Chapter 1432: Temp - Chapter 1430: Marriage Alliance
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Chapter 1430: Marriage Alliance
Lu Chonglou sized up Mo Hua from head to toe, his eyes brimming with admiration.
“Young Master Mo, I imagine you have been wholly dedicated to cultivation and studying formations, with little regard for matters of romance.”
“To possess such temperament and determination in the Dao at such a young age, and to have achieved such mastery in formations, is truly astonishing.”
“However,” Lu Chonglou smiled, “it is good to be single-minded in pursuing the Dao, but one’s lifelong matters should not be neglected either. Young Master Mo, you have reached the age where marriage should be considered.”
“This…” Mo Hua was momentarily at a loss for words.
“Young Master Mo, are you married or betrothed?” Lu Chonglou asked.
“This… I am not…” Mo Hua answered truthfully.
Upon hearing this, Lu Chonglou was overjoyed and exclaimed, “Excellent!”
Lu Chonglou personally poured a cup of wine for Mo Hua and said in a low voice: “Let’s speak plainly—I have never been one for beating around the bush. Young Master Mo… would you be willing to form a marriage alliance with my Lu Clan?”
“Marriage alliance…” Mo Hua fell silent for a moment before asking, “With whom?”
Lu Chonglou replied, “Naturally, with a daughter of the Lu Clan. Our Lu Clan is a prominent family in Kun Province, a noble household with vast estates and immeasurable wealth. The daughters of the Lu Clan are all of impeccable background, well-educated, graceful, and intelligent.”
“Young Master Mo, if you are willing to form a marriage alliance with our Lu Clan, you will become a distinguished son-in-law of the Lu Clan. With the support of the Lu Clan, whether it be Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, Spirit Stones, rare artifacts, Cultivation Method Inheritances, or Compendiums of Formation Diagrams, you will have access to everything.”
“With your talent and the resources of the Lu Clan, given time, you will undoubtedly have a promising future in the Dao.”
Mo Hua was momentarily stunned.
Lu Chonglou continued, “Of course, matters of marriage require mutual consent. As for who you choose as your Dao Companion, that will depend entirely on your own wishes.”
“If you are interested, you may first interact with the daughters of the Lu Clan, exchange insights on cultivation, and then decide based on who you feel a connection with.”
“However, there is one matter I must inform you of in advance.”
Mo Hua nodded, “Please speak freely, Clan Head Lu.”
Lu Chonglou sighed and said slowly, “I will not hide it from you, Young Master. Marriages among noble families may seem glamorous, but they are extremely complicated, and the dynamics within are intricate.”
“The most obvious is the distinction between Main and Branch Line Relations.”
“If you marry a Branch Line Daughter, her status may be somewhat lower, and the benefits may be fewer. However, generally speaking, her appearance can be exceptionally beautiful—either elegant or charming, depending on your preference. After marriage, you would also have relatively more freedom and fewer constraints.”
“If you choose a Direct Line Daughter of higher status, your own standing would also be elevated, and you would receive greater support from the Lu Clan in the future.”
“However, your choices would be more limited, and you would have relatively less freedom.”
“Moreover, these Direct Line Daughters cannot be from the main lineage.”
“As for the marriage of Direct Line Daughters from the main lineage of a great clan, the only path is to form an alliance with the direct sons of other great clans. Otherwise, it would be a matter of ‘Recruiting a Live-In Son-in-Law.'”
“Young Master…” Lu Chonglou looked at Mo Hua, “do you come from a distinguished family background?”
Mo Hua replied candidly, “No.”
Lu Chonglou sighed, “Forgive my bluntness, Young Master. If you truly have no illustrious background, or if you do but cannot openly disclose it…”
“In such circumstances, if one wishes to marry a Direct Line Daughter from the main branch of a great clan, the only path is to marry into the wife’s family.”
“Moreover, while such a marriage may appear honorable on the surface, it requires enduring what others cannot bear in private. All the bitterness must be swallowed silently, and one can hardly ever regain true freedom in a lifetime.”
