Chapter 795 – Fish-Dragon Lantern
Venerable Elder Xun had officially lifted Mo Hua's travel ban.
Mo Hua was free at last.
He no longer had to stay cooped up within Qianxue Prefecture, spending every day playing with a bunch of "junior disciples." Now the fish returned to the sea, the young tiger to the forest. With the vast sky and open seas ahead—this marked a brand new chapter.
His face was alight with irrepressible joy.
"Thank you, Elder!"
Seeing Mo Hua this elated, Elder Xun couldn't help but shake his head and reminded:
"Be careful. And don't slack on your formation studies."
"Mhm! Don't worry, Elder!" Mo Hua nodded vigorously, solemnly promising.
After bidding Elder Xun farewell, Mo Hua returned to his disciple residence, still feeling a bubbling excitement in his chest.
"Finally… I can go out."
He'd been confined to Qianxue Prefecture for so long, he was starting to forget what the outside world even looked like.
Now that he had the chance, he had to plan carefully.
Mo Hua silently began to strategize.
First, he still needed to find a way to further strengthen his divine sense.
Even with nineteen runes—already an extremely high level—it clearly wasn't enough.
Since he aimed to cultivate through divine sense, the stronger it was, the better.
Only with stronger divine sense could he learn deeper, more advanced formations.
And this, too, was what Elder Xun hoped for.
When the elder spoke about it, his tone had been serious, his eyes filled with hope—clearly, something big was going on.
Though strict, Elder Xun was a man of righteousness. Whatever he was concerned about likely involved the fate of the sect.
As a disciple of the Great Void Sect, and having received so much care and support from Elder Xun—so much that Mo Hua sometimes felt the elder was a little biased toward him—it was only right to repay the kindness.
"A drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of gratitude."
That's what his mother had taught him since childhood.
Mo Hua nodded to himself.
Since Elder Xun wished for his divine sense to grow "just a little stronger," then he would do his best—to grow just that little bit more.
He wouldn't let down the elder's expectations.
And in the short term, the only way to boost his divine sense further…
Seemed to be going back to the altar to "order a dish."
"The Evil God's altar…"
Mo Hua mulled over it silently.
Right now, the only clue he had related to the altar was Water Yama.
The culprit behind the extermination of the Yu Family Water Village, and the one who had taken Fire Buddha's place on the Blood Oath list—
Water Yama.
Wherever evil gods spread their faith, bloodshed and mass slaughter followed. Family-wide massacres and horrific tragedies were a given.
And such massacres always came with an altar.
That altar's location—Water Yama would surely know.
Mo Hua thought quietly:
"I can't let these evil gods keep spreading. I can't let their minions keep butchering innocent people. Otherwise, cultivators all around Qianxue Prefecture will fall victim to them…"
He was a disciple of the Great Void Sect, one of the eight great sects of the province—a righteous cultivator through and through. It was his duty to slay demons and destroy evil.
Of course, after doing all that hard work—
Ordering a nice dish from the altar to reward himself is completely reasonable!
Mo Hua nodded self-righteously.
Destroy evil god followers, ruin their altars, devour the evil spirits—nourish the divine sense.
"Once my divine sense is a little stronger, I'll try practicing the real Divine Thought Sword again. Maybe I can finally project my Sword Intent…"
Also, he needed to find time to visit his old friend, Huang Shanjun.
Just thinking about him made Mo Hua sigh.
"It's been so long… I wonder if he's missed me."
Huang Shanjun was a down-and-out mountain god—living in a ruined temple, roof leaking, walls crumbling, surviving on moldy buns and rainwater. With no incense or worship, his life was… tragic.
Mo Hua felt deeply for him.
"Who else is as kindhearted as me—thinking about him for no reason…"
Before, he couldn't visit due to the travel ban. But now that it was lifted, it was time to pay his old friend a visit. And maybe ask for more clues about Divine Thought Sword.
He'd also gone through some things recently and gained deeper insights into divine cultivation. It was worth checking his theories with an actual mountain god like Huang Shanjun.
…Just not now.
"After the New Year," Mo Hua decided.
Unknowingly, the year was nearly over.
Only ten days remained until the New Year Festival.
And at year's end, naturally, it was time for the sect assessment again.
Mo Hua had spent quite a long time in the Ten Thousand Demons Valley.
Having "eaten" too many evil spirits, his divine sense had gotten a little unstable, and he had to spend a few days recovering in the alchemy hall.
All in all, over ten days had passed.
Luckily, it was easy to explain to his peers.
He simply borrowed Elder Xun's usual excuse and said he had been sent out to draw formation diagrams on behalf of the elder.
This wasn't new—he'd used this excuse almost every time he requested leave.
