Chapter 821

"Three-six-nine ranks, the superior subjugating the inferior?" Mo Hua frowned in confusion. "Why have I never heard of such notions in the Grand Void Gate?"

"The Grand Void Gate?" Yu Canghai paused, surprised. "You're a disciple of the Grand Void Gate?"

Mo Hua nodded.

Yu Canghai sighed. "No wonder…"

He was a disciple of the Eight Great Sects.

He had often heard that the Grand Void Gate had declined, its disciples growing weaker with each generation.

Yet he never expected that a random disciple of the Grand Void Gate he met outside would possess such unfathomable strength.

It seemed most rumors in this world were untrue.

The Grand Void Gate is a branch of an ancient sect, its blessings enduring, its foundations truly unfathomable…

Yu Canghai could not help but raise his estimation of the Grand Void Gate.

He sighed again, then spoke slowly:

"The Grand Void Gate's lineage differs from ours in the Water Prison Sect. You follow the upright path of transmitting teachings and instructing disciples. Your sect's heritage may be ranked in tiers of high, middle, and low, but it would never make such blatant distinctions as 'the superior subjugating the inferior.'"

Mo Hua asked curiously, "You know about our Grand Void Gate's lineage?"

Yu Canghai gave a slight nod. "Naturally. Though the Water Prison Sect has declined, we still preserve some sect texts recording the glory of all sects a thousand years ago."

"A thousand years ago…"

Mo Hua's eyes lit up with interest.

Yu Canghai pondered a moment, then continued:

"According to our Water Prison Sect's texts, back then, the Grand Void Gate, among hundreds of sects in Qianxue Province, was not among the strongest—but it commanded universal caution. The reason? Its sword intent lineage."

"Sword intent?"

"Correct." Yu Canghai nodded. "Tai'e Forges Divine Sword, Chongxu Evolves Sword Qi, Tai Xu Transforms into Sword Intent—these are, according to our texts, the three oldest sword lineages in the fifth-rank Qianxue Province."

Tai'e Forges Divine Sword, Chongxu Evolves Sword Qi, Tai Xu Transforms into Sword Intent…

At this, Mo Hua remembered something and asked:

"Elder Yu, I've heard that the Tai'e Sect, Chongxu Sect, and Grand Void Sect all descended from a single ancient sect. What was its name?"

Yu Canghai's expression turned regretful.

"I don't know. Our Water Prison texts don't record it. All we know is that it was an extremely ancient sect—but after splitting into three, its name vanished. No one has mentioned it since, and it may not be recorded in any book or jade slip."

Mo Hua frowned, his expression solemn. Then he asked:

"How exactly does one cultivate sword intent in the Grand Void Gate?"

Yu Canghai looked at Mo Hua with a strange expression.

You're a disciple of the Grand Void Gate, and you're asking me, a Water Prison Sect elder, how to cultivate sword intent?

Mo Hua had to say: "We don't teach it anymore."

Indeed, current disciples of the Grand Void Gate no longer teach sword intent.

He himself was a spirit cultivator, relying on spells in daily life, with little mastery of sword techniques. His sword control, strictly speaking, wasn't even true sword art.

He only attended sword classes occasionally, just to observe how sword cultivators fought.

So far, he had trained in the Grand Void Gate for five years—and in those five years, he had barely seen any elders teach disciples the method of sword intent.

They rarely even mentioned it.

Even sword cultivators like Sister Situ learned everything in the Grand Void Gate—except sword art.

Her sword lineage came from her own family's Flame-Dividing Sword Art, not from the Grand Void Gate's sword methods.

Yu Canghai was also surprised. "Not teaching it anymore?"

He frowned, muttering under his breath, "... That doesn't make sense. Why would they stop teaching it?"

What sect takes in disciples but refuses to transmit its own dao?

Yu Canghai pondered a moment, then said slowly: "Perhaps sword intent is simply too difficult to transmit…"

"Cultivate Qi to nurture the sword, establish Foundation to learn techniques, hone the sword path day and night, comprehend sword intent—only by Jin Dan or even late Jin Dan might one see initial results, and only at Liu Yuhua does the sword truly reveal its edge, piercing the nine heavens."

"This process is too slow. In today's world, it seems outdated…"

"Now sects abound, fiercely competing. Sword intent cannot be learned at Foundation Establishment. Even if one begins, it takes too long and yields results too slowly—it's a disadvantage. Meanwhile, disciples of other sects are already slaughtering left and right with sharp sword techniques, while you're still slowly refining your foundation, nurturing sword intent. Though in the end, when sword dao reaches completion, it will manifest grandly, before that, one must endure years of loneliness, hardship, and suppressed frustration…"

Here, Yu Canghai fell into reflection.

Dao methods have indeed advanced since ancient times.

