Chapter 1209: Eating Hard Rice Softly

Wusha's heart was deeply shaken; at that moment, he truly understood how vast heaven and earth were, how countless the strong were, like fish crossing a river, beyond count. And how insignificant he himself was, like a single grain in the ocean.

To true masters, he might truly be no more than an "ant."

Seeing before him five fully cultivated Jin Dan elders, and a forest of Foundation Establishment experts, Wusha's legs began to tremble, nearly unable to stand.

Seeing Dan Zhu spoke to Wusha: "Who are you?"

Wusha wanted to speak, but his throat was dry; he could not utter a word, only tremblingly offered the letter in his hand.

Elder Bashan took the letter and presented it to Seeing Dan Zhu.

Seeing Dan Zhu glanced at the letter, his gaze brightening slightly; he nodded, then said to Wusha: "Lead the way."

Wusha immediately bowed his head and said:

"Yes."

Wusha led the way ahead; the group marched in grand procession, passing through Wusha's mountain territory, entering Wutu's territory, and finally arriving at the Wutu tribe.

A barbarian soldier force with Jin Dan combat power entering a second-rank mountain territory was like a powerful dragon crossing the land, its aura astonishingly overwhelming.

Along the way, tribes of all sizes, their chieftains and elders, sensing this terrifying aura, all turned pale with fear and dread.

Wusha led the way ahead.

This newly appointed "chieftain" and mountain territory "commander" felt like a mere "horse attendant."

Throughout the journey, his heart was filled with profound unease.

His earlier shock had turned into deep worry and terror.

He did not know why these legendary figures, these lofty Jin Dan masters, had suddenly descended upon this small mountain territory.

But if Jin Dan arrived, how could these second-rank tribes survive?

This overwhelming force, which could crush these small tribes and their barbarian soldiers with barely a breath.

Lord Wuzhu said these people were his "guests."

But would these Jin Dan, this mighty army, truly behave like "guests"?

If they refused to be "guests" and instead wished to become "masters," what could Lord Wuzhu do?

What could Lord Wuzhu do against these Jin Dan masters?

Was this not "inviting wolves into the house"?

Wusha clenched his lips tightly; his expression grew ever more solemn, and his anxiety reached its peak as the Jin Dan and elite barbarian soldiers arrived at the Wutu tribe.

He truly feared that if conflict broke out, these small mountain territories would vanish instantly, utterly defenseless.

But none of his worries came to pass.

These Jin Dan cultivators and their powerful barbarian soldiers left not a single hair unharmed along the way.

And when they entered the Wutu tribe and met Lord Wuzhu, the five Jin Dan masters, along with five or six hundred mighty barbarian soldiers, all bowed respectfully and addressed him as:

"Mr."

"Mr. Wuzhu."

Mo Hua's expression remained calm; he merely spoke gently: "You've worked hard."

Wusha was stunned; a heavy stone slowly lifted from his heart.

But moments later, his pupils trembled slightly; an unbelievable suspicion arose in his mind.

Were these people not Lord Wuzhu's — guests?

But rather, Lord Wuzhu's companions? Even his subordinates?

Was this not a passing powerful dragon, but in truth, a "dragon" Lord Wuzhu himself had raised?!

Lord Wuzhu had not said so, but the more Wusha observed, the more it seemed true.

His shock surged through his heart like a stormy sea.

When he looked again at Mo Hua, he suddenly felt Lord Wuzhu's figure towered as high as the heavens — so high it inspired awe.

And Wusha was not the only one who felt this unattainable dread.

Jiao Li, and even some chieftains and elders with keen eyes, now felt an indescribable shock.

Lord Wuzhu's apparent cultivation was merely Foundation Establishment.

Yet five Jin Dan masters treated him with deep respect,

and five or six hundred Foundation Establishment elite soldiers obeyed him without question.

What immense authority! What extraordinary resolve! What utterly inconceivable power!

At this moment, Mo Hua's figure in their hearts became no different from a "god" on the horizon.

After a period of commotion, the original tribes of Wutu Mountain Territory gradually accepted this reality, and their astonishment subsided.

Seeing Dan Zhu's faction had now temporarily settled in the small Wutu Mountain Territory, resting peacefully.

With Mo Hua, the Wu Zhu elder whose prestige was like a "god," present, all affairs in the small mountain territory quickly returned to normal.

Jiao Li of Heijiao Tribe dared not harbor any rebellious thoughts.

The commander of Wusha Mountain Territory, "Wusha," had been replaced; the tribe began to transform.

All tribal disputes and unrest gradually faded beneath Mo Hua's aura of authority.

