Chapter 1102: Leaving the Sect, Clocking Out
The little Faceless Heavenly Demon was chopped into "minced meat" by Mo Hua.
But in the next moment, the pitch-black demonic flesh of the demon writhed again, condensing into shape. Its blank face emitted a sharp and twisted voice toward Mo Hua:
"What kind of thing are you?!"
Mo Hua didn't answer, only grabbed its throat, slammed it to the ground, then used the Sword-Slaying God Sword to chop it into minced meat again.
From the pile of minced meat, the little Faceless Heavenly Demon manifested its form once more, its featureless face now showing anger.
They were Faceless Heavenly Demons — faceless, without form, without emotion, generally incapable of anger, unless reality was utterly absurd.
They were always the ones to toy with human hearts, but no one had ever treated them like clay, arbitrarily molding, chopping, and killing them.
The little Faceless Heavenly Demon said coldly, "Who exactly are you—"
But its throat was choked again.
Mo Hua's strikes were incredibly fast, tremendously strong, and his momentum unstoppable. He gripped the little Faceless's neck as if holding a small ghost, then repeated the trick: slammed the little Faceless Heavenly Demon to the ground and chopped it into a pile of goo.
This was the third time.
Yet even after being chopped three times, the little Faceless Heavenly Demon was still not dead. It wriggled and restored its original form.
Mo Hua frowned slightly. "Can't kill it with the sword?"
The little Faceless Heavenly Demon's featureless face moved as if to speak, the dents in its "mouth" opening and closing: "With your level, you still want to cut me?"
The "little Faceless" demons had weak offensive power but strong parasitic ability, so Mo Hua — protected by being impervious to all evil — could suppress it.
But because it was a "high-level heavenly demon," of a higher rank, the Sword-Slaying God Sword could cut but not kill it. Mo Hua was similarly powerless against it.
"Forget it..."
Mo Hua sighed and fixed his gaze on the little Faceless Heavenly Demon, instinctively licking his lips.
The little Faceless Heavenly Demon sensed something was wrong and shuddered all over:
"What... are you going to do?"
Before it finished speaking, Mo Hua's golden light flashed, and he had already rushed close. Using only his bare hands, he tore it apart, then in front of the Lone Ancestor, actually swallowed the little Faceless Heavenly Demon whole.
This act was brutal and bizarre.
Even the Lone Ancestor trembled inside.
At the Foundation Establishment realm, learning the Sword-Slaying God Sword and slaying heavenly demons — he could understand that somewhat, though he could not accept it.
But a Foundation Establishment disciple, openly tearing apart and devouring a little Faceless Heavenly Demon alive before him...
In all his years, having faced countless bloody and grotesque scenes, the Lone Ancestor had never seen such audacious and merciless behavior.
With that, the deadly tension dissolved.
The powerful Hundred-Faced and Thousand-Faced Heavenly Demons were intercepted and slain by the Lone Ancestor.
The bizarre little Faceless Heavenly Demon was swallowed by Mo Hua.
The aura of the heavenly demons temporarily dissipated, and everything around gradually returned to normal.
That half-dream, half-awake, illusory feeling also disappeared.
In the vast Sword Grave, only the Lone Ancestor and Mo Hua remained.
The Lone Ancestor fixed his sharp gaze on Mo Hua and solemnly asked:
"Who exactly... are you?"
Mo Hua bowed to the Lone Ancestor: "Disciple Mo Hua."
The Lone Ancestor's eyes showed suspicion and vigilance, even a hint of cold killing intent.
Mo Hua bowed again and reintroduced himself:
"Disciple Mo Hua, originally a lone cultivator, a disciple of the Tai Xu Sect. Nine years ago, I entered Tai Xu Sect, as the 'Junior Senior Brother' of the same sect, and also a formation instructor."
"I was personally taught formation techniques by Elder Xun, who favored me greatly."
"My cultivation is based on divine consciousness, cultivating spirit perception and seeking immortality through formations."
"Additionally, I have been the formation champion for two consecutive years."
"In this year's Sword Discussion Conference, my fellow Tai Xu disciples and I outperformed the four major sects, winning first place."
"The current Tai Xu Sect, merging with Tai A and Chong Xu, has become the largest sect in the Qian Xue Prefecture..."
Mo Hua spoke clearly, neither humble nor arrogant, with natural ease.
His expression was sincere, his spirit stable — evidently telling the truth.
The Lone Ancestor's heart trembled.
He hadn't expected that this disciple he had picked by chance, who cultivated divine consciousness into a sword, actually possessed such great ability.
The Tai Xu Sect's Junior Senior Brother, personally taught formations by Elder Xun.
Two-time formation champion.
Putting other things aside, at least in formations, he clearly had an extraordinary talent.
