https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-785-Aiding-the-Tiger-and-Abetting-the-Devil/12543623/
Chapter 784: Sacrifice (Dedicated to the brilliant Heaven's Secret, Stupid Cat!)
Chapter 784: Sacrifice (Dedicated to the brilliant Heaven's Secret, Stupid Cat!)
"Mr. Tu's words ring true. Monitoring your own spiritual vision array can turn you into a tool for a master of arrays if you're not careful..."
Jin Yixuan's expression turned solemn.
He searched randomly and found that most of the spiritual vision arrays nearby had been quietly activated.
The Myriad Demon Prison had essentially become someone else's territory.
Jin Yixuan's heart filled with hatred, and he paused for a moment, suddenly remembering something. He immediately instructed the demon cultivators beside him:
"You, go and chase them down. Call for a few more people to follow me."
The demon cultivator took his order and summoned a group of their companions. They split into two teams—one to pursue the intruders, and the other to accompany Jin Yixuan to the array core room.
The array core room had been completely sealed off.
Jin Yixuan and the group of demon cultivators channeled their demonic energy, using their full strength to forcibly break open the secret door.
As the dust settled, Jin Yixuan stepped into the room, his eyes scanning the surroundings, his expression growing even gloomier.
Indeed, the array core had been tampered with and had completely fallen into someone else's control.
Jin Yixuan frowned for a moment before letting out a cold laugh. "Don't assume that you're the only one who can modify arrays."
The Primordial Magnetic Spirit-Vision Array had already been activated, and the array core was still in front of him. As long as he modified it back, the "eyes" spread throughout the Myriad Demon Prison would once again be under his control.
Once he regained control of the Primordial Magnetic Spirit-Vision Array core, those few rats would have nowhere to hide.
Jin Yixuan placed his hand on the array plate and released his spiritual sense, preparing to intervene with the Primordial Magnetic Array core.
However, his expression changed the moment his spiritual sense made contact, and he immediately realized something was amiss. He quickly retreated.
In that instant of his retreat, the array core exploded.
The explosion wasn't powerful enough to harm Jin Yixuan significantly.
But it was enough to destroy the array plate and most of the central array formations on it.
All the Primordial Magnetic Spirit-Vision Arrays went dark.
Jin Yixuan was unhurt, but he was covered in dust and looked disheveled, his gaze fierce.
"Quite a scheme. To plant such a trap within the array in such a short time..."
"A mere rat dares to toy with me like this..."
He suppressed the anger in his heart, his expression turning icy.
"Don't let me catch you."
Jin Yixuan glanced at the surrounding arrays once more.
The Primordial Magnetic Spirit-Vision Restoration Array used the core as its heart, controlling the terminal spirit-vision arrays.
With the core destroyed, the array was useless and couldn't be utilized anymore.
Even if they tried to fix it, it couldn't be done in a short time.
This array had been rendered useless.
However, just as a departing goose leaves its voice behind, and snow leaves its traces, a cultivator's methods always leave some kind of mark, and an array master is no exception.
Any array, as long as it isn't completely annihilated, will always leave behind a series of clues.
While an array master can utilize arrays, their arrays, even if they are just remnants, may also be exploited by others.
"Since they are using the spirit-vision array as their 'eyes', then their movements will follow the layout of the spirit-vision array cores in the valley, providing me with clues to track them down..."
And Jin Yixuan was extremely familiar with the layout of the Myriad Demon Valley.
He let out a cold snort, his eyes flashing with a sharp glint, "You can't escape... "
...
At the edge of the Myriad Demon Prison, Mo Hua, who was guiding the way, held the array plate in his hand when it suddenly made a "chi-lu" sound, and the primordial magnetic energy dissipated, causing the array to malfunction.
Mo Hua sighed.
The Primordial Magnetic Spirit-Vision Restoration Array had been discovered.
It seemed that there was an experienced array master among the demon cultivators.
If his guess was correct, this person was most likely the leader of the demon cultivators, the senior brother of the Duanjin Gate—Jin Yixuan.
Fortunately, he had left some tricks behind.
While this group of demon cultivators could destroy the Myriad Demon Valley, he could also destroy the Primordial Magnetic Array.
However, such a minor trick was ultimately a temporary solution.
The situation from here on out didn't seem optimistic.
Hiding in the shadows and observing everything, Mo Hua glanced at Ling Huxiao, Ouyang Mu, and Song Jian, who were disguised as demon cultivators with their faces covered in dirt and blood, and his heart felt complicated.
"Forget it, let's take it one step at a time."
