Chapter 815: Water Prison

In the evening, Mo Hua went to the Dao Law Room and found Elder Yi, who specifically teaches Dao Law courses within the Taixu Gate.

Elder Yi, who had been idly flipping through a roster, was a little surprised and slightly wary when he saw Mo Hua:

"Are you here to practice spells again?"

Mo Hua's attempt to practice the fireball technique, which resulted in him injuring himself and incurring the cold glares of Old Mister Xun for two months, was still fresh in Elder Yi's memory.

Therefore, every time Mo Hua came to practice spells, he had to be extra vigilant.

"No," Mo Hua waved his hand, "I want to ask you some questions..."

"Ask questions?" Elder Yi was slightly startled, then breathed a sigh of relief, "Asking questions is good..."

As long as he wasn't practicing those dangerous spells, Mo Hua was a good child.

"Tell me, what questions do you want to ask," Elder Yi said.

Mo Hua handed the jade slip he had copied down, containing records about the water prison technique, to Elder Yi and asked:

"Elder, do you know the water prison technique?"

Elder Yi took the jade slip, looked at it, and nodded, saying: "Of course."

He was a Dao Law Elder.

The Yi family was also a family of spellcasters.

He knew more or less about all the spells collected within the Taixu Gate.

Although the water prison technique was somewhat obscure, its uses were limited, and few disciples learned it, as a Dao Law Elder, he still had to be aware of it.

"I looked through the sect's records, and it is said that this water prison technique was the absolute art of the Shuijian Gate back then? Shuijian Gate..." Mo Hua asked quietly, "Elder Yi, do you know about it?"

Elder Yi frowned.

"Why are you asking this?"

Observing his expression, Mo Hua knew that Elder Yi was indeed aware of it.

He thought for a moment and explained: "I learned this water prison technique within the sect. But recently, I used the water prison technique outside and was recognized by someone who said it belonged to the Shuijian Gate. I was a little curious, so I came to ask."

"Oh..."

Elder Yi nodded slightly, not doubting him.

Mo Hua spoke lightly, so he treated it as an ordinary matter and didn't think about who Mo Hua had used the water prison technique on.

He certainly didn't think that the person would now consider Mo Hua a "Shuijian Gate remnant" and be eager to kill him quickly.

"I do know something about the Shuijian Gate..."

Elder Yi thought for a moment and continued: "A thousand years ago, the Shuijian Gate was also prominent for a time. At that time, the sect landscape in the Qian Xue state was different from now; there wasn't this situation of four major sects and eight major gates yet."

"According to strength, the Shuijian Gate back then, although not at the top level, could at least be considered a sect of the 'twelve streams' level."

"Moreover, the twelve streams back then were somewhat different from now. The sects of the twelve streams back then could truly reach the top in a certain type of cultivation inheritance."

"Unlike now, many of the twelve streams sects are even far inferior to the four major sects in their own field. The most typical example is the Wan Array Gate..."

Elder Yi sighed, "I don't know how their array traditions have been passed down; each generation is worse than the last..."

Mo Hua said: "So, does that mean the Shuijian Gate back then cultivated water-element Dao Law to the extreme?"

"I wouldn't say they cultivated it to the extreme," Elder Yi shook his head, "There are people outside of people, and skies outside of skies. The Great Dao is vast; no one dares to say they can cultivate to the extreme. But at least in the Qian Xue state, and even in the greater half of the Qian state, the Shuijian Gate's water-element Dao Law was among the top one or two."

"Moreover, not only that, the Shuijian Gate had specialization within the water-element Dao Law. Its inherited water-element spells weren't complete, but they were refined..."

Not complete, but refined?

Mo Hua thought for a moment and slowly said: "Shuijian Gate, with the word 'jian' (prison) in its name, suggests it should specialize in control and confinement types of water-element spells?"

"Perhaps, looking at the name, this sect might also be related to the Dao Court Department?"

Elder Yi's expression was slightly surprised.

This child's mind is quick.

I wonder if all those who learn arrays are relatively smart.

But that's not right, some of the people in the sect who learn arrays seem just foolish...

Elder Yi thought to himself.

"That's right, the Shuijian Gate back then was proficient in control, restraint, confinement, and even punishment-type water-element spells. Some of their spells were even forbidden techniques..."

Elder Yi then said, "Most of the disciples who graduated from the Shuijian Gate also entered various Dao Court Departments. And these cultivators from the Shuijian Gate were proficient in water-prison-type spells, liked to use cruel punishments, and took pleasure in torturing people. Although they tortured sin cultivators, it also made the Shuijian Gate's reputation always poor."