Neither Cheng Mo nor Situ Jian questioned it. They just sighed in amazement:
"Our little senior brother really is special. The elders let him take over ten days off!"
But even so, he'd fallen behind quite a bit in his studies.
Mo Hua had no choice but to cram, studying day and night to catch up.
Even in front of the Dao Monument at night, he was still reviewing cultivation material.
Soon, the sect assessment arrived.
When the results were announced, each disciple had their own share of joy and disappointment.
Mo Hua, after all his hard work, managed to keep his score at One A, Six C.
Had he slacked even a little, he wouldn't have even kept a C in subjects like alchemy and smithing.
Thankfully, the effort paid off.
As for formation—his A grade was guaranteed.
With his current formation skill level, even if he had skipped years of lessons, he'd still get an A.
And just like that, another year passed.
The sect went on break.
With his home far away and no way to return to see his parents, Mo Hua once again couldn't celebrate with his friends and neighbors in Tongxian City.
But—he could go crash the Gu Family's New Year dinner.
The Gu family was big anyway—one more or less didn't make a difference.
And it wasn't like his physical body had a massive appetite. His stomach wasn't as demanding as his divine sense. He wouldn't "eat" them into poverty.
A few days later, after packing up and bidding Elder Xun farewell, Mo Hua set off with Yu'er for Qingzhou City and the Gu family estate.
Yu'er was overjoyed.
"We're going home!"
With arms spread wide like a little bird, he ran up and down the road.
Around his neck was a jade pendant—a gift from Mo Hua. The pendant held a newly-learned Divine Lock Array, a true ward against evil.
Lately, he'd had no nightmares, with no evil spirits disturbing him.
Now, with the pendant, Yu'er felt even safer.
He ate well, slept well, stayed in high spirits, and practiced formations daily with Mo Hua. The boy now overflowed with vitality—his bright, sparkling eyes full of life and energy.
When they arrived at the Gu residence— Wenren Wan saw how much healthier Yu'er looked, and felt utterly comforted. She smiled warmly and said:
"Make yourself at home here. Whatever you want to eat, whatever you want to do, just say the word. Don't be shy!"
Mo Hua grinned. "Thanks, Aunt Wan."
And with that—he stopped being polite.
Before, he'd spent his days in Demon Refining Mountain slaying beasts, then entered the Ten Thousand Demons Valley to fight ferocious demon cultivators. After returning to the sect, he had to cram for his exams. It had been nonstop busyness.
Now that the year-end break had come, Mo Hua decided to balance work and rest—and finally allow himself a break.
He took Yu'er out to enjoy a full day of fun in Qingzhou City, which was filled with lanterns, celebration, and bustling markets in preparation for the New Year.
That evening, he and Yu'er even made a Fish-Dragon Lantern.
The lantern was crafted with help from Gu family cultivators.
Mo Hua was responsible for the formation diagram and for overall direction.
This Fish-Dragon Lantern had been something Mo Hua stumbled upon by chance in the Great Void Sect's New Year Miscellanies.
The Miscellanies included not only the method of crafting the lantern, but also a corresponding formation called the Fish-Dragon Radiant Flame Array.
Mo Hua personally drew the main formation patterns.
But some of the finer, detailed formation lines were drawn by Yu'er.
Having studied under Mo Hua, Yu'er could now draw five or six formation runes himself.
He did so with great focus, care, and joy.
When night fell, the Fish-Dragon Lantern was completed.
Mo Hua activated the formation and released the lantern.
It was three zhang long (approx. 10 meters), glowing crimson, adorned with fish scales and dragon motifs. Once the Fish-Dragon Radiant Flame Array inside was activated, hot air lifted the entire lantern skyward.
It soared into the night sky like a red koi transformed into a wandering dragon, swimming through the pitch-black heavens—radiant and breathtaking.
Yu'er stood with mouth agape, eyes sparkling with wonder.
Nearby, Wenren Wan, who had been invited to watch, looked up at the brilliant crimson "Fish-Dragon" in the sky and couldn't help but reveal a look of amazement.
Yu'er leaned happily against her and chirped:
"Mom! I helped draw the formation on it too! Most of it was done by Brother Mo, but I helped!"
Wenren Wan looked at him lovingly and praised with a smile:
"Yu'er is amazing!"
Yu'er beamed with joy, his smile turning his eyes into little crescent moons.
Once the lantern was released, it was time for the evening feast.
This time, no annoying people came to disturb them. The guests and hosts were all in high spirits, the atmosphere harmonious and joyful.
Mo Hua also ate very happily—his cheeks stuffed full. But even while chewing, his gaze was subtly sweeping around, as if looking for something. After a while, he quietly asked Wenren Wan:
"Aunt Wan, where's Uncle Gu? I haven't seen him."
