Chapter 846

"Daring to cause trouble on the Lipstick Boat—how bold of you..."

This Jin Dan cultivator wore a blank expression, his voice icy.

The room fell silent in an instant, the atmosphere solemn.

Even Shui Yanluo and Hua Ruyu halted, bowing in greeting.

"Elder."

Elder of the Gui Shui Sect?

Mo Hua's heart leapt.

This Jin Dan cultivator's face was stern, clad in a water-blue Dao robe, with hidden water energy and faint, sharp sword qi swirling around him.

At this moment, he stood with hands behind his back, his expression grave, exuding the demeanor of a true master.

Judging by his appearance, he truly had learned the Gui Shui Sect's sword art and received the Gui Shui Sword inheritance...

"This is troublesome..."

Mo Hua frowned.

The Jin Dan elder's gaze swept over the people in the room, lingering on Ouyang Feng—who, despite his injuries, remained calm—and on Hua Qianqian, who trembled inwardly yet held a stubborn gaze, finally settling on Mo Hua—and suddenly froze.

Then, he broke character.

His face filled with shock, his composed demeanor vanished; he trembled as he pointed at Mo Hua, furious:

"It's you?!"

Everyone present was stunned.

Mo Hua was too.

"Why is it always me?"

He frowned, studying the Jin Dan cultivator closely—and then realized with surprise that he actually knew this man!

Xie Liu of the Gui Shui Sect!

That Jin Dan sword cultivator.

Back then, when he caught the thief red-handed and followed the River Dragon to a small teahouse to gather evidence against Jin Yicai, he was spotted by this Jin Dan cultivator, Xie Liu.

Xie Liu wanted to kill him, but was subdued by Uncle Gu.

Because his sword art was terrible—he was no match for Uncle Gu, who disposed of him in three moves.

So Mo Hua had little memory of him, which was why he hadn't recognized him at first glance.

Mo Hua silently exhaled in relief.

"I thought it was some Jin Dan elder from Gui Shui Sect—turns out it's just Uncle Gu's former defeat, pretending to be a master and making me nervous for nothing..."

Mo Hua felt a little lighter.

But Xie Liu, the Jin Dan cultivator, could no longer remain calm. He pointed at Mo Hua, eyes brimming with murderous intent, teeth clenched:

"Brat, I remember you—you're a disciple of the Grand Void Gate, a lackey of the Dao Ting Si, a little pet of that bastard Gu Changhuai! If not for you luring me into the trap, I'd never have fallen into Gu Changhuai's scheme and ended up like this!"

"Now I've been expelled from Gui Shui Sect, forced to do their dirty, hidden work in secret, condemned to live in shadows for life—all thanks to you and that Gu!"

At these words, the others in the room grew pale.

A lackey of the Dao Ting Si? A follower of Gu Changhuai?

Could this brat really have these identities?

If he's on this boat, then that means...

Hua Ruyu and Shui Yanluo exchanged glances, their faces slightly ashen.

Ouyang Feng and Hua Qianqian were also taken aback.

In this short span, Mo Hua's identity had shifted several times—first a remnant of the Water Prison Sect, now a Dao Ting Si lackey.

Where did he get so many identities?

Mo Hua's head throbbed.

Dammit, his disguises were almost all stripped away.

He never imagined so many familiar faces would be on this Lipstick Boat—and all of them would converge at once.

Before he could think further, Xie Liu had drawn his sword and pointed it at Mo Hua:

"Seize this brat!"

Shui Yanluo and Hua Ruyu now fully grasped the gravity of the situation.

Mo Hua's identity was far more complicated than it seemed.

A Grand Void Gate disciple, Gu family lackey, Dao Ting Si agent—someone like this infiltrating the Lipstick Boat meant the vessel had suffered a massive breach!

Shui Yanluo's eyes turned red; he swung his Water Torture Whip toward Mo Hua.

Hua Ruyu's face hardened with malice as she activated the Hundred Flowers Spirit Array, striking straight at Mo Hua's heart meridian.

Xie Liu also launched Gui Shui sword qi toward Mo Hua's Tianmen point.

As soon as they attacked, Mo Hua immediately felt overwhelming pressure.

Two Foundation Establishment peak cultivators, plus a Jin Dan—even if this Jin Dan could only muster Foundation Establishment peak strength, it was far beyond what someone his age and cultivation level could endure.

Xie Liu might be weak, but only because he faced Uncle Gu, who could fully unleash Jin Dan power, in a third-grade state.

To Mo Hua, he was still a formidable Jin Dan.

