Hidden Moth

Jiang Daozhen: "That's also my intention, to protect Hidden Moth. Publicize the message that the Hidden Moth Object is unclaimable, then openly invite Hidden Moth back to the Magic Sect, making it difficult for certain people to do anything openly.

But as the saying goes, 'An open attack is easy to evade, a hidden arrow is hard to guard against.' Having made this choice, you will likely face many covert tactics. In the future, you can seek my help when needed and consult me if there are any issues.

However, you also know that the Ancestral Hall cannot send experts to protect you at all times, as that would expose your identity. Moreover, not all elders in the Ancestral Hall are aware of your identity."

He Kao: "Then how many elders know my identity?"

"Only three people: me, Earth Master Gu Chun, and Illusion Master Li Xiuyuan. The other four elders do not know. It's not that they are untrustworthy, but the fewer who know, the better. As far as I know, one elder really admires you!"

He Kao sighed: "None of the encounters I've faced happened openly, so I have a question I'd like to ask!"

Jiang Daozhen felt a bit embarrassed at this comment; he had just spoken of open attacks and hidden arrows, yet what He Kao faced was not open robbery but all hidden arrows, even before the Ancestral Hall released the announcement.

Just a few days ago, Wan Zhongle and Yu Shangzhen came knocking, although Qian Guran managed to deter them, these two might still take actions secretly, seemingly having reason for their maneuvers.

He Kao can seek help from Jiang Daozhen when faced with issues, but Jiang Daozhen cannot always be by his side as a bodyguard; these are matters He Kao must confront himself.

Jiang Daozhen: "Feel free to ask any questions."

He Kao: "I respect you, sir, as well as all the elders in the Ancestral Hall, but are all the Magic Sect disciples so unscrupulous?"

Jiang Daozhen showed a bitter smile and shook his head, saying: "You are mistaken, this is actually a misunderstanding..."

According to a comprehensive survey of recent situations among Magic Sect disciples, there are over four thousand official disciples across the sects, but only dozens came to Qi Yuan this time, at most fewer than a hundred people.

Most are here out of curiosity, just to watch the commotion, possibly while traveling. Truly, few are targeting He Kao in secret.

Some have even reconsidered after taking actions. For example, Ye Yuxuan exchanged a pendant, which Wu Yanjun returned, and Xiaowu explained the situation in person, becoming friends with He Kao.

Then there's Qian Guran, who recognized the situation, extricated himself, and even turned around to help He Kao in a series of fortunate events.

As for Lin Qingshuang, there is no need to mention further.

Those who acted unscrupulously are merely about ten or so individuals, totaling under twenty. Therefore, He Kao's perception is a typical example of survivor bias; had kindhearted people not approached for underhanded dealings, those acting in secret were nearly all the schemers.

Another question He Kao wished to deeply discuss with Jiang Daozhen: Does the sorcerer community naturally have a tendency to disregard law, disrupting order? If so, the issue becomes quite severe.

Jiang Daozhen's answer was — not necessarily.

Sorcerers are also ordinary people, living in this world, holding various identities. But because their talent generally exceeds that of the average person, coupled with magic cultivation, they tend to achieve higher accomplishments in various fields.

This isn't solely about individuals; Magic Sect disciples also form a vast network, capable of collaboration and mutual assistance, gradually gaining characteristics of those with vested interests.

The straightforward logic is that vested interests are inclined not to disrupt order, but to maintain it.

That is to say, they need not commit crimes to achieve respected accomplishments and live relatively comfortable lives. For instance, Xiaowu's master Zhang Yanfei is a renowned artist domestically and the dean of Nanhua Academy of Fine Arts.

But does this mean the sorcerer community will inevitably behave themselves? Certainly not, as ordinary people can err, so can they.

Taking Zhang Yanfei as an example, hasn't he gone too far? Moreover, his criminal activities lasted a long time, the amount involved was enormous, causing severe impacts.

It is spoken that large trees have dead branches; as the sorcerer community reaches a certain size, it inevitably encompasses various characters. However, this cannot be simply explained by saying "large forests have every type of bird."

Sorcerers commit crimes with particular distinctness, sometimes even inevitably.

First, because greater abilities diminish order's constraints, a slightest misstep leads to significant damages, which ordinary people may find difficult to prevent, resulting in severe consequences.

Secondly, vested interests tend to uphold order, yet if it hinders them from gaining more profits? As ability grows greater, identity becomes unique, self-expansion also increases.

From a probabilistic angle, this is almost an inevitable scenario.

Additionally, a more special case is that cultivation of magic itself influences one's temperament.

During cultivation, tribulations and dangers exist, such as Jiang Daozhen himself, who was trapped in an advancement ritual for as long as twenty-three years — could ordinary people withstand this?

If cultivation deviates, so will reflections on actions.

Jiang Daozhen hesitated to speak of others and instead used himself as an example. Previously, during a joke in his Divine Thought, if Huang Xiaopang hadn't transmitted the Hidden Moth identity to He Kao in time, he had the mind to kill Xiaopang.

Jiang Daozhen was self-mocking; he wouldn't act that way, but what if it were someone else?

Having waited for twenty-three years, hardly enduring anymore, appearing that once the Hidden Moth Object becomes ownerless, He Kao would truly become Hidden Moth. So why not eliminate Huang Xiaopang to fulfill the purpose?

Should one act like this, they'd be stepping onto a different path…

Jiang Daozhen further revealed an event: among those who swapped the pendant, there was also a sorcerer from Lingxi Sect who later disappeared. Logically, Lingxi Sect sorcerers, best at evaluating situations, should be least likely to enter murky waters, yet this one did.

After Hidden Moth Lineage ceased, Lingxi Sect has the fewest disciples among the Seven Great Magic Sects; historically, in its most prosperous times, it had only just over a hundred people, while most other periods didn't surpass three digits.

To be clear, Hidden Moth Sect previously had even fewer disciples than Lingxi Sect, with its peak having only about a dozen, mostly fewer than two digits.

About twelve hundred years ago, Magic Sect had Hidden Moth Lineage, whose duty was monitoring disciples' conduct nationwide, timely issuing penalties to caution fellow Magic Sect members.

After Hidden Moth Lineage ceased, Magic Sect established the Ancestral Hall, mainly handled by Heart Plate Sect's Earth Masters. But how could Earth Masters match Hidden Moth in handling such affairs?

Now He Kao truly becomes Hidden Moth; Jiang Daozhen informed him about Hidden Moth's origins and its role and duty in Magic Sect history, yet didn't compel He Kao to perform any tasks.

His advice to He Kao was only two phrases, the first being "chance encounters."

Even if He Kao didn't proactively monitor Magic Sect disciples' actions, some would seek him out, at which point he must handle it and perhaps inevitably so.

Was anyone clear about requiring him to kill Gu Yunteng? Ultimately it was He Kao who did it himself.

The other phrase is "act according to ability," the meaning needing no more explanation.

This is Jiang Daozhen's approach, informing He Kao of all circumstances without any compulsion, neither forcing him to join the Magic Sect nor requiring him to apprentice under Jiang Daozhen.

Yet, like the chessboard before him, when He Kao sat down, he was already within the game.

**

PS: The nine chapters of "Celestial Ladder" are finally finished! It's the end of the month, please request closing monthly tickets!