Taixu Gate, Back Hill.
Elder Master Xun carried a jug of wine, slowly walking into the Back Hill Forbidden Area, stepping into the Sword Tomb where killing intent faded and Sword Qi wilted.
Within the Sword Tomb, Patriarch Dugu still sat firmly as an isolated rock atop a cliff, unmoved by wind and rain.
Elder Master Xun placed the jug of wine before Patriarch Dugu and spoke:
"Senior Brother, today is a joyous day, have a sip of wine."
Patriarch Dugu slowly opened his eyes, his gaze slightly condensed, somewhat incredulously said:
"The Three Sects... have really united again?"
"Indeed..." Elder Master Xun replied contentedly, "They have reunited, we are one family once more... Itâs a pity, though, that name carries such great fortune, it canât be used again."
Afterwards, he appeared a bit melancholic.
These old-timers still held deep sentiments for the names given by their ancestors.
Patriarch Duguâs expression grew complex, then silently glanced at Elder Master Xun, his voice hoarse:
"Junior Brother, youâve worked hard..."
The unification of the Three Sects was a significant matter, fraught with difficulties.
To truly conceal the heavenly secret, seek opportunities, and overcome countless challenges, to drive the Three Sects into one line, openly and secretly, who knows how much effort and sacrifice it might take.
But he, plagued by the Heavenly Demon, could only remain confined to the Sword Tomb Forbidden Area.
If not for the disorder of heavenly secrets, and anomalies in cause and effect, he would not even release his Divine Sense to adhere to his true heart.
Completely, he was like a "blind man" and "deaf man," knowing nothing outside the Sword Tomb, unable to help in any way.
All these burdens naturally fell entirely upon his Junior Brotherâs shoulders.
This Junior Xun, who in youthful days was taciturn and of average Sword Dao talent, had now, as times changed, become the true support of Taixu Gate.
Yet himself, with extraordinary Sword Dao talent and high expectations as a Sword Dao prodigy, was now living like a cripple, entombed alive within the Sword Tomb.
He had failed Taixu Gateâs nurturing and burdened his Junior Brother.
Patriarch Duguâs mind was heavy with emotions, but all were hidden in his heart, never spoken.
He glanced again at the wine jug before him, shook his head:
"The Heavenly Demon confounds the mind, I cannot drink wine..."
"Rest assured, I diluted it with water; a sip will do no harm," Elder Master Xun replied, "consider it celebrating the Three Sectsâ rekindled reunion."
Patriarch Dugu remained silent.
Elder Master Xun sighed, his expression reminiscent: "This is clear wine, it was... brewed by the master in the past, I have kept it until now."
Hearing this, Patriarch Dugu was slightly moved, trembling slightly, picked up the wine jug, and took a sip.
After drinking, he frowned, "Youâre deceiving me? This isnât the masterâs brew."
Elder Master Xun nodded, "The master left some wine, I continued to brew it afterwards."
"Indeed, your wine is inferior; itâs better not to drink."
"I donât truly want you to drink, todayâs Three Sects unification is for you to celebrate a bit, savor the taste..."
Patriarch Dugu set down the wine jug, pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked:
"Regarding this matter, how did those two youngsters, Ouyang and Linghu, come to agree?"
The "youngsters" in Patriarch Duguâs mouth referred to Elder Ouyang of Taiâa Sect and Linghu Ancestor of Rushing Void Sect.
Both had junior seniority compared to him and reached Heaven Void later than he.
Elder Master Xun said: "The heavenly secret is obscure, cause and effect are tumultuous, the future uncertain, coupled with their two sects, struggling to protect themselves, they could only seek transformation for survival, hence the timing for the Three Sects unification naturally arose..."
"Of course, there is another crucial reason that made Taiâa and Rushing Void willing for Taixu to lead in rebuilding the Mountain Gate."
Elder Master Xun spoke with emphasis, "This Dao comprehension conference, our Taixu Gate, won First Place in Array Competition!"
"First Place in Array Competition?"
Patriarch Dugu was stunned, somewhat amazed, "Our Taixu Gate, can the formation really achieve first place?"
First Place in Debating Sword, he could somewhat believe.
But first place in formation?
On what basis could Taixu Gate achieve this?
The ancestors fundamentally lacked this foundation...
"Who won it?" Patriarch Dugu asked.
Elder Master Xun responded with gratification, "This child, Senior Brother, you likely donât know him. He wasnât originally from our Taixu Gate, nor from any distinguished family, but was forced into Tai Xu Mountain Gate by connections, named Mo Hua..."
Patriarch Dugu was stupefied, almost doubting his hearing.
"Who?"
"Mo Hua."
Elder Master Xun repeated, his expression sentimental, "Speaking of which, itâs truly ancestorâs blessing, if not for this child falling from the heavens into our Taixu Gate, let alone the Three Sectsâ unification, even this Dao conference checkpoint would have been hard to pass..."
As he spoke, he suddenly saw something unusual in Patriarch Duguâs expression, and his heart stirred, his gaze slightly tightened:
"Senior Brother, do you know this child...?"
Patriarch Duguâs heart skipped a beat.
Not only does he know, he even taught him swordsmanship...
Words he couldnât speak openly, yet he disdain to lie, thus remained indifferent, silent.
Elder Master Xun was slightly taken aback, after a brief thought, he shook his head first.
"How could Senior Brother know Mo Hua?"
"Senior Brother was wounded by the Heavenly Demon, and also sealed by Taixuâs Confining God Lock, confined in the Sword Tomb Forbidden Area for so many years, not stepping outside even once."
"Mo Hua, that child, could not possibly come to the Back Hill; this is a forbidden area, even if he wanted to, he could not come."
"Moreover, Mo Hua spends every day under his own nose drawing formation, coupled with cultivation and classes, where does he have the time to run to the Back Hill?"
An ancestor, a young disciple.
The two had no blood relation, no familial ties.
No causal connection whatsoever, how could they possibly know each other?
Elder Master Xun pondered in his heart.
Patriarch Dugu also felt perplexed within.
Mo Hua... is it a duplicate name?
This "Mo Hua," perhaps itâs not the Mo Hua he knows?
Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence...