Chapter 547: Leaving the City
Chapter 547: Leaving the City
With the city of Lishan sealed off by the Refining Soul Blood Banner, the overwhelming Demonic Sword swept through, leaving destruction in its wake.
Lishan City had become a wasteland.
The elaborate buildings from yesterday now lay in ruins, their once splendid grandeur reduced to nothing but rubble and debris.
Da Bai pulled the cart, leading the way forward.
Mo Hua, Xiao Shixiong, Xiaoshijie, and Xue Yi followed behind, accompanying the large group of Five Elements Sect cultivators as they departed from the sect, passed through the mountain-protecting array, and ventured into the desolate Lishan City.
It was only then that Mo Hua realized that Lishan City had long been a hollow shell, inhabited mostly by hidden demonic cultivators disguised as traveling merchants.
Genuine cultivators were few and far between.
And when the great disaster struck, most of them had perished, fled, or been injured.
The traveling merchants were not local cultivators.
They came for profit, and now they left as it dried up.
No one was willing to share the fate of Lishan City, and no one cared about its survival.
Like flowers without roots, they bloomed with splendor only to wither in the blink of an eye.
Lishan City, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, now revealed its true face of desolation beneath the veneer of prosperity.
But Mo Hua didn't mind.
As he walked, he would occasionally turn back, hoping that one of those times, he would catch sight of his master again.
Yet, in the end, he saw nothing.
Mo Hua sadly lowered his head.
Baizi Sheng also felt dejected and patted Mo Hua's shoulder.
Baizi Xi, on the other hand, held Mo Hua's hand.
Xue Yi looked on with a puzzled expression, her eyes complex and her sighs speaking volumes, though she said nothing.
The group continued their journey out of Lishan City.
The Great Elder and the elders of the Five Elements Sect led the way, forging a path forward.
Despite the blood-red sky and the pervasive sword qi hanging over their heads, their journey through Lishan City was surprisingly calm.
There were no demonic cultivators, no murderous intent, and no dangers lurking in the shadows.
Indeed, as Mr. Zhuang had promised, it was a path to safety.
The Great Elder felt both disbelief and relief, his heart sighing, "Mr. Zhuang truly is a sage, and he has shown great kindness to our Five Elements Sect..."
After walking for only a short while, the group soon reached the gates of Lishan City.
Beyond these gates lay freedom from the city and its troubles, a departure from a place of right and wrong, a veritable hell.
The Great Elder breathed a sigh of relief.
But as he looked up, his brief moment of relief vanished, replaced by a chilling sensation in his heart.
Before them, the city gate was suddenly enveloped by the blood-red sky, blocking their path.
And standing atop the gate at that very moment was a group of oddly-shaped cultivators.
Among them was a black-robed figure with white hair and a youthful face, his eyes deep and sinister.
It was none other than Xuandi Laozu!
Flanking him were a white-faced, beardless young man carrying a sinister sword case, a boy who appeared to be wearing a lifelike, exquisite mask of a dead person's face, and a burly man with fangs and bloodshot eyes.
Behind these individuals stood a group of demonic cultivators, exuding an aura of evil and reaching the cultivation base of at least the Foundation Establishment stage.
Fear gripped the Great Elder, his heart shattering into pieces.
The cultivators of the Five Elements Sect also lost color in their faces.
Xuandi's face twisted into an eerie smile as he said, "Under the Blood Banner, vengeful ghosts are trapped and cannot reincarnate. Not a single soul will be spared. How could I possibly let you all leave?"
"The Dao Court's restrictions are strict. It's been hundreds of years since I last slaughtered a city..."
"This opportunity is rare, so allow me to indulge in some bloodshed..."
...
Despair filled the Great Elder's heart.
A demonic cultivator at the Transformation Realm stage!
The Five Elements Sect was doomed!
His face twisted in anguish, he was about to say something when Xuandi's eerie smile faded, as if he had noticed something. His expression turned solemn.
Following Xuandi's gaze, the Great Elder spotted a figure sitting on a rooftop not far to the west. It was an elderly man with a withered face and a body like dried wood—none other than the enigmatic old man known as "Gui Lao," who was always by Mr. Zhuang's side.
A glimmer of hope ignited in the Great Elder's heart.
Xuandi stared at Gui Lao, his face as expressionless as still water, and bowed, "Greetings, esteemed senior. May I ask your name?"
Gui Lao gave him a nonchalant glance, "You are not worthy to know my identity yet. I will spare your life, so leave now."
