Chapter 642: Secret Chamber - The Quest for Immortality

**Chapter 642: Secret Chamber** Mo Hua was a bit surprised, "You still remember me?" Jia Ren's eyes flared with rage. He gritted his teeth and said, "You little devil, even if you turned to ash, I'd recognize you..." Gu Changhuai, standing beside them, was also taken aback. He asked Mo Hua, "What did you do to him? Why does he hate you so much?" The Jia Ren they knew, always showed an indifferent attitude towards life and death, appearing untouchable. Yet upon seeing Mo Hua, it was as if he had been fried in oil—he exploded in anger. Mo Hua frowned in confusion, "I have no idea..." He recollected, "That time, it was Senior Murong and Brother Feng who captured him. I just tagged along, helping out with some 'insignificant' tasks. I don't know why he harbors such hatred for me..." "Probably because he bullies the weak, can't beat the seniors, and targets me because I'm young with low cultivation..." Gu Changhuai was skeptical. Upon hearing this, Jia Ren spat out a mouthful of blood. "You, you..." Seeing his "nemesis," he was so furious that his mind blanked and words wouldn't come out. Mo Hua, unfazed by his reaction, tossed the "iron board" to the ground and ordered, "Kneel for a moment..." The moment the words slipped out, Mo Hua froze, suddenly recalling something. Wasn't this "Jia Ren" the very first "victim" of his iron board? Back then, he was a strapping man. Unfortunately, Mo Hua was still inexperienced, and the iron board was crudely made. Even so, when Jia Ren knelt on it, he gritted his teeth, refusing to utter a word, even when Mo Hua asked if it hurt. He just glared with fiery eyes but remained silent. Mo Hua remembered it vividly. From then on, Mo Hua resolved to "improve" the iron board, refining it through iteration after iteration. He aimed for a version where even the most stubborn cultivators, bowing on the iron board, would "confess willingly" and spill the truth. Now, the opportunity had come again. Mo Hua's eyes lit up, and he said to Jia Ren, "Come on, give it another try..." "Since your last encounter with the board, I've revised many formations and made numerous improvements. Kneel and see if there's any difference from your first experience." "How does it feel now?" "Do you feel an urge to speak the truth?" Mo Hua's tone held a blend of curiosity, innocence, and sincerity, without a trace of mockery. But Jia Ren's eyes were already bloodshot. Gu Changhuai sighed, finally understanding why Jia Ren harbored such a deep loathing for Mo Hua, akin to the bitterness of a vendetta. He could even empathize with it. This little rascal could truly drive a person to madness. But Gu Changhuai was curious too, about the effect of this "iron board." Thus, he held onto Jia Ren's shoulder, disregarding his resistance, and pressed him down onto Mo Hua's "iron board." As soon as Jia Ren knelt, the formation on the board activated. Mo Hua’s latest enhancement embraced a "return to simplicity" approach, focusing purely on the Five Elements formation rather than involving the Bagua. The Five Elements cycled continuously to form a complex array. It mirrored the fundamental "killing array" principles of the Five Elements Demonic-Slaying Grand Array but on a much smaller scale. The aim wasn't to "take lives" but to channel the Five Elements in a continuous loop, imbuing pain through Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Metal prick, Wood toxin, Water torture, Fire burn, Earth suffocation. The Five Elements deepened in turn, cycling through pain. Moreover, to avoid causing excessive damage or inducing unconsciousness, the pain delivered by this Five Elements array was moderate, aiming to wear down a criminal's will gradually, prompting them to confess... Thinking of this, Mo Hua sighed. He was inherently a kind-hearted cultivator, yet these criminals were increasingly vile and obstinately tight-lipped. It forced him, against his will, to study such punishing formations. Mo Hua lamented in his heart and then watched Jia Ren's reaction intently. Initially kneeling, Jia Ren’s face remained calm, displaying a hint of disdain while glaring at Mo Hua with a cold huff. Almost as if to say, "Is this it? Is this your so-called improved design? The more you improve it, the worse it gets." But soon, his expression shifted. Pain began to intensify, and the cycling Five Elements formation delivered a rich tapestry of detailed torments, straining his flesh and eroding his determination. In mere moments, Jia Ren's face turned deathly pale. It resembled the sudden kick of strong liquor. It was smooth at first, but the aftereffects were viciously potent. A wave of unbearable agony slammed into