Chapter 905: Who Is It?
Chapter 905: Who Is It?
In the Qianxue State, a Third Class Territory Wilderness.
At a ruin where a "Blood Banquet" was about to take place.
All the demon cultivators were momentarily stunned, their minds going blank.
They stood frozen like statues in the wind, their eyes wide with shock, as if they had been rooted to the spot.
The plan was set, the trap was laid, and the Dao Imperial Administration's running dog had taken the bait. The ambush circle was closing in, and the demon cultivators were eager for blood, their eyes gleaming with madness. But just as they were about to strike, a sudden message arrived, claiming that there was an inside informant and that the plan should be aborted...
Near the ruins, the densely packed demon cultivators couldn't help but glance at each other, and then they all turned to look at the several Golden Core Demon Lords leading them.
At the front of the crowd, several Golden Core Demon Lords, cloaked in pitch-black demonic robes, with demonic energy swirling around them and their faces hidden by the foul miasma, furrowed their brows.
One of them rasped, "What's going on?"
"Who dares to abort the plan?"
"Who sent this message?"
"Quickly, go and investigate..."
Another Golden Core Demon Lord spoke with a cold voice, "There's no time. The Dao Imperial Administration is already in our grasp, and the arrow is on the bowstring. We don't have time to investigate such matters now."
Someone asked hesitantly, "Could it be... the informant we planted in the Dao Imperial Administration?"
Before he could finish, another Demon Lord interrupted, "Shut up!"
Within the Demon Sect, there was an inside informant planted by the Dao Imperial Administration.
And naturally, within the Dao Imperial Administration, there was also an inside informant planted by the Demon Sect.
This matter was highly confidential, and the identity of the informant could not be exposed. Even though these Demon Lords were Golden Core cultivators with high status, not everyone knew about the identity of the informant hidden within the Dao Imperial Administration.
Therefore, they weren't sure if this "informant" was truly from the Dao Imperial Administration or if it was a trap set by their own informant.
After a moment of silence, someone said, "We can investigate who sent the message later... The question now is, is this message real or fake? Is there really an informant among us in the Demon Sect?"
"Wasn't the informant already exposed?"
"Is it that easy for the Dao Imperial Administration to expose their informant?"
"What do you mean?"
A tall and thin Golden Core Demon Lord looked up at the leading Late-stage Golden Core Demon Lord and said slowly, "Could it be that the previous informant was intentionally exposed by the Dao Imperial Administration?"
"The Dao Imperial Administration deliberately exposed this informant to use his life as bait and lure us into a trap. While we were trying to catch them, they turned the tables and used this informant as bait to lure us instead..."
"You mean this is a nested trap, a scheme within a scheme?"
"Yes, we set the trap, and the Dao Imperial Administration fell for it. But this trap was actually set by the Dao Imperial Administration, and in the end, we are the ones who will be caught in it..."
"Damn it, stop with all this talk of traps, my head is spinning..."
"Idiot..."
"In simpler terms, there's another informant among us?"
"This real informant is hidden in the shadows, plotting and scheming, setting up this elaborate trap to capture us all. And the informant we exposed earlier was just a scapegoat, a discarded pawn of the Dao Imperial Administration?"
"If that's the case, this informant must hold a significant position, perhaps even..."
The sentence was left hanging.
Although their faces were concealed by demonic energy, their expressions betrayed a hint of unease.
For someone to be able to hide in the shadows and orchestrate such a plan, they must be at least a Golden Core cultivator.
This person, being an informant, suggests that the "informant" is likely among the crowd.
Any of the Golden Core cultivators present could be the informant...
The atmosphere grew tense and eerie.
The Golden Core cultivators remained silent, but their minds were racing: Who among them was the most suspicious, who had made mistakes, who showed reluctance in killing, who didn't enjoy bloodshed, who was negligent in their demon cultivation, and who was most likely to be the true informant.
Demon cultivators were naturally ruthless and suspicious.
