Chapter 816

At dusk, Mo Hua went to the Dao Law Chamber and found Master Yi, the elder specifically tasked with teaching Dao Law courses at Grand Void Gate.

Master Yi was idly flipping through a register; seeing Mo Hua, he was slightly surprised, and a touch wary:

"You've come again to practice spells?"

Master Yi still remembered vividly how Mo Hua once blew himself up while practicing the Fireball Spell, forcing him to endure two months of cold stares from Mr. Xun.

Thus, every time Mo Hua came to practice spells, he had to be on full alert.

"No," Mo Hua waved his hand, "I'd like to ask you some questions…"

"Ask questions?" Master Yi paused slightly, then exhaled in relief, "Asking questions is good…"

As long as he didn't practice those dangerous spells, Mo Hua was a good boy.

"Go ahead," Master Yi said. "What do you want to ask?"

Mo Hua handed Master Yi a jade slip he had transcribed, containing records of the Water Prison Spell, and asked:

"Elder, do you know the Water Prison Spell?"

Master Yi took the jade slip, glanced at it, and nodded. "Of course."

He was the Dao Law Elder.

The Yi family was also a spell-clan.

He knew at least something about every spell recorded in Grand Void Gate.

Even though the Water Prison Spell was obscure, narrowly useful, and studied by only a handful of disciples, as Dao Law Elder, he had to be familiar with it.

"I've reviewed the sect's records," Mo Hua asked quietly, "and it says this Water Prison Spell was once the secret art of Water Prison Sect? Water Prison Sect… do you know of it, Elder?"

Master Yi frowned.

"Why are you asking about this?"

Mo Hua read his expression and knew Master Yi knew something.

He thought for a moment and explained: "I learned this Water Prison Spell within the sect. But recently, I used it outside, and someone recognized it—they said it was Water Prison Sect's art. I became curious, so I came to ask."

"Oh…"

Master Yi nodded slightly, not suspecting anything.

Mo Hua spoke casually, so Master Yi took it as ordinary and didn't think to ask who Mo Hua had used the Water Prison Spell on.

He never imagined that man now saw Mo Hua as a "remnant of Water Prison Sect" and wanted nothing more than to kill him.

"I do know a little about Water Prison Sect…"

Master Yi pondered a moment, then continued: "A thousand years ago, Water Prison Sect was once prominent. The sect landscape of Qianxue Province back then was different from today—it wasn't yet the era of the Four Major Sects and Eight Great Gates."

"By strength, Water Prison Sect wasn't top-tier, but it could still rank among the Twelve Streams."

"And even then, the Twelve Streams were different from today. Back then, the Twelve Stream sects truly excelled in specific Daoist lineages."

"Nowadays, many Twelve Stream sects are far inferior to the Four Major Sects in their own fields. The clearest example is Ten Thousand Arrays Sect…"

Master Yi sighed. "I don't even know how their array techniques are passed down—each generation is worse than the last…"

Mo Hua said: "So, does that mean Water Prison Sect back then had perfected water-based Daoist arts?"

"Perfected? I wouldn't say that," Master Yi shook his head. "There's always someone greater beyond, and the Dao is vast—no one dares claim they've reached the ultimate. But in Qianxue Province, and even across much of Qian Province, Water Prison Sect's water-based Dao arts were among the very best."

"And it wasn't just that—they specialized within water-based Dao arts. Their transmitted water spells weren't about breadth, but about precision…"

Not about breadth, but precision?

Mo Hua thought briefly, then said slowly: "Water Prison Sect—the name includes 'prison.' Logically, it must have specialized in water spells for control, confinement…"

"And perhaps, from the name alone, this sect had ties to Dao Ting Si?"

Master Yi's expression showed mild surprise.

This child's mind was sharp.

He wondered if all array students were just naturally clever.

Then again, some array students in the sect looked utterly dull…

Master Yi thought to himself.

"Correct. Water Prison Sect specialized in control, restraint, imprisonment, and even punitive water spells—some of which were forbidden arts…"

Master Yi continued: "Most graduates of Water Prison Sect entered Dao Ting Si branches across the lands. These disciples, trained in water-prison arts, delighted in torture, taking pleasure in inflicting pain—even if their victims were cultivators who had broken the Dao. Still, this gave Water Prison Sect a terrible reputation."