"If all else fails, we'll have to come up with another plan."
As expected, the journey ahead became much more challenging.
There were many more guards searching along the way, and every demon cultivator who passed by had their black robes lifted to reveal their faces.
There were even "managers" on patrol.
Some of the side doors and mechanisms on the forked roads had also been closed.
Occasionally, there were Mastiff-type demonic beasts that the demon cultivators were leading around by ropes, sniffing the ground for human scents.
After walking cautiously for a while, Ling Huxiao and his two companions were finally stopped at a stone bridge just outside the Myriad Demon Prison.
At that moment, Mo Hua's Taichu Token vibrated, and when he looked down, he saw a message from Elder Xu:
"I've already made my way into the valley. Where are you?"
Mo Hua looked up, and on the other side of the stone bridge stood a tall figure with a pale complexion and eyes like a fierce tiger—it was Jin Gui, the "manager".
They were less than half an hour's journey away from the main gate.
However, Jin Gui stood there like an "evil tiger", blocking their path.
From his demeanor, it was clear that he didn't intend to let them go easily.
Jin Gui stared at Ling Huxiao and the other two, a cold smile on his face, "I've finally found you..."
Now that their tracks had been exposed, Ling Huxiao and his companions had no need to hide anymore.
Song Jian stepped forward and said, "Jin Gui, we are all disciples of the Duanjin Gate. Why must you pursue us to the bitter end?
"In this world, fathers and sons can turn against each other, and kin can slaughter each other. What's so important about being from the same sect?"
Coming from a prestigious family and having grown up under the protection of his parents, Song Jian brought them up again. "If you dare to lay a hand on me, my parents won't let you off!"
A hint of pity flashed in Jin Gui's eyes. "You've been captured and brought to the Myriad Demon Valley for quite some time now, haven't you? Guess what your parents have been up to during this time?"
"Guess what they're doing?"
Song Jian was taken aback, falling silent for a moment.
How would he know what his parents were doing when he had been locked up in the valley?
Jin Gui smiled mockingly, his tone laced with scorn. "What else could they be doing? They're weighing their options! They're deciding whether or not it's worth it to save you, their son."
"If the cost is too high, they'd rather have you dead and buried, so you don't cause them any more trouble!"
Song Jian's face paled, and he retorted angrily, "You lie! They are my parents; how could they not care about my life and death?"
Jin Gui shook his head, his voice cold. "It seems you know nothing about the rules of noble families."
"Cultivators form families and are bound by blood ties, but their affections are often the coldest."
"Most cultivators in a family value their interests above all else!"
"When interests conflict, even if you're from the same sect, share the same lineage, or are born of the same parents, they'll still wish for your death."
"Your parents have more than one child, and if you die, they'll shed a few tears, but after some time, they might even forget about you."
"You're spouting nonsense!" Song Jian exclaimed, his voice filled with urgency.
Jin Gui let out a cold laugh.
Ling Huxiao's eyes turned cold as he spoke to Song Jian. "Don't waste your breath on him. He's just trying to buy time."
"Buy time?" Jin Gui's expression turned arrogant. "Do I need to buy time to deal with the likes of you?"
"Yes, I admit I'm of low birth and have mediocre talent, incomparable to you core disciples."
Jin Gui's tone shifted, his eyes filled with resentment. "But now, I've transformed. I'm no longer the same; I've undergone a metamorphosis! Today, I'll show you what a true King of Demons looks like..."
Jin Gui's voice grew increasingly coarse, and by the end, it was no longer human but resembled the roar of a fierce tiger.
As the robust and unmatched demon marks on his body flashed, his figure also began to expand, sprouting yellow-brown fur and transforming into the claws and fangs of a tiger.
For a moment, Jin Gui's aura truly resembled that of a powerful tiger demon, striking fear into the hearts of those around him.
The expressions of Ling Huxiao and his companions changed, and they drew their swords in unison.
"Attack!"
Having fought together along the way, the three had developed a certain degree of tacit understanding.
Song Jian employed the Duanjin Sword Art, blocking the transformed Jin Gui in close quarters, while Ouyang Mu, not very skilled in the Taia Sword Art, could only assist from the side.
Meanwhile, Ling Huxiao began to gather his strength, condensing the sharp and peerless Chongxu Sword Qi.
However, Jin Gui had already undergone the demon transformation, bearing the Four Symbols Xuan Tiger demon marks, which greatly enhanced his strength. In close combat, it only took him a few exchanges to suppress Song Jian.
With a swift move, he also knocked back Ouyang Mu.