With the sudden revelation of an informant and the order to abort the plan, these Golden Core Demon Lords, who had killed countless times, were now filled with unease and suspicion.
After a while, a robust Golden Core Demon Lord spoke up, "I think something's wrong. How can there be so many informants? It's more likely that someone is trying to sabotage our plan from within the Demon Sect."
"This message is definitely fake."
"Indeed..."
"How could there be an informant among us?"
Several other Golden Core Demon Lords agreed.
"But..." another Demon Lord said in a low voice, "If this message is fake, it means someone is trying to mislead us, disrupt our plan to hunt down the Dao Imperial Administration's cultivators..."
"This means our plan has been exposed."
"And this plan was only known within the Demon Sect, with almost no information leaked to the outside."
"The fact that such a well-thought-out plan was exposed suggests that there is indeed an informant among us."
All the Golden Core Demon Lords were stunned.
If the message was real, then there was indeed an informant among them.
Even if the message was fake, there was still an "informant" among them?
"So, no matter how you look at it, there's definitely an informant?"
"It seems... plausible..."
"Hiss..."
Someone took a sharp breath, and then everyone turned to look at the leader of the Demon Sect.
In this situation, only the leader could make the decision.
The Late-stage Golden Core Demon Lord, with his sturdy physique and demonic energy swirling around him like a small mountain, stood firm, his eyes filled with murderous intent, but he remained silent.
With the leader's silence, the other Demon Lords dared not speak further.
Just then, the Dao Imperial Administration cultivators, who were supposed to be trapped, showed some unusual movements.
They quietly regrouped, tightened their grip on their swords, and sought cover near the nearby city walls. The leading Golden Core Executives also suppressed their auras, and their spiritual energy surged, ready for action.
They were on high alert, though these movements were subtle. If not for the previous bloodthirsty frenzy that had clouded their minds, the demon cultivators might have noticed.
But now, due to the matter of the "inside informant," they were in a state of suspicion and distrust, making the subtle actions of the Dao Prefecture Office even more apparent.
All the Golden Core Demon Lords' faces darkened.
Finally, a slender "Military Advisor"-like Golden Core Demon Lord whispered to the Demon Sect Leader, "Big Brother, something's not right..."
He pondered for a moment and slowly said, "The Dao Prefecture Office has entered the ambush, but they remain still and haven't taken the bait. Now, they're even more cautious, which is strange..."
"Either they've sensed something and realized that the situation is a 'trap,' or there's something fishy going on, and they themselves are the 'trap'..."
The Demon Sect Leader's pupils constricted slightly.
The Golden Core Demon Cultivator continued, "If it's a trap, then it's not wise to take risks in this situation..."
"The running dogs of the Dao Prefecture Office have the support of local prominent families. Even if we kill one wave, another will come."
"It wasn't easy for us brothers and our disciples to get here. If we suffer heavy casualties, it won't be so easy to develop under the noses of the Dao Prefecture Office again..."
The Demon Sect Leader's eyes turned scarlet, and he stared coldly at the crowd of Dao Prefecture Office Cultivators below. After a moment, his voice became hoarse and terrifying, half-human, and half-beast-like:
"Retreat..."
The Demon Sect Leader's face was pitch-black, and his body was filled with surging demonic energy, exuding a cold killing intent.
"Go back and investigate thoroughly. Find out who... leaked the information."
"Yes!"
Everyone's hearts trembled, and they all bowed respectfully.
They knew that their Big Brother was genuinely angry this time.
...
Amidst the ruins, everything was in a state of disrepair.
This was an abandoned family industry, with broken walls and ruins everywhere, which is why the Demon Cultivators chose it as the venue for their "Blood Banquet."
Indeed, a small group of Demon Cultivators had gathered here to suck blood.
Gu Changhuai had received an informant's message and originally planned to capture these Demon Cultivators in one fell swoop, but at this moment, he felt a chill down his spine.
He realized they had fallen into a trap.
