Chapter 673: God, Demon, Ghost

Mo Hua stared blankly, muttering under his breath:

"No way…"

If one really must "eat" a god to break through the realm, could anyone actually cultivate this art?

Or is this just my own speculation?

Mo Hua frowned.

This "Great Expansion Sword Art," though an ancient technique passed to me by my mysterious master, is too profound to possibly be this "monstrous"…

To slay a god, devour divine essence, transform the spirit, and only then break through the cultivation realm.

If that's truly the case, it shouldn't be called "Great Expansion Sword Art"—it should be named "Devour God Art"…

Mo Hua silently grumbled to himself.

"It probably isn't that bad…"

Mo Hua exhaled softly, but then his heart tightened again.

What if?

What if breaking through the bottleneck—achieving Foundation Establishment mid-stage, late-stage, even finally forming the Golden Core—truly requires slaying and devouring gods, transforming the spirit into divine essence? Then I'm finished.

Mo Hua furrowed his brow, his young face turning grim.

Demonic gods aren't easy to kill…

"Divine essence" is even rarer—something you can't even seek out.

Time is also limited.

It's already the second year of my entry.

By the third year, I must decide whether to advance or repeat.

If I truly must "eat" a god to break through, and I don't prepare now, don't gorge myself on "divine essence" beforehand…

Next year, everyone else will break their bottlenecks and become mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

If I can't break through in a rush, I'll surely be forced to repeat the year.

And if I never get divine essence, if my cultivation remains blocked by the bottleneck, I might be stuck in early-stage Foundation Establishment for life—repeating the year forever…

Mo Hua's heart tightened.

If I repeat once, I'll go from being Cheng Mo's "Senior Brother" to becoming their "Junior Brother."

If I never break through, will I remain a "Junior Brother" for life?

Mo Hua's expression turned serious.

No, absolutely not!

Even if I'm spared expulsion from Grand Void Gate out of respect for Mr. Xun…

But being permanently stuck at Foundation Establishment won't just humiliate me—it'll bring shame upon Mr. Xun, who has faith in me.

And if I truly can't break through, with only Foundation Establishment cultivation, there are countless things I'll never accomplish in this lifetime.

I still need to wait until my cultivation rises, until I learn the array technique Mr. Situ described—"reverse yin and yang, defy life and death, seize creation"—to save my master!

Mo Hua's gaze hardened.

"I need to think of a plan ahead of time…"

Always prepare for the worst-case scenario…

If the Great Expansion Sword Art truly requires "eating" gods to break through, then I must prepare early, act before disaster strikes, and use every means possible to gorge myself on "divine essence" in advance!

Then even if this art is truly "monstrous," I won't be afraid at all!

Mo Hua nodded.

"I'll plan as if breaking through requires 'eating' gods…"

"But where will I find enough 'gods' to eat?"

Mo Hua frowned, puzzled.

Demonic gods aren't cabbage.

I can't just find them whenever I want, capture them whenever I want, or "eat" them whenever I want…

And even if I did find them, capture them, and swallow them, other troubles would follow.

Mo Hua still didn't fully understand what a god truly was.

What's the difference between demonic gods and ordinary gods?

What is a god's Dao?

What are a god's methods?

And if I eat "divine essence," if I'm transformed by divinity, won't I gradually lose my humanity, forget my original intentions, and cease to be myself?

Until I understand these questions, I can't dare to "eat" gods recklessly.

Mo Hua frowned, pondering deeply for a long time, yet still found no answers.

In his mere dozen years of cultivation experience, he'd rarely encountered any knowledge about "gods."

Unable to figure it out, Mo Hua set it aside—for now.

The next morning, after Dao class, Mo Hua rushed to Grand Void Gate's Scripture Library, searching for any records or inherited texts concerning "gods."

Reading in the Scripture Library required merit points.

Mo Hua was currently "rich"—his merit points were abundant, so he didn't mind the cost.

But after flipping through many texts for a long time, he found nothing useful.

