Chapter 644: Water's Hidden Jade - The Quest for Immortality

Chapter 644: Water's Hidden Jade The next day, Mo Hua took a leave of absence from the Tai Xu Sect and made his way to the Dao Court Division on the border of the Qian Xue State. This was part of an arrangement he had made with Gu Changhuai. They were to meet at the Dao Court Division before setting off together for Bi Shan City. Upon his arrival at the division, Gu Changhuai, who had made a special trip back, greeted Mo Hua and handed him a storage bag. "And what's this?" Mo Hua inquired. "It's the supplies issued by the Dao Court Division for missions," Gu Changhuai replied nonchalantly. Mo Hua opened the bag to find some pills, spirit stones, talismans, and a standard-issue Dao robe. "Don't wear your Tai Xu Sect's attire; it stands out too much. Change into this robe." "Alright." Mo Hua donned the Dao Court Division's robe, which made him appear both cute and dignified. However, the robe was rather loose, and the sleeves extended beyond his hands—it was clearly a size too large. "Uncle Gu, this robe is too big..." "Just make do with it. This is the smallest size available..." "Can't they tailor one to fit?" Gu Changhuai sighed with a hint of helplessness. "You're not a full member, just make do. Custom tailoring isn't an option for you." Mo Hua muttered quietly, "How stingy..." The prestigious Qian Xue State Dao Court Division was indeed frugal. But with the urgency of the Fire Buddha matter, Mo Hua had no choice. He tightened his belt, rolled up his sleeves, and said excitedly, "Let's set off." They had a goal—capture the Fire Buddha and obtain the Meteor Fire Technique within seven days, with no time to waste. "Let's go," Gu Changhuai agreed. As they walked toward the exit, they encountered a middle-aged man with a narrow gaze and a fair complexion, wearing a black Dao Court Division robe, who greeted them with a warm smile. "Chief Gu." The man greeted them, and Gu Changhuai's expression turned cold. Reluctantly, he responded, "Chief Xiao." Mo Hua glanced at Gu Changhuai's demeanor and noticed the coldness in his expression, clearly indicating a lack of goodwill toward this "Xiao"-named officer. It seemed there was some tension between the two men. Chief Xiao was about to say more when he noticed Mo Hua, and a look of surprise came over his face. "This young cultivator..." Dressed in a Dao Court Division robe but clearly ill-fitting, as if hastily worn. Wearing that robe meant he was one of the Dao Court Division's own. But judging by his youth and unrefined features, it seemed unlikely he truly belonged to the division. Especially since he was standing with "the cold-faced judge," Gu Changhuai, known for his distant manner. Something was decidedly off here... "And this young brother is...?" Chief Xiao maintained a warm smile, but his gaze was somewhat sinister, making others uneasy. Internally, Mo Hua nicknamed him "Smiling Tiger" while he mulled over an excuse to fob off the Smiling Tiger. However, Gu Changhuai curtly interrupted, "Chief Xiao, we have official duties to attend to." Chief Xiao's attempt at conversation was disrupted, yet he turned his gaze back to Gu Changhuai, still smiling but visibly curious, "Chief Gu, are you still working on the Fire Buddha case?" "Yes." "It's been dragging on for a while now, hasn't it?" Silence fell over Gu Changhuai. Chief Xiao sighed. "The Fire Buddha's crimes were atrocious, spreading fear; the higher-ups are quite concerned, and the burden on the superintendent is heavy..." "Still... although the case is challenging, it's definitely been too long without resolution." "It's not the higher-ups' fault—it reflects poorly on Chief Gu's execution..." He leaned in slightly, his voice lowering, "Why not... capture a few perpetrators to close the case, at least to appease the superiors?" Gu Changhuai's gaze was penetrating. "Is that the superintendent's directive or your own suggestion, Chief Xiao?" Chief Xiao's face froze momentarily. With a forced smile, he said, "Chief Gu, that's a dangerous joke..." "We are both chiefs, following orders from above. Do remember not to act on our