On the surface, nothing seemed amiss, but in the darkness of night, demonic shadows stirred, as if hidden killing intent had merged with the shadows.
But by the time he noticed, it was too late.
His group had already fallen into the Demon Sect's heavy encirclement.
Gu Changhuai wasn't sure how many Demon Cultivators there were, but judging by the subtle yet intense oppressive feeling from all around, there were definitely not a few.
He could only order his men to remain still and alert, buying as much time as possible.
Meanwhile, the few Golden Core Cultivators were also searching for a way to break through the encirclement and find an opportunity to escape.
But the situation was extremely dangerous.
The Demon Sect was cruel, numerous, and well-prepared. If a fierce battle erupted, it would be a bloody slaughter with no room for negotiation.
At this point, they could only do their best, but Gu Changhuai had no confidence in his heart.
He didn't dare to think about how many of these colleagues would die and how many would survive...
Gu Changhuai looked around, glancing at the group of tense Dao Prefecture Office Executives, most of whom were Gu Clan Cultivators, and his heart ached.
He turned his head again to look at Xia Dian Si, who stood by his side with a cold expression yet beautiful features, and his heart was conflicted:
"The Gu Clan Cultivators must not die..."
"This woman is annoying, but she can't die here, either..."
After all, he knew that he most likely wouldn't be able to escape.
These Demon Cultivators, for some reason, held deep hatred for him, and every time they met, they seemed eager to kill him.
By acting as "bait" with his life, he should be able to buy some time and create a chance for others to survive.
Gu Changhuai's heart sank.
Those who pursue the Dao should not fear death.
The Gu Clan's ancestors had diligently fulfilled their duties, and countless of them had died at the hands of evil demons and heretics.
Perhaps this was his fate as well.
It's just... I won't be able to repay that kid Mo Hua's favor in this lifetime.
In the past, I repeatedly accepted his favors but never helped him with anything. I really feel bad for not being able to repay him...
Gu Changhuai sighed softly.
Xia Dian Si, with a solemn expression, noticed Gu Changhuai's sigh and turned to him, saying in a deep voice, "I still have a few precious talisman treasures. Later, I'll use them to clear the way. You're injured, so stay behind me, and we'll find a way to break through together..."
Gu Changhuai looked deeply into Xia Dian Si's eyes without saying a word, but his calm gaze nodded slightly.
His attitude was too calm, even with a hint of accepting death.
Xia Dian Si found it strange but didn't think too much of it.
After that, Xia Dian Si took out a precious ice-blue jade talisman from her sleeve, ready to unleash its power.
Another Golden Core Executive, who had been transferred from another state, felt his scalp tingle.
This was his first task since coming to the Qianxue Prefecture Office, and he had encountered such a situation, leaving him speechless.
However, there was nothing more to say; if they didn't fight for their lives, they would truly lose them.
He tightened his grip on the pair of large hammers in his hands.
Gu Changhuai also took out his lifebound treasure, a colorful peacock feather treasure fan that radiated with light, and secretly channeled his spiritual power...
The other Cultivators also held their spirit tools, their faces turning pale.
Everyone was prepared for a life-or-death struggle.
Just then, the demonic energy lurking in the distance suddenly surged, like packs of bloodthirsty jackals.
But these jackals didn't attack; instead, they suppressed their cruel killing intent and gradually moved away, as if retreating...
Gu Changhuai and the others were stunned.
The rest of the group also looked at each other in confusion.
But they still dared not act rashly and patiently maintained their vigilance.
However, after an incense stick's worth of time, the distant area became completely devoid of any presence, as if all the Demon Cultivators had silently withdrawn.
The crowd, who had been on high alert, couldn't help but feel a sense of bewilderment.
"Why did these Demon Cultivators suddenly retreat?"
"What happened?"
"Could it be a trap? Do they want us to let our guard down and then strike when we're off our guard?"
The Golden Core Executive, who had been transferred from another state and wielded a pair of large hammers, whispered his speculation.
