Chapter 752: Trying to Escape?
Chapter 752: Trying to Escape?
Sunshine pierced through the layers of foliage in the mountain forest, fragmenting into specks of light that permeated the dense foliage and speckled the ground beneath. The forest floor was thick with fallen leaves.
This was a lush, vast, and rarely traversed forest.
Mo Hua compared the surroundings to the map in his mind, roughly estimating their location.
This forest straddled the border between the outer and inner mountains, a remote area with few roaming beasts and far from the mountain gates.
The round trip was too long and time-consuming.
Hence, most disciples wouldn't venture here for hunting beasts.
A faint mist hung in the air, mixed with the pungent miasma, creating a deathly still and oppressive atmosphere.
Mo Hua and his companions followed the trail of pink bloodstains and drag marks on the ground, stepping deeper into the forest.
After a while, the blood trail disappeared.
The ground was littered with rocks and vegetation, making it difficult to discern any traces.
Si Tu Jian and the others turned to Mo Hua expectantly.
Ling Hu Xiao, perplexed, also looked at Mo Hua.
Mo Hua lowered his head, his eyes turning pitch-black and profound, with the lines of destiny appearing at the bottom. Threads of causality entwined before him.
A crimson qi thread slowly materialized and drifted into the distance.
Mo Hua pointed in its direction and said, "This way."
Then, he led the group along the path indicated by the thread of causality, venturing deeper into the forest.
Si Tu Jian and the others followed unquestioningly.
Only Ling Hu Xiao seemed bewildered.
"How... How did you figure that out?"
Seeing that Mo Hua and the others were about to walk away, Ling Hu Xiao couldn't help but ask. He could only silently follow after them.
After walking for some time, Mo Hua suddenly stopped and said with a solemn expression, "Be careful. It's just ahead."
Si Tu Jian and the others nodded, their faces turning grim.
Ling Hu Xiao was taken aback, still unsure what was happening.
How did he come to that conclusion?
He had a clear sword heart and strong perception, and his spiritual sense was not weak. Yet, he couldn't detect anything within his spiritual sense range.
Had Mo Hua already sensed the enemy?
Just how powerful was his spiritual sense?
Ling Hu Xiao was secretly astonished, but in this situation, he could only suppress his doubts.
Following Mo Hua's lead, the group restrained their auras, held their breath, and proceeded quietly. After a while, Ling Hu Xiao's pupils contracted.
He had sensed a powerful presence.
This presence, mixed with the bloody aura of a beast, caused his sword heart to tremble slightly.
After a few more steps, Si Tu Jian and the others also sensed the violent aura and turned solemn.
However, Mo Hua maintained his composure and continued walking until they were a hundred meters away. Then, he stopped, turned, and gestured for everyone to hide.
They found a large tree with dense bushes and hid behind it, peering through the thick foliage toward the front.
In the distance, they saw a blood-colored, pink-furred, and alluring fox beast lying on the ground, motionless, in front of several ancient trees that were several people's girth.
It was the Blood Enchanting Fox.
And next to the fox, there was a tall, black-robed figure with an unidentifiable face and body.
This figure was crouched beside the fox, eating its flesh and drinking its blood, making crunching noises as it chewed. Its breathing was like that of a wild beast.
Eating a beast raw?
Mo Hua and his companions' expressions turned stern.
Just as Hao Xuan was about to speak, Mo Hua made a "be quiet" gesture and then waved his hand, leading the group a little further away before nodding to indicate that they could speak.
Hao Xuan lowered his voice and asked, "What is that thing?"
"Is it a human or a beast?"
"Or... is it a demon cultivator?"
"It could be a demon cultivator..." Si Tu Jian also whispered.
"Do you know how to distinguish a demon cultivator?" Hao Xuan asked. "Or what's the difference between a demon cultivator and a demonic cultivator?"
Si Tu Jian and the others were taken aback.
Usually, demon and demonic cultivators were lumped together, and they couldn't tell the difference between the two.
