Chapter 1469: Unorthodox Path
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Chapter 1467: Unorthodox Path
“The Great Spirit Field Realm…” Mo Hua’s heart trembled slightly, his gaze growing complex. “Is life for the people truly so bitter?”
Lin Youfang sighed, “Those who make a living by farming, how could they not suffer?”
Mo Hua frowned slightly and said slowly, “Kun Province is prosperous, with fertile land and abundant resources. Generally speaking, the lives of spirit farmers here shouldn’t be too harsh.”
Lin Youfang gave a bitter, helpless smile. “The land is fertile, but there are also many people. Tens of billions of spirit farmers struggle to make a living; simply having enough to eat is a major problem.”
“Moreover, whether the land is prosperous or not, what does that have to do with spirit farmers? They just toil diligently in the fields, working hard their entire lives. They don’t get to enjoy the land’s prosperity or the abundance of its produce.”
Mo Hua’s gaze dimmed slightly.
Lin Youfang sighed again. “Growing spiritual plants depends entirely on the whims of heaven. If the weather is unfavorable and the harvest fails, they face bitter days, often going hungry.”
“If the harvest is good and there’s plenty of grain, they might barely eat their fill, but then grain prices plummet, and they can’t earn any spirit stones at all.”
“Add to that occasional imbalances of wind and rain, locust plagues, droughts, floods, oppression from aristocratic clans, and the heavy taxes imposed by the Dao Court Division—all these man-made calamities—how many good days do they truly have?”
Mo Hua was reminded of the bitter days of the rogue cultivators in Tongxian City back then.
Beneath the Ghost Mask, his eyes revealed a look of compassion.
“And then there are people like Old Rich Zhou…”
Lin Youfang’s expression turned icy. “Logically speaking, he also came from a spirit farming background. He should understand the hardships of farming and sympathize with his fellow villagers.”
“But after becoming wealthy, he turned into a landlord—harsh, miserly, exploiting others at will. He even set up such a heartless Feng Shui Arrangement in the tomb… He truly deserves to die a thousand deaths.”
Even mentioning Old Rich Zhou, Lin Youfang’s face was still filled with hatred, his teeth clenched.
Mo Hua glanced at Lin Youfang and suddenly felt something was off. He asked: “The people Old Rich Zhou harmed were your wife’s relatives, right? You didn’t have any direct grievance with him yourself… And you hadn’t met Old Rich Zhou before either, correct?”
Although it’s natural for a husband to avenge his wife’s wrongs, Lin Youfang’s hatred was too intense, even to the point of resorting to unscrupulous means like refining Old Rich Zhou into a vengeful ghost and slaughtering his entire family.
It was as if Lin Youfang was Zhou Jin, and Zhou Jin was Lin Youfang.
Lin Youfang looked up at Mo Hua, his gaze complex. “Senior, you… have never married, have no Dao Companion, right?”
Mo Hua was taken aback. “How did you know?”
Lin Youfang said, “Senior, you are profound and unfathomable, free and unrestrained, with a pure and powerful Divine Thought. One look tells me you are someone unburdened by worldly ties.”
“For those who cultivate the Dao, their hearts are set on the Dao. The affairs of men and women in this world are not worth being entangled in.”
“But,” Lin Youfang sighed, “if one day you truly have a beloved Dao Companion, you will understand that husband and wife are one body, sharing the same heart and fate. Her life is my life; her sorrows and sufferings are my sorrows and sufferings.”
Mo Hua fell silent, the image of his little senior sister flashing involuntarily in his heart.
Lin Youfang said, “My wife was driven to the point of her family being destroyed and scattered. As her husband, how could I not avenge this wrong? Moreover, Jin’er… she has already passed away.”
Mo Hua’s expression changed slightly. “You said… passed away?”
Lin Youfang gave a bitter smile, “Yes… the Feng Shui fortune-stealing arrangement is truly vicious, with far-reaching consequences. Jin’er had long been robbed of her fate and fortune by Old Rich Zhou’s Five Rats Wealth-Attracting Arrangement. Usually, it didn’t matter much, but at critical moments, especially when breaking through to the Golden Core stage… something went wrong, and she died in my arms.”
Mo Hua’s expression remained calm, but he sighed inwardly.
No wonder… Lin Youfang hated Old Rich Zhou so much.
Old Rich Zhou had caused the death of his beloved wife.
Lin Youfang said, “That’s why I spared no effort to make Old Rich Zhou pay with his blood. Why should Jin’er’s family suffer such misfortune, while Old Rich Zhou enjoyed wealth and prosperity in life, and even after his death, his children could still act arrogantly and oppress others?”
