Chapter 695

White bone furnace, gloomy furnace fire, sinister alchemist.

This scene felt eerily familiar.

Mo Hua frowned, unable to help recalling the bloody alchemical furnace, the strange herbs, and the dead cultivators he had seen in the Great Heishan Shanzhai's main hall.

"These human traffickers kidnap cultivators to forge human pills…"

Mo Hua's gaze turned cold.

Inside the room, the sinister alchemist was fully focused, controlling the eerie green furnace fire to refine dark alchemical pills.

Around the furnace was extremely bloody.

Human bones, living hearts, and other organs.

These all seemed to be "ingredients" or "catalysts" for alchemy.

From the signs, it was clear countless cultivators had fallen victim to these traffickers and the sinister alchemist.

Mo Hua's heart sank.

"Those two children…"

His gaze swept quickly through the alchemy chamber, finally spotting an ancient altar at its center.

Upon the altar stood a statue of a river god with a human body and a fish's face.

Below it knelt two children, bound by ropes, foreheads pressed to the ground, motionless as statues, bowing to the river god's statue.

They were precisely the two young grandsons of Lao Yu Tou who had gone missing.

Mo Hua exhaled softly, then frowned again.

The two children were still alive, but their condition was dire—breath faint, spiritual sense barely detectable; he did not know if the river god had already consumed them…

"We must rescue those two children as soon as possible…"

He took another look at the alchemy chamber, memorized every object within, then slipped away silently.

After retreating, Mo Hua circled the perimeter once more.

He memorized the number, positions, and approximate cultivation levels of the black-robed cultivators, as well as the layout of the fisher huts, before returning to the village entrance to find Gu An and the others.

"I found Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Shuizi," Mo Hua whispered.

Gu An and Gu Quan's eyes lit up; Yu Dahe's expression grew agitated.

"But there are too many traffickers…"

Mo Hua pulled out paper and drew a simple map, marking the layout of the fisher huts and the positions of the black-robed figures.

"Nine in total. The leader, the head black-robed cultivator, and the sinister alchemist are both Foundation Establishment late-stage."

"The river bandit—I recognize him. Foundation Establishment mid-stage."

"The others, I don't know, but they're all roughly Foundation Establishment mid-stage."

Nine people: two Foundation Establishment late-stage, seven Foundation Establishment mid-stage.

Gu An and Gu Quan frowned.

The number was too high; the situation was tricky.

Gu An pondered a moment, then said: "We can rescue them, but after freeing them, we may not escape unscathed."

Mo Hua said: "Let's call for reinforcements—bring in the forces outside and wipe out this entire gang of traffickers."

Gu Quan whispered: "Even then, we probably won't capture them all—some will slip away…"

"It's fine," Mo Hua said. "I have a plan."

Gu An and Gu Quan exchanged glances, but still followed Mo Hua's orders.

Gu An began sending orders via transmission talisman.

More than a dozen Gu family cultivators were stationed in the small fishing village.

Following Mo Hua's instructions, Gu An selected ten cultivators with deep cultivation, superior mobility, and experience swimming underwater, and instructed them one by one.

Including the direction after descending, how to feed the water monsters, and so on.

Then came a long wait.

Yu Dahe was frantic with anxiety.

Mo Hua was also anxious inside, but there was no choice—acting rashly might save the two children, but would alert the enemy and trap them all in an ambush.

Acting in haste like this would only ruin everything.

If so, better to gather forces, prepare thoroughly, and settle it once and for all.

Moreover, though the black-robed leader was offering the two children as a sacrifice to the river god to be "consumed," Mo Hua had just observed that this sacrifice was not merely "eating."

There must be other hidden secrets, and this ritual would surely last for some time.

For now, time was still sufficient.

After an indeterminate length of time, Gu An's expression shifted—he glanced at the transmission talisman, then said to Mo Hua: "They've arrived."

Mo Hua nodded and whispered: "Have them wait at the village entrance. I'll go meet them."

Outside the village lay a blood mist, within which blood leeches swarmed.

If he didn't guide them, all ten Gu family cultivators would perish there.

Gu An nodded. "Good."

Mo Hua rose and walked alone through the blood mist, avoiding the blood leeches, reaching the village's edge.

The ten Gu family cultivators were stationed outside; seeing Mo Hua, they bowed in unison:

"Young Master Mo!"

Mo Hua noticed they were soaked, clutching dead spotted fish—they must have just swum over from the water monsters.

