Chapter 888

The Great Array Symposium ended.

Within the Qianxue Province, the previously obscure name "Mo Hua" suddenly appeared before the eyes of major clans, major sects, and even some ancestral elders.

Previously, they knew nothing of Mo Hua.

But suddenly, this "monster" emerged out of nowhere, overpowering the Four Major Sects, and with Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivation, painted a Nineteen-Stripe Peak-Level Array, breaking the Great Array Symposium's record and claiming first place, earning the title of Array Sovereign.

This achievement, merely reading it, was shocking and unbelievable.

Had this event not occurred in plain view during the Great Symposium, it would surely have been dismissed as an absurd "rumor."

The major clans and sects immediately launched investigations into Mo Hua's origins.

But the Grand Void Gate, the instant Mo Hua claimed the Array Sovereign title, sealed his birth records and classified them as a core sect secret, accessible only to the sect master and ancestral elders.

Those who had interacted with Mo Hua were mostly close to him and kept all information about him tightly guarded.

Of course, Mo Hua hid himself deeply—they knew very little anyway.

On the Dao Ting Si side, someone—no one knew who—ordered the immediate sealing of Mo Hua's records.

His birthplace, origin, background, and all traces he left in the Dao Ting Si since entering Qianxue Province—including cases he handled, cultivators he arrested, evil cultivators he killed, and merits he earned—were all sealed away.

The sealed files bore the seal of the Central Dao Ting.

No Dao Ting Si cultivator, not even a provincial Zhou Zhangsi, had authority to access them.

Thus, the information available to outsiders was extremely scarce.

The clans and sects could only dig up the same old, overused rumors, over and over.

They said this "Mo Hua" was a cultivator from Li Province.

But Li Province was a vast province, filled with countless sub-regions—no one knew exactly where.

They said he was a lone cultivator.

But the identity of "lone cultivator" was itself dubious.

Ordinary lone cultivators struggled to survive, found cultivation difficult—how could they possibly devote such immense effort to learning array arts, let alone master them to such an unimaginable level?

Some claimed Mo Hua was the secret son of the Grand Void Gate's sect master.

Others claimed he was the personal grandson of the Grand Void Gate's ancestral elder.

These were merely rumors; though slightly more plausible than the lone cultivator theory, they lacked evidence, and most people still did not believe them.

If he truly had such a background, he would never need to hide it.

The title of Array Sovereign was a dazzling jewel in any family—such a genius could override even the strictest lineage rules.

As long as he was the Sovereign, even if he was a collateral branch, from that day forward, he could be elevated as a core direct heir.

In Qianxue Province, clans gathered like clouds, sects stood like forests, geniuses flowed like fish crossing a river.

To stand out among this already exceptional group of geniuses and win immense prestige and benefit for one's family or sect—this "Sovereign" title carried immense weight.

But no matter how hard people probed, they gathered little information.

After claiming the Array Sovereign title, Mo Hua entered the Grand Void Gate, like a fish swimming into the deep sea—no ripple, not a single whisper leaked out.

For a long time, no one even saw Mo Hua leave the Grand Void Mountain gates.

Thus, some began to suspect…

Whether Mo Hua truly existed at all.

Geniuses are not born overnight.

How could anyone truly emerge from nowhere, claim the Array Sovereign title through such an irrational means, then vanish without a trace?

Could this whole affair be a fraud from beginning to end?

Was the Grand Void Gate setting up a scheme?

Or did the chief examiner bribe or favor someone, leaking the questions in advance?

All to fabricate a "peerless array prodigy," drawing attention and elevating the prestige of the Great Array Symposium?

To generate buzz for the post-reform Great Dao Symposium?

To those in the know, these rumors were laughable.

But among outsiders who knew nothing, they spread wildly.

Because even those who knew nothing about arrays knew: "Foundation Establishment mid-stage, Array Champion"—it was simply absurd.

Even boasting must respect basic common sense.

You can't blow bubbles so high you treat everyone as fools.

Add to that some people's dark hearts, jealousy, and malicious slander.

Thus, public opinion shifted—the awe toward the genius became suspicion.

The name "Mo Hua" became a mix of praise and condemnation.

Some called him a fraud, some a genius, some a coward, a charlatan; others called him a true monster, an unseen "monster."

Such mixed opinions dragged the Grand Void Gate's reputation down with it.

After all, Mo Hua had no family—he was alone.

Others' mouths were their own; they could say whatever they liked.

Fortunately, the Dao rankings were real, and the Grand Void Gate gained real benefits.

Thanks to Mo Hua's "Number One in Array," the Grand Void Gate's overall ranking leapt directly from eighth place among the Eight Major Sects to third.

