Chapter 749: Bargaining Chip
On the way back, Mo Hua just so happened to be traveling with Linghu Xiao again.
The Tai'e Sect, the Chongxu Sect, and the Great Void Sect were all located on three connected peaks—Mount Tai'e, Mount Chongxu, and Mount Taixu—close to one another.
So the two of them were heading in the same direction.
Linghu Xiao was still cold as ice—not one to smile or chat—but he would occasionally glance at Mo Hua.
Mo Hua noticed and turned his head, puzzled.
"What's up?"
Linghu Xiao answered seriously, "You promised me a duel."
Mo Hua blinked. "When did that happen?"
Linghu Xiao frowned, a little annoyed. "Just now, back in the mountain! Are you going back on your word?"
Mo Hua thought back, then shook his head. "I said, 'We'll talk when there's time'…"
"When will you have time?" Linghu Xiao asked.
Mo Hua sighed.
That was just something I said to brush him off.
Who has the time to go fight this guy just for fun…
"Oh right," Mo Hua changed the topic quickly to avoid being hounded, "didn't the Broken Gold Sect keep stealing your demon beasts? Don't you want to get back at them?"
"That's my own problem," Linghu Xiao replied.
"But if they keep stealing from you, doesn't that mean you're not earning any merit?" Mo Hua pressed.
Linghu Xiao went silent. Then, his expression turned cold, and a sharp sword intent flashed in his eyes. His entire presence became razor-sharp.
"When I've mastered my swordsmanship, none of them will be able to withstand a single strike from me. I'll settle this score then."
Mo Hua nodded slightly.
That's how geniuses talk—always bold and to the point.
"But right now… you haven't mastered your swordsmanship yet, right?"
Linghu Xiao froze again.
Indeed, he hadn't mastered it yet. He couldn't "slay all his enemies with a swing of the sword," so he had no real comeback.
Mo Hua considered for a moment, then began "gently guiding" him:
"You're training in the sword. Whether you need spirit swords, rare treasures, or secret techniques and inheritances from the sect—you'll need merit points."
"And if you ask me, you probably aren't exactly rolling in merit…"
Linghu Xiao was about to say that his sword skills were strong, and that he made decent merit from killing demon beasts.
But then he remembered how Mo Hua had given him over a thousand merit points without blinking.
Clearly, this guy's "family fortune" was as deep as his strength—unfathomable.
Linghu Xiao no longer felt confident enough to argue.
Mo Hua continued methodically:
"If the Broken Gold Sect keeps stealing your kills, you won't earn merit. Without merit, your sword heart and sword path will progress slower. That just delays the day you master your sword."
"You won't be able to get your revenge."
"And the less merit you earn, the slower your cultivation, the more they'll keep mocking you, stepping on your head…"
"It's a vicious cycle."
"And by the time you're finally strong enough to settle the score…"
"They might have already graduated and disappeared off who-knows-where."
"If you never run into them again…"
Mo Hua sighed. "You might never get to settle this grudge. You might have to carry that frustration for the rest of your life…"
Linghu Xiao was stunned by Mo Hua's reasoning. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense.
At this rate, what Mo Hua said was very likely to come true.
If he didn't act now, this resentment might indeed follow him for life.
Sensing the shift, Mo Hua added:
"Which is why they say: a gentleman doesn't let grudges last overnight. If you can get revenge, strike early—before the opportunity gets cold and moldy."
Linghu Xiao was silent, clearly shaken. After a pause, he frowned and asked:
"Why are you telling me all this?"
Mo Hua sighed. "You and I meeting like this—it's fate. Besides, our three sects come from the same ancestral line. We should help each other out, not treat one another like outsiders."
Linghu Xiao was a bit suspicious, but his instincts told him Mo Hua wasn't lying or scheming against him.
He really did seem to be saying all this for Linghu Xiao's benefit.
"…So how are you planning to help me?" Linghu Xiao asked cautiously.