And...
"The largest sect in Qian Xue Prefecture..."
Once the last among the eight great sects, Tai Xu Sect had now become the top sect in Qian Xue Prefecture.
The Lone Ancestor was incredulous and also felt a wave of melancholy and passion.
"Good..."
The Lone Ancestor sighed long, and when he looked at Mo Hua again, the suspicion was gone, replaced by much gentler expression.
A heaven-bestowed genius must have exceptional qualities, capable of doing what ordinary people cannot.
And to be honored as "Junior Senior Brother" by fellow disciples, winning two formation championships and the Sword Discussion first place, showed deep loyalty and great effort for the sect.
The Lone Ancestor asked Mo Hua: "The void rift opened, why did you enter?"
Mo Hua looked deeply at the Lone Ancestor's aged face, sighed in his heart, and bowed:
"My cultivation cycle is ending. I will leave tomorrow. Before leaving, I wanted to meet you to thank you for teaching me sword and Dao."
In the Lone Ancestor's eyes, Mo Hua's respectful figure was reflected. He felt a pure sincerity and his weary gaze softened.
"My time is short. You should leave quickly," the Lone Ancestor said softly.
Mo Hua was slightly stunned. "Ancestor, you..."
The Lone Ancestor sighed. "I am the one who suppresses the heavenly demons, but I am also the first to be corrupted by them..."
"I will seal this Sword Grave, along with my consciousness, completely. From now on, no one may enter, and no heavenly demon may escape."
Mo Hua's gaze dimmed.
The Lone Ancestor looked at Mo Hua, hesitated a moment, and handed over a rusty, blood-stained broken sword.
"This broken sword, I give to you. Take it out of the Sword Grave for me."
"It has followed me all my life. I don't want it, like me, to be buried here forever, never seeing the light of day again."
Mo Hua frowned. "Ancestor... and you? Without your sword..."
"It doesn't matter," the Lone Ancestor shook his head. "Whether I have the sword or not makes no difference now. But... you must promise me one thing."
The Lone Ancestor's eyes blazed as he looked at Mo Hua:
"After leaving, never return to this Sword Grave. Cultivate well and improve your power. If one day you reach Void Profundity and can break the void seals I laid, then come back and use this sword I give you... to kill me."
Mo Hua's expression changed. "Ancestor!"
The Lone Ancestor shook his head, grabbed Mo Hua's arm, and forcibly placed the warm broken sword into his hand:
"Remember what I said!"
"And do not mention what I told you, or the sword I gave you, to anyone. Including my junior brother, your Elder Xun."
Mo Hua pressed his lips tightly.
The Lone Ancestor patted Mo Hua's shoulder comfortingly:
"You are a good child, kind-hearted and very talented, but many things you are not capable of yet. Don't rush, take it step by step..."
"This broken sword is named 'Lone'. Keep it. This is the last thing I can give you..."
Mo Hua's eyes darkened. "Ancestor, what about my future—"
Before he finished, his expression changed again. The Lone Ancestor's face began to fade, his features dissolving, and the whole person emanated a silent, emotionless, and ruthless demonic aura.
"Let's go..."
"Let's go…"
The Lone Ancestor had already erased his face, now resembling a powerful, unmatched "faceless" Heaven Demon. His voice was strange as he murmured to Mo Hua, "I will soon… no longer be your ancestor…"
Mo Hua felt a mix of sorrow and reluctance in his heart.
Seeing Mo Hua hesitate, the Lone Ancestor, transformed into the "Heaven Demon," tore open a rift in the void with one hand, then without caring, pushed Mo Hua into the spatial fissure.
"Cultivate well. Take care of everything."
These were the last words the Lone Ancestor spoke to Mo Hua.
With the Void Profound cultivation level, Mo Hua was utterly unable to resist.
He only had time for one last backward glance at the Lone Ancestor.
But unfortunately, what he saw was no longer the Lone Ancestor — that aged and proud face — but a blank, faceless visage, without features or any emotion.
After sending Mo Hua away, the empty Sword Tomb was left with only the Lone Ancestor.
He remained utterly alone.
After a moment, the Lone Ancestor sighed softly:
"No wonder everyone in the world seeks longevity. As long as you live, as long as you keep living, eventually you'll encounter one or two good things, a tiny… glimmer of hope…"
The Lone Ancestor's body was like a broken sword, but cold fire burned in his eyes.
The faceless Heaven Demon Dao was devouring him.
The Lone Ancestor exhausted his lifetime of swordsmanship and sword intent, refining them into a reverse transformation from void to substance, forming a seal that locked his Dao heart, sealed his Dao body, and even spread outward to weave a sword net, sealing the entire Sword Tomb and isolating it from the world…
Inside the Elders' Hall.
