Chapter 1251: Merits After Death

Outside the White Bone Tomb.

The Dan Que Tribe was locked in a fierce battle with the Shu Gu Tribe.

Seeing Dan Zhu, Chifeng, and other heavy-armored warriors of the Dan Que Tribe were fighting against the Four Freaks of Shu Gu, along with a host of barbarian soldiers led by other Shu Gu Jin Dan cultivators.

Lord Lugu did not join the fight, merely watching coldly from the side.

His only aim was to make the Dan Que Tribe submit.

Now that he had killed the Great Chieftain, used Iron Shu Gu's life to awaken the ancestor and curse-killed Mo Hua, he only needed to subdue these remaining Dan Que Tribe members to achieve his goal.

Seeing Dan Zhu, Chifeng, Can Gu, the Great Chieftain, and even that demon Wuzhu had all become his stepping stones.

And what he had done was simply go with the flow, becoming the one who "picks the fruit."

Now that the dust was about to settle, he would initially complete the unification of the Shu Gu Tribe, while also conquering a portion of the Dan Que Tribe's forces.

But Lord Lugu had not truly struck a killing blow against Seeing Dan Zhu and the others.

He greatly admired Seeing Dan Zhu's talent and disposition.

Seeing Dan Zhu was like a piece of fine jade, possessing qualities that other barbarian cultivators—even so-called barbarian "geniuses"—lacked.

Kindness, uprightness, like a born "Zhu Que," with a heart full of burning passion.

That demon Wuzhu had earnestly instructed him, treating him as a "disciple."

Even Lord Lugu could not bear to kill him.

He wanted to wound Chifeng, surround the Dan Que Tribe's barbarian soldiers, and use them to force Seeing Dan Zhu to submit—to make Seeing Dan Zhu serve him.

Seeing Dan Zhu's kind heart was his greatest vulnerability.

As long as he threatened the lives of those close to him, there was no fear Seeing Dan Zhu would not submit.

Even if it was only a surface submission, it didn't matter—afterward, he could slowly take his time to tame him. Sooner or later, Seeing Dan Zhu would serve him and become his right-hand man.

And Seeing Dan Zhu was indeed surrounded by layers of Shu Gu barbarian soldiers, locked in a bitter fight.

The Zhu Que Mystic Fire Li Lingyi on his body still blazed like flowing fire, but his handsome face was pale as paper, a trace of blood at the corner of his lips.

Seeing Seeing Dan Zhu growing weary from prolonged combat, Lord Lugu said in a deep voice, "Seeing Dan Zhu, submit to me."

Seeing Dan Zhu sneered, "You schemed against Mr. Mo Hua—I'll kill you sooner or later."

Lord Lugu's expression was cold. "Your Mr. Mo Hua is a demon, not a human at all."

Seeing Dan Zhu shook his head. "Mr. Mo Hua is Mr. Mo Hua."

A fierce glint flashed in Lord Lugu's eyes. "Stubborn beyond redemption."

His patience exhausted, he summoned massive bone-bladed demon-slaying sabers in both hands, intending to defeat Seeing Dan Zhu personally, imprison him, and tame him slowly afterward.

But just at that moment, from deep within the White Bone Tomb, an eerie aura suddenly emerged—strange and solemn, spreading throughout the great hall.

Everyone's expression changed; they involuntarily stopped what they were doing and turned to look.

They saw, atop the tomb, as if a white bone epiphyllum were blooming—countless white bone claws had appeared, at once dazzling and ghastly.

And these white bone claws slowly unfurled from the inside out, as an unfathomable power of karmic death curses spread through the great hall.

This scene struck deep at everyone's heartstrings.

"This is—has the ancestor grown angry?"

"Has the curse begun to spread?"

Every member of the Shu Gu Tribe turned pale. They did not know the methods of karma, but according to the records in their tribal annals, they knew this was the ancestor's method of "curse-killing."

The consequences of being caught by those white bone claws needed no imagination.