Some Dao texts contained only brief, vague mentions: which province had which god, received incense, and protected the region.

Or how human greed corrupted faith, turning once-benevolent gods into demonic gods.

Or how powerful cultivators suppressed and sealed demonic gods who caused chaos.

But these records are mostly "alleged" and "rumors," their truth unknown.

Not to mention texts involving the divine origin, divine cultivation, "eating" gods…

Or texts detailing the "theological" transmission of terms like Divine Embryo, Dao Transformation, Divine Marrow, Food Worship, Divine Position, Incense Fire, and Authority, as spoken by that Golden Deity's giant eyeball.

Mo Hua had a faint feeling.

Gods and humans seemed to be two entirely different kinds of Dao cultivators.

"Ask Master Xun, or the sect's elders?"

Mo Hua considered it, but gave up.

With his "ill intentions" and "unmentionable" goals, such taboo questions were better left unasked of the elders.

If so, there was only one solution:

Ask Huang Shanjun.

After all, Huang Shanjun was the only "god" among Mo Hua's "friends."

Though he was fallen, merely a poor little mountain deity, a mountain deity was still a god—he knew more than Mo Hua did.

Mo Hua made up his mind.

Several days later, on the monthly day off, Mo Hua specially prepared wine, food, and offerings, and went to Ku Mountain.

This visit was intentional—not a casual stop.

To avoid "breaking his word" and not letting Huang Shanjun be "disappointed," Mo Hua rose early, hired a faster carriage, hoping to arrive and return quickly, lest something else delay him again.

The carriage raced like the wind; after several hours, Mo Hua arrived at Ku Mountain.

Disembarking, the familiar rugged mountain path, the familiar steep stone steps, lay before him.

The surroundings were just as he remembered—serene and desolate.

From afar, he could already see Huang Shanjun's ruined temple.

A sense of warmth arose in Mo Hua's heart.

He stepped up the moss-slicked stone steps, facing the morning sun, cheerful and light-footed, walking step by step toward the ruined temple.

The mountain breeze was crisp; the mountain scenery remained unchanged.

Mo Hua hummed a tune all the way into the temple, looked up—and saw Huang Shanjun seated upright on the clay statue, his expression grim.

As if enduring punishment, his face bore resignation and utter despair.

Mo Hua looked up at the sky, puzzled:

"Huang Shanjun, the weather is so fine today—why do you look so unhappy?"

Huang Shanjun gave Mo Hua a resentful glance.

Isn't it because I know you're coming…

Huang Shanjun sighed inwardly.

Ever since he sensed that little troublemaker was about to return, he'd been anxious, unable to sleep for days and nights…

That premonition had come since early this month.

But for some reason, it suddenly vanished.

Huang Shanjun thought the child wouldn't come after all, his heavy heart lifted, overjoyed.

But he hadn't been happy long before the premonition surged back, stronger than ever—and unavoidable.

Huang Shanjun had resigned himself, so early that morning, he sat listlessly inside the clay statue, suffering as he waited for the "guest" to arrive.

Mo Hua glanced around curiously: "Aren't you going to hide in the puppy this time?"

Huang Shanjun's face was blank.

If hiding in the puppy worked, I'd have done it long ago.

But the truth is, even hiding in the puppy won't help—I'll still be found by this child sniffing out my scent…

Just fooling oneself, god or not.

Seeing Huang Shanjun seemed downcast, Mo Hua assumed it was because he had no incense offerings or food to eat, hence his low spirits.

So even humans in decline have no good days.

Even gods in decline must live in poverty.

Those at the bottom, whether god or human, seemed much the same.

Mo Hua felt a pang of sympathy, then a wave of relief: Good thing I came!

"I brought you something delicious!"

Mo Hua took out from his storage pouch the prepared spirit wine, spirit fruits, buns, pastries, meat, and alcohol, placing them all on the altar, then stared expectantly at Huang Shanjun.

As if saying: Eat quickly.

Amid his complex emotions, Huang Shanjun felt a touch of warmth.

