Chapter 849

The vast interior was soaked in blood, littered with severed limbs, as if some demon had feasted within.

Even Shui Yanluo, a cultivator who had killed countless souls, felt a pang of nausea.

He killed people, but he never ate them.

Yet the bodies in this room had clearly been gnawed and chewed by something.

"Were all the people in the temple devoured by that monster?"

"Was Mr. Wu also eaten?"

Xie Liu and Shui Yanluo's hearts sank.

"Look around, see if you can find any clues," Xie Liu said.

Shui Yanluo nodded.

Then the two began searching through the chaotic, limb-strewn room.

Ouyang Feng and Hua Qianqian turned pale the moment they saw the blood-soaked carnage.

They were sect disciples; they had never seen such a gruesome, horrifying scene.

Hua Qianqian even covered her mouth and nose with her hands, closing her eyes and refusing to look again.

Mo Hua, however, remained composed.

Though he felt some discomfort, his short twenty-year cultivation career had already given him ample experience dealing with demonic and heretical cultivators.

He had seen similar scenes before.

As a demon hunter, he had witnessed beasts devouring humans since childhood, so he quickly adapted.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then began searching the room as well.

But the floor was covered in gore—he didn't want to dirty his hands—so he took a stick from his storage pouch and poked around, prodding here and there, searching for clues.

After searching for a while, he actually found something.

"Numerous arrays had been drawn in this room, all painted with human blood—demonic arrays…"

"These arrays had been activated."

"After activation, something happened, but to conceal it, the array patterns were completely erased…"

"This array… is not simple."

Mo Hua frowned; even with his deep knowledge of arrays and experience with demonic ones, he could discern little.

Of course, it was also possible that the remaining array patterns were too faint, blurred by blood, making them impossible to read.

In addition, Mo Hua found a small scale amid the blood and flesh.

The scale was dark blue-black, stained with blood, resembling the monster's scales but smaller and more translucent.

The scale bore no demonic blood aura, yet retained a faint…

Mo Hua paused, struggling to describe it.

But intuitively, it was a kind of beastly aura he had never sensed before—ancient, and tinged with a hint of divinity.

Mo Hua sniffed again near the scale.

Alongside the overwhelming stench of blood, there was another, fresher scent of blood.

The overpowering stench was human blood.

The fresh blood scent… what was it?

Mo Hua frowned tightly.

But this blood left only its scent—no blood residue, not even a trace of stain—submerged and masked by the stinking human blood.

Mo Hua shook his head, muttering to himself:

"What happened in this room? What array was drawn here? And what is this blood scent?"

"What creature fed here?"

"And Mr. Wu… could it be…"

Mo Hua's gaze flickered, lost in thought.

On the other side, Shui Yanluo and Xie Liu had also searched the room and now gathered together.

"These corpses are the temple keepers…"

"There's no body of Mr. Wu."

"He may still be alive."

"Everything else was destroyed—books, jade slips, tokens—all obliterated, as if deliberately done…"

Both frowned at this.

The mysteries multiplied, yet their knowledge remained extremely limited.

This Long Wang Temple was a secret even deeper than Yanzhi Boat, shrouded in thick mist—ordinary cultivators couldn't even find it.

It was a sacred site for the Divine Lord's feast, protected by the Divine Lord himself.

Who had the power to orchestrate such a bizarre event—and why?

Shui Yanluo glanced at the scattered limbs beneath his feet, the sticky blood, and felt a growing unease.

"This place is too dangerous to stay. Let's leave."

Xie Liu was also uneasy; though he was a Jin Dan, he sensed dimly that some things had surpassed his understanding.

The group left Mr. Wu's hall and stepped outside—the stench of blood faded, but the oppressive feeling grew heavier.

As if some "thing" was watching them from the shadows.

Shui Yanluo's gaze shifted instantly. "Leave this temple at once!"

They had come here to hide.

But now it seemed hiding in this temple was no safer than facing Dao Ting Si's hounds—in fact, the temple itself might be even more dangerous.

This danger is still unknown.

If that's the case, why stay here?

Xie Liu also understood, and said grimly: "Alright!"