Although Lu Chonglou intended to entice Mo Hua into marriage, he knew Mo Hua was an intelligent person.
With intelligent individuals, honesty is better than deception.
Thus, regarding the marital relationships within the clan, he spoke truthfully without any falsehood.
Marrying a Branch Line Daughter yields fewer benefits but offers relative freedom, and one can marry someone exceptionally beautiful.
Marrying a Direct Line Daughter brings greater benefits but sacrifices freedom. As for whether she is beautiful or gentle, there is no need to consider it—because you have no choice.
Marrying a Direct Line Daughter from the main branch requires marrying into the wife’s family. While it may seem to offer the greatest benefits, it is equivalent to selling oneself into servitude, truly leaving one at the mercy of others for a lifetime.
The marriages of great clans indeed calculate people and interests with utmost clarity.
But Mo Hua could not say much, as the Lu Clan Head’s willingness to speak so frankly with him was already an act of extreme sincerity.
Moreover, this was an exceptionally unprecedented “favor.”
If it were not Mo Hua but an ordinary genius—without power or influence—who wished to enter the Lu Clan’s doors and marry into the family, then at the first option of marrying a Branch Line Daughter, the only choice would be to “marry into the wife’s family.”
And where one marries into, or whom one marries, is entirely beyond one’s control.
It all depends on the Lu Clan’s higher-ups, who “assign” matches based on one’s Spiritual roots, temperament, and future potential.
Whether one likes it or is willing matters to no one.
The marriages of great clans are a distribution of interests, not matters of love between men and women.
In this regard, people are no different from “property.”
Mo Hua remained silent.
Seeing this, Lu Chonglou sighed and said, “I know these words are somewhat… unpleasant to hear, but this is reality.”
“Only by accepting reality can one make the right judgments and go further in life.”
Lu Chonglou glanced at Mo Hua and asked, “Young Master, do you wish to become a Guest Elder of the Earth Sect?”
Mo Hua nodded. “Yes.”
Lu Chonglou asked, “Why?”
Mo Hua replied, “There’s no particular reason. It’s just that the Earth Sect is spacious, and I’d like to go in and take a look.”
Lu Chonglou was slightly taken aback.
Spacious? Wanting to visit the Earth Sect?
What kind of preference is this?
This Young Master Mo occasionally says strange things.
After pondering for a moment, Lu Chonglou said solemnly, “Young Master, you cannot serve as a Guest Elder for both my Lu Clan and the Earth Sect simultaneously. That is the rule—one cannot serve two masters.”
“However, marriage is different.”
“If you marry into my Lu Clan, whether by taking a wife or marrying into the family, you can later become a Guest Elder of the Earth Sect without issue.”
“This way, you would be both a son-in-law of my Lu Clan and a Guest Elder of the Earth Sect—a win-win situation.”
Lu Chonglou nodded. “It is possible.”
He then added, “Others might not be allowed, but for you, Young Master, there is absolutely no problem.”
“But,” Mo Hua frowned, “when I previously expressed interest in becoming a Guest Elder of the Earth Sect, I was politely declined.”
“That is because your social connections were not established in Kun Province,” Lu Chonglou explained. “The Earth Sect did not know your background or how long you would stay in Kun Province, so naturally, they could not rashly offer you the position of ‘Guest Elder.'”
“But if you were to marry a daughter of our Lu Clan, that would be different. It would mean you intend to establish yourself in Kun Province.”
“As the son-in-law of our Lu Clan, I could vouch for you in the name of the Lu Clan head, even recommend you to become an Inner Sect Elder of the Earth Sect.”
Mo Hua was somewhat surprised. “The son-in-law of the Lu Clan can become an Inner Sect Elder of the Earth Sect?”
Lu Chonglou nodded. “Whether it’s the Earth Sect, the Lu Clan, the Wu Clan, the Jin Clan, or the Zhu Clan—we’ve all lived on this land for many years. Our roots are deeply intertwined, and sometimes it’s hard to distinguish between them.”
“Many of the elders in the Earth Sect bear the surname Lu.”
“Some elders have also married daughters of our Lu Clan.”
