Chapter 1111: Canglang Sect

After the banquet, Mo Hua's reputation as a "disciple of a fifth-rank major sect, personally taught formation techniques by a Cavernous Void Patriarch, Foundation Establishment Late-stage in ten years, and a top-tier cultivation genius" spread rapidly, causing another uproar in Tongxian City.

There were many things people didn't quite understand. After all, a fifth-rank province felt too distant and abstract to them. Most people had no real concept of how large a major sect was or what the Cavernous Void realm entailed. However, the "Foundation Establishment Late-stage" cultivation was an undeniable fact. What was even more astonishing was that it only took him ten years to progress from Foundation Establishment Early-stage to Foundation Establishment Late-stage.

This was particularly impactful for the local cultivators in Tongxian City. They had watched Mo Hua grow up. In just one or two decades, the clever and kind young formation master who used to run around the streets drawing formations for everyone had transformed into a powerful Foundation Establishment Late-stage cultivator. It was truly unbelievable. In Tongxian City, this level of cultivation was equivalent to a top-tier "Patriarch." Even Patriarch Qian, who was once notorious and wielded absolute power, was only at Foundation Establishment Mid-stage. How could they not be shocked and delighted by this? Almost all the cultivators in Tongxian City, whether monster hunters, artifact refiners, alchemists, ordinary rogue cultivators, or even those from minor families, had received Mo Hua's kindness or had him draw formations for them. They were genuinely happy about Mo Hua's high cultivation and felt proud to boast about him.

To other visiting rogue cultivators, Mo Hua's Foundation Establishment Late-stage cultivation at just over twenty years old undoubtedly confirmed his status as an "immortal child descended to the mortal realm." In many smaller immortal cities, the most powerful cultivators were often only at Foundation Establishment Early-stage. At his age and realm, Mo Hua was truly a "heaven-defying talent."

For a time, Mo Hua's fame soared. Countless cultivators sought to visit Mo Hua, and invitations and calling cards flew like snowflakes towards Mo Shan's doorstep. Mo Shan, as his father, declined most of them. He felt for his son, knowing Mo Hua had returned from a long journey and needed rest, not disturbances. After all, receiving guests was both time-consuming and mentally exhausting. Mo Hua only met and chatted with familiar elders and friends, politely declining all unfamiliar visiting cultivators. He also had no time to visit anyone else.

However, there was one exception. A few days later, Mo Hua made a special trip to Apricot Grove Pavilion to visit Old Mr. Feng. Old Mr. Feng was a compassionate healer who disliked commotion. His lifelong wish was to save the dying, help the injured, assist the imperiled, and aid the distressed. Throughout his life, he had diligently adhered to his principles. When Mo Hua was a child, he was frail and sickly and received much care from Old Mr. Feng. Therefore, he held profound respect and gratitude for him. After a few days of bustling activity, once he had some free time, he personally went to pay his respects.

Apricot Grove Pavilion had been completely renovated and was much more spacious than before, specially built by Elder Yu for Old Mr. Feng. Old Mr. Feng was elderly and lacked vigor, so he spent less time seeing patients. Most of his time was dedicated to taking in disciples and imparting his knowledge. He wished to pass on the alchemy he had painstakingly studied throughout his life to his disciples, allowing them to branch out and use their perfected skills to treat more impoverished rogue cultivators.

When Mo Hua arrived at Apricot Grove Pavilion, Old Mr. Feng was lecturing his disciples. With a head of white hair and sharp eyes, he was gentle yet rigorous in his lectures, not missing a single detail. Mo Hua did not interrupt Old Mr. Feng but simply sat to the side and listened.

Mo Hua's actual alchemy skills were quite poor; during his time at Tai Xu Sect, he consistently scored only a barely passing "C" in his alchemy assessments. However, his lack of practical alchemy skill didn't mean he was ignorant of alchemy theories and pharmacology. After all, Tai Xu Sect was a fifth-rank major sect with a complete system of inheritance, including cultivation, Daoist methods, formation techniques, alchemy, artifact refining, and talismans. Many aspects of cultivation knowledge, while not necessarily requiring mastery, could not be entirely unknown. And precisely because Tai Xu Sect was a major sect with profound foundations, even though Mo Hua had only learned the "basics" of alchemy and earned a "C," his theoretical understanding was already superior to many ordinary alchemists from smaller regions. This was the profound legacy of major sects in the Qianxue Province.

Therefore, even though Mo Hua was not a true alchemist, he could generally comprehend much of the alchemy theory Old Mr. Feng spoke of. As he listened, Mo Hua couldn't help but feel admiration. The alchemy taught by Old Mr. Feng was not exceptionally profound, but it was incredibly easy to understand and extremely practical. Many of the medicinal applications were tailored to the spiritual root and meridian characteristics of local cultivators. The herbs required for alchemy were inexpensive, locally sourced medicinal plants, aiming to minimize the cost for rogue cultivators to take pills for treatment. This was alchemy that truly applied knowledge for practical use and could benefit the world by saving lives. Mo Hua felt a sense of enlightenment.