"Later…"

Master Yi frowned. "What happened after that, I don't know clearly. I only heard that Water Prison Sect's core cultivation method had a fundamental flaw—when practiced deeply, it twisted the cultivator's nature into cruelty and malice."

"At that time, reports kept emerging of Water Prison Sect disciples falling into demonic paths, abusing their Dao Ting Si authority to murder innocents."

"Dao Ting sent investigators. What they uncovered was a major scandal that enraged Dao Ting."

"What exactly it was, Dao Ting never disclosed. The truth is likely sealed in the central Dao Ting's Juan Sect archives."

"After that, many in Water Prison Sect died; the rest were thrown into prison. All core transmissions were sealed. Only scattered spells—like the Water Prison Spell—spread across the cultivation world, surviving as obscure Daoist techniques…"

Master Yi sighed.

Mo Hua looked solemn.

He hadn't expected the three characters "Water Prison Sect" concealed such an unknown secret.

The cultivation world was indeed dangerous, complex, and full of mystery.

Such a great sect vanished overnight…

"Since the Water Prison Spell is a Water Prison Sect art, could it be dangerous? Didn't Dao Ting ban it?" Mo Hua asked.

Master Yi waved his hand. "How could they ban them all? Besides, if this spell could spread and was even recorded in Grand Void Gate, it must not be too dangerous."

"And who in their right mind would learn such a strange, perverse spell?"

Mo Hua stared silently at Master Yi.

Only then did Master Yi realize there was a Water Prison Spell practitioner right in front of him, and he chuckled awkwardly:

"I'm not talking about you—you're a special case, your spiritual sense is too strong while your qi is weak; striking out on your own path and learning this kind of control technique is quite good, quite good…"

Mo Hua nodded, then said:

"Elder, I have another question…"

He paused, his expression puzzled. "I reviewed the sect's records—Shuiyu Gate was destroyed a thousand years ago, but the Water Prison Technique wasn't recorded in Grand Void Gate until over a hundred years ago, when a 'True Person Yi' added it."

"Is this 'True Person Yi' an elder from the Yi family's Liu Yuhua realm?"

Elder Yi nodded. "If we trace the lineage, he should be my uncle."

"Then where exactly did this 'True Person Yi' find this Water Prison Technique, and from whom?" Mo Hua asked.

"You're putting me on the spot…" Elder Yi sighed. "How could I possibly know such details?"

"Then…" Mo Hua whispered, "could you ask True Person Yi for me?"

Elder Yi regarded Mo Hua with a knowing look. "You little rascal—was this your plan all along?"

Mo Hua smiled sheepishly.

He wanted to ask directly, but he was just a lowly disciple—True Person Yi wouldn't even know who he was.

Of course, he didn't even know who this True Person Yi was himself.

If that was the case, he could only rely on Elder Yi.

Elder Yi pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, I'll ask him for you."

Mo Hua's face lit up. "Thank you, Elder Yi!"

He patted his chest. "Whenever you're in trouble in the future, just call on me—anything within my power, I'll do my utmost."

Elder Yi chuckled.

I'm a full-fledged Jin Dan cultivator, a Dao Law Elder of Grand Void Gate—why would I need the favor of a mere disciple?

I…

Elder Yi paused.

Come to think of it… it might not be impossible…

At least with Master Xun, Mo Hua's influence outweighs mine, this Jin Dan Elder.

"Fine!" Elder Yi didn't boast—he grinned. "If I ever need help, I'll come to you."

"Mm-hmm!" Mo Hua nodded.

"But," Elder Yi hesitated, "I can ask him, but my uncle—True Person Yi—is obsessed with techniques and loves wandering the world, collecting Dao scriptures from all corners of the Nine Provinces."

"I don't even know where he's wandering now. Even if I send a flying sword letter, I don't know when he'll receive it—or when he'll reply. It could be days, months, even one or two years…"

"That long?" Mo Hua looked disappointed.

"It depends on luck," Elder Yi said. "The cultivation world is vast, wanderers vanish without trace, and letters vanish into the void."

Mo Hua sighed. "Alright… there's nothing else to be done."

Elder Yi nodded. "If I hear anything, I'll notify you."

Mo Hua bowed respectfully. "Thank you for your trouble, Elder."

