Hidden Moth-Chapter 403 - 225: Departing Form, Dispelling Knowledge, Observing Thus

Chapter 403: Chapter 225: Departing Form, Dispelling Knowledge, Observing Thus

He Kao was somewhat surprised, not because it was inappropriate to call the police, but considering Gu Chun’s status, he was usually busy. Couldn’t he just leave such matters to He Kao?

He Kao left the hotel, bought a cup of milk tea, and stood by the tree downstairs waiting... It wasn’t long before he saw Gu Chun coming down, to which He Kao approached and said, "So soon?"

Gu Chun: "It’s a small matter; it’s not that complicated."

He Kao: "As the saying goes, ’When the mentor is busy, the disciple should bear the burden.’ If there’s anything, you could just instruct me directly, couldn’t you?"

Gu Chun turned his head to glance at him: "Then accompany this old man for a stroll through the streets."

Since the old man was in high spirits, He Kao went along for the walk. Gu Chun wasn’t really looking to shop, he just strolled leisurely along the sidewalk, walking slowly while saying, "What do you think of the Piao Gate Law, specifically the phrase ’first hand it to the authorities’?"

The so-called Piao Gate Law is the Sect Hall Order. ’Piao’ means roaming the Jianghu. It’s an ancient code of conduct for sorcerers when traversing the Jianghu. Originally, there were three rules, and recently another was added. They are as follows—

Do not stir trouble; first hand it to the authorities.

Do not provoke without reason; keep your techniques hidden.

Do not leave disasters behind; cut ties when necessary.

Do not carry forbidden matters; the world will unite against you.

The first rule ’Do not stir trouble; first hand it to the authorities’ advises sorcerers to refrain from using techniques unless absolutely necessary, and instead to resolve issues using legal rules and regulations.

Another crucial point is that if a sorcerer engages in illegal activities, initially it should be dealt with by legal authorities, and any sect punishment is a separate matter.

The plight of Wu Yanjun’s mentor, Zhang Yanfei, is a concrete example.

He Kao: "The Magic Sect isn’t a court, and sect rules can’t replace worldly laws. Take Xiaowu’s mentor Zhang Yanfei, for instance. All the sect can do is expel him... Besides, sect rules only apply to sorcerers, it’s hard to handle others."

Gu Chun: "Then what’s the use of the Ancestral Hall?"

He Kao laughed: "Without the Ancestral Hall, who would oversee the self-discipline of sorcerers? Some matters the police simply can’t handle, because there’s no conventional evidence."

Gu Chun: "Oh, elaborate."

He Kao: "No need to look far; take the recent Nanhua incident where Shi Yun Road schemed against the Shi Haotu couple. If he succeeded, could the police convict him? Only the Magic Sect could handle it."

Gu Chun nodded slightly: "Good that you understand, you can make fewer mistakes."

He Kao perhaps had a momentary lapse and surprisingly asked: "Have you ever made any mistakes yourself, sir?"

Gu Chun, half-smiling, said: "I’m an old bachelor, occasionally having a bit of life, neither breaking the law nor violating public morals."

He Kao hesitated slightly: "What kind of life are you talking about... Uh, I didn’t mean it that way!"

Gu Chun turned his head: "Then what do you mean?"

He Kao quickly clasped his hands in apology: "I was wrong, I was wrong!"

Gu Chun waved a hand: "Go back to your cultivation then."

He Kao returned to Qi Yuan, still during the long Golden Week holiday. Gao Xue’e was very pleased to see him make a special trip back from Nanhua; they cooked a meal together, and He Kao once again helped Gao Xue’e cultivate her Ice Skin Jade Bone with Xue Guanghan.

After nearly a year of Foundation Establishment, Gao Xue’e was now both physically and mentally prepared to meet the entry level requirements, reaching what could be considered a peak state.

If she had practiced the Observing Body Skill, she might have been able to enter six months ago. Today, He Kao finally taught her the Insect Concealment Skill technique, carefully emphasizing the nuances during cultivation.

He Kao himself had encountered all the pitfalls possible during cultivation, which made him confident in teaching Gao Xue’e now.

Whether Gao Xue’e could break through to Tier Three or even a high tier, He Kao didn’t dare guarantee, but as long as she started cultivating, according to the technique requires, she should reach Tier Two within a month without issue.

At midnight, Gao Xue’e, utterly exhausted yet satisfied, slept peacefully, while He Kao entered the Caiping Grotto Heaven.

During the day, Gu Chun had hinted if he were not the Hidden Moth, just an ordinary sorcerer of the Hidden Moth Sect. Once breaking through to high-tier cultivation, what changes would there be in the techniques mastered?

He Kao had always overlooked this issue because he was the Hidden Moth and the only sorcerer of the Hidden Moth Sect.

Since it hasn’t been long since He Kao broke through to Tier Four, he hadn’t had the chance to comprehend the high-tier fundamental heart method of the Insect Concealment Skill, partly due to the various events happening outside, and because he was quite occupied even within the Caiping Grotto Heaven.

He intended to model the structure of other grotto heavens in the Magic Sect to construct an Ancestral Hall-style building, which certainly couldn’t be completed in a short time. But he hadn’t been idle during this period, as he gathered materials and built a meditation chamber on the side of the stone niche.

In the future, this quiet chamber can be extended to include a row of side rooms planned for the backyard, but for now, the chamber is sufficient. It at least provides shelter from the elements and allows for undisturbed sitting meditation during cultivation sessions.