Wenren Wan's expression turned a little awkward.
"He… might be busy with something at the Dao Court Division. Don't worry about him, you eat more."
"Oh… okay."
Mo Hua stuffed an unknown spirit beast's shank into his mouth.
After dinner, his stomach was round and full.
He took a walk in the Gu family's rear garden to help digest.
These days, apart from a few restricted areas like warehouses, inner residences, and the patriarch's cave-dwelling, Mo Hua could go pretty much wherever he pleased. No one stopped him.
Some cultivators even greeted him warmly.
A few even offered to guide him.
Along the way, he met some elders who nodded politely. Some even gave him gifts.
"Just a little holiday present. Nothing valuable—please don't mind it, little friend."
Indeed, the gifts weren't particularly rare.
They were the kind of things exchanged among clan juniors—finely crafted, thoughtful items that weren't easy to purchase even if you had the money.
Mo Hua figured: There's no way I have this much face.
These gifts were likely in honor of Venerable Elder Xun.
Still, declining them would be refusing their goodwill.
So Mo Hua accepted everything with a smile.
And while doing so, he returned the favor with sweet talk:
He wished the elder men things like:
"May your cultivation thrive,"
"May you transcend to immortality soon,"
"May you have the potential of the Hollow Ascension,"
"May you reach longevity…"
And for elder women:
"May your beauty endure,"
"May you stay as radiant as flowers,"
"May your age remain eternally youthful…"
Et cetera, et cetera.
By the time he finished a lap around the courtyard, all the elders were grinning ear to ear—and Mo Hua's storage pouch was stuffed with "small gifts."
He found a quiet spot and began to sort through them, checking if anything was especially fun or useful.
As he flipped through them, a cold voice suddenly interrupted:
"Did you come to rob the Gu family?"
Mo Hua looked up—and there stood the tall, handsome, but perpetually grumpy Gu Changhuai, looking like someone owed him money.
"Uncle Gu?"
Mo Hua instinctively tried to hide the storage pouch like a guilty thief.
But halfway through, he paused.
Why should I feel guilty?
Mo Hua straightened up and grinned proudly:
"These were all holiday gifts from the elders—given to me personally! I accepted them out of politeness!"
Gu Changhuai's forehead twitched uncontrollably.
This little brat was getting more and more popular in the Gu family.
Possibly even more than him, a direct descendant of the Gu bloodline.
At the very least, he had never gotten so many "holiday presents" from so many elders.
Gu Changhuai suddenly felt… complicated.
Mo Hua ignored him and kept browsing through his "gifts." Then he looked up and asked curiously:
"Uncle Gu, when did you come back?"
"Come back? I never left," Gu Changhuai replied.
"You didn't leave?" Mo Hua blinked. "Then why didn't I see you at the feast?"
"Didn't feel like eating." Gu Changhuai scowled.
Mo Hua gave him a suspicious look and sighed:
"Uncle Gu, I mean this sincerely—you're not a kid anymore. You're a Golden Core cultivator, for heaven's sake. Why are you still throwing tantrums like a child?"
Gu Changhuai ground his teeth and ruffled Mo Hua's hair in annoyance.
"What would a brat with a dozen years of cultivation know?"
Mo Hua tidied his hair and mumbled:
"It's not a dozen—I'll be twenty after the New Year!"
Gu Changhuai sneered, "I'm over two hundred."
"Exactly! You're over two hundred! So can't you be a little more mature—like me?" Mo Hua replied with utter seriousness.
Gu Changhuai nearly choked on air.
If Mo Hua weren't so physically weak and untrained in body refinement, he'd have smacked him upside the head in the name of a "friendly sparring session."
Now he couldn't hit him. Couldn't scold him. And his cousin was always protecting the brat.
Even the Gu family elders were treating him with extra courtesy.
Gu Changhuai's face turned dark. With a wave of his sleeve, he grumbled:
"Fine! You play by yourself—I'm leaving!"
Can't afford to mess with him? Then I'll just avoid him.
Gu Changhuai turned to leave, but Mo Hua suddenly remembered something and called out,
"Uncle Gu, wait—I actually have something serious to talk to you about!"
"Something serious?" Gu Changhuai stopped, frowning slightly. "What is it?"
Mo Hua looked around, making sure no one else was nearby, then beckoned him over.
Gu Changhuai stood still, unmoving for a while, then finally gave in and reluctantly sat beside Mo Hua on the steps.
The two sat side by side.
Mo Hua lowered his voice.
"It's about the Yu Family Water Fortress."
Gu Changhuai's gaze sharpened slightly.
Mo Hua continued,
"That case's been dragging on for a long time now. Any progress from the Dao Court Division?"
"That's Dao Court business. You don't need to pry," Gu Changhuai replied.
