Chapter 787: To Be the Tiger's Accomplice

Both Elder Xun Ziyou and Elder Xun Zixian were taken aback.

Elder Xun Ziyou shook his head repeatedly. "No, no, you can't go in."

Those three children—Linghu Xiao among them—had their fates unknown. He felt regret, and it weighed on him.

But after all, this was the affair of the Chongxu Gate, the Tai'a Gate, and the Duanjin Gate's Song family themselves.

The "pain" wouldn't touch him personally.

Though he felt regret, that was all it amounted to.

But if Mo Hua acted on his own and truly entered this Refining Demon Diagram, and his luck was bad and something happened, and he perished inside, then the Grand Void Gate would suffer heavy losses as well.

The Old Ancestor wouldn't be lenient with him either.

He wouldn't even have the face to go see the Old Ancestor.

That kind of "pain" would truly fall on him.

"Even if someone goes in, it should be me—not you." Elder Xun Ziyou added.

Mo Hua then said, "Elder Xun, do you know what to do once inside?"

Elder Xun Ziyou was stunned for a moment. He looked at the vast, grim mural before him, considered it seriously, then honestly shook his head:

"I don't…"

He didn't even know what this Refining Demon Diagram actually was.

Nor could he possibly know what intricacies lay within.

As a sect elder, he spent most of his time within the sect. Though he did travel outside, and his experience was considerable, all that experience was experience with the various and sundry "human" cultivators.

Not evil spirits.

To this day, he had barely encountered any evil spirits, and knew very little about matters of evil thoughts.

Instead, Elder Xun Zixian furrowed his brow slightly, thought for a moment, then asked Mo Hua with a solemn expression: "Are you confident?"

"Mm!" Mo Hua nodded.

From what he could see so far, within the Myriad Demon Valley there were no remains or even incarnations of the Evil God.

So within this Refining Demon Diagram, although the demon spirits were numerous, ferocious, and savage, in terms of actual strength, they might not truly be that powerful.

He should be able to "handle" it!

Mo Hua wore an expression of calm confidence, as if success were already assured.

Elder Xun Zixian was somewhat surprised and fell into brief thought.

Though he did not know where exactly Mo Hua's confidence lay.

But since this child was a disciple valued by the Old Ancestor himself, he must have his extraordinary qualities.

Moreover, since entering the Myriad Demon Valley, Mo Hua's intelligence, comprehension, sense of measure in handling matters, and grasp of formations—Elder Xun Zixian had seen all of it with his own eyes.

Elder Xun Zixian nodded and said:

"I agree to let you go in. If you need anything, just say the word, and I'll help you."

Elder Xun Ziyou was startled.

Shangguan Xuanjian, standing to the side, heard this and grew visibly moved, and hurriedly added:

"Little brother, as long as you can rescue Xiao'er, then consider it my Chongxu Gate owing you a great favor!"

"Or at least consider it me, Shangguan Xuanjian, owing you a great favor!"

"From now on, as long as it doesn't violate morality, doesn't go against the Dao's laws, doesn't harm your personal virtue, or the sect's interests—whatever it is, just say the word. If I can do it, I will not refuse!"

That promise was an extremely weighty one.

Moreover, it was the promise of an inner-gate elder at the late Jin Dan stage, from the Chongxu Gate—one of the Eight Great Sects.

Elder Xun Zixian was slightly taken aback.

Elder Xun Ziyou was even more astonished, and sighed: "Xuanjian, you don't have to…"

Shangguan Xuanjian shook his head, his expression solemn.

"This is only right!"

He truly had no other choice.

The cultivation world was vast and boundless, with all manner of intricate paths; each discipline had its own specialization.

What he cultivated was sword Qi. Regarding matters of demon spirits, he was already in a fog to begin with, and had no idea what to do to rescue Linghu Xiao.

The Refining Demon Diagram was saturated with demonic Qi, and was bound to be extraordinarily dangerous.

If Mo Hua hadn't spoken up himself, Shangguan Xuanjian naturally wouldn't have felt right asking this junior disciple of the Grand Void Gate to brave unknown dangers to rescue a disciple of their Chongxu Gate.

But since Mo Hua had spoken up, saying he was confident, and Elder Xun Zixian, well-versed in formation studies, had also agreed—

Then naturally he had to sincerely offer a weighty promise and ask Mo Hua for help.

Right now, this was very likely the last chance.

If he didn't offer a weighty promise and ask this unfathomably mysterious junior disciple, Mo Hua, for help—

Once this chance was missed, it was very possible that their Chongxu Gate's once-in-five-hundred-years sword-heart-clarity sword Dao prodigy would never be rescued.