“I…” Lin Youfang gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot, before breaking into another violent coughing fit, his face growing even paler.
Continuing to talk about this would only agitate Lin Youfang further, likely draining what little vitality he had left.
Mo Hua took out a pill and tossed it to Lin Youfang. “Take it.”
Cultivators generally avoided taking pills given by others, but since it was offered by a ‘senior‘ like Mo Hua, Lin Youfang didn’t refuse. After swallowing it, he felt a warm current transform into Blood Qi, flowing throughout his body.
This was a high-grade pill, crafted by the alchemy master True Person Rong, something not easily obtainable even with money.
Lin Youfang’s complexion improved slightly, and he clasped his hands in gratitude toward Mo Hua. “Thank you, Senior.”
Mo Hua offered no response, then asked him, “Where did you learn the ghost refining art?”
Lin Youfang hesitated, reluctant to speak of it, but since Mo Hua had asked, he answered truthfully: “I obtained it by chance during my travels in the past.”
Mo Hua pressed further, “The ghost refining art leans toward the Evil Path, doesn’t it? Should you have learned it? Didn’t your master try to stop you?”
Upon hearing this, Lin Youfang looked ashamed and sighed: “Master did indeed… try to dissuade me, but I was consumed by the desire for revenge and stubbornly insisted. Master could only sigh helplessly… I failed to live up to his teachings… It’s all my fault.”
Mo Hua said nothing.
Everyone makes their own choices.
Although Lin Youfang’s methods were somewhat cruel, he was avenging a blood debt rooted in cause and effect.
Without experiencing another’s suffering, one should not preach kindness. Mo Hua had no intention of blaming him.
After a moment of contemplation, Mo Hua asked about something else: “You’re a geomancer, cultivating the Dao of Geomancy?”
Lin Youfang replied, “Yes.”
Mo Hua asked, “Then do you know any Geomantic Formations?”
“Only a superficial understanding,” Lin Youfang sighed. “Formations are too difficult, let alone Geomantic Formations. Moreover, most such formations are controlled by the Earth Sect, and us independent geomancers aren’t qualified to learn them.”
Mo Hua nodded and asked, “Do geomancers also cultivate the Ghost Dao?”
Lin Youfang found it strange that this senior, with his profound mastery of the Divine Dao, kept asking him such “basic” questions.
But then he thought, a lofty expert like this senior, who comprehends the mysteries of the Divine Dao, likely operates on a different level of understanding compared to ordinary cultivators.
They might grasp profound matters, but simpler things could elude them.
Lin Youfang answered honestly, “Geomancers don’t cultivate the Ghost Dao. We only assess the auspiciousness and inauspiciousness of Yang residences and the Feng Shui of Yin Residences.”
“But the problem is… when dealing with auspiciousness and inauspiciousness, it’s hard to avoid touching upon matters of cause and effect. And when examining Yin Residences over the years, it’s inevitable to encounter matters involving ghosts and spirits.”
“Therefore, most geomancers also cultivate some knowledge of the Divine Dao—cause and effect, divination, commanding ghosts, consulting deities, dreamwalking… and so on.”
“Not just geomancers; all cultivators of unorthodox paths, such as Fāngshì, physiognomists, shamans, Gu Masters, and the like, also possess one or two secret Divine Dao techniques, which they generally do not reveal to others.”
Mo Hua pondered for a moment. “In other words, the disciplines these unorthodox cultivators practice are more or less related to Divine Thought.”
Lín Youfāng nodded.
Mo Hua asked, “Then… do they also cultivate Divine-Sense?”
This was another rather ‘basic’ question.
Lín Youfāng glanced at Mo Hua discreetly and said softly, “This… my knowledge is limited. Some of my understanding, when spoken before a senior like you, might seem… like showing off one’s meager skills before an expert.”
After all, this ‘senior‘ Black-Faced Fiend before him possessed skills in the Divine Dao that could be described as miraculous.
Mo Hua, however, nodded and said, “It’s fine. Speak freely.”
He actually didn’t know much about these matters either. Moreover, he wasn’t familiar with Kun Province in the first place.
With permission granted, Lín Youfāng mustered his courage and said to Mo Hua, “Senior should know that the cultivation powers of cultivators are divided into three types.”
“First is flesh and blood: those who cultivate blood power are Body Cultivators.”
“Second is spiritual energy: those who cultivate spiritual power are Spiritual Cultivators.”