Gu Changhuai thought for a moment and shook his head. "They have the numbers. If they really wanted to take us down, they could have just attacked directly. There's no need for such an elaborate scheme."
"What are they up to? Are they just playing around?"
Gu Changhuai and Xia Dian Si were equally perplexed.
After a moment of contemplation, Gu Changhuai spoke gravely, "Regardless of what happened, it's a good thing for us. Let's retreat to a safe place first and discuss it later. We don't want to delay and have these Demon Cultivators return."
Xia Dian Si nodded, then ordered the Dao Prefecture Office's cultivators to retreat.
However, they didn't go far; they only retreated to a small grove twenty li outside the city gate, ensuring their surroundings were secure before setting up a temporary camp.
They camped there for the entire night.
The next morning, another group of reinforcements arrived to join them.
The two groups merged and headed back to the ruins—the location of the Demon Sect's ambush.
They wanted to investigate.
They needed to confirm if there was indeed a large number of Demon Cultivators in ambush the night before, what kind of scheme they had set up, and why they suddenly withdrew...
The Dao Prefecture Office's cultivators spread out, searching the entire ruins and the nearby desolate mountains.
What they discovered shocked everyone.
The ground was covered with Demon Cultivators' footprints, lingering demonic energy, traps made of bloodworms, remnants of evil formations that had been set up and then dismantled, vegetation polluted by demonic energy and gradually withering away...
As far as the eye could see, the mountains were teeming with them.
Even Gu Changhuai and Xia Dian Si felt a chill down their spines.
The number of Demon Cultivators was far greater than they had anticipated, and there were even many Golden Core Realm Demon Lords among them.
This was not a simple ambush but a large-scale "purge" targeting the Dao Prefecture Office.
If a battle had broken out the night before, the outcome would have been grim, and the chances of survival in such a cruel Demon Cultivator purge were slim.
For a moment, everyone felt a strong sense of relief for surviving, but at the same time, a more intense confusion arose.
Why?
Why, after setting up an ambush and being fully prepared, did they suddenly withdraw?
Demon Cultivators were known for their ruthless extermination; showing mercy was not in their nature.
Gu Changhuai furrowed his brows.
The group searched the surroundings once more, but still found nothing.
It seemed that the Demon Sect had quietly set up an ambush, surrounded the Dao Prefecture Office's cultivators, made a show of it, and then quietly withdrew.
They came and left quietly, taking no lives.
"What could be the reason?"
Everyone was baffled.
Gu Changhuai couldn't understand it either.
After searching for another hour, Xia Dian Si sighed and said, "It's getting late; let's head back to the Dao Prefecture Office and investigate further later."
"Mhm," Gu Changhuai nodded.
Then, the group returned.
It was a bumpy journey, but everyone arrived safely.
After half a day, they reached the Dao Prefecture Office in Qianxue State.
The mission was over. Although they had not accomplished anything, under the circumstances, the fact that no one had been sacrificed was a blessing in disguise.
Xia Dian Si also returned the sealed storage bags to everyone.
This was the rule of the Dao Prefecture Office.
For significant missions, to prevent leaks, all Dao Prefecture Office cultivators were forbidden from carrying any items other than those related to the task, such as spirit tools and pills.
Gu Changhuai and Xia Dian Si finally retrieved their storage bags.
Their minds were still preoccupied with the Demon Sect's affairs, and doubts clouded their thoughts. Thus, they only gave their storage bags a cursory check and didn't pay much attention.
Until they found the message scroll in their storage bags, and saw the message Mo Hua had sent them the previous day:
"Uncle Gu, the 'informant' in the Demon Sect has been exposed."
"Uncle Gu, be cautious of the Demon Sect's ambush..."
"Uncle Gu..."
Gu Changhuai felt his scalp go numb.
This message was sent by Mo Hua the previous day, and the timing indicated it was just before they entered the Demon Sect's ambush.
