Chapter 546

"Master!"

Mo Hua and the other two were startled.

Snow Aunt's expression changed instantly; she hurriedly said, "Mr. Zhuang…"

Mr. Zhuang shook his head. "I've taught you everything I could. This place is a nest of trouble—you must not stay any longer."

"But…"

Mr. Zhuang's expression was cold, his gaze resolute.

It was the look of a man who had made up his mind.

Everyone knew Mr. Zhuang was inscrutable and acted according to his own judgment—they could not interfere.

Snow Aunt sighed helplessly.

"Master, when should I take them away?"

Mr. Zhuang had anticipated this. "Tomorrow."

Snow Aunt bowed her hands in assent.

Mo Hua's eyes were full of reluctance; he wanted to say more, but saw Mr. Zhuang shake his head and said gently:

"I'm tired. I want to rest for a while. You and your senior brothers and sisters should pack up—leave tomorrow."

Mo Hua felt a pang of sadness, but nodded obediently. "Yes, Master."

The three returned to their room, each with a gloomy expression.

Bai Zisheng asked in confusion, "Why did Master suddenly tell us to leave?"

"It wasn't sudden…" Mo Hua's expression was desolate; he shook his head. "Master must have planned this all along."

The Wuxing Sect was the final destination of this journey.

Bai Zi Xi also lowered her gaze; her exquisite eyes flickered with a trace of sorrow, then she lifted her head and looked at Snow Aunt.

"Snow Aunt, did Mother send you?"

Snow Aunt was momentarily stunned.

Bai Zisheng said, "Zixi, Snow Aunt was already sent by Mother to protect us."

Bai Zi Xi shook her head. "No—what I mean is, is Mother coming too? You followed Master because Mother ordered you to guide her here?"

Snow Aunt looked into Bai Zi Xi's clear eyes and felt a sudden moment of clarity.

Miss Zixi… she really resembles Lady…

Just as exquisite, just as ice-clever, and just as perceptive, decisive in her gaze.

Even more so…

Snow Aunt did not wish to conceal it. She nodded. "Yes. Lady will come."

Bai Zi Xi's expression paled slightly.

Bai Zisheng still didn't understand. "So what if Mother comes?"

Bai Zi Xi pressed her lips tightly, her gaze dark. "Master and Mother were classmates, as close as siblings—but for all these years, Master has refused to see Mother."

"Why?" Bai Zisheng asked, puzzled.

"Because…" Bai Zi Xi paused, then said gravely, "Mother… is plotting against Master."

"Plotting?"

Bai Zisheng was startled.

They were siblings; some things, Bai Zisheng's open nature had never noticed—but Bai Zi Xi, with her keen mind, understood perfectly.

"Before, Mother couldn't outmaneuver him, so she dared not come. But now that she's here, it means Master can't leave…"

Bai Zisheng said, "Even if Mother comes, what's the harm? Would she really harm Master?"

"Master has many enemies…" Bai Zi Xi lowered her eyes and sighed. "Mother can calculate them—so can his enemies. If Master can't leave, he'll inevitably face them all…"

Mo Hua frowned. "Does Master have many enemies?"

"Yes," Bai Zi Xi nodded, looking at Mo Hua. "Many. Some are old grudges; others simply covet what he has."

Mo Hua froze. "Does Master possess something coveted by others?"

Bai Zi Xi frowned and looked at Snow Aunt.

Snow Aunt remained stunned for a moment, then sighed.

"Mr. Zhuang carries a great secret—but this secret is known to Lady, to the great cultivators of the Dao Court, to the ancient ancestors of the Demon Sects…"

Snow Aunt gave a bitter smile. "But not to me."

These cultivators were too distant from Mo Hua. These factions were too vast.

Mo Hua was merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator, a hermit with no grasp of such conflicts—he cared only for Mr. Zhuang.

Mo Hua asked, "Snow Aunt, can't Master escape?"

Snow Aunt looked into Mo Hua's eyes, reluctant but compelled to say:

"If it weren't utterly hopeless, Mr. Zhuang would never have ordered me to take you away…"

All three lowered their heads in disappointment.

Mo Hua's mind raced, but no matter how he thought, he realized he was utterly powerless.

He was merely Foundation Establishment.

Merely a Rank One Array Master.

Even if he knew the Ultimate Array, it was only a Rank One Ultimate Array.

His spiritual sense had reached Foundation Establishment—but only Foundation Establishment.