Xuandi's anger peaked, and he coldly huffed, about to take action. Suddenly, he paused as if he had remembered something. His expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed, "You are..."
Gui Lao's eyes turned cold and sharp.
Xuandi quickly shut his mouth, too frightened to speak.
He struggled to suppress the fear in his heart, his face twitching as he cupped his hands towards Gui Lao. His figure gradually faded from the city gate and then disappeared.
The group of demonic cultivators behind Xuandi wore bewildered expressions, their hearts shaken, "What is the identity of this old man?"
"Even Xuandi shows him respect?"
But they dared not ask aloud.
They feared both offending this mysterious old man with their words and incurring Xuandi's wrath by speaking out of turn.
If Xuandi didn't dare to stop them, they certainly wouldn't dare either. Thus, the group of demonic cultivators had no choice but to retreat.
As the demonic cultivators withdrew, the Great Elder breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at Gui Lao and bowed from a distance.
All the cultivators of the Five Elements Sect followed suit, their expressions solemn as they bowed to Gui Lao.
Gui Lao lightly tapped his finger, and a pitch-black fireball shot out.
The gates of Lishan City crumbled, incinerating the demonic energy, leaving a gaping hole in the Blood Banner, and tearing open the blood-red sky to reveal a passage.
"Go," Gui Lao said, uttering just a single word before closing his eyes to continue his meditation.
Gratitude filled the Great Elder's heart, and he bowed once more from afar. Then, after a quick glance back, he waved his hand and led the cultivators of the Five Elements Sect through the opening that Gui Lao had created, heading out of Lishan City...
Mo Hua also glanced at Gui Lao, unable to stop himself from murmuring, "Grandpa Gui..."
Gui Lao seemed to hear Mo Hua's voice and slowly opened his eyes, looking at Mo Hua with a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
This was the first time Mo Hua had ever seen Gui Lao smile.
Mo Hua's nose turned sour, and she waved her hand vigorously to bid Gui Lao farewell.
Gui Lao smiled again and said softly, "Go now..."
"Okay!" Mo Hua nodded and took one last glance at Gui Lao before reluctantly turning away and walking towards the exit of the city.
Gui Lao watched Mo Hua's small figure walk away, feeling a sense of regret.
What a pity...
He would no longer get to eat the pine nuts that the child prepared for him...
Nor would he have the chance to teach her more magic or play chess with her again...
He then muttered to himself, "Even my Dao heart has been shaken..."
Gui Lao shook his head and closed his eyes once more, resuming his motionless meditation.
...
Mo Hua kept walking, passing through the city gates and leaving Lishan City, which was shrouded by the sea of blood, filled with demonic energy, peril, and murderous intent.
She was also leaving the city where her master resided...
When Mo Hua turned back for one last glance, the Refining Soul Blood Banner had completed its sacrificial ritual, completely enveloping Lishan City.
What met her eyes was a towering sea of blood, ferocious demonic swords, and a sky filled with bloody sword qi.
Mo Hua etched this scene into her heart, her eyes turning cold.
"How dare you scheme against my master..."
One day, I'll slaughter all you evil demons, tear this soul banner to shreds, shatter this demonic sword, and crush the heavenly secrets and cause-and-effect of the demonic path...
Whether it's the Primordial Demon Ancestor, the Golden Core Demon Cultivators, or the supreme demonic treasures...
You're all going to pay...
...
At that moment, Xuan Sanzi, who was still near Lishan City, snapped out of the shock inflicted by Gui Lao and suddenly felt his heart palpitate again.
He immediately took out a white bone compass from his bosom.
Within the compass was a lock coated in black blood, engraved with ancient array patterns, and at its center, an evil-looking magical eye blinked incessantly.
This was the demonic path's heavenly secret treasure: the Underworld Heavenly Mystery Lock.
Xuan Sanzi frowned, "This heavenly mystery lock was trembling earlier?"
"What does it mean?"
"What is it afraid of?"
"Is there something worth its fear?"
Xuan Sanzi bit his finger and wiped the blood on his forehead, leaving a blood streak. The blood streak squirmed as Xuan Sanzi's spiritual sense became increasingly sharp.
He formed incantations with his hands and pondered carefully, but after a long while, he was still perplexed.
He couldn't figure anything out...
It was all a mystery.
Yet vaguely, it felt like there was a hint of an ominous sign.
It was as if he had unintentionally released a group of fish fry into the river.