Mo Hua was reluctant.

He had gone through so much just to get into this temple—how could he leave now with nothing?

Mo Hua's mind stirred, thinking of using a small trick to leave Xie Liu and Shui Yanluo behind, but then he saw Ouyang Feng and Hua Qianqian's pale face, and his heart softened slightly.

"I don't mind, but if my senior brothers and sisters stay here, it's still dangerous—better to leave first…"

Shui Yanluo moved, walking toward the temple's exit.

Mo Hua followed silently.

Ouyang Feng and Hua Qianqian closely followed Mo Hua; Xie Liu still walked last, his eyes fixed tightly on Mo Hua.

The sect leader's inheritance rests on Mo Hua.

He cannot let Mo Hua die, but he cannot let Mo Hua escape either.

Even if he dies, it must be after he gets what he wants…

Thus, the group walked cautiously toward the temple gate.

Inside the temple, silence remained absolute; the high walls, grand halls, and ancient carved beams felt suffocating.

After a cup of tea's time, they reached the temple gate.

Xie Liu glanced at Shui Yanluo; Shui Yanluo said nothing, but silently stepped forward, took out the fishbone token again, and inserted it into the mouth of a nearby copper statue of a gate-guarding beast, its jaws open wide.

The token flashed; the statue trembled.

Then, as if a formation activated, thick iron chains coiled upward, pulling the heavy gate slowly open.

Seeing the gate could open, everyone exhaled in relief.

The temple gate opened wider and wider; Xie Liu rushed forward first, but as he reached the threshold, his expression changed drastically.

A sliver of ice-blue sword light flashed through the gap.

A frozen sword qi struck straight for his face.

Xie Liu twisted his head as much as he could, but the sword qi still sliced off one ear; the blood had not even begun to flow before it was frozen solid by ice spiritual power.

Then came another blade of green wind.

This wind blade targeted his heart meridian directly.

Xie Liu drew his long sword, held it across his chest, blocked the wind blade, and used its force to spin backward, retreating again into the temple.

As Xie Liu retreated, those outside the gate rushed in.

The foremost figure was a cultivator holding a feather fan, tall and elegant, with a handsome face.

Mo Hua's eyes lit up.

"Uncle Gu!"

Gu Changhuai, hearing Mo Hua's voice, silently relaxed.

Good—he's still alive…

Though he knew Mo Hua's cunning, maneuvering between Xie Liu and Shui Yanluo should be no problem, Gu Changhuai had still felt some worry beforehand.

Now seeing Mo Hua unharmed and speaking with strong vitality, Gu Changhuai put his mind at ease, then activated his spiritual power and charged toward Xie Liu.

Behind Gu Changhuai stood Xia Diansi, holding an ice-colored short sword.

Behind them were two others, clad in Dao Ting Si's official robes—one a Diansi, one a Zhisi.

Mo Hua stared, stunned.

"It's 'Especially Xiao Tianquan'… and 'Smiling Tiger'?"

"Why did all of them come?"

On the other side, Gu Changhuai immediately overwhelmed Xie Liu in combat, especially with Xia Diansi aiding him—Xie Liu was soon on the defensive.

He lacked Shui Yanluo's many strange techniques, so in direct confrontation, his cultivation and Dao method disadvantages became glaringly obvious.

Meanwhile, Xiao Tian found Shui Yanluo, and the two engaged in fierce combat.

It seemed he truly intended to kill Shui Yanluo himself.

Shui Yanluo merely stared at him with a cold sneer, saying nothing.

Mo Hua stood to the side, watching the spectacle.

Under these circumstances, it was not yet his turn to act.

Similarly, "Smiling Tiger" Xiao Diansi stood aside, not rushing in, but silently observing the situation.

The situation gradually became clear.

After watching for a while, Xiao Diansi moved.

He drew a long sword, its blade sheathed in deep blue waterlight, beginning to brew sword qi.

"Deep blue waterlight…"

Mo Hua's peripheral vision caught this sword light, and he suddenly sensed something was off; after a moment, he felt even more uneasy.

