Chapter 778: The Old Servant

"This brat… what's going on?!"

His own life bone, transformed into a demonic sword, was crushed as easily as tofu?

This… is this really a 'human'?!

The ancient demonic cultivator was stunned and bewildered.

But he refused to surrender passively.

This brat might be a formidable foe, but after centuries of planning and exhausting every ounce of effort, he had finally transformed into a demonic sword demon—surely he was no mere ant to be crushed at will!

Unless he fought to the death, he would never know who would ultimately prevail.

If he didn't try, how could he know he couldn't win?

"Fine…"

The ancient demonic cultivator, whose body was bone and limbs were sword bones, his eyes twisted with fierce battle lust; his bone sword dripped with demonic energy like poison, his aura surging higher and higher, his skeletal frame swelling, blood-soaked sword qi coiling around him.

"Today, I'll test you—let you feel the terror of the Sword Demon body!"

The ancient demonic cultivator's gaze sharpened, instantly shifting from stillness to motion, unleashing demonic power and slashing downward.

A colossal bone sword, thick with overwhelming demonic energy, struck Mo Hua with terrifying force.

The bone sword was enormous.

Mo Hua's body wasn't even as tall as the bone sword.

Yet his expression remained calm; he simply punched lightly.

A tiny fist met the massive white bone demonic sword.

In an instant, the white bone demonic sword shattered beneath Mo Hua's fist.

The ancient demonic cultivator's expression turned horrified, yet he still refused to yield, pouring every last ounce of strength into his attack.

In an instant, white bone blades, demonic sword qi, demonic sword intent—all churned violently within the blood pool.

The ancient demonic cultivator unleashed a hundred sword techniques.

But no matter whether it was bone blades, sword qi, or sword intent—no matter how bloody and terrifying, no matter how overwhelming the aura—Mo Hua responded to all with one punch.

One punch shattered the bone blades, dissipated the sword qi, extinguished the sword intent.

There was no technique his punch couldn't resolve.

The ancient demonic cultivator grew more terrified, yet also more enraged.

He had to fight to the death!

If he didn't fight now, he'd lose even the chance to fight!

The ancient demonic cultivator's aura shifted again; his pupils turned filthy black, bone blades sprouted from his body like segmented insect limbs, his form transforming into a centipede, each segment rising higher, while the demonic will emanating from him grew denser, nearing the peak of Second Rank…

"You forced me into this…"

The ancient demonic cultivator snarled with a cruel laugh.

Mo Hua looked at the ancient demonic cultivator, his expression utterly unruffled, his gaze still cold, even tinged with disappointment.

"Boring…"

Mo Hua said calmly.

The ancient demonic cultivator's cruel laugh cut off abruptly; a bone-chilling terror surged through him.

The next instant, Mo Hua vanished.

When he reappeared, he was already above the ancient demonic cultivator's head.

Mo Hua leapt down from above and kicked lightly.

That kick struck like a massive hammer, crashing down with brutal force.

The ancient demonic cultivator was slammed into the ground like a cannonball.

His entire body writhed in agony; cracks formed on his skull.

Before he could recover, a "crackling, crunching" sound arose.

The ancient demonic cultivator's heart froze; he turned his head—and in horror, saw that all his bone blade limbs had been snapped apart by Mo Hua's tiny, white hands, not one left intact.

The ancient demonic cultivator struggled desperately, but it was useless.

At this moment, Mo Hua had already gripped his spine.

A slight squeeze, and his spine would snap.

The ancient demonic cultivator's soul nearly fled his body; he screamed in terror:

"Little Ancestor, spare my life!"

Mo Hua's motion paused slightly.

Seeing this, the ancient demonic cultivator immediately cried:

"Little Ancestor, spare me! I'm of great use!"

Mo Hua stepped on his head. "What use are you?"

With his head crushed underfoot, the ancient demonic cultivator felt humiliation, but despair overwhelmed him even more:

"What is this brat's origin? What kind of being is he? How could he be this terrifying?"

He never imagined that a peak Second Rank, fused with his life sword as a Sword Demon, would truly be treated like an ant—helplessly crushed by this Little Ancestor, with not a single chance to resist.

Some people, you never realize how terrifying they are until they actually fight.

Some things, you never realize how hopeless they are until you try.

The ancient demonic cultivator trembled as he spoke:

"If you, if you won't kill me, I'll do anything."

"What can you do?"

Mo Hua looked down, interrogating in a cold tone, as if one wrong word would make him crush the ancient demonic cultivator's spine.

The old demon cultivator panicked: "I can forge swords!"

"Oh?" Mo Hua raised his tiny eyebrows.

