Chapter 648: The Disappearance of the Demonic Cultivators - The Quest for Immortality

Chapter 648: The Disappearance of the Demonic Cultivators "The Demon Palace is in my hands now, what should I do with it?" For a moment, Mo Hua's mind was filled with numerous mischievous thoughts... It was Gu Zhang Huai who interrupted him, saying: "Do you know where Fire Buddha is?" Ah, right, Fire Buddha is still the priority... Mo Hua immediately focused his thoughts, controlling the magnetic array disk, captured the activities within the entire Demon Palace through the spiritual vision core. However, as he observed, Mo Hua's brows furrowed. "He's not there..." Gu Zhang Huai was also taken aback, "How can he not be there?" Mo Hua said, "This magnetic core originally connected to the outer, middle, and inner halls, but it seems the inner hall has a separate secret, isolated entirely, shrouded in mist, no clue what's happening inside..." "The inner hall..." Gu Zhang Huai's gaze turned cold. Fire Buddha must be hiding in the inner hall, and the core secret of this Demon Palace is likely concealed within the inner hall as well. The inner hall is completely sealed. "How about we go back, gather reinforcements, and attack from both inside and out?" Gu An quietly suggested. Gu Zhang Huai frowned and then asked: "How many demonic cultivators are there in the Demon Palace?" Gu An and Gu Quan exchanged a glance, both shaking their heads, then all three looked towards Mo Hua. Mo Hua pondered for a moment and said, "Based on the transmission signals from the arrays, there are roughly four hundred..." "Four hundred..." Gu Zhang Huai's gaze darkened. Mo Hua then asked, "Uncle Gu, how many personnel can the Dao Court deploy?" "The Dao Court can mobilize about eight hundred, but..." Gu Zhang Huai's expression turned grave, sighing, "In a short time, those who can be trusted and mobilized are roughly about three hundred..." "And among those, probably only over a hundred have the experience to confront demonic cultivators..." Mo Hua understood the situation. The Dao Court was bloated and inefficient, its cultivator ranks complicated. While there were certainly upright cultivators dedicated to eradicating evil, they were in the minority. Most were possibly just getting by. Some were only motivated by profit. There might even be a few insiders... The entire Dao Court resembled a mixture of clear water, silt, dead fish, and tumors. It couldn't be entirely relied upon, yet it couldn't be dismissed entirely. Figures like Uncle Gu, and Gu An and Gu Quan, were probably scarce. Gu Quan then suggested, "How about we find a way to lure Fire Buddha out, and we ambush him?" Gu Zhang Huai considered it but shook his head: "Fire Buddha is not an array master. Usually, array masters are weak physically and poor in combat, easier to kill..." As he spoke, his gaze shifted to the side, spotting Mo Hua looking displeased. He resignedly added: "I wasn't talking about you..." Though Mo Hua was also an array master and physically frail, his craftiness made him a hard target for scheming against. "Hmm." Mo Hua didn't understand what else Gu Zhang Huai might be thinking, but sensing it wasn’t all negative talk, he nodded reluctantly. Gu Zhang Huai shook his head and continued: "Fire Buddha is different; he's suspicious by nature, skilled in fire magic, and a killing machine..." "We might not be able to lure him out. Even if we do, assassinating or overpowering him swiftly is unlikely..." "This is a second-rank region, and I can't employ my Golden Core power, only possessing peak Foundation Establishment cultivation." "Should we fail, surrounded by numerous demonic cultivators in this Demon Palace, escape would be impossible..." Even if they managed to escape, undoubtedly, some would lose their lives in the Demon Palace... Gu Zhang Huai's face was set in a somber expression. Gu An and Gu Quan both wore similar expressions of concern. When evil cultivators gather in numbers, creating chaos, residing secretly in low-rank regions, dealing with them under the rules of Heaven is indeed tricky. Mo Hua too creased his brows, feeling a sense of urgency. Unknowingly, two days had already passed. He could vaguely sense Fire Buddha's presence, yet a barrier separated them, causing nothing but frustration. Mo Hua pondered briefly, suddenly his expression turned cold as he decisively declared: "Let's begin the slaughter..." Gu Zhang Huai and the other two reacted in surprise. "Start the slaughter?" "Yeah!" Mo Hua nodded. "We'll clear out the outlying troops here together and then call others in, trapping the inner hall—to attack with numerical advantage, ambush the inner hall, and kill Fire Buddha!" "Lonely Peak Demon Cavern, an isolated haven." "The advantage is its seclusion, tight seal, hard to invade, and outsiders can't spy on its secrets." "The drawback is, if discovered