“These two powers are tangible. There is also an intangible power, which is Divine-Sense.”
“But Divine-Sense is intangible, with no stable cultivation method, and it is not included in the orthodox cultivation norms of the Dao Court.”
“Therefore, cultivators who cultivate Divine-Sense are commonly referred to as ‘Unorthodox Cultivators,’ meaning they do not follow the orthodox path, but they are not considered evil either, hence the term ‘Unorthodox Path.'”
“However, there is actually a problem with this.”
“In today’s Cultivation World, there is no truly stable and reliable cultivation method for enhancing Divine-Sense. Divine-Sense cannot be strengthened through cultivation methods.”
“Thus, the vast majority of so-called ‘Divine-Sense cultivating’ unorthodox cultivators actually practice methods for ‘utilizing’ Divine-Sense, rather than cultivation methods for ‘enhancing’ Divine-Sense.”
“For example, Feng Shui, cause and effect, divination, commanding ghosts, Fāngshì arts… and so on—these are all techniques, not cultivation methods.”
Mo Hua suddenly understood and nodded.
Previously, he had only dealt with entities like evil gods, mountain gods, barbarian gods, demons, and Evil Spirits.
He had little contact with the world of ordinary “Divine Dao” cultivators, so his understanding was limited.
Now, after hearing Lín Youfāng’s explanation, he began to form a more complete concept in his mind.
His master had been right back then, Divine-Sense cannot be cultivated… it cannot be enhanced like flesh and blood or spiritual energy through cultivation methods.
Therefore, cultivators who truly prove the Dao through Divine-Sense are extremely rare.
However, various and diverse Divine Thought techniques have been passed down, inherited by generations of Divine-Sense cultivators.
It’s just that these techniques are highly obscure and chaotic, encompassing cause and effect, ghosts and deities, fortune and misfortune… everything.
Because they involve intangible Divine-Sense and are difficult to categorize, they are collectively classified as ‘Unorthodox Paths.’
Such ‘miscellaneous‘ disciplines are not recorded in the orthodox annals of the Dao Court. With numerous schools and sects hidden in obscure folk traditions, ordinary cultivators naturally have little exposure to them.
Back when Mo Hua was studying in the Qianxue Prefecture realm, in places of orthodox heritage, he rarely encountered figures like ‘Fāngshì,’ ‘geomancers,’ or ‘physiognomists.’
Mo Hua thought for a moment and then asked Lín Youfāng, “Are there many geomancers in Kun Province?”
Lín Youfāng nodded, “Quite a few.”
Mo Hua frowned slightly, “Why haven’t I seen many in Houtu City?”
Lín Youfāng explained, “Because Houtu City is a prosperous area dominated by powerful aristocratic clans, and… there’s the Earth Sect.”
Mo Hua understood immediately.
In the prosperous territories of major aristocratic clans, there is little room for minor unorthodox practitioners.
Moreover, the Earth Sect controls the Earth-Ground Formation. In other words, the Shadow Division of the Earth Sect essentially performs the work of geomancers.
“Where are most of the geomancers in Kun Province located?” Mo Hua asked.
Lín Youfāng replied, “The vast majority of geomancers are in the Great Spirit Field Realm, making a living by practicing Feng Shui and selecting burial sites.”
“The lands of Kun Province also belong to the Great Spirit Field Realm, where Unorthodox Cultivators are most numerous and Divine Sense Thought Power is most chaotic.”
Mo Hua asked, “Why is the Unorthodox Path particularly flourishing in the Great Spirit Field Realm?”
Lín Youfāng said, “Because there are many people, and they live in hardship.”
Mo Hua fell silent.
Lín Youfāng sighed, “Where there are many people, there is abundant Divine Sense Thought Power. Where people suffer, their Divine Sense Thought Power grows stronger. A place with both a large population and great suffering naturally becomes fertile ground for the Unorthodox Path.”
Mo Hua said slowly, “Then isn’t it also… a place where ghosts and deities thrive?”
Lín Youfāng was taken aback and nodded, “Your insight is as sharp as a torch, Senior. I don’t know much about matters of ghosts and deities, but it’s true that the practice of praying to gods and worshipping ghosts is quite prevalent in the Great Spirit Field Realm of Kun Province.”
Ghosts and deities are both forms of Divine Sense Bodies.
In the prolonged suffering of oppression, if people yearn to survive, they will turn to praying to deities.
If people die in misery, they may transform into vengeful ghosts.
In both cases, the collective will of many people can give rise to ghosts and deities.