Old Master Xun, who was carefully poring over scriptures and deducing something, suddenly felt a sharp shock, stood up, and looked toward the forbidden rear mountain.
All the energy in the rear mountain was silent, converging on the boundary between void and reality, cut off from the world.
Only a top expert at the peak of Void Profound could perform such a feat.
"Senior Brother…"
Master Xun's eyes were desolate, and grief arose in his heart as he murmured, "In the end… it has still come to this…"
…
Inside the Disciples' Quarters.
Mo Hua was pushed by the Lone Ancestor through the rift and tumbled back into his own room.
Then, with a flash of blackness, the void rift sealed itself, all traces vanished, and all space was completely sealed off.
When Mo Hua looked back again, there was nothing left but emptiness.
Only the heavy broken sword in his hand remained, still radiating the burning heat from the sword intent, along with a faint trace of the Lone Ancestor's profound divine consciousness.
"Ancestor…"
Thinking of the Lone Ancestor, who once stood alone to suppress the Heaven Demons, Mo Hua felt a bitter sorrow.
But there was nothing he could do.
It was even unlikely he could break the void again to enter the Sword Tomb and see the Lone Ancestor's face…
Mo Hua's expression grew desolate. Suddenly, he felt something, his face changed slightly, and he immediately sat down cross-legged, sinking his divine sense into his sea of consciousness.
The moment his divine sense descended, Mo Hua's spirit form was chilled all over, then he opened his mouth, and from his seven orifices, demonic thoughts surged out like black blood, finally reforming into that little faceless Heaven Demon.
It emitted a mocking laugh, neither male nor female, neither yin nor yang, neither old nor young, a mixture of countless human emotions:
"How dare you swallow the Heaven Demon, you…"
Before it finished speaking, Mo Hua grabbed its neck.
Outside, it was no match for Mo Hua.
Within Mo Hua's sea of consciousness, it couldn't even make a ripple.
Mo Hua dragged the little faceless Heaven Demon to see his good friend, Big Head "Pixiu."
Pixiu had barely dozed off when he gained a rare "prisoner," truly delighted. The look in his eyes toward Mo Hua was full of strong recognition and joy.
Mo Hua threw the little faceless Heaven Demon to Pixiu.
The demon screamed in terror but it was useless.
It was only in its juvenile stage, not yet a high-level Heaven Demon that could parasitize and hatch human features, so it naturally couldn't resist Pixiu's evil-repelling power.
So, Pixiu pressed the demon down with his left claw and restrained the evil god with his right, looking mighty and pleased.
Among his Pixiu kin, this "battle record" wasn't the best but certainly not bad.
Pixiu was very proud and confident.
After subduing the little faceless Heaven Demon, Mo Hua left the Pixiu Shrine and returned his divine sense to reality.
Inside the disciple's room, all was quiet.
Mo Hua stroked the ancient broken sword in his hand, sighed deeply, then carefully stored it away.
Only one hour remained until dawn.
Mo Hua lay on the bed, meditating to replenish his spirit.
An hour later, the sky brightened as the golden morning light shone through the ancient forest and into the room.
Mo Hua faced the sunrise, looking out the window, taking in the sunrise over Mount Tai Xu one last time.
Then he packed his things and set off on the journey home.
He remembered Master Xun's instructions and did not disturb anyone, traveling alone down the tranquil mountain path toward the foot of Mount Tai Xu.
Along the way, a few elders greeted Mo Hua, and he replied as usual.
But those elders didn't know this was the last time they would see Mo Hua.
Leaving the disciple quarters, passing through the Great Dao Hall, the library, the preaching hall, and one by one the usual cultivation and classroom buildings, then walking down the long mountain path, Mo Hua finally reached the mountain gate.
At last, Mo Hua stood before the gate, turned around, and bowed deeply toward Tai Xu Sect.
This bow was to express gratitude for Tai Xu Sect's teachings and guidance.
Also to thank the sect's founding ancestors, the sect leader, and elders for their care and support.
After the bow, Mo Hua walked down the mountain path, leaving Tai Xu Sect, his figure slowly vanishing into the mist outside Mount Tai Xu.
Inside Tai Xu Sect.
Master Xun, who hadn't slept all night, seemed to sense something. He looked up to the distance with eyes full of reluctance and sighed deeply.
Inside the Elders' Hall.
Elders close to Mo Hua, such as Xun Ziyou and Xun Zixian, suddenly felt emptiness in their hearts.
In front of the small study garden.
The big white dog barked loudly toward the distance, as if sending someone off.
The Tai Xu Sect leader looked toward the mountain gate.
Above Mount Tai Xu's gate, for some reason, wisps of light smoke floated up, merging with the mountain's mist, causing him to pause in surprise.
