https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-656-The-Fireball-Forbidden-Technique/12542857/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-658-Year-End-Assessment-Thank-you-to-the-leader-Wind-Chocolate-/12542859/
Chapter 657: The First Year
Chapter 657: The First Year
Fire Buddha's face was ashen, a gaping hole in his chest.
But being at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage and having forsaken his human form, his physical body was akin to that of a demon. His flesh and blood could regenerate.
The dark cavity in his chest began to writhe as his flesh slowly started to mend.
But the next moment, Fire Buddha's pupils contracted.
His flesh stopped moving halfway, ceasing to regenerate at all.
It seemed that the fused fire spiritual power had completely incinerated his vitality, and the demonic power within him had been burnt out at the "spiritual power" level.
Fire Buddha's pupils trembled violently.
"Just what kind of sorcery is this?!"
At the same time, the tiny fused fireballs and the weak flames they produced completely dissipated.
Exposed in Fire Buddha's chest cavity were two demonic artifacts—two "hearts".
These were the core of Fire Buddha's forbidden Yin Fire technique, the embryonic spirit treasures he had nurtured, and the foundation for his advancement to the Golden Core stage.
These two hearts were invaluable demonic artifacts of the magic path.
But now, these hearts had been struck by that unknown and terrifying sorcery, turning pitch-black and dim.
Even as they trembled, they did so feebly.
Fire Buddha was terrified.
If he didn't replenish his flesh and blood and continue nurturing these embryonic treasures, not only would he fail to breakthrough to the Golden Core stage in this life, but he might even perish here in Qingcheng Mountain.
Fire Buddha's hand trembled as he reached for more pills...
Just then, Gu Changhuai, who had finally recovered from the shocking display of that unfathomable technique, reacted swiftly. With the remaining spiritual power he had, he quickly cast two Wind Blades.
These two Wind Blades struck through the hole in the painting, aiming straight for Fire Buddha's heart meridian, and hit one of the dim demonic heart artifacts.
The demonic heart artifact, already on the brink of shattering from bearing the immense spiritual power generated by the collapsed technique and the fusion, finally couldn't take it anymore. It let out a creak and several cracks appeared.
Then, the cracks kept spreading.
Until the heart completely shattered...
Fire Buddha still held the pills in his hand, his expression one of disbelief.
A moment later, the terror on his face faded.
His countenance became serene once more.
There was even a hint of confusion and liberation.
He turned his head with effort to look at the painting one last time.
"So... I really am... going to die at the hands of this little ghost..."
Then, his eyes slowly closed.
The unbalanced demonic heart artifact collapsed irreversibly.
The demonic power raged out of control, flowing backwards through the meridians and veins.
Fire Buddha's entire body was filled with demonic fire, self-immolating. His flesh swelled and distorted...
Gu Changhuai's pupils shook, and his heart sank.
Demonic power out of control, flesh self-destructing?!
Not good!
In the blink of an eye, Gu Changhuai glanced at the painting behind Fire Buddha, clicked his tongue in disdain, and flashed to stand before the painting, pushing it to the ground.
The painting felt as if it had been shielded by a "large meat shield".
Then, a deafening explosion rang in his ears.
The sound waves were intense, and the spiritual power fluctuations were violent.
The self-destructing demonic fire, carrying immense destructive power, surged like a tidal wave of fire, instantly spreading out.
Trees turned to ash, and rocks to powder.
The ground was charred black.
After an unknown amount of time, the explosion subsided.
The painting finally opened his eyes.
He found that the valley had been bombed beyond recognition, leaving nothing but barrenness.
But all the damage had been borne by Uncle Gu...
He was fine.
The painting shook Gu Changhuai, only to find that Gu Changhuai had passed out. No matter how much he shook him, there was no response.
The painting struggled to his feet and saw that Gu Changhuai's back was covered in wounds, blood flowing down. He was startled.
"Uncle Gu!"
The painting called out anxiously.
"Uncle Gu, you're not dead, are you?"
"Uncle Gu, you're a Golden Core cultivator..."
"Uncle Gu, you're not that useless, are you?!"
"Uncle Gu, pull yourself together..."
Finally, Gu Changhuai stirred, his breath faint and his voice low as he gritted out to the painting, "Shut up!"
If this kid kept talking, he'd be annoyed to death even if he didn't die from his injuries!
