Chapter 1099: Hundred Flowers Jade Guide
After bidding farewell to Lord Huangshan, Mo Hua descended the mountain. In the small immortal town at the foot of the mountain, he spent some spirit stones to hire people to build a shrine for Lord Huangshan and instructed them to regularly send offerings so the mountain god wouldn't go hungry or be left to suffer in the wind and rain.
Although Lord Huangshan had already found his original divine statue and now took the matter of incense and faith lightly—
He still couldn't go hungry!
This was true for people, and it was true for deities as well.
After arranging all this, Mo Hua turned back and took one last glance at Withered Mountain. In his heart, he silently wished Lord Huangshan well before riding off in a carriage.
After leaving Withered Mountain, there was still some distance to the Great Void Sect.
Mo Hua sat inside the carriage, eyes closed, resting.
The rhythmic sound of horse hooves echoed—tick-tock, tick-tock. No one knew how long they had traveled when suddenly the forest became gloomy, the surroundings silent as death. A faint scent of blood and baleful aura hung in the air.
Mo Hua slowly opened his eyes.
Ever since he had been afflicted by the Life-Calamity Curse, he had become extremely sensitive to the auras of life and death, and anything related to baleful energy.
Previously, when encountering such energies, he would still need to use his divine sense to detect them, or perform calculations to deduce their source.
Now, the karmic-level baleful aura was like a "scent"—Mo Hua could almost instinctively smell it.
He lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked outside.
What met his eyes was a poor, desolate village. The houses were in disrepair. Traces of life remained, but not a single soul could be seen.
The blood in the air had already been thinned out by the mountain winds—
But the aura of death and calamity lingered heavily.
Mo Hua didn't need to calculate or deduce anything—instantly, scene after scene surfaced before his eyes.
His eyes could clearly perceive the karmic threads of death, able to see the world's suffering and despair.
Demonic cultivators were killing, drinking blood, refining corpses, and flaying flesh from bone.
Innocent cultivators struggled, resisted, and in their agony, sank into hopelessness.
The scenes unfolded in black and white, yet stained with blood.
Mo Hua sighed softly.
He continued onward in the carriage, passing by several more villages and mountain settlements—all deserted.
He even passed through a small immortal city that had once been lively, bustling with fireworks and street performers. Mo Hua had strolled through its streets before, eaten noodles, and watched shows there. Now it was reduced to ruins.
His expression dimmed slightly.
This… was the catastrophe of blood sacrifice.
When the Blood Sacrifice Grand Array of Desolate Heaven was activated, altars were needed to serve as nodes for the sacrificial rituals.
The altar in Solitary Mountain City had been destroyed by Mo Hua. The altar in the small fishing village had also been ruined by him.
Thus, the cultivators in those two locations survived the calamity with little to no casualties.
But Mo Hua couldn't possibly destroy every altar.
Where there were survivors, there were also the dead.
These immortal towns and villages he passed through had met with disaster. Countless innocent cultivators were tormented and slaughtered by demonic cultivators, their flesh and blood—and their despair—offered to the altars.
The places where these cultivators once lived were reduced to ruins and ghost villages.
These people—each one was a life.
But because they were all low-level cultivators, impoverished and insignificant, most people merely felt a moment of sorrow before moving on.
Some wouldn't even feel that.
Because all they saw were cold, lifeless numbers on a Dao Court file.
Many of the humble rogue cultivators who perished wouldn't even be counted in the death toll.
In truth, it was the silent "majority" who bore the pain, despair, and cost of death in the great calamities of heaven and earth.
They lived in obscurity.
And when they died, it was even more silent—without a single sound, they were buried among the mountains and wild grass.
Mo Hua's gaze was filled with compassion—tinged with helplessness, and a trace of powerlessness. In the end, he sighed and muttered:
"Still… not strong enough…"
Heaven moves with strength. A true cultivator strives constantly for self-improvement.
Only by continuously growing stronger—strong enough—can one change the structure of the cultivation world and the fate of all living beings.
Mo Hua lifted his head and gazed at the vast, boundless sky—lost in thought.
After leaving Withered Mountain, the carriage traveled for half a day before finally returning to the Qianxue Prefecture.
But Mo Hua didn't go back to the Great Void Sect. Instead, he first went to the Water Dao Sect. As he had expected, there he found Elder Yu Canghai, formerly of the Water Prison Sect.
After the Water Yama incident, Yu Canghai had temporarily stayed at the Gu Clan to lay low. Mo Hua hadn't checked on him since. Unexpectedly, Yu Canghai had now become an elder of the Water Dao Sect.
Yu Canghai was surprised to see Mo Hua, then sighed:
"With the Gu Clan's backing and Gu Diansi's recommendation, I was accepted into the Water Dao Sect as an elder."
