Zhuge Zhenren felt his scalp tingle when he saw Elder Xun’s familiar and strict handwriting.

He felt the same tension and awkwardness as if he had graduated years ago but suddenly dreamt he was back in his disciple days, being lectured by his “tutor.”

He held Elder Xun’s reply for a long time, unmoving.

The Head of Tian Shu Pavilion urged him, “What are you dazing for? Quickly see what Elder Xun replied to you.”

Zhuge Zhenren pursed his lips, still steeling himself.

The only person who had ever disciplined him in his life was Elder Xun.

Elder Xun’s meticulous and serious nature clashed with his own free-spirited and uninhibited personality.

“Stop dawdling––––”

The Head of Tian Quan Pavilion, a little impatient, snatched the jade slip from the dazed Zhuge Zhenren, glanced at it, then looked up at Zhuge Zhenren, sighing, “Elder Xun is concerned about you––––”

“The Elder said that although you’ve cultivated to the Zhenren stage, your foundation is shallow and not solid enough.”

“Your problem is still that you’re too lazy.”

“Your aptitude and character are sufficient, but you’re just too lazy.”

“Your Zhuge family’s saying, ‘without tranquility, one cannot clarify ambition,’ is correct, but you cannot merely be tranquil without clarifying your ambition.”

“Don’t spend all day fanning yourself, doing nothing.”

“You must learn more, comprehend more.”

“You must clarify your heart and set your ambition.”

“People talk about gradual enlightenment and sudden enlightenment, often leaning towards sudden enlightenment, believing that a single moment of enlightenment will reveal right from wrong, clarify one’s mind and nature, point directly to the Great Dao, and ensure an unobstructed path to immortality.”

“This is just lazy people comforting themselves.”

“Those who experience sudden enlightenment have also undergone years of gradual enlightenment––––always keeping the heavens and earth in their hearts, appreciating all things and all methods. By seeing more, learning more, thinking more, and with a certain opportunity, sudden enlightenment naturally occurs.”

“Without learning, practicing, thinking, or comprehending, hoping for sudden enlightenment is mere wishful thinking.”

“To enter the Dongxu realm, you must still calm your mind and diligently comprehend the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, and the laws of the Great Dao.”

“The Way of Heaven may not always reward diligence, but those who are not diligent, those who do not undergo worldly trials, their character cannot be refined, and they don’t even qualify to seek the Dao––––”

The Head of Tian Quan Pavilion knew that Zhuge Zhenren feared Elder Xun’s “nagging” the most, so he read the letter aloud, initially with a playful intention. However, as he read on, his tone softened, and his demeanor became more serious.

After finishing, he pondered in silence for a moment, then looked up at Zhuge Zhenren, half-emotional and half-envious, saying, “The Elder is truly good to you––––”

Zhuge Zhenren also put aside his casual thoughts. After pondering for a moment, he sighed deeply, “Indeed––––”

This was the teaching of a Dongxu cultivator, containing insights into the laws and some life experiences.

To cultivators of lower realms, especially those below Foundation Establishment, or even Golden Core cultivators, these “naggings” might seem like empty, meaningless words.

Basic cultivation requires practicality.

But once one’s cultivation gradually rises, standing at a higher level, having seen much of the world and human nature, reaching the realm of “comprehending the Dao,” then one truly understands the profound wisdom within.

Back when they were at Foundation Establishment, studying at Tai Xu Sect, they would probably have been indifferent to these words.

But now, they had left the sect, trained for over a hundred years, reached the peak of Golden Core, and were on the verge of breaking through to Feathered Ascension, to glimpse the Zhenren realm.

Or even further, from tangible to intangible, to perceive the “Void” realm.

At this point, hearing Elder Xun’s words again, they couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.

The Ancestor is still the Ancestor, after all––––

Many times, the Ancestor seemed verbose, old-fashioned, and stubborn. In fact, it wasn’t that the Ancestor was wrong, but that the disciples simply didn’t understand.

It was precisely for this reason that, despite Zhuge Zhenren’s laid-back nature, he held deep respect for Elder Xun in his heart.

No one in the entire Zhuge family could control him, but Elder Xun could.

Whatever Elder Xun said, he could only listen.

Because he also knew that whatever Elder Xun said, he first practiced himself, proved it, and only then taught it to others.

Elder Xun’s education was also impartial, without any selfish motives.

Perhaps it was for this reason that Zhuge Zhenren was not sent to a higher Daoist academy by his grandfather, but was sent thousands of miles away to Tai Xu Sect for Foundation Establishment cultivation.

Foundation Establishment profoundly influences one’s life path.