After this, Mo Hua resumed his normal classes and cultivation.

But several days later, during a class break, Elder Yi stood at the door and waved to Mo Hua. "Mo Hua, come here."

In a quiet spot, Elder Yi looked at Mo Hua with a strange expression.

"You kid—you've got real luck…"

Perhaps heaven itself favors you.

Mo Hua's eyes lit up. "Has True Person Yi replied?"

"Yes." Elder Yi nodded. "My uncle was passing through Kunzhou, preparing to return to the sect, and stopped at a branch of the Yi family when he received my flying sword letter."

"According to my uncle, he also found the events of Shuiyu Gate a thousand years ago suspicious, but so much time has passed—things have changed, people have changed; it's impossible to investigate now."

"As for the Water Prison Technique, he acquired it by chance…"

"By chance?" Mo Hua was curious.

Elder Yi said: "Over a hundred years ago, my uncle hadn't yet begun wandering—he was teaching inside Grand Void Gate."

"One day, while visiting a friend, he was fishing by the river and encountered a cultivator in distress. He casually rescued him. The cultivator, to repay my uncle's life-saving deed, offered him all his spiritual stones and wealth."

"My uncle paid no mind to such trifles—he waved his hand and said saving a life was a trivial matter, no need to dwell on it; keep the spiritual stones for your own cultivation."

"But the man was deeply loyal—he insisted that a life-saving debt must be repaid. He had nothing else to offer except these spiritual stones, and besides them, only some Dao techniques passed down from his ancestors. If my uncle would accept them, he wished to repay the debt with these teachings."

"My uncle originally didn't care—he was a Dao Law Elder of Grand Void Gate, a Liu Yuhua True Person; what techniques hadn't he seen?"

"But when the man pulled them out, my uncle had never seen them before…"

"After much thought, my uncle deduced from the technique's nature, qi meridian flow, and spell function that this was likely the original Water Prison Technique of Shuiyu Gate—vastly different from the watered-down versions circulating outside."

"My uncle was delighted and asked about the origin of the Water Prison Technique."

"But the man didn't even know the term 'Water Prison Technique.' He said it was passed down from his ancestors, he didn't know its name, and it was hard to learn, ineffective in combat, and had negligible offensive power—so he kept it only as a family heirloom, a memento."

"Shuiyu Gate's history was indeed dishonorable, so my uncle didn't mention it."

"But he liked the Water Prison Technique, so he accepted it. At the same time, he felt guilty seeing the man's poverty—he gave him more spiritual stones and helped him settle in a village to build a home."

Elder Yi finished speaking.

But Mo Hua slowly frowned. "True Person Yi was fishing by the river… was that river Yan Shui River?"

Elder Yi nodded. "Yes, Yan Shui River."

"Did True Person Yi say exactly where along Yan Shui River?"

Elder Yi said: "My uncle didn't specify, but since he was fishing, it was likely the downstream bend—I once fished there with him a few times…"

"Downstream bend?"

Mo Hua had no recollection of it.

"About thirty miles west, past the bend in the Smoke Water River," Elder Yi said, "the water is deep, there are many water spirits, and mudflats have accumulated—cultivators rarely go there. But a few miles farther, there's a water fortress…"

Mo Hua suddenly froze.

"A water fortress?!"

Elder Yi, startled by Mo Hua's outburst, couldn't help asking:

"What's wrong?"

"What water fortress?" Mo Hua asked urgently.

Elder Yi shook his head. "I've only fished there twice, caught a total of three or four fish—how would I notice what kind of water fortress is nearby…?"

Mo Hua's heart grew heavy.

He had a strong premonition.

The water fortress Elder Yi mentioned was almost certainly the "Yu Family Water Fortress," which had been wiped out not long ago by the Water Yama!

The cultivator the True Person saved was very likely from the Yu Family Water Fortress.

The cultivators of the Yu Family Water Fortress possessed the transmission of the Water Prison Technique.

The Yu Family Water Fortress was wiped out by the Water Yama.

The Water Yama said, "All cultivators of the Water Prison Sect must die!"

So that means…

This Yu Family Water Fortress was the last surviving descendant of the Water Prison Sect.

Did the Water Yama slaughter the Yu Family Water Fortress not only to build the altar, but also to eliminate the Water Prison Sect's heirs?

