Chapter 640: Restoration

Chapter 641: Clue

These "spirit beasts" are actually people?

Chicken, duck, cow, horse, sow, immortal crane - these are all designations for different cultivators?

Mo Hua's pupils contracted slightly.

The transmission talisman was an "account book."

The account book contained a vast number of entries.

This meant that the bald eagle and his group...

They weren't just simply "trafficking;" it was highly probable that they were secretly engaged in large-scale "trafficking" of cultivators.

Trafficking people as if they were "spirit beasts"!

Mo Hua's gaze turned cold. That big bastard, the bald eagle, had died too easily...

Looking at the restored long string of "spirit beast account books," Mo Hua frowned slightly, his heart filled with doubts.

Although the bald eagle's strength was considerable, it wasn't so strong that he could single-handedly conduct the large-scale forbidden "trade" at this level.

He was likely just a small leader.

He was a link in the entire "trafficking chain."

On this trafficking chain, there must be other even more evil cultivators.

Moreover, such large-scale trafficking of cultivators remained calm on the surface, without revealing any clues.

This indicated that the "bald eagle" and his group had a long-term, stable criminal operation.

They had a deeply entrenched chain of interests.

Perhaps there was even a behind-the-scenes "black umbrella"...

Behind them, it was also highly possible that there was some "great cultivator" covering up the heavenly secrets for them...

Mo Hua pondered for a moment, sighed, and silently placed this "transmission talisman" into his storage ring.

This kind of matter, he couldn't handle it for now...

Later, when he had the strength, connections, or figured out the hidden secrets, he would then find a way to investigate this matter thoroughly.

Before that, this transmission talisman couldn't be revealed to anyone.

Otherwise, it would definitely invite disaster.

As a small cultivator alone in Qian Xue Province, without any backing, if he acted beyond his capabilities and rashly intervened in this matter, being targeted by the behind-the-scenes "black hand," it would be very difficult for him to protect himself.

Even if Old Mister Xun and Aunt Wan wanted to protect him, they might not be able to.

He couldn't rely too much on others.

He also couldn't cause them too much trouble.

Mo Hua nodded slightly.

Master had warned him that the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.

Even someone as strong as Master, whose heavenly secret calculations seemed to have reached the realm of transformation, was still schemed against, fell into a desperate situation, and his life or death was unknown.

He was not as capable as Master. If he wanted to preserve his life, he had to learn to "hide himself."

"Hide himself" from cause and effect.

Even if he showed his head, he had to put himself in an "unremarkable" position.

Mo Hua had made up his mind. He put away the bald eagle's "transmission talisman" and temporarily stopped thinking about it.

The immediate matter was to first catch Fire Buddha.

The next day, Xun rest.

Mo Hua, leading Yu'er and protected by Wen Ren Wei, boarded a luxurious carriage and left the elegant and ancient Tai Xu Gate to go to the Gu family in Qing State City.

Upon arriving at the Gu family, Yu'er went to report her homework to Wen Ren Wan.

The direct descendants of a strict and upright aristocratic family had very strict requirements for cultivation.

Yu'er had been disturbed by nightmares before, weak and listless, so her cultivation naturally fell behind.

But now, Yu'er followed by Mo Hua's side, eating well and sleeping soundly, full of vitality. Naturally, she had to catch up on the cultivation homework she had fallen behind on.

Mo Hua saw Wen Ren Wan, greeted her, and exchanged a few pleasantries before going to find Gu Chang Huai.

A disciple of the Gu family led the way, bringing Mo Hua to Gu Chang Huai's study.

Gu Chang Huai's study was very neat, without a speck of dust, exquisite and luxurious.

At first glance, it was the study of someone who lived in luxury, a disciple of a prominent family.

On one side of the screen, there was a colorful peacock embroidered, its neck raised, opening its tail with an arrogant expression, appearing very ostentatious.

This very much fit Mo Hua's "stereotypical" impression of Uncle Gu.

The leading Gu family disciple only brought Mo Hua to the door, then bowed and retreated.

