Chapter 743 – Tai'a Sect
Demon Refining Mountain, outer peaks.
In a dense forest, several disciples wearing the robes of the Tai'a Sect moved cautiously, eyes alert as they slowly advanced while scanning their surroundings.
At the front of the group stood a tall, upright figure with elegant, scholarly features, wielding a long sword of crimson-gold maple hue.
It was none other than Ouyang Feng, the Tai'a Sect senior who had once crossed paths with Mo Hua when he first entered the Great Void Sect.
There were five others in the group.
Four of them were older, at the late Foundation Establishment stage, of the same generation as Ouyang Feng.
Trailing behind was a younger, slightly dark-skinned disciple who looked thin, nervous, and a bit stiff in expression—clearly a newcomer.
After walking a while, a senior sister from the Tai'a Sect turned to the younger disciple and reminded him:
"Little Blockhead, we'll only bring you along twice to help you get familiar with the terrain of Demon Refining Mountain. After that, hunting monsters will be up to you."
"In two years, it's the Grand Sword Trial. Your brother's going to be busy and might not have time to look after you. I hope you'll understand."
The young disciple—called "Little Blockhead"—snuck a glance at Ouyang Feng, who walked ahead with his sharp eyes and heroic bearing, and nodded slightly.
"Sister Qian, I understand," he said softly.
This senior sister's name was Ouyang Qian, also from the Ouyang family. She smiled and gently patted his head.
"Demon Refining Mountain is dangerous. Be careful."
"Mm," Little Blockhead replied nervously.
But he was naturally reserved and not good with words, so he didn't say much.
As they continued on, halfway up the mountain, a long-faced Tai'a Sect disciple surnamed Ma suddenly frowned and said:
"I haven't been to the outer mountains in a while, but… why are all these peaks occupied?"
Ouyang Feng's gaze shifted.
Ouyang Qian also released her spiritual sense, and after a moment, she exclaimed in surprise:
"Why are there so many disciples in the mountains?"
They were all late Foundation Establishment stage disciples.
Demon Refining Mountain was vast, and disciples of different cultivation levels hunted in different regions.
Due to the complex terrain and tangled paths, the routes into each area varied.
The mountain they were currently on was one of the low-grade monster zones in the outer area.
Ouyang Feng and his companions had come here when they were still mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators just starting out.
Later, when they moved into the inner mountains to hunt Grade-2 mid-tier monsters and above, they stopped visiting this area.
Based on their past experience, the number of disciples entering the mountains at this time of year should've been low, and the outer peaks relatively empty.
Yet unexpectedly—it was bustling with activity.
"Which sect's disciples are these?"
"Judging by their robes… looks like the Great Void Sect?"
The group exchanged puzzled glances.
In Qianxue Prefecture, the top sects were known as the Four Great Sects.
These four sects each had their own territory within Demon Refining Mountain and usually didn't interfere with one another.
So they never imagined that the ones occupying the mountain peaks wouldn't be a top-ranked sect like the Broken Gold Sect, famous for its brutal swordsmanship...
Nor one of the Eight Upper Sects…
But instead, the Great Void Sect—a sect long known for being mild, passive, and slowly declining toward obscurity.
"Why is it the Great Void Sect?"
"No idea…"
"Do they even have a powerful sword inheritance?"
"Among our three sects, Tai'a for forging swords, Chongxu for sword qi… and Great Void… for sword intent?"
"Maybe? Elders hardly mention it."
"But sword intent is so difficult! Can you even cultivate that in Foundation Establishment?"
"Then how are they hunting monsters?"
"Maybe martial techniques or spells?"
Everyone looked a little confused and pressed on, choosing a narrow trail and keeping their presence discreet.
Then, they saw group after group of Great Void disciples moving through the mountains—uniformly armored, armed with spirit tools, moving in synchronized formations.
Even from afar, they saw scenes of monster hunting.
First came scouting…
Then tailing the target…
Then laying down formation traps…
Once the trap exploded and the beast was severely wounded, a coordinated group would swarm in—swift, efficient, and flawlessly in sync, as if it had all been rehearsed countless times.
