Chapter 771

The black-cloaked leader's smile was grim; though he had a human face, he looked like a demon.

As if a malevolent spirit dwelled within him.

Jin Gui's heart turned cold, and all will to resist vanished; he gritted his teeth and accepted his fate:

"As long as I may serve the Young Master and carry out your orders, I will face fire and knife, without hesitation!"

The black-cloaked leader nodded in satisfaction, gazed deeply at Jin Gui, and said in a low voice:

"You have not yet been marked with a demonic sigil; to reward your loyalty…"

"I shall mark you myself!"

Jin Gui's pupils shrank slightly.

He had secretly served the Young Master before, and though he had broken Daoist laws, he had never touched demonic arts.

Demonic and evil paths were forbidden by the Dao Court.

Violating Daoist laws could still be excused with excuses.

But once one cultivated demonic methods, death was certain.

And he had already spent many days in the Ten Thousand Demons Valley—how could he not know what this "demonic sigil" meant?

Once marked with a demonic sigil, demonic power would assimilate flesh and blood, truly stepping onto the path of evil.

Yet this was exactly what he had expected.

It was a ritual, and also a form of "recognition."

At this point, he had no way to turn back.

Born into lowliness, he had to seize every chance, no matter the cost—otherwise, where was his future?

Jin Gui bowed and said, "Thank you, Senior Brother!"

The black-cloaked leader did not correct his "address," but silently accepted the title of "Senior Brother."

Afterwards, the black-cloaked leader led Jin Gui to a secret chamber.

Around the chamber, arrays were painted in full.

The array patterns were sinister, mysterious, and unfathomable.

And the walls were covered in human blood, human skin, skulls, flesh-eating grass, yin spirit stones, rotting flesh, and other demonic items.

In the center of the chamber lay many books, written on parchment made of unknown origin—either human or beast skin.

The black-cloaked leader took out a book, opened it, and said to Jin Gui:

"Choose one of these dozens of demonic sigils."

On the parchment were drawn dozens of different demonic sigils: bear sigil, eagle sigil, wolf sigil, dog sigil, snake sigil, and more…

Each demonic sigil corresponded to one of the Four Symbols demonic arrays.

Likewise, each corresponded to a powerful demonic power.

Bear sigil granted immense strength, wolf sigil birthed sharp claws, snake sigil carried inherent poison…

Jin Gui examined each demonic sigil, then pointed to one and said, "Senior Brother, I choose this one."

The black-cloaked leader glanced at it, his gaze sharpened, then looked up at Jin Gui with a curious expression.

"Tiger sigil?"

Jin Gui slowly nodded.

He did not want to spend his life as a dog.

Even if now he was humble, forced to serve as a beast of burden, one day he wished to become a mighty tiger—the "King of Beasts"!

The black-cloaked leader's expression grew subtle.

Whether mockery or admiration, it was hard to tell.

He nodded. "Fine."

A man's life: if he is a dog, he is a dog; if he is a tiger, he is a tiger.

Simply painting a tiger sigil does not make one a tiger.

"The Four Symbols arrays originated from the markings of the Four Sages of the Great Wilds, but the bloodlines of the Four Sages are extinct, so their sacred marks were transformed into beast marks, then further evolved into demonic sigils."

"And the tiger is the King of Beasts."

"One of the Four Sages was Bai Hu."

"Among the many fierce and cruel demonic beasts, a single tiger can dominate a mountain, ruling a region alone."

"Thus, this Four Symbols tiger sigil is the most elite among the Four Symbols demonic sigils."

"This tiger sigil can amplify the tiger's demonic power, and also fuse the tiger's strength into oneself, using the array to gain the might of all beasts and command the power to subdue mountains."

"Now, I shall paint this 'Four Symbols Xuan Hu demonic array' upon your back, merging it into your flesh and blood…"

The black-cloaked leader dipped a bone brush in fresh blood and painted the array upon Jin Gui's back.

As the first stroke landed, Jin Gui trembled violently from pain.

The bone brush was like a scraper, its tip like a needle.

The ink-blood was like molten lava.

Each stroke felt as if a thousand knives carved his back, as if molten lava burned him.

But Jin Gui clenched his teeth and endured.

This was his chance!

