"Ancestor, why do you keep staring at me?"

Patriarch Dugu looked indifferent and hesitated, then decided against speaking, saying only, "Focus on your swordsmanship."

"Oh."

Mo Hua silently resumed swinging the bamboo sword in his hand, chopping at the wood on the back mountain.

The wood on the back mountain, its grade unknown, was harder than stone, making his wrists numb with each cut.

However, Patriarch Dugu said that this was an essential course for a Sword Cultivator.

The important thing wasn't chopping wood, but cultivating a rapport between man and sword during the process, achieving a unity of body and sword, a fusion of man and sword, thus when using the Divine Thought into sword, a mere thought would birth Sword Intent, melding the sword into the soul, having the sword roam the Taixu, and wielded like a divine emissary, invincible.

Mo Hua found it quite reasonable.

He considered that although these sword moves he practiced were not powerful in reality and hardly useful.

But in the Divine Thought World like the Sea of Consciousness, nightmares, and Illusionary Realm, with his Transforming Sword Skill, he could excel.

Mo Hua understood his situation.

His swordsmanship was lacking, and previously in the Sea of Consciousness, using the Transforming Sword Skill was merely relying on the sharpness of Divine Thought to haphazardly slash around.

Because his Divine Thought was so strong, even a simple Transforming Sword Skill could usually take down most Demon Wraiths in one strike.

But such sword moves were indeed crude.

If given the chance, he should still research and refine them, striving to reach new heights in skill.

In reality, this was acceptable as his physical body was weak and couldn't become a Sword Cultivator master.

But in the Sea of Consciousness, it was different. With Divine Thought incarnating, wielding a Sword of Divine Thought, the sword moves he learned could surely be put to great use.

Thus, even though Mo Hua could not harm the wood in the back mountain at all, he still practiced chopping seriously.

Without accumulating tiny steps, one won't reach a thousand miles.

Seemingly grand Sword Dao is hidden within these simple sword moves.

Mo Hua's expression was focused and concentrated.

The sword moves he executed were indeed inferior, not harming anyone at all.

But in each move and style, he poured all his heart and soul.

Patriarch Dugu silently watched Mo Hua, sighing lightly in his heart:

"Sword moves like decayed wood, but a Sword Heart like uncut jade..."

"Plus, mastering Formation and exceeding in Divine Thought..."

Patriarch Dugu looked at Mo Hua, his eyes slightly narrowing, pondering something unknown...

...

Days passed one by one.

Taixu Gate changed a lot after the Three Sects Unification.

But for Mo Hua, it seemed as if nothing had changed.

He still cultivated as usual, attended classes, learned Formation, learned Swordsmanship, continued to teach Formation classes as a substitute, and there was still a crowd of people calling him Junior Brother.

It's just that the number of disciples he taught increased.

The disciples calling him Junior Brother also increased.

As time passed, more than a month went by, and after this month's cultivation, Mo Hua was essentially certain of one thing:

This year, he definitely wouldn't break through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

Even now, he hadn't even touched the bottleneck.

Mo Hua's suspended heart finally died down steadily.

He could only take the back door.

Elder Master Xun also kept his promise, not letting him repeat a grade.

Although this decision broke the sect's rules, rules were meant to be broken anyway, not to mention, this was Mo Hua.

The only Array Leader Taixu Gate ever had up to now.

Even if Mo Hua didn't mention it, Elder Master Xun couldn't possibly let him repeat a grade for real.

After more than another month, it was time for the year-end assessment.

Mo Hua, with his eyes closed, calmly took the test and scored one Grade A, six Grade Cs, marking the end of the year.

And then it was the New Year.

During this New Year, Mo Hua's treatment was quite grand.

The Family Heads of the Shangguan Family, Wenren Family, and Gu Family personally sent invitations inviting Mo Hua to the New Year banquet.

The invitation was handwritten by the heads of the three families and sent to Taixu Gate by Wenren Wan.

Due to Mo Hua's influence, Wenren Wan's status at Taixu Gate was rapidly elevated, and all Elders treated her as hospitably and warmly as encountering a 'Goddess of Fortune.'

Taixu Gate even made an exception, granting her a "Guest Elder" status.

Of course, this was just a title without actual power and no need for toil.

But this was the "Taixu Gate" after the Three Sects Unification, whose influence enlarged over twice.

This honorable "status" was immensely valuable.

Thus, Wenren Wan found it much more convenient to enter Taixu Gate.

She handed the gilded and jade-embedded, exquisitely precious invitation to Mo Hua, saying:

"No need to take it to heart, go if you have time, but if really busy, there's no need to force social interactions. These New Year banquets are quite boring."

Even though born in Wenren Family, married into the Shangguan Family, and had deep connections with the Gu Family.

But Wenren Wan knew well that family relationships were shallow, filled with materialism and intrigue.

She didn't want Mo Hua to be tainted with these too early.

Nor did she want these things to affect his cultivation and learning of Formations.

Mo Hua pondered for a moment and asked: "Are there many delicious foods?"

Wenren Wan was taken aback, then smiled and said:

"This is the three families' New Year banquet, grander than before, guests more honorable, delicious foods more than enough..."

Mo Hua's eyes lit up, nodding: "Then I'll go."

Wenren Wan smiled: "Good."

...

During the New Year festivities, Mo Hua went to the Gu Family's New Year banquet.

Elder Master Xun also approved of this.

He didn't want Mo Hua to make too many public appearances, fearing he might be targeted.

But the Gu Family was different; they were upright and had relatively deep ties with Mo Hua.

The Shangguan Family and Wenren Family also had some connections with Mo Hua.

This New Year banquet could be attended.

It also allowed Mo Hua to experience the treatment the Array Leader, who overpowered countless genius disciples at the Qianxue State Boundary, should have.

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