And Yu Family Water Fortress… Yu…

Mo Hua's pupils contracted sharply.

He hadn't realized it before, but now he suddenly remembered: in the small fishing village, Old Yu, Ding Da Chuan, Xiao Shunzi, and Xiao Shuizi—all of them bore the surname "Yu"!

Mo Hua's heart leapt.

Could Old Yu's family have some connection to the Yu Family Water Fortress?

Mo Hua's thoughts churned, his expression shifting unpredictably.

Elder Yi couldn't help asking, "What are you thinking about?"

Seeing Mo Hua didn't respond, Elder Yi asked again.

Mo Hua finally came back to himself and said, "Nothing. I was just thinking I still haven't finished drawing my array—I'll head back now. Thank you, Elder Yi…"

"If you need anything in the future, I'll definitely help you!"

Mo Hua promised, then dashed off.

Elder Yi watched Mo Hua's retreating back and shook his head in confusion.

…

After returning to the disciples' quarters, Mo Hua's mind remained unsettled.

He immediately sent a message to Gu Changhuai: "Uncle Gu, has there been any activity around the small fishing village?"

After a while, Gu Changhuai asked:

"What kind of activity?"

"I mean…" Mo Hua thought for a moment, "have there been any criminal cultivators or evil cultivators lurking nearby?"

"I've assigned people from the Gu family to watch them—no abnormalities so far," Gu Changhuai said.

Mo Hua exhaled in relief.

"What's going on?" Gu Changhuai asked.

The Water Yama might wipe out the small fishing village too…

Mo Hua considered, then decided not to tell Uncle Gu yet—he had no evidence.

"I just asked out of curiosity."

But Gu Changhuai grew suspicious. "Are you… hiding something from me again?"

"No!" Mo Hua said.

Seeing Gu Changhuai was about to press further, Mo Hua struck first: "Uncle Gu, have you met with that instructor from the Hundred Blossom Valley these past few days?"

Gu Changhuai knew exactly what Mo Hua was up to, but he knew asking would get him nowhere, so he replied:

"I've met her. But she seems to have sensed something—she's become even more cautious than before."

"Does she suspect you?"

"So far, no. In matters of romance, I've played the fool well—she hasn't grown suspicious," Gu Changhuai said.

That word "played" felt unnecessary…

Mo Hua mentally grumbled.

But he didn't say it aloud—he feared Uncle Gu might hold a grudge.

"Uncle Gu, I'm counting on you," Mo Hua encouraged.

The clues from Hua Ruyu depended on Uncle Gu's matchmaking.

Gu Changhuai replied with only a faint "Mm."

The conversation ended.

Mo Hua relaxed a little—but not completely.

"Yu Family Water Fortress… small fishing village…"

Mo Hua felt he needed to go and see for himself.

Several days passed, and it was again the ten-day break. Mo Hua drove alone out of the Grand Void Gate, following the Smoke Water River, passing through several Xiancheng cities, purchasing supplies, then arriving once more at the small fishing village.

Several days passed, and it was again the day of the ten-day rest; Mo Hua drove off alone from the Grand Void Gate, following the Smoke Water River, passing through several Xiancheng, procured some items, and then arrived once more at the small fishing village.

The small fishing village remained unscathed.

Old Yu Head was overjoyed to see Mo Hua.

In his eyes, Mo Hua was a genuine "noble guest."

Seeing other fishing cultivators nearby, not the time to speak, Mo Hua said:

"Can I pay respects to that…?" Mo Hua pointed toward the back of the village, "the little immortal?"

Old Yu Head beamed: "Of course, of course! May that little immortal also bless your grace with blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea, and an infinite Dao path."

I'll bless myself…

Mo Hua's mood was subtly strange.

At the back of the village, Mo Hua placed fruits and melons upon the altar, then bowed respectfully before his own statue.

It was still morning; the fishing cultivators were busy with their livelihoods, Old Yu Head had not followed, and no one else was around.

Mo Hua whispered: "Come out."

After a moment, a bright white silver fish swam out from behind the majestic little immortal statue, nodding and kowtowing to Mo Hua.

"Your grace, I salute you."

