Chapter 515: Go Die

Chapter 517: Go Die

On the grave hill, the Cremation Formation blazed with roaring flames.

Except for the little zombies, all the walking corpses, iron corpses, and even the Corpse King had to be completely incinerated within the formation to resolve their karmic consequences.

There were too many walking corpses, so the ashes after burning were mostly buried together.

The Lu family was wiped out, collapsing entirely.

Among the iron corpses, no one cared about the elders of the Lu family. After burning, they were casually buried, with a simple tomb erected. Not only was there no one to pay respects, but they were even despised; whenever cultivators from Nanyue City passed by, they would spit on it.

Some other families or sects’ Foundation Establishment cultivators were claimed after cremation and buried in their ancestral tombs.

The ashes of past elders of the Little Lingyin Sect were also carefully collected by Mo Hua and later handed over to Instructor Yan for proper burial.

Having studied the Spirit-Pivot Formation himself, he had received the blessings of the Little Lingyin Sect, so he wanted to show some gratitude.

The Cremation Formation burned for over ten days. All walking corpses and iron corpses were completely incinerated, leaving only the Corpse King.

But the Corpse King could not be burned.

Even though the formation used to incinerate the Corpse King was a second-rank formation, with flames so intense they resembled molten iron, it still could not overcome him.

The Corpse King closed his eyes, hands crossed over his chest, immersed in the raging fire. His body glowed bronze-red, yet there was not a single trace of being burned.

Days passed, and the Corpse King remained unscathed, impervious to the flames.

Yang Jishan frowned.

Everyone else’s expressions were grave.

Those who knew the truth were even more alarmed.

The Corpse King was the root of Dao Sin, a being with the potential to manifest Dao Sin—it was already extremely troublesome.

Now, it was obedient to Mo Hua, having lost the chance to evolve into Dao Sin, temporarily dormant. But if it were not killed, who could say whether it might mutate in the future?

Yang Jishan and the others tried all sorts of methods.

Spiritual tools, spells, talismans, even other powerful second-rank formations—but at most, they could only injure the Corpse King’s flesh, never fully incinerate him.

With no other choice, Yang Jishan had to seek out Mo Hua, hoping he had a solution.

The Cremation Formation was managed by Dao Court; Mo Hua had hardly interfered. He merely controlled the Corpse King into the flames and left it at that.

Now, at Yang Jishan’s request, Mo Hua finally went to observe.

On the grave hill, the flames roared like a sea.

And the Corpse King remained in the fire, enduring it without harm.

Mo Hua frowned in confusion.

By rights, a second-rank formation of this power should have liquefied even a bronze corpse after such a long burn.

Mo Hua extended his Divine-Sense to perceive the situation. After a moment, he realized that the Corpse King was wrapped in a faint, almost imperceptible trace of Dao Essence.

Bronze corpses could not withstand the Cremation Formation.

But this Corpse King was not just a bronze corpse—he was a Corpse King.

This trace of Dao Essence resembled the earth’s Dao Essence Mo Hua had sensed before.

Yet it was abnormal, distorted, vicious, and perverted.

This was the twisted “Dao Essence” of Dao Sin.

It was also the root of Dao Sin.

This twisted Dao Essence prevented the Corpse King’s body from being incinerated while nurturing its autonomous consciousness.

As Mo Hua clearly sensed this Dao Essence, the Corpse King suddenly opened his eyes.

His eyes were pitch-black and hollow, staring coldly at Mo Hua.

At the same time, a ferocious phantom appeared in Mo Hua’s Sea of Consciousness.

The phantom was both the Corpse King and not entirely the Corpse King.

It was wrapped in a faint, mysterious, and terrifying aura, full of deep hatred, glaring at Mo Hua with malice.

This was the aura of Dao Sin.

It seemed to resent Mo Hua for cutting short its potential.

Mo Hua faced it calmly, unafraid.

When the “Corpse King” met Mo Hua’s gaze, its expression flickered between ferocity and hidden fear, as though a vicious servant wanted to devour its master but was caught in the act.

Mo Hua understood immediately.

The Corpse King had submitted to him, and the Dao Essence it carried naturally feared him.

It wanted to devour its master.

Only by devouring the master could the Dao Essence grow and the Corpse King become Dao Sin.

But since it could not devour its master, it had no choice but to obey Mo Hua!

That made things simple.

Mo Hua’s gaze turned cold, his voice emotionless and commanding:

“Sinful beast, go die.”

Yang Jishan and the others trembled at his words.

The Corpse King’s eyes widened in terror.

“The lord commands, the servant must die!”

As Mo Hua spoke, the Dao Essence surrounding the Corpse King transformed into a ferocious corpse shadow. Its eyes glowed red, face twisted, roaring and howling.

But no matter how it struggled, the rules of the Great Dao demanded obedience—it had to die.

Its form gradually dimmed, and the Dao Sin aura dissipated.

With a final roar, the Corpse King’s flesh withered, features collapsed, and the raging flames reduced it to ashes before everyone’s shocked eyes…

The Corpse King was truly dead.

The cultivators looked at Mo Hua with awe and fear.