He would bear this Xuan Hu demonic array, abandon the dignity and lowliness of being "human," and from this day forward, climb upward step by step, rising above all others!

The array strokes fell one by one.

Jin Gui's face grew paler by the minute, the pain deepening bit by bit, yet the tiger array upon his back took shape stroke by stroke.

Finally, after an unknown length of time, a tiger's roar echoed spontaneously in the chamber—the Four Symbols Xuan Hu demonic array was complete.

The black-cloaked leader also put away his array pen and array map.

He said coldly: "Remember, this is the Young Master's grace."

"Do not harbor disloyalty. Do not defy."

"Everything you have was granted by the Young Master."

Jin Gui knelt trembling on the ground, banging his head against the floor: "Thank the Young Master for this gift! I will spill my blood and brains for the Young Master!"

Then he slowly rose to his feet.

As he stood upright, his body rose inch by inch.

The demonic aura on his body gradually intensified.

A tiger-like aura slowly radiated outward.

Finally, when he stood completely straight, his height had increased by several chi, and his frame had grown heavier.

But his eyes had grown far colder.

Less human, more beastly.

The black-cloaked leader nodded and said calmly: "Go. Fight and die for the Young Master."

"Yes!"

Jin Gui's voice had turned hoarse, now laced with the panting of a beast.

After speaking, he turned and left, walking through the many layers of secret chambers deep within Ten Thousand Demons Valley, heading toward the Ten Thousand Demons Prison he would now command…

……

At this moment, within the Ten Thousand Demons Prison.

The previous overseer had already been killed.

Mo Hua was waiting for the new overseer.

He wanted to see what kind of demonic cultivator the new overseer would be.

And whether he could extract new clues from this overseer to help rescue Xiao Moutou and the other two.

He could also profit from it.

He didn't know how long he waited; he was growing impatient, just as he began to think Ten Thousand Demons Valley didn't have enough personnel to send an overseer—

On the Spirit Vision Array, he finally spotted a new figure.

A "newcomer" had arrived in the Ten Thousand Demons Prison.

It was another tall figure—demonic cultivators were mostly tall, except for dog- and snake-type ones.

Moreover, this figure's aura was exceptionally thick and peculiar.

Clearly different from other demonic cultivators.

Stranger still, Mo Hua felt this figure was strangely familiar.

But how could it be familiar?

Mo Hua, puzzled, decided to take a closer look.

This new overseer went straight to the former "Bear Overseer's" Shi Shili and openly took over, settling in without hesitation.

The Bear Overseer had been marked by Mo Hua.

Every move he made was under Mo Hua's control.

Now that this new overseer had taken the Bear Overseer's position, he naturally fell into Mo Hua's "surveillance net."

Mo Hua followed the array conduit, moving with ease to the overseer's Shi Shili, and peered down from the hole he had secretly dug in the corner of the stone wall.

After watching for a moment, Mo Hua suddenly froze.

The man's face… seemed to be…

Jin Gui?

That man who, long ago in the Refining Demon Mountain, had led disciples of Duan Jin Gate to bully others, stolen his Boar Demon, and then had it taken back from him.

Not only that…

He had also been stripped naked by Mo Hua, painted with a turtle, and hung from a tree.

Mo Hua had painted a turtle on him—he wouldn't forget.

"So now, a proper sect disciple abandons his path to become a demonic cultivator in Ten Thousand Demons Valley? Doesn't even bother pretending? What a fool—his head must've been crushed by a doorframe…"

But…

Mo Hua was puzzled.

How had Jin Gui grown so tall?

His frame had thickened, his entire demeanor transformed.

Even as a demonic cultivator… can you still grow taller?

For a moment, Mo Hua felt a pang of envy—his Dao heart nearly wavered.

He quickly shook his head, strengthening his resolve:

"Even if you can grow taller, you mustn't abandon your principles and become a creature neither human nor demon!"

Besides, Jin Gui's growth was surely forced and unnatural—he'd never grow any taller again. Unlike me, my potential is still vast!

Mo Hua nodded.

Then his eyes brightened slightly.

Jin Gui… Duan Jin Gate…

Now the evidence was solid, almost undeniable—they couldn't deny it.

The Duan Jin Gate, one of the Twelve Major Sects, had committed such a grave error.

Let them prepare for disaster…

But he didn't know how many Duanjin Gate disciples were inside this Ten Thousand Demons Valley, or how deeply they were involved.

And furthermore, the planning behind building this Ten Thousand Demons Valley had been long-standing, its scale immense, its expenditure of manpower and material resources enormous—was there some hidden agenda here that he didn't yet know?

Mo Hua's gaze was puzzled.

He thought again, pulled his body in tighter, buried himself deeper, and decided to watch Jin Gui closely for any clues.

Jin Gui sat in the overseer's seat, lost in thought, his expression shifting—now gloomy, now angry, now envious.

Then, as if remembering something, he sneered, his face filled with smug satisfaction.

After sitting a while longer, Jin Gui summoned a demonic cultivator and ordered:

"Take me to the prison."

The demonic cultivator glanced at Jin Gui and muttered, "Yes…"

But that reply was clearly disrespectful.

Demonic cultivators are inherently unruly, never easily disciplined, and especially not someone like Jin Gui—an overseer who had just arrived and looked like he hadn't even been among demons long.

This slight of contempt naturally didn't escape Jin Gui.

Jin Gui grew slightly angry, his eyes instantly reddening, demonic energy surging around him.

A wave of demonic pressure washed over.

The demonic cultivator shuddered, feeling his "bloodline" seemingly suppressed, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Though he resented it, he dared not defy further, and quickly bowed his head, clasping his hands:

"Overseer, please calm yourself—I'll take you there at once."

This time, his tone was far more respectful.

Jin Gui sneered inwardly.

Whether human or demon, at heart they were all lowly creatures who trampled the weak and bowed to the powerful.

Mo Hua was startled.

Jin Gui's demonic energy seemed… unusual?

What kind of special Four Symbols demonic tattoo had he inscribed?

In the Ten Thousand Demons Prison, he had never before sensed the aura of such a Four Symbols demonic array.

"Top-tier material…"

Mo Hua's eyes lit up, silently thinking to himself.

In the Shi Shizhong, shaken by Jin Gui's aura, the demonic cultivator became much more obedient, bowing low as he led the way, guiding Jin Gui to the prison cell where Xiao Mutou and the others were held.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then decided to follow and see.

He crawled again along the array-pivot passage toward the prison, and at the same time felt a flicker of relief.

Good thing he was weak and small.

If he were as large and bulky as Cheng Mo, he might not even fit through this narrow passage.

The array-pivot passage branched everywhere.

The outer corridors, by contrast, twisted and turned endlessly.

Thus, Mo Hua arrived at Xiao Mutou's prison cell first.

Moments later, Jin Gui arrived as well.

The demonic cultivator leading the way pulled out a key and unlocked the iron gate. Tall and imposing, radiating demonic energy, Jin Gui strode in with arrogant disdain.

Inside the prison, Ouyang Mu and the others were stunned.

Then Song Jian suddenly cried out: "Jin Gui?! Is that you?!"

Jin Gui sneered.

Song Jian looked at Jin Gui, his expression shocked and disbelieving, his voice trembling: "You… how did you end up like this? What… what did you do?"

Jin Gui grinned, "Young Master Song, you used to look down on me—but now things are different. You're in my hands now; your life or death is entirely in my control."

Song Jian, though outwardly defiant, retorted:

"Jin Gui, think carefully—if anything happens to me, my parents and my ancestral elder will never let you live!"

Jin Gui sneered, "Every word out of your mouth is either 'father and mother' or 'ancestral elder'—that's all the ambition you've got."

Song Jian's face flushed with rage.

Jin Gui silently studied Song Jian, his gaze dangerous, yet he did nothing—only said calmly:

"I'll deal with you later…"

He turned his head, glancing at Linghu Xiao, his expression hostile, his eyes brimming with unmasked envy.

Linghu Xiao's expression was cold, his gaze sharp as a sword.

"Sword Heart Illuminated…"

Jin Gui stared deeply at Linghu Xiao, sneering inwardly, yet did nothing to him—instead, he pointed at Ouyang Mu beside him and said coldly:

"Take him away."

Ouyang Mu was stunned.

