“This is... asking me to form a marriage alliance?” Mo Hua said.
“Correct.” Jiang Yingluo, clad in a palace gown of dark gold silk with a woven treasure-flower pattern, her brows carrying stern dignity, gave a slight nod.
“What if I don’t agree?” Mo Hua asked.
Jiang Yingluo said, “Since you’re marrying into our Earth Sect, why wouldn’t you agree?”
Mo Hua corrected her: “It’s a marriage alliance, not ‘marrying in.’”
Jiang Yingluo said calmly, “It’s all the same. Whether you come in as a live-in son-in-law or as a marriage partner, there’s no difference. With me making the arrangements, you won’t suffer any grievance.”
Mo Hua didn’t know what to say.
Seeing Mo Hua silent, apparently hesitating, Jiang Yingluo continued, “Look at the beauty register I gave you. These are all direct-line daughters of the Earth Sect, talented and beautiful, every one of them with a top-grade spirit root.”
“You don’t have to marry into the family as a live-in son-in-law. You can keep your own surname and serve as an outer sect elder of the Earth Sect, teaching the disciples formations.”
“If you make a breakthrough in formations or render great service in the future, you could even advance to become a personally appointed elder.”
“But there is one condition: of the children you bear, one must take your Dao companion’s surname and be entered into the Earth Sect’s genealogy.”
Mo Hua glanced at the jade slip in his hand and saw that it indeed contained a long “beauty register,” listing many women’s names, family backgrounds, appearances, spirit roots, core grades, and even temperaments—some gentle and refined, some lively and spirited, some outwardly composed and inwardly wise.
Their looks were all of flower-like beauty. Though they couldn’t compare to a peerless Flower Queen like Yu Nujiao, each was graceful and charming in her own way.
What was more, these were all bona fide direct-line daughters of a great sect.
By the standards of marriage alliances, any one of these women was an unattainable figure for the vast majority of aristocratic clan heirs in Kun Prefecture.
Even Mo Hua felt somewhat “flattered and surprised.”
Before this, his value in a marriage alliance probably hadn’t been this high.
Even with the Lu and Zhu families, two great aristocratic houses with whom he had some acquaintance, under the customary rules of marriage alliances, if Mo Hua wanted to marry their direct-line daughters, he would have had no choice but to become a live-in son-in-law. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been qualified at all.
Compared with that, the condition that “one of the children you bear must take the mother’s surname and enter the Earth Sect’s genealogy” was hardly worth mentioning.
Mo Hua pondered silently.
Jiang Yingluo continued, “You are Zixi’s junior brother. These are the best conditions I can secure for you.”
“I can even give you a slot for the third-rank formation master examination—didn’t you want to try it?”
Mo Hua’s heart stirred. But then he shook his head. “The Earth Sect placed the Wealth Prohibition Edict on me.”
Jiang Yingluo said, “The Wealth Prohibition Edict only blocks wealth from outsiders. If you marry into our Earth Sect, you’ll be one of our own. Not only will you not be prohibited from wealth, you won’t lack spirit stones.”
Won’t lack spirit stones...
Mo Hua’s heart skipped a beat, but he still sighed and said, “Jiang...”
He suddenly didn’t know how to address her.
Jiang Yingluo said, “I’m a few years older than you. Just call me Senior Sister.”
Mo Hua nodded but refused, “Senior Sister Jiang... I’m not considering a marriage alliance right now.”
Even the always dignified and indifferent Jiang Yingluo couldn’t help frowning slightly, a flicker of displeasure passing through her eyes.
No disciple in the entire Earth Sect had ever dared to defy her, the grand senior sister.
Jiang Yingluo said, “Is it that none of them appeal to you? Or do you feel the Earth Sect isn’t good enough for you?”
Mo Hua shook his head. “The direct-line daughters of the Earth Sect are noble, and the Earth Sect’s power is immense. It’s me who isn’t good enough. I’m only an ordinary formation master.”
