Chapter 1472: Little Junior Brother?

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Chapter 1470: Little Junior Brother?

While deep in thought, Mo Hua’s gaze turned icy, and an unintentional trace of killing intent seeped from his aura.

For some reason, Wú Gui and the other two felt a sudden chill in their hearts, as if drowning and suffocating. Their gazes toward Mo Hua grew even more reverent, and they unconsciously fell silent.

The room quieted for a moment.

A short while later, Mo Hua snapped out of his thoughts and glanced at Wú Gui and the others. Seeing their pale faces and fearful expressions, he withdrew his fierce Divine Sense Thought Power, and his demeanor instantly shifted back to its gentle, natural state.

Only then did Wú Gui and the other two feel somewhat at ease.

At the same time, they couldn’t help but think to themselves: This Young Master Mo truly lives up to being a prodigy of the Great Void Sect. Despite only being at the Early Golden Core Stage, the terrifying pressure he exudes when serious is no less than that of some powerful Golden Core peak elders in their own families. Who knows what kind of Dao he cultivates?

Mo Hua also sized up Wú Gui and the other two, feeling somewhat surprised.

Although these three were usually idle and frivolous, spending their days in leisure, as members of a great clan, they had a clear understanding of certain matters,  they just didn’t usually voice them openly.

After pondering for a moment, Mo Hua asked again, “Within noble families, are those who Marry into the Wife’s Family looked down upon?”

The air fell silent for a while before Wú Gui finally spoke up: “Naturally, how could someone who marries into a family be respected? In fact, many within noble families oppose Recruiting a Live-In Son-in-Law, saying things like ‘letting fertile water flow into outsiders’ fields.'”

“But Recruiting a Live-In Son-in-Law is a rule set by the Ancestor. Every year, a certain number of sons-in-law must be recruited to help the family expand its branches and add some fresh blood.”

Before Wú Gui could finish, Zhu Xian shook his head and said, “It’s not that simple. The children of noble families are highly polarized.”

“Those disciples who want to advance face fierce, even brutal competition, and their cultivation is extremely arduous.”

“But there are also plenty of people who don’t want to advance and are content to idle away their lives. Among ordinary noble family children, those with slightly poorer Spiritual roots mostly lack ambition and only want to indulge in pleasure and extravagance.”

“This would inevitably lead to the gradual decline of noble families.”

“Therefore, ordinary collateral branches and minor branches urgently need to recruit people to marry in.”

“Especially those low-level cultivators with good Spiritual roots, ambition, but poor family backgrounds. Giving them a chance to marry into a family would make them grateful and willing to abandon their ancestors and surnames to serve our noble families.”

“On the noble family’s side, as long as they occasionally brainwash them, these people will cultivate diligently and work tirelessly.”

“This way, among low-level cultivators, anyone with decent Spiritual roots would be absorbed into noble families through marriage.”

“If these people manage to rise to prominence, their temperament and methods would naturally be extraordinary. But since they eat the family’s food, use the family’s resources, and have wives and children who belong to the family, they are bound to the noble family in every way. Without the family, they would have no support and could only serve loyally.”

“If they don’t rise to prominence, it doesn’t matter either. After they die, they can be buried somewhere, and their names might not even be recorded in the family genealogy.”

“Some small wealthy individuals who bring assets with them when marrying in can even ‘replenish’ the family’s resources after their death.”

“So, noble families are definitely going to recruit sons-in-law.”

“Everyone gets what they need: impoverished youths need the prestige and support of noble families, while noble families need to absorb talent and assets.”

“While ordinary direct descendants might look down on those cultivators who marry into the wife’s family, the clan’s higher-ups actually quite favor these sons-in-law.”

After all, they were either beasts of burden worked to death without compensation, or expendable resources feeding off a family’s extinction.

Mo Hua’s gaze sharpened slightly.

Marrying into a wealthy family, like a carp leaping through the dragon’s gate, might seem enviable on the surface, but reality was far colder and crueler.

