Chapter 1100: The Bai Clan
Why was the Mistress of the Flower Valley treating him so kindly?
And why did she seem burdened with such heavy thoughts?
Mo Hua couldn't quite understand. He looked up at her closely and saw that the Mistress of the Flower Valley had already composed herself. Her stunningly beautiful face had regained its calm, once again appearing dignified and graceful. Only in the depths of her eyes was there a pain too deep for words.
"This Jade Talisman—keep it safe," the Mistress of the Flower Valley said gently.
Mo Hua was momentarily stunned, then nodded. "Thank you, Mistress."
"If you ever run into trouble, you can use it."
"Yes."
Though he said that aloud, Mo Hua had already made up his mind—he would never use this jade talisman in his lifetime.
A male disciple of the Great Void Sect carrying a jade talisman from the Hundred Flower Valley? What would others think if they saw it?
If word got out, he really would become the only male disciple of the Hundred Flower Valley…
How would that look?
After sipping tea together for a while longer, the Mistress of the Flower Valley got up to leave, and Mo Hua saw her out with a respectful bow.
Afterward, he chatted a little with Murong Caiyun and Hua Qianqian. Eventually, he rose to bid farewell, a hint of melancholy in his voice.
"Senior Sister Murong, Senior Sister Qianqian—until we meet again."
Murong Caiyun looked reluctant to part. Hua Qianqian held Mo Hua's hand, her eyes red, and couldn't help but say:
"If you ever return to the Qianxue Prefecture, you must remember to come find your Senior Sister Qianqian."
"I will," Mo Hua nodded. "And I hope you reach Core Formation soon."
Hua Qianqian sighed. "You too."
After exchanging final goodbyes, Mo Hua parted ways with his two senior sisters.
Upon returning to the sect, he made one last visit to Mount Tai'a to see Xiao Mutou. The two of them sat at the foot of the mountain and chatted for a while.
Mo Hua brought out some wine for Xiao Mutou.
With their parting close at hand, Xiao Mutou was in low spirits and drank bowl after bowl. But his alcohol tolerance was poor, and before long, he had drunk too much. His face turned a dusky red, and he slurred grand declarations with flushed cheeks.
He said that one day, he would become the strongest swordsmith of the Tai'a lineage—and forge the finest sword for his Little Senior Brother.
Eventually, he passed out completely, and Mo Hua carried him back.
By then, Mo Hua had seen almost everyone he wanted to see—it was truly time for him to leave.
At the Great Void Sect, within the elders' hall.
Elder Xun asked him, "Are you certain you've made your decision to leave?"
Mo Hua nodded and bowed deeply to Elder Xun. "During my time at the Great Void Sect, I have received so much care and guidance. I am truly grateful."
Elder Xun sighed deeply. In that instant, it felt as though a piece of his heart had been carved out—empty, aching, and sore.
This child… was leaving after all.
These nine years together now felt like a fleeting moment.
Elder Xun could still recall the very first time he met Mo Hua, but now, all of it had become the past.
With another sigh, Elder Xun pulled a few tokens from his sleeve and handed them to Mo Hua:
"These are five 'Cloud Ferry Tokens,' each corresponding to a different hour and a different Cloud Ferry from a different Cloud Ferry City."
"These next three days, I'll use the Great Void's Fate Compass to obscure karma and hide your whereabouts."
"Within these three days, follow your heart. Choose whichever ferry you wish to take and leave quietly. There's no need to tell anyone."
Mo Hua was entangled in deep karmic ties and possessed immense fortune.
Throughout the recent Dao Discussion Conference, he had offended far too many—both openly and behind the scenes.
And there were also many who coveted his identity and envied his talent.
Thus, his departure had to remain absolutely secret.
At least, within the territory of Qianxue Prefecture, a fifth-tier domain—his whereabouts must not be exposed.
Once he left Qianxue Prefecture and even the broader Qian Prefecture, he would be safer, beyond the reach of those powerful noble clans and sects.
Especially in smaller, second- or third-tier prefectures, where the Heavenly Dao restricted powerful cultivators at the Core Formation and Ascension levels from acting—Mo Hua would have the strength to protect himself.
In fact, the more remote and lower-ranked the region, the safer he would be.
The greatest danger lay in the fourth- and fifth-tier territories.
Especially the fifth-tier Qianxue Prefecture, where some Void Tribulation ancestors of aristocratic sects absolutely despised Mo Hua.
On the surface, due to public image, they might not act. But behind the scenes? Who could say they wouldn't lose their minds and strike?