own..." His smile dimmed somewhat, becoming meaningful, "Don't overstep boundaries." Gu Changhuai's patience wore thin, his face darkened as he sternly replied, "Mind your own business, Chief Xiao, and don't presume to instruct me." Chief Xiao was momentarily taken aback. With an icy huff, Gu Changhuai spun and left with Mo Hua in tow, who maintained a façade of polite disinterest, pretending not to have heard anything as he followed. Left alone, Chief Xiao's smile faded until he quietly scoffed, "The Gu family remain uncompromisingly principled... leading to inevitable ruin..." ... Inside the carriage to Bi Shan City, Mo Hua asked softly, "Uncle Gu, does Chief Xiao bear a grudge against you?" Lost in thought, Gu Changhuai didn't respond. Mo Hua pressed, "Could he be a mole within the Dao Court Division?" Startled, Gu Changhuai asked, "Why do you say that?" "Just a feeling..." Gu Changhuai sighed. "In the Dao Court Division, we can't rely purely on feelings..." "Chief Xiao..." Mo Hua mused, "To rise to his rank, he must be from a noble family. The Xiao family... much like the Gu family, are they also deeply connected with the Dao Court Division?" With a slight nod, Gu Changhuai responded, his expression revealing complex emotions. "Yes, the Xiao family wields significant influence within the Dao Court Division, more than the Gu family. The current superintendent of the Qian Xue State Tao Court Division even bears the Xiao surname..." "Oh..." Mo Hua nodded in understanding, then with curiosity asked, "Then what about this Chief Xiao..." "Don't ask." Gu Changhuai quickly interrupted, "Steer clear of the Xiao family's matters to avoid unnecessary trouble." "Don't find yourself saddled with unwarranted accusations. If you do end up in Dao prison, don't count on me to bail you out..." "Alright..." Mo Hua agreed. Heeding advice from others is indeed a good habit. Matters concerning the Xiao family were best left unspoken, as they held no relevance to him. The carriage jolted along the road. Yet with a distance remaining to Bi Shan City, Mo Hua used the time to inquire about the Fire Buddha case. "Uncle Gu, is the demon lair inaccessible?" Gu Changhuai looked out the window, exhaling slowly, "There's an array..." "What kind of array?" He cast a quiet glance at Mo Hua. Mo Hua realized at once. Uncle Gu was an "array blind"; had he known more, he wouldn't have involved Mo Hua. It was fortunate that Uncle Gu lacked expertise in arrays; otherwise, Mo Hua wouldn't have the opportunity to intervene in the Fire Buddha affair... Perceptively, Gu Changhuai sensed Mo Hua's inner thoughts weren't flattering. "Are you criticizing me in your head?" Mo Hua denied, "Certainly not!" Gu Changhuai grunted softly. Mo Hua then asked, "Aren't there other array masters within the Dao Court Division?" Gu Changhuai's expression grew more complex. In the privacy of the carriage and with impending reliance on Mo Hua, Gu Changhuai disclosed candidly: "The most skilled array masters in the realm are mostly at the Tianshu Pavilion." "Tianshu Pavilion array masters are aloof, even the Dao Court Division struggles to enlist them..." "Array masters available to the Dao Court Division are typically of lesser caliber..." "As for the Fire Buddha case, though heinous, it's categorized as a second-tier due to its occurrence in Bi Shan City and involvement of second-tier criminals..." "High-ranking third-tier array masters dismiss such cases." "And these felons are extremely dangerous, deterring second-tier array masters from involvement." "For reconnaissance and disrupting arrays, it's manageable, but facing such perilous confrontations, typical array masters lack the means for self-preservation." "Despite this, I leveraged familial connections within the Dao Court Division to summon several second-tier array masters, yet..." With brows furrowed, Gu Changhuai sighed, "The mountain paths are hidden, the arrays intricate." "They've yet to discern any clues, let alone provide assistance..." Mo Hua had a clearer understanding now. No wonder the typically proud Uncle Gu would concede to allowing Mo Hua to assist. Mo Hua assured him, "Rest