Chapter 1056: Shangguan Wang
Mo Hua stepped into the monstrous maw and entered the passage.
On both sides, the stone walls were made entirely of flesh and blood, slightly trembling. Blood strands weaved and drifted on the surface, accompanied by a stench of rot and the karmic weight of slaughter. It was unknown how many lives had been taken, their flesh and blood fused to form this passage.
Mo Hua sighed faintly in his heart.
This flesh-and-blood passage connected to the ley lines of the land, linking various sections of the Archaic Heaven Blood Sacrifice Formation. It seemed that only Mr. Tu, the chief formation master of the邪道 (evil path), had mastered the secret technique to freely enter and exit.
Mr. Tu led Mo Hua, walking through the boundless blood-red surroundings, heading deeper into the blood sacrifice formation.
After an unknown amount of time, a faint light appeared ahead.
Mo Hua looked up and saw another formation core stone wall. On it was carved a blood-colored sinister pattern shaped like ram's horns — both sacred and fierce.
This ram-horn pattern seemed far more advanced.
Mr. Tu bowed respectfully before the ram-horn pattern, showing reverence, then performed the same trick again: blood strands formed at his fingertips, seeping into the stone wall, merging with the pattern.
The stone wall began to transform, gradually turning into a gaping maw of flesh and blood, reopening to reveal another passage.
Mr. Tu turned to look at Mo Hua, his eyes cold:
"Remember, obey me and I won't kill you. If you act recklessly, no one can save you."
Mo Hua nodded: "Just don't kill me."
After speaking, Mr. Tu's face went pale, his slender, demon-like figure bowed slightly as he stepped through the monstrous exit.
Mo Hua followed, stepping out of the flesh-and-blood passage.
At that instant, a cold blast hit his face, a fierce wind howled, and piercing noise erupted. Mo Hua raised his eyes and was shocked, utterly stunned.
Before him stood an immense邪道 building under construction, grand beyond measure.
Gigantic evil spirit devices were digging into the mountain, continuously expanding around.
Majestic yet eerie palaces, pavilions, towers, and residences stood in dense clusters.
Countless邪修 (evil cultivators) and魔修 (demonic cultivators), like ants, moved about within.
The main structure was a grand hall at the highest point, with bones of monsters as beams, ram-horn flying eaves, surrounded by countless grotesque demon statues kneeling inward, bowing toward an enormous evil god statue.
The Great Wilderness Evil God Statue.
This was evidently a vast and magnificent evil god temple, bearing countless frenzied beliefs, awaiting the true descent of the evil god.
The grander the "divine miracle," the easier it was to inspire faith.
Even Mo Hua, looking at this huge evil god statue — though still incomplete and with the god not truly descended — couldn't help but feel a faint impulse to "worship."
Fortunately, this thought lasted only a moment before vanishing.
A lifetime is spent worshipping heaven, earth, and parents; this petty Great Wilderness Evil God wasn't worth his reverence.
Mr. Tu continued walking ahead of Mo Hua, but his peripheral vision and divine senses always watched Mo Hua, sensing the hesitation in Mo Hua's heart upon seeing the statue.
It was a mortal instinct.
But this hesitation lasted only briefly, like a stone dropped into an endless deep pool, causing no ripple.
Mo Hua's gaze was clear; when looking at the statue, it was like looking at a "dead thing."
Mr. Tu's pupils contracted slightly, and his expression gradually darkened.
The two continued forward, entering the evil god temple. Along the way, all they saw were various sinister and eerie objects, until they reached a grand hall, where they encountered a man.
This man's cultivation was profound, his face stern and dignified, with deep nasolabial folds. Though inside an evil god temple, he wore a Taoist robe, appearing rather out of place.
Mo Hua also recognized this man.
Shangguan Wang…
A fifth-rank cultivator from a noble cultivation family, an elder at the Ascension Realm of the Shangguan family, wielding great power in the clan, once nearly becoming the clan head.