In the Wutu tribe, children's clear, chanting voices began echoing once more.

Mo Hua's proclaimed moral teachings began spreading again across Wutu Mountain Territory; the situation had stabilized slightly, and Mo Hua felt at ease. He gave a few instructions to Elder Zhamu, then decided to go into the Shenshan to see the great tiger.

He had not seen the great tiger for over a year; he did not know how the great tiger was doing, whether it had starved, or whether it had encountered any mishaps.

Mo Hua was still somewhat worried.

But before he set out, Elder Zhamu's expression was solemn: "Lord Wuzhu, you — are going into Shenshan?"

Mo Hua nodded and asked: "What's wrong?"

Elder Zhamu hesitated: "Shenshan has recently — become dangerous."

"Danger?" Mo Hua frowned slightly.

Elder Zhamu said: "Our Utu people revere your orders—we have declared the deep mountains of Utu Mountain a forbidden zone, and no one dares to enter on ordinary days. The deep mountains have always been calm and peaceful."

"But for the past six months, for reasons unknown, the demonic aura within the deep mountains has suddenly grown far more intense. And—"

Elder Zhamu's face turned ashen. "At night, demonic beasts often roar, shaking the mountains and filling us with dread."

Mo Hua's heart sank slightly.

Before he left, he had repeatedly warned Brother Da Hu to keep a low profile, not to make too much noise.

Otherwise, it would easily alarm ordinary cultivators and cause panic.

It would also invite the attention of unknown powerful cultivators—or mighty demonic beasts.

This wild frontier is not peaceful. Better to avoid trouble than invite it.

But now, demonic aura is spreading in the deep mountains? Demonic beasts roaring at night?

What exactly has happened—

Did Brother Da Hu break through his realm?

Impossible. His realm is still far from third grade, and this is within the Second Grade Mountain Realm—how could he break through?

Mo Hua's gaze sharpened slightly, then he spoke to Elder Zhamu:

"No need to worry. I'll go investigate. But continue warning your tribespeople: no one is to approach the deep mountains. As long as they stay away, they'll be safe."

Elder Zhamu nodded: "Yes, Lord Wuzhu."

Mo Hua left Elder Zhamu and went alone into the deep mountains.

Within the deep mountains, withered trees loomed darkly, the terrain was treacherous, barren and chaotic, and the mist between the trees had grown thicker, the miasma stronger.

Mixed within the miasma was a distinct, foul, demonic stench.

This was not Brother Da Hu's scent.

Mo Hua's pupils contracted slightly.

He extended his spiritual sense to peer into the forest's movements, but found the mountain's qi blended together—the mist, miasma, and demonic aura thick and fused into one mass. Even Mo Hua's spiritual sense struggled to penetrate it.

Mo Hua was slightly startled.

"What exactly has happened in this mountain?"

Mo Hua forced himself to remain patient and continued deeper into the mountains, heading straight for the cave where Brother Da Hu dwelled.

The further he went, the more hostile the forest became—withered rocks shaped like tigers, dead trees like phantoms.

The demonic aura around him grew so thick it was suffocating.

As he walked, Mo Hua suddenly paused, lifted his head, and saw in the pale-yellow mist far ahead, a faint silhouette of a tiger.

Mo Hua's heart stirred with faint joy—he was about to speak—when his expression changed slightly.

This was not his Brother Da Hu.

Even as a hazy "shadow" in the mist, Mo Hua could tell this "demon tiger" was not the same as his own.

His Brother Da Hu was clearly bulkier, more robust, and taller.

The tiger in the miasma slowly drew nearer, revealing its full form.

It was a massive tiger with black and yellow stripes interwoven, its aura ferocious and cruel, its gaze sternly fixed on Mo Hua.

"Indeed—this is not my tiger."

Mo Hua frowned slightly, then wondered inwardly: "Where has my Brother Da Hu gone—"

The black-and-yellow striped tiger in the miasma continued to stare fixedly at Mo Hua. To this ferocious demon tiger, Mo Hua appeared thin, "small," alone, and his cultivation aura weak—barely worth concern.

Cultivators of the same realm generally could not match demonic beasts.

Especially not a tiger demon, the king among demons.

Yet it seemed deeply wary of Mo Hua.

Sometimes, certain demonic beasts possess uncannily sharp instincts—they can pierce through the surface of blood qi and spiritual energy, instinctively sensing a true threat.

At this moment, this tiger sensed that the slender boy before it was no ordinary "human."

Therefore, it did not strike lightly.

Mo Hua always followed the principle: if others do not provoke me, I will not provoke them.

This applied to humans—and to demons as well.

