Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2418 Chapter 1097: Qianxue Great Sect (Part 3)

Unable to refuse, Mo Hua felt his heart fill with warmth.

Soon, everyone departed one by one.

In their daily lives, sharing their living spaces, attending lessons, and practicing cultivation, nothing seemed extraordinary. Yet, as they faced imminent separation and pondered the uncertainty of their next reunion, a wave of sorrow washed over them, bringing a prickling sensation to their eyes.

For those who walked the Dao, life stretches endlessly, but connections often prove fleeting.

Following this farewell, whether their paths would cross again within the vast expanse of the cultivation world during their lifetimes would truly hinge on destiny and fate.

Life's encounters, its share of joys and sorrows, invariably leave one feeling a sense of solitude.

And so, one by one, the companions who had once shared their days and nights began to leave.

The Disciple's Residence soon fell into a profound silence.

As the designated "Junior Brother," Mo Hua saw each of them off, finding himself ultimately alone.

He did not feel the urge to depart immediately.

Given the numerous karmic ties around him, his departure meant an uncertain return.

There were individuals he had yet to meet and matters he needed to attend to.

Thus, Mo Hua granted himself a little more time.

During this interim, Elder Master Xun summoned Mo Hua once more, specifically to ascertain his decisions.

They sat together within the ancient structure of Taixu, observing the gentle, falling rain as they savored cups of clear tea.

"Are you steadfast in your decision not to remain within the Inner Gate?"

"Yes," Mo Hua affirmed with a nod.

He now possessed a personal master, one who cherished him as deeply as a mountain. In this life, his loyalty would be pledged to this sole mentor.

Elder Master Xun, being privy to this, showed no surprise.

"Then, will you be returning home?" Elder Master Xun inquired.

Mo Hua nodded. "Yes, I intend to visit my home and see my parents... Ten years have passed since I left, and I am uncertain of their well-being. I need to see them to put my mind at ease."

"And what follows that?" Elder Master Xun pressed.

"I have not yet determined..." Mo Hua considered for a moment before posing a question, "Elder Master Xun, I wish to..."

Elder Master Xun raised a hand, shaking his head. "Refrain from speaking of it. Certain intentions are best kept private, unshared with anyone, not even me. The heavenly mechanisms and karmic threads surrounding you are substantial; any revelation could be deciphered by others, potentially inviting calamity upon you."

"Understood," Mo Hua responded. "I comprehend."

"There is one further matter..." Elder Master Xun paused briefly, then continued in a lower tone, "I have conferred with True Man Situ as well. Previously, you... accumulated immense karma, which manifested as malevolence, causing a reversal in your destined path. Now, your life chart is saturated with extreme darkness; should you falter, you risk becoming... irredeemable..."

A somber resolve settled in Mo Hua's heart as he furrowed his brow. "Then, what course of action should I take?"

Elder Master Xun let out a sigh and spoke with grave import:

"The lethal divine techniques, unless absolutely imperative, should be avoided. Engaging them excessively will disrupt your spiritual soul, stirring the latent killing intent within, which in turn can cause malevolent Qi to surge back, destabilizing your life's trajectory."

"Even when their use becomes unavoidable, strive to exercise the utmost restraint."

"Furthermore, try to limit the exertion of your spiritual sense whenever possible. Otherwise, your destiny may spiral out of control, triggering an eruption of that dark Qi."

"Henceforth, when venturing out, maintain composure amidst circumstances. Forego killing if at all feasible."

"If the act of killing proves unavoidable, exert control. Do not take more lives than necessary."

"Tend to your karmic burdens; they must not be allowed to grow heavier..."

As he uttered these words, Elder Master Xun found a measure of absurdity in his own counsel.

Was this truly how one instructed a disciple of the Righteous Dao?

What sort of Righteous Dao disciple required admonishment to 'tend to their karmic burdens'?

Elder Master Xun released another sigh, a sense of helplessness coloring his expression.

Mo Hua, conversely, absorbed every word from Elder Master Xun with utmost seriousness.

Disregarding the wisdom of elders often leads to immediate adversity.

The special guidance offered by Elder Master Xun was to be etched into memory, not dismissed lightly.

Regarding the matter of 'managing karmic debts,' Mo Hua did not perceive it as a significant obstacle.

He had always treated others with kindness, and though he possessed a certain 'intolerance for evil,' actual killings were infrequent.

The incident involving the Blood Sacrifice Array was a direct consequence of dire circumstances; he had no other recourse.

After all, how could he possibly continue to take so many lives in the future?

"Elder, I shall bear your words in mind," Mo Hua pledged with a nod.

Observing Mo Hua's earnest demeanor and clear commitment to heed his advice, Elder Master Xun felt a measure of relief.

