https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-759-Opening-of-the-Demon-Valley-End-of-Chapter-/12543523/
Chapter 760: Copper Coins
Chapter 760: Copper Coins
In the pitch-black depths of night, an oppressive and deathly stillness reigned.
But Mo Hua could see the crimson Qi in the darkness, and faintly, he heard the low growls and whimpers of demons.
Then, the ground made of bones trembled.
Scarlet array patterns connected, and a sinister consciousness permeated the air from afar.
Above the ground, a long passage made of bones emerged.
This passage, like a giant python, snaked through the crimson brook and bone-strewn riverbank, leading to the distant gates of the Many Demons Valley.
Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat as he immediately understood what was happening.
Although he couldn't see the specific array patterns, the circulation of the array's spiritual consciousness gave him a clear sensation.
He had seen this array before!
It was the same divine path array drawn on the bone bricks in front of the dry well in the small fishing village, used to "open the door."
However, the array on this lengthy bone passage was larger in scale, with more intricate patterns and a higher grade.
Moreover, it was even more sinister.
On the sixteenth full moon, as the blood creek boiled, the bone passage revealed itself.
The demon cultivators bowed their heads and stood reverently in front of the path, their demeanor exceptionally respectful.
After an indeterminate amount of time, a hoarse voice, as rough as a beast's, rang out:
"Proceed."
One by one, the demon cultivators began to walk on the bone passage like listless zombies, their steps slow and sluggish.
The demon cultivators at the front exuded a heavy demonic aura, indicating their higher status.
They walked with empty hands.
Those at the back either carried the corpses of demon beasts or hefted large storage bags.
Some even pulled carts.
On the carts were extremely resilient second-grade iron cages, containing injured and rare second-grade demon beasts.
These demon beasts were alive but bound tightly by iron chains with sharp barbs that dug into their flesh, immobilizing them completely.
Following behind were some scattered, low-ranking demon cultivators.
All the demon cultivators, shrouded in black robes, walked on the bone passage like lifeless puppets, obedient and respectful, not daring to overstep their bounds.
It seemed like only this passage would lead them into the Many Demons Valley.
A single misstep, and they would face eternal damnation.
Xun Zi You sent a message to Mo Hua, "We'll enter last..."
The demon cultivators at the back were not only weak in strength but also in perception.
Even if they were discovered, it would be easier to escape.
If they mixed with those at the front, they would be surrounded by powerful demon cultivators, and any mishap or exposed flaw would result in a vicious siege.
Xun Zi You, being at the Golden Core late stage, had nothing to fear.
But Mo Hua was only at the Foundation Establishment mid-stage and not a body cultivator; he was as fragile as they came, and far too precious to be put in harm's way, not even a hair on his head could be touched.
He definitely couldn't be allowed to take risks.
Mo Hua nodded obediently.
He knew he had to stay close to Elder Xun in the treacherous Many Demons Valley.
The two waited a while longer, watching as the demon cultivators marched forward under the full moon, the blood creek, and the bone passage, their numbers dwindling.
Just as Mo Hua prepared to follow, Xun Zi You suddenly grabbed his arm.
Mo Hua turned, puzzled, and saw the grave expression on Xun Zi You's face as he said in a low voice, "Someone's coming out of the valley!"
Mo Hua's heart clenched, and not long after, he indeed sensed a shocking demonic aura in the distance.
A Golden Core demon cultivator!
Mo Hua's pupils contracted as he turned to follow the aura's trail. In the direction of the Many Demons Valley, the demonic aura suddenly intensified, and through the haze, he saw two formidable figures.
"Two Golden Core demon cultivator elders?!"
Mo Hua was taken aback.
The demon cultivators entering the valley halted and prostrated themselves.
They knelt on the ground, their backs arched, resembling a humble "human-rank" demon beast.
The two demon cultivator elders strode forward, treading on the kneeling cultivators, turning into two bloody gales that rushed out of the valley.
In an instant, the sea of blood churned, and demonic roars echoed.
