Chapter Forty: The Key

Inside the Hall of Celestial Veins, Mo Bai steadied his mind and spoke in a clear, resonant voice: “All of this began with the injury of Master Yun Zui. Master Yun Zui is the most outstanding disciple of the current Cloud Sky Sect. Unfortunately, ever since Master Yun Jin entered the Cloud Summit Palace three years ago, there has been no one to spar with Master Yun Zui in spirit cultivation, causing him to stagnate for three years without a single breakthrough. Until one day, a strange guest arrived at Cloud Marvel Peak. This man possessed extraordinary spiritual prowess. He bypassed all the disciples and entered Master Yun Zui’s inner chamber alone. Just as Master Yun Zui was about to question his identity, the visitor produced a pill. The pill’s fragrance was unique and refreshing. Master Yun Zui is learned and discerning; how could he not recognize it? The pill was none other than the legendary Spirit-Solidifying Elixir of Violet Essence, a sacred medicine that could greatly enhance one’s spiritual power.”

At this point, Mo Bai paused, and all eyes turned to Wu Luohua. Everyone had heard of such a rare elixir—the Spirit-Solidifying Elixir of Violet Essence, a unique pill of the Wu family. It was said to be painstakingly refined by the Wu family’s second master using over seventy kinds of spiritual herbs. Those who consumed it could see a great rise in their cultivation and it was also a holy medicine for healing wounds.

Mo Bai continued, “Master Yun Zui was overjoyed upon seeing the pill. The stranger slowly handed it to him, but in that instant, struck without warning, injuring Master Yun Zui. His intent was to kill, but Master Yun Zui’s cultivation was too profound. At that moment, the attendant boy guarding him also caught the scent of the pill. With a startled cry, the assailant fled in haste, thus sparing Master Yun Zui’s life.”

Pausing for a moment, Mo Bai went on, “That night, I secretly visited Cloud Marvel Peak. The young master of the Wu family handed me the Spirit-Solidifying Elixir of Violet Essence, hoping I could use it to treat Master Yun Zui. Yet, as I approached Master Yun Zui’s door, the attendant boy unexpectedly accused me of being the culprit. Shocked, I realized there must be something wrong with the pill. After leaving Master Yun Zui, I questioned the Wu family’s young master at another courtyard, only to learn that over the years, the Wu family had indeed gifted this pill to several people—among them, naturally, was Master Yun Kong, who visited the Wu family with his master twenty years ago!”

At these words, it was as if a veil had been lifted for the assembled crowd, revealing a faint trace of the truth. Master Yun Kong laughed coldly and said, “You would heap such a grave accusation upon me based solely on the scent a child noticed and your own wild conjecture and fabrication? Don’t you find it absurd?”

Mo Bai’s words had left everyone startled, especially the Six Disciples of Cloud Sky, who knew well the severity of Master Yun Zui’s injuries. Unless he transmitted his true spirit, he would not utter a single word, for anything else would risk his life—rendering the apprenticeship ceremony meaningless. Mo Bai’s story was thus hard not to doubt.

Just then, Mo Bai slowly drew an object from his robe. When it appeared, everyone’s doubts were dispelled. It was an exquisitely carved little fish. All Six Disciples knew that before joining the Cloud Sky Sect, Master Yun Zui’s surname was Yu, and this ornament was the most precious keepsake left by his birth father. Only someone he trusted completely would possess it.

Yun Kong’s brow furrowed as he said, “This only proves that Master Yun Zui did indeed speak with you. Let us, for argument’s sake, consider your words to be his. But isn’t it far-fetched to rely on a mere trace of a scent?”