Thus, Mo Hua's departure needed to be silent. No sound. No trace.
Mo Hua understood all this.
He accepted the Cloud Ferry Tokens and bowed again. "Thank you, Elder."
Elder Xun nodded slightly. Still concerned, he asked, "Have you decided on your life-bound artifact?"
Mo Hua nodded. "I've prepared everything I need."
These past days, while he remained at the Great Void Sect, he had made many preparations.
He had gathered extensive knowledge on refining the second-tier, twenty-four-line "Twelve Meridian Gluttonous Spirit Bone Formation," including its techniques, considerations, and precautions—all carefully transcribed for future study.
He had also exchanged a large amount of merit for various heavenly materials and spiritual treasures, all stored safely in his storage ring.
Some of the refining materials were incredibly rare, and for those, Mo Hua had used connections with elders to get access beyond his rank.
He had even consulted Elder Xun on certain questions.
Although Elder Xun didn't know exactly what life-bound artifact Mo Hua was aiming to refine, he offered valuable insights and advice based on his extensive cultivation experience and deep knowledge—following the direction Mo Hua described.
Though he harbored worries, Elder Xun didn't press for details. Nor did he wish to pry.
Some things, once known, create karmic ties. And with karma comes trace. With trace, a flaw.
To protect Mo Hua, Elder Xun felt it was better not to know.
Looking at Mo Hua, he solemnly reminded him:
"Child, your cultivation path is full of the unexpected. I cannot define it for you. Just plan carefully—but remember: do not rush, do not act recklessly, and do not harm your foundation."
Mo Hua was moved and cupped his fists. "Understood."
Elder Xun hesitated for a moment, then suddenly recalled something and said:
"Some time ago, I had the Sect Master prepare something for you. I thought you might have use for it. Go find him."
"Sect Master?" Mo Hua blinked in surprise.
"Yes," Elder Xun nodded.
Mo Hua stood up and gave Elder Xun another deep, respectful bow, then turned to leave. But as he reached the door, he paused.
Crossing that threshold… he would likely never return.
Who knew when he would see Elder Xun again?
A wave of bitterness surged in his heart, and he turned back to glance at the old man.
Elder Xun gently waved his hand, his expression kind. "Go on."
Mo Hua's eyes grew misty. He nodded, took one last look to memorize Elder Xun's appearance, then finally turned and walked away.
...
In the tower of the Book Courtyard.
Mo Hua paid a private visit to the Sect Master of the Great Void Sect and explained his reason for coming.
In the pavilion of the Book Garden.
Mo Hua paid a private visit to the Sect Master of the Great Void Sect and explained his purpose.
The Sect Master of Great Void took out a wooden box and handed Mo Hua a white jade scroll from within it.
Mo Hua looked slightly puzzled. "This is…?"
The Sect Master replied, "The Wood-White-Gold-Jade Body Refinement Technique."
"Wood-White-Gold-Jade?" Mo Hua frowned.
The Sect Master explained:
"The *Wood-White-Gold-Jade Body Refinement Technique*—wood-white forms the marrow, gold and jade forge the bones. It is an alternative method to achieve a 'bronze skin and iron bones' physique. It's one of the top-secret techniques passed down through my clan, and generally, only direct descendants of the main family or those with exceptional backgrounds can cultivate it."
"Previously, at the request of Elder Xun, I specifically sought out this technique from my clan. By right, you should've received it much earlier."
"Unfortunately, my clan has many rules, and this technique is a precious inheritance. It's not so easy to obtain."
"I went through quite a bit of trouble to borrow a copy from my clan's Dao Repository. That's why there was such a delay."
Mo Hua felt grateful and bowed, saying, "You've gone through much trouble, Sect Master. I'm deeply thankful."
The Sect Master of Great Void smiled and said, "You've done far more for the Great Void Sect than I have. If anything, I should be the one thanking you."
After all, without Mo Hua, the three sects may never have unified.
The Great Void Sect would not have become the leading sect of the Qianxue Region.
He himself would not have become the sect master of the number one sect in Qianxue.
Even if the title of "number one sect" was a bit inflated, it was still number one. It just needed some time to truly settle and prove itself.
Gaining the number one title was thanks to disciples like Mo Hua.
Maintaining that title and leading the sect to glory—that was now the responsibility of him and the other elders.
Mo Hua smiled faintly, but then asked with a hint of worry:
"Sect Master, you took this secret technique from your clan and gave it to me. Will that cause any trouble?"