assured, Uncle Gu, as long as it's a second-tier array, there's no problem!" He felt momentarily boastful, so he quickly tempered his claim: "Below mid-second-tier level, as long as it doesn't reach high-tier, I can handle it." Given the current situation, it's likely that among Fire Buddha's group, there's definitely an array master. Fire Buddha himself is at the late Foundation Establishment stage, and as the leader, his array master should not surpass the Foundation Establishment level either. Typically, an array master's skill level lags behind their cultivation stage. For example, a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator becomes a low-second-tier array master. A late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator achieves mid-second-tier status. When one reaches the pinnacle of late Foundation Establishment or the Golden Core stage, they can progress to a high-second-tier array master. These are the normal conditions. Array masters matching their tier with their cultivation level are considered exceptional. Such array masters are labeled as array prodigies and are unlikely to associate with outlaws or malevolent cultivators. Thus, the arrays within Bi Shan's demon lair are likely mid-second-tier, manageable for me. Mo Hua displayed a confident demeanor, for once seen approvingly by Gu Changhuai. ... The two journeyed in silence until reaching Bi Shan City. Upon entering, they navigated through the city streets, arriving at the northern base of the mountain—a maze of treacherous peaks, each competing for grandeur, with jagged ridges forming a natural fortress. Gu Changhuai led Mo Hua to a mountain cave. The entrance, cloaked by green vines, opened to a spacious area—the provisional base for the Dao Court Division, where numerous officers murmured in discussion. Upon entering the cave, Gu Changhuai and Mo Hua were greeted with respect by the officers, though many cast puzzled glances at Mo Hua. Why did Chief Gu bring a young cultivator along? Gu Changhuai offered no explanation. Instead, he pointed out two individuals, "Gu Quan, Gu An, come with me." Amid the group, two officers in standard robes, their appearances indistinguishable, stepped forward. They bowed respectfully, "Yes, sir." "The last name is Gu..." Mo Hua surmised without needing guesses—these were Gu family members, likely twins given their resemblance. Gu Changhuai led Mo Hua, along with Gu Quan and Gu An, out of the cave, meandering through the mountains for the duration of a tea session before pausing at a massive rock formation. Mo Hua glanced up to see the rock spanning the mountaintop. A natural fissure divided the rock, and flanked by jagged edges, it formed what seemed a thread through the sky. "Heaven's Line..." Mo Hua murmured, then turned to Gu Changhuai, "A heavenly cave beyond this line? So, the demon lair lies past here?" Gu Changhuai nodded. The gap between the fissure was so narrow, accommodating only one person at a time. Gu Changhuai led the way, Mo Hua at his heels, followed by Gu An and Gu Quan bringing up the rear. Clearing Heaven's Line, their view opened up spectacularly to expansive skies and floating clouds—above the clouds, yet below the heavens—a cliff-edge with no path in sight. Gu Changhuai pointed into the distance. Mo Hua followed his gaze to a solitary peak suspended in the misty horizon. "That's the demon lair." Gu Changhuai mentioned, adding: "You guessed right; beneath us is a stone bridge inscribed with camouflage arrays hidden from sight, making the demon lair unattainable..." Staring at the sheer drop and swirling mists below, Mo Hua experienced a moment of déjà vu. He recalled the hidden stone path at the back of the Black Mountain Village, cloaked by similar arrays. Camouflage arrays... Mo Hua sighed. Noble families exploit arrays for profit. Outlaws and sinister cultivators use arrays to elude capture, conducting their misdeeds. While at the bottom, wandering cultivators, struggling day by day, cannot even afford the simplest arrays. Whether in Tongxian City of Liyu洲, Nanyue City, or now in Qian州's immortal city, similar patterns emerge… When will