Hidden Moth-Chapter 413 - 230: Longing to Soar Among the Clouds (Part 2)
Perhaps the true answer has far surpassed Gu Chun’s realm.
As for this painting, no matter where it is, Hidden Moth can find it after breaking through Tier Four. He Kao didn’t go looking for it, simply because he had already acquired it before then.
This painting is not a Grotto Heaven Divine Artifact, nor even a Divine Artifact; if you insist on understanding it as a Grotto Heaven Divine Artifact, that’s also fine. As for what it truly is, Gu Chun couldn’t grasp, or perhaps Tan the Immortal didn’t answer.
This painting was passed on by Tan the Immortal to his disciple Leidunzi. At that time, the painting had only landscapes, and later Leidunzi added Tan Ancestor’s image in the blank space.
The information Gu Chun received during worship could only roughly clarify things for He Kao.
He Kao asked puzzledly, "Why would Thunder Ancestor add Tan Ancestor’s image to the painting, then let it wander the world?"
Gu Chun nodded and said, "You also thought of it, but unfortunately, I don’t know the answer; I can only make a small guess..."
Leidunzi was the key figure in reorganizing the Magic Sect and establishing the Ancestral Hall.
This painting is the embodiment of Floating Colors Grotto Heaven, and only Hidden Moth can open it. Leidunzi didn’t leave it in the Magic Sect; instead, he let it wander the world, likely leaving it for Hidden Moth.
Such a divine item isn’t afraid of being damaged. Even if it seems damaged in the eyes of mortals, it will mysteriously recover in incredible ways.
At the time, Leidunzi must have known that the Hidden Moth lineage was still being passed down and that Insect Concealment Skill was still circulating, hoping Hidden Moth could cultivate the skill successfully, thus finding this painting and restoring the Hidden Moth Lineage.
The era Leidunzi lived in didn’t meet the conditions to restore the Hidden Moth Lineage. If done rashly, the hard-won reorganization of the Magic Sect might fall into turmoil again, leaving hope to future generations.
A thousand years later, this painting fell into the hands of Micro Realm Sect disciple Zhang Yanfei. Zhang Yanfei may have researched something, possibly notifying the Alchemy Sect seeking more mysteries from sorcerers there.
Unfortunately, Wan Zhongle and others representing the Alchemy Sect had limited understanding of the painting, disappointing Zhang Yanfei greatly.
Zhang Yanfei did not give the true painting to Wan Zhongle, only a fake one, then sent the true painting to be exhibited nationwide, possibly to search for Hidden Moth.
If Hidden Moth does not appear or hasn’t acquired Hidden Moth’s identity, the painting’s true use cannot be fulfilled. Zhang Yanfei should have desired to become Hidden Moth...
With Zhang Yanfei gone, there’s no way to ask if that’s what he thought.
Yet the painting truly lured out Hidden Moth, who was taken by Huang Xiaopang, eventually ending up in He Kao’s hands. It’s as if fate had a role in it.
All these are Gu Chun’s speculations. As for whether such are the facts, he isn’t sure, but at least a test can be performed.
He Kao acquired the painting before breaking through Tier Four, but what if he didn’t have it in hand during his breakthrough?
On this point, Gu Chun laughed and said, "Xiao Kao, I’ll take this painting out. Let’s see if you can find it."
"Don’t worry; Old Man Jiang swore with both Old Li and me long ago never to harm you or covet your opportunities, and we’ll keep everything secret."
He Kao took down the painting, rolled it up, and handed it to Gu Chun, saying, "If I couldn’t trust your words, I would have died countless times already... But today we are here not to test the Moth Wings, aren’t we?"
Gu Chun replied, "No hurry for Moth Wings, let’s first test this painting."
He Kao suggested, "If you can’t figure things out, does it feel like cats are scratching your heart?"
Gu Chun replied, "How could someone like me lack such willpower? What’s with this kid, no more fussing, hurry and open the door to send me out. Later, come out searching for the painting in half an hour!"
