Chapter 172: Imparting Knowledge

Chapter 172: Imparting Knowledge

"Su… Su Mo..."

The Patriarch of the Man Sect looked at Su Mo's expression and immediately felt uneasy.

Su Mo, however, smiled and said, "Patriarch of the Man Sect, how have you been?"

"…I know what you're about to do."

The Patriarch of the Man Sect didn't beat around the bush and sighed, "To be honest, my knowledge is indeed very limited.

"There are things he keeps from me... In our coexistence, he can always know what I'm doing.

"But what he's doing is only known to me if he allows me to know."

"I wonder, Patriarch of the Man Sect, is there anything you'd like to share with me?"

"Do you need to know where the remaining members of the Three Extremes Sect are?"

The Patriarch of the Man Sect asked uneasily, "That's the only thing I know. I've always acted on his orders. He said that if I disobeyed, he could kill me.

"I… I have no choice but to comply."

Su Mo glanced at Yang Yizhi, who immediately nodded and had someone prepare the four treasures of the study: brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Su Mo said with a smile, "Indeed, the Heaven Gate Master is truly inhumane. I originally planned to use the Painful Mantra on him, but unexpectedly, he brought you out.

"I'm curious, what exactly is going on between you two?"

"I… I don't know."

The Patriarch of the Man Sect was meticulous with Su Mo, as he was extremely fearful of him.

Especially after just enduring the Painful Mantra.

How could he dare to hide anything from Su Mo?

He immediately recounted everything he knew in detail.

"So it's because of cultivation."

Su Mo realized, "Speaking of which, the three unique skills of the Three Extremes Sect are quite intriguing to me. I wonder, Patriarch of the Man Sect, would you be willing to transcribe them so I can learn a thing or two?"

"Of course, as long as you don't use the Painful Mantra on me."

"Naturally."

Su Mo immediately nodded, and just as the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were brought over, Su Mo asked him to first write down the details of the Three Extremes Sect, followed by the Thirty-Six Paths of the Red Dust.

Without hesitation, the Patriarch of the Man Sect immediately began to write vigorously.

In no time, the pages were filled, and he even reviewed and corrected any omissions.

After checking it three or four times and adding several names, he handed the list to Su Mo.

Su Mo glanced at it and his brows immediately furrowed.

The Three Extremes Sect had been operating in the Eastern Wasteland for many years, not only within the Heavenly Blade Sect but also in Sunset City, the seven major sects of the Eastern Wasteland, and even the nameless sects, each having their people.

Su Mo handed this list to Yang Yizhi, whose face wasn't much better than Su Mo's. After drying the ink, Yang Yizhi placed it in his robe.

The Patriarch of the Man Sect then began to write again.

This time, it was the cultivation secrets of the Thirty-Six Paths of the Red Dust.

A true phrase is worth a thousand fake books.

Martial arts manuals rarely had lengthy discussions, so he wrote even faster.

In less than a thousand characters, he completed the Thirty-Six Paths of the Red Dust.

He handed it to Su Mo with both hands.

Su Mo skimmed through it quickly and suddenly asked, "‘To disperse and condense, let the qi flow through the seven stars; to condense and disperse, benefit the hundred bones…’ What does this mean?"

"It's the principle of the real within the unreal.

"When circulating qi, one must understand the concept of existence within non-existence, acting contrary to the usual way.

"If there is, then there isn't; if there isn't, then there is.

"The seven stars refer to the seven meridians.

"To condense and then disperse, thus strengthening the body and benefiting all bones."

The Patriarch of the Man Sect immediately provided an explanation.

Su Mo nodded, "When did the Heaven Gate Master come out?"

"…This, Chief Escort Su, why do you ask?"

The Patriarch of the Man Sect's face showed a hint of anxiousness.

Su Mo smiled, "The Thirty-Six Paths of the Red Dust is indeed a marvelous study, but it still hasn't transcended the realm of martial arts. And in the way of internal energy, the most taboo is the transformation of the real and unreal."

"Between practicing qi, even the slightest bit of uncertainty can potentially leave behind hidden dangers.

"At the beginning of this script, the instructions are written clearly and understandably, but halfway through, there are some seemingly plausible yet dubious principles mixed in.

"If my guess is not wrong, the Heaven Gate Master is using a strategy of nine truths and one lie to deceive me, Su Mo... into going astray and losing control, right?"