arrays—carrying the principles of heaven and earth—truly benefit all lives? Mo Hua pondered. But now is not the time for philosophical musings... Mo Hua extended his spiritual senses, probing the depths below—the emptiness dispelled revealing the hidden stone bridge. In his spiritual vision, the bridge manifested clearly, with elaborate arrays etched into its surface. Stabilizing Earth and Stone formations, small magnetic arrays for surveillance, and camouflage arrays for concealment. As Mo Hua scrutinized, a realization paused him. "Camouflage array..." This particular camouflage formation seemed... Alerted, Mo Hua delved deeper, shocked by the discovery. A tier-two nineteen-pattern array! The last camouflage array Mo Hua studied was a tier-one nine-pattern formation. The tier-two, he hadn't mastered yet. Mo Hua immediately recognized the oversight. Camouflage arrays fall under the most challenging category in basic formations. A tier-one camouflage array contains a total of nine patterns. By extension, a tier-two formation likely resides at the top of its classification, boasting nineteen patterns... I made a miscalculation. Within Fire Buddha's ranks, operates a high-tier second-level array master! "How careless..." Mo Hua realized. An array concealing itself from Foundation Establishment cultivators is likely tier-two. And a tier-two camouflage, with nineteen patterns, is indeed plausible. A master capable of crafting such an array must surely be a high-tier second-level master. His cultivation... the Golden Core? Frowning, Mo Hua reconsidered and shook his head. It shouldn't be Golden Core. A high-tier second-level array master, Golden Core stage—such a figure wouldn't be subservient to Fire Buddha. Fire Buddha lacks the caliber. Most likely, still late Foundation Establishment, or peak level. Late Foundation Establishment, high-tier second-level array master... Mo Hua's eyes narrowed. Such a person is a formidable array expert! Likely possessing prodigious talent in arrays as well... Mo Hua furrowed his brows. A high-tier second-level master is problematic... Yet the demon lair is unavoidable, Fire Buddha must be captured... Mo Hua pondered quietly. A high-tier second-level is a higher hurdle than expected. Having reached Qian Xue to this point, I haven't yet engaged with a second-tier array master. But it presents an opportunity for knowledge and experience. Besides, array encounters aren't terrors of life and death like combat skirmishes. Though challenging, the risk doesn't stretch too far. Therefore, the demon lair beckons, though solo ventures are out of the question. Reflecting back. The Black Mountain challenge was tackled alone; in hindsight, it was too risky and left those at home worried. Now, mature and wiser, decisions must lean towards caution. I'll go, but with a protector. A "Golden Core" protector. Mo Hua covertly glanced at Gu Changhuai. Sensing Mo Hua's odd expression, puzzled by Mo Hua's thoughts, Gu Changhuai inquired: "Notice anything?" Mo Hua considered, then candidly replied, "There ought to be a high-tier second-level master under Fire Buddha's control..." Hearing that, Gu Changhuai's brows furrowed heavily. A high-tier second-level master... that's very tricky. "What next?" Mo Hua asked. Gu Changhuai pondered for a moment before slowly stating: "Regardless, Fire Buddha mustn’t escape—high-tier second-level master or not, find an opportunity to eliminate them both..." "But... how can you even approach?" Mo Hua expressed doubt, "Wouldn't heading straight over risk exposure?" Gu Changhuai answered, "I brought some precious concealment artifacts from the Gu family. Using their own method, we can cloak ourselves to cross." Mo Hua's eyes gleamed. As expected of Uncle Gu, thorough in his "protector" responsibilities! He'd even prepared a method of approach himself. Mo Hua declared, "I'm going too!" Gu Changhuai was taken aback. Gu An and Gu Quan exchanged surprised looks. This kid has such nerve. Gu Changhuai refused, "You can't go." If anything happens inside, explaining to his cousin would be impossible. Mo Hua countered, "If I don't go, even concealed, you'd still