And Mo Hua, as a spirit cultivator who specialized in unorthodox tactics, stealth, and mobility, might still manage to evade for a while.

But Brother Feng and Sister Qianqian were proper cultivators.

They knew no concealment arts, couldn't hide their presence; though their body techniques were decent, they held no advantage against Xie Liu and the others—they'd be captured within ten or so exchanges.

No!

Mo Hua, chased and harried by Xie Liu's trio, barely caught his breath before shouting out:

"Stop!"

Xie Liu and the other three paused their movements slightly.

Mo Hua said solemnly: "I advise you to stop while you're ahead. A little show of force is enough—don't force me to go all out, or you'll regret it!"

Xie Liu and the other three froze, then laughed at Mo Hua's words.

"You? Make us regret it?" Hua Ruyu sneered.

Shui Yanluo chuckled darkly. "Overestimating yourself."

Even Xie Liu wore a cat-toying-with-a-mouse expression, scoffing: "Fine. Let me see how exactly you'll make us regret it."

Mo Hua glanced at Ouyang Feng's severe injuries, then at Hua Qianqian's pale face—he knew they were nearly cornered.

If they kept fighting, in moments, Brother Feng and Sister Qianqian would fall into Xie Liu's hands.

And because he was held back by concern for them, many of his own techniques were unusable.

Though the timing was poor, and Uncle Gu and Dao Ting Si's forces were nowhere to be seen, there was no choice now—he had to flip the table and seek an escape route.

Mo Hua snorted coldly, his expression haughty:

"With a single command, I'll reduce this Yanzhi Boat to ashes. You'd better behave."

Xie Liu mocked: "Fine. Today I'll see how a Foundation Establishment brat like you turns my Yanzhi Boat to ashes."

Hua Ruyu also smiled faintly.

Only Shui Yanluo felt a sudden unease in his chest.

He was different from the other two.

Whether Xie Liu or Hua Ruyu, though they knew Mo Hua, had never truly fought him.

In Xie Liu's eyes, Mo Hua was merely a "little lackey" of Dao Ting Si.

In Hua Ruyu's eyes, Mo Hua was just a "little junior sister" of Baihua Valley.

But Shui Yanluo was different—he had suffered countless hidden losses at Mo Hua's hands.

He knew this brat, though seemingly ordinary, possessed strange and unpredictable abilities.

No one knew what hidden cards he held.

Shui Yanluo said gravely: "Don't be careless. This brat isn't simple. Keep your eyes locked on him—don't give him any opening."

Xie Liu and Hua Ruyu, surprised by Shui Yanluo's extreme caution toward a lowly cultivator, immediately shed their contempt.

Mo Hua raised an eyebrow.

This Shui Yanluo was truly perceptive and cautious—but it was too late.

Mo Hua smiled lightly.

Seeing Mo Hua's expression, Shui Yanluo's heart suddenly turned cold:

"No good."

He whipped his long whip, sending a crimson water-glow slicing through the air—the iron-chain whip struck like a venomous snake, directly at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua activated Shi Shui Step, barely dodging; before he could steady himself, Xie Liu's Gui Water Sword Qi and Hua Ruyu's Hundred Flowers Spirit Needles surged toward him, giving him no chance to breathe.

Shui Yanluo seized the moment to activate Water Shadow Step, aiming to close the distance to Mo Hua.

But just then, a flash of light erupted from the ground.

Several pale green beams materialized into wooden prisons, blocking the sword qi and spirit needles for a moment, and holding back Shui Yanluo.

"Second-rank Wood Prison Array? When was it set?"

Shui Yanluo and the others' expressions shifted slightly.

Though this was a high-grade second-rank array, it could not possibly hold off a Jin Dan and two Foundation Establishment peak cultivators.

In moments, the Wood Prison Array shattered.

But that brief delay gave Mo Hua the opening he needed—he reached Ouyang Feng and Hua Qianqian, pulled out a storage bag, and tossed it to Ouyang Feng.

"Brother Feng!"

Ouyang Feng caught the storage bag and found inside a shield forged of refined iron. Without hesitation, he pulled it out, planted it on the ground before him, shielding both himself and Mo Hua and Hua Qianqian.

Shui Yanluo and the others stared, confused.

"A refined iron shield? You think that can stop all three of us? How naive," Xie Liu sneered.

But before he finished speaking, Mo Hua whispered:

"Detonate."

Words spoken, array activated.

Outside the boat, blinding light erupted—crimson and green intertwined, dazzling and vibrant, as streaks of fireworks shot skyward.

