Chapter 874

After this, Mo Hua, besides practicing swordplay, had many more arrays to learn.

Master Xun supervised him daily, setting fixed quantities and schedules to teach him all kinds of Five Elements and Eight Trigrams arrays.

At first, it wasn't overly advanced—he started from the Sixteen-Pattern arrays, systematically reviewing each one according to a list Master Xun had compiled at some unknown time, checking for gaps and filling in omissions.

Master Xun went over every array in the list that Mo Hua hadn't learned, wasn't familiar with, or didn't fully understand, guiding him from the beginning to solidify his array foundation.

The arrays were low in rank, not difficult, and mostly ones he had studied before, so they posed little challenge but were tedious and dull to learn.

But Mo Hua understood Master Xun's painstaking intentions, so he settled down and studied with great seriousness.

Without accumulating small steps, one cannot reach a thousand li.

Without accumulating small streams, one cannot form rivers and seas.

With any subject, the foundation is most important—the firmer the foundation, the higher one can climb later; otherwise, chasing lofty goals without solid grounding, even if a tall building rises, it may collapse in an instant.

Mo Hua's array foundation was already sufficiently solid.

But since he had the chance, he wanted to make it even more solid.

Thus, during the day he studied arrays with Master Xun.

In the evening, he went to the Dao Transmission Chamber to practice sword qi.

After practicing sword qi, he returned to the disciples' quarters at night to contemplate the *Initial Explanations of the Sword Dao* given to him by Elder Gu, deepening his understanding of the Sword Dao.

At Zi Shi, he sank his spiritual awareness into his mind sea, repeatedly practicing arrays on the Dao Stele.

When the seven-day period ended, he would go to the back mountain to meet Elder Gu.

Days passed busy yet profoundly fulfilling.

Within the Grand Void Gate, the oldest ancestor most skilled in arrays taught him arrays. The oldest ancestor most skilled in swordplay taught him swordplay.

Mo Hua felt that even the Grand Void Gate's sect leader probably didn't receive such treatment.

Of course, he never told Master Xun about Elder Gu teaching him the Divine Mind Turned Sword True Secret.

Because Elder Gu had specifically warned him to never mention this matter to anyone.

Mo Hua naturally dared not play the clever fool, lest he upset Elder Gu and lose the chance to learn the Divine Mind Turned Sword.

Thus, Master Xun and Elder Gu each taught their own subject, separately.

Neither knew the other was teaching the same disciple.

And the two old ancestors' attitudes toward Mo Hua were worlds apart.

Master Xun adored Mo Hua, regarding him as an unparalleled "genius"—in arrays, anything he taught, Mo Hua grasped instantly, understood at a glance, and every day he treated Mo Hua as if basking in spring breeze.

Elder Gu, however, wore a dark expression.

Because Mo Hua's sword art had made no significant progress.

Learning anything was like a turtle crawling—he understood the principles, knew the rules, but when he practiced, it was as if he hadn't practiced at all.

In his lifetime, he had never taught a more sluggish sword disciple.

Thus, Elder Gu often doubted himself.

Had the day's resonance of sword qi, the mist of sword intent, the vast clouds of sword energy been his illusion?

Had he been too hasty in deciding to pass on the Divine Mind Turned Sword to this child?

Now it seemed, this child couldn't even hope to master the sword secret, let alone promote it…

Elder Gu sighed deeply.

But he was an old ancestor, his word was law; having promised Mo Hua, he wouldn't easily break it.

"Let's teach him for now…"

After all, if he didn't teach Mo Hua, he had nothing else to do.

Having such a lively child to chat with occasionally was not a bad thing.

Thus, Mo Hua studied array and sword simultaneously.

One he learned too well, the other too poorly—he found it deeply frustrating.

But no matter what, his array foundation was gradually deepening.

His understanding of sword art was also, through his own relentless day-and-night efforts and Elder Gu's profound guidance, slowly "opening up"…

Thus, after more than a month of constant busyness, Mo Hua had no time for anything else—until, suddenly snapping back to awareness, he remembered he had yet to ask about certain matters.

Certain things had also gone unattended.

"Indeed, when one is busy, one easily forgets things…"

Mo Hua sighed.

Two days later was the ten-day break; Mo Hua requested leave from Master Xun and went to the Gu family in Qingzhou.

Master Xun had told him not to go anywhere, to focus solely on arrays, but hadn't truly confined him.

In his spare time, a simple stroll was acceptable.