If He Kao were not a Hidden Moth, he should have been able to sense the Grotto Heaven Summon after breaking through to the High Tier. Under normal circumstances, a Hidden Moth would use that painting to open the Grotto Heaven Gate, guiding him into the Caiping Grotto Heaven to receive the Secondary Inheritance.

Since he received the High-tier Heart Method inheritance in the Caiping Grotto Heaven, the best place for seclusion cultivation is naturally also the Caiping Grotto Heaven.

He Kao deliberately took off the Insect Concealing Artifact, specifically the fake Beast Claw Pendant crafted by Wu Yanjun’s junior. In reality, whether he took it off or not didn’t matter, since a Divine Artifact is not afraid of being lost and is useless to others who find it.

But sometimes form can be important as it represents a state of mind. He Kao at this moment is adjusting his status to perceive himself as a Tier Four Scholar who has cultivated the Insect Concealment Skill, entering the realm to comprehend the Fundamental Heart Method.

He Kao entered the realm quickly, starting from the Beginner’s Heart Method and repeatedly comprehending layer by layer, as if retracing the path he had taken in his cultivation journey. The Techniques inherently follow a step-by-step progression, evolving from Tier One to Tier Four.

The Beginner’s Heart Method for the Insect Concealment Skill is "Nihility View."

The Heart Method for breaking through Tier Two is "Observing Me."

After breaking through to Tier Three, it is "Observing Me as Such."

The Heart Method post-High Tier contains profound changes and can be termed "Nihility View as Such."

The state within is only comprehensible but difficult to articulate. As the ancients put it, one must detach from form to gain understanding, harmonizing with the great commonality; myriad things flourish and fall, and I observe their cycles... this is the sound of nature.

What is the sound of nature? The ancients also described it—like the sound of the wind among all things, it is naturally occurring.

In sitting meditation, detaching from form, the Divine Sense resonates with the sound of nature. Nihility does not imply non-existence but a state beyond the ordinary self, where everything in the universe becomes interconnected with me.

He Kao did not know when he entered the realm; amidst the sound of nature, he suddenly introspected and inexplicably saw himself—I am right here in the world, sitting in meditation within the quiet chamber.

Initially experiencing this state feels extraordinary. He Kao was greatly startled and exited the Fixed Realm, opening his eyes in the chamber... The events just now were clear; his consciousness actually left his body!

After readjusting his breath and calming his mind, after a long while, He Kao re-entered the realm... This time his mind was no longer disturbed. He realized his consciousness indeed left his body, seemingly transformed into an intangible existence.

No body, just consciousness, roaming freely within the universe. Due to this pure consciousness state, it could even teleport!

However, He Kao quickly discovered that this consciousness detachment was also limited, precisely within the range of his Divine Sense, and whenever disturbed or when he wanted to return, he could instantly find his way back into his body.

At first glance, this seemed meaningless because the extent of the Divine Sense is as far as perception can reach, a feat even Tier Three Sorcerers achieve... But upon careful introspection, there were subtle differences.

The detached consciousness is not in the usual sense of Divine Sense; it is equivalent to the "intangible self," temporarily separated from the form of the furnace, gaining a different freedom.

This intangible consciousness carries with it the sensations belonging to "me." It can hear, see, and feel the temperature and texture of things, yet it cannot truly touch anything nor be blown away by the wind.

If one intends to physically influence things within the Divine Sense range, returning to the body and using the Object Control Skill is necessary.

Could it be that the High-tier Heart Method "Nihility View as Such" of the Insect Concealment Skill, once comprehended, allows for consciousness detachment and free teleportation within the Divine Sense range?

If an ordinary "Scholar" can achieve this, then He Kao, as a Hidden Moth, can truly teleport within the Divine Sense range!

He Kao suddenly recalled a term—Yin Spirit Travel!

This is not mentioned in the Technique; rather, he read about it in a cultivation novel where Yin Spirit Travel was described, very much like his current state.

But upon deeper contemplation, there is a difference from the novel’s depiction of Yin Spirit Travel. In the novel, the state allows freely flying to other places, whereas his consciousness detachment is still bound by cultivation limitations.

Yet, it is not without significance! A Tier One Sorcerer of the Hidden Moth Sect is called a Stalker, primarily due to their Unique Application Technique—Stealth Skill... So at this realm, could this be the most exquisite form of stealth?

It’s important to understand that probing certain individuals with Divine Sense would almost certainly disturb them if they also possess Divine Sense. However, exploring in this manner, as long as one is cautious not to alert the other’s Divine Sense to any anomaly, causes virtually no disturbance.

On the other hand, the invisibility ability cannot be seen by others, leading to a significant limitation on true body teleportation in crowded places that often makes it simply impractical.

But using a method akin to "Yin Spirit Travel," the detached consciousness remains unseen by others, thus allowing free teleportation within the range of the Divine Sense.

This range is not small, and although it cannot touch anything, it can observe various things. In theory, it holds true, but practical verification is needed. He Kao then put on the pendant and disappeared from the quiet chamber.

It was already late at night; where to find a crowded place? He Kao headed to the old train station at Qi Yuan.

Though the Eastern Country is now in the high-speed rail era, the traditional regular trains still have some services, with many trains stopping overnight. Qi Yuan is a major station, so the old train station is busy throughout the night.

**