This was the best ranking the Grand Void Gate had achieved since the Divine Mind Sword Legacy was severed and the sect's foundation declined.

Top three among the Eight Major Sects.

Though outsiders harbored countless doubts, those truly in the know still understood the terrifying nature of Mo Hua's talent.

The major clans and sects, especially their ancestral elders, sect masters, and high-ranking elders, did not truly believe Mo Hua was a fraud.

The stronger one's cultivation, the higher one's status, the broader one's experience, the deeper one's understanding—the more one realized the sheer terror of an array talent whose spiritual sense surpassed three full realms.

The prominent families refused to give up and continued investigating Mo Hua.

But at Dao Ting Si, after reforms by the Dao Ting, the situation had changed completely—they could no longer interfere.

And the Grand Void Gate protected Mo Hua like a precious treasure.

Thus, the various prominent families had almost no choice:

To calculate.

To use the Art of Heavenly Mechanism to calculate Mo Hua's karmic threads.

This act violated the taboos of Qianxue Sect.

But the title of "Champion" of the Great Array Assembly was too significant—they could not resist peering into it, even if it broke taboos.

Thus, within Qianxue Province, every prominent family and sect began secretly calculating Mo Hua's karmic threads.

Some ancestral elders of the prominent families, who themselves understood a bit of Heavenly Mechanism arts, attempted to calculate it themselves.

But Heavenly Mechanism was obscure, and karmic threads were hard to trace.

This mysterious, elusive matter was not believed by all; even those who believed could not necessarily learn it, and those who learned could not necessarily master it, and those who mastered it could not necessarily become proficient.

Even among those who reached the Void-Exploration realm, only a small fraction could barely comprehend the Heavenly Mechanism arts.

Most prominent families could only rely on connections, asking acquainted cultivation companions, friendly families, or sects like Xuanji Valley—though reclusive, renowned for their Heavenly Mechanism lineage—to calculate Mo Hua's karmic threads.

But when they truly attempted the calculation, without exception, all encountered a profound veil of mist.

Within the mist, yin and yang separated, stars stretched like an ocean, and Grand Void flowed.

These phenomena locked the Heavenly Mechanism and obscured the karmic threads.

Beyond that, a Void-Exploration phantom appeared, its eyes deep and profound, holding all these karmic threads in its grasp, forbidding any to peek.

"This… is the Heavenly Mechanism Lock—the Grand Void Gate has locked the Heavenly Mechanism."

"A Void-Exploration master holds dominion; the karmic threads are fixed. Who among the Grand Void Gate's ancestral elders is this figure?"

"What a grand gesture…"

"Truly went to great lengths."

"They're holding him in their palms, not letting outsiders peek…"

"It's just a Foundation Establishment disciple—is this really necessary?"

"Nonsense—if you won the Champion of the Array Dao, your sect's ancestral elders would worship you too…"

…

Some prominent families and hired Heavenly Mechanism cultivators gathered together to discuss:

"If this is the case, should we still calculate?"

"It's not impossible to calculate…"

"Unite with several other families, gather more Heavenly Mechanism cultivators, use Heavenly Mechanism artifacts, and work together—perhaps we can break this Grand Void Gate's Heavenly Mechanism Lock…"

"And then what?" someone sneered.

"This…"

"Don't blame me for not warning you—this Heavenly Mechanism Lock is less a protection and more a 'statement': this child is claimed by the Grand Void Gate, protected by ancestral elders, with full commitment and no reservations."

"Secretly calculating behind the scenes is one thing, but if you launch a full-scale assault to break another sect's Heavenly Mechanism Lock and spy on the secrets of their core disciple, that's overstepping, and it's a fight to the death."

"Do you want to make an enemy of a Void-Exploration ancestral elder?"

"Or do you want to declare war on the Grand Void Gate—one of the Eight Great Sects?"

Everyone fell silent.

The speaker came from Xuanji Valley and understood Heavenly Mechanism arts better than most cultivators.

Thus, his words carried weight.

But no one was willing to give up.

Someone said: "Strike swiftly—pool our strength, break the Heavenly Mechanism Lock, take one glance at the karmic threads, and retreat immediately. The Grand Void Gate may not react in time."

"Besides, the law doesn't punish the many. Even if the Grand Void Gate investigates later, if we stand united, they may not dare to truly pursue us."

"This has merit…"

"Worth a try…"

The Xuanji Valley cultivator couldn't help sneering:

"What are you thinking? You don't actually believe the Grand Void Gate's Heavenly Mechanism Lock is this easy to break, do you?"

