Chapter 506: Escape

Chapter 508: Escape

Thirteen-Pattern Peak Divine-Sense!

Enough to crush most early Foundation Establishment cultivators.

At the level of Divine-Sense, he could match the very top tier of early Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Compared to before, Mo Hua’s Divine-Sense was deeper, and its control more agile.

His eyes grew profound as he released his Divine-Sense, the ethereal white vision continuously expanding…

The range of perception was broader, the objects perceived more numerous.

Each tree and stone, every flower and blade of grass, living cultivators, dead corpses, iron corpses—through the outer physical forms, he could glimpse their essence.

The flow of spiritual energy, corpse energy, and various natural energies in all things also became clearer.

The eyes see the surface.

The Divine-Sense vision reveals the essence of all things.

The stronger the Divine-Sense, the deeper the insight into the essence…

Beyond that, Mo Hua’s understanding of the Spirit-Pivot Formation had also become more thorough.

In his Sea of Consciousness, using the Zhang family’s zombie Divine-Sense, Mo Hua practiced the Spirit-Pivot Formation hundreds of times on the Dao Monument…

The originally complex formation patterns were now deeply ingrained in his mind.

Even with closed eyes, the Spirit-Pivot Formation appeared vividly.

Controlling the Spirit-Pivot Formation, splitting spiritual energy into threads, manipulating the medium, it all came naturally.

Other techniques had also improved.

Everything Mo Hua could do—formations or spells—was linked to his Divine-Sense.

Now that his Divine-Sense had grown, his formations naturally advanced further.

All his spells—Flowing-Water Step, Fireball Technique, Water Prison Technique, Concealment Technique—were more effective.

The only problem was that he was trapped in a coffin and couldn’t test them yet.

Mo Hua was overjoyed, squinting as he laughed.

But soon, his laughter faded.

He realized an awkward fact.

His Divine-Sense was extremely strong, comparable to the peak of early Foundation Establishment.

But his body was still weak, and his cultivation hadn’t increased.

Eight levels of Qi-Refining, a frail body.

There was no way to get out of this small coffin…

It wasn’t stone or iron, its material tough, and the coffin nails had sealed it from the outside.

Breaking it with magic would harm him.

Mo Hua sighed, feeling helpless.

This problem needed attention.

Though he was born physically weak and couldn’t refine his body, he still needed to find a way to supplement his physical strength…

But that could wait.

The immediate priority was finding a way out.

He released his Divine-Sense again to observe outside and noticed something strange.

Inside the corpse mine, it seemed under lockdown, yet chaotic.

Far off, countless mixed, disordered auras entangled, conflicted, flashing in and out—like many cultivators in a melee…

“What’s happening outside?” Mo Hua wondered.

Someone had attacked the corpse mine.

Who could it be?

In Nanyue City, there was likely no force capable of matching the numerous iron and walking corpses in the mine…

Mo Hua frowned.

With the melee raging, the Stone Hall was dangerous.

He needed to find a way out soon…

And Lu Chengyun hadn’t appeared yet. Perhaps delayed by the battle, or hadn’t thought of him.

If Lu Chengyun came and noticed him, it wouldn’t be good.

Although he could hide in the coffin, fooling Lu Chengyun, given Lu’s cautious nature, was unlikely—so it was better not to take the risk.

Mo Hua started pondering how to escape.

He thought for a long time but had no good ideas.

The small zombie in the Ten-Thousand-Corpse Formation was too far to control to open the coffin for him.

He hadn’t left the little tiger outside either.

Mo Hua sighed again.

Preparations hadn’t been thorough enough; some details were lacking.

He could only wait patiently for an opportunity.

For days, he frequently released his Divine-Sense to sense the outside, searching for a chance.

Outside the Stone Hall, the battle continued with no real opening…

Until three days later, Mo Hua sensed two familiar auras, subtly moving around.

They seemed to be hiding, avoiding others in the melee, quietly searching in the Stone Hall…

Mo Hua’s eyes lit up.

