Chapter 1146

The person in charge of hiring at the ship agency had two small mustaches and shrewd eyes. He scrutinized Mo Hua.

"You—you want to be a guard?"

Mo Hua nodded.

The manager then asked, "Are you a Body Cultivator or a Spirit Cultivator?"

Mo Hua replied, "Spirit Cultivator."

The manager immediately declared, "We don't hire Spirit Cultivators."

Mo Hua felt a slight prickle of annoyance. "Why not?"

The manager explained, "Hiring a Body Cultivator means they're tough, strong, can charge into battle, and endure hardship. With robust vital energy, even if severely injured, they won't die easily. Minor injuries heal quickly, which means the ship agency pays less in spirit stones for compensation."

"As for Spirit Cultivators, they get seriously injured and die quickly. They don't dare to charge forward, instead hiding behind, channeling a spell for ages, and still hitting nothing..."

"It's like hiring a useless person..."

The manager's face showed clear disdain, evidently having suffered greatly from such hires.

Mo Hua was silent for a moment. He could only say tactfully, "My spells are very powerful."

"Every Spirit Cultivator tells me that," the manager retorted.

Mo Hua tried again, "My spells are cast very quickly."

"Coincidentally," the manager said, "they also said their spells are cast quickly."

"My movement technique is also excellent; I won't die easily," Mo Hua insisted.

The manager nodded. "The Spirit Cultivators who died in the maw of the sand demons last month also told me their movement techniques were good..."

Mo Hua was somewhat speechless. These half-baked Spirit Cultivators had dragged down the overall reputation of their kind, causing even a "master" like him to suffer from damaged perception. Mo Hua sighed, then could only say, "My cultivation... is very high."

"How high?" the manager asked.

Mo Hua whispered, "I'm at the late Foundation Establishment stage."

The manager pointed to his own face, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness. "Do I look like a fool?"

Mo Hua looked at him.

The manager continued, "Do I look like a fool? And look at you, how old are you? At most, twenty or thirty years of cultivation age, and you're at late Foundation Establishment? Why don't you claim to ascend to heaven? If you're truly late Foundation Establishment, I'll twist off my own head and let you kick it like a ball—"

Moreover, late Foundation Establishment cultivators commanded higher prices and required more spirit stones. With that amount, it would be better to hire several Body Cultivators at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. The manager waved his hand. "Next please—"

Mo Hua, feeling helpless, could only say, "My strength is genuinely great. Why don't you find someone to spar with me?"

The manager replied, "Young Master, it's not that I'm trying to make things difficult for you, but the reality is, Spirit Cultivators just aren't suitable. The owner himself said that when it comes to guards, we should avoid hiring Spirit Cultivators if possible. That's just the rule."

"If I hire a Body Cultivator and something goes wrong, I won't be blamed. Body Cultivators at least have brute strength. But if I hire a Spirit Cultivator and you get eaten by a beast without having done anything, the owner would surely fire me."

"Furthermore—" The manager's shrewd gaze swept over Mo Hua. "I've met countless people, and looking at you, Young Master, your aura is ordinary, nothing exceptional. Your spiritual power is also very shallow; I estimate you're at the bottom tier among Spirit Cultivators. Just give up, don't make it harder for me—"

The manager waved Mo Hua away.

Mo Hua was helpless. If this person hadn't been an ordinary cultivator, he might have used the "Demon Seed in Dao Heart" technique on him to alter his perception of cultivation. But there was nothing he could do; this was just an ordinary person. While a bit rigid and snobbish, he hadn't done anything truly bad. Mo Hua didn't want to make things difficult for him.

After leaving the ship agency, Mo Hua went to several other family-owned ship agencies that operated sand-ferry businesses to try his luck. Without exception, all refused him. Being young, having an unknown background, no local connections, and lacking established roots made it extremely difficult to secure a "job." Furthermore, his cultivation "specialty" was not a match; being a fragile "Spirit Cultivator" naturally led to rejections everywhere. Even his late Foundation Establishment cultivation was a hindrance. A higher realm meant a higher hiring price, so local ship agencies would naturally be more cautious. Even when Mo Hua lowered his asking price, it didn't work.

"You're a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet you don't dare to state your price. Are you feeling guilty, knowing your strength isn't up to par?"

"Or, are you a late Foundation Establishment cultivator working as a 'guard' for a low price, harboring ulterior motives?"