He could perform calculations—but could not, like Master, perceive cause and effect, divine the heavenly patterns.

He knew Great Arrays—but could not, by himself, construct one to reverse heaven and earth…

I can't help, and I can't protect my master…

Mo Hua sighed dejectedly.

Just as he furrowed his brow, racked his brain, and remained utterly at a loss, he suddenly looked up—and his expression changed drastically.

Seeing Mo Hua's odd reaction, Snow Aunt asked, "What's wrong?"

Mo Hua said nothing, only frowned, then ran out of the room, went to the corridor, and looked up at the sky.

Snow Aunt, Bai Zisheng, and Bai Zi Xi exchanged glances, then followed Mo Hua outside, raising their heads between the carved beams and painted rafters.

But the sky above was clear blue, with no anomaly whatsoever.

Bai Zisheng asked, "Mo Hua, what happened?"

Mo Hua gazed upward, looked solemn, "The sky… is being 'covered' by something…"

Snow Aunt's face changed; she looked up again, and after a moment, her brows tightened.

She still saw nothing…

Blue sky, white sun, boundless clear heavens.

Not a single cloud in sight.

But she knew this child, Mo Hua, though his elemental affinity was mediocre, possessed extraordinary talent, an exceptional spiritual sense, and remarkable array skills—and he was favored by Mr. Zhuang. He must have truly seen something unusual.

Mo Hua's expression turned solemn.

Since seeing the calamity lightning and the immortal markings, he had often gazed at the sky.

Though he saw nothing, he could faintly sense a subtle energy in the heavens.

Just like the Dao's essence in the earth.

Each time he looked up, he sensed heaven's Dao striving, ceaselessly alive.

But now, that faint essence was gone.

As if something had obscured it.

Mo Hua tilted his head, still staring fixedly at the sky; after a moment, his pupils trembled slightly, and he murmured:

"It's coming…"

Snow Aunt suddenly felt a jolt of dread; she snapped her head up—and saw the once crystal-clear sky suddenly swelling with a tide of blood from the horizon!

A massive blood-colored soul banner, like a rising tide, slowly drew together, spread, and engulfed the heavens…

As if aiming to shroud the entire Wuxing Sect—no, the entire Shancheng—in its grasp!

Snow Aunt's pupils shrank; she cried out:

"The demonic treasure—Soul-Stealing Banner?!"

…

Sudden phenomenon—blood red flooded the sky.

The entire Wuxing Sect plunged into chaos.

"What's going on?"

"Where did this sea of blood come from?"

"Such intense demonic energy!"

"Is this… a Golden Core stage demonic cultivator?!"

The elders were both shocked and enraged:

"Under the bright sun and clear heavens, how dare they use demonic artifacts to invade our Wuxing Sect? This is an outrageous insult!"

"The intruder is no friend…"

"Not just unfriendly—this is great evil!"

"Do they think Wuxing Sect has no one?!"

"Grand Elder…"

The Grand Elder looked solemn.

At that moment, from the sea of blood, a colossal demonic sword emerged—its blade bore a massive, blood-drenched vertical pupil.

Within the pupil were countless human faces.

They screamed in agony, writhed in torment…

Like the vengeful spirits and tormented ghosts, devoured by the demonic sword and denied rebirth.

As soon as the sword appeared, the blood-laden aura coalesced into sword qi, tangible and brimming with terrifying killing force!

"Another demonic Golden Core treasure?!"

The blood banner traps; the demonic sword kills!

Everyone in the Wuxing Sect trembled with terror.

The Grand Elder shouted sharply: "Quick! Activate the Great Array!"

"Activate the Great Array!"

"Activate the Great Array!"

The elders obeyed and swiftly issued orders.

After a moment, the Wuxing Sect's mountain shuddered; spiritual energy surged wildly. Across the vast sect, array patterns ignited one after another, accompanied by overwhelming spiritual pressure, forming a single, unified Great Array.

Five-colored light shot into the heavens.

The Grade-Two Five Elements Mountain-Protecting Great Array activated at full power!

After more than six hundred years, Wuxing Sect's Mountain-Protecting Great Array was finally revealed once more.

Vast quantities of spiritual stones were instantly consumed; spiritual energy flowed like water through the array's core, surging and roaring.

Mo Hua stood within the Five Elements Mountain-Protecting Great Array, his heart shaken beyond words.

This is... the Wuxing Sect's Protective Mountain Array!

It's a second-rank array!