Mo Hua gave a radiant, sunny smile.
"You come hunt demon beasts around our Great Void Sect's area. The Broken Gold Sect's been scared off—they won't dare cross the border or steal your kills there."
Linghu Xiao blinked, frowning slightly.
The Broken Gold Sect got scared off…?
He had entered the mountains later than most and was a loner. Other than his sword training, he didn't pay attention to sect politics. So he didn't really know about the conflict between the Great Void and Broken Gold Sects.
In his impression, the Great Void Sect wasn't much stronger than the Broken Gold Sect.
And the Broken Gold Sect was known for being shameless and ruthless. How had they ended up being scared off?
He didn't quite understand.
"And also…" Mo Hua seized the moment to continue, "you can team up with disciples from the Great Void Sect when hunting. That way, you'll earn merit way faster."
Mo Hua had already estimated it. With the power of Linghu Xiao's sword aura, as long as someone else helped scout the beasts, set up traps, and arrange the formation—
Once the array exploded and the beast was wounded, Linghu Xiao could likely finish it in one strike.
And if not one, then just one more.
Linghu Xiao, however, looked hesitant.
"I don't work in teams."
"Why not?" Mo Hua asked.
Linghu Xiao tilted his chin slightly, his voice cold:
"I want to master the sword to its peak. And the path of the sword… is a lonely one."
Mo Hua was speechless. He inhaled deeply, then said with some exasperation:
"What kind of nonsense are you fixating on?"
"What does mastering the sword have to do with being alone?"
"If your swordsmanship is strong, you can choose to be alone. But if it's weak, what's the point of being alone? You'll just get chopped down and no one will even bother burying your body!"
"The key is swordsmanship!"
"To train swordsmanship, you need merit."
"So the most urgent thing right now is earning more merit, as fast as possible. Then concentrate your resources and rapidly improve your swordsmanship!"
"If someone's helping you earn merit and you refuse… are you an idiot?!"
…
Mo Hua spoke fast and clearly, a whole barrage of logic hitting like a hurricane.
Linghu Xiao was dumbfounded.
He wasn't someone who shunned people out of principle. It was just that his talent was too overwhelming. Others grew envious and kept their distance.
Over time, he became used to being isolated… and stopped talking to people.
Had things continued like that, by the time he reached Core Formation or even Ascension, he would've ended up an unparalleled but cold and eccentric sword cultivator, detached from the world.
But now… things were different.
Mo Hua's words echoed in his ears.
Linghu Xiao pondered for a long while, then silently nodded.
"…Alright."
Mo Hua was surprised—he had expected to argue longer.
But since Linghu Xiao agreed, that was great news.
Mo Hua instinctively patted Linghu Xiao on the shoulder in a friendly, casual gesture.
Linghu Xiao stiffened—but didn't push him away.
"Next break period, go to one of the peaks near the entrance of Demon Refining Mountain. Find any Great Void disciple and just give them my name."
"With how strong your swordsmanship is, one strike per beast—you could rake in tons of merit in a day."
Mo Hua laid out the vision, painting a promising future.
Of course, he wasn't lying.
Linghu Xiao nodded.
At the fork in the road, the two parted and returned to their respective sects.
After returning, Linghu Xiao spent several days visibly preoccupied.
Mo Hua's words and actions kept replaying in his mind.
From their first encounter—
That subtle yet chilling killing intent…
The strange, unpredictable pressure he radiated…
His spells and movement techniques—calm and fluid like flowing water…
Then the remains of the Demonwood Eagle—
That unnaturally sharp golden sword qi still lingering in the corpse, and the tiny, jagged fragments of sword blade embedded deep in the bones and flesh…
And later, after his killing intent had faded—
That warm, spring-breeze-like smile…
And that radiant sincerity and composure revealed between the lines of casual conversation.
So many contradictions—
A strangely mismatched set of traits, yet somehow woven together into a single person.
