Chapter 824: Dao Ting

Central Dao Ting!

Mo Hua's gaze sharpened. "Why would the Dao Ting come to investigate? What are they looking for? How are they doing it?"

Wang Chen's face twisted in bitterness. "This… you're overestimating me. How could I possibly know…"

Mo Hua thought for a moment and decided it made sense.

The Dao Ting's sudden interference must have deeper intentions.

Wang Chen was just an ordinary disciple of the Gui Water Sect—he couldn't possibly know.

"Then let me ask you again," Mo Hua said after a pause. "What exactly is this 'beautiful, fun thing' you mentioned? Where is it? If you take us there, what do you get out of it?"

Wang Chen sighed helplessly.

"I… I just took on this job to earn some merit points."

"My senior brothers said, for every disciple from the Eight Major Sects or Twelve Schools we bring aboard, we get two hundred merit points."

"The place is just a pleasure boat—food, drink, entertainment, all there. It's not bad at all. A little fun, maybe even make some connections with fellow cultivators…"

Mo Hua sneered. "You can fool others, but don't fool yourself."

Wang Chen fell silent.

But after a moment's thought, his expression turned cold. "You captured me… you have another motive, don't you? You didn't really want to board the boat."

Mo Hua was slightly surprised.

This Wang Chen wasn't as dumb as he looked.

Mo Hua said calmly, "I can tell you. But are you brave enough to listen?"

Wang Chen froze.

Mo Hua's voice dropped low. "If you don't know, you're safe. But if you do know, you'll soon be burned alive—and you won't even know how you died."

Mo Hua wasn't lying.

Someone like Wang Chen, once they learned a secret, rarely lived more than a few days.

That's how all the dramatic plays portrayed it.

Wang Chen dared not ask further.

He came from the Wang family and had grown up with Hao Xuan.

The Wang family was nowhere near as powerful as the Hao family, and his status within it was far below Hao Xuan's, so he had always been cautious in his actions.

He knew well which matters were taboo.

But though he stopped asking, he clearly had no intention of saying anything more.

Mo Hua glanced at him and said coolly:

"I'll tell you the truth: originally, we planned to torture you, then quietly kill you and dump your body in the river to feed the water monsters—no one would ever know. But Hao Xuan talked us out of it…"

Hao Xuan beside him blinked in surprise.

I talked them out of it? When did I do that?

Mo Hua didn't blink, continuing:

"Hao Xuan said he grew up with you and couldn't bear to see you die horribly, devoured by beasts. He persuaded us to give you a chance, so we only knocked you out and asked you a few questions. Otherwise, you'd already be at the bottom of the river…"

"Xuan-ge…"

Wang Chen's gaze toward Hao Xuan softened with gratitude.

Hao Xuan, however, didn't know what expression to wear.

"But…" Mo Hua's expression darkened slightly. "You know exactly what you're doing yourself."

"If you keep going like this, not only will you meet a bad end, you'll drag down the Wang family and bring shame upon your parents—you'll die dishonorably…"

Wang Chen's face turned pale. "But… but…"

He looked up at Mo Hua and smiled bitterly. "The sect's atmosphere is like this. What can I do?"

Mo Hua shook his head. "Paper can't wrap fire. If the Gui Water Sect keeps this up, it will collapse sooner or later. Think carefully…"

Mo Hua watched Wang Chen silently. "When the Gui Water Sect falls, they'll purge a batch of disciples. At that point, do you think you can escape?"

"This…"

Wang Chen looked up at Mo Hua again, studying his voice and figure.

Only then did he suddenly realize—the man before him was the same handsome, youthful disciple from the Grand Void Sect he'd seen earlier that day. He was both astonished and confused.

"But… can you help me?"

Mo Hua spoke haughtily. "I can't reveal my true identity yet. All I can tell you is that behind me stand the Ancestors; among my sect brothers, my word is law; I have deep ties with the elders; and I have connections within the Dao Ting Si…"

Mo Hua was waving a tiger's pelt as a banner, plastering glory onto himself.

But Hao Xuan and the others knew every word was true.

Wang Chen was completely taken in by Mo Hua's words.

"Do something for me," Mo Hua declared confidently. "If the Gui Water Sect ever collapses, I can protect you from the Dao Ting Si."

Wang Chen stammered, "Really?"

"Don't you trust me? Don't you trust Hao Xuan?" Mo Hua said.