The Master of Ten Thousand Corpses, the Corpse King, the incarnation of Dao Sin—had really died just because of Mo Hua’s command…

Yet no one understood how it had happened.

They wanted to ask but were intimidated by the overwhelming aura of Mo Hua commanding the Corpse King’s death.

Only a thin, elderly cultivator looked solemn, deep in thought.

Regardless, with the Corpse King dead, the corpse plague was finally extinguished.

The matter was at last resolved.

Everyone exhaled gently.

After these turbulent days, repeated battles, near-death experiences, and witnessing terrifying, inexplicable events, they finally felt relief.

Mo Hua also let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding.

He turned to leave, steps light.

But as he turned, his heart skipped a beat.

A vague premonition stirred.

It was as if something ferocious had taken residence within him.

It was twisted and violent, like Dao Essence, yet distorted—like the Corpse King’s murderous intent, full of hatred, watching him.

Yet when he tried to sense it, it vanished like a startled shadow, leaving no trace…

This feeling was exactly like the corrupted Dao Essence on the Corpse King.

“But didn’t it already dissipate?”

Mo Hua was puzzled.

Since it was related to Dao Sin, he had to be cautious.

On the way back, he sought advice from Mister Zhuang.

“Master, the Dao Sin that died… it seems to be clinging to me…”

Mister Zhuang was slightly surprised but not shocked. Lying in his bamboo chair, he replied leisurely:

“You ruined its chance. It couldn’t become Dao Sin, so it hates you. Its Dao Essence has merged into your karmic chain.”

“Merged into karma?”

Mo Hua didn’t understand.

Mister Zhuang explained:

“Everything in the world follows cause and effect. Every grass, every tree, every sip and bite is bound by it.”

Mo Hua felt he understood, but thinking carefully, it was still confusing.

Mister Zhuang sighed: “Don’t overthink it. Cause and effect is simply one of the rules of the Great Dao. Everything operates according to its own principles—that’s cause and effect.”

“Humans are no different.”

“A person’s past actions, thoughts, and deeds form a cycle of cause and effect.”

“All past causes shape future outcomes. That’s how destiny works.”

“Past destiny is fixed, unchangeable. Future destiny, however, can vary endlessly depending on past causes…”

Mo Hua nodded, seeming to comprehend.

Mister Zhuang glanced at him, a hint of hope in his eyes:

“You just need to know this now. Overthinking is useless…”

“When your Divine-Sense grows stronger, your experience deepens, and your understanding of the Great Dao, formations, and all things becomes clearer, then you can study it further…”

Mo Hua asked, unable to resist:

“Master, is ‘cause and effect’ really useful?”

Mister Zhuang said: “It may be useless, or it may be greatly useful—it depends on how much you can comprehend.”

Mo Hua’s eyes twinkled as he asked:

“Master, if Dao Sin merges into cause and effect, is that good or bad?”

“Not good,” Mister Zhuang replied.

Mo Hua’s heart tightened.

“But not exactly bad either,” Mister Zhuang added.

Mo Hua opened his mouth and muttered:

“Master, what you just said is basically nothing…”

Mister Zhuang lightly tapped Mo Hua’s head, chuckling:

“In this world, everything has pros and cons. Fortune and misfortune coexist. There is no absolute good or bad.”

“So what should I do?” Mo Hua asked.

Mister Zhuang replied calmly:

“Maintain a normal mind, hold fast to the Dao heart, don’t worry, don’t fear, don’t even think about it. When your Divine-Sense strengthens, everything will resolve naturally…”

Mo Hua’s eyes brightened, recalling Master Zhuang’s earlier words:

“When the Dao heart is clear and Divine-Sense strong, no evil can invade… right, Master?”

Mister Zhuang nodded with satisfaction.

Mo Hua finally felt at ease.

But he didn’t notice that Mister Zhuang’s gaze had grown serious and solemn.

As Mo Hua stood to leave, Mister Zhuang suddenly said:

“Mo Hua.”

Mo Hua looked at him, puzzled.

Mister Zhuang paused, then asked:

“How did that twisted Dao Essence merge into your karma?”

Mo Hua thought for a moment and answered truthfully:

“It seems… I ordered it to die. It went, but didn’t die completely, so it hated me…”

Mister Zhuang’s eyes flickered. The fingers hidden in his sleeves twitched, and his heart skipped a beat.

“You… commanded it… to die?”

“Yes.” Mo Hua nodded, a trace of worry in his eyes. “Master, is this a problem?”

Mister Zhuang’s expression softened, a faint smile on his lips: “It doesn’t matter. Just remember what I told you.”

“All right, Master!”

Since Master said it didn’t matter, there probably wasn’t anything serious.

Mo Hua felt at ease and happily left.

After Mo Hua departed, Mister Zhuang let out a deep sigh, frowning.

Old Kui appeared, his form faint, and murmured:

“Too bold…”

For once, Mister Zhuang didn’t refute him but nodded in agreement:

“Yes… too bold…”

He actually commanded a Dao-Sin to die…

Ignorance is fearless.

