Chapter 793: Situation

"Old mister..." Mo Hua said in a low voice. His voice was a bit hoarse from dryness, which seemed to be a residual effect of his divine sense cultivation, also affecting his body to some extent.

"Hmm." Old Mister Xun was still using a vermillion brush to draw something on the array paper. Then he raised his head slightly, looked at Mo Hua, and asked, "How are you?"

Mo Hua checked his divine sense internally, observing his sea of consciousness. He found that it was still filled with the "evil thoughts" of the demonic things, gradually eroding his Dao heart, but it had weakened considerably. It seemed that during his coma, his sea of consciousness had also been working nonstop, "digesting" these chaotic and bloodthirsty desires.

"Much better," Mo Hua said.

Old Mister Xun nodded.

Mo Hua looked at the array paper in Old Mister Xun's hand. "Old mister, these are..."

Old Mister Xun sighed slightly. "You took such a long leave and were in a coma for two days. I could only grade these array method assignments myself..."

He couldn't even be lazy.

Mo Hua smiled awkwardly.

Old Mister Xun looked at Mo Hua again, various thoughts flickering in his eyes. In the end, they were all silently hidden at the bottom of his eyes.

"Zi You told me about the matter in Wan Yao Valley."

"You did very well."

"But regarding this matter, you must not mention it to anyone outside. I have instructed all the inner sect elders and disciples who participated not to mention your name."

"Including Tai A Gate and Chong Xu Gate, I have also informed them."

"Not only you, but the names of Ling Hu Xiao, Ouyang Mu, and Song Jian, these few children, will not be mentioned to the outside world..."

Mo Hua was a bit puzzled. "For confidentiality?"

"Not entirely," Old Mister Xun sighed. "Confidentiality is necessary."

"The matter in Wan Yao Valley is a huge scandal. But precisely because it's a scandal, it's not suitable to make it public. Otherwise, there will be..."

Old Mister Xun paused for a moment and continued, "...some immeasurable consequences, where fortune and misfortune are hard to predict."

"Besides, this is also for your own good."

"You are all sect disciples. Cultivating peacefully is the proper thing to do. There's no need to get involved in these bloody storms and conspiracies."

"Moreover, this matter also involves some demon gates and demonic paths."

"Once you get entangled in such things, it's very easy to attract criticism from others. With many idle gossips, it will instead affect your own future cultivation, which is not worth the loss..."

Old Mister Xun's expression was a bit solemn.

He only mentioned it briefly.

But Mo Hua roughly understood.

If the matter in Wan Yao Valley were to spread, they would have a hard time explaining themselves. How could three mid-stage Foundation Establishment disciples, trapped in Wan Yao Valley filled with late-stage and even peak Foundation Establishment demonic evils, escape alive with the help of another mid-stage Foundation Establishment disciple?

This sounds rather fantastic and bizarre. No matter how you think about it, it seems impossible.

Others would also find it hard to believe.

Furthermore, once trapped in a place with demonic evils, associating with demonic cultivators every day, whether coerced or tempted, did they consume evil pills, eat human flesh, practice demonic methods, or forge evil swords?

This would inevitably lead to groundless suspicions.

Human words can be terrifying.

Once someone with ill intentions spreads rumors and slanders, fanning the flames and splashing dirty water on the few of them, with three people becoming tigers, it would be impossible to prove their innocence. Everyone would demand that you disembowel yourself to prove your innocence, but in reality, they wouldn't care whether you are innocent.

He himself is fine, being from a loose cultivator background and having decent relationships with his sectmates. He is not afraid of these rumors.

He also doesn't care about the slanders from other sects.

But the others are different.

Ling Hu Xiao is a sword Dao genius of Chong Xu Gate.

Although Ouyang Mu is unassuming, he is also a direct descendant of the Ouyang family and has an outstanding brother.