The old demon cultivator hurriedly said: "I am a disciple of Tai'e Gate, once of the Ouyang family's direct line. I master the art of forging and weapon crafting—I've forged countless blades within this Ten Thousand Demons Prison, my skill honed by countless trials, refined to perfection…"

"If you spare my life, I will serve you faithfully, forging and crafting weapons for you."

Mo Hua shook his head: "You've forgotten—you're already dead. You're now the Sword Demon, a malevolent spirit. How can you forge me a sword?"

The old demon cultivator's face trembled.

He had forgotten—he was no longer human, not even a demon cultivator anymore.

How could a malevolent spirit forge a sword?

Mo Hua's small hand moved as if to snap his spine.

The old demon cultivator's entire body turned icy, and he blurted: "I can teach!"

"Teach?"

"Yes," the old demon cultivator said. "I cannot forge or craft weapons myself anymore, but my experience and knowledge are vast. Whatever you wish to know, I can tell you…"

Mo Hua's expression grew uncertain, as if lost in thought, his gaze shifting between dangerous and calm.

The old demon cultivator's heart rose and fell with every flicker of Mo Hua's eyes, trembling with dread.

He thought for a moment, then added quickly:

"Your Life-Bound Artifact!"

Mo Hua paused, his eyes brightening slightly.

Seeing this, the old demon cultivator rejoiced like a drowning man clutching a straw, blurting out:

"Life-Bound Artifact! I received the most orthodox Tai'e Gate transmission—I know how to forge a Life-Bound Artifact!"

"Spare my life, and I'll help you forge your Life-Bound Artifact!"

"Knives, spears, swords, axes… any kind of artifact—I know the methods. I'll tell you them all!"

Mo Hua's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "How do I know you won't lie to me?"

The old demon cultivator said: "I swear a deadly oath to the Dao of Heaven—if I speak falsehood, may thunder strike me, my soul scatter, and may I never be reborn!"

Mo Hua pondered a moment, then shook his head again:

"I have Brother Mu. He'll forge my Life-Bound Artifact for me."

The old demon cultivator cried out urgently: "He can't!"

Mo Hua frowned.

The old demon cultivator hurried to explain: "That boy has talent and grit, but he's too young, lacks forging experience, and Tai'e Gate never passed its core forging techniques to him."

Mo Hua raised an eyebrow. "Didn't pass them to him—but passed them to you?"

The old demon cultivator realized his mistake, and stammered:

"I… I've lived longer, so I know a bit more about forging methods. That's only natural…"

Mo Hua gazed deeply at the old demon cultivator but did not press further. Instead, he asked:

"Anything else? Knowing how to forge swords isn't enough—you must have other uses…"

After all, he wasn't a sword cultivator.

His Life-Bound Artifact might not even be a spirit sword.

Besides, this old thing was a liar—not trustworthy. He'd have to constantly verify every word, which was too troublesome.

If he had no other use, Mo Hua planned to kill and eat him.

Ever since Master Xun had "confined" him, he hadn't tasted meat in ages—his spiritual sense was starving.

He urgently needed to "eat" something, just to fill his stomach.

Mo Hua looked adorable, with red lips and white teeth.

Especially his lips—strikingly red.

The old demon cultivator stared, and for some reason, felt a chill crawl up his spine.

He blurted again: "I remember the way out—I can show you the path out of the valley!"

Mo Hua blinked, surprised. "You know the way out?"

The old demon cultivator nodded, smiling bitterly. "I've been in this valley too long. I know most things."

"Especially in the first hundred years—I thought of nothing but escaping this Ten Thousand Demons Valley, so I studied the escape routes in exhaustive detail."

"But…"

The old demon cultivator's face fell. "Even so, I still couldn't escape."

Mo Hua asked curiously, "Why?"

The old demon cultivator said: "The Ten Thousand Demons Valley is vast, its paths tangled and labyrinthine. Beyond the Ten Thousand Demons Prison lies the Slaughterhouse, then the Demon-Cooking Cauldron, the Evil Pill Valley, and more… Demons are everywhere, defenses are tight. Without knowing the routes, no outsider can escape…"

"That's not the worst part…"

The old demon cultivator looked solemn. "Even if you pass through all these deadly zones, at the very end, there remains an impassable abyss."

"An abyss?"

The old demon cultivator nodded. "That abyss is a painting—the very heart of the Ten Thousand Demons Valley. It nurtures ten thousand demons, teeming with malevolent spirits. The valley's demon cultivators call it… the Demon-Cooking Map!"

Mo Hua's heart leapt.

The old demon cultivator's expression was fearful. "I don't know… how you entered the valley, but if I'm right, you're here to rescue someone."

"To rescue someone, you must escape."

"I can guide you—but if you cannot break the Demon-Cooking Map, you'll be trapped here forever."

"But that's beyond my concern…"

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Fine, I'll spare your life."

Since the Demon Refining Map is right before me, I can endure for now.