"The Grand Void Gate descended from the Three Branches, with ancient lineages."

Someone disagreed: "The Three Branches split long ago—even if they had some heritage, it's likely faded…"

"If not for this Great Array Assembly, where the Grand Void Gate pulled off an upset, their strength wouldn't have been enough to hold onto the Eight Great Sects."

The Xuanji Valley cultivator shook his head:

"You truly don't understand…"

"The ranking in the Dao Debate is based on the cultivators' strength, and that strength does not include 'Heavenly Mechanism Arts.'"

"At present, Heavenly Mechanism heritage in Qianxue Province has declined."

"The Grand Void Gate may not be what it once was, but at least it still has one or two Void-Exploration ancestral elders quietly studying Heavenly Mechanism and karmic threads."

"Other sects—even the Sida Sect—have grown too comfortable, too obsessed with fame and profit, and long ago discarded these foundations. In terms of Heavenly Mechanism calculation power, none are much stronger than the Grand Void Gate."

"If that's true, why do you think the Grand Void Gate's Heavenly Mechanism Lock can be broken so easily?"

This speech was somewhat harsh.

Most Qianxue Province noble clan cultivators were unconvinced.

"You're boosting the enemy's morale and crushing your own—your admiration for the Grand Void Gate is excessive. How can you know without trying?"

The Xuanji Valley cultivator sneered, "Have you forgotten the Grand Void Gate's sword art?"

At these words, those cultivators who knew the truth all changed color.

The Xuanji cultivator said: "Although that sword technique has lost its lineage, we cannot rule out the possibility that some ancient elders, who learned its true essence, still linger within Tai Xu's gates, willing to sacrifice their bodies to guard them."

"If you go to break Tai Xu's Heavenly Mechanism Lock, and you truly anger one of these ancient elders, and he traces the karmic thread to slice into each of your minds, you will instantly be obliterated—soul and spirit both destroyed."

"And even if you die, it will be for nothing."

"Violating the greatest taboo, peering into karmic threads, and having your soul erased—who would dare ascend Tai Xu Mountain to demand justice for you?"

His words left the others feeling as if swords were pressed to their throats, their faces pale.

Seeing this, the Xuanji Valley cultivator softened his tone:

"All of you are insiders; even if you've never experienced it firsthand, you've surely heard the saying: 'Heavenly Mechanism is perilous, karmic threads are unfathomable.'"

"Sometimes, caution is wise—never risk peering into karmic threads that must not be seen."

"To be honest," the Xuanji Valley cultivator sighed, his expression tinged with melancholy, "several years ago, one of our Xuanji Valley's 'Plum Elder' was invited by the Shang family to cross into Qianxue Province to calculate a karmic thread."

"The result…"

The Xuanji Valley cultivator still trembled with fear: "Master Plum, unable to refuse their earnest request, reluctantly calculated what he should not have—and encountered great terror. His face twisted in horror, he spat blood, his body turned icy cold, and he still lies in Xuanji Valley recovering from his injuries…"

"Though this is not the same case, the principle is identical. Regarding karmic matters, I urge you all to proceed with caution."

The Xuanji Valley cultivator spoke with a solemn expression.

With his firsthand account, the assembled sect cultivators all grew solemn, no longer daring to act rashly.

They would still secretly calculate behind closed doors, but they could not break Tai Xu's Heavenly Mechanism Lock at all.

Out of fear of Tai Xu Gate, they dared not push too far, and over time, they could only abandon the attempt.

This, unwittingly, saved their lives.

…

Within Tai Xu Gate.

Old Master Xun instructed Mo Hua: "The item I gave you, remember to wear it around your neck—never take it off."

Mo Hua touched the jade lock hanging around his neck.

This jade lock, of unknown material, bore eight trigrams carved on its exterior, divided internally into yin and yang, with starlight contained within, profoundly mysterious, as if embodying Tai Xu itself.

According to Old Master Xun, it was called the "Tai Xu Yin-Yang Lock," capable of sealing karmic threads.

"Old Master, what exactly is this lock used for?" Mo Hua asked.

"Don't ask. Just wear it. Don't lose it under any circumstances," Old Master Xun said.

Mo Hua nodded obediently.

Whatever Old Master Xun gave him was surely valuable; since the old man told him to wear it, he would wear it without ever removing it.

Watching Mo Hua wear the jade lock close to his body, Old Master Xun sighed with relief.

This Tai Xu Yin-Yang Lock was the only one of its kind—an ultimate Heavenly Mechanism treasure passed down by Tai Xu Gate. He had never even dared to take it out for a glance in ordinary times.