Mo Hua stood outside the door, glanced inside the study, wanting to see what Uncle Gu was doing.

Gu Chang Huai knew Mo Hua had come and sighed:

"Come in."

Mo Hua then boldly entered the door.

Gu Chang Huai sat in front of the red wood inlaid gold desk.

Mo Hua looked around, saw there was no seat in front of the desk, then moved a stool from beside him, placed it in front of the desk, and sat facing Gu Chang Huai.

Gu Chang Huai sighed again.

This child was too comfortable, not treating himself as an outsider at all...

Then Mo Hua spoke about the main matter.

"Uncle Gu, are there any clues about Fire Buddha yet?"

Although one could tell from a glance at Uncle Gu's face that there were definitely no clues and not much progress, Mo Hua still asked as usual.

Gu Chang Huai shook his head, but he obviously didn't want to say more.

"Then..." Mo Hua asked again, "Has Hua Lang Jun's transmission talisman been restored yet?"

Gu Chang Huai's face was ugly, "No, it can't be restored..."

Mo Hua's eyebrows and eyes lit up with joy, but he still expressed regret.

Gu Chang Huai silently looked at Mo Hua, frowned and said:

"Why do you seem... quite happy..."

"No, no..."

Mo Hua was a bit "insincere."

He learned Yuan Magnetic Array precisely to "restore" magnetic patterns and recover the erased text in the transmission talisman.

If others restored it, wouldn't he have learned for nothing?

Gu Chang Huai was somewhat confused, not knowing what to say.

Mo Hua then softly probed:

"Uncle Gu, how about, you let me try?"

Gu Chang Huai was a bit astonished, "Let you try what?"

"The transmission talisman!"

Gu Chang Huai looked at Mo Hua suspiciously, "Don't tell me, in just these few days, you've already learned to 'restore' the magnetic patterns of a transmission talisman?"

Mo Hua nodded "modestly."

Gu Chang Huai was silent.

He actually wanted to believe it, and was willing to believe it, but reason made it hard for him to believe.

Yuan Magnetic Array was a confidential array. Ordinary cultivators wouldn't learn it, and even if they did, it would be impossible to master.

Even masters, for the most part, only constructed arrays.

Wanting to reverse-restore an array was another matter.

There were numerous categories of arrays, vast and boundless. Even some great array masters couldn't master every single one.

Each had its own specialty.

Arrays were the same.

Mo Hua was too young. Being able to solidify his learning of some basic arrays was not bad.

Magnetic pattern restoration, this kind of relatively obscure, extremely "professional" array, where did he get so much divine sense and time to research...

Gu Chang Huai shook his head.

"Uncle Gu, you don't believe it?" Mo Hua asked.

"Nonsense..."

Mo Hua didn't understand, "What's there not to believe about this..."

"Whatever you say, I'll just believe it?" Gu Chang Huai impatiently glared at Mo Hua, "Why don't you say, you even single-handedly built a great array?"

Mo Hua's expression was a bit subtle.

Gu Chang Huai sneered, "What, you really single-handedly built a great array?"

"If I say yes, do you believe it?"

Gu Chang Huai looked at Mo Hua expressionlessly, "I'm just not proficient in arrays, not really an 'array blind'..."

Still single-handedly built a great array...

What was this little brat thinking?

He had boasted so much it reached the sky...

"I really learned magnetic pattern restoration!"

Gu Chang Huai still didn't believe it.

Mo Hua sighed.

Then there was no other way.

Facts spoke louder than words. It seemed he could only show a hand.

Mo Hua took out the transmission talisman and handed it to Gu Chang Huai:

"Uncle Gu, you use the transmission talisman, secretly send a message on it, don't let me know, then you erase it again, I'll 'restore' it for you to see..."

Before Mo Hua finished speaking, he saw Gu Chang Huai's expression change dramatically. He stared at the transmission talisman, his face full of disbelief.

"This..."

"This is..."

Gu Chang Huai pointed at the piece of transmission talisman, full of cracks and tattered, his hand trembled slightly, and his angry voice changed.