Mo Hua had never realized before how difficult it was for ordinary Spirit Cultivators to find a job and earn a living. If not a Spirit Cultivator, then surely an Array Master would work. Mo Hua found another ship agency. He didn't claim to be too high-level, only saying he was a low-tier second-grade Array Master and wished to find a ship-board position for a single trip to Great Desert City. Upon hearing this, the manager of the ship agency smiled, his face creasing like a chrysanthemum, and he bowed and scraped, treating Mo Hua with utmost respect.

However, regarding the onboard position, the manager still gave evasive answers and dared not agree. Mo Hua subtly probed and only then understood. Here in Great Wind Ferry, almost all trades were "monopolized." The array formations on sand ships could only be drawn by Array Masters supported by local families. They didn't require these arrays to be particularly brilliant, but they needed absolute secrecy, absolute security, and absolute control. Even if an external Array Master had a higher skill level, they would only be treated with reverence, like a great Buddha, but never actually allowed to touch the core array formations of the sand ships. "Monopoly" was more important than anything else.

If it had been before, when Mo Hua revealed his "second-grade Array Master" identity and wanted passage on a ship, these ship agencies would not have refused, even if only to gain favor or show goodwill. But now, war was spreading, and the situation was chaotic. Shipping was also very dangerous, and routes had tightened. Local ship agencies sought to avoid mistakes rather than achieve merits, and they only tried their best not to offend or curry favor with "master cultivators" passing through Great Wind Ferry, to avoid misjudging people and inviting trouble upon themselves.

Given the circumstances, Mo Hua could only bid farewell. Finding a ship guide, crossing the sand sea, and reaching Great Desert City was proving more difficult than he had imagined. He spent two more days exploring Great Wind Ferry and found that everywhere, only Body Cultivators were hired; there was no room for Spirit Cultivators to earn a living. Especially with the current difficult overall situation, Spirit Cultivators were even more "discriminated" against. This way, he simply couldn't get on a ship.

Mo Hua frowned, deliberated deeply, and thought, "Should I also switch to being a Body Cultivator?" But he was naturally weak in vital energy since birth and had never trained his body a single day. How could he switch to being a Body Cultivator? If he really became a Body Cultivator, how would he fight anyone? He'd probably charge forward and be killed with one punch in the blink of an eye.

Mo Hua considered for a long time before gradually coming up with an idea: "If Foundation Establishment Body Cultivators won't work, then I'll switch to being a Qi Refining Body Cultivator—" After all, his late Foundation Establishment cultivation was here; no matter how weak his physical body, it was relative to other Foundation Establishment cultivators. Compared to Qi Refining cultivators, even a Body Cultivator at the ninth layer of Qi Refining, his current physical body was actually still strong. Therefore, he couldn't compare body cultivation with Foundation Establishment cultivators, but he could with Qi Refining cultivators.

At this thought, Mo Hua couldn't help but sigh. He never expected that one day, he, a proud genius disciple of the fifth-grade Tai Xu Sect with late Foundation Establishment cultivation, would have to compare body cultivation with Qi Refining cultivators. But when under another's roof, one must bow one's head. The situation was pressing, and he had no choice.

So, Mo Hua began to "transform" into a Body Cultivator. Of course, he couldn't truly become one; he just needed to put on a show to get onto a ship and cross the vast sand sea. Since he was to be a Body Cultivator, he certainly couldn't remain in his current pale, delicate, and scholarly appearance. Mo Hua found some light brown ink and smeared it all over his body, turning himself bronze-skinned, making him look like a poor boy who had lived a hard life for years but was resilient and had bright eyes. His physique still looked a bit thin, but there was nothing he could do about that. Muscle and bulk couldn't be easily trained, and faking it wasn't necessary.

After changing his appearance, he needed to learn some martial arts techniques. Otherwise, merely having the "force" of the Qi Refining realm without body cultivation moves wouldn't work. "What moves should I use?" Mo Hua recalled and then realized that since childhood, apart from aspiring to be an Array Master, almost all the cultivation methods he had practiced were spells; he hadn't learned a single martial arts move. The only martial arts move he had "learned," albeit reluctantly, if Mo Hua remembered correctly, was one taught to him by his junior senior brother Bai Zisheng during his travels in the Five Elements Sect: "Soaring Dragon in the Sky."

This was a martial art created by his junior senior brother Bai Zisheng himself—a light-body technique for flying and leaping into the sky, then thrusting a spear downwards, the spear striking like a dragon. It was very dashing but utterly foolish. Leaping into the sky and striking a pose might have looked cool, but it left him full of weaknesses, making him a mere target for others. Mo Hua still felt disdain thinking about it now. But in an instant, his expression turned a little melancholic. Amidst the backlash from the Fatal Star, some of his memories had faded, but this particular move, when recalled now, he still remembered clearly.