Moreover, the personalities of these two are either reclusive or dull. Their relationships with their sectmates are not good, and they are not good at expressing themselves. If people spread rumors, they probably wouldn't even say a word in defense.

And Song Jian...

Oh, Song Jian is indifferent.

Mo Hua suddenly realized.

He always thought he was an unknown little disciple, not famous at all, and others wouldn't care about him, so he never considered this kind of matter. Now that Old Mister Xun mentioned it, he realized that sometimes, harming people doesn't require knives or guns, nor does it require facts. Simply "spreading rumors" is enough.

Mo Hua nodded solemnly. "Old mister, I understand. I made you worry."

Old Mister Xun nodded.

Smart children are just good... With just a little guidance, he can comprehend it himself.

Mo Hua quietly said, "Old mister, how exactly will the Wan Yao Valley matter end?"

He was very curious in his heart. In the realm of Qian Xue State, where there are many sects and a strong atmosphere of learning, someone built a base, raised demon cultivators, and lured disciples onto the evil path. Duan Jin Gate caused such a huge mess; no matter how they cover it up, it's impossible to keep it completely hidden, right?

Old Mister Xun hesitated, then suddenly startled, and asked Mo Hua in return, "What do you think?"

Mo Hua was startled. "I think?"

Old Mister Xun nodded. "Suppose you are the old ancestors of the various sects in the realm of Qian Xue State. How do you think you would handle it? If you are a high-level official of the Dao Court, how would you handle it?"

Mo Hua frowned slightly, following Old Mister Xun's line of thought: "Suppose I am an old ancestor of the realm of Qian Xue State..."

Mo Hua pondered for a moment and had to admit: "...Then this matter must still be covered up as much as possible."

"Although it is said that Duan Jin Gate caused the mess, the entire realm of Qian Xue State will suffer a complete loss."

"If others find out that within the realm of Qian Xue State, someone built a demon valley, coerced and lured disciples onto the demonic path, the reputation of all sects in the entire realm of Qian Xue State will be implicated."

"If Duan Jin Gate lures disciples onto the demonic path, then other sects are probably not clean either."

"After all, in the eyes of outsiders, the realm of Qian Xue State is one body. They don't know the entanglements and contradictions between the various sects. They will only feel that the realm of Qian Xue State is in cahoots and has a foul atmosphere. Hereafter, they will no longer send disciples here to seek learning."

"So, this kind of matter is a family scandal of the entire realm of Qian Xue State. Since it is a family scandal, it cannot be spread outside."

Old Mister Xun nodded.

"And suppose I am a high-level official of the Dao Court..." Mo Hua continued. "Regarding the Wan Yao Valley matter, if I didn't know about it, it would be fine. Once I knew..."

Mo Hua raised his eyebrows and his tone became sharp. "Then I would definitely seize this opportunity!"

"Using the Dao laws as an excuse, and taking this matter as leverage, I would fiercely extort the involved sects in the realm of Qian Xue State, squeeze out large amounts of benefits, and then find a reason to pretend to be magnanimous and let it pass lightly."

"Handling this matter impartially would be very difficult and would also offend the various sects."

"It's better this way, where both face and interests are gained."

"And sects like Duan Jin Gate, if they know there's no room for turnaround, will naturally adopt a 'fish dies, net breaks' mentality."

"But suppose the Dao Court appears greedy and only demands benefits, they will harbor illusions, endure pain and cede territory and pay indemnity, and not resist too much..."

Mo Hua spoke very reasonably.

Old Mister Xun looked at Mo Hua, his gaze becoming complex.

Mo Hua noticed Old Mister Xun's gaze, was slightly startled, somewhat unsure, and then asked softly, "Old mister, did I say something wrong?"

Old Mister Xun sighed. "Correct."

It's almost like this. A qualified "old ancestor" would indeed consider problems in this way.

Old Mister Xun asked again, "Then from your own perspective, what did you think before?"