Xun Zi You's eyes narrowed, and he shielded Mo Hua behind him.
Peeking from behind Xun Zi You, Mo Hua narrowed his eyes, spying two crimson lights enveloping the two figures, drawing closer and closer.
The oppressive might of their demonic power made Mo Hua's scalp tingle.
As the two demon cultivator elders raced forward like sprinting beasts, the distance between them closed rapidly; in the blink of an eye, they were less than a few hundred meters away.
Xun Zi You's gaze turned cold, and he tightened his grip on his spiritual sword, a treasured magical artifact attuned to his spirit. His Golden Core spiritual power also began to circulate silently.
The atmosphere froze.
Even Mo Hua felt tense.
Just then, the two demon cultivator elders shifted their escape lights without hesitation and fled toward the dense forest.
They seemed to be in a hurry.
Xun Zi You loosened his grip on the spiritual sword slightly, but his expression remained grave, and a hint of confusion lingered in his eyes.
After the two elders disappeared from view, Mo Hua asked in a hushed tone, "Where are those two villainous elders off to?"
Xun Zi You shook his head.
"It seems like they're in a hurry," Mo Hua remarked.
Xun Zi You pondered for a moment, then suddenly felt uneasy.
So late in the night, why were these two demon cultivator elders rushing out of the valley with such urgency? Xun Zi You was curious. He glanced at the sky and then at the remaining demon cultivators. Estimating that the Many Demons Valley would close in about an hour, he said to Mo Hua, "Something's amiss. I'll go take a look. Wait here."
To track Golden Core demon cultivators, he couldn't bring Mo Hua along.
Xun Zi You thought for a moment and added, "If I return within an hour, we'll enter the valley together. But if I don't come back, don't go in. We'll reconsider our options then..."
After emphasizing his instructions, Xun Zi You reminded Mo Hua once more, "Don't go in alone, no matter what."
"Yes, yes!" Mo Hua nodded.
He understood the gravity of the situation.
With that, Xun Zi You set off in pursuit of the two Golden Core demon cultivators.
Left with no choice, Mo Hua could only wait at the original spot.
At the same time, he wondered what those two demon cultivator elders were up to, rushing out so late at night without even bothering to conceal their tracks. But for now, he could only speculate, patiently awaiting Xun Zi You's return.
Mo Hua perched in the tree before the Many Demons Valley, waiting.
Time ticked by, and as the number of demon cultivators below dwindled, the boiling blood creek gradually calmed, and the bone passage seemed poised to close, Xun Zi You still hadn't returned.
Mo Hua grew concerned.
"Elder Xun... I hope he's alright."
As an elder of the Grand Void Sect, a junior of Elder Xun, and a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, surely he wouldn't meet his end so easily...
Mo Hua worried for Elder Xun's safety.
He turned his head to glance at the distant Many Demons Valley once more.
The number of demon cultivators on the bone passage had thinned out, and their demonic auras were fading. It seemed like the Many Demons Valley would close soon.
Mo Hua sent a message to Xun Zi You, "Elder Xun, are you alright?
Mo Hua wondered if Elder Xun hadn't seen it or if something had delayed him. He felt a sense of urgency.
What should I do? Should I go in alone?
Mo Hua shook his head immediately.
That would be too reckless...
But if he didn't go now, he would have to wait another month, and who knew what might happen by then.
If something unexpected occurred, the Many Demons Valley might be sealed off or even destroyed, and he would lose the opportunity to learn the Four Symbols Formation and the Divine Path Formation.
"The Four Symbols Formation and the Divine Path Formation..."
Mo Hua struggled with his thoughts but eventually sighed and decided against taking the risk.
Although he was eager to learn these two types of formations, the current situation was not ideal for taking chances.
It would be best to wait patiently for Elder Xun to return and discuss their next move.
Mo Hua nodded slowly.
Another half-hour passed, but Elder Xun still hadn't returned.
Strangely, the gates of the Many Demons Valley remained open as well.
