Chapter 1183

The barbarian general Chifeng glanced at Mo Hua, then without hesitation, tore off the head of the Shuguo tribe's leader's limbs with his bare hands.

The Shuguo tribe's leader endured the pain, glaring hatefully at Mo Hua:

"I will kill you!"

Mo Hua looked at Chifeng.

Chifeng fell silent for a moment, then slapped the Shuguo tribe's leader across the face.

The force of a mid-stage Jin Dan barbarian general was extraordinary.

Five bloody streaks instantly appeared on the Shuguo tribe's leader's face, swelling up, his head ringing loudly.

He instantly fell silent; though inwardly furious at Mo Hua—the "dog-fawning pretty boy"—he dared not speak out of turn again.

"Tell me, what is the cave for?" Mo Hua asked again.

The Shuguo tribe's leader spoke in a hoarse voice: "It is for sacrificing to the Barbarian God."

Mo Hua's eyes lit up; he immediately became interested. "Which Barbarian God?"

The Shuguo tribe's leader looked with reverence: "The Barbarian God is the Barbarian God. There is only one Barbarian God in this world."

Mo Hua truly could not communicate with this kind of divine "illiterate."

Often, the more fanatical the believer, the less they knew of their god—uttering foolish things like there being only one Barbarian God.

Only one Barbarian God?

Wouldn't he starve to death then?

Mo Hua asked again: "Do you kill, eat humans, and dance to please the Barbarian God you worship?"

When speaking of the Barbarian God and sacrifice, the Shuguo tribe's leader's expression turned fervent:

"Humans are livestock. We are livestock too—but we are higher livestock. We, these higher livestock, eat lower livestock, and the Barbarian God finds it pleasing, a sign of piety. The Barbarian God himself will descend to witness our devotion."

Mo Hua frowned slightly.

He knew the barbarians were savage, and among their gods, some must be cruel and insane.

But to this extent of cruelty and madness still surprised Mo Hua.

But it didn't matter—Mo Hua didn't "pick his food."

And since entering the Zhu Que Mountains, Mo Hua hadn't eaten a single Barbarian God.

In the third-grade peak Dashan Realm, any tribe capable of sustaining a Barbarian God was a major tribe, with several Jin Dan cultivators stationed within.

Mo Hua couldn't move as freely as he had in the second-grade small mountain realm—where he could sneak into tribes alone and hunt their worshipped Barbarian Gods.

Moreover, these major tribes concealed their sacrifices very well.

Security during the rituals was extremely tight.

Concealment and stealth carried a high risk of discovery.

If he left even a trace, they would hunt him to death.

Furthermore, when invading a Barbarian God's dream, his physical body

was left unguarded.

If anything went wrong and his body was destroyed, he could no longer cultivate as an immortal.

If he didn't want to perish utterly, he'd have to find a way to parasitize flesh and become something neither god nor ghost.

That was no different from being dead.

Add to that, infiltrating the Dan Que tribe required effort to train Seeing Dan Zhu, so Mo Hua's plan to hunt Barbarian Gods had to be put on hold for a time.

But now, "food" had come to him.

Mo Hua asked: "Where is your Barbarian God? Where is he?"

The Shuguo tribe's leader gave Mo Hua a strange look, then grinned, blood in his mouth, sneering:

"I see now—you're a treacherous schemer. You covet the Barbarian God's lineage. You're overreaching, harboring blasphemous arrogance."

"I will never tell you where the Barbarian God is."

Mo Hua's gaze darkened. "Aren't you afraid of death?"

The Shuguo tribe's leader replied calmly:

"Everyone fears death. I am human—I fear death too. But what I truly fear is dying without being able to remain loyal to the Barbarian God, without being able to please him, without being able to offer my bones and blood to him, without receiving his divine reward."

Mo Hua nodded. "You've got a strong slave mentality."

The Shuguo tribe's leader grew slightly angry, sneering:

"Ignorant brat, what do you know? Do you understand the greatness of the Barbarian God? Do you know the immortality of the gods? You know nothing, feel no awe, yet dare such arrogance..."

Chifeng slapped him again—this time on the other side of his face, shattering a row of his teeth.

The Shuguo tribe's leader's eyes burned with hatred, his voice hoarse: "The Barbarian God will kill you both—"

Mo Hua smirked, pointing at the cave. "Is your Barbarian God hiding in this tiny cave?"

"Can something this small even hide? Is your Barbarian God a rat?"

Mo Hua's words deeply enraged the Shuguo tribe's leader.

