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Chapter 1085: Seizing Control
Chapter 1085: Seizing Control
Shangguan Wang, that old fox, had the deepest greed and the strongest lust for power. He was also terrified of death and yearned for eternal life more than anything.
Among those present, he was the easiest for Mo Hua to see through, aside from Master Tu.
Shanguan Wang didn't care about the Shangguan family, the Evil Deity, the Orthodox Path, or the Demon Path. All he cared about was whether he could achieve immortality.
Hearing Mo Hua's whispers, Shangguan Wang's heart trembled, and he looked at Mo Hua sharply.
Their eyes met, and Shangguan Wang saw the resolve in Mo Hua's clear gaze.
Mo Hua also saw the desire and hesitation in Shangguan Wang's eyes.
Mo Hua's voice softened.
"You took the Divine Embryo from its mother's arms, separating them, which was a grave sin."
"Now, the Divine Embryo is about to completely merge with the Divine Sovereign, and the pain of separation will remain in the Divine Sovereign's heart. You are essentially causing the separation of the Divine Sovereign and the mother, and the Divine Sovereign will surely destroy your divine soul."
"Master Tu didn't tell you this."
"He is harming you, wanting you to die. That's why he made you do this act that involves karmic retribution and goes against the Divine Sovereign, while you knew nothing about it."
Shangguan Wang's face turned pale, and a chill ran through his heart.
He didn't know if it was true, but even if there was a slight chance it was, he would be guilty of an unforgivable sin.
Mo Hua sensed Shangguan Wang's fear and whispered again, "But, every action has its benefits and drawbacks..."
"Although you committed a sin, without you, Yu'er could not have become the Divine Sovereign."
"From now on, if you abandon all selfish thoughts and show your utmost loyalty to Yu'er and the Divine Sovereign, and I speak on your behalf, your sins can be absolved, and you will receive great blessings..."
Mo Hua's voice was solemn and authoritative, yet it also had a seductive quality.
He used the fear of the Evil Deity to instill fear in Shangguan Wang, and then offered him hope in that fear.
Shangguan Wang's emotions fluctuated with Mo Hua's tone, oscillating between fear and joy.
At that moment, he really wanted to follow his instincts and obey Mo Hua's commands.
But his suspicious nature made him weigh the pros and cons in his heart.
Mo Hua's gaze turned cold. "I've already said, you must abandon all selfish thoughts and show your utmost loyalty. Only then can the Divine Sovereign sense your sincerity."
"Your selfishness shows that your faith is weak."
"If your faith is weak, your sins are not worth forgiving, and the Divine Sovereign has no reason to spare you."
Shangguan Wang felt a chill run through his body, and he immediately followed Mo Hua's words, abandoning all stray thoughts and dedicating his body and soul to the Divine Sovereign.
Indeed, once he had faith, he no longer felt lost, afraid, or timid.
A firm belief radiated from his entire being.
Shangguan Wang's gaze steadied.
"The Divine Sovereign is my master."
"Yu'er is my master."
"I will serve my master with all my heart and obey my master's commands."
Mo Hua nodded. "Your master now commands you to escort us out of here."
Leave?
Shangguan Wang instinctively wanted to think of a way out, but as soon as he looked up and met Mo Hua's stern, profound gaze, which seemed to see through his heart, he felt a chill and dared not have any selfish thoughts or be disloyal to the Divine Sovereign.
"Yes..."
He must obey all of the Divine Sovereign's commands.
Since the Divine Sovereign was parasitic in Yu'er's body, he must also obey all of Yu'er's commands.
And Mo Hua was Yu'er's "spokesperson", so he must obey all of Mo Hua's commands as well.
Shangguan Wang understood this and immediately bowed.
"I will obey the Divine Sovereign's command."
A few Demon Cultivators from the Yin Corpse Valley and the Demon Sword Sect, who had entered the hall with their respective elders, saw Shangguan Wang's sudden devout behavior and his bow to Mo Hua. They frowned and tried to stop him.
