Chapter 1241: Elder She

A voice suddenly spoke beside him; the mysterious, sinister black-robed cultivator was instantly startled, looking up to see a pair of eyes as bright as brilliant stars gazing deeply at him, making him feel like a mere ant.

Fear sprouted from the depths of his heart.

The black-robed cultivator's hand trembled, his brush slipped, and the half-finished array he had painstakingly drawn collapsed into ruin.

The black-robed cultivator was both heartbroken and furious, but then he steadied himself and sensed the aura of the person behind him—though the aura was strange and profound, the outwardly leaking Qi was weak, merely Foundation Establishment; his anger surged even higher.

"You Foundation Establishment brat, you've ruined my plans! You seek death!"

The black-robed cultivator immediately flicked his right hand, launching a green glow that writhed toward Mo Hua like poisonous mist, intending to melt his flesh and blood.

Mo Hua stepped lightly back three paces, then pointed at the black-robed cultivator and said, "Capture him."

The black-robed cultivator froze, sneering, "Who do you think you are? Saying 'capture me'—"

But before he finished speaking, a towering figure surged from the darkness, a spear of flame charging toward the black-robed cultivator.

"Jin Dan mid-stage?!"

The black-robed cultivator's face turned pale; he instantly pulled out a green poison cauldron, activated it, and released thick, almost solid smoke to shield himself.

But Chifeng moved faster—he pierced the green poisonous miasma with his flaming spear, directly impaling the black-robed cultivator's arm; with a muffled groan, the cauldron fell to the ground, its magical power shattered.

The black-robed cultivator gritted his teeth and cursed, "Damn it!"

He chanted a incantation to recall the cauldron, then crushed a bone talisman in his left hand; amid swirling malevolent winds, he tried to flee.

But as he turned, he slammed straight into someone's chest.

The man was tall, his body as hard as steel; the black-robed cultivator looked up, his expression filled with terror:

"Lord Lugu?!"

Lord Lugu seized the opening and struck with a punch like a mountain collapsing, aimed at the black-robed cultivator.

Caught at close range, the black-robed cultivator had no time to activate his treasure; instinctively he raised his arms to block—then came two sharp cracks as his arms were shattered by Lord Lugu's blow.

The black-robed cultivator bit his lip and screamed in agony.

Lord Lugu gripped his throat and slammed another punch into his lower abdomen, knocking him unconscious.

Seeing the man captured, Mo Hua finally relaxed, scanning the surroundings—he saw piles of sacrificial flesh and blood around the idol, blood dripping over the idol, and the divine path array half-drawn.

Using a divine path array to imprison a barbarian god.

Polluting its divine essence with living flesh and blood, luring it to corruption.

Sometimes it was hard to say whether humans or demonic gods were the true source of all evil.

Mo Hua ordered Chifeng to dismantle every ritual object nearby, and he himself erased the half-finished divine path array.

The corruption ritual was halted, the array wiped out, and the malevolent thoughts in the air began to gradually fade.

As for this small tribe's barbarian god…

Mo Hua glanced at the crude little tribal idol, estimating that such a "minor barbarian god" wouldn't even be enough to fill a tooth gap if eaten.

Besides, he hadn't brought any Iron Art Bone—he had no one to dance and open the door for him.

This barbarian god hadn't truly become a demonic god; it lacked the power to generate nightmares or open its own door.

Eating it would be too much trouble.

"Forget it…"

Mo Hua thought silently.

And right now, there were more important things to do.

Mo Hua glanced at the black-robed cultivator, dangling like a chick in Lord Lugu's grip, and deduced this man must be hiding many secrets.

"Let's withdraw," Mo Hua said.

"Mm," Chifeng nodded.

Lord Lugu still said nothing, but he obeyed Mo Hua and withdrew.

After the three left, the small tribe's barbarian cultivators remained deep in slumber, apparently drugged by the black-robed cultivator—even the violent Jin Dan battle had failed to wake them.

Inside the idol, a slender barbarian god bowed reverently toward Mo Hua from afar.

Thanking Mo Hua for not eating it.

And thanking him for saving its life.

…

In the nearby woods, Mo Hua tapped his finger, quickly setting up a simple array to block sight and sound, then ordered Chifeng to awaken the black-robed cultivator.

Chifeng stepped forward, pulled off the cultivator's hood, and his expression changed slightly.

Mo Hua asked, "Do you recognize him?"

Chifeng nodded. "He's the Jin Dan elder of the Bi Fang tribe—many of their vile poisons were created by him. You've seen him before, during your battles with Bi Jie in the Iron Art Bone Secret Division…"

At this, Mo Hua suddenly remembered.

During his repeated clashes with Bi Jie, several times Bi Jie had been provoked into rage, only to be silenced by a certain elder's gaze.

But back then, that elder had been lost among the crowd, his features gloomy, a typical old barbarian cultivator's face—Mo Hua had a poor memory for faces and hadn't paid close attention.