Linghu Xiao's expression darkened, his voice icy:

"What are you planning?"

Jin Gui's gaze turned gloomy. "You'll know soon enough…"

A demonic cultivator stepped forward, ignoring Ouyang Mu's resistance, shackling him, then dragged him out of the cell.

"Jin Gui," Linghu Xiao called coldly, his eyes brimming with murderous intent, "if anything happens to Brother Mu, I will kill you."

Meeting Linghu Xiao's gaze, the already demonic Jin Gui suddenly felt a chill in his heart.

Moments later, his anger flared, his face twitching—but he only sneered, "A mud Buddha crossing a river—mind your own business."

After speaking, Jin Gui's gaze turned dangerous, and he turned and left.

The demon cultivator, escorting Ouyang Mu who was bound in shackles, also followed behind Jin Gui and left.

Linghu Xiao was anxious in his heart, but for the moment there was nothing he could do. In the end he could only raise his head and look, and sigh in his heart.

Normally he never asked anyone for help with anything.

But now, he truly hoped that Mo Hua could follow along and take a look…

……

Mo Hua was indeed following Jin Gui and Ouyang Mu.

He was a little worried about Xiao Mutou.

But at the same time he also wanted to know what exactly this Jin Gui was plotting, and what methods he intended to use to deal with Xiao Mutou.

Probably not only Xiao Mutou — Linghu Xiao and Song Jian would likely not be spared either.

Jin Gui led the way in front, while the demon cultivator escorted Ouyang Mu behind.

Mo Hua tiptoed along, following at the very back.

Although Jin Gui was at late Foundation Establishment, his divine sense had never been strong to begin with.

Now that he had become a demon, his physical body was powerful, but his divine sense had not increased — rather it had weakened — so it was even less possible for him to detect Mo Hua's tracks.

Mo Hua followed and followed, and before he knew it had walked for quite a while. Raising his head and glancing around, he realized Jin Gui had brought Ouyang Mu to a very unfamiliar place within the Ten Thousand Demon Prison.

This was a place Mo Hua had never been to before.

Although the surroundings were also cells and stone chambers, the atmosphere was very desolate, and none of the spirit-vision arrays in the vicinity had ever been lit up.

Before long, Jin Gui led Ouyang Mu straight into a Shi Dian.

This Shi Dian was not large, but it looked considerably more imposing and grand, and from within came the occasional clashing sound of metal on metal.

After Ouyang Mu was brought into the Shi Dian, the great doors of the Shi Dian closed.

Mo Hua frowned slightly.

He did not dare to rashly approach too closely, only sizing it up once from afar, then releasing his divine sense to observe for a while, and discovered that the Shi Dian was indeed laid out with all sorts of arrays on every side.

Some were defensive, some were warning arrays, and there were also some unknown evil arrays.

Mo Hua let out a breath of relief.

"As long as there are arrays…"

When it came to arrays, it wasn't a problem.

Mo Hua circled the Shi Dian once, then through divine sense perception, derivation and probing, found a weak gap in the arrays, and afterwards through means such as breaking arrays and laying arrays, along the walls or roof beams, little by little "seeped" toward the interior of the Shi Dian…

Fortunately, this Shi Dian was also rather shoddily built, and the arrays were not all that tight either.

There was difficulty in breaking the arrays, but it was not great.

Mo Hua spent some effort, and in a cramped corner of the roof, used arrays to dissolve the stone wall, opened an opening, and quietly squeezed his way in.

The moment he entered the Shi Dian, the aura of blood and fire surged violently.

A wave of foul-smelling heat rushed toward him, even giving one a faint feeling of Qi Zhixi.

Mo Hua covered his mouth and nose, paused for a moment, and only then raised his head to look.

The scenes inside the Shi Dian came into view, and Mo Hua was suddenly startled.

A white bone-made furnace, a sickly green furnace fire, the ghastly white bones of various demon beasts, human skulls, large pools of blood, evil artifact embryos, and so on…

Moreover, Mo Hua even saw rows upon rows of evil swords.

This was an evil-path weapon-refining room — more precisely, a sinister and eerie evil-path sword-forging chamber.

Mo Hua could not help but cast his gaze toward that long row of "evil swords" inscribed with blood patterns…

(End of chapter)

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