Chapter 335: Confrontation

The Qian Family’s Old Ancestor spoke fluently and endlessly.

Mo Hua listened in growing shock. Some things sounded reasonable, yet something felt wrong — so wrong that he couldn’t quite grasp it.

Then, a strange feeling rose within him.

Those with deep scheming hearts often spoke little.

This old ancestor shouldn’t have been one to talk much — so why was he monologuing for so long?

And all this time, only the old ancestor had been speaking; Qian Hong hadn’t said a single word.

Weird…

Mo Hua poked his head out again, stealing a longer glance this time — and what he saw made his pupils contract sharply.

Qian Hong’s eyes were closed. His face was pale as death.

Blood-red runes were drawn across his chest, and all the blood in his body seemed to be flowing along those lines toward his heart.

But the blood was black — stale and corrupted.

His skin, like his face, was paper white, completely devoid of vitality.

Qian Hong was already dead!

Mo Hua’s heart jolted.

So the Qian Family’s Old Ancestor had been talking to a corpse all this time.

Of course the dead couldn’t reply — that was why only the old ancestor had been speaking nonstop.

It seemed he was waiting — waiting for Qian Hong’s blood to coagulate and form a sinister array.

And while waiting, he passed the time by talking.

The old ancestor stared down at Qian Hong and said calmly:

“The Transmutation Life-Essence Pill has one flaw. When different people are used to refine it, their bloodlines mix — chaotic and impure…”

“To balance the medicine, one must use the heart of a close blood relative as a medicinal primer, to harmonize the differing bloodlines. Only then can the pill be safely consumed without rejection.”

“Originally, I chose Xing’er for this, but he turned out useless. So now it has to be you, the father.”

“I once thought highly of you — intended you to be Patriarch — but alas, you’re lacking in everything: not ruthless enough, not selfish enough, not patient enough… You even disobeyed my orders out of concern for the clan’s survival. That’s laughable — and foolish.”

“In this world, aside from yourself, everyone else is an outsider — even your own blood kin. You never understood that truth…”

…

Mo Hua was shaken to the core. Clearly, some disagreement between Qian Hong and the old ancestor had led to this gruesome outcome.

As he pondered, he suddenly saw bloody, sinister light radiating from Qian Hong’s chest.

The evil array had formed!

Before Mo Hua could react, the old ancestor thrust his hand into Qian Hong’s chest and yanked out his heart, tossing it straight into the pig demon’s mouth.

The pig demon swallowed the heart blankly — its aura flaring, bloody lines across its body glowing as scarlet liquid seeped out. A strange demonic power surged through the array.

The evil array spun violently; the pig demon’s blood flowed backward as it let out ear-splitting, soul-rending shrieks.

Mo Hua’s eardrums buzzed, his head spinning. He crouched down, clutching his ears.

Yet the screams pierced through everything, worming into his mind — now warped and eerie, mixed with countless human voices, as if tens of thousands of cultivators were wailing in the pits of hell.

He gritted his teeth, enduring the pain and nausea. After an eternity, the shrieking stopped.

And then came the old ancestor’s twisted laughter.

Mo Hua calmed himself and dared another look.

Qian Hong’s eyes were shut, his chest gaping open, his skin withered and pale — even deader than a corpse should look.

The pig demon lay motionless on the ground, seemingly lifeless. But beneath its flesh, faint red light flickered — a heart pulsing madly with demonic energy.

Even from afar, Mo Hua could hear that heartbeat — each thud making his own heart clench tighter.

And then the old ancestor, his previous calm gone, bared his teeth in wild delight.

“The Transmutation Life-Essence Pill — a century of labor — finally complete!”

Before his words even faded, his hand slashed down like a blade, tearing open the pig demon’s chest and ripping out its heart.

Mo Hua’s face blanched.

That heart was the Transmutation Life-Essence Pill!

The old ancestor opened his mouth and swallowed the bloody “pill” whole.

Everything happened so fast that Mo Hua’s blood ran cold.

The old ancestor had consumed the pill — his aura now surging wildly as he began refining its power. Once he absorbed it fully, he’d step into late Foundation Establishment.

At that point, no one in Tōngxiān City could stop him.

And everyone in this cave would surely die by his hand!

What should he do?

Mo Hua forced himself to stay calm and think.

He had to interrupt the old ancestor — stop him from refining the pill in peace.

He took out the First-Grade Earthfire Composite Array.

