Chapter 765: Prison

The magnetic signal improved somewhat, and Mo Hua received Elder Xun Ziyou's message.

But the valley's isolation still caused some interference; the magnetic ink was slightly blurred.

Elder Xun Ziyou: "The numerous inner sect elders of Grand Void Gate and Chongxu Gate have already taken up positions within the dense forest."

The magnetic ink faded further afterward, but the characters were still legible.

"If anything goes wrong, we will strike together, forcefully breach the Ten Thousand Demons Valley, and rescue you."

If the situation becomes critical, the Ancestor will intervene.

Of course, Elder Xun Ziyou did not say this aloud.

Unless absolutely necessary, it is best not to trouble the Ancestor.

The Void Sword Token should also be avoided if possible.

In the fifth-grade Qianxue Province, where Dongxu peaks, if the Ancestor acts, it becomes a major event, triggering upheaval among all sects.

Especially here, in Lianyao Mountain, where Liu Yuhua is forbidden.

If a Dongxu Ancestor forcibly enters, he will destroy the mountain-sealing array and violate Qianxue Province's edict—there would be too many ensuing troubles, hard to resolve.

Mo Hua did not know Elder Xun had issued the Void Sword Token; he only knew dozens of inner sect elders waited outside, and this eased his mind considerably.

To hold the position of elder within the inner sect of one of the Eight Great Sects.

Such Jin Dan cultivators are extremely, extremely strong.

In a third-grade family outside, they would be unquestionably the family's founding Ancestor.

Yet even so, they must not be allowed to launch a reckless assault.

Some things have nothing to do with cultivation level.

Mo Hua warned:

"Unless the Ten Thousand Demons Valley opens and the White Bone Dao appears, do not approach lightly."

"Especially not the blood creek outside, nor the White Bone Beach."

"It is inscribed with a demonic array, breeding all manner of yao chong—they corrupt the spirit, drive one mad, plunge the mind into frenzy."

Mo Hua had seen this with his own eyes.

On the way here, to slip beneath the coffin's bottom, he tampered with the black bear demon's chains.

The black bear demon, freed, went berserk; in its rampage, it struck one yao cultivator down into the blood creek beneath the White Bone Passage.

Mo Hua saw clearly: countless deformed yao chong rose from the creek, extending bony hands to hollow out the cultivator's brain.

The cultivator thus lost his wits, went mad, and was killed by other yao cultivators.

This White Bone Beach resembles the "Blood Leech Path" in fishing villages—both use "yao chong" to defend against outsiders and guard secrets.

Too bad I never got the chance to study it properly before entering the Ten Thousand Demons Valley.

Otherwise, so many yao chong might have made a decent snack.

Mo Hua thought silently.

Elder Xun Ziyou found Mo Hua's account somewhat fantastical.

Especially regarding "yao chong"—though he had heard of them, he had never seen them himself, so he remained half-skeptical.

But Mo Hua did not seem to be lying.

And under these circumstances, it truly was unwise to approach the Ten Thousand Demons Valley rashly.

Elder Xun Ziyou then inquired about Linghu Xiao and Xiao Muto's condition; learning they were imprisoned in cages and temporarily safe, he slowly exhaled in relief.

The Chongxu Gate elder Shangguan Xuanjian also looked greatly relieved.

Elder Xun Ziyou pondered, his expression solemn, and sent another message:

"Mo Hua, from now on, except when sleeping or resting, send me a Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch code every hour."

"If there is any hour in which I do not receive your Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch code,"

Elder Xun Ziyou's gaze turned cold, "we will breach the valley by force, no matter what!"

Whether yao chong or xie chong, we will no longer care.

Even if we burn the blood creek dry and crush every bone on the ground, we will storm in and level the Ten Thousand Demons Valley to the ground!

Mo Hua felt moved.

Elder Xun, and the sect, have been too kind to me.

At the same time, he thought silently:

"The magnetic signal inside the Ten Thousand Demons Valley had better behave—if the magnetic field weakens and the signal fails, and I fail to send my code, the entire valley will be doomed."

"Mm-hmm."

Mo Hua nodded and immediately sent "Jiazi."

From then on, except when sleeping, he would send a Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch code to Elder Xun every hour.

After sending it, Mo Hua suddenly had another question and asked Elder Xun Ziyou:

"Elder Xun, how were Linghu Xiao and Xiao Muto captured?"