If it truly came to that, that would be the real cause for endless regret.

Therefore, with even the slightest chance before his eyes, he could not let it slip.

Elder Xun Ziyou glanced at Shangguan Xuanjian, empathized with his state of mind, and could no longer stop him. He sighed: "Very well…"

He looked at Mo Hua again. "Then be careful."

Mo Hua nodded.

Elder Xun Zixian, standing to the side, glanced once more at the Refining Demon Diagram, and suddenly felt a bit puzzled. He asked Mo Hua a key question:

"How… are you going to get in?"

This mural was grand and vast, but had no entrance—clearly one did not enter it with one's "physical body."

Xun Zixian had heard Mo Hua mention the words "sacrifice."

But sacrifice requires a ritual.

Different sacrifices require different rituals.

The specific ritual is still unclear, and the witch is dead; trying to enter the mural through a sacrifice ritual probably won't work.

"Wait a moment, let me think it over…"

Mo Hua murmured, his thoughts turning.

Previously, in the Ten Thousand Demons Valley, when he first saw the Demon Refining Map, he had already considered how to enter it.

Preparing in advance is a basic principle of demon hunters.

When facing any situation, one must plan ahead.

To enter the Demon Refining Map, one generally can only rely on a "ritual."

Mo Hua's original plan was to take advantage of the chaos—to sneak in during a demon cultivator's "ritual," and have himself sacrificed into it.

But this condition was too harsh.

It required immense fortune and coincidence.

Not all demon cultivators are fools.

If even the slightest mistake occurred and the demon cultivators noticed, his physical body would fall into their hands.

That would be the end.

Even if his soul entered the Demon Refining Map and devoured all their treasures, it would be useless.

Without a physical body as foundation, the soul would naturally become a "ghostly entity."

Forever severed from the Dao.

Therefore, the best solution was to bypass the "ritual," not through sacrifice, but by directly intervening in the Demon Refining Map with Primordial Spirit.

The ritual is someone else's path.

Someone else's path is always uncomfortable to walk—and not necessarily safe.

Mo Hua still wanted to walk his own path.

"How do I bypass the ritual?"

Mo Hua had previously had no good idea on this point, but recent experiences had gradually given him some insights.

Mo Hua walked two laps around the massive Demon Refining Map, like a mural, then went to the corner, took out the white bone broken sword, and asked quietly:

"Bone Sword, can you enter the Demon Refining Map?"

"I won't go in!!" the Bone Sword immediately said.

"I'm asking if you can enter, not if you want to enter," Mo Hua said coldly.

The Bone Sword could not miss the unspoken threat in Mo Hua's calm tone.

It wanted to resist, but lacked the strength to do so, and could only whisper in protest:

"I… I can enter, but it would be useless."

The Bone Sword's voice carried a hint of fear: "The Demon Refining Map is filled with demonic horrors—far too dangerous. Though I am a Sword Demon, and myself a body of evil thoughts, before so many demonic horrors, I am utterly insignificant…"

"Moreover, even if I entered, I couldn't rescue those few little ghosts."

"I'd most likely be devoured alive by the horde of demonic horrors…"

The Bone Sword was timid, but it spoke no lie.

Yet Mo Hua said: "You don't need to rescue anyone."

The Bone Sword froze. "I don't need to rescue? Then why should I go in?"

"You're mainly to guide me in."

Mo Hua's eyes glinted slightly.

He had thought it through.

Primordial Spirit projection seemed a highly advanced cultivator ability.

He couldn't do it yet.

Thus, at present, his spiritual awareness could not leave his body voluntarily.

But it could be passively drawn into certain "contemplation maps," "illusions," or "nightmares" by malevolent entities.

Like being "soul-snatched."

Mo Hua had compiled a list of malevolent entities he'd encountered—from the earliest Landscape Dao Child Map of Great Heishan, to the Zombie Ancestor Map of the Zhang family, to the Daoist shrine of Wuxing Sect…

All were much the same.

That made things easier.

The physical body is the soul's "cage."

If he found a "malevolent entity" to snatch his "soul," allowing his spiritual awareness to escape his body, then through certain methods, his spiritual awareness could "actively" enter illusions or nightmares.

This "soul-snatcher" would be a "guide."

And Mo Hua chose the Bone Sword to be that guide.

The Bone Sword, entrusted with this "great responsibility," immediately shuddered.

Guide?

Guide this terrifying Xiaozu Sect?

The Bone Sword quickly offered a polite excuse: "But… even if I pull you to the blood pool, I still can't enter the Demon Refining Map…"

"That's not your concern," Mo Hua said. "I've already thought it through. You only need to follow my instructions."

