Chapter 1275: God and Man

Inside the High Priest's hall.

The candlelight flickered; there was no one around, and it was silent and still.

Mo Hua sat upon the High Priest's high seat, all alone, like a lonely "idol." The candlelight stretched his pitch-black shadow long across the floor.

"My... humanity..."

Mo Hua's gaze gradually became profound and indifferent; a moment later, the indifference turned into gentleness.

Yet within this gentleness, there remained only the compassion of a god, with no human emotion.

As the night wind blew and the candlelight stirred, Mo Hua's pupils trembled slightly. He instantly snapped back to clarity, the aloofness of a high-and-mighty deity fading from his eyes, which became more vivid and filled with a touch of "human" color.

At least, he looked like a "person" again...

But Mo Hua's brows gradually furrowed tight.

He realized something was wrong.

Becoming the High Priest, acting on behalf of divine power, and to a certain extent being the "God Lord" himself, he was receiving the faith of the Great Wilderness people.

The divinity within his spiritual sense was, imperceptibly, already suppressing his humanity.

He was becoming increasingly calm, more and more like a high-and-mighty "deity," looking down upon all living beings, watching their life and death, watching the slaughter of the mortal world, and casting aside the sorrows of others.

His body and mind were both transforming toward a "deity."

Not only that, but at this moment, he also held immense authority.

All the fame, power, and wealth in the world have always corrupted the human heart.

And this "corruption" was likewise imperceptible.

Those who dwell in the arena of fame and fortune, holding great power, find it difficult to realize that they are being "assimilated" by that power.

Mo Hua now held divine power, political power, and military power all in one, standing almost at the pinnacle of the entire Third-Grade Vermilion Bird Mountain Realm, deciding life and death with a word, and changing mountains and rivers with a thought.

He, too, was being deeply influenced by power.

His humanity, on one hand, was being "corroded" by arbitrary power, and on the other, suppressed by the burgeoning divinity. Thus, without him even noticing, he was becoming colder and more indifferent, and the aura of majesty upon him was naturally becoming heavier.

Mo Hua frowned slightly, pointed his finger into the void, and a spell condensed into a water mirror.

Mo Hua looked at himself in the mirror and discovered that although his features hadn't changed, his temperament had grown much colder.

With divinity upon him and great power in his grasp, even though his appearance was young and handsome, his every glance was already filled with an indifference and majesty that transcended the mortal realm.

That temperament, once clear and filled with sincerity and innocence, had vanished without a trace.

Now, he was like a "monarch" holding great power, or even more like a "deity" carved from white jade.

This was not necessarily a good thing...

Mo Hua's brows were tightly knit, his heart filled with an indescribable sense of dissonance.

He had not forgotten that, at the end of the day, he was a "person."

He had parents who raised him, relatives, a master, friends, elders of his sect, and many junior brothers...

Of course, there was also the junior sister he kept in his heart;

And the junior brother whom he kept firmly in his mind, though he had already forgotten a bit of what he looked like...

If humanity were extinguished, emotions would become indifferent, and these people would all become insignificant "others," and he would lose the "roots" of his life.

The Great Dao is long, and the search is aimless; once one forgets the initial starting point and loses the anchor of self, one will ultimately only be lost in the unknown, not knowing where one is or where one is going, trapped in the boundless mist of the Great Dao, unable to find a way out...

Divinity is a part of his soul, but it absolutely cannot be the whole.

These people must never be forgotten, nor could they be.

"But... how do I guard my humanity?"

Mo Hua lowered his head and looked at his palms.

His palms were fair, elegant, and delicate, looking weak and powerless, yet they seemed to hold the faith of gods and the overwhelming power of authority. With a flip of his hand, he could let thousands live, or let thousands die, pile corpses into mountains, and turn blood into seas...

These white-jade-like palms no longer looked much like the hands of a "person."

Mo Hua even felt a trace of fear toward himself.

Yet Mo Hua had no other way.

The situation was as it was, the grand plan was not yet complete, and he could only continue to be his High Priest, to be the "god" of the Great Wilderness, to lead the people of the wilderness, step by step, down the path of a "deity," never to return...

The candlelight flickered, light and shadow intertwining like the struggle between divinity and humanity.

In the silent night, a deep sigh escaped from a god of flesh and blood.

Trapped in the invisible struggle between divinity and humanity, Mo Hua did not close his eyes all night, not even practicing his formations.

The next day, after settling everything, he finally found the time and planned to make a trip into the deep mountains to check on the Big Tiger.

He did not know how the Big Tiger was doing now.

Whether it was still in the deep mountains, whether it had broken through, or whether any accidents had occurred.

After entering the deep mountains, everything was still very quiet, but the demonic aura was unusually intense, so intense that it seemed as if it were about to drip water.

Mo Hua's expression changed instantly.

He knew this was the sign of a demonic beast about to break through; the Big Tiger was indeed about to break through to a Third-Grade demonic beast.

But this sign of demonic aura was very strange; it seemed it should have broken through long ago, but it had been forcibly suppressed, stuck at the Second Grade, unable to advance.