But among these fish fry, there seemed to be a small yet vicious "crocodile".
However, when he looked closely, the vast river was murky and turbulent, and he couldn't see anything.
Xuan Sanzi was dazed for a moment before shaking his head, "It must be an illusion..."
It couldn't be such a coincidence...
...
Several dozen miles away from Lishan City, there was a fork in the road.
This was where Mo Hua and the Five Elements Sect cultivators would part ways.
The Great Elder looked at Mo Hua with a complicated expression.
The true legacy of the Five Elements Sect lay with this child.
And the future blessings of the sect might also rest upon him.
Although he didn't know what the true legacy was or what blessings might come, he could only trust Mr. Zhuang's words.
It was just that...
Whether the Five Elements Sect would still be able to enjoy this blessing in the future was hard to say...
The sect had suffered a great calamity, and its members' hearts were scattered.
From now on, they would have to live under someone else's roof, and it certainly wouldn't be easy.
Most likely, these disciples would leave one by one.
It was even harder to say how many would stay in the end.
If he were still alive, perhaps things wouldn't be so bad, as he was a Golden Core cultivator. But what about a hundred or two hundred years later? If he passed away and the Five Elements Sect had no successor, would the sect be erased from the history of the cultivation world?
The Great Elder sighed, filled with worry.
He looked at Mo Hua and bid farewell with a cupped fist, "Take care, young master."
Mo Hua also showed her respects, "Take care, Great Elder."
"Hopefully, we'll meet again someday..."
The Great Elder sighed inwardly and then gave Mo Hua another bow before leading the group of Five Elements Sect cultivators on their uncertain path...
...
Mo Hua, on the other hand, walked down the other path.
It was a wide mountain road.
Dabai, pulling the cart, seemed to sense Mo Hua's low spirits and nuzzled her affectionately, as if trying to comfort her.
Mo Hua hugged Dabai back, but her mood was still downcast.
Baizi Sheng and Baizi Xi also looked sad.
As they walked, Baizi Sheng suddenly asked Xue Yi, "Snow Auntie, can you find Mother and ask her to save Master?"
Xue Yi replied bitterly, "Matters involving someone of Mr. Zhuang's status are beyond our control..."
"Even the Lady is powerless to change many things."
Moreover, the Lady... is also scheming against Mr. Zhuang...
Xue Yi didn't voice this last sentence.
Baizi Sheng looked dejected.
Baizi Xi asked, "Snow Auntie, where are we going now?"
Xue Yi pondered, "Let's meet the Lady first. She's also been worried about your safety. After that, we should probably head back to the Bai family..."
"Back to the Bai family..."
Baizi Xi murmured, glancing at Mo Hua.
Baizi Sheng suddenly remembered something and, feeling less dispirited, looked at Mo Hua and asked, "Junior Brother, do you want to come back to the Bai family with us?"
"The Bai family?" Mo Hua was taken aback.
"Yeah." Baizi Sheng nodded, "Come with me to the Bai family. I'll protect you, and you won't have to worry about cultivation or anything else. We have all kinds of legacies and array formations there..."
"Although it's far inferior to Master's, it's still pretty good."
He still wanted to see his master.
But it seemed that opportunity was lost forever...
Golden Core, Ascendant...
Such levels of cultivation were far beyond his reach.
He was merely at the Qi Refining stage...
With a heavy sigh, Mo Hua reluctantly accepted, "I want to return to Tongxian City to see my father and mother..."
It had been a long time since he left home, and he wanted to go back.
"It's alright," Baizi Sheng nodded, "I also want to make a trip back to see Uncle Mo and Aunt Liu, and then you can come with me to the Bai family..."
"Your comprehension is so high, and your talent for array formations is exceptional. Even in the Bai family, no one would dare look down on you..."
Mo Hua hesitated, "But, wouldn't that be inappropriate..."
After all, he wasn't a member of the Bai family...
Baizi Sheng straightened his face, "What's inappropriate about it? You're my junior martial brother, which makes us family. It's only natural for me, as your senior martial brother, to look after you!"
"In the Bai family, whoever looks down on you is looking down on me! Whoever bullies you is bullying me! I'll knock their teeth out!"
Mo Hua's heart warmed at the words, but he still shook his head.
"Don't worry, take your time to consider it," Baizi Sheng said.
Baizi Xi also glanced at Mo Hua, her voice crisp and decisive, "Once we're at the Bai family, no one will dare bully you!"