In this world, there were no free lunches. Behind any good fortune, a price was always marked.

After some thought, Mo Hua asked about another matter, “The Dao Court Division in Houtu City must be quite powerful, right?”

The Dao Court Division was used by the Dao Court to restrain various factions. The stronger these factions were, the more powerful the Dao Court Division had to be.

The situation in Houtu City went without saying—the Earth Sect was a colossal entity, and the other four great families of Houtu were all wealthy clans dominating their regions.

Thus, the Dao Court Division in Houtu City must be exceptionally strong to contend with the Earth Sect and the major families.

Otherwise, the entire city would have long fallen under the Earth Sect’s control.

Knowing Mo Hua was extraordinary, and having become acquainted through their earlier clash, Wú Gui and the others were quite familiar with him by now. With a desire to curry favor, they didn’t hold back in their words.

After all, what they knew wasn’t exactly classified information.

Sharing it with Mo Hua would only make them appear more capable.

Thus, Zhu Xian explained to Mo Hua, “Although the Dao Court Division in Houtu City is powerful, it doesn’t actually manage much.”

“The Earth Sect is too strong, and its ties with the major families are deeply intertwined, with roots and branches spreading far and wide. The Dao Court Division simply can’t get its hands in.”

“Usually, even Dao Court decrees require the Earth Sect’s approval to be implemented.”

“Otherwise, if the Earth Sect and the major families disagree, paying lip service while acting otherwise, those decrees would be nothing more than empty words.”

Mo Hua frowned slightly, “Would the Dao Court allow this?”

Zhu Xian replied, “The Dao Court naturally wouldn’t allow it, but the mountains are high and the emperor is far away. With the vast distance across the province borders, it’s difficult for them to interfere too much.”

“In the history of Kun Province, there have been a few major incidents where the Earth Sect overstepped and faced severe sanctions from the Dao Court.”

“But those sanctions only lasted a few years, at most a decade or so.”

“After a few decades, when the Dao Court’s authority faded, the Earth Sect would still go its own way.”

“As for the Houtu City Dao Court Division, it’s caught between a rock and a hard place.”

“When the Dao Court cracks down from above and sends someone to back them up, they can afford to be a bit more assertive.”

“But once the storm passes and the Dao Court’s higher-ups leave, won’t the Dao Court Division still have to follow the Earth Sect’s lead?”

“Besides, the Dao Court Division itself isn’t a monolithic entity.”

Zhu Xian shook his head, “Many of the enforcers are just there for the position, scraping by for a living. Their salaries aren’t much, less than ten thousand spirit stones a month. Why would they risk their lives against the Earth Sect?”

Mo Hua nodded slightly and asked another question, “So, in that case, the Dao Court Division probably won’t investigate the extermination of the Wú Clan branch on Swallow Street thoroughly?”

Zhu Xian nodded, “Unless there’s something in it for them, they’ll likely just go through the motions.”

Jin An, who had been silent beside them, seemed to recall something and suddenly shook his head, “Not necessarily. I have a cousin who works in the Dao Court Division. According to him, the winds have shifted again, the higher-ups have started cracking down, and recently, a tough character has arrived at the Dao Court Division.”

“A tough character?”

“Hmm,” Jin An said, “He was sent from above, very strict in his actions and forceful in his methods. It’s best not to fall into his hands, or things probably won’t end well. After all, with so many deaths, it’s almost like half a massacre case—still quite serious.”

Wu Gui asked, “Has the Dao Court sent someone again?”

Jin An replied, “It’s a common occurrence.”

“They occasionally need to crack down, otherwise the Earth Sect would truly become so arrogant they forget the Dao Court exists. Where would the Dao Court’s authority be? It’s just unclear whether this time will be all thunder and no rain.”

Mo Hua frowned slightly.

Power struggles among major factions were still complex, with endless disputes. They wouldn’t be as simple as they appeared on the surface.

