Chapter 822 – The Dao Tribunal
Central Dao Tribunal!
Mo Hua's eyes narrowed.
"Why is the Dao Tribunal investigating? What are they investigating? How are they investigating?"
Wang Chen gave a bitter look.
"This… you're overestimating me. How could I possibly know that...?"
Mo Hua thought for a moment and realized that made sense.
The Dao Tribunal wouldn't stick its nose into something like this unless there was a deeper reason.
And an ordinary Yin Water Sect disciple like Wang Chen couldn't possibly be in the loop.
"Then let me ask you something else," Mo Hua said after a pause.
"These 'pretty and fun' things you mentioned—what exactly were they? Where were they? What did you get out of bringing us there?"
Wang Chen sighed helplessly,
"I… I just took the job to earn a little merit."
"The senior brothers said that if I could bring disciples from the Eight Major Sects or the Twelve Streams aboard, I'd get two hundred merit points per person."
"The place was just a flower boat—with food, drinks, entertainment… it wasn't anything bad. It's even possible to make some connections with fellow cultivators…"
Mo Hua sneered,
"You can lie to others all you want, but don't lie to yourself."
Wang Chen said nothing.
But after a moment's thought, his expression also turned cold.
"You guys didn't nab me for that reason, did you? You weren't really trying to get on the boat."
Mo Hua was a little surprised.
This Wang Chen… wasn't as stupid as he seemed.
He said calmly,
"Even if I told you the truth—would you dare to hear it?"
Wang Chen was taken aback.
Mo Hua's tone turned cold:
"It'd be better if you didn't know. If you do find out, it won't be long before you're buried in fire and don't even know how you died."
And he wasn't bluffing.
Guys like Wang Chen—once they stumbled onto a secret—usually didn't last long after.
That's how it always played out in stage dramas and fiction, too.
Wang Chen didn't dare ask again.
He was from the Wang family and had grown up with Hao Xuan.
His clan wasn't as powerful as Hao's, and he himself held much lower status, so he had always been cautious.
He knew well enough to avoid brushing up against forbidden things.
Still, though he didn't ask further, it was obvious he didn't plan to say much more either.
Mo Hua glanced at him and said flatly,
"Let me be honest. Originally, we were going to torture you for answers, then dump your body in the river to feed the water demons. Clean and quiet."
"But Hao Xuan talked us down."
Hao Xuan blinked.
Wait, I did? When?
But Mo Hua didn't even bat an eye and continued,
"He said you were childhood friends, and he couldn't bear to see you die like that—torn apart in a demon's belly. He begged us to give you a chance. So we just knocked you out and asked a few questions. Otherwise, you'd already be in the river."
"Brother Xuan…"
Wang Chen looked at Hao Xuan with genuine gratitude.
Hao Xuan had no idea what kind of expression he was supposed to make.
"However," Mo Hua's face darkened,
"You should know exactly what you've been involved in."
"If you keep going down this path, you won't just destroy yourself—you'll drag the Wang family down too. Your parents will be disgraced, and even your death won't be honorable."
Wang Chen turned pale.
"B-but…"
He looked up at Mo Hua and forced a bitter smile,
"But this is just how things are in the sect. What could I possibly do about it?"
Mo Hua shook his head.
"Paper can't wrap fire. The Yin Water Sect keeps doing things this way—it's only a matter of time before it collapses. You'd better think this through."
He stared directly at Wang Chen.
"When that collapse comes, there will be a purge. Do you think you'll escape it?"
"I…"
Wang Chen looked up and studied Mo Hua's figure and voice.
Only now did he suddenly realize—this was the same young and handsome Great Void Sect disciple from earlier today. The one who had seemed almost too polished.
Shock—and confusion—flickered across his face.
"Then… can you guys help me?"
Mo Hua said with confidence,
"I can't tell you my true identity yet. All I can say is: I have an ancestor backing me. My word is law among my peers. I'm close with many elders. And I've got ties inside the Dao Tribunal Division."
He puffed himself up and made himself sound like a big deal.
But Hao Xuan and the others knew: he wasn't exaggerating.
Wang Chen was left wide-eyed and dazed.
"You help me out a little—if something happens with the Yin Water Sect, I can have someone in the Dao Tribunal keep you safe," Mo Hua said firmly.
"Really?" Wang Chen asked hesitantly.