The anxious look on the Patriarch of the Man Sect's face vanished instantly, and he gently lifted his head to look at Su Mo, letting out a sigh:

"I should have known that this wouldn't deceive you. When did you start to suspect?"

"I've always been suspicious."

Su Mo smiled: "I'm naturally suspicious by nature. The Patriarch of the Man Sect might be open and honest, leaving nothing unsaid. But whether everything is truthful or not can only be judged by individual perception.

"Moreover, there's also the possibility that it's actually the Heaven Gate Master in disguise.

"So, after the list, I asked about martial arts."

"… I expected that."

The Heaven Gate Master seemed somewhat regretful: "You're not someone who covets this path. With your martial prowess, why would you desire the myriad paths of the mundane world?

"But, I had to take a gamble. If I could use this opportunity to eliminate you, a formidable enemy, wouldn't that be immensely satisfying?

"Even if it means death, I can rest in peace."

"In that case, I should thank the Heaven Gate Master for your special attention."

Su Mo sighed: "So, has the Patriarch of the Man Sect made an appearance?"

"Guess."

The Heaven Gate Master smiled slightly: "Your clever guess might just be right."

"Whenever there's a 'guess,' we shouldn't mention strategies."

Su Mo waved his hand: "The Heaven Gate Master's play of illusion and reality is truly hard to fathom."

He turned to look at Yang Yizhi: "Uncle Yang, do you have any effective methods of preparation left?"

The Pain Inducing Scripture is undoubtedly the best method to extract confessions, but the problem is that the unique state of the Heaven Gate Master makes it incredibly difficult to discern.

Even... Su Mo couldn't be sure whether the one enduring the Pain Inducing Scripture was the Heaven Gate Master or the Patriarch of the Man Sect.

Both possibilities exist, yet all possibilities dissipate into nothing.

"…"

Yang Yizhi pondered for a moment and said: "It seems I can only take him to Xuanhu Pavilion."

"That makes sense."

Su Mo nodded immediately: "Cure his mental illness first, and then we can apply whatever methods directly on the Heaven Gate Master!"

"Ah?"

Yang Yizhi was taken aback: "Is this considered an illness?"

"From what I can deduce, it should be."

Su Mo looked somewhat surprised at Yang Yizhi. "What you're thinking of, Uncle Yang, isn't the same as what I said? Then why did you bring him to Xuanhu Pavilion?"

"There is a secret technique inside Xuanhu Pavilion that can compel a person's mind, making them speak without reserve.

"I figured that using this method on him should yield results."

Yang Yizhi said, "However, if his condition is also a kind of illness, then going to Xuanhu Pavilion would actually be quite fitting."

Su Mo was somewhat surprised. "Is there really such a method?"

"Xuanhu Pavilion is far from as simple as you imagine."

Yang Yizhi smiled. "You'll understand when you have the chance to go in the future."

Su Mo nodded. However, Yang Xiaoyun asked, "Then why didn't you bring us along, Father?"

"There are rules within Xuanhu Pavilion. If I were to bring you, it would be breaking a taboo.

"But if the Little Situ Taoist were to bring you, it would be different."

Yang Yizhi smiled. "They are extremely generous to those they acknowledge."

At this point, he took out a few pills of the Immortal Rejuvenation Elixir, put them in his waist pouch, and handed the remaining ones in a bottle to Yang Xiaoyun.

"I didn't leave any for you before because I didn't think you'd need them.

"Now that you're fully aware of the situation, some precautions are necessary.

"I'll keep three pills for emergencies, and you can keep the remaining ten for protection."

Seeing this, Yang Xiaoyun instinctively looked at Su Mo. Su Mo gently shook his head.

"Uncle Yang, you should keep these. I know it's pointless to try to persuade you to give up this idea.

"Over the years, you could have abandoned this thought at any time, yet you've never wavered.

"Since that's the case, I won't persuade you anymore.

"However, this matter isn't just about you alone. In the past, not knowing was one thing, but now that we're aware of the many twists and turns involved.

"Then I ultimately cannot ignore it."

"Mo'er!"

Yang Yizhi hurriedly said, "You must not act rashly!"

"I offer you the same advice, Uncle Yang."