Mo Bai smiled calmly: “The attendant boy, by coincidence, lost his memory—foiling Master Yun Kong’s plan to frame me. He then shifted suspicion to the Lord of Skyshattering Cliff, wounded him, and deliberately left him barely alive so that Yun Ling, Jiu Xi, and Yun Fa would visit. Then, manipulating Dong Zixuan to declare he was injured by the martial arts of the Cold Monk, he ensured suspicion would fall upon me. Knowing I practice the Cold Monk’s Fourfold Golden Bell technique, he had Yun Ling test me, hoping to expose Yun Fa through me. Thus, with a single move, he could destroy us both and achieve his aims.”

Yun Kong burst into laughter: “Mo Bai, don’t forget, it was the Cold Monk’s technique that injured Brother Dong, and only you and Yun Fa possess such skills.”

Mo Bai’s eyes flashed coldly: “You’re mistaken. Don’t delude yourself that your secret theft of Yun Fa’s Ice Whirl technique remains perfectly hidden. You’ve already been exposed.”

Yun Fa regarded Mo Bai with icy eyes. “What are you saying? How could Yun Kong know the Ice Whirl technique?”

Mo Bai replied loudly, “I believe the two of you met yesterday at one of the most peculiar places in the Cloud Sky Sect. Don’t you yet realize why?”

Yun Kong looked at Yun Fa, and Yun Fa looked back at him. Suddenly, both understood. Yun Kong slowly said, “So it was you who sent the message. I never imagined you could imitate both of our handwritings so well. But what harm is there in two brothers meeting at Cloud Marvel Peak?”

Mo Bai said, “Then you should not have said, ‘Yun Fa, I can help you no longer.’ You realized you’d fallen into a trap, so you sacrificed the pawn to save the king!”

Now Yun Fa glared at Yun Kong, his face dark. “Senior Brother Yun Kong, I can’t believe you used the reflected camouflage of Cloud Summit Palace to secretly learn my Ice Whirl technique!”

At that moment, a girl’s voice rang out: “Now I finally understand why it’s possible to see Cloud Summit Palace from Cloud Marvel Peak—what a marvel! One can actually witness others’ actions from here.” It was none other than Nalan Xiner.

Mo Bai continued, “Xiner is right. That day, the eldest son of the Wu family and Xiner accidentally witnessed the image of Cloud Summit Palace from Cloud Marvel Peak. I was astounded. Later, when I went to investigate, I stumbled upon a tremendous secret: at certain special times, thanks to unique lights, Cloud Marvel Peak can reflect the scenes and activities from elsewhere. That’s why, when I wrote ‘meet at the old place,’ both Yun Fa and Yun Kong thought of the same location—they have exploited this for years to serve their own ends. Yun Kong tracked the movements of important figures and quietly eliminated them to sow chaos in Cloud Sky Sect and prepare for the Luo Sha Sect’s return to Linglong. Yun Fa, meanwhile, monitored the sect’s every move, seeking out his opponents and removing them without hesitation.”

Yun Fa nodded. “That explains everything. If neither Mo Bai nor I did it, then the one who injured Brother Dong must be you, Yun Kong, who secretly learned the Ice Whirl technique!”

Yun Kong’s aged body suddenly straightened. “Mere conjecture, nothing more.”

Mo Bai smiled as well. “Perhaps you think these are all guesses. But if you still recognize it, perhaps you wouldn’t say so.” With that, Mo Bai gestured to Wu Luohua, and the eldest son of the Wu family slowly produced an object from his jade pouch: a wine gourd.

At the sight of the wine gourd, Yun Kong’s entire body trembled as if struck by lightning. For the first time, a hint of fear flashed across his face. “How do you have my senior brother’s wine gourd?”

Mo Bai smiled bitterly. “Perhaps we should ask your senior brother why he used such a distinctive wine gourd, filled it with nothing but bitter wine, and told his granddaughter that whoever obtained it must drink it in one gulp. In all the world, what could be stranger than this?”

Nalan Xiner asked curiously, “Why, Brother Mo?”

Mo Bai spread his hands. “Because carved on the bottom of this wine gourd is a world-shaking secret! It is also the key to all our mysteries!”