A faint but powerful hostility, hidden yet unmistakable, was directed at him.

"What's going on?"

Mo Hua froze, looked up—and realized that "Smiling Tiger" Xiao Diansi was staring at him, his gaze icy.

And the sword qi formed from his deep blue blade was also aimed at him.

Mo Hua was suddenly startled.

This Smiling Tiger—he wants to kill me?!

Has he gone mad?!

Mo Hua immediately pushed the Flowing Step to its limit, his form like water, retreating backward.

Xiao Diansi, who had suddenly struck, was momentarily surprised by Mo Hua's agility, but his gaze darkened, his body flickered, splitting into nearly ten water shadows that rushed toward Mo Hua with greater speed.

Water Shadow Step!

And not just any Water Shadow Step—but one more refined than the Water Yama's.

Mo Hua had no choice but to activate his Concealment Technique.

But Xiao Diansi was a Jin Dan, experienced and acutely perceptive.

Though Mo Hua had concealed himself, he had not fled far; traces of his aura still lingered, and Xiao Diansi could still faintly sense his location.

He estimated the direction and thrust another sword strike toward the hidden Mo Hua.

Just then, Ouyang Feng activated the Tai'e Sword Art to block this strike for Mo Hua.

Hua Qianqian, seeing this Dao Ting Si Diansi attack Mo Hua, her face turned icy; she summoned the Hundred Blossoms Spirit Needles and launched them at Xiao Diansi.

Xiao Diansi swept aside Ouyang Feng's sword with one stroke, forcing Ouyang Feng to spit blood; he reversed his blade and slashed, knocking down Hua Qianqian's spirit needles.

He extended his spiritual sense to scan—only to find Mo Hua had vanished somewhere. His expression darkened, and he spat:

"This brat is slippery as an eel…"

No choice—since he couldn't catch Mo Hua, he'd settle for the other two.

Xiao Diansi's sword flashed swiftly, piercing Ouyang Feng's right arm and temporarily crippling his meridians, rendering him unable to wield his sword.

He flipped his wrist and hurled a poisoned Ji Anqi, striking Hua Qianqian's shoulder.

Hua Qianqian was poisoned; her face turned deathly pale, her lips faintly blue.

Thus, both Ouyang Feng and Hua Qianqian lost all capacity to resist.

This sudden turn of events caught everyone present—including Mo Hua—completely off guard.

All these changes, though rapid, unfolded within mere exchanges.

When Xiao Diansi seized Ouyang Feng and Hua Qianqian, the entire scene fell silent.

Gu Changhuai halted his actions, his face cold and stern. "Xiao Diansi, what is your meaning?"

"Meaning?" Xiao Diansi still wore that hollow smile, though now it grew colder. "Why play dumb, Gu Diansi? You've suspected me for a long time, haven't you?"

Gu Changhuai's expression remained cold, silent.

"You suspected me, yet had no proof—so you could only feign cooperation on the surface. Some things you knew—I knew them too," said Xiao Diansi.

Gu Changhuai frowned.

He had indeed suspected Xiao Diansi.

And he had indeed no proof.

Without proof, all talk was empty; to topple a Dao Ting Si Diansi on baseless charges was pure fantasy.

Moreover, this Diansi was from the Xiao Clan.

But he never imagined that Xiao Diansi, having hidden so long, would strike at this very moment.

In Gu Changhuai's expectation, if this Xiao truly meant to rebel, it would be when Dao Ting Si had gathered irrefutable evidence, surrounded him from all sides, and left him with no escape.

Not now—when there was only suspicion, not a shred of proof—and he suddenly turned traitor.

Xiao Diansi seemed to guess Gu Changhuai's thoughts, smiling faintly. "Prepare early. Do anything while the time is right."

"In the Ganxue Province, a Jin Dan's cultivation isn't great, but it isn't small either."

"If I waited until you confirmed the evidence, got Dao Ting Si to issue an arrest warrant—how could I ever escape?"

"I'm a Diansi too. I know these procedures well."

"If I'm going to act, I must choose the most opportune moment—one you'd never expect."