This child meant great trouble…

He sighed, unwilling—but too afraid—to refuse Mo Hua's kindness, so he sipped the wine and ate a few bites of chicken.

The moment the meat touched his tongue, Huang Shanjun's narrow eyes brightened.

Heaven have mercy—he hadn't eaten such delicious offerings in ages.

So delicious!

Huang Shanjun forgot his worries, indulging wildly in the feast.

Mo Hua nodded.

These offerings had been specially prepared by Mo Hua.

Some dishes he'd cooked himself, infused with the goodwill of a juvenile "semi-god."

But Mo Hua didn't know this.

Huang Shanjun never expected this.

He only felt that today's offering was especially delicious—perhaps the most delicious offering he'd eaten since being slain by a divine thought-turned-sword and reduced to dwelling in this ruined temple.

Huang Shanjun ate with his head swaying, eyes half-closed.

Mo Hua, seeing this, was also delighted. He lightly leapt onto the offering altar and sat beside Huang Shanjun, then pulled a roasted lamb leg from his storage pouch and began feasting alongside Huang Shanjun.

Mo Hua remembered that Huang Shanjun didn't eat lamb, so he happily claimed the lamb leg for himself.

Huang Shanjun caught the scent of lamb and his body stiffened involuntarily.

He turned his head and saw Mo Hua, seemingly oblivious, gnawing on the lamb leg, grease smeared all over his little mouth, and couldn't help but blink rapidly.

After a while, Huang Shanjun sighed, took a sip of wine, and went back to eating his offering.

The mountain forest was fresh and clear; the temple stood silent and still.

Bright sunlight streamed through the roof, spilling across the ground.

Mo Hua and Huang Shanjun sat side by side, quietly—one gnawing on a lamb leg, the other eating his offering.

After eating for a while, Huang Shanjun suddenly realized.

"You came to me… you must have something to ask, right?"

"Mm!" Mo Hua nodded, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and asked bluntly:

"Shanjun, what's the difference between gods and humans?"

"This…"

Huang Shanjun blinked in surprise. "Why are you asking this?"

"I'm just curious."

Mo Hua blinked his eyes.

Huang Shanjun silently pursed his lips—he didn't believe for a second that Mo Hua had traveled so far and brought delicious food and drink just because he was "curious."

"Just tell me!" Mo Hua took another small bite of the lamb leg.

Huang Shanjun was about to brush him off, but suddenly his heart gave a jolt.

Mo Hua's face was innocent and adorable, yet somehow carried an air of authority that made him feel…

Unable to refuse.

Huang Shanjun's heart trembled.

Had something happened to this child again?

Why did his words make a mountain god like me instinctively unable to refuse?!

Huang Shanjun's expression shifted, his thoughts churning.

Mo Hua found this strange and asked:

"Shanjun, what's wrong?"

Huang Shanjun startled, then forced a smile, awkwardly saying:

"N-nothing… nothing at all."

"Oh." Mo Hua gave Huang Shanjun a skeptical look and asked again: "Then can you tell me? What exactly is a god? How is it different from a human?"

After asking, Mo Hua expected Huang Shanjun to stall again.

To his surprise, Huang Shanjun seemed to tremble slightly, then sighed deeply and said plainly: "Fine, I'll tell you…"

"Mm-mm."

Mo Hua immediately sat up straight, listening intently.

Huang Shanjun looked at Mo Hua, his expression complex, then slowly sighed:

"A god is also one of the myriad spirits of heaven and earth, but unlike humans, it does not rely on flesh and blood—it is a powerful, independent, pure form of divine thought."

"But that doesn't mean gods don't need a vessel."

"Just as humans have both flesh and spirit—neither can be missing."

"When a human's cultivation reaches a certain height, their spirit can temporarily leave the body, but neither body nor spirit may be harmed."

"If the spirit dissipates, the flesh becomes ownerless; if the flesh perishes, the spirit dies."

"Gods are much the same…"

"Different gods have different vessels—some are stones, some are riverbeds—but most gods dwell in something called a 'god statue'…"

"The 'god statue' is essentially the god's 'flesh.'"