He was also the one who had abducted Yu'er.
Mo Hua's gaze tightened, thinking as expected, this old bastard, appearing deep inside the Archaic Heaven Blood Sacrifice Formation's evil god temple, had obviously become a minion of the Great Wilderness Evil God, in league with Mr. Tu.
But Mo Hua was also puzzled.
A fifth-rank noble cultivator, an elder at the Ascension Realm, holding great authority — what benefits did Mr. Tu, or the Great Wilderness Evil God, give this old bastard to make him willing to abandon everything and turn traitor?
As Mo Hua looked at Shangguan Wang, Shangguan Wang also saw Mo Hua. His originally cold and indifferent expression shifted briefly.
"It's you?"
Mo Hua nodded. "It's me."
Shangguan Wang looked at Mr. Tu coldly: "What does this mean? Why bring this brat here?"
Mr. Tu respectfully said, "This is the blessing of the Divine Lord."
Shangguan Wang frowned, thought for a moment, then said coldly: "Kill this brat."
Mo Hua stepped back behind Mr. Tu.
Mr. Tu shook his head, "This child cannot be killed."
Shangguan Wang slowly said, "Mr. Tu, don't say I didn't warn you. This brat is very tricky. If you spare him, be careful of backstabbing."
Mo Hua frowned, thinking, you bunch of邪魔外道 (heretics and demons), how dare you call me a "tricky" cultivator who follows the righteous path?
Mr. Tu still said indifferently, "Cannot kill."
Shangguan Wang looked at Mo Hua venomously but said nothing more. Even though he was an Ascension elder with high status and power, he obviously dared not openly oppose Mr. Tu.
Mr. Tu turned around and said to Mo Hua, "You will stay here for a while in this place blessed by the Divine Lord. I've found a place for you to live. Follow me."
"Oh." Mo Hua nodded.
Mr. Tu strode toward the grand hall on the right side.
Mo Hua followed closely behind, not even glancing at Shangguan Wang.
But Shangguan Wang stared fixedly at Mo Hua, his nasolabial folds knitting tightly, his expression extremely harsh.
…
Mo Hua followed Mr. Tu into the great hall, continuing forward. After passing a section of Great Wilderness Purgatory's relief murals depicting demons, he stepped onto a long flight of stairs.
But these stairs did not lead upward; instead, they descended underground, growing deeper and darker the further he went. The path became narrower, damper, and more sinister until finally, at the end, they arrived at the place Mr. Tu had prepared for Mo Hua:
A dungeon.
The dungeon was very deep, sealed tight, dark and lightless, surrounded by sheer cliffs, evoking a feeling of utter despair just by looking at it.
Mo Hua silently stared for a moment, then reminded Mr. Tu:
"I am a prodigy of the Sword Discussion Sect, the foremost array master, and people often call me the 'Prince of the Tai Xu Sect'…"
Implying: You want to make the 'Prince' live in a place like this?
As the "chief steward" of the Great Wilderness Evil God, isn't your hospitality a bit too rude?
Mr. Tu said calmly, "This is already the most honorable treatment. Locking you here puts both your mind and mine at ease."
"Please," Mr. Tu added politely, though his hoarse, harsh tone was like that of a monster.
When under someone's roof, you have no choice but to bow.
Mo Hua had no way but to obediently step into the prison.
Mr. Tu sealed the dungeon door without a word to Mo Hua and left, only stopping before the door to sternly instruct several Golden Core demon cultivators guarding the dungeon:
"Guard him well, without the slightest negligence, not the tiniest mistake…"
Mr. Tu didn't finish the sentence, but the demon cultivators felt a chill in their hearts.
They knew all too well the consequences if there was any slip-up.
The demon cultivators bowed, barely daring to breathe.
After saying this, Mr. Tu left.
