Chapter 893

Grand Void Gate, rear mountain.

Mr. Xun carried a flask of wine and slowly entered the rear mountain's forbidden zone, stepping into the Sword Tomb, where killing intent had scattered and sword qi had withered.

In the Sword Tomb, Ancestor Du Gu still sat like a solitary rock atop a cliff, unmoved by wind and rain.

Mr. Xun placed the flask before Ancestor Du Gu and spoke:

"Brother, today is a day of great joy—have a sip of wine."

Ancestor Du Gu slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sharpening slightly as he said with disbelief:

"The Three Sects… have truly merged again."

"Yes…" Mr. Xun smiled with relief, "merged again—now we are one family again… but alas, that name carries too much destiny; it can no longer be used."

Then his expression grew wistful.

These old relics still held deep sentiment for their ancestors' names.

Ancestor Du Gu's expression was complex; after a moment, he glanced at Mr. Xun and said in a dry, hoarse voice:

"Younger brother… you've endured much."

The merger of the Three Sects was a matter of immense weight and immense difficulty.

To truly conceal the heavenly patterns, seek opportunity, overcome countless obstacles, and drive the Three Sects into a single lineage—both openly and covertly—required untold schemes and boundless effort.

Yet he, plagued by the Heavenly Demon, could only remain confined within the Sword Tomb's forbidden zone.

On ordinary days, when heavenly patterns were not disrupted and karmic anomalies did not arise, to uphold his true heart, he would not even release his spiritual sense.

He was, utterly and completely, a "blind man" and a "deaf man," knowing nothing of events beyond the Sword Tomb and unable to offer any aid.

All this burden naturally fell upon his younger brother's shoulders.

This younger brother, once silent and unremarkable in sword talent, had, with the passage of time, become the true pillar of Grand Void Gate.

In contrast, he himself—the sword prodigy of extraordinary talent, once held in highest expectation—now lived like a corpse, buried alive within the Sword Tomb.

He had betrayed Grand Void Gate's cultivation, and burdened his own younger brother.

Ancestor Du Gu's heart was heavy with thoughts, but he kept them all buried deep, never voicing them.

He glanced again at the flask before him and shook his head:

"The Heavenly Demon disrupts the spirit—I cannot drink wine…"

"Don't worry, I diluted it with water—just a sip won't hurt," said Mr. Xun, "consider it a toast to the Three Sects, mended like a broken mirror."

Ancestor Du Gu fell silent.

Mr. Xun sighed, his expression nostalgic: "This is clear wine… brewed by our master long ago. I've kept it until now."

Hearing this, Ancestor Du Gu was moved; he slowly reached for the flask and took a small sip.

After drinking, he frowned: "You lied to me—this isn't our master's brew."

Mr. Xun nodded: "Our master left some wine; I continued brewing it afterward."

"Of course—your wine tastes terrible. Better not to drink at all."

"I'm not asking you to drink for pleasure—today's merger of the Three Sects is for you to celebrate, just to taste the flavor…"

Ancestor Du Gu set down the flask, pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked:

"How did Ouyang and Linghu those two boys agree to this?"

The "boys" Ancestor Du Gu referred to were Ancestor Ouyang of Tai'e Sect and Ancestor Linghu of Chongxu Sect.

Both were junior to him in seniority and had attained Void-Opening later than he had.

Mr. Xun said: "The heavenly patterns are obscure, karmic calamities have shifted, the future is uncertain—and with their two sects barely holding on, they had no choice but to seek change for survival. Thus, the timing for the Three Sects' merger naturally arose…"

"Of course, there is another crucial reason why Tai'e and Chongxu are willing to accept Grand Void Gate as their leader in rebuilding their sects."

Mr. Xun spoke solemnly: "At this year's Dao Discourse Assembly, Grand Void Gate won first place in the Array Contest!"

"First place in the Array Contest?"

Ancestor Du Gu froze, astonished: "Can Grand Void Gate really have won first place in arrays?"

First place in sword contest—he might have believed that.

But first place in arrays?

On what grounds could Grand Void Gate possibly achieve that?

Our ancestors never had such depth of expertise…

"Who won it?" Ancestor Du Gu asked.

Mr. Xun smiled with pride: "This child—you likely don't know him. He wasn't born into Grand Void Gate, nor is he from any illustrious clan. He was pushed into our sect through connections—his name is Mo Hua…"

Ancestor Du Gu was stunned—he almost doubted his ears had failed him.

