Chapter 656: The Fireball Forbidden Technique

Chapter 656: The Fireball Forbidden Technique

(Dedicated to Elder Mu Baijin Yu, the leader of the alliance)

Mo Hua's scalp tingled, but he still smiled and said, "Venerable, you're too kind. I can make my own way back to the sect. There's no need for you to see me off. The Dao Ting Court is after you, so you should hurry and save yourself..."

Huo Fotuo's eyes narrowed slightly, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "So it was you who pretended to be 'Yuan Dashi' and spoke to me that day."

"No!" Mo Hua denied vehemently.

But Huo Fotuo was sure of his identification.

"And it was you who stole my Demon Path Turning Evil True Principle and the secret method of the Meteor Fire Forbidden Technique at the altar, wasn't it?"

Mo Hua looked bewildered. "Venerable, I don't understand what you're talking about..."

Huo Fotuo's eyelids twitched. In his long life, he had never met such a shameless "little benefactor."

Mo Hua smiled shyly and said, "Venerable, if you don't leave, then at least let me go..."

Huo Fotuo took a deep breath and said coldly, "Do you think you can get away?"

Seeing that Huo Fotuo wasn't going to let him go, Mo Hua sighed and said helplessly, "If you don't trouble my Uncle Gu, what's the point of picking on a kid like me?"

"No!" Huo Fotuo's eyes gleamed sharply. "Gu Changhuai is far inferior to you..."

Mo Hua was taken aback.

"If I can't kill Gu Changhuai today, I can always kill him another day..."

"...but you're different."

Huo Fotuo stared intently at Mo Hua. "Your divine sense is strong, your stealth is exceptional, your array formations are powerful, your movements are unpredictable, your methods are bizarre, and your schemes are endless..."

"Even though you're only at the early Qi Refining stage, given time, you will surely become a formidable threat."

There was cold killing intent in Huo Fotuo's eyes as he said, "I have a feeling that if I don't kill you today, I will surely die by your hand in the future!"

Mo Hua's eyelids twitched, and he forced a smile. "Venerable, you're overestimating me. I have poor talent, and I'm not worth your attention..."

But Huo Fotuo had already made up his mind to kill.

He slowly approached Mo Hua, his compassionate face now wearing a cold smile. "Little benefactor, you stole my Meteor Fire Technique, but you probably don't know how to use it yet..."

Huo Fotuo slowly reached out, his body surging with demonic energy as flames rose around him. "Let me teach you..."

As Huo Fotuo reached out, Mo Hua also lifted his hand and pointed, manifesting an array formation.

Huo Fotuo's pupils contracted as he finally saw clearly.

With a single touch of Mo Hua's finger, spiritual ink ruptured the air, swiftly winding across the ground to form intricate array patterns.

Controlling spiritual ink with divine sense to create an array formation on the ground?!

Huo Fotuo drew in a sharp breath.

What kind of inconceivable array formation technique was this?

Even Yuan Dashi, in all his life, had never heard of an array master who could so effortlessly and unrestrainedly set up an array formation.

This boy must die! Otherwise, once his cultivation base and array skills improved, he would undoubtedly become an unimaginable formidable foe!

Huo Fotuo's killing intent burned fiercely.

He activated an array formation under his feet, trapping himself within the Gen Shan Formation.

But in the next instant, flames soared, obliterating the Gen Shan Formation.

As the array formation was destroyed, Mo Hua turned and ran.

I can't beat him! I have to escape!

Huo Fotuo coldly smiled and gave chase, but after only a few steps, his feet triggered one array formation after another, hindering his movement.

Only then did Huo Fotuo realize that while he had been talking to this little brat, the brat hadn't been idle—he had silently drawn numerous array formations on the ground to delay him.

"Indeed, a treacherous little brat..." Huo Fotuo sneered.

He pushed his demonic power to the limit, and a dense rain of fire swept the surroundings. After a series of explosions, all the array formations Mo Hua had set up were destroyed.

Then, his body blazing like a wildfire, Huo Fotuo pursued Mo Hua.

Mo Hua was startled and immediately sent a message to Gu Changhuai: "Uncle Gu, save me!!! Huo Fotuo is trying to kill me!!!"

Then he turned back to see Huo Fotuo closing in on him.

