“Karma Transference”—

For some reason, these four words made Mo Hua’s heart clench.

The Shugu Ancestor then explained each one to Mo Hua:

“Karma Cursed Killing is finding the life thread and death thread in another’s karmic lines, severing their life thread, manipulating their death thread, causing their vitality to perish, leading them to their own demise.”

“Karma Divination is using specific artifacts and methods to seek out a person, event, or object’s past karmic lines, or to deduce their future karmic trajectory.”

“Karma Defense is gathering one’s own karmic lines to form a karmic barrier, avoiding others’ prying and attacks.”

“Karma Changing Fate is, after comprehending one’s destiny, relying on powerful methods, unwavering willpower, persistent determination, extraordinary perseverance, and the unity of knowledge and action to forge great karma, artificially twisting one’s own karmic lines, forcibly redirecting one’s entire life’s karma towards another destiny. This is called changing fate.”

“Karma Evasion is deliberately avoiding some external dangerous karmic lines, or masking, hiding, or sealing off some of one’s own crucial karmic lines.”

“And Karma Transference—”

The Shugu Ancestor said solemnly, “is transferring one’s own karma to other people or objects. It can be used to transfer good fortune for blessings, or to transfer misfortune to—ward off disaster.”

Karma Transference—transferring misfortune to ward off disaster?

Mo Hua’s heart suddenly pounded.

He felt that this karmic art must be of immense significance, so much so that his very fate began to tremble.

Mo Hua couldn’t help but ask the Shugu Ancestor, “Do you know the art of Karma Transference?”

The Shugu Ancestor shook his head. “I do not.”

Mo Hua was very disappointed and frowned, “Isn’t this your own insight? If you don’t know it, where did the insight come from?”

The Shugu Ancestor said, “Even if I haven’t eaten pork, I’ve seen pigs run. This is what this old man pondered after observing the karmic methods recorded by generations of ancestors in the Shugu Tribe.”

Even if I haven’t eaten pork, I’ve seen pigs run—so you think your Shugu Tribe ancestors are all “pigs”—

Mo Hua muttered inwardly.

But those words would be impolite, so Mo Hua politely didn’t voice them.

The Shugu Ancestor sighed, with reverence on his face:

“The art of karma is profound and extensive. Ordinary cultivators, even if they spend their entire lives researching one or two aspects to a deep level, would already be extraordinary. It’s impossible to be omniscient and comprehend everything.”

“I am most skilled in ‘Karma Cursed Killing’ and ‘Karma Evasion.’ For the others, I only have a general understanding—”

Mo Hua asked, puzzled, “Are you truly skilled in ‘Karma Evasion’?”

You couldn’t even evade me, and you say you’re skilled?

The Shugu Ancestor felt a blockage in his chest and could only say, “I can only evade some—avoidable karma. Some things are simply destiny, and cannot be avoided.”

Mo Hua pondered for a moment, then his eyes lit up and he asked,

“Suppose, I mean suppose—someone wants to hunt me down, and suppose that person is you. How can I evade your pursuit?”

The Shugu Ancestor quickly said, “I wouldn’t dare.”

Mo Hua sternly said, “If I tell you to dare, then you dare.”

The Shugu Ancestor had no choice but to consider Mo Hua’s idea. After pondering for a moment, he said,

“If I were to hunt down fellow Daoist, then what fellow Daoist must do is conceal all your karmic lines, so I cannot grasp any clues.”

Mo Hua asked, “More specifically?”

The Shugu Ancestor said, “Fellow Daoist’s true name, birthdate and time, place of origin, quality of spiritual roots, master’s lineage, closest relatives, Dao companion, desired path of cultivation, cultivation techniques, Dao arts, and even all methods of cultivation—such things all contain karma. Anyone with malicious intent can find a karmic line to harm fellow Daoist.”

“And among these, the most fatal are one’s lineage and Dao foundation, which must never be easily revealed.”

Mo Hua was somewhat surprised. “The most fatal isn’t the birthdate and time?”

The Shugu Ancestor shook his head. “That’s the view of those who don’t understand karma. What’s so important about a birthdate? If knowing a birthdate could curse someone to death, then killing people would be too easy.”

“Karma isn’t true metaphysics; it’s about facts.”

“Those with low cultivation are another matter; they are like duckweed, greatly influenced by their birthdate and fate. But the higher a cultivator’s realm, the stronger their personal power, the stronger their karmic power, and the less restricted they are by their birthdate.”

“And in a cultivator’s life, the strongest karma is their cultivation, and the various techniques, Dao arts, and even alchemy, formations, talismans, and artifacts derived from their cultivation.”

“The higher the cultivation, the stronger the power, the stronger the karmic force.”

“For those seeking the Dao, a cultivator’s Dao foundation is the greatest karma, more important than any other karma.”

“Therefore, the roots of one’s cultivation techniques, the intricacies of one’s Dao arts, and the strengths and weaknesses of one’s entire lineage must never be easily shown to others. Otherwise, once a karmic master finds flaws and weaknesses in your cultivation foundation and seizes crucial karmic lines, you will be in danger.”

