Chapter 992: The Afterlife

With the Sword Debate Conference approaching, the atmosphere in Grand Void Gate suddenly grew tense.

From top to bottom, everyone's heart was taut with tension.

Master Xun had not shown his face in a long time.

Now, all martial array classes—from lesson preparation, teaching, to grading assignments—are entirely handled by Mo Hua alone.

Master Xun, meanwhile, became a hands-off Shopkeeper, sitting quietly in the Elder's Quarters, devoting himself wholly, day and night, to unraveling something.

Even the Grand Void Gate's sect leader was no longer so leisurely.

When Mo Hua went to feed the Great White Dog, he occasionally saw the sect leader and noticed his face looked worn, his thick black hair finally beginning to fall out.

Moreover, the Elders Mo Hua encountered all moved hurriedly, looked solemn, and busily divided labor to prepare for every aspect of the Sword Debate Conference.

And the most tense of all were the Grand Void Gate disciples.

Because they were the ones participating in the Sword Debate.

The sect's honor, their families' interests, and their personal futures all hung on this grand competition.

In everyone's heart, a stone seemed suspended, causing unease, and another stone pressed down, making it hard to breathe.

Amid tense cultivation and combat practice, the disciples' expressions grew increasingly solemn and grave.

Even at meals, they spoke little.

At noon, in the Disciples' Quarters.

Mo Hua gnawed on a chicken leg, glancing left and right, noticing that the once lively, laughter-filled dining hall now seemed frosted over—everyone ate with heads down, silent, and he shook his head.

This is no good.

Too gloomy an atmosphere leads to indigestion.

Mo Hua turned his head toward Cheng Mo beside him.

Cheng Mo, who used to chatter endlessly, was now truly "silent," his face taut, chewing a pork knuckle as if it were wax.

Mo Hua handed him a chicken leg.

Cheng Mo paused, looked up and saw it was Mo Hua, then slowly said, "Thank you, Young Master Mo."

Mo Hua asked him, "How are you progressing with your Sword Debate training?"

Cheng Mo nodded, "Alright…"

But his expression lacked conviction—he clearly wasn't confident.

Mo Hua frowned, "Your foundation isn't bad—why so little confidence?"

Cheng Mo, burdened and reluctant to speak, could not ignore Mo Hua's question; after a moment's thought, he sighed:

"Young Master Mo, I won't hide it from you—my cultivation, whether in scripture, physique, or Dao technique, has almost no weaknesses. In my Cheng family, I'm second to none."

"But this is Qianxue Prefecture, where sects like the Sida Sect and Eight Gates draw only the 'top-tier' disciples. My talent is merely average; I can only outshine others slightly thanks to my thick skin and sturdy frame."

"When it comes to actual swordplay, competing against the prodigies of other sects… I truly have no advantage…"

Cheng Mo had little inner confidence.

Nearby, Sister Situ and the others nodded.

In their own families, they were unquestionably among the top two or three "standouts."

In any other region of the Nine Provinces, they would be once-in-a-century "geniuses."

Just consider this: if you plucked any disciple from Grand Void Gate and dropped him into Great Heishan Prefecture, where Mo Hua came from, he'd be a "sensation" across the land.

But these prodigies have all gathered in Qianxue Prefecture—because each is a "standout" from their own family, relative to one another, they're all merely "mediocre," lacking standout abilities, and thus blend into the crowd.

It's not that Cheng Mo and the others are weak—it's simply that the disciples around them are too strong.

Beyond the heavens lie higher heavens; beyond people stand greater people.

Above geniuses, there are always stronger "geniuses."

Cheng Mo and the others' "genius" is merely the threshold to enter Qianxue Prefecture and encounter even greater prodigies.

Mo Hua felt a quiet pang.

Fortunately, he had cultivated through Divine Awareness, and by chance, slipped in through the back door.

Otherwise, with his talent, he wouldn't have even reached the threshold to enter Qianxue Prefecture, let alone joined Grand Void Gate and become Young Master Mo to Cheng Mo and the others.

Mo Hua mentally counted and realized that in Grand Void Gate today, the only one who could truly be called a "top-tier genius" was Xiaoxiao, who had been "transferred" over.

Linghu Xiao, disciple of the Chongxu Line.

His Sword Heart was crystal-clear; his sword talent, even within the former Chongxu Sect's history, was a rarity seen once every five hundred years.

Had the Ruofeisan Sects not merged, Grand Void Gate wouldn't even have this single "top-tier genius."

Mo Hua felt a bit down, but after thinking it over, he found it reasonable.

Top-tier geniuses naturally join the top-tier Sida Sect.

Other talents are left for the Eight Gates.

The Sida Sect, by securing top-tier geniuses, naturally dominates the Sword Debate.

By dominating the Sword Debate, they naturally continue to attract top-tier geniuses.