"And then later..."

Elder Yi frowned, "As for what happened later, I'm not too clear. I only know that the Shuijian Gate seemed to have a fundamental problem with its cultivation method; the deeper one cultivated, the more sinister, cruel, and violent their temperament would become."

"And at that time, cases of Shuijian Gate disciples falling into the demonic path and arbitrarily killing innocents by abusing the authority of the Dao Court Department were constantly exposed."

"The Dao Court above came to investigate thoroughly, and this investigation uncovered a major issue, which angered the Dao Court."

"Exactly what the matter was, the Dao Court did not reveal to the outside world. The truth of the matter is probably sealed in the files of the central Dao Court."

"Anyway, since then, many people died in the Shuijian Gate, and all the remaining disciples were thrown into prison. All core inheritances were sealed, and some fragmented spells, like the 'water prison technique', then flowed to various parts of the cultivation world and remained as an obscure cultivation method..."

Elder Yi sighed.

Mo Hua's expression was solemn.

He hadn't expected that behind the words "Shuijian Gate," there was actually such an unknown secret.

Matters in the cultivation world were indeed dangerous, complex, and mysterious.

Such a large sect was gone just like that...

"Then will the water prison technique, also being a spell of the Shuijian Gate, have problems? Didn't the Dao Court seal it?" Mo Hua asked.

Elder Yi waved his hand, "How could they seal everything? Moreover, since this spell could spread out and was even collected into the Taixu Gate, it means there are no major problems."

"Besides, the water prison technique is strange and tricky. Who would learn this kind of spell in their right mind?"

Mo Hua silently looked at Elder Yi.

Elder Yi then realized that there was someone in front of him who had just learned the water prison technique and laughed awkwardly:

"I wasn't talking about you. You... your situation is special after all. Your divine sense is too strong, while your spiritual power is weak. It's quite good to take a different path and learn some control spells like this, quite good..."

Mo Hua nodded and said again:

"Elder, there's still one more question..."

He thought for a moment, his expression puzzled, "I looked through the sect records, and the Shuijian Gate was destroyed a thousand years ago, but the water prison technique was only collected into the Taixu Gate by a 'True Person Yi' a little over a hundred years ago."

"Is this 'True Person Yi' the Feather Transformation Realm predecessor of the Yi family?"

Elder Yi nodded, "He should be my uncle, if we count generations."

"Then where was this 'True Person Yi', from whose hands, and exactly how did he find the inheritance of this water prison technique?" Mo Hua asked.

"You're really putting me on the spot..." Elder Yi sighed, "How could I possibly know about this kind of matter?"

"Then..." Mo Hua said quietly, "Can you help me ask True Person Yi?"

Elder Yi looked at Mo Hua meaningfully, "You, young man, haven't you been planning this from the start?"

Mo Hua smiled sheepishly.

He did want to go ask directly, but he was a small disciple, and True Person Yi didn't know who he was.

Of course, he actually didn't know who this True Person Yi was either.

Since that was the case, he could only entrust Elder Yi.

Elder Yi pondered for a moment, then nodded, "Okay, I'll help you ask."

Mo Hua's face lit up with joy, and he hurriedly said: "Thank you, Elder Yi!"

Then he patted his chest, "Elder Yi, if you ever have any difficulties in the future, just come to me. As long as it's something I can do, I will certainly do my best."

Elder Yi laughed.

I am a dignified Gold Core cultivator, the Dao Law Elder of the Taixu Gate. Where would I need a small disciple's favor?

I...

Elder Yi was stunned for a moment.

It seemed, it wasn't impossible either...

At least with Old Mister Xun, Mo Hua's face was more effective than his, a Gold Core Elder.

"Okay!" Elder Yi didn't pretend and said happily, "If there's anything in the future, I'll ask you for help."

"Okay, okay!" Mo Hua nodded.

"However," Elder Yi hesitated a little, "I can ask for you, but my uncle... that is True Person Yi, is engrossed in spells and likes to wander the world, collecting various Dao Law classics everywhere in the Nine Provinces."

"I also don't know where my uncle is wandering now. I don't know when he will receive the flying sword message, let alone when he can reply. It might be several days, several months, or even a year or two..."

"That long?" Mo Hua was a little disappointed.

"It depends on luck," Elder Yi said, "After all, the cultivation world is vast, and if he's wandering in an unknown place, communication is also difficult."

