Chapter 636: Burial in Gen Mountain - The Quest for Immortality

Chapter 636: Burial in Gen Mountain Hwa Rang Joon died naturally, with no signs of human intervention. Dragged into the Dao Tribunal, he underwent torture and interrogation before being thrown into the Dao Prison. After that, it seemed as if he ceased to exist. Chained, starved, left without a glance or word, he was left to "wither away." Even in death, it seemed no one took notice. No one came to claim his body. But this clearly went against the regulations of the Dao Tribunal. It was for this reason that Mo Hwa suspected there could be a mole inside the Dao Tribunal, acting covertly to silence Hwa Rang Joon within the isolated, lightless prison. And evidently, Hwa Rang Joon had clues about the Fire Buddha. Gu Chang Huai wore a grim expression. He summoned several officials from the Dao Prison to sternly question them. They, visibly anxious, bowed low and pleaded: "Forgive us, Sir. We truly had no idea..." "After interrogating him, no one bothered about him." "We don't know why he suddenly died." "It was due to our negligence that we failed to notice whether this convict lived or died. Please, forgive us!" Though they spoke of forgiveness, their words reeked of evasion. If Hwa Rang Joon was guilty, he deserved to die. Their negligence led to a convict meeting his death prematurely. It was not considered a grave offense. Even if reported, it would likely result in mere reprimands and some loss of salary. Though Gu Chang Huai was furious, he found himself unable to take action against them. Moreover, these two officials genuinely might not know any underlying truths. Their "negligence" could very well have been genuine negligence. Merely in the control of others. Yet one thing seemed certain, as Mo Hwa had speculated. There were those within the Dao Tribunal who were undeniably compromised... Even months ago, in the incident with Yu Er... Gu Chang Huai frowned as he pondered, his heart suddenly quivering. He turned sharply to look at Mo Hwa beside him. He sensed that Mo Hwa's aura had changed, growing oddly eerie and possessing an inexplicable, profound sense of mystery. It felt as though something had possessed him... Or perhaps, his consciousness was undergoing some transformation. What is happening...? Gu Chang Huai was bewildered. Just then, Mo Hwa turned back, his eyes flashing with an ominous black before regaining their clear and lucid state. "Uncle Gu, is something wrong?" Gu Chang Huai blinked. Mo Hwa was indeed the same as before, his eyes clear, reminiscent of a deep, reflective pond, concealing their depths. But he had clearly felt that dangerous, inexplicable aura... "Was it an illusion..." "Or am I being overly suspicious..." Gu Chang Huai furrowed his brows further. Mo Hwa blinked. Taking advantage of Gu Chang Huai being momentarily distracted, seemingly lost in thought, Mo Hwa had used a stealthy, arcane method to glimpse at Hwa Rang Joon's fate. Within that brief moment, his consciousness shifted, and it was noticed. No wonder Gu Chang Huai achieved the position of a tribunal leader. Mo Hwa made a mental note. Against cultivators above the Core Formation stage, especially those like the tribunal leader in the grand province's Dao Tribunal, such endeavors to meddle with fate and peer into destinies must be exercised with caution. To prevent others from discerning the nature of his arts... His master's knowledge of fate calculation was acceptable, though it entailed significant karma, it was, on the surface, a righteous method. But his master's older fellow disciple's fate illusions were different. In this world, practitioners of such deceptive arts were rare, likely only his master's fellow disciple. Should he be mistaken as a "young deceptive daoist," it would be disastrous. Seeing Gu Chang Huai still eyeing him with suspicion, seemingly unconvinced, Mo Hwa quickly shifted the focus: "Uncle Gu, did you discover anything?" "How did Hwa Rang Joon die?" "Who killed him?" "Could it be..." Mo Hwa raised his eyebrows subtly, glancing at the two overseeing Dao Prison officials. The two officials immediately broke into a cold sweat, promptly addressing Gu Chang Huai: "Sir Gu!" "Though we were negligent, this convict's death has truly nothing to do with us..." "Why would we dare breach the law and kill within the