The Shuguo tribe's leader's eyes bulged as he glared at Mo Hua:

"Audacious! Ignorant! How dare you mock the Barbarian God? From this moment, you are already dead! The Barbarian God will soon punish you—you are dead! Dead!"

Seeing Dan Zhu, seeing his twisted face and fervent words, couldn't help but look at Mo Hua with concern, fearing Mo Hua had truly offended a barbarian god and invited death.

But Mo Hua wasn't afraid—he was almost excited.

He wished the Barbarian God would come kill him.

But he knew such "good fortune" wasn't his yet.

He still had to find the Barbarian God himself.

Mo Hua turned his head, looking at the one painted in human blood—

A small cave with patterned walls.

Inside this small cave, surely lies one of the Man God idols of the Shu Bone Clan.

But Mo Hua did not enter rashly, nor did he make any extra movements—he simply stared silently at the cave.

Dan Zhu and the others were somewhat bewildered.

Elder Bashan grew slightly impatient:

"It's just a broken cave, visible from end to end—what's there to hesitate about? Just go in and take a look!"

He was a Jin Dan, and had already scanned the cave repeatedly with his spiritual sense, detecting not the slightest hint of danger within.

Hence, he paid it no mind.

Elder Bashan walked straight toward the cave's interior.

But when he actually reached the cave's entrance, he still sensed a faint, elusive chill.

It seemed something strange truly existed inside the cave.

Elder Bashan halted, uncertain—wondering whether to enter or not.

Just as he hesitated, a voice came from behind:

"Elder Bashan, don't go in."

This was Mo Hua "kindly" warning him.

But the moment Mo Hua warned him, it triggered Elder Bashan's defiance.

As Zhu Shaozhu's guard elder, Bashan had from the start regarded Mo Hua as a fraud.

He had long resented this so-called "Witch Mr.," whom he believed used sorcery to bewitch the young master and make him obedient.

The fraud told him not to enter the cave.

Then he would enter all the more.

Ignoring Mo Hua's warning, Elder Bashan walked straight into the cave—but moments later, he walked back out.

Because the cave was truly narrow, visible from end to end, utterly ordinary, with nothing inside.

Elder Bashan took two steps, found nothing, and naturally left the cave.

After leaving the cave, Elder Bashan said: "Young Master, there's nothing strange in this cave—"

But Mo Hua looked solemn, stared at Bashan for several moments, and said gravely: "Bind Elder Bashan with chains."

Elder Bashan froze.

Dan Zhu and the others looked startled. "Mr., what is this—"

Mo Hua said sternly: "Elder Bashan has been possessed. In a moment, he will go mad. He must be restrained now—otherwise the consequences will be dire."

Elder Bashan roared:

"Witch Mr., you pretty boy, what are you talking about?! Possessed? I'd know if I were possessed! Don't you dare slander me!"

Mo Hua remained calm. "See? His temper is already turning volatile."

Dan Zhu, helplessly, could only say: "Then—bind him for now."

Elder Bashan opened his mouth wide.

His heart felt shattered.

He had devoted himself, served faithfully, guarded the young master for over thirty years—and now the young master ordered him bound.

Elder Bashan trembled: "Young Master! Don't believe slander! This boy is slandering me—he has ill intent!"

Dan Zhu was deeply troubled, and could only say: "Bind him—for now—"

The Man General Chifeng stepped forward, took out chains, and bound Elder Bashan.

Though furious, Bashan did not resist before Chifeng—only wore a look of heartbreak, as if his spirit had died.

Seeing this, Chifeng frowned slightly, unsure what Mo Hua was up to.

If this was merely eliminating rivals, the method was far too crude.

But before he could ponder further, a wave of malevolent energy surged—Chifeng's face changed, he looked down, and saw the chained Bashan with bloodshot eyes, a snarling face, saliva dripping from his lips, as if ready to devour anyone nearby.

"Bad!"

Chifeng's heart jolted—he immediately gripped Bashan's shoulders.

But now, Bashan, as if struck by some sudden illness, possessed tremendous strength.

Even Chifeng, a mid-Jin Dan, struggled momentarily to hold him down.

And Bashan opened his mouth wide and bit down on Chifeng's palm, as if trying to tear off a strip of flesh to swallow.

Chifeng twisted his palm, seizing Bashan's head.

But Bashan still thrashed violently, his flesh swelling uncontrollably, fighting with all his might.

Fortunately, Mo Hua had earlier instructed Chifeng to chain Bashan—otherwise, he could not have been restrained in such a short time.

