"A middle-lower grade spiritual root, logically speaking, isn't really that bad... but it depends on the era."

"It is now over twenty thousand years into the Dao Calendar. Over the long years, the cultivation world has evolved to its current state. Those without spiritual roots have long been eliminated, and middle- and low-grade spiritual roots now exist almost exclusively among rogue cultivators."

"The true great families, including some mid-tier families, all arrange marriages based on 'spiritual root inheritance.' Disciples from families and sects intermarry, resulting in spiritual roots that improve with each generation.”

"It can truly be said... 'among the upper grades, there are no humble houses; among the lower grades, there are no great families.'"

This was the development of the cultivation world, but Elder Xun spoke of it without the slightest satisfaction.

The Taixu Sect Leader understood this point as well. He nodded and said, "Indeed... Mo Hua's low-grade spiritual root, among rogue cultivators, is still somewhat passable. Placed in an ordinary family, it would at best be considered mediocre"

"But this is Qianxue Prefecture, and he entered a top-tier sect. The fellow disciples around him are all direct-line descendants of great families. Compared like that, his middle-lower grade minor five-element spiritual root is somewhat... unremarkable..."

The Taixu Sect Leader shook his head with a sigh. "A poor spiritual root means a low-grade cultivation technique, which means fewer cycles of spiritual energy, and naturally, weak spiritual energy."

Elder Xun mused, "But that being said... although this child's spiritual power is weak, he probably has quite a few trump cards up his sleeve."

"I haven't seen them with my own eyes and can't quite grasp the details, but first of all, his methods of laying formations are certainly extraordinary. In addition, his movement technique is superb, his concealment art is practiced and skilled, and he should also have a few hidden 'killing moves'..."

"Who?" The Taixu Sect Leader asked in surprise. "Mo Hua?"

Elder Xun glanced at him. "It's not like you haven't flipped through Mo Hua's files. Up to now, how many things has he secretly stirred up?"

The Taixu Sect Leader silently recalled.

From what he had seen in the Taixu Sect's dossier records, this included but was not limited to: going to capture criminal cultivators for bounties shortly after entering the sect, participating in the execution of Fire Buddha, infiltrating and destroying Ten Thousand Demons Valley, assisting in the capture and killing of Water Yama, burning the Rouge Boat, escaping from the Dragon King Temple, and so on...

And most recently, pulling strings behind the scenes and annihilating the Demonic Sect...

He was shocked when he thought about it.

The Taixu Sect Leader hadn't even realized that in the years since Mo Hua joined the Taixu Sect, he had unknowingly participated in so many major events.

It's just...

In the files, for these events, Mo Hua was always only listed as "participating." Ultimately, they were resolved by the Dao Court Division and the elders of the Taixu Sect.

"Participating..."

The Taixu Sect Leader paused, realizing the issue.

How could an ordinary Foundation Establishment disciple possibly participate in so many dangerous and major events?

Once or twice could be chalked up to good luck.

But this many times, it wasn't luck—it was strength.

If Mo Hua didn't have some skills of his own, it would have been impossible for him to survive these perilous events.

In fact, some of those criminal cultivators and demonic cultivators had even died at Mo Hua's hands.

Mo Hua's "harmless" appearance surfaced again in his mind. The Taixu Sect Leader's heart trembled slightly.

"I was deceived by this child's innocent face..."

The Taixu Sect Leader pondered for a moment, then said to Elder Xun, "Even that being the case... the Sword Dao Convention is indeed not very suitable for Mo Hua to attend."

Elder Xun nodded. "First of all, there's the issue of spiritual power."

"The Sword Dao Convention isn't just about one match to determine a winner and that's it. It requires many time-consuming and exhausting battles. Insufficient spiritual energy simply can't sustain it."

"Furthermore, once he participates in the Sword Dao Convention, he might face off against the true elite disciples and bloodline prodigies from the Four Great Sects."

"These people are all, without exception, top-grade spiritual roots. It wouldn't even be surprising if one or two Heavenly Spiritual Roots appeared."

"The innate gap is too vast."

"Although the Sword Dao Convention involves five-person teams, emphasizing strategies and tactics, these strategies and tactics are still built on a foundation of cultivation and spiritual power. There's no way to truly 'take shortcuts'."

"Not to mention, Mo Hua definitely has some methods he'll keep hidden, things he can't reveal."

"Once all his trump cards are exposed, he will definitely be targeted. Revealing his entire arsenal to others for the sake of the Sword Dao Convention is no different from voluntarily exposing his own vital points. This will inevitably plant hidden dangers for the future, leaving him vulnerable to others' schemes."

Elder Xun's expression was solemn.

There was also the most important point he didn't say.

Mo Hua was the disciple of "that man." His entire skillset inevitably carried the foundations of that person's teachings.

The Sword Dao Convention was the focus of everyone's attention.

With so many eyes on Mo Hua, once the roots of his skills were revealed, he would inevitably become entangled in terrifying, immense karma. Countless plots and schemes would fall upon him.

These karmic calculations and schemes were simply beyond the capacity of a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like him.

Therefore, Mo Hua participating in the Sword Dao Convention would undoubtedly bring more harm than good.

The Taixu Sect Leader asked, "Have you discussed these points with him?"

Elder Xun said, "This child is astute, he doesn't need me to elaborate."

He should understand matters of karma without needing to be told.

Mo Hua also had a clear understanding of spiritual roots.

Moreover, spiritual roots are predetermined at birth, explaining them would be pointless.

The Taixu Sect Leader nodded and didn't bring up the matter again.

The two took a sip of tea. Remembering something, Elder Xun asked again, "How's the matter I asked you to handle before?"

The Taixu Sect Leader said, "You mean the matter of the Life-bound Spiritual Treasure?"

"Yes. This inheritance seems to be unique to your region."

"I've inquired. However," the Taixu Sect Leader frowned, "Wood-White as skin, Metal-Jade as bone... this Life-Bound-Forging body art is useless for Mo Hua, isn't it? He has no bloodline, his physique is lacking, and he doesn't have the related inheritance."

"It is useless." Elder Xun nodded.

The Taixu Sect Leader was stunned. "Then why do you want me to seek this thing?"

"By looking, it seems useless," Elder Xun's expression held some confusion, "But I did a divination. The divination showed that this thing could actually be used by Mo Hua. But exactly how to use it, I can't quite say..."

The Taixu Sect Leader's expression was subtle. "Ancestor, didn't you say you can't tell fortunes?"

"This... isn't fortune-telling."

"Isn't it?"

"It's complicated to explain. In any case, that's the situation... You haven't studied the techniques of Heavenly Secrets, so you wouldn't understand even if I explained."

"Fine..." the Taixu Sect Leader said.

You're the ancestor. Whatever you say goes.

But there was one more thing the Taixu Sect Leader was puzzled about. "Is this child Mo Hua's Life-bound Spiritual Treasure really so difficult to decide? Even with your breadth of knowledge, you can't be sure?"

Elder Xun silently took a sip of tea.

Of course he couldn't be sure...

Others had no idea whose disciple this child Mo Hua truly was.

That whole cultivation path of his was unconventional, tricky and bizarre. Who knows how many random things he had learned, or from whom he had learned them.

He, a Void Breaking Ancestor, couldn't really grasp his abilities.

But this couldn't be said openly.

Elder Xun said, "I know what I'm doing. You don't need to worry. Just get me that 'Wood-White, Metal-Jade' Life-Bound-Forging art. Only you have the connections to this kind of inheritance."

The Taixu Sect Leader naturally wouldn't refuse Elder Xun's order.

Although the origin of this inheritance was significant and obtaining it wouldn't be easy, he was now the Taixu Sect Leader and also had to consider the sect's interests.

What's more, this secret art was to be used by Mo Hua.

He was also very fond of this child Mo Hua. Even setting aside the small thought of forming a "good karmic bond," he was willing to lend a hand.