But now, given the exceptional circumstances, he could only give it to Mo Hua to wear as a life-prolonging amulet.

At all costs, Mo Hua's karmic thread must be protected.

In Qianxue Province, so many powerful clans watched with hungry eyes—he had no choice but to risk this treasure, using the Yin-Yang Lock to seal the karmic thread, terrify the Xiao Xiao, and prevent any further peeking.

There was no alternative: Foundation Establishment mid-stage, transcendent spiritual sense, unrivaled in arrays—these things combined were simply too shocking.

People fear fame, pigs fear growing fat; when it's time to be humble, one must be humble.

Old Master Xun's original intent was to protect Mo Hua.

But he did not know that, unintentionally, with the Tai Xu Yin-Yang Lock, he had dispelled calamity for countless clans and sects across Qianxue Province.

Had the karmic seal not been in place, had Mo Hua been left open for others to calculate:

The karmic threads of the demonic gods and Dao corruptions, once unleashed, would have contaminated countless cultivators.

The entire Qianxue Province would have plunged into chaos in an instant.

And Mo Hua would truly have become a "seed of calamity…"

"From now on, you stay within the sect. Go nowhere. Focus on your cultivation—until this storm passes."

Old Master Xun said.

Mo Hua nodded seriously. "Yes, Old Master Xun."

He indeed still had many things to do.

While the memory was still fresh, he needed to re-study the final, nineteen-stripe peak-level Reverse Soul Array from the Array Contest, and contemplate it repeatedly.

The God-Slaying Sword still needed to be learned.

The Water Shadow Illusory Body needed more practice.

Of course, most importantly, the Array Contest was over, Tai Xu Gate's precarious ranking had been preserved—and now he could focus entirely on breaking through to Foundation Establishment late stage.

Thereafter, Mo Hua settled into quiet cultivation within Tai Xu Gate.

But when the tree wishes for stillness, the wind will not cease.

Many sects still could not eat or sleep, restless because of him.

Especially the Sida Sect.

In the Grand Assembly Hall of Qiandao Sect.

Several powerful elders from Tianjian Sect, Long Ding Sect, and Wan Xiao Sect were meeting with Qiandao Sect's Shen Elder.

"We cannot calculate it…"

"Tai Xu Gate is nervous—they dare not let anyone probe this boy's karmic thread."

"That's obvious. Would you let others peer into yours?"

"Tai Xu Gate's ancestral elder's strategy is so profound—he concealed such a hidden card. It's simply beyond belief…"

"Originally, Tai Xu Gate was meant to perish alongside Tai A Gate and Chong Xu Gate—but now it has revived, not only that, it's thriving, already ranked third…"

What do we do now?

What else can we do? The deed is done; the champion of the Array Contest has already been decided. There's no changing it now…

"What I mean is, next time…" said the Elder of Tianjian Sect, frowning.

The Elder of Long Ding Sect froze. "Next time?"

The Elder of Tianjian Sect spoke gravely: "This edition is over. We were caught off guard, tricked by Grand Void Gate, and lost the champion title. Though regrettable, dwelling on it now serves no purpose. The key is next time…"

The Elder of Tianjian Sect's expression grew even more solemn, bordering on dread:

"This boy's talent is terrifying—he, at Foundation Establishment mid-stage, already crushed the late-stage and peak Foundation Establishment prodigies of our Four Sects to claim first place in the Array Contest. What about next time?"

"By next time, he'll be at Foundation Establishment late-stage, his array skills refined further, climbing another level. What can our Four Sects possibly use to compete with him?"

"He could win first place with his eyes closed!"

All the elders' faces turned grim.

"That prodigy named Mo Hua—don't you all have some sense of his current array skill level?"

The Elder of Tianjian Sect felt a chill crawl through his bones:

"At Foundation Establishment mid-stage, he dominates three generations, towers over the Four Sects, outshines the Eight Gates, sweeps the Twelve Streams, and suppresses countless disciples of the Qian Academy's hundreds—even thousands—of schools…"

"He is a once-in-a-millennium, 'cliff-edge' prodigy!"

"As long as he lives, every array disciple in Qian Academy's territory must look up to him, living under the shadow of this 'prodigy,' forever unable to raise their heads."

"From now on, in the Array Contest, our Four Sects will forever fight only for second place. The title of 'champion'—we won't even be allowed to glance at it. To even look upon it would be a luxury."

The Elder of Tianjian Sect's tone was stunned, his heart filled with dread.

Elder Shen, along with the elders of Long Ding Sect and Wanshao Sect, all wore faces as cold as frost.