Mo Hua’s heart was solemn, and he nodded.

In short, it means “hiding one’s light and biding one’s time.”

One must not reveal one’s trump cards to others, nor easily expose one’s true strength for a moment of showing off. Although he had done so before, it was based on his master’s teachings.

Now it seems these practices also have deeper explanations from a karmic perspective.

It makes sense; the more one exposes, the more danger one faces.

If one’s true name is known, that’s one thing, but if one’s origin, family, Dao companion, teachers, fellow disciples, and other relationships are all known, then there’s a possibility of being harmed.

These are still not the most fatal.

Once one’s entire cultivation and lineage are completely understood by others, then it becomes simple for others to use karma to plot against and kill them.

Those good at swimming drown, and those good at riding fall.

It’s the same principle.

So, one must have many identities and learn to put on “masks.”

One must also have many methods and create many illusions, never allowing others to fully understand one’s true nature.

This is a way to protect oneself from a “karmic” perspective.

It is also very likely a way to avert disaster and seek a sliver of hope for oneself in the coming great calamity.

But what truly concerned Mo Hua was the principle of “Karma Transference.”

Mo Hua again asked the Shugu Ancestor, “Do you truly not know the art of Karma Transference?”

The Shugu Ancestor said, “I do not.”

“Do any of the other Shugu ancestors know it?” Mo Hua asked.

“There are some, yes—” the Shugu Ancestor said, “but this transference art is almost the most difficult inheritance among all karmic principles to learn.”

“Even back then, among the esteemed figures of the Shugu Ancestor generation, very few could learn the art of transference.”

“Anyone who had any accomplishment in the art of transference was without exception an ancestor of the Fourth Rank or higher, and without exception, they have all passed away.”

Mo Hua asked, “Are they all buried in the Boneyard?”

The Shugu Ancestor nodded. “Yes.”

Mo Hua subconsciously turned his head to look at the Boneyard behind the Shugu Ancestor, a strange light flickering in his eyes as they darted around.

The Shugu Ancestor felt his gaze was very dangerous and couldn’t help but say, “Fellow Daoist, you—”

Mo Hua said, “Wake them up. I want to ask them some questions.”

The Shugu Ancestor was greatly alarmed. “No!”

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then insisted, “If you’re too embarrassed or shy, then I’ll try? After all, I’m a ‘guest,’ and occasionally I can be a bit rude.”

The Shugu Ancestor’s soul almost fled. He quickly said, “No, no—they can’t be awakened—”

“How would you know without trying?” Mo Hua’s mind raced, already considering “grave robbing.”

The Shugu Ancestor urgently said, “It’s really not possible. This—without the bloodline of a descendant, one cannot awaken other ancestors. Furthermore, this is a Third Rank place. If a Fourth Rank ancestor’s undead body were awakened, it could very well reveal heavenly secrets. No one knows what terrible things might happen—.”

Seeing the Shugu Ancestor’s face filled with fear, Mo Hua asked, “Really?”

“Really.” The Shugu Ancestor nodded repeatedly.

Mo Hua felt a bit regretful, and also thought it wasn’t good to rob someone else’s ancestral grave, so he said, “Then never mind.”

The Shugu Ancestor then breathed a sigh of relief.

Mo Hua, however, was still not reconciled. He thought for a moment, then asked again, “Then do you know anywhere else where one can learn the art of Karma Transference?”

“This—” the Shugu Ancestor frowned. “There might be such an inheritance of karmic arts in the Wangting of Dahuang. But the problem is, this was when this old man died. Who knows how many years have passed outside since then. Whether the Wangting still exists, and whether the inheritance is still there, are both questions.”

Mo Hua asked curiously, “Are there many other good things in your Wangting?”

“Naturally,” the Shugu Ancestor said, “The Wangting is the land of the Dahuang royal family, the foundation of Dahuang. It gathers various high-grade inheritances, and even various wondrous secret methods that can transform one’s body and change one’s fate against the heavens—”

The Shugu Ancestor’s face showed pride. As he spoke, he suddenly asked Mo Hua, “By the way, fellow Daoist, this old man has been sealed underground for countless years. How is the Dahuang royal family doing now?”

Mo Hua’s expression was somewhat complex, wondering whether to tell him that the Dahuang royal family was no more.

The royal family had already been overthrown.

Although they were about to be restored now, there were the Dao Ting armies suppressing them from outside, widespread famine within, noble families secretly exploiting, constant tribal wars, and his martial uncle sharpening his knife, preparing to enclose land to cultivate Dao demons.

However he thought about it, it only pointed to one conclusion: destruction.

“The royal family—is still okay—” Mo Hua said. “It’s not as strong as it once was, but at least the bloodline still continues.”

“Is that so—as long as it still exists—” The Shugu Ancestor felt some emotion and a trace of relief.

It seemed that loyalty to the royal family was etched into the bones of these tribal ancestors.

Even after so many years since his death, these obsessions could not be erased.

At this point, Mo Hua suddenly ran out of things to talk about.

He had asked all he needed to ask, and they had “exchanged” quite a bit of insight on karma.

