Chapter 768 – A Sudden Turn
At a prison within the Myriad Demon Valley—
A demon cultivator's corpse lay twisted on the ground, limbs contorted, eyes bulging, and blood pooling beneath him.
A few demon cultivators nearby stood with grim expressions, their tones laced with chill.
"Just two days… and this is already the fifth one."
"Damn it, we're haunted."
"Quit spouting crap! Haunted by what, ghosts?!"
"If not ghosts, then what? They go nuts out of nowhere, biting and tearing, then boom—body bursts apart and they're dead!"
One demon cultivator looked pale.
"I keep feeling like something filthy… something unclean has slipped into this prison…"
Another snorted coldly,
"Bunch of cowards! Scaring yourselves like that. We're demon cultivators—we walk the path of demonic power, not the righteous path. Danger's just part of the package."
"All these deaths were due to demonic energy going berserk. Either a cultivation mishap, or they ate too much demon meat and couldn't suppress their bloodlust. What's there to freak out about?"
"But five dead already…" someone argued. "Isn't that a bit much?"
"Also," another added, "the steward died too."
"That one got eaten by a demon beast."
"He was too bold—he even dared to steal a taste of Second Elder's Bear Palm Blood. Ended up getting unlucky. The black bear demon broke its chains and swallowed him whole. Otherwise…"
That demon paused, then said coldly:
"…he'd have taken a walk through the Demon Refining Diagram. Soul scattered, bones gone, nothing left."
The moment "Demon Refining Diagram" was mentioned, the others shuddered.
It was clearly something terrifying—just hearing the name was enough to spook them.
Mo Hua, who was secretly eavesdropping, wanted to hear more about this Demon Refining Diagram. But after that, none of them dared bring it up again.
The mood turned heavy.
After a pause, one demon muttered:
"Still, come to think of it… that Steward Bear had been managing the prison for nearly a hundred years. How'd he die that easily?"
"Even a master slips now and then," someone said. "In this world of cultivation, no one's safe. You never know when you'll run into something truly scary."
"One moment of carelessness… and your life's gone."
…
Low murmurs filled the air—until one of them asked:
"Now that Steward Bear's dead… what'll happen to the Myriad Demon Prison?"
"Is that your concern?" another demon snapped, snorting and pointing upward. "There are Elders above us. And even if they're not around—the Young Lord is still here…"
Young Lord?
Mo Hua froze.
Someone below asked,
"Young Lord… who is that?"
Mo Hua perked his ears, straining to listen.
But one demon immediately scowled, voice low and angry:
"You got a death wish? You dare ask about the Young Lord?!"
"I wasn't trying to pry," the other muttered, a bit defiant. "I've heard of the Young Lord, but I've never seen him. I don't even know if he's a person or a group…"
"Still asking? You really wanna die, huh?!"
"You think you're some noble brat with family backing, free to flap your mouth? Around here, saying the wrong thing gets you killed!"
"I—"
"Shut it!"
A particularly intimidating demon cultivator stepped forward, his presence overwhelming.
His gaze swept across the group like a predator eyeing prey as he issued a warning:
"Everything in the Myriad Demon Valley is under the Young Lord's control."
"Don't worry about whether the Young Lord is one person or many. Just remember this:
—If you see the Young Lord, bow your head.
—If the Young Lord gives an order, obey it.
—Even if the Young Lord tells you to die—you die."
The group fell solemn. Some were fearful, some expressionless, some clearly resentful.
But whatever they felt, they all buried it deep—none dared show even a sliver of disrespect toward this "Young Lord."
"Enough."
Seeing that no one dared speak further, the strongest among them gave a small nod and said coldly,
"Clean up the blood. Skin this corpse, dig out the heart—we'll use it to refine pills."
With that, the demons dispersed and got to work.
Mo Hua narrowed his eyes in deep thought.
So the Myriad Demon Valley has a "Young Lord," huh?
But is it a true Young Lord… or just a puppet prince?
His thoughts drifted—back to that luxurious flower boat on the Smoky River. Light music, soft dance, decadent pleasure. That figure, about the same age as him, appeared again in his mind.
Silhouetted behind the curtain—clad in fine clothes, half-beast, half-man. Wearing the elegant skin of a noble… but more like a demon than any beast.
Mo Hua frowned.