Linghu Xiao engraved that name into his memory:
"Mo Hua…"
As for Mo Hua?
He… had already forgotten about Linghu Xiao entirely.
Too busy.
He had to train, attend lectures, practice formation arts, and now he had to also consider weapon refining and sword forging.
No time to think about anything else.
Only when he was studying sword arrays would Linghu Xiao occasionally pop into his mind.
That youth's sword qi was, without a doubt, the strongest sword aura he'd ever seen at the Foundation Establishment stage.
It clearly outclassed the Broken Gold Sect's Golden Severing Sword Technique by more than one level.
Of course, his own cultivation was still low.
Even if his sword qi was powerful, he might not yet wield it freely.
And with his limited spiritual power, he likely couldn't unleash it too many times in succession.
In real battle, he'd still have exploitable weaknesses.
Even so—it was incredibly strong.
If used properly, especially among Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivators, it would be more than enough to dominate the battlefield.
Then there was the Chongxu Sword Qi…
Mo Hua was quite curious.
The Chongxu Sect was famous for it, but what exactly was the source of its strength?
Could this kind of sword qi be amplified through sword arrays? Could it be mimicked?
If he could simulate Chongxu Sword Qi using a sword array, wouldn't his own sword techniques reach a whole new level?
"When I get a chance, I need to really study this…"
"It's not like I'm stealing their technique if I don't practice it—just research a little, that should be fine…"
Mo Hua thought silently.
Meanwhile, back at the Great Void Sect's elder residence…
Elder Xun had just returned after several days away and immediately summoned a plain-faced inner sect elder.
He spoke slowly:
"I'd like to use the Great Void Destiny Lock… to bind a few karmic threads.
This will require approval from your Murong Ancestor."
"But since he frequently enters closed-door cultivation, I don't want to disturb him recklessly."
"Go inform your clan. If your ancestor exits seclusion, let him know.
Or, if there's a known time he'll emerge, I'll come visit in advance."
The elder was slightly stunned by this.
To use the Great Void Destiny Lock—this had to be a matter of the utmost importance.
He dared not ask more, and simply cupped his hands respectfully.
"Yes, I will obey."
Elder Xun nodded lightly.
Not long after that elder left, Xun Ziyou arrived.
He came for a routine report—
To avoid giving the impression that he was slacking off.
After saluting, Xun Ziyou reported everything Mo Hua had done recently at the Demon Refining Mountain:
Practicing sword control…
Slaying demon beasts…
Making friends with Ouyang Mu from the Tai'e Sect…
And, notably, encountering that sword prodigy from the Chongxu Sect.
Elder Xun was quietly surprised.
This Mo Hua… always doing things I never expect.
"I understand. Keep watching over him closely," Elder Xun instructed.
"Yes, understood." Xun Ziyou cupped his hands.
Elder Xun lowered his head, falling into deep thought.
Xun Ziyou hesitated a few times, wanting to speak.
Elder Xun glanced up calmly.
"If you have something to say, say it."
After a moment's thought, Xun Ziyou frowned slightly.
"Ancestor, there's something I don't understand…
Who is really behind the sect reformation?"
Elder Xun's gaze sharpened. Instead of answering, he asked back:
"What do you think?"
Xun Ziyou replied slowly and cautiously:
"On the surface, it looks like the Four Great Sects are behind it.
But the more I think about it… something feels off."
Elder Xun raised an eyebrow, looking at him calmly.
"What feels off?"
Xun Ziyou frowned.
"The purpose of sect reformation is to change the current power structure—break down the old, build something new."
"But the Four Great Sects already hold the top positions. What exactly do they need to reform?"
"At best, if everything goes their way, they stay in power."
"But if anything goes wrong… if something unexpected happens and they fall from the top four—wouldn't that be a massive joke?"
"A decision this big… they wouldn't take it lightly. They wouldn't treat it like some gamble."
