Hidden Moth-Chapter 447 - 254: Spinning Silk in the Cocoon, Walking with Caution

Chapter 447: Chapter 254: Spinning Silk in the Cocoon, Walking with Caution

According to that moderator, the former Magic Sect was a large sect-like cultivator alliance with a loose structure and a lineage of techniques, much like the cultivation groups depicted in many Xianxia novels.

However, due to ideological conflicts a thousand years ago, the Magic Sect experienced a hundred-year-long internal turmoil, where many cultivators who wished to live peacefully were attacked and schemed against by vile individuals, leading to the sect’s fragmentation, which could be regarded as a catastrophic calamity.

The elites of the Magic Sect suffered devastating losses and have since become scattered. These cultivators left behind their legacy across the world, spreading their teachings and establishing numerous new sects.

Some sects eventually disappeared into history, and their descendants gradually became independent cultivators.

Not only are there secret techniques from the Seven Great Magic Sects in the world, but there are also many other cultivation sects with unique legacies. However, most remain hidden from the world, and judging by the overall revealed strength, the Magic Sect remains the strongest.

Today’s Magic Sect was rebuilt by those scoundrels who incited internal strife and ambushed fellow members; it has long become a corrupted and degenerate organization, which can even be considered the dark cloud over all cultivators and the largest reactionary force in the cultivation realm.

Corrupted, degenerate, reactionary... these adjectives have been attached to the Magic Sect, but simply labeling them is not enough; concrete evidence must be presented for credibility.

The moderator claimed, based on her years of personal experience, that the Magic Sect monopolizes the grotto heaven blessed land left by the ancestors, controlling the lineage of techniques.

Anyone wishing to practice techniques must join the Magic Sect. If a non-Magic Sect disciple dares to pass on techniques, both the teacher and the cultivator might be monitored, suppressed, and persecuted by the Magic Sect.

These claims seemed somewhat alarmist to Zhang Jin Kui, as he had never encountered the Magic Sect or its cultivators, naturally leading to doubts.

Since the Magic Sect was already divided into many factions a thousand years ago, how could it monopolize the technique inheritance?

The moderator also responded to such doubts, providing "mysticism evidence." The main way the Magic Sect monopolizes the lineage of techniques lies in the miraculous "Grotto Heaven Summon" mechanism.

The Magic Sect controls the seven great grotto heavens; all magic cultivators in the world feel the corresponding grotto heaven summon when they break through to high tiers.

The Magic Sect’s upper echelons claim glory for themselves, establishing themselves as preachers; everyone must join the Magic Sect to receive secondary inheritance and obtain higher realm secret techniques.

But this also gave rise to another question—if that’s the case, why not simply join the Magic Sect!

The moderator also responded, mentioning some centuries-old sayings. It’s said that the secondary inheritance ceremony held in the grotto heavens has issues, leaving a mark in the grotto heaven, making them secretly controlled by the Magic Sect.

As for what kind of mark and how they’re controlled, the moderator was vague; apparently only the true upper echelon of the Magic Sect knows.

The upper echelons of the Magic Sect use this method to monopolize the lineage of techniques, forcing all cultivators to serve them. Once joined, one must abide by sect rules and follow orders; any violation would be punished.

What is the significance of doing this? Cultivation has no end, or its end is the legendary ascension to immortality. However, the higher the realm, the more resource-intensive breakthrough requires, and opportunities beyond ordinary imagination.

There is a nebulous theory, possibly borrowed from literary works, that the so-called "spiritual qi" in the world is limited! Although it cannot be proved, many people are skeptical.

Therefore, the Magic Sect’s upper echelons on one hand control their disciples to gather various resources and seek opportunities, while on the other hand monopolize the lineage of techniques and control cultivator numbers to ensure sufficient spiritual qi for their own cultivation.

After explaining this, the logical loop is finally closed.

In short, according to the moderator, the Magic Sect is reactionary and corrupt, with upper echelons being autocratic because of their methods of monopolizing the lineage. Many unwitting cultivators are deceived, enslaved and unable to exert their own will.

Following this reasoning, independent cultivators like Zhang Jingu and other non-Magic Sect cultivators live in hopeless darkness.

Yet, this doesn’t seem to match reality, as Zhang Jingu has lived well since childhood, practicing techniques without encountering any deliberate targeting or suppression.

The above viewpoints were not instilled all at once, but repeatedly promoted over a long period, sometimes with inconsistency in scale and scope, inevitably leading to some contradictions.

The moderator also knew that some of her words were too excessive and later made some amends, for example, emphasizing that the world is large, and the Magic Sect cannot dominate everything.

Since antiquity, many determined cultivators have persisted in battling the Magic Sect, forming a formidable, unbreakable coalition, especially in recent times.

Even many disciples within the Magic Sect have awakened to uncover the truth and started using various means to participate in the resistance...

Actually, the Magic Sect’s internal conflict a thousand years ago was a split between righteous cultivators, holding onto their conscience, and obstinate reactionaries. This split still occurs, with awakened disciples joining the righteous embrace.

Though the Magic Sect is strong, the power of united righteous cultivators is stronger, as they represent civilization and progress. The power of techniques will ultimately and invariably be in the hands of civilization’s progressors!

The moderator told this not only to Zhang Jingu but also invited him into a "Cultivation Chat Group," filled with dozens of independent cultivators like him, where these views are frequently promoted.