"Otherwise, a moment's hesitation means waiting for death…"

Gu Changhuai frowned. "So the Jin Dan cultivator who rescued the Water Yama recently… was you?"

"You were involved in the Yanzhi Boat affair."

"The mole inside Dao Ting Si from the Guishui Sect… you're the one who concealed the Yanzhi Boat affair from within Dao Ting Si?"

Gu Changhuai's words were sharp.

Xiao Diansi smiled but said nothing.

Though he had turned traitor, he wasn't foolish enough to confess every deed in detail.

Xia Diansi also stared coldly at Xiao Diansi. "Is this your doing—or the Xiao Clan's?"

Xiao Diansi narrowed his eyes. "You know the answer, Xia Diansi. Great clans breed all kinds of people—those above can't control them all. My lineage isn't terrible, but it isn't strong either; no ancestral elder watches over me. If I don't find my own path, forge connections, I'll have no future in this life."

"It's a pity the Yanzhi Boat was destroyed. My deeds will eventually be exposed. If so, better to act first, seize the initiative…"

Xia Diansi asked: "What do you want?"

"I don't want much," Xiao Diansi smiled. "After all, we've served together. There's some camaraderie—I'd rather not make things difficult for you."

"If the Xia Clan gives me a Jiuzhou Yun Du Pass, and the Gu Clan gives me a Ganxue Province Ganxue Decree, I'll use these two to leave Ganxue Province, then take the Yun Du to depart from Zhou. From then on, mountains high, rivers wide—we'll never meet again."

"I won't hinder you. You'll never see Xiao Mou again. This benefits us both."

"What do you say, gentlemen?"

Gu Changhuai and Xia Diansi exchanged glances, saying nothing.

"Of course," Xiao Diansi said, "I know you won't agree so easily…"

He drew his sword and pressed it against Ouyang Feng's throat. "These two—one a Tai'e Gate disciple, one a Hundred Blossoms Gate disciple—both have high status. If you refuse, I'll have no choice but to reluctantly send them to their deaths."

"Then how will you explain their deaths to Tai'e Gate and Hundred Blossoms Gate…?"

Xiao Diansi sighed regretfully. "Originally, I intended to capture that brat—he's from Grand Void Gate, deeply tied to the Gu Clan. I never expected he'd be so close to you, cold-faced Gu Diansi—it surprised me greatly."

"If I'd taken him, threatened him with his life, I'm sure you, Gu Diansi, would have yielded. But unfortunately, I didn't expect this boy to be so slippery—not easy to catch at all…"

Xiao Diansi felt a pang of regret.

Xia Diansi's face was as cold as frost; Gu Changhuai's expression was equally grim.

Mo Hua, who had been hiding all along, now silently appeared beside them.

Xiao Diansi gave Mo Hua a long, deep look, his eyebrows slightly lifting as he praised:

"Such an exquisitely refined concealment technique—yet you're only at Foundation Establishment. Even I, a seasoned Jin Dan Diansi, nearly failed to sense you. Truly, anyone close to Gu Diansi, even a child, is no ordinary person…"

Mo Hua's face remained cold; though flattered by the smiling tiger, he felt no real joy.

After speaking, Xiao Diansi turned to Gu Changhuai and Xia Diansi:

"How have you decided? Will you hand me the Yun Du Notice and the Gan Xue Edict—or shall I kill these two prodigies right now?"

Xia Diansi frowned, glancing at Ouyang Feng, whose neck was still pinned by a longsword yet who showed no fear, and at Hua Qianqian, who, though poisoned, clenched her lips tight, silent and unyielding. He sighed:

"Release these two children, and I'll give you the Yun Du Notice."

"Xia Diansi, your heart is benevolent," Xiao Diansi complimented, then turned to Gu Changhuai.

Gu Changhuai also sighed: "I'll give you the Edict too."

Saving lives was urgent, especially given Ouyang Feng and Hua Qianqian's special status.

If they run, we can catch them again.

But if they die, they cannot be saved.

"But I don't have it on me—I'll need to have Zhong Mingren issue one after we leave," Gu Changhuai said.

