Chapter 898: Exorcism
Chapter 898: Exorcism
"Mo Hua?"
"Indeed," Wenren Wei nodded, pointing to the disarrayed inner chamber. He said solemnly, "I've seen young Master Mo Hua draw similar formations before, and I've also seen him dispel the cold and evil auras. Although I don't know exactly how he does it, he must have some means or know some secrets. Perhaps he can save young Master Chang Huai..."
Wenren Wei didn't say too much, but he remembered clearly. When Mo Hua was keeping vigil for Young Master Yu, and dispelling the evil spirits, the cold and evil auras he sensed were even more intense than today. And it wasn't just one aura. The endless, continuous evil aura was like a flood, making one's heart race.
But young Master Mo Hua, with his slender frame, stood firm in front of Young Master Yu, immovable.
A single man guarding the pass, repelling all evil.
That scene was etched in his mind.
Wenren Wan frowned. Elder Gu Hong was also somewhat puzzled. "Mo Hua... This child is only at the Foundation Establishment stage, right? And he's an array master. When did he learn the techniques to dispel evil spirits?"
The cultivators of Xuan Ji Valley exchanged glances.
"Is Mo Hua... the one who ranked first in the array competition?"
"Does he also excel in divine consciousness techniques?"
"That's impossible. Divine consciousness techniques require years of diligent study to even show initial proficiency. He's only in his early twenties, with a cultivation age of just over twenty years, and hasn't even graduated from the sect. How could he have the time to cultivate, learn array techniques, and master divine consciousness techniques?"
"Moreover, he's only at the Foundation Establishment stage..."
Wenren Wei looked steadily at Wenren Wan. After a moment's hesitation, she nodded. "I'll go with you to Tai Xu Sect and bring Mo Hua here to take a look."
She wasn't sure if Mo Hua could truly "dispel the evil." But she knew Mo Hua had exceptional talent and some extraordinary abilities. Even if he couldn't save Young Master Chang Huai himself, he might have other ideas. It was worth a try.
Elder Gu Hong hesitated for a moment but didn't object. Chang Huai's condition was not looking good, and they had to try everything they could.
Thus, Wenren Wan entrusted Yu to Elder Gu Hong and personally went with Wenren Wei to Tai Xu Sect.
Inside Tai Xu Sect.
Mo Hua was drawing an array, still feeling somewhat uneasy. He was considering whether to go to the Gu family to check on things when the elder informed him that someone was looking for him.
Mo Hua arrived at the gate and saw Wenren Wan, who looked anxious.
"Mo Hua..."
Wenren Wan was at a loss for words, but Mo Hua asked, "Is it about Uncle Gu? Did he encounter something evil?"
Wenren Wan was taken aback. "How did you know?"
When I was cultivating the path of severing emotions, I had a premonition...
Mo Hua thought to himself. Of course, he couldn't say that out loud. Instead, he said, "I sent a message to Uncle Gu, and he didn't reply. I guessed something might have happened to him."
Wenren Wan nodded. "Then..."
"Don't worry, I'll take a look," Mo Hua said calmly.
Seeing Mo Hua's composed and calm demeanor, Wenren Wan felt a sense of relief.
"Alright, thank you for your trouble," Wenren Wan said.
Mo Hua then boarded the Gu family's carriage, driven by Wenren Wei, and they sped towards Qingzhou City.
However, Tai Xu City was half a day's journey from Qingzhou City. The round trip would take a full day.
During this time, the Gu family in Qingzhou City was in a state of anxiety. They didn't just sit and wait; they reached out to various connections and invited many experts to take a look. However, their efforts were largely in vain.
Divine consciousness techniques were already a niche field, and cultivators who specialized in them were few and far between. In such a short time, finding a divine consciousness cultivator who could "dispel evil" was nearly impossible.
Those who were less skilled could at least leave unharmed. But those with higher abilities often met the same fate as Mr. Mei.
After several more divine consciousness cultivators went "mad," the family was growing increasingly fearful.
Mr. Mei also regained consciousness. Upon waking, he opened his eyes wide, his expression filled with horror.
"Quick, send a message back to Xuan Ji Valley. Ask the sect leader to send more elders, no, send a few Yu Hua masters!"
