Chapter 803: The Little Immortal Child (Bonus Chapter for Silver Ally Mu Bai Jin Yu~)

Who is this little immortal child?

Where did he come from?

Mo Hua had no memory of him at all.

"When did this happen?"

Old Yu said: "More than a year ago, after Little Shun and Little Shui were rescued, the villagers built a shrine and erected a statue back in the rear village, and began offering incense."

Mo Hua's gaze shifted slightly. "Can you take me to see it?"

"Of course," Old Yu hesitated, "but, Master, aren't you in a hurry?"

"I'll just take one look, then leave."

"Then let's go."

Old Yu nodded, told his two grandsons, Little Shun and Little Shui, to watch the house, and led Mo Hua to the rear village.

The rear village was still the same, with very few residents.

The well leading to the Bloodred Fishing Village was still there; of course, the array activating the entrance had been erased by Mo Hua.

Not far from the well, on the cliff face, a tiny shrine had been carved.

Before the shrine stood a small altar, piled with fruits and offerings; in the center rested a small clay statue.

Mo Hua stared at the clay statue and fell into thought.

The statue was a "little immortal child," crudely molded by the fishermen themselves, yet the likeness was decent—backed by a golden sword, radiating divine aura as it sat solemnly in the shrine, exuding dignity.

The key was, the statue's face and features looked strikingly familiar to Mo Hua…

Mo Hua's expression grew subtle, and he asked Old Yu:

"Why build a clay statue of this immortal child?"

Old Yu's face turned solemn, and he spoke slowly: "Master, I won't hide it from you—before, all our village cultivators had the same nightmare…"

"In the dream, a giant fish demon appeared, its head as large as a temple, its whiskers as thick as tree trunks, its fangs bai sensen, its body dripping blood—it was terrifying, devouring people everywhere."

"Just as this fish demon was wreaking havoc, a little immortal descended from the heavens."

"This little immortal was bathed in jin guang, stepping through the air, wielding a golden sword that blazed with radiant light. He reversed his hand and subdued the giant fish demon in an instant, then swung his sword—jin guang flashed—and severed the demon's head, eliminating this calamity and saving our fishing village from disaster…"

When Old Yu said this, his face filled with relief, and then he sighed:

"But this little immortal appeared only in the dream, vanished without a trace—after slaying the fish demon, he disappeared completely."

"We were grateful for his grace, so we built this shrine and erected this statue here, offering offerings during festivals and holidays."

"When harvests are poor, storms rage, or strange things occur, we come here to burn a stick of incense and bow to this little immortal holding the golden sword, praying for calm winds and fair rains, for peace in our lands…"

Mo Hua froze.

Everything Old Yu described—every single thing—was exactly what he had done…

All this time…

The immortal child was me?

Mo Hua's emotions were strange.

Curious, he quietly asked Old Yu: "Do you really believe praying to me… to this little immortal… works?"

Old Yu nodded vigorously. "It works, it works!"

"Really?"

"Of course," Old Yu said with reverence. "If it's been raining nonstop, praying to this little immortal brings clear skies soon; if we catch no fish, praying turns our luck around; the other day, Yin Laoer went into the river and was bitten by a water spirit, his leg caught—he nearly got dragged under—but luckily he survived. He said afterward that if he hadn't come to pray to the little immortal before entering the water, he'd surely be dead…"

"Old Zhao's wife at the village head had a difficult childbirth—she came to pray to this little immortal, and both mother and child survived."

Mo Hua: "..."

He had no idea he was so powerful—he could even ensure safe childbirth.

"Has it ever failed?" Mo Hua asked again.

Old Yu thought. "Occasionally, yes—but that's surely because we weren't sincere enough, or we were too greedy, demanding too much, so the little immortal ignored us…"

"The little immortal is surely very busy—he can't watch over us every moment. He helps us out of kindness; not helping is his right. We must never harbor resentment."

"Greed is like a snake swallowing an elephant—if you're too greedy, you'll face retribution."

Old Yu's face was stern—he spoke from deep experience.

Mo Hua nodded.

He had to admit, Old Yu's reasoning was surprisingly sound.

Mo Hua stared again at the clay statue of the little immortal—backed by the golden sword, majestic, receiving incense—and suddenly a question arose in his mind:

"Can I even consume incense?"

He remembered Huang Shanjun saying only deities could consume incense.

He was a living man—how could he consume incense?

And during all these days the villagers had worshipped him as the "little immortal," he'd felt nothing special.

If I can't consume incense, then where does this incense go?