"You might not believe me, but don't you trust Hao Xuan?" Mo Hua asked.
Hao Xuan finally came back to himself, nodded, and sighed.
"We're trying to save you. If you sink any deeper, there'll be no way back."
Wang Chen wavered.
"But I'm just a normal disciple… what could I even do?"
"Relax," said Mo Hua,
"It's just minor stuff. Nothing difficult."
Wang Chen still looked torn.
"Can I… think it over?"
"Sure," Mo Hua nodded.
"But don't tell anyone about what happened today. If word gets out, no one will be able to protect you."
Wang Chen nodded.
Mo Hua gave Cheng Mo a look, and Cheng Mo released him.
Wang Chen seemed surprised they were actually letting him go. He gave them one last look, a bit nervous, and then left—no one knew what was going through his mind.
Watching his retreating figure, Situ Jian frowned and asked,
"Little Senior Brother, do you think he'll really help us?"
"Doesn't matter," Mo Hua replied.
Situ Jian was stunned.
Mo Hua said,
"If he agrees, things on the Yin Water Sect side will go smoother. If he refuses, I can find another way. It'll just take more work."
"But if he doesn't help, and things go south, then he'll just have to fend for himself."
Cheng Mo and Situ Jian nodded.
Hao Xuan, however, looked a little uneasy.
Deep down, he still hoped his childhood friend wouldn't walk the wrong path.
After that, the group returned to the Great Void Sect.
In his quarters, Mo Hua lay on his bed, still mulling over the events of the day.
The Dao Tribunal…
Although the Dao Tribunal and the Dao Tribunal Division differed by just one word, the distinction was massive.
The Dao Tribunal had unified the cultivation world and endured for over twenty thousand years—it had unimaginably deep roots.
Who knew how many cultivation resources it had amassed, or how many ancient legacies it controlled? Behind the Tribunal lurked old monsters of unimaginable depth and power.
In the Qianxue Prefecture, there was indeed a Dao Tribunal Division.
It was overseen and governed by the Central Tribunal, but in truth, its internal workings had already been thoroughly infiltrated by powerful noble families.
The Dao Tribunal had turned a blind eye—for who knows what reason.
Maybe it was compromise.
Or maybe, those noble clans had people inside the Dao Tribunal itself—able to cover things up and protect each other.
But now… something felt different.
The Dao Tribunal had started investigating the Yin Water Sect. It might seem like a small matter, but it could very well be the first domino.
Still…
What exactly does the Dao Tribunal want to uncover from the Yin Water Sect?
Why start with them?
And how much do they already know?
Mo Hua pondered for a long time—but came up with nothing solid.
If it were the Dao Tribunal Division, he still had some connections. He understood how things worked, and had friends.
But the Dao Tribunal proper—that was a colossal entity, utterly beyond his reach.
"I need someone who knows the inside story…"
Mo Hua pulled out a messaging talisman.
After a while of thinking, he decided to just ask directly and sent a message to Gu Changhuai:
"Uncle Gu, did someone from the Dao Tribunal come down?"
He waited a long time.
But Gu Changhuai never responded.
Maybe he was too busy—or maybe he didn't want to talk about it at all.
But this was too important.
After some thought, Mo Hua decided to ask in person.
The next morning, he left the Great Void Sect and made his way to the Dao Tribunal Division headquarters in Qianxue Prefecture.
When he arrived, no one stopped him.
Gu Changhuai had long served as a Diansi (Judge) in the Tribunal Division and had considerable clout.
The average officers might be lazy or biased toward newcomers, but Mo Hua was a familiar face with a personal connection. No one dared block his path.
In fact, one of the Gu clan's officers even poured him a cup of tea and politely said,
"The Judge is currently busy. Young Master, please wait a moment."
Mo Hua thanked him, sat down quietly, sipped his tea—and secretly observed the comings and goings of the cultivators around the Tribunal.
After four or five cups…
He finally saw Gu Changhuai coming out and immediately called out,
"Uncle Gu."
As soon as Gu Changhuai saw Mo Hua's handsome face, his head began to ache instinctively.
If this weren't the Dao Tribunal Division and he didn't have to maintain appearances, he might have turned around and walked away right then and there.
"What do you want?" Gu Changhuai asked coolly.
"I sent you a message with the communication talisman, but you ignored me. So I came to find you myself," Mo Hua said righteously.