"Ancestor, rest assured. I have already sent a letter to inquire. In a while, there should be a reply."

Elder Xun nodded with satisfaction. "I appreciate your trouble."

The Taixu Sect Leader bowed. "Ancestor, you are too polite. As the sect leader, this is all part of my duty."

Afterwards, the two continued to drink tea while discussing matters related to the sect.

Preparations for the Sword Dao Convention were also progressing step by step.

...

A few days later, Demon Refining Mountain.

Mo Hua went to Demon Refining Mountain to hunt demons again.

Since the incident at Ten Thousand Demons Valley, he had rarely come to Demon Refining Mountain. This time entering the mountain was specifically organized by the sect elders.

The purpose was for disciples to enter the mountain, hunt demon beasts, and hone their Dao techniques.

In addition, a new item was added: sparring matches between disciples.

The elders didn't say it explicitly, but Mo Hua could guess in his heart: this was to prepare for the Sword Dao Convention.

To see which disciples had remarkable strength, which had talent and comprehension in combat, could shoulder great responsibility, and could win glory for the sect at the Sword Dao Convention.

Since it was a "Dao Convention," one can't just look at their cultivation realms on paper.

Cultivation realm was one thing, actual combat was another.

Some disciples, possessing high cultivation, grew nervous when it came to real combat and couldn't bring out even half their strength.

Other disciples, appearing mediocre in cultivation, were sharp-minded, daring to fight and struggle, and often performed beyond their normal level in actual combat.

These things could only be known by actually fighting.

Only by first letting the disciples spar with each other and experience real combat could suitable seedlings for the Sword Dao Convention be selected.

Not only did Mo Hua understand this, but the other disciples also had a sense of it in their hearts.

The Sword Dao Convention was not only related to the disciples' personal futures but also concerned the sect's reputation and its interests.

Moreover, for them, after nine years of study, they could only participate in one Dao Convention.

All the disciples treasured this opportunity immeasurably.

Midway up Demon Refining Mountain, on an open, empty hillside.

The elders were arranging for the disciples to spar one-on-one, competing in physical techniques and spell arts.

This was only sparring, to be stopped short of defeat. The goal was not to determine a win or loss, but simply to allow the elders to assess the strength of these disciples.

Mo Hua didn't participate.

There was no point in him participating.

On paper, his strength was too weak.

Among his fellow disciples, apart from Cheng Mo, Situ Jian, and a few junior brothers who were familiar with Mo Hua and had seen him strike once or twice, the vast majority of other disciples had simply never seen Mo Hua fight or compete in Dao techniques—

At most, they'd only seen Mo Hua cast a few fireball spells.
In their impression, their harmless "Little Senior Brother" was a "peculiar genius" with absurdly powerful formation skills, but whose other abilities, including physical body and spiritual power, were also ridiculously weak.

Sparring with him wouldn't provide any useful practice either.

Nor did any disciple truly dare to spar with Mo Hua.

Being injured by Little Senior Brother wouldn't matter much—at most, taking a few fireball spells and suffering some minor burns.

But what if they injured Little Senior Brother? Then the trouble would be huge.

As the Little Senior Brother, Mo Hua had always been amiable and treated others kindly, enjoying excellent relationships within the sect. He was extremely well-liked within the sect. More or less every disciple had received his kindness.

If he were injured, incurring the wrath of the sect, their future in the Taixu Sect would be uncertain.

Not to mention, Mo Hua was fair-skinned and delicate, and physically weak. Let alone being injured, even scraping his skin would be a sin.

The elders dared even less to let Mo Hua participate in the sparring.

This was the Taixu Sect's Formation Dao Champion, the sect's most precious treasure. Though not the Ancestor's biological grandson, he was no less cherished than one. If he were injured during a sparring session, who could shoulder that blame?

Therefore, in the vast mountain forest, swords clashed, spells flew, and the disciples fought back and forth, creating a lively spectacle.

Mo Hua could only sit on a large tree to the side, watching the show.