his mind. Jia Ren’s expression twisted, his body shaking violently. Yet this agony lingered just at the brink, refusing to grant him unconsciousness. He was forced to endure, floundering helplessly in the sea of torment... Watching, Gu Changhuai’s eyelids twitched uncontrollably. The Dao Court had its array of "tortures," tools he had previously used. But something as simultaneously gentle and barbaric, ingeniously cruel, he hadn’t seen until Mo Hua's creation. This child, Mo Hua, seemed innocent, yet had a stomach full of sly tricks... "How does it feel?" Mo Hua asked, his tone as clear and crisp as if he were inquiring about the taste of a dish he cooked... "You rascal, one day, I’ll kill... ah—" Jia Ren couldn’t help but let out a hoarse cry. Mo Hua, face full of sympathy, cautioned, "If you don’t talk, it’ll only get more painful..." Then he quietly increased the spiritual power feeding the "iron board" formation... Jia Ren's facial features contorted. Who knows how long it took, but under the dual torment of "pain from the iron board" and "infuriation from Mo Hua," Jia Ren's resolve finally crumbled. Voice trembling, Jia Ren submitted, "I'll... I'll talk!" He could face death with serenity, but he couldn't withstand the compounded anger and misery. Mo Hua beamed with joy. Jia Ren's willingness to talk signified that all his efforts in optimizing and refining the "iron board" had paid off. And he had finally earned acknowledgment from its inaugural user! Gu Changhuai hoisted Jia Ren up, and Mo Hua revisited the previous queries. "Where is Fire Buddha?" "Why did you annihilate the entire Xie family?" Drenched in sweat, Jia Ren gritted his teeth, "Those... I can’t say..." Mo Hua’s face darkened, "Are you playing with me?" Caught again by an intense fear and aching knees, Jia Ren hastily replied, "No, I dare not..." He swallowed hard, "Those... I literally cannot say..." Mo Hua frowned, "What do you mean?" Gu Changhuai's gaze intensified, "A Silence Curse..." Mo Hua was puzzled, "Silence Curse?" Gu Changhuai explained, "It’s a sinister technique cast using spiritual power and spells, forbidding a cultivator from speaking certain words. Breaching it results in magical retaliation, harming the throat or even the mind..." "Such a spell exists..." Mo Hua was astounded. But his mind quickly spun to a possible solution: "Can he write it down?" Silence prohibited speech, sure, but no one said anything about writing. Gu Changhuai shook his head, "Writing won’t work either..." "If it were that easy to exploit, wouldn't this spell be rather useless?" "The purpose of a Silence Curse is to ensure a cultivator keeps secrets, refraining from communication by any means." Mo Hua nodded, "True enough..." The only option left was to indirectly gather information disconnected from "Fire Buddha," "Xie family," or "massacre." After pondering, Mo Hua asked Jia Ren: "Where is your real storage bag hidden?" Jia Ren froze, eyes startled. Gu Changhuai also looked surprised. Seeing Jia Ren hesitate, Mo Hua’s gaze grew increasingly dangerous. Jia Ren’s face clouded with resignation before he finally sighed, "In Bìshān City, the rouge shop, behind the secret chamber, in the third hidden compartment..." "Rouge shop, secret chamber, hidden compartment..." Mo Hua silently took note, and as he turned away, he caught a fleeting, cold glint in Jia Ren's eye. The glint disappeared as quickly as it appeared, leaving Jia Ren looking completely humble and fearful. Mo Hua sneered inwardly. "Trying such petty tricks on me..." Soon, several Dao Court enforcers arrived. They weren’t from Bìshān City, but from all over the Qianxue prefecture. And they weren't just any enforcers; they all bore the surname Gu. The Gu family, although a fourth-rank noble family, maintained a significant standing in the Qianxue region since many of their descendants held positions in the Dao Court. Their network of former students, officials, and friends spanned the entire prefecture. Despite his bad temper, Gu Changhuai was raised in a Dao Court family, which honed his investigative skills. Coupled with family backing, he had a strong reputation within the Dao Court. The Fire Buddha matter was highly confidential. Gu Changhuai wasn’t ready to let other enforcers meddle; he only trusted those from the Gu family. As these enforcers approached, they respectfully greeted Gu Changhuai: "Young Master." Gu Changhuai nodded slightly, pointing at Jia Ren, "Watch him. Don't let him escape, and definitely don’t let him die." "Understood!" The Gu family enforcers accepted the order with deference. Satisfied, Gu Changhuai and Mo Hua returned to the rouge shop in Bìshān City. The two extended their spiritual senses, ensuring