Only those they don't take are passed down to the Eight Gates, the Twelve Streams, and the hundred lesser sects beneath them.

Under this system, it's extremely difficult for Grand Void Gate—or any of the Eight Gates—to attract truly top-tier geniuses.

"It's not just spiritual stones and lineages that are dividing—talent is dividing too…"

Mo Hua sighed inwardly.

The only exception was Ta'o Gate three years ago.

At that time, Ta'o Gate ranked first among the Eight Gates, enjoying great prestige, and housed two or three top-tier geniuses.

But top-tier geniuses inevitably grow arrogant, and being youths with fiery blood, they were stripped of their Sword Debate eligibility due to the Yanzhi Zhou incident.

After that defeat, Ta'o Gate never recovered.

The current Grand Void Gate, on the surface, looks like the three sects have merged, pooling together the talents of all three.

But because all the "top students" were pinched off, it's actually not much stronger than the Tai'a Gate that once ranked first among the Eight Great Gates.

In a certain sense, it's even considerably weaker.

It just has more people, that's all.

Mo Hua furrowed his brow.

When you really sit down and calculate it like this, the Grand Void Gate's situation in the Sword Discourse is truly not the least bit optimistic.

No wonder the Sect Master has started losing his hair.

"No, it seems it's more than just not optimistic…"

Mo Hua thought again — back then, the Tai'a Gate was the protruding "rafter," bearing the brunt of the Sida Sect's firepower.

The Chongxu Gate was the waist's buffer, also sharing some of the pressure.

The Grand Void Gate was at the very end, bearing the least pressure.

But now, the Grand Void Gate has "absorbed" the Tai'a Gate and the Chongxu Gate, which is equivalent to drawing all the "firepower" onto itself.

All the pressure converges on one body, single-handedly enduring the Sida Sect's "encirclement and suppression."

The situation is so grim it's enough to make one's hair stand on end.

Mo Hua even felt a headache on the Sect Master's behalf.

"I wonder how much hair the Sect Master will have left after the Sword Discourse ends…"

Mo Hua began to feel for the Sect Master's hair.

Seeing Cheng Mo still wearing a worried frown, Mo Hua comforted him: "Just do your best, don't feel pressured."

Cheng Mo gave a wry smile. "Senior Brother, I know all the principles, but this pressure isn't something you can just wish away."

For a grand event like the Sword Discourse, how could he possibly not be nervous.

Mo Hua then asked: "Do you want to take first place in the Sword Discourse?"

"Everyone wants first place," Cheng Mo said helplessly, "but it's not like I have that kind of ability. I'd be happy just mixing my way into a good ranking."

"What's the use of mixing your way into a good ranking?"

"Oh, the things you can do with that are plenty." Cheng Mo's eyes lit up, and like he'd been injected with chicken blood, he began to talk at length:

"First, with a high ranking, the sect will reward a large sum of merit points, which you can use to exchange for resources or inheritances, or to enter the Inner Gate — all of which would be wonderful…"

"Even if you don't enter the Inner Gate, getting a good ranking and returning home in glory is still very impressive."

"This is a Sword Discourse ranking from the Qianxue State Realm — the clan elders will definitely look at me with great favor."

"Even if you go out bragging, every word you say carries weight, and everyone else is beneath you…"

Mo Hua looked a bit blank. "Is it really that amazing?"

Cheng Mo nodded. "Naturally."

"But…" Mo Hua frowned, "I got a first place in array Dao, and it doesn't really feel like that big a deal to me…"

Cheng Mo's breath caught in his chest, and he felt a little disinclined to keep talking to Mo Hua.

The other disciples were also left speechless.

Senior Brother is fine in every way, except sometimes the things he says are just too infuriating.

But after Mo Hua said all that, before anyone realized it, the tension had eased quite a bit.

Mo Hua asked the others: "When you compete in the Sword Discourse, is it also so you can go back to your clan and show off?"

"Naturally — if you don't show off when you're young, when will you?"

"Of course, it's not purely about showing off, there are plenty of benefits…"

The atmosphere livened up a bit, and the disciples had more to say — all sorts of things:

"I want to bring glory to my clan. If I get a good ranking, my parents will have face too. My dad always says the most successful thing he's done in his life is having me as his son…"

"I mainly want to earn some merit points — my cultivation art is way too resource-hungry…"

"My parents told me to get a good ranking in the Sword Discourse, build a good reputation, and come back so they can find me a good marriage."

"Did your parents get the difficulty backwards? Don't you know how hard the Sword Discourse is? How much effort does it take to find a marriage?"

"That's because you've never tried. Once you have, you'll know…"

……

There were also those who, despite coming from great clans, had less-than-ideal families of origin:

"My dad's a gambler, my mom remarried, I can't rely on anyone — I can only rely on myself. I have to fight for my own future!"