The Tai'a disciples were secretly stunned.
This wasn't how ordinary sect disciples hunted monsters…
This was on par with Dao Soldiers!
And—
That long-faced senior Brother Ma furrowed his brow:
"Since when was the Great Void Sect so good with formations?"
The traps they used…
The armor they wore…
The spirit tools they held…
Every piece was inscribed with specialized formation diagrams.
Formations specifically designed based on the monster's habits, trap properties, and spirit tool structures—standardized into a hunting process that could be taught and shared between disciples…
This wasn't something ordinary disciples could pull off.
They had all started out bumbling through monster hunting themselves and knew firsthand how hard it was.
They also understood just how terrifying this hunting system was.
The Great Void Sect's concept of "monster hunting" had evolved far beyond the norm.
Ouyang Feng's eyes narrowed in thought, and he instructed:
"Go back and tell the next cohort of disciples: avoid these mountain peaks in Demon Refining Mountain, and don't provoke Great Void Sect disciples lightly."
Although the Tai'a and Great Void sects had ancestral ties, they were separate sects now.
Bloodlines fade with time—and the younger generation didn't care about such things.
Even disciples within the same sect fought and clashed—let alone disciples of different sects.
In Demon Refining Mountain, where hunting monsters for materials and contribution points was already a conflict-heavy activity, such clashes were inevitable.
If their own disciples ever came into conflict with Great Void Sect's… they would suffer.
The Great Void squads—five per group, excellent formations, equipped with custom spirit weapons, moving like Dao Soldiers—could handle powerful monsters with ease…
If they turned those tactics on human cultivators?
Unthinkable.
Better to avoid conflict altogether, before grudges form and things spiral out of control.
Besides, Ouyang Feng himself had once gotten along well with Great Void disciples of the same generation.
Considering their shared history, and his own sense of loyalty, he didn't want to see younger disciples from both sides become enemies.
"Understood," the Tai'a disciples replied solemnly.
Ouyang Feng glanced around, then turned to Little Blockhead and said:
"These peaks are all occupied by Great Void disciples. I'll take you somewhere more remote, and personally hunt a few beasts to show you how it's done…"
He patted the boy on the shoulder.
"From now on, it's up to you."
"Mm!" Little Blockhead nodded earnestly.
A trace of warmth flickered in Ouyang Feng's expression—but deep in his eyes, it was worry that lingered.
Afterward, the Tai'a Sect group crossed several mountain peaks, leaving the territory occupied by the Great Void Sect and reaching a more remote forested area. There, they worked together to slay two demon beasts.
Ouyang Feng remained silent.
Meanwhile, Ouyang Qian carefully explained all the key points about monster hunting to Little Blockhead.
He listened attentively.
"You've just entered the mountain, your experience is shallow, and your techniques are unrefined. Don't get greedy and go after powerful beasts like tigers, leopards, or bears right away."
"Start with weaker ones first…"
"Demon beasts are cunning—you must remain on guard at all times. Never relax until the beast has fully breathed its last, or it might end in disaster."
"Some have thick hides and lots of blood. Some possess strange demonic power—attacking up close, or spewing water, fire, or poison from afar. You must be mentally prepared in advance."
"Above all, never face a demon beast alone."
"Always go in teams of five or more, and—"
Just as Ouyang Qian was patiently instructing him, she suddenly gasped and looked up—only to see a flash of golden light streak across the sky, followed by a violent burst of sword qi.
A giant hawk was shredded mid-air, a cloud of blood mist erupting from its body as it plummeted to the ground.
Ouyang Feng's pupils contracted.
The others' expressions also changed.
"Sword flight!"
Ouyang Qian's beautiful eyes widened slightly in shock as she murmured:
"Such fast sword control!"
"And the distance—at least a hundred zhang. A peak Foundation Establishment cultivator? Or a Golden Core?"
"The sword qi isn't crystallized… probably not Golden Core yet…"
"But this is the outer region of Demon Refining Mountain. Who's flying their sword like this?"