"Is this the transmission talisman I gave you?"

"How long has it been, and you've already broken it?!"

Mo Hua was a bit guilty, but still corrected him:

"It's not broken!"

Gu Chang Huai looked at Mo Hua coldly, with an expression of "say more, let me hear, how you'll quibble."

Mo Hua blinked and said:

"Just... I accidentally, happened to disassemble it, there are some cracks, it's not very aesthetic, but I've already fixed it!"

"Although the outer appearance is a bit tattered, the function is intact and doesn't affect its use."

Mo Hua said seriously: "Cultivators should not be deceived by appearances; they should value the function of the essence..."

Gu Chang Huai said coldly: "You understand quite a lot. You broke things and can still come up with a pile of reasons..."

Mo Hua saw that Uncle Gu was still angry, so he quickly said: "These are not the point..."

"I'm doing this to learn magnetic pattern restoration..."

"The sacrifice of this transmission talisman is valuable!"

Mo Hua had a serious expression.

"Good, good..."

Gu Chang Huai was still angry. He took the transmission talisman, sent a few messages, then erased them himself, and threw the transmission talisman back to Mo Hua.

"You restore it once and see what words I just sent."

"Mm mm."

Mo Hua was full of confidence.

He took out a compass and copied the underlying fixed array patterns. Then, with his divine sense, he spied on and recorded the secondary thunder patterns.

Then, through the array disk, with the fixed magnetic patterns and the secondary thunder patterns, he performed the derivation.

Gu Chang Huai saw Mo Hua's calm expression, skilled technique, drawing a pile of array patterns he had never seen, properly performing complex derivations. The anger in his heart gradually turned into astonishment.

Although he didn't understand, he also knew that this kind of derivation technique was absolutely not ordinary...

And on the array disk, magnetic ink condensed, gradually manifesting and restoring a few words:

"Little bad egg..."

Mo Hua's expression first showed joy, then he was startled, his face full of unhappiness as he looked at Gu Chang Huai.

"Little bad egg... Is that referring to me?"

Gu Chang Huai didn't care about Mo Hua's unhappiness.

He was completely stunned, looking at Mo Hua, his face incredulous, "You... you really restored it?"

This was a technique only the great array masters in Tian Shu Pavilion knew...

You, a small cultivator in the Foundation Building realm, could also learn it?

Mo Hua saw him so surprised, looking like he had never seen the world, so he didn't mind the matter of being called a "little bad egg."

Mo Hua said proudly:

"I may be learning arrays from Old Mister Xun..."

"Old Mister Xun..."

Gu Chang Huai was startled, then respectful.

Although he didn't know the exact identity of the Old Mister Xun Mo Hua mentioned, being able to teach arrays in one of the eight great sects, Tai Xu Gate, and being respectfully called "old mister," his seniority must be very old, and his array attainment must also be extraordinary.

Having this kind of array master teach Mo Hua, then everything seemed explainable...

Gu Chang Huai's gaze towards Mo Hua also changed.

Just truly letting Mo Hua try to "restore" Hua Lang Jun's transmission talisman, Gu Chang Huai was still a bit uneasy.

Mo Hua seemed to see through Gu Chang Huai's thoughts and asked:

"Uncle Gu, where is Hua Lang Jun's transmission talisman now?"

Gu Chang Huai thought for a moment and slowly said:

"Tian Shu Pavilion returned it..."

Gu Chang Huai was displeased, "The array masters at Tian Shu Pavilion, either their status is too high, and I can't invite them, or they have no time and can't help, or they find it troublesome... In short, no one is willing to take on this task from Dao Ting Si..."

"Then you can only rely on me ah..."

Mo Hua's eyes shone.

Gu Chang Huai choked, sighed, and said helplessly: "You follow me to Dao Ting Si. I'll give you the transmission talisman, and you can try..."

"Mm mm!"

Mo Hua nodded repeatedly.

