Chapter 1237: Kill Them All

At a nameless small hill beneath Zhū Què Mountain's branch, the Acha Force's encampment.

Mo Hua, Seeing Dan Zhu, and Elder Bachuan were guests there.

Since entering the heart of this final wasteland, three days had passed.

With tribes divided and the situation chaotic, Mo Hua could not make any major moves, so he found a nearby desolate hill, stationed six thousand barbarian soldiers within it, and assigned Lord Lugu to hold the position.

Chifeng also remained behind, to prevent Lord Lugu from harboring ill intentions.

He himself, along with Seeing Dan Zhu and Elder Bachuan, disguised themselves as ordinary merchants, traveling around to gather intelligence and understand the general situation.

Over the past three days, they had visited many tribes.

Most tribes during this time held hostility toward them; the Acha Force was one of the rare few that showed kindness.

At this moment, a boy named Abu of the Acha Force was pouring tea for Mo Hua.

The tea was bitter, brewed from some wild herb of the mountain.

Mo Hua sipped the tea, then said: "... So you're from the Xuán Wǔ Mountain realm?"

Abu nodded. "Yes, guest."

He was about twenty, tall, with slightly dark skin and a friendly, radiant smile.

"We were lucky," Abu said, speaking freely and at length. "The Acha Force is just a small tribe; we happened to be migrating to pasture barbarian beasts when the famine struck, so we avoided it. Then we followed the path, wandering and suffering, walking and walking, until we arrived here."

At this, the boy named Abu still looked shaken.

"Truly, heaven took pity on us. The Acha Force is just a small tribe—many tribes far stronger than ours all starved to death, yet we survived..."

Mo Hua looked at this candid, straightforward boy with a gentle expression and asked more about the Xuán Wǔ Mountain realm.

But Abu was merely a boy from a small tribe.

He knew only that the great mountains of the wasteland were named after the Four Symbols, and that his Acha Force's former home bordered the Xuán Wǔ Mountain Range; beyond that, under the closed, limited understanding of a small tribe, he knew little else.

Yet from his few words, Mo Hua could at least estimate the current trend.

Now, his uncle and the clans were playing a game of strategy, and all surviving barbarian cultivators had gathered together—vast in number, and the situation extremely complex.

And this area, the final ground his uncle had cordoned off to contain his "livestock," was also enormous.

It was likely more than ten times larger than the Zhū Què Mountain realm.

The contradictions within it would be pushed to their most extreme.

Mo Hua sighed inwardly, feeling momentarily at a loss for where to begin.

At that moment, the boy named Abu glanced timidly at Mo Hua and asked: "Guest... you're not just an ordinary trader, are you..."

Mo Hua asked him: "You noticed?"

Abu looked at Mo Hua, then at Seeing Dan Zhu beside him, and then at the gloomy Elder Bachuan.

He thought: ordinary traders don't have such looks and bearing—even a "guard" here looked fearsome.

Mo Hua smiled kindly. "My identity is indeed somewhat special."

Abu nodded, hesitating, as if wanting to say something but holding back.

Mo Hua asked him: "What do you want to ask?"

Abu shook his head. "I shouldn't pry into your identity. If you tell me, it means you can; if you don't, it means you can't—then it's better I don't know."

His words were clumsy, but his meaning was sharp.

Mo Hua looked at him again, thought for a moment, then took out a leather-bound book and handed it to him.

"Our meeting is fate. I'll give you some barbarian cultivation methods."

Abu was stunned and quickly shook his head. "This... is too precious. I... I can't accept it."

Mo Hua smiled faintly. "Just some crude methods."

Abu hesitated, wrestled with it for a long time, then finally accepted it.

Small tribes lacked a lineage of inheritance; at twenty-something, he had the ambition to strengthen himself but had no idea how to cultivate or improve his cultivation.

The barbarian cultivation method Mo Hua gave him, though crude, was already extremely precious to Abu.

Abu received the cultivation method with both hands, knelt on the ground, and said:

"Abu thanks the benefactor's gift. I will repay your great kindness in the future."

Mo Hua naturally did not expect repayment.

Afterward, Mo Hua asked more questions; having received the cultivation method, Abu treated Mo Hua with even greater reverence, answering everything truthfully, and even ran out to consult the tribe's elders on things he didn't know, then returned to report back to Mo Hua.

After chatting for a while, the sky grew late, and Mo Hua rose to leave.

Abu was reluctant and thanked Mo Hua repeatedly.

Mo Hua walked a few steps, turned back to look at Abu, especially studying his forehead for several moments, then finally spoke:

"Abu, would you like to leave with me?"

Seeing Dan Zhu and Elder Bachuan were surprised.

Abu looked stunned. "Leave?"

Mo Hua nodded. "The world is too chaotic now. If you come with me, you might still achieve something. If you stay..."

Mo Hua looked at the faint gray-black hue on Abu's forehead and fell silent.

In recent days, he had seen this gray-black "omen of death" on the foreheads of most small and medium tribe cultivators.

This omen was not very clear—it was merely because the environment was so perilous, with so many factors leading to death and too many variables, that it appeared faint and uncertain.

