Asking about longevity

Chapter 1015: Vanishing Water Step? (Bonus chapter for Alliance Master Touching Owl's Head~)

Not only Feng Zichen, but by now, almost all the cultivators outside the arena could see it.

They watched Mo Hua in the Sword Debate Arena, his figure light and graceful, as natural as water. Amidst the dense and impenetrable sword light, not even a corner of his clothes was torn. An unspeakable shock surged in their hearts.

This shock stuck in their throats, rendering them speechless.

Top-tier movement technique?!

This Mo Hua actually possesses a marvelous movement technique that surpasses even the top geniuses of Qianxue?

His movement technique is even stronger than that of the geniuses who inherited the top legacies of the Xiaoyao Sect and the Feng family?

This... how is this possible?

Everyone found it hard to believe.

Especially the cultivators from the Xiaoyao Sect and the Feng family.

Their strongest disciple, their strongest movement technique, was actually outdone by a mere Mo Hua. Emotionally and rationally, they found it difficult to accept, and they felt even more humiliated.

Elder Feng's expression was extremely unsightly.

At the same time, his face was burning with pain.

Especially when he recalled the "bold words" he had spoken before the Sword Debate, saying that the Feng family's disciples had unparalleled movement techniques and would surely kill Mo Hua with their swords.

Elder Feng's old face almost couldn't hold it together.

Grand Elder Zhang looked at Mo Hua on the Fangtian Painted Halberd Shadow, and his heart was truly shaken.

Is this the Qianxue Sword Debate?

Are these the top geniuses?

Originally, he thought Feng Zichen's movement technique was already unbelievably strong among his peers.

But he never expected that there would truly be a heaven beyond the heavens, and people beyond people.

There was actually someone with an even stronger movement technique.

"Mo Hua..."

This name seemed to carry a magical power, engraved in Grand Elder Zhang's heart.

Grand Elder Zhang turned his head again to look at Elder Feng.

As old friends, he naturally didn't want to see Elder Feng embarrassed, so he sighed and said with emotion:

"To be honest, Brother Feng, Zichen's talent in movement techniques is the only one I've seen in my life."

"Such a talented genius is beyond the reach of my Zhang family's younger generation."

"That movement technique inheritance is also much more brilliant than my Zhang family's ancestral movement technique."

"But... you and I are both clear about some things."

"This is Qianxue Prefecture, where geniuses gather, and those with outstanding talents are more terrifying than the last."

"Brother Feng, there are people beyond people..."

Grand Elder Zhang used his own family as a foil to praise the Feng family. At the same time, what he said was also the truth.

Hearing this, Elder Feng felt slightly relieved. After thinking for a moment, he sighed and cupped his fist at Grand Elder Zhang:

"I was too obsessed and developed a competitive spirit. I also underestimated the geniuses of the various sects. That's why I spoke wildly and made Brother Zhang laugh."

"Brother Feng, you're too serious," Grand Elder Zhang shook his head, and then praised:

"Zichen has two supreme movement techniques from the same source. The more he cultivates, the more exquisite they become. His future is bound to be limitless."

"Young talents are bound to be frivolous. This setback is a good thing to temper his character. There's no need to be too impatient."

"Yes..." Elder Feng nodded, feeling much relieved.

"This Mo Hua... what movement technique did he learn that is even more brilliant than my Feng family's and the Xiaoyao Sect's inheritances?"

"This..."

Grand Elder Zhang frowned.

He looked up at Mo Hua again and fell into deep thought. After a moment, he slowly pondered:

"It's a... unique water-based movement technique inheritance, but it's definitely not the Flowing Water Step."

"The Flowing Water Step seems to be just a facade."

"This movement technique... flashes and moves within a small space, the figure is like water, flowing with the waves."

"When it's slow, it's like a stream rising from a mountain stream, and when it's fast, it's like a river rushing away..."

"In the details, there are thousands of changes, and when it flows, it's constantly regenerating..."

"In addition, there is also some hazy mist, seemingly real and illusory, entangled and unclear..."

"It is indeed brilliant, containing thousands of subtleties. The meridians are somewhat ancient, and I can't quite see the origin..."

Grand Elder Zhang frowned and said.

Elder Feng nodded repeatedly.

The Zhang family is also a family of movement techniques, and Grand Elder Zhang is also an Ascendant, so his vision and knowledge are naturally extraordinary.

But as he listened, he suddenly felt that something was wrong.

