Chapter 814 – Water Prison
At dusk, Mo Hua headed to the Dao Technique Hall to visit Elder Yi, the elder responsible for teaching spells in the Great Void Sect.
Elder Yi was idly flipping through a roster when he saw Mo Hua. He looked a little surprised—and a little wary:
"You're here to practice spells again?"
Mo Hua's self-inflicted explosion during Fireball training had left him injured, and Elder Yi suffering two months of cold glares from Venerable Elder Xun. That memory still lingered fresh in his mind.
So whenever Mo Hua came to train in spells, Elder Yi had to mentally brace himself.
"No," Mo Hua waved his hand. "I wanted to ask you a few questions…"
"Questions?" Elder Yi was momentarily stunned, then let out a small sigh of relief. "Questions are fine…"
As long as he wasn't practicing dangerous spells, Mo Hua was a model student.
"Go ahead then, what do you want to ask?" Elder Yi said.
Mo Hua handed him a copied jade slip containing records about the Water Prison Technique and asked:
"Elder, do you know anything about this Water Prison Technique?"
Elder Yi took the jade slip, glanced at it, and nodded. "Of course."
He was the elder of Dao Techniques after all.
And the Yi Clan was a renowned lineage of spellcasters.
Among the spells recorded within the Great Void Sect, he was familiar with most, to varying degrees.
Even though this Water Prison Technique was obscure and narrowly useful—and barely learned by any disciples—as the Dao Technique Elder, he still needed to be familiar with it.
"I read through the sect records and it says this Water Prison Technique was once the signature art of the Water Prison Sect? Elder Yi, do you know anything about them?" Mo Hua asked in a lowered voice.
Elder Yi frowned.
"Why are you asking about that?"
Mo Hua could read the signs—clearly, Elder Yi knew.
After a moment's thought, he explained, "I learned the Water Prison Technique here in the sect. But recently, I used it outside and someone recognized it, saying it belonged to the Water Prison Sect. That made me curious, so I came to ask."
"Oh…"
Elder Yi gave a slight nod, not suspecting anything.
Mo Hua had phrased it casually, so Elder Yi thought nothing of it. He didn't even consider that the person Mo Hua used the spell on now wanted to kill him for being a "remnant of the Water Prison Sect."
"I do know a bit about the Water Prison Sect…"
Elder Yi thought for a moment and then continued, "A thousand years ago, they were quite prominent. Back then, the sect hierarchy in Qianxue Prefecture was very different—nothing like today's 'Four Great Sects and Eight Great Clans' setup."
"In terms of strength, the Water Prison Sect wasn't top-tier, but they were definitely strong enough to rank among the 'Twelve Streams.'"
"And the 'Twelve Streams' of that era were very different from what we see today. Back then, a Twelve Stream Sect truly meant top-class mastery in a specific Dao tradition."
"Unlike now—many so-called Twelve Stream sects are way behind the Four Great Sects in their own field. Take the Ten Thousand Formations Sect, for example…"
Elder Yi sighed. "I honestly don't know how their formation techniques are even passed down—each generation worse than the last."
Mo Hua asked, "So that means the Water Prison Sect had truly refined water-element Dao techniques to a high level?"
"I wouldn't say the highest," Elder Yi shook his head. "There's always someone better out there. The Dao is vast—no one can claim to have truly reached the peak. But within Qianxue Prefecture, even most of Qian Province, the Water Prison Sect's water-element techniques were definitely among the best."
"And not just that—they had a particular specialization. Their water-element spells didn't aim to be comprehensive, but rather refined and precise."
Refined rather than broad?
Mo Hua thought for a bit and slowly said, "The name 'Water Prison Sect'—with the word 'prison'—implies they specialized in water-based control and imprisonment techniques, right?"
"Could it even mean they were connected to the Dao Tribunal?"
Elder Yi's eyes lit up slightly in surprise.
This kid really was sharp.
Maybe it's true that formation students are all smart?
Then again… there were plenty of formation students in the sect who seemed a bit dim…
Elder Yi mused to himself.
"You're correct. The Water Prison Sect specialized in control, confinement, imprisonment, and even punishment-type water techniques. Some were even considered forbidden arts…"
He continued, "Most disciples who graduated from the Water Prison Sect went on to work in local Dao Tribunal offices. These cultivators were adept in Water Prison–type techniques and took pleasure in harsh punishments—though their victims were usually criminals, their reputation suffered because of their cruelty."