The ancestor's grace was boundless and endless. The ancestor's wrath was equally terrifying beyond measure.

The crowd, ignoring the battle, were about to retreat, when someone sharp-eyed pointed toward the depths of the White Bone Tomb and said in a trembling voice:

"That is—a person?!"

The Shu Gu Tribe members followed the direction of the voice and saw, deep within the tomb, amid the white bones, a human figure slowly emerging.

As if a saint walking out from a white bone purgatory, from death itself.

"Has the ancestor awakened?"

The crowd had just begun to feel the urge to worship, but soon realized something was wrong.

This figure was too thin and small—not like their ancestor, but more like—

Everyone exchanged glances, hearts filled with disbelief.

Soon, the figure gradually became clear, revealing a slender but resolute form, a Bai Xi complexion, and deep, radiant eyes.

The expressions of the Shu Gu Tribe members changed drastically.

But Seeing Dan Zhu and the Dan Que Tribe members were overjoyed, exclaiming one after another:

"Mr. Mo Hua!"

"Lord Wuzhu!"

"Lord Wuzhu isn't dead!"

Amid the Dan Que Tribe's exclamations, the Shu Gu Tribe members were all deeply shaken, their resolve wavering.

"The Shu Gu ancestor's curse-killing—can't even harm him?! Could it be—"

Mo Hua's gaze was resolute as he stepped out of the White Bone Tomb.

One white bone claw after another, like white bone flowers in bloom, carried him forward step by step beneath his feet.

He moved freely through the White Bone Tomb, the flowers of curse accompanying his body.

Mo Hua walked thus to the crowd and slowly said, "I've had a chat with your ancestor—"

Mo Hua's expression was solemn. "From this day forth, all descendants of the Shu Gu Tribe must honor the name of the Divine Lord and obey my commands. To disobey is to violate the ancestral teachings, and after death you shall never be permitted to face the ancestor."

At these words, the entire Shu Gu Tribe erupted in uproar.

Some were shocked, some doubtful, some furious, and some felt awe stirring and their resolve wavering.

Someone had just been about to speak up and rebuke Mo Hua, accusing him of slandering and desecrating their Bonecraft Tribe's ancestors.

Just then, a cold, sinister aura suddenly spread across the entire scene. A "creak" sounded, and when the crowd followed the noise to look, they saw that Tie Shugu—who had already been dead—had begun to tremble slowly, and in a bizarre posture, pulled out the sacrificial dagger from his chest.

His chest was black, not a single drop of blood flowed out.

But on Tie Shugu's pale face, expression slowly began to return.

As if he had "returned from the dead" from hell, a trace of bewilderment still lingered on his face.

Then, under the shocked gazes of the crowd, the "resurrected" Tie Shugu limped his way, step by uneven step, to stand before Mo Hua, and slowly knelt down toward Mo Hua, saying devoutly:

"Sinner Tie Shugu thanks Lord Wuzhu for saving my life. Now, by the command of the ancestors, I swear to serve Lord Wuzhu to the death, through fire and water, without hesitation. I beg Lord Wuzhu, in this time of famine, to save the Bonecraft Tribe from calamity, and to continue the bloodline of the Bonecraft Tribe—"

Tie Shugu's words were calm and devout, full of reverence.

This scene, these words, likewise stirred a wave of horror in the hearts of the Bonecraft Tribe clansmen present.

Tie Shugu, who had sacrificed his own life—was actually not dead?!

Lord Wuzhu had taken Tie Shugu's life back from the ancestors?

The ancestors ordered Tie Shugu to serve Lord Wuzhu.

The ancestors also entreated Lord Wuzhu to save the Bonecraft Tribe from calamity?!

If this had happened elsewhere, they might still have doubted it—but this was happening inside the ancestral tomb of their Bonecraft Tribe.

Mo Hua had walked out from within the White Bone Tomb, from the edge of life and death, from the "grave" of the ancestors.

