Chapter 1523: Sect Connection

Chapter 1523: Sect Connection

The Demon Suppression Division's Merit Points could actually be exchanged for Seven Stars Formation Diagram? Mo Hua found it hard to believe. In his excitement, he crushed the cup in his hand.

Yu Cangming didn't understand why the always composed Young Master Mo was making such a fuss, so he said, "Young Master Mo, you..."

Mo Hua snapped back to reality, wiped the hot tea from his hand on the tablecloth, and then asked, "The Demon Suppression Division actually has Seven Stars Formation."

Yu Cangming said, "The Seven Stars method has been the orthodox Dao lineage for suppressing demons since ancient times. Young Master Mo... you didn't know?"

Mo Hua was taken aback.

Unbidden, the scene of the Great Wilderness Royal Court battle years ago resurfaced in his mind—True Person Zhuge soaring through the air, activating the Zhongtian Ziwei Big Dipper Seven Star Killing Formation, calculating the precise alignment of heaven and earth, and using the power of countless stars to slay the terrifying embryo of the Great Wilderness Blood Moon Dao-Sin Calamity. The Seven Stars Killing Formation could even kill a Dao embryo, and it could suppress even his Martial Uncle's Strange Dao Power to a certain extent, let alone demons and monsters...

Mo Hua still couldn't believe it. "Isn't the Seven Stars Formation hidden in the Imperial Celestial Bureau? Why does the Demon Suppression Division have it too?"

Yu Cangming said, "In the past, the Demon Suppression Division was directly subordinate to the Imperial Celestial Bureau."

Hearing this, Mo Hua was even more astonished. "The Demon Suppression Division was subordinate to the Imperial Celestial Bureau?!"

"In the past..." Yu Cangming emphasized, "It's naturally not the case now."

Mo Hua frowned, his thoughts churning.

Yu Cangming sighed softly and continued, "About twenty thousand years ago, when the Dao Court was first established, the Demon Suppression Division was one of the main forces suppressing the Great Demon Palace, directly wielding the authority of the Imperial Celestial Bureau."

"Demon Suppression Division cultivators wore the Seven Star Dao Robe, wielded the Seven Star Sword, trod the Heavenly Gang Steps, and suppressed evil demons and heretical paths in all directions."

"Using the power of the stars of heaven and earth, they swept away the filth of demons and evil from the world, restoring clarity to the Nine Provinces."

As Yu Cangming spoke, recalling the glorious days of the Demon Suppression Division, he was filled with emotion and regret.

"What happened later?" Mo Hua asked. "How did the Demon Suppression Division become independent from the Imperial Celestial Bureau?"

Yu Cangming hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "This has to do with the special cultivation power of the Seven Stars."

Mo Hua's gaze sharpened. "The Seven Stars—"

Yu Cangming said in a deep voice, "The Seven Stars generally refers to the Big Dipper, but in reality, it's not just seven stars. It broadly refers to the power of the stars in the sky."

"This cultivation power was born before heaven and earth, has existed since time immemorial, and is the purest and most vast. It shares its origin with Primordial Chaos and is profound beyond measure. Not only is it immensely powerful, but it also has a natural restraining effect on all demonic, blood corpse, and yin evil forces."

"This is an ancient power cultivated by the great sages of antiquity who comprehended the stars beyond the heavens. It is controlled and utilized through forms such as Seven Stars-type formations, cultivation methods, Dao Arts, spiritual artifacts, and magical treasures."

"In the battle against the Great Demon Palace back then, countless Demonic Cultivators died to the power of the Seven Stars."

"The Seven Stars is also one of the Heavenly Dao powers that most terrifies the Demonic Sects."

Yu Cangming's gaze was complex. "After the Dao Court overthrew and destroyed the Great Demon Palace, the remnants of the Demonic Path were routed and gradually lost their strength."

"But then this powerful Seven Stars power became a threat in itself, and it had to be restrained."

"So the Dao Court passed laws to collect all Seven Stars-type inheritances under the Dao Court, hiding them in the Imperial Celestial Bureau. The functions of the Imperial Celestial Bureau also began to be downplayed. The Demon Suppression Division was forcibly separated and no longer obeyed the Imperial Celestial Bureau."

