Chapter 924: Jealousy and Hatred
Chapter 924: Jealousy and Hatred
Why change the Array Formation?
What's the use of this new formation?
And why take it outside after the change...
For a moment, Li San's mind was filled with confusion, but the next instant, he suppressed all these doubts deep within himself.
"Elder You demands absolute loyalty, a disregard for all, and a commitment to death. I just need to follow orders and not have too many thoughts."
"Only with loyalty can I earn Elder You's approval."
In the past few days, he had earned seven to eight thousand Demon Merit Points by killing his fellow sect members, a reward that was unthinkable before.
This was Elder You's reward for his loyalty.
"Rest assured, Elder You, I will not fail you!" Li San said.
"I look forward to your performance," Mo Hua said.
"Yes!"
Without hesitation, Li San went to the Merit Hall, spent three thousand Demon Merit Points, and exchanged it for the 'Reverse Soul Array Diagram'.
The Merit Hall manager was a bit surprised and furrowed his brows, "You're not an Array Master... Why do you need an Array Formation?"
Li San's face turned cold, "Do I need to explain my actions to you?"
Soon, he was going to become an Elder.
This was Elder You's promise to him.
With this assurance, he didn't feel the slightest bit of nervousness, and he faced others with ease and fearlessness, not realizing that he was actually stealing the Demon Sect's legacy for the 'inside traitor'.
The manager was momentarily intimidated by Li San's aura and didn't suspect him.
It was just an odd Array Formation, and if someone was willing to spend that much Merit, what could he say?
The manager sealed the Reverse Soul Array Diagram in a wooden box and handed it to Li San.
After receiving it, Li San carefully stored it in his storage bag.
The entire process was very simple.
No one knew what this seemingly simple 'handover' truly meant,
and no one in the Demon Sect was aware of what kind of Array Formation they had delivered into the hands of a 'monster'.
Everything went smoothly after that.
Li San was already at the Foundation Establishment Apex in his demonic cultivation, and with his seniority in the sect, his actions were not likely to arouse suspicion.
With the Reverse Soul Array, he left the Demon Sect and traveled for half a day before arriving at the small hill and entering the grove that Mo Hua had specified.
Outside the grove.
Mo Hua and Gu Changhuai were hiding in the grass, watching Li San, who was disguised as an old man, enter the grove.
Gu Changhuai couldn't help but ask Mo Hua, "What did you feed him to make him so obedient?"
"Nothing much," Mo Hua replied, "I just pretended to be an Elder of the Demon Sect and spoke a few words to him."
Gu Changhuai obviously didn't believe it, but after thinking for a moment, it seemed possible.
After all, Mo Hua was very persuasive, and when he spoke, he could really make a living person angry and deceive the dead back to life.
As they watched Li San enter the grove and fall into the trap, with no other demonic cultivators around, Mo Hua patted Gu Changhuai's shoulder, "Uncle Gu, it's up to you now."
Gu Changhuai was tall, while Mo Hua was not very tall, and even though they were both squatting, it was still a bit difficult for him to pat Gu Changhuai's shoulder.
Gu Changhuai silently glanced at Mo Hua.
So far, none of their colleagues in the Dao Prefecture Office had dared to pat his shoulder.
But he had no choice.
Gu Changhuai sighed and accepted this fact, "Alright, I'll be back soon."
Then, Gu Changhuai stood up and walked into the grove.
Sounds of violent clashes filled the grove, accompanied by the fluctuations of Spirit Energy and demonic energy.
After a few rounds of blue and red lights flashing, Gu Changhuai emerged, carrying Li San, who was unconscious and covered in injuries, in one hand, and a box in the other.
Mo Hua didn't look at Li San but instead stared at Gu Changhuai in shock, "Uncle Gu, are you at the middle stage of the Golden Core?"
Gu Changhuai gave a light 'hm' in response.
On the surface, Gu Changhuai maintained his calm demeanor, but Mo Hua's expression of surprise still made Gu Changhuai feel much better.
Advancing in the Golden Core realm was much more challenging than the Foundation Establishment stage, with each stage presenting a significant hurdle.
After forming the Golden Core, the crystallization of Spirit Energy, the increase in circulation, and the amplification of the Lifesoul Artifact made each stage of the Golden Core realm significantly more powerful than the previous one.
Advancing from the early to the middle stage of the Golden Core was indeed a significant step forward.
However, they didn't chat for long, as they had important matters to attend to.
"What do you plan to do with this Li San?" Gu Changhuai asked, "Kill him?"
Mo Hua pondered for a moment.
In principle, demonic cultivators were evil, and this Li San was a 'senior' demonic cultivator, likely with many lives on his hands, so he should be killed.
However, for some reason, he had been brainwashed to an excessive degree, becoming extremely loyal.
Mo Hua felt that killing him would be a waste, given his extreme loyalty.
"Let's spare his life for now and lock him up in the Dao Prison. He might become a crucial chess piece in the future." Mo Hua said.
Gu Changhuai nodded, "Alright."
Then he handed the box in his hand to Mo Hua, "Is this what you're looking for?"
Mo Hua's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly, "Yes!"
