"The Dao Prison doesn't allow cultivators to enter casually. Ordinary cultivators should best avoid it for life; it's not a good place."
Mo Hua nodded in agreement, finding Zhang Lan's words reasonable.
He wanted to be a law-abiding cultivator, so the Dao Prison was best avoided if possible.
Inside and outside the Dao Court, there were many arrays.
These arrays were quite subtle and of high grade; some Mo Hua could recognize, and some he couldn't discern.
Mo Hua didn't dare look too closely.
After all, this was the Dao Court. If he saw some forbidden arrays, it would be troublesome.
Zhang Lan brought Mo Hua before Chief Zhou and respectfully bowed.
Mo Hua followed suit, then sneaked a glance at Chief Zhou.
Chief Zhou looked at Mo Hua, nodded, and couldn't help but praise him.
Mo Hua reciprocated with a few compliments about Chief Zhou, using phrases Zhang Lan had taught him, like "peace under your rule," "hard work and great achievements," and "outstanding merits."
Chief Zhou's smile grew wider.
He glanced at Zhang Lan and said, "This child is indeed exceptionally clever."
Zhang Lan smiled, feeling a mix of emotions:
"Clever indeed, these flattering words were all taught by me, and he used them all so quickly..."
Chief Zhou then asked about the arrays.
Mo Hua answered truthfully.
However, Chief Zhou was not proficient in arrays, so he asked seemingly profound but actually simple questions. Mo Hua found it easy to answer.
Chief Zhou was even more satisfied, looking at Mo Hua with appreciation.
That was enough conversation; it was just casual small talk without deeper topics.
Chief Zhou was busy with the affairs of the Dao Court in Tongxian City, so Mo Hua and Zhang Lan bowed and took their leave.
Before leaving, Chief Zhou called out to Mo Hua and said:
"I've spoken to the Qian family. You don't need to worry, just focus on studying arrays."
Mo Hua was slightly stunned, then smiled and said, "Thank you, Chief!"
Chief Zhou stroked his long beard and nodded in satisfaction.
What he wanted to hear was that "thank you."
---
The Qian Family.
In the ancestral cave of the Qian family, Qian Hong looked incredulous.
The ancestor had just instructed him to be cautious and not trouble that young array master, Mo Hua, any further.
Qian Hong quickly said, "Ancestor, Mo Hua is young but already a First Grade Array Master. If we leave him be, in time, our Qian family might have no place in Tongxian City."
The Qian family ancestor was at the mid-Foundation Building stage, but he was old, his blood and energy weakening, and his cultivation declining. He wouldn't meddle in family affairs unless something major happened.
His cloudy eyes looked at Qian Hong and slowly said, "You should have acted sooner. You, along with a few Foundation Building elders, should have swiftly killed that boy. Now, it's too late..."
The Qian family ancestor's breath was weak, his voice hoarse, and his speech halting.
Qian Hong respectfully said, "Grandson wanted to act cautiously, not wanting to be reckless and leave evidence."
The Qian family ancestor scrutinized him silently.
Qian Hong felt immense pressure and had to say, "The elders in the family have their own interests and might not obey my orders."
The Qian family ancestor looked at him with disappointment, "You are the family head. If they don't obey you, who do you blame?"
These words were heavy, implying Qian Hong's incompetence and inability to command.
Qian Hong dared not retort and bowed his head respectfully, "Ancestor's criticism is right."
"You..." The Qian family ancestor coughed, "You are ruthless, but not ruthless enough; selfish, but not selfish enough; able to endure, but not to the end."
The Qian family ancestor sighed, "You have a bit of everything, but each is lacking."
Qian Hong quickly knelt and kowtowed, "Please give grandson another chance. I will decisively kill that young array master!"
"You can't kill him anymore..."
The Qian family ancestor slowly said, "Even if you kill him, it won't be much better than not killing him."
Qian Hong was puzzled, "Please enlighten me, Ancestor."
"Go back and count how many people you will offend if you kill that young array master."
The Qian family ancestor closed his cloudy eyes, "Go, think it over carefully."
Qian Hong kowtowed and respectfully withdrew.
In the vast and empty cave, only the Qian family ancestor remained.
He looked down at his withered hands, the brown age spots on the backs, and the occasional peeling skin, his gaze numb.
"Am I dying..."
The Qian family ancestor muttered hoarsely.
After speaking, he started coughing violently, as if coughing up his lungs.
The Qian family ancestor hurriedly took out a jade bottle from his robe, tremblingly poured out a pill, and carefully put it in his mouth, closing his eyes to refine the medicinal power.
The medicine took effect, and the coughing subsided.
The Qian family ancestor slowly opened his eyes, which had a faint blood-red hue.
"But... I don't want to die yet..."
---
After leaving the ancestor's cave, Qian Hong immediately had people investigate who had spoken to the ancestor.
In the evening, someone reported to him:
"It was Chief Zhou from the Dao Court who specially visited the ancestor, seemingly asking the Qian family not to trouble that young array master."
Qian Hong frowned, "No personal connection, why would Chief Zhou speak for that young array master?"
He recalled the ancestor's words, "If you kill that young array master, how many people will you offend..."
Qian Hong sorted through Mo Hua's connections and had people investigate further, getting a list.
Qian Hong glanced at it and slumped in his chair.
How could this be?
The list of names was overwhelming, giving Qian Hong a headache:
Chief Zhou of the Dao Court wanted to protect Mo Hua. The Dao Court's Zhang Lan was familiar with Mo Hua, and behind Zhang Lan was the Zhang family.
Among the demon hunters, Elder Yu was protective, that was certain.
Other demon hunters, regardless of their level, were mostly indebted to that boy and willingly protected him.
Among the wandering cultivators, many array masters and alchemists knew Mo Hua.
Especially Mr. Feng, who had many disciples and connections, had watched Mo Hua grow up.
The young master of the An family was friends with Mo Hua. The An family's old master already opposed the Qian family and would naturally side with Mo Hua. Moreover, Mo Hua was a First Grade Array Master, giving the old master more reason to help.
Among the array masters in Tongxian City, Master Luo had declared that no array master in the city should trouble Mo Hua.
Even within the Qian family, Master Qian was unwilling to oppose Mo Hua.
Additionally, the three members of the Bai family, who were visiting from afar, especially the siblings, seemed to have a good relationship with Mo Hua. They were seen together during the demon hunting festival...
Counting all these connections made Qian Hong's scalp tingle.
How could a boy of around ten know so many cultivators?
If he really killed Mo Hua, wouldn't it instantly create a massive problem?
Qian Hong was both shocked and fearful.
As the saying goes, a strong dragon does not suppress a local snake.
In theory, the Qian family was the undisputed local power in Tongxian City.
But now, it seemed that if the Qian family was the local snake, then Mo Hua was the "local dragon."
In this situation, how could he act? How dare he act?
How did things develop to this point?
Qian Hong's head throbbed. After a while, he sighed, rubbed his forehead, and though filled with unwillingness, could only reluctantly say:
"Given the current situation, we can only take a long-term view and endure for now..."
He didn't want to let Mo Hua go, but for now, he had to endure.
Endure for now, as long as he endured, there would always be a chance...