He might die, but he might not.

Abu clearly showed interest, but after thinking, he still shook his head. "I have my grandfather, and I must care for my sister. If I leave, no one will look after them."

"Mm," Mo Hua nodded gently, not pressing.

Abu thought again, then said solemnly: "Benefactor, I am too weak now to follow you. I will strive to cultivate hard. When I grow strong enough, when I've settled my grandfather and sister, I will serve you faithfully."

Mo Hua smiled and nodded. "Good."

After that, Mo Hua left.

Abu saw Mo Hua off to the edge of the tribe's gate, waving at him from afar.

……

Mo Hua left the Acha Force and continued forward, visiting two more tribes, gathering some information, and making camp in a small grove as night fell, resting there for roughly a night.

But Mo Hua did not sleep; instead, he continuously deduced the situation on the map, pondering his next move.

Thus the night passed, and as dawn barely broke, the three resumed their journey.

After traveling for the duration of an incense stick, Mo Hua suddenly froze, turning his head to see, through the thin night mist, a group riding fierce horses as they burst through the morning fog.

Manma is a type of wild beast, native to the Great Wilderness, existing between demonic beasts and spiritual beasts.

Not as ferocious as demonic beasts, yet not as gentle as spiritual beasts; their demonic energy is slightly weaker, making them trainable for riding or meat.

But such wild beasts require special breeding methods, are rare, and are not found everywhere in the Great Wilderness.

At least in the second-grade Wutu and Wusha Mountain Realm, including the third-grade Zhu Que Mountain Realm, there are not many raised manma.

This group, numbering about ten, could ride manma—clearly their status was not ordinary.

The leader bore the appearance of a wild general; his cultivation level was roughly early Jin Dan.

The world was chaotic; Mo Hua did not wish to provoke trouble.

These wild men were on the move and, catching sight of Mo Hua's party through the mist, seemed unconcerned.

Both sides remained silent as they passed each other.

Mo Hua suddenly smelled fresh blood qi, and a faint, familiar bloodline karmic thread—he immediately changed expression and spoke:

"Stop!"

The voice was not loud, but in the silent morning forest, it rang clear, carrying an imperative authority.

The wild general pulled his manma to a halt, looked down at Mo Hua's clean-faced visage, and sneered:

"Kid, did you just order me around?"

Mo Hua did not answer him, but asked slowly:

"Didn't you kill someone not long ago?"

Dan Zhu and Bachuan exchanged glances.

The wild general frowned, saying nothing.

Mo Hua asked again: "Did you pass through a… tribe called 'Acha Force'?"

At these words, Dan Zhu and Bachuan seemed to realize something—their expressions changed.

The wild general lost patience, cursing: "I don't even know what the hell you're talking about—what Acha…?"

Mo Hua's face turned cold.

Dan Zhu sensed Mo Hua's intent and immediately transformed into his Xuanhuo Lingyi, lunging at the wild general.

The wild general was startled, roaring: "Bold!" He tore open his cloak, drawing a great blade, summoning a black wind as he clashed with Dan Zhu.

Though strong and ruthless, he was no match for the prodigy Dan Zhu.

Over these days, as Mo Hua waged campaigns east and west, Dan Zhu's power had been tempered like true gold in blazing fire—growing denser, more refined, unstoppable.

Elder Bachuan joined the battle as well.

After over a hundred rounds, the wild general's man armor was burned away by Dan Zhu's Xuanhuo, his body covered in charred marks, then struck hard in the chest by Dan Zhu's palm, crashing to the ground.

The other dozen or so Foundation Establishment wild soldiers were all subdued by Elder Bachuan.

Dan Zhu broke the wild general's legs, sealed his meridians with Xuanhuo, and dragged him before Mo Hua.

Mo Hua asked him again, word by word: "Did you pass through a small tribe called 'Acha Force'?"

Only now did the wild general realize he had stepped on iron—he looked fearful, "I… I don't know what Acha Force is…"

Mo Hua asked again: "Then, did you just kill someone?"

The wild general nodded, "Yes… I killed…"

Mo Hua frowned, ordered Elder Bachuan to hold the wild general, then decided to return and take a look himself.

Dan Zhu said: "Mr., I'll go with you."

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then nodded.

The two turned back, walking half a day until they reached the Acha Force encampment—everywhere were charred marks, pools of blood, corpses piled together, half-burned, the stench of charred flesh spreading far.

Among the corpses, Mo Hua searched for a long time, finally finding Abu buried beneath the pile.

Abu was dead—his legs had been cut off, his body half-burned, yet his chest still clutched tightly the cultivation manual Mo Hua had given him.

Mo Hua's chest felt as if struck suddenly by a heavy hammer—he stood frozen for a long while.

Dan Zhu clenched his fists tightly, his face filled with unspeakable rage.

After an unknown length of time, Mo Hua slowly came to, speaking calmly: "Let's go."

Dan Zhu looked at Mo Hua, then slowly nodded.

The two returned to the grove.

