Inside the quiet Privy Council chamber.

Zhuge Zhenren led Mohua to the two directors, pointed at him, and said, “This is the one…”

He had intended to say “that memorial tablet,” but he managed to restrain himself.

“…that Mohua.”

The two directors immediately stopped their official duties and scrutinized Mohua as if they were looking at some rare “animal,” their faces full of curiosity.

Mohua felt a bit uneasy and also curious, so he asked, “Who are these two…?”

Zhuge Zhenren then introduced Mohua, “They are not outsiders. This one…”

He pointed to one of them, a middle-aged cultivator with a composed demeanor, sharp eyes, dressed in a Seven Pavilions Daoist robe with a bright Tianquan Star on his chest. “This is Director Huangfu, who serves in Tianquan Pavilion and also studied at Taixu Sect in his early years…”

“And this one…” Zhuge Zhenren pointed to the other cultivator, who had a dignified appearance. “This is Director Shangguan, who serves in Tianshu Pavilion, also from Taixu Sect.”

Mohua cupped his hands and said, “Greetings to both seniors.”

His bow startled the two directors, making cold sweat trickle down their backs. They quickly dodged, waving their hands repeatedly, “Oh no, no, you mustn’t…”

They certainly couldn’t accept a bow from this little ancestor; if they did, it might even shorten their lifespan.

Mohua didn’t know that Elder Xun had drawn him as a “memorial tablet.”

He treated others as seniors, but they treated him as an “ancestor.”

Seeing the two seniors being so “polite,” Mohua genuinely exclaimed, “Both seniors, as directors of the Daoist Court’s Seven Pavilions, holding such high positions, yet remaining so approachable, shows your broad-mindedness, which I greatly admire.”

For a moment, the two directors felt a warmth in their hearts…

However, some perceptions still needed to be corrected.

“It’s not a high official position…” Director Huangfu said. “The position of director is quite ordinary, nothing special. Above us are the Supervisors and the Pavilion Elders; it’s merely a tiring, miscellaneous task.”

Mohua shook his head repeatedly, his face solemn, “How can that be? This is Daozhou, the Daoist Court, and you are directors of the Seven Pavilions.”

Mohua came from humble beginnings and deeply understood that these official positions were, in fact, not small at all.

“There are so many cultivators in Jiuzhou; let alone becoming a director, many people might not even meet one in their entire lives.”

“How can this be ordinary?”

“Although it’s mentally taxing, you are doing practical work. Being busy just means greater responsibility and extremely significant meaning.”

The two directors tried their best to keep their lips pressed, but in their hearts, it was as if little flowers were blooming, one after another.

Listen, just listen.

How profound and insightful these words were.

They hadn’t heard such insightful words in almost a hundred years.

Of course, these compliments were not the key; what mattered was who was speaking them.

Zhuge Zhenren looked at Mohua, frowning, momentarily wondering if he had brought the wrong person.

When he was at the Hua family, this boy’s words… didn’t seem to be in this style?

His little mouth was like it was filled with blades, making even Hua Zhenren uncomfortable.

How did his little mouth become so sweet in the blink of an eye?

Is this… really the same person? Did the Hua family switch him out?

Zhuge Zhenren looked at the two directors, seeing them feigning composure to hide their overjoyed expressions, and secretly scorned them.

So unaccomplished…

Mohua then looked at Director Shangguan and asked, “Are you from the Shangguan family?”

Director Shangguan nodded, “Yes.”

Mohua said, “Then do you know Patriarch Shangguan Ce?”

Director Shangguan nodded, “Of course, but I’m not from the same lineage as the Patriarch, so we don’t have much contact…”

That’s how it is with large aristocratic families; there are too many people, complex blood relations, and many branches.

However, Director Shangguan also asked in surprise, “You actually know the Patriarch?”

“Yes,” Mohua said, “I had dinner and drinks with Patriarch Shangguan at the Gu family back then, but we didn’t talk much. You know, the Patriarch’s status is too high; I didn’t have much to talk about with him, no common language…”

Director Shangguan nodded, “Indeed.”

Mohua then asked, “Then do you know Uncle Shangguan Yi?”

Director Shangguan became interested, “Brother Yi and I have quite some friendship. We often discussed Dao when we were cultivating. Brother Yi is gentle, elegant, and speaks eloquently.”

Mohua nodded repeatedly, “Uncle Shangguan Yi indeed has a very good temper, is very family-oriented, and treats others well. He even gave me many things back then…”

Director Shangguan nodded.

Mohua then asked, “Are you also familiar with the Gu family?”

Director Shangguan expressed some regret, “We’re not from the same branch, so we don’t have much interaction with the Gu family side; we’re not very familiar.”

Mohua also felt a bit disappointed.

Director Huangfu, who had been holding back for a long time, finally spoke up, “Little… brother, you’re talking about… the Gu family in Qingzhou City?”

Mohua nodded repeatedly, surprised, “You know the Gu family?”

Director Huangfu said, “I’m quite familiar with them.”

Mohua asked with some confusion, “Isn’t the Huangfu family an aristocratic family from Daozhou?”