"And then…"
Elder Yi frowned. "What came after is a bit hazy to me. I only know that their foundational cultivation method seemed flawed. The deeper one cultivated it, the more twisted and violent their mind became."
"And during that time, more and more cases surfaced—disciples of the Water Prison Sect falling to demonic cultivation, using their authority within the Dao Tribunal to commit atrocities."
"The central Dao Tribunal launched an investigation. And during that investigation, they uncovered something major—something that enraged the Dao Tribunal."
"What that something was… the Dao Tribunal never disclosed. The truth is likely sealed in confidential files at the central office."
"In any case, after that, many within the Water Prison Sect were killed. The rest were imprisoned. All core legacies were sealed away. Only some scattered techniques, like the Water Prison Technique, leaked out and spread throughout the cultivation world as obscure niche arts…"
Elder Yi sighed as he finished.
Mo Hua's expression grew solemn.
He hadn't expected the name "Water Prison Sect" to carry such a dark and mysterious history.
The cultivation world really was treacherous, complicated, full of shadows.
A once-prominent sect… just like that, gone.
"Then does the Water Prison Technique still carry any danger? Didn't the Dao Tribunal ban it?" Mo Hua asked.
Elder Yi waved his hand. "You can't ban everything. Besides, if the technique made it out and was later accepted into the Great Void Sect's records, it means it wasn't considered a problem."
"Plus, the Water Prison Technique is weird and niche—who would even bother to learn it normally?"
Mo Hua silently looked at Elder Yi.
Only then did Elder Yi remember that the one standing before him was someone who'd learned it. He gave an awkward chuckle:
"Not talking about you! I mean, your situation's special—your divine sense is strong, but your spiritual power is weak, so focusing on control techniques like this is a good, creative path. A good choice, a good choice…"
Mo Hua nodded, then added:
"Elder, I have another question…"
He hesitated, looking puzzled. "I was looking through the sect's records. It says the Water Prison Sect was wiped out a thousand years ago, but the Water Prison Technique was only added to the Great Void Sect archives about a hundred years ago, by someone called 'Immortal Yi.'"
"That Immortal Yi—he's a senior of the Yi Clan in the Unity Realm, right?"
Elder Yi nodded. "He should be my uncle."
"Then… where did Immortal Yi find this Water Prison Technique? From whom did he obtain it? And how did he compile it?" Mo Hua asked.
"You're making things difficult for me…" Elder Yi sighed. "How would I know something like that?"
"Then…" Mo Hua said quietly, "Could you help me ask Immortal Yi?"
Elder Yi gave him a meaningful look. "You little rascal… was that your plan all along?"
Mo Hua smiled sheepishly.
It's not like he could just ask Immortal Yi directly—he was just a minor disciple. Immortal Yi wouldn't even know who he was.
Actually… Mo Hua didn't even know who Immortal Yi was.
So really, asking Elder Yi was the only option.
After thinking for a moment, Elder Yi nodded. "Alright, I'll help you ask."
Mo Hua's face lit up with joy and he immediately said, "Thank you, Elder Yi!"
Then he thumped his chest. "If you ever need help in the future, just ask me! If it's something I can do, I'll do my best!"
Elder Yi laughed.
A mighty Golden Core elder of the Great Void Sect, needing favors from a little disciple? Please.
He paused.
Actually… maybe not impossible…
At least with Venerable Elder Xun, Mo Hua's influence might be more useful than his own.
"Alright!" Elder Yi didn't act high and mighty. Grinning, he said, "If I need anything, I'll come find you."
"Mmhm!" Mo Hua nodded.
"But," Elder Yi added with hesitation, "I can try to ask, but… my uncle, Immortal Yi, is obsessed with spells and loves roaming the world. He travels across the Nine Provinces gathering Dao scrolls and spell manuals."
"I don't even know where he is right now. If I send a flying sword message, who knows when he'll receive it—or when he'll reply. Could be days, could be months, maybe even a year or two…"
"That long?" Mo Hua was a little disappointed.