"Brother Zhang..."

Elder Feng carefully looked at Mo Hua, then turned to look at Grand Elder Zhang, his expression strange, and couldn't help but ask:

"Why do I feel that this kid is using your Zhang family's 'Vanishing Water Step'?"

Even the Grand Elder of the Zhang family was really stunned for a moment.

Zhang Lan behind him was tense, with a serious expression, but his feet were scratching the ground, wishing he could scratch a hole to jump into.

"Vanishing Water Step?"

Grand Elder Zhang frowned, a little dazed.

This was really a possibility he had never imagined.

It's not that he couldn't imagine it, it's just that...

Even if he racked his brains, he couldn't understand how a Taixu Sect disciple, the top array Dao master of Qianxue, and a genius of the Sword Debate Competition could learn his Zhang family's Vanishing Water Step after traveling thousands of miles?

Moreover, this Vanishing Water Step is superior to the Xiaoyao Sect's Wind-Treading Step and the Feng family's Bagua Wind-Roving Step.

Is his Zhang family's Vanishing Water Step so powerful?

He wanted to, but was it possible?

"Impossible..." Grand Elder Zhang shook his head slightly, "Although this kid is using a water-based movement technique, the flow of spiritual power in the details is different, and there are many more changes. It doesn't seem to be the same routine as the Vanishing Water Step."

"Moreover, the Vanishing Water Step is the Zhang family's secret, how could outsiders learn it?"

"Is it possible..." Elder Feng said worriedly, "that the Zhang family's unique skill has been leaked out?"

"Absolutely impossible!"

Grand Elder Zhang said solemnly: "This is the inheritance of the ancestors. Stealing the ancestors' things and spreading them out is something that my Zhang family will never do!"

"If there really is such a disciple, even if I don't skin him and pull out his tendons, I will definitely punish him to kneel in front of the ancestors' ancestral hall, eating chaff and choking on vegetables for hundreds of years..."

It was like a bolt from the blue.

Zhang Lan only felt his scalp tingling, his head buzzing, and his whole heart was cold.

From the beginning, all his worries about the Vanishing Water Step had come true at the same time today, unexpectedly.

Mo Hua used the Vanishing Water Step and was seen.

It would have been fine if he was just seen, but this was at the Sword Debate Competition, on the projection of the Fangtian Painted Halberd Shadow, seen by almost all the cultivators in Qianxue Prefecture...

Most importantly, he was seen by his Zhang family's Grand Elder.

That's not all, what's even more serious is...

The Zhang family's movement technique was learned by an outsider.

This outsider learned it better than his Zhang family.

So good that the Grand Elder himself didn't even realize that this was his Zhang family's thing...

If this matter wasn't exposed, it would have been fine, but once the Grand Elder found out...

Zhang Lan didn't dare to think about it anymore.

He could only grit his teeth, sit upright, look ahead, and hold his breath.

He treated himself as a "stone man", not daring to even take a breath.

He was afraid that if he took one more breath, the Grand Elder would find out that he had a guilty conscience.

And Grand Elder Zhang didn't suspect him for a while.

After all, in his heart, what Mo Hua used could not possibly be his Zhang family's Vanishing Water Step.

On the Fangtian Painted Halberd Shadow, the Sword Debate continued.

But the situation of the battle was already very clear.

Feng Zichen, the strongest of the Xiaoyao Sect, was inferior to Mo Hua in terms of movement technique, and was also a bit slower in swordsmanship.

Once the wind-based fast sword slows down, its power will naturally be greatly reduced.

He was also unable to kill Mo Hua with his sword in a short time.

Theoretically speaking, he could make countless mistakes, as long as he succeeded once and hit with one sword, Mo Hua would have to die.

Mo Hua could succeed countless times, but as long as he failed once, and didn't dodge one sword, he would also die.

But it was this seemingly simple but extremely slim sword that made Feng Zichen feel extremely desperate.

And on the surface of the Taixu Sect, Mo Hua was not the strongest. The strongest disciple was the swordsmanship genius Linghu Xiao.

Mo Hua first hid, then used the Flowing Water Step, and then switched to the Vanishing Water Step, repeatedly, spending a lot of Feng Zichen's time.

This time was to buy time for Linghu Xiao.

The other disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect could temporarily suppress Linghu Xiao with the offensive of the fast sword, but it was impossible to really win him.

As time went by, their swords would become slower and slower.