"Elder Shangguan, no..."
Shangguan Wang immediately used his blood-colored sword to decapitate these Demon Cultivators, killing them instantly. He laughed coldly.
"Do you want to stop me from serving the Divine Sovereign? You deserve to die."
Mo Hua looked pleased and acknowledged, "Elder Shangguan, the Divine Sovereign senses your devotion."
He then gently patted Yu'er's shoulder.
Yu'er's eyes were vacant, but he nodded slightly at Shangguan Wang.
Shangguan Wang was overjoyed. With the Divine Sovereign's approval, his devotion grew even more fervent. He immediately abandoned any doubts and bowed, leading Mo Hua and Yu'er.
This scene did not escape the notice of Master Tu, the Yin Corpse Valley Jade Splendor, and the Demon Sword Sect Patriarch, who were engaged in battle.
Seeing their fellow Demon Cultivators killed, the Yin Corpse Valley Jade Splendor and the Demon Sword Sect Patriarch were enraged.
Master Tu was even more furious.
He was the Divine Sovereign's only servant, who had devoted himself to the Divine Sovereign with all his heart and soul.
But now, Shangguan Wang wanted to take his place.
Worse still, "Mo Hua", the villain possessed by the Evil Deity, had taken his position, becoming the Divine Sovereign's closest confidant during the fusion process when the Divine Sovereign's consciousness was not yet fully restored.
This was truly outrageous!
Master Tu let out a long howl, his flesh twisting into a four-clawed demon, ready to charge at Mo Hua and Yu'er.
But the next moment, a Golden Corpse appeared in front of him, blocking his path.
The surging Demon Eye Sword Qi still sealed his aura.
Master Tu's anger boiled, his eyes turning red. After a moment, he laughed coldly. "You... want to release the Divine Sovereign?"
The Yin Corpse Valley's Golden Corpse Yu Hua laughed coldly. "Our Yin Corpse Valley has already prepared the Thousand Corpse Throne, awaiting the Divine Sovereign's arrival."
The Demon Sword Sect Patriarch said devoutly, "Our Ancient True Demon Sword yearns for a true master."
Not just Master Tu, but all the Demon Path sects yearned for the Evil Deity.
They yearned for the slaughter and sin that the Evil Deity brought, and the near-invincible divine power it possessed on the mental plane.
Once the Evil Deity grew strong, the nightmare would spread across the world.
The Demon Path sects would have a natural barrier of evil thoughts, and even if the Orthodox Path sects, with their Void Ascendants and Jade Splendor Domain experts, attacked, they would have nothing to fear.
The existence of the Evil Deity itself was a "great weapon."
And the current situation was even better than they had expected.
Although the Evil Deity had descended, it had not fully grown and was still merging with its host, becoming one with both deity and human.
This was the best opportunity to seize and control the Evil Deity.
Leaving the Blood Sacrifice Grand Formation, they could take the Evil Deity to their own territories.
The Evil Deity belonged to them.
The Yin Corpse Valley and the Demon Sword Sect's Yu Hua no longer held back, each using their necromancy and sword techniques to attack Master Tu.
Master Tu, burning with anger, no longer held back either. His eyes turned red, and he transformed into a demon to fight them to the death.
The three Yu Hua demons fought fiercely.
The hall shook with the impact of their battle.
Fortunately, this was a Third-Rank Domain Boundary, and Jade Splendor Domain cultivators could not fully unleash their powers, or the grand hall of the Evil Deity would shatter in an instant.
Amidst their battle, Mo Hua, holding Yu'er's hand, followed Shangguan Wang out of the hall and into the Flesh Labyrinth.
The massive maze was filled with moving flesh and jutting bones, with complex bone walls that made it difficult to navigate.
Shangguan Wang frowned and glanced at Mo Hua. "Master Tu has sealed the maze. Without a map, we can't get out."
"No problem."