The three of them were lost in thought for a moment.

A moment later, the three suddenly came back to their senses. The Head of Tian Quan Pavilion flipped through the jade slip letter and said, “And then?”

“Our letter wasn’t asking about these things––––”

“What about the Ancestor’s reply regarding the jade talisman?”

The three searched for a long time, but found no reply in the lines of text.

All the words in the letter were admonitions and instructions for Zhuge Zhenren’s cultivation, just like usual.

It seemed that Elder Xun didn’t care about the “jade talisman” at all and didn’t mention it a single word.

But all three knew that Elder Xun couldn’t possibly not reply.

So, at the end of the letter, after Elder Xun’s signature, they found a very small drawing, like a “seal.”

If they didn’t look closely, they wouldn’t have been able to discern it at all.

The content of the drawing was also very simple: an incense burner, with wisps of smoke curling up, and a spirit tablet placed on top.

“What does this mean?”

The three frowned.

“Is the jade talisman fake?”

“No, if it were fake, the Elder would just reply with ‘no’ and be done with it. He wouldn’t waste any extra words, let alone draw a picture.”

“The fact that he didn’t say explicitly means that this jade talisman is, in all likelihood––––not fake?”

“The reason for not stating it explicitly is that this boy’s identity is unusual, so this matter should not be publicized, nor can a clear answer be given––––”

“What about this drawing then? What does it mean?”

“Incense burner, incense smoke––––is it saying that this boy is related to the legacy of Tai Xu Sect?”

“And what about this spirit tablet?”

“This is––––a spirit tablet of Tai Xu Sect?”

The Head of Tian Quan Pavilion looked at Zhuge Zhenren, “Zhuge, you’ve knelt in the ancestral hall of Tai Xu Sect, look closely, is this a spirit tablet of Tai Xu Sect?”

Zhuge Zhenren’s expression was displeased, “You haven’t knelt there?”

The Head of Tian Quan Pavilion nodded, “I’m not yet qualified to be punished by Elder Xun to kneel in the ancestral hall.”

Zhuge Zhenren sighed, glanced at the jade talisman, and said, “It is an ancestral tablet of Tai Xu Sect, but it’s one size smaller.”

Elder Xun knew that Zhuge Zhenren would be able to discern such a detail.

But this made the matter even more intriguing.

“Could the Elder be saying––––that this boy named Mo Hua is related to the legacy and lineage of Tai Xu Sect?”

“Is this drawing an ‘analogy’?”

“Does this spirit tablet refer to this boy?”

“Is this a direct reference, meaning this boy is a descendant of our Tai Xu Sect’s ancestor?”

“Or is it an indirect reference, meaning this boy holds a very high position in the sect––––high enough to have a spirit tablet?”

The three of them, one an Imperial Censorate enshrinee, and the other two, heads of the seven pavilions, had all spent years in the Dao Court, possessing extremely strong “reading comprehension” abilities.

However––––

“Is this ‘interpretation’ really correct?”

“This is too absurd, isn’t it?”

“But if this jade talisman is real, and the elders, sect masters, and even the ancestors of the three sects have personally signed his jade talisman, then it might––––not be absurd at all––––”

Recalling the long, dense rows of meticulously signed elder names on the jade talisman.

And the weighty names of the sect master and ancestors.

The scalps of the three tingled.

“This really must be––––the treatment of a crown prince––––”

“A crown prince among crown princes––––must be a young ancestor, and one shared by all three sects at that––––”

“Unbelievable––––”

“So what do we do now?”

“We have to protect this person, right––––”

“Not ‘protect’,” the Head of Tian Quan Pavilion pointed at the small spirit tablet and sighed, “Judging by the Ancestor’s meaning, he needs to be ‘worshipped’––––”

It’s a spirit tablet, so of course it needs to be worshipped.

Moreover, there must not be the slightest mistake.

The three frowned, silent, feeling somewhat uneasy.

A moment later, the Head of Tian Shu Pavilion said, “I still don’t quite understand––––how can a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator have such a high status?”

“To elevate a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator so highly? This style of action is not at all like Tai Xu Sect.”

“This also doesn’t seem like something Elder Xun would do––––”

“I agree––––but now is not the time to dwell on these things––––”

“Quickly think of a way to ‘bring this spirit tablet back for worship’ first––––” the Head of Tian Quan Pavilion said helplessly.

The spirit tablet of Tai Xu Sect certainly couldn’t be worshipped in the Hua family’s residence, could it?

All three slowly sighed.

Zhuge Zhenren and the two heads deliberated all night.

The next day, Zhuge Zhenren personally went to the Hua family’s compound to “invite the spirit tablet.”