Mo Hua was startled, then said somewhat awkwardly, "Disciple thought relatively simply... I just wanted to make the matter bigger and let Duan Jin Gate suffer great misfortune!"

Old Mister Xun asked, "Why do so?"

Mo Hua thought for a moment and frowned, "Because Duan Jin Gate doesn't distinguish between right and wrong and its actions violate Dao righteousness..."

Old Mister Xun nodded. "Then your thinking is not bad either."

Mo Hua was somewhat surprised. "This is also not bad?"

Old Mister Xun said seriously, "Sects that don't distinguish between right and wrong and violate Dao righteousness, what's the use of keeping them?"

Mo Hua's expression became stern.

Old Mister Xun said, "You are neither an old ancestor of the realm of Qian Xue State, nor a high-level official of the Dao Court. Why do you need to consider their interests?"

"You have your own ideas, and this idea is not wrong, so naturally you should act according to your own ideas."

Mo Hua was a little confused for a moment. "Then..."

Old Mister Xun said, "I let you put yourself in the position of an old ancestor and see this matter from the perspective of others to let you know that you cannot only consider problems from your own perspective."

"You cannot only think about what you want, otherwise your thinking will be limited, your vision will be very narrow, and sooner or later you will become someone else's chess piece."

"Knowing others is wisdom. The more you understand others, the stronger your control over the situation."

"But you don't need to deny your own ideas either."

"Suppose your ideas conform to Dao righteousness, then you are correct, and others are wrong."

"Only, your strength is too weak, and the old ancestors who talk about interests and reality are too strong, so things will not develop according to your ideas. They will only proceed according to the plans of those old ancestors."

"You must understand this point."

"Sometimes, it's not that you are wrong, but that you are too weak."

"If one day, you advance to Cave Void, or even ascend above Cave Void, possessing supreme strength, many matters in the world will naturally develop according to your wishes..."

"But now you are not strong, and the progress of things is dominated by others. So when you encounter matters, you just need to think a little more, think about how others will think, so that you can know how things will develop and what you should do."

Old Mister Xun finally looked at Mo Hua meaningfully.

"You want to learn from the perspective of old ancestors, to stand above..."

"But I don't hope that in the future, you will only become such a high and mighty old ancestor..."

Mo Hua's eyes trembled slightly, and he slowly nodded.

"Okay," Old Mister Xun's tone lightened a bit, and he sighed, "I'm old, and I tend to nag a bit when I'm not careful."

Mo Hua said solemnly, "Thank you for your teachings, old mister."

Old Mister Xun's eyebrows moved slightly, and his gaze softened.

"Right, old mister," Mo Hua suddenly blinked his eyes, "Did we, Tai Xu Gate, not squeeze any benefits from Duan Jin Gate?"

Old Mister Xun was startled, then seemed to smile but not smile. "I am also an old ancestor. How could I let go of these benefits when others are squeezing them?"

After Old Mister Xun finished speaking, he glanced at Mo Hua and said indifferently, "From now on, the things from Duan Jin Gate in your possession, whether they are sword arts or sword arrays, can all be used openly."

Mo Hua was slightly startled, only then realizing that Old Mister Xun might have known everything.

Though, thinking about it, it's normal. If Elder Xun Zi You was keeping an eye on him, it would be impossible for him not to know about these commonly used methods. If he knew, Old Mister Xun naturally also knew.

Mo Hua was still a bit uneasy. "Can I really use them... Duan Jin Gate might be stingy..."

"You only need to rest assured and use them," Old Mister Xun said. "Duan Jin Gate and our Tai Xu Gate, upholding the original intention of abandoning sect prejudices and exchanging cultivation methods, have exchanged some inheritances with each other."

"Among their sect's treasured inheritances, some first and second-grade entry-level sword arts and sword arrays have all entered our Tai Xu Gate's scripture pavilion."

"Exchanged inheritances?"