Even around the tree, the elders had set up a protective formation, fearing that during the disciples' sparring below, a stray spell might fly over and accidentally injure him.

Mo Hua sat alone on the large tree, sighing helplessly.

Just as he was feeling bored, a figure approached from afar. Mo Hua's eyes lit up, and he called out: "Xiao Xiao!"

The newcomer was Linghu Xiao.

In the eyes of others, he was a solitary, proud Sword Dao prodigy, rarely smiling.

In all of Taixu Sect, only Mo Hua dared to call him "Xiao Xiao."

Linghu Xiao was also very helpless about it.

Mo Hua, sitting on the large tree, waved him over. Linghu Xiao using his movement technique, moved like a sword, quickly reaching the tree and sitting down next to Mo Hua.

"Are you done with your matches?"

"Done."

Linghu Xiao nodded. He was now at the late Foundation Establishment stage and had already begun attempting to nurture the treasured sword of the Chongxu lineage into his Life-bound Spiritual Treasure. Not only had his cultivation risen to another level, but his sword qi was also more refined.

Furthermore, the ordeal at the Ten Thousand Demons Valley had tempered his sword heart, making him exude an increasingly astonishing sword qi from head to toe.

His Chongxu Sword Art had truly begun to reach a higher level, revealing its sharpness.

During the sparring, ordinary disciples couldn't even withstand a single sword strike from him before being defeated.

Thus, Linghu Xiao had quickly finished his matches. With nothing else to do, he came to find Mo Hua, who was sitting in the tree watching the show.

The two watched for a while. Linghu Xiao suddenly asked Mo Hua, "Are you going to the Sword Dao Convention?"

Mo Hua was a bit conflicted. "Hard to say..."

To say he didn't want to go would certainly be a lie.

Although he had won the title of Formation Dao Champion, the Sword Dao Convention and the Formation Dao were completely different.

In terms of intensity, spectacle, challenge, and attention, they were on entirely different levels.

The Sword Dao Convention battle for supremacy, the prodigies contending for dominance, was filled with countless variables. Until the very end, no one knew who would ultimately claim victory.

But his situation was special, and he was well aware of it himself.

He could participate, of course, but how much effort he would have to put in, and to what extent he would win, were all uncertain.

Merit points, he had more than he could use.

His reputation is also somewhat of a burden.

For now, the Sword Dao Convention didn't actually hold that much appeal for him.

At most, if the Taixu Sect's situation looked grim, he'd think of a way to step in and secure a good ranking. But that was it.

Truly fighting tooth and nail, risking exposing his trump cards just to vie for a top spot, would bring more loss than gain.

Everything has two sides.

Vying for fame at the Sword Dao Convention, standing at the mountaintop, looks infinitely glorious. But being observed by too many scheming eyes could very well plant the seeds of disaster.

Mo Hua was momentarily undecided.

Linghu Xiao nodded and fell silent. A moment later, he spoke again: "If you're going to participate, I'll go with you."

Mo Hua paused, turned his head to look at Linghu Xiao.

Linghu Xiao's expression was calm, but his gaze was resolute.

Mo Hua was grateful in his heart.

Participating in the Sword Dao Convention wasn't a matter for one person, it required five people working together with one heart. Thus, to achieve a good ranking, a "strong alliance" was necessary. All five had to be capable and there couldn't be any obvious weak links.

Mo Hua knew that although he wasn't considered weak, under the competitive format of the Sword Dao Convention, facing others head-on, he might not necessarily be that strong either.

But Linghu Xiao was truly strong. Since entering the late Foundation Establishment stage, his sword art had grown stronger day by day.

He probably wanted to carry Mo Hua along, even if this was his only chance at the Sword Dao Convention in this lifetime.

Even knowing Mo Hua's spiritual power was weak, possibly dragging him down.

Mo Hua smiled, patted Linghu Xiao's shoulder, and said, "I appreciate your kindness. We'll talk about this later."

Linghu Xiao nodded and said nothing more.