The painting heaved a sigh of relief.
Not dead!
As long as there was breath, there was hope.
He immediately started searching through his storage bag, only to remember that he didn't have any good healing items.
So, he began to search through Gu Changhuai's storage bag.
Gu Changhuai was a young master of the Gu family, a judge in the Dao court, and a Golden Core cultivator. He should have high-grade pills in his storage bag.
After some searching, the painting retrieved a bunch of bottles and cans from Gu Changhuai's storage bag.
The painting carefully examined each one.
Some were probably for stopping bleeding, some for replenishing qi, some for removing fire poison, and others for protecting meridians, protecting the qi sea, and life-saving purposes...
The painting had learned about these pills in his Elixir Class.
He fed Gu Changhuai all the pills whose effects he could clearly identify, as well as some whose effects were unclear but might be beneficial to his injuries, and even some whose effects he couldn't identify but which probably wouldn't kill him.
Although the ingredients in these pills were complex, perhaps by chance, they would be beneficial to Uncle Gu's injuries.
After all, the worst-case scenario was the same as not taking any pills at all.
After a while, the painting asked in a low voice, "Uncle Gu, you're not dead, are you...?"
Gu Changhuai spat out a mouthful of blood, but it was unclear if it was due to anger or the pills forcing out the stagnant blood.
His breath became steadier.
"Thanks to you, I'm not dead yet..." Gu Changhuai said indifferently.
Only then did the painting truly relax.
He picked up Gu Changhuai's storage bag again and found a message token. After checking the records, he realized it was for intra-family communication within the Gu family, so he sent a message:
"Fire Buddha is dead!"
"Qingcheng Mountain, Severed Head Eye, right valley, hurry!"
After sending the message, the painting turned to look at Fire Buddha.
Mo Hua frowned, his mind filled with unanswered questions he had wanted to ask Fire Buddha.
Why did he wipe out the entire Xie family?
Was it solely for the sake of cultivating evil and improving his demonic powers?
What exactly did he do after annihilating the Xie family?
Who was the Demon Temple built for, and who was the revered master it worshipped?
...
With Fire Buddha's death, these mysteries would remain unresolved for now.
However, it was probably for the best that he perished. At least he found peace in death, no longer a threat to the world.
As for the rest, Mo Hua could slowly uncover the truth over time...
Mo Hua glanced at Fire Buddha's remains, or rather, the lack thereof, and sighed.
Killing this Fire Buddha had been a strenuous task.
Fortunately, he was no more.
Mo Hua then proceeded to set up some array formations at the site, keeping a close eye on Gu Changhuai's vital signs to ensure he didn't suddenly succumb to his injuries. All the while, he quietly awaited the arrival of others.
Sure enough, before long, someone approached.
It was Gu An and Gu Quan.
The sight of Gu Changhuai's tragic and bloody state, clinging to life, sent shivers down their souls.
"He's still alive!" Mo Hua declared.
Only then did Gu An and Gu Quan breathe a sigh of relief.
Mo Hua instructed, "Call a few Elixir masters over to provide emergency treatment. Once we confirm he's stable, send Uncle Gu back to the Gu family to recuperate."
Gu An and Gu Quan bowed and said, "Yes, young master!"
After the incident of destroying the demon's lair, Mo Hua's status as a young array master had skyrocketed in their eyes, second only to their young master.
Gu An immediately used a message token to summon people.
"Young master..."
Gu Quan hesitated for a moment, surveying the surroundings before turning to Mo Hua with a furrowed brow.
"What exactly happened here...?"
Why had the entire valley been transformed? How had their young master sustained such severe injuries? Was Fire Buddha truly dead?
Gu An and Gu Quan were filled with questions.
Mo Hua pondered for a moment before explaining, "Fire Buddha tried to kill me, so I fled into the mountains. Uncle Gu came to my rescue and, with all his might, managed to slay Fire Buddha, but he also ended up heavily wounded in the process."
Gu An and Gu Quan nodded, somewhat believing his words...
"Remember this!"
Mo Hua's face turned serious as he admonished them, "It was Uncle Gu alone who, at the cost of his own life, managed to kill that heinous Fire Buddha!"
"When others arrive, spread the word about what happened here!"
Gu An and Gu Quan exchanged glances, a hint of confusion lingering between them.