But one man's right leg was splattered with blood; the flesh seemed gnawed away, exposing gleaming white bone.

"Slowed a step crossing the river—got bitten by that monster. Already took the pill, no serious harm."

The Gu family cultivator's face was pale, enduring pain but with a resolute expression.

Mo Hua admired him, then warned:

"Follow me closely—remember, not a single step can be wrong!"

The Gu family cultivator looked slightly puzzled.

Matters of evil spirits—they wouldn't understand even if told.

Mo Hua said: "Outside the village lies a deadly array."

Only then did they understand, bowing respectfully: "We humbly obey Young Master Mo's orders!"

Mo Hua nodded, then led the way, guiding the ten men through the blood mist, avoiding the evil blood leeches, following the path laid by the divine array, straight into the village, where he met up with Gu An and the others.

Now, our side had fourteen people altogether.

With more against fewer, the advantage is ours!

Mo Hua circled several positions on the map.

"A frontal assault still carries too much risk, so we'll set an ambush…"

"You'll take up hidden positions exactly where I've marked."

"Then I'll set up an array first and detonate it—should wound them severely, at least lightly…"

"Send two people to rescue the two children."

"The rest will strike together, seizing these human traffickers."

"Break their limbs, shatter their Qi seas, then bind them with Spirit-Binding Chains."

"Anyone who resists—kill on sight, no mercy!"

Mo Hua said firmly.

The Gu family cultivator's expression cleared.

This Young Master Mo acted with meticulous planning and decisive ruthlessness—he had the bearing of a Dian Si of the Dao Court.

In that moment, they almost felt as if Young Master Changhuai had shrunk down and was giving them orders.

Of course, one thing was different.

Young Master Changhuai wasn't very good with arrays.

But when it came to arrays…

Gu Quan frowned: "Young Master, arrays must be set up in advance—right now, there doesn't seem to be time to lay one…"

Mo Hua smiled confidently: "Don't worry—I have my own method!"

Gu Quan froze, then nodded involuntarily.

Professional matters must be left to professionals.

In arrays, he could never understand them better than Young Master Mo.

If Young Master Mo said it could be done, then it could be done.

"Wait—I'll go set up the array first…"

Mo Hua had just risen, taken a few steps, then turned back.

"Young Master Mo, what's wrong?" Gu An asked, puzzled.

"Wait—I need to think about which array to use…" Mo Hua murmured.

His original plan had been to use a fire-and-earth array, but the fishing village was too dark—the fire-elemental Spirit Ink array patterns would be too conspicuous.

And this mission was to rescue people—mistakes must be avoided as much as possible.

At the very least, risk must be reduced to the minimum.

"I need a powerful, low-profile, subtle array—one whose patterns won't show when drawn on the ground…"

Mo Hua thought silently.

Then he took out the Grand Void Token and flipped through it for a while, finally finding an array that suited him.

Four hundred and seventy merit points—a second-rank, sixteen-pattern array: Earth Death Array!

Though it stung, Mo Hua bought it without hesitation.

Arrays are meant to be used; merit points are meant to be spent.

After purchasing the Earth Death Array, the Grand Void Token delayed slightly.

Though not within Qian Xue Province's borders, it wasn't far away—the magnetic field was weaker, but not completely severed.

A few breaths later, the complete second-rank, sixteen-pattern Earth Death Array diagram appeared within the Grand Void Token.

Mo Hua's spirit lifted—he immediately began studying it.

Gu An couldn't hold back: "Young Master Mo, what are you…?"

Mo Hua's spiritual sense sank into the Grand Void Token, one hand sketching patterns on the ground, casually replying: "Wait—I'm learning an array."

Gu An's mouth dropped open: "You're… learning it now?"

Mo Hua, as if it were obvious: "If you don't know it, you learn it!"

Gu An's expression grew complicated.

That's not the issue…

But he dared not disturb Mo Hua again; the group stood silently, watching as Mo Hua, utterly focused, drew unfamiliar patterns on the ground.

Mo Hua learned the Earth Death Array quickly.

Though its name contains the character "earth," it is not a pure Bagua "Kun" array—it leans more toward the orthodox Five Elements Earth array.

It incorporates partial Bagua principles and is tied to the earth.

Mo Hua was proficient in Five Elements arrays and had communed with the Dao essence of the earth, so his comprehension came with twice the efficiency.

And that wasn't all.