Mo Hua's figure flashed, turning into water light, and arrived before the Big Tiger's cave.

But he was blocked by six or seven tigresses.

These tigresses would not let Mo Hua enter the cave.

Mo Hua released his spiritual sense and could perceive that the Big Tiger was inside the cave, but its aura was very weak, as if it were recuperating from a failed breakthrough.

Or perhaps there was some other reason it refused to break through, leading to a reversal of demonic power that had damaged its vitality.

Mo Hua felt a bit worried and wanted to enter the cave to take a look, but these tigresses, each with fierce light in their eyes, stood before the cave and would not let Mo Hua in.

Killing intent rose in Mo Hua's eyes.

Just then, a majestic low roar sounded, and a terrifying demonic power surged from the cave. A massive, Third-Grade Mysterious Tiger with hanging eyes appeared before Mo Hua, radiating a powerful pressure.

This was the pressure of a king among Third-Grade Golden Core demonic beasts, so intense it was almost suffocating.

Ordinary cultivators would not dare to face such a demonic beast at all.

Yet Mo Hua looked calmly directly at this fierce tiger. Within his indifferent gaze was the divine majesty of ten thousand people worshipping, and the authority to control the life and death of millions of cultivators.

This was a confrontation between a king among demons and a "deity" and "king" among men.

Man and tiger stood there, silently staring at each other.

A moment later, the Third-Grade Mysterious Tiger with hanging eyes slowly lowered its eyelids and turned to clear the path.

Mo Hua retracted his aura and walked into the cave.

Inside the cave, the Big Tiger lay on the ground, seemingly trying to suppress something with all its might. It looked painful and was on the verge of death, no longer possessing its previous majestic appearance.

Sensing someone's arrival, the Big Tiger raised its eyes and discovered it was Mo Hua. Its originally dim eyes instantly lit up.

Mo Hua felt a sudden ache in his heart.

He walked up, touched the Big Tiger's head, and sensed its demonic power, instantly realizing where the problem lay.

This Big Tiger was indeed about to break through very soon.

In fact, it should have broken through long ago. But for some reason, it had forcibly suppressed its demonic power, staying in this Second-Grade mountain realm, refusing to break through.

It had suppressed it for too long, to the point where the demonic power had reversed, already beginning to destroy its own demonic meridians.

If this continued, its entire foundation of demonic power would be destroyed.

Mo Hua sighed, knowing he could not delay any longer.

He had to let the Big Tiger migrate to a Third-Grade mountain realm as soon as possible; only without the suppression of the Heavenly Dao could it possibly continue to break through its realm.

Mo Hua immediately took out a bone slip and gave a pile of orders to Tie Tie Shugu.

Not long after, Tie Tie Shugu led a group of people, pulling a massive beast cage, and walked into the deep mountains.

Afterward, Tie Tie Shugu and the others saw these tiger demons in the deep mountains.

Especially when they saw the Big Tiger, half-black and half-white, on the verge of breaking through, looking like a "Sacred Beast," shock that could not be concealed appeared on everyone's faces.

They did not know that such a large number of tiger demons were hidden in the depths of the Jin Wutu Mountains.

What made them even harder to understand was that these tiger demons would actually listen to the High Priest's words.

And they were obeying the High Priest's orders without any "restraint" or "control."

Everyone's hearts were filled with horror.

Tie Tie Shugu's pupils also vibrated.

But he had been following Mo Hua for so long that he had seen many inconceivable things, and he knew what should be asked and what should not.

Mo Hua let the dying Big Tiger walk into the beast cage by itself, then had Tie Tie Shugu and the other barbarian cultivators pull the cart and take the Big Tiger to migrate.

That powerful Third-Grade Mysterious Tiger with hanging eyes did not stop Mo Hua either.

It seemed to know that Mo Hua was saving the "Big Tiger," and not only did it not stop him, but it followed Mo Hua from a distance, looking both like it was tailing him and like a "guard," not knowing what scheme it harbored.

And behind the Mysterious Tiger with hanging eyes, a dozen or so fierce tigresses also followed closely.

Thus, on this day, the people of the Jin Wutu Mountains saw the High Priest walk out of the deep mountains, followed by a group of terrifying king demons.

These barbarian cultivators all showed shock and knelt to pay their respects.

They worshipped both the High Priest and the fierce tiger that symbolized the Royal Court.

In their hearts, this was yet another "miracle" of the High Priest.

Time was of the essence, and the Big Tiger's condition was not right, so Mo Hua did not linger too long, instead telling Tie Tie Shugu and the others to speed up.

The group, plus the team of tigers, thus left the Jin Wutu Mountain Realm under Mo Hua's guidance, following the "Sacred Tattoo Road" paved by the Thick Earth Array, and returned to the Vermilion Bird Mountain Realm.

Upon arriving at the Vermilion Bird Mountain Realm, the pressure of the Heavenly Dao decreased sharply. Mo Hua breathed a sigh of relief and immediately ordered people to find a nearby mountain peak for the Big Tiger to inhabit.