It was Little Senior Brother and Little Senior Sister!

They were looking for him?

Mo Hua released his Divine-Sense fully, detecting the two, and vaguely heard their hushed voices:

“…searched so many days… no sign of him…”

“Where do you think Little Junior Brother might be?”

The voice was intermittent, with a sigh from Bai Zisheng.

“Keep looking…”

The clear, pleasant voice was Little Senior Sister’s.

Bai Zisheng lowered his head, dejected. “Zixi, our Junior Brother… nothing must have happened to him, right?”

Bai Zixi remained silent.

Mo Hua felt warmth in his heart.

Over these days in the coffin, Little Senior Brother and Sister had worried about him and searched constantly.

He boldly released his Divine-Sense to spy on them.

Bai Zisheng and Zixi sensed it, their hearts tightening.

Were they discovered?

Then they brightened.

That aura was indeed their Junior Brother!

Bai Zisheng’s face lit up, then frowned:

“Wait, his Divine-Sense isn’t this deep…”

“The aura seems right, though.”

“True, this aura shouldn’t lie…”

“Has he ‘eaten’ something again…”

“No way, can he eat every day? Won’t he fry his little brain?”

“…That little brain was always a bit broken…”

“Let’s check…”

“Hmm.”

Mo Hua kept releasing his Divine-Sense.

Bai Zisheng and Zixi, cloaked and concealed, found the secret chamber in the chaos of the Stone Hall.

The chamber was narrow but exquisite, with a strange altar above.

On the altar were white bones, burning white candles, flowing corpse oil, flickering in eerie light.

Beneath the altar lay a white coffin.

Mo Hua’s Divine-Sense came from this coffin.

Seeing the coffin, Bai Zisheng’s expression froze, then turned sorrowful:

“Our Junior Brother… he’s dead!”

Bai Zixi glared at him: “If he’s dead, how is there Divine-Sense?”

Bai Zisheng paused, realizing his mistake, scratching his head.

“Oh… right…”

Bai Zixi’s clear voice commanded:

“Open the coffin.”

Bai Zisheng nodded, studied the coffin, figured out the structure, and forcefully pulled out the corner nails. He then twisted the lid’s joints and slowly lifted it.

Inside was a familiar figure.

Their Junior Brother—Mo Hua!

Mo Hua’s face was pale, his gaze deeper, subtly luminous, both familiar and strange.

Bai Zisheng’s face first showed joy, then seriousness:

“How can we prove you’re really my Junior Brother?”

Mo Hua rolled his eyes: “Idiot!”

Bai Zisheng relaxed, reassured.

This expression, this familiar tone—truly his Junior Brother…

Bai Zixi said softly: “Are you okay…”

Her gaze was calm, yet like a sunlit stream, warm and bright.

Mo Hua briefly drifted, then smiled brightly:

“I’m fine.”

Bai Zixi blinked and nodded.

Bai Zisheng curiously asked: “How did you end up in here?”

“Lu Chengyun wanted to get rid of me once I’d served my purpose,” Mo Hua replied.

Bai Zisheng flew into a rage: “Unthinkable! Harming my Junior Brother is harming me! Trying to kill him is trying to kill me!”

He patted his chest and said:

“Don’t worry, I’ll deal with him for you!”

“He’s Foundation Establishment…”

“Even so, I’ll deal with him!”

“Alright…”

Mo Hua didn’t know if he was bluffing, but felt grateful.

“What do you mean by ‘get rid of me once I’ve served my purpose’?” Bai Zisheng asked.

“They intended to use me as a sacrifice, feeding my Divine-Sense to that visualization diagram,” Mo Hua explained concisely.

“That diagram?”

“I ‘ate’ it…”

“You ‘ate’ it again…”

Bai Zisheng found it hard to comprehend and muttered: “Are you the diagram’s sacrifice, or is the diagram your sacrifice…”

“So your Divine-Sense got stronger?” Bai Zisheng asked.

“Yes,” Mo Hua nodded humbly. “A little stronger, thirteen patterns…”

Even Bai Zixi was startled.