Long ago, the faint smoke rising from Mount Tai Xu's gate flashed through his mind.
The Tai Xu leader was stunned for a moment, then sighed lightly:
"Good child, may your path be smooth and steady…"
…
At the same time, in Qingzhou City, the Gu family.
Originally somewhat sleepy Yu'er, who had gotten up early to cultivate, suddenly felt a pang in her heart and grew sorrowful.
At the same time, in Qingzhou City, the Gu family.
Yu'er, who had been practicing cultivation early that morning and was somewhat sleepy, suddenly felt her heart skip a beat, her expression turning sorrowful.
Wenren Wan, who was guiding Yu'er's cultivation, also felt a sudden, sharp sense of loss, but then gradually came to understand.
"Mo Hua... has left…"
Thinking of the past nearly ten years spent with Mo Hua, Wenren Wan felt both warmth and a bitter reluctance in her heart.
Just as she was lost in thought, a sharp, strange voice suddenly rang out:
"Damn it… finally gone…"
Wenren Wan was stunned. Looking down, she saw that "Yu'er" had somehow turned dark between the eyebrows, her face full of viciousness.
As if noticing Wenren Wan's gaze, "Yu'er" grinned and stared fiercely at her with a ferocious look.
Wenren Wan was briefly shocked, but then recalled Mo Hua's words, smiled with relief, and gently patted "Yu'er" on the head, her eyes soft and tender, just like looking at her beloved child.
"Yu'er" froze, somehow unable to stay fierce, even unable to meet Wenren Wan's gentle eyes, and could only quietly look away. But inside, something seemed to be trembling.
It was something a deity had never felt before…
...
After leaving the Tai Xu Sect, Mo Hua changed out of the robe that signified his identity with the sect, carefully folded it, and put it into his Na Zi ring.
Then, wearing a bamboo hat, he changed into an ordinary long robe to conceal his aura, and hired a carriage to head straight north of the Qianxue Prefecture boundary, toward a remote place called Yundu City.
At that moment, inside Yundu City,
In a teahouse, an old man was playing chess and drinking tea with a distinguished middle-aged cultivator.
The old man's chess skills were poor—many black pieces had been captured—but he was very relaxed.
The middle-aged cultivator played well; the white pieces were clearly winning, but his expression was uneasy.
After a while of fierce battle, as the game was clearly heading to a losing deadlock, the old man pushed the chessboard away:
"No more. Your chess is too poor. It's no fun playing with you."
The middle-aged cultivator smiled wryly.
The old man's poor chess skills were well known. He was holding back; otherwise, his pieces would have been lost long ago, seventy or eighty moves before.
Of course, that didn't matter much.
What puzzled the cultivator was why the old man chose this remote place and this particular time to play such a meaningless game.
He felt guilty and nervous, so he dared not ask.
The old man glanced at him and sighed softly:
"Life is like a chess game, where black and white are hard to distinguish. Sometimes, winning isn't truly winning, and losing isn't really losing. You're too fixated on the immediate win or loss, so you fail to see the black and white behind it all."
The middle-aged cultivator cupped his hands respectfully:
"Student understands."
The old man gave him a faint look, knowing his student was polite in words but had not truly understood, and felt somewhat bored.
"Elder," the middle-aged cultivator looked up, glanced at the elder slightly, then bowed his head and said in a low voice, "Regarding this matter, your decision, the Dao Court above... is not very satisfied."
The elder was unconcerned: "Not satisfied how?"
The cultivator hesitated a moment, then slowly said:
"The great families are too strong, and the sect's reputation too prominent, which does not align with the interests of the Central Dao Court."
"The intention of the Dao Court leadership… is to use the Blood Sacrifice incident to strengthen the authority of the Dao Court's administration, shake the foundations of the Qianxue great families, ruin the sect's good name, and use this as an excuse to further reclaim ownership of the Qianlong Mountain spiritual mine…"
"And, most importantly, to force the sect to change its name as part of the sect reform."
A sharpness long accustomed to authority flickered in the cultivator's eyes:
"'Qian' means Heaven. Among the Qianxue Prefecture, sects like Qian Dao Sect, Heavenly Sword Sect… what qualifications do these sects have to use the title 'Qian Tian' (Heavenly Heaven)?"
"This world belongs to the Dao Court."
"The Mandate of Heaven belongs only to the Central Dao Court, to the Dao Lords."
"All power and spiritual veins must be centralized under the Dao Court. Any other sect or family that usurps the word 'Heaven' is committing sacrilege…"
The cultivator's expression was respectful yet solemn.
The elder silently looked at the cultivator, a trace of subtle and unspoken disappointment passing through his eyes.
(End of this Chapter)