Since arriving in Houtu City, he had almost no interaction with the Dao Court Division, so he wasn’t familiar with the local situation there.

However, just from listening to Wu Gui and the others’ conversation, it was clear that the Dao Court Division in Houtu City was likely a murky mess as well.

The overall situation in Kun Province was tangled with various forces, making the future difficult to predict.

Wu Gui and the others might not know the full details either, but as scions of prominent families, they could at least catch some rumors.

Afterward, Mo Hua chatted a bit more with Wu Gui and the others, picking up quite a few pieces of gossip. Seeing that it was getting late, he finally remembered why he had come here in the first place.

Mo Hua asked Wu Gui, “How about we have a match?”

Wu Gui shook his head vigorously like a rattle drum. “No, no, no.”

Mo Hua sighed regretfully. “Then I’ll go find someone else to fight.”

Wu Gui and the other two hurriedly said, “Alright, Young Master Mo, please go ahead.”

Mo Hua bid farewell to the three of them, left the private room, and headed to the main hall to find someone to spar with.

In all of Houtu City, with so many scions from prominent families, as long as Mo Hua acted a bit arrogantly, talked tough, and put on an overbearing attitude, there would be plenty of people eager to teach him a lesson.

Of course, it had to be those scions who were new to the city and unfamiliar with the Sword Debate Dao Arena’s dynamics.

In the Eastern District’s Sword Debate Dao Arena, anyone who had been around for a while knew of Mo Hua’s reputation—that this Young Master Mo was a spell master skilled in the Fireball Technique, capable of turning the ordinary into the miraculous. They wouldn’t be fooled by his appearance or easily provoked into fighting him.

Only the greenhorns would fall for Mo Hua’s tricks.

But in a city as large as Houtu, there was no shortage of greenhorns and easy marks.

Thus, in just two hours, Mo Hua fought three spell duels and earned 180,000 spirit stones.

This rate of earning spirit stones was quite fast. The problem was, it couldn’t be used too often.

It was like fishing, if you came to fish every day, the fish would grow wise and stop biting.

You could only fish occasionally, so the fish would bite quickly.

If you came every day, you might not catch a single fish.

After earning the spirit stones, Mo Hua wasted no time and returned to the minor blessed land, devouring all 180,000 spirit stones.

Spiritual energy flowed like a river into Mo Hua’s meridians, devoured by the Twelve Meridians Taotie Spiritual Skeleton Formation.

Mo Hua finally completed his third Hand Taiyin Heart Meridian Spirit-Bone.

After the third spirit bone was completed, the blue Taotie patterns on Mo Hua’s body flashed once again, their color deepening further, their ferocity becoming more restrained. It felt as though some kind of spiritual energy ferocious beast was gradually awakening.

However, this sensation only lasted for a moment before completely vanishing.

Just like before, aside from feeling that the spiritual energy within his body had increased slightly, Mo Hua noticed no other special changes.

As for how much more spiritual power he had, Mo Hua couldn’t accurately estimate because he had never truly fought someone with all his might. Even in the Spell Combat Arena, he had never used his full strength.

He could only roughly judge based on his senses that his current spiritual power capacity should be no less than that of an ordinary Superior-Grade Golden Core cultivator.

Of course, this referred only to the storage capacity of spiritual power; his Heavenly Cycle Count remained unchanged.

There was still a difference between the two.

Spiritual power capacity referred to the total amount of spiritual power within the body. The Heavenly Cycle Count determined the upper limit of spiritual power that could be released in a single spell.

For most cultivators, the Heavenly Cycle Count and spiritual power capacity were roughly equivalent.

However, because Mo Hua had integrated a Taotie Spiritual Skeleton, his actual spiritual power capacity far exceeded his Heavenly Cycle Count.

Yet, because Mo Hua had only increased his deployable spiritual power capacity through the Spiritual Skeleton without increasing his Heavenly Cycle Count, the upper limit of spiritual power for a single spell was locked.