"The former high-ranking members of the Water Dao Sect were purged by the Dao Court. Most of the rest know nothing about my past and assume I'm a 'watchdog' planted by the Dao Court. They dare not offend me and don't question my background too deeply."
"The Water Dao Sect's heritage mostly came from the Water Prison Sect. Teaching it comes naturally to me, so being an elder isn't difficult."
Mo Hua asked, "Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Shuizi—were you the one who took them in?"
"Yes," Yu Canghai nodded. "I had to keep those two children close. Only then could I feel at ease…"
"If they can one day be accepted into the inner sect and become my personal disciples, then I can rightfully continue the legacy of the Water Prison Sect."
"That way, I'll have no regrets in this life. Even in the underworld, I can face my ancestors."
At this, Yu Canghai sighed and cupped his hands toward Mo Hua. "All of this… I owe to you, little brother. I'm endlessly grateful."
Mo Hua nodded without replying.
Yu Canghai got up to pour him tea.
Mo Hua accepted the cup and took a sip, then suddenly said, "The Water Prison Forbidden Casket is in my possession."
Yu Canghai's body trembled. Tea spilled across his hand. He looked up at Mo Hua, eyes filled with disbelief.
"The… the Water Prison…"
Mo Hua nodded.
Yu Canghai's face went pale.
He had long suspected, with a faint hope, that the casket might be in Mo Hua's hands.
But he never truly dared believe it.
He never imagined that the forbidden treasure passed down through countless generations of the Water Prison Sect had truly fallen into Mo Hua's hands.
And what's more, with just a sip of tea, Mo Hua had casually, plainly, told him so face-to-face.
Yu Canghai's heart surged with waves. He clenched his fists, eyes burning with longing, his voice trembling:
"Then…"
Mo Hua shook his head. "I can't give it to you right now."
"Then..."
Mo Hua shook his head. "I can't give it to you now."
A deep sense of disappointment welled up on Yu Canghai's face, with barely concealed unwillingness and a trace of anger in his eyes.
But when he looked up and met Mo Hua's calm, unfathomable gaze, all his frustration instantly vanished without a trace.
Yu Canghai let out a long sigh, his expression bleak.
Mo Hua said lightly, "You should understand in your heart—this thing, even if I gave it to you, you couldn't keep it. If even the slightest word gets out, it could bring disaster not only to you, but to Xiaoshunzi, Xiaoshuizi, even the entire Little Fishing Village. You've tasted the bitterness of 'possessing a treasure and inviting trouble,' haven't you?"
"But this thing originally belonged to the Water Prison Sect," Mo Hua continued. "I *can* give it to you—just not now."
Yu Canghai was momentarily stunned. A flicker of light returned to his darkened eyes.
Mo Hua said, "The day you reach the Feathering stage and are qualified to protect this box, I'll give it to you."
Yu Canghai gave a bitter smile. "My aptitude has always been dull, and I've damaged my foundation from being hunted for so long. In this life, I may never even touch the edge of Feathering. How can I dare to dream of such a thing?"
"That's your problem," Mo Hua replied.
Yu Canghai's face was full of bitterness and helplessness.
Mo Hua thought for a moment, realizing he might be making things too difficult for him, so he added, "If Xiaoshunzi or Xiaoshuizi reaches the Golden Core stage, that'll be enough. I'll give you the box then."
Yu Canghai solemnly nodded. "Alright."
Though forming a Golden Core was still difficult, it was much easier than reaching Feathering.
And cultivating Xiaoshunzi and Xiaoshuizi into talents had always been his wish. Mo Hua's request didn't conflict with that at all.
The only concern was—would Mo Hua keep his word?
Yu Canghai glanced at Mo Hua and pondered for a moment, sighing inwardly.
Whatever else could be said, at least for now, this Young Lord Mo was clearly someone worthy of trust.
He had shown great kindness—to himself, to his family, and to the Water Prison Sect.
Even in the worst-case scenario, if Mo Hua truly wanted to keep the Water Prison Forbidden Box, he didn't need to say a word.
Even if he had refused outright, there would be nothing to say.
With his current fame and unique position in the Great Void Sect, even if he took the box by force—or quietly had a Golden Core elder like Yu Canghai killed—it wouldn't be difficult.
The fact that he hadn't done that, and instead chose to speak to him face to face, promising to return the forbidden box in the future…
That already showed a great deal of respect to a fallen sect's elder like him.
And beyond that, it was a form of *kindness*—even a *promise to live for*.
Understanding this, Yu Canghai exhaled deeply, his heart settling with a new sense of gratitude.
He stood and bowed deeply. "Many thanks, Young Lord, for your great kindness in preserving the Water Prison Sect's legacy."
Seeing the sincerity in Elder Yu's eyes, Mo Hua nodded slightly.