Both Song Jian and Ouyang Mu spat out mouthfuls of blood.
Just at that moment, a lustrous and deadly beam of Chongxu Sword Qi, as radiant as the moon, struck Jin Gui's body.
The sword qi tore through Jin Gui's black robe, exposing the demon marks on his back, and also leaving a deep gash that revealed his black and red flesh.
But in the blink of an eye, his wound began to heal.
Ling Huxiao gritted his teeth, a sense of helplessness washing over him.
The difference in their cultivation levels was just too vast.
Moreover, he had already expended a significant amount of spiritual energy on their journey, and now, gathering his energy to condense the sword qi had become exceedingly difficult.
Mo Hua's expression also changed slightly.
This Jin Gui had the rare "tiger-type" demon marks on his body? Mo Hua had never seen such demon marks on any other demon cultivator.
And tigers were the kings of beasts; the amplifying power of these tiger marks was evidently stronger than that of the Four Symbols demon marks of other demon beasts.
The current Jin Gui was like a completely different person compared to before.
As expected, Ling Huxiao and his companions found themselves in a bitter struggle.
Song Jian and Ouyang Mu were no match for Jin Gui, who bore the tiger marks, in close combat.
And once an opponent got too close to Ling Huxiao, he wouldn't have the opportunity to gather his sword qi, rendering him ineffective against the thick-skinned and robust Jin Gui after his demon transformation.
Jin Gui faced off against the three of them with ease.
Mo Hua quietly reached into his storage bag and pulled out a Duanjin Sword, wondering if he could slaughter Jin Gui and copy the Four Symbols Tiger-type demon marks from his body.
But as soon as the thought arose, he put the sword away again.
There were people approaching from a distance.
Leading the group was none other than the black-robed leader of the Myriad Demon Valley and Jin Gui's senior brother from the Duanjin Gate—Jin Yixuan.
In addition, there were several managers and seven or eight demon cultivators with him.
Mo Hua heaved a deep sigh.
"Now, it really is a hopeless situation..."
Even with his help, they stood no chance against this group of demon cultivators.
At most, he could take down one or two with his sword, but that would also expose his presence.
Moreover, Jin Gui had become too powerful after his demon transformation.
Mo Hua estimated that even if he used his sword, he might not be able to take Jin Gui's life in one strike.
Not to mention, there were also the other managers and the clearly more formidable leader of the Myriad Demon Valley, Jin Yixuan, who had the remnant soul of Tu Xian attached to him.
At this moment, Jin Gui no longer held back, aiming to end the battle quickly.
After just a dozen or so exchanges, Song Jian and Ouyang Mu were struck by one of Jin Gui's palms, spitting out mouthfuls of blood.
Ling Huxiao was also hit by Jin Gui's fist, his energy and blood surging uncomfortably, rendering him unable to continue fighting.
The three of them remembered Mo Hua's words:
"If you're intercepted by someone, don't try to be heroic, don't think about stubborn resistance or fighting to the bitter end. Just admit defeat and surrender..."
Thus, they didn't put up a struggle and meekly allowed themselves to be captured.
Ling Huxiao felt a sense of resentment, but there was nothing he could do.
Jin Yixuan, leading a group of demon cultivators, approached and first praised Jin Gui, "Well done."
Jin Gui's expression brightened at the compliment.
Jin Yixuan then turned his head, his gaze sweeping over Ling Huxiao and the other two, his eyebrows furrowed as he asked, "Where are the others?"
Where had that damned "rat" gone?
Naturally, Ling Huxiao and Ouyang Mu wouldn't reveal anything about Mo Hua.
And Song Jian wasn't foolish enough to divulge any information either.
The three of them just coldly smirked without saying a word.
Jin Yixuan's anger rose, his eyelids twitching as he questioned, "Who is helping you in secret?"
Ling Huxiao scoffed, "In this mere Myriad Demon Prison, I alone, with my sword, can come and go as I please. Where would I need help?"
Jin Yixuan knew he was bluffing, but he didn't bother to call him out on it, though his expression remained unpleasant.
Jin Gui, who had long disliked Ling Huxiao, suggested, "Why don't we cripple his hands first and teach him a lesson?"
Jin Yixuan's gaze turned cold as he considered the proposal for a moment before shaking his head, "Keep these three alive for now... the young master still has use for them."
He turned his attention to the surroundings, his spiritual sense sweeping the area several times, but he still failed to detect any trace of the culprit, causing his brows to furrow deeply.
They were hiding quite deeply...
At such a critical moment, not even a hint of their presence had been revealed?