He Kao asked, "Where do you intend to go? I can only open portals to places I’ve been before."
Gu Chun replied, "Just open it at the previous spot."
He Kao opened the portal, and Gu Chun walked back to his home’s main hall, immediately using Yuqi to transform into A Cloud, flying deep into Bai Ma Mountain outside the town. Elder Gu found a secluded cave in the mountain and placed the painting in a rock fissure.
As the scheduled time approached, Gu Chun glanced towards the cave entrance, then suddenly turned. Only then did He Kao appear in the cave, reaching to retrieve the painting.
Gu Chun asked, "How did you find it?"
He Kao said, "I didn’t even look for it. In Floating Colors Grotto Heaven, I can naturally sense the painting’s location. I walked through here just in time to see you peeking out... You must have hidden your Divine Sense, otherwise, I couldn’t have come through."
The test results concluded that the Hidden Moth himself, upon breaking through Tier Four, could enter Floating Colors Grotto Heaven. Once inside, he can sense the painting’s location, finding it wherever it is.
Theoretically, as long as Hidden Moth exists, the painting can never be lost.
The Hidden Moth himself doesn’t need the painting to enter Floating Colors Grotto Heaven, so what is the painting’s significance? With it, one can break free from the limitations of Invisibility Ability, opening portals in front of others, even entering the Grotto Heaven with monkeys.
No wonder Leidunzi didn’t leave this painting in the Magic Sect. If it were in the Ancestral Hall within Grotto Heaven, constantly guarded, Hidden Moth would have no chance to take it.
Letting it drift among the populace gives Hidden Moth a chance to acquire it.
The test confirmed Gu Chun’s speculation, and he couldn’t help but feel somewhat pleased. The duo returned to Floating Colors Grotto Heaven to finally test Moth Wings.
Gu Chun looked up to the sky and said, "You teleport directly to high altitudes, not too high, around five hundred meters will do, and try gliding down."
He Kao hesitated, saying, "No, let’s not do such a big move at the start! I haven’t tried it yet. Don’t accidentally fall to my death."
Gu Chun asked, "Are you worried I can’t catch you?"
He Kao suggested, "Start easy then difficult, I’ll try on flat ground first."
He Kao first chose to sprint on flat ground, leaping skyward, attempting to jump as high as possible. Using the Artifact Control Technique, three pairs of colorless, transparent wings unfolded on his back, looking like a moth, as he wobbled and floated gently to the ground.
He didn’t fly; the Moth Wings merely cushioned his landing.
After gauging, he found a cliff nearby, a little over five meters high. With his cultivation, jumping off wouldn’t kill him. He rushed toward the cliff, leaped into the air, and spread the Moth Wings.
This time he flew quite far, but it was mostly gliding, carefully controlling his body’s posture. The magical treasure applied balance to wind pressure, making simple stabilization techniques easy.
After a few tries, he attempted to flutter the wings in a strange rhythm, and indeed maintained flight in mid-air. However, his speed was slow and strenuous, even slower than his fastest running, like a low-flying electric scooter.
With his current cultivation, the maximum wingspan of this artifact could reach ten meters.
Moth Wings are an Invisible Artifact. The Artifact Control Technique can adjust the wingspan’s size. Initially, uncertain, He Kao maximized the wingspan, later realizing this was inappropriate.
Maximal wingspan consumed excessive Divine Power, and his form was a large moth, not a bird.
Retracting the wingspan to half, maintaining it within five meters, about two meters on each side, with a body weight of less than a hundred kilograms, provided optimal control.
Gu Chun said nothing, watching him flutter afar. After a while, he finally supported his forehead with his hand, saying, "As cautious as you are, there’s no need for me to guard. Slowly handle things yourself, just be careful not to deplete Divine Qi in mid-air."
He Kao was thoroughly enjoying himself, responded by retracting the Moth Wings, landing, and said, "Don’t be in a rush to leave, I have something else to tell you, hope you can help."
**