But today's cultivators are too eager for quick results, unwilling to patiently refine themselves.

Great talent ripens late.

Some ancient dao methods are powerful precisely because they demand enduring solitude, accumulating day by day, refining slowly, before true skill emerges.

Mo Hua nodded slowly.

The Grand Void Gate's sword intent lineage does indeed gain strength later—in Foundation Establishment, it is clearly at a disadvantage.

That was Elder Yu's view.

But Mo Hua knew it was likely more than that.

If Grand Void sword intent emphasized accumulation and late blooming, then the Grand Void Gate's inner sect strength should surpass the Eight Great Sects.

But reality was otherwise.

The inner sect disciples and elders of the Eight Great Sects did not seem particularly outstanding.

Not that Elder Xun Ziyou, Xun Zixian, or other elders were weak—but none possessed that "uniquely superior" strength.

The reason, likely, was that the later sword intent methods had been lost.

Already hard to learn, slow to master.

Even after mastering them, some unknown reason had caused the means to manifest sword intent to vanish.

No wonder the Grand Void Gate no longer teaches much about Sword Intent anymore...

This lineage—or rather, the Grand Void Gate's Dao tradition—is riddled with constraints, making it nearly impossible to pass down; thus, the Grand Void Gate, once famed for its sharp, brilliant Sword Intent, has now become a sluggish "last-place finisher."

After speaking of the Grand Void Gate, Yu Canghai sighed:

"So you see, your Grand Void Gate holds the most orthodox lineage inherited from ancient sects, and the difficulty of transmission lies within the lineage itself. You merely need to calmly teach your disciples, while our Water Prison Sect has far too many concerns."

Mo Hua: "..."

"What do you have to worry about?" Mo Hua asked.

Yu Canghai sighed: "Our Water Prison Sect's entire lineage is tied to the Dao Ting Si. We're accustomed to scheming and intrigue, so we must guard against others—and against ourselves."

"Even our founding Laozu, the one who established the Water Prison Sect's tradition, was a Laozu of immense cunning and deep calculation."

"The Laozu trusted no one—not even his own blood relatives or children, let alone sect disciples."

"So he classified the sect's techniques into strict hierarchical tiers."

"Direct heirs study the upper tier, inner disciples study the middle tier, outer disciples study the lower tier."

"Lower-tier cultivation methods are inherently suppressed by upper-tier ones."

"Lower-tier techniques are naturally ineffective against upper-tier ones."

Mo Hua frowned, puzzled: "With such blatant lineage discrimination, how do any disciples still join your Water Prison Sect?"

"Naturally," Yu Canghai said, "human nature is this way: only when there's no profit will they speak of dignity and integrity; once profit is possible, they'll cast dignity and integrity aside."

"What's a little lineage discrimination?"

"Besides, when it comes to water-element cultivation methods and Dao arts, our Water Prison Sect is unmatched within the Qianxue Province."

"Even divided into three tiers, the lower-tier techniques are still potent against non-sect cultivators—they merely cannot overpower fellow sect members."

Mo Hua nodded.

His Water Prison Technique worked this way.

So far, it's been useless against the Water Yama and this Elder Yu, but against other cultivators, it's extremely effective—almost always ensnaring whoever it targets.

"Such a powerful Water Prison Technique is merely a lower-tier technique in your Water Prison Sect?" Mo Hua remarked with awe.

Yu Canghai hesitated a moment, then said: "Actually, it's not that simple."

"Not that simple?"

Yu Canghai said: "Even the Water Prison Technique is divided into 'three, six, nine tiers.'"

Mo Hua was confused: "Three, six, nine tiers? How come I never knew?"

Yu Canghai sighed: "You're not a Water Prison Sect disciple—you only received some written lineage fragments, so you've only learned the surface."

"The subtlety of techniques lies in their application; these inner secrets are passed mouth-to-mouth, never written down."

Mo Hua was stunned: "There's more to the Water Prison Technique?"

He'd studied it for so long and used it so often—and never noticed a thing.

Yu Canghai didn't want to say, but Mo Hua's piercing gaze, combined with the fact that Mo Hua had saved his life, compelled him to repay the favor.

Besides, this minor secret of the Water Prison Technique wouldn't matter much if revealed.

Even if he told him, Mo Hua might never master it.

Yu Canghai said: "When you cast the Water Prison Technique, you should have noticed the formation condenses several water-element spiritual chains, correct?"

Mo Hua nodded.

"How many?" Yu Canghai asked.

Mo Hua recalled: "It seems like three."

Yu Canghai said: "These spiritual chains form the so-called 'three, six, nine tiers.'"

"Each spiritual chain is a small threshold; each time you cross one, spiritual energy consumption increases, but the Water Prison Technique's binding effect strengthens slightly."