Mo Hua was a bit astonished, then asked again, "What inheritances did our Tai Xu Gate give to Duan Jin Gate?"

Old Mister Xun said disdainfully, "A pile of commonplace broken techniques, who would remember..."

Mo Hua was stunned for a moment. Okay, so this is how they "exchanged" them.

"Then... only entry-level sword arts?"

Mo Hua quietly asked again. He felt that the Duan Jin sword arts and sword arrays in his possession didn't seem like Duan Jin Gate's "entry-level" inheritances. He felt that he was more of a "direct descendant" of these inheritances than some of Duan Jin Gate's direct descendants.

"Entry-level is enough," Old Mister Xun affirmed. "Even if you only learn entry-level, you are stronger than them."

"Their inheritances may be good, but if they don't strive themselves, they can't learn as well as you do. There's no way."

Mo Hua was a bit embarrassed but also roughly understood. This was just an "excuse." The moves from Duan Jin Gate that he had had a source and an explanation, which was fine. The actual facts were not important.

Old Mister Xun thought for a moment and admonished again, "This matter involves too much. The outside world is completely sealed off. On the surface, there are no ripples, but behind the scenes, undercurrents are surging."

"The Dao Court, the four major sects, and a crowd of other sects, especially Duan Jin Gate, and even our Tai Xu, Tai A, and Chong Xu gates, are all engaged in overt and covert struggles. It is estimated that it will not stop until the dust settles."

"So during this period, keep a low profile and don't reveal anything."

"As for the leave of absence, if your sectmates ask, just say that I gave you a task, sent you on a long trip, and you spent seven or eight days drawing arrays."

"As for the specific reasons..." Old Mister Xun looked at Mo Hua meaningfully, "You can just make something up yourself. You should be very familiar with this."

"I'm also... not very familiar..." Mo Hua said a little guilty.

Old Mister Xun raised his eyebrows slightly and didn't pursue it, but his expression was solemn and he asked a final question: "Is your divine sense stained with some demonic evils from refining the demon diagram?"

"Um." Mo Hua slowly nodded.

To be precise, it was "eaten," not stained. But even Old Mister Xun didn't think in that direction. "Stained" with demonic evils was already a rather bad situation he could imagine. He hadn't seen it in person, so he basically didn't expect how "fierce" Mo Hua was in his divine sense state.

"Stained with demonic evils..." Old Mister Xun frowned.

"It's okay," Mo Hua said, "Old mister, I can gradually purify these evil thoughts by meditating and visualizing."

"Visualize?" Old Mister Xun was startled, his heart moved. Could it be... that person passed on a visualization technique?

Old Mister Xun pondered for a moment and nodded. "That's good too."

Although he was still a bit uneasy, he took out a branch of sandalwood with golden patterns and an antique diagram scroll packed in a jade box from his storage bag.

"This branch of calming incense is of superior quality. Light it when you visualize to help you concentrate and discard distracting thoughts."

"As for this diagram..."

When Mo Hua saw the diagram, his heart skipped a beat, and he blurted out, "Visualization diagram?!"

Old Mister Xun raised his eyebrows, surprised and yet not surprised. "Have you seen a visualization diagram?"

"Um, I've seen some," Mo Hua said honestly.

Old Mister Xun was slightly shocked. He had seen "some." Not just one?

"Such a young age, but with so many experiences..." Old Mister Xun thought to himself.

"Since you know, I won't say more. This visualization diagram is a treasured divine object of our Tai Xu Gate. Don't open it casually, especially in front of outsiders."

"After you return to the disciples' residence, light that branch of incense, then open this diagram and visualize it. It will be beneficial to your divine sense."

"In this world, there are not many truly clean visualization diagrams. Look and cherish it."

Mo Hua said somewhat flattered, "Old mister, such precious things, you just gave them to me?"

Old Mister Xun was speechless and glared at Mo Hua in annoyance. "What do you mean 'gave it to you'? It's temporarily lent to you. After you're done looking at it and your divine sense recovers, return it."