Mo Hua was at the early Foundation Establishment stage, while Huo Fotuo was at the peak. The difference in their cultivation bases was vast.

Although Mo Hua's Water Flow Step was exquisite, it excelled only in short-distance movement and dodging; it wasn't particularly effective for long-distance chases.

As Huo Fotuo drew closer, Mo Hua's body flowed like water, and he abruptly changed direction, slipping past Huo Fotuo and turning toward the mountain forest on the left.

Huo Fotuo lunged and missed, furrowing his brows.

This body art... What is its origin? The first time they met, Mo Hua had relied on this body art to escape from Qiao Laoliu and the others.

At that time, Huo Fotuo hadn't made a move. He had thought that Qiao Laoliu and his companions were simply inept at body arts, which was why Mo Hua had gotten away.

But now, having personally tried to capture Mo Hua, he realized that this water-based body art was far more troublesome than he had initially imagined...

It was like a "little eel," slippery and hard to grasp.

It seemed weak, but it was incredibly difficult to kill.

"Then I definitely can't let him live..." Huo Fotuo said coldly.

Mo Hua used the Water Flow Step to dart into the mountain forest, with Huo Fotuo close behind.

With the mountains and trees as obstacles, Mo Hua's body art became even more effective. Although Huo Fotuo could catch up to Mo Hua, he couldn't capture or kill him in a short time.

The magic techniques he used either missed or were blocked by the mountains and trees.

Huo Fotuo's eyes gleamed with killing intent, his desire to kill intensifying.

Mo Hua evaded him with his body art for a while, then suddenly seized an opportunity to merge with the surroundings, his figure gradually disappearing...

"As expected... it's the Five Elements Stealth Technique..." Huo Fotuo's eyes narrowed, and he coldly smiled as he took out a Mercury Spirit Mirror from his pocket.

In the spirit realm, silver light overflowed.

Huo Fotuo used the spirit mirror to probe, and he saw a faint little shadow in the mountain forest.

He waved his hand, and several fireballs, carrying meteor fire, shot out like flying darts.

The little shadow flickered and disappeared, dodging the fireballs.

The fireballs exploded with a "boom," leaving deep holes in the rocks and emitting white smoke.

Huo Fotuo coldly huffed when the attack missed, and he continued to probe with the spirit mirror, searching for Mo Hua's hidden figure.

Ambush after ambush, roadblock after roadblock, and now he even had a special spiritual artifact to counter Mo Hua's stealth abilities.

When Huo Fotuo annihilated the Xie family, he probably did so with a casual wave of his fiery palm, effortlessly slaughtering them all without breaking a sweat...

But now, Mo Hua was at a loss for options.

His only hope was for Uncle Gu to arrive soon and save him, providing an opportunity for escape or counterattack.

Until then, he could only try to buy time by stalling Huo Fotuo and prolonging their cat-and-mouse game.

At that moment, on another path, Gu Changhuai was riding his horse back to the boundary of Qianxue State.

A nagging sense of unease lingered in his heart as he pondered Huo Fotuo's unusually straightforward escape route, which seemed almost deliberately obvious.

It was as if Huo Fotuo was trying to mislead them.

Gu Changhuai's thoughts turned to Mo Hua, who was traveling back to the sect alone, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of worry.

Thus, he decided to return to Qianxue State to check on the situation.

As he rode halfway, he received a message from Mo Hua through the transmission talisman, causing his heart to tremble with shock.

He read the messages one by one:

"Huo Fotuo is trying to kill me!"

Gu Changhuai's heart pounded wildly, and he struggled to breathe.

Huo Fotuo!

He's chasing after Mo Hua!

The transmission talisman also included a location in Qingcheng Mountain.

Gu Changhuai took a deep breath and urged his horse to gallop towards the specified location as fast as he could.

At the same time, he began to mobilize all the nearby law enforcers, ordering them to rush to Qingcheng Mountain.

He intended to search the mountain thoroughly and surround Huo Fotuo, ensuring his capture or death!

As the sun set, the night deepened.

The spirit horse ran faster and faster, leaving the scenery behind as a blur.

Gu Changhuai gazed into the distance, his heart filled with anxiety, as he murmured, "Kid, you better not die..."

...

Time ticked by slowly, and soon it was midnight.