and besieged, escape becomes difficult..." Gu Zhang Huai briefly considered and nodded slightly: "This could work..." "The Demon Palace is heavily guarded, a frontal assault would no doubt be tough." "Even with our cooperation from inside, casualties would be heavy..." "So, we have to weaken it internally first..." "Eliminate the demonic cultivators in the outer and middle regions, then mobilize the Dao Court, seize the moment to storm the inner hall..." "In doing so, the tables turn, encircling Fire Buddha." Fighting with overwhelming numbers, even a disorganized crack team from the Dao Court should manage. "But..." Gu Zhang Huai glanced at Mo Hua, worry etched in his eyes. "It's not easy to kill, is it?" Dozens or a few wouldn't be an issue, but hundreds of Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators are challenging. "Don't worry." Mo Hua gestured at the array disk behind himself, saying: "I'll guide you using this magnetic spiritual surveillance array..." "This whole setup is under my control now, effectively a 'spy,' the demonic cultivators are now 'blind'." "We can quietly eliminate them one by one, ensuring secrecy..." Mo Hua displayed an expression of utmost confidence. Gu Zhang Huai, hearing this, couldn't help but feel astonished internally: Not alerting the enemy and systematically eliminating outer hall demonic cultivators... As a Golden Core, though suppressed by Heaven's rule, dispatching batches of Foundation Establishments was certainly feasible. But it required stealth... The key lay in the array. Currently, the central spiritual surveillance array monitoring the entire Bì Mountain Demon Cavern had turned 'traitor'... The enemy's pivotal formation had become a 'mole.' Turning someone's formation to your advantage, stabbing your enemy with their own knife. Array masters were immense threats... Or rather... Gu Zhang Huai glanced quietly at Mo Hua. Some array masters were indeed menacing... Mo Hua’s eyes were aglow. Reviewing the entire strategy in his mind one more time: First, through the spiritual surveillance array, he’d ‘remote-control’ Uncle Gu's group, to silently remove the demonic cultivators in the middle and outer areas, dismantling their defenses from within. Then he would call for reinforcements from Uncle Gu to encircle the inner hall. Even if the Dao Court's forces were a mixed lot, a siege should still be achievable. And after that... He’d adjust based on the situation... Mo Hua mused internally. Nevertheless, the secrets of the inner hall remained hidden; the spiritual surveillance array showed nothing, he was just as clueless. Lock down the inner hall, force Fire Buddha out, and decide the next course. Once all was agreed upon, Mo Hua put on a serious face and declared: "Let the hunt begin..." Gu Zhang Huai found the phrase odd, but knowing Mo Hua’s peculiar tendencies, he let it slide... Thus, within the eerie Demon Cavern and foreboding Demon Palace. A silent hunt had begun. Mo Hua commandeered the spiritual surveillance array core, guiding Gu Zhang Huai and his partners. "At the northwestern corner of the middle hall, there's a bone statue. To the right, in roughly ten breaths, two demonic cultivators will appear..." "Kill freely, no one else is around..." Mo Hua conveyed via the communication talisman given to him by Gu Zhang Huai. He then focused on observing the array disk. After a while, within the visualization from the array core, two grey-black spiritual energy figures approached. These represented the demonic cultivators. Through the spiritual vision array, only faint spiritual energy figures could be seen. So, Mo Hua perceived them as grimy, "spiritual little figures." The two grimy energy figures obliviously wandered into a corner, where three dim silhouettes abruptly emerged beside them. Because the silhouettes were concealed, their energy signatures were indistinct, blending into a vague blur that was hard to discern. Had Mo Hua not known beforehand, he might have easily overlooked them. Then Mo Hua saw the three indistinct figures swiftly take down the two grimy figures. Some red afterimages appeared, resembling flowing blood. It might also be the release of malevolent energy from the demonic cultivators. White marks, signaling wind-element spirit power executing a kill, were likely from Uncle Gu's hand. He had dispatched one on his own. Gu An and Gu Quan, working together with blades, formed a crescent-shaped arc like a full moon, decimating the other demonic cultivator... As Mo Hua observed, he concocted an imaginative replay in his mind, finding it quite exhilarating. After the two were slain, their bodies were cast into the cesspool beneath the Demon Palace. This cesspool seemed to serve as a "River of Corpses." It was a vile mix of filthy water, possibly mud or flesh, reeking of stench and tinged with a murky green hue. Presumably, this was where