Chapter 545: Leaving the City
Chapter 547: Leaving the City
The Soul-Refining Blood Banner sealed the city, and the surging demonic sword swept through.
Lishan City had already become a ruin.
What had been ornate beams and painted rafters yesterday was now a field of broken walls and debris. The once-gilded splendor was reduced to chaos.
Da Bai led the cart at the front.
Mo Hua, along with Little Senior Brother, Little Senior Sister, and Aunt Xue, followed behind, moving with the main group of Five Elements Sect cultivators. They left the sect, passed through the mountain-protecting array, and stepped into the desolate city of Lishan.
Seeing the surrounding scene, Mo Hua finally realized that Lishan City had long been a hollow shell. Many of the traveling merchants who resided there were hidden demonic cultivators.
Genuine cultivators were few.
When disaster struck, most of these cultivators either died, were injured, or fled.
The traveling merchants were not local; they came for profit and left when it was gone.
No one wished to share Lishan City’s fate, and no one cared about its survival.
A flower without soil blooms brilliantly, then withers in an instant.
In this costly city, prosperity had ended, revealing the barren reality of earth, stone, and mud sculptures.
But Mo Hua paid little attention to this.
He walked along the road, occasionally glancing back, hoping that one day he might see his master again.
But in the end, he saw nothing.
Mo Hua lowered his head in sorrow.
Bai Zisheng also felt sad and patted Mo Hua on the shoulder.
Bai Zixi held Mo Hua’s hand.
Aunt Xue’s eyes showed surprise, her expression complex, and she let out a quiet sigh without speaking.
The group continued walking out of Lishan City.
The Grand Elder and the other sect elders took the lead, guiding the way.
Though a sea of blood hung overhead and sword energy filled the air,
inside Lishan City, red blood stained the walls and demonic energy overflowed.
Yet along this path, there was no wind, no waves, no demonic cultivators, no killing intent, no danger.
Just as Master Zhuang had said, it was a safe path.
The Grand Elder found it hard to believe, yet also felt relief, sighing in his heart:
“Master Zhuang truly is a superior being. The Five Elements Sect owes him a great debt…”
After a while, they reached the city gates.
Passing through the gates, they left Lishan City,
and left this place of right and wrong, a place of purgatory.
The Grand Elder exhaled in relief.
But when he looked up, the calm he had just felt vanished instantly.
A chilling sensation ran through him.
Ahead, the city gate was suddenly enveloped in a sea of blood, blocking their path.
Standing atop the gate were a group of bizarre cultivators.
In the center, a black-robed figure with white hair and youthful face, eyes deep and cruel—
the Xuanmo Patriarch!
On his sides, a pale elder carrying a demonic sword case, a white-faced youth wearing a mask like a delicate corpse, and a large man with fangs and bloodshot eyes.
Behind them were more demonic cultivators, radiating evil aura, all at least Foundation Establishment level.
The Grand Elder’s eyes widened in terror, his heart breaking.
All the sect cultivators turned pale.
The Xuan scattered man smiled with a sinister softness. “Beneath the Blood Banner, resentful spirits and vengeful ghosts cannot be reborn. Not a single soul shall survive. How could I let you go?”
“The Dao Court is strict; I haven’t massacred a city in centuries…”
“Today’s opportunity is rare; allow me to indulge…”
The Grand Elder felt desolation.
A demonic old cultivator at Nascent Soul level!
The Five Elements Sect is doomed!
As he prepared to speak, the Xuan scattered man’s smile faded. His expression turned grave, as if he had seen something.
Following his gaze, the Grand Elder saw, not far to the west, on a rooftop, an old man with a gray face, his body like dead wood.
The inscrutable old man by Master Zhuang’s side—“Old Kui.”
Hope rose in the Grand Elder’s heart.
The Xuan scattered man looked at Old Kui, his expression solemn. He cupped his hands and said,
“What high being is this?”
Old Kui glanced at him calmly. “You are not worthy of knowing. I spare your life—leave.”
