Chapter 762 – The Brewing Storm
Xun Ziyou let out a long sigh of relief.
Thank heavens...
His heart had almost stopped from the suspense.
He immediately sent a message:
"Mo Hua, how… did you get inside?"
There was a brief delay on the other end, as if the Primordial Magnetic Signal was unstable. After a while, a reply came:
Mo Hua:
"I hid under a cart and snuck in."
Xun Ziyou:
"You said Linghu Xiao was also captured?"
Mo Hua:
"Mhm! Also, Little Wood—that is, Ouyang Mu of the Tai'a Sect, from the Ouyang clan."
He completely forgot about Song Jian, unintentionally.
Xun Ziyou frowned,
"Can you still get out?"
Although the disciples of Tai'a and Chongxu Sects shared a common origin with the Great Void Sect, and it wouldn't be proper to ignore them, Xun Ziyou couldn't help but feel a little biased—Mo Hua's safety was naturally his top priority.
If rescuing others meant putting Mo Hua in danger, he would be firmly against it.
Let alone the Patriarch… If the old ancestor found out that Mo Hua—his beloved disciple—had entered the perilous Myriad Demons Valley, while he, a Great Void elder, stayed outside…
He'd get his skin flayed. And his legs broken.
So—Mo Hua's safety first. Everything else can wait.
Inside the Myriad Demons Valley, Mo Hua was still hiding under the coffin cart like a little cat. He looked around—complete darkness.
His divine sense also detected nothing but cold, bloodstained stone walls.
The massive gate, shaped like a demon beast's gaping maw, had already shut behind him.
Looks like… there was no getting out for now.
Mo Hua messaged back:
"The gate's closed. I can't leave."
Xun Ziyou felt a jolt of dread in his scalp.
If anything happened to Mo Hua, he really would be doomed!
"You must be careful! Stay hidden—don't act rashly or take risks. Your safety comes first. I'll find a way to get you out, fast!"
Mo Hua:
"Got it! Elder Xun, don't worry!"
Xun Ziyou breathed out in relief—only to tense up again.
This wasn't the time to relax.
Mo Hua was like a dumpling tossed into a pack of wolves. A single misstep, and he'd be nothing but bones.
Chilled to the core, Xun Ziyou took a breath, turned to the Chongxu elder, and said:
"We need to return to the sect immediately—and report to the Patriarch."
This disaster was caused by his own negligence.
But because it was such a grave mistake, they couldn't afford to hide it or play clever little cover-ups. A big mistake covered up out of fear often leads to an even bigger disaster.
Whether he got punished didn't matter. What mattered was:
Mo Hua must not be harmed.
The Chongxu elder also understood. He nodded, pale-faced.
Xun Ziyou added solemnly:
"Tell only the Patriarch. No one else can catch wind of this."
The Chongxu elder blinked, then narrowed his eyes:
"You mean…"
Xun Ziyou nodded slightly.
For someone to set up an ambush at Demon-Taming Mountain, targeting Heaven's Chosen disciples…
To arrange Golden Core demon cultivators to ambush their guardians…
There had to be a leak inside the Chongxu Sect.
The Chongxu elder's face turned grim.
"No time to waste. Let's return immediately," Xun Ziyou urged.
The Chongxu elder nodded.
Before leaving, Xun Ziyou sent Mo Hua one last message:
"Stay hidden. Don't take any risks. I'll return with backup."
The Great Void Command Token still had some lag.
After a few moments, Mo Hua replied:
Mo Hua:
"Okay!"
Then, a beat later—
Mo Hua:
"Elder, one more important thing."
Xun Ziyou tensed up:
"What is it?"
Mo Hua:
"When you get back to the sect, help me extend my leave."
He had requested time off earlier—but only for a few days. Now that he'd sneaked into the Myriad Demons Valley, who knew when he'd return?
So the leave definitely needed an extension.
Xun Ziyou was speechless.
In the end, he could only sigh in defeat.
This kid… really has nerves of steel…
Great Void Sect – Elder's Residence
The old Mr. Xun stood motionless.
Yet his aura was like a silent storm, swallowing all sound and movement.
His aged eyes no longer held the cloudiness of age—only a cold, razor-sharp glint.
Xun Ziyou stood with head bowed, sweat dripping from his brow. He didn't dare utter a word.
He had just returned and reported everything about Mo Hua to the Patriarch…
The moment he finished, the old man's eyes darkened—and his aura turned utterly terrifying.
That's when Xun Ziyou knew—he was truly, deeply enraged.
Xun Ziyou clenched his teeth. His heart was pounding.
The old Patriarch merely cast him a glance, then slowly walked over to his desk.