He then gazed intently at Mo Hua, a sigh escaping him as he reflected:

"Even the most cherished fledgling must eventually be released to navigate the world independently..."

"It's just that... leaving the Taixu Gate, venturing beyond the Qianxue State Boundary, there would be no one to oversee him anymore. The outside world is a place of chaos, rife with dangers, and demons and ghosts can appear anywhere..."

Elder Master Xun contemplated for a moment before retrieving an object resembling a jade token and presenting it to Mo Hua.

Mo Hua accepted it, examining it briefly, and inquired with curiosity, "Elder, what is this item?"

"It is a Sect Jade Token," Elder Master Xun stated.

"A Jade Token?"

"Indeed," Elder Master Xun affirmed with a nod. "It serves as an introduction token. Upon graduation from the sect, disciples receive signatures from various elders within our ranks. This aids them in finding their path or facilitates simple introductions and communication amongst fellow cultivators."

Mo Hua suddenly comprehended the significance.

It was akin to a formal recommendation from the sect, functioning as a credential for a disciple in the wider cultivation world.

"Does every disciple possess one?" Mo Hua asked, a hint of confusion in his voice. "Why have I not encountered this before?"

Elder Master Xun replied softly, "Perhaps it was presumed you would not require one..."

Such a Jade Token necessitates an elder's endorsement.

Given Mo Hua's acknowledged standing, even by the ancestors, no elder had presumed to offer him such a formal introduction.

However, the central issue was Mo Hua's intention to depart the Qianxue State Boundary.

He was making plans to leave.

Once he exited the Qianxue State Boundary, the world outside would present a different landscape.

Elder Master Xun continued, "Certain formalities remain essential. Within the Taixu Gate, and within the purview of the Qianxue State Boundary, no one dares to disrespect you."

"But once you venture beyond the Qianxue State Boundary, into the vast world, circumstances are unpredictable. Encounters happen by chance, and no one will know who you are."

"If you intend to constantly remain in obscurity, keeping a low profile, it might not pose an issue."

"However, there may be occasions when you need to leverage your connections. Without proper accreditation, mere words hold no weight, and others will dismiss them as mere boasts."

"Therefore, possessing items like the Jade Token is still necessary. At the very least, it allows you to establish connections when you meet former Taixu Gate elders, senior brothers, or senior sisters."

"While a cultivator's individual cultivation is paramount, connections are also not to be disregarded."

Having finished speaking, Elder Master Xun personally inscribed his name onto Mo Hua's Jade Token and then stated:

"Take this and seek out other elders for their signatures. Simply mention that these were my words."

"Understood," Mo Hua replied, clutching the Jade Token with immense gratitude.

Subsequently, Mo Hua took the Jade Token provided by Elder Master Xun and proceeded to solicit the elders' 'signatures'.

He initially approached those elders with whom he had a closer relationship and a good rapport.

These included, for instance, Elder Xun Ziyou, Elder Xun Zixian, the pleasant and comely Elder Murong, Elder Yi who imparted Taoist techniques to him, and Elder Song, who oversaw lectures and frequently overlooked his absences, and so forth.

Later, somehow, news of this endeavor spread.

Numerous elders took the initiative to seek out Mo Hua, expressing their willingness to sign the token.

Yet, they hesitated to voice their intentions directly, opting instead to feign 'chance encounters' while eagerly glancing at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua paused for a moment before slowly articulating, "Elder, this disciple has a rather unusual request..."

An elder promptly responded, "Ah, the Sect Jade Token, is it? No trouble at all, absolutely no trouble. I shall sign, I shall sign..."

He uttered this with a visibly delighted expression.

In the end, an increasing number of elders from the Three Mountains added their names through these 'chance encounters' with Mo Hua.

Generally, an elder signing a disciple's Jade Token is considered an honor for the disciple.

However, in Mo Hua's case, the situation was reversed; any elder who signed his token gained prestige.

Conversely, those who did not sign were implicitly viewed as having lower standing.

The elders even signed for other disciples with flourish and bold strokes, concerned about appearing insufficiently impressive.

Yet, when signing for Mo Hua, they meticulously inscribed each character, fearing he might not recognize their writing.

Following the elders' signings, even the ancestors were not exempt from this process.

The ancestor of Taia Mountain extended an invitation for tea to Mo Hua and casually mentioned the Jade Token before adding his signature.

The ancestor of Mount Chongxu was not to be outdone.

Then, all the Sect Leaders of the Three Mountains also contributed their signatures.

By this point, Mo Hua's Sect Jade Token was densely covered, nearly entirely filled with names, ranging from the ancestors and Sect Leaders to all the elders of the Three Mountains at Taixu Gate.