prison..." "Sir Gu, please be discerning!" "Sir Gu..." Their clamor disrupted Gu Chang Huai's thoughts, causing him to forget his earlier concerns about Mo Hwa. "Enough," Gu Chang Huai commanded coldly, glaring at the two, "Handle this as per protocol; penalties will be imposed as needed. You may leave." Both dared not defy Gu Chang Huai, bowing in submission: "Yes." Then they departed. Gu Chang Huai seemed to want to discuss something with Mo Hwa but halted, glancing up at the oppressive ceiling of the prison before shaking his head, discarding the thought. "Let's head out..." Gu Chang Huai suggested. "Alright," Mo Hwa nodded and left alongside Gu Chang Huai. Upon exiting, Mo Hwa cast a stealthy, backward glance at the deceased Hwa Rang Joon. In life, Hwa Rang Joon had been dashing, handsome, and often lost in women's company, having seduced many. But in death, none acknowledged him, leaving only tattered garments and a decaying, filthy body behind. Indeed, the world's myriad expressions of fleshly delights are but illusions. Moreover... Hwa Rang Joon died too naturally. Leaving no trace of human intervention. Even in his momentary state of black-tinged eyes and transcendent fusion, Mo Hwa discerned no traces of fate. The method of murder was extraordinarily sophisticated. "The best way to obscure destiny is to let things unfold without consequence..." Mo Hwa noted internally. "A lesson to learn..." ... Departing the prison, Gu Chang Huai wore a stony expression. After some thought, he ordered Hwa Rang Joon's belongings, evidence, and storage pouch to be delivered. He then secluded himself in a quiet tribunal office to inspect the items. Mo Hwa, standing nearby, craned his head, curious for a peek. Gu Chang Huai quickly covered the items with a displeased shake of his head: "You can't see this." "Why?" Mo Hwa inquired. "You're still young..." Mo Hwa was puzzled. Understanding Mo Hwa's confusion, Gu Chang Huai sighed, explaining: "Hwa Rang Joon was a rogue who preyed on women..." His storage pouch contains materials like bedroom arts, illustrated manuals of intimate acts, and various indecent texts... None suitable for Mo Hwa's eyes. To spare him from moral corruption. Mo Hwa recalled when he had captured Hwa Rang Joon himself, and indeed, Mu Rong had similarly refrained from letting him see the contents of that storage pouch. "Alright, no viewing then..." Mo Hwa resignedly perched nearby, continuing to observe Gu Chang Huai. Feeling scrutinized, Gu Chang Huai, slightly irked, remarked: "Why are you watching me? Go occupy yourself—I'm handling an investigation here..." Mo Hwa raised three fingers in response: "Three conditions!" "The third one states, if we head out, I must stay with you, never acting without your guidance..." "You did say that!" Mo Hwa asserted confidently. Gu Chang Huai felt his head throb. Caught off guard, he'd inadvertently trapped himself again with his own conditions. This child's wit was too sharp... Utilizing every loophole. "Fine then..." Gu Chang Huai relented, ignoring Mo Hwa, directing focus on Hwa Rang Joon's storage bag, searching for clues. This storage bag was secured by the Dao Tribunal. Outsiders had no access. If someone within the Dao Tribunal tampered, there should be traces. Currently, everything seemed untouched. Leveraging years of experience in Tribunal affairs, Gu Chang Huai meticulously examined each item, scouring for subtle evidence and meaningful leads. Yet the pouch held mostly unsavory, indecent contents. With growing frustration, Gu Chang Huai continued until, discovering a jade slip, his expression shifted—his eyes sparked with newfound understanding. Mo Hwa, who was unable to look inside the storage pouch but had been observing Gu Chang Huai the whole time, instantly captured the change in Gu Chang Huai's expression. Mo Hwa's eyes brightened, "Uncle Gu, did you find something?" Gu Chang Huai was about to nod, but then he shook his head, pocketing the jade slip. He replied nonchalantly, "No." "I saw it!" Mo Hwa insisted. "What did you see?" "I saw your eyes change," Mo Hwa said. "You must have found something!" Gu Chang Huai felt a chill down his spine, mentally grumbling: This kid, Mo Hwa, could easily be an old spirit taking possession. So sharp and astute, it's as if he's not a child at all. Yet Gu Chang Huai stuck to his denial, "I