https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1047-Heavenly-Escape-and-Slaughter/13466449/
Chapter 1048: Recruitment
Chapter 1048: Recruitment
Thus, Song Jian, the pride of the Severed Gold Sect, along with his fifteen elite disciples, were all “recruited” under Mo Hua's command.
Mo Hua laid down three rules for them:
"First, this is an Evil Path Array, malevolent and dangerous. Follow my instructions to the letter. Whatever I say, you must do. If you don’t, any deaths will be on your heads."
"Second, I will give each of you an array. Use this array to seal your Gate of Consciousness. Do not remove it under any circumstances. If external malevolent spirits invade and corrupt your consciousness, I will not show mercy. Whether you live or die will be up to your own fate."
"Lastly, I do not want your spirit stones or potions, but all array mediums and spirit ink must be handed over to me..."
The disciples of the Severed Gold Sect were reluctant and had some doubts.
They did not understand what an Evil Path Array was, what external malevolent spirits meant, or what kind of array Mo Hua was giving them...
But Mo Hua's expression was indifferent, and his actions decisive, clearly showing no intention to explain.
Under the circumstances, the pride of the Severed Gold Sect ultimately had no choice but to accept Mo Hua's terms.
They handed over their array mediums and spirit ink, and wrapped Mo Hua's Divine Path Array around their foreheads.
The group continued their journey, exploring the malevolent array.
Along the way, malevolent spirits continued to appear, and Mo Hua occasionally gave brief warnings.
All the disciples of the Tai Xu Gate followed his orders without question, executing every command precisely as he intended, without the slightest hesitation.
However, the Severed Gold Sect was different. They gave lip service but harbored doubts in their hearts. A few of them, harboring rebellious thoughts, defied Mo Hua's instructions.
When Mo Hua told them to go left, they would go a bit to the right.
When he told them to stay still, they would take a few extra steps.
Sure enough, these two were soon invaded by blood leeches, which entered their minds. They quickly fell into madness, their minds consumed by killing intent, and they turned on their comrades.
Mo Hua had made it clear that everything must be done as he said.
If something went wrong, he would take responsibility.
But if they did not follow his instructions, they would bear the consequences.
In the Evil Path Array, everyone must act in unison.
Disobeying orders, acting on their own, or causing trouble could easily endanger everyone, and Mo Hua would not hesitate to act.
The more determined to save lives, the more decisive one must be.
Mo Hua's eyes glowed with a golden light, and a stern gaze was cast.
The two disciples of the Severed Gold Sect who had fallen into madness were immediately stunned.
"Kill them", Mo Hua said coldly.
Cheng Mo immediately struck, splitting one with an axe, while Ling Hu Xiao summoned his Sword Qi to kill the other.
The two disciples of the Severed Gold Sect who had fallen into madness were dead instantly.
"Let's go."
After the killings, Mo Hua did not linger and continued forward.
The disciples of the Severed Gold Sect were pale-faced.
They had not expected Mo Hua to be so "ruthless", ready to kill at the slightest sign of trouble.
But they could not really blame him.
In times of chaos, harsh laws were necessary. The more urgent the situation, the stricter the rules had to be.
Mo Hua had already laid down the rules, and the two disciples of the Severed Gold Sect had knowingly violated them. They had brought it upon themselves.
If they had fallen into madness, they would have become a threat, and needed to be eliminated.
Moreover...
Mo Hua had only needed a single glance to paralyze the two mad disciples, a feat that was truly incomprehensible.
The other disciples of the Severed Gold Sect recalled Mo Hua's near-mythical display of divine might at the Sword Discussion Conference, where he had nearly single-handedly defeated five opponents. Thinking of Mo Hua's various exploits, they felt a chill down their spines, their faces showing fear, and they dared not voice any objections.
Song Jian did not say anything. To maintain his "status", he showed a hint of "anger" and "sadness" on his face, but inwardly, he was relieved.
On the surface, he was the pride of the Severed Gold Sect.
But only he knew how he had achieved this status.
In most situations, his background and skills allowed him to be a "leader" and maintain a facade.
But the current situation was fraught with danger, with threats at every turn, far beyond his ability to handle.
Just like in the Ten Thousand Demon Valley, when things were unclear, it was best to follow along.
"Following Mo Hua is much safer..."
Song Jian sighed in relief.
Everyone continued forward.
After the two killings, which served as a stern warning, the disciples of the Severed Gold Sect became much more compliant. They no longer questioned Mo Hua's orders and dared not hesitate.