The Xuan scattered man’s anger flared, and he sneered, about to act, then froze, realization hitting him. His expression changed drastically:
“You are…”
Old Kui’s eyes were cold and piercing.
The Xuan scattered man immediately shut his mouth, fear-stricken.
Suppressing his terror, his face twitched as he bowed slightly. Gradually, his figure faded from the city gate and vanished.
The demonic cultivators behind him were stunned, shocked:
“What is the identity of this old man?”
“Even the Xuan scattered man yields to him?”
Yet none dared to speak.
Afraid of offending the mysterious elder or misstepping against the Xuan scattered man, they all retreated.
The demonic cultivators withdrew.
The Grand Elder exhaled, bowing to Old Kui from afar.
All the Five Elements Sect cultivators solemnly saluted Old Kui.
Old Kui lightly tapped his fingers; a black fireball shot forth.
The city gate of Lishan City shattered, the demonic energy burned away. The Blood Banner was torn, the sea of blood ripped, revealing an opening.
“Go.”
Old Kui spoke only this word, then closed his eyes to continue cultivating.
The Grand Elder, grateful, bowed once more, then led the sect members through the opening Old Kui had created, stepping out of Lishan City…
Mo Hua glanced at Old Kui and murmured:
“Grandpa Kui…”
Old Kui seemed to hear him. Slowly opening his eyes, he looked at Mo Hua and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
It was Mo Hua’s first time seeing Old Kui smile.
Like a puppet’s smile.
Awkward, somewhat unnatural, but gentle.
Mo Hua also heard Old Kui’s hoarse yet kind voice:
“I’ll see you off…”
Mo Hua’s nose tingled. He waved his hand vigorously, bidding farewell to Old Kui.
Old Kui “smiled” again and softly said: “Go…”
“Mm!”
Mo Hua nodded, glanced once more at Old Kui, then reluctantly looked away, heading outside the city.
Old Kui watched Mo Hua’s small figure, a hint of regret in his heart.
What a pity…
No chance to taste the pine nuts this child cooked…
No chance to teach him spells, play chess together…
He self-mockingly muttered:
“My Dao heart… has also wavered…”
Old Kui shook his head and closed his eyes again, sitting upright.
…
Mo Hua walked on, passing through the city gates, leaving Lishan City, leaving the city engulfed in blood, filled with demonic energy, danger, and killing intent.
Leaving the city where his master had been…
When he looked back,
the Soul-Refining Blood Banner had completed its ritual, completely shrouding the city.
All that was visible: a raging sea of blood, a monstrous demonic sword, and blood-red sword energy filling the sky.
Mo Hua etched it all into his memory, eyes cold.
“How dare you plot against Master…”
One day, I will slaughter all of you demonic fiends, tear this Soul Banner to shreds, crush this demonic sword, and grind the demonic Dao’s cause and effect to dust…
No matter Xuanmo Patriarch, Nascent Soul demonic cultivators, or demonic treasures…
You will all pay…
…
Meanwhile, in Lishan City, the Xuan scattered man, just recovering from Old Kui’s intimidation, felt another surge of unease.
He immediately took a White-Bone Compass from his chest.
Inside the compass was a sealed lock, soaked in black blood, engraved with archaic array patterns, with a demonic eye in the center, fierce and blinking.
This was the Demonic Dao’s Cause-and-Effect treasure: the Netherworld Celestial Lock.
The Xuan scattered man frowned:
“This Celestial Lock… is trembling?”
“What does that mean?”
“What is it afraid of?”
“Afraid of what?”
He bit his finger, wiped his forehead, leaving a blood streak that writhed, sharpening his Divine Sense.
Forming hand seals, he tried to calculate, yet after a long while, he was still baffled.
Nothing could be figured out…
A complete mystery.
Yet faintly, there seemed a bad omen.
Like accidentally releasing a bunch of fish fry into a river…
But among the fry, there appeared to be a small yet ferocious “crocodile.”
Looking closer, the river stretched endlessly, waves glittering, vast and obscure, revealing nothing.