According to the Dao laws, both demon and demonic cultivators were to be slain without exception.
Seeing their confusion, Mo Hua thought for a moment and explained, "According to the Dao Court's classification, a demonic cultivator refers to a 'cultivator of demonic paths.' It is a general term for cultivators who practice heretical techniques, including but not limited to demon, corpse, evil, ghost, and demonic cultivators..."
"And if we further differentiate based on cultivation methods, each category of demonic cultivators has its unique characteristics."
"Demon cultivators eat human flesh, corpse cultivators refine human corpses, evil cultivators absorb primordial qi, ghost cultivators refine souls, and demonic cultivators primarily feed on and extract others' spiritual power."
"Since the demonic cultivators have the most significant influence, other types of heretical cultivators are often associated with them. Hence, cultivators of ghosts, corpses, and demons are generally referred to as demonic cultivators..."
Mo Hua had learned this information from his uncle, Gu Chang Huai, when he was preparing for the bounty mission, intending to become more professional at "slaying demons and eliminating evils."
Hao Xuan nodded in appreciation and praised, "Little Senior Brother, you know so much."
Then, he asked doubtfully, "So, what is that 'monster' that eats beasts but not humans?"
Si Tu Jian shook his head. "Who says it hasn't eaten humans? If it can eat beasts raw, it can certainly eat humans."
"And from its appearance, it seems like its demonic nature has overwhelmed its humanity. Its spiritual sense seems to be affected."
Mo Hua slightly nodded, "Yes."
He could sense that this "monster," while possessing some intellect, had extremely chaotic spiritual fluctuations, as if its demonic power had gone berserk, causing its mind to fall into a beast-like state.
Si Tu Jian asked, "What should we do now?"
He glanced at the monster that was tearing the beast apart and devouring its raw flesh, his brows furrowed. "From its aura, it seems to be at the late Qi Refining stage. It might be challenging to deal with..."
Mo Hua stared at the monster for a moment, weighing his options, before his eyes turned cold. "Kill it!"
Si Tu Jian asked, "Should we leave it alive for interrogation?"
"If there are indeed secrets hidden within it, even if it dies, its corpse will still be able to 'speak'."
The group exchanged glances, their eyes widening in realization as they nodded. "Alright!"
Mo Hua quickly devised a strategy in his mind and then shared it with the group. Afterward, he turned to Ling Hu Xiao and instructed, "Ling Hu, your sword techniques are strong, but don't try to show off. You must follow the plan and cooperate with Si Tu and the others."
Ling Hu Xiao's face was filled with pride, but he nodded obediently. Although he loved to fight, he knew how to distinguish the severity of the situation.
The group then began to execute their plan.
Mo Hua and Hao Xuan split up and started setting up formations around the area.
The monster, with its deranged mind, was obsessed with the bloody feast and didn't notice anything amiss.
Once the formations were in place, Mo Hua signaled to Ling Hu Xiao.
Ling Hu Xiao slowly drew his sword, and his aura surged. Spiritual energy coursed through his meridians, stimulating his sword qi. His eyes shone brighter and sharper, like the light reflecting off a sword.
In the oppressive atmosphere of the mountain forest, the killing intent of the sword qi gradually permeated the surroundings.
As his sword qi reached its peak, the "monster" that was devouring the demonic beast seemed to sense something.
It slowed down its eating.
After a moment of hesitation, the monster suddenly turned its head toward Ling Hu Xiao.
Concealed by the black robe, the monster's face was hollow, except for its eyes, which had vertical pupils and exuded a bloodthirsty glow.
A chill ran down Ling Hu Xiao's spine, but at that moment, his sword qi had also reached its pinnacle.
With his ancient moonlight longsword pointing forward, a surging and dazzling Chongxu Sword Qi burst forth, tearing through the air like a strand of moonlight carrying a chilling killing intent toward the monster.
This sword strike was incredibly powerful.
Even though the monster was strong, its residual instinct compelled it to avoid the brunt of the attack.
