Chapter 973: Destroying Evidence
Chapter 973: Destroying Evidence
Elder Xun was puzzled, "What did you see?"
He could only see Mo Hua staring blankly at an empty corner.
Mo Hua turned his head again and looked at Master Gu and Fan Jin.
Master Gu and his companion shook their heads, their faces filled with confusion. They didn't know what Mo Hua was looking at either.
Mo Hua's heart trembled.
That's it!
Godly Concealment!
The Benming Shenyang, a 'Godly Concealment' artifact, was invisible to ordinary cultivators, just like the Dragon Bone Shenyang in the Dragon King Temple.
Since this statue possessed the ability of 'Godly Concealment', it must be the Benming Shenyang of the Yellow Mountain Lord, without a doubt!
Mo Hua's heart filled with joy.
He quickly took out a piece of black cloth and wrapped the Benming Shenyang, then said to Xun Ziyou, "Elder Xun, help me carry it."
The Benming Shenyang could not be stored in a storage pouch.
Elder Xun looked at the empty package and then at Mo Hua, who seemed very serious. His expression was a bit complex, but he didn't question it.
Whatever Mo Hua said, he would do.
"Okay..."
Xun Ziyou then carried the Shenyang of the Yellow Mountain Lord on his back.
But he had no idea what he was carrying.
In a daze, Xun Ziyou even felt like there was nothing on his back, and he hadn't carried anything at all.
Master Gu and Fan Diensi also acted as if they couldn't see the Shenyang, as if it wasn't there.
Only then did Mo Hua breathe a sigh of relief.
Finally, he had found it.
The Benming Shenyang was as precious as life to a divine being.
The Yellow Mountain Lord had entrusted him with taking his Benming Shenyang out of Solitary Mountain, which was partly due to having no other choice, but it also showed his trust in Mo Hua.
Thankfully, he didn't disappoint that trust.
"Let's go back..." Mo Hua said.
"Okay," Xun Ziyou nodded.
The group headed towards the exit of the temple, and just as they were about to leave, Mo Hua suddenly felt something and turned to look back.
He saw Tu Xian Sheng's ritual blade cutting open Shen Shouhang's throat, and his pale hand claw piercing Shen Shouhang's chest.
Shen Shouhang's fresh blood flowed out, and his body slowly fell, lifeless.
Until the end, his eyes were filled with madness and resentment, as if he wanted to devour Tu Xian Sheng's flesh and drink his blood.
"Shen Shouhang... is dead..."
Mo Hua frowned, his mood becoming complex for a moment.
Shen Shouhang was the Shen Clan's Senior Elder, the one responsible for the burial of over ten thousand wandering cultivators in Solitary Mountain.
But he was just a puppet, a puppet of the noble families.
He was also a puppet of his own desires for power and wealth.
A lifetime of chasing fame and fortune, and in the end, when death came, everything became meaningless.
At the same time, Mo Hua felt that Shen Shouhang's death was slightly off.
It was as if there was some unresolved karma left on his body.
"Why do I have this feeling?" Mo Hua wondered.
Just then, Tu Xian Sheng, who had killed Shen Shouhang, turned around with the bloody ritual blade in his hand and glanced at Mo Hua.
His eyes were like those of a demon, fierce and ferocious.
Mo Hua's gaze was clear as water, calm and profound.
The more Tu Xian Sheng looked, the more he felt that Mo Hua was not ordinary.
The sword cultivator with the surname Xun from Void Gate Sect might have immeasurable strength, but this junior disciple also seemed elusive.
But he was only at the Zhu Ji stage.
What could a Zhu Ji cultivator possibly have that was so elusive?
A Zhu Ji junior like him, at most, would have Zhu Ji cultivation and divine sense. Could he possibly overturn the heavens?
Mo Hua also stared at Tu Xian Sheng, his gaze sharp, as murderous intent rose in his heart.
Shen Shouhang was dead.
The only one left was Tu Xian Sheng.
Shen Tu Ao's human skin, or the complete Four Symbols Azure Dragon Array Diagram, was in Tu Xian Sheng's hands.
Killing him would mean obtaining the Azure Dragon Array.
The dragons of the Great Wilderness required the bloodline of the Great Wilderness royalty.
Now it seemed that his own bloodline might not be able to harness the power of the Azure Dragon, and this Azure Dragon Array might not be suitable for his personal formation.
But one should always give it a try.
Even if he couldn't use it, a second-rank twenty-one design, four-symbol divine beast ultimate array was an absolute treasure for a formation master.