Old Mr. Feng, absorbed in his lecture, suddenly caught sight of Mo Hua listening intently from the side. He paused, then waved his hand at his disciples, saying, "That's all for today. You may disperse."

"Yes, Master," the disciples responded. They respectfully bowed and then left one by one. The lecture hall instantly became quiet.

Only then did Mo Hua step forward, bow respectfully, and sincerely say: "Grandpa Feng, I've come to visit you."

Old Mr. Feng looked Mo Hua over from head to toe, then his eyes lit up, and he revealed a very gratified smile, nodding as he said: "Good..." He looked at Mo Hua again, nodding, "Very good!" Mo Hua smiled. The two then sat at the tea table, drinking tea together.

"Foundation Establishment Late-stage?" Old Mr. Feng asked.

"Yes."

"Good," Old Mr. Feng said again, then pondered for a moment before asking, "Have you experienced the grandeur of a fifth-rank major province?"

Mo Hua nodded, "Cavernous Void cultivators overseeing, Ascended Immortals soaring, Golden Cores everywhere, ancient sect inheritances, countless talented noble families, opulent lifestyles, utter prosperity..."

Old Mr. Feng's expression was somewhat wistful. He remained silent for a long time, then quietly sighed: "Noble families enjoy pavilions and extravagant feasts, but rogue cultivators across the land... have no place to stand, no food for their three meals..."

Life in Tongxian City had indeed improved slightly. However, the improvements in Tongxian City had only lasted for about ten years at most. Beyond Tongxian City, looking across the world, it remained scarred and desolate, with no change whatsoever. Prosperity could not hide decline. Mo Hua's gaze deepened slightly.

Old Mr. Feng glanced at Mo Hua, sighed softly, and said with satisfaction: "You've grown up; you understand many principles now." He continued, "I am only a first-rank alchemist; healing the ailments of cultivators in one city is my limit. But you... you are different..." Old Mr. Feng didn't explicitly state it, but his gaze was gentle, filled with deep expectations.

Mo Hua seemed to understand. He then rose, bowed deeply to Old Mr. Feng, and said, "Grandpa Feng, Mo Hua will remember your words." After drinking tea and chatting with Old Mr. Feng, Mo Hua took his leave.

Back home, Mo Hua continued to ponder Old Mr. Feng's words. He was deeply moved, reflecting on Old Mr. Feng's life's work, his broad-mindedness, and the lifelong dedication he had poured into his endeavors. Though only a first-rank alchemist, Old Mr. Feng possessed immeasurable merit and had accomplished many things that other cultivators could not. A person's true realm is sometimes not determined by their cultivation level.

In the following days, Mo Hua settled down and quietly contemplated some issues. All external visits were politely declined. However, one day, Elder Yu personally arrived and presented Mo Hua with a formal invitation. Mo Hua opened it and was somewhat surprised. "Canglang Sect?"

Elder Yu nodded, his voice solemn. "The Sect Master of Canglang Sect is coming to visit personally. This... would be difficult to decline."

Canglang Sect was a third-rank sect located south of Tongxian City, near the Greedy Wolf Mountain Range. It was also the closest third-rank sect to Tongxian City. However, this "closeness" was relative. Canglang Sect and Tongxian City were hundreds of miles apart, separated by the vast mountain ranges of Great Black Mountain and Greedy Wolf Mountain. The actual distance was quite significant. Moreover, with the complex terrain and treacherous paths, there had been almost no interaction between them previously. Yet, unexpectedly, the Canglang Sect Master had personally come to Tongxian City specifically to visit Mo Hua. His intentions were unknown...

Elder Yu couldn't help but feel uneasy. However, he, an elder of a second-rank immortal city at the Foundation Establishment realm, had no way to refuse a third-rank sect master at the Golden Core realm. Mo Hua, however, was calm. "It's fine. Let him come." Elder Yu glanced at Mo Hua, nodded, and said, "All right." What was meant to come would always come. A "mighty dragon" passing through someone else's territory was unavoidable, and worrying was useless. He only hoped they weren't truly "ill-intentioned"...

Three days later, a group of cultivators, dressed in wolf-skin robes, with an unusual appearance and a somewhat arrogant aura, entered Tongxian City. They had come for Mo Hua. The two parties met in a private room at Fushan Restaurant. Only Elder Yu accompanied Mo Hua, but there were also seven or eight other Foundation Establishment cultivators drinking in various private rooms throughout Fushan Restaurant. This was Elder Yu's precaution, fearing the visitors might be "ill-intentioned." Although he knew deep down that these seven or eight Foundation Establishment cultivators were unlikely to be a match for the Golden Core Sect Master and his group from the third-rank Canglang Sect, taking precautions was still necessary as a contingency.

