Chapter 786: Sacrifice (Extra update for Boss Tianji Dumb Cat～)

"Mr. Tu was right after all. A spirit-vision array used to monitor yourself—if you run into an array master, it becomes someone else's eyes…"

Jin Yixuan looked solemn.

He searched around casually and found that most of the nearby spirit-vision arrays had actually been quietly activated.

Myriad Demon Prison was practically equivalent to someone else's territory now.

Hatred surged in Jin Yixuan's heart. He suddenly paused, recalled something, and immediately ordered the demon cultivators beside him:

"You lot go after them. Call a few more people, and follow me."

The demon cultivator obeyed, summoned another group, and split them into two—one batch went to pursue the people, while the other followed Jin Yixuan to the array-hub chamber.

The array-hub chamber had been completely sealed shut.

Jin Yixuan and the demon cultivators channeled their demon power, exerted all their strength, and forcibly broke open the sealed door.

Once the dust settled, Jin Yixuan stepped into the chamber, looked around, and his expression grew even darker.

Sure enough, the array hubs had all been tampered with and had completely fallen into someone else's configuration.

Jin Yixuan frowned for a moment, then let out a cold laugh. "Don't think you're the only one who can modify arrays."

The magnetite spirit-vision array was already activated, and the array hub was still right in front of him. As long as he changed it back, these "eyes" spread across Myriad Demon Prison would once again be his.

Once he regained control of the magnetite spirit-vision array hub, a mere few rats would have nowhere to hide.

Jin Yixuan placed his hand on the array disk, released his divine sense, and prepared to interface with the magnetite array hub.

But the instant his divine sense connected, his expression changed. He immediately sensed something was wrong and leapt backward without hesitation.

The moment he retreated, the array hub exploded.

The blast wasn't powerful enough to harm Jin Yixuan.

But it was enough to destroy the array disk and most of the central array formations on it.

All the magnetite spirit-vision arrays went dark as well.

Jin Yixuan suffered no real injuries, but he was covered in dust, looking utterly disheveled, and his gaze couldn't help but turn somewhat ferocious.

"Fine moves. In such a rush, you still managed to leave a hidden hand inside the array…"

"A mere rat, daring to toy with me like this…"

He suppressed the fury in his heart, and his expression turned icy.

"Don't let me catch you."

Jin Yixuan looked once more at the surrounding arrays.

The magnetite spirit-vision compound array used its central hub as its core to control the terminal spirit-vision arrays.

Once the central hub was destroyed, the array formation was scrapped and could no longer be used.

Even if they wanted to repair it, there was no way to fix it in a short time.

This array formation was finished.

Still, geese leave their call, and snow leaves its trace.

A cultivator's methods always leave traces—and the same goes for an array master.

Any array formation, as long as it hasn't completely vanished, will always leave behind a series of clues.

An array master can make use of an array, but conversely, even the wreckage of your array might be used by someone else.

"Since he used the spirit-vision array as his 'eyes,' then his movements will follow the layout of the valley's spirit-hub arrays, becoming a trail that can be tracked…"

And the layout of Myriad Demon Valley—he knew it better than anyone.

Jin Yixuan snorted coldly, a glint of vicious light flashing in his eyes. "You lot—you won't escape…"

……

At the edge of Myriad Demon Prison, Mo Hua, who had been giving directions, heard a "fizz" from the array disk in his hand as the magnetite dispersed and the array formation lost its function.

Mo Hua sighed.

This magnetite spirit-vision compound array had still been discovered.

It seemed there was an experienced array master among the demon cultivators as well.

If his guess was right, this person was most likely the leader of the demon cultivators—the senior disciple of Severing Gold Sect, Jin Yixuan.

Fortunately, he had left some contingencies.

If this group of demon cultivators could destroy Myriad Demon Valley themselves, he could destroy the magnetite array himself.

But such small tricks only treated the symptoms, not the root cause.

The situation from here on out probably wouldn't be very optimistic.

Mo Hua, hidden in the shadows and observing everything, glanced once more at Linghu Xiao, Ouyang Mu, and Song Jian—their faces covered, bodies smeared with filthy blood, mixed in among the demon cultivators—and his feelings were somewhat complicated.

"Enough. Take it one step at a time."

"If it really won't work, I'll just have to think of another way…"

The road ahead was indeed far more arduous.

