Chapter 687: The Divine Path (An additional chapter dedicated to the Alliance Leader, the Supreme Im
Chapter 687: The Divine Path (An additional chapter dedicated to the Alliance Leader, the Supreme Immortal, the Immortal Emperor)
Old Yu remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "This method is called the 'River Sacrifice for Avert Disaster'. It was taught to me by a passing fisherman..."
"One day, while fishing in the river, my boat suddenly sank for no apparent reason. Perhaps it struck a reef at the bottom of the river or collided with the horn of some sort of water demon..."
"I've lost count of how many fishermen have lost their lives to sinking boats in these waters."
"I panicked and swam desperately towards the shore, but before I could even reach halfway, a water demon had already set its sights on me..."
"Just when I thought I would perish in the murky waters, a passing fisherman injured the water demon and forcibly dragged me to the shore..."
"That's how I managed to keep my life..."
Old Yu sighed, still visibly shaken by the memory.
Mo Hua's eyes narrowed as he asked, "What did this passing fisherman look like?"
Old Yu thought for a moment, "He was a frequent diver, extremely skilled in water. His skin was pale white, like the white fish in the river, and his eyebrows were faint. He had a strange appearance, but if you looked at him for long enough, you'd think he had kind eyes..."
Mo Hua's gaze turned somber.
Over-the-River Dragon...
"And then?"
"Then..." Old Yu hesitated, "I was incredibly grateful to him, and I wanted to repay him, but he waved me off, saying something like... oh, we're all trying to make a living in the water. It's only right to help each other in times of trouble. It was no trouble at all, so there's no need to be so polite."
"What a kind soul..." Old Yu sighed, and then continued, "I invited him for a drink, even though it was only cheap liquor, but he didn't mind."
"After a few rounds, we got to talking about the hardships of being a fisherman. He told me he had neither father nor mother, nor any children of his own. He was all alone in this world."
"I told him that my situation was the opposite. I have a large family, but we're all destined to live a bitter life with no prospects for improvement."
"My two grandsons have decent spiritual roots, but we can't afford to provide them with spirit stones for their cultivation."
"It's my fault as their grandfather that I'm holding them back from achieving their potential."
Old Yu's expression turned ashamed as he spoke, and then he shook his head and continued, "When the fisherman heard this, he wanted to say something but stopped himself. He seemed to want to speak up, but in the end, he held back and just kept drinking."
"However, I noticed his hesitation, so I told him that he could speak freely and not hold anything back."
"He just kept shaking his head, but when I pressed him further, he finally sighed and told me about this 'River Sacrifice' method."
"He said that he had heard about this sacrificial ritual from some old cultivators, but he didn't know if it would work."
"According to the fisherman, there is a type of blood fish in this world. You must be sincere in your heart and offer your blood to nourish it. Once its mouth splits open and its fins transform into human-like hands and feet, you must throw it into a well and offer it to the river god. If you gain the favor of the river god, your wishes will come true..."
"I found it strange and couldn't understand why one had to be so sincere and use blood as an offering. If it was meant for the river god, why not throw it into the river instead of a well?"
Mo Hua's curiosity piqued, "What did the fisherman say about that?"
Old Yu frowned, "The fisherman said he didn't know either. This ancient method has been passed down, and it must be followed precisely without any changes."
"He said that since it's a sacrifice to the river god, then these are the river god's requirements, and we humans have no way of understanding..."
"I was hesitant."
"He asked me if I wanted to give it a try. He also said that not everyone who uses this method will gain the favor of the river god, but it's worth a shot."
"If I truly wanted to use this method to worship the 'river god', he would be willing to help me obtain the 'blood fish' because of our friendship. I wouldn't have to pay him with spirit stones; a drink would be enough."
"Spirit stones are precious, but this kind of liquor is cheap."
"I thought to myself, why not give it a try? Even if it doesn't work, I'll only lose a bit of money for the drinks, which isn't a big deal."
"Besides, this man saved my life. He wouldn't turn around and harm me."
"He shared all this with me out of kindness and concern for my well-being..."
Mo Hua listened with a furrowed brow.
Old Yu, unaware of the underlying truth, sighed and turned to Mo Hua, "Young Master, you probably know what happened next..."
Old Yu became pensive, "I did as he said, and I received the protection of the river god. I caught a three-colored carp and sold it for eight thousand spirit stones. My two grandsons now have a future..."