no one was watching, before stepping inside. Inside, the shop was neatly arranged but somewhat basic. The scent of rouge lingered in the air, though a strange odor had developed over time. Behind a screen in the shop lay a secret chamber. Although well hidden, it posed no challenge for Gu Changhuai and Mo Hua to find. As a Golden Core cultivator and a veteran investigator for the Dao Court, Gu Changhuai's skills and experience were extensive. Mo Hua, on the other hand, boasted a powerful spiritual sense, was adept in arrays, and was highly experienced at discovering secret chambers. Yet an array sealed the chamber. It was a second-tier array meant to lock the secret door. The array wasn’t particularly advanced, but there might be hidden snares. Though adept at investigations, Gu Changhuai hesitated with arrays, pondering if he should call in Dao Court array specialists to ensure no traps were triggered... In the blink of an eye, he saw Mo Hua already taking out a brush, dipping it in ink, and drawing unknown runes outside the chamber. Colors lit up across the door, each dissolving one by one. The sealing array was neutralized. The chamber door opened. It happened so quickly and smoothly... He hadn’t even caught what Mo Hua drew... Gu Changhuai looked at Mo Hua in astonishment, "You can dispel arrays too?" Mo Hua nodded, "This one’s simple." Array dispelling, he had been learning since the Qi Refining stage. It was something he did frequently and had honed to perfection. In an effort to keep a low profile, he refrained from using his spiritual sense to control the ink, and instead, manually applied the ink, step by step. Otherwise, he could have dismantled the array with just a flick of his finger... Doing so in front of Uncle Gu would have been a bit too flamboyant. With the array dispelled, the chamber door now opened into a pitch-black void. Mo Hua considered, "Uncle Gu, would you like to enter first?" Though it was a secret chamber, inside Bìshān City, it wasn't likely to harbor any lethal threat. The Fire Buddha couldn’t fit all their people in there. But to be cautious, Mo Hua refrained from charging in, letting Uncle Gu take point since he was the more formidable cultivator. Gu Changhuai nodded and entered the chamber. Mo Hua waited ten breaths, noticing no disturbances, and then followed inside. Upon entering, Mo Hua looked up to find Gu Changhuai standing solemnly in the chamber's center. Scanning the surroundings, Mo Hua saw the spacious chamber cluttered with numerous storage bags. Some bags were opened, others piled in corners. Around the room lay bloodstained spiritual instruments, seemingly looted from the Xie family, mixed with other assorted items. It appeared as if, after searching, they had packed the "useless" items into storage bags for disposal. Jia Ren's role was to clean up, fitting for someone skilled at disguise to cover tracks. Indeed, there was also a hidden compartment in the chamber. Although it seemed ordinary on the outside, Mo Hua suspected internal arrays... Gu Changhuai hesitated. He debated whether to call in the Dao Court's array practitioners for examination. However, after seeing Mo Hua’s calm demeanor, he reconsidered. "What kind of array is this?" Gu Changhuai asked Mo Hua. Mo Hua was surprised. It was the first time Gu Changhuai had asked him about an array. Mo Hua expanded his spiritual sense, examining the compartment's structure closely. After some calculations, he deliberated: "This is a second-tier fourteen-patterned Earth Sealing Array. It conceals items within, masking them with the natural aura of earth and stone, making it hard for cultivators to detect..." "The Earth Sealing Array is standard." "What's unusual is a faintly embedded Yuan Magnetic Array within..." "The hidden compartment here serves as the medium for the Yuan Magnetic Array, acting as a kind of array 'switch'..." "If improperly opened, it would trigger the Yuan Magnetic Array, subtly conveying a message..." "The message likely being..." Mo Hua paused, then continued slowly, "To alert others that the compartment has been discovered by 'outsiders,' urging caution..." This revealed Jia Ren's little scheme. Even at the brink, he thought of sending a warning... Gu Changhuai maintained his composure, yet was inwardly astonished. Ordinary compartments, just by sight alone, conveyed so much... This was real mastery in array crafting... To understand the whole from the parts. To glimpse all four seasons from a single leaf. After his explanation, Mo Hua asked Gu Changhuai, "Uncle Gu, am I right?" Feeling a bit abashed, Gu Changhuai vaguely replied, "Hmm..." For reasons unexplained, his confidence wavered. Next, they needed to extract the