But only he himself knew that he was inviting a “spirit tablet.”

Outwardly, he showed no abnormality, still maintaining his usual indifferent, lazy demeanor.

He even cast a “disapproving” glance at Mo Hua.

As if he thought this was a “troublemaker” or “source of calamity.”

The scene included not only people from the Hua family, Qingmu Zhenren, the golden-robed noble young master, but also some powerful and influential young disciples.

Because it concerned Mo Hua’s “stay or leave,” there were quite a few people present.

“I went back and checked. This boy indeed has a bit of an origin with my Tai Xu Sect. I––––”

Zhuge Zhenren sighed lightly, then “disapprovingly” glanced at Mo Hua, and slowly said, “Ultimately, there’s a bit of sentiment with Tai Xu Sect. It wouldn’t be right to ignore him––––”

“––––So, I’ll have to take this boy away first.”

He didn’t show any indication that Mo Hua’s identity was important, only appearing reluctant, as if he was forced to meddle due to sectarian ties.

Hua Zhenren also didn’t suspect anything.

Or rather, he suspected Mo Hua’s identity might be unusual, but he couldn’t possibly imagine the true status this seemingly “divine blessing” Foundation Establishment boy, whom he captured from the wilderness, held within Tai Xu Sect.

“Is this boy’s jade talisman––––real?” Hua Zhenren asked.

Zhuge Zhenren nodded.

“May I see it?” Hua Zhenren asked.

Zhuge Zhenren said, “Sect jade talismans are internal sect affairs, not suitable for outsiders to see.”

Hua Zhenren insisted, “I need to see it to confirm that he is indeed a disciple of Tai Xu Sect.”

Zhuge Zhenren demurred several times, but finally couldn’t refuse, so he handed the jade talisman to Hua Zhenren.

On the jade talisman, there were indeed several elder signatures.

And it was indeed a jade talisman from Tai Xu Sect.

All markings and credentials were exact.

But Hua Zhenren had some doubts, thinking it might have been “forged” overnight by Zhuge Zhenren, though he had no evidence.

Moreover, Hua Zhenren wasn’t really sure if a leisurely “Zhenren” like Zhuge Zhenren, who usually didn’t concern himself with worldly affairs, would condescend to painstakingly forge documents for a Foundation Establishment disciple.

Stereotypes can be deadly.

However, Mo Hua’s matter contained many unknown secrets, and Hua Zhenren was still unwilling to let go. “This child might be a Divine Blessing from the Great Wilderness––––”

Zhuge Zhenren shook his head, “That must be a misunderstanding.”

Hua Zhenren’s gaze sharpened, “I captured him from the wilderness. If he’s a disciple of Tai Xu Sect, why would he be in the wilderness at this time?”

Zhuge Zhenren’s heart sank slightly, and he looked at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua immediately said, “I was there for training.”

“Training?”

“Yes!” Mo Hua said righteously, because he really wasn’t lying.

Qingmu Zhenren frowned, wondering, “With the famine spreading, why were you in the wilderness?”

Mo Hua said, “When I went, there was no famine yet. When I reached the heart of the wilderness, the famine suddenly spread, and I got trapped inside.”

Mo Hua sighed, a look of hardship on his face: “In that wild place in the wilderness, as an outsider, I had a very difficult time, constantly pursued by the barbarians.”

“Later, during a tribal conflict, I accidentally killed a few people and was immediately wanted by the barbarians. My likeness was spread everywhere, and many tribes wanted to kill me, wishing they could eat my flesh and drink my blood––––”

“Having no other choice, I painstakingly found a remote, small place, hoping to avoid attention and break through to Golden Core, to gain more self-preservation ability and survive in the wilderness.”

“As a result––––”

Mo Hua pointed at Hua Zhenren, “This person suddenly rushed over, not only ruining my Golden Core breakthrough but also capturing me, insisting that I admit I was some Divine Blessing, otherwise he would torture me, and even cut me into a thousand pieces––––”

Mo Hua effortlessly shifted the blame.

Hua Zhenren, a dignified Zhenren, was pointed at by Mo Hua, and was somewhat at a loss for words. He could sense that the truth might not be like this.

But what Mo Hua said was surprisingly logical and reasonable.

This made many things suddenly make sense.

Zhuge Zhenren also looked at Mo Hua in surprise, thinking that this boy was truly quick-witted to be able to render Hua Zhenren speechless.

Hua Zhenren took a deep breath, his eyes icy, and retorted to Mo Hua, “Why don’t you mention why I didn’t capture anyone else but chose to capture you?”

