Chapter 1200: Eat Again

Mo Hua, along with Seeing Dan Zhu and others, "usurped the nest," occupying the branch tribe's outpost of the Shugu Tribe,

Among this branch tribe, the highest cultivation among the barbarian cultivators was only early-stage Jin Dan.

The strongest chieftain of the branch tribe, along with a war general, had died in the earlier ambush. One elder had escaped.

At this branch tribe, two Jin Dan had been stationed. One of them also died at Seeing Dan Zhu's hands.

The other surrendered.

But Mo Hua swept his gaze, saw those fierce, stubborn eyes, and knew he was surrendering falsely—probably planning, after surrendering, to secretly contact others, ambush and assassinate Seeing Dan Zhu, or raise arms in rebellion again.

So Mo Hua found a pretext and had Seeing Dan Zhu execute him as well.

With this, the Jin Dan of this Shugu branch tribe were almost entirely "wiped out."

On Mo Hua's side, there were a full four Jin Dan.

These four Jin Dan, leading several hundred elites, were enough to intimidate an entire branch tribe of nearly tens of thousands of Shugu barbarian cultivators.

During this period, other Shugu barbarian cultivators also resisted; Mo Hua had them killed as well, their bodies hung at the tribe's gate as a warning to others.

Mo Hua sighed.

Back at the Dao Court, he had been a law-abiding, good cultivator, kind to others, and generally wouldn't do such "indiscriminate killing."

But here in the Great Wasteland, there really was no choice.

Tribal war was, by nature, a fight to the death.

In chaotic times, one had to resort to harsh measures.

Even so, resistance within the Shugu Tribe continued—batch after batch of Shugu tribespeople emerged, openly defying Mo Hua's orders.

Mo Hua could only have them all killed.

Of course, this sort of thing didn't require him to act personally.

He was Lord Wuzhu, only responsible for setting rules, issuing orders—those who disobeyed die.

The ones actually doing the killing were all the barbarian general Chifeng.

Chifeng was a mid-stage Jin Dan barbarian cultivator general, tempered on the battlefield, who truly didn't blink an eye when killing.

Mo Hua had seen it—Chifeng chopped off heads like cutting watermelons, one per stroke; blood splashed on his body, and he treated it like taking a bath—a thorough brute.

After Chifeng had killed several waves, slaughtering nearly a hundred people in total, this Shugu branch tribe finally quieted down.

No one dared to defy Mo Hua's orders, or Chifeng's butcher blade.

Mo Hua then began the "softening" phase.

First, kill a wave to instill fear and establish the rules.

Then be more lenient, so these people, having survived the calamity, would feel gratitude,

The specific matters were left to Seeing Dan Zhu to handle.

Mo Hua was Lord Wuzhu, responsible for staying behind the scenes, issuing divine edicts, and establishing laws.

Chifeng was the barbarian general, responsible for quelling chaos and carrying out executions, establishing authority.

Seeing Dan Zhu was the young lord, who needed to be gentle and kind, pacifying the people's hearts.

With this three-pronged approach, the tens of thousands of barbarian cultivators in the Shugu branch tribe gradually settled down, no longer daring to cause trouble.

The name of Young Lord Seeing Dan Zhu still carried great weight.

Moreover, in this barbaric land, for most barbarian cultivators, "Jin Dan" was likewise an unreachable, unattainable figure.

Under normal circumstances, they wouldn't dare resist a "Jin Dan."

When the tribe had just been breached, facing life-and-death, they might have been swept up in hot blood, thinking to fight the Dan Que Tribe to the death.

But after some time passed, their hot blood cooled, and they no longer dared to "lose their heads."

They knew that Foundation Establishment fighting a Jin Dan meant certain death.

And their tribe wasn't actually facing an "existential crisis."

The Dan Que Tribe hadn't carried out mass slaughter, hadn't even imposed "oppression." Their lives went on as before.

Not to mention, Mo Hua was fair-skinned and solemn, Seeing Dan Zhu handsome and kindly—both exuded a bearing that inspired willing submission, making it impossible for people to harbor thoughts of rebellion.

The people of the Shugu Tribe soon lost any thought of fighting to the death.

In fact, before long, they gradually adapted to this way of life.

They didn't even know exactly who was "ruling" them now.

But life went on as usual; it didn't matter who was "ruling" them, as long as they could survive.

And so, Mo Hua had, for the time being, "subdued" his first faction within the Zhu Que Mountain territory.

Afterward, Mo Hua didn't rush into sweeping reforms, because he knew that wasn't the most urgent matter at hand.

The famine disaster was like a maggot on bone.

The danger had still not been lifted.

Once the famine disaster spread here, the "Shugu branch tribe" he had occupied would not only fail to be an asset, but might instead become a burden, or even a flesh-and-blood medium for the famine's spread.

Seeing Dan Zhu and Chifeng took charge at the Shugu Tribe.