To some hidden karmic force?

Mo Hua couldn't figure it out. He stared again at his own clay statue, then subtly stirred his spiritual sense—his eyes flickered with surprise—but he said nothing. Instead, he told Old Yu:

"I've seen enough. It's getting late, Grandpa Yu, I'll be going."

"Master, take your time," Old Yu said. "Let me see you off."

Old Yu personally escorted Mo Hua to the village entrance, watched him disappear into the distance, then returned home and told his two grandsons:

"Carefully keep the gifts Master gave you."

The two children cherished and valued the water-repelling jade that Mo Hua had given them, hanging it around their necks.

Old Yu nodded. "Don't be fooled by Master's young appearance—he's a disciple of a major sect, with an elite lineage. His insight, talent, and abilities are top-tier."

"What he said, you must remember well and never forget."

"And…" Old Yu sighed, his voice filled with emotion:

"Though we are cultivators without a sect, living in poverty, we must still uphold righteousness."

"I am old, my life is nearly over, I have no talent to repay the Young Master's kindness, but you two children are different—you are still young, your path ahead is long…"

"If you ever achieve success in cultivation, you must find a way to repay this great debt."

The two grandsons nodded solemnly:

"Yes, Grandpa, we remember!"

"Good."

Old Yu nodded with satisfaction.

…

At this moment, at the back of the small fishing village.

Before the shrine of the little immortal, incense curled gently, and all around was empty.

Mo Hua, who had already left, gradually reappeared.

His gaze was deep as he stared at the shrine for several moments, then said slowly: "Come out."

There was no movement within the shrine.

Mo Hua frowned slightly.

Just as he grew impatient, a faint silver glow flickered within the shrine—a tiny, pure white silver fish trembled out, nodding repeatedly toward Mo Hua as if bowing.

At the same time, a slender, clear voice entered Mo Hua's ears.

"I pay homage to my benefactor…"

Mo Hua was taken aback.

He knew something sly and hidden lurked in his shrine, but he never imagined it would be a little silver fish.

Moreover, this fish carried a pure divine aura, with not a trace of evil or corruption.

Recalling the sequence of events, Mo Hua understood at once.

"You are… the river god I killed earlier?"

The little silver fish shuddered and whispered: "Yes, my benefactor…"

"That doesn't make sense…" Mo Hua frowned. "Old Yu calls me benefactor because I saved him, but I killed you—why do you call me 'benefactor'?"

The silver fish spoke softly: "My benefactor killed me, but also saved me. You showed mercy and spared my life…"

"Showed mercy?"

Mo Hua froze, then remembered…

When he had slain the corrupted river god and searched its altar, he had indeed found a blood-red little fish.

He had idly reached to crush it.

But the little fish had thrashed violently, shedding its bloody, filthy water to reveal its silver-white body.

Mo Hua noticed it carried no blood corruption or evil taint, and out of compassion, he spared its life.

That little fish had then vanished in a flash of silver light, no one knew where it swam off to.

So it was that little fish.

Mo Hua suddenly understood, and asked: "What is your true origin?"

The silver fish whispered:

"I dare not deceive my benefactor—I was originally the river god of Yan Shui River, protecting this land, sustained by the offerings of fisher-cultivators, preserving my divine path…"

"Then one day, a terrible evil god invaded my domain, corrupted my divine consciousness, and ultimately slaughtered the entire village, utterly destroying the foundation of my divine path…"

"Without my foundation, I became a puppet of the evil god, slowly sinking into corruption over the years, retaining only this sliver of clarity."

"That sliver of 'clarity' was about to vanish entirely—when you, my benefactor, slew the evil god, severed my corrupted divine form, and let me go. Even this shrine I now inhabit belongs to you, and I feed on your incense."

"You have granted me rebirth—of course I am your benefactor."

Mo Hua was stunned.

He had never imagined that without realizing it, he had done so much good…

"Severed the divine form, preserved a sliver of divine consciousness…"

Mo Hua's heart tightened.

It was like Huang Shanjun.

Huang Shanjun had once fallen, walked the path of evil, and been severed by a senior of the Grand Void Gate—a divine consciousness transformed into a sword that cut away his mighty divine form, leaving only a pure sliver of consciousness, allowing him to be "reborn" as a destitute mountain god.

This little silver fish was the same.

Only, it was I who cut it down.

"So now, are you still a river god?" Mo Hua asked.