Xie Liu and the other three froze.

Fireworks!

This brat was setting off fireworks—sending a signal!

Dao Ting Si's forces must be nearby!

Xie Liu grew irritated.

He knew that once Dao Ting Si arrived, the matter of the Yanzhi Boat would be irreversibly explosive.

When Dao Ting Si had investigated before, he'd suspected this day might come.

But he never imagined it would arrive so soon, so abruptly—with no preparation at all.

In desperation, Xie Liu could only say: "Seize these three as hostages—deal with the rest later…"

At this moment, he didn't know how many Dao Ting Si agents had come, or where they were hiding.

He could only prepare for the worst.

If things truly became hopeless, holding these three would be his bargaining chip.

With leverage, there's at least a chance of turning the tide.

Hua Ruyu and Shui Yanluo thought the same.

Only Shui Yanluo, who knew a little of Mo Hua's nature, thought one step further.

"Why set up a shield?"

"To block smoke and fire?"

"Impossible…"

"Then what is it protecting against?"

The cabin beneath their feet began to tremble; Shui Yanluo remembered Mo Hua's words—"I'll reduce you to ashes"—his pupils shrank, and he instinctively stepped back.

But Xie Liu and Hua Ruyu stepped forward.

Just then, a massive boom erupted.

A stronger, more surging aura of the array surged forth.

This time, it was not smoke or fire—but true, high-grade second-rank Li Fire, brimming with devastating destructive power and the aura of slaughter.

Flames instantly surged upward.

The inferno resembled a dragon, swallowing the entire vessel.

The spirit boat itself had been inscribed with numerous arrays during its construction.

The explosion of the Li Fire array was immensely powerful, also destroying the internal arrays of the spirit boat, causing spiritual energy to become chaotic, spilling uncontrollably in all directions, colliding and intertwining, further amplifying the blast's force.

The outer hull of the Yanzhi Boat was shattered to pieces.

True crimson flames shot skyward, spreading outward, resembling a fire dragon in the night sky.

The Yanzhi Boat itself was chained together with iron cables.

Mo Hua's array had not been designed to cover such a vast area.

But once the array exploded and the spirit boat caught fire, the Li Fire instantly spread, igniting every spirit boat.

The Yanzhi Boat burned from bow to stern.

Even through the thick fog, the astonishing blaze looked like an ocean of fire.

Far away, on the Dao Ting Si vessel.

Gu Changhuai and Xia Diansi, who had been tracking the Yanzhi Boat but lost its trail, stared dumbfounded at the scene before them.

Even from this distance, they could feel the intense spiritual energy fluctuations.

Smoke and fire rose, then a streak of fiery light shot into the sky.

Vast spiritual energy swept through, and boom after boom echoed.

The tremors from the chained explosions of the Yanzhi Boat traveled across the surface of the Yan Shui River, reaching their own spirit boat.

Ripples spread across the water, causing the cabin beneath their feet to vibrate slightly.

Xia Diansi was dazed, opened his mouth, then couldn't find words, finally muttering in disbelief:

"This… was caused by Mo Hua?"

"Probably…" Gu Changhuai was equally stunned. "He said he'd give us a 'hint'…"

Xia Diansi drew in a sharp breath.

"How could a Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivator create such a commotion? This… is just too reckless…"

Gu Changhuai fell silent for a moment, then sighed helplessly: "He never holds back—he's always like this…"

Xia Diansi: "…"

With the firelight as a beacon, the Yanzhi Boat's location was exposed.

With time critical, the two wasted no more time.

Xia Diansi ordered all Dao Ting Si spirit boats to surround the Yanzhi Boat from all sides, demanding to apprehend everyone on board with evidence in hand.

Anyone who resisted—regardless of origin—was to be killed on the spot!

On the Yan Shui River, Dao Ting Si spirit boats cut through the fog, advancing toward the burning Yanzhi Boat…

Meanwhile, the cultivators aboard the Yanzhi Boat were in utter chaos.

Mo Hua detonated the array he had set up, and the spirit boat exploded.

Those unlucky enough to be near the epicenter, mid-act, were suddenly blasted away by the spiritual energy surge.

Those farther away were still caught in the blast's shockwave, fleeing in panic.

Many men and women ran about the ship either naked or wrapped only in bed sheets.

In an instant, the Yanzhi Boat became an inferno; the "soft haven" turned into a nightmare.

The architect of it all, Mo Hua, had seized a small boat and was rowing toward shore with Ouyang Feng and Hua Qianqian.