Everyone's expressions changed dramatically.
A cultivator frowned. "Mr. Mei, what exactly did you encounter? What kind of evil aura is inside Young Master Gu?"
Mr. Mei was drenched in cold sweat. A terrifying image appeared in his mind. It was not just an ordinary evil spirit; it was something that couldn't even be called an evil spirit.
Horns, black blood, a massive creature...
"Evil spirits" were nothing compared to this.
It could even be...
Mr. Mei's palms were sweating profusely.
The other two cultivators from Xuan Ji Valley also frowned. "Mr. Mei, did you confront this thing? What kind of abilities does it have?"
Mr. Mei shook his head with a bitter smile. "Not really a confrontation... Just one glance, and my divine soul was shaken, evil thoughts filled my mind, and I was defeated."
"If I hadn't realized something was wrong in advance and made preparations, with the protection of Xuan Ji Valley's treasures and the courage from the realgar wine, I might not have returned at all..."
"As for this evil creature's abilities..." Mr. Mei's expression grew even more bitter. "I don't have the right to find out."
The words sent a shiver down everyone's spine.
"That thing, what rank is it?"
"It's not about the rank," Mr. Mei said, "This existence is fundamentally different from ordinary malevolent spirits and cannot be measured by ranks."
"This..."
The others furrowed their brows.
"What should we do now?"
Mr. Mei pondered for a long time but could not come up with a solution. He sighed, "First, we need to stabilize Mr. Gu's injuries. I will send a message back to the Profound Mechanism Valley and see if we can still make it in time..."
Several cultivators from the Profound Mechanism Valley began to take out various divine items, placing them over Gu Changhuai's seven orifices. They also applied a Clear Heart Jade to his forehead to absorb the evil impurities.
However, beyond that, they were at a loss for what to do.
The others in the room also looked somber and worried.
About two hours passed, and the situation grew increasingly tense. Suddenly, a carriage from the Void Mountain arrived in Qingzhou City and drove straight to the Gu residence.
A handsome young man jumped down from the carriage.
He wore the disciple robes of the Void Sect, his eyes held a deep wisdom, and his face was both handsome and innocent.
The young man walked into the Alchemy Pavilion, and the Gu family members stood up, some nodding in acknowledgment, others bowing in respect, and they greeted him:
"Friend Mo..."
"Lord Mo."
"Little Lord Mo, hello."
...
Mo Hua returned their greetings one by one, then walked over to Elder Gu Hong and looked at Yu'er.
Yu'er seemed to be having a nightmare, her face pale, and her forehead drenched in sweat.
"Elder Hong, she was frightened by the evil aura and hasn't woken up. She keeps calling for you..." Elder Gu Hong said, concerned.
"Um." Mo Hua nodded and said softly, "Don't worry, Elder Hong, it's not a big deal."
Mo Hua placed his palm on Yu'er's forehead.
Yu'er, who had been struggling, sensed a familiar presence and a soothing divine consciousness. She immediately calmed down, and the fear and anxiety in her heart gradually dissipated.
The malevolent shadows that had been haunting her nightmares seemed to encounter a terrifying "predator" and fled in all directions, vanishing without a trace.
Yu'er opened her eyes and murmured, "Brother Mo..."
Mo Hua stroked her head, "It's okay now. Go to sleep, and you'll feel better when you wake up."
"Um..."
Yu'er slowly closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep. In her dreams, there were no more malevolent spirits, and she could finally rest peacefully.
Wen Ren Wan, who had entered the room, looked at the scene with gratitude.
The others also breathed a sigh of relief.
Since Mo Hua entered the room, Mr. Mei's gaze had been fixed on him. Seeing Yu'er, who had been terrified, fall asleep so quickly, his eyes widened, and he couldn't help but ask, "This young lord is..."
Mo Hua saw the haggard appearance of Mr. Mei and politely said, "My name is Mo Hua."
Mo Hua?
Mr. Mei felt the name was familiar and asked, "Could you be... the champion of the Array Theory Competition in Qianxue Prefecture?"
Mo Hua nodded but remained humble, "I was fortunate to win first place. Mr. Mei, you are too kind."
Mr. Mei took a deep breath.
It really is him... and he looks so young.