Even with the amplification from the Taotie Spiritual Skeleton, despite having abundant spiritual power, he could still only cast basic spells at the Minor Heavenly Cycle level.

Spiritual power capacity, Heavenly Cycle Count, spell grade, the upper limit of spiritual power released in a single cast… these were all aspects that Golden Core Realm Spiritual Cultivators needed to study in depth.

Unfortunately, Mo Hua’s current focus was still on Formations.

These matters related to spells would have to be studied slowly later, when he had time or the opportunity.

After nurturing the third spirit bone, the eight-million gap for the fourth spirit bone would be a major project.

But once this gap in the Spiritual Skeleton was filled, the mid-Golden Core Realm would be almost within reach.

Mo Hua found it somewhat challenging yet also felt a faint sense of anticipation.

However, before that, the matter regarding the Dao Court Division mentioned by Wú Gui and the other two also concerned Mo Hua.

This matter also involved Lín Youfāng.

After all, Lín Youfāng had killed so many members of the Wú Clan’s branch through the Unorthodox Path of Ghost Control.

If the Dao Court Division didn’t investigate deeply and handled it perfunctorily, it would be fine.

But if they truly pursued it, Lín Youfāng would certainly not end well.

The Dao Court Division’s incompetence and mediocrity were limited to situations where there was no profit to be gained. Once there was potential gain, the Dao Court Division’s useless officials would instantly become cunning “hounds.”

Mo Hua understood this deeply.

After some thought, Mo Hua arranged to meet Lín Youfāng at the Fortune Pavilion.

In the secret room of the Fortune Pavilion, Mo Hua wore a Ghost Mask.

Across from him, Lín Youfāng still looked pale and as if his life was nearing its end, but his complexion had improved somewhat compared to before.

It was clear that during this time, he had indeed been focusing on recuperating.

Mo Hua nodded slightly and asked, “What are your plans from now on?”

Lín Youfāng pondered for a moment and sighed, “If not for your assistance, senior, I would have had no hope of avenging my grievances, and my life would have been lost. Now, having barely preserved my life, I owe it entirely to your kindness. I intend to recover from my injuries, do what I can for you, senior, to repay your great favor. After that, life and death will be left to fate.”

Mo Hua contemplated and said, “The Dao Court Division might investigate you.”

Lín Youfāng replied, “It doesn’t matter. The Dao Court Division’s mediocre talents won’t see through the Unorthodox Dao Arts.”

Mo Hua asked, “What if they do see through it?”

Lín Youfāng said calmly, “Even if I’m captured by the Dao Court Division, it would only mean death. I have already avenged my great grievance and have long been indifferent to life and death. If that day truly comes…”

Lín Youfāng glanced at Mo Hua again and said earnestly, “If I fall into the hands of the Dao Court Division, I will end my own life and not cause any trouble for you, senior.”

Mo Hua sighed inwardly.

Being loyal and righteous was a good thing, but such people occasionally tended to be foolish, unable to think things through or adapt when faced with situations.

Mo Hua said directly, “Return to the Great Spirit Field Realm.”

Lín Youfāng was slightly taken aback and frowned, saying, “This junior… wishes to repay your kindness, senior.”

Mo Hua shook his head, “You can’t repay me now. Staying in Houtu City will only cause trouble. Wait until you’ve recovered from your injuries before we talk.”

Lín Youfāng hesitated, his expression uncertain.

Mo Hua asked, “Do you have no one left to care about in the Great Spirit Field Realm? Your master? Your wife’s grave is also there, isn’t it? Don’t you want to go back and visit?”

Upon hearing this, Lín Youfāng’s expression indeed changed. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded and sighed, “Alright, I’ll follow your advice, senior.”

Mo Hua asked, “Do you have spirit stones?”

For cultivators traveling back and forth, spirit stones were indispensable.

Lín Youfāng fell silent.