Seems like this Myriad Demon Valley is hiding quite a few secrets.
As for that Steward Bear…
He was already dead—thanks to Mo Hua. Devoured by the bear demon he was supposed to control. A forgettable death. Not even scraps left.
But still… he had been a Steward, and according to these demons, he'd managed this place for nearly a century.
Now that he was gone, surely someone higher up would notice.
"Will they send a new Steward?"
And should I make that new Steward… suddenly drop dead too?
If I keep knocking off the Stewards… maybe that "Young Lord" will finally show up…
"We'll see. Too soon to say."
Mo Hua checked the time, sent a coded Heavenly Stem-Earthly Branch message to Elder Xun, then turned to head toward the prison where Linghu Xiao and the others were held.
He had to bring them some food.
As for the Four Symbols Array Cores—over the past few days, he'd already used them to silently kill off five or six demon cultivators. He'd acquired Snake, Dog, and Bear sigils—quite the haul.
So he could afford to take it slow for now.
Assassination was an art of tension and release—strike hard, but not too frequently. Let them breathe just enough before choking them again.
Now that he had mastered the Four Symbols Array Core… it was like holding a Death Register in his hand.
Mo Hua stood taller—he didn't even need to sneak around anymore. He moved through the prison openly while remaining hidden, as if strolling through his own garden.
After all, with demons all around him…
Anyone who sees him—dies.
That's how Mo Hua made his way to the prison. Peeking inside, he saw the three—Xiao Mutou and the others—sitting listlessly like wooden dolls, faces pale.
Cultivators can go without food for a time without dying—but they still get hungry.
And their vitality would gradually weaken.
The demon jailers did offer them food. But Linghu Xiao's group didn't dare eat it.
Demon cultivators cultivated using demonic power, slowly becoming more and more like the very beasts they resembled.
The food they consumed—was not meant for human consumption.
Linghu Xiao and Ouyang Mu, remembering Mo Hua's warnings, refused to eat anything given by the demons.
Even Song Jian, proud as he was, understood the danger—so he endured the hunger.
The dog-headed jailer had left. The prison was quiet. No one was watching.
Mo Hua slowly revealed his form.
Seeing him, Ouyang Mu's eyes lit up with joy.
"Mo—!"
Then he remembered where they were and quickly lowered his voice.
"Mo Senior Brother!"
Mo Hua nodded. Then, from his storage ring, he pulled out some fruits, dried meat, and some Fasting Pills for hunger, and handed them to Ouyang Mu and Linghu Xiao.
"Eat something."
Ouyang Mu's face lit up.
"Thanks, Mo Senior Brother!"
Linghu Xiao also cupped his hands. His gaze was complex, and he muttered quietly:
"Thank you."
The hunger was torturous.
If it had dragged on much longer, they might've caved in.
And if they had eaten that unidentified demon food, their blood and vitality might've been corrupted.
Ouyang Mu and Linghu Xiao began eating gratefully.
On the side, Song Jian stared longingly.
Mo Hua sighed—and tossed him a bit of dried meat.
Song Jian took it silently and immediately devoured it. But he was too proud to say "thank you."
Still, in his heart, he erased a little more of Mo Hua's "great villain" reputation.
After Ouyang Mu filled his stomach a little, he looked curiously at Mo Hua:
"Mo Senior Brother, where have you been these past few days?"
Mo Hua found a spot to sit and replied,
"I went scouting the area, checking the situation."
"But the defenses here are too tight, and I still haven't figured out how to open the valley gate. I'm afraid it'll be hard to get you all out anytime soon…"
Ouyang Mu replied gratefully,
"You've worked hard, Mo Senior Brother."
Then he hesitated, looking both guilty and worried,
"There are too many demon cultivators in this valley, danger everywhere… Maybe you should find a way to escape on your own. Don't let us drag you down…"
Mo Hua waved it off,
"It's fine. Don't worry."
At least in the current state of the Myriad Demon Prison, if he didn't go looking for demons to kill, he was already doing them a favor.
Seeing Mo Hua's calm and composed demeanor, so at ease in this den of beasts, Ouyang Mu inexplicably felt reassured, and didn't insist further.
Mo Hua thought for a moment, then said:
"You don't need to worry about me. Instead, worry about yourselves…"
His brows furrowed.