Mo Hua sighed, "Okay, that's the only way..."

Elder Yi nodded, "If there's any news, I will notify you."

Mo Hua cupped his hands and bowed, "Thank you, Elder."

Thereafter, Mo Hua attended classes and cultivated normally.

However, unexpectedly, a few days later, during a class break, Elder Yi stood at the doorway and waved towards Mo Hua, "Mo Hua, come here."

In a quiet place, Elder Yi looked at Mo Hua, his expression somewhat strange.

"You, child, your luck is really good..."

I wonder if some Heavenly Way favors him.

Mo Hua's eyes lit up, "Did True Person Yi reply?"

"Yes," Elder Yi nodded, "My uncle is passing through Kun state and is preparing to return to the sect. He received my flying sword message while settling down in a branch of the Yi family."

"According to my uncle, he also felt that the matter of the Shuijian Gate a thousand years ago was fishy, but many years have passed, and things have changed, so it's impossible to investigate now."

"As for the water prison technique, he obtained it by chance..."

"By chance?" Mo Hua was a little curious.

Elder Yi said: "A little over a hundred years ago, my uncle hadn't started wandering yet and had nothing to do, so he taught in the Taixu Gate."

"One day, when he went out to visit friends, he was fishing by the riverbank and met a cultivator in distress, so he casually saved him. That cultivator, in order to repay my uncle's life-saving grace, gave all his spiritual stones and wealth."

"My uncle wouldn't care about such small things, so he waved his hand and said saving people was just a small effort, no need to take it to heart. You should keep these spiritual stones and cultivate well."

"Who knew that person was extremely sentimental and righteous, saying that he must repay the life-saving grace. He had nothing valuable on him except these spiritual stones, and besides that, there were some cultivation methods passed down from his ancestors. If the senior didn't mind, he would use these methods to repay the senior's grace."

"My uncle originally didn't care either. He was the Dao Law Elder of the Taixu Gate, a Feather Transformation True Person. What methods hadn't he seen?"

"As a result, when that person took them out, my uncle really hadn't seen them..."

"My uncle thought for a long time and only speculated from the attributes of this method, the circulation of meridians, and the use of the spell that it was very likely the orthodox 'water prison technique' secret manual of the Shuijian Gate back then, which was very different from the 'castrated version' circulating outside."

"My uncle was delighted and asked him about the origin of this water prison technique."

"Who knew that person didn't even know the three words 'water prison technique', only saying that this spell was passed down from his ancestors, didn't know its name, and moreover, it was difficult to learn, not very useful, and its killing power was negligible, so he just treated it like an old antique 'family heirloom' and kept it as a memento."

"The origin of the Shuijian Gate was indeed not very glorious, so my uncle thought for a moment and didn't say anything."

"But he liked this water prison technique very much, so he accepted it. At the same time, he was a little uneasy. Seeing that cultivator was poor, he gave him some spiritual stones again and even helped him find a village and settle down..."

Elder Yi's words ended here.

Mo Hua, however, gradually frowned, "True Person Yi was fishing by the riverbank... was this river the Smoke Water River?"

Elder Yi nodded, "Exactly the Smoke Water River."

"Did True Person Yi say where on the Smoke Water River it was?"

Elder Yi said: "My uncle didn't say that, but since he was fishing, I guess it should be in the downstream river bend. I also went fishing with my uncle several times back then..."

"Downstream river bend?"

Mo Hua had no impression.

"Along the Smoke Water River, turn a corner, about thirty li towards the west," Elder Yi said, "The water there is deep, and there are many water demons. Muddy swamps accumulate, and cultivators rarely go there. Instead, there's a water stronghold a few li away..."

Mo Hua was suddenly shocked.

"Water stronghold?!"

Elder Yi was startled by Mo Hua's suddenness and couldn't help but ask:

"What's wrong?"

"What water stronghold?" Mo Hua asked urgently.

Elder Yi shook his head, "I only went fishing twice and only caught three or four fish in total. How would I notice what water stronghold was nearby..."

Mo Hua's heart sank.

He had a strong premonition.

The water stronghold Elder Yi mentioned was very likely the 'Yu family water stronghold' that was exterminated by Water Yan Luo not long ago!

The cultivator True Person Yi saved was very likely a cultivator from the Yu family water stronghold.

The cultivator from the Yu family water stronghold had the inheritance of the water prison technique.

The Yu family water stronghold was exterminated by Water Yan Luo.

