Chapter 991: Wind Rises

Yu'er... is the Great Wasteland's Ye Dragon?!Mo Hua's gaze slightly narrowed.But how is this... possible?Isn't he a child of the Shangguan and Wenren families? How could he possibly have the bloodline of the Great Wasteland's Ye Dragon?But the resonance of the Dragon Soul shouldn't be mistaken.Within Mo Hua's divine soul, there was an ancient Dragon Chant, faintly trembling.This was the ancient Dragon Soul from the Great Wasteland Dragon Emperor's body that he had previously consumed but hadn't completely digested.Now, this Dragon Soul resonated somewhat with Yu'er, and only then could Mo Hua see a trace of the Ye Dragon's blood on Yu'er's face.Moreover, this Ye Dragon shadow was blood-red.Within the bloody shadow, there was a strong ominous sign, hovering on the edge of life and death, foretelling the tribulations and suffering in the life of the shadow's owner.Mo Hua's eyebrows furrowed."Mo brother?" Pure Yu'er, seeing Mo Hua's solemn expression, asked with concern, "What's wrong?"Mo Hua gradually calmed his emotions, gently stroked Yu'er's head, and said softly, "Nothing... it will be alright..."Yu'er seemed to particularly like Mo Hua stroing his little head, smiling with squinted eyes, his face completely carefree.But on his innocent and lively face, that red Dragon shadow, carrying a bloody stench, roared fiercely at Mo Hua once, then melted into Yu'er's forehead.Mo Hua's gaze turned slightly cold.

Next was the Gu family's annual banquet.This year's annual banquet was also quite large.But compared to previous years, it was still a bit cold and quiet.Because of the incident at Gudu Shan, the Gu family and the Shen family were considered to have a grudge.This grudge, rooted in Tai Xu Men, with the Gu family's involvement, was neither big nor small.But the Shen family had a high status and still controlled Qian Dao Sect. Many cultivation families, if they wanted to send disciples into Qian Dao Sect, had to look at the Shen family's face.They dared not offend the Shen family, but it wasn't to the extent of offending the Gu family.Therefore, for the Gu family's annual banquet this year, many families only sent gifts and dared not personally visit.Secular families prioritize interests, and this kind of matter was perfectly normal.Everyone had their opportunistic moments. As long as they didn't completely fall out, they could still meet in the future.Although the Gu family was a pure stream, they were not ignorant of worldly affairs and didn't dwell on it too much.Mo Hua cared even less.He only cared about being able to eat well and be full.The social interactions of worldly families, the exchange of human feelings, he ignored them one by one. These were originally unrelated to him.Just like this, in the lively, auspicious, and harmonious atmosphere, Mo Hua freeloaded a New Year's meal. After the meal, he strolled around the courtyard as usual to digest his food, greeted a group of elders, received a pile of New Year's gifts, then discussed Uncle Gu's major life event with Elder Gu Hong, and only then set off back to the sect.

Wenren Wan brought Yu'er to see him off."Here are some pastries, fruit wine, and some spiritual meat and spiritual meals. They are all things you like to eat. The sect's meals are average. You work hard cultivating formations, so eat more good things to nourish your body."Wenren Wan's voice was gentle and considerate.Mo Hua smiled gratefully and said, "Thank you, Aunt Wan."Yu'er reluctantly waved at Mo Hua.He would return to the Shangguan family for ancestor worship with his mother tomorrow, and would only be able to return to Tai Xu Men after the New Year.He wouldn't be able to see Mo Hua for more than ten days.Mo Hua then took out the small gifts he had prepared for Yu'er.Among these gifts, some were small items he had personally made using formations.This way, even when Yu'er returned to the Shangguan family, he would have new toys to play with every day.Another part was the formation homework he had arranged for Yu'er.As long as he did his homework, Yu'er wouldn't have any other thoughts of sadness.Yu'er was happy for a moment, then frowned again, his mood very complex.After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Mo Hua was about to leave when suddenly there was a commotion in the distance. A line of luxurious and dignified carriages drove over and stopped at the entrance of the Gu family.A group of cultivators alighted from the carriages.The leading person wore a luxurious robe, with a deep aura, half-white beard and hair, and deep facial lines.He walked over, as if bringing a gust of cold wind.The originally warm atmosphere was instantly broken.Wenren Wan's expression changed slightly, and Yu'er was also a little scared, involuntarily clutching Wenren Wan's sleeve.Seeing the arrival approaching, Wenren Wan couldn't help but greet him, only bowing halfway, "Elder Wang."Mo Hua also recognized him.This old man with half-white beard and hair was named Shangguan Wang, a true power elder of the Shangguan family, with a cultivation level of Featherization.It was said that in that year, Shangguan Wang lost the contention for