There was no need to mention the Shen family; they were a top aristocratic family within the Qian Xue state, inheriting status from the four major sects. They were truly enormous entities. Compared to the Shen family, this ordinary cultivator in the initial stage of the Golden Core wasn’t much stronger than an ant.

As for Mo Hua, he was the foremost figure in array formations within the Tai Xu Sect. Even True Elders in the late Golden Core stage would pour tea for him; his status was unfathomable.

The situation before him was truly a fight between “gods and immortals” that he couldn’t afford to offend either side of.

And he couldn’t even just stand by and watch.

He had invited Young Master Mo for a meal, and as soon as they finished, they were blocked. He saw that things were about to turn violent. If he were to stand by and watch, it would be no different from “kicking someone while they’re down.”

Forget about clinging to a powerful figure later, it would be good if Young Master Mo didn’t find a way to eliminate him.

This Young Master Mo appeared to be gentle and lovely, amiable and kind. However, Fan Jin wasn’t a fool and wouldn’t truly believe that Mo Hua was as simple as he appeared.

One cannot judge a person by their appearance.

Someone in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment who could suppress the four major sects, seize the position of Array Dao Chief, and sit and drink tea with elders within the Tai Xu Sect – how could they be an ordinary character?

“What the heck… what do I do?”

In that instant, Fan Jin’s heart pounded so hard it felt like it would jump out of his throat.

And he didn’t have much time to choose; both sides were about to make a move.

If he stepped out now, he could still pick a side. If he delayed any longer and they actually started fighting, he wouldn’t even have the chance to choose.

Fan Jin gritted his teeth, his mind racing.

Not acting to help would offend Young Master Mo, and the Shen family wouldn’t remember his favor either.

However, acting to help, while offending the Shen family, would also curry favor with Young Master Mo.

Comparing the lesser of two evils, since he was going to offend one side anyway, he should definitely choose the one with benefits.

“Damn it, I don’t care anymore.”

Wealth and honor are found in danger.

If he wanted benefits, he had to bear the risks. If he was afraid to bear the risks, then he wouldn’t progress at all.

Moreover, this Young Master Mo was someone he had invited. If he was provoked by others, based on both emotion and reason, he couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

Fan Jin’s legs were a little weak, but he still took a step forward, blocking in front of Mo Hua.

As he took this step, his feet felt a little unsteady, but his heart felt steady.

It was one blow either way; since he had chosen, there was no need to look back.

Fan Jin’s face was cold.

A Golden Core cultivator opposite him said in a cold voice, “Director Fan, what is the meaning of this? Are you trying to show off by offending our Shen family?”

Fan Jin said with a righteous expression, “I don’t care about your grievances, but this Young Master is a distinguished guest of my Dao Ting Si. At least within Lone Mountain City, my Dao Ting Si has a duty to protect his safety.”

He brought out “Dao Ting Si.”

In doing so, it wasn’t that he intended to go against the Shen family, but that the Dao Ting Si had a duty to fulfill and couldn’t stand by.

When the matter was investigated later, at least on the surface, he wouldn’t be blamed.

With a proper name, words flow smoothly. When doing things for the Dao Ting Si, sometimes how you speak is more important than how you act.

Another Golden Core cultivator from the Shen family sneered, “Do you think we will fear you just because you bring out the Dao Ting Si? You’d best…”

“What are you wasting time on?” The Shen family young master frowned. “Make a move.”

The two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family paused, then cupped their hands and said, “Yes.”

Within the Shen family’s group, there were only two Golden Core cultivators; the rest were all in the Foundation Establishment stage. However, in a third-tier immortal city like Lone Mountain City, two Golden Core cultivators were enough to roam freely.

On Mo Hua’s side, besides the two Golden Core cultivators, there was only himself.

In terms of numbers, the Shen family had the advantage.

Moreover, their purpose was to capture Mo Hua and help the Shen family young master vent his anger.

While Master Gu and Fan Jin didn’t dare to attack the Shen family young master, they could only passively protect Mo Hua, a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment realm. They were inherently at a disadvantage.

