Chapter 410: The Manner of Death

“What’s with this cave?” Situ Fang asked coldly.

The Lu Family cultivator’s face went pale, though he tried to keep his voice steady.

“This is a mine tunnel. A cave inside a mine—what’s so strange about that?”

Yet his tone trembled slightly.

“Let’s go in and take a look,” Mo Hua said lightly, ignoring him.

The Lu Family cultivator’s eyes flashed with panic. He quickly spread his arms, blocking the entrance.

“This mine tunnel is a Lu Family secret site—outsiders are not allow—”

Before he could finish, Bai Zisheng kicked him straight into the cave.

Mo Hua nodded seriously.

“He’s a Lu Family cultivator, and he went in first. We can’t help it—we’ll have to follow.”

Situ Fang stared at the two of them in silence.

These two… they really were from the same sect.

Birds of a feather truly flock together.

Mo Hua walked openly into the mine tunnel.

The others followed one after another.

Situ Fang entered and silently stayed close to Mo Hua’s side.

She knew Mo Hua was frail by nature and not a body cultivator. If someone—or something—got close, it would be dangerous.

So she kept close enough to protect him if anything happened.

After all, Mo Hua had only taken this risk to help her; she couldn’t let him get hurt.

The Lu Family cultivator, who had just face-planted into the dirt, staggered up and shouted angrily,

“You—! Cough!”

He spat out a mouthful of mud with a disgusted ptoo!

“Outrageous! You’ve gone too far! I’ll report this to the family head—”

“Less talking!” Bai Zisheng kicked him again. “Lead the way!”

The Lu cultivator fumed. “Never! I won’t lead you anywhere!”

Mostly because… he didn’t actually know the way.

Mo Hua glanced around and said calmly,

“Follow me.”

Without waiting for an answer, he walked deeper into the mine.

The others exchanged glances, then followed him.

The Lu cultivator’s expression shifted back and forth.

Could this brat be a traitor from the Lu Family?

Why was he so familiar with the mine?

He himself didn’t even know what lay deeper inside—nor did he dare go too far.

But he couldn’t let the Dao Court Division’s inspectors investigate freely either, or he’d be held responsible later.

After much hesitation, he clenched his teeth and followed them in.

The tunnel was as damp and gloomy as the outside, heavy with filth in the air.

But there was also a stench of decay… and death. A cold, marrow-penetrating chill seeped through the air.

Formations lined the walls here as well.

As Mo Hua walked, his Divine-Sense brushed along the stone, examining the runes—and his heart tightened slightly.

These formations… most of them were First-Rank arrays.

Not only that—they were interconnected, forming a complex multi-array system.

The design was refined, the brushwork steady and skilled, the spiritual ink of high quality. It was entirely different from the crude formations on the outer walls.

This was clearly the work of a true expert—likely a seasoned First-Rank Array Master.

So, the Lu Family did have array masters—and clearly could afford them.

That made things… puzzling.

Mo Hua slowed his steps and began calculating the runes in his mind, analyzing the types of arrays.

After a while, he had a general understanding.

This formation network included an Earth-Stone Array for reinforcement, a Warning Array, a Sound-Isolating Array, and several complementary arrays.

The Earth-Stone Array stabilized the tunnel; the Warning Array served as a detector; the Sound-Isolating Array cut off noise…

Mo Hua frowned slightly.

Why would the Lu Family need such a complete defensive setup for a mine?

He extended his Divine-Sense further.

What he sensed were chaotic energies—earth, filth, formation remnants—all tangled together.

They formed a natural barrier that blocked his perception.

Everything and nothing all at once.

Aside from that, there was no other discovery.

Mo Hua could only press on.

After a while, the tunnel split into several smaller passages.

A pungent, suffocating odor drifted from within—

the unmistakable stench of rotting flesh.

Everyone frowned, raising sleeves to cover their noses.

The Lu Family cultivator fared worst—he clutched his stomach, turned to the wall, and vomited violently.

