Chapter 634: Trouble Arises

The mountain forest was silent, trees lush and thick; sunlight filtered through, fractured into dappled shards of shadow, layer upon layer beneath which not a single figure could be seen.

Qiao Laowu frowned. "Where's that brat?"

Yin Leizi's face was equally grim. "Hid in the woods?"

"Where'd he hide?"

"Burrowed underground?"

"There's not a trace on the ground—how could he have burrowed?"

"Then it must be…"

The four exchanged glances, pupils shrinking slightly.

Invisibility?!

This brat actually cultivated an invisibility technique?

Qiao Laowu cursed loudly. "Fuck, he's slippery as an eel, and now he can vanish? What the hell."

"How the hell do we catch him?"

Truly a treacherous little bastard!

Huo Fotuo's gaze also darkened slightly.

Yin Leizi suddenly thought of something and frowned. "This brat is only Foundation Establishment early stage—even if he learned invisibility, how could he possibly hide from our Foundation Establishment late stage spiritual senses?"

This was something Huo Fotuo and the others had never anticipated.

"Before he was captured… what connection did he have with this brat? Could Yin Laoer have been taken by this brat?"

Qiao Laowu was dissatisfied.

Huo Fotuo's eyes flashed with malice, but instantly softened into compassion, his voice calm and gentle:

Guimiansha's facial flesh sagged. "Yin Laoer's… Five Elements Invisibility Technique?"

"Yin Laoer lived over two hundred years to perfect invisibility—how old is this brat? How many nights has he walked? How could he master it so thoroughly?"

Yin Leizi sneered. "What nonsense? Foundation Establishment early stage—a brat—how strong could his spiritual sense be?"

"Set the forest on fire?"

Yin Leizi glanced again at the surrounding woods, eyes filled with wariness.

"You want to die? Now you'll draw Dao Ting Si's hounds—we won't be able to do anything!"

"Once inside Dao Yu, Yin Laoer—already facing death—won't speak out. After all, he's dead either way…"

Qiao Laowu retorted: "Then what the hell do you think caused it?"

"Fuck your mother's dog shit!" Qiao Laowu cursed.

All three froze.

Yin Leizi's gaze sharpened. "It must be that his invisibility technique is too refined."

The silent Guimiansha suddenly frowned. "His invisibility technique… I feel I've seen it before. Could it be…"

"At most twelve or thirteen patterns—could it possibly be stronger than that…"

"Besides…"

"Impossible…" Yin Leizi shook his head. "That's Yin Laoer's lifelong specialty—he's useless at everything else, survives only because of this invisibility technique. He guards it tightly—never told anyone."

"His invisibility technique is suspicious…"

Qiao Laowu flew into a rage. "Then what do we do?"

Yin Leizi's face flushed red, but he had no reply.

"Enough. Heaven has mercy—let him live. Time's running late—we have matters to attend to…"

"To pry open his mouth won't be easy…"

They saw this brat was young, his movements agile—he clearly trained hard—but they never imagined he'd learned invisibility.

"Yin Laoer's inside, then…"

"Spiritual sense too strong? Masked perception…" Qiao Laowu mused.

"The prison gates run deep—he won't get out. His life will stay inside."

"Before he was captured, he was tortured severely—his teeth were smashed and swallowed, yet he never uttered a word, never revealed the incantation for this invisibility technique…"

"The forest's so vast—how do we search?"

He neglects proper cultivation techniques, only masters these disgusting, obscure, fringe arts.

Qiao Laowu sighed irritably. "Then what? Search everywhere?"

"This kind of invisibility—soundless, invisible, erases all traces, masks spiritual sense, leaves not a single mark…"

Yin Leizi frowned, looking toward Huo Fotuo, the leader.

"Even Yin Laoer can't achieve this level."

"Something's off…"

"Besides, Yin Laoer's a stubborn bastard…"

"What about before he was captured?"

He had been toyed with by Mo Hua—he longed to kill Mo Hua right now.

But he dared not defy Huo Fotuo; he buried his hatred deep, vowing that next time they met, he'd carve the brat to pieces with his blood-stained cleaver.

The group turned and left.

After walking dozens of steps, Huo Fotuo suddenly stopped.

Qiao Laowu and the other three paused, turning to Huo Fotuo—he seemed to have remembered something, his expression puzzled.

"Big Brother, what's wrong?"

Huo Fotuo hesitated, then asked, puzzled: "How did that young cultivator recognize us?"

One person is manageable, but how could he possibly recognize all four of them in an instant?

Yin Leizi and the other two also frowned.

"Could this brat be a little dog of Dao Ting Si?"