A natural prodigy, astonishing and unmatched—such a disciple, of all people, had fallen into Grand Void Gate's hands.

What terrible luck…

"Should we…" The Elder of Long Ding Sect's gaze turned slightly cold.

The Elder of Wanshao Sect frowned. "Don't do anything reckless. A natural prodigy like this—if you dare act against him, you risk ruining your own fortune…"

The Elder of Long Ding Sect said: "I'm not actually planning to harm him. I mean, we should try to win him over, get him to join our Four Sects."

"If that fails, find a way to corrupt him."

"Wine, women, wealth, and lust—being human, he must like at least one of them. Once he sinks into indulgence, becomes enslaved by lust, his life is over…"

"Talents rise through 'talent,' but fall through 'heart.'"

"Grand Void Gate isn't stupid. How could they let you run wild like that?"

"Try it. It won't hurt. Where else will I find someone more prodigious than him to compete against in array skills?"

"I still think it's not a good idea…"

…

The elders debated endlessly, yet could not reach any conclusion in the short term.

An hour later, after failing to agree, they departed, each lost in their own thoughts.

The hall was left with only Elder Shen.

Elder Shen frowned.

No matter how hard he thought, he could not conceive of any method to rival this prodigy of Grand Void Gate.

Not even to counterbalance him—let alone defeat him—was a possibility.

His spiritual sense exceeds third-rank—too unnatural…

Not to mention his own terrifyingly solid array expertise.

Elder Shen shook his head and sighed.

"Mo Hua…"

Now, whenever he heard that name, his heart instinctively turned cold, and sometimes he even had nightmares.

Elder Shen slowly walked out of the hall, but after just a few steps, his pupils suddenly widened, and his steps halted.

"Wait—this name… why does it feel familiar?"

"Is it because I've been saying it so much lately—or did I hear it somewhere before?"

Elder Shen's brow furrowed even tighter.

Mo Hua.

Mo Hua…

Mo…

Elder Shen's eyes suddenly widened. Fragments of memories he had long dismissed as "seen and forgotten" began to surface.

A chill crept steadily into his heart.

Elder Shen trembled, immediately returned to his elder chamber, and with shaking hands, began frantically searching through a vast pile of scrolls.

He was searching for a birth registry.

The ease with which he had discarded it then was nothing compared to the desperation with which he now searched for it.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Elder Shen found it in a corner—a plain, dust-covered birth registry, buried beneath other documents.

With trembling hands, he slowly opened the registry.

On its page was written: "Though possessing a Ru Sect permit, qualifications do not meet standards—pending review."

And the name on the registry was…

"Dispersed cultivator from Lizhou, Mo Hua."

Elder Shen's face turned deathly pale.

The words he had spoken to others when rejecting this disperser's Ru Sect permit echoed again in his ears.

"A scattered cultivator from a remote corner of Lizhou…"

"A mid-low grade Five Elements Spirit Root…"

"An utter eyesore…"

"Under special skills, he wrote… Array Formations."

"He really dares to write it down… Foolishness born of ignorance…"

"A cultivator from some backwater place probably learned a few array formations and started thinking he's something special, not knowing how vast the mountains and seas are, that beyond the heavens there are heavens…"

"This is Qanzhou, the realm of Qianxuezhou. Every genius in the cultivation world has already fallen into our net — we don't need another one of his 'array formation genius'…"

"Having a fated opportunity is one thing, but… a karmic opportunity this vast for our Qiandao Sect — he cannot bear it!"

"When a karmic opportunity is too great, it's not necessarily a good thing…"

"A person of shallow fortune cannot hold such heaven-shattering wealth and rank…"

"……"

Elder Shen only felt his face burning with pain, bitterness welling up in his heart.

"This disciple, bearing a Chiru Sect token, wished to join our Qiandao Sect, but I… rejected him…"

This monstrous prodigy who dominated three generations, stood unrivaled among the Si Sect, and left all others in the dust — I myself… handed him over to the Grand Void Gate on a silver platter.

Elder Shen's heart was like an ice cellar.

And also… the "Ru Sect token."

Looking at it now, this ancient Ru Sect token clearly carries a great karmic burden.

This child, bearing the Shouchiru Sect token, wishing to join the Qiandao Sect — it was very likely that some lofty figure, mindful of past karma, had bestowed this karmic opportunity upon our Qiandao Sect.

And I personally cut off this heaven-sent karmic opportunity, severed this karmic tie…

Elder Shen's face went ash-gray. In an instant, he felt as if the heavens had collapsed and the earth had caved in. His head buzzed, his vision went black, and he collapsed onto the ground.