"Every three spiritual chains form a major threshold; each time you cross a major threshold, the Water Prison Technique undergoes a qualitative transformation and ascends one tier."

"Three spiritual chains are merely beginner level; six chains are minor mastery; nine chains are true mastery."

"A Water Prison Technique with three spiritual chains can barely suppress any disciple who cultivates Water Prison Sect methods."

"Six chains are one step higher, exerting clear binding effects on outer disciples."

"To refine the Water Prison Technique to its peak—producing nine spiritual chains—poses a serious threat even to inner disciples, and even some poorly trained direct heirs of the Water Prison Sect."

Mo Hua exclaimed: "There are so many subtleties?"

"Indeed," Yu Canghai mused, "cultivation lineage is inherently complex, and these details are never recorded in secret manuals—they're passed 'person to person.' Only those who truly master such techniques know the inner ways."

"Oh..." Mo Hua nodded.

The cultivation world is ancient and deep; not just arrays, but Dao art transmission is far more complicated than he'd imagined.

Indeed, as long as one keeps learning, one always discovers something new.

"Then how exactly are the three, six, and nine spiritual chains in the Water Prison Technique cultivated?" Mo Hua asked.

"This..." Yu Canghai hesitated.

"Can't you tell me?"

"Regarding specific lineage secrets, I can only give you a brief outline," Yu Canghai sighed, then said, "When casting the Water Prison Technique, spiritual energy is drawn from the dantian, channeled into the forearm, flowing through the Chi Ze point, Wai Guan point, and the right palm's points—Bai, Ling Gu, Zhong Bai, Zhong Zhu... —finally condensing into the formation and exiting through the Shang Yang point on the index finger."

"These points are the key."

"As spiritual energy flows through these points, forming a minor circulation, each additional circuit during the formation's brief creation generates one more spiritual chain."

"It sounds simple, but executing it is extremely complex—it requires years of relentless practice, demanding speed and precision, with no turbulence in spiritual energy, or else..."

Before Yu Canghai could finish, Mo Hua spoke:

"Is it like this?"

He turned and saw Mo Hua point a finger—four spiritual chains of the Water Prison Technique materialized in midair, one more than before.

Yu Canghai fell silent.

"Should we go faster?"

Mo Hua asked, then thought for a moment, focused his mind, manipulated his Qi, and cast the Water Prison Technique again.

His Qi flowed faster and more precisely.

Soon, the Water Prison Technique condensed five Qi locks.

Yu Canghai froze in place.

Mo Hua was still not entirely satisfied.

"It could still be a bit faster—the flow of Qi, the acupoints along its path—could be even more precise..."

Mo Hua tried five or six more times.

Some attempts failed, but finally, after stumbling, he condensed six Qi locks.

At this point, it seemed to be the limit; cycling further would take too long, and the Water Prison Technique's formation became unstable.

Still, six Qi locks were acceptable—at least better than before.

His previous Water Prison Technique had only produced three Qi locks.

Thinking of this, Mo Hua frowned and asked Yu Canghai:

"Your three-six-nine grading system—isn't it a bit arbitrary? There's hardly any difference in difficulty between three, four, five, and six locks. Why divide it so finely?"

Yu Canghai stood motionless, numb, unable to utter a word.

What could he say?

That most Water Prison Sect disciples didn't train this way?

That each additional Qi lock required years, even over a decade, of practice?

How could he possibly say that?

It would be too embarrassing to admit.

Yu Canghai spoke with a blank expression:

"This... the senior elders of our sect may indeed have been a bit hasty, but after all, it's a low-level technique—its difficulty isn't great. Dividing it finely is meant to... to... give disciples confidence in learning techniques, to encourage their cultivation..."

By the end, Yu Canghai didn't even know what he was saying.

Mo Hua actually believed him. "I didn't realize your Water Prison Sect elders were so thoughtful."

Yu Canghai gave a bitter smile.

He had no idea.

He was making it up.

"Then does your Water Prison Sect have even more powerful techniques?" Mo Hua asked curiously.

Yu Canghai perked up.

Regarding his sect's secret transmissions, he normally wouldn't speak of such things.

But now, he absolutely couldn't let this young brother look down on the Water Prison Sect.

What would become of the sect's honor?

"Naturally," Yu Canghai said solemnly, with a hint of arrogance. "Our Water Prison Sect once shone brightly, with a long and venerable lineage. We master countless water-based techniques."

Mo Hua's eyes lit up. "For example?"

Yu Canghai paused, then said: "Not to mention others, even within the Water Prison Technique category, our sect possesses superior Daoist transmissions."

"There are even stronger control techniques than the Water Prison Technique?" Mo Hua's eyes brightened.

Yu Canghai nodded. "The Water Prison Technique can at most condense nine Qi locks..."

"But above it lies another Dao, which begins by forming eighteen Qi locks."