Bai Zisheng gaped, helplessly:

“At this rate, you’re really becoming a little monster…”

Eight levels of Qi-Refining, thirteen-pattern Divine-Sense…

Even among the Bai family’s ancestors, he had never seen such a record.

Bai Zixi’s eyes flickered slightly, warning: “Don’t tell anyone…”

Bai Zisheng realized and nodded:

“Exactly, don’t tell anyone. Otherwise, many will want to open your head to see what’s inside… People’s hearts are treacherous.”

Mo Hua nodded repeatedly: “Yes, yes!”

Bai Zisheng was about to speak when Bai Zixi said: “Let’s leave here first.”

The corpse mine was no place to linger.

She and her brother had come just to find Mo Hua; now that they had, they should leave promptly.

“Okay!”

Inside the corpse mine, cultivators fought zombies.

Blades and spells flew, corpse poison covered the ground… even Foundation Establishment cultivators clashed with iron corpses.

If caught in the fray, it was dangerous.

The three of them hid and left the secret chamber.

Before leaving, Mo Hua set up a Ground-Fire Formation around the chamber, blowing it up along with the altar and coffin.

Even though he was alive, he destroyed evidence.

Or rather, precisely because he was alive, he had to ensure no trace remained.

Meanwhile, he took the now-blank visualization diagram.

All the Zhang ancestors in the diagram had been “eaten” by him.

The diagram was now empty.

Mo Hua found it strange that the diagram could harbor the deceased Zhang clan members’ evil intent, manifesting as corpses within it.

This was clearly no ordinary cultivation object.

He kept the blank diagram for study or to ask his master later.

…

The Dao Court continued attacking the Stone Hall, Dao Soldiers leading the charge, other cultivators providing cover.

With the corpses now manageable, the threat lessened.

Lu Chengyun nurtured corpses in the Ten-Thousand-Corpse Formation, constantly supplementing them, clashing with the Dao Soldiers.

The battle stalemated inside the Stone Hall.

Foundation Establishment cultivators, Qi-Refining Dao Soldiers, iron and walking corpses fought together…

This situation was beyond the three Qi-Refining cultivators to resolve.

The priority was still escaping the corpse mine before strategizing further.

The three concealed themselves and circled around the battle’s edge, retreating outside the mine.

Despite caution, the chaos, the many cultivators and even more zombies, exposed them.

Several corpse cultivators controlled an iron corpse and dozens of walking corpses, attacking them.

Bai Zisheng rearguarded, his spear holding off the zombies.

Mo Hua and Bai Zixi restrained with spells and sword qi; they avoided lingering in battle, retreating as they fought.

Other cultivators came to assist, and after an hour of skirmishes, they escaped the corpse mine, reaching a nearby cave.

Inside, members of the Yang family, Young Master Yun, a gaunt elder, a middle-aged cultivator, and others discussed how to eradicate the corpse mine.

On the way, Mo Hua had gathered information.

He learned that the Dao Court ordered the suppression of the corpse mine and the eradication of the Corpse King, hence the many cultivators gathered.

So seeing so many people was not surprising.

A Dao Soldier brought the three to Yang Jishan.

Seeing Mo Hua, Yang Jishan was clearly surprised at his identity.

He heard from Bai Zisheng that this was his “Junior Brother,” who had learned of the corpse mine and transmitted the information.

Being a Junior Brother, he was naturally young.

But Yang Jishan never expected him to be so young.

Mo Hua’s pale, youthful face still bore traces of childishness.

He looked only slightly older than the family’s newly enrolled initiates.

How could such a child be used by Lu Chengyun? Trapped in the corpse mine?

Yet still gather intelligence and transmit it out? How did he manage it?

Yang Jishan’s brows knit into a deep “川” shape.

Other cultivators looked at Mo Hua with complex expressions, unsure what to say.

The cave grew quiet…

Mo Hua looked at Yang Jishan, feeling a bit familiar, and asked:

“Commander, do you know an uncle named Yang Jiyong?”