Most of the group that had entered the Solitary Mountain tomb were already dead.
On Mo Hua's side, there were still Elder Xun, Master Gu, and Fan Diensi, three Golden Core Cultivators.
If the three of them joined forces, with Mo Hua assisting from the side and guarding against Tu Xian Sheng's evil intentions, there was a high chance of killing this demonic human.
That way, the Azure Dragon Array would be theirs.
In just a few breaths, Mo Hua assessed the situation and gradually made up his mind.
"Elder Xun..."
Mo Hua turned and spoke to Elder Xun.
But just as he opened his mouth, he saw Elder Xun's forehead suddenly turn pitch black.
At the same time, Mo Hua felt a nameless panic rise within him.
It was as if as soon as he spoke and voiced his request, Elder Xun would die in Solitary Mountain, and his death would be miserable, never finding peace.
Mo Hua's pupils trembled, and his breath caught.
"Mo Hua? What's wrong?" Xun Ziyou noticed Mo Hua's unusual expression and asked, "Do you have something for me to do?"
Mo Hua's heart raced, and his panic intensified. He quickly replied, "Nothing!"
"Nothing?"
"Nothing!" Mo Hua asserted.
"Hmm," Xun Ziyou nodded.
When Mo Hua said "nothing," he could clearly see the blackness on Xun Ziyou's forehead gradually fading.
The rock that had been weighing on Mo Hua's heart finally fell, and he reached out to grasp Xun Ziyou's arm tightly, "Elder Xun, let's go!"
Xun Ziyou turned to look at Tu Xian Sheng, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, "This is also a left-path demon. With the right timing, should we kill it?"
Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly said,
"Let's go!"
If Elder Xun really went to kill Tu Xian Sheng, he might get entangled in unknown karma and die.
Seeing Mo Hua's serious and tense expression, Xun Ziyou thought of the greater good. Mo Hua's safety was the priority, and it wasn't appropriate to cause more trouble at this time. So, he nodded in agreement,
"Okay."
After that, the group left without hesitation, urged on by Mo Hua.
Tu Xian Sheng watched the backs of Mo Hua and the others, deep in thought.
"Should I remove the demonic seal and kill them in the depths of Solitary Mountain..."
"The Sword Dao Elder might not be killable, but that Zhu Ji junior is a bit strange. It's better to kill him to eliminate future troubles..."
"Chase and kill them..."
Tu Xian Sheng couldn't help but take a step forward.
Suddenly, a deafening roar shook the ground, and amidst the chaos, flames erupted, accompanied by a series of explosions.
"The Shen Clan? Have they made their move?"
Tu Xian Sheng frowned, his heart filled with silent resentment.
Everything had been going according to plan, but at the last moment, an unexpected turn of events occurred. The Divine Embryo of the Divine Lord was gone, and the Solitary Mountain lost its protection. The Demon Fog dissipated, revealing the cause and effect.
The Shen Clan had also figured out the scheme.
It wasn't just the Shen Clan; other noble families and clans, sensing the commotion, had also gathered.
"Forget it. We've already obtained what we came for."
Tu Xian Sheng's bloodshot eyes stared coldly at the crowd, "Once the Divine Lord descends, everyone will die. It's just a matter of when..."
His Demonic Human body contorted, and human skin regrew, transforming him into an ordinary-looking Shen Clan Elder. He walked out of the temple.
...
Inside the Mass Grave.
Xun Ziyou and his companions hid in the shadows, facing a group of Shen Clan cultivators.
The Shen Clan cultivators were in the pit, setting up fire arrays, casting fire talismans, and employing various fire array techniques to incinerate the bodies in the pit.
Flames erupted everywhere, and billowing smoke filled the air.
The surroundings were engulfed in flames and the ravaging glow of fire.
As the smoke from the burning corpses rose, a putrid stench filled the air, only to be dispelled by the Purifying Rain Array.
The Shen Clan was destroying evidence! Master Gu's heart burned with anger, and he silently cursed, "The Shen Clan is truly... devoid of conscience."
Fan Jin shook his head, glanced around at the numerous Shen Clan cultivators, and frowned, "There are too many Shen Clan members... Should we try to fight our way out?"
Xun Ziyou shook his head, "There are too many people; we can't take action. We can only try to blend in and sneak out..."
Any move they made would attract a large number of Golden Core cultivators from the Shen Clan.
They were burning the bodies to destroy evidence, fearing that their secret would be exposed.