Jin Yixuan coldly harrumphed, inwardly cursing, "As expected of a rat, so sneaky."
He glanced around once more, his heart filled with reluctance, but he eventually said, "Forget it, let's report this to the young master first. We'll deal with the rest later."
"Yes, leader," the other demon cultivators replied, and they took out chains to bind Ling Huxiao and the other two before heading deeper into the Myriad Demon Prison.
Mo Hua watched all of this unfold.
"As expected, they still couldn't escape, huh..."
Mo Hua frowned, wanting to follow them, but then he hesitated, suddenly realizing that his presence might not make a difference.
There were too many demon cultivators nearby, most of them at the late Qi Refining stage or even at the peak.
And there was also that mysterious "young master."
Even if they couldn't fight them off now, following them wouldn't change that.
Moreover, from what Jin Yixuan had just said, it seemed that they had already discovered that someone was secretly helping Little Mu and his companions.
If that was the case, these demon cultivators would undoubtedly be on high alert.
If he followed them and was discovered, it might even put him in danger.
After much thought, Mo Hua decided that he needed to find "help."
The depths of the Myriad Demon Valley were treacherous and unknown, not something he could handle alone.
He thought for a moment before sending a message to Xun Ziyou:
"Elder Xun, where are you now?"
"Ling Huxiao and the others have been captured again. I'm helpless, so I need your help."
In less than a moment, Xun Ziyou replied through the Taichu Token:
"We've entered the valley, passed through the Grand Dao, and are currently fighting our way inside. We're currently at... a place called the Wolf Fang Valley."
Wolf Fang Valley?
Mo Hua recalled the terrain of the Myriad Demon Valley and then replied, "Then don't move around randomly. I'll come to you."
The terrain of the Myriad Demon Valley was complex and intricate, and he was afraid that Elder Xun and the others might take a wrong turn and get separated from him.
"Alright!" Xun Ziyou replied.
Thus, Elder Xun and the other elders continued to slaughter the demon cultivators in their current location.
Mo Hua, meanwhile, concealed himself and made his way towards Wolf Fang Valley.
In less than half an hour, Mo Hua arrived at Wolf Fang Valley and saw Elder Xun and the other elders wielding their swords and killing the demon cultivators from a distance.
Being at the Golden Core stage, they often only needed to condense a sword qi to slay a Qi Refining demon cultivator.
The surrounding demon cultivators were so intimidated that they hardly dared to approach.
Seeing how powerful Elder Xun and the others were, Mo Hua felt much more at ease.
As soon as Mo Hua appeared, Elder Xun and the others noticed him as well.
They transformed into beams of light, and in just a few moments, they reached him.
"Mo Hua, how's Huxiao...?"
The one who spoke first was a tall elder wearing the robe of Chongxu Gate.
Mo Hua guessed that this elder was probably Elder Shangguan, the one who had been secretly protecting Ling Huxiao, as mentioned by Elder Xun.
Mo Hua briefly explained, "The situation is urgent. Ling Huxiao has been captured. We'll talk as we walk."
Elder Xun and the others nodded.
The main forces of the two sects were still making their way into the valley, so their current numbers were limited.
However, with the Golden Core elders present, they were more than sufficient.
Led by Mo Hua, Elder Xun, Elder Xun's younger brother Xun Zixian, and Elder Shangguan made their way into the depths of the Myriad Demon Valley.
The three Golden Core elders' movement techniques were too fast for Mo Hua to keep up.
The slender Elder Xun even had to pull Mo Hua along with him as they flew.
With three Golden Core elders as their "bodyguards," Mo Hua felt much more relieved.
The group made swift progress, easily crushing all opposition in their path.
Mo Hua sensed the residual blood essence and causal clues, pointing to the right, "This way."
Xun Ziyou and the other two elders didn't hesitate for a moment, transforming into three fleeing lights and continuing their pursuit in the direction Mo Hua had indicated.
Along the way, Mo Hua guided them.
Occasionally, Mo Hua would hesitate, but after a brief moment of thought, he always managed to point them in the right direction.
The three Jin Dan elders were filled with suspicion.
However, the situation was urgent, and they dared not ask too many questions.
Moreover, having experienced these events, they had developed an implicit and unquestioning trust in Mo Hua.
Of course, given the circumstances, they had no choice but to believe him.
But even with the correct route, time was slowly slipping away.
As they ventured deeper, the terrain became more complex, and they lost more and more time.
All around them lay collapsed stone walls, rampaging yao beasts, and yao cultivators in various states of death.
Yet, there was still no sign of Ling Huxiao and his companions.