"It's a matter of luck," Elder Yi said. "The cultivation world is vast, his whereabouts unknown, and messages often go unanswered."
Mo Hua sighed. "Alright, guess I've got no choice…"
Elder Yi nodded. "If there's news, I'll let you know."
Mo Hua cupped his hands and bowed. "Many thanks, Elder."
After that, Mo Hua resumed his normal classes and cultivation.
But just a few days later, during a class break, Elder Yi stood at the door and waved at him. "Mo Hua, come here."
In a secluded spot, Elder Yi looked at Mo Hua, his expression a little odd.
"You, kid… your luck really is something else…"
"You really are one lucky kid..."
Perhaps it was the favor of the Heavenly Dao.
Mo Hua's eyes lit up. "Immortal Yi replied?"
"Mhm." Elder Yi nodded. "My uncle passed through Kun Province and was preparing to return to the sect. He was resting at one of our Yi Clan's branch estates when he received my flying sword message."
"According to him, the Water Prison Sect from a thousand years ago did indeed seem suspicious, but it's been so long—things have changed, people too—and it's now impossible to investigate."
"As for the Water Prison Technique, he acquired it by sheer coincidence…"
"By coincidence?" Mo Hua asked curiously.
Elder Yi explained, "Over a hundred years ago, back when my uncle hadn't yet taken up his wanderings, he was idle and teaching within the Great Void Sect."
"One day, while out visiting a friend, he went fishing by a river and happened upon a cultivator in distress. He casually lent a hand and saved him. To repay this life-saving grace, the cultivator offered him all his spirit stones and belongings."
"My uncle, of course, didn't care for such things. He waved it off, saying saving others was just a matter of course, and told him to keep the spirit stones and focus on cultivating."
"But that cultivator turned out to be someone deeply loyal and sentimental. He insisted that such a great kindness must be repaid. Having nothing else of value, he offered some cultivation techniques that had been passed down in his family. If my uncle didn't mind, he wished to repay the debt with those."
"At first, my uncle didn't think much of it. He was, after all, an elder of the Dao Techniques Hall and an Immortal at the Unity Realm. He'd seen countless techniques."
"But when the cultivator actually took them out, my uncle realized—he hadn't seen these before."
"He pondered for a long while, and based on the technique's elemental nature, meridian flows, and spell usage, he deduced that it was likely the genuine Water Prison Technique from the Water Prison Sect—a complete version, far superior to the 'castrated' versions circulating outside."
"Excited, my uncle asked where it came from."
"But the cultivator didn't even know the name 'Water Prison Technique.' He only said it was something passed down by his ancestors. It was hard to learn, clunky to use, and its offensive power was almost nonexistent. So he just treated it as an old heirloom, a keepsake from generations past."
"The Water Prison Sect's background wasn't exactly reputable, so my uncle didn't say much more."
"But he liked the spell, so he accepted it. Still, he felt a little guilty, so seeing the cultivator was poor, he gave him some spirit stones and helped him settle down in a nearby village, so he could start a stable life…"
Elder Yi ended his explanation there.
Mo Hua, however, slowly furrowed his brows. "Immortal Yi was fishing by a river… Was it the Yanshui River?"
Elder Yi nodded. "That's right, the Yanshui River."
"Did Immortal Yi mention where along the Yanshui River?" Mo Hua pressed.
"He didn't say," Elder Yi replied. "But since he was fishing, it was probably at a bend in the lower reaches of the river. I went there to fish with him a few times back in the day…"
"The lower bend?"
Mo Hua couldn't quite recall it.
"If you follow the curve of the Yanshui River westward for around thirty li," Elder Yi said, "there's a deep section—plenty of river beasts, murky silt, not a place cultivators often visit. But a few li away, there's a water village…"
Mo Hua's expression suddenly changed.
"A water village?!"
Elder Yi was startled by the outburst. "What's wrong?"
"What water village?" Mo Hua asked urgently.
Elder Yi shook his head. "I only went fishing twice. Caught maybe three or four fish. I didn't really pay attention to what was nearby…"
Mo Hua's heart grew heavy.
He had a strong feeling.
That water village Elder Yi mentioned—it could very well be the Yu Family Water Village, the one that was recently wiped out by Water Yama!
The cultivator Immortal Yi rescued may have been from the Yu Family Water Village.