But situations like before—visiting the River God Temple, Ten Thousand Demons Valley, Rouge Boat, Long Wang Temple, hunting cultivator criminals, searching for altars, taking days off at a time—were impossible now.

Mo Hua arrived at the Gu household, greeted Xu Wanyi, then went straight to Gu Changhuai's study.

Gu Changhuai was reading; seeing Mo Hua, he was surprised and frowned: "Didn't you say you'd focus on arrays and not come out?"

"Just a matter or two—I'll return after finishing," Mo Hua said.

"What matter?" Gu Changhuai's expression turned wary; from past experience, whatever Mo Hua showed interest in was rarely anything good.

"Nothing major—just…" Mo Hua lowered his voice, "How's the Rouge Boat situation?"

Gu Changhuai fell silent.

He had wanted to brush him off with "Dao Ting Si matters are confidential," but this boy was sharp—not easily fooled.

Mo Hua himself wasn't an outsider to this matter—he likely knew more than anyone else.

Moreover, in the Long Wang Temple, Mo Hua had saved him by sacrificing himself…

Gu Changhuai sighed, rose to shut the windows and doors, sealed the array, then frowned and said, "The matter of the Crimson Boat… is strange."

"Strange?" Mo Hua didn't understand.

Gu Changhuai said, "The Crimson Boat was destroyed, and most of its disciples were captured."

"The Gui Shui Sect has also been brought under control, and now it is primarily under the jurisdiction of Dao Ting Si, especially the Xia family. Several senior elders, instructors, and disciples deeply involved have been thrown into the Dao Prison and punished according to their crimes—some sentenced to decades of imprisonment, others to strangulation, even to ritual flaying by array…"

"As for the various shijia sects and factions tied to the Crimson Boat's brothel trade, the most severely implicated have had their families directly seized by Dao Ting Si; the rest have had their power stripped, ranks downgraded, assets confiscated, and been ordered to reform."

"Isn't that good?" Mo Hua said.

Gu Changhuai gave a slight nod. "On the surface, yes—the atmosphere has improved. Not just the Crimson Boat, but many overt and covert gray industries have also retreated. Every shijia sect has taken warning, strictly restraining their disciples and daring not to repeat such acts. But…"

Gu Changhuai's brow tightened further. "I feel this whole thing was deliberately 'engineered'."

"Engineered…"

Mo Hua's brow also furrowed slightly. "Uncle Gu, you mean someone knew in advance that the Crimson Boat couldn't be saved, so they cut off the tail like a gecko, abandoned the cart to save the general?"

Gu Changhuai paused, then nodded. "Yes. And it may not be as simple as just 'abandoning the cart to save the general.'"

Mo Hua gave a slight nod.

Now that he said it, Mo Hua too felt something was off.

Though the Crimson Boat affair had some twists, the plans before the Long Wang Temple had been too smooth.

The Long Wang Temple was a scheme designed by Mr. Tu to trap this "god" of mine.

I was indeed tricked by him.

The demonic embryo was planted into my life-soul.

Then… what about the Crimson Boat?

If the Long Wang Temple was used to scheme against me, how could the Crimson Boat not have been carefully planned?

What was the Crimson Boat meant for?

Mo Hua frowned, pondered for a moment, then suddenly remembered something and asked:

"Uncle Gu, which sects did the disciples on the Crimson Boat come from?"

Gu Changhuai thought for a moment, then said, "Almost every sect within Qianxue Prefecture had representatives—no need to mention the Hundred Sects of Qianxue; those who boarded were clearly the prominent disciples of their respective sects. Representatives from the Twelve Streams and Eight Gates were also present."

"Oh, your Grand Void Gate had none. I heard that before departure, they refused to board any Grand Void Gate disciples due to fear of some figure."

Mo Hua's expression showed no relief, but instead grew solemn. "What about the Tai'e Sect?"

Gu Changhuai frowned. "The Tai'e Sect had many—and they were all late Foundation Establishment prodigies."

"Chongxu Sect?"

"Chongxu Sect had the same."

Mo Hua named several other sects afterward—none were without disciples aboard the Crimson Boat.

And these disciples shared a common trait.

Late Foundation Establishment, excellent talent, high status within their sects.

That in itself wasn't unusual. The Crimson Boat, after all, used beauty as a medium to connect with the powerful, to form alliances—its patrons naturally couldn't be mediocre.

Most were heavenly prodigies.

Normally, this would seem perfectly normal.

But now, it became clear these heavenly prodigies must have been tied to something far more significant:

The Dao Discourse Assembly!