That response was entirely within Mo Hua's expectations.
Uncle Gu could be annoyingly tight-lipped sometimes. Ask him something, and he'd immediately get all secretive—not necessarily because he had something to hide, but just out of habit.
A frustrating trait.
Mo Hua pressed on,
"What about this 'Water Yama'?"
"That's also Dao Court—"
"No, it's not!" Mo Hua interrupted.
The name "Water Yama" was something he'd deduced from cause-and-effect threads in the Blood Oath List.
He was certain that this Water Yama was deeply involved in the Yu Family Water Fortress massacre.
But as of now, there was no official evidence connecting the two.
And that meant the Dao Court Division hadn't included this in their investigation scope.
Gu Changhuai paused, then admitted reluctantly,
"I can only say a little about Water Yama…"
"Mm-hmm," Mo Hua nodded, listening intently.
After a moment of thought, Gu Changhuai explained:
"Over the past six months, reports have emerged of a figure calling himself 'Water Yama' appearing in some of the smaller states outside Qianxue Province."
"But this person is elusive. No one knows his face or background."
"However, there are clues…"
Gu Changhuai frowned.
"In several murder cases, the victims were drowned using an unknown water-type technique. Before dying, they appeared to have been tortured, and were found bound in some kind of chains—kneeling, like criminals dying in repentance."
"The manner of death is strikingly similar to those water cultivators from the Yu Family Water Fortress who were wiped out."
"If you ask me, these killings were very likely the work of that 'Water Yama'…"
As he finished, his expression grew heavy.
"And then?" Mo Hua asked.
"Then nothing."
Mo Hua blinked.
"Nothing?"
"It's not my case anymore," Gu Changhuai sighed. "How should I know what happened next?"
"Not your case anymore?" Mo Hua looked puzzled. "But aren't you a dian si—a field officer?"
Gu Changhuai looked irritated.
"The Dao Court doesn't just have one dian si, you know."
Mo Hua was about to respond when he suddenly froze, realization dawning.
"Wait… Uncle Gu, did you get dismissed?!"
Gu Changhuai rubbed his temples and grumbled,
"No, I did not get dismissed!"
Unless you committed some major offense, being removed from your dian si post wasn't exactly easy.
"Ah," Mo Hua nodded with sudden clarity, "then you got sidelined!"
Gu Changhuai didn't want to admit it.
But technically… Mo Hua wasn't wrong.
"Someone doesn't want you investigating the case anymore… or maybe they're just targeting you personally—trying to force you out of the Dao Court entirely," Mo Hua said quietly.
Gu Changhuai's face turned cold.
Clearly, Mo Hua had hit the nail on the head.
Mo Hua sighed.
"If they're not letting you investigate, then who is handling the Yu Family Water Fortress case now?"
Gu Changhuai opened his mouth to respond—then realized he'd been led around in circles and tricked into answering anyway.
This kid… how did his brain even work with all those twists and turns?
But at this point, Gu Changhuai couldn't be bothered to keep hiding it.
"They handed it over to the Xiao Family."
"The Xiao Family?" Mo Hua repeated. "You mean that 'Smiling Tiger' and 'Howling Dog'?"
"Don't give people random nicknames," Gu Changhuai snapped.
"Okay, okay." Mo Hua agreed offhandedly, then asked, "So, has the Xiao Family found anything?"
"No idea," Gu Changhuai replied.
Maybe they had—but didn't share it. Or maybe they were just phoning it in and hadn't uncovered anything.
Either way, once the case was handed off to the Xiao family, Gu Changhuai had no say in it.
And now that he'd been benched… he had even less influence.
Mo Hua let out another long sigh.
The trail had gone cold.
Uncle Gu was out of the picture. And as for the Xiao Family—he had no way of prying information from them.
He'd have to look elsewhere.
Mo Hua glanced at Gu Changhuai again, now understanding why he'd skipped the New Year's banquet. His foul mood was understandable.
Clearly, there was more pressure and opposition within the Dao Court than he was letting on.
"Uncle Gu… go take a walk and clear your head. I won't bother you anymore," Mo Hua said considerately.
This was one of those moments where a man needed some peace.
Just as Mo Hua stood up to leave, a clear voice rang out:
"Changhuai! What are you doing out here? I've been looking all over for you!"
Mo Hua looked up and saw a female cultivator in red approaching—fair-skinned and sharp-featured. It was none other than Elder Gu Hong, Uncle Gu's aunt.
Gu Hong marched right up and declared:
"This time, don't even think about running off. You're not getting any younger. After the New Year, you're going on a matchmaking date!"
Matchmaking?!
Mo Hua, who had just been about to leave, froze in place.
Then, without a word, he quietly sat back down—and perked up his ears.
(End of Chapter)