The image of white bones blooming like flowers, framing his figure, was still fresh in their minds.

Expressions of shock surfaced on the faces of the crowd.

Immediately after, quite a number of Bonecraft Tribe barbarian soldiers, unable to control themselves, dropped to their knees on the ground, offering Mo Hua their highest reverence:

"Lord Wuzhu is wise and holy!"

"We beg Lord Wuzhu to save us from calamity!"

Faith, like a tiny flame, burned in the hearts of the Bonecraft Tribe clansmen, and ultimately ignited into a blazing inferno.

More and more clansmen of the Bonecraft Tribe, like a chain of "dominoes," knelt down one after another before Mo Hua, calling out:

"Lord Wuzhu is wise and holy!"

"May Lord Wuzhu save us from calamity!"

The sound of praise, for a moment like a mountain-shaking tidal wave, swept across the entire White Bone Tomb.

More and more people knelt on the ground—first the barbarian soldiers, then the heavy-armored soldiers. Swept along by this momentum, even the Jin Dan of the Bonecraft Tribe could not help but kneel, and a feeling of faith spontaneously arose in their hearts.

In the end, everyone was kneeling on the ground, loudly crying out "Lord Wuzhu is wise and holy."

The only one still standing was Lord Lugu.

He was the Great General, and soon to be the Great Chieftain of the Bonecraft Tribe.

But his personal attendants, his troops, his subordinates, his barbarian soldiers, his clansmen—all had knelt before Mo Hua.

Before Mo Hua, who was being worshipped by ten thousand, Lord Lugu's tall, imposing figure appeared exceptionally lonely and insignificant.

The hearts of the people pointed his way, the troops revered him, the ancestors had entrusted him.

The expression on Lord Lugu's face began to twist, his heart wrung as if by a blade.

In the end, the greater momentum of the situation overwhelmed his pride.

Lord Lugu took a deep breath, his figure desolate, and dropped to one knee before Mo Hua.

At this point, in the White Bone Tomb of the Bonecraft Tribe, witnessed by the Bonecraft ancestors, everyone in the Bonecraft Tribe—from the Great General to the barbarian soldiers, from late-stage Jin Dan to ordinary Foundation Establishment barbarian cultivators—all knelt before Mo Hua, this solemn and sacred "Lord Wuzhu"—"

Lord Lugu had knelt to Mo Hua, but that did not mean he was truly willing to submit.

This, Mo Hua also knew perfectly well, and he said nothing about it.

From then on, Lord Lugu also did not go to see Mo Hua.

Until one day three days later, just as dawn was breaking, Mo Hua—who had been practicing formations all night—just opened his eyes, and saw a huge figure standing outside the house.

As expected, it was Lord Lugu.

"Come in," Mo Hua said.

Having received Mo Hua's permission, Lord Lugu then entered the house. At this moment, not only was his expression far more respectful, but his body also carried a hint of wariness.

This was the wariness one faced before a "strong one" and a "superior."

Lord Lugu stood before Mo Hua, silent.

Mo Hua raised his head and glanced at him, saying lightly: "Your ancestor gave you a dream-message?"

Lord Lugu's expression shifted slightly, and he said slowly: "Yes—"

He had just been about to open his mouth and ask Mo Hua exactly how he had bewitched the ancestor.

But on second thought, he felt it was impossible.

The ancestor possessed ancient inheritance—was so immensely powerful and far-reaching—how could he possibly be bewitched by a "demon"?

If this "demon" truly possessed the ability to bewitch the Bonecraft ancestor, then conversely, this "demon" was very likely not an evil one.

But was truly a divine Lord Wuzhu, possessed of divine power, walking the great wilderness of the present world.

Lord Lugu subconsciously thought this way.

But his pride refused to admit it.

He stubbornly believed that the fair-faced, black-hearted Mo Hua was simply an evil demon, and could not possibly have any connection to a great divine being.