be detected..." Gu Changhuai frowned. Mo Hua gestured towards the front cliff, "On the stone bridge below, besides the camouflage array, there's a small magnetic array..." "This small magnetic array is for alerting..." "They'd know the stone bridge is crossed the moment you trigger it, under magnetic resonance...." "They'd either block the passage, ambush midway, or destructively take down the bridge for a certain kill..." "But..." Mo Hua's gaze sharpened, "With me in tow, problems vanish!" "These small magnetic arrays can't deceive me." Gu Changhuai's expression shifted slightly. This was why he hadn't rashly attempted the crossing despite preparing the concealed artifacts. He feared unknown variables laid upon the bridge. However, the prospect of Mo Hua crossing over to the demon lair still worried Gu Changhuai. "It's just a small magnetic array. I can have someone return to the Gu family to fetch some magnetic compasses to carefully probe..." Mo Hua shook his head, "That's too time-consuming, and what if there are other warning arrays?" "If you miss anything, you'll alert Fire Buddha." "If he's forewarned and escapes from the lair, the whole mission would fall apart." I won't get to learn the Meteor Fire Technique then… Mo Hua thought to himself. Gu Changhuai hesitated visibly. Mo Hua, noting his uncertainty, pressed on: "This is just the stone bridge. Once in Fire Buddha's lair, there are likely even more arrays." "In such a situation, wouldn't you need a clever, savvy, and skilled young array master to help resolve these troubles?" Mo Hua blinked playfully. Although Gu Changhuai was reluctant to recognize the self-proclaimed titles Mo Hua gave himself, he couldn't refute them either. If he had solutions for these array challenges, he wouldn't have needed Mo Hua in the first place. Finally, Gu Changhuai sighed, "Alright, you can come with us, but remember the 'three no's'." "Mhm, mhm," Mo Hua nodded quickly, "Follow you, don't act, just be a bystander." He remembered that much. Gu Changhuai sighed wearily, looking resigned. Beside them, Gu An and Gu Quan remained outwardly composed but were inwardly astonished. They seldom returned to the Gu household due to their positions in the Dao Court Division, and this was the first time meeting Mo Hua. It was also the first time they witnessed someone negotiate with the Young Master to such an extent. Even managing to make the Young Master 'relent' to this degree. For the first time, they saw an expression of exasperation and helplessness on the typically proud Young Master's face… In that moment, they couldn't help but regard Mo Hua with newfound respect. Afterwards, Gu Changhuai retrieved several jade pendants, handing one to each person. "This is the Water's Hidden Jade, a second-tier concealment artifact. When worn, it cloaks the bearer in watery light, concealing their form..." Gu An and Gu Quan accepted the jade with sincere respect. Mo Hua thought for a moment and accepted his too, smoothly going along. Although he knew high-level concealment techniques, like the advanced Five Elements Stealth, having extra assurance was not unwelcome. Moreover, the pendant appeared invaluable, certainly worth many spirit stones. He wouldn't let Uncle Gu's goodwill go to waste. Mo Hua discreetly tucked the Water's Hidden Jade into his robes. Before setting off, Gu Changhuai reminded Mo Hua: "If anything happens, don't worry about us. Just run and ensure your own safety." Mo Hua nodded, "I will!" Thus, they commenced their journey. A group of four: Gold Core stage Gu Changhuai, late Foundation Establishment stage Gu An and Gu Quan, and early Foundation Establishment stage Mo Hua. All concealed their presence, stepping onto the invisible stone bridge leading to the demon lair. Thank you for the support from cultivators like Xiu Xian and Feng Fong! (End of Chapter) --- Previous Chapter Bookmark Table of Contents Next Chapter Quick Tip: Press [Spacebar] to return to the directory, use (left arrow key ←) to go to the previous chapter, and (right arrow key →) to move to the next chapter. Chapter Error? 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