Jiang Yingluo frowned, not knowing whether Mo Hua meant it sincerely or was being sarcastic.
She sighed. “What are your plans for the future?”
“Plans?” Mo Hua didn’t quite understand.
“Your future path...” Jiang Yingluo’s gaze turned serious. “How do you intend to walk it?”
The question was rather abrupt, and Mo Hua was even less sure how to answer.
His path was heretical.
His intentions were likely treasonous.
Too many things about him were dangerous and unutterable.
How could he say that?
Jiang Yingluo saw Mo Hua’s hesitant, tongue-tied appearance. It was exactly like the junior disciples in the sect who only cared about pleasure, had no ambition, never looked ahead, and wore blank expressions when asked about their futures. She sighed inwardly and said sternly, “You think too little and lack planning.”
“Cultivation is like sailing against the current. You must be diligent and cautious, weighing every step and calculating every move before you can avoid mistakes.”
“The great aristocratic houses and sects maintain strict orthodox traditions. Nurturing Qi, laying foundations, forming a Golden Core of quality, ascending through Feather Transformation... all must follow a rigorous schedule.”
“Throughout this entire journey of cultivation, which techniques to cultivate when, which Dao arts to study, when to nurture your magic treasure, how many years to nurture it, to what degree, and finally how to make it become ethereal and transform into Feather Transformation...”
“All of these must be carefully planned and arranged from the very beginning of your cultivation.”
“Once circumstances change, and your cultivation speeds up or slows down, or some error occurs, you can compare against the prearranged plan, quickly find where the problem lies, mend and correct it in time, and get your cultivation back on the right track.”
“The road to the Great Dao is full of thorns; the margin for error is very small. One wrong step leads to errors in every step that follows.”
Mo Hua’s expression changed at these words.
This grand senior sister of the Earth Sect was... a bit terrifyingly relentless.
Her control and arrangement of cultivation were so strong that compared with his own, they were two extremes.
This senior sister was extreme control.
She practically wished that how many years old one is at Qi Refining, at Foundation Establishment, when to form a core, how many years to Feather Transformation... all to be precisely quantified without the slightest error.
Mo Hua, on the other hand, was extreme loss of control.
When his cultivation breakthroughs would come, what techniques he would learn, what foundation he would lay, what magical treasure he would nurture, what core grade he would form... he never knew until things were right in front of him.
He wasn’t even very clear about what his own future path would look like.
All kinds of causes and effects gathered in a state of “loss of control,” pushing him forward along the road.
Mo Hua didn’t know what he would end up cultivating into.
In every sense, this dignified and beautiful grand senior sister was somewhat... frightening.
Mo Hua’s scalp turned numb.
And it didn’t stop there.
Jiang Yingluo went on sternly, “So it is with cultivation, and so it is with life. At each age, you should do what belongs to that age.”
“Cultivate when it’s time to cultivate; know when to seek a Dao companion, what kind of Dao companion to seek, at what age to marry, and after marrying, how to continue seeking the Dao.”
“All of these must be thought through in advance. Preparedness ensures success, unpreparedness ensures failure.”
“Life is short, and your affinity with the Dao is thin. In the great matters of life, you absolutely cannot be careless; if you are, at best you waste years, at worst you lose all hope for the Great Dao.”
Jiang Yingluo’s speech left Mo Hua speechless.
Mo Hua was sincerely impressed and sighed, “Senior Sister Jiang... you are quite right.”
Hearing this, Jiang Yingluo’s gaze softened slightly.
“You are still young and not very experienced. Moreover, you are far from your sect, without your teachers or close kin by your side. Unlike the scions of other great sects and families, no one has arranged your life or guarded your orthodoxy. It’s only natural that some things leave you confused and unsettled.”
“But now is the time... Your cultivation age is not great; among Core Formation cultivators, you could even be called young. However, the matter of a Dao companion is extremely important, so you must consider it early and prepare before it rains.”