Everyone looked grave.
Little Blockhead, still thinking about the dazzling sword flight just now—the sharp gleam of the blade—couldn't help but gaze longingly.
"That sword control was amazing… although, for some reason, the spiritual sword looked a bit low-quality…"
He thought to himself silently.
The long-faced Tai'a disciple surnamed Ma narrowed his eyes and turned to Ouyang Feng:
"Golden sword light, laced with metallic essence… it looked like a sword art from the Broken Gold Sect…"
"That person might be a skilled sword cultivator from Broken Gold."
He paused, then added:
"Brother Feng, why don't we go introduce ourselves?"
Ouyang Feng's eyes darkened slightly.
The others hesitated.
"Broken Gold Sect?"
"Why bother befriending them?"
"They're narrow-minded, have a terrible reputation. Even if their sword arts are strong, their people are rarely decent. No point aligning with those who walk different paths."
But Senior Brother Ma shook his head:
"That's a hasty judgment. A sect is a sect, an individual is an individual—they're not the same."
"Besides, in recent years our Tai'a Sect has risen to the top of the Eight Great Sects."
"Broken Gold, while ranked among the Twelve Streams, has also been making great strides. In truth, they're not inferior to the top sects."
"If our Tai'a Sect wants to advance further, we'll need more allies. We can't afford to shun others because of sect bias."
"We should judge based on people—not robes."
Ouyang Qian nodded thoughtfully and looked to Ouyang Feng:
"Brother Feng, what do you think?"
Ouyang Feng gave Senior Brother Ma a complicated look, his gaze somewhat opaque. After a moment of silence, he finally nodded.
"Let's go take a look."
He, too, wanted to know:
When did the Broken Gold Sect produce a sword genius capable of slaying a hawk mid-air with a flying blade?
Such a person, if not an ally, would surely become a formidable rival in the future.
The group followed the mountain path toward the place where the hawk had fallen—and upon arrival, they all froze.
Even Senior Brother Ma was stunned.
At the landing site, there was no sword-wielding expert from the Broken Gold Sect.
Only… a young cultivator peeling a bird.
His fair, delicate hands were gripping a small knife, slowly plucking feathers and slicing through hide.
When he saw the group arrive, he looked up with a bright, slightly heroic face and a cheerful smile:
"Senior Brother Feng, long time no see!"
The Tai'a Sect disciples looked confused and turned to Ouyang Feng.
He, too, was momentarily stunned. Once he got a good look at the youth's face, he exclaimed in surprise:
"Mo Hua?!"
"Yep." Mo Hua smiled and nodded.
Ouyang Feng's gaze shifted from Mo Hua to the bloodstained ground and the eviscerated hawk demon. He then looked back at Mo Hua with a puzzled expression.
"This hawk…"
"I picked it up!" Mo Hua blurted without hesitation.
It wasn't that he wanted to lie… but if he told the truth—that he had learned sword flight, used a flying sword, and killed the hawk in midair—no one would believe him.
And honestly, it was better to stay low-key. Explaining everything would be too much trouble.
The Tai'a disciples looked at each other with skeptical expressions.
Wandering through the mountains… just so happened to stumble upon a hawk demon someone else had killed… and picked it up?
Seriously?
But then again… what, he killed it himself?
Even more impossible.
He was mid-stage Foundation Establishment—what sword control could he possibly use?
And there wasn't a trace of sword qi on him. Clearly not a sword cultivator.
Ouyang Feng scanned the surroundings and asked:
"Are there any other cultivators nearby?"
Mo Hua shook his head.
"No idea."
Ouyang Feng released his spiritual sense and swept the area—indeed, no signs of anyone else.
He looked Mo Hua over once more, then furrowed his brows and asked:
"Don't tell me… you came into the mountain alone?"
If it were someone else, he wouldn't even consider the possibility.
But if it was Mo Hua...
Ouyang Feng had previously worked with him on bounty missions. He knew this seemingly innocent junior brother was actually bold, meticulous, full of schemes, and dared to think and act beyond expectation.