"Internally, the Demon Suppression Division was also forbidden from wearing the Seven Star Robe, forging the Seven Star Sword, or cultivating Seven Stars cultivation methods."

"But after all, there was a historical connection. Furthermore, some Ancestors of the Demon Suppression Division were sentimental, so some obscure Seven Stars-type inheritances were still listed in the Demon Suppression Division's Merit Points records. If younger disciples wanted to learn, they could still learn a little."

"However, these things were either shallow, obscure, incomplete, or couldn't reach the true hall of mastery... In reality, nothing much could be learned from them."

"After all, the true Dao lineage of the Seven Stars was controlled by the Dao Court. As for these scattered fragments, the Dao Court simply turned a blind eye..."

"And among all the Seven Stars inheritances, the most obscure was the formations."

"Therefore, a small portion of the Seven Stars Formation Diagram inheritances was hidden in the Demon Suppression Division's Merit Points records."

"Rather than calling it an inheritance, it's more like a tiny remnant left behind in the history of the Demon Suppression Division, proving to the world that the now-declined Demon Suppression Division's ancestors once had their glory."

Yu Cangming sighed deeply, looking somewhat weary. Having spoken so much in a row, he felt thirsty and picked up his teacup to drink.

Mo Hua frowned in thought beside him. Finally, he looked at Yu Cangming and suddenly said with a serious expression:

"Director Yu, is your Demon Suppression Division still recruiting?"

Yu Cangming choked slightly on his tea, looked up at Mo Hua, and said, "Young Master Mo, you mean—"

Mo Hua said, "No particular meaning. I just want to join the Demon Suppression Division."

Yu Cangming felt a headache coming on and said helplessly, "Young Master Mo, you... are a disciple of Great Void Sect, aren't you?"

"I've already graduated," Mo Hua said.

Yu Cangming shook his head. "That's not what I mean... You're a disciple of Great Void Sect, the number one sect in Qianxue, with Golden Core cultivation, talent and looks alike. You have plenty of good paths to choose from. Why join our Demon Suppression Division and suffer such hardships?"

Mo Hua said seriously, "There's actually no particular reason... As you know, slaying demons and vanquishing evil is my hobby."

"A person lives for their hobbies."

Even the ever-composed and rigid Director Yu was left speechless by Mo Hua. This Young Master Mo could really spout any nonsense from his mouth.

But after a moment's thought, Yu Cangming roughly understood Mo Hua's intentions. He sighed and tried to dissuade him:

"Young Master Mo, there's no need to gamble away your whole life just for a bite of meat."

"The Seven Stars Formation of the Demon Suppression Division isn't as good as you think."

Mo Hua said, "No matter."

Whether the meat tastes good, you only know after eating it; whether a formation works well, you only know after learning it. As long as it was a formation, he accepted it without discrimination, not picky at all.

But Yu Cangming still shook his head in refusal.

Mo Hua asked in confusion, "Tusheng can join the Demon Suppression Division, so why can't I? Isn't it said that the establishment of the Demon Suppression Division is a death warrant, not worth anything?"

Yu Cangming smiled bitterly. "That's true, but at the very least, one must have a clean background."

Mo Hua frowned. "Is my background not clean?"

Yu Cangming was speechless.

Your background is clean? Where exactly? With so many noble families in all of Houtu City, who could ever trace your origins? Who knows where you're registered? Who knows who your parents are? Who knows what your background is? Who knows whose illegitimate child you are?

Mo Hua's family background was just like his surname—as if someone had poured ink over it, pitch black through and through, not a single bit close to the word "clean."

Yu Cangming said more tactfully, "Tusheng... he's a poor child, a spirit farmer of the Great Spirit Field Realm, from humble origins."

"Children from poor families can join the Demon Suppression Division and risk their lives."

Now Mo Hua had even more to say: "I too come from humble origins."

Yu Cangming took a deep breath, looked Mo Hua up and down, and finally couldn't hold it in anymore. He gritted his teeth and said:

"Young Master Mo, one should still have a bit of self-awareness."

Which poor child looks like you? Why don't you take a mirror and look at yourself—this handsome face of yours, this Golden Core cultivation, this bearing that's sometimes arrogant, sometimes overbearing, sometimes composed, sometimes refined, you're more of a young master than the young masters of Kun Province. Which poor child is like you?