Mo Hua found this peculiar.
"Why aren't they closing the gates? What does this mean?"
"Are they waiting for me to enter?"
That didn't seem likely...
He didn't think he had that much influence.
Mo Hua looked down at the demon cultivators again and noticed a few of them guarding a coffin at the edge of the bone passage.
From a distance, their faces were obscured by their black robes, but he could faintly sense their emotions.
They seemed anxious, as if they were waiting for something.
Mo Hua frowned.
What were they waiting for? Intrigued, he thought for a moment and then quietly climbed down from his tree, landing gracefully near the group of demon cultivators.
At this distance, he could hear their voices clearly.
However, their mouths and noses seemed somewhat demonized, and their voices sounded more like beastly breathing than human speech.
Mo Hua listened for a while before he could make out their words.
"...Why is it taking so long...?"
"We're running out of time..."
"Seems like something unexpected happened..."
"...We've been discovered..."
"If we don't hurry, the Many Demons Valley will close for good..."
Mo Hua's frown deepened as he tried to make sense of the situation. Just then, he heard some commotion from the distant forest.
He looked in that direction and saw a demon cultivator emerging from the thicket, carrying a sack on his back.
The demon cultivator approached and dropped the sack on the ground, his voice deep and hoarse as he said, "That person kept his word and delivered the 'goods'."
One of the demon cultivators stepped forward and opened the sack.
Inside was a person, and as they opened the sack, a dazed-looking young man with a wooden expression came into view.
Mo Hua looked down and was startled.
"Little Mu?"
How did Ouyang Mu end up here?
Whatever had happened to him, Ouyang Mu now lay unconscious in the sack.
As Mo Hua puzzled over this, more sounds approached, and two more demon cultivators appeared.
One of them also carried a sack on his back.
When they drew near, he dropped the sack to the ground.
"It was a bit troublesome, damn it..."
The demon cultivator kicked the sack. "He's got a stubborn temper."
Mo Hua's heart tightened.
Who had they captured this time?
"Is he dead?" asked one of the demon cultivators.
"No, the young master instructed us to keep him alive. How could we possibly kill him?"
As he spoke, one of the demon cultivators opened the sack.
Inside was a handsome young man with a pale complexion.
Mo Hua was surprised.
Song Jian?
So, they had captured him too? Although he wasn't particularly close to Song Jian, he felt a sense of relief that the young man was still alive. It didn't matter much to him whether Song Jian lived or died.
Mo Hua breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, a group of demon cultivators gathered together but remained inactive, as if they were still waiting for something.
Mo Hua furrowed his brows. "Are they waiting to capture someone else?"
A bad premonition crept into his heart.
Indeed, before the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, another group of demon cultivators arrived.
This time, there were four of them, and all of them had reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage. Their demonic power was thick and robust, resembling demons themselves.
One of them carried a sack on his back.
As they approached, he threw the sack to the ground and opened it, revealing an expectedly handsome young man—Linghu Xiao.
The once proud and arrogant Linghu Xiao was now covered in wounds and lay unconscious.
"This kid is really stubborn," one of the demon cultivators sighed. "He's truly a sword genius of Chongxu Gate..."
"The four of you at the peak of Foundation Establishment had a hard time capturing a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator?"
"You don't understand anything. It's easy to kill, but capturing him alive and keeping him intact is difficult. We can't afford to offend him."
"Moreover, who knows what status he might hold in the future?"
One of the demon cultivators coldly smiled. "Perhaps we, these neither human nor demon creatures, will have to rely on his breath and look at his face to survive. How dare I offend him?"
The demon cultivator next to him nodded. "That's true."
"However," a demon cultivator with an aged voice said, "In my long life, I've never seen a genius in any sect achieve such a terrifying level of sword intent at such a young age..."
"He can even rival the proud sons of the Four Great Sects."
"Given time, this child's talent will surely be limitless."
The group of demon cultivators had mixed feelings—admiration, jealousy, indifference, and even some who seemed to be reveling in the misfortune of others.