The Sect Master replied, "Since I've given it to you, naturally there will be no issue. Just focus on learning it. I still hold a certain position in the clan."
Mo Hua nodded, then asked curiously, "Sect Master, you said this technique came from your clan. That means… you're from a noble family?"
The Sect Master nodded. "That's right."
"Which family?" Mo Hua asked, intrigued.
The Sect Master answered calmly:
"The Bai Family."
Mo Hua froze. In that instant, emotions surged like crashing waves.
The Sect Master then added, as if suddenly remembering, "Ah, right, I don't think I ever told you… My surname is Bai. I'm from the Bai Clan—one of the great clans of Qianzhou."
Mo Hua murmured, "The… Bai Clan…"
The Sect Master nodded again. "From the ancient spiritual vein of Qianlong, the land of emperors, the sixth-rank ancestral territory of the Zulong Realm—the Bai Clan."
Sixth rank… Zulong Realm… Bai Clan.
Mo Hua stood there in a daze, utterly shaken, unable to calm his heart for a long while.
The Sect Master of Great Void… was from the Bai Clan?!
The Sect Master glanced at Mo Hua and noticed his shock and dazed expression, which struck him as unusual.
This child rarely ever appeared absentminded.
"You… know the Bai Clan?" the Sect Master asked.
Mo Hua quietly replied, "I've heard… a little…"
The Sect Master didn't think too much of it.
The Bai Clan of Qianzhou was a truly prosperous sixth-rank great clan and rarely appeared in the public eye.
Still, it wasn't strange that people had heard of them.
Of course, hearing about them and actually being able to come into contact with them were two very different things.
The Sect Master looked at Mo Hua with warmth and deep appreciation in his eyes:
"If you ever have the time, come visit the Bai Clan. I'll treat you well as a host."
"…Alright. Thank you, Sect Master…"
Mo Hua's expression was complex and a little strange.
As the sect master was busy with sect affairs, Mo Hua didn't want to disturb him any longer. He rose to take his leave. After exiting the Book Garden, he turned and saw the big white dog again. Out of habit, he reached out and stroked its fluffy neck, feeling a strange emotion in his heart.
> "The Sect Master is from the Bai Clan… so this big white dog… is also a Bai Clan dog?"
The big white dog wagged its tail, looking smug and full of spirit.
Mo Hua sighed and patted its head. "I'm leaving the sect. From now on, you'll have to play on your own."
The big white dog seemed to understand his words. It froze instantly, then drooped its head involuntarily, looking completely dejected.
Mo Hua sighed again and secretly pulled out a few bones, slipping them to the dog. "These are for you. Eat them slowly."
The big white dog chewed the bones, smelling the demonic scent within. It was delicious, yet it couldn't feel happy.
Mo Hua gave the dog one last pat on the head and murmured, "Until fate lets us meet again…" Then he turned and walked away.
The big white dog watched as Mo Hua left, not moving until his figure disappeared from view. Then it slowly lay down, its big head drooping low, full of sorrow.
…
Returning to the disciple quarters.
Mo Hua looked dazed, still finding it hard to believe.
"The Bai family, huh…"
He had cultivated in the Great Void Sect for nine full years, and never imagined that his sect master would turn out to be someone from the Bai family.
A fifth-grade noble family was already impressive. A sixth-grade noble family—especially a peak sixth-grade family—must be unimaginably powerful…
With mixed feelings, Mo Hua sighed inwardly and thought:
"Senior Brother and Senior Sister… it's been so long since there's been any news of them. I wonder when I'll get to see them again…"
"Uncle-Master Bai took Master away… I don't know how he is now…"
Mo Hua couldn't help letting out a long sigh.
"…I'll think about it later."
The matter of the Bai family, and the matter of his Master, weren't things he could concern himself with at the moment.
"I should prepare to leave the sect."
At last, it was time to say farewell to the Great Void Sect—the sect where he had lived and cultivated for nine years.
Mo Hua took out a few Cloud Ferry Tokens that Elder Xun had given him.
These tokens varied in shape and color. They were for different Cloud Ferries, each departing from different docks, at different times within three days.
All Mo Hua had to do was pick one and board the ferry without alerting anyone, quietly leaving the territory of Qianxue Prefecture.
This was Elder Xun's way of protecting him.
Mo Hua understood this well.
As for which one to choose, it didn't really matter—as long as he told no one and kept it to himself.
Since that was the case, naturally Mo Hua wanted to pick the largest, most luxurious, and fastest ferry.