Gu Changhuai sighed, just about to respond, when a cold yet crisp voice suddenly cut in:
"Diansi Gu, you seem quite free. Still have time to chat, huh…"
Mo Hua blinked in surprise. He looked up—and saw that the speaker was a woman in a Dao Tribunal Diansi robe.
She was tall and beautiful, with a frosty expression, chin lifted slightly, exuding an unmistakable air of pride.
Gu Changhuai's face was blank, clearly in a foul mood.
"What, I talk to someone for two minutes and you have a problem with it, Diansi Xia? Don't forget—you're a Diansi, and so am I. You're not above me."
The woman's gaze grew even colder.
The two fell into a cold standoff, both staring at each other, expressions equally icy. The atmosphere stiffened.
Mo Hua sat between them, wearing the very picture of innocence.
After a moment, he leaned a little closer to Gu Changhuai and lowered his voice, asking:
"Uncle Gu, who's that pretty lady?"
Gu Changhuai's eyelid twitched.
This brat, he thought. Lies without blinking and flatters like a pro. Who the hell did he learn that from?
On the surface, Mo Hua had lowered his voice, but in front of a Golden Core cultivator, did he really think that would fool anyone?
Sure enough, the woman heard him too. Her frosty expression didn't change, but her gaze toward Mo Hua softened ever so slightly.
There wasn't a woman alive who didn't enjoy being called beautiful.
Especially when the compliment came from a boy with a pure temperament and clear eyes—like a spring breeze that made her feel inexplicably lighter.
Her tone involuntarily softened:
"Little brother, you shouldn't call me 'sister'—I'm quite a bit older than you."
Mo Hua tilted his head curiously:
"Then what should I call you?"
From the side, Gu Changhuai gave a cold snort:
"What else? Obviously, call her Auntie."
The woman's look toward Gu Changhuai now held a faint murderous intent.
"Diansi Gu, if you've got nothing useful to say, kindly shut up."
Then, turning back to Mo Hua, she said:
"My surname is Xia. Just call me Diansi Xia."
Mo Hua nodded politely:
"Greetings, Diansi Xia."
She gave a slight nod in return.
"What brings you to the Dao Tribunal Division?"
Mo Hua glanced at Gu Changhuai and began weaving a story:
"Elder Gu Hong sent me to fetch Uncle Gu. Something came up at home and he needs to return."
Diansi Xia was a little surprised.
"What matter?"
Mo Hua glanced at both Gu Changhuai and Diansi Xia, hesitating as if unsure whether to speak.
After a moment, he motioned her closer.
Diansi Xia paused, then instinctively leaned in, only to hear Mo Hua whisper in her ear:
"He's being called back… for a matchmaking meeting."
Again, Mo Hua's voice was low—but Gu Changhuai, of course, still heard him.
Before he even finished the sentence, Gu Changhuai's face turned red with fury. Unable to endure another second, he grabbed Mo Hua by the collar, yanked him up, and stormed out of the Tribunal building with him in tow—without so much as a backward glance.
His retreating figure looked more than a little flustered and awkward.
Diansi Xia stood watching him go, her gaze subtly shifting. Her expression became a little... complicated.
Mo Hua had grown quite a bit recently, but he was still nowhere near as tall as Gu Changhuai.
Plus, with Gu Changhuai being a Golden Core cultivator, he was far stronger physically—carrying the scrawny Mo Hua was no trouble at all.
Once they were in a secluded spot, Gu Changhuai finally set him down and barked with a cold face:
"Next time you talk nonsense like that, don't blame me if I stop going easy on you."
"Okay," Mo Hua replied, completely unfazed.
Seeing his utterly unrepentant expression, Gu Changhuai could only sigh.
This kind of warning was all he could offer—because if he really did anything to Mo Hua, the boy would just go tattle to Wenren Wan or Elder Gu Hong.
And then he'd be the one with a headache.
Even though he carried the Gu surname and Mo Hua didn't.
In the Gu family—especially in front of Elder Gu Hong and Wenren Wan—Mo Hua was the one who actually had the final say.
Gu Changhuai sighed.
"Fine. What do you want?"
"I already told you earlier," Mo Hua said.
Only then did Gu Changhuai remember the message talisman and replied:
"I can't tell you about Dao Tribunal business."
"Why not?"
"Because it's confidential. And the Dao Tribunal isn't just some run-of-the-mill faction. If you cross them—even I, even the Gu family—could be completely obliterated."