Gu Chang Huai shook his head. He didn't think that he, a dignified Diǎn Sī in the Golden Core realm, would actually fall to the point where he had to rely on a little cultivator who had just entered the door to find clues...

But under someone else's eaves, one had to bow one's head...

Gu Chang Huai said something to Wen Ren Wan, then brought Mo Hua and set out to return to Dao Ting Si.

Gu Chang Huai handled some procedures and took out that transmission talisman of Hua Lang Jun.

This was a piece of white jade inlaid with some emerald-colored jade.

Mo Hua looked at it, then his divine sense entered, spying on the transmission talisman, seeing that the interior was blank, indeed all erased.

Mo Hua scanned it again for a moment, seeing that there were no traces of "seal" or "encryption" inside the transmission talisman. Then he handed the transmission talisman to Gu Chang Huai.

"Uncle Gu, help me disassemble it once..."

He was afraid that if he disassembled it himself, he would break it again.

Gu Chang Huai wanted to disassemble it, but before acting, he hesitated a bit.

He was afraid that Mo Hua's skill was not refined and would break the arrays inside.

But then he thought again, even if Tian Shu Pavilion restored it, it should still break.

There was no one hundred percent, steady "restoration" method.

If he didn't try now, and waited for Fire Buddha to run away, this transmission talisman, even if it were really restored, would be of no use at all.

Thinking of this, Gu Chang Huai made up his mind.

He quickly disassembled the transmission talisman, and his technique was meticulous, his movements skilled.

After disassembling it, the transmission talisman revealed the underlying array patterns. Gu Chang Huai then handed the transmission talisman to Mo Hua.

Mo Hua immediately began to copy the fixed magnetic patterns.

The fixed magnetic patterns of transmission talismans were all different.

The fixed magnetic patterns of this transmission talisman were quite different from the bald eagle's.

Mo Hua copied the fixed magnetic patterns onto the array disk. Then, through his learned "Fixed Magnetic Patterns Annotation," he compared them one by one and roughly understood the meanings of these magnetic patterns.

The functional magnetic patterns were largely the same.

Only the habit of "writing" and carving magnetic patterns had some differences.

And the most different place was that this transmission talisman was actually one-way.

It could only receive messages one-way, and couldn't transmit text outwards.

"Fire Buddha and the others are still very cautious..."

Then Mo Hua proceeded as before, taking the fixed magnetic patterns as the base and the secondary thunder patterns as the "contract" traces of the magnetic flow, and began to re-derive.

Soon, text began to appear on the array disk...

Gu Chang Huai's heart was shocked.

"Actually really... restored..."

He silently looked at Mo Hua again, his heart fluctuating with emotion, then turned his head, fixing his gaze on the text restored on the array disk.

Because the secondary thunder patterns were constantly changing, no matter how sharp Mo Hua's observation was, there were always some oversights.

So the text always had some errors.

And the order was chaotic.

But for the most part, it could still be understood...

"Hua Old Six... where are you going?"

"If the matter is ruined, everyone will die..."

"Bastard..."

"Eleventh month, first day..."

"The whole family dies completely..."

"Everything is prepared, god unknowing, ghost unaware..."

"Bi Shan City, rouge shop..."

"Those withered flowers and willows, what's so fun?"

"After the matter succeeds, the young master will reward you with a top-grade item that you won't be able to lick even in this lifetime..."

"Hua Old Six, don't miss the time."

"Hua Old Six?"

"This time if you again let lust cloud your judgment and ruin the big matter, this old man will castrate you..."

"Big brother is very angry, the consequences are very serious."

"You're dead for sure..."

After Mo Hua and Gu Chang Huai finished reading these texts, they looked at each other, both frowning.

"This tone doesn't sound like Fire Buddha..."

"Possibly, it was sent by Fire Buddha's subordinate..."

The clues inside didn't seem to be many.

For the most part, it was all known information.

Hua Lang Jun and Fire Buddha were a group. They agreed to go to Bi Shan City together to exterminate the Xie family.

Besides this, there were two points that made Mo Hua care.

One was "young master."