And Linghu Xiao finally took advantage of the time that Mo Hua had delayed, found a flaw, and urged the Chongxu Sword Qi to break the Xiaoyao Sect's Wind Sword.

Once the encirclement of the Wind Sword was broken, Linghu Xiao was like a fierce tiger out of its cage, and began to kill in all directions under the cover of Cheng Mo and others.

The disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect naturally retreated steadily.

And Feng Zichen, the genius of the Xiaoyao Sect, abandoned victory or defeat, and only wanted to kill Mo Hua, even only wanted to stab Mo Hua with one sword.

As long as he stabbed him with one sword.

As long as he could stab him, it would be fine even if he couldn't kill Mo Hua.

Even if he only scratched a corner of his clothes, it would be fine.

As long as he could truly touch that figure that was like water, like mist, like a ghost.

Other than that, he didn't ask for anything else.

But he couldn't stab him.

No matter how fast his movement technique was, no matter how swift his sword was, no matter how close his meridians were to exhaustion, and no matter how finely he wielded his sword like the wind, he couldn't stab Mo Hua even once.

Linghu Xiao joined hands with Ouyang Xuan and the other four, beheading four disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect, and then gathered around to besiege Feng Zichen.

Mo Hua, who had been chased and killed for the entire match, also got some free time, freed his hands, and began to "train" Feng Zichen with spells.

The result was no suspense.

This prodigy of the Carefree Sect, the outstanding talent of the Feng family, had actually lost.

And not just lost.

Before Feng Zichen's defeat, his face was pale, his spirit was lost, and even his Dao Heart showed faint signs of shattering.

This scene filled everyone with pity, and sighs of regret arose.

“Mo Hua, this child, his sins are grave!”

“For no good reason, another prodigy has been humiliated and ruined by him…”

“It pains me just to watch this…”

“Don't blame Feng Zichen, who could have imagined that this damned Mo Hua's movement technique would be so good?”

“Where exactly did he learn this terrifying movement technique?”

“Which damned bastard helped him do evil and taught him such a shameless movement technique?”

Some people also realized the problem:

“This Mo Hua, with such good movement techniques, could it be that he was acting all along when he was being chased and forced to flee in such a sorry state?”

“Hiss—”

Everyone gasped.

“Not the cat playing with the mouse, but the mouse toying with the cat?”

“He was toying with Feng Zichen?”

“No,” someone shook their head, “He’s not just toying with Feng Zichen, he's toying with all of us…”

At that time, everyone was gloating, waiting to see Mo Hua make a fool of himself.

As a result, all of them became a joke.

Everyone had been played by Mo Hua.

Thinking of this, everyone fell silent.

Their faces were burning, and a surge of anger rose in their chests.

They were angry in silence, but they could only be silent in anger, unable to utter a word.

But in any case, Mo Hua's “reputation” had grown again.

Of course, this reputation was filled with controversy.

…

Afterwards, the Sword Debate Assembly continued, with disciples from other sects beginning to compete.

Elder Feng, however, was a little distracted.

And because of the miraculous movement techniques of Mo Hua and Feng Zichen, the subsequent sword debates were somewhat dull.

Grand Elder Zhang also watched very perfunctorily.

During this bland and tasteless “garbage” time, only Zhang Lan stood as straight as a clay sculpture, but his heart was tormented like oil being cooked over a raging fire, each second feeling like a year.

After enduring for who knew how long, Zhang Lan's body went numb, and today's Sword Debate finally came to an end.

The surrounding spectators also began to disperse.

At this moment, Grand Elder Zhang suddenly turned his head, glanced at Zhang Lan, his gaze profound.

Zhang Lan's whole body trembled, and his soul almost left his body in fright.

“Let's return to the manor…” Grand Elder Zhang said.

Zhang Lan was stunned for a long time before holding his breath and nodding, “Yes, Grand Elder.”

He was uneasy, and even his tone was a little unstable.

Grand Elder Zhang felt a little strange, but he didn't suspect anything for the moment, only assuming that Zhang Lan was stirred up by witnessing the Qianxue Sword Debate and seeing so many top geniuses competing.

Grand Elder Zhang wasn't surprised, but instead felt gratified.

There is always someone better, and there is always a sky beyond the sky.

This saying applies to everyone.

Sometimes, if you don't go out and see the world, you won't know how vast the world is and how many geniuses there are.