The silver fish nodded its tiny head. "I still retain a sliver of the river god's authority, but most of my divine powers and memories have been severed together…"

"Severed?" Mo Hua blinked. "Do you still remember the past? The divine arts, and that evil god who corrupted you?"

The silver fish shook its head. "After being severed, most of it is forgotten."

"I see…"

Mo Hua felt a pang of regret.

He had truly wanted to know how the evil god had fallen, and how divine beings cultivate their powers.

Especially the river god's Blood Sea Art—he remembered it vividly.

Now it seemed there was no chance.

Divine beings are born of the Dao.

This Dao seems to contain both a portion of ability and a portion of memory.

The two complement each other, inherent from birth.

But if it is severed, both will be lost together.

Mo Hua silently pondered.

The Little Silver Fish suddenly felt ashamed and whispered, "Forgive me, Benefactor, this minor deity stole your incense offerings…"

"It's fine, eat it," Mo Hua said generously.

After all, he couldn't eat it himself.

"But since you've received incense offerings and taken on the karmic debt, you must protect the safety of this fishing village."

"Don't bother with greedy people, don't strain yourself over impossible tasks, but don't slack off on what you can do."

"And above all, never walk down the path of evil again…"

Mo Hua warned.

The Little Silver Fish, granted Mo Hua's permission, happily flicked its tail and nodded repeatedly:

"Thank you, Benefactor! This minor deity will surely remember your teachings!"

Mo Hua nodded.

"Alright, I should be going."

The Little Silver Fish bowed respectfully, "May the Benefactor depart in peace."

Mo Hua glanced once more at the little immortal's shrine, then turned and left.

Seeing Mo Hua go, the Little Silver Fish quietly slipped back into the shrine, hiding behind the majestic little immortal statue, and ate Mo Hua's incense offerings in peace.

Most deities, once they stray from the path and their Divine Dao is destroyed, immediately perish and their Dao dissolves.

To have survived at all is already a stroke of heavenly fortune.

Not to mention surviving with a shrine to dwell in, incense offerings to consume, and the chance to reconsolidate one's divine position—this is an immense grace.

The Little Silver Fish ate the incense offerings, filled with gratitude.

…

Mo Hua no longer delayed; he boarded a carriage and returned directly to the Grand Void Gate.

After returning to the Grand Void Gate, Mo Hua sent a message to Gu Diansi:

"Uncle Gu, is the Overriver Dragon still alive?"

After a while, Gu Diansi replied:

"Alive."

Mo Hua: "He's still alive?"

Gu Diansi: "... Do you hope he dies?"

"No, I thought with all the secrets he carried and the information he leaked, he'd surely be killed in the Dao Prison. I didn't expect him to be so tough…" Mo Hua said.

Gu Diansi: "I'm watching him."

When it's time to die, he'll die—watching won't help…

Mo Hua muttered inwardly.

But he didn't say it aloud, or else the petty Uncle Gu would hold a grudge.

Gu Diansi grew wary, "Why are you suddenly asking about the Overriver Dragon?"

Mo Hua paused, then asked, "Uncle Gu, have you heard of the matter at the Hundred Flowers Valley?"

Gu Diansi: "What matter?"

Mo Hua: "The one where a senior sister killed herself."

Gu Diansi sighed deeply.

This child—has he grown ears that hear everything? How does he find out about every single thing…

Gu Diansi grunted.

Mo Hua was surprised, "Uncle Gu, you already know about it?"

Gu Diansi emphasized, "I am the Dao Ting Si's Gu Diansi."

"Isn't that position hollowed out?"

Gu Diansi hesitated, then snapped, "Even if hollowed out, I'm still the Gu Diansi!"

Mo Hua asked, "Then have you investigated the Hundred Flowers Valley?"

"No…" Gu Diansi said, "The Hundred Flowers Valley forbids men from entering—even Dao Ting Si personnel."

Mo Hua: "So the Dao Ting Si just ignores it?"

Gu Diansi: "We'll handle it."

Mo Hua frowned, "But you just said men aren't allowed in."

Gu Diansi couldn't help but say, "Is it possible the Dao Ting Si also has female Gu Diansi?"

Mo Hua was stunned, "There are female Gu Diansi? Who?"

Gu Diansi: "Transferred from outside—you don't know them, and I won't tell you even if I did."

"Oh…" Mo Hua's eyes lit up, "Why suddenly transfer a female Gu Diansi from outside…"

"Stop!" Gu Diansi snapped, "Don't ask about this. It concerns Dao Ting Si personnel transfers—no matter what, I won't tell you."

"Fine…" Mo Hua muttered.