"Who?"

"Mo Hua."

Mr. Xun repeated it again, his expression filled with awe: "It's truly ancestral blessing—if this child hadn't fallen from the heavens onto our Grand Void Gate, not only would the Three Sects' merger be impossible, we wouldn't have even passed the Dao Discourse Assembly…"

As he spoke, he suddenly noticed Ancestor Du Gu's expression had changed; his heart stirred, and his gaze sharpened slightly:

"Brother… do you know this child?"

Ancestor Du Gu's heart leapt.

Not only do I know him—I taught him sword techniques…

He couldn't say that aloud, nor would he deign to lie; he merely stared blankly, saying nothing.

Mr. Xun paused, thought for a moment, then shook his head himself.

"How could brother possibly know Mo Hua?"

"Brother was wounded by the Heavenly Demon, sealed by the Grand Void Spirit Shackles—his body and spiritual sense are locked within this Sword Tomb forbidden zone, and for all these years, he hasn't taken a single step outside."

"That child Mo Hua could never have come to the rear mountain—it's a forbidden zone; even if he wanted to come, he couldn't."

"Besides, Mo Hua draws arrays right under my nose every day, plus he cultivates and attends classes—where would he have time to go to the back mountain?"

One ancestral elder, one young disciple.

They have no blood ties, no clan connections.

With no karmic link whatsoever, how could they possibly know each other?

Mr. Xun thought to himself.

Ancestor Du Gu also felt some confusion.

Mo Hua… is a common name.

Could this "Mo Hua" not be the Mo Hua I know?

Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence…

And the "Mo Hua" I know, though his spiritual sense is strong, is still only at Foundation Establishment mid-stage, with a naive, cheerful expression—not at all like the image of an "array master."

Ancestor Du Gu's gaze flickered slightly, and he asked: "What does this Mo Hua look like? What is his background…"

Mr. Xun had no suspicion, and began lavishing praise, painting his image of Mo Hua:

"Young, Foundation Establishment mid-stage, handsome, increasingly likable the more you look—he has mediocre elemental roots, but exceptional comprehension, diligent, hardworking, earnest, ambitious, an extraordinary Dao heart, neither arrogant nor discouraged, polite, and very sensible…"

Mr. Xun praised Mo Hua as if he were a blooming flower.

Ancestor Du Gu fell silent.

He could now confirm: this Mo Hua was the very Mo Hua he had dragged to the Sword Tomb.

But this Mo Hua was also slightly different.

At least, the Mo Hua in his younger brother's eyes differed considerably from the one in his own.

"You mean he, at Foundation Establishment mid-stage, won the Dao Debate championship?"

"Yes."

Ancestor Du Gu frowned. "That would mean he, at Foundation Establishment mid-stage, can draw a nineteen-stroke array."

Mr. Xun nodded, his expression filled with satisfaction.

This time, he let the Qianxue Province see the light. Now, he had also let his elder brother see it for the first time.

"Indeed," Mr. Xun said, nodding. "Foundation Establishment mid-stage, nineteen-stroke peak spiritual sense—and this spiritual sense, honed through countless array drawings, is extraordinarily deep and exceptionally solid…"

Ancestor Du Gu's pupils shrank slightly.

He knew Mo Hua's spiritual sense was deep; he knew it was transcendent.

But for spiritual sense to be transcendent and still master complex arrays meant not only exceptional talent and diligence, but also extraordinary mastery in spiritual sense application.

Moreover, the foundation of his spiritual sense was far deeper than he had imagined.

"If that's so, could he truly forge a new path and learn the True Scripture of Spiritual Sense Turning into Sword?"

Ancestor Du Gu's heart trembled, a flash of brilliance passing through his eyes.

Mr. Xun wanted to say more, but saw Ancestor Du Gu's expression—especially that glimmer in his eyes.

Mr. Xun fell silent, his gaze calming.

He silently watched Ancestor Du Gu, and said with a solemn expression:

"Elder brother, you're not thinking… of teaching this child the Spiritual Sense Turning into Sword, are you?"

The two brothers shared the same sect; decades of friendship—how could Mr. Xun not know his elder brother's obsession? How could he not see his thoughts?

Ancestor Du Gu remained silent.

What could he say?

He couldn't possibly say: "Actually, I've already taught him…"

Mr. Xun's face darkened. "Elder brother, don't forget—the Grand Void True Scripture of Spiritual Sense Turning into Sword has been banned by the sect. No one may teach it; no disciple may learn it."