This wasn't a rest day—technically, they should have been cultivating properly in the sect. How did they end up on Lianyao Mountain?

Elder Xun Ziyou replied:

"Regarding Ouyang Mu's case, it involves Tai'e Gate; details remain unclear."

"But Chongxu Gate investigated Linghu Xiao—he received a letter, became agitated upon reading it, and came alone to Lianyao Mountain."

"After Chongxu Gate's Elder Shangguan learned of this—"

"Elder Shangguan?" Mo Hua froze. "The Shangguan family's elder?"

"Yes," Elder Xun Ziyou said. "His name is Shangguan Xuanjian, born of the Shangguan family's main line, now serving as elder in Chongxu Gate."

Shangguan Xuanjian

Mo Hua nodded slowly, memorizing that name.

Elder Xun Ziyou continued: "After Senior Officer Shangguan learned of it, it was already too late. He rushed straight to Lianyao Mountain, but as soon as he entered, he was ambushed by a Jin Dan demonic cultivator."

"Senior Officer Shangguan unleashed Chong Xu Sword Qi and severed one of the Jin Dan demonic cultivator's arms; the Jin Dan demonic cultivator fled in defeat."

"Senior Officer Shangguan had no time to pursue it and pressed on into the mountains to rescue others, but not long after, he was surrounded by two more Jin Dan demonic cultivators."

Mo Hua asked: "Were those two demonic cultivator elders who escaped from Wanyao Valley?"

"Yes."

Elder Xun Ziyou sighed.

Senior Officer Shangguan had first defeated one Jin Dan demonic cultivator, then been ambushed by two more; had reinforcements not arrived in time, he would likely be dead by now.

These demonic cultivators truly have boldness.

They dare kill a Chong Xu Sect elder.

Perhaps they've cultivated demonic arts and their killing nature is too strong.

Or perhaps they're confident that even after killing a Chong Xu Sect elder, they can conceal the matter completely, leaving no trace.

Or perhaps their scheme is so vital that even killing a Chong Xu Sect elder means little.

Elder Xun Ziyou frowned.

Mo Hua nodded, yet his heart stirred slightly.

In Wanyao Valley, there are altogether three Jin Dan demonic cultivator elders.

One had his arm severed by Senior Officer Shangguan of the Chong Xu Sect.

The other two have been held back by Elder Xun and dare not return to the valley.

Does that mean there is not a single Jin Dan left inside Wanyao Valley now?

Mo Hua was stunned.

No wonder, when I used Tianji Yan Suan, cast copper coins to divine fortune and misfortune, and determined fate, I got a "Great Auspiciousness."

Turns out Wanyao Valley is just an "empty shell."

Mo Hua's eyes narrowed slightly.

With no Jin Dan demonic cultivators present in this vast Wanyao Valley, am I not now "above the law"?

Then he paused, shook his head.

Don't get too arrogant; still act with caution.

This Wanyao Valley is enormous, filled with countless demonic cultivators — one must still show "respect."

But then again, since no Jin Dan is present, my courage can be slightly "larger" — just a little.

After that, Mo Hua understood the rest.

He nodded, then sent a message to Elder Xun Ziyou:

"Elder, rest assured."

"I'll sneak in first and scout the situation."

Though Elder Xun Ziyou disliked Mo Hua acting rashly, the matter had reached this point — Wanyao Valley had only Mo Hua as a "spy." If he did nothing, the situation would remain deadlocked.

"Be careful, and remember to send me the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches numbers on time," Elder Xun Ziyou repeated solemnly.

"Mm-hmm," Mo Hua nodded.

The conversation ended. Mo Hua put away the Tai Xu Token and began considering his current situation.

First, he needed to rescue Xiao Mutou and Linghu Xiao.

After all, in a certain sense, these two were "with" him!

Of course, Linghu Xiao didn't quite count yet.

He was proud and prickly.

But Xiao Mutou had sincerely called him "Brother Mo," and even forged a sword for him — he absolutely had to be rescued.

As for Song Jian, may he have good luck.

"But how do I rescue them?"

Mo Hua looked down.

It was a spacious prison carved from bloodstone, divided into several cells.

Xiao Mutou and the other two were each locked in one cell.

Besides them, there were no other people or demonic cultivators in the prison.