The array patterns are more complex, the array pivot more substantial, the five-colored light dazzlingly brilliant, the spiritual energy flowing like rivers...

Both beautiful and grand.

Mo Hua was shaken to his core, then suddenly startled.

"Master!"

The blood banner and the demonic sword are Jin Dan demonic cultivators' ultimate treasures.

The demonic cultivators disregarded the Dao Court and struck suddenly; their goal could not possibly be the Wuxing Sect, but rather Master, who is currently inside the Wuxing Sect!

Mo Hua had barely turned around when he realized that Mr. Zhuang had already stood behind him.

"Master..." Mo Hua's expression was filled with worry.

Mr. Zhuang affectionately patted his head, smiled faintly, then looked up at the Wuxing Sect's Protective Mountain Array and sighed:

"This array is a fine thing... what a pity..."

Mo Hua also looked up and saw the terrifying demonic sword had unleashed ten thousand bloody sword qi, like a gale sweeping through a sudden downpour, striking the array with full force.

Demonic energy surged forth with the sword qi, each strike, each blade, landing upon the array's spiritual veil.

The entire array emitted a violent hum.

The entire Wuxing Sect trembled, mountains and rocks shaking, the sect swaying.

Cultivation caves toppled; wood and stone cracked.

The array's spiritual energy was rapidly depleting, yet at the same time, more spirit stones were being refined by the Spirit Gathering Array, flowing like river water into the Wuxing Sect's Protective Mountain Array, stabilizing its foundation and sustaining the array.

The demonic sword's assault ceased.

And though the Wuxing Sect's Protective Mountain Array had suffered massive damage, it held.

All Wuxing Sect cultivators exhaled in relief.

The Grand Elder's suspended heart finally settled.

"We held... as long as we held..."

As long as we held, there would be a chance to turn the tide.

Under heaven, all land belongs to the Dao.

This world belongs to the Dao Court.

These demonic heretics, though unknown why they suddenly grew bold enough to attack the Wuxing Sect, if we can hold out, once the Dao Court or other orthodox sects come to aid, this great disaster can be averted.

The Grand Elder glanced again at the Wuxing Sect's Protective Mountain Array outside the mountain gate, sighing inwardly.

"The array truly is the sect's foundation!"

"At life-or-death moments, this is truly a lifesaver..."

Without the array, the Jin Dan sword qi released just now would have slain most of the Wuxing Sect's cultivators.

As the Wuxing Sect's sole remaining Jin Dan, I am old and weak—I could never have withstood it.

"But how dare these demonic heretics openly attack our Wuxing Sect?"

The Grand Elder frowned, puzzled.

"Could their goal be..."

The Grand Elder fell into thought, but before he could ponder further, his expression changed drastically—he suddenly stared at the array, his heart thundering:

"No!"

"This Protective Mountain Array is wrong!"

The Grand Elder leapt to his feet, scanning the surroundings, barking: "Where is Liao Tiande?"

Liao Tiande is the Wuxing Sect's sect leader.

The surrounding Wuxing Sect elders and disciples exchanged glances—they now realized that as the sect faced catastrophe, no one had seen the sect leader's whereabouts.

Where had Master Liao gone?

The Grand Elder's heart turned icy; he looked up at the array, eyes filled with horror.

For the Wuxing Sect's Protective Mountain Array, once flowing with five-colored spiritual energy, had gradually turned blood-red!

This red was the color of blood.

A sinister aura rose from the array.

This was not the Wuxing Sect's Protective Mountain Array!

This was a demonic array!

Why?

When had someone tampered with the array?

The Grand Elder's expression shifted, his mind racing rapidly—he slowly understood.

Massive construction!

The Wuxing Sect had undertaken massive construction to build cultivation caves, altering the sect's layout and modifying the Wuxing Sect's Protective Mountain Array—during this, someone had secretly tampered with it, covertly altering the array's pivot.

They had transformed the Wuxing Sect's Protective Mountain Array into a demonic array!

Only high-ranking Wuxing Sect members could have tampered with it.

The prime suspect was the Wuxing Sect's sect leader—Liao Tiande!

His authority within the sect was second only to mine.

When I was in seclusion, he handled all sect affairs, and during the massive construction and cave-building, he profited the most!

Now that disaster has struck, he has fled!

"LIAO! TIANDE!"

The Grand Elder's eyes bulged with rage, his teeth clenched in hatred.

This traitor who forgets his ancestors has long abandoned the sect!