"How many disciples have died, been injured, or been ruined over the years because of this Spiritual Sense Sword lineage?"

"Elder brother, I know your obsession—that this supreme sword scripture has been buried, and you cannot bear it. But this sword art truly cannot be passed on any longer."

"Especially Mo Hua…"

Mr. Xun's face was utterly grave. "No matter how strong his spiritual sense, no matter how gifted his spiritual mind—he must not be taught the Spiritual Sense Turning into Sword True Scripture!"

"His path is the path of the array master! This child is destined to become an array master who towers over the Nine Provinces, reaching heavenly heights of mastery!"

"This concerns the future of the Grand Void Sect."

"If he, out of momentary curiosity, learns the Spiritual Sense Turning into Sword and ruins his spiritual sea, damages his spiritual soul—that would be an irreplaceable loss!"

"This talent must not suffer the slightest mishap!" Mr. Xun said firmly.

Ancestor Du Gu said calmly: "Understood."

Mr. Xun frowned. "Elder brother, are you truly understood?"

Ancestor Du Gu raised an eyebrow. "Do you insist I repeat myself?"

Mr. Xun did not press further, but pondered for a moment, his mind gradually easing.

His elder brother was not a man who ignored priorities.

Besides, given his elder brother's pride and discerning eye, why would he—without cause, without even having met Mo Hua—possibly consider teaching a Foundation Establishment disciple the Spiritual Sense Sword scripture?

He must have overthought it…

Of course, it might also be that, because it concerned Mo Hua, he had become overly anxious.

Mr. Xun took away the wine flask before Ancestor Du Gu. "Enough. One sip is sufficient. I won't disturb your peace anymore."

"Go, go," Ancestor Du Gu waved his hand.

Mr. Xun rose to leave, but after a few steps, he frowned again, turning to stare at Ancestor Du Gu.

Ancestor Du Gu asked: "What else?"

Mr. Xun shook his head. "Nothing. I just feel…" He studied Ancestor Du Gu again, then said: "Elder brother, you've changed a little."

"Changed?" the Dugu Old Ancestor faltered.

"Mm." Old Mr. Xun pondered for a moment and said, "He's become more cheerful…"

And… also a bit more "lively."

He talks more than before, and his emotions are richer too.

It's as if he's been "infected" by something, and faintly, there's a sense of familiarity about it…

The Dugu Old Ancestor's face darkened. He said coldly, "Is there anything else? If not, hurry up and leave. I need to rest my spirit."

Old Mr. Xun shook his head. "Then take care of yourself, senior brother."

The three sects had just merged, and there were quite a lot of matters to attend to; he really didn't have much spare time either.

Old Mr. Xun then took his leave.

In the silent, solemn Sword Tomb, the Dugu Old Ancestor sat alone, withered and still.

After a moment, he furrowed his brow and silently muttered a name:

"Mo Hua…"

……

When the next seven-day period arrived.

The Dugu Old Ancestor tore open the void, pulled Mo Hua before him, taught him sword arts, and tested his sword art lessons, his eyes—like a barren mountain hiding swords—couldn't help but fix themselves on Mo Hua as he watched.

Mo Hua felt a little uneasy under the stare and asked in a small voice:

"Old Ancestor, why do you keep staring at me?"

The Dugu Old Ancestor's expression was impassive. He seemed to want to speak, hesitated, thought about it, and ultimately still didn't say it. He only said, "Just focus on learning the sword."

"Oh."

Mo Hua silently swung the bamboo sword in his hand again, going to chop wood on the back mountain.

The wood on the back mountain—he didn't know what grade it was—was harder than stone. Every chop numbed his Hukou with the shock.

But the Dugu Old Ancestor said this was a required course for sword cultivators.

What mattered wasn't chopping the wood, but cultivating the tacit understanding between person and sword in the process—training until swordsman and sword were one, until heart and blade were one—so that when the divine sense transformed into a sword, a single thought would give rise to sword intent, sword merging into soul, sword roaming the Grand Void, driven like a divine envoy, invincible.

Mo Hua thought it made a lot of sense.

He had considered it: although the sword techniques he practiced weren't very powerful in reality and basically couldn't be put to use.

But in the Sea of Consciousness, nightmares, illusions, and other divine-sense worlds, combined with his own Sword-Transforming Art, they could really show their worth.

Mo Hua knew his own situation.