At the same time, Lu Gu and a group of Bone-Art Department Golden Cores, as well as Chifeng and a group of Danque Department Golden Cores—a total of over thirty Golden Core barbarian cultivators—had also arrived in advance to receive them, following Mo Hua's orders.

Seeing so many tiger demons following Mo Hua, they all showed expressions of astonishment.

The tiger demons of the Great Wilderness were kings among demons, symbols of the royal family, with powerful demonic strength.

In their entire lives, they had never seen so many fierce tiger demons gathered together.

And they had never seen these tiger demons be so well-behaved without any restraint.

Mo Hua did not explain much, only saying: "You all guard the perimeter, stay all around, and do not allow anyone to disturb them."

"Yes, High Priest," Lu Gu bowed.

Afterward, these thirty Golden Core barbarian cultivators completely surrounded the entire mountain peak, while also isolating those tigresses.

Mo Hua placed the Big Tiger on the mountain peak and personally drew a circle of formations to guard its side.

At the same time, he also prepared a lot of roasted meat for the Big Tiger and crushed some blood-replenishing elixirs, sprinkling them on the meat.

Mo Hua touched the Big Tiger's head and whispered:

"This is the Third-Grade mountain realm. You break through here; I will guard you from the outside and will not let anyone disturb you."

The Big Tiger looked at Mo Hua affectionately, its weak expression revealing a touch of attachment.

It stretched out its large paw and gently nudged Mo Hua, seemingly asking him not to leave.

Mo Hua was startled, warmth rising in his heart.

It is often said that those not of one's own kind must have different hearts.

He was human, and the Big Tiger was a demonic beast.

Demonic beasts are bloodthirsty, and their entire lives of cultivation are spent in bloody slaughter; it is very dangerous, and breaking through realms is a matter of nine deaths for one life.

Every breakthrough is almost like passing through the "Ghost Gate."

If they succeed, it is fine, but once they fail and damage their vitality, falling into a period of weakness, they are very likely to be found by other demonic beasts and swallowed skin and bone.

Even if they succeed, if they cannot find a safe place to recuperate as soon as possible, they are very likely to be found by enemies and fall into a dead end.

Therefore, when a demonic beast breaks through a realm, it is often the most dangerous time of its life.

And in such a life-and-death situation, the Big Tiger did not trust other tiger demons, yet it was willing to let this "human" stay by its side...

Mo Hua felt a heavy weight in his heart.

He whispered: "Alright, I will stay here and guard your cultivation."

Hearing this, the Big Tiger finally felt at ease. It slowly crawled up, took the meat Mo Hua gave it piece by piece into its mouth, and swallowed it slowly.

But outside, the Third-Grade Mysterious Tiger with hanging eyes suddenly began to grow irritable, pacing back and forth with fierce light in its eyes.

Mo Hua sensed this trace of ferocity, his gaze changing slightly, and he told Lu Gu and the others to stand strict guard and not let these tigresses rush onto the mountain peak.

On the other side, the Big Tiger was still eating the demonic meat.

It seemed it hadn't eaten for a long time; whether it was because there was nothing to eat or it deliberately didn't eat, it appeared exceptionally weak.

Now, because Mo Hua gave it to him, it could eat with peace of mind.

The Big Tiger just kept eating, kept eating, the massive amount of meat turning into blood energy, absorbed by its demonic body.

Its demonic power was recovering bit by bit, its flesh and blood were strengthening bit by bit, and its aura was climbing bit by bit.

And its realm was gradually loosening.

Just at this moment, a violent tiger roar suddenly came from outside the cave.

Mo Hua walked to the cave entrance and looked out, seeing that the Mysterious Tiger with hanging eyes, along with more than ten tigresses, were all surging with demonic power, eyes filled with fierce light, staring fixedly at the mountain peak where the Big Tiger was.

The Big Tiger was breaking through.

But these tiger demons were all enraged.

Mo Hua frowned and ordered Lu Gu: "Stop them."

Lu Gu's expression was cold; he backhanded a bone-slaying saber and blocked the path of the Third-Grade Mysterious Tiger with hanging eyes.

The remaining thirty-plus Golden Cores, as well as hundreds of heavy-armored soldiers, also formed battle formations, sealing off the mountain peak like a "copper wall and iron fortress."

The Mysterious Tiger with hanging eyes became even more enraged, its eyes even turning blood-red, and the demonic aura on its body turned into crystal-like demonic fire.

The other tiger demons also seemed to be on the verge of losing control.

Mo Hua's brows knit even tighter, not quite understanding why the Mysterious Tiger with hanging eyes and these tigresses would be so enraged by the Big Tiger's breakthrough.

What exactly did they want to do?

And just at this moment, the aura on the mountain peak changed abruptly, black and white demonic energy instantly intertwining and filling the entire cave.

An ancient and mysterious aura that could not be concealed spread from the cave.

The Big Tiger began to break through.

Upon smelling this aura, the Third-Grade Mysterious Tiger with hanging eyes instantly lost its reason, its roar shaking the heavens, and then its demonic body surged, blood-red energy coiling around it like a wild wind, rushing toward the mountain peak.

The other tigresses also began to go mad, rushing toward the mountain peak regardless of everything...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1276 =====