The monster's four limbs touched the ground as it tried to crawl away.
Just then, Mo Hua pointed his finger, and a deep blue light appeared, quickly condensing into a water prison that trapped the monster's body.
Water Imprisonment Technique! Although the technique only held the monster for a few breaths, it provided a brief moment of delay.
Taking advantage of this delay, Ling Hu Xiao unleashed his fully charged Chongxu Sword Light.
It was like the reflection of the moon on the surface of a lake.
The sword light tore through flesh.
The piercing and ethereal sword light cleaved through the monster's back, slicing through its black robe and flesh.
Black blood splattered in all directions.
The monster let out a shrill roar, and a violent aura, accompanied by a bloody gust, swept outward.
Mo Hua and the others' pupils constricted.
What formidable demonic power!
As the black robe was sliced open by the sword qi, the monster's true form was revealed.
As expected, it was a demon cultivator! Although it was on all fours, its humanoid shape was evident. Under the black robe, its exposed flesh was reddish-brown and covered with long hairs.
Its hands had transformed into sharp claws, resembling those of a demonic beast.
Its head was still wrapped in the black robe, but it revealed canine-like teeth and eyes filled with madness, devoid of any rational thought. The entire figure resembled a "werewolf" that had undergone a demonic transformation.
Mo Hua shouted, "Brother Yang!"
Yang Qianjun responded immediately, charging forward with his spear, a glimmer of golden light trailing behind it, aiming straight for the demon cultivator's throat.
He wore a custom-made armor called Yunshan Armor, adorned with cloud patterns. It was as immovable as a mountain, and its interior was engraved with wind and stone arrays, providing solid defense without hindering his speed and movements.
Although Yang Qianjun was also a body cultivator, his style differed from Cheng Mo's.
Cheng Mo could withstand heavy attacks and was suitable for wearing heavy armor, holding the fort alone.
On the other hand, Yang Qianjun, hailing from a military background, excelled in close-quarters guerrilla warfare.
With Cheng Mo injured, the responsibility of facing the enemy head-on fell on Yang Qianjun.
Despite the disparity in strength, Yang Qianjun didn't need to fight the demon cultivator to the death.
He only needed to maintain a defensive stance, with occasional offensive strikes, keeping the demon cultivator occupied in close-quarters combat.
The demon cultivator was effectively held back by Yang Qianjun.
It waved its sharp claws and pounced like a wolf demon, but due to its chaotic mind and reliance on pure instinct, its attacks were repeatedly dodged by Yang Qianjun, who utilized his rich combat experience.
When Yang Qianjun couldn't dodge, he relied on the Yunshan Armor to withstand the attacks head-on.
Although each impact caused his blood energy to surge and his flesh to ache, he could still hold on for a short while.
From a distance, Si Tu Jian and Ling Hu Xiao began to stimulate their sword qi, launching attacks.
The Li Huo Sword Qi and Chongxu Sword Qi crisscrossed in the air, relentlessly tearing at the demon cultivator's flesh.
The chaotic battle in the mountain forest intensified.
The demon cultivator's injuries gradually worsened.
However, the first one to reach their limit would undoubtedly be Yang Qianjun.
Facing the formidable demon cultivator head-on was extremely taxing, and he had to remain fully focused, his spiritual sense taut, without a moment of relaxation.
A single mistake or opening could lead to unimaginable consequences.
As the demon cultivator's injuries worsened, its frenzy intensified, and its attacks became faster and more fierce.
Yang Qianjun gritted his teeth and endured, despite the assistance he received from Mo Hua's magical techniques, which distracted the demon cultivator's attacks. He was approaching his limit.
Noticing this, Mo Hua shouted, "Hao Xuan!"
Hao Xuan immediately took out a Yaoxing Pill and crushed it.
This pill was refined from the Yaoxing Grass and carried a putrid odor. Like the grass, it could attract demonic beasts.
It sniffed the air, its saliva dripping with demonic blood, and in the next moment, its blood-red eyes locked onto Hao Xuan.