His swordsmanship was poor. In the past, when he used the Sword-Transforming Art in the Sea of Consciousness, it was purely by relying on the sharpness of his divine sense, hacking about at random.

Because his divine sense was too strong, even with just the plain Sword-Transforming Art, he could usually take down most demons and monsters with a single strike.

But this kind of sword technique was, after all, far too crude.

If there was a chance, he still needed to study it, refine it, and strive to reach a higher level in technique.

In reality, never mind—he had a weak physical body and could never become a top sword cultivator.

But in the Sea of Consciousness it was different. With a divine-sense avatar wielding a divine-sense sword, the sword techniques he learned could absolutely be put to great use.

Therefore, no matter how much Mo Hua hacked, he couldn't damage the wood on the back mountain even a fraction, but he still hacked away very earnestly.

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

What seemed like a grand Dao of the Sword was hidden within these simple moves and strokes.

Mo Hua's expression was focused, his attention wholly concentrated.

The sword moves he struck out were truly crude, utterly incapable of harming anyone.

But in every move and form, he still poured in his entire heart and mind.

The Dugu Old Ancestor silently watched Mo Hua, and a faint sigh rose in his heart:

"His sword moves are like rotten wood, but his sword-heart is like uncarved jade…"

"Add to that his mastery of formations and his divine sense that surpasses its rank…"

The Dugu Old Ancestor looked at Mo Hua, his gaze faintly focused, not knowing what he was thinking…

……

Days passed one by one.

After the three sects merged, the Grand Void Gate changed greatly.

But for Mo Hua, it seemed as if nothing had really changed.

He still cultivated as usual, attended classes, studied formations, studied sword arts, still went to substitute-teach formations as usual, and still had a pile of people calling him Little Senior Brother.

Only, the disciples he taught had increased.

The disciples calling him Little Senior Brother had also increased.

Time flowed on, and another month or so passed. After this month of cultivation, Mo Hua basically confirmed one thing:

Within this year, he definitely wouldn't be able to break through to late Foundation Establishment.

Even now, he hadn't even touched the bottleneck.

The heart Mo Hua had been holding in suspense finally died a peaceful, steady death.

He could only take the back door.

Old Mr. Xun also kept his promise and didn't make him repeat a year.

Although this decision broke the sect's rules, rules were made to be broken in the first place—let alone when it came to Mo Hua.

He was, to date, the only Formation Dao Champion the Grand Void Gate had ever had.

Even if Mo Hua didn't bring it up, Old Mr. Xun couldn't possibly really make him repeat a year.

After another month or so, it was time for the year-end examination.

Mo Hua closed his eyes, calmly passed with a First Class, Sixth Rank, Third Division, and another year had passed.

Then came the New Year.

This New Year, Mo Hua's treatment was exceedingly grand.

The heads of the Shangguan, Wenren, and Gu families personally sent invitations, inviting Mo Hua to attend the New Year banquet.

The invitations were handwritten by the three family heads and delivered to the Grand Void Gate by Wenren Wan.

Because of Mo Hua, Wenren Wan's status within the Grand Void Gate rose sharply; all elders greeted her as if she were the "Treasure-Bringing Guanyin," warmly and affectionately.

The Grand Void Gate even made an exception, granting her the title of "Honorary Elder."

Of course, it was only a title—no real authority, no duties required.

But this was the newly merged "Grand Void Gate" after the three sects united; though its ranking wasn't high, its power had more than doubled.

This refined, prestigious "title" was exceedingly precious.

Thus, Wenren Wan's access to the Grand Void Gate became much easier.

She handed Mo Hua the gilded, jade-inlaid, exquisitely valuable invitation, yet said:

"Don't take it to heart—go if you have time; if you're truly busy, don't force yourself to attend. These New Year banquets are rather dull."

Though born into the Wenren family, married into the Shangguan family, and deeply connected to the Gu family,

Wenren Wan well knew that aristocratic human relations were cold, a marketplace of greed and cutthroat ambition.

She didn't want Mo Hua to be tainted by such things too early.

Nor did she want these matters to interfere with Mo Hua's cultivation and array studies.

Mo Hua pondered a moment, then asked: "Are there many delicious foods?"

Wenren Wan paused, then smiled, lips curled:

"This is the three-family New Year banquet—more grand than ever before, guests more esteemed, the delicacies endless…"

Mo Hua's eyes lit up, and he nodded: "Then I'll go."