Xun Ziyou and the others wore grave expressions.
And Mo Hua's heart was filled with a growing sense of unease, an ominous premonition.
Finally, after an hour had passed, when he led Elder Xun and the others through the Refining Yao Bottle, the Pill Refining Room, and the Formation Stone Temple to their final destination, that uneasy feeling only intensified.
Their final destination was a grand mural.
Upon the mural stood towering valleys, treacherous rocks, and hideous, dancing yao demons—it was the Refining Yao Painting!
At that moment, several yao cultivators stood guard outside the Refining Yao Painting.
And near the painting were three coffins.
The coffins were pitch-black, adorned with demonic patterns, and gave off a chilling aura.
In front of each coffin were lit candles of a sinister green hue, along with various bloody meats, bones, and evil fruits as offerings.
In the center of the Refining Yao Painting stood a witch-like caretaker, her whole body trembling as she muttered to herself.
It seemed that some sort of "ritual" was taking place.
"They're performing a sacrifice!" Mo Hua exclaimed.
At that moment, the group of yao cultivators also spotted Mo Hua and the others, especially Xun Ziyou and his companions, who were clad in sect robes. They were shocked and incredulous, exclaiming, "Jin Dan?!"
Xun Ziyou's expression turned cold, and he made a quick decision, "Kill!"
Then, he and Shangguan Xuanjian unleashed their sword intents, either riding swords or condensing sword auras to slay the surrounding yao cultivators.
In the face of powerful late Jin Dan sword cultivators, these yao cultivators were utterly helpless.
As for the witch-like caretaker, she seemed to want to disrupt the ritual and destroy the offerings, but she was quickly restrained by Xun Ziyou's elder brother, Xun Zixian.
A spirit rope, etched with intricate formations, bound her tightly, immobilizing her.
The witch struggled futilely.
Xun Zixian questioned her coldly, "What is the nature of this sacrificial ritual? How do we reverse it? How do we retrieve the 'offerings'?"
The witch's mouth was full of blackened teeth, and she cackled before her eyes flashed with a sinister light. Suddenly, her seven orifices exploded, and her sea of consciousness collapsed, resulting in her death.
Xun Zixian was too late to stop her, and his expression turned frosty.
Nearby, the bodies of slain yao cultivators lay scattered on the ground.
Those who had been killed from a distance, unaware of the situation, now lay dead.
The witch-like caretaker, who clearly knew something, had allowed herself to be consumed by an evil thought, causing her sea of consciousness to self-destruct.
The area was now empty, save for the three coffins in the center.
Not only Mo Hua but also Xun Ziyou and the other elders had their suspicions.
After a moment, Xun Ziyou sighed, "Let's open the coffins and see..."
Xun Zixian hesitated for a moment before breaking the formations on the coffins and opening them one by one.
Inside the coffins lay three young men.
They were Ling Huxiao, Ouyang Mu, and Song Jian, their faces deathly pale, devoid of any hint of blood, their vital energies extinguished, appearing like corpses that had been stripped of their souls.
Upon seeing this, Shangguan Xuanjian's body trembled, and his face turned ashen, his eyes reflecting his despair.
Xun Ziyou and Xun Zixian remained silent, unsure of how to comfort him.
An oppressive silence filled the air.
Just then, they heard Mo Hua exhale softly, and he said with relief:
"Fortunately..."
Xun Ziyou and Xun Zixian were taken aback.
Shangguan Xuanjian also looked up, his eyes filled with desperate hope as he gazed at Mo Hua.
"Mo..."
His voice was hoarse, barely audible.
Mo Hua nodded, "Their souls have been sacrificed, but fortunately, it hasn't been long since the sacrifice. We should still be able to bring them back..."
He was quite familiar with this sort of thing.
Xun Ziyou and the others were astonished by his words.
Being orthodox cultivators, they knew little about the ways of the gods.
Xun Zixian had some knowledge, but he was far from an expert.
"How... how do we save them?" Xun Zixian asked.
Mo Hua raised his head, his eyes falling upon the majestic and awe-inspiring Refining Yao Painting, with its countless raging yao demons. His eyes shone with excitement as he casually replied,
"I just need to enter the painting myself!"
His eyes gleamed with a hint of excitement.
He had almost left the valley, but these yao cultivators had unwittingly "lured" him back here.
If he didn't take a look inside this Refining Yao Painting, wouldn't he be letting down their well-intentioned efforts to "invite trouble"?
Thanks to the brilliant Heaven's Secret, Stupid Cat 'big shot' for the dedication!
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(End of Chapter)
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