"This is our Water Prison Sect's supreme control technique—the Water Prison Art!"

Water Prison Art?!

Mo Hua's heart trembled slightly.

The name alone sounded formidable.

Seeing Mo Hua's astonishment, Yu Canghai felt a flicker of pride and continued:

"The cultivation world has many powerful offensive Dao techniques, but control techniques are exceedingly rare."

"The Water Prison Art is one of the most rare and supreme control techniques."

"Moreover, it is the highest-tier 'control technique' in our Water Prison Sect's transmission system, capable of suppressing all cultivators who practice our sect's core methods or movement arts—only the direct heirs of the sect master may learn it!"

"Most importantly, the Water Prison Art is a powerful control technique that ignores the immunity effects of Golden Body techniques, Golden Body talismans, and other Golden Body-type spells, enforcing absolute control over cultivators."

"Before the Water Prison Art, even the Golden Body is nothing but a useless sheet of paper."

This time, Mo Hua was truly stunned.

Supreme Dao technique. Powerful control technique. Ignores Golden Body.

He immediately asked: "If someone learned the Water Prison Art, could they capture Water Yama?"

Yu Canghai shook his head.

"Not possible?" Mo Hua said.

"It's not that it's impossible," Yu Canghai said. "But learning the Water Prison Art is harder than capturing Water Yama..."

"It's an extremely complex technique—a supreme Dao art. How easily could it be learned? Throughout Water Prison Sect history, only the sect master and his direct heirs were eligible to learn it—and even then, not every sect master succeeded."

Mo Hua said: "Then..."

Yu Canghai said: "I certainly cannot. And I'm not the sect master—I don't possess the Water Prison Art's transmission."

Mo Hua felt disappointed and asked again: "Besides the Water Prison Art, are there even more powerful techniques?"

"The Water Prison Art is a supreme technique. Beyond that, it would be a forbidden..."

Yu Canghai suddenly fell silent.

"What's forbidden?" Mo Hua asked.

"Nothing…" Yu Canghai forced a smile. "There are techniques stronger than Water Prison Art, but those aren't control arts. As for control, none compare to Water Prison Art."

"Oh." Mo Hua nodded.

After that, Yu Canghai said no more.

He was still wounded, so Mo Hua did not press further and took his leave.

But this conversation still revealed much to Mo Hua.

First, Water Prison Art has more advanced cultivation methods.

When I return, I can practice more and see if I can push Water Prison Art to its ultimate form: nine Spirit Locks.

Water Prison Art with nine Spirit Locks would likely reach another level entirely.

Second, there is Water Hell Art.

An extremely rare superior control art, almost exclusive to the Water Hell Sect's sect leader, capable of suppressing Water Hell Sect techniques and ignoring the Golden Body Art.

As for offensive arts, forget it—Mo Hua wasn't greedy.

But this kind of control art held an inexplicable allure for him.

Mo Hua felt anticipation, yet also regret.

Elder Yu said he didn't possess the heritage of the Water Hell Art—whether true or false, even if he did, he certainly wouldn't let Mo Hua learn it.

After all, this is a sect-preserving art, reserved only for the Water Hell Sect's leader.

Moreover, it is a superior Dao art, consuming staggering amounts of Qi.

With my meager Qi, even if I learned it, I might not be able to use it at all…

When speaking of "arts stronger than Water Hell Art," Elder Yu uttered a single word: "Jin." Mo Hua was nearly certain he meant "Forbidden Art."

Does the Water Hell Sect have Forbidden Arts?

This Elder Yu hides far more than he lets on…

Mo Hua sighed inwardly.

But all these are Water Hell Sect transmissions—there's no point forcing the issue.

He could only suppress his thoughts and return to Grand Void Gate.

Yet the moment he returned to the sect and stepped through the mountain gate, gazing up at the plaque above inscribed with "Grand Void Gate," Mo Hua involuntarily recalled Elder Yu's words about the ancient Water Hell Sect texts referencing Grand Void Gate's predecessor.

"Tai'e forged the Divine Sword, Chongxu refined Sword Qi, Tai Xu transformed into Sword Intent…"

"What was the ancient sect before the Three Sects split apart?"

"If the Three Sects were reunited, merging the Divine Sword, Sword Qi, and Sword Intent into one, what kind of powerful Sword Dao transmission would emerge?"

Mo Hua looked up at the sky, his heart yearning.

Then his expression grew wistful.

Too bad—the Three Sects have already split.

Given the current situation, they'll never reunite. Thinking about it is pointless.

"If only the Three Sects could reunite…"

Mo Hua thought silently, then shook his head and stepped through the mountain gate of Grand Void Gate.

Above the gate, white mist still curled upward, rising gracefully, merging with the clouds on the horizon.

A thread of ancient Sword Intent drifted within it.

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