In other words, Mo Hua had known all along!
Mo Hua, who never left the Great Void Sect, knew about this large-scale purge plan by the Demon Sect even before the Dao Prefecture Office inspectors who were in the midst of the situation.
He had known that they were walking into a deadly trap.
Furthermore, he had warned Gu Changhuai beforehand to be cautious...
Gu Changhuai was astonished and couldn't believe it.
How did Mo Hua know? Gu Changhuai couldn't help but look at Xia Dian Si, who was also holding a message scroll, his eyes shaking as if he had seen a similar message from Mo Hua, and was equally shocked.
"Mo Hua..." Xia Dian Si murmured, his expression incredulous.
"If Mo Hua knew, does that mean..."
A nearly absurd speculation emerged in both their minds:
Mo Hua had known about this beforehand and sent a message.
Currently, it seemed that only Mo Hua had prior knowledge.
Then, the Demon Sect set up an ambush, and halfway through the purge, they suddenly withdrew...
Could it be that...
Mo Hua had secretly intervened, forcing so many Demon Cultivators to abort their plan and retreat reluctantly?
This speculation was too absurd.
Initially, Gu Changhuai and Xia Dian Si also thought it was impossible.
But as they considered Mo Hua's unpredictable and incomprehensible actions, a sense of awe and disbelief began to stir in their hearts...
...
Inside the Great Void Sect,
At this moment, Mo Hua was incredibly busy.
After sending out the message about the "inside informant," he had been working overnight to erase magnetic patterns and prepare for his "escape."
Of course, it wasn't a real escape; he was erasing all traces of his presence in the Prime Magnetic Array Foundation of the Demon Sect.
First, he restored all the fixed magnetic patterns he had modified through the Lightning-Magnetic Puppets during this period.
Then, he took a bold step and blocked the entrance to the Primordial Magnetic Composite Array, cutting off the connection to the Primordial Magnetic Sea.
After that, he changed the identity of "Chi Fei," a Demon Sect disciple, back to an "Ordinary Disciple."
Through magnetic pattern manipulation, he had blocked all the permissions granted to him, completely cutting off access.
The Demon Sect token was also altered by him into a "sealed" state.
After erasing all traces, Mo Hua retrieved the Lightning-Magnetic Puppet and tossed the Demon Sect token back into his storage ring, acting as if nothing had happened. He went about his usual routine, attending classes, cultivating, and practicing his sword skills.
He left the rest for later.
However, he couldn't help but feel a bit anxious.
What if they discovered it and those Demon Cultivators came knocking on his door...
Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat as he suddenly realized he might be overthinking things.
He was now the third among the Eight Great Sects, a disciple of the Great Void Sect, currently residing within the Void Mountain.
The Cave Void Ancestor presided over the Void Mountain, and the Sect Master had achieved Immortal Transformation.
There were countless Golden Core cultivators among the elders he was familiar with.
What was there to fear? A mere handful, no, just over a dozen Golden Core Demon Lords.
If he were outside, he might have given them some face, avoiding them as much as possible.
But this was the Great Void Sect; if they dared to come, the Ancestor wouldn't even need to intervene. Those Immortal Transformation Realm grand elders could easily dispatch them with a single sword strike each.
Mo Hua straightened his back, realizing he now had a true "backer."
Two days later, unable to bear the solitude, he reopened the Demon Sect token and quietly "logged in."
To his surprise, he found that his account had been "banned."
It seemed the Demon Sect had detected the anomaly and "terminated" all lost and untraceable Demon Sect tokens.
Mo Hua's heart sank.
He hadn't even had his fill, and now his token was "banned"?
He wasn't done playing yet.
"I need to find a solution..."
With the situation urgent, Mo Hua didn't have time for hesitation. He summoned the Origin Calculation Method's Lightning-Magnetic Puppet and infiltrated the Demon Sect token.
He wasn't afraid of being discovered by the Demon Cultivators.