Water Yan Luo said, "Cultivators of the Shuijian Gate must die!"

So...

This Yu family water stronghold was the remaining descendant of the Shuijian Gate.

Water Yan Luo killed the entire Yu family water stronghold, not only to build an altar, but also to kill the descendants of the Shuijian Gate and silence them?

And the Yu family water stronghold... Yu...

Mo Hua's pupils contracted.

He hadn't realized it before, but at this moment, he suddenly remembered that in the small fishing village, Old Man Yu, Yu Da Chuan, Little Shun Zi, and Little Shui Zi's family all had the surname "Yu"!

Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat.

Could Old Man Yu's family also be related to the Yu family water stronghold?

Mo Hua's mood fluctuated, his expression uncertain.

Elder Yi couldn't help but ask: "What are you thinking?"

Seeing that Mo Hua didn't react, Elder Yi asked again.

Mo Hua then came back to his senses and said: "Nothing, I was thinking that I still have arrays to draw. I'll go back first, thank you, Elder Yi..."

"IF YOU NEED ANYTHING IN THE FUTURE, I WILL DEFINITELY HELP YOU!"

Mo Hua promised and then ran away with a whoosh.

Elder Yi looked at Mo Hua's retreating figure, a look of puzzlement on his face, and shook his head.

After returning to the disciple residence, Mo Hua's mood was still not calm.

He immediately sent a message to Gu Chang Huai and asked: "Uncle Gu, is there any movement on the small fishing village side?"

After a while, Gu Chang Huai asked:

"What movement?"

"Just..." Mo Hua thought for a moment, "Are there any sin cultivators, evil cultivators, and so on wandering nearby?"

"I've sent people from the Gu family to keep an eye on it; there's no abnormality for now," Gu Chang Huai said.

Mo Hua breathed a sigh of relief.

"What's wrong?" Gu Chang Huai asked.

Water Yan Luo might exterminate the small fishing village too...

Mo Hua thought for a moment and decided not to tell Uncle Gu for now; after all, he had no evidence at the moment.

"I just asked casually."

Gu Chang Huai was still a little alert, "Are you... hiding something from me again?"

"No!" Mo Hua said.

Seeing that Gu Chang Huai still wanted to ask, he took the initiative and asked: "Uncle Gu, have you met with that instructor from Hundred Flowers Valley these past few days?"

Gu Chang Huai knew Mo Hua's little thoughts, but he knew it was futile to ask, so he said:

"We met, but she seems to know something and is more vigilant than before."

"Does she suspect you?"

"For now, it doesn't seem like it. I'm pretending to be relatively clumsy in matters of men and women; she hasn't become suspicious," Gu Chang Huai said.

The word "pretending" was a bit redundant...

Mo Hua secretly thought to himself.

But he didn't say it out loud, for fear that Uncle Gu would hold a grudge due to his narrow mind.

"Uncle Gu, I'm counting on you," Mo Hua encouraged.

He had to rely on Uncle Gu to get close to Hua Ru Yu and find clues.

Gu Chang Huai only replied with a faint "um".

After the chat ended.

Mo Hua felt a little relieved but not completely at ease.

"Yu family water stronghold, small fishing village..."

Mo Hua felt that he still had to go and see for himself.

Several days later, it was the ten-day rest period again. Mo Hua drove a carriage alone and left the Taixu Gate. He traveled along the Smoke Water River, passing through several immortal cities, bought some things, and then came to the small fishing village again.

The small fishing village was safe and sound.

Old Man Yu was extremely happy to see Mo Hua.

In his eyes, Mo Hua was a real "noble guest".

Seeing that there were other fishing cultivators around, Mo Hua said without speaking:

"Can I go worship that..." Mo Hua pointed towards the back of the village, "Little immortal?"

Old Man Yu said happily: "Of course, of course. I hope that little immortal can also bless benefactor with fortune like the East Sea and boundless Dao path."

I'm blessing myself...

Mo Hua's mood was a little subtle.

Going to the back of the village, Mo Hua placed some melons, fruits, and other things on the offering table, then pretended to worship his own statue.

It was still morning at this time, and the fishing cultivators were busy with their livelihood. Old Man Yu didn't follow, and there were no other people around.

Mo Hua then said in a low voice: "Come out."

After a moment, a bright white silver fish swam out from behind the majestic little immortal statue and nodded and bowed towards Mo Hua.

"Greetings, Benefactor."