How do you have the nerve to say "I too come from humble origins"? At the very least, you're a distinguished disciple of Great Void Sect. Don't you blush when lying? This person was too wicked.

Yu Cangming grumbled inwardly. But out of respect for appearances, he didn't say it aloud.

This "poor child" Mo Hua was still looking at Yu Cangming with expectation.

Yu Cangming sighed and said, "Young Master Mo, don't make things difficult for me. I dare to take Tusheng, but not you. The Demon Suppression Division's temple is too small to accommodate a great deity like you."

Mo Hua wanted to try once more, so he said, "What if I don't take a salary?"

Not even a salary? Yu Cangming's heart wavered severely. The Demon Suppression Division was destitute, and finances were tight. The temptation of a "free" Golden Core cultivator working for nothing was rather great.

But Director Yu ultimately restrained his greed.

Having lived so many years, how could he not know that there was no such thing as a free lunch falling from the sky, nor could good fortune ever land on his head.

This Young Master Mo—unclear in background, hard to gauge in strength, impossible to distinguish good from evil—was definitely not a simple character.

If he brought this great deity into the Demon Suppression Division and it turned out to be inviting a wolf into the house, getting the whole division wiped out, then everything would be over.

No matter how destitute the Houtu City Demon Suppression Division was, it was still the work of his lifetime.

Yu Cangming steeled his resolve and shook his head. "Young Master Mo, the Demon Suppression Division truly isn't worthy of you."

Seeing that Director Yu's mind was made up, Mo Hua knew that a forced melon wasn't sweet, so he could only sigh:

"Then if the Demon Suppression Division ever lacks people in the future, remember to find me."

Yu Cangming thought to himself, Impossible, but said aloud, "I certainly will in the future."

With things as they were, there was nothing else to discuss. The two drank tea for a while longer.

Then Mo Hua called over Tusheng and examined his brow and eyes.

Although Tusheng's appearance was still somewhat unusual—his brow was ashen, and he seemed a bit unsettled, he could still eat and drink well enough, and his cultivation hadn't fallen behind.

For now, this was all that could be done. Mo Hua had no other good solutions.

There were still too many mysteries surrounding the Living Dead Corpse Embryo.

Mo Hua then instructed Tusheng to listen to Director Yu's words from now on, cultivate diligently, and work seriously once he joined the Demon Suppression Division.

Tusheng nodded and said honestly, "Everything as Sir says."

Seeing this, Yu Cangming finally let out a slow breath of relief, feeling gratified. Mo Hua said no more, bid farewell to Director Yu, and left the Dao Court Division.

After leaving the Dao Court Division, Mo Hua had barely taken a few steps into the marketplace when his Divine-Sense swept across the crowd, detecting one hostile Divine-Sense after another.

These people were clearly here to keep an eye on him again. Some even carried dark, brooding emotions, they clearly harbored hatred toward him.

Whether that hatred stemmed from the courtesan Yu Nujiao, from Eldest Senior Sister Jiang Yingluo, from the interests of the great clans, or from some other grudge entirely, he couldn't say.

Mo Hua shook his head and couldn't be bothered to pay them any mind. He didn't even bother to conceal his whereabouts. He openly hired a carriage and had it take him back to Little Luan Mountain Blessed Land.

Upon returning to Little Luan Mountain Blessed Land, Mo Hua spent some more time with Little Senior Sister, reading books, drinking tea, and studying Formations together. After a while, he finally returned to his guest room.

Back in his guest room, Mo Hua sat alone at the table, his thoughts in some disarray.

He treasured the time he spent with Little Senior Sister now, and he treasured these leisurely days at Little Luan Mountain Blessed Land. But he had a strong, instinctive feeling that such days might not last much longer.

Fate wouldn't truly let him remain at ease forever.

Moreover, due to the shifting Heavenly Secret, the sense of urgency in Mo Hua's heart was growing stronger by the day.

He knew he had to plan ahead and make his choice, time wouldn't wait for him, and the cause and effect of Heavenly Secret wouldn't allow him to remain complacent.

In his current situation, he had only two options.