Junior senior brother... Bits and pieces of their time in Tongxian City resurfaced in his mind. This bold, righteous, and somewhat foolish junior senior brother, who loved to join in on the fun, where was he now? Mo Hua was silent for a moment, then, involuntarily, began to practice the "Soaring Dragon in the Sky" move created by his junior senior brother Bai Zisheng.

After trying it a few times, Mo Hua quietly gave up. It was simply too foolish. Too much flash, no substance. And too many flaws. This was something Mo Hua, who always pursued decisive action, precise and ruthless spells, and clean, efficient movements, simply could not accept. Mo Hua abandoned Bai Zisheng's self-created, flashy "Soaring Dragon in the Sky" ultimate move and instead went to the marketplace in Great Wind Ferry to buy several common, widely available martial arts classics used by Qi Refining Body Cultivators, such as "Wind Sand Fist," "Rushing Fire Fist," "Splitting Earth Kick," and so on.

While these martial arts techniques, move by move, were not brilliant, they were simple and practical. In Mo Hua's eyes, they were immeasurably better than that foolish "Soaring Dragon in the Sky." Mo Hua briefly learned and practiced these martial arts moves until he looked convincing, then donned a simple hemp robe and went back to the ship agencies to "reapply." This time, he couldn't apply for "guard" positions. Only Foundation Establishment cultivators could be guards. Qi Refining Body Cultivators could only be laborers. Fortunately, his body was shrouded in Heavenly Mystery Mist, and his divine sense was strong, so ordinary cultivators couldn't detect his true realm.

Mo Hua first went to several large ship agencies. Because large ship agencies had clear divisions of labor, the manager hiring "guards" was not the same as the one hiring laborers. Mo Hua had also changed his appearance, "disguising" himself. Now, the bronze-skinned Body Cultivator Mo Hua looked completely different from the previous pale Spirit Cultivator Mo Hua, so he wasn't afraid of being recognized. But the result was exactly the same. Body Cultivator Mo Hua was again rejected. Large ship agencies also had relatively strict standards for hiring "laborers." Moreover, Mo Hua was too "thin." Standing among a group of tall and strong Body Cultivators, he looked very out of place and was "screened" out by the manager at first glance.

Mo Hua was starting to get angry. He almost used the "Demon Seed in Dao Heart" technique, but fortunately, he restrained his evil impulse. These were just ordinary cultivators; they couldn't withstand being toyed with by his "Demon Seed in Dao Heart." Mo Hua couldn't guarantee what an ordinary cultivator's temperament would become if affected by the Demon Seed, or if they could ever return to normal. Mo Hua could only settle for less, going to some medium-sized ship agencies to try his luck. Medium-sized ship agencies still picked and chose.

Mo Hua further settled, going to a small ship agency that could barely afford a signboard, only hanging a flag. The ship agency was very dilapidated and clearly very poor. Scattered boatmen were doing odd jobs, with each person taking on several roles, doing everything. There wasn't even a manager; an old, hunched boat captain personally handled the hiring. The boat captain looked at Mo Hua with a questioning gaze and asked, "Young man, you want to be a laborer?"

Mo Hua nodded.

The boat captain then asked, "Are you a Body Cultivator?"

Mo Hua nodded again. "Yes."

The boat captain let out a "pfft" and shook his head, sighing, "You practice body cultivation, but you don't eat more meat to gain bulk?"

Mo Hua, helpless, could only say, "Although I'm thin, I'm strong."

"Strong?" The boat captain looked doubtful and pointed to a nearby stone pillar. "Go hit that."

Mo Hua walked over and punched it. His fist slammed into the stone pillar, leaving a clear fist print. The boat captain's expression was shocked. A group of boatmen also murmured in surprise.

"This kid has a lot of strength.""He looks thin and weak, but I didn't expect his punch to be so powerful, remarkable—""He has some talent; his future in body cultivation is promising—"

Mo Hua looked serious and said nothing. The boat captain was shocked for a moment, then said, "You—how did you practice body cultivation? You don't seem to have much of a foundation, where does such great strength come from?"

*Because I'm a late Foundation Establishment cultivator.* But he certainly couldn't say that. Mo Hua was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I was born with divine strength; I've been very strong since childhood—"

"Born with divine strength!" The boat captain's expression was amazed. After a moment, he frowned again and asked, "Judging by your appearance, you're not from around here, are you?"

Mo Hua nodded. "I came from the north, from the Canglang State border."