Moreover, the situation was unclear. He did not know what had happened in this forest, nor where his Brother Da Hu had gone.

So Mo Hua did not act rashly either.

The man and the tiger stared at each other for a moment.

But shortly after, movement stirred again in the forest. Mo Hua's gaze trembled—he saw, deep within the thick miasma, layer upon layer of demonic shadows emerging.

And without exception, all were tigers—at a glance, no fewer than ten.

Even Mo Hua drew a sharp breath.

Where did so many tigers come from?! Did I stumble into a tiger den?!

Quickly, one after another, ferocious tigers stepped forth from the miasma, surrounding Mo Hua on all sides.

One tiger might sense Mo Hua as "dangerous," but a pack of over ten tigers gathered together would no longer see him as a threat.

Even a Jin Dan cultivator would die in their jaws.

The truly dangerous one now was Mo Hua.

Mo Hua's form flickered—he vanished instantly.

The tigers all froze for a moment.

Their demonic senses were too weak to detect Mo Hua's concealment.

Mo Hua hid in the shadows, slowly distancing himself from the tiger pack—but before he could truly relax, he felt over a dozen ferocious killing intents suddenly lock onto him.

Mo Hua was momentarily stunned, then immediately understood.

Smell!

These tiger demons cannot see him, nor sense him with their demonic awareness, but they can smell his scent as a "human."

Originally, this scent wasn't so obvious,

but now, in the Wutu Shenshan, the miasma is thick, and the demonic energy is overwhelming.

Mo Hua is soaked in this miasma; his "human" scent becomes unmistakable—even every step he takes, stirring the miasma's shift, can be detected by these tiger demons.

Not good... —·

Mo Hua's heart lurched, and in the next instant, a sharp, glinting tiger claw indeed lunged at him from behind.

Mo Hua activated the Flowing Water Step, skimming past the claw's tip to evade the strike.

Then, a stench-laden wind surged again, demonic winds sweeping through.

Dozens of fierce tigers charged at Mo Hua one after another.

Even Mo Hua, with his mastery of the Flowing Water Step, could not possibly avoid a single scratch amid the coordinated assault of over a dozen powerful tiger demons.

With his physical body, even a single scratch from a tiger demon might leave him half-paralyzed.

Mo Hua's head throbbed, and his shock and confusion deepened:

"Aren't tigers the kings among demons?"

"Aren't tiger demons usually solitary? The strong walk alone; only the weak gather in packs. Where did so many tigers come from?!"

Mo Hua had no intention of fighting these tigers, yet they relentlessly pursued and attacked him.

In this relentless pack assault, Mo Hua fled, and the two sides tangled for the duration of an incense stick's burn—Mo Hua could not help but frown.

"I wonder if killing tigers might incur the Sin of Fate—"

"After all, tigers aren't humans."

Just as Mo Hua's murderous intent grew fiercer, another tiger demon's roar suddenly echoed through the forest.

This roar was louder, deeper, and strangely familiar to Mo Hua.

"Is that—Brother Da Hu?!"

Mo Hua gasped, turned his head, and saw from the nearby forest a massive, furry tiger with black-and-white stripes emerge.

Brother Da Hu let out a "mew" toward Mo Hua's back.

The dozen or so other tigers instantly halted, lowered their heads, and ceased chasing Mo Hua.

Mo Hua was stunned, feeling something was odd.

These dozen tigers actually obeyed Brother Da Hu?

What was going on?

Has Brother Da Hu become so formidable now?

The black-and-white striped tiger let out another "mew" toward Mo Hua—as if annoyed he hadn't come to see it in so long, yet, bound by their bond, it reluctantly beckoned him.

Mo Hua walked over to Brother Da Hu with a peculiar expression.

The other tigers merely watched.

Brother Da Hu led Mo Hua, majestically, deeper into the Shenshan. Mo Hua, utterly bewildered, followed behind.

Through thicker demonic miasma, they reached the cave where Brother Da Hu dwelled.

Only then did Mo Hua realize this cave had grown vastly larger than before.

The cave walls bore claw marks, as if expanded to accommodate more tiger demons.

And this cave was the place with the densest demonic energy in the entire Shenshan.

The demonic energy here was so thick it seemed almost solidified.

The black mouth of the cave concealed terrifying danger and lethal intent,

Mo Hua's spiritual sense stirred—he sensed something, his face paled, his eyelids twitching uncontrollably.

But Brother Da Hu didn't think much of it.

It merely growled softly at Mo Hua, as if inviting him "home," then turned and padded into the cave.

Mo Hua hesitated a moment, took a shallow breath, and followed Brother Da Hu inside.

Inside the cave, it was even more spacious and profound, with more branching tunnels.