At first glance, he seemed like a novice disciple who had just entered the sect. Who would have thought that he was a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator capable of drawing a peak nineteen-line array, a prodigy in array theory?
Moreover...
Mr. Mei frowned.
Though they had never met, he was not unfamiliar with Mo Hua.
Previously, on the request of a noble family, he had personally tried to calculate Mo Hua's destiny and encountered the Void Celestial Lock shrouded in mist.
He had stopped then, not daring to delve further.
Others might not know, but he was well aware that the Void Celestial Lock was created using the ancient celestial treasure, the Void Dual Instrument Lock.
This treasure was no ordinary item.
The secrets this young man carried were far from simple.
Otherwise, the Void Sect would not have gone to such great lengths to protect his destiny.
Mr. Mei's attitude became much more serious.
Although he was a Golden Core cultivator and Mo Hua was only a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, he still respectfully bowed to Mo Hua:
"Lord Mo, it's an honor. I come from the Profound Mechanism Valley, my surname is Mei, and I am a Golden Core cultivator with some knowledge of divine consciousness techniques."
Mo Hua's eyes lit up.
The Profound Mechanism Valley?
He asked, "Does the Profound Mechanism Valley have an Elder Situ?"
"Elder Situ?" Mr. Mei looked surprised, "You mean Great Elder Situ Zhenren?"
"Um," Mo Hua nodded.
Mr. Mei was taken aback, "Lord Mo, you... know Great Elder Situ?"
Mo Hua nodded, "We met once. When I was building my Foundation, Elder Situ gave me some guidance."
"I see... So there is such a connection."
Mr. Mei was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed.
The champion of the Void Sect's Array Theory Competition, a prodigy in array theory, had a good relationship with the Profound Mechanism Valley.
This was excellent news.
"I must inform the others not to offend Lord Mo in the future..."
"Regarding Lord Mo's destiny, we should avoid calculating it if possible, to prevent any negative consequences that could turn this 'good connection' into a 'bad outcome.'"
Mr. Mei thought to himself, and then became even more courteous to Mo Hua.
Mo Hua also remained polite.
However, the Gu family members were utterly confused, especially Elder Gu Hong and Wen Ren Wan, who looked rather bewildered.
This child, Mo Hua, had actually managed to form a friendship with someone from the Mystic Mechanism Valley? And it seemed that this Golden Core cultivator from the Mystic Mechanism Valley, Mr. Mei, was speaking with great respect toward Mo Hua?
Elder Gu Hong and Wen Ren Wan exchanged glances, both feeling quite surprised.
Mr. Mei chatted with Mo Hua for a few moments, then seemed to remember something and asked, "I wonder why Young Master Mo has come here today?"
Mo Hua didn’t hide his intentions. "I came to visit Uncle Gu."
"Uncle Gu?"
"Yes."
Mr. Mei pondered for a moment, then seemed somewhat surprised. "Young Master Mo, do you also understand the 'Evil Purification' technique?"
Mo Hua humbly replied, "I know a little bit."
Mr. Mei was taken aback. "Really?"
"Um-hmm," Mo Hua said. "I do know a bit..."
Mr. Mei studied Mo Hua for a moment, then shook his head in admiration. "Young Master Mo, you truly are a prodigy."
At such a young age, he was already proficient in array formations, his divine consciousness was beyond his level, and he had even dabbled in the Dao of divine will and the technique of evil purification.
Perhaps Grand Elder Situ had also recognized the extraordinary potential of this young master, which is why he had taken a liking to him and offered guidance.
"However..."
He was still too young and his cultivation too shallow.
Mr. Mei’s expression turned serious as he pondered for a moment, then spoke sincerely:
"The evil aura on Uncle Gu is extremely powerful and malignant, far beyond what a cultivator can handle..."
"As the saying goes, a thousand pieces of gold will not buy a seat in a dangerous place. Young Master Mo, with your noble status and the high hopes placed on you by the sect, your future is boundless. It would be best not to put yourself in danger..."
In other words, the evil aura was too strong, and Mo Hua was too weak.
For the sake of his life, it would be better not to get involved.
But Mr. Mei said this very tactfully, and his concern for Mo Hua was genuine.