“Even in the history of the Earth Sect, several sect masters have had the bloodline of our Lu Clan.”
Mo Hua’s heart trembled slightly.
If that were the case, his previous assumptions had been too simplistic.
Kun Province was not monopolized solely by the Earth Sect.
More accurately, the Earth Sect—this colossal major sect—and the various great clans were intertwined through marriages and bloodlines, forming an absolutely monopolistic “behemoth.”
In that case, “marriage” was essentially the “entry ticket” into this behemoth’s network of relationships.
Benefits were transmitted through bloodlines and marital ties.
If you didn’t marry into it, remaining outside this network, you were an “outsider.” While others feasted on the meat, you could only watch.
Only by personally “integrating” into it would you be accepted by this monopolistic network, becoming an internal member and sharing in its countless wealth, beauty, fame, and fortune.
Lu Chonglou glanced at Mo Hua’s expression and added, “Young Master Mo, do you wish to pass the Third-Grade examination?”
Mo Hua’s gaze flickered slightly. “Clan Head Lu… how did you know?”
Lu Chonglou smiled. “Young Master Mo, there’s no need to overthink it. You are currently at the Golden Core realm, a Second-Grade High-Tier Formation Master. The next step naturally is to become a Third-Grade Formation Master.”
“Which Formation Master in this world doesn’t aspire to reach the Third-Grade? Would you be an exception, Young Master?”
Mo Hua nodded. “Indeed.”
Lu Chonglou lowered his voice again. “But the Third-Grade examination is fraught with difficulties. Some matters… I’m sure you’re aware, cannot be resolved simply by being skilled at drawing formations.”
“If you become a member of our Lu Clan, none of this will be a problem.”
“Quotas, examinations, grade determinations… everything will proceed smoothly. You only need to take the examination once, and you will undoubtedly become a Dao Court-appointed Third-Grade Formation Master.”
Mo Hua’s eyes twitched slightly. “What if… I fail?”
Lu Chonglou chuckled. “Young Master, you jest. With your level of formation mastery, how could you possibly fail? As I said, you will definitely pass.”
Mo Hua fell silent, saying nothing.
Lu Chonglou then added, “Of course, regarding the matter of marriage, you can take your time to consider it. There’s no rush.”
“If you choose not to marry, but are willing to become a Guest Elder of our Lu Clan, that would also be fine. Our Lu Clan is willing to lend you a hand in the matter of grade determination.”
“However, if you become a Third-Grade Formation Master with the assistance of our Lu Clan, then signing a Spirit Contract cannot be avoided.”
“According to the Earth Sect’s rules, Spirit Contracts must be signed for at least fifty years, with no exceptions. Our Lu Clan is more lenient than the Earth Sect, and you, Young Master, are also different from ordinary people. Therefore, signing for just twenty or thirty years will suffice.”
“This is the most lenient deadline I, Lu, can secure for you, Young Master Mo.”
Mo Hua asked, “Do all major clans favor signing Spirit Contracts?”
Lu Chonglou sighed, “Young Master, you may not be aware, but in these times, hearts have grown cold, and acts of betrayal and faithlessness are all too common. Over the years, my Lu Clan has raised far too many ungrateful wolves.”
“You provide them with food, shelter, and resources for cultivation, only for them to turn their backs and leave once they’ve achieved success, wasting all the Lu Clan’s investments.”
“The higher their talent and the greater their abilities, the more devastating the loss.”
“In recent centuries, such incidents have become increasingly frequent. As a result, any organization of significant standing now trusts only ‘Spirit Contracts’ rather than the conscience of individuals.”
“It is a matter of protocol, Young Master. Please do not take offense,” Lu Chonglou said earnestly.
Mo Hua nodded and said, “I need to think about it.”
Lu Chonglou nodded in return. “Naturally. This is a significant matter and should not be decided hastily.”
Afterward, Mo Hua quietly enjoyed the delicacies and fine wine until the banquet drew to a close, at which point he rose to leave.
As they parted, Lu Chonglou said, “Take care on your way, Young Master Mo. The doors of my Lu Clan are always open to you.”