Hao Xuan finally snapped out of it and nodded, sighing. "We're saving you. If you sink deeper, you won't be able to turn back."

Wang Chen was wavering. "But I'm just an ordinary disciple. What can I even do?"

"It's fine," Mo Hua said. "Just small tasks. Nothing that will trouble you."

Wang Chen still hesitated. "Can I… go think about it?"

"Of course," Mo Hua said. "But don't tell anyone about today's conversation. If word leaks, no one can save you."

Wang Chen nodded.

Mo Hua gave Cheng Mo a glance; Cheng Mo immediately released Wang Chen.

Wang Chen was surprised that Cheng Mo had truly let him go; he silently glanced at the others again, then left with unease, his thoughts unknown.

Watching Wang Chen's retreating figure, Situ Jian frowned and said, "Young Master, do you really think he'll do as we ask?"

"It doesn't matter," Mo Hua said.

Situ Jian froze.

Mo Hua said: "If he agrees, the Gui Water Sect will have an easier time; if he refuses, I can find another way—just a bit more trouble."

"But if he refuses, and things go wrong, he's on his own."

Cheng Mo and Situ Jian nodded.

Hao Xuan, however, looked uneasy.

Deep down, he still hoped his childhood friend wouldn't stray onto the wrong path.

Afterward, the group returned to the Grand Void Gate.

In the disciples' quarters, Mo Hua lay on his bed, still thinking about the day's events.

Dao Ting…

Dao Ting and Dao Ting Si differ by only one character, yet their meanings are worlds apart.

Dao Ting has unified the cultivation world for over twenty thousand years, its foundations terrifyingly deep.

No one knows how many cultivation resources it has amassed, how many cultivation lineages it has monopolized, or how many bottomless ancient monsters lurk behind it.

In Qianxue Province, there is Dao Ting Si.

Yet this Dao Ting Si, though supervised and governed by the central Dao Ting, has already been infiltrated by the great clans.

Dao Ting turned a blind eye.

Perhaps it was a compromise.

Or perhaps the great clans of Qianxue Province all have people within Dao Ting, colluding to deceive and obscure the truth.

But the current situation seems different…

Dao Ting has begun investigating the Gui Water Sect—it seems a minor matter, but may well be a Yan Yinzi.

Yet…

What exactly does Dao Ting hope to uncover by investigating the Gui Water Sect?

Why start with the Gui Water Sect?

And how much does Dao Ting already know?

Mo Hua thought for a long time but found no answers.

After all, he had dealt with Dao Ting Si before—he knew some of its ways and had some acquaintances.

But Dao Ting, a colossal entity, towers above, utterly beyond his reach.

"I need to find someone who knows the inside story…"

Mo Hua pulled out his transmission token, thought for a moment, decided direct inquiry was better, and sent a message to Gu Changhuai:

"Uncle Gu, has Dao Ting sent anyone here?"

He waited a long time, but Gu Changhuai did not reply.

He didn't know whether Gu was too busy to see it, or simply didn't want to discuss Dao Ting at all.

But this matter was crucial.

Mo Hua considered, then decided to go ask in person.

The next morning, he left the Grand Void Gate and went to Dao Ting Si in Qianxue Province.

At Dao Ting Si, no one stopped him.

Gu Changhuai had long served as Gu Diansi at Dao Ting Si; his prestige was still considerable.

Ordinary Fan Fan Zhisi were negligent and opportunistic—they might harass new cultivators, but Mo Hua was a familiar face with good ties to Gu Changhuai, so no one dared trouble him.

One Gu-family Fan Fan Zhisi even poured Mo Hua a cup of tea and said politely:

"The Gu Diansi is occupied with affairs; Young Master, please wait a moment."

Mo Hua politely thanked him, then sat quietly drinking tea, secretly observing the cultivators coming and going through Dao Ting Si.

After drinking four or five cups of tea, Mo Hua saw Gu Changhuai emerge and immediately greeted him:

"Uncle Gu."

At the sight of Mo Hua's handsome face, Gu Changhuai's head began to throb.

Had they not been in Dao Ting Si, and had he needed to maintain appearances, he would have turned and walked away.

"What do you want?" Gu Changhuai said coldly.

"I sent you a message and you ignored me, so I came to find you," Mo Hua said matter-of-factly.

Gu Changhuai sighed, about to speak, when a cold but clear voice suddenly rang out:

"Gu Diansi, you're quite leisurely, still having time to chat here…"

Mo Hua, startled, looked up and saw the speaker was a woman wearing the Gu Diansi's robe.