Wenren Wan smiled: "Good."

…

During the New Year festival, Mo Hua went to the Gu family to attend the banquet.

Even Master Xun approved.

He didn't want Mo Hua to show himself too much, lest he be schemed against.

But the Gu family was different—they were pure scholars, and their bond with Mo Hua was relatively deep.

The Shangguan and Wenren families also had some connection to Mo Hua.

This banquet, then, could be attended.

Let Mo Hua properly experience the treatment befitting the Array Master of Qianxue Prefecture, who overshadowed countless prodigies.

And indeed, the Gu family treated Mo Hua with utmost warmth.

Previously, when Mo Hua had come to beg meals, he sat with Wenren Wan at a slightly peripheral table.

Now, he still sat with Wenren Wan and Yu'er,

but their table was right next to the Gu family head.

Even Gu Shouyan, the Gu family head, usually stern and rigid, smiled at Mo Hua and asked kindly what he wished to eat.

Shangguan Ce, head of the Shangguan family, and Wenren Jingxuan, head of the Wenren family, sat nearby, at slightly higher seats than Mo Hua.

Whenever they had a moment, they engaged Mo Hua in conversation.

The topics, clearly, had been carefully chosen.

After a few words, they inevitably turned to arrays, then naturally praised Mo Hua for his extraordinary array talent, profound mastery, and boundless future.

All three were family heads, all masters of subtlety—their skill in deliberately "flattering" a young disciple was truly masterful.

Gentle as spring breeze, flawless as raindrops.

They preserved their dignity, avoided awkwardness, and conveyed meticulous care as quietly as dew nourishing all things.

Even Mo Hua's mood improved greatly—he ate several extra chicken legs.

Wenren Wan's eyes sparkled with amusement.

Yu'er was delighted too, following Mo Hua's example, gnawing on chicken legs with his hands.

No one dared criticize him anymore.

No one dared say Yu'er was learning "bad" habits—because he was imitating the Array Master of Qianxue Prefecture, the victor of the Dao Discourse Assembly's Array Competition.

If you are an absolute prodigy, everything you do is right.

Thus, the banquet ended with joy for all.

Yet at Mo Hua's side sat an elder of the Shangguan family of clearly high status, whose face remained grim throughout, as dark as the pork hock on the table.

Mo Hua quietly asked Wenren Wan the elder's name:

Shangguan Wang.

"Shangguan Wang…"

Mo Hua pondered a moment, silently memorized the name.

…

After the banquet, Mo Hua was again overfull, and as usual, wandered the Gu family's back garden to digest.

As expected, many elders hurried to present him with gifts.

All were not overly valuable, but filled with sincere intent.

Mo Hua protested, "How could I possibly accept?" yet ultimately, "refusing would be rude," and accepted them all.

As he walked, Mo Hua thought of Gu Changhuai.

During the New Year banquet, it seemed like Gu Shuji wasn't seen much at all.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then found the study, and indeed saw Gu Changhuai sitting alone at the desk, still flipping through jade slips.

Gu Changhuai, seeing Mo Hua, was slightly surprised. "You actually have time to be running around?"

This New Year banquet at the Gu family was essentially held for Mo Hua.

The heads of the Shangguan and Wenren clans also had ulterior motives—they wanted to cultivate some connection with Mo Hua ahead of time and forge a good rapport.

Mo Hua shrugged casually. "I'm just here for the free meal."

His gaze flickered to the jade slips on Gu Changhuai's desk, and he asked curiously, "Is Dao Ting Si been busy lately?"

"It's fine…" Gu Changhuai replied evasively.

But Mo Hua didn't believe him.

That expression on Uncle Gu's face clearly meant he was hiding something.

And if he was still working during the New Year banquet, it must be something important.

Mo Hua asked, "Has there been another case lately?"

Gu Changhuai didn't want to speak, planning to brush it off—but then he suddenly remembered that Mo Hua was no longer the same as before.

Mo Hua already knew a great deal about many things, perhaps even more than he did.

And with his curious nature and habit of digging to the bottom of every matter…

Gu Changhuai felt a headache coming on.

After a moment, he sighed, looked around, closed and locked the doors and windows, sealed the array, confirmed there would be no leaks, then spoke with solemn expression:

"Another family has been wiped out. This time, the operation was faster, the killings more decisive. Dao Ting Si has investigated—it was an organized Mo Sect doing this."

"Mo Sect."

Mo Hua's gaze hardened.