Mo Hua's voice was calm, his eyes deep. He released his divine consciousness, connecting with the aura of the Flesh Labyrinth, then raised his hand and pointed forward.
"Open!"
Instantly, a sinister aura filled the air, and a surprising change occurred.
The Flesh Labyrinth, as if obeying its "master", parted to the sides.
Bones rose from the ground, forming a path of bones, as if paving the way for its "master."
At that moment, Mo Hua seemed to be the master of the maze.
Shangguan Wang's expression was stunned, and the last bit of doubt in his heart vanished.
Anyone who could command the Evil Deity's maze and manipulate flesh and bones must be either the Evil Deity itself or a "high priest" who inherited the Evil Deity's will.
Everything else could be a deception, but this scene was undeniable.
Shangguan Wang became even more convinced, his attitude toward Mo Hua even more respectful, and he revered Yu'er as if the Divine Sovereign had personally arrived.
"Go", Mo Hua said calmly.
Shangguan Wang bowed. "Yes."
The flesh parted, and the bones formed a path. The three of them walked over the white bones, through the Flesh Labyrinth, and entered the grand temple of the Blood Sacrifice Grand Formation.
Mo Hua was familiar with the Flesh Labyrinth, but the temple outside was vast and complex, and he didn't know the way well.
He glanced at Shangguan Wang. "Lead the way to Geese-Falling Mountain."
Shangguan Wang, already accustomed to obeying Mo Hua's orders, nodded respectfully. "Yes."
Shangguan Wang continued to lead Mo Hua devoutly.
This was something Mo Hua had considered beforehand.
The Blood Sacrifice Grand Formation was vast, and while he could understand the internal array structure, he might not know all the intricate passages in the temple.
Even if he knew the way, it would be difficult to escape with Yu'er in this stronghold of Demon Cultivators.
Therefore, a guide was essential.
This person had to be of high status, strong in cultivation, greedy, and have a vulnerable point in their faith.
Shangguan Wang was the perfect choice.
Since he had brought Yu'er deep into the Blood Sacrifice Grand Formation, he was the best one to lead them out.
Karmic Retribution, a drink and a peck.
The three of them traversed through long corridors, temples, grand halls, and gates, gradually leaving the demon god's temple behind as they headed outside.
This was the demon god's lair, where the path was lined with densely packed, vicious-looking Demon Cultivators.
But with Shangguan Wang of the Jade Splendor Domain leading the way, no one dared to stop them.
Occasionally, a few who didn't know better would ask Mo Hua and Yu'er what they were doing, only to have their arms severed by Shangguan Wang's sword.
"Do you think you have the right to question my actions?"
Some Demon Cultivators, defiant and unruly, tried to attack Shangguan Wang.
Shangguan Wang snapped their necks and pierced their chests with a single sword thrust, displaying his cultivation and authority. After that, the number of demons daring to provoke them decreased significantly.
After walking for an unknown duration, they passed through the demon-infested temple and arrived at a blood-red cliff face.
This was a familiar flesh gate.
Master Tu had used this gate and the blood-flesh passage behind it to bring him to the Great Wasteland Demon God Temple.
Mo Hua, having spent so much time with Master Tu and learned a great deal about formations, was now worthy of being called "Little Master Tu."
He placed his palm on the flesh wall, sensing the divine will within and calculating the blood sacrifice formation patterns. Moments later, he focused his mind, and blood threads emerged, trembling and parting to open the blood-red gate.
Shangguan Wang led the way, while Mo Hua, holding Yu'er's hand, followed behind.
They passed through various gruesome scenes, including cultivator limbs, blood-stained organs, and other nauseating sights.
Shangguan Wang remained expressionless, while Mo Hua, though inwardly repulsed, kept a calm demeanor.
However, the young Yu'er could no longer hold back, his face pale and his hands and feet trembling.
Mo Hua, fearing he would give them away, covered his eyes and made him close them. Then, he personally carried Yu'er on his back.