If Xun Ziyou and his group were discovered, the Shen Clan would undoubtedly spare no effort in silencing them.
Fortunately, the Mass Grave was vast, and there were numerous corpses of the miners. Destroying the evidence was a massive undertaking.
The Shen Clan's current focus was entirely on incinerating the bodies, leaving them no time to pay attention to anything else.
Moreover, with frequent explosions, overflowing flames, and chaos at the scene, escaping unnoticed was not difficult.
Xun Ziyou found a lone group of Shen Clan cultivators and killed them.
Those sent to destroy evidence were undoubtedly close associates of the Shen Clan and were likely involved in the mine incident. Xun Ziyou showed no mercy.
After killing several Shen Clan cultivators, they stripped them of their clothing and tokens, threw their bodies into the mine pit, ignited the fire talismans, and burned the miners' corpses along with them.
Then, Xun Ziyou and his companions changed into the Shen Clan's clothing, pretending to be Shen Clan cultivators, and blended into the crowd, heading towards the cemetery exit.
Xun Ziyou was a clan elder, Fan Jin was a manager, and Master Gu was in charge of the Alchemical Guild. Their identities were not ordinary.
Especially Xun Ziyou, with his extraordinary aura, donned the Shen Clan's robe, and with the pressure of a Late Golden Core cultivator, no one dared to question him.
The only one who might give them away was Mo Hua.
He was not tall, and the Shen Clan's robe was too long for him, dragging on the ground.
However, the bottom of the tomb was dimly lit, and with the flames and billowing smoke, Mo Hua, hidden among Xun Ziyou and the others, went unnoticed.
He did not use an invisibility spell.
There were too many Golden Core cultivators from the Shen Clan in the tomb, and many had higher Divine Perception than him. If discovered, he would undoubtedly be suspected.
It was better to blend in with the crowd.
In this way, Xun Ziyou led the way, pretending to be a Shen Clan cultivator, casually setting fire talismans and fire arrays to create chaos, and then seizing the opportunity to leave.
Mo Hua occasionally caused trouble, secretly detonating the arrays set up by the Shen Clan.
Or, he secretly altered the array engravings, causing the arrays to backfire and "accidentally" harm the Shen Clan's own people.
The situation became even more chaotic.
Amidst this chaos, Xun Ziyou led Mo Hua and the others step by step out of the Mass Grave and reached the upper tomb passage.
"Yes." The two Golden Core Cultivators from the Shen Clan left.
Xun Ziyou also led Mo Hua outside, but after taking only a few steps, they encountered a massive crowd, blocking the mine like a sea of people.
Among them were members of the Shen Clan, as well as individuals from other noble families and various sects.
Looking around, none of the forces present seemed friendly.
To gather around the Shen Clan in such a situation and take a bite out of their fat, these forces undoubtedly possessed a foundation and strength no weaker than the Shen Clan.
Currently, the Shen Clan had set up a formation, guarding the mine, while the others were stuck outside.
The two sides faced off, the crowd clearly divided.
"This is troublesome..."
Xun Ziyou frowned.
In this situation, there was no way for them to blend in and leave, especially with a third-rate formation separating them.
Mo Hua also felt a sense of difficulty.
He furrowed his brows in thought, scanning the surroundings, when suddenly, his eyes lit up as he spotted a familiar face.
In the bustling crowd, the elders of the Void Gate Sect were also present.
Leading them was a man with a jade-like face, exuding elegance and a calm gaze, but with a hint of underlying anxiety.
It was Elder Xun Zi Xian.
As Mo Hua looked towards Xun Zi Xian, the elder also paused in surprise.
Amidst the chaotic crowd, he felt a familiar gaze, and within that gaze, there was a divine sense that was distinctly different from ordinary people.
"This feeling..."
Xun Zi Xian's eyes narrowed, following the gaze until he spotted Mo Hua, who was hidden among the Shen Clan cultivators, revealing only his head.
Beside Mo Hua stood Xun Ziyou.
"Mo Hua!"
Xun Zi Xian's pupils constricted.
"I've found him!"
Xun Zi Xian observed the clear division between the two sides and Mo Hua's group mixed among the Shen Clan members. After a moment's thought, he took out a jade manuscript and smashed it onto the formation set up by the Shen Clan.
The jade manuscript flashed with light, melting away a large section of the array engravings, creating a significant gap in the Shen Clan's formation.
Elder Xun Zi Xian had a profound foundation, exceptional talent, and was personally taught by Elder Xun. His expertise in formations was not only renowned within the Void Gate Sect but also considered top-notch throughout the Qian Xue Prefecture.