Thick demonic energy sprouted along the cave walls, nearly crystallizing into grains.

This was truly a "Den of Fierce Tigers."

Such an utterly deadly demonic beast domain was, for human cultivators, an absolute "forbidden zone" and "death zone."

Unless these cultivators died and became "food," they could never enter alive.

No tiger would ever permit a human to enter.

Of course, Brother Da Hu was an "outlier"—it calmly led Mo Hua into this tiger-den forbidden zone.

All the way to the deepest recess of the tiger den.

And in the deepest recess of the tiger den, another "fierce tiger" dwelled.

Mo Hua glanced at it, and his scalp prickled.

He was right—deep in this den lived a true, third-grade Jin Dan tiger.

It was a tiger with glowing eyes, its body a full circle larger than Brother Da Hu's, its fur black and yellow, streaked with white, curled up in the cave,

inhaling like clouds, exhaling like mist, its eyes opening and closing like lightning, resembling a monstrous beast of cataclysmic power.

At this moment, this third-grade ferocious tiger regarded Mo Hua, its gaze gathering a power capable of devouring the soul.

Had Mo Hua not cultivated his spiritual will to near-divine heights, consumed a dragon soul, and borne the Great Pixiu upon him, he would surely have felt fear.

This was the innate fear humans felt before powerful demonic beasts.

Without being there in person, facing such a ferocious tiger eye to eye, one could never know the majesty of the king of beasts.

Yet seeing Mo Hua—a mere human at Foundation Establishment—actually daring to meet its gaze without a flicker of fear, the third-grade Jin Dan fierce-eyed tiger began to gather killing intent in its eyes, radiating an overwhelming aura of savagery.

Mo Hua's eyelid twitched.

A third-grade tiger demon—this was truly no joke.

But just at that moment, the big tiger stood in front of Mo Hua and let out a roar at the third-grade fierce-eyed tiger.

That shout seemed quite "majestic."

The third-grade fierce-eyed tiger Sun Yi Leng then gradually restrained its killing aura, lay back down, and seemed to have lost its murderous intent toward Mo Hua, this human.

Mo Hua was stunned, his heart shaken.

This third-grade fierce-eyed tiger actually listened to the big tiger too?

A third grade taking orders from a second grade?

What—how is that possible?

For the moment, Mo Hua couldn't quite make sense of it.

Then he secretly glanced at the fierce-eyed tiger lying on the boulder, thought for a moment, and suddenly realized that this third-grade tiger demon seemed to be—

A tigress?

No, not just this third-grade fierce-eyed tiger was a tigress.

Earlier outside, those dozen or so fierce tigers also seemed to all be—tigresses.

All tigresses!

In other words, in this Wutu Shenshan, among so many tigers, only the big tiger he had raised on dried fish since childhood was male.

Now a group of ten-odd tigresses, plus one third-grade Jin Dan tiger, all lived together with the big tiger.

Then hadn't his big tiger landed itself a soft-rice lifestyle?

The soft rice of over a dozen tigresses…

Mo Hua drew in a sharp breath, the very thought of it terrifying.

He turned his head again to look at the big tiger with its black-and-white stripes, dashing and handsome, and found it looking every inch the mighty beast as it rummaged around the cave for something.

Mo Hua looked around and saw that scattered throughout the cave were quite a few demon bones.

Among the piled bones, quite a bit of flesh and blood was actually hidden.

All of it was demon beast meat, soaked in some unknown blood—some dried, some fresh, some still seeping blood, and a portion of it was even meat from third-grade demon beasts.

The big tiger sniffed around inside, seemingly picking out which piece of meat was good.

After picking and choosing, it chose the tenderest piece, and on this piece of meat there was also a faint, lustrous Bai Guang—though he didn't know what demon beast it came from, its grade was certainly extraordinary.

The big tiger was overjoyed, and trotted off with the meat in its mouth.

Mo Hua thought: "Sure enough, it's eating soft rice——"

But before the big tiger had taken a few steps, a low growl came from behind.

That third-grade fierce-eyed Jin Dan tiger raised its head majestically and glanced at the big tiger.

But the big tiger was even more imposing.

With an earnest, simple look, it let out an "Ao-woo!" at the third-grade fierce-eyed tiger.

As if to say: "Don't you manage me!"

The third-grade Jin Dan fierce-eyed tiger actually lost its imposing air, its huge head drooping to the ground, its gaze on the black-and-white-striped big tiger gentle, with even a touch of helpless affection.

Mo Hua was utterly dumbfounded.

No way—this big tiger—can it even "eat soft rice the hard way"?

Is it really that capable?!