Mo Hua's expression turned a bit more serious.
Still, he was only asking a few questions—not trying to step on anyone's toes, let alone be vaporized.
After a brief pause, his eyes lit up and he asked:
"That Diansi Xia just now—was she sent from the Dao Tribunal?"
Gu Changhuai didn't answer.
Mo Hua studied his expression and nodded:
"Guess that's a yes…"
"Uncle Gu, didn't you mention earlier that a new Diansi had arrived—one who was difficult and stubborn? Were you talking about her?"
He watched Gu Changhuai's expression closely—and got the confirmation he was looking for.
"Diansi Xia… Xia… Could she be from one of the great noble clans within the Dao Tribunal?"
Gu Changhuai finally gave in and sighed:
"Yes."
He'd come to realize something: once Mo Hua got curious, he would dig until he hit bedrock.
Better to just tell him than waste time dodging.
Gu Changhuai explained:
"The Xia family is one of the ancient clans from when the Dao Tribunal was first founded. In the Tribunal's central hub—the Seven Pavilions, the Astrological Bureau, and so on—many of the elders, directors, and officials over the generations have come from the Xia family."
"They're a genuine powerhouse among noble clans."
Mo Hua's expression turned solemn.
So the Xia family was that influential…
"Then this time, the Dao Tribunal sent someone from the Xia family—is it to investigate the Yin Water Sect?" Mo Hua asked.
Gu Changhuai frowned.
"You know they're investigating the Yin Water Sect?"
"I just found out," Mo Hua replied.
Gu Changhuai didn't know what to say.
The Tribunal had only been at it for a few days—and this kid already knew.
How the hell does he get his info so fast?
"Why is the Dao Tribunal investigating the Yin Water Sect?" Mo Hua pressed.
Gu Changhuai was silent for a while, then slowly shook his head.
"Hard to say…"
"Hard to say?"
After a long pause, Gu Changhuai finally spoke:
"In Qianxue Prefecture, sects abound and noble clans hold enormous power. Each clan has its own ambitions. While they may scheme and squabble among themselves, they've always maintained the same stance toward the Dao Tribunal:"
"'Let the Tribunal Division enforce Dao law—but do not interfere with our internal affairs.'"
"Unless one of the noble clans outright defies the Tribunal or plots open rebellion, the Dao Tribunal has typically turned a blind eye."
"Even when serious incidents occur, at most the Tribunal demands accountability and squeezes a little benefit from the clans. That's it."
"But lately… something's changed."
Gu Changhuai frowned.
"It seems the Dao Tribunal no longer wants to let Qianxue Prefecture run wild."
"Or perhaps, they've long coveted it, and they were just waiting for the right excuse to intervene."
"And recently… that 'excuse' came along."
Mo Hua's eyes narrowed.
"What excuse?"
Gu Changhuai looked at him and asked:
"You're a sect disciple—you've gone to Demon Refining Mountain for hunts, right? You should be familiar with the Ten Thousand Demon Valley?"
Mo Hua was taken aback. "The Ten Thousand Demon Valley?!"
Gu Changhuai nodded. After hesitating for a moment and preparing to reveal the secret, he suddenly froze.
"Don't tell me… you already know?"
Mo Hua was silent for a bit, then slowly nodded.
"How much do you know?" Gu Changhuai asked.
"Probably… pretty much everything," Mo Hua mumbled.
In all of Qianxue Prefecture, aside from Mr. Tu and that mysterious young lord, no one understood the Ten Thousand Demon Valley better than he did.
Sure, some of the demon cultivator stewards might've known something… but they were all dead now.
Gu Changhuai's eyelid twitched wildly.
He had only heard about the "Ten Thousand Demon Valley" from the head of the Gu family—and even that had been mere scraps, since the matter was tightly sealed and only tiny bits of rumor had leaked out.
But now, Mo Hua said he knew everything, which meant—
"You… you didn't actually go into the Ten Thousand Demon Valley, did you?"
Mo Hua nodded again. "Sort of…"
It wasn't just that he'd been inside—it was more like he'd been the storm inside.
He'd roamed around the valley for quite a while, erased the souls of over half the demon stewards, and devoured every last demon spirit lurking in that hidden treasury.
Of course… none of that could be said out loud.
And Gu Changhuai couldn't even imagine such a thing.