contents from the hidden compartment. Seeing no objections from Gu Changhuai, Mo Hua took action. Following his usual routine, Mo Hua meticulously used his array brush to draw runes, dispelling the second-tier "Earth Sealing Array." Skillfully avoiding every snare within the Yuan Magnetic Array, he retrieved a storage bag from the hidden compartment. Effortlessly, like a small mouse sneaking cheese from a trap without a sound. Mo Hua handed the storage bag to Gu Changhuai. Surprised by the ease, Gu Changhuai sighed and began sifting through its contents. Inside, there were plenty of spirit stones. There was a scroll of cultivation methods titled "Flesh and Blood Morphing Technique." This was a dark cultivation method. Practitioners would forsake their original appearance, transforming their skin and flesh to shapeshift at will. However, in this process, a cultivator's self-awareness would erode. One might lose awareness of being male or female, tall or short, fat or thin, and ultimately forget whether they were even "human." If their form spiraled out of control, it would distort and mutate. Drinking human blood was the only way to maintain a humanoid shape. Mo Hua glanced it over, shaking his head with a tsk. He originally intended to learn this "disguise technique," but seeing its sinister nature, it was definitely off the table for him. What if he learned it and in the future, his parents, master, or junior brothers and sisters couldn't recognize him? Moreover, he had no desire to drink human blood... He absolutely refused. Aside from the "Flesh and Blood Morphing Technique," there were other dark arts present—though malevolent, they were unremarkable. Finally, there was a jade slip. Mo Hua recognized it immediately. "A message talisman!" Gu Changhuai's attention sharpened. The message talisman—Jia Ren didn’t carry it on him, likely because he never realized he was being tracked. Therefore, the contents were probably intact. This message talisman might contain clues to the Fire Buddha’s whereabouts! Gu Changhuai focused, but then froze. The talisman was blank, its surface void of words. "Is this..." Gu Changhuai frowned. "Sealed, perhaps?" Mo Hua suggested. Gu Changhuai looked at Mo Hua, his expression numbed: "You wouldn’t by chance... know how to unseal it..." "Pretty much," Mo Hua nodded, "I know a bit..." "How... would you go about unsealing it..." Delving into array principles, Mo Hua's interest piqued. He had been studying unsealing techniques for a long while, and now he could finally "show off" a bit. "The sealing mechanism is based on the magnetic patterns of the Yuan Magnetic Array..." "The set magnetic patterns, through a certain agreement, are adapted to irregular magnetic patterns. This agreement itself forms a magnetic flow, which, once activated, generates subsidiary thunder patterns..." "So unsealing involves identifying these subsidiary thunder patterns that serve as seal patterns. By using them to counteract the irregular magnetic patterns, you can dissipate the 'magnetic ink mist,' thus breaking the seal and revealing the concealed text..." ... Gu Changhuai felt overwhelmed. He understood every word individually, but together they formed a jumble he couldn't make sense of. Mo Hua's explanation, though clear and methodical, was perplexing. All this talk of "magnetic" and "patterns" tumbled through his mind like a dense magnetic current, entering his left ear and exiting his right. Nothing stuck, leaving his mind as blank and bewildered as a snow-covered field. "That's about the gist of it," Mo Hua concluded, asking Gu Changhuai, "Uncle Gu, did you understand?" Gu Changhuai paused before maintaining his composure to say, "Yes, I understand..." But truly, he hadn’t grasped a bit of it. Fearing further elaboration from Mo Hua, Gu Changhuai quickly suggested, "Let’s not delay any further—let's unseal the jade slip's 'seal pattern.' Capturing the Fire Buddha is urgent..." "Mhm, mhm," Mo Hua nodded eagerly. Gu Changhuai inexplicably felt relieved. Then he saw Mo Hua focus intently, examining the jade slip while doodling strange and complex array symbols on paper, muttering occasionally under his breath… "This isn't it…" "No, not this…" "Almost…” "Not quite…" ... Mo Hua’s concentration sharpened, his eyes sparkling like starlight. Gu Changhuai, mesmerized, instinctively held his breath, not wanting to disturb Mo Hua. After some unknown period, a glint of light flashed in Mo Hua’s eyes. "It's done!" Gu Changhuai was internally astounded and somewhat incredulous. "What does it say?" Mo Hua immersed his spiritual sense into the jade slip. Within the slip, there lay only eight words: "Bìshān Demon Cave, Heaven Beyond Heaven." (End of Chapter)