"This seems…" the Bone Sword still hesitated.

Mo Hua's face hardened. "You don't think I'm asking your opinion, do you?"

The Sword Bone grimaced: "Yes."

Why didn't you say that sooner?

Pretending to ask so many questions—could you even refuse yourself?

You're just a malevolent spirit with not an ounce of "sovereignty"—what's the point of consulting me, this little ancestor?

The Sword Bone seethed inwardly.

"Fine, it's settled then."

Mo Hua unilaterally decided.

On the other side, Xun Ziyou and the other two were taken aback.

Mo Hua crouched in the corner, clutching a broken sword, muttering to himself, occasionally emitting strange, sinister energy.

This disturbance could not possibly escape the divine sense of their Jin Dan cultivators.

Yet they said nothing.

What Mo Hua could concoct was his own business; even if he overstepped, it was the Ancestor's duty to handle it—they'd simply turn a blind eye.

Having secured the Sword Bone's "consent," Mo Hua now had his plan.

He circled the Demon Refining Map several times, carefully deducing the aura of its array, keenly sensing the flow of the Divine Path array within.

Then he found a relatively weak point in the array.

No array is uniformly distributed.

Any medium carrying an array has its own vulnerabilities.

The Demon Refining Map was no exception.

Of course, spotting such flaws still tested an array master's divine sense, vision, and array experience.

Most crucially, it tested his ability to deduce and calculate.

Mo Hua located the weak point in the Divine Path array of the Demon Refining Map, took out brush and ink, drew an X, and said to Xun Ziyou:

"Elder Xun Ziyou, break open this spot with sword qi—about two inches deep."

Xun Ziyou didn't understand, but he drew his sword and shaved off a thin layer from the wall painting, right where Mo Hua had drawn the X.

After shaving it away, the inner array patterns were revealed.

Here, the Divine Path array lines were sparse, with considerable space between each line.

Mo Hua first erased one of the Divine Path array lines, then replaced it with one he had drawn himself.

Thus, his drawn array line became an "interface."

Mo Hua then drew another Divine Path array line on the white bone sword.

These two Divine Path array lines could interlock.

Mo Hua chose the position, inserted the white bone sword into the wall painting, so that the array line on the broken sword interlocked with the one he had left on the wall, connecting them and forming a "bridge."

Thus, the white bone sword became part of the Demon Refining Map.

The two were now one whole.

Entering the white bone sword would naturally allow passage through the Divine Path "bridge" into the "Demon Refining Map."

Xun Ziyou and Shangguan Xuanjian watched, utterly baffled.

Only Xun Zi-xian could discern a hint of the method—he roughly guessed Mo Hua's intent, and his expression grew momentarily stunned.

He looked at the wall painting, then the broken sword, then the array lines forming the "bridge," and finally at Mo Hua—his emotions stirred.

"How the hell is this child's mind built?"

After finishing everything, Mo Hua turned to Xun Ziyou and the others:

"Elder, I'm going in now, but my physical body will remain here—I beg you to guard it for me."

Xun Ziyou nodded. "Rest assured, with us here, no one can touch your body."

He silently clenched the "Void Sword Token" in his hand.

Logically, the three of them, all late-stage Jin Dan cultivators, were more than enough to ensure Mo Hua's safety.

But if an unexpected threat arose—say, an enemy stronger than a Jin Dan—they would shatter the Sword Token and summon the Ancestor.

Thus eliminating any possibility of mishap.

Mo Hua was reassured.

The white bone sword, embedded in the Demon Refining Map, was connected by two interlocking Divine Path array lines.

Mo Hua sat cross-legged, gripping the white bone sword, and whispered:

"Sword Bone."

The Sword Bone, reluctant but helpless, activated the malevolent spirit technique "Soul Luring," drawing this "little plague god" into his blood pool.

A faint veil of blood mist rose from the white bone sword.

Beneath the mist, Mo Hua slowly closed his eyes, his spiritual sense gradually leaving his body, his face paling, his breathing steady, his aura becoming faint and elusive.

Xun Ziyou still felt uneasy, frowning: "This bone sword… seems sinister, not a righteous artifact. Will it be safe?"

Xun Zi-xian shook his head. "If he's confident, he knows what he's doing. Let him proceed—we just guard his body."

Xun Zixian shook his head, "Since he's confident, he must have a plan—let him proceed as he wishes; we just need to guard his physical body."

Then the three late-stage Jin Dan inner sect elders formed a triangular formation, guarding Mo Hua in the center.