the position of Shangguan family head, and therefore harbored some resentment towards Shangguan Ce, Shangguan Yi, and even Yu'er's lineage, and his actions targeted them everywhere.Mo Hua had no good impression of him either, so he didn't greet him.Shangguan Wang silently glanced at Mo Hua, revealing a hint of undisguised displeasure in his eyes, as well as a hint of fear.During the Formation Conference, he had personally witnessed Mo Hua, with a cultivation level of Foundation Building mid-stage, suppress a crowd of Foundation Building late-stage prodigies from the Four Great Sects, and finally complete the entire Formation Question Bank, winning the first place in Formation Dao with absolute crushing advantage.This child was absolutely not an ordinary person.Therefore, although he was at Featherization and Mo Hua was at Foundation Building, he could only pretend not to see Mo Hua's "impoliteness."Shangguan Wang walked past Mo Hua to Wenren Wan and said indifferently:"By order of the family head, I will send the Young Madam and Young Master Yu back to the clan tomorrow.""Thank you, Elder Wang," Wenren Wan said.Shangguan Wang looked deeply at Yu'er, lightly "um"ed, and then entered the Gu family self-importantly.Looking at Shangguan Wang's back, Mo Hua inexplicably felt something was off.But he didn't know where this sense of disharmony came from.After Shangguan Wang entered the Gu family, there was another round of welcoming and seeing off, bustling, and Mo Hua also took his leave.Wenren Wan admonished him to "be careful all the way."Yu'er waved at him.Mo Hua also smiled and waved goodbye, then boarded the carriage and embarked on his journey back to Tai Xu Men.

Qian Xue State boundary.The grand and magnificent Shen family mansion.During this New Year festival, the Gu family passed it quite lively.But in contrast, the Shen family's New Year was much colder and quieter, and also very oppressive.Inside such a large mansion, although the lights were bright, everywhere exuded a cold and dead silence.The coming and going sect elders all had gloomy faces.The disciples also all looked apprehensive and dared not speak loudly.Occasionally, the sound of a wine cup shattering and scolding could be heard.In the grand and magnificent main hall, the New Year's banquet had roughly just ended.The clan members scattered respectively, only the Shen family's old ancestor was still sitting high in the hall, with a majestic aura, his face not showing anger, yet the whole person was like an ice mountain, emitting a chilling cold air.After almost everyone had scattered, the Shen family head stayed, bearing the old ancestor's anger alone.He was the family head, holding the family's authority, enjoying the supreme honor and prestige of this Five-Pin great worldly family, but at the same time, also bearing a burden as heavy as a mountain.Once something happened, he would have to bear all the storm and rain.In the empty great hall.The Shen family head, who was always high above, receiving others' salutations and kneeling, was now humbly kneeling at the foot of the steps, his forehead touching the cold ground, pleading guilty to the old ancestor.The Shen family old ancestor looked at the Shen family head kneeling at his feet, his face calm as water, but his gaze was terribly ferocious.In the end, he slightly closed his eyes, restrained his fierce aura, and said slowly:"Get up."The Shen family head, feeling like he had a thorn in his back, finally let out a breath of relief, kowtowed on the ground, and said gratefully, "Thank you, old ancestor, for your mercy.""Has everything been investigated clearly?" the Shen family old ancestor said."Yes," the Shen family head said in a low voice, "the cause of this matter was a disciple of Tai Xu Men, who was captured into the tomb of Gudu Shan by a group of tomb robbers.""Then, an elder of Tai Xu Men called Xun Zi You, and our Shen family's Elder Shen Shou Xing, only then entered Gudu Shan, only then did the subsequent twists and turns occur...""After this matter, someone saw that the Elder of Tai Xu Men called Xun Zi You was still alive.""No one saw how he came out of Gudu Shan, but he did escape and is preaching and teaching in Tai Xu Men as if nothing happened.""And that Tai Xu Men disciple who was captured into Gudu Shan...""I had some guesses about this disciple's identity before, but I never had any evidence. Tai Xu Men guarded it very tightly, even the Dao Court Department was tight-lipped.""After more than a month, I went through quite a few twists and turns, and moved quite a few connections, and finally got some evidence to confirm his identity.""This Tai Xu Men disciple related to the Gudu Shan incident is surnamed Mo, name Hua..."As soon as these words entered his ears, the Shen family old ancestor's eyebrows immediately opened slightly, "You mean..."The Shen family head said, "Yes, precisely... the Array Dao leader of Tai Xu Men."The Shen family old ancestor's expression was flat, showing neither joy nor anger.The Shen family head did not know what the old ancestor was thinking, so he could only continue:"This matter should be... a secret layout by Tai Xu