Elder Yu was still worried about Mo Hua. Although Mo Hua was at Foundation Establishment Late-stage, he was still too young and had just graduated from his sect. His experience in combat and fighting techniques was certainly insufficient, and if it came to blows, he would likely suffer a great disadvantage. As a monster hunter elder, he couldn't allow Mo Hua, this "formation prodigy" and "hope of Tongxian City," to suffer even the slightest mishap. Otherwise, he, as the monster hunter elder, would never be able to atone for it, even with a thousand deaths. Old veterans like himself could fight to the death; if they died, they died. But Mo Hua was different; he had a promising future ahead of him. Of course, Tongxian City had the Daoist Court and was governed by Daoist laws. It was unlikely that Canglang Sect would be so deranged as to commit any outrageous acts. These measures were merely "just in case," a last resort in the worst-case scenario. This was the most Elder Yu could do.

Elder Yu and Mo Hua waited in the private room. Soon, footsteps sounded, and several Canglang Sect cultivators in wolf robes entered, escorting a middle-aged man with a sharp, wolf-like gaze. This middle-aged man wore wolf fur over a yellow robe embroidered with a fierce wolf head. His vital energy surged, and his face was grim, radiating authority without anger. It was clear at a glance that he was someone long accustomed to a high position. He was, in fact, the current Sect Master of the third-rank Canglang Sect.

Feeling this imposing aura and pressure, Elder Yu's pupils contracted. "A Golden Core cultivator..." This was the first time in his life he had encountered a Golden Core realm grand cultivator. If not for Mo Hua, it would have been almost impossible for a third-rank Golden Core realm cultivator to appear in the second-rank Tongxian City. Golden Core cultivators were already figures of "legend."

Elder Yu quickly realized he had somewhat underestimated the strength of high-level cultivators. Before, he had only heard Mo Hua speak of Cavernous Void cultivators tearing through space, Ascended Immortals soaring, and Golden Cores being "everywhere." He had subconsciously overlooked the true power of these "ubiquitous" Golden Cores. But now, truly present and face-to-face with a Golden Core cultivator, he suddenly realized just how overwhelming their might was. Elder Yu's heart gradually sank to rock bottom. If this Golden Core cultivator were to act, he could likely slaughter all seven or eight of their Foundation Establishment cultivators without much effort. Mo Hua's safety couldn't be guaranteed either. Elder Yu's heart felt heavy.

The Canglang Sect Master strode into the hall, his divine sense sweeping across, immediately noticing Elder Yu's arrangements. He sneered inwardly. He then glanced at Elder Yu, giving a slight nod, but his expression remained indifferent, clearly not putting Elder Yu, a Foundation Establishment Early-stage cultivator, in his eyes. Then, the Canglang Sect Master's gaze shifted to Mo Hua, who was beside Elder Yu. The Canglang Sect Master's expression subtly changed. His first reaction was: young! Very young! His fair, tender face even held a hint of youthful clarity and innocence. This proved that the youth was very young but had progressed rapidly in cultivation. He indeed resembled a disciple from a major sect.

The Canglang Sect Master frowned slightly, pondering: "But his spiritual roots are too poor, and his cultivation seems too reckless. He merely has the realm, but his spiritual power is weak, and his physical body is quite frail... Can someone with such mediocre aptitude truly enter a major sect? Could he have pulled some strings? Or perhaps... he's just embellishing his reputation, boasting, fabricating a major sect affiliation to gain fame and profit?"

The Canglang Sect Master's expression hardened slightly, his gaze as sharp as a jackal's, piercingly staring at Mo Hua. He wanted to see what Mo Hua's true background was. Mo Hua merely looked up slightly, his deep gaze calmly meeting the Canglang Sect Master's eyes. With just that one glance, for an instant, a phantom image of mountains of corpses, seas of blood, and overwhelming malevolent energy flashed in the depths of Mo Hua's eyes. The Canglang Sect Master's heart suddenly trembled, and a chill ran through his bones. "What was that?!" His face paled slightly. When he looked again, all the terrifying illusions had vanished, and he saw nothing out of the ordinary. Only Mo Hua stood there calmly, his aura as serene as a deep pool, his demeanor as steady as a towering mountain.

The Canglang Sect Master was still unnerved. After a moment, he frowned tightly. This young man... he was a bit strange... But setting everything else aside, at least this composure was indeed that of a major sect disciple. It was the bearing of someone accustomed to meeting high-ranking cultivators and experiencing grand occasions. A major sect disciple should not be treated lightly...