"Dao Ting Si's fools couldn't raise a dog this cunning…"

"Could it be…"

Yin Leizi looked solemn, "That… blood-oath roster… fell into his hands?"

Huo Fotuo's eyes glinted with murderous intent, but he finally shook his head, "It's unlikely to be this coincidental…"

That item is top secret—how could it possibly land in the hands of this stranger, this brat?

Moreover, it was sealed with sealing marks and secret marks.

Its secrets are far beyond what a mere junior cultivator could ever glimpse…

"Then this…"

Yin Leizi and the others were even more confused.

Huo Fotuo suppressed all emotion, donning a compassionate expression, turned to look at the forest where Mo Hua had vanished, and spoke in a hollow, level tone:

"The matter at hand is urgent. As for this junior cultivator…"

"We'll meet again…"

Huo Fotuo's gaze burned fiercely, like karmic fire, radiating cold murderous intent.

"Next time we meet, I'll teach you how fire cultivation techniques are truly meant to be used…"

Then he turned solemnly and headed west.

Qiao Laowu and the others glared menacingly at the forest for a moment, then turned away in anger, following Huo Fotuo.

…

Within the forest, Mo Hua's shadow had long vanished.

Long ago, Mo Hua had used the concealment of the Five Elements wood qi in the forest to cast the Lesser Five Elements Concealment Technique and slipped away secretly.

Huo Fotuo is dangerous.

The other three are no better.

Since he couldn't fight them head-on, he naturally had to flee early and avoid further complications.

Mo Hua activated his concealment technique, entered the deep forest, looped along mountain paths, confirmed he had shaken off Huo Fotuo and the other three, then took a wide detour and returned to the gates of Shancheng, waiting for his senior brothers and sisters.

For safety's sake, he still kept his concealment technique active.

About a stick of incense later, two graceful figures appeared amid the bustling crowd at the city gate.

They were Murong Caiyun, dressed in colorful robes and beautiful in appearance, and Hua Qianqian, in a flowery dress, charming and lively.

Behind them followed Ouyang Feng and Shangguan Xu.

Mo Hua exhaled in relief, deactivated his concealment, and waved, "Senior brothers and sisters!"

Murong Caiyun, seeing Mo Hua, looked surprised and stepped forward to ask:

"Younger brother, why are you here? Weren't you drinking tea at the teahouse?"

"I ran into bad people!" Mo Hua said solemnly.

Bad people?

Murong Caiyun and the other three exchanged glances, then looked at Mo Hua with concern, "Are you alright?"

"Yes." Mo Hua nodded. "They wanted to kill me. I escaped."

Wanted to kill Younger Brother Mo?

Ouyang Feng's gaze turned icy; Murong Caiyun and the others wore expressions of anger, "Where are those people?"

Mo Hua felt warmth in his heart, but still shook his head,

"There were four of them—at least two were Foundation Establishment late stage, and their leader practiced forbidden techniques—extremely dangerous…"

Foundation Establishment late stage? Forbidden techniques?!

Murong Caiyun's expression changed slightly; she carefully scanned Mo Hua again. Seeing his clothes were dirty but his body unharmed, she finally sighed in relief.

Yet she also said, surprised:

"You escaped from that?"

Mo Hua replied, "I was lucky—I barely got away…"

"Alright…"

Murong Caiyun didn't press further.

This younger brother of his, for all else, had no shortage of strange, peculiar survival tricks.

Still, escaping alone from a Foundation Establishment late-stage ambush was a bit absurd…

Ouyang Feng's face grew grim as he pondered:

"Four people, at least two Foundation Establishment late stage—that must be reported to Dao Ting Si. The Dao Ting Si in Shancheng probably isn't strong enough…"

"For safety's sake, we should report it to the Dao Ting Si of Qianxue Province."

The others nodded slightly.

Mo Hua nodded vigorously.

He thought the same.

If Uncle Gu was right, then Huo Fotuo's cultivation techniques were extremely powerful—hardly any match below the Second Rank.

Even if the Second Rank Dao Ting Si of Shancheng sent people to pursue, they'd likely be wiped clean by the Infernal Fire Technique.

Best to return to Qianxue Province and report to the Fifth Rank Dao Ting Si.

No time to waste—the group hired a carriage and set off immediately, returning to Qianxue Province half a day later, entering the gates of Dao Ting Si, finding the chief official, and declaring they wished to file a report.

The procedures for "filing a report" are also complicated and slow.

Mo Hua briefly recounted the entire sequence of events and named a long list of criminal cultivators:

"Blood Woodcutter, Yin Leizi, Ghost Mask Fiend, Huo Fotuo."