The woman was tall and beautiful, her expression icy, chin slightly raised, radiating an air of arrogance.

Gu Changhuai's expression remained cold—he clearly was in a foul mood:

"What, am I not allowed to speak with someone? Are you going to interfere, Xia Diansi? Don't forget—you're Gu Diansi, and so am I. You have no authority over me."

The woman's expression grew even colder.

Neither spoke; they locked eyes, both glacial, both indifferent, the atmosphere tense.

Mo Hua sat between them, looking innocent.

After a moment, he leaned toward Gu Changhuai and whispered: "Uncle Gu, who is this beautiful sister?"

Gu Changhuai's eyelid twitched.

This brat, spouting nonsense with his eyes wide open—whoever taught him to flatter like this, who knows.

On the surface, he deliberately lowered his voice, but in front of a Jin Dan, who could his words possibly fool?

The woman opposite clearly heard Mo Hua's words too; her expression was as icy as ever, but the gaze she turned on Mo Hua couldn't help but soften a little.

No woman dislikes being praised for her beauty.

What's more, when the words came from a young lad with a pure temperament and clear eyes, they were like a spring breeze—refreshing and uplifting.

Her voice, involuntarily, grew warmer as well. "Little brother, you can't call me 'sister.' I'm quite a bit older than you…"

Mo Hua asked curiously, "Then what should I call you?"

Gu Changhuai, standing to one side, gave a cold snort. "What else could you call her? Naturally, 'auntie.'"

The gaze the woman turned on Gu Changhuai was already carrying a hint of killing intent beneath the ice. "Gu Diansi, if you can't speak properly, you can shut your mouth."

After saying that, she turned to Mo Hua again and said, "My surname is Xia. You can just call me Xia Diansi."

Mo Hua nodded and said, "Hello, Xia Diansi."

Xia Diansi gave a slight nod and asked, "You've come to Dao Ting Si—is there something you need?"

Mo Hua glanced at Gu Changhuai and began spinning a yarn. "Elder Gu Hong asked me to come fetch Uncle Gu back to the Gu family for a visit. There's something going on at home."

Xia Diansi was somewhat surprised. "What is it?"

Mo Hua glanced at Gu Changhuai, then at Xia Diansi, his expression hesitant, unsure whether he should say.

After a moment, he beckoned to Xia Diansi.

Xia Diansi was slightly startled, then understood what Mo Hua meant. She instinctively leaned her ear over and heard Mo Hua whisper beside her ear:

"To call Uncle Gu back for a matchmaking…"

Likewise, Mo Hua's voice was kept very low, but likewise, it couldn't be hidden from Gu Changhuai.

Before Mo Hua could finish speaking, anger rose on Gu Changhuai's face. Unable to bear it any longer, he grabbed Mo Hua up by the collar and, without looking back, strode out of Dao Ting Si.

Only his back looked rather flustered and embarrassed.

Xia Diansi watched Gu Changhuai's retreating back, her gaze shifting slightly, her expression turning rather subtle as well.

……

Mo Hua had grown quite a bit taller, but he was still far from Gu Changhuai's height.

What's more, Gu Changhuai was a Jin Dan, his physical body far stronger; carrying the thin, slight-framed Mo Hua was no trouble at all.

When they reached a secluded spot, Gu Changhuai finally set Mo Hua down and, unable to help himself, said with a cold face:

"If you talk nonsense again next time, watch out—I won't be polite to you."

Mo Hua gave an "Oh."

Seeing the brat's utterly fearless look, Gu Changhuai truly had no way to deal with him.

Those words were all he could say.

If he really was "impolite" to Mo Hua, Mo Hua would just go straight to "tell on him"—running to Wenren Wan or Elder Gu Hong to complain—and then Gu Changhuai would really have a headache.

Even though he was the one surnamed Gu, and Mo Hua surnamed Mo.

But in the Gu family, especially in front of Elder Gu Hong and Wenren Wan, Mo Hua was the one whose word counted.

Gu Changhuai sighed. "Speak. What do you want with me?"

Mo Hua said, "I told you before."

Only then did Gu Changhuai remember the matter of the transmission talisman and said, "The affairs of Dao Ting can't be told to you?"

"Why?"

"Because it's classified, and Dao Ting is no ordinary power. If you truly offend Dao Ting's taboos, not to mention you, even my Gu family would probably be reduced to ashes."