Mo Hua and Huo Fotuo had been playing a game of hide-and-seek in the mountains for most of the night.

Mo Hua was exhausted and breathless.

Huo Fotuo's face wore an incredulous expression.

He couldn't catch him...

No matter what he tried, he couldn't lay a finger on the young cultivator.

Despite his Peak Foundation Establishment cultivation and the special artifact meant to counter Mo Hua's stealth, he found himself unable to capture the young man in the intricate mountain terrain.

Even in this unfamiliar and desolate mountain forest, Mo Hua moved as if he were in his own backyard.

His agile body movements and exceptional stealth abilities allowed him to find hiding spots wherever he went.

At times, he even manipulated demonic beasts to hinder Huo Fotuo, using them as a means of self-preservation.

This frustrated Huo Fotuo, who was accustomed to brute force and indiscriminate slaughter.

Could this little brat be a transformed demonic beast...?

Once he entered the mountains, he became as elusive as a fish in the ocean or a falcon in the sky.

I've underestimated him...

Huo Fotuo cursed inwardly.

He had initially assumed that with his advantage of information, he could easily intercept and capture the lone junior cultivator. He believed that with his superior cultivation, tormenting and killing a mere early Qi Refining cultivator would be child's play.

But he never expected Mo Hua to be such a thorn in his side.

There was nothing about Mo Hua that resembled a typical early Qi Refining cultivator.

However, the more difficult it was to kill him, the more determined Huo Fotuo became.

If he let Mo Hua escape now and allowed him to return to Qianxue State, there was no telling how powerful he might become. If he reached the mid or late stages of the Foundation Establishment, the difficulty of killing him would increase exponentially.

Huo Fotuo's eyes blazed with a crimson fire.

"He must die!"

Even if it meant wearing him down, Huo Fotuo was determined to end Mo Hua's life.

After all, Mo Hua was merely at the early Qi Refining stage. No matter how agile his body was and how proficient he was at stealth, his spiritual energy would eventually be depleted.

Once that happened, he wouldn't be able to hide or escape, and Huo Fotuo could burn him alive, turning him into ashes to satisfy his vengeful heart.

On the other side, Mo Hua felt helpless.

This Huo Fotuo was relentless in his pursuit, as if he had made up his mind to kill Mo Hua no matter what.

They had been running in circles in these mountains, yet Huo Fotuo showed no signs of giving up.

It was as if Mo Hua had slain his father, earning his undying enmity...

The leader of the Demon's Lair sure held a grudge like no other.

If it weren't for Mo Hua's extensive experience as a young demon hunter, his superior array formation skills, agile body movements, stealth abilities, and quick wit, he would have been captured long ago.

This situation couldn't continue...

Mo Hua quickly sent another message to Gu Changhuai through the transmission talisman:

"Uncle Gu, come quickly to the right mountain path of the southern cliff of Qingcheng Mountain..."

There was no response from the other side, perhaps due to the urgency of Gu Changhuai's journey.

Mo Hua sighed and steeled himself to continue the game of cat and mouse with Huo Fotuo.

Fortunately, it was already night, and the mountain was shrouded in deep darkness. With the presence of demonic beasts all around, Mo Hua could stir up trouble and take advantage of the chaos.

He could hide in the darkness, utilizing his stealth abilities.

Huo Fotuo, on the other hand, stood out like a burning torch in the night, easily noticeable and prone to attracting the attention of demonic beasts.

This played into the taboos of the demonic beasts.

Some high-level second-grade demonic beasts would engage Huo Fotuo in battle, inadvertently aiding Mo Hua.

And so, the game of cat and mouse continued deep into the night.

Eventually, Mo Hua was caught up with once again.

Huo Fotuo's expression remained cold as he unleashed another ruthless attack, but Mo Hua countered with his agile movements and stealth techniques.

However, the prolonged pursuit had taken its toll on Mo Hua, and his reactions had slowed significantly.

Huo Fotuo's eyes lit up with malicious glee.

"You brat, it's time for you to die..."

He flicked his sleeve, sending a blazing beam of light toward Mo Hua.

Mo Hua dodged with all his might, but his spiritual energy was nearly depleted, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground in a disheveled state.

Nonetheless, Mo Hua gritted his teeth and forced himself to get up, dashing towards a narrow valley nearby.