"They must be held separately because their identities are particularly special," Mo Hua thought.

The prison was made of special iron, engraved with complex arrays, and guarded outside by demonic cultivators — extremely tight.

Complex arrays were no real problem for Mo Hua.

The guards weren't impossible to handle either.

But even if he broke the arrays, unlocked the doors, and killed the guards outside, he still couldn't rescue Xiao Mutou and the others.

Wanyao Valley's structure was complex and heavily fortified.

Outside the prison lay countless more demonic cultivators.

Even if one were a Jin Dan cultivator, breaking out by force would not be easy — let alone someone at Foundation Establishment mid-stage like himself.

Moreover, the main gates of Wanyao Valley were sealed shut.

From the current situation, not even a single mosquito could fly out.

Mo Hua sighed faintly.

It seemed he could only plan carefully.

Inside the prison, Xiao Mutou and the other two remained unconscious.

Song Jian, this idiot pretty boy, was even drooling, completely unaware of his situation.

Mo Hua shook his head.

He decided to go outside first and check the situation.

The entire prison, though seemingly secure, had been carved out of a cave, with jagged Shi Zhu and uneven stone walls everywhere.

Mo Hua pressed against the stone wall, using hands and feet like a big spotted cat, climbing along the ceiling toward the outside.

But this "spotted cat" was invisible.

When encountering magical arrays, Mo Hua casually dismantled them.

Wan Yao Valley was vast, so these peripheral arrays wouldn't be of high rank or too complex—otherwise the cost would be too high.

After dismantling the array and stepping outside, Mo Hua's eyes narrowed.

When he arrived, he had hidden beneath the coffin's bottom and seen nothing; now, looking around, he realized he was inside a beast prison.

The prison holding Xiao Mutou and the others was merely one cell within this entire beast prison.

This great prison had grotesque rocks, thick demonic aura, and blood-soaked air, housing countless beasts.

These beasts were bound by chains and sealed by arrays, imprisoned in individual cells.

Besides beasts, the prison also held demonic cultivators.

Between the cells, occasional low moans of suffering came from the demonic cultivators.

These demonic cultivators seemed to have committed offenses, imprisoned here to endure punishment—some pierced by poison needles, others burned by branding irons, or slashed and chopped by axes and blades.

The torture devices were varied.

"I wonder, compared to my own array torture board, which hurts more," Mo Hua thought silently.

Then he recalled a message he had reconstructed from the transmission token:

"If you dare to flee, you will be sacrificed to the Demon Refining Map, enduring the torment of ten thousand demons devouring you, your soul and spirit annihilated."

Was the Demon Refining Map also used as a "punishment"?

Mo Hua was puzzled.

"I wonder where this Demon Refining Map is."

He had been hungry for a long time and was quite curious to experience the "ten thousand demons devouring torment," to see what kind of demons lurked within the Demon Refining Map.

The entire Wan Yao Prison was vast, with occasional demonic cultivators patrolling.

Mo Hua wandered for a long time without reaching the end.

He was new here, unfamiliar with the terrain, and had to avoid demonic cultivators, so he was thoroughly disoriented.

As for the arrays,

The entire Wan Yao Valley had a strict array layout, but here in the prison, the many small cells were separated by relatively independent arrays.

In the short term, Mo Hua couldn't deduce the overall layout of Wan Yao Valley by analyzing the array structure.

"This is troublesome."

Mo Hua sighed inwardly.

He had no choice but to retrace his steps and return to the original prison cell.

Inside the cell, Xiao Mutou and Linghu Xiao had woken up.

But their expressions were dazed—they clearly had no idea what had happened, where they were, or what this place was.

Xiao Mutou looked at Linghu Xiao, his face pale. "Linghu senior brother, where are we?"

Linghu Xiao shook his head. "I don't know."

His expression remained cold, but his eyes betrayed some panic—he was merely pretending calm.

He then asked, "Mu junior brother, do you remember anything?"

Ouyang Mu nodded obediently. "I remember nothing. I only recall I was cultivating in the sect, forged a sword for a while, ate a meal, returned to the disciples' quarters, took a nap, and when I opened my eyes, I was here."

Linghu Xiao frowned.

Ouyang Mu asked, "Linghu senior brother, how did you get here?"

Linghu Xiao paused, then sighed slightly. "Someone sent me a letter saying you had gone alone into Demon Refining Mountain to forge a spare spirit sword for me—and then vanished."

"I was skeptical, but thought I should verify it, so I entered Demon Refining Mountain—but when I stepped inside, I encountered several demonic cultivators."

"I couldn't defeat them."

Linghu Xiao sighed with resentment. "They captured me, and when I woke up, I was here."

Ouyang Mu muttered, "I'm sorry—I led you into this trap."

Linghu Xiao shook his head. "I was foolish myself—it has nothing to do with you."

"I just wonder," Linghu Xiao frowned, "why did these demonic cultivators bring us here?"

He had previously been captured by demonic cultivators and thought it was just bad luck.

Now he realized it was a premeditated plot to capture him and Mu junior brother as hostages.

"Not two," Ouyang Mu said.

Linghu Xiao froze.

Ouyang Mu pointed to the cell beside them. "There seems to be another one."

Only then did Linghu Xiao notice, in the neighboring cell among the messy straw, lay another person.

At that moment, Song Jian finally woke up.

He opened his eyes, looked around, and immediately shouted:

"Who dares sneak attack me?! And drag me to this filthy, rotten place?!"

"Don't you know who I am?!"

"I am Lu Tangtang of Duanjin Gate!"

Before he could finish, he suddenly caught sight of Ouyang Mu and Linghu Xiao beside him.

Sun Yi Leng frowned. "Who are you people?"

He spent all his days hanging around the Severing Gold Sect, followed by a pack of underlings, swaggering about, and he neither remembered nor cared which disciples the other sects had.

Therefore, he didn't recognize either Ouyang Mu or Linghu Xiao.

Of course, of the disciples from other sects, he only remembered one firmly—

That was Mo Hua, with whom he shared the grudge of a stolen sword, the hatred of a destroyed blade, an irreconcilable, sworn-enemy feud.

Even if Mo Hua were reduced to ash, he would still recognize him.

Ouyang Mu said in a low voice, "I, I'm—"

Before he could finish, Linghu Xiao's gaze went cold as he looked at Sun Yi Leng. "Are you Severing Gold Sect trash?"

Linghu Xiao had been robbed of quite a few demon beasts by the Severing Gold Sect inside the Refining Demon Mountain, so he bore the sect ill will.

The moment Sun Yi Leng heard the word "trash," he flew into a rage on the spot:

"What kind of dog are you?! How dare you look down on my Severing Gold Sect?"

Linghu Xiao immediately gave a cold snort. "Your Severing Gold Sect, from top to bottom, not a single good thing. Calling you trash is flattering you!"

Sun Yi Leng said through gritted teeth, "Good, good. If it weren't for the fact that my sword isn't at hand—"

At this point, his heart ached again.

His sword wasn't merely not at hand—it had been snatched away and destroyed by that despicable, shameless villain!

Sun Yi Leng took a deep breath, suppressed his fury, and went on:

"If only I had a sword in hand, I would certainly let you taste the might of my Severing Gold Sword Art!"

"Severing Gold Sword Art?" Linghu Xiao let out a cold laugh, his face full of contempt. "A country-chicken sword art at best. Of the Severing Gold Sect trash who have lost to me, there are no fewer than eighteen or twenty."

Sun Yi Leng was taken aback.

This youngster is that strong? What is his background?

He's bluffing, right?

Anyone can shoot off their mouth with nothing to back it up.

Young and brash, Sun Yi Leng wasn't about to back down either, and immediately blustered:

"Such barefaced boasting! Against someone like you, I alone could take on ten!"

Hearing this, Linghu Xiao's expression instead became calm, not the slightest bit angry, and he said with a cold laugh:

"Fine. If we get out of here, let's see how many moves you can last against me."

While the two were still arguing, a heavy sound of footsteps suddenly came from outside the room.

All three of them felt a chill in their hearts and held their breath, no longer speaking.

Then after a while, accompanied by the clanking of iron chains, a faint glow of a formation flickered, the door lock clicked open, and a tall demon cultivator wrapped in a black robe walked in.

He cast a venomous glance at the three of them, grinned, and revealed the fangs in his mouth.

Linghu Xiao's gaze sharpened.

Sun Yi Leng, meanwhile, felt a tremor in his heart.

"A demon cultivator?!"

His already pale face instantly went even paler.

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