As he spoke, Old Yu's expression suddenly turned fearful, "But this matter must never be revealed. Otherwise, it will incur the wrath of the river god, and all the blessings will be lost."
Old Yu looked at Mo Hua with pleading eyes, "Young Master, I beg of you. Please pretend that you saw nothing."
Mo Hua's expression was complex, and his thoughts stirred. He nodded in agreement, "Alright, I won't say a word."
He didn't bother trying to dissuade Old Yu or explain that the so-called river sacrifice was likely a sham and that the river god he worshiped was probably an evil deity.
In this world, those with blind faith could not be reasoned with. Any attempt to do so would be futile.
Mo Hua saw no point in wasting his breath, so he simply said, "I won't tell anyone about this, but you must stop keeping those fish, and you can no longer perform sacrifices in the well water..."
Old Yu's face twisted in conflict.
Mo Hua offered a reason that he thought would resonate with the old man, "Greed will invoke the river god's punishment."
"You have already received the river god's blessings, and it is more than enough. If you continue to make excessive offerings and demands, you will anger the river god and bring about calamity instead..."
Upon hearing this, Old Yu's expression turned fearful, and he nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, Young Master is right! I mustn't be too greedy. I've already received more than my fair share of luck. If I continue down this path, something terrible might happen."
Mo Hua nodded in agreement.
Old Yu breathed a sigh of relief and sincerely bowed to Mo Hua, "Thank you, Young Master, for your guidance."
Mo Hua gave a slight nod, "Alright, then I'll take my leave. Pretend I was never here."
With that, Mo Hua turned and left without another word.
Old Yu stood there, looking dazed. It was only then that he began to wonder why the young master had appeared in the small fishing village so late at night.
What had brought him here?
Old Yu couldn't fathom the reason, but as he thought about it, he felt that perhaps it was all part of the river god's plan.
The river god had sent the young master to drive away the Wang Family cultivator and purchase his fish, fulfilling his wishes and giving his grandsons the opportunity to join a sect.
Old Yu nodded deeply, turned back to glance at the well, then picked up his fish tank and left.
After Old Yu left, the area around the well was deserted, with no one else in sight.
After a while, a small figure condensed and appeared by the well—it was Mo Hua.
He had sent Old Yu away and now returned to the well, invisible.
This well was something Mo Hua had seen during the day, but he hadn't paid much attention to it, never expecting that something strange would be happening within it.
Mo Hua crouched by the well and peered inside.
The well was pitch-black.
Mo Hua released his spiritual sense, probing deep into the well. Soon, he sensed the presence of water, and within it, he faintly discerned several blood-red fish.
Probing further, everything became hazy and indistinct.
"Where is the evil god hiding?"
"How is it hiding?"
"Is it inhabiting flesh? Has it constructed an altar? Or is its statue of preaching submerged in the well water?"
"But that doesn't make sense either..."
Mo Hua frowned, "If the evil god, or one of its divine corpses, is indeed at the bottom of the well, then all the fisher cultivators in the village would have surely been corrupted by it. Why, then, would it need to trick Old Yu into raising these fish to spread its 'plague' of evil thoughts..."
"Moreover, if the evil god were at the bottom of the well, I would have surely discovered it by now."
Mo Hua's eyes flashed with black and white, as he employed both his Guisu and Yansu techniques to peer into the well.
Indeed, there was blood mist within, but it was very faint.
Compared to the crimson blood mist he had seen with his Tianji Yansu technique when he had followed Over-the-River Dragon into the small fishing village, this was much weaker.
This was impossible...
Furthermore, based on Mo Hua's understanding of evil thought-beings, if the evil god or one of its divine bodies were truly at the bottom of the well, it would have eagerly burst out by now, cackling madly as it tried to devour him.
"Where is the evil god hiding?"
"What secret does this well hold?"
Mo Hua frowned, deep in thought, but he couldn't figure it out and sighed.
His spiritual sense... was so hungry...
There was nothing for it to 'eat'...
Mo Hua looked at the well again, like a greedy child who wanted to drink some "fish soup." He couldn't help but think:
"Should I... jump into the well and take a look?"
As soon as this thought arose, Mo Hua suppressed it.
While his spiritual sense was strong, his physical body was weak.
If he jumped into the well alone and encountered an evil being, even if it were the evil god itself, he could handle it for a while. But if he encountered a fierce water demon, he might lose his life with a single mistake.
It wasn't worth taking such a risk.
But Mo Hua really wanted to know what was at the bottom of the well.