This little shrimp in front of me, I'll leave it be for now—don't want to ruin my stomach and miss the real feast.

The old demonic cultivator's chill subsided instantly; he knew the death sentence had passed, and let out a long, relieved breath.

He glanced up secretly at Mo Hua, who looked like a child, and sighed inwardly—this cultivation world was truly treacherous.

A mere child was more terrifying than this demon himself.

Mo Hua released his spine.

The old demonic cultivator rose shakily to his feet, but dared not stand fully upright—only knelt halfway before Mo Hua, lest he appear presumptuous.

Mo Hua looked up, studied the array patterns around him, then asked curiously: "I have another question for you—answer honestly."

"Yes." The old demonic cultivator dared not refuse.

Mo Hua pointed at the surrounding array patterns and asked:

"Where did you learn this array pattern?"

The old demonic cultivator trembled, unable to speak.

Mo Hua's gaze grew increasingly dangerous.

The old demonic cultivator could only grit his teeth and confess: "It... I learned it from the Demon Refining Map..."

Mo Hua froze. "Learned it from the Demon Refining Map?"

"Yes," the old demonic cultivator said. "This is one of the array patterns on the Demon Refining Map. I don't know its origin, only that it's profoundly mysterious—it can even... seal residual soul fragments."

"So I secretly copied it down, just in case I needed it."

"But I'm no array master—I don't understand arrays well. Even after copying it, I still couldn't comprehend or draw it."

The old demonic cultivator sighed. "So I practiced daily, day and night, copying it endlessly. Whenever I had a moment, I carved this array pattern into the ground with human blood—until it became a habit etched into my bones..."

"After two hundred years of relentless practice, I somehow—without knowing why—finally mastered this array pattern."

Mo Hua understood. "So that's why you tried to carve this array pattern onto the sword bone. That way, when you die and your spiritual awareness turns into demonic energy, it will be 'sealed' inside the sword, becoming a 'Sword Demon,' living in another form."

The old demonic cultivator froze.

He never expected his meticulous plan to be seen through in an instant by this young cultivator.

Now that it was out, the old demonic cultivator had nothing left to hide. "Yes... I originally prepared two options."

"The best outcome, of course, was to form a Jin Dan—using that young man from the Ouyang family's flesh and blood as a catalyst, forging my life-sword, then seizing another chance to form a Jin Dan without abandoning this mortal body."

"If that plan failed... I learned in the Ten Thousand Demons Valley some methods to transform spiritual awareness into demonic energy. Using this technique, after my gruesome death and complete disintegration, my residual spiritual awareness could enter the sword bone and become a Sword Demon, dwelling within the blade."

Mo Hua's gaze sharpened. "I suspect it's more than that..."

The old demonic cultivator had no choice but to grit his teeth and say:

"Yes... I also planned to use that young man from the Ouyang family's blood to forge this sword, fusing blood and blade. Then, this sword bone would become his life-sword, nurtured by his essence—I would be the Sword Demon within, and he, my 'Sword Slave,' bound to obey my commands..."

Mo Hua nodded, feeling a quiet awe.

This old thing had planned deeply indeed.

Mo Hua estimated the time, pondered a moment, then spoke to the old demonic cultivator:

"I won't kill you for now. Let me out. Guide me out of the Ten Thousand Demons Valley. If I find you've lied to me..."

Mo Hua clenched his small fist, smiling coldly. "Even if you're a demonic entity, I'll make you beg for death—and fail to die!"

The old demonic cultivator trembled in fear:

"Dare not! Dare not! I obey every command of Xiaozu Sect!"

Mo Hua nodded. "Let me out."

"Yes, yes!" The old demonic cultivator felt as if freed from a death sentence—he immediately retracted all demonic energy, transforming into a white bone longsword, and transmitted a voice:

"Touch the white bone sword's body, and you may leave this blood pool."

Mo Hua frowned, pondered, and understood a little.

This sword-forging blood pool was a sword's illusion.

Both entrance and exit were the white bone demonic sword itself, transformed from the old demonic cultivator.

Once inside this blood pool, to leave, you must either kill the old demonic cultivator—or have him reveal his true form to open the door. Otherwise, you cannot escape.

Mo Hua looked around, then thought further:

"Perhaps... dismantling these divine array patterns around me, so the blood pool illusion can no longer seal spiritual awareness and collapses on its own, would also let me out."

But since the old demonic cultivator was so cooperative, there was no need to make things harder for him.

Mo Hua tapped the white bone demonic sword with his finger.

In an instant, the scenery shifted. When he opened his eyes again, he found Ouyang Mu kneeling before him, eyes red, face filled with worry.

Seeing Mo Hua open his eyes, Ouyang Mu froze, then burst into joy.

"Brother Mo, are you alright?"

