Previously on Immortality Through Array Formations...
Patriarch Dugu, succumbing to the Faceless Celestial Demon Path, entrusted his broken sword, Dugu, to Mo Hua and pushed him through a void crack to safety. He then sealed the Sword Tomb, isolating himself from the world as the demon consumed him. Elder Master Xun sensed the powerful sealing technique and Mo Hua's return, realizing his senior brother's fate. Back in his room, Mo Hua confronted a nascent Faceless Celestial Demon within his Sea of Consciousness, which he subdued and offered to his Pixiu companion.
Despite not boasting the absolute best 'battle achievements' amongst its Pixiu brethren, its record was far from shabby.
The Pixiu felt a surge of pride and power.
Having successfully subdued the Little Faceless Celestial Demon, Mo Hua withdrew his Divine Sense from the Pixiu Divine Temple, returning to the physical world.
Within the Disciple's Residence, an profound silence prevailed.
Mo Hua ran a hand over the ancient Broken Sword he held, a long, deep sigh escaping him before he meticulously put it away.
Dawn was a mere two hours away.
Mo Hua reclined on his bed, entering a meditative state to recuperate.
Two hours later, the morning sun crested the horizon, its golden rays piercing the ancient forest and into his chamber.
Facing the sunrise, Mo Hua gazed out the window, taking in the view of Tai Xu Mountain's dawn for what would be the last time.
Then, with his belongings packed, he embarked on his journey home.
Recalling the instructions given by Elder Master Xun, he departed quietly, disturbing no one, and walked alone down the tranquil mountain path descending from Tai Xu Mountain.
Along his path, he occasionally exchanged greetings with passing Elders, responding as he always did.
Little did these Elders know that these encounters would be their final with Mo Hua.
Exiting the Disciple's Residence, Mo Hua traversed the Taoist Field, passed the Book Pavilion, the Tao Teaching Room, and the various other structures where disciples typically engaged in cultivation and attended lessons. He continued down the mountain path until he reached the main mountain gate.
Finally, Mo Hua stood before the mountain gate, turning to offer a deep, respectful bow towards Tai Xu Gate.
This bow was an expression of his gratitude for the Daoist teachings imparted by Tai Xu Gate.
It was also a gesture of thanks to the Sect's ancestors, the Sect Leader, and all the Elders for their fostering care and insightful guidance.
After completing the profound bow, Mo Hua began walking down the mountain path, leaving Tai Xu Gate behind him, his figure gradually fading from view into the clouds that enveloped Tai Xu Mountain.
Within Tai Xu Gate.
Elder Master Xun, who had remained awake throughout the night, seemed to perceive something, lifting his gaze towards the distance. His eyes betrayed a sense of reluctance, and he ultimately released a profound sigh.
Within the Elder's Residence.
Elders who were particularly close to Mo Hua, such as Xun Ziyou and Xun Zixian, suddenly experienced a distinct emptiness in their hearts.
In front of the small book garden.
The Big White Dog let out barks directed towards the distance, as if offering a final farewell.
The Tai Xu Sect Master observed the mountain gate.
For reasons unknown to him, he witnessed light smoke rising above the Tai Xu Mountain Gate, mingling with the clouds and mist of Tai Xu Mountain, and he was startled.
A memory of a similar vision, smoke rising over the Tai Xu Mountain Gate, surfaced in his mind from a long time ago.
The Tai Xu Sect Master was momentarily bewildered, then a sudden understanding dawned, and he softly uttered:
"A good child, may your path ahead be smooth..."
...
Meanwhile, in Qingzhou City, at the Gu Family residence.
Yu Er, who was feeling somewhat weary from her early morning cultivation, suddenly felt a sharp pang in her chest, her expression clouding with sadness.
Wenren Wan, who was diligently guiding Yu Er in her cultivation, also experienced a sudden, inexplicable sense of loss, which gradually coalesced into understanding.
"Mo Hua... has departed..."
Reflecting on the years spent in Mo Hua's company, Wenren Wan's heart swelled with a mixture of warmth, tinged with a bittersweet ache of reluctance.
As she was lost in these thoughts, a sharp, strange voice suddenly pierced the air:
"Good riddance... finally gone..."
Wenren Wan was jolted and looked down, beholding the figure of 'Yu Er,' whose forehead was now an unnatural pitch black, and whose face contorted with malice.