The Zhisi thought Mo Hua was joking, stared blankly for a long while, then asked in confusion:

"How do you know those four are called by these titles?"

In a fifth-rank state boundary, such a vast territory teems with mixed elements; criminal and evil cultivators abound, and these titles are unfamiliar even to him.

How could a lowly cultivator recognize them?

"I overheard them talking," Mo Hua casually made up an excuse.

The Zhisi was half-skeptical.

It wasn't that he didn't believe—it was that he found it hard to believe, leaving him indecisive and unable to choose.

Mo Hua grew impatient with his hesitation and said, "Where's Gu Diansi? I'll tell him myself."

"You know Gu Diansi?"

"Yes," Mo Hua nodded. "I'm on excellent terms with Uncle Gu!"

The Zhisi looked utterly unconvinced.

That Gu Changhuai, who's as cold-faced as a "Cold-Faced Judge," scowls at everyone and ignores them all—how could he be on good terms with you, a lowly cultivator?

"Gu Diansi is swamped with official duties..."

"This is a major matter," Mo Hua said seriously, then looked at the Zhisi and lowered his voice. "Uncle Gu holds grudges—if you report this too late, he'll make your life miserable..."

Upon hearing this, the Zhisi's expression stiffened.

He didn't know whether the matter of these criminal cultivators was true or false, but one thing the young cultivator had said right:

Gu Diansi really is petty!

And the only cultivator bold enough to call Gu Diansi petty—well, at least his courage sets him apart!

"Fine, I'll take you to see Gu Diansi."

The Zhisi said readily, then turned back and added, "But... don't say I brought you."

"Got it!"

Thus, Elder Murong waited in the hall, while the Zhisi led Mo Hua through the grand, imposing halls and towering pavilions of the Dao Ting Si, turning left and right until they reached a Ting Si chamber.

This appeared to be Gu Changhuai's office within the Dao Ting Si.

Mo Hua had never been here before, so he silently memorized the route—he'd be able to knock directly on Uncle Gu's door next time he had business.

The Zhisi dared only bring Mo Hua to the door, then slipped away.

Mo Hua shook his head; clearly, Uncle Gu had terrible relations within the Dao Ting Si.

Everyone feared him.

Unlike me—I'm so likable.

There was a doorbell outside the Ting Si chamber, its design ancient and simple; Mo Hua rang it, and a clear chime echoed out.

Then, from within, came a cold, haughty voice: "Enter."

The door opened, and Mo Hua stepped inside.

The room was neat and sparse, furnished with refined elegance; Gu Changhuai sat at his desk, fully absorbed, writing something with his brush.

After Mo Hua entered, Gu Changhuai looked up, froze for a moment, then frowned.

"Why are you here again?"

He glanced around and, seeing only Mo Hua, asked:

"How did you find this place?"

The Ting Si chambers inside the Dao Ting Si were where the Diansi conducted official business; though not a forbidden zone, unauthorized movement was strictly prohibited.

Mo Hua said, "A kind Zhisi passing by brought me here."

He was loyal—he didn't reveal the Zhisi's appearance to Gu Changhuai.

Gu Changhuai sighed, helplessly, and continued writing, speaking blandly: "Speak. What is it this time?"

"I ran into Huo Fotuo!"

Gu Changhuai's hand trembled, leaving a long ink streak across the Juan Sect. He looked up, incredulous, at Mo Hua.

"Huo... Fotuo?"

"Mm!"

"How did you run into him?"

"I was drinking tea at a teahouse, and I ran into him."

Gu Changhuai stared, speechless.

Huo Fotuo isn't some peddler chasing customers—you sip tea at a teahouse and just happen to run into him...?

Or are you truly "words become law"—say you'll meet Huo Fotuo, and you just do?

Seeing Gu Changhuai's disbelief, Mo Hua said seriously: "It's true!"

Gu Changhuai didn't disbelieve outright—he just found it absurd.

The Dao Ting Si has hunted for them for so long and still has no trace—yet you, a lowly disciple of a sect, go drink tea and just happen to run into him?

Are you some little charlatan?

Moreover...

The Dao Ting Si requires evidence; even if Mo Hua is a disciple of the Grand Void Gate, one of the Eight Great Sects, he can't simply say something and have it accepted as fact.

The Dao Ting Si doesn't have the manpower to waste.

Gu Changhuai sighed: "How do you know the one you met was truly Huo Fotuo?"