Gu Diansi said, "You still haven't explained why you suddenly asked about the Overriver Dragon—is it connected to the Hundred Flowers Valley matter?"

"Yes," Mo Hua said. "The senior sister who killed herself in the Hundred Flowers Valley was surnamed Ye, from the Ye family of Yan Shui City."

"And earlier this year, a Young Master Ye from the Yan Shui City Ye family was killed."

"The one who killed Young Master Ye is the River Dragon."

"And I suspect that this deceased Young Master Ye and that self-immolated Ye senior sister must be related."

At first, Gu Changhuai paid little attention, but the longer he listened, the more solemn his expression became.

He hadn't expected Mo Hua had already uncovered the connections so deeply and sorted them out so clearly.

With this ability, he could easily become a Gu Diansi in the Dao Ting Si in the future…

"So, you want me to interrogate the River Dragon, ask him why he killed that Young Master Ye, and use the Dao Ting Si's authority to investigate what connection exists between this Young Master Ye and the female disciple from Baihua Valley who killed herself?"

Mo Hua nodded and praised: "No wonder you're Uncle Gu—you're too clever."

Gu Changhuai: "..."

Mo Hua grew slightly worried: "Uncle Gu, have you been sidelined? Can you still investigate?"

Gu Changhuai snorted coldly, "Sideline, not dismissed. Wait—I'll tell you when I have news."

"Mm-hmm." Mo Hua nodded.

After that, the message transmission ceased.

Gu Changhuai seemed to have become busy.

Mo Hua had classes to attend, so he could only wait patiently.

Yet in his spare time, he had other matters to attend to.

After his trip to Kushi and a brief chat with Huang Shanjun, Mo Hua gained much insight.

First, regarding the matter of spiritual sense forming a sword—through Huang Shanjun's description, Mo Hua gained some inspiration.

Perhaps the spiritual sense forming a sword could abandon the sword weapon and sword qi, and instead attempt to condense sword intent through the eyes.

The eyes are the windows of spiritual awareness, capable of projecting spiritual sense to the greatest extent.

Perhaps, through training, he could discover a technique to command the spiritual sense forming a sword merely by gaze.

When alone, Mo Hua tried it.

As expected, he failed completely.

No matter how hard he squinted or grimaced, no swordlight emerged from his eyes.

Though he failed, Mo Hua was not discouraged.

No cultivation method is achieved overnight.

The more powerful the sword art, the more years of relentless refinement it demands before one can truly master it.

Mo Hua decided to practice a little every day.

Perhaps one day, swordlight would condense within his eyes.

Another matter that deeply concerned Mo Hua was what Huang Shanjun had mentioned: "Spiritual Sense Dao Transformation!"

He was walking the path of spiritual awareness attaining Dao.

Mo Hua had always believed he was walking the path of spiritual awareness attaining Dao.

But after speaking with Huang Shanjun, he suddenly realized he might have accidentally stumbled onto a very peculiar path.

His spiritual awareness attaining Dao likely differed greatly from that of other spirit-path cultivators—including even the path his master had planned for him.

Strictly speaking, his spiritual awareness attaining Dao should be called "Spiritual Sense Dao Transformation."

It was a path of transforming the cultivator's spiritual sense into a divine Dao.

Mo Hua couldn't help sighing.

His master probably never imagined that, while practicing the Tianyan Art and consuming malevolent spirits, he'd somehow veered onto the path of divinity without noticing.

Mo Hua couldn't help feeling uneasy.

"Master is gone, I've gone off-track—what will become of me in the future…?"

Yet upon careful reflection, Mo Hua realized he'd gone off-track on more than one thing.

Too many lice, no itch; too much debt, no worry.

He'd already learned the Tianyan Art—might as well keep going blindly; worrying wouldn't help.

Mo Hua put his mind at ease and cast all these concerns far away.

Take one step, see what comes next.

Cultivating the Dao is about walking step by step, firmly on the ground—no one knows how far one will ultimately go.

Just hold firm your Dao heart and keep moving forward; no need for excessive worry.

Mo Hua nodded.

From then on, he cultivated peacefully, and whenever free, he tried to release spiritual sense forming a sword through his eyes.

He also kept waiting for news from Gu Changhuai.

Yet after several days passed, Gu Changhuai still sent no word.

Mo Hua couldn't help frowning.

If Uncle Gu finds no leads, where should I begin?

I can't just sneak into Baihua Valley to investigate, can I?

The thought crossed his mind—he immediately shook his head.

"I probably… can't sneak in…"

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