The Canglang Sect Master stepped forward, his aura still majestic, but he first cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "I am the Sect Master of Canglang Sect." Mo Hua also cupped his hands in return, "Mo Hua, disciple of Tai Xu Sect."

Elder Yu, who had been on high alert as if facing a formidable enemy, looked at the scene before him with a bewildered expression. Was that... the Golden Core realm Canglang Sect Master who just bowed first to Mo Hua, a Foundation Establishment cultivator? Mo Hua's status was actually this high...

"Sect Master, please."

"Brother Mo, please."

Elder Yu regained his composure and began to instruct people to serve the dishes. Afterward, everyone took their seats and began drinking and exchanging pleasantries, and the atmosphere relaxed. After a few cups of wine, the Canglang Sect Master also reined in his aggressive and arrogant aura. He started chatting with Elder Yu, subtly inquiring about the recent affairs of Tongxian City. Elder Yu's cultivation wasn't particularly high, but he was a seasoned veteran when it came to dealing with people. He gave a few serious but noncommittal answers, essentially saying nothing at all. Mo Hua simply ate his meal in silence.

After a while, the atmosphere grew dull. The Canglang Sect Master glanced at the surrounding Canglang Sect disciples and instructed, "Go and fetch the gift I have for Brother Mo."

"Yes, Sect Master," they replied. The Canglang Sect disciples got up and left, not returning for a long time. Mo Hua was slightly surprised, realizing that the Sect Master deliberately wanted to dismiss the others. Elder Yu frowned. Mo Hua thought for a moment and then glanced at Elder Yu. Elder Yu understood Mo Hua's meaning but was still a bit uneasy. Mo Hua shook his head, indicating that he was fine. Only then did Elder Yu nod.

"There's some fine wine in the restaurant, aged for a hundred years. I'll go fetch it," Elder Yu said.

The Canglang Sect Master cupped his hands, "Thank you for the trouble." Elder Yu rose and left, leaving only Mo Hua and the Canglang Sect Master in the room, which became even quieter. Mo Hua calmly drank his wine.

The Canglang Sect Master hesitated for a moment, then stated his intention: "Let's be direct, Brother Mo. Are you perhaps interested in joining my Canglang Sect?"

Mo Hua was somewhat surprised and slowly replied, "I am a disciple of Tai Xu Sect."

"No matter," the Canglang Sect Master said. "My Canglang Sect is not a sect focused on teaching cultivation arts. We operate various industries. Disciples in our sect generally join to earn spirit stones or advance their careers. Joining or leaving the sect is very flexible; there's no compulsion. As long as Brother Mo can serve my Canglang Sect, contribute practically to the sect, expand its industries, and earn spirit stone profits, Canglang Sect will do its best to fulfill whatever you desire. Afterward, if you find yourself discontent, you are free to leave at your discretion, with no major restrictions..."

Mo Hua nodded slightly, now understanding the gist of it. Canglang Sect had likely heard rumors from somewhere that he had graduated from a "major sect" in Qianxue. That was why the Sect Master had personally come to win him over and have him serve Canglang Sect. After all, in the second-rank regions around Tongxian City and even the third-rank regions near Canglang Sect, disciples from "major sects" who had received top-tier cultivation education and possessed profound cultivation foundations were extremely rare. It would be no exaggeration to call them "as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns."

Mo Hua pondered for a moment and didn't directly refuse. Instead, he said, "I'll consider it."

The Canglang Sect Master glanced at Mo Hua and softened his tone: "Brother Mo, forgive my bluntness, but are you perhaps planning to... stay in Tongxian City indefinitely?"

Mo Hua's expression subtly shifted. "What if I am?"

The Canglang Sect Master wore a subtle, inscrutable smile as he shook his head slightly and sighed softly: "Some words might be unpleasant to hear, but they are the truth... You were able to join a major sect, whether it was because of..." The Canglang Sect Master paused slightly, thinking it unlikely, but still continued: "Whether it was due to your 'spiritual roots,' or any other aptitude, connections, talent, or simply luck, it was an incredibly rare and coveted opportunity that countless cultivators yearn for... In other words, by joining a major sect, you have already 'leapt over the dragon gate' and defied fate. Since that's the case, mingling with these impoverished rogue cultivators will lead nowhere..."

The Canglang Sect Master shook his head and sighed: "These rogue cultivators have too shallow an understanding of cultivation. Their spiritual roots and inheritances are too poor, their temperaments are flawed, and their character cannot be high... Staying with them is like falling into a quagmire; you will only be endlessly mired in poverty and hardship, hindering your own cultivation. Birds of a feather flock together; you and they are no longer on the same level. You should break free from this quagmire and continue to ascend..."