Men, using a disciple as bait, through heavy means, exposing our Shen family's scar, placing our Shen family on the chopping block, thereby leading other jackals and wolves to covet, letting them nibble at our Shen family's foundation..."Just how many spirit mines, spirit fields, spirit stones, sect rights, and those large and small real power positions in other forces associated with the Shen family did the Shen family give up for the operation of this Gudu Shan matter...No one was clearer than him, the family head.Every time he thought of these, the Shen family head's heart ached.His hatred for Tai Xu Men grew deeper and deeper.But there was also something that the Shen family head did not understand, so he said:"This Mo Hua is an Array Dao leader, and a formation monster rarely seen in several hundred years. Tai Xu Men is so brave, actually using him as 'bait'? Aren't they just afraid that this boy will die inside Gudu Shan?"Once Mo Hua died, with their Tai Xu Men's Array Dao foundation, they were afraid that they would never again be able to take the first place in Array Dao in this lifetime.Were they really so unconcerned about this disciple?And...The Shen family head frowned, "What is a small Foundation Building disciple doing at Gudu Shan? Without reason, why would he want to wade into this muddy water?""Does this boy have some unspeakable purpose?"The Shen family old ancestor pondered for a moment, and said slowly: "This is a big game, behind which there is a Cave Void Realm old ancestor, strategizing.""In this kind of game, everyone you can see is a chess piece.""That Golden Core Sword Cultivator called Xun Zi You is no exception, let alone... this small disciple at the Foundation Building Realm.""Don't always think about what the chess pieces are thinking."The Shen family old ancestor looked at the Shen family head, his gaze profound:"...You are now the family head, and the family head has the family head's vision.""You have to know who you are playing chess with.""Stand behind the scenes, stand from the old ancestor's perspective, and look at this game, and you will see clearly.""In the future, when you ascend to Cave Void, you will truly have the vision to be our Shen family's old ancestor...""If your vision is short-sighted and you can only see those chess pieces, but you don't even know who you are playing chess with, you will be played in the palm of their hand sooner or later."These earnest words made the Shen family head tremble all over, tears of gratitude welling up.The old ancestor still had expectations for him.The Shen family head knelt and said, "I receive the old ancestor's teachings, and I will engrave them in my heart."The Shen family old ancestor nodded slightly, then changed the subject, "How much do you know about the Hongyan Zhou incident?"The Shen family head was about to stand up when he heard these words and knelt down again, saying sincerely:"It is my grandson who has not been strictly disciplined, Lin Er and the others... are young and frivolous, greedy for the taste of rouge, causing trouble, truly damaging our Shen family's reputation..."The Shen family head's heart was uneasy, originally thinking that the old ancestor would reprimand him, but he did not expect the Shen family old ancestor to shake his head and say:"This is not necessarily a bad thing either."The Shen family head frowned, "Old ancestor... you..."The Shen family old ancestor said seriously: "I would rather they tasted the taste of flesh, seen through the world's women's embroidered and graceful rotten skin bags, known the depravity and lowliness of women, and from then on collected their hearts and nature, and cultivated with one heart.""It also avoids them, in the future, being led astray by some low-born, only good-looking cheap women, losing their minds, getting lost in the barrier of love, and becoming useless.""Cultivators should cultivate the Dao with one heart, seek the great power of heaven and earth, and live forever.""Those who linger in love and are greedy for temporary enjoyment will only become straw dogs before a great calamity.""You must teach him this point well."The Shen family head kowtowed and said, "Yes.""Good, you go down," the Shen family old ancestor said, "After you go down, call Lin Er to come."The Shen family head let out a long breath of relief, again respectfully kowtowed once, and then slowly stood up, "I wish the old ancestor, fortune like the vast sea, and life as long as heaven."The Shen family head withdrew.A moment later, a young man with an extraordinary appearance walked in and respectfully kowtowed, saying:"Grandson Shen Lin Shu, greets old ancestor."The young man's bearing was upright, neither humble nor arrogant.A strange light flashed in the Shen family old ancestor's eyes as he looked at Shen Lin Shu, as if looking at himself from that year."Lin Er..." The Shen family old ancestor's manner was gentle."Old ancestor," Shen Lin Shu said."Not long after, it will be the On Sword Conference.""Yes," Shen Lin Shu's gaze was bright, his tone forceful, "Grandson will definitely win the first place in On Sword for Qian Dao Sect, for the Shen family, and