demonic cultivators discarded bodies after their killings. Now, having been killed, their own remains suffered the same fate, an apt retribution of sorts. "Two down..." Mo Hua returned to scanning the array plate, beginning another round of "roll call," seeking out the next "lucky unfortunate"... A few moments later, Mo Hua located another demonic cultivator. "Keep heading forward..." "Through the corridor, there's an alchemy room; someone is hiding in a corner there. In seven breaths, a lone demonic cultivator will pass by..." "Eliminate them..." "Alright, onto the next one..." "This time, it's two men and a dog..." "Act swiftly, only a stick of incense worth of time, or you'll run into a team of five demonic cultivators coming from behind..." "Another down..."    "Taken care of..." … And so, Mo Hua continued coordinating from his vantage point. With Gu Zhang Huai, a Golden Core cultivator, alongside Gu An and Gu Quan two later-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators executing, it was essentially a direct line to death for their targets. Within the vast Demon Palace, demonic cultivators vanished one by one, silently... Yet not a soul noticed. Mo Hua covered their tracks flawlessly. Every time Gu Zhang Huai and his companions eliminated demonic cultivators, before disposing of the bodies, they also seized their storage pouches. Mo Hua wasn't interested in their contents. Of course, even if he desired them, Gu Zhang Huai wouldn't hand them over. After disposing of the demonic cultivators, Gu Zhang Huai only handed Mo Hua the transmission tokens adorned with skulls, all of similar design. These tokens, the demonic cultivators gave a peculiar name: "Mage Token." "Transmission token is what it is, why add the unnecessary flourish of calling it a Mage Token?" Mo Hua muttered disdainfully. But Mo Hua diligently collected these "Mage Tokens." Almost every demonic cultivator in the Demon Palace held one of these Mage Tokens, which facilitated mutual communication. Meanwhile, all communication content was monitored by the magnetic central array core. Originally, this was a wicked array master's tool for "supervising" the demonic cultivators. Now, it conveniently facilitated Mo Hua's operation. What Mo Hua needed to do was continually monitor their "conversations," seeking traces of Fire Buddha or uncovering other Demon Palace secrets. While other secrets remained elusive, he finally learned the name of the deceased wicked array master. When the patrolling demonic cultivators communicated via their Mage Tokens with the central array core, they referred to the dead array master as "Master Yuan." Master Yuan... A master proficient in magnetic arrays? Is that his original surname, or did he change it later? Mo Hua pondered but found it inconsequential. The original Master Yuan was dead—the current "Master Yuan" was, in fact, "Master Mo." Feigning as "Master Yuan," Mo Hua issued commands to the unsuspecting patrolling demonic cultivators. They remained utterly oblivious. Master Yuan, an unpredictable, cold-natured wicked array master, uttered words these demonic cultivators dared not question. Yet, one issue proved more troublesome. The Mage Tokens belonging to the deceased demonic cultivators... Those marked by Mo Hua and killed by Gu Zhang Huai—their Mage Tokens couldn't simply be discarded. If any living demonic cultivators attempted communication with these deceased individuals and received no reply, the silent assassination would risk exposure. Thus, Mo Hua had to "play multiple roles," sporadically using these tokens to respond, maintaining an illusion that everyone was still patrolling normally. At first, juggling a few Mage Tokens was manageable for Mo Hua with some creative finesse. However, the twisted interests and inclinations of these demonic cultivators proved alien to him. Mo Hua realized he didn't quite fit in. It was hard to meld into their warped perspective and converse seamlessly. After all, he was too upright… Mo Hua sighed inwardly. Consequently, whenever a message emerged, he could only offer vague and noncommittal replies. Responses like "Hmm," "Oh," "Alright then," "Okay," "Do as you see fit," or "Impressive" sufficed initially... But as the Mage Tokens amassed, such "Hmm," and "Oh" replies grew monotonous. They seemed insincere, risking exposure. Lying on the wicked array master's chair, Mo Hua multitasked, issuing kill orders while skimming through the Mage Tokens' logs. He needed to glean patterns from their chatter to impersonate a villain convincingly. After extensive observation, he realized he was overthinking it. These demonic cultivators were erratic in temperament, often foul-mouthed and coarse. There was no need for elaborate mimicry; simply being adept at insults sufficed. Many demonic cultivators engaged in slurs at the slightest provocation. As long as one knew how to curse