"After the matter succeeds, the young master will reward you with a top-grade item..."

Who was this "young master"?

Suddenly, Mo Hua thought of the "account book" text restored on the bald eagle's transmission talisman. Among them was a record:

"Twentieth day, hundred flowers, obtained one immortal crane, gifted to young master..."

One immortal crane, gifted to "young master."

Were the two "young masters" here referring to the same person?

Or was it just a coincidence?

After all, this was Qian Xue Province, there were too many aristocratic family disciples, and many were called "young master."

Mo Hua himself was still called "little young master"...

Mo Hua looked at Gu Chang Huai and asked softly:

"Uncle Gu, are there any evil cultivators with numerous evil deeds whose nickname is 'young master'?"

Gu Chang Huai frowned and thought, shook his head, "I haven't heard..."

Mo Hua nodded.

If Uncle Gu hadn't heard, then it meant that it was very likely someone hiding in the dark...

The only clue now was another point that made Mo Hua care.

"Rouge shop."

This was the only clear place name in the entire transmission talisman.

Either it was a meeting place.

Or it just had a lookout.

It was even possible that it was just their hiding place...

Gu Chang Huai obviously also thought of this point.

"Uncle Gu, are there any rouge shops in Bi Shan City?" Mo Hua asked again.

Gu Chang Huai pondered, "There are several..."

"How about going to see?" Mo Hua probed.

The matter had already reached this point. No matter what, they had to go and see.

Gu Chang Huai nodded and got up to leave. But before he walked a few steps, he discovered that Mo Hua was following him step by step like a "little tail," clearly wanting to go with him.

Gu Chang Huai didn't want to bring him, but he also knew that he definitely couldn't shake off Mo Hua, so he didn't waste effort, just emphasized:

"Remember the three rules, don't forget!"

"Mm mm." Mo Hua nodded.

Gu Chang Huai sighed and was about to leave, but suddenly thought of something again, and said gravely:

"Don't tell others about restoring the magnetic patterns."

"Especially the people from Dao Ting Si..."

Mo Hua was startled, then understood in his heart, and nodded slightly, "Rest assured, I'm very tight-lipped."

Gu Chang Huai then felt relieved.

After that, the two people rode in a carriage to Bi Shan City.

This trip was just to probe for information, so Gu Chang Huai didn't mobilize troops or call others from Dao Ting Si.

The carriage sped along, bumpy all the way, and soon arrived at Bi Shan City.

There were a total of four rouge shops in Bi Shan City.

Two were large, with luxurious decorations, a very strong scent of rouge, and couples and people coming and going inside, very lively.

There was also one whose business was not good, almost closing down.

These three seemed to have no problem.

Suspicious was the last one.

The shop name was simply "Rouge Shop," located in a small alley. The shop was not big or small, with very few people flowing in and out, and it was also very quiet.

There were indeed quite a few rouges and powders placed inside the shop, but the quality was very old, obviously all old stock.

Moreover, the entire shop exuded a kind of strange incongruity.

Occasionally, cultivators would go in, but after a while, they would all come out again.

Mo Hua and Gu Chang Huai were in a nearby tea house, drinking a pot of tea and eating two plates of pine nuts, while also watching the movements of the rouge shop.

They didn't act rashly, wanting to observe the situation first.

After watching for more than an hour, Mo Hua lightly said "eh."

Gu Chang Huai raised an eyebrow, "What did you see?"

Mo Hua picked up his tea cup, drank a mouthful of tea, then didn't reveal anything, lowered his voice and said:

"This shop has no guests..."

"Those coming and going guests, although they are men and women of various appearances, are actually all the same person..."

Gu Chang Huai showed a slight surprise and nodded.

Mo Hua saw that his reaction wasn't too big and couldn't help but say curiously:

"Uncle Gu, you also saw it?"

Gu Chang Huai lightly hummed, "Mere illusion technique, how can it hide from me..."

Mo Hua was a bit annoyed by his arrogant appearance, so he asked:

"Then do you know who this cultivator pretending to be guests is?"