These Tai'e Sect, Chongxu Sect, and other prodigies—those friendly with the Grand Void Gate but distant from the Sida Sect—were very likely candidates for this year's Dao Discourse Assembly!

But now, they've all been wiped out!

A chill rose in Mo Hua's heart.

He finally understood what the mastermind behind the Crimson Boat—or rather, Mr. Tu—intended to do.

He knew the Crimson Boat couldn't be saved, so he set a trap, infiltrating the Tai'e Sect, Chongxu Sect, and other "hostile" sects.

Then, while Dao Ting Si investigated the Crimson Boat, he lured these "hostile" sects' disciples onto the boat.

Drive the tiger to devour the wolf.

As a result, every disciple caught entering or leaving the Crimson Boat would be recorded.

Either thrown into the Dao Prison, or expelled from their sect—even if their sect protected them, they would never be allowed to participate in the Dao Discourse Assembly.

The core strength of the Dao Discourse Assembly had been emptied.

The outcome, naturally, was obvious.

Mo Hua's gaze grew solemn. "Were there… no disciples from the Sida Sect on the Crimson Boat?"

Gu Changhuai nodded. "No. The Sida Sect has strict rules and noble customs. It's a stroke of luck none of their disciples went to the Crimson Boat…"

Gu Changhuai sighed. "Otherwise, if Sida Sect disciples had gone there to indulge in pleasure and chase courtesans, the entire Qianxue Prefecture's face would have been lost…"

Mo Hua's heart sank slightly.

They may not have gone for pleasure or chased courtesans.

But what they did may have been even worse…

The so-called "Young Master Pavilion" wielded immense power; its members were all nobles or elites—impossible to have no ties to the Sida Sect.

But he had no proof.

And in the eyes of most Qianxue Prefecture cultivators, the Sida Sect stood above all, true prestigious academies, sacred places of the Dao.

Their disciples were all dragon-phoenix among men.

Even Uncle Gu, unaware of the truth, likely thought the same.

But Mo Hua, having dealt with many "Young Masters" from various sects, now knew things were far from simple.

And this affair may well be the Sida Sect's scheme.

Before the sect reform could even take place, sects like Tai'a Gate and Chongxu Gate, which had the ability to covet the position of the Sida Sect, directly lost their most core disciples.

They no longer had the strength to contend with the Sida Sect.

In this way, the so-called sect reform, before any real reform could happen, was already a foregone conclusion.

This game, before it even began, was already over.

This is what a true "strategic layout" really means.

Before anyone could have anticipated it, the ending had already been written in advance.

Mo Hua sighed.

"So young, yet you sigh all day long," Gu Changhuai said, frowning.

This child, who knows what he's thinking — in such a short time, he's already sighed three times…

Mo Hua glanced at Gu Changhuai, shook his head, and said with some feeling, "Uncle Gu, you wouldn't understand."

Gu Changhuai's teeth itched with irritation, and he wanted nothing more than to pinch his cheeks, but in the end he held back.

Mo Hua's "status" within the Gu family was higher than his own.

Gu Changhuai waved his hand. "Done with your questions? If you're done, head back to the sect and cultivate properly."

Mo Hua was indeed done asking, and didn't linger. He took his leave, saying, "Then goodbye, Uncle Gu. If something comes up next time, I'll come find you again."

Gu Changhuai felt a bit of a headache coming on.

However, just as Mo Hua was about to step over the threshold and leave the study, Gu Changhuai suddenly thought of something and said:

"Mo Hua…"

Mo Hua turned his head back, looking at him with some puzzlement.

Gu Changhuai was silent for a moment, then said slowly, "Especially Xiao Tianquan is dead."

Mo Hua's expression didn't waver. Only after a moment did he react, exclaiming in shock, "What? Especially Xiao Tianquan is dead?"

Gu Changhuai just looked at him silently.

Fortunately, although Mo Hua's face had gone pale, his skin was also thick. Though his acting had a few flaws, he still stubbornly kept up the act, pretending he had no idea at all that Especially Xiao Tianquan was already dead.

"How did he die?" Mo Hua asked.

Gu Changhuai was a bit speechless. "What do you think?"

Mo Hua pondered for a moment, then said in all seriousness, "It couldn't really be that he did too much evil and brought about his own downfall, receiving punishment from 'the heavens,' and suddenly dropped dead, could it? The Heavenly Dao really is fair after all…"

Gu Changhuai's gaze sharpened slightly.

