Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2044 Chapter 977: Defying Fate (Part 3)

In a sense, this gesture served as Mo Hua's "offering of goodwill."

There was no way for Master Xia to decline such a proposal.

"Regarding this affair, let it remain strictly between us—witnessed only by Heaven and Earth," Master Xia promised solemnly.

Mo Hua nodded, his mind at ease.

"By the way," Mo Hua added as another thought surfaced, "Master, are you acquainted with Master Fan Jin?"

Master Xia took a moment to reflect. "Are you referring to the Supervisor stationed at Solitary Mountain City?"

"Indeed," Mo Hua confirmed with a nod.

Master Xia’s features tightened slightly as he replied, "Concerning Solitary Mountain, I dispatched an investigator to see him; however, his responses were vague and lacked any substantial detail."

Mo Hua explained, "He is paralyzed by the fear of the Shen Family’s vengeance, which is why he remains so guarded. He accompanied me to the Solitary Mountain Grave that day. If there are gaps in your knowledge, you may question him directly. Should he hesitate to speak honestly out of intimidation by your status, simply mention my name."

"Mention your name?"

"Yes," Mo Hua replied. "Master Fan provided me with significant aid within that grave, and we have built a certain rapport. Once my name is brought up, he will be willing to talk."

This was also Mo Hua’s way of extending a hand to Master Fan Jin.

Master Fan lacked a strong background and a powerful network; though he yearned for advancement, he constantly faced dead ends.

By recommending him to Master Xia, Mo Hua was essentially providing him a ladder to climb. Whether he could successfully ascend depended entirely on his own merit.

Master Xia grasped Mo Hua’s underlying meaning. To have a connection with Mo Hua and have the boy advocate for him before an Inspector suggested the man possessed some level of competence.

"Fan Jin," Master Xia noted with a nod. "Very well, I shall keep that in mind..."

With their business concluded, Mo Hua finished his tea in a single gulp and rose to say his goodbyes. "I have taken up enough of your time, Master. Mo Hua shall take his leave now."

"Take care, Young Brother. You are welcome to return whenever you have the time."

Master Xia remained composed.

Mo Hua offered a respectful salutation and departed with a calm air.

Once the boy had gone, Master Xia stayed in his seat, his brow knit in contemplation. His thoughts were not on the Shen Family, but on Mo Hua himself.

"Words are unnecessary; his very aura is remarkable..."

"Such profound intelligence, yet it is so well-hidden beneath the surface."

"It is a shame his social standing and bloodline are so humble. He cannot meet the requirements to marry into the Xia family’s main branch; our clan laws are far too rigid. Otherwise..."

Master Xia let out a soft sigh.

...

After leaving Master Xia, Mo Hua made a quick stop to visit Gu Changhuai. They shared some light snacks and conversation before he finally headed back to Taixu Gate.

Following this, Mo Hua stayed within the sect and kept a low profile for a time.

It wasn't until ten days later, once the chaos surrounding Solitary Mountain City had quieted and Master Xia’s official business was processed, that Mo Hua prepared to return to the city.

Xun Ziyou accompanied him once more.

This was a direct order from his ancestor; whenever Mo Hua stepped outside the Sect, Xun Ziyou was required to follow to ensure his safety. This was a duty he had grown used to.

Xun Ziyou had become accustomed to acting as Mo Hua’s "bodyguard" and thought little of it.

However, this time, Elder Master Xun’s demeanor was exceptionally grave, as if he viewed Mo Hua as the sect’s most precious treasure that required absolute protection.

Xun Ziyou couldn't help but feel bewildered.

Was this due to the threat of the Shen Family’s revenge, or was there a more profound reason hidden beneath the surface?

While sitting in the carriage, Xun Ziyou watched Mo Hua closely.

As he observed, he felt as though Mo Hua had changed. The boy seemed enveloped in a faint, misty aura that made him even more difficult to read than before.

"Did the Elder bestow some new technique upon him?"

Xun Ziyou shook his head and sighed to himself. "Even a biological grandson doesn't get treated this well..."