Hao Xuan felt the hairs on his body stand on end. Without any hesitation, he turned and fled.
But before long, the demon cultivator let out a shrill roar, and with a gust of bloody wind, it charged towards Hao Xuan.
Yang Qianjun seized this opportunity to catch his breath, immediately sitting down to consume a healing pill and recover his spiritual energy.
On the other hand, the demon cultivator was exceptionally fast. Hao Xuan pushed his movement technique to the limit, running for his life.
However, he wasn't fleeing aimlessly.
Instead, he was following Mo Hua's instructions, leading the demon cultivator into the surrounding area where numerous arrays had already been set up.
Soon, the surrounding arrays were triggered one by one.
There were restraining arrays like the Quicksand Array, Earth Prison Array, and Golden Lock Array, as well as killing arrays such as the Earth Fire Array, Earth Kill Array, and Golden Blade Array.
In the depths of the forest, rumbling sounds echoed continuously.
Trees shook, rocks and pebbles tumbled, and the light of five elements and eight trigrams spiritual power flickered on and off.
Ling Hu Xiao watched, transfixed.
Even Si Tu Jian, who was familiar with Mo Hua's methods, looked on with astonishment.
"Just how many arrays has Little Senior Brother set up...?"
Indeed, Mo Hua had laid numerous arrays.
Moreover, among them were many second-grade high-level introductory arrays with seventeen patterns.
To maintain a low profile, Mo Hua usually provided his fellow disciples with second-grade mid-level arrays.
When he used the seventeen-pattern high-level arrays himself, he would secretly mix them with the second-grade mid-level arrays.
This way, occasionally, there would be a few arrays that exhibited extraordinary power, making them seem "very strong."
However, other disciples only used their eyes to "observe," and they wouldn't know that these arrays included high-level ones.
Of course, there were also restrictions on the use of arrays.
The second-grade high-level arrays were temporarily unusable by Si Tu and the others.
Led by Hao Xuan, the demon cultivator weaved through the mountains and forests, only to be bombarded by successive arrays. It was now wounded all over, its werewolf form having transformed into that of a half-charred "wild dog."
Finally, it fell to its knees with a thud.
Yang Qianjun was about to rush forward to finish it off, but Mo Hua stopped him.
"It's pretending to be dead."
Yang Qianjun was taken aback.
Si Tu Jian's eyes narrowed slightly. "If it's pretending to be dead, doesn't that mean..."
Mo Hua nodded. "Its demonization has receded, and its rationality has returned."
Si Tu Jian understood and immediately condensed a scorching Li Huo Sword Qi, aiming straight for the heart meridian of the demon cultivator, who appeared to be on the verge of death.
Ling Hu Xiao didn't want to be outdone, and at almost the same time, he unleashed a Chongxu Sword Qi, targeting the demon cultivator's forehead.
The fallen demon cultivator suddenly opened its eyes.
The vicious and beastly gaze in those eyes had faded, replaced by a cunning gleam.
A bunch of cunning little ghosts!
It cursed inwardly.
However, faced with the two sharp sword energies, it had no choice but to dodge.
The demon cultivator dropped to all fours, pounced, then tumbled on the ground, evading the deadly sword energies. It slowly stood up, its figure becoming shorter and shorter in the dimly lit mountain forest, eventually reverting to its original form—that of a tall "cultivator."
Its black robe was tattered, and its body was covered in wounds.
Only its face remained hidden beneath the messy and disheveled hair, revealing a pair of greedy eyes.
Mo Hua asked in a deep voice, "Who are you, and why are you in the Refining Demon Mountain?"
The demon cultivator coldly smiled, his eyes filled with malice, but he didn't answer.
Mo Hua didn't really expect a response.
He was just asking casually.
Unless this demon cultivator was a "slow-witted" individual, there was no way he would reveal his origins and details so easily.
Without further ado, Mo Hua took action, shooting out a fireball spell towards the demon cultivator.