Director Huangfu nodded, “Yes, the Huangfu family is a prominent aristocratic family in Daozhou, but I’m from a concubine, so my status is a bit lower. When I was studying at Taixu Sect, I met a female disciple from the Gu family. However, our family backgrounds and provinces were different, making marriage very difficult. Later, Elder Gu Hong of the Gu family personally arranged it, which led to our marriage. I have always been grateful…”

“Elder Gu Hong!” Mohua exclaimed, “That Elder Hong was also your matchmaker?”

Director Huangfu said gently, “Yes. Little… brother, are you also familiar with Elder Gu Hong?”

Mohua nodded, “Oh, I’m very familiar! Back then, when I was studying at Taixu Sect, during the xunxiu, I used to go to the Gu family for free meals. After eating, I would go to Elder Gu Hong to chat about gossip. Elder Gu Hong was also very kind to me and often gave me melons to eat…”

Director Huangfu chuckled, “Then this is truly fate.”

Director Shangguan was startled and said, “Speaking of Elder Gu Hong… my cousin’s marriage also seems to have been arranged by Elder Gu Hong…”

“At the wedding, I even toasted Elder Gu Hong.”

“Elder Gu Hong wore a red dress and was very gentle and festive…”

Mohua nodded, “Yes, very festive…”

Director Huangfu said, “Now that you mention it, I think I suddenly remember something…”

The three of them chatted back and forth, connecting through relatives and acquaintances. Before long, they were engrossed in conversation, like a family.

Zhuge Zhenren stood by like a block of wood, holding his fan, unable to interject a single word, feeling like an outsider.

He was almost confused.

Who was introducing whom? Who was the newcomer?

Mohua chatted excitedly for a long time, then felt thirsty and reached to pour himself some tea. He looked up and saw Zhuge Zhenren standing there for a long time without saying a word, like a wooden stake. He then said a bit awkwardly, “Zhenren… would you like some tea?”

Zhuge Zhenren’s face was expressionless.

Directors Huangfu and Shangguan also realized they might have been too happy in their conversation and lost their composure. They quietly stopped talking, straightened their attire, and sat up straight.

The room instantly fell silent.

A moment later, everyone remembered that they had been so engrossed in small talk that they hadn’t asked any serious questions.

Director Huangfu cleared his throat gently again and asked Mohua, “Where did that Jade Amulet… come from?”

Because this was the Privy Council chamber, a secret room sealed by a formation, used by the Daoist Court’s Seven Pavilions to handle various special documents for front-line operations.

Within the Privy Council chamber, all secrets were sealed, so some questions could be asked more freely.

Through the “small talk” he just had, Mohua could generally confirm that these two directors were indeed “their own people.”

He then said, “It was signed by the sect’s Old Ancestor, the Sect Master, and the Elders for me.”

This was precisely the problem.

“Why… did so many Elders sign your Jade Amulet?”

“Why would the Sect Master and the Old Ancestor also sign for you?”

“Even, not just Taixu Sect, but the Taia and Chongxu lineages also signed for you?”

The two directors looked at Mohua.

This reason was quite complex.

Mohua didn’t know where to begin; nine years of cultivation and so many things he had done couldn’t be explained in a short while.

Mohua also had a humble nature and didn’t like to boast about himself, so he said, “It might be because I… made a small contribution to the sect, and received the favor of the Old Ancestor, the Sect Master, and the Elders, which is why there are so many signatures on the Jade Amulet…”

Director Huangfu and Director Shangguan were both a bit stunned.

Zhuge Zhenren’s gaze also narrowed slightly.

A small contribution?

Director Huangfu asked Mohua again, “Your surname is Mo… which Mo family are you from?”

Mohua said, “Not the Mo family, I am a rogue cultivator.”

“A rogue cultivator?!”

Zhuge Zhenren and the other two’s pupils contracted, greatly surprised.

“There are no outsiders here, you can speak truthfully…” Director Shangguan whispered.

Mohua said earnestly, “I really am a rogue cultivator; I traveled long distances and finally managed to join Taixu Sect.”

“This…”

The three exchanged glances.

Listening to Mohua’s words, anyone with a bit of common sense would know he was lying.

But looking into Mohua’s eyes, they felt that he didn’t seem to be lying.

At least he himself probably didn’t know he was lying.

This was peculiar…

“Then are you… also very familiar with Elder Xun?” Director Tianquan Pavilion carefully considered.

Mohua nodded, “When I was at Taixu Sect, Elder Xun himself taught me formations.”

Elder Xun personally taught him…

Zhuge Zhenren felt a tingling sensation in his scalp.

Director Huangfu and Director Shangguan were also deeply shocked.

This was personally taught by the Old Ancestor…

Even these two experienced directors of the Seven Pavilions had their minds a bit muddled for a moment, unable to comprehend.

A rogue cultivator, a small contribution, the Sanchuan Jade Amulet, personally taught by the Old Ancestor…

These things, when put together, were truly incongruous and exuded an inexplicable strangeness.

They glanced at Mohua, gradually realizing that while this young man looked pure, the waters behind him might truly be unfathomable…

Director Huangfu was about to ask something else.

Mohua, however, suddenly frowned, feeling a pricking sensation on his forehead.