The other Dan Que Tribe barbarian soldiers also temporarily settled and rested at the Shugu branch tribe,

Mo Hua, escorted by Elder Bashan and Elder Bachuan, retraced his original path to personally inspect the extent of the famine disaster's spread.

After traveling roughly a day and a night, Mo Hua arrived at a cliff; looking down from the high ground, he saw distant withered vegetation and rotting corpses.

Amid the desolation, the half-red, half-yellow famine disaster qi, invisible to the naked eye of ordinary cultivators, spread and writhed within.

Mo Hua furrowed his brow.

This monster-like famine disaster qi kept devouring and multiplying, growing stronger.

Yet it hadn't continued to spread, but stopped in place, patrolling and lingering within a certain range.

It stopped?

No, it was more like resting, or gathering strength?

Mo Hua's gaze was solemn.

Why?

Was it because the spread of this famine aura required some kind of "power" to sustain it? Now that the power was exhausted, it could only slow its advance?

Or was it waiting for something?

Mo Hua could not be sure; his understanding of the Great Wasteland's "famine" was far too scant, and he had never seen any related clan records or texts.

After a moment of thought, Mo Hua took out several command flags and planted them at the edge of the famine's spread, then instructed Elders Bashan and Bachuan:

"Send a few barbarian soldiers to take turns watching here. As soon as the boundary of withered plants and trees crosses any of these flags, report it to me immediately."

Bashan and Bachuan hurriedly replied: "Yes, my lord Wuzhu."

Then Mo Hua returned to the Shu Bone outposts.

The famine's spread had temporarily halted; though no one knew when it would resume, at least for now there was a little breathing room.

Otherwise, they would have had to evacuate immediately.

This Shu Bone outpost would have to be abandoned entirely.

As for the people of the Shu Bone tribe—no need to wonder—they would never leave with them. This outpost, with its tens of thousands, would all die in this famine.

And once enough people died within the famine—

What would happen afterward, Mo Hua could not clearly say.

Signs of rise and fall must have their origin.

Trends of fortune and misfortune must reflect their virtue.

Mo Hua could only vaguely suspect this could not possibly be a good omen.

It was even highly likely to be the source of some great calamity, a "prelude" to a great disaster—

But no matter what would come afterward, the tasks that needed doing still had to be done.

After returning to the Shu Bone outposts, Mo Hua fully transferred the system he had studied and practiced in Wu Tu and Yuan Lu Mountain, and began teaching it bit by bit to Seeing Dan Zhu.

Including how to revere the gods, strictly forbid wanton killing, temper power, distribute wealth equally, care for the elderly, treat barbarian slaves kindly, educate children—among other things.

This system was not brilliant, but it was highly practical.

Practical measures are more beneficial than perfect "theories."

Sometimes, doing your best—even if clumsy, rough, and imperfect—is already better than most.

And unity of knowledge and action: use "action" to transform "knowledge."

Through these actions, Mo Hua was also "instilling" in Seeing Dan Zhu certain true principles: those that truly benefit all living beings and align with the "Great Dao."

Teaching Seeing Dan Zhu how to "reform" the barbarian tribes.

He hoped that one day, Seeing Dan Zhu would not betray his "expectations," and become the enlightened lord of the Dan Que tribe, even of the Zhu Que Mountain Realm.

Perhaps even further, become the "hero" who transforms the entire barbarian wasteland.

Then, as Mr., Mo Hua would have sufficient comfort.

Seeing Dan Zhu gladly accepted Mo Hua's "teaching."

Even though he was the young master, a Jin Dan, a once-in-a-millennium genius of the Dan Que tribe, he still held deep respect and trust for Mo Hua, the witch-mr.

Many doubts he had once struggled to understand, the witch-mr. had explained to him.

Many things he had wanted to do but lacked the means, the witch-mr. had shown him exactly how to proceed.

And often, his heart would waver,

But it was the witch-mr. who strengthened his conviction, who showed him the path beneath his feet.

He taught him that the grand, seemingly "daydream" vision of "reviving the tribe, benefiting the barbarian wasteland" must begin with small, everyday acts—must be practiced and reflected upon by oneself.

What he had heard in his dream that day was true, not false.

The witch-mr. was indeed a divine lord sent down to guide his path.

He was indeed "guiding" him.

Seeing Dan Zhu, like a "student," believed in and practiced everything Mo Hua said, with exceptional insight and an exceptionally kind nature.

This moved Mo Hua deeply.

Seeing Dan Zhu might truly be an unparalleled genius with a "innate Dao heart."

Others often assumed Dan Zhu's innate "Dao heart" was a thirst for the Dao, a natural talent for cultivation—but it was not entirely so.

Dan Zhu's "Dao heart" was more a heart of great goodness, a heart of "cultivating one's own Dao to benefit all living beings."

But since childhood, no one had "guided" him; he was constantly restrained and dismissed as "naive and hypocritical," so this "Dao heart" had gradually become confused and dimmed.