said there's nothing." "Alright then," Mo Hwa sighed. Faced with a person who would shirk honesty, even a small-time cultivator like himself could do nothing. So Mo Hwa resorted to a different approach, asking, "Uncle Gu, where do we go next?" Without thinking, Gu Chang Huai said, “Hwa Rang Joon is dead, the trail has run ‘cold’…” Seeing Mo Hwa’s skeptical stare, Gu Chang Huai coughed and redirected his gaze, acting casual: “We can head back home now.” Mo Hwa nodded, "Then Uncle Gu, you should go back first." "Mhm." Gu Chang Huai nodded, then paused, "You're not coming?" "I have other matters to attend to." "What matters?" Mo Hwa didn't hold back. "I want to visit the Xie family in Bi Shan City, where they were wiped out." Gu Chang Huai furrowed his brows, "The Xie family lies in ruins and has been sealed by the Dao Tribunal. You can’t enter. Moreover, Bi Shan City is dangerous right now; you can’t go." Mo Hwa whispered, "How about you take me, then?" “No.” Gu Chang Huai refused outright. “Then I’ll go on my own,” Mo Hwa said. “You can inform Aunt Wan that I won’t be returning to the Gu family, and after visiting Bi Shan City, I’ll head back to the sect on my own.” Mo Hwa maintained a calm demeanor, yet his gaze was cunning. Gu Chang Huai was taken aback, then realized immediately. Mo Hwa was practically extorting him. If he didn’t bring Mo Hwa back home, his cousin would surely blame him. She’d be worried sick. He had to escort Mo Hwa safely back to his cousin. Moreover, if Mo Hwa was unwilling to return, force wasn’t an option. If he forcibly took Mo Hwa back and the boy complained, Gu Chang Huai would have no end of it with his cousin. Especially since, to all appearances, Mo Hwa was a “little benefactor” to the Shangguan family and must be shown respect. Thus, he had no choice but to follow Mo Hwa’s lead—wherever the boy went, he must follow. Fuming inside, Gu Chang Huai begrudgingly came to an agreement, "Fine, I'll take you, but after Bi Shan City, you must return to the Gu family with me. No more tricks." "Agreed!" Mo Hwa replied, grinning cheerfully. ... With the day drawing to an end, traveling wasn’t ideal, so they spent the night in an inn at Luan Shan City. At dawn the following day, after a simple meal, they set off for Bi Shan City nearby. This was Mo Hwa's second visit to Bi Shan City. A landscape of towering cliffs, sharp ridges, and crisscrossed mountains awaited them. Most of the cave dwellings were built against the steep cliffs, appearing both extraordinary and grand. However, an oppressive atmosphere overshadowed the city. Passersby remained tight-lipped and carried expressions of anxiety and concern. The Fire Buddha had slaughtered the Xie family in broad daylight, in front of the Dao Tribunal and all city cultivators. Turning the Xie estate into a sea of flames, ending their lineage, and wiping out centuries of legacy in an instant. Bi Shan City remained on edge in the aftermath. Gu Chang Huai’s expression was even darker, his face set as if he intended to decapitate every criminal under the Fire Buddha’s influence right then and there. In a short time, they reached the ruins of the Xie family estate. Before them lay a scene of devastation, an expanse of scorched earth. The paths outside the Xie family grounds were set with paving tiles. These tiles bore array patterns, linked end to end, raising a faint, invisible barrier that sealed the charred remains of the Xie estate, barring outsiders from entry. This was a warning array set by the Dao Tribunal. "You stand here and observe," Gu Chang Huai instructed. Mo Hwa objected but had no choice, so he peered in as best as he could from just beyond the security boundary. Even from a distance, he discerned some details. Though charred, traces of the array remained around the Xie estate. “A second-grade Golden Earth Gen Mountain Array…” Mo Hwa murmured to himself. Gu Chang Huai paused upon hearing the name of the array. Mo Hwa continued to observe, releasing his consciousness. He switched from using arcane calculations to utilizing derivation techniques to analyze the residual traces of spiritual energy, muttering softly: "Around the Xie family’s perimeter..." "It was a second-grade defensive array, a combination of Gold and Earth from the Gen Mountain Bagua..." "But the array patterns were altered..." "Only the gold