With more on one side and fewer on the other, and the situation being one of attack versus defense, the situation was very unfavorable.

Both Master Gu and Fan Jin were clear on this point, hence their expressions were very grim.

At this moment, the two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family, one pulling out a flaming dagger and the other turning out dark green iron claws, were clearly intending to rush towards Mo Hua and kill him.

Master Gu’s face sank like water.

Once things started, the situation would no longer be under his control.

And the stirring of Golden Core spiritual power could easily injure Mo Hua.

If Mo Hua were even slightly touched, he would have no way to explain himself to the Gu family or the Tai Xu Sect, not to mention that Mo Hua was still a great benefactor to their refining division.

Master Gu felt a little anxious and said, “Wait!”

The actions of the two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family paused slightly, and they looked towards Master Gu.

Master Gu said in a low voice, “Don’t blame me for not telling you. This Young Master is a direct descendant of the Tai Xu Sect, has received the teachings of an old ancestor, and has entered the old ancestor’s good graces. Think carefully before you make a move against him.”

Mo Hua had even grander titles.

However, Master Gu was afraid that with too many ears, attracting too much attention would provoke the designs of interested parties. So, he only mentioned relatively low-key points.

After all, there was only one Array Dao Chief, which was too conspicuous.

While a direct descendant of the Tai Xu Sect, though their status was not ordinary, there could be many.

Mo Hua’s background, among the crowd present, was known to the Shen family young master, who was a “follower” of Shen Lin Shu.

But the two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family did not know.

When the words “Tai Xu Sect direct descendant” were spoken, the eyelids of the two immediately twitched.

They were from a collateral branch of the Shen family and were ordinary Golden Core cultivators. They had to risk their lives for direct disciples to seek a future within the clan.

They might usually kill people like mowing hemp, but that didn’t mean they had no limits in their hearts and would dare to kill anyone.

Ordinary rogue cultivators could be killed like chickens and dogs.

Killing disciples from ordinary families was also just killing.

Killing members of collateral branches of aristocratic families and disciples on the fringes of sects was also possible, but it meant being more secretive and not letting others know.

However, truly direct descendants of aristocratic families and sects, unless there were truly enormous rewards and incredible opportunities, they would absolutely not risk their lives to kill these people.

The Tai Xu Sect ranked third among the eight major sects in the Qian Xue state.

The weight of being a direct descendant of the Tai Xu Sect was already heavy enough.

Moreover, this was in broad daylight, and the identities of Master Gu and Director Fan were not low. Publicly committing murder and slaughtering a direct descendant of a sect – they truly didn’t have the guts to do it.

The two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family frowned, hesitating to move forward.

The Shen family young master then said unhappily, “What are you afraid of? Kill him, and I will bear all responsibility.”

The two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family gritted their teeth and cursed inwardly, “You can bear a fart.”

Slaughtering a direct descendant of a sect – once the matter was reported, the Tai Xu Sect would come knocking.

As a young master, naturally, there were old ancestors and True Persons to protect him. A small punishment and a warning would suffice.

As for them, the ones who carried out the attack, they would only end up being pushed forward to bear the blame and face the wrath of the Tai Xu Sect.

How could these two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family not be clear about this point?

The young master Shen saw the two Golden Core cultivators were timid and hesitant, not following his orders, and felt that he had lost face. He was enraged to the extreme, and his face immediately fell, his speech becoming impolite.

“You are from a collateral branch, eating the main family’s rice. When you encounter a problem, you hesitate and don’t move forward. Do you believe I won’t tell my father and break your family’s rice bowl?” the young master Shen said in a cold voice.

The two Golden Core cultivators’ hearts turned cold upon hearing this, and then anger arose in their hearts.

But they had no choice. Seeing the young master Shen’s face growing increasingly grim, the two knew he was truly angry. They no longer cared about anything else and could only grit their teeth and make a move.

The cultivation aura of the Golden Core was surging and majestic, the killing intent stern.

One person’s dagger turned into cold light, rushing straight towards Mo Hua’s throat.