Only after he was far away did the terrifying oppressive aura dissipate, and the demon cultivators slowly stood upright, daring to breathe deeply. Yet inside, they were still puzzled.
One cold-faced demon frowned:
"This is the deepest layer of the Great Wilderness Prison. The prisoners here are at least late Golden Core or Immortal Ascension cultivators, but now there is only a Foundation Establishment minor cultivator locked up?"
"Even Mr. Tu, who is usually so cautious and meticulous, dares not be careless… Who exactly is this kid?"
Before others could speak, they were shouted down:
"Shut up!"
"Mind your own business. The less you talk here, the longer you live."
Everyone fell silent.
A tall and fierce demon sneered:
"Mr. Tu is inscrutable and has his own reasons for acting as he does. Anyone Mr. Tu treats with caution—even if they are at Foundation Establishment—is not someone you should talk back to."
"Be careful of entangling yourself in cause and effect, or you'll die by his hand."
At these words, all the demon cultivators immediately fell into terrified silence.
The Great Wilderness Prison never imprisons ordinary people.
Moreover, this is the deepest part of the prison.
Some prisoners may not have high cultivation realms, but the cause and effect involved is terrifying. If their fate is not strong, death is inevitable.
These demon cultivators guarding the prison may not understand cause and effect or fate, but they have seen many evil cultivators die from cause and effect due to weak fate. Some taboos they do understand.
From that moment on, none of the demon cultivators dared to peer at Mo Hua, nor did any foolish enough dare approach within ten feet of him.
...
Inside the dungeon,
Mo Hua looked up at the ceiling, feeling it was very high, narrow like a deep abyss.
He reached out and patted the four walls. The stone walls were incredibly solid, uneven, and felt like human bones.
Using divine sense to scan, inside the walls were carved a third-grade high-level evil array.
The third-grade high-level evil array sealed everything inside the dungeon. Mo Hua's blood energy and spiritual power circulated slowly; even his divine sense felt somewhat dizzy.
"Can't escape…"
This dungeon, within the Third Grade State boundary, was truly a "dead end."
Mr. Tu really did give him face, locking him here completely isolated, not giving him any chance to act.
Mo Hua sighed lightly. "Well, since I'm here, might as well make the best of it."
There was still much to do. The situation was unclear, and it wasn't wise to act rashly.
His divine sense was suppressed by the dungeon's evil array, making him easily drowsy.
Since that was the case, better to rest and conserve strength—take a nap.
Inside the dungeon, the walls were gloomy and oppressive, stained with blood. The nose caught the scent of stale blood and decay.
From somewhere, a chilling yin energy seeped in, cold and chilling.
Mo Hua touched his waist and took out his storage pouch.
To his surprise, Mr. Tu had not confiscated his pouch.
Of course, inside the pouch there was nothing valuable—just some cheap spirit stones, array mediums, pills, and second-grade array diagrams.
The truly valuable items were all hidden in his sub-ring.
Even if Mr. Tu confiscated it, he was only taking "junk."
Mo Hua took out array mediums and ink, drew a Clear Wind Array to dispel the foul smells inside, then a Warm Wind Array to keep himself warm. Next, he took out a small blanket, covered himself, and lay down, preparing to sleep soundly.
But just as he lay down and looked up, he saw a huge bloody eyeball staring back at him.
Being watched makes it hard to sleep.
Especially being stared at by such a large, blood-soaked eyeball.
Mo Hua calmly said, "You're disturbing my sleep."
Now in the evil god's "headquarters," he didn't want to cause trouble.
Besides, he had just eaten, so he wasn't hungry.
The bloody eyeball trembled violently, then quickly shut tight.
Mo Hua was satisfied, slowly closed his eyes, and soon the steady sound of breathing was heard.
In the dark, deep, oppressive, and hopeless Great Wilderness Prison where evil spirits lurked, Mo Hua covered himself with the small blanket and slept soundly...
...
In a secret chamber inside the evil god temple.