Director Shangguan was startled and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Mohua said, “My head was pricked by a golden needle by that Zhenren from the Hua family…”

The three’s expressions changed.

Zhuge Zhenren touched Mohua’s forehead, saw no needle marks, released his spiritual sense to investigate for a moment, frowned, and asked, “Do you know what kind of needle that Hua Zhenren used?”

Mohua endured the pain and shook his head, “I can’t remember clearly…”

That day, his core formation failed, he was entrapped and killed by a group of old monsters, and then caught red-handed by Hua Zhenren. In the midst of the shock, he didn’t realize what kind of needle Hua Zhenren used to pierce his Sea of Consciousness.

Afterward, his Sea of Consciousness often felt the stinging pain of a golden needle.

But the problem was, he had introspected for a long time but couldn’t detect any trace of a “golden needle” in his Sea of Consciousness.

He also didn’t know its origin.

Mohua thought back carefully and said, “I can only vaguely remember that the needle seemed both real and illusory, with light flowing. After it pierced into my Sea of Consciousness, it seemed to turn into chains for a moment, and then it seemed to cleave a huge chasm… then I fainted…”

“When I woke up again, the needle seemed to be in my head, and yet not. It’s just that before, Hua Zhenren wanted to harm me, to torture me, to ‘slice’ me, so I didn’t have the mind to consider this issue…”

“Slice?” Zhuge Zhenren’s pupils contracted.

“Yes,” Mohua nodded, thought for a moment, and decided to hint a bit, “The Hua family seems to have been doing this kind of research, slicing demon beasts and dead bodies…”

Director Huangfu quickly shushed him, “Shhh!”

Mohua stopped talking.

Director Huangfu frowned deeply, “Have you told anyone else about this?”

Mohua shook his head.

Director Huangfu slowly sighed, “That’s good…”

Zhuge Zhenren also warned, “Don’t mention this to anyone ever again… even us, or other sect teachers, fellow disciples, or Daoist friends, don’t mention it.”

“Is it very dangerous?” Mohua’s face was solemn as he whispered, “Is it…”

Zhuge Zhenren shook his head, “No one knows… but these things are all ‘taboo’. Without evidence, never speak casually, or it will incur retaliation from the great aristocratic families.”

“You also cannot leak it out, otherwise, no matter who you tell, it won’t help and might even kill them…”

True great aristocratic families are too terrifying…

Mohua’s expression was serious, and he nodded.

Zhuge Zhenren was a Yuhua Zhenren.

Director Huangfu and Director Shangguan were both from aristocratic families and held important positions as directors of the Seven Pavilions.

The three of them were not ordinary cultivators.

They probably knew a little about many things, but without concrete evidence, they remained tight-lipped.

After all, rash intervention, no one knew what kind of big fish these “clues” would drag out.

Without care, it could easily lead to a fatal disaster.

“I understand,” Mohua said.

Zhuge Zhenren saw Mohua’s solemn tone and serious attitude, clearly having truly realized the taboos involved and not rashly interfering with unknown secrets. He breathed a sigh of relief, then was quite surprised.

This kid was… too “clever.”

His premonition of danger was also too sharp.

Just a hint, and he understood everything.

If he hadn’t been “walking on a tightrope” every day and experienced great dangers, it would probably be difficult to have this “self-awareness.”

Zhuge Zhenren stared silently at Mohua.

Mohua quickly asked him, “Then the golden needle in my head…”

Zhuge Zhenren frowned, thought for a moment, and said, “There are too few clues; I’ll have to go back and investigate.”

The cultivation world is vast, and there are too many golden needle-like treasures.

The Hua family is also a prominent aristocratic family in Daozhou, and there are too many famous golden needle-type magical artifacts.

And Mohua couldn’t see any traces on his skin.

Based on his vague clues alone, it was impossible to determine what kind of golden needle was stuck in his head.

“You don’t need to worry about this; I will figure it out,” Zhuge Zhenren said.

Mohua felt grateful and bowed, “Thank you for your trouble, Zhenren.”

Zhuge Zhenren nodded, thinking to himself that putting everything else aside, this kid was quite well-mannered, neither servile nor overbearing, and polite.

“You should go rest; I’ve prepared a room for you,” Zhuge Zhenren said.

“Thank you, Zhenren,” Mohua said.

Afterward, Zhuge Zhenren summoned a young attendant.

The attendant led Mohua down the corridor to a guest room.

The guest room was not large but very clean, not luxurious, but all the furnishings were very refined.

Mohua didn’t know what kind of guest room it was, but since Zhuge Zhenren prepared it, he assumed its safety was not a concern.

Mohua lay down on the soft bed and let out a long sigh of relief.

Although there was still a golden needle stuck in his head, which was a bit uncomfortable, he was generally safe.

He had finally escaped from the “tiger’s den” of the Hua family and no longer had to fear being slowly sliced up and studied.

And next…

Mohua’s gaze gradually sharpened, his expression determined.

He could now recuperate and consider his next attempt at core formation.

On the path of cultivation, there are no insurmountable obstacles.

If he couldn’t overcome it once, he would try again…

(End of this chapter)