Mo Hua clasped his hands in gratitude. “Thank you for your kindness, Clan Leader Lu.”
Lu Chonglou glanced at Mo Hua, then took a step closer and lowered his voice: “If you are unwilling to become a Guest Elder or enter into a marriage alliance, that is perfectly fine. As a last resort, you could come to the Lu Clan as a Formation Arts’ Instructor, teaching our disciples the intricacies of formations. That would also be excellent.”
Lu Chonglou’s eyes gleamed meaningfully as he added: “Our Lu Clan has some exceptionally talented young ladies who are deeply passionate about formations. Having heard that Young Master Mo is the Qianxue Formation Dao Champion, they greatly admire you. When you have time, please do us the honor of visiting and sharing some of your insights on formations with them.”
Lu Chonglou spoke with subtlety.
Mo Hua replied calmly, “Certainly.”
Afterward, Lu Chonglou summoned Lu Zhenlong to bid farewell to Mo Hua.
Dressed in splendid attire, with a face as lovely as flowers and the moon, Lu Zhenlong, still nursing a grudge over Mo Hua’s fireball to the face, reluctantly said: “Take care on your way, Young Master Mo.”
Mo Hua looked at Lu Zhenlong with a complex expression, clasped his hands in return, and said, “Farewell.”
Following Lu Chonglou’s instructions, a female elder of the Lu Clan personally escorted Mo Hua out, all the way to the entrance.
Stepping over the threshold, he was met with a desolate night outside.
Mo Hua turned back, and the opulent scene of the Lu Clan—golden splendor, jade-like elegance, beautiful dancers, and brilliant lights—once again filled his vision.
Just a single threshold separated two entirely different worlds.
Lu Chonglou’s words echoed in Mo Hua’s ears.
For a fleeting moment, a thought crossed Mo Hua’s mind: perhaps agreeing to Lu Chonglou’s proposal wouldn’t be so bad.
Endless Spirit stones, countless treasured formations, the grandeur of a noble mansion, wealth and fame, luxurious carriages and beautiful companions, a stunning Dao Companion, the respect and envy of others…
All the pleasures of a world of extravagance and prosperity would be within his grasp with just a simple nod.
When he thought about it, he was merely a wandering cultivator by origin.
Just a poor wandering cultivator from Tongxian City.
As a child, his cultivation path was fraught with hardships, and he endured a life of struggle and poverty while diligently studying formations.
Today, with just a nod, he could ascend to the heavens in a single step, entering a great and wealthy clan where all the riches and glory he could ever desire awaited him. What more could he possibly want?
Mo Hua suddenly felt a sense of bewilderment:
“Why… did I embark on the path of cultivation in the first place?”
“Isn’t this… what I strive for?”
“Isn’t this what one lives a lifetime for?”
“I…”
Mo Hua frowned, then suddenly felt a chill in his heart. He pressed two fingers to his forehead, using his thought power to suppress the Sea of Consciousness.
Within his forehead, an invisible golden needle stirred restlessly.
The Heart-Tugging, Emotion-Arousing Golden Needle of the Hua family’s ancestor.
Mo Hua forcefully employed his Divine Dao Thought Power to temporarily suppress the golden needle. As worldly desires receded slightly, his Sea of Consciousness grew somewhat clearer.
“What is it… that I seek?”
Mo Hua’s eyes flickered.
The paths he had walked in the past gradually resurfaced.
The poverty of Tongxian City, the corpse calamity of Nanyue City, the evil spirits of the small fishing village, the orphans of Fox Yellow Mountain, the blood transformation of Qianzhou, the famine and disasters of the Great Wilderness, the despair-inducing Martial Uncle, the master whose kindness was as weighty as a mountain yet whose fate remained unknown…
Wealth and status were merely superficial illusions. Suffering was the underlying truth, the reality.
Those who cultivate the Dao cultivate the path and seek the truth.
Mo Hua took a deep breath.
That conflicted and complex Dao Heart grew a bit more lucid amidst the delusions of wealth and status.