Someone nearby echoed: "Exactly, I also want to give it my all. In the Qianxue State Realm, I want to carve out my own piece of heaven and earth with my own strength. And if I fail…"

His expression was one of unwillingness. "Then I can only go back, do as my parents arranged, marry a woman of equal status, and inherit the position of family head…"

A whole group of people were left speechless…

"Thank you, we're done being friends," the earlier disciple said.

"What? It's just a small clan, fourth rank, what's there to be angry about?"

"We're done being friends, don't talk to me…"

……

As they talked and talked, the atmosphere became harmonious for a time. Everyone's mood lightened considerably, and some of the pressure was released.

Cheng Mo glanced at Mo Hua, then asked in a low voice:

"Senior Brother, are you also going to take part in the Sword Discourse?"

Mo Hua considered. "I probably will."

"Senior Brother, do you also want to get a good ranking and go back to your hometown to show off?" Cheng Mo asked.

"Well…" Mo Hua fell into thought.

"What nonsense! Little Brother isn't as shallow as you!" Sister Situ frowned. "How am I shallow?" Cheng Mo objected. "Wealth without returning to one's hometown is like walking in silk at night—that's human nature; where's the shallowness?"

"Exactly." Some disciples chimed in.

"That's true, but Little Brother must have deeper intentions…"

"Probably wants to enter the Inner Sect through the Sword Debate Assembly, and become an Elder later."

"What are you talking about? With Little Brother's status, does he even need to ask to enter the Inner Sect?"

"Then what about merit points?"

"Do you even know how many merit points Little Brother has right now?"

"How many?"

"So many that even Little Brother himself doesn't know exactly how many he has…"

"I heard the Ancestor has sealed Little Brother's Tai Xu Token's merit display, just to prevent us disciples from seeing it and damaging our Dao hearts…"

"That's exaggerated…"

"Then Little Brother's joining the Sword Debate Assembly is just to win a high ranking and find a good Dao companion later."

"Nonsense! Does Little Brother even need to find a Dao companion?" A disciple spoke solemnly. "To be honest, I have a younger sister—she has a top-grade spiritual root, is young and beautiful, and just the right age…"

Before he finished, someone beside him shouted: "Lu Zhenming! Didn't you just tell me your sister was too young and refused to introduce her to me?!"

"She's my own sister—I can't push her into a fire pit…"

"Fine, fine, fine—we're brothers. Today you explain to me: what the hell do you mean by 'fire pit'?"

…

Amid the clamor, the dining hall grew livelier.

Mo Hua, however, stood aside in deep thought.

Though most of it was jest, the disciples' words held truth.

"What am I even seeking by joining the Sword Debate Assembly?"

This question deserved deep thought—and must be clearly decided.

That night, back in the disciples' quarters, Mo Hua still pondered it.

Other disciples sought high rankings for fame, family interests, merit points, Inner Sect spots, or advantageous marriages…

What did he seek?

Fame? His reputation was already too great.

The protruding rafter rots first; the fattest pig is slaughtered first. For him, fame was no advantage.

Merit points? He had more than enough. Inner Sect? He had no intention of joining.

He was a lone cultivator, with no family to represent, no ancestral seat to inherit.

As for marriage…

That was too far off; no need to consider it now.

Besides, from what Mo Hua knew of Little Sister…

If he truly joined the Sword Debate Assembly, she'd worry first about whether he got hurt—not about what rank he won.

Whether he won or lost, he'd still be her junior brother.

Mo Hua ran the numbers and realized he had no real need at all.

The only possible need might be the reward for first place.

But those rewards had already been set, and Mo Hua had seen them.

One was the freedom to choose a top-tier cultivation technique from the Sida Sect and the Eight Great Gates.

The other was likewise a free choice of a top-tier Dao art from the Si Sect and Eight Gates.

There were also sect treasures, top-grade pills, talismans, and such.

The items were undoubtedly top-tier, but they were meant for true "children of heaven"—useless to Mo Hua, whose foundation was weak.

Even those techniques and Dao arts were beyond his spiritual root's capacity to learn.

Aside from that, the only reason to join the Sword Debate Assembly was to help Mr. Xun and the Tai Xu Gate through this crisis.

After all, he owed Mr. Xun and the Tai Xu Gate too many favors.

Of course, also to spare the Sect Master a few more gray hairs…

But only that—no need to exert himself greatly.

Moreover, Mo Hua had considered it: the risk was extremely high.

Mr. Xun had been right: once he entered the Sword Debate Assembly, under the gaze of ten thousand eyes, every one of his hidden cards would be slowly stripped bare.

That was extremely deadly.

Many of his hidden cards were simply unfit to be seen.

Yet without using them, he had no chance to compete in such a grand event.

The Sword Debate Assembly was no child's play—talented prodigies gathered, and the strong were countless.