The other person’s hands turned into sharp claws, aiming straight for Mo Hua’s heart.

Master Gu and Fan Jin’s expressions were solemn, not daring to be the slightest bit negligent. One person’s long sword was like the wind, the other person wielded a large hammer, engaging in battle with the two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family, doing everything possible to protect Mo Hua’s safety.

The small wine building was suddenly filled with flying wood and stone. The array trembled, and the walls shattered inch by inch.

The two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family were clearly at an advantage.

Master Gu and Fan Jin were struggling to cope, looking somewhat embarrassed.

The young master Shen wore a sneer, watching with cold eyes. But after watching for a while, his expression stiffened, and he couldn’t help but curse again.

The battle in front of him looked intense, but everyone involved was a Golden Core cultivator making a move; it had nothing to do with Mo Hua at all.

The two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family, one only focused on fighting the refining master surnamed Gu, the other only focused on dealing with the Director surnamed Fan. As for Mo Hua, they didn’t even dare to touch him! Even during their moves, they would deliberately avoid Mo Hua, afraid of injuring him.

On the surface, it looked like a heated battle, but they were all just going through the motions.

“These two wastes!”

“They are still Golden Core cultivators, timid as mice!”

The young master Shen’s face showed a malicious expression.

“They are indeed dogs that are raised. They look fierce, but when they truly encounter a tough opponent, they are careful and dare not bite people.”

Fine, since the dogs won’t bite, then this “master” will have to personally make a move.

The young master Shen stretched out his right hand, spiritual light flashed, revealing a long sword that he had cultivated with his life and death, and which was already tempered to seven or eight parts fire. It was gorgeous and famous.

“A mere Foundation Establishment late stage cultivator, with low-grade spiritual roots, weak blood energy, and just an array master. What is he considered…?”

The young master Shen gripped the long sword, his face full of killing intent, and walked towards Mo Hua.

His whole body’s aura was strong, his sword qi stern. It was clear he cultivated an upper-grade cultivation technique, and his swordsmanship was also of high quality.

“Not good!” Master Gu detected his killing intent, his expression changed, and he immediately turned his offense, attacking the young master Shen.

Fan Jin also didn’t care as much. He risked offending the Shen family to block the young master Shen.

But their moves were intercepted by the two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family.

They dared not attack Mo Hua, originally already disobeying the young master. Now, it was even more impossible to let Fan Jin and Master Gu ruin the young master’s plans.

At this moment, the young master Shen lifted his sword and had already walked in front of Mo Hua, urging his sword techniques to the extreme.

The sword light was chilling and powerful, the sword qi rampaged with killing intent.

And all this killing intent was firmly locked onto the weak-aura, slender Mo Hua opposite him.

Victory and defeat were obvious.

“Young Master, hurry and go!” Master Gu was held back by the Golden Core cultivator from the Shen family and couldn’t rescue him in time. His heart was burning with anxiety.

“Too late,” the young master Shen raised his long sword high. His originally somewhat handsome face revealed a wanton and ferocious expression.

“I will cripple you now, you thing without eyes…”

Mo Hua, who had been standing still from beginning to end, without moving an inch, finally raised his eyes at this moment and faintly glanced at the young master Shen.

Just this one glance.

In an instant, a sharp and miserable scream like that of a slaughtered pig echoed throughout the entire dining building.

The young master Shen dropped his long sword, covering his eyes, as if he had seen something extremely terrifying. His whole body trembled, like a pig branded with a hot iron, rolling uncontrollably on the ground.

This change came too urgently and suddenly.

In the fighting crowd, everyone stopped, staring in disbelief, and saw an incredible scene.

The young master Shen, who had originally held a long sword and was invincible, in the blink of an eye, was like a stray dog, panicking and losing control, screaming sharply.

“Young Master!”

The two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family were greatly shocked and immediately abandoned their opponents, rushing to the young master Shen’s side.

“Young Master, what’s wrong?”

“What happened?”