"You're only bringing about your own demise."

Huo Fotuo sneered and pursued Mo Hua into the valley.

As Mo Hua seemed cornered, Huo Fotuo unleashed another fiery blade, intent on ending his life.

In the darkness of the night, the crimson blade of fire stood out vividly, filled with deadly intent.

Just as the fiery blade was about to strike Mo Hua, several wind blades shot out from the sides, completely neutralizing the attack.

Huo Fotuo was taken aback, and when he turned to look, he saw Gu Changhuai standing at a distance, his handsome eyes radiating murderous intent.

Mo Hua, on the other hand, had used his last bit of energy to activate an array formation.

With a thunderous roar, boulders tumbled down, sealing off the entrance to the valley.

And within this valley, a formidable foe awaited him.

Escape from this valley was not impossible, but it would take time. With a powerful enemy watching his every move, he wouldn't have the leisure to flee.

In other words, only one of him or Gu Changhuai could survive.

As for that little brat...

Huo Fotuo looked around, his gaze darkening.

He had disappeared again...

That damn stealth technique of his!

Huo Fotuo was exasperated, but he couldn't be bothered with Mo Hua at the moment.

A decisive battle was about to unfold.

Gu Changhuai also understood that this might be his last chance to kill Huo Fotuo.

If they let him escape again, and he managed to break through to the next realm, achieving the Golden Core stage, killing him would become as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

After all, he cultivated an awe-inspiring forbidden technique.

Huo Fotuo, however, remained fearless.

They were currently at the edge of the Qianxue State's boundary.

If they ventured deeper into the state, Gu Changhuai would be unrestrained in using his Golden Core artifacts, and Huo Fotuo knew he wouldn't stand a chance.

But here in Qingcheng Mountain, there was still a second-grade restriction in effect.

If Gu Changhuai lost control of his cultivation and recklessly unleashed his Golden Core power, it would be his own demise.

On the other hand, if Huo Fotuo could take him down first, he could use Gu Changhuai's flesh and blood to refine his forbidden technique and augment his demonic energy.

And as for that little brat...

Once Gu Changhuai was dead, with no one to protect him, he would surely meet his end as well! Huo Fotuo would blast him inch by inch with his Meteor Fire Technique, turning him into ashes to satisfy his vengeful heart.

Huo Fotuo spread his arms wide, and a torrential rain of fire fell from the sky.

Gu Changhuai waved his folding fan, and the wind became sharp as blades.

In the blink of an eye, the wind and fire raged, resembling a fire peacock spreading its magnificent tail.

Spiritual power clashed with demonic energy, spells collided, and explosions reverberated through the valley.

Far away, Mo Hua watched with a pounding heart.

Fortunately, the valley was spacious, and he had hidden himself at a safe distance, so he remained unaffected by the battle for now.

He seized the opportunity to meditate and recover his spiritual sense and spiritual power.

As Mo Hua rested, he kept a vigilant eye on the distant battle.

Time passed, and when Mo Hua opened his eyes again, the fierce battle still raged on, and the sky had begun to brighten.

With his spiritual sense and spiritual power fully restored, Mo Hua's eyes turned icy cold.

After zi shi, the seventh day would begin.

It was also the last day of their break.

Within these seven days, Huo Fotuo must die!

Mo Hua, who had been relentlessly pursued and forced to flee throughout the night by Huo Fotuo, was seething with anger.

"You want to send me off?"

"I'll send you to your death first!"

Mo Hua slowly stood up and glared at Huo Fotuo, his pupils turning pitch-black, as if shrouded in a deep, dark night.

On the other side, Huo Fotuo, who had been locked in a fierce battle with Gu Changhuai, suddenly sensed something amiss.

He felt that the demonic energy within him was showing signs of losing control.

"What's happening?"

Huo Fotuo's heart sank.

After resting and recovering, his demonic energy had stabilized, so why was it suddenly acting up?

"Could it be..."

Huo Fotuo scanned his surroundings and soon spotted Mo Hua lurking in the shadows.

Mo Hua's aura was peculiar, but because he was shrouded in darkness, his figure was indistinct.

Then, from within the blackness of Mo Hua's pupils, a slender strand of white qi appeared.