The path of cultivation was long and arduous. No matter how extraordinary one's talent was, a single misstep could lead to an irreversible downfall.
And now, they were about to push this "sword genius" toward that irreversible step...
"Alright," said the tallest demon cultivator, his eyes narrowing. "Let's enter the valley now."
His tone was grave.
"We encountered some unexpected delays on our way here, and the two elders helped us stall for time, but we can't rely on them forever. It's best to enter the valley, seal the gates, and isolate ourselves from the world to avoid any further complications."
Once they entered the valley, they would be safe.
"Yes," the group of demon cultivators agreed.
They opened the nearby coffin and stuffed Linghu Xiao, Ouyang Mu, and Song Jian into it, before sealing it shut.
Right before Mo Hua's eyes, the demon cultivators pushed the coffin along the bone passage toward the distant gates of the Many Demons Valley.
Mo Hua took a sharp breath, his head aching.
This was troublesome...
He quickly sent another message to Elder Xun: "Elder Xun, something big has happened! The demon cultivators have captured Ouyang Mu of the Great Desolation Sect and Linghu Xiao of the Empty Abode Sect, and they're taking them into the Many Demons Valley!"
However, Elder Xun still didn't reply.
Mo Hua frowned.
"What should I do now?"
Should he step in and save them?
But his strength wasn't sufficient. Most of these demon cultivators had reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, and some were even at the peak.
Even if he used all his tricks and managed to kill a few, it wouldn't make much of a difference.
Moreover, the two of them were sealed inside a coffin.
It wouldn't be easy to open it, either.
With his current strength, he wouldn't be able to save them...
"Return to the sect and report this?"
That wouldn't be fast enough, either.
Even if the sect mobilized their forces and launched a full-scale attack on Many Demons Valley, it wouldn't make a difference.
If these demon cultivators were pushed to a dead end, they might just 'tear up the ticket', and in that case, Little Mu and Linghu Xiao would be in grave danger.
"So, just leave them to their fate?"
Mo Hua shook his head again.
Although the demon cultivator's words were vague, Mo Hua could guess what was going on.
The Many Demons Valley would be closed for a month.
Once Little Mu and Linghu Xiao entered, it was obvious what would happen to them.
By the time the valley reopened a month later, who knew what they would have become.
Most likely, the next time the demon cultivators left the valley, the two of them would be wearing "black robes", having fallen into the path of demons.
Mo Hua sighed.
He didn't really care about Song Jian.
But he couldn't just leave Little Mu and Linghu Xiao to their fate.
He wasn't sure how they had fallen into the hands of the demon cultivators, but if he didn't do something, these two kids would be lost forever, with no hope of redemption.
Mo Hua sent another message to Elder Xun: "Hey, Elder Xun, are you there?"
Elder Xun still didn't respond.
Mo Hua had no choice but to send another message: "I'll go into the Many Demons Valley and take a look first..."
The array formation was one thing, but he had to find a way to rescue Little Mu and Linghu Xiao first.
As Mo Hua prepared to set off, he hesitated again.
He felt that something was amiss and that it was too risky.
The Many Demons Valley was treacherous and unpredictable, filled with countless demon cultivators, and even guarded by Golden Core demon cultivator elders. Any misstep would likely lead to disaster.
But this was a risk he felt he had to take.
However, if he took this risk, there would be no one to back him up.
Mo Hua frowned.
He suddenly realized that he was still lacking in many ways.
He had just reached the Foundation Establishment stage, and his cultivation journey was far from over.
He still had a long way to go—he needed to rescue his master, break through to higher realms, travel across the Nine Provinces, and seek out the ultimate formation.
He would undoubtedly face countless dangers along the way, and he couldn't always rely on others to bail him out.
Whether it was Gu Shen or Elder Xun, they wouldn't always be there to act as his "bodyguards".
In the future, if he were alone and faced with peril, would he just back down and turn away?
Mo Hua slowly shook his head.