Yu'er, lying on Mo Hua's back, felt immersed in a fresh and tranquil aura, all the blood and evil dissipating, his tense mood easing, and he fell into a deep sleep.
Shangguan Wang, walking ahead, occasionally glanced back and was moved by the scene.
Someone could truly be so close to the Divine Sovereign.
To earn such deep trust from the Divine Sovereign...
A hint of jealousy crept into Shangguan Wang's faith.
After a while, Mo Hua suddenly said to Shangguan Wang, "Let's hurry."
Shangguan Wang was taken aback.
Mo Hua didn't explain.
He couldn't wait any longer.
No one knew better than the one who initiated it that the current Great Wasteland Blood Sacrifice Formation was an extremely dangerous place, where even a moment's stay could be fatal.
This formation had no "gate of life."
At least, Mo Hua himself didn't know where it was.
Shangguan Wang didn't understand, thinking Mo Hua was just anxious, perhaps eager to leave Master Tu and take the Divine Sovereign far away.
"Understood."
So, Shangguan Wang and Mo Hua both sped up, vanishing in a few moments and moving further away.
Shangguan Wang, despite not being able to fly, had an incredibly fast escape technique.
To his surprise, Mo Hua, who was only at the Zhu Ji stage, also had an excellent escape technique.
But recalling Mo Hua's performance at the Lun Jian Conference, Shangguan Wang understood.
Time passed, and they moved faster, leaving the demon god's temple and the Great Wasteland Blood Sacrifice Formation behind.
After an unknown duration, the path ahead suddenly opened up.
Rugged rocks and a damaged array hall appeared before them, and Mo Hua recognized this place well.
This was the part of the Great Wasteland Blood Sacrifice Formation he had first encountered, the Geese-Falling Mountain formation.
This part of the formation was the one Mo Hua knew best.
In other words, this was his "home turf."
"Follow me", Mo Hua said, then carried Yu'er and led the way.
Shangguan Wang, unfamiliar with this part of the formation, followed behind.
They passed some recently deceased Demon Cultivator corpses, their wounds indicating they had died from orthodox path techniques and sword arts, likely during a recent battle with the Qian cultivators.
Of course, there were also some Qian cultivator corpses, their bodies mangled, as if they had been devoured by demons or beasts.
"This is the way of cultivation... ruthless slaughter and cold death..."
Mo Hua sighed inwardly.
He continued walking until he reached the edge of Geese-Falling Mountain, where a deep chasm lay before them.
Below the chasm, a river of blood flowed, filled with countless flesh eggs and a tide of demons, their fangs bared, craving fresh blood.
This was the demon abyss of Geese-Falling Mountain.
The bridge over the chasm had been destroyed.
Mo Hua, holding a copper coin, realized time was running out. He pointed to the chasm and said to Shangguan Wang:
"Find a way to get us across."
Shangguan Wang was taken aback and frowned.
The chasm was too deep, and below it was a river of flesh and countless demons.
If he were at the Fourth-Rank Domain Boundary, he could fly and cross the chasm. But this was the Third-Rank Geese-Falling Mountain, where Yu Hua couldn't fly, making the chasm a dead end.
"Use a suspension rope", Mo Hua suggested.
Shangguan Wang's eyes lit up, and he saw the marks of a suspension rope on the wall. He understood and nodded.
"Alright."
Shangguan Wang, being Yu Hua, had many spiritual artifacts and treasures. He took a silver suspension rope from his Fourth-Rank Storage Satchel, held it in his hand, and activated his spiritual energy, then threw it far.
The silver suspension rope shot out, crossing the chasm and embedding itself in the cliff on the other side.
However, the chasm was too wide, and the silver suspension rope was a bit short, so it could only anchor on the nearest cliff wall. From there, they would have to cross the chasm step by step.
"Go."
Shangguan Wang took the lead, stepping onto the silver suspension rope to scout the way for Mo Hua.