With the Heaven's Calculation Technique empowered by the Art of Schemes, Mo Hua forcibly reversed the heavens' calculations, causing cause and effect to flow backward.

Huo Fotuo felt his qi mechanism falter, as if some invisible chains were being forcibly twisted. The demonic energy within him began to reverse uncontrollably...

Demonic energy reversal?! Huo Fotuo's face turned ashen.

How did this little brat learn this?

This profound demonic method of reversing demonic energy was something he had never heard of!

Could he be a true disciple of the Demon Sect?

No, that's impossible...

This brat wasn't a demonic cultivator...

Huo Fotuo's thoughts raced, and he paused for a moment.

Could he have stolen the Demonic Way of Reversing Demonic Energy?

A chill ran down his spine.

Huo Fotuo felt as if his Dao heart was about to shatter.

Before he could ponder further, the reversing demonic energy had already invaded his entire being.

The demonic energy he had cultivated by killing countless people was now reversed by the inversion of cause and effect, flowing back into his spiritual sense.

Harm others, harm yourself.

Huo Fotuo's face turned a ghastly gray, and his spiritual sense became filled with demonic energy, echoing with hideous resentment and eerie wails.

Gu Changhuai didn't know what had happened, but seeing that Huo Fotuo was being devoured by his own demonic energy, he seized the opportunity to strike a fatal blow.

Wind blades gathered and condensed into a dragon-lance, hurtling towards Huo Fotuo's chest.

In this critical moment, Huo Fotuo regained a shred of clarity.

Facing the onslaught of wind blades, Huo Fotuo crossed his arms, his eyes glowing crimson, as he roared fiercely and wove his demonic fire into a shield to block the attack.

The dragon-lance of wind clashed with the shield of demonic fire.

Spiritual power and demonic energy clashed, wind and fire intertwined, and the surrounding mountains crumbled under the overwhelming spiritual power, turning to dust.

When the spiritual power fluctuations subsided, Huo Fotuo's cassock was in tatters.

His arms were covered in fine cuts and bloodstains from the wind blades, indicating severe injuries.

On the other side, Gu Changhuai's aura had also weakened significantly, indicating a substantial consumption of spiritual power.

The valley fell silent.

Gu Changhuai's eyes were grave.

After an unknown period, Huo Fotuo's cold laughter echoed.

"Good, very good..."

"To push me to this point..."

Huo Fotuo's voice turned icy, gradually losing its human quality.

"Since it has come to this, I shall discard this human shell and fully devote myself to the Demon Lord..."

Before he finished speaking, Huo Fotuo took out a blood-red pill the size of a dragon's eye.

The pill seemed to be made of flesh and blood, and it was still twitching faintly.

Huo Fotuo stuffed the pill into his mouth without hesitation.

He moved swiftly, leaving no opportunity for Gu Changhuai's wind blades or Mo Hua's fireballs to stop him.

As the pill entered his mouth, Huo Fotuo's expression became sinister.

The two flaming hearts in his chest throbbed violently, taking on the nascent form of a demonic artifact.

His face was burned beyond recognition, the skin charred and twisted, revealing a hideous visage.

At the same time, his aura surged once more.

"Gu Changhuai..."

Huo Fotuo's voice was hoarse and terrifying.

"If you don't use your Golden Core power today, you will die. But if you do use it, you will still die..."

Huo Fotuo waved his hand, and a scarlet demonic fire blade shot out, its aura terrifying as it slashed towards Gu Changhuai.

Gu Changhuai's expression turned solemn as he swung his folding fan, summoning a wind shield to block the attack, but it was to no avail.

The wind shield was sliced apart by the fire blade.

Gu Changhuai took a few steps back and spat out a mouthful of blood.

He gritted his teeth and said, "You damned beast... you've abandoned your humanity..."

Huo Fotuo coldly smiled, "What you call 'humanity' is just this shell of flesh, is it not?"

"In this world, how many wear this shell and commit acts of demons and devils?"

"Those who wear the skin of humans can sometimes be more beastly than beasts..."

Gu Changhuai's face was filled with anger as he once again summoned the wind blades to slash at Huo Fotuo.

But this time, Huo Fotuo didn't even try to dodge. He let the wind blades tear into his flesh, ripping open his body.

In the blink of an eye, his flesh regenerated as if nothing had happened.