On the table sat a Heavenly Mechanism Compass.
But unlike the one he usually used, this one was deeper in color, with more complex karmic tracks and intricate patterns—clearly a more advanced and dangerous tool.
Holding his breath, the old man pushed the compass for a moment.
Then he froze slightly.
And… finally… retracted the terrifying aura around him.
Xun Ziyou finally got a chance to breathe.
He lowered his voice and carefully asked:
"Patriarch…"
The old man gave him a cold glance and said:
"There's a reason for what happened. You are not to blame."
Xun Ziyou nearly collapsed in relief.
The crushing weight on his shoulders finally eased a little.
"However," the old man continued,
"Mo Hua being in danger—you are partly responsible."
Xun Ziyou cupped his hands solemnly:
"This is indeed my dereliction of duty…"
The old man saw he wasn't trying to dodge responsibility, and gave a faint approving nod.
Xun Ziyou asked softly:
"Patriarch… what should we do now?"
He had his own ideas—but no authority.
And even if he did, some decisions were beyond his station. He couldn't take on the burden of failure.
Only the Patriarch could decide.
The old man paused, then instructed:
"Mobilize all inner sect disciples at the peak of Foundation Establishment, and all Golden Core elders… anyone not currently teaching or on a mission—send them all to Demon-Taming Mountain."
Xun Ziyou:
"Do we strike immediately?"
The old man raised a brow, his mind recalling the earlier deduction—
The karma thread from the compass had shown "peril without calamity."
After thinking for a moment, he said slowly:
"No rush…"
Xun Ziyou was stunned.
"No rush?"
"Correct," the Patriarch nodded,
"Let the boy Mo Hua make his own way for now."
Xun Ziyou frowned,
"You want to… temper him?"
The old man gave a firm nod and said:
"Those born with heavenly talent and great destiny… will surely walk a treacherous path.
To shoulder great responsibility, they must be forged through danger and hardship,
through near-death crises and countless trials.
Such tribulations are inevitable."
Xun Ziyou was shaken.
He hadn't realized the Patriarch held such high expectations for Mo Hua.
The old man paused briefly, then added:
"I used to think Mo Hua was just a naïve, cheerful child. So I feared danger would shatter him. But now… I think I underestimated him."
His eyes flickered with meaning.
This child may seem simple—but he's not as innocent as he looks…
After all, hadn't he…
Led the creation of the Five Elements Demon-Slaying Grand Formation, personally suppressed the great demon Feng Xi.
He had been accepted as a disciple by that supremely talented, notoriously arrogant master who normally had no regard for others.
He had journeyed alone, crossing treacherous terrain from Lì Prefecture to Qián Prefecture in search of a sect.
He had only just joined the Great Void Sect, and was already accompanying his senior brothers and sisters to capture criminal cultivators.
The death of the Fire Buddha was also tied to him.
Add to that his leadership during the demon hunts at Demon-Taming Mountain, and his cultivation of sword control techniques with his peers…
How could someone like this possibly be "simple"?
If he didn't have a stomach full of schemes, that would be the real surprise.
Elder Xun sighed inwardly:
I was fooled by that innocent little face…
After a moment of thought, Elder Xun spoke again:
"This child, Mo Hua—he's clever and resourceful. The fact that he dared to enter the Myriad Demons Valley means he's confident he can handle it."
"The path of cultivation is long and filled with danger. The sect can't shield him forever. Some tempering is necessary."
"The best form of protection… is teaching him to protect himself."
"Let him explore on his own this time. Let him learn how to survive."
Xun Ziyou was taken aback, then moved.
The Patriarch truly put great thought and care into Mo Hua's growth.
"Understood," Xun Ziyou cupped his hands respectfully. Then asked, "Should we still mobilize sect members?"
Elder Xun paused in thought, then nodded:
"Yes."
"Even if it weren't for Mo Hua, the Myriad Demons Valley cannot be left alone. To conduct such filthy acts right under our sect's nose—do they think we're blind?"
"We'll tear it open this time and see what exactly they're plotting."
"Gather your forces in secret. Surround the valley. Use the Great Void Command Token to stay in contact with Mo Hua."
"If you can reach him, don't act rashly. But if communication is lost…"
Elder Xun's gaze turned icy:
"Then hesitate no more—flatten the entire Myriad Demons Valley, no matter the cost."
After a brief silence, still feeling uneasy, he pulled out a sword token and handed it to Xun Ziyou.
The moment Xun Ziyou saw it, his eyes widened in shock.
Elder Xun explained:
"This is the Void Sword Token. You know what to do—if things turn dire, or you face an enemy beyond your ability, activate the token."