Especially—·

Lord Lugu thought of the tall, grim corpse behind Mo Hua, thought of his elder brother who could not rest in peace even after death, and his face darkened like water.

Mo Hua seemed to see straight through Lord Lugu's thoughts at a glance, and said slowly: "Are you still brooding over your elder brother's matter?"

Lord Lugu remained silent, but the unmistakable hatred in his eyes already answered the question.

Mo Hua asked lightly: "If your elder brother were buried underground right now, would you be satisfied?"

Lord Lugu said coldly: "Burial and rest — at the very least, no one will disturb him, and he won't be treated as a 'puppet,' manipulated by others."

Mo Hua asked him: "And then?"

Lugu frowned. "What do you mean, and then?"

Mo Hua's voice was indifferent as he said: "Burial and rest — so what? No one disturbs him — so what? Was your elder brother an ordinary man? Was it peace after death that he needed?"

Lugu was silent.

Mo Hua continued: "Let me ask you another question — if right now, your elder brother simply died like this, buried underground, left to rot, his life's deeds sealed beneath the coffin lid, how would the people of the Great Wasteland view him?"

Lugu was somewhat at a loss.

Mo Hua said in an icy tone: "Others would only consider him a failure, a mediocre commander, a general who accomplished nothing, a fool with nothing but cultivation who died to schemes and plots."

"Enough!" Lord Lugu's heart blazed with fury, his eyes blood-red, like a raging fierce beast, staring fixedly at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua's expression was calm, unmoved by Lord Lugu's rage, and he only said placidly:

"You can be angry, you can rage — but what good will it do?"

"Public opinion is what it is; facts need no argument. Your elder brother's deeds amount to nothing more than this. People will only see him as a failure. His name still carries some renown now, but in no more than ten years, it will gradually fade. A hundred years from now, it will be buried in the dust, and no one will mention him again."

"This is the 'peace after death' you want——"

"Peace after death also means————utter obscurity."

Mo Hua looked at Lord Lugu with calm eyes.

The anger on Lugu's face gradually faded, replaced by unmistakable anguish and the bleak sorrow of a hero left unnamed.

Mo Hua was silent. After a moment, he slowly spoke again:

"But——now that his corpse is in my hands, everything is completely different——"

Lord Lugu was stunned and looked up at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua's voice was calm, carrying a trace of coldness: "Given time, I will entreat the Divine Lord to grant your elder brother a destiny. Your elder brother is dead, but he can still 'live' again — in another way, to campaign across the lands."

"His remains can still walk upon the soil of the Great Wasteland."

"His flesh and blood will crush every great enemy of the Divine Lord."

"Even in death, with only a 'corpse' remaining, he can still have one chance to 'render great service,' still have one possibility of establishing immortal merit in the Great Wasteland, so that his deeds and renown will be passed down forever——"

"He will expand the Divine Lord's territory and unify the Great Wasteland."

"The entire Savage Wastes, for ten thousand generations, will sing the praises of your elder brother's renown."

"If it were you, what would you choose?"

Mo Hua's words rang with undeniable weight.

Lord Lugu's heart was swept by towering waves, feeling as if his chest were seared by a raging fire of ambition.

"Even in death, with only a corpse remaining, one can still render great service, still complete the unfinished ambitions of one's life——"

These words echoed ceaselessly in Lugu's ears. Lord Lugu suppressed the surging ambition in his breast and dropped to one knee before Mo Hua.

This time, he knelt of his own sincere heart.

He no longer cared about everything Mo Hua had done to his elder brother; on the contrary, his heart was now full of gratitude.

"Many thanks——Lord Wuzhu——"

"Lord Lugu, and all of the Shu Gu, from this day forth pledge ourselves to Lord Wuzhu — to fight and slay the enemy with all our might, to be ground to dust, without regret."

Mo Hua looked at Lord Lugu, who was kneeling on one knee before him and swearing his oath, his gaze deep and far-reaching, and he slowly nodded.