"Regenerating flesh?"

Gu Changhuai's face turned pale as a chilling realization came over him.

If this was the case, he had no way of killing this beastly incarnation of Huo Fotuo.

Just then, Mo Hua shouted from the side, "Uncle Gu, attack his heart meridian!"

Gu Changhuai was taken aback for a moment before understanding.

Huo Fotuo's heart meridian was nurturing the embryo of a demonic treasure, the source of his power and his Achilles' heel.

Huo Fotuo's expression changed as well, "You little beast!"

However, when he scanned the area with his divine sense, he still couldn't detect Mo Hua's presence.

After discarding his human form, his demonic power had increased, and his flesh could regenerate, but without his "humanity," his divine sense had deteriorated...

Huo Fotuo couldn't perceive Mo Hua at all.

Taking advantage of this moment, Gu Changhuai began to manipulate the wind blades, forcefully strangling Huo Fotuo's heart meridian.

Huo Fotuo's eyes narrowed with anger, and he could only try to block the attack by covering his chest with his left arm.

With his right arm, he unleashed his demonic arts, continuing the battle with Gu Changhuai.

After consecutive intense battles, Gu Changhuai's spiritual power suddenly became sluggish.

He realized that his spiritual power was almost depleted.

Gu Changhuai's heart sank.

After all, he was just a human.

Even with his abundant spiritual power, he couldn't compare to Huo Fotuo, who could kill and refine his malevolent energy, supplementing himself with his demonic pill, and even discarding his humanity to descend into a demon, gaining the ability to regenerate his flesh.

Human strength had its limits.

Gu Changhuai suddenly felt a sharp pain in his meridians.

He knew that this was a sign of overexerting his spiritual power, and his meridians were damaged from the constant summoning of spells.

If this continued, he feared that he would truly be at the end of his rope...

As for Mo Hua...

Gu Changhuai bit his lip, drawing blood, and his heart was filled with resentment.

"Damn it!"

"Regardless, I must kill Huo Fotuo first!"

"I'll use the power of my Golden Core..."

"It's now or never..."

"Let's see if I can kill Huo Fotuo, or if the Heavens will take my life first..."

Gu Changhuai's eyes blazed with unwavering killing intent. His dantian ignited with dan fire, and his body was enveloped in a faint glow. In his right hand, a magnificent, colorful, and spiritually powerful seven-colored peacock feather fan appeared.

Huo Fotuo was stunned.

He looked at Gu Changhuai with a mix of fear and shock.

He never expected that Gu Changhuai would actually dare...

Dare to use his Golden Core power in a second-grade restricted area...

He truly was fearless...

A hint of mocking amusement flashed in Huo Fotuo's eyes.

Gu Changhuai's expression was calm and determined, his killing intent piercing to the bone. His Golden Core power was already being channeled, and his Nascent Soul treasure had appeared.

Just then, Gu Changhuai's eyes widened in surprise, and his pupils suddenly trembled.

Huo Fotuo was right in front of him.

At that moment, Gu Changhuai saw a blurry figure. While Huo Fotuo's attention was focused on him, this figure quietly sneaked up behind Huo Fotuo, a cold smile on his face.

And then...

Out of thin air, two small hands appeared.

Each hand held a fireball.

They were just ordinary, unremarkable fireballs.

But in the next moment, the fireballs transformed.

It was as if they were being compressed by an incredibly powerful force, and they collided with each other, their shapes distorting.

It seemed like something within the fireballs was breaking apart, only to forcibly recombine.

The essence of the spell changed, and the spiritual power structure within twisted and rearranged, accompanied by a surge of powerful spiritual energy.

The two fireballs struggled, morphed, and merged into one, forming a smaller but far more terrifying fireball, tinged with a faint purple-black color, as if it were wrapped in molten lava.

Huo Fotuo sensed something amiss.

He felt an incredibly dangerous presence forming behind him.

He tried to turn around, but it was too late.

A familiar, crisp, and icy voice rang in his ear, "You want to teach me spells?"

In that instant, Huo Fotuo felt an intense burning pain on his back.

It was the feeling of fiery spiritual power scorching his flesh.

Then, a savage but controlled explosion sounded.

Huo Fotuo lowered his head to see that his chest had been blown open by the spell, revealing a pitch-black hole.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end