Hidden Moth

Hu Weidong is brewing tea, and it seems as though neither of them is speaking, yet they converse covertly with divine thought.

Hu Weidong pours a cup and presents it with both hands to He Kao: "Junior Brother, thank you!" As for why to thank, there’s no need to elaborate.

He Kao picks up the teacup: "This is local Qi Yuan Rain Flower Tea."

Hu Weidong: "The tea leaves were just purchased, and this set of tea ware is what I brought from the United States..."

He Kao: "You certainly don’t mind the effort!"

On the table was a red clay zisha stone scoop pot and a pair of sky blue glazed imitation Ru kiln porcelain cups, all items Hu Weidong bought at high prices in the United States, imported from the Eastern Country.

Hu Weidong apparently liked them very much, and brought them along on his return to the Eastern Country this time.

Hu Weidong smiled: "Can’t call it effort; it’s simply returning to the roots." Then he asks, "What do you think of Xiao Alliance’s actions this time, Junior Brother?"

He Kao shook his head: "Things shouldn’t be done this way..."

According to He Kao, if they truly wanted to make something of Zhao Ci’s situation, what would be best? That would be to find an opportune moment to directly unlock his seal covertly!

Making friends surely requires sincerity, and this would be the greatest sincerity. If one were to ignore other factors and consider only this matter itself, following He Kao’s thought process would mean doing it this way.

Hu Weidong smiled wryly: "That’s not the Xiao Alliance’s style... Merlin doesn’t dare to come, nor does he want to hand over the Magic Mirror to others. Meanwhile, there are those who want to test me, and others who want to set traps for me, leading to this outcome."

He Kao: "They don’t seem very smart!"

These words carry a bit of resentment. If it weren’t for Xiao Alliance’s feint and tricks, the Bone-Penetrating Treasure Mirror might already have been retrieved. It was this internal chaos within Xiao Alliance that caused Jiang Daozhen’s plans to be unsuccessful, at least temporarily.

Hu Weidong: "You can’t say that; high-tier sorcerers don’t have low intelligence... But they do lack sufficient depth of wisdom to draw from, having not learned as many idioms as we have."

Not learned as many idioms? This description is quite interesting.

He Kao put down the cup: "Brother invited me here not just for tea, I presume?"

Hu Weidong: "Mostly for tea, but there’s another small matter. I’d like your help in communicating with the Ancestral Hall. I have some people on my side hoping to have a chance to enter the Grotto Heaven for secondary inheritance..."

He Kao: "This isn’t a small matter! Are you also included among the people you mentioned, Brother?"

Hu Weidong: "If possible, I would certainly hope for such an opportunity myself."

He Kao gave him a deep look: "If you dare to go, I dare to arrange."

Hu Weidong: "Previously, I didn’t dare, but now I do. However, if I myself go, I hope you can arrange it so that no one else knows."

He Kao: "Alright, I’ll communicate independently with Brother’s side... But no matter who it is, there are a few preconditions that must be met before discussing further..."

Who wishes to enter the Grotto Heaven to undergo secondary inheritance? As long as they are high-tier sorcerers, the moment they break through Tier Four, they all can sense the Grotto Heaven’s summons, and ordinary independent cultivators might have already chosen to return to the Magic Sect.

Xiao Alliance certainly knows this situation, so their countermeasures involve three strategies.

The first is to strongly vilify the Magic Sect, question their legitimacy in occupying the Grotto Heaven, and proclaim Magic Sect holds undisclosed ambitions, claiming that if Xiao Alliance sorcerers reveal their identity and fall into Magic Sect hands, they will meet a miserable fate.

This propaganda is largely effective, as Xiao Alliance disciples have been in this info-bubble from the first day they engage with techniques, and some real-world incidents seem to verify this claim.

Indeed, several Xiao Alliance sorcerers targeted the Magic Sect and were killed or crippled, with some going missing. Xiao Alliance’s rhetoric only discusses the outcome, not the reasons.

The second is that even if they don’t go to Grotto Heaven for secondary inheritance, they can receive high-tier techniques training from Xiao Alliance, which claims to be more advanced, scientific, and correct.

Advanced, scientific, correct aside, Xiao Alliance does possess high-tier heritage of the Seven Veins Techniques, addressing a critical issue.

The third supplements the second by continually deploying infiltrators. Xiao Alliance intentionally selects a batch of disciples with clean backgrounds and inspect their conduct from a young age, secretly training them. Then they are sent to "return" to the Magic Sect as independent cultivators.

In history’s era of extremely underdeveloped information, this method often succeeded, extracting much intelligence from within the Magic Sect, including the latest technique inheritance contents.

However, in recent years, especially after the Ancestral Hall implemented comprehensive information management, this tactic has become increasingly difficult to pull off. Even if it succeeds by luck, the price paid grows larger.

Enticing, dividing, buying off, and subverting insiders in the Magic Sect ironically became a more cost-effective choice. Zhao Ci’s situation aligns with Xiao Alliance’s current "grand strategy."

More frustratingly, Xiao Alliance recently mimicked Magic Sect’s comprehensive information management, resulting in personnel accidentally mass-distributing a document that ought to remain confidential.

The contents of that document were the current official member list compiled by Xiao Alliance. Magic Sect presumably already knows its content, making it nearly impossible for many listed individuals to disguise their identity and infiltrate the Magic Sect.

Thus, despite having these three strategies to address some issues, they aren’t always effective.

Many within Xiao Alliance still hope to enter the Grotto Heaven for secondary inheritance, especially those high-tier sorcerers who have remained stagnant in a realm for many years.

After all, it’s the "original inheritance" left by the ancestors. Comparing it with today’s techniques can reveal evolution traces and the unchanging core, potentially leading to deeper enlightenment.