The surroundings quieted down. Mo Hua began to concentrate intently, watching the disciples sparring below.

As he watched, Mo Hua noticed that his fellow disciples of the Taixu Sect, compared to before, had made considerable progress in both cultivation and Dao techniques.

Especially cultivation.

Their spiritual roots were better than Mo Hua's, and they had reached the late Foundation Establishment stage even earlier than him, meaning they had over half a year more than him to advance their cultivation.

Mo Hua compared them one by one and found that among all the disciples, his spiritual power was truly, genuinely the lowest.

And the gap was widening without him even noticing.

At the early Foundation Establishment stage, it wasn't obvious.

Now, having passed the mid Foundation Establishment stage and arriving at the late stage, the difference in spiritual roots and cultivation arts had further expanded.

Mo Hua made a comparison.

If at the early Foundation Establishment stage, his spiritual energy cycles were only about twenty percent less than his fellow disciples'...

Now, he estimated they were about thirty to forty percent less.

This was compared to the average standard.

Compared to a top-tier prodigy like Linghu Xiao, Mo Hua found that his spiritual energy cycles were barely half of theirs...

A fifty percent difference...

This was still just the Foundation Establishment realm.

At the Golden Core realm, this gap would likely widen further.

After all, with a large disparity in the base number, as cultivation progressed further and strength multiplied exponentially, this gap would grow larger and larger.

Mo Hua had known this principle before, but at that time he was still muddled, his understanding nowhere near as profound as it was now.

Mo Hua inwardly gasped.

The wealth gap between cultivators was staggering, and the spiritual power gap was just as shocking.

"I need to think of something..."

Mo Hua felt a sense of urgency in his heart.

...

Night, the disciple quarters.

Mo Hua, having returned from Demon Refining Mountain, was once again sprawled over his table, diligently practicing formations.

He felt he should further increase his strength.

But the shortcoming of weak spiritual power was almost a dead knot. He couldn't break through it now, so he could only find a way to make his spiritual sense even stronger.

With stronger spiritual sense, his formations, spells, and sword techniques would all become stronger.

Moreover, the Sword Dao Convention was next year. Preparing early, even if just participating, having more strength was better than having none.

Yet after practicing formations several times, Mo Hua looked inward and shook his head helplessly.

"No good... I can hardly sense any growth in spiritual sense."

Ever since he established his foundation, although he could still strengthen his spiritual sense through formations, relying solely on this method, the growth of his spiritual sense had become negligible.

The tempering of spiritual sense through formations now focused more on comprehending principles and controlling spiritual sense, rather than strengthening it.

This was perhaps related to the Dao-transformation of his spiritual sense.

It might also be related to having consumed too many demons and evil spirits.

Now that he's stopped consuming them, or has nothing good to eat, the advancement of Mo Hua's spiritual sense had almost stagnated, especially at the critically crucial node of the twenty lines.

"Everything is stuck again..."

Spiritual sense, formations, sword technique, and his Life-bound Spiritual Treasure.

Mo Hua sighed.

Cultivation is truly difficult, there are obstacles everywhere.

Of course, the path of cultivation was long, and frustrations and setbacks were the norm.

Mo Hua forced himself to calm down and continued to practice formations, taking the formations he had already practiced countless times and practicing them over and over again.

Bit by bit, tempering his spiritual sense, comprehending the true essence of cultivation.

After practicing for an unknown length of time, and for some unknown reason, Mo Hua unexpectedly felt drowsy. A deep, heavy wave of exhaustion washed over him, making his eyelids fight to stay open.

Mo Hua struggled a few times, but it was no use, he simply couldn't summon any energy.

Finally, he couldn't hold on any longer. His eyes slowly closed, his head drooped, and he slumped onto the table, his arm knocking over the spirit ink.

The spirit ink slowly spread, staining the formation paper black.

Mo Hua also had a nightmare.

In the nightmare, everything was pitch black. Something resembling an "evil embryo" was staring at Mo Hua with a fierce and murderous gaze.