"But god statues come in many types: some are primal god statues, some are twin god statues, some are preaching god statues, and some are even heterodox external god statues…"

"Preaching?" Mo Hua frowned.

Huang Shanjun said: "To grow stronger, gods must consume incense offerings—they need human faith, so they must 'preach'…"

"The wider the preaching, the more followers, the deeper the devotion, the stronger the god."

"A god cannot move their only 'primal' god statue; they must split their essence and dwell in 'preaching' god statues, then scatter them across the Nine Provinces so people everywhere can offer incense…"

Mo Hua understood. "So most god statues visible across heaven and earth are 'preaching' god statues—housing fragments of the god's divine thought, used solely to consume incense and receive offerings?"

"And the 'primal god statue' is like the god's core—something that must never be revealed?"

Huang Shanjun nodded. "Correct."

Mo Hua's eyes suddenly lit up as he stared at the clay statue Huang Shanjun inhabited and asked curiously:

"Then is your clay statue a primal god statue—or a preaching god statue?"

Huang Shanjun jumped in fright and immediately covered his clay statue. "I can't tell you that!"

If I tell you, I'm done for!

Mo Hua didn't truly need to know. Seeing Huang Shanjun's panicked expression, he reassured it:

"Relax, I was just asking out of curiosity—I'm not planning to steal it or anything."

Huang Shanjun was skeptical but still clung tightly to his clay statue.

Mo Hua spoke more soothing words and offered him some melons and fruits, finally calming Huang Shanjun.

"The preaching idol…"

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then suddenly asked: "Is there any deity… who dwells inside a human body?"

Huang Shanjun's gaze trembled, his expression turning terrifying.

Mo Hua blinked in surprise. "What's wrong?"

Huang Shanjun struggled internally, then sighed:

"Yes…"

"Deities usually dwell only in idols. If one dwells inside a human, it means… it has become a demonic god!"

"Demonic god…"

Mo Hua's gaze darkened slightly.

Huang Shanjun's expression turned solemn as he continued: "Idols are typically made of clay or stone—these are lifeless, unconscious things of the world, 'clean'."

"When a deity dwells within an idol, it follows its own 'Dao' without being affected, and no great harm arises."

"But humans are different. Humans possess spiritual awareness, which harbors countless unknown greed and desires—'unclean'…"

"When a deity dwells inside a human, it either pollutes the human, or is polluted by the human…"

"Once polluted, it degenerates…"

"Not just humans—if a deity dwells within a demonic beast, a spirit beast, or any other sentient, living creature, it means He has become a 'demonic god,' or at the very least, has set foot upon the path of the demonic god…"

Huang Shanjun's gaze held deep fear.

Mo Hua felt a chill and whispered: "Is a demonic god… really that terrifying?"

Huang Shanjun nodded, his face filled with dread.

Mo Hua thought again, still confused: "Why does dwelling inside living flesh cause pollution, degeneration, and transformation into a demonic god?"

"Isn't just receiving incense and worship enough to prevent degeneration?"

"What happens when one becomes a demonic god?"

"What exactly makes a demonic god so terrifying?"

…

Mo Hua asked a string of questions.

Huang Shanjun smiled bitterly. "I'm just a minor, fallen mountain deity. How could I know such things? I dare not offend a demonic god…"

"That's true…"

Mo Hua nodded and stopped pressing Huang Shanjun, no longer asking about the terrifying topic of demonic gods.

Huang Shanjun also exhaled in relief.

"By the way…" Mo Hua thought again, then chose another question that puzzled him deeply, asking slowly:

"Can a human become a deity?"

Huang Shanjun blinked, then immediately shook his head. "What are you thinking? That's impossible."

"Even if one receives incense like a deity?" Mo Hua asked.

Huang Shanjun snapped: "Have you ever seen a living human receive incense?"

Mo Hua recalled—indeed, in his memory, there was no example of a living human receiving incense.