He frowned, thinking hard, and suddenly his eyes lit up as he remembered a "little toy" he had.
Mo Hua immediately opened his storage bag and took out a "little tiger."
It was a puppet that Old Kui had carved especially for him, and Mo Hua had inscribed it with a spirit pivot array, allowing him to control it with his spiritual sense and move it freely.
The little tiger had a cute, tiger-like face.
Mo Hua looked at it with a hint of nostalgia.
Ever since entering the Qianxue Province, he hadn't used these "little tigers" in a long time. Now, as he wanted to explore the bottom of the well, he could finally put one to use.
However, the little tiger was made of wood and would float on water.
Mo Hua thought for a moment, then took out a few iron blocks and tied them to the little tiger before throwing it into the well.
"Splash!"
The little tiger fell into the water, and the weight of the iron blocks pulled it slowly towards the bottom of the well.
The bottom of the well was murky, and his spiritual sense couldn't perceive it clearly.
The little tiger couldn't "swim" either.
Mo Hua could only use his spiritual sense to guide it, dragging its paws along as it slowly moved at the bottom of the well.
He didn't need the little tiger to investigate thoroughly; he just wanted to make sure there was nothing dangerous down there.
The little tiger dragged its paws along for a while, covering a small distance, when its body suddenly trembled as if it had been bumped by something.
Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat.
Then, from within the well, came a muffled yet intense splashing sound, as if a group of fish were swimming frantically.
In less than a moment, Mo Hua felt like the little tiger had been swallowed by something, and its presence completely disappeared.
Mo Hua was startled but also felt relieved.
"It's a good thing I didn't go down there recklessly..."
But one of his little tigers was gone...
Mo Hua felt a bit sad about that.
"What was at the bottom of the well that swallowed my little tiger?"
Mo Hua frowned, then suddenly remembered the blood-colored fish demon he had seen in his dream, with sharp fangs, fierce eyes, and fish fins that had transformed into legs, allowing it to stand and walk. That image had been created by the evil god's thoughts within his sea of consciousness.
Mo Hua had a hunch.
These blood-red fish, placed in the well, were probably being used to cultivate a "gu" (a parasitic creature)
.
They absorbed human blood and wishes, devouring each other within the well water until eventually, they would evolve into a large, blood-colored fish demon that lurked at the bottom of the deep well.
This fish demon was the "medium" through which the evil god spread its corruption.
At the moment, it wasn't strong yet.
But once it was fed enough and continued to devour and grow stronger, the entire well would turn into a source of corruption, spreading its influence through the well water and infecting the surrounding area.
Mo Hua felt a weight on his heart, and he was still confused.
If this were the case, then this well was just a "medium" for the evil god's preaching, not the source of the evil god itself.
These fish couldn't be the evil god.
Where was the true body of the evil god?
Mo Hua tried to put himself in the evil god's shoes.
If he were a "little evil god," or a "divine servant" devoted to preaching for the evil god, he definitely wouldn't put all his eggs in one basket.
This also meant that the medium for preaching and the root of the evil god wouldn't be placed in the same well.
The true body of the evil god would be hidden, unknown to others, and not to be offended or desecrated.
The medium for preaching would also be hidden, but it would need to be spread widely, like well water, to infect its followers.
The two would be related but not completely isolated from each other.
"If that's the case, then this well is very suspicious..."
The evil god's secret was likely hidden within the well because, apart from this well, there were no traces of the evil god within a ten-mile radius.
Mo Hua circled the well once more, scrutinizing every detail, yet he found no further clues.
Not a single hint was being given away.
Mo Hua sighed inwardly, "The schemes of the evil god are truly unfathomable..."
However, he was not willing to give up. He searched the area around the well again, but as the eastern sky began to brighten, he still had nothing to show for his efforts.
Mo Hua sighed and decided to temporarily give up. He turned invisible once more and quietly left the well, heading straight for the familiar tree at the entrance of the village. Climbing up to a branch, he continued his patient observation.
"I won't believe it if I don't catch a glimpse of your tail..." Mo Hua muttered, his legs crossed in frustration.
As the sun rose, the small fishing village seemed just like any other day.
Mo Hua kept his eyes fixed, watching from morning until noon, and then he witnessed the villagers cooking fish soup and eating it.
Mo Hua's expression turned complex.
That fish soup... they must not drink it...
The more they drank, the more they would be corrupted by the evil god.