Sitting in a well and looking at the moon, being complacent and refusing to make progress, there is no future.

Overcoming this mental hurdle, acknowledging the extraordinary talents of others, knowing one's own shortcomings, being neither arrogant nor impetuous, and cultivating diligently, one's future path can be longer.

The Fangtian Painting Shadow dimmed, turned pure white, and the image disappeared.

Everyone got up and left Mount of Debates in an orderly manner.

Zhang Lan also mingled in the crowd and walked down Mount of Debates.

His legs were a little stiff, and his heart still harbored trepidation.

However, the Grand Elder didn't suspect anything, which was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

Zhang Lan really breathed a sigh of relief.

After walking for a while, he turned his head again, looking at the blank Fangtian Painting Shadow, and the image of Mo Hua and the Feng family's top genius fighting, his body merging with water, passing through the forest of swords, and not touching a single blade, couldn't help but emerge in his mind, filling his chest with shock.

He was still a little incredulous.

That little brat he met in the remote Black Mountain Prefecture of Lizhou, after ten years, had now become a leading figure among the thousands of sects in the entire fifth-grade Qianxue Prefecture.

He had become a “Son of Heaven” who could stir up wind and rain at the highly anticipated Sword Debate Assembly, fighting against the famous geniuses of various sects without falling behind.

Even though thousands of cultivators hated him to the bone, they could do nothing about him…

“Mo Hua…”

This familiar name suddenly became very strange.

Zhang Lan was stunned for a long time, as if in a dream.

…

Back at the Feng family, Grand Elder Zhang instructed the Zhang family members:

“Elder Feng and I have some important matters to discuss. You can all act on your own, go sightseeing and make friends with fellow Daoists.”

“However, Foundation Establishment disciples must have a Core Formation companion.”

“Moreover, this is the fifth-grade Qianxue Prefecture, with numerous aristocratic families and countless geniuses, unlike our Zhang family's Canglan Prefecture.”

“When you act, you must be careful, treat people kindly, and do not cause trouble.”

“You must return before Hai hour (9-11 PM), otherwise, you will be punished by family law.”

A group of disciples cupped their hands: “Yes, Grand Elder.”

“Mm.” The Grand Elder nodded, flicked his sleeves, and left.

All the Zhang family disciples felt relieved.

The atmosphere also livened up.

The Zhang family disciples discussed where to go to play, or which relatives and friends to visit, and some even called for Zhang Lan.

Zhang Lan was lazy by nature, but he was approachable and easygoing, and had a good reputation among the clan.

What's more, he was a Core Formation cultivator.

Zhang Lan considered it and then went along with them.

The group left the cave residence and strolled around the nearby Carefree City, experiencing the local customs and beautiful scenery of Qianxue Prefecture.

The scene was bustling and prosperous, like flowing gold and jade, truly beautiful.

The Zhang family disciples were amazed.

Only Zhang Lan was absent-minded and preoccupied.

While strolling, a disciple suddenly sighed:

“Qianxue Prefecture is so good, but unfortunately, I can't come here to study, and my parents won't let me either.”

“That's right, this time it was Grand Elder who showed us favor and specially brought us here to observe the ceremony. After returning this time, I don't know when we'll be able to come again.”

“Qian Prefecture is too far away, we may never be able to come…”

“What a pity…”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lan couldn't help but feel a stirring in his heart, and couldn't help but think: “Should I look for an opportunity… to meet Mo Hua?”

This trip to Qianxue Prefecture was a fortunate coincidence.

After watching the Sword Debate, they would return to Kan Prefecture. At that time, it would be a long journey, and there would be no hope of meeting for years.

In the future, they would be separated, and no one knew where Mo Hua would go, or whether they would meet again…

But…

Zhang Lan hesitated again.

Mo Hua's Fleeting Water Step was taught by him. Logically speaking, he should “avoid suspicion” at this time, otherwise, if the Grand Elder noticed, he would be in big trouble.

What's more, Mo Hua was now busy with the Sword Debate and shouldn't be disturbed.

Besides, Mo Hua was now different from before, he was already a highly anticipated genius, and he might not even remember who he was…

He also didn't know where to find Mo Hua…

Zhang Lan was full of worries and hesitated for a while.

But just as he was hesitating, he remembered some of the Grand Elder's often-expressed feelings.

The years of cultivation are long, separation is easy, and reunion is difficult.

In a person's life, the causes and effects are unpredictable. Many people have unknowingly seen each other for the last time in their lives.