Huang Shanjun said: "A deity is a deity; a human is a human. Though both are creatures of heaven and earth, they are utterly different. A human can never 'become a deity.'"

"Without a physical body, spiritual awareness will eventually perish."

"With a body, all desires cling to it, constantly polluting it—without the foundation to strip away worldly filth, it is forever impossible to become a deity."

Mo Hua nodded slowly, then asked:

"What if one discards the body entirely and dwells directly in an object—like a painting, a sword, or a gourd…"

Mo Hua remembered he had seen many contemplation diagrams, where the malevolent spirits were all like this.

Huang Shanjun said: "That's not a human, not a deity—it's a 'ghost.'"

"Ghost?"

Mo Hua was startled.

Huang Shanjun nodded. "A human's spiritual awareness and physical body are one—flesh, spirit, and consciousness are fused, inseparable…"

"Once a human's spiritual awareness leaves the body—or the body is destroyed and the awareness lingers—that awareness becomes 'incomplete'…"

"An incomplete thing seeks completion."

"Dwelling in an object? But the object is not yours. Dwelling in another body? But your original body is gone—even if you take someone else's body, it is still not yours."

"Under such conditions, your spiritual awareness will continuously decay, your memories will gradually blur, and your original 'humanity' will slowly twist…"

"Then gradually, you become a 'ghost'…"

"Once a human becomes a ghost, what does it do?" Huang Shanjun looked at Mo Hua, sighed, and asked slowly.

Mo Hua frowned, thinking. "Will it eat other people's spiritual awareness?"

Huang Shanjun nodded. "Yes. Without a body, without a place to nurture it, your spiritual awareness constantly decays and cannot recover—so you must consume others' spiritual awareness to sustain yourself."

"Can't you eat other ghosts or malevolent thoughts instead?" Mo Hua asked.

Huang Shanjun said: "Naturally you can—but where do you find other ghosts or malevolent thoughts so easily? Even if you find them, you may not be their match."

"Even if you consume them, it does little good…"

Huang Shanjun sighed with deep emotion: "The most terrifying thing about a human becoming a ghost is…"

"They prioritize eating their own blood relatives."

Mo Hua's gaze sharpened. "Blood relatives?"

Huang Shanjun nodded and said, "When a person becomes a 'ghost,' their spiritual sense degrades, and their memories grow hazy."

"Among others, the one who holds the most memories related to you is naturally your blood kin."

"Thus, after becoming a vengeful ghost, the first thing it wishes to 'consume' is the spiritual essence of its relatives, to sustain its own existence."

"This is instinct; it cannot be suppressed."

"Even if suppressed for a time, the savage nature will eventually erupt."

"Secondly, a ghost has lost its physical body, and what most closely resembles that body is a relative who shares its bloodline."

"Thus, ghosts also grow accustomed to parasitizing their own parents and children."

Huang Shanjun sighed, "Therefore, once a person becomes a 'ghost,' or a cultivator becomes a ghost cultivator, it means they have almost certainly already harmed their own closest kin…"

Mo Hua felt pity, lost in thought.

Huang Shanjun's tone turned solemn at last:

"Gods, humans, and ghosts are all tied to 'spiritual sense,' governed by certain Daoist principles, yet they are sharply distinct, utterly different."

"These teachings on spiritual sense are extremely secret Daoist knowledge—I am a mountain god, and having lived so long, I've learned more than most."

"Ordinary cultivators, who do not cultivate spiritual awareness, lack strong spiritual sense and are utterly ignorant of these matters."

"They only know to revere gods and fear ghosts, yet they do not know what they revere or what they fear."

"Even among cultivators, some so-called noble clans, filled with ancient elders, lack this lineage and do not understand spirits or ghosts—they know little either…"

Here, Huang Shanjun stroked his beard with a look of self-satisfaction.

Mo Hua nodded respectfully, then paused slightly, glancing skeptically at Huang Shanjun:

"Huang Shanjun, have you lived a very, very long time?"

Huang Shanjun was stunned, sweat breaking out on his brow.

(End of Chapter)