Once Bashan went mad and began biting and devouring people indiscriminately, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Chifeng had no choice but to forcibly restrain Bashan's limbs with brute force.

But this could not go on indefinitely.

No one knew how long Bashan's madness would last.

Dan Zhu and the others looked solemn.

At that moment, Mo Hua spoke:

"Hang Elder Bashan upside down—feet off the ground, head downward, suspended from a tree. This way, the evil qi rises and won't enter his brain."

Chifeng hesitated a moment; though it seemed absurd, he nodded and did as instructed.

Elder Bashan, bound by chains, was hung upside down from a nearby large tree, like a black bear, still struggling.

Mo Hua said: "Whip him—draw some blood, to expel the evil qi."

Chifeng pulled out his iron whip and lashed it again and again against Bashan's body.

Ba Chuan, also a guard elder, felt pity, but Bashan's condition was deeply strange and ominous; he had no right to say more, and only hoped the method the witch master had suggested could save Bashan.

After dozens of lashes, the previously frenzied Bashan actually began to slowly awaken.

His whole body ached, drenched in blood.

He realized he was being hung from a tree and whipped with an iron whip—shocked, bewildered, and in agony.

"Lord Chifeng, why—"

Chifeng frowned, watching Bashan warily: "Do you remember what you just did?"

Bashan recalled for a moment, then suddenly remembered the overwhelming urge to "eat people" before his memory vanished—his face turned deathly pale.

"I—"

Bashan was confused and lost, unable to speak.

Chifeng held the iron whip, looked solemn.

Seeing Dan Zhu looked equally worried. Bashan had been his childhood guard; their bond ran deep.

Seeing Dan Zhu turned to Mo Hua.

Mo Hua remained silent, saying nothing.

Seeing Ba Chuan's expression, he quickly bowed low to Mo Hua and said respectfully: "Please, Witch Master, find a way to save Elder Bashan—"

Mo Hua fell silent for a moment, just as he was about to speak, when a sharp laugh rang out.

Everyone turned—and saw the one laughing was the chieftain of the Shu Gu tribe.

"What are you laughing at?" Ba Chuan frowned.

The Shu Gu chieftain's expression turned sinister, sneering triumphantly:

"Save him? What do you plan to save him with? This fool dared to trespass into the Sacred One's forbidden land—that is a grave sin."

"Now he has been struck by divine punishment, cursed into his mind, turned into a man-eating savage beast, become a living sacrifice to please the Sacred One."

"Save him? Impossible! Just wait to die!"

Bashan's face twisted in terror.

Seeing Dan Zhu, Chifeng, and the others all frowned tightly.

The gods are formless, not existing in the physical world.

The Dao of the gods is not something orthodox cultivators dare to touch.

Facing such formless, exalted beings, all we can do is believe—or not believe. We cannot perceive their truth or falsehood through our eyes, nor through a cultivator's spiritual sense.

Now, Bashan's condition clearly shows he has been struck by "divine punishment."

If true, his life is certainly beyond saving.

Everyone's hearts turned icy cold.

Bashan's face turned ashen.

But Mo Hua sneered: "Don't listen to this fool's nonsense—who said he can't be saved?"

Bashan froze, staring at Mo Hua—the "Witch Master" he had once despised—"Witch Master, I—"

Mo Hua nodded: "Relax. I can save you."

Bashan's eyes involuntarily sparkled with hope, his voice trembling: "Really?" Mo Hua reassured him: "Really."

"But—" Bashan still couldn't believe it, murmuring, "This is divine punishment. I went mad. I wanted to eat people. I'm beyond saving. I—"

"I—"

Mo Hua said: "No.

It's not divine punishment. Just a petty mountain savage demon, a phantom—how dare it call itself a god? You've merely been infected by dark thoughts. Nothing serious."

Hope slowly rose in Bashan's heart: "Truly?"

Mo Hua said: "Don't forget who I am—"

"You are—" Bashan froze, then suddenly realized Mo Hua's ambiguous identity:

"You are—Lord Wuzhu!"

Mo Hua nodded, satisfied.

Bashan looked again at Mo Hua, now realizing: Mo Hua's aura was pure and clear, luminous as Hua Ruyu—not a youthful face, but the countenance of a celestial being.

His features were gentle, inviting—this was not flattery or deceit, but the visage of boundless compassion.

Even Mo Hua's very presence seemed to radiate a soft glow, like a saint bearing suffering and hardship.

This must be a man sent by divine will to rescue the suffering masses.