Taking the wooden box, Mo Hua inspected it carefully, ensuring there were no issues before cautiously opening it.
Inside the ordinary wooden box was an ancient piece of leather paper, with an ancient and cryptic pattern drawn on it, almost identical to the First Rank Reverse Soul Array.
Mo Hua could almost see the rules of reverse transformation flowing slowly within.
This reverse transformation rule was like a wisp of flame, and once something ignited it, it could cause a violent explosion, resulting in unimaginable destructive power.
Mo Hua's eyes gleamed with intensity.
Beside him, Gu Changhuai couldn't help but furrow his brows.
This array, at first glance, seemed profound and cryptic, but it subtly exuded a strange and eerie aura that made one's heart palpitate.
Moreover, this was an array that Mo Hua had obtained through various means from within the Demon Sect...
Gu Changhuai's gaze turned slightly somber, "What kind of array is this? Could it be... an evil array?"
"No," Mo Hua shook his head, "How could I possibly learn something like that?"
Gu Changhuai still seemed skeptical.
So Mo Hua brought up Elder Xun, "I learned this array from Elder Xun. How could he possibly lead me astray? Uncle Gu, rest assured."
Gu Changhuai indeed felt relieved.
Elder Xun of the Great Void Sect was upright, highly respected, and held in high esteem; it was indeed impossible for him to lead Mo Hua astray.
It was good that it wasn't an evil array.
But in Gu Changhuai's heart, there was still some doubt:
"Then what is this...?"
"It's for setting off fireworks," Mo Hua said.
Gu Changhuai was taken aback, almost thinking he had misheard, "Fireworks?"
"Yes," Mo Hua nodded, and said mysteriously, "Big fireworks!"
Gu Changhuai didn't know what to say, so he didn't continue asking, as it would be pointless anyway.
However, since it was for "setting off fireworks," it probably wasn't anything too serious.
He was a scion of a noble family and had grown up in the Great Immortal City; during festivals and celebrations, what kind of "fireworks" hadn't he seen?
So Gu Changhuai didn't think much of it.
At this moment, the task was completed, and the array was in their possession.
Li San lay on the ground, heavily injured and unconscious, with his entire body bound by Spirit Binding Shackles.
Gu Changhuai fed him a pill to keep him alive, then added a few more Spirit Binding Shackles to secure him tightly before turning to Mo Hua and saying:
"Let's go back."
"Okay." Mo Hua nodded.
Gu Changhuai dragged Li San along with Mo Hua, heading downhill.
Along the way, they passed through a tranquil mountain landscape, with lush forests and verdant greenery.
However, they occasionally came across patches of blood and a few corpses.
"This mountain is often frequented by demonic cultivators," Gu Changhuai explained succinctly.
With the presence of demonic cultivators, there were bound to be battles, and casualties were inevitable.
This was normal, and Mo Hua didn't say anything.
The two continued forward, following the mountain path, and as they rounded a bend at the foot of the mountain, several rows of low thatched huts suddenly came into view, built along the mountain slope, surrounded by simple wooden fences. It seemed to be a village where loose cultivators gathered, peaceful and serene.
Mo Hua felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity and couldn't help but take a step towards the village.
Gu Changhuai grabbed him, "What are you doing?"
Mo Hua pointed to the village, "I'm going to rest and ask someone some questions."
Gu Changhuai shook his head, "No need, they're all dead."
Mo Hua was startled.
Gu Changhuai sighed, "With demonic cultivators frequently appearing here, how could the loose cultivators living here possibly escape?"
Mo Hua's heart felt a chill, and he released his Divine Perception, carefully sensing the area. Indeed, he detected that in this small village, there wasn't a single living person's aura.
This wasn't tranquility but deathly silence.
Mo Hua remained silent for a moment, then said to Gu Changhuai, "Can I go and take a look?"
Gu Changhuai thought for a moment and didn't refuse, "Alright, as long as it doesn't delay your return to the sect."
Mo Hua nodded and proceeded step by step along the mountain path, entering the village.
The village was dilapidated, with wooden walls and thatched huts, looking rather shabby.
But each courtyard was a home.
In the courtyards, there were hunting traps, dried medicinal herbs, tattered clothes hanging to dry, wooden horses for children to play with, and woven grasshoppers made of bamboo, among other things.
A family, though poor, was striving and living harmoniously.
At least, that's how it used to be.
Mo Hua silently observed the dilapidated courtyard.
He saw the severed limbs on the ground, the blurred blood and flesh on the ground, the bloodstains on the wooden horses and grasshoppers, and the maggots and bloodthirsty flies...
"Are the nearby villages all like this?"
Gu Changhuai nodded, his voice turning cold, "In the eyes of demonic cultivators, humans are essentially living 'Spirit Stones' and 'food'."
"Whether it's their cultivation or power transmission, they use humans as a medium, and wherever they go, there's bound to be bloody slaughter."
"These ordinary loose cultivators, once they come into contact with demonic cultivators, will either be eaten, killed, or absorbed into their sect, becoming demonic cultivators who aid the demons. Those with better spiritual roots might even be raised as 'Blood Slaves', living a life worse than death.
"Not a single one was spared."