After listening to the moderator’s warnings, Zhang Jingu indeed remained cautious, including maintaining a cautious attitude toward the moderator’s kind of statements, taking them with a grain of salt.

All he wanted was to communicate about technique cultivation, as a sorcerer understanding that the most important thing is one’s own cultivation realm.

However, the situation changed a year ago, forcing Zhang Jingu to make a certain decision because he broke through to Tier Four cultivation, becoming a cultivator, and indeed sensed the grotto heaven summon in the void!

A successful rumor must contain real information, preferably something the audience wasn’t previously aware of.

Zhang Jingu was unaware of Grotto Heaven Summon and Secondary Inheritance, and under normal circumstances, there was no need to know, as once his cultivation reached a certain point, he would naturally sense it. Upon finding the Grotto Heaven, he could then receive the Secondary Inheritance.

But he hadn’t known initially, and later indeed sensed the Grotto Heaven Summon, proving the moderator’s words weren’t lies. Even if he harbored doubts about her words, he couldn’t help but waver at this point. More crucially—he dared not gamble!

He once privately chatted with the moderator, asking how the Magic Sect used Secondary Inheritance to control disciples. The moderator didn’t know the details either, but speculated it might be something akin to a "Thought Steel Seal."

The moderator also informed him that outside the Magic Sect, one could obtain High-tier Techniques, if only he wished to join the organization opposing the Magic Sect.

She insinuated joining the organization wasn’t without conditions, requiring one to pass tests assigned by the organization.

But Zhang Jingu didn’t take the bait, nor did he inquire as expected—what tasks needed completing?

Upon hearing this, He Kao couldn’t refrain from asking, "Why didn’t you want to join the organization?"

The focus wasn’t on whether Zhang Jingu joined the organization, but why he didn’t wish to, otherwise he’d have at least asked what tasks needed completion. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Zhang Jingu, somewhat embarrassed, lowered his head and said, "Because I cultivate the Spirit Awakening Skill, and upon breaking into high tier, one understands Divine Techniques that influence human behavior and judgment. So, I don’t believe that a mere ritual can imprint a Thought Steel Seal."

Unless one can swap a person’s brain on the spot, or the ritual unveils a world truth that can be proven, otherwise, it’s unattainable, at least as far as I’m aware..."

As Zhang Jingu knows, the Spirit Awakening Skill can use scenarios to guide emotions, amplifying a person’s existing desires to influence their actions and judgment, but cannot change inherent thought systems, let alone imprint a Thought Steel Seal.

Zhang Jingu has not only cultivated techniques but also earned degrees in Applied Psychology and Mental Health, clearly understanding that altering an adult’s inherent thoughts requires prolonged interaction with reality, which is often challenging.

Because each person’s thoughts are already existing steel seals, symbolizing his existence.

This first requires one to continuously encounter, encounter things that contradict his thoughts, things he can’t explain no matter how he sophistically argues, and he’s willing to open his eyes to see and accept.

Only then can one continuously overturn old cognitions and form new ones.

Even this isn’t enough, just like a bankrupt vampire wouldn’t necessarily become a proletarian revolutionary; his strongest desire might be to return to his previous class.

He also needs to learn a new knowledge system that can guide him to reanalyze various phenomena, deriving his conclusions without causing psychological or mental anomalies.

Each step mentioned above is indispensable! Hence, Zhang Jingu doesn’t believe a simple ritual can imprint a Thought Steel Seal while the person remains normal.

He Kao laughed, "After hearing Senior Brother Zhang’s words, I finally understand why so many people argue stubbornly online."

"Let’s not discuss professional issues; the Thought Steel Seal is just the moderator’s speculation. She didn’t assert it as fact. Didn’t she also mention that Secondary Inheritance might have imprinted some tracking mark, enabling the Magic Sect to monitor disciples?"

Zhang Jingu: "I can’t judge its truth or falsity because I felt the Grotto Heaven Summon, so there might really be such a possibility.

But I’m reluctant to believe them for several reasons. For example, I asked her what would happen if one didn’t accept the Grotto Heaven Summon? She told me it’s okay, no effect at all.

What does this imply? It shows that whether one goes to the Magic Sect’s Grotto Heaven to receive Secondary Inheritance is entirely voluntary, no one forces you, and you can obtain High-tier Techniques elsewhere, like from her.

If the Magic Sect wanted to monopolize Technique inheritance, wouldn’t that be an empty monopoly! I waited a full year, and no one came looking for me, neither asking me to join the Magic Sect nor forbidding me from continued cultivation."

He Kao nodded with a smile, "Anything else?"

Zhang Jingu: "And, she hinted that joining their organization requires completing tasks, yet didn’t even mention cultivation precepts. My master taught me, repeating the three Loose Cultivator precepts and the twenty-eight entry-level precepts."

He Kao, pausing a moment to react, said, "You’re referring to the Sect Hall Order and Xingshen Sect rules, right?"

Zhang Jingu: "Is that the formal title used within the Magic Sect?"

He Kao: "That’s the official name... But you still haven’t accepted the Grotto Heaven Summon."

Zhang Jingu: "Indeed, although I don’t dare trust them, I’ve only heard her perspective and have never interacted with genuine Magic Sect’s Members, who knows what the situation truly is?"

He Kao finally posed the key question: "Since you’ve never encountered Magic Sect’s Members, then how did you find me? Who provided you the information?"

Zhang Jingu awkwardly said, "I hadn’t finished my previous words, actually the information came from the moderator."

**