Still, he drew in a quiet, stunned breath. It was hard to believe.
How is it this brat shows up everywhere something major happens…?
It's not natural!
"So what happened with the Ten Thousand Demon Valley?" Mo Hua asked.
Gu Changhuai collected himself and sighed.
"That incident… was the 'excuse.'"
"It had a terrible impact, with serious consequences. Although things were eventually covered up, the Dao Tribunal used it as justification to send someone to station here and conduct internal oversight…"
Gu Changhuai's expression darkened slightly.
"…That someone being Diansi Xia of the Xia family."
Mo Hua slowly nodded.
Every ripple has its cause.
He had thought the matter of the Ten Thousand Demon Valley was over—but it turned out it had quietly triggered an entire series of changes.
Not only had it let the Dao Tribunal's influence seep into Qianxue Prefecture…
It also brought her here.
"So," Mo Hua asked, "what effect will the Tribunal's involvement have on Qianxue Prefecture?"
Gu Changhuai's expression grew more solemn.
"That's the tricky part. Maybe they're just here to go through the motions and will leave after a while. Maybe they're secretly investigating some hidden truth. Or maybe they intend to use this as a foothold to infiltrate and control the region's power structure…"
"In any case, this marks the beginning."
"It means… the Central Dao Tribunal is entering the game."
Even after Mo Hua had returned to the disciples' quarters from the Dao Tribunal Division, Gu Changhuai's words still echoed in his mind.
The Dao Tribunal is joining the game.
Whether this was good or bad… hard to say.
Mo Hua frowned.
Then again, the schemes of a colossal beast like the Dao Tribunal didn't really have much to do with him—at least not yet. No point worrying too much.
Bringing his thoughts back, he began mulling over the Water Yama again.
Right now, the most important thing was still capturing the Water Yama.
Only then could he get answers about the annihilation of the Yu Clan's water fortress—and especially about the mysterious "sacrificial ritual." Only through that could he find the altar and take his divine sense to the next level.
But Mo Hua quickly realized something: with the clues he had now, tracking down Water Yama—let alone catching him—was nearly impossible.
The real problem was time.
With his schedule limited by periodic rest breaks, there were too many things he couldn't investigate personally.
At this rate, slowly unraveling the clues could take until the next lifetime.
Way too slow.
Even if he could wait, Venerable Elder Xun couldn't. That old man's matter involved the rise or fall of entire sects—it couldn't be delayed.
Mo Hua stood in silent thought for a while, then slowly began to form an idea.
One must know their limits.
If he couldn't do something, then he'd just honestly borrow strength from others.
"A gentleman is not innately different from others—he simply knows how to borrow tools well."
"The people who might be able to help with this—Uncle Gu, Yu Canghai, Senior Sister Qianqian from Hundred Flowers Valley, and that Wang Chen from the Yin Water Sect—are all already in the plan."
"But it's not enough…"
"I still need an even stronger ally."
"And that ally is…"
Mo Hua's eyes lit up.
"The Dao Tribunal!"
"The Tribunal's strength is unfathomable—it's a true behemoth."
"Inside Qianxue Prefecture, if the Tribunal really wants to do something, no faction can stop them. They fear no interference and no retaliation."
"Now that the Tribunal is laying out a strategy to investigate the Yin Water Sect, I might as well hitch a ride—lure the Water Yama into their net, and fish in the troubled waters."
"At the same time, I can use this as a chance to build a few connections with some of the internal factions within the Tribunal."
"After all, every power—whether noble clans, sects, or the Tribunal itself—is made of different interests, different entanglements, different agendas. None of them are solid monoliths."
"If I make the right connections within the Tribunal, then even if I someday do violate some unimaginable taboo and the upper Tribunal tries to come down on me with iron-blooded suppression…"
"At least I won't be completely alone in the dark."
"The question is…"
Mo Hua frowned.
"How do I actually connect with the Dao Tribunal?"
After pondering for a while, only one person came to mind.
He pulled out his communication talisman and sent a message to Gu Changhuai:
"Uncle Gu, forget about Instructor Hua—that lead didn't go anywhere. Instead, try to find time to interact more with Diansi Xia…"
Gu Changhuai, having spent too much time around Mo Hua, had picked up some of his quirks—like manifesting strange symbols with magnetic ink to express emotions.
This time, he simply sent back a giant question mark.
(End of this Chapter)