Mo Hua smiled. "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Mei. I’ll just take a look, and I’ll be back soon."
"Take a look?"
"Yes."
Mo Hua’s expression was calm and friendly, yet there was a firmness that couldn’t be resisted.
Mr. Mei tried to persuade him a few more times, but seeing that Mo Hua was determined, he couldn’t say anything more. He sighed and said, "Then, Young Master Mo, please be very careful."
"Mr. Mei, don’t worry," Mo Hua said.
Then, Mo Hua walked toward the inner room.
But just a few steps in, Mr. Mei was startled and stopped Mo Hua. "Young Master Mo, are you going to... just walk in like that?"
Mo Hua was taken aback. "What else should I do?"
Mr. Mei said solemnly, "Evil purification is no joke. If you suffer a backlash from the evil aura, you could suffer severe damage to your mind or even lose your soul. You must be extremely cautious."
Seeing that Mo Hua still looked puzzled and didn’t understand his concern, Mr. Mei continued, "At the very least, bring some equipment with you."
"Equipment?"
"With karma copper coins, you can sever the karmic ties; with a heart-protecting mirror, you can safeguard your heart; with an evil-averting robe, you can ward off evil spirits; and with a soothing incense, you can calm your mind..."
Mr. Mei said, "These are all precautionary measures. In a critical moment, they can truly save a life."
Mo Hua was amazed.
He had no idea that dealing with evil spirits required all these things...
He had never used any of them before.
Mo Hua shook his head. "It’s not necessary."
Mr. Mei thought Mo Hua was being young and reckless, ignorant and fearless, so he became more urgent. "Young brother, the Dao of divine will is unpredictable and must be guarded against..."
"At the very least, drink a sip of realgar wine before you go in."
"Realgar wine?"
Mr. Mei explained, "This wine is highly yang and fierce, capable of boosting courage and suppressing evil auras. It can protect your divine will for a while."
Mr. Mei then turned and instructed, "Prepare a cup of wine for Young Master."
In no time, someone brought a cup of heated realgar wine and placed it in front of Mo Hua.
Mo Hua sniffed it and shook his head.
It was too pungent. Just the smell made his nose burn, let alone drinking it.
Besides, he had never liked strong alcohol.
"There’s no need. I’ll be back soon," Mo Hua said calmly, and then he walked into the inner room alone, without any equipment, closing the door behind him.
Seeing his stubbornness, Mr. Mei couldn’t stop him and felt worried. He couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh.
This child is too reckless...
If he delves too deeply into the Dao of divine will, he will eventually become prey for evil spirits.
...
Inside the inner room.
Mo Hua approached the bed, examined Uncle Gu’s face, and then checked his eyes, shaking his head.
"Poor Uncle Gu..."
Mo Hua sat down cross-legged, then took out a bone sword and whispered, "Bone Sword, do exactly as I say when the time comes."
Bone Sword felt a bit nervous.
But he dared not disobey Mo Hua, so he nodded. "As you say, Master."
"There’s a ‘little evil spirit’ in Uncle Gu’s mind. When the time comes, you’ll enter his mind and lure it out into your bone sword."
"Then, you’ll pull me in as well."
"Once you’ve done that, your task is complete."
Bone Sword had a hard time expressing his concerns but confirmed, "Little Master, are you sure that’s really a ‘little evil spirit’?"
Mo Hua was upset. "You don’t believe me?"
Jian Guti's face was nothing but a grimace of white bones. Otherwise, he would have shown Mo Hua just how terrible his expression could be.
"But," Jian Guti continued, "with my strength, I’m afraid I won’t be able to lure out that... that evil spirit."
"It’s fine, I’ll teach you," Mo Hua said confidently. "Just do as I say and go in to insult it. It will definitely chase after you."
"…Insult it?!" Jian Guti trembled.
"Yes," Mo Hua nodded.
Then, from his own, no, from Elder Yu’s collection of insults, he casually picked a few and taught them to Jian Guti.
"Just insult it like this. Unless the other side is a real coward or a turtle-counting fool, it will chase you to the ends of the earth, never letting up."
Jian Guti was so scared that his bones were shaking. "Young Master, isn’t this... a bit impolite?"