At the same time, Ling Hu Xiao, Yang Qianjun, Si Tu Jian, and Hao Xuan also attacked.
With five against one, a chaotic battle ensued.
Mo Hua's group were all fellow disciples, experienced in hunting demons, and their teamwork was seamless.
Although Ling Hu Xiao was a disciple of the Chongxu Sect, he had spent some time with the disciples of Tai Xu Sect and was somewhat familiar with the tactics commonly used by Mo Hua and his group.
Furthermore, he was an inherently talented sword genius, and within just a few exchanges, he had a good grasp of the offensive and defensive coordination.
As for the demon cultivator, now that its demonization had faded, its strength had decreased significantly.
Moreover, after being "baptized" by the arrays, its injuries were severe.
At this moment, facing Mo Hua and the others, it struggled to keep up with the continuous attacks of the spear, sword energies, and spells.
After just over a dozen exchanges, its disadvantageous position became evident, and it was mostly on the defensive, barely managing to hold on.
A chill ran down the demon cultivator's spine.
I'm going to lose!
In at most twenty more exchanges, I will undoubtedly be defeated!
With this realization, the demon cultivator stopped holding back. It bit the tip of its tongue, swallowing a mouthful of essence blood, and then strange patterns appeared on its arm, glowing with a demonic aura.
Mo Hua was taken aback, and his pupils constricted.
This is...
Yao Wen?!
"Be careful!" Mo Hua exclaimed.
Yang Qianjun, who had been about to strike the demon cultivator's heart meridian with his spear, immediately became alert and switched to a defensive stance, holding his spear horizontally across his chest.
The demon cultivator's right arm glowed with the demonic patterns, and then it swelled, transforming into a vicious wolf claw infused with powerful demonic power as it lunged towards Yang Qianjun, attempting to tear him apart.
This claw attack was incredibly powerful.
Yang Qianjun couldn't withstand it, and his spear was knocked away. The armor on his chest was ripped open, and he was sent flying, crashing to the ground.
The demon cultivator took a step forward, intending to finish off Yang Qianjun.
Si Tu Jian and the others immediately moved to support him.
However, the demon cultivator suddenly dodged, taking advantage of the opening created by Si Tu Jian and the others as they rushed to assist Yang Qianjun, and instead, it turned towards Si Tu Jian, launching a fierce attack.
The demon cultivator clicked his tongue and had no choice but to abandon Si Tu Jian. His demonized arm blocked the sword qi, the demonic power surging within.
The sword qi tore through the flesh of his arm.
However, it triggered the demon mark, and his demonized arm, empowered by surging demonic energy, became extremely tough. Even though he directly blocked the sword qi, his injury wasn't too severe.
But the demon cultivator knew that it was time to leave.
If he continued to linger, even if he killed one or two of these brats, he would still end up dying here.
He could die, but he absolutely must not die here.
Nor could he leave his body behind!
The demon cultivator glared hatefully at Ling Hu Xiao and the others, vowing to remember this grudge, then turned and left without another word.
"Don't even think about escaping!"
Seeing this, Si Tu Jian's expression turned slightly angry, and he immediately urged his Li Huo Sword Qi, condensing a fiery red sword light that shot towards the demon cultivator.
The sword was fast, and the demon cultivator couldn't dodge in time. It was hit in the back by the sword.
The demon cultivator stumbled a few steps, enduring his wounds as he cursed and continued to flee into the distance.
At the same time, Ling Hu Xiao had already gathered his sword qi and pointed with his fingers.
The chilling Chongxu Sword Qi tore through the air, aiming straight for the demon cultivator's legs, intending to cripple this evil creature's legs and prevent its escape.
The demon cultivator's eyes flickered, but he coldly smiled, then moved like a wolf, dodging with a swift leap, about to avoid the Chongxu Sword Qi.
At that moment, Mo Hua suddenly cast the Water Imprisonment Technique.
This technique accurately immobilized the demon cultivator for a moment.
The demon cultivator's expression changed.