The third-rate formation set up by the Shen Clan was effortlessly broken by him.
Xun Zi Xian's action was abrupt and startling.
Everyone present was momentarily stunned.
The Shen Clan elder in charge immediately rebuked, "Xun Zi Xian! What do you mean by this? Does the Void Gate Sect want to provoke enmity with our Shen Clan?"
Xun Zi Xian didn't even lift his eyelids, replying nonchalantly, "My hand slipped..."
The Shen Clan elder hesitated, feeling a surge of anger in his chest.
What the hell? One slip of the hand, and you break our Shen Clan's formation?
What's the meaning of this? Do you have no shame?
However, he didn't have time to dwell on whether Xun Zi Xian's slip was genuine or not, because as soon as the formation was breached, the crowd, who had previously been cautious, immediately stirred with anticipation.
The atmosphere became tense in an instant.
After a while, a burly man shouted, "The Ao Clan has affinal relations with the Shen Clan. I have a younger brother-in-law who is a member of your Shen Clan. I heard he met with misfortune in this mine, so as his brother-in-law, it's only right for me to go in and look for him..."
Without waiting for a response, he rushed through the gap.
Others followed suit, "I have a fellow cultivator who is an elder in your Shen Clan. I heard he's also in trouble, so I'll go in and check on him..."
"I have a nephew who is also from your Shen Clan..."
"I have a paternal grandfather with the surname Shen..."
"I have a lover..."
Everyone started making up relationships, and soon, the crowd surged forward.
With so many people involved, they weren't afraid of the Shen Clan holding them accountable.
Moreover, the fact that the Shen Clan was so nervous indicated that there must be a major scandal hidden within the mine.
For the usually cautious Shen Clan, this was an unprecedented situation and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the other noble families.
The competition for fame and fortune among the noble families was fierce, and no one would miss the chance to take advantage of the Shen Clan's misfortune.
The scene quickly descended into chaos.
The Shen Clan wanted to stop them but dared not use excessive force.
If someone lost their life, it could ignite a larger conflict.
Amid the chaos, no one noticed as Mo Hua and the others quietly removed the Shen Clan's robes and put on ordinary clothes, blending into the crowd and eventually joining the group from the Void Gate Sect.
Xun Zi Xian pulled Mo Hua to his side, checking his pulse and examining his meridians. He stared into Mo Hua's eyes for a moment, confirming several times, before finally sighing in relief and asking, "Are you okay?"
"Yes," Mo Hua nodded.
Xun Ziyou, standing nearby, spoke up, "Check me too."
Xun Zi Xian ignored him.
"It's good that you're unharmed. This isn't the place to talk; let's leave first," Xun Zi Xian said.
"Shouldn't we stay and observe the situation?" Mo Hua asked.
Xun Zi Xian shook his head, "The situation is too chaotic; we can't stay long."
Moreover, the patriarch's order was to rescue people.
Now that Mo Hua was safe, it was more important than anything else. The Shen Clan's affairs became secondary.
Mo Hua nodded.
The Da Huang Dragon's Pulse and the Yellow Mountain Lord's Life-bound Shenyang were both still in his possession.
These were extraordinary items.
He needed to return quickly and hide them, avoiding any further complications.
The Shen Clan's matter had already been exposed; let the other noble families and sects deal with the aftermath.
The bigger the chaos, the better...
So, Xun Zi Xian led the elders, protecting Mo Hua and the others, as they departed from the Shen Clan's mine.
Just as they were leaving, Mo Hua turned back and glanced at the Solitary Mountain, feeling a sense of unease.
He couldn't shake the feeling that there was some other cause and effect hidden within the mountain.
This cause and effect seemed incredibly dangerous, even to him...
And it was terrifyingly vast...
"What could it be..."
Mo Hua furrowed his brows, shook his head, and stopped dwelling on it. He followed the elders of the Void Gate Sect, leaving the Solitary Mountain.
...
Inside the mine, the conflict between the Shen Clan and the other noble families' cultivators gradually escalated and spread.
The scene was chaotic, with cultivators clashing and their auras intertwining.
At the bottom of the Solitary Mountain, within the temple.
The hall was slowly collapsing, with fragments of stone falling and the ground covered in blood and mutilated corpses.
Amidst the silence, Shen Shouhang, who had already passed away, suddenly opened his eyes, revealing pitch-black pupils.
(End of Chapter)
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