If they did find out, he would simply destroy the token and toss it off the cliffs of the Void Mountain.
As the Lightning-Magnetic Puppet penetrated the token, Mo Hua witnessed the magnetic patterns turning gray, and all messages were blocked.
The permission status was changed to "Destroyed."
This Demon Sect token seemed to be rendered useless.
Mo Hua furrowed his brows.
The Demon Sect was being too stingy, destroying the token without a second thought. They didn't want to play, but he wasn't done yet.
"What now?"
Mo Hua pondered for a moment, then based on his Lightning-Magnetic experience and the principles of the Lightning-Magnetic Formation taught by Elder Zheng, he began devising a plan and putting it into action.
After several attempts, Mo Hua gradually found a way.
The Demon Sect couldn't "terminate" his token directly, as it was in his possession.
They could only sever the connection from one end of the Primordial Magnetic Composite Array, cutting off his token's link.
Each Demon Sect token had a Sequence Magnetic Pattern for identification, connecting it to the Primordial Magnetic Composite Array.
This principle was similar to the Spirit Hub Ultimate Array he had learned, with its twelve patterns in the First-Rank.
The Demon Sect had "destroyed" the sequence of his token, rendering it useless, even if he altered the "Skill Transmission Disciple" permissions. It still couldn't connect to the Primordial Magnetic Sea of the Composite Array.
"In other words, as long as I change the Sequence Magnetic Pattern, I can reconnect..."
"But... where is the Sequence Magnetic Pattern? How do I change it?"
Mo Hua patiently examined the Fixed Magnetism Patterns within the token, scrutinizing them from start to finish.
Finally, after reviewing them five times, Mo Hua discovered a hidden, complex, and intricate Special Prime Magnetic Array Pattern with an unclear meaning.
"Found it!"
Mo Hua's eyes lit up, and he immediately began pondering how to modify this magnetic pattern and what to change it to.
The Sequence Magnetic Pattern itself had no special meaning; it was purely for identifying the token's identity, making its texture intricate.
Mo Hua didn't have another Sequence Magnetic Pattern with Demon Sect permissions to use temporarily.
He could only try to modify it blindly.
Perhaps a blind cat would stumble upon a dead mouse.
Mo Hua, having studied the Spirit Hub Array, knew that Sequence Array Patterns were derived from certain rules for easier management.
He just needed to "forge" one to use it.
But this "forging" would require some effort.
Mo Hua, with his extensive knowledge of formations and keen intuition, began attempting to "forge" a new "Magnetic Pattern" based on the original sequence.
With each forged Sequence Magnetic Pattern, he tried to communicate with the Lightning-Magnetic Puppet, hoping to use its power to reopen the interface and intervene in the Demon Sect's Primordial Magnetic Array.
One by one, he tried from various angles, directions, and structures...
After over fifty attempts, Mo Hua finally succeeded in creating a truly useful "Sequence Magnetic Pattern."
Using the "forged" Sequence Magnetic Pattern, Mo Hua began to connect with the Demon Sect's Primordial Magnetic Array.
In an instant, the Primordial Magnetic Array rippled, and the Secondary Lightning Flow surged.
The gray magnetic patterns began to glow one by one.
A Lightning-Magnetic interface opened, revealing a complex yet orderly Prime Magnetic Flow carrying vast amounts of information, like an unending river.
A flood of Demon Cultivator information appeared in Mo Hua's mind.
Gazing at the familiar scene before him, Mo Hua's eyes shone with excitement.
"Success!"
"I'm back!"
Even with his account "banned," he had overcome numerous obstacles with his intelligence, infiltrating this Primordial Magnetic Sea once again.
"This token can still be used..."
Mo Hua's heart was filled with anticipation.
At the same time, as he observed the intricate Prime Magnetic Flood before him, a thought crossed his mind: If he could secretly control the Primordial Magnetic Array using the Lightning-Magnetic Puppet, perhaps he could also play a role in the Golden Core realm...
(End of Chapter)
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