They might not respect Mo Hua, but they did not dare to challenge his authority with their lives on the line.
Soon, everyone gathered again in the eastern corner of the Withered Forest, where they encountered another group of Qian Study disciples.
Qin Cangliu, the pride of the Trigram Water Sect, along with over a dozen of his fellow disciples, including Wang Chen, were there.
At that moment, the Trigram Water Sect disciples were guarding the entrance to a valley.
Qin Cangliu was quite shrewd and cautious. Though he didn’t know the details of the evil array, he could sense the malevolent aura around them and dared not act rashly. Instead, he formed a defensive formation based on the terrain, deciding to wait and see what would happen.
This wait brought Mo Hua and his group.
Mo Hua and his companions, a formidable crowd of over forty, made Qin Cangliu's heart race. He immediately drew his longsword, its blade shimmering with water light, ready to attack.
The other Trigram Water Sect disciples also readied their swords, standing in opposition to Mo Hua and his group.
The Trigram Water Sect and the Tai Xu Gate had a history of enmity, dating back to the Lipstick Boat incident.
During the Sword Discussion Conference, the Trigram Water Sect and the Tai Xu Gate were adversaries.
Qin Cangliu also had a personal grudge against Mo Hua.
Not long ago, during the Asura Battle, both sides had engaged in a life-and-death struggle.
Now, with the two groups facing each other, Qin Cangliu instinctively prepared for a fight to the death.
Generally, that would have been the case.
But Mo Hua didn't make a move.
Qin Cangliu soon noticed something odd.
Among the crowd, there were not only disciples of the Tai Xu Gate but also those from other sects...
"Severed Gold Sect?!"
Qin Cangliu's pupils dilated.
He saw over a dozen Severed Gold Sect disciples among the thirty or so Tai Xu Gate disciples!
It was like finding a mouse in a cat's embrace!
Qin Cangliu's thoughts were in turmoil.
Then, his expression turned angry, and he confronted Song Jian, "Severed Gold Sect, have you allied with the Tai Xu Gate?"
Song Jian was in a difficult position, especially since he was currently in a subordinate role, so he naturally had to gauge Mo Hua's reaction.
Song Jian looked at Mo Hua.
Mo Hua then said to Qin Cangliu, "The Sword Discussion Conference is one thing, and for the sake of our sects, we must compete. But now we are in an evil array, surrounded by danger. As disciples of the righteous path, we should put aside our past grievances, work together, and seek a way out."
Mo Hua's words sounded reasonable.
But Qin Cangliu found it hard to believe.
He came from a prominent family in the Imperial Dao Court, where his relatives were all involved in the penal system. Growing up in such an environment, he had a somewhat dark and cautious personality. People often said he was shrewd and scheming.
But Qin Cangliu knew that Mo Hua, with his fair skin, clear eyes, and seemingly innocent appearance, was far more devious than he was.
The saying "one cannot judge a person by their appearance" perfectly described Mo Hua.
Qin Cangliu's brows furrowed, and he remained silent.
Seeing that flattery wasn't working, Mo Hua resorted to threats, saying things like, "Your array skills are no match for this, and you won't see the dangers ahead", "If you stay, you will die", "And it will be a very painful death", and so on.
Each word made Qin Cangliu increasingly uneasy.
He knew Mo Hua might not be lying.
But his cautious nature made him hesitant to make a quick decision.
Most importantly, he was wary of Mo Hua's deviousness. He feared falling into Mo Hua's trap, fearing that his fellow disciples from the Trigram Water Sect would be used as cannon fodder.
If that happened, they wouldn't even know how they died.
The Sword Discussion Conference was a prime example, where many people were killed in a frenzy orchestrated by Mo Hua.
Mo Hua had a notorious history in such matters, and Qin Cangliu couldn't afford to take the risk.
On the other hand, Qin Cangliu was also aware that Mo Hua, as a Master of Array Arts, possessed deep and unfathomable array skills. Only with his guidance did everyone have a chance of survival.
As Qin Cangliu wrestled with his decision, Wang Chen stepped closer and quietly advised him, "It's not just our sect following Mo Hua; the Severed Gold Sect is also here. If he plans to betray us, it won't just be the Trigram Water Sect."
"Moreover, the Tai Xu Gate is strong. If we anger Mo Hua and they decide to attack, we won't be able to stop them..."
Qin Cangliu frowned.
Wang Chen, understanding his thoughts, continued, "A wise person adapts to the situation. If you find it difficult to speak, I can take the risk and negotiate with Mr. Mo."