Mo Hua's expression turned slightly grave.

But he was only asking casually—how could he possibly offend any taboo, let alone be reduced to ashes.

Mo Hua pondered for a moment, his eyes lighting up, and asked:

"That Xia Diansi just now—she's from Dao Ting?"

Gu Changhuai said nothing.

Mo Hua studied Gu Changhuai's expression and nodded. "Looks like it…"

"Uncle Gu, you said before that a new Diansi had come to Dao Ting Si—very tricky, very hard to deal with. Could it be this Xia Diansi you were talking about?"

After saying that, Mo Hua again carefully read Gu Changhuai's face and expression and got an affirmative answer.

"Xia Diansi, Xia… this Xia—could it be one of the great families from Dao Ting's side?"

Gu Changhuai was helpless and sighed. "Yes."

He had realized it: once this brat Mo Hua got curious, he would definitely press the matter to the very end. Rather than being evasive, it was easier to just tell him straight out.

Gu Changhuai said, "The Xia family is an ancient great family from the founding of Dao Ting. In Dao Ting's central hub, the Seven Pavilions, and even the Observatory, generation after generation of Pavilion Elders, Supervisors, and many other key positions have all been held by Xia family cultivators."

"The Xia family is a true, worthy great clan."

Mo Hua's expression grew solemn.

So the Xia family was actually this formidable.

"Then this time, why did Dao Ting send the Xia family over? To investigate the Guishui Sect?" Mo Hua asked.

Gu Changhuai frowned. "You know about Dao Ting investigating the Guishui Sect?"

Mo Hua nodded. "I just found out."

Gu Changhuai didn't know what to say.

Dao Ting hadn't even been investigating for a few days.

This brat—how was his information so well-connected?

"Why is Dao Ting investigating the Guishui Sect?" Mo Hua asked.

Gu Changhuai fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. "Hard to say..."

"Hard to say?"

Gu Changhuai pondered for a while, then finally spoke slowly:

"In Qianxue Province, sects abound and aristocratic families hold immense power. Each family's ancestral elders likely have their own calculations and constantly vie openly and covertly—but their stance toward the Dao Ting is uniform: within Qianxue Province, Dao Ting Si may be established to uphold Daoic law, but the Dao Ting must not directly interfere in internal affairs."

"Unless a family truly defies the Dao Ting, conspires in rebellion, or crosses its bottom line, the Dao Ting will simply turn a blind eye."

"When serious accidents occur, the Dao Ting may at most issue a reprimand and extract a layer of wealth from the aristocratic families—nothing more."

"But recently, things have changed..."

Gu Changhuai frowned. "The Dao Ting no longer seems willing to tolerate Qianxue Province."

"Or perhaps they've long coveted Qianxue Province and simply lacked a good opportunity to extend their hand inside."

"But just recently, a 'opportunity' arose."

Mo Hua's gaze sharpened. "What opportunity?"

Gu Changhuai looked at Mo Hua and asked, "You're a sect disciple—you've been to Lianyao Mountain to hunt demons, right? You must be familiar with the Ten Thousand Demons Valley."

Mo Hua froze. "The Ten Thousand Demons Valley?!"

Gu Changhuai nodded, hesitated for a moment, then was about to reveal this secret to Mo Hua—when he suddenly paused. "You don't... already know, do you?"

Mo Hua fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"How much do you know?" Gu Changhuai asked.

"Probably... all of it..." Mo Hua whispered.

In all of Qianxue Province, apart from Mr. Tu, and that mysterious Young Master, no one understood the Ten Thousand Demons Valley better than him.

The demon cultivator overseers might have known too—but they were all dead.

Gu Changhuai's eyelids twitched.

He had heard of the Ten Thousand Demons Valley incident from the Gu family patriarch.

This matter was tightly sealed above; only fragments of rumors had leaked out—mere trivial details.

But now, Mo Hua claimed he knew everything—which meant...

"You... didn't enter the Ten Thousand Demons Valley, did you...?"

Mo Hua nodded. "In a way..."

It wasn't as simple as just entering.

He had wandered inside the Ten Thousand Demons Valley for an unknown length of time.

He had eradicated the spiritual cores of more than half the demon cultivator overseers.

The entire treasury of the Ten Thousand Demons Valley—tens of thousands of demonic entities—had been devoured clean by him.

Of course, he could never say that.

Gu Changhuai couldn't possibly imagine any of this.