effectively, they could master the villainous role. Swearing! Mo Hua's eyes gleamed. He recalled Elder Yu. If swearing constituted a "realm," Elder Yu might well be a half-step from transcendent. If cursing bolstered cultivation, Elder Yu might have ascended long ago. Unfortunately, Mo Hua fancied himself a courteous, polite young man—not exactly an expert in profanity. At most… He had passively learned from Elder Yu, committing to memory numerous scathing phrases, just right for occasions like this… "These are Elder Yu's words, not mine… I'm not the one who strayed…" "It's just a good memory, wouldn't blame me for that..." Mo Hua nodded to himself. And with that, he began using the Mage Tokens to unleash. Enabling these demonic cultivators across Qianzhou to experience Elder Yu's prowess… … Demonic Cultivator A: "Damn it, you've been silent for ages, why no response?" Mo Hua replied: "Why speak to a useless piece like you? Your brain works like a pig's, understanding anything I say?" "You drunk or what?" "How could I get drunk? Unless someday I carve your pig head for a drink, with your mother to entertain me, only then might I drink." "Alright, alright! Okay, you corpse bastard, you mongrel..." Mo Hua's brow knitted, prepared to get angry, but then he had a realization. He's insulting Shi Lao Er; what has that to do with me, Mo Xiao Hua? He isn't insulting me... "Fine! Even if I'm a mongrel 'Shi Lao Er', it's your great-grandmother and a stray dog's mongrel, you're a mongrel of me and your mother..." After Mo Hua replied, silence lingered from the other end. Perhaps they fainted in frustration. Mo Hua shook his head, "No match, definitely no match for me... no, no match for 'Elder Yu.'" Though Qianzhou was a grand state with rich sect traditions, skills in swearing were probably weak. Mo Hua's hands flew, consciousness racing to sift through Elder Yu's "cursing archives," responding to another demonic cultivator. Demonic Cultivator B: "Idiot, the hell are you?" "On your mother's belly..." … "The Demon Palace seems unusually quiet..." "Each one, like dead men walking, how could it not be?" … "Too boring... get me some girls for cultivation..." "Now's the time? All about cultivation? Why not stomp your little brother to fix that pig brain?" … "Are you dead?" "Already dead, don't talk to me..." "And you're able to respond dead?" "Then why ask?" "Just worried about you, you beast." "No need for your beast concern, died on your mother; before I die, aim for another beast like you in the world..." … All these profanities, Mo Hua had overheard from Elder Yu. In truth, Mo Hua didn't fully grasp their meanings, but with his keen memory and strong mind, he remembered them all. They were simply insults, and perfect for targeting these demonic cultivators. After enduring Mo Hua's tirade, each and every demonic cultivator reacted intensely. Some were so enraged they made errors in their replies... Others were so upset their consciousness became muddled, preventing them from responding... Fortunately, among these demonic cultivators, frequent insult exchanges were the norm; as infuriated as they might get, they wouldn't risk causing a scene in the Demon Palace. Nor would they engage in violent conflicts over verbal spats. Mo Hua surmised they'd likely cement this "grudge" in their minds for revenge at a later time. However, this had nothing to do with him. The "verbal repertoire" belonged to Elder Yu. The insulting Mage Tokens were owned by these demonic cultivators. The resentment wouldn't fall on his head. Moreover, the demonic cultivators who hurled insults were already dead… And the numbers kept increasing… In this way, Mo Hua busily coordinated kills with Uncle Gu while impersonating Master Yuan to issue commands to the demonic cultivators. Meanwhile, he juggled multiple roles, delivering scathing insults. All was bustling yet harmonious. At this moment, a message suddenly pinged on the magnetic central array disk: "Master Yuan." Casually, Mo Hua replied, "Spit it out if you have something to say, you dithering bastard." A long pause ensued on the other side. Then slowly came a reply: "Master Yuan’s liver fire seems a bit imbalanced today." Mo Hua was a bit taken aback. Who was this? Such a good temperament, quite well-mannered for a demonic cultivator, bearing insults without reaction, a rarity indeed... As Mo Hua pondered how to respond, another message followed: "Greed, anger, delusion—the three poisons, three impurities, three fires. Scattered desires disrupt the mind, malignant spirits cling, perpetually uphold a heart of tranquility to suppress these fruits of evil…” Mo Hua frowned, then froze, his mouth agape. "Greed, anger, delusion…" "Tranquility… fruits of evil…” This person couldn't be… Fire Buddha?!! Mo Hua was astounded... "Is Fire Buddha… trying to chat with me?" "And I’ve insulted him?" (End of chapter)