There were many more searching guards along the way. Every demon cultivator who passed had their black robe pulled back to check their face.

There were even patrolling "stewards."

Some of the mechanisms and small gates on the branching paths had been closed off as well.

Occasionally there were also domesticated hyena hounds, led on ropes by demon cultivators, sniffing the ground everywhere for the scent of humans.

After creeping along so cautiously for a while, finally, on a stone bridge outside Myriad Demon Prison, Linghu Xiao and the other two were cornered.

Just at that moment, the Grand Void Token in Mo Hua's hand trembled. He looked down and saw a message from Elder Xun:

"I've already fought my way into the valley. Where are you?"

Mo Hua looked up. On the opposite side of the stone bridge stood a steward who was tall, pale-faced, with a gaze as fierce and ruthless as a tiger or wolf.

It was Severing Gold Sect's Jin Gui.

This place is still about half an hour's walk from the gate.

But Jin Gui, like a "ferocious tiger," blocked their path.

Judging by his expression, he clearly had no intention of letting this go.

Jin Gui looked at the three of Linghu Xiao and sneered coldly, "So you've finally shown yourselves…"

With their trail exposed, there was no point for Linghu Xiao and the others to conceal themselves anymore.

Song Jian stepped forward one pace and said:

"Jin Gui, we're both disciples of Duanjin Gate—why must you drive us to the brink?"

Jin Gui couldn't help but sneer, "Young Master Song, after all this, you're still so naive—it's laughable…"

"So what if we're both disciples of Duanjin Gate?"

"In this world, fathers and sons turn against each other; blood relatives kill one another. What's the significance of being fellow disciples?"

Song Jian, raised in a noble family under his parents' protection, invoked them again: "If you dare lay a hand on me, my parents won't let you live!"

Jin Gui's gaze held a hint of pity. "You've been trapped in this Ten Thousand Demons Valley for some time now, haven't you? Can you guess why your parents haven't stirred a single finger?"

"Can you guess what they're doing?"

Song Jian was silenced, momentarily stunned.

He was locked in the valley—how could he know what his parents were doing?

Jin Gui smirked mockingly.

"What else could they be doing? Weighing the costs—deciding whether to save you or not."

"If the price is too high, they'd rather you die—once and for all—so you don't become their burden!"

Song Jian turned pale with rage. "You're lying! They're my parents—how could they ignore my life or death?"

Jin Gui shook his head, voice icy. "Clearly, you know nothing of noble family rules."

"Cultivators multiply into clans, clans bound by bloodline—but kinship is the coldest of all."

"Among most cultivators in a clan, what matters most is profit!"

"If interests clash, even if you share the same sect, the same lineage, even the same parents, they'll still wish you dead."

"Your parents have more than just you as a son. If you die, they'll shed a few tears, and in time, they may forget you entirely."

Song Jian cried out, "You're lying!"

Jin Gui sneered.

Linghu Xiao's gaze turned icy. He said to Song Jian, "Don't waste words with him—he's buying time."

"Buying time?" Jin Gui's expression was arrogant. "Do you think I need to buy time to deal with you?"

"Yes, I was born lowly, with poor talent—can't compare to you legitimate disciples."

Jin Gui's tone shifted, his eyes filled with venom. "But now, I'm no longer the same—I've been reborn! Today, I'll show you what true king among beasts truly means…"

Jin Gui's voice grew increasingly coarse; by the end, it was no longer human—it roared like a tiger.

His body, as the mighty beast patterns flashed across his skin, swelled larger, sprouting tawny fur, growing tiger claws and fangs.

Jin Gui's aura now truly resembled a powerful tiger demon—terrifying to behold.

Linghu Xiao and the others changed expression instantly, drawing their swords.

"Attack!"

Along this journey, the three had developed some tacit understanding in fighting together.

Song Jian used the Duanjin Sword Art to close in and block the demonized Jin Gui; Ouyang Mu, lacking mastery of the Tai'e Sword Art, could only assist from the side.

Linghu Xiao, meanwhile, began gathering strength, condensing an incredibly sharp Chongxu Sword Qi.

But Jin Gui, already demonized and bearing the Four Symbols Black Tiger Beast Pattern, had vastly increased power—he overpowered Song Jian within just a few exchanges.

Then, with a single backhand, he shattered Ouyang Mu's stance.

Both Song Jian and Ouyang Mu spat blood.