"No problem," Xiao Diansi said. "I can wait. But I advise you two not to try anything clever. You know I'm a Diansi by training—you can't hide tampering on the tokens from me."

Gu Changhuai frowned.

Just then, Mo Hua spoke clearly: "Are you certain you can even leave?"

Xiao Diansi blinked. "What do you mean?"

Mo Hua pointed to the door. "Look."

Xiao Diansi had assumed Mo Hua was tricking him and refused to turn—yet after a moment, seeing Mo Hua's expression was genuine, and sensing a faint anomaly at the spot he pointed to, he hesitated.

His grip tightened on his sword; slowly, he turned his head, using his peripheral vision to glance where Mo Hua indicated.

The moment he saw it, his pupils shrank.

At the spot Mo Hua pointed to stood a bronze statue of a gatekeeper beast.

Upon it now perched a monstrous figure, drenched in blood, wrapped in crimson aura—something unidentifiable.

Though terrifying to behold, its aura was strangely faint.

During the earlier battle, no one had noticed it; no one knew when it had arrived.

Now, the monster glanced at them all, then lowered its head and bit down, seizing a fishbone token in its mouth and pulling it free.

As soon as the fishbone token was removed, the heavy door of the Long Wang Temple slowly closed.

Then, with lightning speed, the monster swallowed the token whole, instantly transforming into a streak of crimson light that leapt to the rafters on either side.

Before anyone could react, it vanished.

Soon, the cultivators present realized what had happened—and their hearts turned icy.

Xiao Diansi immediately turned to Shui Yanluo and demanded sharply: "Do you have another token?"

Shui Yanluo shook his head, visibly fearful. "Only one…"

Xiao Diansi's false smile faded slightly; he spun and slashed, sending a deep-blue swordlight crashing into the door.

But the Long Wang Temple's door—what was it made of?

That swordlight, from a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, struck it—and not a ripple stirred.

Clearly, without the fishbone token as a key, the door could not be broken by force.

Mo Hua sighed: "I forgot to tell you—the temple has become strange. This isn't about whether Dao Ting Si catches you, whether you have a notice, or whether you can escape by Yun Du anymore…"

"The question now is: we may not even be able to leave this Long Wang Temple. If we don't find a way to save ourselves, we'll be trapped here forever."

"Oh, maybe not even that long…"

Mo Hua added mournfully: "That monster just now? It eats people. In no time, we'll all end up in its belly."

Xiao Diansi's expression darkened; his false smile was beginning to crack.

He had planned every detail—yet never imagined such a bizarre twist inside this Long Wang Temple…

Had he only held the notice, once he left Gan Province, he could have vanished into the mountains and rivers, into another world.

The room fell silent.

Everyone sat in thought, saying nothing.

Mo Hua scanned the room, observing each face, then spoke:

"So now everyone understands: our immediate priority is to capture that strange monster and try to reclaim the token."

"All other grudges must wait until we get out."

"Otherwise, we'll all die here in this Long Wang Temple."

"Don't blame me for not warning you—there may be more than one such monster. This temple may harbor even more terrifying things."

"If we don't unite now, we're all finished."

Mo Hua's face was solemn.

Xiao Diansi looked around as well; though his eyes were half-lidded, his face held no smile. He nodded:

"Fine. I won't strike."

"My original goal was only to find a way out—to escape alive. I never intended to fight to the death."

"Now that the temple is full of peril, I'm willing to stand down."

Gu Changhuai and Xia Diansi exchanged glances, then both nodded: "Getting out is urgent. Other matters can wait."

With all three Jin Dan in agreement, the others had no room to object.

They were no fools; they could still tell what was urgent and what was not.

Any grudge could be set aside temporarily in the face of life and death.

Thus, a strange "group" was temporarily formed.

Mo Hua was satisfied in his heart, nodded, and said:

"Good. Let's go find that monster!"

So Mo Hua walked ahead, leading this makeshift group of cultivators—each with different backgrounds, motives, intentions, and allegiances—beginning to hunt the monster within the eerie Long Wang Temple…

——

ps. Thank you, Feng Wo Xin, for becoming an Alms Master!

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