If things continued this way, he would only betray this innate "Dao heart," sinking into the selfish struggle for power with his elder brother.

The Dao heart is subtle.

Once such a faint Dao heart is extinguished, it is nearly impossible for it to sprout again.

And in the Great Wasteland, even in the Nine Provinces, such great-good "Dao hearts" are rarely recognized.

Whoever possesses extraordinary talent and can achieve great deeds—if their Dao heart is strong, they become a hero; if their selfish heart is strong, they become a tyrant.

The world's eyes are blind; they only praise the tyrant's ruthlessness, yet know nothing of the preciousness of the hero.

They even glorify the tyrant's selfishness and belittle the hero's selflessness.

They believe the tyrant is decisive and powerful, while the hero is hypocritical and weak.

Yet they do not realize that those who walk the righteous path to achieve greatness are truly the ones with the greatest strength.

For walking the righteous path is a hundred times harder than walking the deviant path.

And Dan Zhu possesses this hero's "Dao heart."

The preciousness of this Dao heart is something only Mo Hua can see.

It was because Mo Hua was born with an extraordinary spiritual sense, had long been tempered by formation arrays, and had attained profound mastery over spiritual perception; now that he had studied cause and effect and comprehended the patterns of heaven, he could see through flesh and bone to the divine soul and heart-image within, knowing a person's true nature, goodness, beauty, and ugliness.

Seeing Dan Zhu was like unpolished jade.

What Mo Hua must do is prevent this "unpolished jade" from being tainted, and carefully polish him into shape.

This is what a Mr. ought to do.

Although this Mr. of his is still only at Foundation Establishment.

Although this Mr. of his is younger than Seeing Dan Zhu.

While Seeing Dan Zhu was gradually maturing through governing Shu Gu's peripheral region, his Dao heart steadily hardening, Mo Hua was secretly doing something else.

He intended to "steal and devour" the barbarian god of Shu Gu's peripheral region.

Cultivators do not cultivate spiritual sense, so the vast majority know nothing of the "spiritual perception realm."

The Shu Gu tribe was no different.

They held beliefs, fervent and intense, yet had no idea what their deity truly was.

Even whether they worshipped the same barbarian god was unclear to them.

The more ignorant, the more superstitious.

Likewise, the more superstitious, the more ignorant.

This made things convenient for Mo Hua.

As a "Lord Wuzhu," on the spiritual perception level, no one could ever detect whatever he did.

This Shu Gu peripheral region, large in scale and populous, naturally had a shrine, with a venerated "barbarian god."

Mo Hua had long discovered their shrine.

Mo Hua had questioned some Shu Gu tribespeople—through indirect probing, patient coaxing, or threats and bribes—to learn their sacrificial rites.

Earlier, amid chaotic circumstances, Mo Hua had not had time to act.

Now that the situation had stabilized slightly, Mo Hua naturally turned his attention to this barbarian god.

In the vast Shu Gu shrine stood a white-bone statue with a bull's head.

And within the entire shrine, only Mo Hua and Tie Shu Gu were present.

Mo Hua arranged the altar according to the Shu Gu tribe's customary method, then ordered Tie Shu Gu: "You. Dance."

Tie Shu Gu had no idea what to say.

Who in their right mind, with broken arms and legs, dances every day?

But Mo Hua was the high-ranking "Lord Wuzhu," and Tie Shu Gu dared not offend him in the slightest, so he resigned himself, head bowed,

whispered:

"Yes."

In the spacious shrine, candles burned bright, the three sacrificial animals placed upon the altar,

Tie Shu Gu began dancing the Shu Gu peripheral region's traditional dance—passed down to please the barbarian god and welcome his descent—according to the "dance script" Mo Hua had given him.

Even within the same major tribe, different main sections, peripheral sections, and nomadic bands each had their own distinct "sacrificial dances."

To the Shu Gu people, this was called a "custom" difference.

But Mo Hua knew it was because the barbarian gods they worshipped were not the same at all—hence their sacrificial dances differed. Tie Shu Gu's limbs had been broken by Mo Hua's orders.

Now they were much improved—also repaired by Mo Hua's orders.

Now, as Mo Hua ordered him to dance, Tie Shu Gu dragged his maimed body, moving with stiff yet grotesque motions,

and completed the sacrificial dance.

After finishing, mist began to spread across the spiritual perception layer within the shrine.

The surrounding world began to twist.

A mysterious force pulled Tie Shu Gu's spiritual sense from his mind sea, sucking it into a phantom dream.

This was not the first time Tie Shu Gu had experienced this sensation.

Nor was it the first time Tie Shu Gu had felt such terror.

He buried his head on the ground, trembling, eyes tightly shut, daring not to look, fearing he might violate a taboo and die without burial—

In the next instant, a "thud" sounded.

It seemed something's head had fallen to the ground.

By the sound, Tie Shu Gu thought this head was slightly different from last time.

【167】 But ultimately, it seemed no different at all—