And right now, it might be the only opportunity in his life to meet Mo Hua again.

Once missed, they would be separated, and it was likely that they would cultivate separately until their deaths.

Zhang Lan felt endless melancholy in his heart.

He thought for a while, and then said to the others: “You guys go ahead and look around, I'm going to meet a fellow Daoist.”

The others were a little surprised, but they didn't ask much, and nodded one after another, some calling him “Brother Lan” and others calling him “Uncle Lan”, and said:

“Go early and come back early, be careful.”

Zhang Lan nodded and bid farewell to the Zhang family members.

He was going to find Mo Hua, but the problem was that he didn't know where Mo Hua was. After thinking for a moment, he thought that since Mo Hua was a disciple of the Taixu Sect, he should return to the Taixu Sect after the Sword Debate.

“Taixu Sect…”

Zhang Lan hired a carriage, asked for directions, and went to the Taixu Sect.

The Carefree Sect and the Taixu Sect were both among the Eight Great Sects, and were not far apart.

Moreover, there were dedicated roads between the major sects, with carriages and horses like dragons, making travel convenient.

In about half an hour, Zhang Lan arrived at Taixu City, and then, according to the map, he passed through the city streets, along the stone steps, all the way to the mountain gate of the Taixu Sect.

But when he arrived at the mountain gate, he was stopped.

It was the time of the Sword Debate Assembly, and the Qianxue Prefecture was crowded with people, with cultivators from all sides pouring in, a mixed bag of good and bad.

When there were too many people, it was easy to cause trouble.

Therefore, most of the Qianxue Sects would strictly enforce the gate rules and refuse all visits from outsiders.

Without the sect order or the elder's letter, it was impossible to enter the mountain gate.

Zhang Lan was stopped outside the gate.

Of course, he was not alone. There were also some cultivators who wanted to enter the Taixu Sect to visit relatives and friends, or to see the grand occasion of the sect, who were also refused entry.

Some people were talking to the gatekeepers, saying that they knew which elder or which guest elder, but it was useless.

This was the sect rule, and there was no room for explanation.

Zhang Lan stood outside the mountain gate for a long time and sighed helplessly.

People's opportunities are hard to force.

Perhaps this was also determined by karma.

The sky gradually darkened, the sun set, and the sunset glow disappeared.

Zhang Lan's eyes dimmed, and he could only turn his head and walk step by step down the long mountain road.

Step by step, away from Mount Taixu.

…

And at this time, inside Mount Taixu.

Mo Hua had finished the day's Sword Debate and was walking with Situ and the others towards the disciples' residence, but as he was walking, he suddenly felt a jump in his heart.

A strange sense of familiarity surged into his heart.

Mo Hua stopped.

Situ Jian asked, "What's wrong, Junior Brother?"

Mo Hua shook his head, extended his palm, and after a quick calculation, said to Situ and the others:

"You guys go back first, I have something to do."

Situ Jian and Cheng Mo looked at each other, puzzled.

Mo Hua waved his hand and, without waiting for Situ and the others to reply, walked towards the mountain gate on his own.

Arriving at the mountain gate, the entrance was crowded with cultivators, and it was quite noisy.

Mo Hua stood on the high steps and looked into the distance, just in time to see a figure gradually moving away, looking somewhat dejected.

This figure, dressed in green robes, was very familiar.

Mo Hua was stunned, at first finding it hard to believe, but then his eyes grew brighter and brighter, and a brilliant smile bloomed on his face as he excitedly shouted:

"Uncle Zhang!"

This clear shout, crossing the high steps, reached the foot of the mountain, and also reached the ears of Zhang Lan, who was descending the mountain.

Zhang Lan froze, slowly turned around, and looked back, seeing the vast Mount Taiyi, shrouded in clouds and mist, with immortal energy floating around.

The mountain gate was wide, and the mountain platform was quaint and elegant.

And at the end of the mountain platform, a handsome and picturesque young man was happily waving at him.

It was already dusk, and the sunset glow was low.

But the young man's eyes were as bright as stars, and his smile was as clear and dazzling as the morning sun.

Compared to the child he remembered, he seemed to have changed a lot, but then again, it seemed that nothing had changed.

A warm current flowed from his heart.

The joy of reunion, like rain after a drought, grew in his heart.

Zhang Lan couldn't help but smile, his gaze free and filled with emotion:

"Mo Hua, long time no see..."