With his cultivation experience so far, he understood that fortune favors the bold.
All opportunities were accompanied by risks.
The bigger the waves, the bigger the fish.
The greater the opportunity, the greater the risk.
Playing it safe might cause him to miss out on precious opportunities, leading to a life of mediocrity and ordinariness.
However, being too greedy could also lead to self-destruction.
Neither option was ideal...
Mo Hua was conflicted.
What should he do?
After some thought, an idea suddenly occurred to him.
Fortune and misfortune go hand in hand, and life is filled with both blessings and disasters.
Was there a way to take control of one's "fortune and misfortune, blessings and disasters"?
If so, even in desperate situations, there might be a chance for survival.
And even in the face of calamity, there might be a way to turn it into good fortune.
Mo Hua's eyes lit up, but then he frowned again.
"But... how do I do that?"
As Mo Hua thought, an image suddenly appeared in his mind—a man with gentle eyebrows and eyes, a celestial demeanor, and an extraordinary aura.
"Master..."
Mo Hua was stunned, and then he thought carefully.
So far, the person he had met who was best at "turning misfortune into good fortune" was his master.
Except for the very end, when his master's calculations failed, and he met his demise.
Before that, his master always seemed to have everything under control, with a plan for every situation.
And the reason he was able to do so was because of his mastery of a divine technique related to spiritual sense—
The Heaven's Secret Art of Calculation!
Fortune and misfortune, blessings and disasters, were all within the realm of heaven's secrets and cause and effect.
Therefore, it stood to reason that by using the Heaven's Secret Art of Calculation, one could naturally predict the fortunes and misfortunes, and the blessings and disasters, hidden within the secrets of heaven and the laws of cause and effect.
Mo Hua couldn't help but think:
If I could truly master the Heaven's Secret Art of Calculation like my master, and be able to discern heaven's secrets, calculate cause and effect, predict fortunes and misfortunes, and understand blessings and disasters...
Then, even if I were alone in the future, facing insurmountable odds, without anyone to rely on, I could still use the secrets of heaven to escape, rely on cause and effect to make plans, seek opportunities for survival in desperate situations, and find chances within the risks.
Even in the biggest storms, I could still catch the biggest fish!
Mo Hua's spirit lifted, and he continued to ponder.
But how do I calculate?
How do I use the Heaven's Secret Art of Calculation to predict fortunes and misfortunes, and measure blessings and disasters?
My master never taught me...
Mo Hua scratched his head.
He began to recall all the cultivators he had met, wondering if any of them were "fortune-tellers", and if there were any methods he could emulate.
The coffin containing Little Mu and Linghu Xiao, sealed with white bones, was getting farther and farther away.
If he didn't hurry, it would be too late.
He had to think of a way to cast a divination quickly...
Mo Hua's heart was anxious as he racked his brains:
"Turtle shell divination?"
But he didn't have a turtle shell...
"Using yarrow stalks for divination?"
There wasn't enough time to gather yarrow stalks and calculate one by one.
"A compass?"
Although he had an array compass and a pointing compass, the Heaven's Secret Art of Calculation seemed to use a special kind of heaven's secret compass, which was very precious and something he couldn't get his hands on...
"Forget it, I'll just use whatever I have..."
Mo Hua began to search through his storage bag, looking for anything that could be used for divination.
But all he found were items related to array formations—array plates, ink, array brushes, and jade slips containing array techniques.
There were also some spiritual tools, spiritual swords, and commonly used pills.
None of these items had anything to do with divination.
Mo Hua had no choice but to search through his ring again.
As he was searching, he suddenly paused, noticing a corner of his ring where a "copper coin" lay.
This copper coin seemed completely unfamiliar to him, as if it shouldn't have been in his ring at all.
However, the copper coin carried a very familiar aura.
Mo Hua was stunned, and his eyes turned melancholy as a bitter sweetness filled his heart.
It was his master's copper coin...
"Did Master leave this for me?"
(End of Chapter)
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