"You're too thin. I brought you some food to supplement you," Mo Hua pointed to the spirit melons and spirit fruits on the offering table and said.

He used to feed Huang Shan Jun.

But Huang Shan Jun lived far away and a bit remotely; he didn't have time to go often.

This time, on the way, it was a good opportunity to feed the little silver fish.

No matter how miserable Huang Shan Jun was, at least he had a human form. If this little silver fish wasn't fed, it would probably be so thin that it wouldn't even look like a fish.

The little silver fish was even more grateful to Mo Hua, almost in tears.

It could barely be considered a god for two lives, and no one had ever treated it so well.

The little silver fish ate the melons and fruits with small smacking sounds.

Mo Hua then asked: "Little silver fish, do you know the origin of this small fishing village?"

The little silver fish shook its head: "Reporting to Benefactor, I've forgotten everything..."

After finishing, it started eating the sweet offerings again.

Alright, it's a little foodie, and a bit unreliable...

Mo Hua was helpless.

He could only go ask Old Man Yu.

At mealtime, Mo Hua again had a meal at Old Man Yu's house.

Only this time, he brought some spirit meat.

Although it wasn't very precious, for poor loose cultivators like Old Man Yu's family who lived by fishing and hunting, these were things they might not even eat during the New Year and holidays.

Old Man Yu was grateful and also felt guilty.

"Letting benefactor spend money..."

"It's nothing," Mo Hua said, "It didn't cost many spiritual stones either."

Mainly, he could exchange merit points for everything he ate, wore, and used in the sect now.

Outside the sect, the Gu family, a big family, also provided food and drinks, so he didn't need to use many spiritual stones and also saved up a lot of family property.

Old Man Yu and Yu Da Chuan kept toasting Mo Hua.

Little Shun Zi and Little Shui Zi happily ate spirit meat.

They could count on one hand the number of times they ate meat in a year.

After finishing the meal, Yu Da Chuan went down the river again.

Little Shun Zi and Little Shui Zi lay in the courtyard napping in the shade.

Old Man Yu brewed a pot of good tea for Mo Hua.

Although the tea wasn't very good, it was the best tea they had at home.

Mo Hua then lowered his voice and asked: "Old grandpa, do you know about the Yu family water stronghold?"

When Old Man Yu heard this, his expression immediately became terrified, and his face turned pale:

"I've heard, it's right on the Smoke Water River. The people of one stronghold were all killed; the blood dyed half the river red..."

Mo Hua then said deliberately: "The Yu family water stronghold's surname is Yu, and your surname is also Yu..."

"Yes," Old Man Yu didn't doubt him and sighed, "Speaking of it, we are also distant relatives. If we count back two generations, we might also be people from the Yu family water stronghold and lived in the stronghold..."

Mo Hua's heart knew it was true and then asked with a curious expression: "Then, how did you end up living in this small fishing village?"

"Speaking of it, it's a bit shameful," Old Man Yu sighed, "It is said that my grandfather's generation's conduct was not good and they were lazy, so they were driven out of the stronghold and told to make a living for themselves. Now, thinking about it, it is a misfortune that turned into a blessing..."

Old Man Yu had some lingering fear, "Otherwise, our big family would probably also be like the people in the stronghold, not knowing whose poisonous hands they suffered, and all die in the stronghold."

Mo Hua's gaze slightly condensed.

Driven out...

This matter was probably not that simple.

"Then how much do you still know about the stronghold?" Mo Hua asked again.

Old Man Yu thought for a moment and shook his head, "We haven't been in contact for a long time. That bit of blood relation from our ancestors broke off once we separated. If you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have either."

"We are all bitter people, and it's not easy to live. Why would we ask about these old trivial matters..."

Old Man Yu sighed.

Mo Hua also sighed slightly.

It seemed Old Man Yu didn't know much either.

After that, the two of them continued to drink tea.

Mo Hua thought to himself, trying to figure out if there were any missed clues that he could unravel to investigate the purpose of Water Yan Luo and the truth about the Yu family water stronghold...

But no matter how he thought about it, there were no good clues.

Just at this moment, a breeze passed, and Little Shun Zi and Little Shui Zi in the courtyard involuntarily turned over.

Spiritual power circulated within the two children's bodies, and their aura scattered out.

Mo Hua looked at them and was suddenly stunned.

He had only discovered before that the cultivation progress of these two children was very fast, but now looking at it, their cultivation progress was even faster than he had imagined.

Moreover, their aura was a little special...

Mo Hua's gaze slightly condensed.