But for now, he could do nothing. He couldn't warn them, nor could he expose the plot without risking everything. He could only try to uncover the evil god's secrets and hopefully find a solution from there...
Mo Hua sighed.
Just then, his eyes caught a familiar figure, and he paused.
A man with a full beard, muscular build, and dark complexion, who seemed to be skilled in water-related activities...
It was Over-the-River Dragon in disguise!
Mo Hua's eyes lit up.
He had finally caught a break! After disappearing from the small fishing village for several days, Over-the-River Dragon had reappeared.
It was noon, and Over-the-River Dragon, dressed as a fisherman, walked nonchalantly through the village, his back bent under the weight of a fish basket. No one suspected a thing.
He strolled through the village, seemingly inspecting the fishermen's conditions and perhaps looking for something specific. When he passed by Old Yu's house, his expression turned even more pensive, as if deep in thought.
Afterward, he left the village with the fish basket still on his back.
Mo Hua quickly followed. He saw Over-the-River Dragon reach the bank of the Misty River and dive straight into the water without hesitation.
Underwater, he moved like a large black fish, swimming freely.
Thanks to his training in the White Wave Manual and his understanding of the art of driving away water and avoiding demons, Mo Hua's spiritual sense was strong, and he had a subtle connection with the Misty River, allowing him to keep track of Over-the-River Dragon's movements.
Although Over-the-River Dragon seemed to be submerged, Mo Hua could clearly see all his actions.
However, Over-the-River Dragon remained oblivious to Mo Hua's surveillance.
Time passed, and as the sky darkened, Mo Hua's heart began to race.
With only two days of the weekend left, this was already the second day.
He had to return to his sect that evening, or he would be absent without leave.
But now that he had a lead, he couldn't afford to lose it, or he might never get another chance like this.
Moreover, the matter of the evil god was urgent and needed to be addressed as soon as possible.
Mo Hua gritted his teeth and sent a message to Gu Changhuai: "Uncle Gu, I've made a significant discovery. Please ask the sect for a day off on my behalf!"
As the head of the Law Court, Gu Changhuai's request for leave would carry more weight than his own.
Mo Hua was determined to uncover the secrets of Over-the-River Dragon and the evil god in the village today, no matter what.
His eyes gleamed with determination.
Over-the-River Dragon continued his leisurely swim in the Misty River, just as he had done before. He even caught a few fish along the way. As night fell, he emerged from the water.
After coming ashore, he took out the fish he had caught, placed them in the basket, and headed back to the small fishing village.
Mo Hua quietly followed behind.
Upon entering the village, Over-the-River Dragon cautiously looked around before walking the same route as before, turning into the same narrow alley, and then disappearing from sight.
Mo Hua's brows furrowed slightly.
However, this time, he had a good idea of what was happening.
The night was dark, and the moonlight cast a cool glow. The atmosphere became increasingly oppressive.
Mo Hua walked on the slightly damp ground of the village, the pungent fishy smell growing stronger as he approached the well at the back of the village.
When he reached the well, his eyes narrowed.
Sure enough, Over-the-River Dragon was there!
Mo Hua quietly walked closer and saw Over-the-River Dragon set down his fish basket and take out a brush and an inkstone from his pocket.
The brush was black, seemingly made from human hair.
The inkstone was white, like bone, and when he ground it, fresh blood seemed to flow from it.
Using the brush made from human hair, Over-the-River Dragon dipped it into the bloody ink and began to paint strange, ancient, and obscure patterns around the well.
Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the patterns.
"This is... an evil formation?"
So, Over-the-River Dragon was also a formation master? By the eerie well, Over-the-River Dragon painted with reverence and humility, using the bloody ink to create a formation.
Mo Hua quietly watched from the sidelines.
As more and more of the formation was painted, the aura around the well became increasingly bizarre.
Finally, when Over-the-River Dragon finished painting the formation, the well trembled, and it seemed like cause and effect had been reversed.
In Mo Hua's perception, the well had completely transformed...
A strong, putrid fishy smell wafted out, along with eerie crimson mist that poured from the well and spread throughout the small fishing village.
It was as if the "seal" on this well had been broken...
Mo Hua was shocked, his eyes fixed on the formation by the well, his expression grave.
What kind of formation was this...?
It had sealed the aura of the evil god at the bottom of the well...
Mo Hua frowned deeply, puzzled, and then an idea struck him.
"Seal..."
Mo Hua's pupils contracted.
Could this be the nearly lost...
Shen Dao formation?!
(End of Chapter)
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