Qin Cangliu was surprised but slowly nodded.
Wang Chen then stepped forward, approached Mo Hua, and pretended they didn't know each other. He put up a show of arguing and managed to secure some "rights" for the Trigram Water Sect.
Mo Hua, despite his arrogant expression, nodded in agreement.
Wang Chen respectfully bowed to Mo Hua and returned to relay his "assurances" to Qin Cangliu:
- He would not betray the Trigram Water Sect.
- He would not intentionally send Trigram Water Sect disciples to their deaths.
- He would not be the first to harm Trigram Water Sect disciples.
- He would not use arrays to target Trigram Water Sect disciples.
...
"Master Qin, you might as well agree for now and see how things develop", Wang Chen said.
Qin Cangliu's eyes widened in surprise. Previously, he had found Wang Chen to be a slippery, opportunistic individual with questionable motives. However, seeing Wang Chen stand up to the "little villain" Mo Hua for the sake of the Trigram Water Sect genuinely impressed him.
Qin Cangliu couldn't help but feel more respect for Wang Chen and nodded, saying, "Alright."
Thus, the Trigram Water Sect was temporarily "incorporated" into Mo Hua's group.
Mo Hua reiterated the rules and provided them with protective divine arrays, while the Trigram Water Sect contributed array mediums and spirit ink. Mo Hua's team grew even stronger.
They continued to explore deeper, rescuing scattered Tianjiao disciples whenever possible. Whether or not the rescued disciples chose to stay was up to them.
Most sect disciples, even if saved by Mo Hua, were unwilling and too afraid to join the terrifying "great enemy" Mo Hua.
However, the disciples of the Severed Gold Sect and the Trigram Water Sect, with Song Jian and Qin Cangliu, the "leaders" of the Tianjiao, present, would invariably choose to "submit" to Mo Hua whenever they encountered their own sect members.
This was the strategy of capturing the leader first to subdue the followers.
By taming the leading Tianjiao, the other disciples would naturally fall in line.
Mo Hua nodded, confirming his hypothesis and gradually gaining some insights.
Thus, they continued forward, leaving the withered forest and entering a blood swamp, where they encountered Shi Tiangang of the Adamantine Gate.
The blood swamp was filled with blood water and flesh mud, a place of extreme filth that bred numerous malevolent spirits.
Above the blood swamp, countless blood leech-like malevolent spirits floated in the air like a blood rain, densely packed and causing goosebumps.
The Adamantine Gate had the worst luck, landing near the blood swamp.
They couldn't see the malevolent spirits and moved about recklessly. Most of the disciples were unknowingly invaded by the malevolent spirits in their Sea of Consciousness.
Over time, the situation became dire.
When Mo Hua and his group reached the blood swamp, over twenty Tianjiao disciples of the Adamantine Gate were already in a state of mutual slaughter.
The mad disciples were killing each other, and the remaining sane disciples had to intervene, leading to another kind of battle.
During the chaos, their Sea of Consciousness was further invaded by more malevolent spirits.
The most prominent among them was Shi Tiangang.
As the senior disciple of the Adamantine Gate, he watched his fellow disciples slaughter each other, feeling immense pain but powerless to stop it. He himself was surrounded by six or seven demonized Adamantine Gate disciples.
However, as the senior disciple of the Adamantine Gate, his mastery of the Adamantine Indestructible Technique was profound, and his body was protected by a golden light. Despite the overwhelming odds, he continued to hold his ground.
Moreover, Mo Hua was surprised to find that although Shi Tiangang was "bathing" in the blood swamp, he was not deeply possessed.
Perhaps it was the subtle protection of the Adamantine Indestructible Technique, which not only safeguarded his physical body but also warded off some malevolent thoughts.
Or perhaps it was because his body, tempered through cultivation, was as strong and unyielding as iron, and his will was equally resolute.
Or maybe it was because Shi Tiangang himself had a noble heart and a firm resolve...
Mo Hua couldn't help but feel a sense of respect.
Seeing that Shi Tiangang was about to be overwhelmed, Mo Hua's eyes glowed with golden light, and he swept his gaze across the area.
Several of the mad Adamantine Gate disciples who met Mo Hua's gaze were instantly stunned by his divine perception and collapsed.
Linghu Xiao, Cheng Mo, and Sito Jian also acted together, repelling the other Adamantine Gate disciples and rescuing Shi Tiangang.