Although most of it was the Shugu ancestor speaking, and Mo Hua only started the conversation, both must have benefited greatly.

Mo Hua nodded, considering whether to “eat” this Shugu Ancestor while he was at it. He glanced up and saw its tall body, half-rotted, and instantly lost his appetite.

Besides, it would be somewhat inhumane to eat someone right after asking them questions.

Never mind—

Mo Hua stood up, looked around, and found there was nothing good to take away.

After all, this White Bone Hall was a “divine sense” level existence.

There was one “thing” that caught Mo Hua’s attention—

Mo Hua pointed at the already-suicided Tie Shugu and asked, “He shouldn’t be completely dead yet, right?”

“This—” The Shugu Ancestor seemed to understand Mo Hua’s intention and looked troubled. “He has already dedicated his life force to me.” Mo Hua said, “He committed suicide and gave his life to you to ask you to kill me. Now that you can’t kill me, shouldn’t you ‘return’ his life?”

Mo Hua added, “I still have use for this person.”

The Shugu Ancestor sighed. “Since fellow Daoist has spoken, then—alright, this old man will return his life soul.”

“And one more thing—” Mo Hua thought for a moment and added, “You instruct him to be loyal to me and work for me in the future.”

“And aren’t you an ancestor? When you have time, also give the few Golden Core cultivators of the Shugu Tribe outside—especially the biggest one named ‘Lu Gu’—a dream, telling them that I am a friend of your Shugu Tribe—”

Mo Hua looked at the Shugu Ancestor, “Tell them I am a friend of your Shugu Ancestor, an ancient witch doctor who has lived for two—two thousand years, and has now descended to the mortal world to save them from disaster and revitalize the Shugu Tribe.”

The Shugu Ancestor could not hide the shock in his expression.

This young Daoist’s ability to tell blatant lies was truly outrageous.

In the blink of an eye, he claimed to have lived for two thousand years.

“Is there a problem?” Mo Hua asked.

The Ju Gu Ancestor hesitated.

He, as an ancestor, couldn’t just come back to life and lie to his descendants.

Mo Hua then said seriously, “I don’t joke with you. You’ve been dead too long and don’t understand the current situation. The present circumstances are extremely dire, and the Ju Gu Tribe is in precarious danger. If I don’t lead them, they will all perish sooner or later.”

The Ju Gu Ancestor’s mouth twitched. He felt that this “child-like” Daoist was truly absurd.

In front of him, he was spouting lies one after another.

But when he secretly pinched his fingers and calculated the fate of Dahuang, his face instantly showed extreme horror.

This is a death calamity?

The Ju Gu Ancestor looked at Mo Hua and nodded. “Then—I’ll trouble fellow Daoist. I hope fellow Daoist will preserve a bloodline for my Ju Gu Tribe. This old man will be eternally grateful.”

Mo Hua faintly acknowledged, also nodding.

Talking to a “karmic person” was easy; he didn’t need to waste too much effort, as the other understood on his own.

The conversation ended, and there was nothing else for the time being.

Mo Hua looked at the Ju Gu Ancestor again. In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to kill it, so he said, “Let me out, otherwise I’m afraid I’ll get hungry and lose control of myself.”

The Ju Gu Ancestor was startled and quickly said, “Yes, yes, this old man will send fellow Daoist out now.”

“The things I instructed you to do?” Mo Hua asked.

The Ju Gu Ancestor said, “This old man will certainly follow through.”

Mo Hua nodded.

Afterward, the Ju Gu Ancestor chanted an incantation, activated the blood-red karmic lines, and began to send Mo Hua out.

Mo Hua’s figure, guided by the karmic lines, gradually disappeared from the White Bone Hall.

Before leaving, Mo Hua took one last look at the Ju Gu Ancestor, a slight stir in his heart:

This Shugu Ancestor was no ordinary person.

At this moment, his light finger taps, manipulating the karmic lines, were exceptionally skilled. This was a technique that could only come from years of continuously deep research into karmic relationships, almost subconsciously.

It was like how he subconsciously used his spiritual sense to control Mo Hua’s formation.

It seemed ordinary, but in reality, these were extremely sophisticated techniques.

Moreover, all the “insights” he had just spoken about, based on karmic lines and dissecting karmic laws, could not possibly be ordinary profound truths.

Such inheritances could not be comprehended by a Golden Core cultivator, even if he was an ancestor of the Ju Gu Tribe.

And all these inheritances, if his guess was correct, very likely came from that figure, almost lost in the history of Dahuang, whom no one dared to mention…

“Grand Witch Doctor.”

Mo Hua silently chanted in his heart, then collected all his thoughts, his face showing no unusual expression, and simply departed.

After Mo Hua left, the half-rotted Ju Gu Ancestor also shed the somewhat “fawning” expression on his face, his gaze becoming cold and indifferent.

He slowly walked, step by step, to the front of the self-sacrificed Tie Ju Gu, extended his skeletal fingertip, and touched Tie Ju Gu’s forehead, his voice hoarse:

“You go and pledge allegiance to this fellow Daoist.”

“Work for him—”

“Follow him, sparing no effort, even your life.”