"So there must be… another layer to this."
Elder Xun looked at Xun Ziyou with interest, his voice hoarse but gentle:
"So, what's your theory?"
Xun Ziyou gave a bitter smile.
"I don't know. That's why I'm asking you…"
"Say what's on your mind," Elder Xun encouraged. "Don't hold back."
After thinking for a while, Xun Ziyou finally said:
"I suspect the Four Great Sects want to… reshuffle the entire board."
Elder Xun raised his eyebrows.
Xun Ziyou saw that the elder didn't reprimand him, so he continued:
"These past days, I've reached out—indirectly—to some old friends in various noble families and sects."
"Based on what I've heard…"
"It seems the Four Great Sects want to reorganize the entire Dry Study Prefecture, top to bottom:
The Eight Great Clans, the Twelve Flows, the Hundred Sects—and all the small and medium sects below them."
"A complete reset."
"Those who obey will rise. Those who resist… will fall."
"Any sect that doesn't follow their orders will be knocked from their place of influence and replaced by those who do."
"This top-to-bottom reshuffle would cement a true sect power hierarchy—with the Four Great Sects ruling over all."
"The Four Great Sects would become true giants, ruling unchallenged."
"All other sects—the Eight, the Twelve, the Hundred—would become subordinate.
They'd follow orders, receive instructions, and would not be allowed to go against the current."
Xun Ziyou sighed.
"In most cases, power breeds monopolies.
Monopolies breed oligarchy. And oligarchies tend to dominate and act with impunity… It's inevitable."
"But if this is the direction things are headed… "
"But that leads to two major problems…"
Xun Ziyou's expression was troubled.
"First, how can the Four Great Sects be sure that in this sect reform—or rather, the Dao Discourse Assembly—they won't be defeated? That they won't lose their position among the top four?"
"Second, if they really plan to reshuffle the order, then the ones at greatest risk… would be our Great Void Sect and—"
He paused, then said seriously:
"The Tai'e Sect and the Chongxu Sect—our sect's sister branches from the same lineage!"
"But Tai'e and Chongxu seem completely unaware. Not only do they not oppose the reform, they're actively pushing it forward."
"It's as if they think they'll use this opportunity to climb even higher, to finally join the ranks of the Four Great Sects…"
Xun Ziyou's face was filled with worry.
Elder Xun nodded slightly. There was even a hint of approval in his gaze.
He's finally learning to think for himself. That'll save me some trouble.
"You're right," he said. "But also not entirely right."
"The Four Great Sects certainly want to become the giants—
To become the true Four Great Sects, reigning supreme over all others, commanding a thousand sects with a single word."
"But behind it all… there's likely something deeper, something more sinister. A hidden darkness…"
Elder Xun's gaze grew profound. He sighed:
"But that much… I can't tell you."
"As for Tai'e and Chongxu—
Even if they don't know the truth hidden behind the scenes, even if they're unaware of how terrifying the consequences could be…
They must know what the Four Great Sects are trying to do."
Xun Ziyou frowned.
"Then why would they…"
Elder Xun shook his head slowly.
"A man casts a fishing line. A fish bites the bait.
Both do so willingly."
"But until the end, how do you know whether it was the man who caught the fish… or the fish that swallowed the bait, snapped the line, and dragged the man into the water?"
"To the Four Great Sects, this is a grand scheme."
"If they succeed, they'll rule an entire prefecture—countless sects obeying their every command."
"But to the Tai'e Sect and the Chongxu Sect, this is also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"If they seize it, push forward against the current, they too may rise to the very top—
To become truly elite sects."
"Everyone is gambling."
Xun Ziyou still looked uneasy.
"But… to gamble with the sect's future—doesn't that seem reckless?"
He hesitated for a moment, then finally said the words:
"It feels… foolish."
Elder Xun chuckled lightly.
"Don't view this from the outside.
That old saying—'the bystander sees clearly'—it's a lie."