Shi Tiangang, pale-faced, was about to thank them, but upon seeing that his rescuers were his "enemies", Mo Hua and the Tai Xu Gate, his expression became extremely complex.
Mo Hua didn't mince words and spoke directly, "We can escape if our sects work together."
Shi Tiangang's resolute face showed a hint of bitterness. He turned to look at his fellow disciples, who were still slaughtering each other, feeling a deep pain in his heart. Finally, he sighed painfully, "Alright."
"Enough, I am the eldest disciple of the Adamantine Gate. It’s my duty to take care of my fellow disciples, and I’ve failed to do so."
"In a situation like this, how could I possibly abandon my brothers and save myself alone?"
Mo Hua was taken aback, his gaze filled with admiration. He nodded and said, "I can help you save them."
Shi Tiangang's pupils dilated, looking at Mo Hua in disbelief.
"You..."
"I can't save all of them, but more than half can still be rescued", Mo Hua said. "However, once I save them, you must follow my orders. At least within this evil array, what I say goes..."
Shi Tiangang took a deep breath, gritting his teeth.
"Alright!"
Despite his anger and resentment towards Mo Hua, when it came to the lives of his fellow disciples, such feelings seemed insignificant.
Mo Hua nodded and began his work.
First, he gathered the disciples of the Adamantine Gate who still retained their consciousness.
Then, he used Fireballs from a distance to draw the attention of the demonized disciples, luring them out of the blood marsh.
Next, using divine perception to control the spirit ink, he drew an array on the ground, forming a prison of earth and wood to bind these disciples.
The Soul-Shocking Sword then emerged, piercing their eyes to temporarily stun them.
Cultivators like Cheng Mo stepped forward to subdue them, using binding spirit artifacts to tie them up.
Mo Hua repeated the process, burning incense, clearing his mind, and using evil to counter evil, allowing the sword spirit to enter the Sea of Consciousness of the Adamantine Gate disciples to cleanse the malevolent spirits.
The entire operation left the disciples of the Severed Gold Sect and the Trigram Water Sect thoroughly amazed. They couldn't understand what was happening, but they were deeply impressed.
In their eyes, Mo Hua no longer seemed like an array master but more like an eerie sorcerer, exuding a profound and enigmatic aura.
Their respect for Mo Hua grew, and they became even more cautious about following his orders.
In the end, out of more than twenty disciples of the Adamantine Gate, eighteen survived.
Some with weak resolve, excessive killing intent, or deep-rooted malevolence didn't make it.
This outcome was far better than expected.
Shi Tiangang felt a sense of gratitude towards Mo Hua, though this gratitude was mixed with his previous anger and resentment.
His emotions were a complex mix of various feelings.
After a brief rest, Mo Hua laid down a set of rules.
The eighteen surviving Tianjiao of the Adamantine Gate, led by their eldest brother Shi Tiangang, handed over their array mediums and spirit ink. They wore the Divine Path Array and formed a temporary guard around Mo Hua, ready to follow his commands.
Mo Hua, holding a copper coin, followed the threads of karma, leading everyone forward. The group marched through the Evil Path Array, their presence quite imposing.
Soon, they encountered another sect's Tianjiao in a valley.
Feng Zichen of the Xiao Yao Gate.
Feng Zichen was stunned when he saw Mo Hua and his group, unable to react for a long time.
For a moment, he almost doubted his eyes.
If his eyes were fine, then it must have been his mind, infected by evil thoughts, creating an illusion.
What did he see?
Mo Hua stood in the center, with the eighteen Tianjiao of the Adamantine Gate, led by Shi Tiangang, lined up in front of him.
On his left were the sword cultivators of the Severed Gold Sect, led by Song Jian.
On his right were the elites of the Trigram Water Sect, led by Qin Cangliu.
The Tianjiao of the Tai Xu Gate formed a protective circle around Mo Hua.
Feng Zichen felt his worldview collapse.
Deadly enemies, working together?
Was the cat getting married to the mouse?
He couldn't think of any reason to explain this surreal scene.
He even began to suspect that Mo Hua was actually an ancient demon reincarnated, skilled in manipulation, using dark magic to brainwash Shi Tiangang, Qin Cangliu, and Song Jian, turning these Tianjiao into puppets to do his bidding.
Feng Zichen felt a growing sense of fear.
At that moment, Mo Hua, the center of attention, looked at Feng Zichen with clear eyes and asked, "Want to join us?"
Feng Zichen trembled and nodded obediently.
"Yes."
(End of Chapter)
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