Mo Hua said solemnly:

"He is tall, with a kind face, speaks little, wears ordinary clothes over a monk's robe, his hair tied up—fake—and beneath it hide several fire-scarred ordination marks…"

"There are three others with him: a giant wielding a blood-red woodcutter's axe, called 'Qiao Laowu,' possibly the criminal cultivator known as 'Blood Woodcutter'…"

"Another is a thin man, gloomy-faced—likely 'Yin Leizi'; the third is a burly giant, face covered in coarse flesh, expression monstrous—probably 'Ghost Mask Fiend'…"

Gu Changhuai shed his casual expression, his face growing more solemn as he listened.

What Mo Hua said didn't sound like a lie.

These people were indeed infamous criminal cultivators from the second-grade prefecture.

But…

Gu Changhuai stared solemnly at Mo Hua. "How do you know so many criminal cultivators' names?"

'Blood Woodcutter,' 'Yin Leizi,' 'Ghost Mask Fiend'—he named them off like he was reciting household items.

As if these criminals were dishes on his menu…

Mo Hua spoke with solemn indignation:

"Though my cultivation is low, I remember my sect's teachings: uphold the righteous path, slay demons and eradicate evil, hate wickedness, despise criminal cultivators—I've long wanted to net them all!"

"So I've always collected intelligence on criminal cultivators; I know a bit more than most…"

Gu Changhuai's head throbbed.

What nonsense are you spouting, brat?

Uphold the righteous path, hate evil…

Are you really saying that's you?

Even lies need a draft.

Yet deep down, he felt vaguely that the matter of Huo Fotuo might be true.

But the evidence was still too thin…

Height, appearance, monk's robe, fire-scarred ordination marks…

They only prove this man resembles Huo Fotuo—there are other cultivators in this world who follow Buddhism, burn ordination marks, and wear monk's robes.

Gu Changhuai frowned. "Any other clues proving he is Huo Fotuo?"

Mo Hua thought a moment. "He excels in fire arts; when he casts them, two flames ignite within his body—like two hearts…"

Gu Changhuai's heart jolted. "He used his arts?"

"He did."

Gu Changhuai's gaze sharpened at Mo Hua. "You ran?"

"Mm." Mo Hua nodded. "The moment he moved, I ran."

"How did you run?"

Mo Hua thought his question was redundant. "Of course with my legs…"

Gu Changhuai was exasperated.

"I meant—"

He calmed himself, then suddenly froze, his gaze darkening, and stopped asking.

Some things simply shouldn't be asked.

Especially survival techniques of cultivators…

Yet Mo Hua was becoming increasingly inscrutable in his eyes…

"Do you know where Huo Fotuo went?" Gu Changhuai said gravely.

Mo Hua shook his head. "I'm lucky I escaped—I wouldn't dare follow them."

"Where did you encounter them?"

"Outside Luanshan City…"

Mo Hua thought again, adding detail. "At the junction of the mountain roads between Luanshan City and Bishan City, there's a forest and a small teahouse…"

"The junction of Luanshan City and Bishan City's mountain roads…"

Gu Changhuai nodded. "Good. I'll go there myself with a team. If this is true…"

Gu Changhuai glanced at Mo Hua. "I'll credit you with a successful mission."

Mo Hua's heart leapt. "Thank you, Uncle Gu."

Gu Changhuai nodded, frowning in deep thought.

"Uncle Gu," Mo Hua asked softly, "why has Huo Fotuo suddenly appeared? What does he intend?"

Gu Changhuai shook his head. "I don't know. Don't ask. Don't interfere."

After saying this, he gathered his Juan Sect files and hurried out the door.

He summoned several squads of Enforcers, dispatching them in different directions—clearly to track Huo Fotuo's movements.

Mo Hua wanted to join them, but he knew without thinking that Uncle Gu would never allow it, so he returned to the sect with his senior brothers and sisters.

Back at the sect, Mo Hua still brooded over the matter.

How could he capture Huo Fotuo?

How could he obtain the cultivation method of the forbidden art, 'Yunhuo Shu,' from Huo Fotuo?

And that Huo Fotuo—face full of compassion, yet slaughtering without mercy…

Why had he suddenly appeared? What did he want?

The clues were too few; no matter how Mo Hua thought, he couldn't understand.

So Mo Hua asked Elder Murong to help gather information.

He vaguely felt that if Huo Fotuo had appeared, he must be planning something…

Several days later, Elder Murong Caiyun found Mo Hua. After a pause, she spoke with a solemn expression:

"The Xie family of Bishan City has been wiped out by Huo Fotuo."

"The Xie family was reduced to a sea of fire; men, women, young and old, all burned to charcoal—no survivors left…"