“The Great Spirit Field Realm…”
Mo Hua’s gaze darkened. It seemed he would need to find time to visit and assess the situation there as soon as possible.
If what Lín Youfāng said was true… then Houtu City, and perhaps even the entire Kun Province, might be…
Seeing that Mo Hua seemed deep in thought, Lín Youfāng stood to the side, not daring to disturb him. However, weakened by his depleted vitality, he couldn’t help but cough.
Mo Hua looked up at Lín Youfāng and asked, “Will your health… ever recover?”
Lín Youfāng remained calm, “Thank you for your concern, Senior. I had already prepared to perish together with Old Rich Zhou. If not for your intervention, I would have died a few days ago. Being able to live a little longer now is already a bonus, so I don’t dwell on it too much.”
At this point, Lín Youfāng bowed to Mo Hua again and sighed, “Thank you for your great kindness, Senior. It’s just a pity that I am weak and my life is short. I fear I will be unable to repay your immense favor, and for that, I am truly ashamed.”
Mo Hua shook his head, “Don’t overthink it. Focus on staying alive for now. Find a way to keep yourself going.”
Lín Youfāng smiled bitterly and cupped his hands in acknowledgment, “Understood.”
“And,” Mo Hua added, “I’m not really a senior. I’m not that old.”
Lín Youfāng was stunned.
If he wasn’t old, how could he possess such profound mastery of the Divine Dao… Was this senior joking?
“Then how should I…” Lín Youfāng asked, “address you?”
Mo Hua said, “You can call me ‘big brother,’ just like Iron Mountain Tiger and the others.”
Lín Youfāng found it a bit odd but still cupped his hands and said, “Yes, big brother.”
Seeing that Lín Youfāng looked unwell and had visibly grown more fatigued after speaking so much, Mo Hua said, “Go back now and focus on recovering from your injuries.”
After speaking, Mo Hua added another sentence, “If you encounter any trouble, come find me.”
Lin Youfang trembled, knowing this was an extremely precious promise. His heart was filled with both guilt and admiration as he said: “Senior’s great kindness is beyond repayment.”
Mo Hua waved his hand, “Alright, go rest and recover.”
This Lin Youfang truly was a person who valued loyalty and righteousness. If he could help, Mo Hua was naturally willing to lend a hand.
Lin Youfang bowed deeply to Mo Hua and said, “This junior takes his leave.”
After speaking, he glanced at Mo Hua with a look of reverence before respectfully departing.
After Lin Youfang left, Manager Zhao happened to return. He looked at Lin Youfang’s retreating figure, then at Mo Hua, feeling both shocked and curious.
This Young Master Mo’s ability to win people over… was it truly this formidable?
Why was it that everyone who came into contact with Young Master Mo seemed to have been bewitched, treating him with utmost respect?
Manager Zhao was truly envious to death.
If he had such skills, why worry about his business not growing?
Manager Zhao stared blankly at Mo Hua.
Mo Hua glanced at Manager Zhao and asked, “Finished with your business dealings?”
Manager Zhao replied, “What business dealings? I just went for a stroll.”
He was quite honest about it.
“Perfect timing,” Mo Hua thought for a moment, then took out a small golden mouse from his storage bag and handed it to Manager Zhao, asking: “Manager Zhao, have you seen this thing before?”
“This is…” Manager Zhao took it from Mo Hua’s hand, calmly examined it for a few moments, and feigned surprise, “A mouse?”
Mo Hua nodded.
“Where did you get it?” Manager Zhao asked.
Mo Hua said, “Found it in a tomb.”
“Oh…” Manager Zhao stared at the golden mouse again, looking carefully for a few more moments before shaking his head and saying, “This little thing is quite exquisite. In all my years as a manager, I’ve truly never seen anything like it.”
“Haven’t seen it?”
“Mhm,” Manager Zhao said.
Mo Hua looked deeply at Manager Zhao, nodded, and said, “If you haven’t seen it, then forget it. Probably not worth much anyway.”
“Young Master Mo… why are you asking about this mouse?” Manager Zhao inquired.
“Nothing, just asking casually,” Mo Hua said casually.
“Mhm…” Manager Zhao said nothing more, poured himself a cup of tea, took a small sip, lowered his gaze, as if somewhat unwilling to meet Mo Hua’s eyes.
…
Translator Notes:
方士: Fangshi / Occult Practitioner — an ancient Chinese occultist, alchemist, and magical practitioner.
相师: Face-Reading Expert / Appearance Diviner / Xiangshi — a master of reading faces and appearances to divine fate.