Mo Hua extended his small hands, intending to pat the shoulders of the two men.
However, due to their tall stature, Mo Hua's arms fell short, unable to reach their shoulders.
Sensing his intention, Gu An and Gu Quan instinctively lowered themselves, bringing their shoulders within Mo Hua's reach.
Satisfied, Mo Hua patted their shoulders, nodded, and then lowered his voice, saying, "You wouldn't want someone else to steal away Uncle Gu's hard-earned glory, would you?"
Their expressions turned solemn as they immediately understood his implication.
With Fire Buddha dead and Gu Changhuai severely injured, only Mo Hua knew the truth of what transpired here.
They were well aware of Mo Hua's capabilities.
However, in the eyes of others, Mo Hua was still young, and his words carried little weight. People were unlikely to believe him no matter what he said.
In such a situation, it would be all too easy for those with ulterior motives to exaggerate their own accomplishments and claim credit for Fire Buddha's demise.
Gu An and Gu Quan's faces turned grim.
This wouldn't do at all.
Fire Buddha was a formidable foe, and their young master had paid a steep price to defeat him.
They couldn't allow others to steal away this achievement!
From the very beginning, they had to emphasize that it was their young master, and their young master alone, who had vanquished Fire Buddha!
Understanding flashed across their eyes as they looked at Mo Hua with gratitude.
This young master Mo was a true friend to their young master!
Gu Quan nodded and said, "Young Master Mo, rest assured, I will spread the word immediately..."
Mo Hua nodded in satisfaction.
Soon after, the Gu family's Elixir masters arrived and examined Gu Changhuai's injuries. They confirmed that the elixirs had been administered in time, and his vital energy was gradually stabilizing. His meridians were also healing, and there didn't seem to be any major issues.
Given Gu Changhuai's status as a Golden Core cultivator and his solid foundation, he would recover with some rest.
Subsequently, Gu Changhuai was escorted back to the Gu clan.
News of Gu Changhuai's solitary defeat of Fire Buddha also reached the Dao Court, causing quite a stir.
A Golden Core cultivator defeating a Peak Foundation Establishment stage demon cultivator wasn't typically noteworthy.
However, this particular demon cultivator was at the peak of the second stage and had wreaked havoc in the second-grade province, making the situation entirely different.
Many cultivators, whether openly or discreetly, began to pay close attention to Gu Changhuai.
Some admired him, some approached with caution, and others harbored hidden motives...
...
Upon returning to the Gu clan, Gu Changhuai ingested some pills and quickly regained consciousness.
When Wen Renwan learned of his injuries, she tended to him with utmost care, personally refining pills to aid his recovery.
Knowing that he had been hurt while protecting Mo Hua, her gaze towards him was filled with appreciation.
There was a sense of pride, as if the younger brother she had raised had finally grown up.
The over a hundred-year-old Gu Changhuai had mixed emotions.
The Gu family was in a state of upheaval as well.
But upon learning that Gu Changhuai was not in mortal danger and that the notorious demon cultivator, Fire Buddha, had met his end at Gu Changhuai's hands, the clan's elders couldn't help but view him with newfound respect.
Despite his temperamental flaws, Gu Changhuai's talent and resourcefulness surpassed that of his peers in the Gu family.
He was returning to Tai Xu Men.
The seven-day holiday was over, Fire Buddha was dead, the Fire Fusion Art had been obtained, and formal classes would begin tomorrow.
However, before his departure, he still had to go over the "testimony" with Uncle Gu.
Mo Hua munched on some fruit as he spoke in a low voice, "Uncle Gu, you alone killed Fire Buddha. Don't mention me..."
Gu Changhuai frowned, "You don't want this credit?"
"Mm." Mo Hua nodded. "Fire Buddha was a demon cultivator, and he might have other subordinates or accomplices in secret..."
"As a mere early Foundation Establishment cultivator, it would be too dangerous if they targeted me."
Gu Changhuai remained silent, feeling speechless.
Which was more dangerous, the demon cultivator or you...
But it was true that Mo Hua's cultivation was low. As an early Foundation Establishment cultivator, the risk was indeed too great...
Gu Changhuai nodded, "I understand."
Mo Hua narrowed his eyes and smiled.
Now that the "testimony" was complete, everything was perfect.