"I'll destroy the formations at Demon-Taming Mountain, break through the void, descend by force—and reduce the Myriad Demons Valley to ashes with my power as a Void Refining cultivator."
Xun Ziyou's heart trembled. He now fully understood the Patriarch's resolve.
He immediately bowed deeply:
"I will follow your command to the letter!"
At the same time — Rear Cave Dwelling, Chongxu Sect
The chamber looked like a storm had ripped through it.
As if time and space itself had shattered—desks, screens, furnishings—all reduced to splinters.
The Chongxu Patriarch was furious.
"Go. Send people—even if you have to level Demon-Taming Mountain—bring Xiao'er back to me!"
With the sect's restructuring imminent, Linghu Xiao, a prodigy in sword cultivation, might very well determine whether Chongxu Sect would advance or fall behind in this turbulent time.
At such a critical moment—
This disciple was more important than most elders in the sect.
Absolutely nothing could be allowed to happen to him.
The severely injured Chongxu elder stood there, face full of guilt. He gritted his teeth and said:
"Patriarch… we cannot move too openly…"
The Chongxu Patriarch flared with rage, but seeing the elder so battered, his expression softened slightly.
They had tried—but had been caught in a scheme. It wasn't entirely his fault.
He calmed down a little.
The elder quickly explained:
"It was a group of demon cultivators that captured Xiao'er. We don't know what their goal is—if we make this public, things could spiral out of control."
"If they're cornered, they might even kill the hostages…"
The Patriarch frowned deeply. Suddenly, he asked:
"You mentioned… a disciple from the Great Void Sect got inside?"
"Yes," the elder replied with a cough, suppressing his injuries.
"That disciple is named Mo Hua. Somehow, he infiltrated the demon cultivators' base."
"He seems to know where Xiao'er was taken."
The Patriarch finally let out a breath:
"Mo Hua…"
He nodded slowly, then quickly ordered:
"Gather a few reliable people and head to the Great Void Sect. Coordinate with them—rescue the two of them. No—three?"
"Yes," the elder replied, "there's also one from the Tai'a Sect."
The Patriarch muttered darkly:
"Damned thing… all three sects represented. Not one missing…"
Then he added:
"Rescue all three of those kids. If the Great Void Sect has better intelligence, let them lead. You cooperate. Focus on saving them. No infighting."
The elder cupped his hands,
"Understood."
Just as he turned to leave, the Patriarch stopped him again.
Frowning, the old man added:
"Find people you absolutely trust."
The elder blinked, then nodded solemnly.
"One more thing…"
After some thought, the Patriarch's gaze turned cold. He, too, took out a treasured Sword Token and handed it over.
"Take this. If you're unsure what to do—use it."
The elder's entire body trembled. His expression was stunned.
Then it hit him—what the Patriarch had said about the Qiánxué Prefecture Sect Restructuring being a once-in-a-millennium upheaval wasn't an exaggeration.
And this child, Linghu Xiao… was far more important than he had realized.
He immediately responded:
"Yes."
But then hesitated,
"However… Demon-Taming Mountain is protected by an array. Any Void Refining descent would violate Qiánxué Prefecture's forbidden laws…"
The Patriarch cut him off with a sigh:
"We don't have the luxury to care about that anymore…"
The elder's heart tightened. He bowed deeply:
"I will make amends with merit—and bring Xiao'er back alive!"
...
Meanwhile,
Inside Demon-Taming Mountain.
Two Golden Core–level demon cultivators were hiding inside a cave.
One was burly and broad like a giant bear, his face full of brutish muscle.
The other was short and thin, with narrow eyebrows and a face like a venomous snake.
"Damn it, we messed up—bad luck!"
"We knew about that Chongxu Sect elder who uses sword qi, but where the hell did that other one come from? The one flying with sword intent all around him like he bathes in it?"
"What's his background?"
The bear-like demon cultivator frowned and said,
"From the looks of it, probably from the Great Void Sect…"
The snake-faced demon spat angrily:
"What the hell was a Great Void Sect elder doing out here in the middle of the night?! Out for a walk? Ruined everything!"
The bear-demon shook his head,
"Could've just been on night patrol in the mountains."
Snake-face hissed,
"If he hadn't interfered, and it was just us two against the Chongxu Sect elder in close combat—he'd be dead in these mountains already!"
Then he jumped in frustration and cursed:
"That idiot Third Brother! I told him so many times: just stall! But no—demon qi went to his brain, pig fat clouded his judgment—he had to test how sharp Chongxu Sect's sword qi was!"
"What happened? Got his arm sliced clean off with one stroke. And now we have to clean up the mess. Utter trash!"