As if sensing Wenren Wan's scrutiny, 'Yu Er' flashed a grin, fixing its fierce gaze upon her.
Wenren Wan was momentarily stunned, but then she recalled Mo Hua's prior words. A gentle smile touched her lips as she reached out and stroked 'Yu Er's' head, her gaze as soft and tender as water, as if beholding her most cherished child.
'Yu Er' froze, baffled as to why it could not maintain its menacing stance. It even found itself unable to meet Wenren Wan's gentle eyes, its gaze shifting away. Yet, something within it seemed to tremble.
It was an unfamiliar sensation, something this deity had never experienced before...
...
Having departed Tai Xu Gate, Mo Hua removed the Taoist Robe that signified his identity within Tai Xu Gate. He carefully folded it and placed it inside his Storage Ring.
Subsequently, donning a simple hat and a plain robe, he concealed his aura and secured a carriage, directing his journey towards the secluded Cloud Crossing City, situated north of the Qian Learning State Boundary.
At this precise moment, within the bustling Cloud Crossing City.
At a humble tea stall, an elderly man was leisurely sipping tea, engaged in a game of chess with a distinguished-looking middle-aged cultivator.
The elderly man's chess skills were modest, with numerous black pieces having been captured, yet his demeanor remained remarkably relaxed.
The middle-aged cultivator, however, possessed superior chess prowess, his white pieces firmly maintaining an advantageous position, yet he appeared palpably uneasy.
Thus, after another brief exchange of moves between the black and white pieces, as defeat loomed large for the elderly man, he pushed the chess pieces aside:
"I'm not playing anymore; your chess skills are far too lacking, making this game devoid of any real interest."
The cultivator in the middle years offered a wry smile.
The Pavilion Elder's notoriously poor chess abilities were common knowledge. He had deliberately held back; otherwise, the game would have reached a stalemate many moves prior.
However, that wasn't the primary concern.
He genuinely couldn't comprehend the Pavilion Elder's choice to engage in such a trivial game, in such an obscure location, at this particular juncture.
Yet, a sense of guilt and unease prevented him from inquiring further.
The Pavilion Elder cast a glance his way and let out a gentle sigh:
"Life, much like a game of chess, makes it hard to discern the black from the white. Sometimes, a victory isn't a true win, and a defeat isn't a complete loss. You're too focused on the immediate outcome, failing to perceive the nuances of the larger board."
The middle-aged cultivator bowed respectfully:
"This student understands."
The Pavilion Elder observed him with a distant gaze, sensing that despite the outward deference, his student hadn't truly grasped the deeper meaning, which diminished the elder's engagement further.
"Pavilion Elder," the middle-aged cultivator began, lifting his head slightly before lowering it again, his voice soft, "Regarding this affair, your decision has not met with the approval of the upper echelons of the Taoist Court."
The Pavilion Elder remained unperturbed, "And why is that?"
A moment of hesitation passed before the middle-aged cultivator slowly articulated:
"The power of the aristocratic families is immense, and the prestige of the Sect is considerable; these factors do not align with the interests of the Central Dao Court."
"The intentions of the highest levels of the Taoist Court... are to leverage the Blood Sacrifice incident to bolster the authority of the Court Officials, dismantle the influence of Qianxue's aristocratic families, sully the reputation of Qianxue Sect, and subsequently utilize this as justification to reclaim ownership of the Spiritual mines within Mount Qianlong..."
"Most crucially, however, it is to implement a Sect reformation, compelling Qianxue Sect to undergo a name change."
A subtle air of superiority flickered in the middle-aged cultivator's eyes:
"The character 'Qian,' signifying Heaven, within the Qian Learning State Boundary – consider sects like Qian Taoist Sect, Heavenly Sword Sect... what right do these sects possess to claim the name 'Qian Tian'?"
"This world rightfully belongs to the Taoist Court."
"Only the Central Dao Court, the Daoist Monarch, and the Daoist are destined to bear the celestial mandate."
"All authority and Spirit Veins must be consolidated under the undisputed rule of the Taoist Court. Any Sect or aristocratic family that dares to adopt the name 'Tian' is acting with utter presumption..."
16:39
A mixture of reverence and solemnity colored the middle-aged cultivator's expression.
The Pavilion Elder observed the middle-aged cultivator in silence, a fleeting, almost imperceptible disappointment clouding his eyes.