The Water Prison Technique… was passed down in their hands.
And the Yu Family Water Village had been massacred—by Water Yama.
Water Yama had said, "All Water Prison Sect cultivators must die."
That would mean—
The Yu Family Water Village… were remnants of the Water Prison Sect.
Water Yama's slaughter of them wasn't just for constructing a sacrificial altar—it was also a calculated move to wipe out the Water Prison Sect's bloodline.
And the Yu Family Water Village… "Yu"...
Mo Hua's pupils contracted.
He hadn't realized it before, but now it hit him—back in the fishing village, there was Old Yu, Yu Dachuan, Little Shunzi, and Little Shuizi… all of them had the surname Yu!
Mo Hua's heart skipped.
Could Old Yu's family… be connected to the Yu Family Water Village?
His thoughts surged chaotically, emotions flashing across his face.
Elder Yi couldn't help but ask, "What are you thinking about?"
When Mo Hua didn't respond, Elder Yi asked again.
Mo Hua finally snapped back to reality and said, "It's nothing. I just remembered I have an array I haven't finished drawing. I'll head back now. Thank you, Elder Yi…"
"I'll definitely help you out if you ever need anything!"
Mo Hua made the promise and took off like a flash.
Elder Yi watched him go, scratching his head in confusion.
…
Back at the disciple quarters, Mo Hua still couldn't calm down.
He immediately sent a message to Gu Changhuai:
"Uncle Gu, is everything quiet over at the fishing village?"
After a moment, Gu Changhuai replied:
"What kind of 'quiet'?"
"Like…" Mo Hua thought a moment. "Any signs of demonic cultivators, criminal cultivators, or suspicious individuals nearby?"
"I have Gu Clan people watching over the place. No abnormal activity so far," Gu Changhuai replied.
Mo Hua breathed a little easier.
"What's wrong?" Gu Changhuai asked.
Water Yama might target the fishing village too…
Mo Hua considered it, but ultimately decided not to tell Uncle Gu just yet—he didn't have any solid proof.
"I was just asking casually."
But Gu Changhuai grew suspicious. "You're hiding something again, aren't you?"
"I'm not!" Mo Hua said.
Seeing that Gu Changhuai was about to keep pressing, he quickly changed the subject:
"Uncle Gu, have you met with that instructor from Hundred Flowers Valley recently?"
Gu Changhuai, of course, saw through Mo Hua's little diversion. But he also knew pressing for answers wouldn't work, so he replied:
"Yes, we met. But she seems to have caught wind of something—more cautious than before."
"She suspects you?"
"For now, no. When it comes to matters between men and women, I've been playing it… clumsy. She hasn't become suspicious."
That word "playing" might be unnecessary...
Mo Hua grumbled internally.
But he didn't say it out loud—Uncle Gu could be petty and hold grudges.
"You've got this, Uncle Gu," Mo Hua said encouragingly.
The lead on Hua Ruyu would have to come through Uncle Gu's matchmaking efforts.
Gu Changhuai replied with a simple, indifferent: "Mm."
And the conversation ended.
Mo Hua felt somewhat relieved—but not completely.
"Yu Family Water Village... the fishing village..."
Mo Hua felt he needed to see it with his own eyes.
A few days later, the ten-day rest period came around again. Mo Hua left the Great Void Sect alone, traveling by carriage along the Yanshui River. He passed through several immortal cities, picking up a few supplies along the way, and finally returned to the fishing village.
The village was safe and sound.
Old Yu was overjoyed to see him.
In his eyes, Mo Hua was a real "distinguished guest."
Seeing that other fisher-cultivators were still nearby, it wasn't a good time to speak openly, so Mo Hua simply said:
"Can I go pay respects to that..." He pointed behind the village. "That little immortal?"
Old Yu beamed. "Of course, of course! May the little immortal bless our benefactor with boundless fortune and an eternal cultivation path."
I'm blessing myself, aren't I… Mo Hua's feelings were a bit complicated.
Behind the village, he set down some fruits and offerings, then knelt before his own statue and went through the motions of a respectful bow.
It was still morning. The fisher-cultivators were busy with their livelihood. Old Yu hadn't followed him, and there was no one else around.
Mo Hua whispered, "Come out."