Everything had been planned.

Their position was the "life gate" of the array's explosion—a spot Mo Hua had pre-planned.

When setting a killing array, a cultivator must always leave a "life gate" for himself—a thread of survival. This is essential discipline for any array master.

At the moment of the array's explosion, he had ordered Brother Feng to raise a massive shield.

This shield was designed by Mo Hua for Grand Void Gate disciples, especially large-bodied ones like Cheng Mo, to use when hunting fire-elemental beasts.

The shield was inscribed with many fire-repelling arrays, protecting against both spiritual energy impacts and fire burns.

During beast hunts, a body cultivator would raise the shield forward and withstand many fire-elemental beast attacks head-on.

Mo Hua had kept one spare, and now it was perfectly timed.

Occupying the life gate, protected by the fire shield.

Thus, though the Yanzhi Boat exploded violently, Mo Hua and his companions suffered not a single wound.

And as the Yanzhi Boat descended into chaos, Mo Hua seized the opportunity to escape.

The formation exploded, the spirit boat was destroyed; though the spectacle was grand, this level of destruction certainly couldn't kill Xie Liu, the Jin Dan of the Gui Shui Sect.

If we don't run now, we won't get another chance.

Ouyang Feng also knew the situation was urgent and pushed the spirit boat harder, putting distance between them and the Yan Zhi Boat.

Along the way, other cultivators who had fallen into the water tried to seize their boat, but Mo Hua and Hua Qianqian repelled them with fireball techniques and spirit needles.

After fleeing this distance, it seemed they were about to escape when suddenly, lethal intent surged—a blue-water sword light slashed toward them.

Mo Hua immediately activated his body technique and dodged aside.

But the spirit boat wasn't a cultivator—it couldn't use body techniques, couldn't turn its bow in time, and couldn't dodge at all; the blue-water sword light split it open with a crack.

River water flooded into the boat.

It wouldn't hold much longer; the boat would sink soon, and there wasn't enough time to reach shore.

With no choice, Mo Hua and Ouyang Feng abandoned the small boat and stepped onto another Yan Zhi Boat nearby.

This Yan Zhi Boat was farther from the central flower boat; though affected by the blast, its damage was light, but since it had been chained to others, it was still caught in the chain reaction and was ablaze everywhere.

As Mo Hua and the others stepped onto the deck, they saw a figure standing across from them.

It was Xie Liu.

Worse still, a sudden splash rose from the river—a white human figure shot out: it was the Water Yama Lord.

The two of them blocked Mo Hua and the others.

Yet their expressions were utterly grim.

Xie Liu bled profusely; his blue-water Dao robe was shredded, stained black and red in patches.

The second-rank high-grade killing formation had detonated, taking the spirit boat with it—he'd been caught dead center.

Had he not possessed a Jin Dan foundation, he'd likely be half-dead by now.

The Water Yama Lord had also been injured, but far less severely.

He was sharp-witted and wary of Mo Hua; thus, when Mo Hua triggered the formation, he instinctively stepped back several paces.

Those few paces made all the difference.

Otherwise, he never would have stood here whole and unharmed.

As for Hua Ruyu, Mo Hua didn't see her.

But she was a Foundation Establishment peak cultivator—charging straight at Mo Hua alongside Xie Liu, a Jin Dan, she'd likely be half-dead even if she survived the blast.

Three enemies had become two, yet the situation remained dire.

Brother Feng was wounded; Sister Qianqian's cultivation and strength were vastly inferior to the Water Yama Lord's.

The pre-placed formation had already been used.

Xie Liu and the Water Yama Lord wouldn't give them another chance to set up a formation on the spot.

Mo Hua could conceal himself, used Shi Shui Bu, and knew some water-repelling and demon-repelling techniques—he might still escape.

But Brother Feng and Sister Qianqian would surely be unable to break free.

In the distance, shadows upon shadows of boats approached—Dao Ting Si forces were coming.

But distant water cannot quench immediate fire…

No one would help them for now.

Mo Hua's mind raced, quickly assessing the situation, then he waved his hand and said:

"We surrender."

This stunned Xie Liu and the Water Yama Lord.

"What do you mean?" Xie Liu frowned.

Mo Hua said, "You wanted hostages, didn't you? We'll be your hostages. Otherwise, when Dao Ting Si arrives—with a Jin Dan Diansi overseeing them—they'll have no restraint and will slaughter you all."

Xie Liu's face twitched. "You're quite considerate of us…"

Mo Hua sighed. "What can I do? I've just got a good heart."

