Celestial Cave—so the demon cavern lies beyond this One-Thread Sky?"

Gu Changhuai nodded.

The One-Thread Sky was narrow, barely wide enough for one person to pass.

Gu Changhuai led the way, Mo Hua followed behind him, and Gu An and Gu Quan brought up the rear.

Beyond the One-Thread Sky, the view opened abruptly.

The sky was high and clear, white clouds floating beyond the heavens and drifting beside them; beneath their feet lay a sheer cliff, with no other path in sight.

Gu Changhuai pointed into the distance, and Mo Hua followed his gaze to a hazy region where a solitary peak hung suspended in midair.

"That is the demon cavern."

Gu Changhuai paused, then added:

"You're right—there's a stone bridge beneath our feet, inscribed with a concealment array that hides its trace, so those across in the demon cavern can't detect it…"

Mo Hua stared at the distant cliff, momentarily dazed.

He seemed to see again the hidden stone path on the cliff behind Great Heishan.

Concealment array…

Mo Hua sighed.

Clan families exploit array techniques for profit.

Criminal cultivators and evil cultivators also use arrays to hide their tracks and commit misdeeds.

Meanwhile, the lowest-tier cultivators struggle to survive, unable to afford even the most basic arrays.

In Lianzhou's Tongxian City, it was so; in Nanyue City, it was so; now in this Xiancheng of Qianzhou, the same signs appear…

When will the array techniques that uphold the Dao of Heaven and Earth truly benefit all living beings?

Mo Hua felt a deep sense of reflection.

But now was not the time for reflection…

Mo Hua extended his spiritual sense, scanning the empty mist beneath the cliff.

In Mo Hua's spiritual sense, a stone bridge clearly emerged.

The stone bridge was inscribed with numerous arrays.

A reinforcement earth-rock array, a small Yuan Ci array for surveillance, and a concealment array for invisibility.

As Mo Hua studied them, he suddenly froze.

"Concealment array…"

This concealment array seemed to be…

Mo Hua focused his perception, and his heart leapt in shock.

Grade-Two Nineteen-Stroke Array!

The concealment array Mo Hua had previously learned was a Grade-One Nine-Stroke Array—he had never studied a Grade-Two concealment array.

Mo Hua immediately realized he had overlooked something.

Concealment arrays are the most difficult type among ordinary arrays.

A Grade-One concealment array has nine array strokes.

That second-rank concealment array might very well be a top-tier second-rank array, with nineteen array patterns…

He had misjudged it himself.

Among Huo Fotuo's band of criminal cultivators, there was a second-rank high-tier array master!

"Got careless…"

Mo Hua sighed inwardly.

A concealment array that could fool Foundation Establishment cultivators was most likely second-rank.

And a second-rank concealment array having nineteen array patterns was nothing strange.

An array master capable of drawing nineteen array patterns had to be a second-rank high-tier array master.

Then his cultivation… Jin Dan?

Mo Hua frowned in thought, then shook his head.

Probably not Jin Dan.

A Jin Dan realm, second-rank high-tier array master—someone like that would never work for Huo Fotuo; Huo Fotuo wasn't worthy of him.

Most likely still late-stage Foundation Establishment, or even peak Foundation Establishment.

Late-stage Foundation Establishment, second-rank high-tier array master…

Mo Hua's gaze sharpened.

This person was an array master expert!

And quite possibly one with extraordinary array talent as well…

Mo Hua knit his brows.

A second-rank high-tier array master was already a tough nut to crack…

But the demon lair still had to be entered, and Huo Fotuo still had to be caught…

Mo Hua mulled it over silently.

Second-rank high-tier it is, then.

Since arriving at Qianxuezhou's borders, he had never truly crossed paths with a second-rank array master.

This could count as a kind of exchange and tempering.

Besides, a clash between array masters wasn't like a fight to the death—some life-or-death outcome wasn't required.

Though the difficulty was high, the danger wasn't that great.

So the demon lair still had to be entered; only he couldn't go alone this time.

Mo Hua recalled.

Back at Great Heishan Shanzhai, he had gone alone, but thinking about it afterward, it really had been too risky, and it had worried his parents.

Now that he was quite a bit older, he naturally had to act more prudently.

Going was fine, but he needed to find a bodyguard.

A "Jin Dan" bodyguard.

Mo Hua stole a glance at Gu Changhuai.

Gu Changhuai, seeing Mo Hua's odd expression and not knowing what he was thinking, asked:

"Did you figure something out?"

Mo Hua thought it over, then answered honestly: "Huo Fotuo's men should have a second-rank high-tier array master…"

Gu Changhuai's brows knit tightly at this.

A second-rank high-tier array master… that was troublesome.

"What do we do now?" Mo Hua asked.