A moment later, a shimmering silver fish swam out from behind the mighty little immortal statue and bowed its head reverently.
"Greetings, Benefactor."
"You're looking skinny," Mo Hua said. "I brought you something to eat, to help you recover." He pointed at the spiritual melons and fruits on the altar.
He usually fed Lord Huangshan, but that one lived far off and rather out of the way. He didn't always have time to visit.
This time it was on the way, so he'd brought something for the little silver fish.
Huangshan might be miserable, but at least he had a humanoid form. If he didn't feed this little guy, it might soon be too skinny to even be called a fish.
The little silver fish was deeply moved.
Despite having technically been a "spirit god" for two lifetimes, no one had ever treated it this kindly.
It happily munched away at the spiritual offerings, smacking its tiny mouth.
Mo Hua asked, "Little Silver Fish, do you know the history of this fishing village?"
The little fish shook its head. "To answer my Benefactor… I've forgotten everything…"
Then it went right back to eating its sweet offerings.
Figures. A little glutton and unreliable… Mo Hua sighed inwardly.
No choice but to ask Old Yu.
By lunchtime, Mo Hua was once again mooching a meal at Old Yu's house.
But this time, he'd brought some spiritual meat.
Though not extraordinarily rare, to a poor wandering cultivator family like Old Yu's, who made their living by fishing, this was a treat even rarer than New Year's.
Old Yu was both grateful and ashamed.
"You've gone to such trouble, Benefactor…"
"It's nothing," Mo Hua waved it off. "Didn't cost me much."
Especially since in the sect, all his needs were covered with contribution points. Outside, he could rely on the Gu Clan's deep pockets. He rarely needed to spend spirit stones himself, and had actually saved up quite a bit.
Old Yu and Yu Dachuan kept pouring wine for Mo Hua.
Little Shunzi and Little Shuizi happily chomped away at the meat.
They only ate meat a few times a year—literally countable on one hand.
After the meal, Yu Dachuan went back down to the river.
Shunzi and Shuizi napped in the shady courtyard.
Old Yu brewed a pot of his best tea.
Though not fancy, it was the finest their home could offer.
Mo Hua lowered his voice. "Old Sir, do you know about the Yu Family Water Village?"
At once, Old Yu's face turned pale with terror.
"I heard about it! It was up on the Yanshui River—everyone in the whole village was slaughtered, their blood dyed half the river red…"
Mo Hua carefully said, "The Yu Family Water Village bore the surname Yu. Your family also does…"
"Yes," Old Yu nodded, unsuspecting. He sighed, "We're somewhat distantly related. Going back two generations, we probably were part of the water village, lived in the settlement back then…"
So it's true. Mo Hua thought, then asked curiously, "So how did you all end up living here in this fishing village?"
Old Yu sighed. "It's a bit shameful. They say it was my grandfather's generation—he was lazy and dishonorable, always eating and never working. He got kicked out of the village to fend for himself. Looking back… maybe that misfortune turned into a blessing."
Old Yu shivered slightly. "Otherwise, our whole family might have been massacred too, just like them."
Mo Hua's eyes narrowed slightly.
Kicked out…? This probably wasn't that simple.
"What else do you know about the village?" Mo Hua asked again.
Old Yu thought about it, then shook his head. "We haven't had contact in ages. That old blood tie got cut once we left. If you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have thought of them."
"All just miserable folks scraping by… life's hard enough without digging up old, moldy history…" Old Yu sighed.
Mo Hua also sighed lightly.
It seemed Old Yu didn't know much more.
They continued drinking tea in silence.
Mo Hua sat lost in thought, trying to figure out if there were any clues he'd missed—any thread he could unravel to get to the truth behind Water Yama's motives and the secrets of the Yu Family Water Village…
But no matter how he turned it over in his mind, nothing new came to light.
Just then, a gentle breeze passed by, and Shunzi and Shuizi both rolled over in their sleep.
As they shifted, a faint stream of spiritual energy flowed through their bodies—subtle, but perceptible.
Mo Hua stared in surprise.
He'd already noticed these two progressed quickly in cultivation, but now he realized—they were improving even faster than he'd thought.
And… their auras were unusual.
Mo Hua's gaze sharpened.
(End of this Chapter)