Mr. Tu was having a secret conversation with Shangguan Wang.
"The agreement, I hope Mr. Tu will not break his word. After it succeeds, if I could..." Shangguan Wang hesitated, then reluctantly respectfully said, "If I could gain the favor of the 'Divine Lord,' to grant me eternal life and immortality..."
Mr. Tu replied with certainty, "That is only natural."
Shangguan Wang's face darkened, as if still troubled with doubts, and he repeatedly confirmed:
"Ordinary people seek the Dao, enduring countless calamities and dangers, barely holding on to a faint chance to ascend as immortals."
"Immortals live as long as Heaven and Earth, shine alongside the sun and moon — only then can one achieve eternal life."
"But my realm is only Feather Transformation; I am far from an immortal. If I believe in the 'Divine Lord,' can I truly live forever without dying?"
Mr. Tu spoke quietly, "Elder Wang, do you know how long I have lived?"
Shangguan Wang's expression relaxed slightly; he nodded faintly, then recalled another question and asked:
"If I believe in the Divine Lord and gain eternal life, can I still... keep my sanity?"
This was his greatest concern; he did not want to become a bloodthirsty beast after becoming immortal.
Mr. Tu did not comfort him but instead mocked, "What use is something called sanity?"
Shangguan Wang's expression changed.
Mr. Tu pressed on Shangguan Wang's shoulder and said calmly:
"Elder Wang, do you really think there is such a thing as 'sanity' in this world?"
"People, driven by desire, sometimes do crazier things than beasts. Can that be called sanity?"
"Chasing fame and fortune, craving power and material desires, even self-destruction — all without hesitation... can that be called sanity?"
Shangguan Wang's brow twitched.
"Humans have always lived by their greed and ignorance, driven by their own desires and cravings throughout their lives, not by sanity," Mr. Tu slowly said. "If that is so, what meaning does sanity have?"
"Being driven by fame and greed or being driven by the Divine Lord — what's the difference?"
"Faith in fame and fortune: after hundreds of years, when the end comes, all that remains is a handful of earth."
"Faith in the Divine Lord: even if a great calamity arrives, one can transform and shed their mortal shell to live forever."
"If it were you, which would you choose?"
Shangguan Wang was silent, but the wild ambition in his eyes grew wilder and more fearless, clearly having made up his mind.
Mr. Tu nodded slightly.
"How much longer?" Shangguan Wang asked. "When will the Divine Lord be resurrected?"
Usually indifferent, Mr. Tu frowned now, feeling annoyed.
Everything had been carefully planned.
The great formation, the divine fetus, the sacrifices... everything was arranged properly.
But...
At the Sword Discussion Tournament, unexpected incidents happened, forcing him to activate the great formation early and losing a carefully nurtured, centuries-old flesh-and-blood corpse to the Shen family's eradication.
And now, the sacrifices also went wrong.
Those sect prodigies had all fallen into the trap and were to be nourished like "gu" insects, fighting until their Dao hearts were corrupted by demons, so that the strongest could be chosen as the Divine Lord's resurrected personal servants.
But at the last moment, all were rescued by the damn Dao Court and that Gu Changhuai.
Many evil formation masters were slaughtered as well.
All these setbacks together seriously delayed the opening progress of his Archaic Blood Sacrifice Formation.
And severely postponed the Divine Lord's resurrection and descent into the world.
Shangguan Wang, involved in the plan, could sense this to some extent and said coldly:
"I always feel these setbacks are because someone is secretly obstructing us."
Mr. Tu nodded slightly, expression indifferent:
"Since the beginning, when the divine fetus of the Shangguan family was seized, I sensed a strange 'shadow' lurking, always appearing and disappearing, blocking the Divine Lord's resurrection plan..."
But how this shadow acted in all these incidents baffled him.
Sometimes he thought this person's realm should be very high — only a high-level cultivator could participate in this game;
But then he felt this person's cultivation might not be that strong; otherwise, many matters could be handled with ease, no need for such elaborate schemes.