Su Mo said, "The best course of action now is to work together. With this feigned death as a cover, you can conduct your investigation in secret.

"However, no matter what happens, you must not act recklessly.

"If things become impossible, we can always discuss them.

"If you agree, then so be it. But if you don't, even though it would be a grave indiscretion... I will have to knock you out and bring you back to Sunset City."

---

Yang Yizhi was momentarily speechless, wanting to be angry but unable to muster the feeling.

He pointed a finger and took a deep breath, "You kid..."

"Father, Xiao Mo is right."

Yang Xiaoyun immediately said, "In the past, you treated us as if we were still children.

"But now, your children are no longer fledglings that need to be sheltered under your wings. Xiao Mo has the ability to defeat you and understands that this matter cannot be rushed.

"Just listen to him."

---

A twitch appeared at the corner of Yang Yizhi's mouth. It was said that a daughter, once grown, would no longer stay at home. In the past, this thought would have made him happy, but now, it left him somewhat frustrated.

After pondering for a while, he finally sighed:

"Very well, very well!

"I didn't intend to tell you before because I had other thoughts.

"Now that it's been said, it's already extremely difficult to prevent you from getting involved in this matter.

"However, let's make a pact. I will act with utmost secrecy, and you must not show any signs of abnormality.

"This act must be played out fully; otherwise, not only will you be in danger, but I might also face peril.

"Mo'er, I know you are highly skilled in martial arts. If they confront you openly, they will surely not return. But I fear they might attack from the shadows, which is harder to guard against."

Su Mo nodded, "Uncle Yang, I understand."

"That's good."

Yang Yizhi sighed and led Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun out of the cave.

For now, the Heaven Gate Master was treated as a mere decoration and could be ignored.

The knowledge that Scholar Liu Yun possessed was limited and didn't help much with the current situation.

Even the location of their mysterious headquarters was unknown to Scholar Liu Yun.

At this point, they could only wait until Yang Yizhi brought them to Xuanhu Pavilion to see if they could find more clues.

As the three walked and talked, Su Mo occasionally saw Wu Daoyou meditating on one side of the cave.

Suddenly, he looked at Yang Yizhi, "The cooperation between you and the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, that person... isn't Wu Daoyou, right?"

Yang Yizhi looked up at him and nodded slightly, "You figured it out again?"

"The alliance between you and Wu Daoyou is well-known to the world, but if they were truly equals, how could he take orders from you?

"And for him, this journey to East City is clearly of utmost importance.

"How could he agree to such a distraction?"

"You're right."

Yang Yizhi nodded, "Then who do you think I am truly allied with?"

Before Su Mo could answer, Yang Xiaoyun spoke up:

"It's Hua Qianyu!"

Yang Yizhi looked at his daughter in surprise, feeling a deep sense of comfort, "Yun's ability to reason has indeed grown with each passing day."

"I'm just influenced by those around me... Besides, don't think your plan was flawless. Actually, Xiao Mo had already guessed this before."

Yang Xiaoyun gave her father a side-eye.

Yang Yizhi was stunned for a moment, then sighed, "To see the big from the small is not something ordinary people can do.

"Yes, the person I am allied with is actually Hua Qianyu. And not just her, but also Wei Ruhan.

"Grand Master Wei of the Alliance is old and frail and can no longer control the various leaders within the Fallen Phoenix Alliance.

"I've been operating in Sunset City for many years, and my understanding of him is quite deep...

"But this alliance didn't start now; it began long ago."

"Years ago, when Hua Qianyu ascended to the position of the second alliance leader, your father and I even helped a little.

"Since Wei Ruhan's health deteriorated, strategies have been planned.

"Over the years, they've been building up significant power within the Fallen Phoenix Alliance.

"Among the four major cities of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, they've either overtly or covertly taken control of two.

"On the surface, Wu Daoyou operates independently, but in reality, he has long since pledged allegiance to Wei Ruhan.

"This stance must be made absolutely clear.

"Otherwise, chaos will inevitably ensue.

"Especially since Wu Daoyou has used my hand to scheme against the various factions in East City, and this has already succeeded…

"At least in name.

"But if Wu Daoyou were to declare his stance before this, the obstacles to this matter would be beyond imagination."

"In the future, if you encounter any difficulties, feel free to seek help from Hua Qianyu or Wei Ruhan."