"The Dao Administration is short-staffed, and even if they wanted to rescue everyone, they couldn't keep up. Occasionally, when they receive news and rush to the scene, they are already greeted by this gruesome sight..."
Gu Changhuai heaved a deep sigh.
Mo Hua remained silent, gazing at the bloody and devastated courtyard before him.
He was a demon hunter by trade and had traveled far and wide, witnessing even more brutal and bloody scenes. But none of those scenes affected him as deeply as this one.
The courtyard before him, though poor, exuded warmth, reminding him of his own humble courtyard back in Tongxian City.
The deceased loose cultivators also reminded him of his parents and himself.
His parents were ordinary loose cultivators within Tongxian City.
And if not for his fortunate opportunities, he would have been just another insignificant loose cultivator.
Other loose cultivators would be killed by demonic cultivators as if they were mere weeds.
His family would have met the same fate.
In an instant, a hint of destiny seemed to stir.
Mo Hua felt as if he had caught a glimpse of another "fate" for himself: like all other loose cultivators in the world, being trampled upon and brutally murdered by evil demons and heterodox paths, killed, eaten, refined into pills, drained of blood, or turned into slaves...
Mo Hua's heart trembled uncontrollably.
Even when he sat within Tai Xu Mountain, observing the Demon Sect's movements through the Magnetic Array, he was aware of the demonic cultivators' killings, bloodsucking, and blood feasts.
He knew all about these things.
But without experiencing them firsthand or witnessing them with his own eyes, he had no idea how profound this suffering was.
The dead were not just names or numbers; they were living people, sons and daughters, parents, and family members.
Mo Hua lifted his head and looked into the distance.
In the faraway Qianxue State, sects and clans were numerous, with towering buildings and majestic palaces.
"Those who stand at the top rarely look down..."
He himself was no different.
If he had stayed in Qianxue State, interacting with the clans and sects, he might have believed that life was peaceful and prosperous, never realizing the existence of these nameless loose cultivators dying silently in the corners, like dust, just beyond the horizon.
He might never have witnessed the injustices caused by demonic cultivators.
Perhaps he would have remained indifferent to the deaths of fellow cultivators...
Mo Hua's heart grew heavy.
"Mo Hua..." Gu Changhuai spoke softly, "Are you alright?"
He noticed Mo Hua standing in place, silent, his expression shifting several times, and felt a bit concerned.
Mo Hua snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head, "I'm fine."
Gu Changhuai surveyed the surroundings and sighed, comforting Mo Hua, "The Demon Sect will be eradicated. Focus on your cultivation, and don't worry too much about other matters; they don't concern you."
"Mmm," Mo Hua replied softly.
To prevent Mo Hua from overthinking, Gu Changhuai suggested, "It's getting late; let's head back."
"Mmm."
Afterward, the two visited the Dao Administration, sending Li San to the Dao Prison, and Gu Changhuai escorted Mo Hua back to the Great Void Sect.
Before parting ways, Gu Changhuai noticed Mo Hua's apparent preoccupation and wanted to offer some words of comfort. However, he was better at cold and harsh words than comforting ones, and after much thought, he managed to say:
"Focus on your cultivation, and don't think about anything else."
"Mmm, I understand."
Mo Hua nodded.
...
Upon returning to the Disciple Residence, Mo Hua didn't sleep a wink that night.
Although he usually didn't sleep and practiced array techniques on the Dao Monument, this time, he couldn't even concentrate on drawing arrays.
The scenes from the day kept replaying in his mind.
In the small mountain village, the impoverished but determined loose cultivators, regardless of age or gender, were all brutally murdered in an instant.
Mo Hua's soul felt a subtle pain.
A hint of murderous intent rose within him.
Perhaps due to his cultivation of the Water Inferno Sect's Seven Souls Blood Inferno Eye Technique and the imprint of the Water Inferno Diagram on his soul, Mo Hua gradually developed a desire for "killing."
In this world, all evil demons and heterodox paths should be slain and eliminated! All demonic cultivators who indiscriminately killed the innocent should be thrown into the Dao Prison and tortured to death!
"Kill!"
Mo Hua's eyes turned bloodshot, and intense killing intent began to gather in the depths of his eyes.
Dark energy seemed to swirl around his Mind Realm incarnation.
In that moment, Mo Hua seemed to transform into a ruthless and impartial "Little King Yama," his heart as sharp as a demon-slaying sword, determined to eradicate all evil and sinful cultivators in the world.
Mo Hua quickly realized something was amiss and hastily sat down to meditate, suppressing the desire for "killing" in his heart.
But the words "Demon and Monster Extermination" seemed to be deeply engraved in his soul, just like the Water Inferno Diagram of the Water Inferno Sect.
In his heart, he wished to slaughter all demonic cultivators.
Mo Hua calmed his mind and meditated.
However, no matter how hard he tried to remain calm and suppress his emotions, he couldn't control this killing intent.
Mo Hua could only give up in frustration.
"If I can't suppress it, then I won't try to..." Mo Hua's gaze turned cold. "I'll find a way to kill all the demonic cultivators in that Demon Sect!"
(End of Chapter)
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