Outsiders wouldn't know that Fire Buddha's death was related to him.
He was merely a harmless, insignificant sect disciple who had been pursued by Fire Buddha.
Gu Changhuai pondered for a moment and then silently glanced at Mo Hua once more.
The image of the two fireballs colliding in the valley, the collapsing technique, the fusion of spiritual power, and the terrifying little fireball that pierced through Fire Buddha's chest flashed through his mind again.
Gu Changhuai couldn't help but blink, his voice deep and solemn, "Your... spell..."
Mo Hua was taken aback, "What spell?"
Gu Changhuai's expression was blank, "There's no one else here."
Mo Hua smiled awkwardly, "It's nothing, just an 'ordinary' fireball spell..."
Gu Changhuai's voice was cold, "An early Foundation Establishment cultivator, a single fireball spell, pierced through a Peak Foundation Establishment demon cultivator's chest. Indeed, very 'ordinary'..."
Gu Changhuai emphasized the words "very ordinary".
Mo Hua blinked, "It was all a coincidence... Fire Buddha had a vital point on his chest, a huge weakness. Perhaps my fireball spell just happened to hit it..."
"He was just extremely unlucky..."
Gu Changhuai saw that Mo Hua's face was as pure as white paper and as thick-skinned as a city wall; he felt helpless.
Gu Changhuai sighed, "Think carefully and come up with a more believable excuse."
He then added, "You don't need to tell me this excuse..."
In other words, if someone were to discover him in the future, he could just bluff his way through it.
Mo Hua's eyes lit up, and he smiled, "Thank you, Uncle Gu!"
Gu Changhuai shook his head helplessly.
Originally, he had only thought that Mo Hua's talent for formations was unfathomable, but he never expected that he also had an extremely terrifying spell up his sleeve.
How could others even compete with him at the same cultivation level? Tai Xu Men had truly picked up a "little monster" this time...
What's more, from the outside, Mo Hua looked completely innocent, with a pure and harmless appearance.
Gu Changhuai couldn't help but shake his head again.
Seeing that Gu Changhuai looked a little tired, Mo Hua said, "Uncle Gu, then I won't disturb you anymore. Take care of your injuries, and I'll head back to the sect."
"Mm." Gu Changhuai nodded.
Mo Hua also took a spirit fruit and turned to leave. After walking for a while, he was stopped by Gu Changhuai.
"Mo Hua."
Mo Hua turned around in confusion.
He wondered if Uncle Gu, a dignified Golden Core cultivator and judge, would be so stingy as to not let him take a single spirit fruit.
Gu Changhuai's expression was conflicted, his eyebrows furrowed with pride, and after hesitating for a long time, he reluctantly said in a low voice, "Thank you..."
After all, if it weren't for Mo Hua, he might not have been able to kill Fire Buddha.
And if Fire Buddha had not been brought to justice, it would have caused endless future troubles.
However, this "thank you" was very reluctant and almost inaudible.
Mo Hua was stunned, and then a bright smile, like the morning sun, blossomed on his face.
"Mm!"
...
After that, Mo Hua returned to the sect.
He first visited Elder Xu, saying that he had finished drawing the formation and that the Court of Dao mainly involved the Gu family, who were very grateful to him.
Elder Xu didn't doubt him and stroked his beard, very satisfied.
Being able to establish a good relationship with the Gu family of the Court of Dao would give them more connections for future actions.
After that, Mo Hua resumed his normal classes.
Some sect members, like Cheng Mo, Si Tu Jian, and Zheng Fang, curiously asked him various questions after class.
They asked Mo Hua how he got a seven-day vacation, how he managed to get it approved, who approved it, and what he did during those seven days. Mo Hua replied that he had spent the seven days drawing formations.
They immediately lost interest.
Only Zheng Fang looked curious and asked some questions about formations.
Mo Hua picked and chose his answers, giving him some intriguing formation knowledge and bluffing his way through.
After that, everything returned to peace.
Mo Hua lived a stable sect life as usual.
The Demon Cave of Bi Shan, the Sinister Demon Temple, the Bronze Maze, the Mysterious Altar, and the group of demon cultivators, as well as the now-skeletonless demon leader, Fire Buddha, gradually faded from memory.
And soon, Mo Hua's first year at the sect came to an end.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