Yet despite that, he silently drew in a sharp breath, his heart filled with disbelief.

How does this kid always end up in the middle of every incident...?

Weird.

"What's going on with the Ten Thousand Demons Valley?" Mo Hua asked.

Gu Changhuai steadied his emotions and sighed. "The Ten Thousand Demons Valley incident—that's the opportunity."

"The affair had terrible repercussions and grave consequences. Though it was eventually buried, the Dao Ting used it as an excuse to send personnel directly into Dao Ting Si for surveillance..."

Gu Changhuai's expression darkened. "... That is, the Xia family's Xia Diansi."

Mo Hua slowly nodded.

In this world, every action has its consequence.

He had thought the Ten Thousand Demons Valley affair was over—but he hadn't realized it had secretly triggered this chain of events.

Not only had the Dao Ting's hand reached into Qianxue Province.

But it had also drawn this "Xia Diansi" here.

Mo Hua asked again, puzzled: "What impact will the Dao Ting's intervention have on Qianxue Province?"

Gu Changhuai's expression turned solemn: "That's the 'hard to say' part. They might just be going through the motions, surveilling for a while before leaving; or they might be secretly probing for some truth; or perhaps they intend to use this chance to infiltrate Qianxue Province with their authority..."

"Regardless, this is a beginning."

"It means the Central Dao Ting is now entering the game..."

From then until Mo Hua left Dao Ting Si and returned to the disciple quarters, Gu Changhuai's words still echoed in his mind.

The Dao Ting is entering the game.

Whether it's good or bad... no one knows.

Mo Hua frowned.

But the ambitions of such a colossal entity as the Dao Ting likely have little to do with him—at least, not yet his concern.

Mo Hua snapped back to focus and reconsidered the matter of Water Yama.

Right now, the most important thing was to capture Water Yama as soon as possible.

Catch Water Yama, uncover the truth behind the annihilation of the Yu family's water fortress—especially regarding the "sacrifice"—and find the altar, so his spiritual awareness could advance further.

But Mo Hua soon realized that, with his current clues, it was nearly impossible to find Water Yama, let alone capture him.

Mainly because his time was limited, and he had to abide by the ten-day rest cycle—many things simply couldn't be investigated personally.

If he continued inching forward like this, even if he eventually caught Water Yama, it would take years.

Too slow.

Even if I can wait, Master Xun's side concerns the sect's rise, fall, survival, and extinction—there's no time to wait.

Mo Hua fell silent, pondering for a moment, and gradually formed an idea in his mind.

One must have self-awareness.

If you cannot do something yourself, humbly seek aid.

A gentleman's nature is not inherently different—he simply knows how to make use of external things.

"The people who can help with this matter—Uncle Gu, Yu Canghai, Qianqian Senior Sister of the Hundred Flowers Valley, and Wang Chen of the Gui Shui Sect—are already on the list…"

"But it's not enough…"

"We need one stronger ally."

"That ally is…"

Mo Hua's eyes lit up, "Dao Ting Si!"

"Dao Ting Si's strength is unfathomable—it is a true behemoth."

"Within the Qian Xue Province, if Dao Ting Si truly wishes to act, it need not heed any faction's constraints, nor fear any obstruction or retaliation."

"Now that Dao Ting Si is laying a trap to investigate Gui Shui Sect, I'll hitch a ride, use the opportunity to lure the Water Yama into Dao Ting Si's net, then stir up chaos and profit from it."

"Moreover, I can use this chance to build ties with certain factions within Dao Ting Si."

"Any power—whether clans, sects, or even Dao Ting Si—is internally complex."

"Internally, there are conflicting interests, tangled entanglements, and divergent intentions—it is never a solid, unyielding block."

"If I build ties with certain factions inside Dao Ting Si, should I ever truly violate some cosmic taboo and face the iron-blooded suppression from Dao Ting Si's upper echelons, I won't be left blind and isolated, utterly without aid."

"But…"

Mo Hua pondered, "How can I establish contact with Dao Ting Si?"

After much thought, Mo Hua could think of only one person.

He took out his message token and sent a message to Gu Changhuai:

"Uncle Gu, forget about Flower Instructor—she's yielded nothing. Take some time to interact more with Xia Diansi…"

Gu Changhuai, having interacted with Mo Hua for so long, had been infected by him and occasionally used magnetic ink to manifest strange symbols to express his emotions.

At this moment, he sent Mo Hua a large question mark.

yifan

xsguan

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