Mo Hua frowned. "You’re a demon. Who are you being polite to? Hurry up, or I’ll feed you to the dogs."
Jian Guti had no choice.
Once, he wanted to be a good person, but he never had the chance. Now, he really wanted to be a well-mannered and civilized demon, but Mo Hua wouldn’t allow it.
Seeing Mo Hua’s increasingly unfriendly expression, Jian Guti had no choice but to grit his teeth and release a crimson blood mist, diving into Gu Changhuai’s mind.
Chaos ensued.
The unconscious Gu Changhuai’s face was now filled with a deep, malevolent aura.
After a while, a faint, almost imperceptible divine consciousness reached Mo Hua.
It was Jian Guti.
Mo Hua’s eyes lit up, and he released his divine consciousness, allowing Jian Guti to pull him into the Blood Pool Nightmare of the bone sword.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in the blood pool, surrounded by bones that stood like swords, their tips piercing the air, and the scene was drenched in blood.
This was Jian Guti’s “lair.”
Mo Hua turned his head and saw a massive, sinister creature with black blood streaming from its body and ram horns on its head, “abusing” Jian Guti.
Poor Jian Guti had been torn apart into a pile of broken bones, scattered on the ground, with his spine being chewed by the ram-horned creature.
Seeing Mo Hua, the massive creature spat out Jian Guti, who was still in its mouth, and its voice was deep and raspy like a beast’s.
"I said, where does this insignificant demon get the nerve to speak so arrogantly and offend me?"
"So, you were trying to lure me here?"
The creature’s eyes were blood-red and cruel, looking down from a height.
Due to his foundational cultivation, Mo Hua’s divine consciousness had taken the form of a child, and he looked up at the creature.
The creature sneered, "Could it be... that a puny little thing like you, not even worth a toothpick, thinks you can subdue me?"
Mo Hua remained calm.
He tolerated the “food’s” rudeness and licked his lips, barely containing his desire.
The massive creature’s eyelids twitched, finally sensing something was off.
This little thing doesn’t seem scared at all?
That’s not right...
Moreover, his aura was deliberately concealed, hidden from perception. But faintly, there was a trace of an aura similar to its own origin, which was very strange.
The ram-horned creature’s ugly brows furrowed.
"You..."
It wanted to ask more.
But Mo Hua couldn’t hold back.
He hadn’t encountered a worthy evil spirit in a very long time.
His meticulously honed divine consciousness sword had also been sheathed, unused, for a very long time.
Mo Hua’s pale hand clenched, and the atmosphere shifted abruptly. Waves of power spread out, forming a sword with sword patterns as its bones and divine consciousness as its metal, creating a dazzling and incredibly sharp “Gold-Cleaving Sword.”
Divine consciousness transformed into a sword!
The creature’s pupils dilated in shock. "You...?!"
Without giving it any time to react, Mo Hua’s left hand grabbed the air, conjuring a water prison that transformed into a cage, trapping the creature tightly.
In a flash, he appeared above the ram-horned creature, his hand holding the incredibly sharp, golden divine consciousness sword, which was infused with the laws of the sword, raised high.
The ram-horned creature struggled desperately but could not escape. It finally woke up from its daze, its expression changing dramatically as it cried out in terror.
"Stop! I..."
But it was too late. Mo Hua’s sword descended.
The divine consciousness sword, formed by the Gold-Cleaving Sword Array, condensed into a beam of golden light. Within the golden light, the array patterns were densely packed, and sword qi surged, capable of cutting through gold and jade, incredibly sharp.
With just this one strike, the massive creature was split in two.
The residual array, containing a faint power of the laws, continued to cut into the ram-horned creature’s body, preventing it from regenerating and extinguishing its life force.
The creature’s shocked and bewildered expression remained on its face.
It could not comprehend how this insignificant little thing could be such a “terrifying” existence.
Even one move was enough to defeat it.
What... kind of monster is this?!
But it never got the chance to find out.
In the next instant, Mo Hua’s hand moved through the air, conjuring a Fire Separation Array, which lightly roasted the ram-horned creature, refining it into a black mist, which he then swallowed.
Under Mo Hua’s current divine consciousness sword, this “powerful” ram-horned creature never had a chance to resist from start to finish.
(End of Chapter)
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