Mo Hua could tell he had no spirit stones and couldn’t help but wonder, “Last time, from the tomb robbery, each person got 1.3 million spirit stones. Didn’t Manager Zhao give you yours?”

Lín Youfāng sighed, “Manager Zhao offered them to me, but I didn’t take them. I did it for revenge, not for those spirit stones. Moreover, those spirit stones carry the cause and effect of Jin’er’s closest kin.”

Mo Hua said, “One thing is one thing. The spirit stones that are rightfully yours, you should take them. Spirit stones are for the living. You’ve avenged your wife, but you still need to live well.”

Lín Youfāng sighed and said, “You’re right, senior.”

Mo Hua then called Manager Zhao over and asked him to give the spirit stones to Lín Youfāng.

Manager Zhao hadn’t deliberately intended to withhold Lín Youfāng’s spirit stones; it was just that, accustomed to doing business, he instinctively felt pained at the thought of parting with spirit stones. Giving them away would hurt, so when Lín Youfāng refused, he considered it a blessing in disguise.

But now that Mo Hua had spoken, there was no other choice.

Manager Zhao reluctantly took out another 1.3 million spirit stones and handed them to Lín Youfāng.

Mo Hua said, “Use these spirit stones to buy some high-quality elixirs and spiritual items to heal your injuries and preserve your life. Use the remaining spirit stones for travel expenses and cultivation. We’ll discuss other matters after you’ve recovered.”

Lín Youfāng held the heavy bag of spirit stones, his heart filled with indescribable emotions, and said respectfully, “Youfang thanks you for your care, senior.”

Mo Hua clarified once again, “I am not a senior. There’s no need to call me that next time.”

Lín Youfāng cupped his hands and said, “Understood, senior.”

Mo Hua sighed.

Whatever.

After that, Lín Youfāng bid farewell and left, following Mo Hua’s instructions to return to the Great Spirit Field Realm.

The Great Spirit Field Realm was vast and densely populated, with all sorts of people mingling together. It was unlikely that the Dao Court Division in Houtu City would be able to track him down like finding a needle in a haystack.

Even if they tried, most people probably wouldn’t have the ability to do so.

After seeing Lín Youfāng off, Manager Zhao couldn’t help but stare at Mo Hua, wondering to himself, “Is this Mo Hua treating this Lín fellow so well because he wants to raise a ‘death warrior’ to serve him? His methods and boldness are truly extraordinary. Indeed, one should not judge by appearances; a pretty face can hide great depths.”

Mo Hua glanced at Manager Zhao indifferently.

Manager Zhao’s heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly smiled, saying, “Young Master Mo, would you like another cup of tea?”

Mo Hua pondered for a moment, then shook his head, “No need. I have matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now.”

Since they were familiar with each other, Manager Zhao didn’t bother with polite formalities to keep him, simply saying, “Then let me see you out.”

“Mm,” Mo Hua nodded.

Afterwards, Mo Hua removed the ghost mask and changed back into his original attire, then followed Manager Zhao downstairs. As he walked, he pondered matters related to Houtu City and the Dao Court Division.

As he continued walking, Mo Hua suddenly paused, sensing a somewhat intense gaze fixed upon him.

Mo Hua turned his head and looked in the direction of the gaze. In the hall not far away, he saw a youth dressed in crimson robes, with eyes as dark as lacquer and a slightly baby-faced appearance, wearing a jade crown, staring intently at him.

Mo Hua was slightly taken aback.

Noticing that Mo Hua had looked back at him, the youth not only did not avert his gaze but instead grew even more enthusiastic, his eyes shining brightly. Finally, with a face full of delight, he exclaimed: “Little Senior Brother?! Is it really you?!”

Mo Hua was stunned.

Being addressed so affectionately as “Little Senior Brother,” could this jade-crowned youth be his Little Junior Brother?

Unable to resist, Mo Hua carefully examined the youth’s face once more, and his heart skipped a beat as he thought:

Oh no.

Which little junior brother is this? It seems I truly can’t recognize him.