At that exact moment, a luminous, moonlike, deadly Chongxu Sword Qi struck Jin Gui's body directly.

The sword qi tore through Jin Gui's black robe, revealing the beast pattern on his back—and carved a deep wound, exposing black-red flesh.

Yet, in an instant, his wound began healing.

Linghu Xiao gritted his teeth, helpless.

The cultivation gap was too obvious.

Moreover, along this journey, he had already expended much spiritual energy; now, condensing sword qi was extremely taxing.

Mo Hua's expression also froze.

The pattern drawn on this Jin Gui—was it a rare "tiger" beast pattern?

Mo Hua had never seen such a beast pattern on any other demonic cultivator.

And since the tiger is king of beasts, the enhancement power of this tiger pattern was clearly stronger than other four-symbol beast patterns.

The Jin Gui before them now was utterly different from the one before.

In the arena, Linghu Xiao and the others, unsurprisingly, were locked in a brutal struggle.

Song Jian and Ouyang Mu, fighting up close, were no match for Jin Gui bearing the "tiger pattern."

And when Linghu Xiao was forced into close combat, he had no chance to gather sword qi—his threat against Jin Gui's thick, armored demon body was negligible.

Jin Gui, fighting all three, moved with ease.

Mo Hua silently reached into his storage pouch, pulled out a Duanjin Sword, wondering if he could kill Jin Gui and copy the Four Symbols Tiger Beast Pattern from his body.

But the moment the thought arose, he quietly sheathed the sword again.

Someone was approaching from afar.

The lead figure was none other than the black-robed leader of the Ten Thousand Demons Valley—and Jin Yixuan, senior brother of Duanjin Gate.

In addition, there were several managers and seven or eight demonic cultivators.

Mo Hua sighed deeply.

"This time, it's truly beyond remedy…"

Even with himself added, he still couldn't possibly match this group of demonic cultivators.

Riding his sword, he might kill one or two, but it would expose his position.

Moreover, Jin Gui was far too strong after his demonic transformation.

Mo Hua estimated that even if he rode his sword, he might not be able to kill Jin Gui with a single strike.

Not to mention the other managers, and the leader of the Ten Thousand Demons Valley—Jin Yixuan—with the lingering soul of Mr. Tu fused into his body.

Even if he could kill them, it wouldn't help at all.

With so many demonic cultivators surrounding them, Xiao Mutou and the other two were surely trapped…

At this moment, Jin Gui, seeing newcomers arrive, stopped holding back and moved to end it quickly.

After only a dozen or so exchanges, Song Jian and Ouyang Mu were struck by Jin Gui's palm and spat blood.

Linghu Xiao was also punched by Jin Gui straight onto his spiritual sword, his qi and blood surging, unable to fight further.

The three remembered Mo Hua's words:

"If you're blocked by anyone, don't be foolish, don't think about dying with honor or fighting to the death—just surrender honestly…"

So none of them resisted; they surrendered meekly.

Linghu Xiao was unwilling, but he had no choice.

Jin Yixuan led the group of demonic cultivators forward and first praised Jin Gui: "Well done."

Jin Gui's expression brightened.

Jin Yixuan turned his gaze to Linghu Xiao and the other three, frowned, and asked: "Where are the others?"

Where did that damned "rat" go?

Mo Hua's involvement, Linghu Xiao and Ouyang Mu naturally wouldn't reveal.

Song Jian wasn't stupid—he wouldn't betray anything either.

The three merely sneered in silence.

Jin Yixuan grew angry, his eyelids twitching, and demanded: "Who's helping you in secret?"

Linghu Xiao sneered, "This mere Ten Thousand Demons Prison? I alone with my sword can come and go as I please—why would I need help?"

Jin Yixuan knew he was lying, ignored it, but his expression darkened.

Jin Gui had long disliked Linghu Xiao, so he said: "Shall we cripple his hands first, let him suffer a bit?"

Jin Yixuan's gaze turned cold; after a moment's thought, he still shook his head:

"These three are still useful to the Young Master…"

He scanned the surroundings again, his spiritual sense sweeping back and forth several times, yet still found no trace of him—his brow furrowed.

He's hiding well…

At a moment like this, he hasn't revealed a single clue?

Jin Yixuan snorted coldly, silently cursing:

"No wonder he's a rat—sneaky and cowardly."