Elder Bachuan, under Mo Hua's orders, was guarding the wild general, severely wounded by Dan Zhu.

Seeing the wild general now, Dan Zhu's fury surged—he stepped forward, kicked the man flying over ten zhang, then pressed his foot upon his chest, slowly increasing pressure until the man spat blood, coldly demanding:

"Why did you kill the people of that small tribe?"

The wild general now realized he had unknowingly slain those he should not have—he grinned through blood:

"The world is simply the strong devouring the weak. A small tribe? Burned, burned—what's there to say?"

Dan Zhu's expression darkened with anger, revealing a slight opening.

Knowing he could not defeat Dan Zhu, the wild general seized the opening, snapped off one finger—inside the bone lay a black token, which ignited into a black flame and shot into the sky.

This seemed to be a tribal signal.

Seeing Dan Zhu's face changed, and he wanted to kill this barbarian general.

But the barbarian general still smiled without warmth and said: "Too late… once the barbarian smoke signal is sent, a great army will come. All of you few people will die, will be slaughtered to the last, hacked into ten thousand pieces. You won't escape…"

The smile on the barbarian general's face grew even more sinister and wanton.

Seeing Dan Zhu wanted to slaughter the barbarian general on the spot, but he still turned his head and looked at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua said lightly: "No rush, we'll wait here too."

Seeing Dan Zhu was startled, thought for a moment, then nodded.

The barbarian general glanced at Mo Hua, frowned, not knowing why this mere Foundation Establishment realm brat's words carried such weight.

Even this prodigy in top-grade Li Lingyi, terrifyingly strong Jin Dan, had to listen to him?

Could his identity be unusual?

But after thinking, the barbarian general sneered inwardly.

No matter how unusual a person, before the slaughter of a large troop of barbarian soldiers, there is only a dead end.

If these few people don't kill him now, once reinforcements arrive, they'll have to kneel and kowtow to him.

A flash of cold ruthlessness passed through the barbarian general's eyes.

The mountain forest was desolate and silent. In less than an hour, hoofbeats came from afar, as if the earth were shaking. A moment later, amid rolling dust, a large troop of riders charged out.

Looking out, there were over two hundred barbarian soldiers, all wearing black barbarian armor, led by three Jin Dan barbarian cultivators.

These Jin Dan cultivators and barbarian soldiers, riding barbarian horses, surrounded Mo Hua's group of three airtight.

The man at the front, holding a long spear, pointed at Seeing Dan Zhu and rebuked: "Release the barbarian general, my lord."

Seeing Dan Zhu's expression didn't change.

The barbarian general trampled under Seeing Dan Zhu's foot grinned broadly and laughed loudly:

"Three fools who don't know the immensity of heaven and earth, daring to lay hands on me. You're dead for sure this time. Kneel down and kowtow eighteen loud ones to me, maybe I'll let you die a bit more comfortably."

But Seeing Dan Zhu said nothing.

Mo Hua looked at him and asked lightly: "Your people have arrived?"

The barbarian general sneered, "So what if they have?"

Mo Hua nodded slightly, "Just right… my people have arrived too."

The barbarian general's face changed slightly. Just as he wanted to say something, he felt a deep tremor from the ground, numbing half his cheek.

This tremor wasn't the tremor of hoofbeats, it wouldn't be so clamorous.

But it was deep, heavy and thick as a mountain. This was…

The tremor produced by a large formation of heavy-armored barbarian soldiers marching in unison.

And the number was astonishing…

The barbarian general's face instantly went deathly pale. He strained to turn his head and saw, on the distant ground, orderly footsteps approaching one after another like thunder "Boom—".

Before long, a group of battle-hardened elites, wearing ferocious Abyss Bone heavy armor, appeared in everyone's sight like a march of demon beasts.

At a rough glance, there were over a hundred.

And behind these heavy-armored soldiers, there were still over six hundred elite barbarian soldiers, similarly clad in barbarian armor.

Altogether, over eight hundred barbarian soldiers.

Over eight hundred barbarian soldiers, fully equipped with heavy armor and barbarian armor!

And before this great army, there were still a full five Jin Dan strongholds presiding.

The over eight hundred barbarian soldiers, led by five Jin Dan cultivators and over a hundred Abyss Bone heavy soldiers, quickly surrounded the over two hundred barbarian soldiers the barbarian general had summoned.

The barbarian general felt his very bones trembling. Even the "reinforcements" he had called were now terrified, their souls flying out of their bodies.

Mo Hua knew he should leave a few alive for interrogation.

But at this moment, he had no mood for it, and only said lightly:

"Slaughter them all…"

Under the heavy encirclement of soldiers and the chilling killing intent that left no hope, the Jin Dan barbarian general's face was terrified, and he couldn't help glaring at Mo Hua:

"You bully the weak with your strength, slaughter to the last—don't you feel shameless?"

Mo Hua looked at him with an indifferent expression, his tone calm:

"You can't only talk about the strong devouring the weak when you're the one slaughtering others…"

"Now you're the ant, I'm the strong. Slaughtered is slaughtered. What is there to say?"

(End of chapter)