“Entering a good marriage will be of great benefit to you in the future.”
Mo Hua could only nod.
This Senior Sister Jiang was actually not wrong, and she seemed truly to be considering things for him from the perspective of the grand senior sister.
Seeing Mo Hua so “well-behaved,” Jiang Yingluo’s expression grew even warmer, and she asked again, “So take another careful look at the beauty register I gave you. If there’s a girl in our Earth Sect you like, I’ll act as the matchmaker.”
Mo Hua was embarrassed. He sighed, “I appreciate Senior Sister Jiang’s good intentions...”
He didn’t say it outright, but Jiang Yingluo understood his meaning, and her expression cooled somewhat.
She was the grand senior sister of the Earth Sect; she had never persuaded any disciple this far.
She had shown so much goodwill, yet Mo Hua refused it. Jiang Yingluo’s eyes turned slightly cold.
But when she remembered that the person before her was Zixi’s junior brother, with a delicate, fair, and ethereal beauty, actually somewhat resembling Zixi, her heart softened again.
Jiang Yingluo looked at Mo Hua, fell silent for a moment, then sighed.
“Some words are not pleasant to hear, but you ought to know them in your heart...”
“You are a disciple of the Taixu Sect. The name is grand, but after all, you were never admitted to the inner sect. There is still a layer of separation.”
“A graduated outer disciple of the Taixu Sect, without name or standing. You won’t be able to rely on the power of the Taixu Sect for long.”
“As for your family background, though rumors are diverse and your origins are mysterious, they probably aren’t very good.”
“Spirit roots are hereditary. Your spirit root is too poor, which means your parents’ spirit roots should not surpass the top grade.”
“If spirit roots do not surpass the top grade, spiritual power is insufficient and meridians are unstable, making Feather Transformation and ascent extremely difficult.”
“Therefore, at the very least, your birth parents’ cultivation should not exceed Golden Core. A Golden Core cultivator might seem extraordinary in the eyes of ordinary cultivators, but in the eyes of great aristocratic families, they are nothing much.”
“Moreover, your Golden Core is only of the lower grade. With a mid-lower-grade spirit root and a lower-grade Golden Core, your fortune is just as poor. Heaven does not favor you.”
“These are all irreparable shortcomings in marriage alliances among aristocratic families.”
“Under ordinary circumstances, even one shortcoming makes it difficult to marry the daughter of a distinguished family. Let alone you, who have three.”
“Up until now, the only asset you can put on the table is your talent in formations.”
Jiang Yingluo sighed lightly. “I admit your comprehension in formations is indeed astonishing.”
“But your core grade is too poor and your cultivation realm too low. No matter how good your formation talent is, at most you’ll only be able to inscribe third-rank formations within the next hundred years.”
“Outside, a third-rank formation master is enough to bring you fame and respect.”
“But inside the Earth Sect, with geniuses crowding in like fish crossing a river and its power dominating the region, a third-rank formation master is just a formation master.”
“Only once you reach fourth-rank will the high echelons of the Earth Sect truly regard you with respect.”
“Only a fourth-rank formation grandmaster wields the leading and decision-making authority over major formations, and only then can you have a voice of your own.”
“But that day is still too far away for you, and there’s no guarantee you’ll make it.”
“Even if you do reach it, who knows how many years it will take.”
“At least for now, pure talent in formations simply cannot remedy your shortcomings in marriage alliances with great houses.”
“Therefore, the candidates for Dao companion that I can offer you now—looking across Kun Prefecture, no...”
Jiang Yingluo’s gaze sharpened as she looked at Mo Hua and spoke truthfully, “Even looking across the Nine Provinces, they are already the highest standard.”
“No major power would necessarily be able to offer conditions such as these, allowing you to marry an authentic direct-line daughter.”
“And such opportunities don’t come often.”