They extended their divine senses, alert and vigilant, eyes sharp, forbidding anyone from approaching.

Within their protection, Mo Hua sat calmly with his eyes closed.

His spiritual sense had left his body, entered the blood pool, and transformed into a smaller version of "Little Mo Hua."

The Sword Bone, seeing this form, felt a pang in every bone.

The Sword Bone, upon seeing him like this, felt aching all over its bones.

The dozens of sword bones once snapped apart by Mo Hua's bare hands now throbbed faintly.

Mo Hua got straight to the point and ordered:

"Lead the way."

The Sword Bone Head wore a pained expression and chuckled nervously:

"Little Ancestor, you've already built the path to the Demon Refining Map, and I've already pulled you in—you can enter on your own. A mere Sword Demon like me doesn't need to follow…"

Mo Hua shook his head. "I must take you with you. You're a 'hazard'—I can't leave you behind."

The Sword Bone Head's lips twitched:

"Little Ancestor, you're joking… I'm weak, no match for you at all. I'd be useless inside. Better I stay behind to guard for you…"

Mo Hua paid no heed to his excuses, raising two pale, slender fingers:

"Two choices: one, come in with me; two, I crush you here and eliminate the threat forever."

The Sword Bone Head instantly shuddered, hurrying ahead of Mo Hua and bowing deeply:

"Little Ancestor, after you—I'll lead the way."

Mo Hua nodded in satisfaction.

The Sword Bone Head sighed inwardly.

It had originally planned to sever the Divine Path bridge once this Little Ancestor entered the Demon Refining Map, trapping him forever.

But this Little Ancestor gave not the slightest opening…

It could only resign itself to leading the way.

The golden Divine Path array markings stretched from the Sword Bone's blood pool to the Demon Refining Map, like an iron chain across a river, forming a golden array bridge.

The towering Sword Bone Head walked ahead, hunched and bent.

The tiny Mo Hua followed behind, head held high, chest out.

As they walked, the Sword Bone Head leading the way suddenly felt like a "henchman to a tiger."

Mo Hua was the tiger.

It was a tiny "ghost servant."

But this "ghost servant" didn't lead people to the tiger.

It was leading the tiger toward a crowd of people…

It grew more miserable, sighing inwardly:

"Being human is no freedom, being a demon offers no liberty—now as a demon, I'm still powerless to choose…"

"It's so hard just to live…"

The Sword Bone Head grumbled inwardly, yet outwardly grew even more respectful, daring not the slightest lapse.

Thus, demon and man followed the Divine Path chain, leaving the blood pool, heading toward the Demon Refining Map—broader, denser with blood and malevolence, fiercer with demonic aura.

After walking for an unknown length of time, the space ahead gradually opened.

The pitch-black, murky sky, crimson clouds, jagged mountains, towering piles of white bones, and countless monstrous, evil energies loomed nearly within reach.

Mo Hua, after so long, felt a familiar "ravenous hunger."

As if he hadn't feasted in ages.

His crystalline eyes grew brighter.

His porcelain-doll face seemed even rosier, teeth whiter.

The Sword Bone Head sensed Mo Hua's excitement and found it strange; it stole a glance back, saw Mo Hua's pale, adorable face—and for some reason, felt a creeping chill.

"Walk faster!" Mo Hua's voice rang clear.

"Yes, yes!" The Sword Bone Head dared not delay.

Soon, man and demon crossed the Divine Path "bridge" and stepped into the true Demon Refining Map.

Upon entering, the atmosphere changed instantly.

Grim, bloody, suffocating.

The valley was monstrous, bones piled high, blood soaked the ground—clearly a long-standing haunt of demons.

The Sword Bone Head's blood pool had been foul with blood, but compared to this Demon Refining Map, it was a drop in the ocean.

"But…"

Mo Hua looked left and right, frowning in confusion.

"Where are the demons?"

Wasn't it said that entering the Demon Refining Map meant being devoured by ten thousand demons?

Where were the ten thousand demons?

Where had they hidden?

Were they hiding?

Mo Hua was displeased.

Guests had arrived—why no welcome?

The demons in this Demon Refining Map were terribly rude.

Mo Hua's eyes gleamed; he thought silently: "If you won't come find me, then I'll go find you…"

But before that, he must first rescue Xiao Mutou and the other two.

Mo Hua extended his divine sense, sensed faintly, then followed a path of white bones forward.

The Sword Bone Head, unsettled by the dense, grim aura of the Demon Refining Map, froze in surprise—but had no choice, and could only grit its skull and follow silently.

—

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(End of Chapter)

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