The young master Shen was still covering his eyes, trembling nonstop, “My, my eyes, I saw…”

“So much blood, there are ghosts, and hell…”

“I…”

“Don’t, don’t kill me, don’t kill me…”

He was like a madman, still immersed in some fearful mental state.

The two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family felt a chill in their hearts. After a moment, they looked towards Mo Hua, angrily saying, “You… what exactly did you do to our young master?”

Mo Hua let out a light snort, disdainfully saying, “I didn’t even make a move, what could I have done to him?”

The Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family were stunned.

They had seen the scene just now clearly. It was their young master Shen who made the first move, while this young master from the Tai Xu Sect hadn’t moved at all, at most only lifting his eyelids.

This… how was this possible?

Mo Hua thought for a moment and then speculated aloud:

“Did your young master cultivate some evil cultivation technique? Did he get lucky and suffer a backlash, leading to qi deviation and going mad?”

“You… slandering people!”

The Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family were furious, but this anger had a trace of weakness beneath the fierceness.

They also knew in their hearts that these young masters from aristocratic families, raised in honor and comfort, played too many tricks. Who knew whether they had cultivated some forbidden techniques in pursuit of stimulation?

At this moment, hearing Mo Hua say this, and looking at the young master Shen rolling on the ground, talking nonsense and looking like a madman, these two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family actually felt that what Mo Hua said made sense and couldn’t help but suspect in their hearts:

“Could it be that Young Master Qing really cultivated an evil technique, causing his meridians to go awry and leading to qi deviation and going mad?”

Just as the crowd was in shock and doubt, suddenly a commotion gradually arose.

It seemed that the disturbance here was too great, alarming the surrounding cultivators, and many people gathered around.

Master Gu then approached Mo Hua and said in a low voice, “Young Master Mo, there are many ears here, it’s best to leave as soon as possible.”

Seeing that Mo Hua was about to leave, the two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family immediately said, “Stop! You cannot leave.”

“The young master has become like this; you must give an explanation.”

“That’s right!”

Mo Hua glanced at them faintly, saying indifferently:

“You tried to kill me, and you still want me to give you an explanation? Do you truly think my Tai Xu Sect cannot kill you?”

The two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family immediately trembled in their hearts, feeling a chill down their spines.

Mo Hua was only in the Foundation Establishment stage, but at this moment, this indifferent attitude of controlling life and death made the hearts of these two Golden Core cultivators secretly feel a sense of fear.

If it wasn’t just an empty show of bravado, then it meant that the seemingly weak young master in front of them truly had the background and means to control their lives and deaths.

The two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family were immediately at a loss.

Just at this moment, there was a commotion within the crowd, and after a moment, it quieted down again.

The crowd parted to both sides, and a middle-aged cultivator holding a paper fan, with a gentle and refined appearance and extraordinary demeanor, walked up.

The two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family saw him, and their expressions brightened. They cupped their hands and said, “Elder Xiu, you have come just in time.”

The middle-aged cultivator frowned, “What’s the matter?”

“There was a small conflict…” One of the Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family stepped forward and whispered a few sentences into his ear.

The middle-aged cultivator nodded proudly, his gaze sweeping over Mo Hua.

His initial glance swept over him, and he didn’t pay much attention. But after a moment, he was slightly startled and couldn’t help but stare at Mo Hua for a few more glances.

As he looked, his pupils gradually widened, his face filled with disbelief, and finally, his expression became somewhat… terrified.

“You…”

The corners of the middle-aged cultivator’s mouth were trembling, but he still tried hard to suppress the shock in his heart and said in a seemingly calm tone:

“Good… I understand… this matter will be discussed later… Young Master Qing’s safety is important. First, find a way to send him back to the Shen family…”

The middle-aged cultivator instructed, but his gaze was wandering, not daring to look at Mo Hua throughout the process.

The crowd exchanged glances.

And this farce ended just like that in a hurry.

The people from the Shen family protected the young master of the Shen family and left the dining building.

The middle-aged cultivator called “Elder Xiu” turned his back to Mo Hua, seemingly composed, but his steps were hurried as he left.