Doing something like entering Demon Refining Mountain alone?
Yeah... he just might.
And indeed, Mo Hua had entered the mountain alone.
Because he wanted to practice sword flight by himself.
One sword, one hawk—a clean profit of 800 merit points.
Not the kind of thing you bring a group along for.
And frankly, no need to.
But in truth, he wasn't entirely alone.
All over the mountains, scattered across the surrounding peaks, were his many "junior brothers."
So in a way, he was swimming among his own. That's why he moved through the mountain like a fish in water.
"Not really alone," Mo Hua said, pointing to a mountain behind him. "I've got lots of little brothers."
The Tai'a Sect disciples all blinked, unsure what this strange junior was talking about...
"Lots of little brothers"? What was that supposed to mean?
Ouyang Qian and the others weren't familiar with Mo Hua, so they didn't press him.
As for Ouyang Feng—he was familiar, but with all the other Tai'a disciples present, now wasn't the time for a friendly chat.
On the other side, Mo Hua had already finished efficiently skinning and butchering the hawk. He tucked all the materials neatly into his storage ring.
Sure, he'd said the hawk was something he "picked up."
But hey—even if it was picked up, it was still his.
And if it was his, it should go straight into the storage ring—before someone got funny ideas.
Seeing Mo Hua's sharp eyes and utterly not-to-be-taken-advantage-of demeanor, Ouyang Feng couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head. A warm smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Then he looked at the quiet, stiff Little Blockhead beside him and sighed inwardly.
If only Muer had half of Mo Hua's cleverness… no, even a fifth…
Then maybe he wouldn't get taken advantage of so easily in the future.
"It's getting late. We'll take our leave and stop bothering you," Ouyang Feng said, then glanced at Mo Hua and added, "Be careful in the mountain."
"Mm-hmm!" Mo Hua nodded. "Don't worry, Senior Brother Feng."
Ouyang Feng said no more and led the group back down the mountain path. But after only a few steps, he suddenly stopped.
Scenes from Demon Refining Mountain flashed through his mind.
Great Void Sect disciples, entering early to hunt beasts...
Traps, armor, spiritual weapons—all inscribed with formations.
Standardized hunting.
And then Mo Hua's earlier words echoed in his mind:
"I've got lots of little brothers…"
Ouyang Feng's heart trembled, his expression one of growing disbelief.
Could it be…?
He turned back and looked again at Mo Hua.
Mo Hua had just packed up the hawk corpse. His figure was slim, face fair and calm, though his hands were stained with demon blood. He stood before the ferocious, now-lifeless hawk like someone who had just butchered a chicken.
Ouyang Feng's pupils shrank slightly.
He spoke:
"Mo Hua."
Hearing this, Mo Hua blinked in surprise and looked at him.
Ouyang Feng hesitated for a moment, then pulled over a slightly dark-skinned, skinny Tai'a Sect disciple and said gently:
"This is Ouyang Mu. He's my younger brother..."
A flicker of tenderness flashed in his eyes, then he smiled and continued:
"If you ever come across him in the mountain, I hope you'll look after him."
At those words, Ouyang Mu was slightly stunned.
The other Tai'a Sect disciples were also shocked.
Ouyang Feng was a direct heir of the Tai'a Sect, born with a top-grade spiritual root and exceptional talent. He was highly respected by his peers.
Though he appeared gentle and refined, he was inwardly proud—and never asked others for help.
But today, he actually turned to a junior disciple from another sect, and asked him to look after his brother?
This was completely unexpected.
Mo Hua, however, didn't think much of it.
He had a good relationship with Senior Brother Feng. They'd done a lot of missions together in the past, and he'd been taken care of by him many times.
So now, watching over his little brother?
Totally fair.
"Mm-hmm!" Mo Hua nodded earnestly. "Don't worry, Senior Brother Feng. If I get the chance, I'll take good care of him."
He then looked at the skinny, slightly dark-skinned young cultivator standing next to Ouyang Feng and silently etched the name into his memory:
Ouyang Mu.
(End of Chapter)