He had only been asking casually, to confirm a little — he hadn't actually expected Mo Hua to answer.

But at this moment, hearing Mo Hua say such a thing, Gu Changhuai's feelings also became complicated for an instant, and he suddenly asked, "Mo Hua, do you think… does the Heavenly Dao truly exist in this world?"

Unexpectedly, Mo Hua nodded firmly and said, "It does!"

Gu Changhuai frowned. "You know which Heavenly Dao I'm referring to."

"Whatever Heavenly Dao there is, it exists," Mo Hua said.

Gu Changhuai's expression showed some bewilderment.

Mo Hua pointed up at the sky. "There is a Dao above this heaven."

He had seen it with his own eyes.

It's just that this "Dao" manifested itself as a great formation, truly spanning heaven and earth — he still couldn't read it through, couldn't see through it completely.

Then Mo Hua pointed at his heart. "The human heart also holds a Heavenly Dao."

"In this world, there are those who seek fame, those who seek profit, those who seek the great power of cultivation, and those who seek authority, status, luxury, and pleasure — all of them exist."

"Even those who rely on fame, profit, status, and cultivation to bully and exploit others are everywhere."

"But these things have nothing to do with the Dao, nothing to do with immortality. Those who can truly become immortals must be people who hold the Heavenly Dao in their hearts and put it into practice, acting on Heaven's behalf!"

"If one's heart holds no Dao, if one does not act on Heaven's behalf, then even if one possesses cultivation that spans heaven and earth, and has fame, power, and status reaching the pinnacle of humanity, all of it will turn to ash before the great tribulation, ultimately reducing one to ants beneath the great Dao—unable to become immortal."

Hearing this, Gu Changhuai couldn't help but look shaken.

But at the same time he was somewhat puzzled. "These things… how do you know all this?"

Mo Hua said matter-of-factly, "I guessed!"

Gu Changhuai: "…"

Mo Hua muttered, "I've never become an immortal myself, so how would I know how to become one? But based on my experience and knowledge, I feel like it should be like this…"

"If I guessed wrong, I'll revise it later…"

Gu Changhuai didn't know what to say.

He sighed. "Head back early."

Mo Hua nodded. "Goodbye, Uncle Gu."

After that, Mo Hua left in a carefree manner.

But the words he had spoken were like a brand, etched into Gu Changhuai's mind, impossible to forget for a long time.

"Hold the Heavenly Dao in one's heart, act on Heaven's behalf…"

For some reason, the various helpless matters Gu Changhuai had been facing with the Xia family and within the Dao Ting Si — feelings that had left him somewhat lost and somewhat dejected — suddenly eased up considerably.

His gaze also became firm.

……

After leaving the Gu family, Mo Hua took a slight detour and went to the small fishing village.

Old Yu's family was still busy with their day's livelihood. Though it was a bit hard, the whole family was gathered together, working hard at life, harmonious and peaceful — looking at them, one couldn't help but feel envious.

Mo Hua didn't disturb them.

He concealed himself directly and went to the shrine behind the village.

On the shrine, his "little immortal statue" was enshrined.

And behind the little immortal statue, a small silver fish was hiding, and under its protection, it was happily munching on incense offerings.

Seeing Mo Hua arrive, the little silver fish was overjoyed, wagging its tail and nodding its head, hurriedly calling out "Benefactor."

Mo Hua had shown it the "grace of rebirth."

Therefore the little silver fish was deeply grateful to Mo Hua, and previously on the Yanshui River, it had also been doing its utmost to help Mo Hua.

Mo Hua said mysteriously, "I'll give you a gift."

After saying that, he placed a bundle in front of the little silver fish.

The little silver fish was stunned for a moment, not noticing any gift at all, but "Benefactor" wouldn't deceive it, so it mobilized its divine essence to sense it slightly, and immediately its whole body trembled, scales about to stand on end.

"Dragon…"

A Dragon Bone Divine Statue!

Then its heart began to pound, and in its delicate voice it said trembling, "Benefactor, this is far too precious, I cannot accept it, nor dare I accept it…"

Mo Hua was puzzled. "Isn't this a good thing?"

"It is a good thing, but far too precious. This little god's blessed affinity is too thin, I cannot bear it…"

The little silver fish had a good sense of self-awareness, then said, "Most of my divine-path memories were lost in the Blood-Colored River God Temple. I don't know the exact origin of this thing, but this statue, forged from dragon bone, is absolutely no trivial matter—it may be even more important than you think, Benefactor."