Besides, it was nighttime, and now he wore a black robe; Mo Hua hadn't recognized him at first.

Mo Hua asked Chifeng, "What's his name?"

Chifeng replied, "The Bi Fang tribe calls him… Elder She."

"Elder She?"

Mo Hua felt a faint surprise—he had the odd feeling that this Elder She's name, especially the character "She," felt strangely familiar, as if he'd heard it somewhere before…

The black-robed Elder She slowly awoke, raising his head to look at Mo Hua's face.

Under the moonlight, he now recognized the identity of the Foundation Establishment youth who had ruined his plans.

"You're… that fake Lord Wuzhu?!"

Mo Hua's expression darkened.

Chifeng slapped Elder She across the face and snapped, "How dare you! Showing disrespect to Mr.?!"

A few of Elder She's teeth were knocked out. Clutching his face, he stared at Chifeng in disbelief.

A Foundation Establishment realm Lord Wuzhu?

How could anyone actually believe that?

Anyone else would be one thing, but this Jin Dan mid-stage, battle-merit-laden Dan Que Tribe general Chifeng—could he really be "brainwashed" this thoroughly? Had he been hexed with some shamanic curse and lost his mind?

And then…

Elder She looked to one side at the powerful Lord Lugu.

He had long heard rumors of "collusion" between the Shu Gu Tribe and the Dan Que Tribe, but shouldn't this kind of "collusion" be an "alliance"?

In an alliance, naturally the strong one calls the shots.

So why was it that now, Lord Lugu—this dignified Lu Tangtang, great general of Shu Gu—though his face was cold, every move he made clearly showed he was taking orders from this Foundation Establishment Lord Wuzhu?

He was a Jin Dan late-stage great general!

Wasn't this… a little too bizarre?

Elder She couldn't comprehend it, and really couldn't figure out what was going on in the heads of these Shu Gu and Dan Que Tribe people.

Mo Hua had run out of patience. He said to Elder She:

"I ask, you answer. Beyond that, no nonsense—or I'll have someone crush your Jin Dan."

Elder She glanced at the two burly men, Chifeng and Lord Lugu, thought that a man has to bow his head under the eaves, and nodded.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then asked, "Why are you here?"

A trace of bitterness crept into Elder She's expression. He sighed, "We lost and fled here."

"Lost?" Mo Hua was somewhat surprised. "Your Bifang Tribe lost?"

Elder She nodded. "Lost to the Wu Jiu Tribe."

Wu Jiu…

Mo Hua was startled.

Chifeng and Lord Lugu exchanged a glance, both frowning.

Mo Hua thought of the barbarian general he had ordered killed, the barbarian soldiers slaughtered, and the hundred-plus barbarian warhorses seized, and asked Elder She:

"Is the Wu Jiu Tribe very strong?"

In the moonlight, Elder She's face went pale. "Very strong…"

"The Wu Jiu Tribe has many soldiers and strong generals, its momentum is overwhelming, and its troop types are complete. Their barbarian armor is tough, and they have shamanic cultivators to rally morale, with demonic cavalry charging at the front. Calling them 'Wang Bing' would not be an exaggeration…"

"Moreover, their young lord… is also very strong."

Mo Hua raised an eyebrow slightly. "The Wu Jiu young lord?"

"Yes."

"How strong?"

Elder She couldn't bring himself to say it.

Mo Hua understood somewhat. "Your Bijie young lord—was he also defeated by the Wu Jiu young lord?"

That remark stung Elder She's heart. His face changed, but he couldn't lash out, so he could only sigh and say resentfully:

"Young Lord Bijie only lasted about ten exchanges against that Wu Jiu young lord before being struck off his horse with a single palm… and defeated."

Mo Hua asked, "That Wu Jiu young lord—is he Jin Dan late-stage?"

Elder She shook his head. "The Wu Jiu young lord is also Jin Dan mid-stage."

Mo Hua frowned. Jin Dan mid-stage fighting Jin Dan mid-stage, winning in just over ten exchanges meant his strength had reached a crushing level.

And Bijie was no ordinary small fry.

He was highly talented, rich in combat experience, and ruthless in his methods. Though his aptitude was a notch below Seeing Dan Zhu, all told, he wasn't much weaker.

Such a figure, against an opponent of the same realm, had lasted only about ten exchanges before losing?

Mo Hua's brows knit tightly. He asked Elder She again, "What exactly is that Wu Jiu young lord capable of, that makes him stronger than your Bifang Tribe's young lord?"

Elder She's expression was ugly: "I truly don't know… That Wu Jiu young lord didn't seem to use any dharma treasure either. He simply relied on his physical body to forcibly suppress Young Lord Bijie's force. With bare hands, he caught Young Lord Bijie's supreme-grade fierce blade. It's really… beyond comprehension…"

Even now, the memory seemed to make Elder She's heart pound.

Mo Hua's expression also grew solemn.

A body that withstands dharma treasures, bare hands catching a fierce blade?