He raged, yet also felt profound confusion.

What right does this Liao Tiande have to alter the Wuxing Sect's protective mountain array?

A second-rank Five Elements array—let alone a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like Liao Tiande, even I, a Golden Core Grand Elder, lack the array expertise to modify it.

As the Grand Elder pondered carefully, a chill struck his heart.

A demonic elder!

This person must be an expert in arrays.

He secretly manipulated Liao Tiande to alter the array runes of the Wuxing protective mountain array, using the pretext of major construction to bury demonic array runes atop the Wuxing Sect's array foundation.

On the surface, the Wuxing Sect's array still appeared to be the original Five Elements protective mountain array.

But once activated, its spiritual energy consumption would surge, tainted by demonic qi, awakening the hidden demonic runes and gradually losing its spiritual power, transforming into a demonic array!

The array principles involved here run deep.

The Grand Elder understood nothing of arrays, yet he knew: altering an array with such skill could only be the work of a demonic elder!

And very likely, this person's realm exceeds Golden Core!

The Grand Elder stepped into the ice cellar.

Only now did he realize this was a trap!

The Wuxing Sect was the chessboard; Liao Tiande was the pawn.

The Five Elements protective mountain array was a great dragon.

Someone had plotted for centuries, secretly placing pawns and orchestrating this killing scheme.

The target was not the Wuxing Sect—but only…

The Grand Elder turned his head, gazing far off toward Mr. Zhuang, standing beneath the carved corridor.

It was him!

The Mo Sect set this trap to kill Mr. Zhuang!

Meanwhile, the spiritual energy above the Wuxing protective mountain array had been entirely corrupted, turning a scarlet red.

Everyone within the array was shrouded in bloodlight, feeling dizzy and disoriented, their blood qi slowly draining away.

These draining blood qi slowly rose, converging into the array, gradually strengthening it.

The Grand Elder felt utter despair:

"This is… the Five Elements Blood Demon Array?"

It was a second-rank demonic array of entrapment and annihilation!

Cultivators trapped within could not escape—they could only be slowly refined until their blood qi was drained to death!

These demonic Golden Core demons intended to use this array to trap Mr. Zhuang!

At that moment, from beyond the Wuxing Sect, amid the vast sea of blood, came a deep, cold voice:

"Demonic realm, Liu Yuhua stage, Xuan Sanren."

"I seek an audience with Mr. Zhuang."

…

"Liu Yuhua stage? Xuan Sanren?"

The word "Liu Yuhua" stunned the Grand Elder; after a long moment, he murmured "Xuan Sanren," and suddenly his heart and courage shattered:

"Xuan Sanren… is he the ancient Xuan Mo Ancestor?!"

Was this his doing?

The Grand Elder's limbs went numb, his heart as dead as ashes:

Today, the Wuxing Sect may face total annihilation!

Blood banners obscured the sky; a boundless sea of blood stretched endlessly.

Again came the voice of "Xuan Sanren":

"Demonic realm, Liu Yuhua stage, Xuan Sanren."

"I seek an audience with Mr. Zhuang…"

Within the Wuxing Sect.

Upon hearing this, Mr. Zhuang sneered, "Not seeing him. Get lost!"

His voice was not loud, yet it echoed through heaven and earth.

Heaven and earth fell silent.

Xuan Sanren remained silent for a long while; his icy words carried fury:

"Under my Five Elements Blood Demon Array, you have no choice!"

Mr. Zhuang let out a cold laugh:

"You're showing off your swordsmanship before Guan Yu!"

Then he lightly swept his sleeve—no spiritual energy or spiritual sense stirred, yet heaven and earth abruptly changed.

Within the vast sea of blood, the demonic array's runes shifted and dissolved one by one.

The array, once saturated with blood qi, was gradually cleansed by spiritual energy.

The runes transformed; the array's core reversed.

As if cause and effect were inverted, time itself rewound.

The five-colored lights blazed anew, brighter than ever.

The Five Elements Blood Demon Array reversed its flow, transforming back into the Five Elements protective mountain array, shielding all Wuxing Sect cultivators within its embrace!

What kind of handiwork is this?

The entire Wuxing Sect stared in stunned silence.

Beyond the Wuxing Sect, beneath the Blood Sea.

A demonic cultivator clad in a black robe, with white hair and a youthful face, his gaze deep and sinister, also narrowed his pupils.

"Heaven's reversal… no exaggeration…"

(End of Chapter)