Gu Changhuai pondered for a moment, then said slowly:

"No matter what, we can't let Huo Fotuo escape. A second-rank high-tier array master doesn't matter—find a chance and kill him along with the rest…"

"But… how will you get there?" Mo Hua asked, a little puzzled. "Going openly, you'll be spotted, won't you…"

Gu Changhuai said: "I brought a few precious spirit tools for concealment from the Gu family. Fight fire with fire—we'll sneak over too."

Mo Hua's eyes lit up.

As expected of Uncle Gu—truly had the self-cultivation of a "bodyguard"!

He had even thought through how to get there himself.

Mo Hua said: "I'm going too!"

Gu Changhuai was taken aback.

Gu An and Gu Quan also exchanged uncertain glances.

This child had far too much nerve.

Gu Changhuai refused: "You can't go."

If he died inside, he wouldn't be able to explain it to his cousin.

Mo Hua said: "If I don't go, even if you're concealed, you'll still be detected…"

Gu Changhuai frowned.

Mo Hua pointed at the cliff before them. "On the stone bridge below, besides the concealment array, there's also a small magnet array…"

"This kind of small magnet array is used as an early warning…"

"Once you trigger the array, the magnetic resonance will let Huo Fotuo know someone is crossing the stone bridge…"

"They block the path, or catch you off guard and ambush you halfway, or worse, simply smash down the stone bridge—and you'd be in grave danger…"

"But…" Mo Hua's brows lifted, "if you take me along, there won't be a problem!"

"These small magnet arrays can't fool me."

Gu Changhuai's expression was not pleasant.

This was also why, though he had prepared a stealth spiritual artifact, he had not dared to cross the bridge prematurely.

He feared the bridge might conceal some unknown traps.

But the other side was a demon lair, and Gu Changhuai still could not rest easy about letting Mo Hua cross with them.

"It's just a small elemental magnet array—I'll send someone back to the Gu family to fetch a few Magnetic Compasses, and test bit by bit…"

Mo Hua shook his head. "Too wasteful of time. And what if there are other alert arrays?"

"If you miss or misread even one, the Fire Buddha will spot you."

"If he's already prepared and escapes from the demon lair, this operation will fail at the last moment."

I'll never learn my Meteor Fire Art…

Mo Hua muttered to himself.

Gu Changhuai was indeed somewhat swayed.

Mo Hua observed his expression and continued:

"This is only a stone bridge. Once we reach the Fire Buddha's 'demon lair,' the arrays inside will likely be even more numerous…"

"In such a situation, don't you need a clever, resourceful, highly skilled 'Little Array Master' to help you overcome these difficulties?"

Mo Hua blinked.

Gu Changhuai refused to admit these self-proclaimed titles of Mo Hua's, yet could not deny them.

If he truly had a solution to these arrays, he wouldn't have brought Mo Hua along.

Gu Changhuai fell silent, then finally sighed:

"Fine. You follow us first, see how things look. Remember the 'Three Agreements.'"

"Yes, yes!" Mo Hua hurriedly said. "I'll follow you, keep my hands off, just be a bystander."

He still remembered that much.

Gu Changhuai sighed, his expression resigned.

Beside him, Gu An and Gu Quan maintained calm expressions, but inside were deeply shocked.

They served in the Dao Ting Si and rarely returned to the Gu family—this was their first time seeing Mo Hua.

It was also their first time seeing someone negotiate with the Young Master to this extent.

Even to the point of making the Young Master "concede" this far.

They had never before seen such a look of headache, trouble, and helplessness on the usually haughty Young Master's face…

In that instant, they could not help but revere Mo Hua.

Then, Gu Changhuai took out several jade pendants and gave one to each person.

"These are Water-Stealth Jades, second-rank stealth spiritual artifacts. When worn, they cloak you in waterlight, concealing your form…"

Gu An and Gu Quan respectfully accepted the jade pendants.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then accepted his as well—"following the good example."

He could already perform stealth techniques—indeed, the advanced Five Elements Concealment Art—but an extra layer of protection was always better.

Besides, these jade pendants looked so precious—they must be worth many spiritual stones.

He couldn't waste Uncle Gu's kindness.

Mo Hua quietly slipped the Water-Stealth Jade into his robe.

Before setting out, Gu Changhuai warned Mo Hua again:

"If anything happens, don't bother with us. If you can run, run—just save your own life."

Mo Hua nodded. "I will!"

Then the group set off.

There were four of them: Gu Changhuai, Golden Core stage; Gu An and Gu Quan, both at late Foundation Establishment; and Mo Hua, at early Foundation Establishment.

All four concealed their forms and stepped one by one onto the invisible stone bridge leading to the demon lair.

(End of Chapter)