It was a long, grueling battle.

Mo Hua wasn't naive enough to think he could win a high rank without giving his all.

Even if he poured everything out and revealed all his cards, whether he could reach the end was uncertain…

High difficulty, high risk, low reward.

After long and careful thought, Mo Hua helplessly realized: the objective reality was exactly this.

For the Sword Debate Assembly, the best he could do was to go through the motions.

Just help the Tai Xu Gate climb a few ranks.

As for anything else—no need to consider it.

Mo Hua sighed softly.

He pondered it again and again, even invoking the Algorithm of Cause and Effect to make a slight calculation, and found that no matter how he considered or deduced it, "slacking off" was still the best choice.

Mo Hua grew listless.

But the situation was this, the cause and effect was this.

One cannot do things detached from reality.

Mo Hua let go, his mood grew much calmer, and he became indifferent toward the Sword Discourse Assembly.

While all the disciples strained every nerve to prepare for the Sword Discourse Assembly, Mo Hua continued as always, practicing the Ultimate Array and studying array principles.

Days flowed by, plain as water…

…

And at this moment, Daozhou.

Tian Shu Pavilion.

Within the lofty pavilion veiled in swirling mist, the white-haired Pavilion Elder still dozed off.

Amid the hazy vapor, the Elder slept peacefully.

After an unknown length of time, the Elder awoke from his doze, slowly lifting his gaze to the chessboard before him.

The chessboard was made of dead wood, utterly ordinary, yet reflected in the Elder's cloudy, abyss-like gaze, it shimmered faintly, as if celestial mechanisms opened and closed, cause and effect crisscrossed.

The Elder stared at the board, his voice like evening drums, slowly murmuring:

"The chessboard… is set, the pieces are all in place, but… something is still missing."

The pieces are all dead, moving only along predetermined paths.

The game, naturally, is a dead one, utterly still.

A variable is needed—a "living piece"—to awaken the entire situation…

So… who has the capacity to be this "living piece"?

The Elder's eyes grew deep, his spiritual sense surging as cause and effect flowed ceaselessly.

At the same time, his withered fingers reached into the chessbox, fumbled for a moment, then pinched out a single, utterly ordinary black piece.

The Elder's gaze flickered in surprise—even he found it strange.

"Can someone truly be this living piece in such a grand game?"

Curious, the Elder held the piece, his eyes filled with the chessboard's lines and strategies, trying to calculate the identity of this "living piece."

But after a moment, he gave up.

If it is a living piece, it cannot be calculated—calculate it, and it becomes a "dead piece."

"Enough, it doesn't matter…"

"With a living piece, there comes a fish; with a fish, you need a 'bait' to make it move on its own…"

What kind of "bait"?

The Elder began calculating again, pondering how to "fish."

All the myriad techniques of Tian Shu Pavilion flowed like water through his mind, yet not a single ripple stirred in the cause and effect…

The Elder passed over the techniques and began calculating Dao methods, pills, talismans, arrays…

But no matter how he calculated, even using supreme inherited arts as bait, he still could not lure this "fish."

The Elder's expression remained calm, not surprised.

In such a grand scheme, the one who could be the "living piece," this variable, was no ordinary person—it must be a "great fish."

If it is a great fish, no ordinary "bait" could move it.

The Elder raised the stakes, searching among Tian Shu Pavilion's secret transmissions for this "bait."

This time, there was a ripple in cause and effect.

But only that.

This "great fish" seemed merely to sniff the aura, stirred slightly, yet quickly returned to its original heart, shed desire, swam back to the depths, and lay dormant again.

The Elder was finally startled.

"Even this won't move it?"

"Truly… such a high-and-mighty attitude…"

"Are we fishing for a fish… or a dragon?"

The Elder felt a pang of loss, sighing inwardly: "You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child."

He gritted his teeth, tapped a finger, and shattered the void, beginning to search among Tian Shu Pavilion's sealed ancient transmissions.

A series of extraordinary titles passed before his eyes; after a moment of searching, he found one—a transmission radiating golden cause and effect.

Upon the transmission, cause and effect blazed brilliantly, solidified into gold.

This meant that if this transmission were used as bait, the great fish would surely be caught.

The Elder opened the ancient transmission.

It was an ancient, simple jade slip, inscribed with five archaic, extraordinary characters:

《Yin Yang Wang Sheng Zhen.

These five characters carried the primordial aura of heaven and earth's first division, yin and yang's flow, and the reversal of life and death—suddenly, the room grew stifling.

The Elder's expression slowly froze, his gaze deepening into something terrifying.

Yin Yang Wang Sheng…

Whose "rebirth"?

Could it not be…

In his once-still heart, waves of shock surged forth.

The Elder Ge's eyes were also deep as an abyss.

(End of chapter)