element was changed; the rest remained untouched..." "No, the modification in the gold element caused the earth element to change form and function..." "Thus, the original became a second-grade 'Burial' Earth Gen Mountain Array..." "This trapping array entombed the entire Xie family within their home..." ... The longer Gu Chang Huai listened, the more astonished he became, his tone solemn: "Who told you this?" "What?" Mo Hwa blinked in surprise. "The details of the Xie family's array..." Gu Chang Huai’s voice was grave. Mo Hwa questioned, "Did someone need to? It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it?" Obvious... Gu Chang Huai turned to look at the charred remains. Obvious to whom? How could it become apparent at a glance? Everything is burnt black, mere scraps and debris, void of any revealing marks. Gu Chang Huai found it hard to believe. Yet, Mo Hwa's explanation matched the findings of the extensive Dao Tribunal examination. The distinction was, the Dao Tribunal had enlisted several second-grade array masters who had worked tirelessly for three days, meticulously piecing together the alterations from the remnants. Through their exhaustive efforts, they uncovered the tampering in the Xie family's array. But here was Mo Hwa… He merely glanced… Didn't even cross the security boundary… And discerned it all? Gu Chang Huai felt conflicted. Though staring at the truth, reason kept him from accepting such an incredible feat. "Did you… truly figure it out just looking?" Gu Chang Huai asked, furrowing his brow. "Of course!" Mo Hwa beamed, "I am a disciple of the Grand Void Sect!" Besides, he had been learning arrays from Xun Laoxiansheng. With accumulated merits, he frequently exchanged for array knowledge in the Merit Pavilion, mastering numerous second-grade arrays. Under Xun Laoxiansheng’s tutelage and supported by the Grand Void Sect's deep-seated legacy, Mo Hwa's understanding of arrays had greatly solidified. He had become a legitimate second-grade array master embedded with major sect foundations, albeit without official accreditation yet. Gu Chang Huai's frown deepened. What did this have to do with the Grand Void Sect? That sect wasn't known for arrays; how could their disciples, barely within a year of entering, possess such formidable knowledge of arrays? Even a sect specializing in arrays couldn’t achieve this! Moreover, given his short tenure... How much could one possibly learn? Gu Chang Huai stared at Mo Hwa for a few moments before a thought crossed his mind, "Would you like to go in and take a closer look?" Mo Hwa blinked in surprise, "Really?" Gu Chang Huai nodded. Mo Hwa was skeptical. Uncle Gu... is acting unusual... Initially, he refused Mo Hwa’s request to enter the Xie estate. Now, unexpectedly, he’s offering to let him in. But it wasn't an offer Mo Hwa would decline. "Alright!" Mo Hwa agreed. Gu Chang Huai produced a golden token. This token, elegantly crafted from pure gold, stood in stark contrast to Mo Hwa’s own modest bronze one. Mo Hwa eyed it longingly. But at the moment, longing was all he could do. Wielding the gold token, Gu Chang Huai brushed it lightly against the security array. The faint, invisible barrier parted. "Let's go." Gu Chang Huai led the way. After a moment's hesitation, Mo Hwa followed, stepping past the security boundary into the ruins of the Xie family estate. As Mo Hwa's foot landed on the charred, blood-tinged earth, a chilling scream echoed in his ears. The sound was piercing, full of unimaginable torment. Under the clear blue sky, Mo Hwa's vision became blurred. A scene of a hellish inferno erupted around him. Within the flames were countless figures, running, struggling, howling in agony, resembling tormented souls in hell. Grim-faced executioners raised their blades, slaughtering, dismembering, reveling in chaos. Blades plunged into flesh, slicing open chests, disemboweling victims, extracting each blood-soaked organ... The inferno roared, mingling blood with fire. Faces twisted in demonic frenzy danced. The victims, like sacrificial beasts, met a gruesome end... (Chapter End) Thank you to Yi Qi Xiu Xian, PYHuang, Xi Ya Tu Bu Yao Wei Wo Ku Qi, Jiu Cai Wang Shi, and 101101hong for your support~ Happy New Year!! Wishing everyone great fortune in the Year of the Dragon~ Abundant happiness and joy~ (.)(.)(.)(.) (End of Chapter)