The key was that the Dao-Sin actually obeyed…

Mister Zhuang said helplessly:

“The Corpse King isn’t truly a Dao-Sin. Making the Corpse King kneel only incurred a minor karmic effect. But now, he directly commands a Dao-Sin to die—that’s like swallowing a huge karmic debt whole. Truly… audacious beyond reason…”

Old Kui sneered. “Weren’t you proud before? Regret it now? What will you do?”

Mister Zhuang sighed.

He had calculated the karmic chain: once the Corpse King was subdued, everything would be over.

He hadn’t expected complications at the end.

Had he known, he would have put aside his pride, reminded Mo Hua more, and told him to meddle less.

Let the Dao Court deal with the Corpse King’s cremation; that would have been enough trouble for them.

Old Kui frowned. “Still, even if the Dao-Sin fuses with karmic threads, it doesn’t matter, right? It’s not a real Dao-Sin, just a trace of twisted Qi.”

“The problem lies there…”

Mister Zhuang sighed. “Mo Hua is following the path of ‘Proving the Dao through Divine-Sense.’ Once his Divine-Sense reaches a certain level and his understanding of heaven and earth deepens, he will inevitably cultivate his own Dao essence.”

“But with the Dao-Sin’s aura entangled in the karmic chain…”

“What he cultivates might not be true Dao essence, but… a Dao-Sin nurtured within his own flesh and blood…”

Upon hearing this, Old Kui’s face paled.

To transform into a Dao-Sin!

Then he would truly be a terror even greater than the Strange Daoist.

Old Kui frowned. “Mo Hua’s nature is pure and clear. He shouldn’t go that far, right?”

“Right now, yes…” Mister Zhuang lay back slowly, his gaze uncertain. “But the future… who can predict?”

“Especially… he’s still young, with a mind unclouded by desire.”

“But when he grows up, sees more of the world, his thoughts may become complicated. If emotions sway him, a single thought could turn him to demonic ways…”

Mister Zhuang’s voice gradually faded to a whisper.

Old Kui raised an eyebrow. “You mean… the Bai Clan?”

Mister Zhuang merely raised an eyebrow, not speaking outright.

Yet both understood clearly.

Two children, together day and night, might be naive and unaware of their feelings, but the elders could clearly see the emotions growing between them.

“The Bai Clan…”

Mister Zhuang shook his head, slightly disdainful, but his eyes held deep caution.

Old Kui’s expression was equally sharp and cold.

The Bai Clan… their depths were bottomless.

Mister Zhuang stared into the distance, sighing. “Mo Hua is a person of deep emotion and temperament. The more so, the easier it is to get hurt. Even without that little girl, any accident involving parents or friends could change his character…”

Old Kui furrowed his brow, shaking his head at Mister Zhuang:

“I don’t think so. His nature is upright, but not rigid; he’s clever, sometimes mischievous, thoughtful, and adaptable. He shouldn’t reach such a point.”

“Let’s hope so…” Mister Zhuang sighed.

“Won’t you explain this to him?” Old Kui asked.

“Explaining won’t help…” Mister Zhuang shook his head.

“About Dao-Sins and Dao essence—explaining it might make him hesitant, distract him, and ruin his mindset.”

“It’s better to let him believe that with a clear heart, no evil can invade. If his mind is focused and he hones his Divine-Sense, perhaps no evil truly can touch him…”

“After all, his goal is the same: refine Divine-Sense to the utmost. Without hesitation, he will advance unimpeded.”

Old Kui nodded slightly.

Mister Zhuang closed his eyes, thinking. After a moment, he opened them and said:

“Moreover, this may not necessarily be a bad thing…”

Old Kui sensed his meaning and slowly said:

“You mean the Strange Daoist?”

The Strange Daoist—a demonic sect cultivator who practiced the Way of Trickery.

His name was unutterable, unthinkable, and unspeakable.

Yet Old Kui said it without hesitation, and nothing unusual happened.

Mister Zhuang nodded, his gaze deep:

“Dao-Sins have form and spirit.”

“The Corpse King was a Dao-Sin embryo. When its body was destroyed and its spirit dead, hatred remained, and the residual Dao-Sin aura fused into karmic threads.”

“Dao-Sins on the karmic level are nearly immortal and very difficult to deal with.”

“Even for my senior brother, it was the same.”

“But with Mo Hua, it’s different.”

“Though partly due to fate, he subdued the Dao-Sin by his own skill and commanded it to die.”

“Mo Hua is the master of the Dao-Sin.”

“A Dao-Sin hidden in Mo Hua’s karmic threads will naturally harbor the urge to rebel. It wants to devour its master, but if it cannot, it must protect its master!”

“Thus, it is a double-edged sword.”

“The edge inward could harm Mo Hua’s Dao essence, but outward, it might truly make him impervious to all evil within karmic law!”

“Because his fate hides an utterly vicious Dao-Sin!”

“The Dao-Sin is so evil and fierce that all evil cannot invade!”

Mister Zhuang’s gaze was sharp.

Old Kui was equally shocked.

If this were true, then this seemingly unremarkable young cultivator, within the calculations of the Heavenly Secret Derivative Algorithm, was the true terror.

His karmic fate conceals a Dao-Sin—a vast abyss that cannot be glimpsed, calculated, or infringed!