"Benefactor, you must keep it carefully."

"If I keep it…"

Mo Hua was somewhat helpless.

The key was, even if he kept it, he didn't know what use it had.

If he could put it into a storage bag, or a naji ring, keeping it would be fine, but it simply couldn't fit inside.

Carrying it openly like this, who knows when he might run into an "insider" cultivator, or some greedy deity, and bring trouble upon himself.

Moreover, ever since he had taken this thing out of the Long Wang Temple, as time passed, the wisps of "divinity" within it were also slowly draining away.

Mo Hua didn't understand the reason, but he figured this natal divine statue should still need to be nurtured.

What nurtured a divine statue should naturally be a "deity."

He thought it over and over, and only the little silver fish was the most suitable.

Huang Shanjun lived too far away, and besides, it had plenty of statues—clay ones, gilded ones—and if push came to shove, it could even burrow into a dog's statue; it didn't lack this one.

Moreover, Huang Shanjun had lived long, had many thoughts, and spoke with things half-hidden.

Mo Hua also found it hard to fully trust it.

Unlike the little silver fish, pure and cute, calling him "Benefactor" every day, and always thinking of helping him when things came up.

But the little silver fish didn't dare accept it either…

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then said, "Then consider it 'lent' to you by me. You keep it safe for me, nurture it with divinity, and if someday I need this divine statue, you can return it to me."

The little silver fish was still somewhat hesitant.

"Just consider it basking in my glory…"

"But this little god's strength is humble…"

"It's fine," Mo Hua said. "This divine statue, ordinary cultivators—even demons, evil spirits, and evil gods—may not even be able to see it…"

Otherwise, it wouldn't have been gathering dust in a corner of the Long Wang's great hall.

"Besides that, I'll set up some arrays for you to conceal this divine statue. That way it almost won't be discovered."

Seeing the little silver fish still somewhat uneasy.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then changed his approach, and said with a solemn face:

"This is what I entrust to you. You keep the divine statue safe for me, and at the same time you can use this divine statue to nurture your divine soul and strengthen your divine body."

"Don't let me down…"

Once Mo Hua said this, the little silver fish was indeed filled with fighting spirit, and nodded, saying, "Rest assured, Benefactor, I will absolutely not fail your trust!"

Mo Hua nodded with satisfaction.

Then he found a secluded, hidden, and deep mountain cave in the desolate mountains near the little immortal statue, and placed the Dragon Bone Divine Statue inside.

After that, he began setting up divine-path arrays around the area.

Ordinary arrays wouldn't do—even concealment arrays, in the eyes of higher-tier array masters, would be like covering one's ears while stealing a bell, giving oneself away.

But divine-path arrays were different.

Divine-path arrays were a derivative of the Way of Divine Sense, and even some high-grade array masters would not venture into them.

More importantly, they didn't have this inheritance.

Mo Hua referenced the array layout used by the Great Wasteland Evil God, and set up a complete set of divine-path arrays—including the Divine Mist Array, Divine Gate Array, and Divine Lock Array—around the mountain cave.

The Divine Gate Array locked the entrance.

The Divine Mist Array blocked divine sense.

The Divine Lock Array sealed the divine statue, and could also resist external evil.

With this, everything was in place.

Even if the arrays were broken, the Dragon Bone Divine Statue itself had sufficient concealment ability.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then took out a piece of paper, drew a turtle, and placed it at the deepest part of the mountain cave.

This way, if someone broke through his divine-path arrays, and after great hardship, crept into the mountain cave, and discovered that what the divine-path arrays sealed was actually a picture of a turtle, they'd surely be furious enough to half-kill themselves with rage.

In their rage, they would be even less likely to discover the already-concealed divine statue.

Mo Hua nodded with satisfaction.

After that, he took his leave.

The little silver fish felt grateful in its heart, and also very reluctant to part, seeing Mo Hua all the way to the village entrance, watching Mo Hua's back disappear at the road's end, only then returning dejectedly to the shrine, and secretly vowing in its heart:

"I must guard the divine statue well for Benefactor!"

……

After leaving the small fishing village, Mo Hua didn't delay and returned to the Grand Void Gate.

After that, he almost never left his quarters, staying in the sect all day, learning formations from Elder Mr. Xun and swordsmanship from Old Ancestor Dugu.

His formations improved steadily.

Even his swordsmanship gradually began to click.

Another two months passed, and the year-end arrived — Mo Hua's fifth year at the Grand Void Gate came to an end.