Damn this disgusting technique!
He struggled with all his might, breaking free of the water prison.
But the Chongxu Sword Qi arrived in the next instant, and although the demon cultivator tried to dodge, he couldn't avoid it completely. The sword light grazed his body, missing his thigh but leaving a bloody gash on his calf.
The demon cultivator was furious.
He vowed to tear these meddlesome brats into a million pieces!
Ignoring his injuries, he ran on all fours like a wild beast, his limbs moving frantically as he fled and teleported several times, putting dozens of zhang between them.
Ling Hu Xiao wanted to gather his Chongxu Sword Qi again to stop the demon cultivator, but before he could even lift a finger, the demon cultivator, agile as a wild animal, had already escaped far into the distance.
The mountain forest was dense and layered, and the demon cultivator's figure gradually disappeared from view.
At this distance, Ling Hu Xiao's spiritual sense couldn't lock onto him anymore.
He could only watch helplessly as the demon cultivator vanished from sight.
Ling Hu Xiao felt unsatisfied and annoyed, but a moment later, he suddenly paused.
He sensed the presence of a Jinshi Sword Qi nearby.
This sword qi was very familiar.
Ling Hu Xiao turned and saw that Mo Hua had taken out a golden spirit sword at some point.
The spirit sword was crudely shaped and oddly designed, but it exuded a strange killing intent.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Mo Hua's eyes turned cold, and his pupils suddenly darkened, his eyes as deep as a bottomless pool.
His powerful divine sense, like tentacles, firmly controlled the spirit sword before him.
At the same time, his spiritual sense locked onto the figure of the demon cultivator, who was fleeing for his life about 150 zhang away.
"Go!"
Mo Hua said softly.
In the next instant, waves of profound divine sense fluctuations spread out.
The spirit sword vibrated and transformed into a golden light, shooting out at an incredible speed. It weaved through the forest, leaving a sharp and flickering golden trail as it pursued the escaping demon cultivator.
The demon cultivator fled further and further away, and he was about to escape. Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, a sudden sense of danger arose.
It felt as if a terrifying divine sense had locked onto him.
At the same time, a sharp, cold, and sinister killing intent rushed towards him at an incredible speed.
"What's happening?!"
The demon cultivator was horrified.
He turned his head to look behind him and saw the deadly golden light.
Sword light? Sword flight?!
The demon cultivator's pupils shook violently, and in that life-or-death moment, he stimulated the demon mark on his right arm to the extreme, using his surging demonic power and demonized flesh to protect his head and chest.
Then, the golden sword struck, and golden light bloomed.
Sword qi raged, shattering the spirit sword into pieces, and the resulting explosion of sword energy and spirit sword fragments tore through the demon cultivator.
The demon cultivator couldn't even open his eyes, his right arm feeling as if it had been "sliced by a thousand blades," the pain excruciating.
The powerful sword qi assaulted his physical body.
When he finally recovered his senses, he found himself blown away by the sword flight by more than ten zhang.
And his right arm was gone.
Half of his body was bloody and mangled, as if it had been chewed on by hundreds of demonic beasts.
The demon cultivator's eyes were filled with terror as he endured the agonizing pain, crawling and scrambling into the dense forest, his figure disappearing from view.
In less than ten breaths, Mo Hua used the Flowing Water Step to catch up.
The sword qi exploded, leaving a trail of blood, but the demon cultivator was nowhere to be seen.
Mo Hua released his spiritual sense to search, and after a moment, he suddenly exclaimed softly, then walked to a corner of the forest and dug out a bloody, fleshless arm from the dirt and rocks.
It was the demon cultivator's arm.
Most of his right arm had been shredded by the sword qi and exploded into a cloud of blood. Only a small portion remained.
And on this severed arm, there was a faint trace of the demonic markings.
Mo Hua stared at the demonic markings for a few moments, then raised his eyebrows, his eyes gradually brightening.
"As expected, it's..."
"The Four Symbols Formation!"
(End of Chapter)
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