Then he looked around once more, reluctant but said: "Enough. First report to the Young Master—deal with the rest later."

"Yes, Leader."

The other demonic cultivators bowed, then pulled out chains to bind Linghu Xiao and the other two, heading deeper into the Ten Thousand Demons Prison.

Mo Hua saw all of this.

"So, even this can't be escaped…"

Mo Hua frowned; he had intended to follow them, but then he realized—following them would do no good.

The opposing demonic cultivators were too many, and most were at the late Foundation Establishment or even peak stage.

And there was also the mysterious "Young Master."

He couldn't defeat them now; following them wouldn't change that.

Moreover, from what Jin Yixuan just said, they already suspected someone was secretly aiding Xiao Mutou and the others.

If so, these demonic cultivators must now be extremely vigilant.

If he followed and was spotted by accident, he'd be in danger himself.

After much thought, Mo Hua decided he still needed to find "help."

The depths of the Ten Thousand Demons Valley were unknown and perilous—he couldn't handle it alone.

He thought for a moment, then sent a message to Elder Xun Ziyou:

"Elder Xun, where are you now?"

"Linghu and the other three have been recaptured—I can't do anything. I need your help."

In moments, a reply came through the Grand Void Talisman from Elder Xun Ziyou:

"We've entered the gate, passed the main road, and are now fighting our way inward—we're currently before a Wolf Fang Valley."

Wolf Fang Valley?

Mo Hua recalled the terrain of the Ten Thousand Demons Valley, then said: "Don't wander off—I'll come get you."

The terrain inside the Ten Thousand Demons Valley was complex and labyrinthine; he feared Elder Xun and the others might get lost and miss him.

Elder Xun Ziyou replied: "Good!"

So Elder Xun Ziyou and the other elders stayed put, slaying demonic cultivators.

Mo Hua, meanwhile, concealed his presence and rushed toward Wolf Fang Valley.

Less than half an hour later, Mo Hua arrived at Wolf Fang Valley and saw from afar Elder Xun Ziyou and several elders slaying demons with sword flight.

All of them were Jin Dan cultivators, often needing only a single sword qi to slay a Foundation Establishment demon cultivator.

The surrounding demon cultivators were so terrified they dared not approach.

Seeing how powerful Elder Xun and the others were, Mo Hua felt much more at ease.

The instant Mo Hua appeared, Elder Xun Ziyou and the others noticed him.

They transformed into swift flight lights and arrived within moments.

"Mo Hua, Xiao'er…"

The man before them wore the robe of the Chongxu Sect.

Mo Hua guessed this elder was the one Elder Xun had mentioned—the secret guardian of Linghu Xiao, Elder Shangguan Xuan.

Mo Hua spoke tersely: "Time is critical—Linghu has been captured. Let's talk while we move."

Elder Xun Ziyou and the others nodded.

The main forces of both sects were still advancing into the valley; manpower was currently scarce.

But with Jin Dan cultivators, it would suffice.

Elder Xun Ziyou, Elder Xun Ziyan, and Elder Shangguan Xuan—the three Jin Dan elders—followed Mo Hua's guidance, leading the charge deep into Ten Thousand Demons Valley.

The three Jin Dan elders' flight techniques were swift; Mo Hua could not keep up.

The tall, slender Xun Ziyou took Mo Hua's sleeve and carried him along in flight.

With three Jin Dan elders as escorts, Mo Hua felt considerably more at ease.

The group advanced like a blade cutting through bamboo.

Obstacles were cleaved with one sword strike; demon cultivators were slain with one sword strike—no hesitation, no delay, speed astonishing.

Soon, they reached the stone bridge where Linghu Xiao and the other two had been taken.

Mo Hua briefly sensed the lingering blood aura and karmic traces, then pointed right: "This way."

Xun Ziyou and the other two hesitated not at all; they became three streaks of flight light and continued chasing in the direction Mo Hua indicated.

From then on, Mo Hua guided the way.

Occasionally Mo Hua hesitated, but after a moment's thought, he always pointed correctly.

The three Jin Dan elders felt growing suspicion.

But the situation was urgent; there was no time to ask.

Moreover, after all they had endured, they all held an unspoken, unquestioning trust in Mo Hua.

Of course, under these circumstances, they had no choice but to trust.

Yet no matter how accurate the path, time was slipping away.