Mo Hua sneered, “How should I know? Is it not your problem that you captured me? You did something bad, ruined my Golden Core breakthrough, and you expect me to find a reason? Shouldn’t you reflect on yourself? You people from the Hua family are truly thick-skinned––––”

Hua Zhenren felt a surge of anger, almost like a stroke.

Mo Hua’s eyes flashed, and he seized the opportunity to add, “–––Who knows what schemes you Hua family people are plotting?

Perhaps you already knew I was from Tai Xu Sect and deliberately came to capture me, forcing me to admit I am a Divine Blessing, so you could frame and incriminate my Tai Xu Sect!”

Mo Hua looked furious.

Hua Zhenren’s expression changed.

Zhuge Zhenren’s gaze turned cold, looking at Hua Zhenren.

Everyone else’s expressions suddenly became grave, their looks meaningful.

This whole affair, from beginning to end, was indeed peculiar––––

To say this boy was a Divine Blessing, everything felt forced.

But if this boy was merely a disciple of Tai Xu Sect, and the Hua family knew the inside story early on, capturing him from the wilderness simply to force him to admit he was a Divine Blessing, thereby framing Tai Xu Sect.

This suddenly became plausible.

The Hua family certainly seemed capable of such actions.

This was indeed characteristic of the Hua family; someone not deeply familiar with them might not be able to lie so convincingly.

But only Hua Zhenren himself knew that he was truly wronged. At least in this matter, he truly had no intention of framing Tai Xu Sect.

Great families acted based on self-interest, and at the current stage, the Hua family had no conflict with Tai Xu Sect.

Moreover, Tai Xu Sect was no longer what it used to be. It was now the largest sect in Qian Xue, not a small sect that could be manipulated at will.

Even before, Tai Xu Sect was considered an ancient and influential teaching sect, having cultivated countless cultivators over its many years of establishing and running schools.

These cultivators might be spread throughout various corners of the cultivation world, occupying unknown positions.

If Tai Xu Sect’s strength was insufficient and it fell into decline, they might not say anything.

But if Tai Xu Sect were deliberately framed and “slandered,” that would be equivalent to slandering the “sect records” of all cultivators who originated from Tai Xu Sect.

The Hua family could very likely incur public wrath.

Hua Zhenren’s heart sank, his expression exceedingly cold.

Seeing this, Zhuge Zhenren calmly said, “This matter––––must be a misunderstanding. Since this child is my Tai Xu Sect disciple, he absolutely cannot be a Divine Blessing of the wilderness.”

Although the tone of this sentence was mild, it was a definitive conclusion pronounced with the authority of a Zhenren.

Otherwise, what would their Tai Xu Sect become?

If Mo Hua were a Divine Blessing, then wouldn’t their Tai Xu Sect be the mastermind behind the barbarian rebellion?

The breeding ground for the Dao Court’s great rebels?

Then wouldn’t their Tai Xu Sect become the “den of thieves” for the Dao Court’s traitors?

This infamy was something their Tai Xu Sect could not bear.

In front of so many people, no one truly dared to place this “infamy” on Tai Xu Sect, the foremost sect in Qian Xue.

Hua Zhenren was silent for a moment, and could only say, “This matter, perhaps, does involve some misunderstanding.”

Zhuge Zhenren nodded, “Then it’s settled. This boy––––I’ll take him away now?”

Hua Zhenren looked around.

Qingmu Zhenren, and the noble young masters from various powerful families were all silent, but their attitudes were evident.

Hua Zhenren slowly said, “In that case––––very well.”

Mo Hua was somewhat surprised; he hadn’t expected the Hua family to relent so quickly.

Zhuge Zhenren waved to Mo Hua, “You, come with me,” and then led Mo Hua out of the main hall.

Just a few steps later, Hua Zhenren suddenly said, “Since he is a disciple of Tai Xu Sect––––”

Hua Zhenren looked at Mo Hua, “He should at least have a name, right?”

Zhuge Zhenren didn’t speak, looking at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua originally intended to make up a random name to get by, but after thinking about it, he felt it was meaningless, so he told Hua Zhenren, “My name is Mo Hua.”

“Mo Hua––––”

Hua Zhenren looked deeply at Mo Hua and nodded, “Good, I’ve remembered it.”

Not just Hua Zhenren, but Qingmu Zhenren, the golden-robed noble young master from the Xuanyuan family, and all the noble figures present, upon hearing this, showed varied expressions and silently repeated the name in their hearts.

Mo Hua.

Some looked surprised.

Some were deep in thought.

And some hidden figures, after a slight moment of shock, their gazes gradually turned cold and sinister.

“So it’s––––”

“Mo Hua.”