This array had been painstakingly derived by him, sleepless nights and all. Its formations were inscribed on an array plate for easy deployment, and within its core he had already drawn a Spirit-Reversal Formation.

If triggered to collapse, it was the only thing he had that might harm the old monster.

He laid out the array before him, then mustered his courage and shouted:

“You old turtle bastard!”

The crisp insult echoed through the cavern, making the old ancestor pause in surprise.

He turned — and saw Mo Hua, nervous but resolute.

Mo Hua pointed at him.

“You’re done for, old turtle bastard!”

Then he shook the Dao Court Division’s copper bell — a faint spiritual ripple spreading through the cave.

Elsewhere, Yang Commander and the others who were searching the area sensed the signal, their expressions sharpening as they rushed toward Mo Hua’s position.

That copper bell was a standard-issue Dao Court artifact, used for communication. Everyone had one before entering the cave.

Hearing its ring, Mo Hua’s heart eased slightly. He then fixed his wary gaze on the old ancestor.

He weighed the possibilities:

If the old ancestor ignored him and continued refining, he’d hurl curses like Elder Yu did, swearing at the man’s ancestors to keep him distracted.

If the old ancestor got angry and attacked, he’d run — luring him into the Earthfire Composite Array.

The explosion might not kill him, but it could wound or stall him long enough for Mo Hua to escape.

All he needed was time — to keep the old ancestor from refining the pill until Elder Yu and Yang Commander arrived. Then, with their combined strength, they could end him.

But once again, the old ancestor defied expectations.

Even being called an “old turtle bastard” to his face, he didn’t grow angry.

Instead, he just looked at Mo Hua quietly.

“You?” he said in mild surprise. “How did you get in here without me noticing?”

Mo Hua snorted coldly.

The old ancestor frowned slightly, thinking. Then his eyes lit up in realization.

“You’ve learned a concealment art?”

Mo Hua’s heart tightened — something felt wrong.

He could sense a Divine-Sense sweeping over him.

It was the old ancestor!

The scan was brief but sharp — so quick most would never notice.

Then the old ancestor withdrew his sense, looking puzzled.

“Such deep Divine-Sense… I can’t even see through it fully…”

Mo Hua frowned.

The old ancestor’s cultivation was profound, his mind devious — a prolonged standoff would only favor him.

Mo Hua decided to provoke him. He recalled Elder Yu’s style and shouted:

“You heartless beast! You even killed your own grandson!”

The old ancestor’s real grandson was Qian Hong — used as a sacrificial primer for the pill, murdered by his own grandfather’s hand.

Yet the old ancestor still didn’t get angry. Instead, his eyes glimmered with curiosity.

“You’re trying to anger me — to make me attack you, so you can spring your trap, aren’t you?”

Mo Hua’s heart skipped, but he forced a calm face.

The old man chuckled.

“What sort of array could you possibly set that would threaten a Foundation Establishment cultivator?”

“Why don’t you try it and find out?” Mo Hua retorted.

The old ancestor thought for a moment, then shook his head.

“Even a lion uses full strength to hunt a rabbit. Though you’re but a Qi-Refining ant, I won’t underestimate you.”

Mo Hua frowned, disappointed.

This old bastard was far too cautious.

Come on — you’re mid-Foundation Establishment! Would it kill you to underestimate me just once?!

If he didn’t take the bait, the array was wasted!

The old ancestor noticed Mo Hua’s frustration and smiled faintly. Then his expression shifted; his eyes narrowed sharply.

“No… that’s not right.”

His gaze grew heavier, and his tone turned cold.

“It’s you.”

Mo Hua’s heart lurched. He feigned ignorance.

“Not me.”

“No — it is you.” The old man shook his head. “You’re the one who infiltrated Black Mountain Stronghold, broke my formations, rallied the Dao soldiers, exposed my identity… All of it — you!”

“Yes, yes, it all makes sense now!”

The old ancestor’s mind raced as he pieced everything together.

“You know concealment arts, formation arts, your Divine-Sense is strong — and you even knocked Xing’er unconscious. You must have interrogated him, learned something, and silenced him to hide it from me…”

“Yes, that explains everything.”

He muttered under his breath, his brow furrowing as the entire puzzle fell into place.

Mo Hua’s heart sank into icy dread.

It was over — in just a few sentences, the old monster had deduced everything.

(End of Chapter)