The deeper they pursued, the more complex the terrain became, and the more time they wasted.

Around them lay chaos: collapsed stone walls, rampaging demonic beasts, and demon cultivators dead in varied, gruesome states.

But there was no sign of Linghu Xiao and the other two.

Xun Ziyou and the others wore solemn expressions.

Mo Hua, too, felt a growing sense of dread.

Finally, an hour later, as he led Elder Xun and the other three through the Demon Refining Cauldron, the Alchemy Chamber, and the Array Shi Dian, reaching their final destination, the dread intensified.

The final location was a grand mural.

Upon the mural stood the valley, jagged rocks and treacherous rivers, grotesque demons dancing wildly—it was that very… Demon Refining Map!

Outside the Demon Refining Map, several demon cultivators stood guard.

Near the Demon Refining Map stood three coffins.

The coffins were black, engraved with demonic patterns, cold and strange.

Before each coffin burned pale green candles, with offerings of flesh, bone, and demonic fruits.

In the center of the Demon Refining Map stood a witch-like overseer, trembling violently, muttering incantations.

It seemed she was performing some kind of "ritual."

Mo Hua recognized it at once: "They're performing a sacrifice!"

At the same moment, the demon cultivators spotted Mo Hua—especially Xun Ziyou and the others in their sect robes—and were stunned, unable to believe it:

"Jin Dan?!"

Xun Ziyou's expression turned icy; he acted without hesitation: "Kill!"

He and Shangguan Xuan unleashed piercing sword intent—either wielding sword artifacts or forming sword qi—to slay the surrounding demon cultivators one by one.

Before the powerful late-stage Jin Dan sword cultivators, the demon cultivators had no chance to resist.

The witch-like demon cultivator tried to overturn the altar and destroy the ritual, but Elder Xun Ziyan swiftly subdued her.

A spirit rope etched with arrays bound her tightly.

The witch could not move.

Elder Xun Ziyan demanded coldly: "What is the sacrifice ritual? How do you reverse it? How do you retrieve the 'offering'?"

The witch grinned, her teeth black as ink, then a sinister light flashed in her eyes—her seven orifices burst, her consciousness shattered, and she died.

Elder Xun Ziyan tried to stop her but was too late; his face turned as cold as frost.

The nearby demon cultivators were already dead in heaps.

The outer demons, unaware of the truth, had been slain by sword qi.

The witch overseer who performed the sacrifice clearly knew something—but a dark force had destroyed her consciousness, causing her to self-destruct.

The area was empty, save for the three coffins in the center.

Not just Mo Hua, but even Xun Ziyou and the others now harbored suspicions.

After a moment, Elder Xun Ziyou sighed:

"Open the coffin…."

Xun Zixian hesitated briefly, then broke the array sealing the coffin and opened them one by one.

Inside the coffins lay three youths.

They were precisely Linghu Xiao, Ouyang Mu, and Song Jian.

At this moment, all three had pale faces, not a trace of blood, their breaths extinguished, like corpses stripped of their "soul spirits."

Shangguan Xuanjian trembled, his face ashen, eyes filled with despair.

Elder Xun Ziyou and Xun Zixian remained silent, not knowing how to comfort him.

The atmosphere grew deathly still.

Just then, they heard Mo Hua beside them let out a soft breath and say:

"Good…."

Elder Xun Ziyou and Xun Zixian froze.

Shangguan Xuanjian snapped his head up, as if grasping a lifeline, his eyes filled with hope as he stared at Mo Hua.

"Mo…"

His voice was hoarse.

Mo Hua nodded: "Their soul spirits were sacrificed, but fortunately, it was recent—there's still a chance to save them…"

He was relatively familiar with such matters.

Upon hearing this, the three of Elder Xun Ziyou's group looked stunned.

They were all proper cultivators, with little knowledge of the Dao of Souls.

Xun Zixian knew a little, but certainly not well.

"How… how do you save them?"

Mo Hua looked up, glancing at the stern, majestic Demon-Refining Map, where countless demons seemed to howl, and said casually:

"I just need to go inside!"

His eyes glowed faintly, hinting at excitement.

He had nearly been leaving the valley…

Yet these demon cultivators, of all things, had lured him right back here.

If he didn't step into this Demon-Refining Map to take a look, wouldn't that be a betrayal of their painstaking effort to "invite the wolf into the house"?

(End of Chapter)

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