But as soon as he stepped on it, his face changed, and a pitch-black Demon Eye Sword Qi slashed down.
Shangguan Wang barely dodged, but the silver suspension rope beneath his feet was severed, falling into the chasm.
Before Shangguan Wang could catch his breath, a golden light flashed behind him, and a Golden Bronze Body zombie extended its sharp claws, piercing his shoulder with golden corpse poison seeping into his meridians.
Shangguan Wang was alarmed and struck back, his sharp Sword Qi repelling the Golden Corpse, but failing to penetrate its skin.
The defensive strength of the Golden Corpse's skin was evident.
Shangguan Wang turned around to see two figures slowly emerging. One, exuding a sinister corpse aura, was Yu Hua of the Yin Corpse Valley. The other, carrying a demonic sword, was an elder from the Demon Sword Sect.
Shangguan Wang's pupils contracted. "You've been here for a long time, waiting for us?"
The Demon Sword Sect elder sneered. "You are a traitor, a lone wolf with no sect. You can't protect the Divine Sovereign."
"The Divine Sovereign should be venerated by our Demon Sword Sect."
Yu Hua of the Yin Corpse Valley looked at Mo Hua with a lustful gaze. "If I'm not mistaken, you have the aura of a Corpse King, a low-rank one..."
"A Corpse King is the king of corpses, possessing the aura of death and commanding countless corpses. Such a being is rare and hard to find. I've sought this fortune all my life, and now it has fallen into your hands..."
Yu Hua's gray, lifeless eyes gleamed with excitement.
"If my Golden Corpse becomes a Corpse King, I will be invincible in the Yin Corpse Valley, and the position of Valley Master will be mine!"
Staring at Mo Hua with a sinister gaze, Yu Hua of the Yin Corpse Valley made Mo Hua, carrying Yu'er, pale.
Yu Hua of the Yin Corpse Valley, unable to contain his desire, immediately commanded the Golden Corpse to attack Mo Hua.
Shangguan Wang was furious. "Don't even think about coveting the Divine Sovereign!"
The Divine Sovereign's favor belonged to him alone!
Shangguan Wang drew his sword and engaged in a fierce battle with Yu Hua of the Yin Corpse Valley.
On the other side, the Demon Sword Sect elder sneered and transformed into a cloud of demonic energy, rushing toward Mo Hua, primarily targeting Yu'er on Mo Hua's back.
The demonic energy was thick, and black winds surged, about to reach Mo Hua. Suddenly, the ground beneath them writhed, forming a human shape.
Master Tu emerged from the flesh, spewing a mouthful of blood mist to dispel the demonic energy.
Then, using his hand as a blade, he thrust it into the black mist.
Red and black light intertwined as Master Tu's flesh blade clashed with a black demonic sword.
The Demon Sword Sect elder's face darkened. "The Divine Sovereign belongs to our Demon Sword Sect, the master of the ancient demon sword!"
Master Tu sneered. "A mere sword slave, delusional."
With that, he transformed into a blur of flesh, entangling the Demon Sword Sect elder.
The Demon Sword Sect elder, in turn, activated his eye-equipped demonic sword, engaging in a fierce battle with Master Tu.
Shangguan Wang and Yu Hua of the Yin Corpse Valley, along with their Golden Corpse, also fought fiercely, their Sword Qi and the Golden Corpse locking in a brutal struggle.
At the edge of the Geese-Falling Mountain chasm, the four Yu Hua fought with all their might, their battle raging fiercely.
And the thing they were fighting over was the Divine Sovereign's flesh body and Mo Hua, who possessed the Corpse King Karmic Retribution.
Mo Hua, standing at the edge of the chasm, watched the four Yu Hua battle, then, with a thought, he carried Yu'er and slipped, jumping into the chasm, plunging into the blood-soaked veins, and diving into the lair of countless flesh demons.
The four Yu Hua, in the midst of their fierce battle, sensed this and were instantly shocked, their faces changing.
(End of Chapter)
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