Sometimes he thought this person was the mastermind behind the scenes, orchestrating everything;
Other times, he thought this person was just a front-line executioner, obeying orders to kill demons and enemies.
Sometimes he thought this person must be a cultivator of hundreds or even thousands of years.
But then he thought this person might just be a novice...
Each time he pondered, his mind became very confused.
Even the Divine Lord could not give him clearer guidance.
He even wished he could devour a few more cultivators' brains at every meal to clear his thoughts.
Currently, the only clue was that Ink Painter.
He guessed that this Ink Painter was definitely closely connected to this seemingly nonexistent yet omnipresent "shadow."
"Ink Painter..."
"That Ink Painter..." Shangguan Wang's eyes flickered slightly, his tone serious, "In my opinion, it's best to kill him to avoid unexpected troubles."
Mr. Tu shook his head, "Keeping him is of great use."
Shangguan Wang frowned, "What use?"
Mr. Tu was reluctant to answer but knew Shangguan Wang was crucial and must not be alienated.
Mr. Tu said, "The karma on him is great and deep; one must not act rashly."
"When a person dies, the light goes out; no matter how great the karma, once dead, it disappears," Shangguan Wang said coldly.
"He has a special identity, a high status, and is favored by the Tai Xu Patriarch..."
"You don't understand Tai Xu Sect, nor its Patriarch Dongxu," Shangguan Wang shook his head. "Tai Xu Sect was previously obscure but inherits the Divine Mind Sword, upright and righteous, very clear between good and evil, never bargaining with demon cultivators."
"This kid, no matter how favored, will not be an exception."
"Moreover, if he turns evil, Tai Xu Sect's first move will be to painfully purge him..."
As a Shangguan family elder, Shangguan Wang was very familiar with the Tai Xu Sect's ways.
Mr. Tu continued, "Too many evil formation masters have died; the completion of the great formation will be delayed."
Shangguan Wang frowned, "You want this kid to draw formations for you to perfect the Blood Sacrifice Formation?"
Mr. Tu neither confirmed nor denied.
Shangguan Wang said, "There's only one of him."
"You saw what happened at the Sword Discussion Tournament," Mr. Tu said, "He alone, with his divine awareness commanding ink, drawing the ground into a formation, forming it extremely fast — comparable to ten, no, even dozens of top second-grade formation masters."
Shangguan Wang thought for a moment but shook his head, "We still have formation masters; it's okay if the great formation is slower, but the risk is best not to take."
No matter what, Shangguan Wang was determined to kill Ink Painter.
First, because he had a bad relationship with Ink Painter, who would surely take revenge.
Second, because now Ink Painter had abandoned the light and turned to the Great Wilderness Divine Lord. If later Ink Painter were assimilated by Mr. Tu and also pledged to the Divine Lord, his position before the Great Wilderness Divine Lord could never be higher than Ink Painter, whose divine awareness was like a prodigy and whose formations were monstrous.
Granted, he was Feather Transformation, a respectable rank.
But Ink Painter was already a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, just one step from Golden Core. The Divine Lord had countless evil methods to help Ink Painter quickly form his core.
Then, a Golden Core realm cultivator, entering demonic ways, strengthened by evil formations, young with terrifying talent, under the Divine Lord's protection, could be truly unruly. Even he, at Feather Transformation, would have to avoid Ink Painter's sharp edge.
This would ruin all his plans.
Therefore, he did not hide his murderous intent toward Ink Painter.
Mr. Tu could see this clearly, but he was not necessarily determined to kill Ink Painter outright. Rather, Ink Painter carried a subtle aura that made him strangely wary, and he dared not kill him.
"I suspect this boy's body... has been planted with a...," Mr. Tu paused, his pupils shrinking, then slowly said:
"A life-long talisman..."
(End of this Chapter)