"You're too thin. I brought you some food to nourish you," Mo Hua pointed to the spirit melons and spirit fruits on the altar.

He had always fed Huang Shanjun before.

But Huang Shanjun lived far away, and in a remote spot; he didn't often have time to go there.

Now, passing by, he might as well feed the little silver fish.

Even if Huang Shanjun is miserable, at least he has a human form; if this little silver fish isn't fed, it might grow so thin it ceases to look like a fish at all.

The little silver fish was profoundly grateful to Mo Hua.

It was barely a god in two lifetimes, and no one had ever treated it so kindly.

The little silver fish nibbled the melons and fruits with tiny, smacking lips.

Mo Hua asked: "Little silver fish, do you know the origin of this small fishing village?"

The little silver fish shook its head: "Your grace, I've forgotten…"

Saying this, it resumed eating the sweet offerings.

Well, a little glutton, and a bit unreliable…

Mo Hua sighed helplessly.

He'd have to ask Old Yu Head instead.

At mealtime, Mo Hua again ate at Old Yu Head's home.

This time, he brought some spirit meat.

Though not particularly precious, for Old Yu Head's family—impoverished scattered cultivators who lived by fishing and hunting—this was food they might not taste even during festivals.

Old Yu Head was both grateful and ashamed.

"It's too much of a burden on your grace…"

"It's nothing," Mo Hua said. "It didn't cost many spirit stones."

Mainly, now in his sect, his food, clothing, and necessities could all be exchanged for merit.

Outside the sect, the Gu family, a great aristocratic house, provided him meals and drink, so he rarely spent spirit stones himself and had saved up considerable wealth.

Old Yu Head and Ding Da Chuan kept pouring wine for Mo Hua.

Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Shuizi happily ate the spirit meat.

Throughout the year, the meat they got to eat barely amounted to a few pieces—so few they could be counted on one hand.

After the meal, Ding Da Chuan went back to the river.

Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Shuizi lay in the cool shade of the courtyard for a nap.

Old Yu Head brewed Mo Hua a pot of good tea.

The tea wasn't exceptional, but it was the best his family could offer.

Mo Hua lowered his voice and asked: "Old man, do you know about the Yu Family Water Fortress?"

At once, Old Yu Head's expression turned terrified, his face pale:

"I heard—on the Yan Shui River, every person in the fortress died, their blood staining half the river red…"

Mo Hua cautiously said: "The Yu Family Water Fortress is surnamed Yu… and so are you…"

"Yes," Old Yu Head, without suspicion, sighed. "Come to think of it, we're somewhat related—two generations back, we might have been part of the Yu Family Water Fortress, living inside the fortress too…"

Mo Hua thought: So it was true. Then he asked curiously, "Then why do you live in this small fishing village?"

"To be honest, it's embarrassing," Old Yu Head sighed. "It's said my grandfather was of poor character—lazy and gluttonous—so the fortress expelled him, telling him to fend for himself. Looking back now, it was a blessing in disguise…"

Old Yu Head shuddered. "Otherwise, our entire family today might have met the same fate as those in the fortress—unknowingly slaughtered by some unknown hand, all dead within the fortress."

Mo Hua's gaze sharpened.

Expelled…

This matter is probably not so simple.

"How much else do you know about the fortress?" Mo Hua asked again.

Old Yu Head thought, then shook his head. "We haven't had contact for ages. That ancestral blood tie, once severed, is gone. You didn't mention it, I wouldn't have brought it up."

"We're all poor souls, barely surviving—why would we dig up old, rotten scraps?"

Old Yu Head's expression was wistful.

Mo Hua also sighed faintly.

It seemed Old Yu Head knew little.

The two continued drinking tea.

Mo Hua pondered to himself, wondering if he had overlooked any clues that could unravel the truth behind Shui Yanluo's intentions and the secrets of the Yu family's water fortress…

Yet, no matter how he turned it over in his mind, he found no clear lead.

Just then, a light breeze passed through, and Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Shuizi in the courtyard involuntarily rolled over.

The children's internal Qi flowed, and their energy signatures drifted out.

Mo Hua looked at them and suddenly froze.

He had previously noticed that these two children's cultivation advanced rapidly, but now it seemed their progress was even faster than he had imagined.

Moreover, their energy signatures were unusual…

Mo Hua's gaze sharpened.

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