Since swallowing the Divine Marrow, Mo Hua felt his understanding of arrays had become faster and deeper than before.

Some arrays seemed as if carved into his instincts.

The Divine Marrow contains the primordial essence of gods.

The primordial essence of gods arises from the Dao.

Arrays are also manifestations of the Dao.

So, swallowing the Divine Marrow and refining the primordial essence of gods allows one to harmonize with the Dao, thereby achieving deeper comprehension of arrays?

Mo Hua silently speculated in his heart.

But no matter what, he was now learning arrays faster than ever.

The same held true for this Earth-Slaying Array.

Mo Hua quickly sketched the array lines, traced them a few times, and soon had the entire array clearly in mind.

"Got it!" After a short while, Mo Hua nodded.

Gu An and the others froze.

Already got it?

Are arrays really this easy to learn?

Had he not known Mo Hua's character, Gu An might have suspected the Young Master was teasing them…

Weren't arrays supposed to be hard to learn and master, with slow comprehension?

Was that statement wrong?

Gu An and the others fell into self-doubt.

Mo Hua, unaware of their thoughts, said:

"I'll set the array. You all hide as planned. When the array detonates, strike immediately!"

The group snapped back to attention, their gazes solemn:

"Yes!"

Mo Hua gave a slight nod, then concealed his presence and quietly climbed onto the roof of the fisherman's hut, walked along the roof to the alchemy chamber, and checked on the two children.

The two children still knelt before the altar, like sacrificial offerings to a god, yet their breaths still lingered.

Mo Hua exhaled in relief.

Elsewhere, the evil alchemist was still refining pills, the black-robed men and the River Dragon were still drinking, some dozing off.

These people were utterly unguarded.

Mo Hua was just ready to strike.

He took out several vials of earth-elemental spirit ink from his storage pouch, then pulled out a handful of spirit stones, crushed them into powder, and fused them into the ink to supply the array with spiritual energy.

Then, with his spiritual sense, he guided the ink as it slithered across the ground.

In the pitch-black night, the spirit ink crept along the floor like a venomous serpent lying in wait, silently winding its way to form the array, completely enveloping the fisherman's hut.

Time slowly passed; the spirit ink extended strand by strand, and the array gradually took shape.

Mo Hua lay prone on the roof, utterly focused on drawing the array, when suddenly he heard a faint sound.

"Master She…"

Master She?

Mo Hua froze, dividing his attention: one part still drawing the array, the other glancing sideways toward the fisherman's hut.

A man entered the fisherman's hut.

Disheveled hair, clad in an alchemist's robe, face painted in garish reds and greens, eyes wild—this was the evil alchemist.

"This evil alchemist's surname is She?" Mo Hua muttered inwardly.

Inside the hut, all the black-robed men rose and bowed to the evil alchemist. "Greetings, Master She."

Master She wore an air of arrogance and nodded slightly.

The lead black-robed man respectfully asked: "Master, has the pill been refined?"

"Almost…" Master She strode straight to the seat of honor; a black-robed man immediately stood to offer him the place.

Master She sat down calmly. "I grew bored refining. Came for some wine."

Someone beside him immediately poured wine for him.

Master She lifted the cup, drained it in one gulp, then smacked his lips and shook his head. "Too bland… no human blood mixed in. Lacks flavor."

The lead black-robed man said: "The wind is tight today. We have little stock—only plain wine. We apologize, Master She."

Master She didn't mind, only warned:

"In this fishing village, you must be utterly vigilant. Act with extreme caution. Do not anger the River God. Otherwise, even I cannot save you."

All present grew solemn and bowed their heads in assent.

Master She nodded, his tone softening slightly. "In another half-day, this batch of pills will be complete. Take them to the Young Master. Then I'll have fulfilled my duty."

"As for the next batch… I'll open the hearts of these two children as the medicine's core, strip their flesh and bones to form the pill's casing, then refine them for seven more days. Come back in seven days to collect them."

Upon hearing this, Mo Hua's eyes darkened with pity.

The lead black-robed man, however, beamed with joy and quickly bowed. "Thank you, Master She!"

"Hmm." Master She nodded.

A nearby black-robed man, quick to read the mood, poured another cup for Master She.

Master She downed it in one swallow, his face flushed slightly, his inner agitation easing a little. He growled:

"I'm going back to refine the pills. Remember my words."

The black-robed men bowed again. "Yes."

Master She rose and walked toward the inner alchemy chamber.