Mo Hua was slightly taken aback, a smile appearing on his face, "Thank you, Senior Martial Sister..."
Mo Hua's smile was like a clear spring, pure and refreshing, bringing warmth to the hearts of those around him.
Baizi Xi averted her gaze slightly.
Xue Yi saw everything, her eyes filled with warmth and tenderness, but also a hint of reluctance.
Some things were beautiful, pure, and innocent.
But the cultivation world was cold and cruel...
Mo Hua shook his head again, "I'll go back to see my parents first, and then we'll see..."
He hadn't decided on his next steps yet.
He needed to build his foundation and unravel the Mystery Heaven Array.
This array was extremely challenging to decipher.
It might take a year or two, or even a decade or two...
But no matter what, he was determined to unravel the array and follow his master's instructions to cultivate his spiritual sense to the extreme, attaining the path to immortality!
The process would undoubtedly be difficult and arduous.
There were also many secrets he carried within him...
Although he was reluctant to part with his junior martial brother and sister, the Bai family might not be the best place for him...
...
The state of Dalisan was vast.
Beyond Lishan City lay the continuous Dalisan Mountains, with their rolling peaks and winding mountain paths.
Mo Hua and his companions traveled along the mountain roads, gradually putting more distance between themselves and Lishan City.
The mountains were like emeralds, shrouded in mist and splendor.
While the magnificent scenery eased the sorrow of parting, it also left a lingering sense of melancholy.
The hearts of Mo Hua and his two companions felt hollow and empty.
After traveling for several days, Xue Yi's brow furrowed.
Baizi Sheng noticed and asked, "Snow Auntie, what's wrong?"
Xue Yi pondered for a moment before shaking her head, "It's nothing."
After traveling for another five or six days, Xue Yi's expression became increasingly grave.
Something was definitely amiss.
"Snow Auntie, what's going on?" Baizi Xi asked.
Xue Yi hesitated before replying truthfully, "Ten days ago, I sent a message to the Lady through a jade slip, explaining the situation. But after all this time, the message hasn't gotten through. It seems that not only Lishan City but the entire Dalisan has been sealed off, with its secrets locked and communications blocked..."
The faces of the group turned solemn.
Mo Hua looked up and noticed that the sky above was hazy, as if something was obscuring it.
He could see the sky, but he couldn't truly "see" the sky as it was supposed to be.
It seemed to be blocked by something.
"Snow Auntie, what's covering the sky?" Mo Hua asked.
Xue Yi frowned, "It's probably... the Underworld Heavenly Mystery Lock..."
"The Heavenly Mystery Lock?"
"Yes." Xue Yi nodded, "The Heavenly Mystery Lock is a type of heavenly secret treasure that can conceal secrets, seal cause and effect, and even block communications, preventing other cultivators from seeing, sensing, or deducing anything..."
"There are heavenly secret treasures in the orthodox path, and there are also such treasures in the demonic path."
"However, to be able to block the secrets and communications over such a large area, encompassing the entire Dalisan, this treasure must be extraordinary. Most likely, it's one of the supreme demonic treasures, the Underworld Heavenly Mystery Lock..."
"The supreme demonic treasure, the Underworld Heavenly Mystery Lock..."
Mo Hua nodded, silently committing the name to memory.
"What do we do now?" Baizi Sheng asked.
"Let's keep heading out, leaving Dalisan..."
Xue Yi replied with a furrowed brow, her expression still grave.
After traveling for several more days, just as the group was about to leave Dalisan, a group of cultivators suddenly appeared before them.
The appearance of this group was unexpected, yet it seemed like they had been waiting there for a long time.
They wore black and blood-red robes, their appearances varied.
There was a skinny Taoist priest with burn scars on half his face, a fat monk with perpetually smiling eyes that couldn't open, a voluptuous female cultivator with blood-red lips and fangs, and a corpse handler carrying a corpse on his back...
These ten or so people exuded a sinister and powerful aura, which they carefully restrained.
They were all Demon Cultivators at the Golden Core stage!
Among them, Mo Hua recognized only one person—a man wearing a golden crown and a five-colored Taoist robe.
It was none other than the former sect leader of the Five Elements Sect, Liao Tian De.
The former sect leader, who was now reduced to groveling, smiled obsequiously and pointed at Mo Hua and his companions as he spoke to a handsome young man in blood-red clothes with an eerie blood mark on his brow, "Holy Son, these are the personal disciples of that Zhuang gentleman..."
(End of Chapter)
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