"Does Wei Ziyi know about this?"

Su Mo suddenly asked.

Yang Yizhi shook his head. "The plan was set long ago. The fewer people who know, the greater the chances of success."

Hearing this, Su Mo finally nodded.

Then he smiled. "It seems that the overall situation within the Fallen Phoenix Alliance is already settled."

"That's right."

Yang Yizhi nodded and said, "This trip is the final step. Among the remaining four leaders in the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, some have started to waver. After Wu Daoyou returns from this trip, there will definitely be those who come to pledge their allegiance.

"Subtly, the balance of power has already been secretly determined.

"With a few more tactics, the rest are of no concern."

"Is this Wei Ruhan's strategy?"

Su Mo glanced at Yang Yizhi.

Yang Yizhi smiled and said, "This is Hua Qianyu's strategy... Don't underestimate this widow.

"Sometimes, when women are ruthless, there's no room for men to intervene."

Su Mo was momentarily speechless but agreed.

Setting this matter aside, Su Mo and Yang Yizhi discussed many other things.

Reorganizing the details, it was only in the middle of the night that Su Mo finally went to sleep.

Yang Xiaoyun, who had been sleeping soundly against a boulder, suddenly felt someone pat her shoulder.

Startled, she opened her eyes to see Yang Yizhi making a gesture for her to be silent, followed by a wave for her to come over.

Yang Xiaoyun instinctively looked at Su Mo, seeing that he was still asleep, which left her puzzled.

Seeing that Yang Yizhi had already stealthily walked a short distance away, she stood up and followed.

The two headed towards the small valley. Just as Su Mo, who had been sound asleep, opened his eyes and glanced, then smiled slightly, shook his head, adjusted his position, and went back to sleep.

……

……

"Father, why did you call me out?"

Yang Xiaoyun was puzzled.

Yang Yizhi gave her a scornful look first, then sighed. "How is your progress with the Great Supreme Xuan Court Sutra?"

"Steady progress, climbing steadily."

"Hmm, the Great Supreme Xuan Court Sutra is an orthodox profound sect. The advancement is indeed slower."

"However, it is centered and peaceful, without the risk of going mad from excessive practice.

"This is a skill that requires patience; there's no room for impatience."

Yang Yizhi gently exhaled. "In the past, I was taught by Shouxuan and gained the Yixuan Divine Skill and the Light Dividing Hand of the Startled Swan. The moves of the Light Dividing Hand of the Startled Swan are quite distinct. A group of people from back then were deeply impressed by it, including Xiao Mo's enemy... the Ten Grudges Old Man."

"The Ten Grudges Old Man... I've heard of him before. It seems Xiao Mo killed his disciple."

"The Ten Grudges Old Man has a biased and ruthless personality; his disciple wasn't any better. His death was well-deserved. To actually seek revenge... he was just asking to die.

"I didn't call you out to talk about this."

Yang Yizhi looked at his daughter. "I intend to pass on the Yixuan Divine Skill to you."

"Ah?"

Yang Xiaoyun was startled, then nodded. "Then I'll go get Xiao Mo."

Just as she was about to turn and leave, Yang Yizhi quickly grabbed her.

"Why are you calling him?"

"The Yixuan Divine Skill is extraordinary; it's the perfect opportunity to have Xiao Mo learn it together."

"……"

Yang Yizhi was so angry that his breathing trembled slightly: "I won't teach him, I'll only teach you."

"……Why?"

"Why?"

Yang Yizhi said angrily: "I haven't even taught him, and he's already achieved so much. If I do teach him, wouldn't it be as easy as flipping a hand for him to bully you in the future?"

"He wouldn't bully me."

"Before marriage, which man has ever said he would bully his wife?"

"The words of men in this world are not to be trusted, especially those of Su Tianyang, the son of that lecherous womanizer."

"……Then can I trust your words, father?"

"……"

Yang Yizhi was momentarily stunned and, in frustration, lightly tapped her forehead: "A father's words can certainly be trusted."

"Then why have you deceived me all these years."

"……Are you going to learn or not?"

"Learn!"

Yang Xiaoyun nodded: "When I've learned it, I'll just teach Xiao Mo myself."

"……"

Yang Yizhi felt a faint glimmer of stars appearing before his eyes.

He was utterly exasperated.