Both emotionally and logically, he didn't want the Water Prison Sect's legacy to die out.
After all, people needed something to hope for—be it their sect's lineage, their own cultivation, or their disciples' education.
After bidding farewell to Elder Yu, since he happened to be in the Water Dao Sect, Mo Hua also dropped by to visit Wang Chen.
Wang Chen was doing quite well these days.
Among the current generation of disciples in the Water Dao Sect, the most gifted and strongest in cultivation was Qin Cangliu.
But the one with the widest network and most popularity—was the unremarkable Wang Chen.
This made Mo Hua feel quite emotional.
People really couldn't be judged by appearances.
Even someone who looked utterly average could show unexpected talent, given the right opportunity.
He remembered back when he and Hao Xuan had ambushed Wang Chen in a sack and beat him up on the roadside.
Mo Hua couldn't help but feel even more emotional.
Fortunately, Wang Chen hadn't taken that minor grudge to heart.
In fact, if Mo Hua and the others *hadn't* given him that beating, he might've gotten caught up in the scandal with the dirty disciples on the Rouge Boat and been "purged" along with them.
He'd never have reached where he was today.
Fate really was unpredictable.
"Senior Brother…"
In private, Wang Chen, like Hao Xuan, still called Mo Hua "Little Senior Brother."
"I'm following the path of a senior in the Water Dao Sect. After graduation, I'll be posted in a small local Dao Court for a few years. If I can form a core, I'll be transferred back to somewhere around Qianxue Prefecture, and work my way up from a Records Officer… I don't know if I'll ever get to see you again..."
He cupped his hands sincerely. "Little Senior Brother, take care of yourself."
Mo Hua also smiled and cupped his hands in return. "Wishing you great success. Let's meet again if fate allows."
After parting with Wang Chen, Mo Hua returned to the Great Void Sect and also met with one of the "two traitors"—Song Jian.
In a small forest on the Demon Refining Mountain—
Song Jian arrived sneaking around like a thief, dressed in black and wrapped in a headscarf.
Mo Hua was speechless. "Do you really have to be *this* cautious?"
"You don't get it," Song Jian said. "I'm not who I used to be. I'm just one step away from becoming the 'Senior Brother' of our generation. If anyone sees me colluding with you—our Broken Gold Sect's sworn enemy—that's it. Game over. I could jump in the Yellow River and not wash it clean..."
Mo Hua didn't even know what to say.
*You're already a 'traitor'—what's there to wash clean?*
The two of them sat down and chatted for a while.
Song Jian briefly explained his future plans.
As a direct descendant of the Song family, he would definitely stay in the Broken Gold Sect's inner court, starting out as an instructor, working his way up. If he could form a Golden Core, he'd be promoted to Elder and then aim for even higher positions.
With Mo Hua gone, he had no more help.
But at least there was no longer the risk of being exposed—that he, the "prodigy" of the Broken Gold Sect, was secretly propped up by an inner disciple from a rival sect.
"What about you?" Song Jian asked Mo Hua.
"Hard to say," Mo Hua replied.
He really hadn't thought it all through yet.
Song Jian looked at him, suddenly frowning. "Don't tell me… you *still* haven't figured out your life-bound magical treasure?"
Mo Hua said, "I'm starting to have a rough idea."
Song Jian couldn't help but say, "My dear Mo-ge… You're already in late Foundation Establishment. Everyone's practically about to form their cores, and *you're only starting* to get an idea? By the time you form your core, the spiritual herb will have withered!"
Mo Hua sighed. He was helpless too.
Song Jian said, "Do you know what the elders are saying to comfort us?"
Mo Hua blinked. "What?"
Song Jian sighed, "The Broken Gold Sect elders all say—'Don't be fooled by how glorious Mo Hua looks now. His spiritual roots are poor, his foundation is weak, and he hasn't had enough time to nurture his life-bound treasure. His core formation will definitely be subpar, and his cultivation will fall behind soon after.'"
'The road of cultivation is a long one—not a matter of a day or two. "Precocious youth, unimpressive adulthood"—that's Mo Hua in a nutshell.'"
"Even if he's a formation genius, once he forms a dud core, it's over. His cultivation will never advance, and you can forget about him doing anything great in this life."
Mo Hua stared. "It's… not that bad, is it?"
Mo Hua was taken aback and said, "It's not that serious, is it…"
Song Jian frowned. "I used to think the elders were just exaggerating, but now, seeing you like this, I really feel like it might be dangerous…"
Mo Hua frowned and fell into deep thought.
Song Jian looked at him and sighed. "I'm not in a position to say much about cultivation, but you should be more careful… At the very least, be well-prepared when it comes to your life-bound artifact. And don't take the Foundation Establishment lightly—otherwise, you'll really fall further and further behind. What the elders said might actually come true."