The Xuan scattered man was stunned, then shook his head:
“An illusion, probably…”
Nothing could be so coincidental…
…
Several dozen miles from Lishan City, at a fork in the road…
Mo Hua and the people from the Five Elements Sect were about to part ways here.
The Grand Elder glanced at Mo Hua, his expression complex.
The true inheritance of the Five Elements Sect lay with this child.
And the sect’s future blessings might also rest with him.
Although he did not know what the true inheritance was, nor what the future blessings entailed, this was what Mister Zhuang had told him, and he could only believe it.
However…
Whether the Five Elements Sect would still have that blessing in the future was uncertain…
The sect had suffered a calamity, and its people were scattered.
From now on, they would live under others’ protection, and life would be harsh.
These disciples would likely leave one by one.
How many would ultimately remain was even harder to say.
As for himself, he might fare better—after all, he was a Golden Core cultivator—but a hundred, two hundred years from now, if he were to die and the sect had no successors, would it vanish from the annals of cultivation history?
The Grand Elder sighed, worry heavy in his heart.
He looked at Mo Hua and clasped his hands in farewell: “Little Sir, take care!”
Mo Hua saluted in return: “Grand Elder, you too!”
“Hopefully, we’ll meet again someday…”
The Grand Elder’s heart was heavy. After bowing once more, he led the Five Elements Sect members on their uncertain journey…
…
Mo Hua, meanwhile, took a different path.
It was a wide mountain road.
Da Bai pulled the cart and, sensing Mo Hua’s low spirits, nuzzled him affectionately as if to comfort him.
Mo Hua hugged Da Bai back, though his expression remained somewhat downcast.
Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi were also a little sad.
As they walked, Bai Zisheng suddenly asked Aunt Xue, “Aunt Xue, could you find Mother and ask her to rescue Master?”
Aunt Xue replied bitterly, “Someone of Mister Zhuang’s level… the matters he is involved in are far beyond what we can interfere with…”
“Even Madam, in many cases, cannot change things.”
Moreover, Madam herself… was scheming around Mister Zhuang…
Aunt Xue did not say this explicitly.
Bai Zisheng frowned in disappointment.
Bai Zixi asked, “Aunt Xue, where are we going now?”
Aunt Xue thought for a moment. “First, let’s meet Madam. She is concerned for your safety. After that, we should return to the Bai family…”
“Return to the Bai family…”
Bai Zixi murmured, glancing at Mo Hua.
Bai Zisheng suddenly remembered something, his sadness easing slightly. He looked at Mo Hua and asked,
“Junior Brother, will you come back to the Bai family with us?”
“The Bai family?” Mo Hua was momentarily stunned.
“Yes,” Bai Zisheng nodded. “If you come with me, I’ll protect you. You won’t have to worry about cultivation, inheritance, or formations… all will be provided.”
“Though far from Master’s level, it’s still very good.”
Mo Hua remained silent.
He looked back toward Lishan City.
He still wanted to see his Master.
But he couldn’t…
Golden Core, Nascent Soul…
Such levels of cultivation were far beyond his reach.
He was still at Qi Refining…
Mo Hua sighed in disappointment. After a moment of hesitation, he said, “I want to go back to Tongxian City, to see my parents…”
He had been away from home for a long time and wanted to check on them.
“It’s fine,” Bai Zisheng nodded. “I also want to return briefly, see Uncle Mo and Aunt Liu. Then you can come with me to the Bai family…”
“With your high comprehension and skill in formations, no one will dare look down on you at the Bai family…”
Mo Hua hesitated. “But… wouldn’t that be improper?”
He wasn’t a member of the Bai family…
Bai Zisheng’s expression turned serious. “What’s improper? You are my junior brother. With me, we are family. As your senior brother, I should protect you!”
“Anyone who disrespects you there disrespects me! Anyone who bullies you bullies me! I’ll knock out their front teeth!”
Mo Hua felt moved, but shook his head.
Bai Zisheng said, “No rush. Take your time to think.”
Bai Zixi glanced at Mo Hua and spoke clearly and decisively:
“No one will dare bully you at the Bai family!”