The old demonic cultivator was dead; the blood mist had dispersed. Mo Hua had collapsed, unconscious, life unknown.

Ouyang Mu, clueless about what had happened, had no idea what to do.

Now that Mo Hua had awakened, he finally exhaled in relief.

Mo Hua nodded. "I'm fine."

"What exactly happened? Is that old... thing truly dead now?" Ouyang Mu still looked uneasy.

"Sort of," Mo Hua said.

The matter was complicated and tedious to explain—he didn't tell Ouyang Mu.

Besides, now wasn't the time to discuss it.

The old demonic cultivator had sealed the entrance—perhaps it could conceal things for a while, but eventually, it would be discovered.

He had to find a way to cover his tracks.

He couldn't let the other demon cultivators—especially Jin Gui—know what had happened here, or they would certainly grow suspicious.

If he wanted to save Xiaomutou and the others later, it would be even harder.

Mo Hua looked around and frowned.

Golden Lock Array, Earth Fire Array, Earth Kill Array, and sword control…

There were too many traces; there was no way to erase them in a short time.

The methods of a human cultivator were different from those of a demon cultivator—one glance would be enough to tell.

"In that case, I can only blow it all up…"

Inside the evil artifact room, there was the pale green bone fire, a murky blood pool, and all manner of foul-smelling flesh and blood—as long as everything was blown apart and mixed together.

The evil qi and blood qi would naturally contaminate the spiritual power traces.

Even if traces of arrays and sword control remained, they would be mistaken for traces of evil arrays and evil swords.

After thinking it through, Mo Hua glanced at Ouyang Mu. "Xiaomutou, you'll have to suffer a bit."

Ouyang Mu was startled, a little confused, but still nodded firmly. "Senior Brother, just give the order."

Mo Hua said, "In a moment, I'll blow up this room to destroy the evidence."

"I'll pick a spot for you to stay in. When the array detonates and the stone walls collapse, you might get buried inside."

"When those demon cultivators dig you out, just pretend to be unconscious."

"If they ask you what happened, just say the old demon cultivator suddenly went mad, lost his mind completely, suffered qi deviation, killed the demon cultivators guarding and watching, then shut the door and said he'd perish together with Myriad Demon Valley…"

"You were hiding far away, so you escaped the disaster."

"You don't know anything else."

Ouyang Mu repeated Mo Hua's words in his heart, memorized them silently, then nodded.

After that, Mo Hua began preparing to blow up the room.

The room already had arrays in place; he only needed to tamper with the existing array framework.

Once the preparations were done, Mo Hua picked a corner and had Ouyang Mu cover his head and lie down.

This spot wouldn't be hit by the array's damage.

Even if some falling rocks came down, they wouldn't hurt him.

Then Mo Hua picked up the old demon cultivator's life-bound bone sword.

The white-bone sword demon the old demon cultivator had become was housed within this bone sword.

Mo Hua put the bone sword into his storage bag.

He was still counting on the bone sword to guide his way.

Once everything was ready, Mo Hua tiptoed out of the evil artifact room, then from outside, triggered the room's array through his divine sense.

In an instant, fire and blood light flared up everywhere.

The evil artifact room collapsed with a rumble, debris flying, alarming the surrounding demon cultivators.

Before long, Jin Gui, who was in charge, arrived.

His face looked even uglier than pork liver, and he immediately ordered the many demon cultivators to excavate the collapsed ruins.

Mo Hua watched from a distance.

Once Xiaomutou was dug out and appeared to be fine, Mo Hua quietly left.

Xiaomutou was very useful.

These demon cultivators wouldn't make things difficult for him for now.

And figuring out exactly what had happened inside the evil artifact room would be enough to give them a headache.

After leaving, Mo Hua returned to the array hub secret room.

He thought for a moment, then took apart the white-bone longsword as well.

The sword was too long and troublesome to carry, so he used his best weapon-refining skills to disassemble the blade.

He melted away most of the blade with arrays as well, leaving only a hilt with a small broken piece of the sword attached.

The old demon cultivator's evil thoughts now resided within the broken sword.

Moreover, it was near the hilt inscribed with divine path array patterns.

So the blade being broken didn't matter much.

Mo Hua gripped the broken bone sword and nodded.

Much easier to carry this way.

What he needed to do next was have the old demon cultivator lead the way through the labyrinthine Myriad Demon Valley and find the route out of the valley.

And find the final natural moat within Myriad Demon Valley—

the Demon Refining Diagram.

Mo Hua's eyes gleamed in the night.

He wanted to see whether this "natural moat" could truly stop him.

And see with his own eyes whether this Demon Refining Diagram really had many, many demon wraiths nurtured within it…

(End of chapter)

dengbidmxswqqxswyifan

shuyueepzwqqwxwxsguan

xs007zhuikereadw23zw