"Mm," Mo Hua nodded. "I understand."
Having said all that needed to be said, Song Jian was ready to leave. He gave Mo Hua one last deep look, his gaze complicated:
"Fate willing, we'll meet again."
Mo Hua also nodded, somewhat wistfully. "Goodbye."
And so, before the towering mountain forest, the two young men parted ways—each walking toward their own sect and their own future.
—
The next day, Mo Hua went to visit his senior sisters, Murong Caiyun and Hua Qianqian, one last time.
Hua Qianqian was kindhearted and cheerful by nature, and she genuinely cared for Mo Hua.
Murong Caiyun was gentle and beautiful, and had always looked after him.
These two were the senior sisters Mo Hua had met when he first joined the Great Void Sect. They had done sect missions together, and gone through several events side by side, forming a deep bond.
Now that Mo Hua was graduating and leaving, he naturally had to bid them farewell.
Besides them, there were also his senior brothers Ouyang Feng and Shangguan Xu.
Unfortunately, Senior Brother Feng was out traveling, and Senior Brother Shangguan Xu had been busy with family matters ever since he graduated. So, Mo Hua wouldn't get to see them again.
—
In Baihua City, inside Hua Qianqian's cave dwelling.
Mo Hua was respectfully offering tea to his two senior sisters in thanks, when he suddenly froze mid-motion and looked at Murong Caiyun with surprise:
"Senior Sister Murong, you've formed your core?"
Murong Caiyun smiled gently. "I was lucky—succeeded on my first try."
Mo Hua was both happy for her and a little envious. He couldn't help but turn to look at Hua Qianqian.
Hua Qianqian's cheerful face darkened slightly. "I should be… getting close…"
Murong Caiyun gave a helpless smile and pinched Hua Qianqian's cheek. "Don't slack off. With your talent, you should've attempted Core Formation long ago."
Hua Qianqian nodded earnestly. "I'm working hard."
Murong Caiyun joked, "Don't let Junior Brother Mo form his core before you, while you're still stuck at Foundation Establishment."
Hua Qianqian immediately felt a sense of urgency and replied seriously, "That absolutely won't happen."
The three continued chatting over tea.
Mo Hua also took the opportunity to ask Senior Sister Murong a few questions about Core Formation.
Though Hua Qianqian hadn't formed her core yet, her cultivation was higher than Mo Hua's, and she'd started preparing much earlier. Her techniques came from a different lineage than his, so she also offered him some useful advice from a different perspective.
Mo Hua—engraved it in his heart.
—
After a while, Hua Qianqian suddenly said, "Oh right, Junior Brother Mo, a senior of mine wants to see you."
Mo Hua blinked. "A senior?"
Before she could answer, a fragrant wave of floral scent wafted in. Mo Hua seemed to sense something and turned his head, just as the door curtain lifted and a woman walked in from outside.
The woman was stunningly beautiful, dressed in a long dress adorned with a hundred flowers. There was a graceful laziness to her demeanor, but also an aura of elegance and dignity.
Mo Hua didn't recognize her at first glance. It took a second look for him to realize with a shock—
The Valley Master of the Hundred Flowers!
The last time he'd seen her, she was wearing the ornate ceremonial robes of the Hundred Flowers Palace—dazzling and resplendent. Mo Hua had only recognized the outfit, not the person, so he hadn't recognized her right away.
He immediately stood up and saluted. "Greetings, Valley Master."
The Valley Master's eyes flickered as she glanced at him, and she spoke softly, "Sit."
Mo Hua obediently sat down, wondering to himself what this Hundred Flowers Valley Master wanted with him.
She seemed to read his thoughts, producing a jade slip and handing it to him.
Mo Hua was surprised. "This is…"
The Valley Master said, "Since you're leaving soon, I'm giving you a gift."
"A gift?"
She nodded. "This is the sect jade token of my Hundred Flowers Valley."
Mo Hua froze, murmuring, "Valley Master, I… I don't think I'm a disciple of Hundred Flowers Valley…"
The Valley Master looked at him with a half-smile. "Aren't you?"
Mo Hua pressed his lips together and didn't dare say a word.
She smiled faintly. "Though you're not officially a disciple, you do have some connection to my Hundred Flowers Valley. Consider this jade token a gift. My name is inscribed within—if you're ever out traveling and meet any of our sisters, you can ask them for help."
Mo Hua could only brace himself and accept it. "Thank you, Valley Master."
But the moment he accepted the token, from the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the Valley Master's face—and saw a flicker of complex emotions flash across it.
There was familiarity… and unfamiliarity. Nostalgia… and sorrow. Confusion, pain, and—most of all—a deep, heartfelt concern for him.
Mo Hua was stunned.
(End of this Chapter)