“If not for the Earth Sect currently planning a grand marriage alliance... I, even as grand senior sister, would not have so much authority to grant you such favorable treatment.”
Mo Hua’s eyes moved slightly; he could sense that this grand senior sister of the Earth Sect was telling the truth.
Moreover, the conditions Jiang Yingluo offered really could be called “great favor.”
Mo Hua even felt that if he didn’t accept, he would be shameless.
But then again...
Mo Hua sighed. Not wanting to completely brush her off, he said, “Senior Sister Jiang, allow me to go back and think it over carefully.”
Seeing Mo Hua so stubborn, Jiang Yingluo’s face showed neither joy nor anger. She simply nodded slightly. “Fine.”
Mo Hua didn’t want to stay any longer, so he rose and took his leave. “Senior Sister Jiang, I’ll be going then.”
Jiang Yingluo didn’t try to detain him. She hadn’t invited Mo Hua here for sightseeing or flower-appreciation anyway.
She wasn’t even very interested in that sort of thing.
Like Zixi, she was extremely focused and diligent in cultivation—even hardworking to the point of hardship.
Mo Hua then stood up and walked out of the pavilion where moonlight blurred the flowers, golden-thread curtains hung, and jade ornaments lay scattered everywhere.
Jiang Yingluo watched his back, and just as he was about to leave, she spoke in a low voice, “Mo Hua...”
Mo Hua turned to look at this stunningly beautiful grand senior sister of the Earth Sect.
Jiang Yingluo’s tone sank slightly as she said slowly, “I’m not threatening you, but... you’re a clever person, you should understand. You’ve already offended the Four Great Families, and many people in the Earth Sect, openly or secretly, hold grudges against you.”
“If you agree to the marriage alliance, all resentment can be dissolved. With the Earth Sect backing you, you’ll have endless cultivation resources. From then on, rising to prominence, even Feather Transformation and ascension, would not be impossible.”
“But if you refuse, under the joint sanctions of the Earth Sect, you’ll inevitably find every step difficult.”
“From now on, even in the vast Houtu City, there will be no place for you.”
“You won’t earn spirit stones, and you’ll have no resources to cultivate.”
“Unless you truly intend to hide away in the Little Luan Mountain Blessed Land for the rest of your life and never bother with the mortal world again.”
Hearing this, Mo Hua’s gaze darkened. He nodded. “I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister Jiang.”
Jiang Yingluo’s dark eyelashes stirred slightly, and she said no more.
Mo Hua cupped his fists and turned to leave.
After he left, outside the high terrace, the assembled direct descendants of the Earth Sect all watched Mo Hua with complicated expressions.
They didn’t know what Mo Hua had spoken about with their grand senior sister.
They couldn’t understand why their noble grand senior sister had chatted alone with this kid for so long.
But since Mo Hua was the grand senior sister’s guest, they didn’t dare make trouble. They merely fixed Mo Hua’s appearance in their minds with cold, sinister gazes.
People fear fame as pigs fear fat.
Mo Hua could feel the number of “enemies” who held grudges against him increasing by a few more, like lice.
He was a little weary, but he said nothing. With a calm and composed expression, he left Kunhua Courtyard, where the Earth Sect’s direct descendants were gathered.
After Mo Hua left, it was a long time before the disturbance he had stirred up settled down.
Inside the courtyard, the men and women continued to chat and admire the flowers in a beautiful atmosphere.
Only within the moonlit golden-thread curtain on the high terrace did Jiang Yingluo gaze into the distance, lost in thought.
Just then, the bead curtain swayed and the golden-thread curtain lifted as a tall and burly young man walked in.
He wore an ocher-yellow robe decorated with a flood dragon, and his face held a naturally imposing dignity. Entering the high terrace, he said to Jiang Yingluo:
“Cousin, I told you before. This Mo Hua has a wild, unruly nature and doesn’t know what’s good for him.”
“It won’t be easy to make him a dog. We might as well just kill him.”