"Oh..." Mo Hua nodded.

Lent is fine; having it is better than not having it at all.

Old Mister Xun handed the visualization diagram to Mo Hua.

Mo Hua solemnly took it. Just as Mo Hua took it, Old Mister Xun's heart suddenly palpitated, and he actually felt a sense of "sending a sheep into a tiger's mouth." His hand stiffened, and he held onto the visualization diagram, not letting go.

Mo Hua held the visualization diagram in both hands but saw Old Mister Xun not letting go. He was a bit puzzled. "Old mister?"

Old Mister Xun came back to his senses, looked at Mo Hua with a subtle expression, hesitated for a moment, and then said earnestly, "Remember to return it."

"Absolutely, absolutely, don't mess it up for me..."

"Um, um." Mo Hua promised readily. "Old mister, you can rest assured."

Although up to now, any visualization diagram that he had seen or passed through his hands had not been "intact." But those were other people's visualization diagrams. Moreover, the diagrams were all full of little ghosts and corpse ghosts; not a single one was good. His own sect's would definitely be different.

With Mo Hua's guarantee, Old Mister Xun no longer hesitated and temporarily handed the visualization diagram to Mo Hua.

Mo Hua solemnly took it, treasured it, and put it away carefully.

After Old Mister Xun explained a few more things, he got up to leave. Before leaving, he said, "Rest well these few days and recuperate. When you're better, go back to class. But you must remember to make up for the missed coursework."

"Cultivating is like going against the current; you must advance or you will fall back. You cannot slack off."

"Okay, old mister," Mo Hua said obediently.

"Right..."

Old Mister Xun had already gotten up. He looked at Mo Hua one last time and thought of something else. After repeated hesitation, he finally confirmed, "Your divine sense... has it become stronger again?"

Before, when Mo Hua was lying on the bed, suffering from the invasion of demonic evils, his divine sense was weak, so his aura was not obvious. Now, after chatting with him for a while, Old Mister Xun clearly perceived that Mo Hua's divine sense was obviously deeper and more condensed than before.

"Um, my divine sense accidentally broke through again..." Mo Hua said.

Although he had expected it, Old Mister Xun's heart still skipped a beat. Broke through again. His cultivation hadn't grown much, but his divine sense kept breaking through one after another. Indeed...

"Good, good," Old Mister Xun nodded happily.

Like this, he was one step closer to his arrangements. Things that he thought were impossible before now seemed to have some turnaround.

Old Mister Xun's heart was greatly comforted, and he said with full of expectations, "Rest well. Wait until your divine sense is okay, then come find me. I will teach you eighteen-pattern arrays..."

Mo Hua shook his head. "Not eighteen patterns."

Old Mister Xun was startled.

"I accidentally broke through a bit more..." Mo Hua said quietly, "Now nineteen patterns..."

Nineteen...

Old Mister Xun only felt a stuffy feeling in his chest, almost unable to breathe. Nineteen patterns of divine sense? Directly from seventeen to nineteen, breaking two realms in one go?!

Old Mister Xun took a deep breath, his eyes full of disbelief. His cultivation was only in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, but his divine sense had already stepped into the level of nearly peak Foundation Establishment? That boy named Zhuang... where on earth did he find such a disciple who didn't show off, didn't reveal his abilities, but whose divine sense aptitude was so "against the heavens"?

Thank you, pharcyde big boss, for the alliance leader reward.

I owe one more update with tears.

Also, I recommend a book by a little partner, a mortal-flow immortal hero. Those who are interested can take a look.

"Ascend Immortal Evergreen"

Mortal flow, native, no system. An ordinary country boy, luckily stepped onto the immortal path. With mediocre aptitude, how did he cut through thorns and thistles on the road to longevity? After thousands of years, looking back, he is already—

Ten thousand paths ascend to immortality, he alone steps on the green clouds!