That way, the journey would be more comfortable, and he could get home earlier to see his parents.
At the thought of Tongxian City and his parents, a warm feeling surged in his heart, followed by a hint of nervousness.
Even though he hadn't yet boarded the ferry or set foot on the journey home, he already felt a touch of homesick anxiety.
Mo Hua shook his head.
After examining the five tokens, he finally chose a golden jade token.
This token belonged to a large, custom-built ferry operated by the Free Wanderer Sect. It departed from within the borders of Qianxue Prefecture, headed to Xun Prefecture, passing through Li Prefecture. It promised a smooth journey in a high-class cabin, with good food and quiet surroundings.
"This one, then!"
Mo Hua was about to put the golden token into his storage pouch, but his heart suddenly skipped a beat—he had a feeling.
He turned his gaze toward a corner, where a pale white Cloud Ferry Token lay.
This token was much more ordinary.
It clearly wasn't from a ferry route managed by any major noble family or sect.
The ferry itself was mid-sized, with regular cabins and unimpressive meals.
More importantly, it was an older-style ferry—the slowest among the options.
From Qianxue Prefecture to Li Prefecture, the journey would take at least an extra month.
Mo Hua frowned.
Logic told him he should choose the golden token—large, stable, comfortable, and fast.
But a karmic intuition told him he should pick the pale white one.
"Why? Is there danger with the golden token?"
Mo Hua took out his copper coin and did a quick divination. His expression turned strange. "Nothing dangerous came up…"
He did brief readings on the other tokens too. They were all about the same.
After all, these were given to him by Elder Xun, who surely had already performed divinations. There couldn't be any real danger.
In fact, the white token wasn't any safer either. It was just… a feeling. A deep intuition told Mo Hua that if he didn't choose it, he would regret it.
Mo Hua furrowed his brows. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't make sense of it. In the end, he sighed and put the relatively shabby pale white token into his storage ring.
"Slow is fine… I can't ignore karmic intuition."
"A Cloud Ferry at the Dog Hour tomorrow afternoon… that means I'll have to leave at dawn…"
He'd always known his departure was near.
But now that the exact time had been set, a tightness filled Mo Hua's chest, and a melancholy sense of loss settled over him.
He turned to glance at the disciple room once more.
This room—where he had lived for nine years—was where he slept, cultivated, read books, and drew array diagrams. It truly felt like "home."
Now he was leaving, and might never return.
A sorrowful farewell lingered in his heart. So many memories—hard to let go.
Mo Hua sighed again and walked slowly around the room, as if trying to etch every wall, corner, table, and chair into memory.
But after a while, as he gazed at the empty center of the room, he froze.
He couldn't help but think of Ancestor Dugu.
Back then, Ancestor Dugu had torn open space in this very room to bring him to the back mountain and teach him how to transform his divine sense into a sword.
But now, the space was still and silent.
There had been no word from Ancestor Dugu. Who knew what had happened to him?
Thinking back, Mo Hua had managed to see everyone he wanted to see… except Ancestor Dugu. He hadn't gotten a chance to say goodbye or express his gratitude.
A pang of regret tugged at Mo Hua's heart.
"Oh well. Matters of a Void-Returning Ancestor aren't something a Foundation Establishment disciple like me can worry about. I'll focus on cultivating. When I've grown stronger—if I get the chance—I'll return to thank Ancestor Dugu properly for teaching me the Way of the Sword."
Having made up his mind, Mo Hua nodded. He packed everything carefully, double-checked to make sure nothing was left behind, and finally felt at ease.
There were still three to four hours until dawn.
Mo Hua wanted to draw some array diagrams like usual, but his mind was too restless, caught in a storm of emotions.
All he could do was lie on his bed and rest with his eyes closed.
But the moment he did, memories from his nine years in the Great Void Sect—every person and event, every familiar, vivid face—floated across his heart like a lantern carousel.
Knowing that he was about to part from it all made his chest ache with sorrow.
Suddenly, a sound like space shattering echoed.
Mo Hua's pupils trembled as he slowly sat up.
Through hazy vision, he saw a pitch-black, twisted spatial rift appear in the room.
He recognized that rift well.
It was the same kind of rift that Ancestor Dugu had once torn open to take him to the back mountain for sword training.
But now, for some unknown reason… this rift had opened on its own.
From within, a cold and sinister demonic intent seeped out.
A hazy, phantom-like voice whispered, trying to lure Mo Hua:
"Come… to me…"
(End of this Chapter)