"Where did that fool run off to?"
"No idea," the snake demon sneered. "Probably hiding somewhere in the inner mountain too."
Despite his fierce and violent appearance, the bear-demon was clearly the calmer of the two. After a moment's thought, he asked:
"Big Brother, we could've taken this slow, subtle, and clean. Why the rush?"
The snake-faced demon replied:
"You don't get it. These disciples—they're key."
"Mr. Tu ran the calculations. He said the risks are high, but now is the last possible moment to act."
"If we let it pass, there might never be another chance."
"So we made our move."
The bear-demon didn't get it,
"What difference does it make if we catch them later?"
The snake demon frowned and said,
"Mr. Tu mentioned karma entanglement and too many variables. He couldn't pin it down precisely. But whatever the case, we grab them now, while we can. It's better to hold the bargaining chips ourselves!"
The bear-demon slowly nodded, then frowned again:
"There won't be any problems inside the Myriad Demons Valley, right?"
The snake-faced demon paused, then gave a cold laugh:
"What could possibly go wrong in the Valley?"
"We elders are just overseeing from a distance."
"Inside, it's fully arrayed, with strict demonic discipline—it's a self-contained system."
"Its structure comes from Myriad Demons Mountain, one of the great demonic sects. Thousands of years of inherited knowledge. How could anything go wrong?"
"Whether we're there or not—it makes no difference."
"Besides, everything inside the valley is run by the 'Young Masters.' No need to worry."
The bear-demon nodded,
"True."
The snake-faced demon glanced around and said in a slick, conniving voice:
"Let's lie low here for a while. Once we find Third Brother, and the heat dies down, we'll return to the Valley together."
"Yes, Big Brother."
On the surface, things were calm at the Great Void Sect and Chongxu Sect… but beneath the surface, elders and inner disciples had quietly gathered.
They met up deep within Demon-Taming Mountain.
Led by Xun Ziyou, they moved stealthily through the woods until they reached the forest outside the Myriad Demons Valley.
There, they saw:
—A blood-red stream.
—Bones littered across the ground.
—And in the distance, a shadowy, eerie valley cloaked in darkness and secrets: the Myriad Demons Valley.
Everyone sucked in a cold breath.
"Such thick demon qi!"
"And it's inside Demon-Taming Mountain, of all places?!"
"In broad daylight, within the righteous Qiánxué Prefecture—this many demon scum hidden away? Unbelievable!"
Even the Chongxu Sect elder who had already been briefed looked stunned.
He had heard it described by Xun Ziyou… but now that he saw it with his own eyes, it was even more shocking than expected.
It was like—
—A pristine room, seemingly spotless, but when you lift the floorboards, you find cockroaches nesting everywhere…
Xun Ziyou glanced at the Chongxu elder and asked:
"Shangguan, how's your injury?"
This elder was named Shangguan Xuanjian, of the Shangguan family—though not closely tied to the current patriarch's main line.
Shangguan Xuanjian replied:
"The Patriarch gave me a healing pill. I feel much better—just need some rest. But let's not worry about that now… what's the plan?"
"We wait and act when the time is right," Xun Ziyou said.
Shangguan Xuanjian frowned,
"That young array master from your sect… he actually got inside?"
"Yes." Xun Ziyou nodded.
"You think he'll be okay?" Shangguan looked uneasy.
Xun Ziyou didn't have an answer.
Mo Hua was clever and talented, yes—but the Myriad Demons Valley was packed with demon cultivators. One slip, and he'd be eaten to the bone.
But right now, their best shot at success… was this kid.
"I tried messaging him," Xun said. "But the magnetic flow inside the valley is weak—he hasn't replied. Might take a while."
If they didn't hear back soon… they'd have no choice but to launch a direct assault.
Or worse—
Xun Ziyou quietly reached into his storage bag and touched the Void Sword Token, the item capable of summoning a Void Refining cultivator through shattered space.
His gaze turned cold as he looked toward the valley.
Inside the Myriad Demons Valley.
Mo Hua shook his Great Void Token in frustration.
"Why's the signal so bad in here?"
"Could there be some kind of geomagnetic interference?"
At the moment, he was lying flat on the ceiling of a stone chamber.
The room was tall—clearly a prison cell—and inside were Linghu Xiao and Little Wood.
Oh right… and Song Jian too.
Mo Hua didn't dare make a move just yet. He tried to contact Elder Xun with his sect token—but the geomagnetic flow was so weak that the message kept breaking up.
So he changed position. Adjusted the angle. Reoriented the token in every way possible.
After quite a bit of fumbling… the "signal" finally got a bit better.
(End of Chapter)