Inheritance received from others is never as genuine as direct inheritance. Also, that mysterious Grotto Heaven always carries an indescribable allure.

The announcement issued by the Ancestral Hall declared that members of the Xiao Alliance were allowed to return to the Magic Sect as independent cultivators of Jianghu. Besides verifying their past conduct, no other demands were made, not even requiring them to leave the Xiao Alliance!

Thus, some were tempted. However, they did not wish for this matter to be known, meaning they only wanted to receive the Secondary Inheritance without openly returning to the Magic Sect or becoming official disciples, retaining their status as "independent cultivators."

This request was somewhat excessive!

Originally, there was no chance of such a thing, so everyone merely pondered it. Now Hu Weidong wanted to give it a try in negotiation.

He Kao did not reject it outright; he mentioned two main conditions.

First, those who accept the Secondary Inheritance must burn incense and worship the Ancestors. During this process, they must honestly and reverently open their Primordial Spirit. This is the requirement of the Secondary Inheritance ceremony, and there’s no room for negotiation. If one cannot do this, they should not come.

Second, those who come must clarify their background and experiences. The Magic Sect will verify past conduct, and should there be any concealment or past prohibitive actions, they will face dire consequences upon coming.

As for other matters, it will depend on what the Ancestral Hall decides. He Kao’s role is merely to facilitate communication and convey messages.

Hu Weidong refilled He Kao’s cup with tea: "Whether successful or not, thank you very much!"

He Kao: "Since my senior brother is so devoted to this matter, I guess once it’s settled, they might all become your people, right?"

Hu Weidong only smiled without speaking. He wanted to establish his own power within the Xiao Alliance, and indeed, this was an excellent strategy, leveraging the Magic Sect’s influence.

He Kao asked again: "If this matter is negotiated successfully, as long as many come, it will be nearly impossible to keep it secret for long. Once news reaches Arthur, within the Xiao Alliance, they might resolutely oppose you!"

Hu Weidong remained expressionless: "What more is there to say?"

He Kao: "My senior brother does not wish to betray the Xiao Alliance and aims to reorganize it. How do you view the current Xiao Alliance and Arthur’s group?"

This wasn’t the first time He Kao asked similar questions, but each time the underlying emphasis was different. At this moment, he wanted to ask about the attitude towards the inheritance of techniques, specifically addressing Hu Weidong’s recently proposed demands.

Hu Weidong looked at his teacup, took a sip, and then lifted his head: "The origin of the Xiao Alliance can be traced to the internal chaos and division of the Magic Sect a thousand years ago when a group of sorcerers embarked on their journey to the Western Regions and established a new inheriting organization.

The Xiao Alliance’s headquarters was once in the Roba Alliance, relocating over a century ago to the North American Continent. Under the leadership of the former Great Elder Water, the Xiao Alliance reached its peak.

Water’s successor Arthur claims the title of First Elder. His control over the entire Xiao Alliance and the power he possesses within the organization reached its zenith.

It’s an organization formed through the inheritance of techniques, but nowadays Arthur and others do not regard technique inheritance as the central tenet of the organization; they see it merely as a tool.

In their eyes, technique inheritance is nothing more than a tool to establish and control organizational power, gaining greater benefits..."

As a Great Elder of the Supreme Council, Hu Weidong naturally understands the history and current status of the Xiao Alliance better than He Kao in many ways.

Yet He Kao countered in Divine Thought: "I certainly do not agree with Arthur and others’ conduct, but speaking of techniques alone, is it not merely a tool?"

Hu Weidong: "Oh, what kind of tool is it then?"

He Kao: "The Ancestors created Secret Techniques which could allow individuals to break through life’s original limits and experience multiple realms, enabling them to face the world more calmly... In my view, techniques are merely tools, their wondrous uses lie in people."

Hu Weidong, however, slightly frowned: "Is that how you understand it, junior brother?"

He Kao nodded: "Do you have any guidance, senior brother?"

Hu Weidong solemnly said: "What I’ve comprehended—cultivation is real life, and cultivation is the content of life. The so-called technique is a method of cultivation, a pathway through which people can cultivate.

Method and tool are two different things; it includes the spirit beyond the tool. Method is not a tool, it’s the purpose and manner of living, encompassing causality, attitude, and choice.

There are many things in this world that cannot be instrumentalized, including you and me. But in Arthur and others’ eyes, technique inheritance is a tool, and the disciples who receive inheritance are even more their tools.

Technique cannot simply be seen as a method; it also holds the significance of inheritance.

Technique is not the Ancestors’, but is a road and truth existing between heaven and earth. This is what the Ancestors discovered and wanted to tell future generations, as well as the meaning of Grotto Heaven’s existence..."

He Kao paused in mid-air with his cup, stunned.

Being a Tier Six Alchemist from the Xiao Alliance secretly establishing ties with the Magic Sect, He Kao did not lack respect for Hu Weidong, but compared to the sincere admiration he had for some elders, he inevitably held slight disdain.

Yet the recent conversation made He Kao hold him in solemn regard—this was a true idealist, perhaps even the real hope within the organization of Xiao Alliance!

At the roots of a towering tree eaten out by pests, healthy seedlings often sprout, but because the canopy blocks the sunlight and rain, such seedlings struggle to grow smoothly.

Fortunately, Hu Weidong is now strong enough to emerge.

Hu Weidong had a deeper understanding of techniques, inheritance, and Grotto Heaven, and acted upon those understandings, no wonder he made demands that seemed a bit excessive.

After a moment of contemplation, He Kao took a sip of tea, and instead of using Divine Thought, he directly spoke: "An enlightening lesson!"

**