Mo Hua patiently continued drawing the formation.

The spiritual ink traced out bit by bit…

Master She walked to the doorway; the instant his foot touched the ground, he suddenly froze, a flicker of confusion crossing his face.

He looked down at the ground, his pupils contracting sharply, and immediately cried out: "Enemy attack!"

Having said that, he lunged outside the formation at once.

Mo Hua clicked his tongue, a touch annoyed.

This Master She—clearly an alchemist—could actually sense his formation?

Something was off…

But it didn't matter; he was almost done.

The cultivators inside the fisherman's hut, hearing Master She's warning, looked startled. By the time they reacted, their faces had gone pale, and they all rushed out of the hut.

Mo Hua's gaze turned cold. No longer hiding anything, he drove his divine sense to its limit. The spiritual ink on the ground surged like a snake transforming into a flood dragon, suddenly accelerating, drawing together and sealing shut, fully condensing into a large-scale, second-grade, sixteen-pattern Earth-Kill Formation.

Just as the black-clad men inside were about to burst out of the hut, Mo Hua said crisply:

"Detonate!"

The five-element earth qi trembled; killing intent welled up from the ground.

In an instant the earth sank, quicksand turned to blades, churning and crossing.

The entire fisherman's hut was blasted to pieces in the blink of an eye.

At the same time, two Gu family cultivators not far away broke through the roof into the alchemy room and rescued the two children, who had been kneeling with their foreheads to the ground before the offering table.

The Gu family cultivators lying in ambush around the fisherman's hut, meanwhile, were slightly dazed by the killing force of the powerful Earth-Kill Formation.

But in a moment the dust cleared, and remembering Mo Hua's instructions, they drew their blades at once and charged in to fight.

In the dead-silent fishing village, killing intent surged in an instant.

The Gu family cultivators were well-trained; joining forces, they launched a sweeping attack on the black-clad traffickers.

The black-clad traffickers were heavily wounded by the second-grade sixteen-pattern Earth-Kill Formation; most suffered grave injuries. Only the leading black-clad cultivator at the late Foundation Establishment stage was hurt somewhat less.

But even so, he felt his qi and blood churning, and both his legs had been strangled by the earth-attribute spiritual power of the Earth-Kill Formation—covered in bloody gashes, he could barely move.

Already outnumbered, they had also been struck first by Mo Hua's formation blast, leaving them battered and bleeding. The moment combat began, these traffickers fell at a disadvantage.

Mo Hua seized every opening, adding Water Prison techniques to control them, or using Fireball techniques to interfere.

In less than half a shichen, the dust settled.

Three Gu family cultivators suffered light injuries.

Two of the traffickers died, their flesh and blood corroded into a puddle of black water.

The remaining seven were all captured, their legs broken and bound with Spirit-Locking Chains—including Cross-the-River Dragon, the leading black-clad man, and that "Master She."

This Master She, though his cultivation was high, had apparently spent years refining pills, so his combat ability was ordinary.

His strength was roughly in the middle-to-lower range of late Foundation Establishment cultivators. Although his vigilance had let him dodge the Earth-Kill Formation, he still couldn't escape.

Those two children had also been rescued, though they remained unconscious.

Yu Dahe held the two children tightly in his arms, his eyes red, looking at Mo Hua with deep gratitude.

"Thank you, Young Master, thank you…"

Mo Hua's expression was somewhat complicated; in his heart he was not optimistic.

He knew the state of these two children was a little strange.

On the surface, the two children had been frightened into fainting, but Mo Hua knew clearly that a great deal of their divine sense had been devoured.

Mo Hua examined the two children again, somewhat puzzled.

It didn't look so much like their divine sense had been devoured—more like their entire divine sense had been "extracted" out of their consciousness sea by some special technique…

"Extracted?"

Mo Hua frowned, somewhat puzzled.

But he wasn't certain of this, and it wasn't easy to bring up with Yu Dahe just yet.

Just then, a low laugh rang out from inside the room.

Mo Hua followed the sound and saw Master She bound by the Spirit-Locking Chains, lying on the ground, laughing with a dark expression.

"What are you laughing at?" Mo Hua asked.

"I'm laughing at you," Master She said, fresh blood at the corner of his mouth, his smile eerie, "…rescuing back two corpses."

The crowd's expressions shifted slightly.

Mo Hua, however, had a deep, thoughtful look in his eyes.

(End of chapter)