Pushing these thoughts aside, he focused his Divine Sense outward, staying alert for any dangers that might lurk along the road.

After a bumpy journey, they eventually arrived at Solitary Mountain City.

Two weeks had passed, and the city had grown significantly quieter. The previous arrival of Golden Core cultivators from various powerful Sects and families had caused a massive stir. While no local cultivators were harmed, the population remained deeply unsettled.

The majority of the inhabitants stayed hidden indoors.

The streets grew increasingly hollow, with very few cultivators seen wandering about.

In the distance, the peak of Solitary Mountain had half-collapsed; it now looked more like "Half Mountain City."

This destruction was the handiwork of the Shen Family. To erase the evidence of their crimes, they had incinerated the corpses, filled the graves, and finally detonated half the mountain to bury everything under tons of rock.

Because this was a Third-Grade State Boundary, the geological makeup of the mountain was also Third-Grade—incredibly dense and nearly impossible to clear away.

Once entombed, nothing would likely see the light of day again, including the Evil Embryo’s Divine Temple located in the mountain's depths.

Mo Hua stared silently at the ruined silhouette of the mountain.

Even now, the memory of that Divine Temple left him with a lingering sense of dread. He felt as though he had narrowly escaped a terrible fate.

Now that the temple was buried, no further Investigation was possible.

Mo Hua looked away, clearing his mind.

The carriage rolled through the city gates without delay, passing through streets devoid of visitors. There was no longer any sign of the various Sects or the Shen Family.

The Taoist Court had officially stripped the Shen Family of their jurisdiction over Solitary Mountain City.

This was the result of Master Xia’s maneuvering; using the Taoist Court’s legal power, he had forcibly evicted the Shen Family and banned them from returning.

Even though the Shen Family had destroyed the evidence by blowing up the mountain, the Taoist Court still held them accountable for gross negligence. Furthermore, people aren't fools; everyone had their suspicions about what truly happened inside that mountain.

The Shen Family, aware of their precarious position, chose not to fight the decision.

With the Shen Family gone, the other opportunistic families also lost interest and withdrew. No one wanted to lay claim to a remote, impoverished, and resource-depleted city like this. Solitary Mountain City had finally found a grim sort of peace.

Mo Hua’s carriage traveled down the main road until it reached Master Gu’s Refinery Shop.

Master Gu was already waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing Mo Hua, he immediately clasped his hands and bowed. "I am deeply grateful for your hard work, Young Master Mo."

"Master Gu, there is no need for such formality," Mo Hua said with a gentle smile. "Is everything in order?"

"According to your plans, Young Master, we have secured the Gu family’s consent and Lady Wan’s blessing. The Spiritual Machines have been moved, and the labor has been organized."

"Excellent. Let us begin then..."

Mo Hua nodded, his eyes shining with determination.

He intended to provide the loose cultivators of this city with a stable foundation upon which they could build their lives. With a Divine Sense reaching Twenty Patterns and the skills of a Formation Master beyond the Second Grade High-Rank, his expertise was profound. Mo Hua was now capable of achieving great things through his own strength.

He thought back to the Taoist Heart he had established while looking at the lights of Tongxian City:

In this life, he would dedicate himself to Cultivation and the mastery of Array Formations. With his Formations spanning heaven and earth, he would seek immortality and challenge the dictates of fate.

He would change his own destiny and the destinies of all who walk the path of Cultivation.

Mo Hua was no longer the naive child he once was; he understood the vastness of the Nine States and the immense difficulty of his goal. But every journey begins with a single step, and every great achievement starts with a small act.

He was now a member of the Taixu Gate and the leader of the Divine Thought Formation. His own Life Chart was already being rewritten.

Therefore, within the scope of his power, he wanted to shift the fates of these struggling cultivators. First, he would change the life of one person, then the fate of an entire city.

Grains of sand form a tower; trickles of water create a mighty river.

One day, when he had mastered the secrets of creation and his Formations reached the heavens, he would alter the celestial mechanics of the Nine States and the Life Charts of all living beings.

Through this, he would validate his Taoist Heart and achieve true immortality.