One option was to go to the Great Spirit Field Realm, avoiding the high-ranking members of the great clans. But the Great Spirit Field Realm was distant, its situation complex, its cause and effect intertwined, too many problems that couldn't be resolved overnight.

Once he went there and got mired in the quagmire of conflicting interests, there was no telling when he'd be able to return.

There was also another problem: the Great Spirit Field Realm was poor, prices were low, and Spirit stones were scarce. He might not be able to earn enough Spirit stones to feed his Taotie Spirit.

The other option was to stay in Houtu City and compromise with the Earth Sect.

Of course, a marriage alliance was out of the question. But he could consider paying other prices to reach a temporary "truce" with the Earth Sect.

At the very least, he could gather enough Spirit stones to fully feed the fourth Hand Yangming Meridian Spirit-Bone and cultivate to the Golden Core middle stage. But the problem was, the Earth Sect wasn't stupid, they wouldn't be so easy to fool.

Playing games with the Earth Sect was like skinning a tiger—the initiative still lay in the Earth Sect's hands. Unless he truly resorted to a marriage alliance and "sold himself" to the Earth Sect, they wouldn't necessarily let him play along.

Both options had their pros and cons, and both were fraught with unknown dangers.

Moreover, when it came to Little Senior Sister, Mo Hua had even more concerns.

Should he leave Little Senior Sister and go to the Great Spirit Field Realm, with no telling when he'd return?

Or should he stay by her side and endure the sanctions of the Earth Sect and the great clans?

This was truly a difficult choice.

Mo Hua let out a deep sigh and, almost involuntarily, took out a copper coin from the Storage Ring on his thumb.

This was the coin his Master had left him.

When faced with an indecisive situation, the only recourse was to divine.

Since there was no Straw-Dog to deflect his Fate Bane, Mo Hua didn't dare divine too deeply.

He could only restrain his calculation power, reduce the variables of cause and effect, and simply calculate a bit about his future path.

He hoped that through the Heavenly Secret Derivative Algorithm, he might gain some insight.

Mo Hua held the thin copper coin in his palm, silently reciting the future cause and effect in his mind, controlling the variables of Heavenly Secret, and splitting off two threads of Deceptive Algorithm power to simultaneously drive the Heavenly Secret Derivative Algorithm, using his Master's coin as a medium to glimpse a sliver of the future...

Mo Hua had only intended to calculate a shallow reading. But the moment he activated the Deceptive-Derivation Dual Algorithm and touched the coin, he felt his palm grow scorching hot.

In a hazy blur, a strand of white Karmic Aura, like a star in the daytime sky, fell from the edge of the heavens, seemingly about to descend right beside him.

This Karmic Aura felt both familiar and unfamiliar, and it was very powerful. And as Mo Hua peered into this cause and effect, he found that he, in turn, was being peered at by this very cause and effect.

You gaze upon cause and effect, and cause and effect gazes back at you. Moreover, this karmic resonance didn't seem too far away.

Startled, Mo Hua immediately cut off the Derivative Algorithm and tucked the Heavenly Secret copper coin back into his Storage Ring.

Then, with powerful Divine Sense Thought Power, he severed all processes of the Deceptive-Derivation Algorithm.

He then sank into deep meditation, letting his Sea of Consciousness enter a state of utter stillness, cutting off all distracting thoughts.

After who knows how long, Mo Hua sensed that the counter-gaze within the Laws of cause and effect had faded, and the feeling of dread in his heart had subsided. Only then did he slowly let out a breath.

But Mo Hua's mood grew even heavier. He pondered the strange phenomenon of the copper coin in his mind, his gaze growing increasingly grave.

"Who sensed my cause and effect?"

"Some great figure... is coming?"

...

Almost at the same moment.

In the high skies above the land of Kun Province, an invisible, ornate white-jade starry skiff was sailing through the sea of clouds, heading toward Houtu City.

Within the skiff, in a cabin paved with star-jade stones, a female True-Person dressed in glazed white robes, her form seeming both real and illusory, with features of breathtaking beauty, suddenly opened her eyes.

A flicker of inexpressible astonishment passed through her ice-jade eyes:

"That was just now... a resonance from the sect?"

"This... how is this possible?"

(End of Chapter)