Xie Liu fell silent, staring at the shattered Yan Zhi Boats, the spreading sea of fire, the cultivators struggling within it, then at Mo Hua—the architect of it all—his face contorted, speechless.

But the Water Yama Lord didn't believe him; his gaze sharpened. "What are you planning?"

"Nothing. A wise man adapts to circumstances. I've used all my tricks—I can't beat you, so I surrender. Should I keep fighting and get killed anyway?"

Mo Hua spoke as if it were obvious.

The Water Yama Lord's brow tightened further.

"Of course, I have conditions," Mo Hua added. "Even though we're your hostages, you can't lay a single hair on us."

The Water Yama Lord couldn't help sneering. "And why should we agree?"

Mo Hua declared firmly: "Because I have the Water Prison Forbidden Box!"

The Water Yama Lord's eyes turned red; Xie Liu froze. "What forbidden box?"

Mo Hua's expression turned strange.

The Water Yama Lord, a Foundation Establishment peak cultivator, knew about the Forbidden Box—yet Xie Liu, a Jin Dan, had no idea?

He knew less about Gui Shui Sect's inner workings than I, an outsider…

No wonder, even as a Jin Dan, he was assigned such dirty work.

When real trouble came, he'd just be the one to take the fall…

Mo Hua muttered inwardly.

Xie Liu didn't know what the Water Prison Forbidden Box meant—but the Water Yama Lord certainly did. Though his expression remained cold, his gaze clearly wavered.

The Water Prison Forbidden Box was extremely important.

Its importance surpassed even killing Mo Hua.

Yet making a deal with Mo Hua was like trying to fleece a fox—the Water Yama Lord had no confidence at all.

Mo Hua turned his head to look, then said, "Have you thought it through? The people from Dao Ting Si are almost here, there's not much time left."

"Agree to my conditions. With hostages, you'll have bargaining chips to escape, and a chance to obtain the Water Prison Forbidden Box."

"Otherwise, at worst it's a mutual destruction."

"We die here, and you get killed by Gu Diansi when they arrive. Even if you're lucky and don't get killed, you'll never get the Water Prison Forbidden Box."

Mo Hua's expression was calm, his reasoning sound and well-grounded.

Xie Liu and Water Yama exchanged a glance, their expressions dark, silent. In the end, it was Water Yama who gritted his teeth and said:

"Fine, I won't kill you. But you need to have the self-awareness of being 'hostages,' otherwise don't blame me for being rude."

"Mm!" Mo Hua nodded.

Water Yama felt even more uneasy inside. Why had this little brat suddenly become so easy to talk to?

But the spirit boat from Dao Ting Si drew closer and closer, leaving him no time to think it over.

"Go!" Water Yama said in a low voice.

"Where to?" Xie Liu frowned.

Water Yama glanced at Xie Liu, then lowered his voice and said, "At this point, we can only go to that place to take shelter for now…"

Xie Liu's gaze trembled, his face turning slightly pale, as if he was deeply wary of that place.

But things had come to this, there was no other choice. He could only silently nod.

"That place…"

Behind the two of them, Mo Hua, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation, couldn't help but light up slightly, and quietly nodded as well.

"Junior Brother Mo…" Hua Qianqian's voice trembled slightly.

"It's fine," Mo Hua comforted her. "Senior Sister, don't worry."

Hua Qianqian nodded, but she looked at Mo Hua, her gaze worried, filled with self-reproach.

Ouyang Feng beside her also showed a look of shame.

He knew Mo Hua was skilled in concealment — if he wanted to escape, he still could. The reason he stayed behind to deal with these two villains was entirely for him and Qianqian.

It was them who had dragged Junior Brother Mo down.

Ouyang Feng sighed inwardly.

Afterwards, Xie Liu used a token to open a storage chest on the Rouge Boat, and took out a brand-new, compact spirit boat from within.

Xie Liu boarded first.

Water Yama cast a dark look at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua said frankly, "Let's go."

Then he took the lead, leaping onto the spirit boat. Ouyang Feng and Hua Qianqian boarded the spirit boat along with him.

Water Yama drove the spirit boat, gradually pulling away. Any cultivator who approached was repelled by a single sword strike from Xie Liu.

And so, the group rode the small spirit boat, leaving the Rouge Boat ablaze with fire, sailing into the deeper thick fog in the distance.

After they left, the people from Dao Ting Si also rushed over, drawing their blades and swords, gripping spirit-binding locks, and beginning to arrest the cultivators on the Rouge Boat…

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