Mo Hua was slightly startled, then smiled: “Thank you, Senior Sister…”
His smile was like a clear spring, pure and serene, flowing gently from his heart.
Bai Zixi looked away slightly.
Aunt Xue observed everything. Her gaze held both warmth and relief, but also a trace of unwillingness.
Some things were beautiful, pure, and innocent.
Yet the cultivation world was cold and cruel…
Mo Hua shook his head again. “I’ll go see my parents first, then we’ll see…”
He had not yet decided on the next steps.
To lay the foundation, he had to unravel the Great Heavenly Array.
It was a difficult formation.
It might take a year or two, or perhaps ten or twenty years…
But no matter what, he would solve it, and step by step, as Master had instructed, refine his Divine-Sense to the utmost, attaining supreme Divine-Sense and proving the Dao!
The process would certainly be hard and exhausting.
He also carried many secrets…
Although he was reluctant to leave his junior brother and sister, the Bai family… was not necessarily a good place…
…
The Dali Mountain Prefecture was vast.
Beyond Lishan City rose the rolling Dali Mountains, peaks stacked upon peaks, with winding mountain roads.
Mo Hua and his companions walked along the mountain paths, gradually leaving Lishan City behind.
The mountains were like jade, the clouds like mist and rosy light.
The breathtaking scenery softened their parting sorrow, but left an endless melancholy.
All three felt a hollow emptiness in their hearts.
After several days, Aunt Xue frowned.
Bai Zisheng asked, “Aunt Xue, what is it?”
Aunt Xue thought briefly and shook her head: “Nothing…”
After another five or six days, her expression grew increasingly grave.
Now the others noticed something was wrong.
Bai Zixi asked, “Aunt Xue, what’s happening?”
Aunt Xue hesitated, then spoke honestly:
“Ten days ago, I sent a message to Madam via jade slip, explaining the situation. But for all this time, no news has come through. It seems not only Lishan City, but the entire Dali Mountains have been sealed from Heavenly Secrets, with all communication cut off…”
Everyone’s expression turned serious.
Mo Hua looked up and indeed sensed the sky was hazy. He could see it, but not as it truly was.
It was as if something was blocking it.
“Aunt Xue, what is covering the sky?” Mo Hua asked.
Aunt Xue frowned: “Perhaps… the Underworld Heavenly Secret Lock…”
“Heavenly Secret Lock?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “A Heavenly Secret Lock is a type of heavenly treasure. It can obscure heavenly secrets, lock causality, and even cut off communication, so other cultivators cannot see, perceive, or calculate…”
“The righteous path has Heavenly Secret Locks, and the demonic path does too.”
“However, to seal such a vast area of Heavenly Secrets, cutting off the entire Dali Mountains, such a treasure must be extraordinary. It is likely one of the demonic path’s supreme treasures—the Underworld Heavenly Secret Lock…”
“Demonic path’s supreme treasure… Underworld Heavenly Secret Lock…”
Mo Hua nodded, silently committing the name to memory.
“What do we do now?” Bai Zisheng asked.
“First, keep moving outward, leave the Dali Mountains…”
Aunt Xue frowned, her expression still very serious.
After several more days, just as they were about to leave the Dali Mountains, a group of cultivators suddenly appeared ahead.
They emerged without warning, yet seemed to have been waiting there for some time.
Some wore black robes, some blood-red, appearances varied.
There was a gaunt Taoist with half his face burned, a fat monk squinting with a smile, a seductive female cultivator with blood-red lips and exposed fangs, and a corpse-driver carrying a body…
Around ten or so, their auras were dense, sinister, yet restrained.
All were demonic Golden Core cultivators!
Among them, the only person Mo Hua recognized was a Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivator wearing a golden crown and a five-colored Dao robe.
It was the former Sect Leader of the Five Elements Sect—Liao Tiande.
Once the leader, he now bowed low, face full of ingratiating smiles.
Liao Tiande pointed at Mo Hua and the others, and spoke to a youth in blood-red elegant robes, extraordinarily handsome, with a strange blood scar between his brows:
“Holy Son, these are the direct disciples of Mister Zhuang…”