Are there really this many "monsters" among the heaven's chosen under the heavens?

What on earth is the background of this Wu Jiu Tribe's young lord?

"And then?" Mo Hua looked at Elder She. "Your Bifang Tribe—was it completely wiped out?"

Elder She gave a bitter smile. "Not quite that… My Bifang Tribe is, after all, a third grade great tribe. One defeat in battle wouldn't mean total annihilation."

"But to a certain extent, it really was a crippling blow. Young Lord Bijie suffered severe 【injury】, and after several main divisions were routed they fell apart, scattering in all directions, each seeking a place to settle and survive…"

Elder She sighed with emotion as he spoke of this.

But Mo Hua stared at Elder She and asked slowly, "And you?"

"I…" Elder She's gaze flickered slightly. "I also lost, and to escape the Wu Jiu Tribe's pursuit, I had no choice but to flee southward, coming here for the time being… to find a tribe to shelter in."

"Since you're looking for a tribe to shelter in…" Mo Hua said slowly, "then why… are you harming other tribes with your barbarian god tricks?"

Elder She's face changed slightly, but he still said, "I don't know what… you're talking about…"

Mo Hua asked again, "The array you drew earlier—who taught you? Those… divine-path arrays…"

Lord Lugu and Chifeng were baffled.

But Elder She turned pale, crying out, "How could you know about the divine-path arrays?!"

Mo Hua's face was calm. "I am a Lord Wuzhu."

"No," Elder She shook his head, "it's impossible. Even Lord Wuzhu couldn't possibly recognize a Divine Dao Array, unless…"

"Unless what?" Mo Hua's gaze sharpened.

But Elder She pressed his lips shut, as if afraid to speak.

Mo Hua threatened, "If you don't talk, I'll have Chifeng crush your Jin Dan."

Chifeng walked up to Elder She, looking utterly ferocious, but Elder She still clenched his jaw, his body visibly trembling, yet he refused to say a word.

Mo Hua was somewhat surprised. "You're not afraid of dying? After all these years of cultivating a Jin Dan, it wasn't easy, would be a shame to have it crushed."

The one who harmed people was him; the one who said these cold-blooded words with a look of sympathy was also him.

Elder She hated Mo Hua to the bone in his heart, but circumstances were stronger than people. He could only say with a bitter smile:

"Of course I fear death, but this matter—I truly cannot speak… If I did, it would be worse than death."

Mo Hua frowned, very curious what could possibly be worse than dying.

But seeing Elder She deathly pale, he couldn't bring himself to truly push him to that point.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then felt something was off. "You said even Lord Wuzhu couldn't recognize a Divine Dao Array… then what about you? You're not even a Lord Wuzhu—how did you learn it and draw it?"

Elder She shook his head. "I can't draw it."

Mo Hua's gaze turned unfriendly. "Just now you drew a Divine Dao Array right under my nose, and now in the blink of an eye you say you can't? Trying to trick me?"

Elder She looked bitter. "I really can't. Something this terrifying, I… how could I possibly? I was… taking a shortcut…"

"Taking a shortcut?"

Elder She clammed up again, silent as a stone.

Mo Hua said carefully, "What just happened with Lord Wuzhu and the Divine Dao Array may involve some orthodox inheritance from the Great Wilderness. If you don't dare speak of it, I won't blame you."

"But now, this shortcut on your own person—you still won't speak of it? Then don't blame me for having someone crush your Jin Dan."

Mo Hua's face was dark.

Open mouth, crush the Jin Dan; close mouth, Jin Dan crushed.

Elder She sighed helplessly. "I… this was passed down to me by a certain 'senior'…"

Mo Hua asked, "Senior? Which senior?"

Elder She said, "I don't know either. He was tall and thin, his whole body shrouded in a robe, skin and bones, his aura strange—couldn't see his face or skin. He only said he had some connection with my ancestors, saw me serving the Bifang Tribe, wanting to scheme for the great cause of the barbarians, so he bestowed some ancient inheritances upon me to lend me a hand."

"But my aptitude is dull; studying this inheritance properly, I simply couldn't learn it."

"This senior then said he had some secret methods—only needing sincerity in one's heart and steadfast faith—one could borrow power from… from 'the Heavens,' thereby borrowing a transcendent divine sense to draw sacred patterns that bind gods and imprison ghosts…"

Mo Hua frowned.

This line of talk—why does it feel so familiar?

And besides…

Tall and thin, shrouded in a robe, skin and bones, strange aura.

Borrowing external thought-power, drawing Divine Dao Arrays, binding and imprisoning barbarian gods, causing them to fall…

This figure, this line of talk, these methods—how could this person be so similar to…

Mr. Tu?

At this thought, the fog within karma suddenly parted a little, and Mo Hua's pupils trembled, as if certain of his own guess.

"Mr. Tu!"

It really is Mr. Tu?!

He's actually still alive?

Struck by tribulation lightning and he didn't die?!

(End of chapter)