Although the introduction of Hidden Moth by Wu Yanjun used a different expression, it was quite similar to what He Kao had already understood. In short, it's about legendary figures whose abilities are speculated to originate from a particular object.
Why do people believe such speculation? Not only because of various evidence but also because the speculator themselves are extraordinary figures, cultivating various techniques.
Since ancient times, the transmission of techniques mainly includes seven sects, which are Observing Body, Microcosm, Xingshen, Heart Plate, Qi Observation, Alchemy Cauldron, and Lingxi.
From a modern perspective, these seven techniques don't seem like the seven sects in Xianxia novels, but rather like seven different technical disciplines, such as lathe worker, milling worker, boring worker, grinding worker, fitter, electrician, carpenter...
He Kao has not practiced any skills since childhood, only participated in metalwork internships at college and is from a family of carpenters, inevitably making such comparisons.
According to Wu Yanjun, these seven transmissions are both secretive and public. They are akin to a circle, where insiders naturally understand each other's situations. Outsiders know very little, even if they have heard something, it's often misconstrued.
How does one enter the circle? Actually, it's simple, just obtain the transmission and cultivate to Entry Level. Each sect's sorcerer usually doesn't proactively disclose the inner workings of their Magic Sect to outsiders, which is their age-old tradition.
So, does Wu Yanjun actively seeking out He Kao and saying these things violate the sect's rules? This decision indeed slightly goes against the ancestors' intentions, so until now, he alone has come to find He Kao, and others have not clarified things.
But this is also a special situation because Wu Yanjun witnessed sorcerer colleagues secretly spying on He Kao, not only disturbing his life but also swapping his worn adornments by some means.
On the surface, everyone seems very disciplined; He Kao is completely unaware, unaffected. But wearing that fake Beast Claw is not a good thing, it's just that He Kao himself doesn't know, so Wu Yanjun felt he had to step in.
He not only explained what Hidden Moth is but also introduced the existence of Jianghu Magic Sects, techniques, and sorcerers.
There are clues of suspected Hidden Moth appearances in the Qi Yuan area. A group of Magic Sect disciples arrived upon hearing the news, suspecting He Kao as their main target—the Hidden Moth Object.
Speaking of this, He Kao shrank back and interrupted, "Why would they suspect me?"
Wu Yanjun said meaningfully, "By asking this, you've already started to believe what I've said, haven't you?"
He Kao said, "Whether I believe it or not, you've already come to me, sitting right across from me!"
Wu Yanjun replied, "I can't tell you this because knowing too much isn't good for you."
He Kao thought to himself, haven't you already said enough? He continued to ask, "Then tell me about yourself. What's written on your badge mean?"
Wu Yanjun asked, "Have you ever played games?"
He Kao replied, "I'm a programmer; the games you play are developed by people like us."
Wu Yanjun said, "Then it's easy to communicate. You can understand it as, I've become an Awakened and successfully changed professions, then advanced to a Level 2 profession..."
The structure of the Magic Sect is more relaxed than people imagine, not a gang that everyone gathers together all the time, more like an academic group or industry association, with sorcerers spread across various sectors of society.
But their inner connections are much tighter than those so-called industry associations, and their bonds are the transmission of techniques. They also have the age-old so-called sacred transmission lands, equivalent to Sect Headquarters, which nowadays are symbolic concepts.
The core of transmission is people. The sect elders are not elected because this is a technical occupation. Achievers of techniques reaching Level 6 or above are recognized as sect elders.
Wu Yanjun is a disciple of the Micro Realm Sect, and his cultivated technique is, of course, the Micro-Entry Skill.
The Tier One achievement in Micro-Entry Skill is called "Imitator."
Tier Two achievement is commonly known as "Calligrapher."
Tier Three achievement is self-titled "Appraiser."
Tier Four achievement is jokingly called "Artisan."
Tier Five achievement is known as "Heart Measurer."
Tier Six achievement is honorably titled "Artifact Master."
As for what lies beyond that, it's not within Wu Yanjun's knowledge, and even his master couldn't explain it. The achievements between him and his master are merely at the Tier Two Calligrapher level.
Once a disciple becomes a formal sorcerer after entry, the master usually registers the disciple's title with the Magic Sect, and introduces him to familiar disciple colleagues and other sect comrades to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts in the future.
But Wu Yanjun's situation is quite awkward. The place he met his master is very special—in a detention center in the southern part of the Eastern Country, to be straightforward, it was when he was a fellow inmate.
His master is a highly respected artist, none other than Zhang Yanfei, the former Vice President of the Eastern Country Art Association and Dean of the Nanhua Academy of Fine Arts.
Wu Yanjun did not know Qian Guran nor knew that Qian Guran also investigated the Zhang Yanfei case, but as a disciple of Zhang Yanfei, he knew more about the "Nanhua Academy of Fine Arts artwork swapping case."
Wu Yanjun briefly introduced the case, explaining why his master was imprisoned.
Zhang Yanfei was trapped by an ancient painting, "Tan Xian's Walking Stick Painting." The person in the painting and the author of the painting were both founders of the Alchemy Sect. The situation is not quite the same as what Qian Guran knows; when Zhang Yanfei first became dean, he discovered this ancient painting and notified the Alchemy Sect.
That was a decade ago. Zhang Yanfei, with good intentions, gave the Alchemy Sect comrades a heads-up about discovering an artifact belonging to their sect founder.
When the people from the Alchemy Sect arrived, they brought Zhang Yanfei various ancient papers, ancient inks, ancient pens, ancient inkstones, ancient seal clays, even including ancient mounting silks and wooden axes, some of which were actually taken from other ancient paintings.