Master Gu and Fan Jin looked at each other, both feeling that this matter was inexplicably strange.

“Young Master Mo…”

“Let’s go back first,” Mo Hua looked at the back of the middle-aged cultivator who had disappeared at the end of the corridor and didn’t dare to look at him. His gaze slightly condensed, and he slowly spoke.

“Okay.”

Master Gu and Fan Jin nodded.

This place was not suitable to stay for long.

After all, this was the Shen family’s dining building, and they didn’t want Mo Hua to stay here any longer in case any unexpected incidents occurred.

The three of them left the dining building like this and walked in the opposite direction from the Shen family.

Both sides gradually moved further and further apart, and there were no other changes during this period.

Fan Jin always took Mo Hua back to the Gu family’s refining division before he felt at ease. He cupped his hands and said his farewell:

“The Dao Ting Si still has matters, so I won’t bother you. The Shen family is powerful; please, Young Master Mo, be extra cautious.”

Mo Hua nodded and said softly, “Thank you, Director Fan. I will remember your favor.”

Fan Jin was overjoyed in his heart, but on the surface, he still said humbly:

“It’s just a small matter. Young Master is speaking too highly. If Young Master needs anything in the future, just send word. I, Fan, will do my best.”

Mo Hua smiled and cupped his hands, saying, “Good.”

A large stone finally landed in Fan Jin’s heart. He smiled and said goodbye, then left with light steps.

After Fan Jin left, Master Gu was still somewhat worried.

“Young Master, or, should you set off earlier to return to the Tai Xu Sect? I’m afraid…”

Master Gu didn’t finish his sentence, but Mo Hua understood.

He thought for a moment, nodded, “That’s fine, but before that, there’s one more matter…”

Mo Hua paused slightly, his gaze deep, “I need to go see someone.”

Northwest of Lone Mountain City, in front of a grand mansion.

The middle-aged cultivator holding a folding fan and with a gentle and refined face instructed a Shen family disciple:

“The clan’s alchemist has examined him. Young Master Qing seems to have only suffered a shock and developed fear in his heart. It’s estimated there won’t be any major problems. Report this matter to the elder of the guard division as soon as possible. After all, he has only this one son… I still have some affairs within my sect to attend to, so I won’t stay long.”

“Yes.”

After the middle-aged cultivator finished instructing, he sat in a carriage and left the Shen family mansion. He then drove along the street to the south, straight out of the city gate, and drove towards the area outside Lone Mountain.

Inside the carriage, the middle-aged cultivator closed his eyes and rested, but his brows were slightly furrowed, clearly troubled.

The scenes of barren mountains around him were thrown behind one by one.

The carriage left Lone Mountain City and went further and further.

After driving like this for half an hour, passing through a barren forest, the middle-aged cultivator suddenly opened his eyes.

He hesitated for a moment, then let out a deep sigh and shook his head helplessly.

“Stop the carriage.”

The carriage stopped. The middle-aged cultivator paused for a moment, then still got off the carriage and instructed the disciple driving the carriage, “You wait for me here.”

“Yes.” The disciple cupped his hands and said.

The middle-aged cultivator then entered the barren forest alone.

The barren forest was desolate and wild, with no signs of human habitation. Dry yellow fallen leaves piled up thickly, rustling underfoot with every step.

The middle-aged cultivator entered the barren forest, stepping on the fallen leaves, walking forward for about a hundred steps, then raised his head and saw a young cultivator sitting on a tree branch in front of him. His eyebrows and eyes were like a painting, and his gaze was deep.

The middle-aged cultivator looked at the young man in front of him, cupped his hands, and sighed, “After parting outside the mountain city, it has been a long time.”

Mo Hua nodded and said, “It has been a long time.”

His gaze was deep as he sized up the cultivator in front of him.

And this person was exactly the middle-aged cultivator who was in the same group as Young Master Yun and the thin old man.

That year in South Yue City, and inside the broken temple outside Li State City, he had intersected with himself.

However, Mo Hua never expected that he would be an elder of the Shen family.