Who else but Lord Wuzhu could be such a one?

And now, Lord Wuzhu himself had said he was unharmed, that he was not cursed, that the punishment inflicted upon him did not come from a true god.

How could such a declaration lack authority?

Bashan was deeply moved.

He had never, in any moment, wished so desperately that Mo Hua truly was Lord Wuzhu.

"But—" Mo Hua mused again.

Bashan's heart leapt again.

Mo Hua said: "You did absorb some dark thoughts. You'll have to endure a little pain—take a few more lashes, feel some agony, release some blood, purge the corruption. For the next month, eat only light food, and don't touch meat again."

Bashan nodded quickly: "Yes, Lord Wuzhu speaks wisely. Bashan will obey without fail."

Just a few more lashes to fix everything—Bashan was overwhelmed with gratitude.

He even felt that the Witch Master's whippings were a "blessing," a mercy bestowed upon him.

Mo Hua gave a slight nod.

This Elder Bashan has been a nuisance all along, constantly questioning me.

He needed to suffer a bit, to learn who the real "big brother" is.

He may not trust himself, but he must speak.

Otherwise, every time I do something, someone will oppose me, and I'll have to explain myself again— it's exhausting.

Mo Hua doesn't have that much idle time.

"Whip him." Mo Hua said.

Chifeng hesitated a moment, then resumed whipping Bashan.

This time, when Bashan was whipped, he didn't feel pain—he felt as if he'd "gained" something, and even sincerely thanked Mo Hua:

"Thank you, Lord Wuzhu, for saving my life!"

Nearby, Elder Bachuan, seeing Bashan freed from the sin of "Divine Punishment" and no longer fearing the curse, let out a breath of relief and bowed respectfully to Mo Hua:

"

Thank you, Lord Wuzhu, for your mercy."

Dan Zhu watched Mo Hua, deeply startled.

He was thoughtful and naturally intelligent.

Though he didn't know what Mo Hua had done, he sensed that in the blink of an eye, Bashan and Bachuan's attitude toward Mo Hua had undergone a complete transformation.

Dan Zhu was profoundly shaken, and now felt even more certain that Mr. Wu had an extraordinary grasp of human nature.

Even, deep inside, Dan Zhu began to doubt.

"Could Mr. Wu truly be a 'Lord Wuzhu'?"

"Is he not merely pretending to be Lord Wuzhu to teach me?"

Only the leader of Shu Gu tribe stared at Mo Hua with a venomous expression:

"Could he really be Lord Wuzhu? No—Lord Wuzhu could never look like this— he's not Lord Wuzhu—"

But Mo Hua ignored him, and ordered Zhong Mingren to gag him.

Then, after a moment's hesitation, he himself walked toward that small cave.

"Mr., be careful—" Having seen Bashan's fate, Dan Zhu feared Mo Hua might be possessed, but Mo Hua shook his head and said, "It's fine."

After speaking, Mo Hua walked straight into the cave.

The cave was shallow, empty, and crude, containing only a stone altar.

A faint aura of evil lingered on the altar, with dark thoughts spreading unseen.

Mo Hua searched the cave, sensed the qi within, and combined it with his own Divine Path experience. After a moment of thought, he sighed slightly. He wasn't lying—Bashan had indeed been possessed.

But Bashan's possession was shallow; raising him, whipping him for a while, letting him sweat, making him suffer pain, frightening him slightly, calming his mind, then forbidding him from eating—after some time, he'd recover.

This was also a lesson for him.

The leader of Shu Gu tribe wasn't entirely lying either,

In Shu Gu's understanding, once the ritual was performed and the Savage God descended, anyone entering this sacred forbidden cave would inevitably suffer "Divine Punishment," going mad and dying.

That part was correct.

But the problem was, the "Savage God" worshipped by Shu Gu had not truly descended.

Or rather, it had descended—but only slightly.

Only a wisp of the Savage God's aura remained in the cave.

Mo Hua found it regrettable.

Clearly, this was a third-grade Savage God; if consumed, it would be a tremendous boon.

Too bad—the duck in his mouth had flown away for some reason.

Mo Hua turned to leave, but suddenly felt something was off.

He looked around, then swiftly stepped onto the altar, his gaze deep, pinching a wisp of aura between his fingers and bringing it to his nose to sniff.

In an instant, Mo Hua's eyes widened. He had detected an extremely faint—corrupting scent—on the altar.

The Savage God of Shu Gu was

A demon god?!

Mo Hua's heartbeat quickened several beats.

This was a big one!