Mo Hua gave him a faintly disgusted glance, then swept his Divine-Sense around.

The tunnels weren’t deep, and no immediate danger was sensed.

“Let’s split up and check,” he said.

Situ Fang and the others nodded, each choosing a passage.

The tunnels seemed freshly dug; the formations on the walls were newly drawn.

Mo Hua examined several, then suddenly froze. His pupils contracted, his brows knitting tightly.

He had found the missing miners.

They were indeed dead—but calling them “corpses” was generous.

The small cavern was filled with torn limbs and shredded flesh, blood splattered everywhere.

The blood had long coagulated, turning sticky and half-clotted from the dampness, reeking with suffocating rot.

The miners’ deaths were gruesome beyond words.

As if something had chewed them apart.

A chill crept up Mo Hua’s spine.

After a moment, Situ Fang entered—and her expression changed drastically.

She covered her mouth with her sleeve and gagged several times.

Bai Zisheng came in next.

He fought the nausea, but finally gave in and threw up.

Hearing the noise, Bai Zixi started toward them.

Mo Hua turned quickly at the sound of her footsteps, reached out, and covered her eyes with his small hand.

Bai Zixi blinked, puzzled.

“What is it?”

“Don’t look,” Mo Hua said softly.

“Why not?”

“If you do… you’ll have nightmares.”

“Mm.” Bai Zixi understood and nodded quietly, letting him keep his hand there.

Then came the Lu Family cultivator.

He had already vomited once, but upon seeing this scene, his face twisted in terror. He collapsed against the wall and retched again—nearly turning himself inside out.

Situ Fang frowned.

“Let’s talk somewhere else.”

Mo Hua nodded.

They all retreated to a more open area.

Bai Zisheng dragged the Lu Family cultivator along by the collar.

Only when they reached a wider section did everyone finally breathe easier.

Though the air still reeked, compared to that place, it was practically fresh and fragrant.

It took a long moment before Bai Zisheng recovered. Seeing Mo Hua completely unfazed, he couldn’t help asking,

“You didn’t throw up?”

“I’m fine,” Mo Hua said quietly.

He wasn’t just an array master—he was also a demon hunter.

Despite his youth, he had spent years in the Great Black Mountain, witnessing beasts kill—and eat—people.

The sight was horrifying, but he could endure it.

Bai Zisheng twitched his lips, speechless.

Situ Fang finally steadied herself and sighed.

“So the miners really are dead…”

She had half expected it, yet it still weighed on her.

“How did they die?”

“Maybe eaten by some beast?” Bai Zisheng guessed.

Mo Hua frowned and shook his head.

“Unlikely. The bite marks aren’t right. Beasts have longer teeth and usually tear or rip the flesh—they eat cleanly.”

“What I saw looked more like… gnawing. Or… hollowing out.”

His wording was careful and precise.

Both Bai Zisheng and Situ Fang gave him a strange look.

This kid… just how much experience did he have with things like this?

Normal cultivators didn’t analyze corpses in such detail.

Situ Fang sighed helplessly.

“The Dao Court Division has forensic examiners. They’ll inspect the bodies and determine how they died.”

She turned to Mo Hua with concern.

“You all should go back first. It’s filthy here—children shouldn’t linger.”

“Mm.” Mo Hua nodded.

They had found the missing miners, so his task was complete.

But there was one more thing to do.

He pointed at the Lu Family cultivator.

“Interrogate him. See if he knows anything.”

The man was sly—questioning him earlier wouldn’t have worked.

But now, after witnessing that horror and vomiting his guts out, his mind was shaken and defenses low—

the perfect time for interrogation.

Maybe he’d reveal something useful.

Mo Hua wanted to know why the miners had died.

And what this mine was truly used for.

But there was one more thing—something far more sinister.

Mo Hua’s brows furrowed, a cold gleam flickering in his eyes.

Inside the tunnel, from those mangled bodies…

he had sensed a faint trace—of an Absolute Formation.

Only, that aura was… twisted. Corrupted.

(End of Chapter)