Yang Jishan was stunned. “You know my Fifth Brother?”

Mo Hua nodded. “A bit acquainted. Uncle Yang even invited me to visit the Yang family when I had time…”

Yang Jishan frowned, murmuring “Mo Hua” twice, then suddenly brightened:

“Mo Hua! I felt the name was familiar. A few years ago, my Fifth Brother mentioned meeting a very talented young formation master…”

Very talented…

Yang Jishan pondered.

At the time, his Fifth Brother didn’t elaborate.

With a serious face, he said he met a “terrifyingly talented” young formation master…

When asked why terrifying, he said it was a secret.

Yang Jishan hadn’t thought much of it.

Yang Jiyong and he were roughly equal in formations—what could be judged? Fifth Brother’s words had been casual.

Now, hearing Mo Hua’s name in Nanyue City, it felt familiar.

Hearing Mo Hua mention Yang Jiyong, he remembered.

Yang Jishan’s attitude softened immediately.

He couldn’t judge formation talent, but remembered Fifth Brother said to thank this young formation master, treat him well, and ideally recruit him to the Yang family.

His Fifth Brother was somewhat hot-tempered, proud, but generous and loyal. Few could earn his regard.

This young cultivator, praised by Fifth Brother, must have good character.

And he was already a formation master at a young age.

Even if not “terrifying,” his talent was impressive.

He had risked himself alone and gathered intelligence on the corpse mine—a great help.

Yang Jishan warmly said:

“Little Brother, don’t be frightened. I’ll have some wine and spiritual meat prepared. Eat well and rest.”

Mo Hua smiled: “Thank you, Commander!”

Yang Jishan waved him off:

“No need to be so formal. You’re close to my Fifth Brother. Just call me Uncle.”

Mo Hua obediently followed, his clear voice ringing out: “Uncle Yang!”

Yang Jishan smiled and nodded.

Everyone else looked a bit dazed.

How had they become so friendly after only a few words…

He had come in as “Commander Yang,” and in less than the time of a tea break, he was now “Uncle Yang”…

Yang Jishan, originally stern and serious, now had a face like it had been washed in spring sunlight.

The contrast was startling.

Who exactly was this young cultivator?

Whispers spread among the others.

Yang Jishan then said to Mo Hua, “You and your senior brothers and sisters go rest first. We still have matters to discuss here…”

Mo Hua nodded, “Alright, I won’t disturb you, Uncle Yang.”

Yang Jishan slightly nodded.

Mo Hua bowed and took his leave.

Yang Jishan watched him go with a gentle expression, then turned back to the others, his face solemn:

“Let’s continue…”

A vice-commander-looking Daoist soldier picked up the previous thread:

“…The more we refine the zombies, the more they multiply. We don’t have enough hands. This back-and-forth consumption can’t last. We need a way to break the Ten-Thousand-Zombies Formation…”

“Ten-Thousand-Zombies Formation?”

Mo Hua, who had just reached the door, perked up at those three words, slightly startled.

The vice-commander had lowered his voice, but Mo Hua’s Divine-Sense at the peak of thirteen patterns was too strong. Though the voice was quiet, he still heard it.

Mo Hua hesitated a moment, then turned back and asked:

“Uncle Yang, are you discussing the Ten-Thousand-Zombies Formation?”

Yang Jishan’s expression froze in surprise, asking:

“You know the ‘Ten-Thousand-Zombies Formation,’ young brother?”

Mo Hua nodded.

Yang Jishan was momentarily stunned, then remembered that the intel had come from Mo Hua. It wasn’t surprising that he knew about the formation.

“So, this Ten-Thousand-Zombies Formation… are you familiar with it?”

Yang Jishan’s eyes brightened slightly, asking with cautious hope.

Mo Hua hesitated, then said slowly:

“Somewhat… familiar.”

What else could he say…

He certainly couldn’t reveal that the central formation core of the Ten-Thousand-Zombies Formation was drawn by him…