"Canglang State border?" The boat captain frowned. "That's quite far from Great Wind Ferry. Did you come alone? Where are your parents?"

Mo Hua shook his head and said, "My hometown was very poor; we couldn't get enough to eat. My parents sent me out early to fend for myself, just so I could have food. I've been cultivating and making a living all the way until I reached here—"

The boat captain looked at Mo Hua's slightly yellowish complexion, his thin body, and his clear eyes, feeling sympathy. He nodded and said, "Alright, you can stay. You'll be a laborer."

A boatman nearby said, "Boss, this—"

The boat captain waved his hand, then looked serious and said to Mo Hua, "This is a small ship agency. Our ships are small and old, and they often have problems. Sailing on the sand sea is extremely dangerous. Encounters with sand demons attacking the ship are deadly, and there are also sand bandits who rob ships and kill without blinking."

"The sand sea is merciless. We boatmen live with our heads hanging by a thread from the mast. Once we set sail, it's a rough journey through wind and sand. It's already a blessing if we return in one piece."

"If something happens, we might not even be able to protect ourselves, let alone guarantee your safety.""If you truly die in the sand sea, we can't afford compensation.""That's why our small ship agency is short-staffed every other day. Many times, I don't have a choice."

"If it were other poor people, who've lived most of their lives and have worthless lives, coming to be a laborer, I'd just turn a blind eye and say nothing. But you're too young, and you have innate divine strength; your aptitude is truly rare. That's why I'm telling you all this clearly."

"Think carefully before you decide whether to get on the ship. Don't get on the ship in a daze, only to find you can't come back."

The boat captain spoke earnestly. Mo Hua was somewhat surprised. After a brief thought, he solemnly said, "I want to get on the ship."

"Are you sure you've thought it through?" the boat captain asked again.

Mo Hua nodded. "I have no food, and I need to find a livelihood to earn a meal."

The boat captain sighed and nodded. "Good." Afterwards, the boat captain gave Mo Hua some time to prepare slightly. Three days later, the sand ship departed.

On a vast sand sea, aboard a crude sand ship, Mo Hua, like a small Qi Refining Body Cultivator, mingled among the boatmen. As the boat captain said, it was indeed a small ship, only a tenth the size of those large sand ships. It carried no more than fifty or sixty people. Among them, there were five guards and fifteen laborers. The rest were mostly passengers. Besides passengers, the sand ship also carried some cargo, but not much, to prevent the ship from becoming too heavy and getting stuck in the sand mid-journey, unable to break free, which could result in the death of everyone on board.

Mo Hua's job was a laborer. He basically had to do everything: serving tea and water, ferrying and operating the boat, standing watch, and even some of the "guard" duties. It was a very hard and undignified job. Ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators would disdain doing such work. Disciples from aristocratic families and sects, even if not direct descendants, as long as they had a slightly better family background or any status at all, would not associate with "crude" lower-tier cultivators like boatmen, let alone humble themselves to personally perform "laborer" tasks.

Mo Hua, however, didn't mind. Although he was now a genius disciple of a fifth-grade grand sect, a revered junior senior brother among his peers, and the top student of the Qianxue Array Dao, his status was already very "noble." But he hadn't forgotten that he was originally from a poor, wandering cultivator background. Under the Great Dao, all beings are equal; he didn't have many concepts of hierarchy or status in his mind. Mo Hua held deep respect for cultivators who worked hard to earn a living with their own labor. When performing laborer duties himself, he didn't feel any sense of losing face.

On the contrary, acting like a Body Cultivator, working diligently, and then collapsing into sleep when tired—not thinking about anything, not caring about anything, temporarily shedding his identity, forgetting all his worries, not thinking about his Senior Uncle, not thinking about the Fatal Star, not thinking about the Great Wilderness, not thinking about the war, not thinking about so many karmic ties of heavenly mystery, schemes, and calculations—this surprisingly brought Mo Hua a long-lost sense of peace.

And the fellow laborers he worked with were also very kind to Mo Hua. Seeing that Mo Hua was young, far from home, and struggling to make a living, they wouldn't let him do the heavy or tiring tasks. Whenever there was a break, they tried to let Mo Hua rest. If a passenger made things difficult, they would stand up and speak for Mo Hua. Even during meals, they would share an extra scoop of porridge with Mo Hua.

Mo Hua's mood was quite complex for a while. He could feel the resilience, simplicity, and kindness of humanity in these poor, lower-tier cultivators. Subtly, his own humanity seemed to be influenced and became more "stable."