for you, old ancestor!"The Shen family old ancestor shook his head, "This first place is not for Qian Dao Sect, not for the Shen family, and not for me, but for yourself to win.""Your aptitude, talent, and mind are all top-notch. You only lack this one opportunity to prove yourself.""Win the first place in On Sword, and you will rise straight to the clouds, directly to the top of the clouds."Shen Lin Shu's gaze was bright, but he still said:"The old ancestor favors me, the Shen family raised me, Qian Dao Sect taught me. Now that my cultivation has been achieved, grandson will naturally not disappoint the old ancestor's favor, nor disappoint the family and sect's nurturing."The Shen family old ancestor nodded happily, "You are more promising than your father. Don't let me down.""Old ancestor, rest assured," Shen Lin Shu said."Go down, and cultivate well.""Yes, grandson takes his leave."Shen Lin Shu respectfully bowed and then withdrew.The Shen family old ancestor silently watched Shen Lin Shu's back.Looking at his grandson, who was tall and handsome, full of vigor, with abundant spiritual power, born with an aura that stood above ordinary people, like a "Qilin," his heart filled with deep affection.This was the genius of his Shen family.This was the true Son of Heaven.This was the most direct bloodline of him, this Cave Void old ancestor.He was angry about the Hongyan Zhou incident.What he was angry about was not Shen Lin Shu's recklessness, but how those low women had the right to be "favored" by his Qilin-blooded grandson?How could those with cheap origins match?The Shen family old ancestor's expression was slightly angry, then gradually calmed down again, his whole person becoming calm as an ancient well.Seeing Shen Lin Shu, his heart involuntarily thought of another name:"Mo Hua..."This disciple named Mo Hua had once held that ancient entry order a few years ago and wanted to join Qian Dao Sect.But he was refused.In the heart of the Shen family old ancestor, it was impossible to say that he didn't care at all.He had a hint of pity in his heart.What he pitied was not Mo Hua himself, but that he shouldn't have "helped the enemy."If he had accepted Mo Hua at that time, even keeping him as an odd job, as a nominal outer disciple, letting him feel inferior in the midst of nearly a thousand prodigies in Qian Dao Sect, humbling his Dao heart, and eventually becoming mediocre...It would always be better than handing him over to Tai Xu Men.If there was no Mo Hua, the sect reform would have already been settled, and there wouldn't have been so many side branches, so many changes.Moreover, the Shen family's matter at Gudu Shan would not have been exposed.Amidst the surging undercurrents, the Shen family was once precarious, and had to make difficult sacrifices, cutting off quite a bit of flesh.And this was also because he detected it early and made a decision early.If he had been a little slower, the Shen family would have certainly encountered a great calamity and been in danger.At this point, the Shen family old ancestor was clear in his heart that Mo Hua's body must be related to that person's cause and effect.At this point, Elder Xun of Tai Xu Men definitely knew as well.It was precisely because he knew that he would use this strategy, taking Mo Hua as a "chess piece," to deal with Qian Dao Sect, and even the reform of the Four Great Sects.The Shen family old ancestor sighed in his heart.Calamity hides blessing; blessing relies on calamity.For Qian Dao Sect, this child was originally a blessing, but because he was pushed away, he turned into a "disaster."The changes in cause and effect were truly mysterious.Elder Xun of Tai Xu Men was indeed an expert in this Dao, actually able to cultivate a disciple with a low-grade inferior spiritual root into an Array Dao leader, raising him into a sharp sword aimed at Qian Dao Sect."However, it will stop here..."The Shen family old ancestor pondered in his heart.Tai Xu Men's foundation was ultimately weaker. Even if the three sects merged, most of the top disciples left, and most of the remaining ones were also ordinary.In Qian Xue's discussion of Dao, the sword was paramount, and On Sword was the main event.For Tai Xu Men, this was a dead end.And this Mo Hua, no matter how good his formations were, could only get one first place in Array Law."Relying only on an On Array leader may not be enough to save your three-sect merged Tai Xu Men..."The Shen family old ancestor smiled gently, his gaze gloomy.

After Mo Hua returned to Tai Xu Men, he resumed his daily cultivation.And after the New Year, time flew by, and another month passed.Mo Hua also finally began his ninth year in Tai Xu Men.This was also his last year of cultivation in Tai Xu Men.And this year, he was finally about to participate in the grandest event in the Qian Xue State boundary, which included the Four Great Sects, Eight Great Gates, Twelve Streams, and even the numerous sects of Qian Xue Hundred Gates, where countless prodigies gathered, ten thousand Dao laws contended, and it was also a grand event for all sect disciples, the only one in their lifetime:Qian Xue On Sword Conference.