"Most people who think they see clearly from the outside…
The moment they step into the game, they become more blind than those already inside."
"Tai'e is gambling. Chongxu is gambling.
You think we at the Great Void Sect don't want to gamble?"
"We just don't have the chips. If we did, we'd have laid down our pieces already."
"Besides—history always judges by the outcome."
"If Tai'e and Chongxu win, they'll be praised as visionary and brilliant."
"If they lose, people will say they were greedy and overestimated themselves."
"But right now? Nothing is certain.
The dust hasn't settled. The game isn't over.
How can you say for sure whether they're farsighted… or simply arrogant?"
"And how do you know they'll lose?"
"What if… they win?"
Elder Xun's gaze was blazing, sharp as fire.
Xun Ziyou froze, speechless under the force of the question.
Only now did he realize—
It's easy to sound rational when you're not involved.
But once you're in the situation… it's hard to see anything clearly.
The consequences, the cause and effect… everything was fog.
He let out a deep sigh and couldn't find the words to reply.
After a moment, he asked softly:
"Then Ancestor, what about our Great Void Sect…"
Elder Xun replied:
"Our foundation is thin. Best to stay quiet, observe, and act with the tide…"
Xun Ziyou was deeply moved.
Truly worthy of being the Ancestor. So wise and profound…
But then he thought about it more and realized—
Wait, that answer says absolutely nothing.
Elder Xun fell silent, then sighed again:
"Tai'e wants to rise through the torrent.
Chongxu wants to gain stability through boldness.
On the surface, they seem far stronger than us."
"But in truth—we're all grasshoppers tied to the same rope.
No one's in a much better spot than anyone else."
"This sect reform—there's visible turbulence on the surface, but underneath…"
"It's a storm of blood."
"Our Great Void Sect can barely fend for itself.
As for Tai'e and Chongxu… all we can do is hope they survive.
Whether they win or lose their gamble… it's all down to fate."
Xun Ziyou furrowed his brows. His heart felt heavy.
What the Ancestor has to consider… is so far beyond what the rest of us can see.
Elder Xun's face remained calm, but his heart was also burdened.
Though he said "each must seek their own fortune,"
To someone of his age and long memory,
Tai'e, Great Void, and Chongxu were like one family—
All born of the same root, sharing the same blood.
Now, with the storm approaching,
He truly did not wish to see any of the three fall and be lost forever.
But a matter this vast—
Was no longer something even he could control.
Elder Xun's heart was heavy.
When he looked up and saw Xun Ziyou also frowning in worry, he shook his head and said:
"Don't think about all this. Just do what I asked.
Focus on taking care of Mo Hua. Leave the rest to others."
Xun Ziyou sighed helplessly and cupped his hands.
"Yes, Ancestor."
Elder Xun nodded… then seemed to remember something.
"You said that Mo Hua has made connections with disciples of Tai'e and Chongxu?"
"Yes," Xun Ziyou replied. "They seem to get along quite well."
"That sword prodigy from Chongxu had a bit of a rough start with Mo Hua…
But they ended up talking a lot."
"As for Tai'e—Ouyang Mu from the Ouyang family is practically glued to Mo Hua.
Always helping him forge swords, calling him 'senior brother' every time they meet…"
"Senior brother?" Elder Xun blinked.
"Senior brother," Xun Ziyou confirmed.
Elder Xun nodded slowly.
This Mo Hua kid sure has a way with people.
Even a Tai'e disciple from the Ouyang family is calling him senior brother…
He paused in thought—
Then suddenly froze.
A bold idea struck him out of nowhere.
So bold, he couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.
He calmed his mind and pondered for a while, waves surging in his chest.
He muttered inwardly:
"Maybe… our Great Void Sect isn't entirely without chips either…"
"What if… we place an even bigger bet?"
Elder Xun's gaze trembled— Then slowly grew deep and unfathomable.
(End of Chapter)