"These demon cultivators went to great lengths to capture you and bring you here. They're definitely up to something. Who knows what kind of tricks they'll try next. Stay alert."
He himself was hidden, with freedom to act.
But the three—Linghu Xiao and the others—were exposed and clearly the targets of some scheme. Their days ahead wouldn't be easy.
Linghu Xiao and Ouyang Mu both nodded gravely.
Even Song Jian, munching on dried meat nearby, turned slightly pale.
Mo Hua gave a few more warnings, then stood.
"I'm off. I'll come visit when I can."
"Take care, Mo Senior Brother," Ouyang Mu said.
Linghu Xiao also added,
"Take care."
Mo Hua gave them a nod—then, right before their eyes, vanished without a trace.
Linghu Xiao and Ouyang Mu exchanged glances, their hearts filled with awe.
Such incredible stealth techniques…
Even Song Jian, who already knew of Mo Hua's abilities, felt a chill in his bones seeing it firsthand.
"Not even a trace… He comes and goes like a ghost. How the hell am I ever going to take revenge on him? When will I ever repay that 'sword debt'?"
Song Jian sighed, helpless and bitter.
Leaving the prison, Mo Hua sent a message to Elder Xun:
"I've checked in on Linghu Xiao and Ouyang Mu. All safe for now."
"I'm doing great too!"
(He even added a smiley face.)
With that done, Mo Hua went back to work.
The business of killing demon cultivators, stealing demon sigils, and analyzing the Four Symbols Demon Array Core… could wait a bit.
In the meantime, he continued repairing the Primordial Magnetic Spirit-Viewing Array in the Myriad Demon Valley, trying to expand his "surveillance" coverage even further.
That way, no matter what happened—nothing in the valley could escape his notice.
If something unusual occurred, he could act swiftly.
Even his demon-hunting and Four Symbols analysis would become much more efficient.
As Mo Hua thought about this—he suddenly froze.
The Four Symbols Array…
Why is it called the Four Symbols Array?
The Five Elements Array got its name from the Five Elements.
The Eight Trigrams Array was based on the principles of the Bagua.
But the Four Symbols?
Logically, shouldn't it be called the Ten Thousand Beasts Array, or the Myriad Demon Array?
Why "Four Symbols"?
At the root of it—what exactly were these Four Symbols?
Could it be referring to the Four Divine Beasts?
The legendary Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise…
If that were the case, then a true Four Symbols Array—one that carried divine beast sigils and channeled the power of divine beasts—how terrifying would that be?
Mo Hua's expression turned dazed for a moment, filled with yearning.
Outside the Myriad Demon Valley.
Elder Xun Ziyou looked at the smiley face in Mo Hua's message and felt a little bitter.
He wasn't sure whether this child was truly skilled and daring, or just young and fearless.
Xun Ziyou shook his head and showed the message to the nearby Great Void Elder, Shangguan Xuanjian, who was still wearing a worried frown.
"Relax. That kid Xiao is still safe—for now."
Shangguan Xuanjian finally let out a breath—but only halfway.
He gave a wry smile,
"My life's practically hanging by a thread here. I can't return to the sect and report until Xiao gets out. If he…"
He trailed off, not daring to say it aloud, fearing it would jinx it. He only added bitterly,
"I'd have no face left to see the Patriarch."
Xun Ziyou sighed,
"Same here…"
Shangguan Xuanjian shook his head.
"You're still better off than me."
Then he asked in puzzlement,
"By the way, where exactly did your Great Void Sect pick up that kid?"
Able to conceal himself, track others, master formations—and in this deadly demon valley, not only could he survive, but he could even gather intelligence.
Was that really something a mere disciple could do?
How on earth did the Great Void Sect get such a gem?
Xun Ziyou silently thought:
We didn't "find" him. He was recommended into the sect by the wife of your own Shangguan Clan's Patriarch…
But he didn't say it out loud.
Instead, he simply said:
"The kid's got no real special talents. Just a little quick-witted… and lucky. Nothing extraordinary."
Shangguan Xuanjian rolled his eyes and stopped talking to him.
Then he asked again,
"Let's not talk about the Song family disciple—but isn't there also a disciple from the Ouyang Clan of the Tai'e Sect who got captured? Has Tai'e shown any reaction?"
Xun Ziyou frowned.
Ouyang Mu might not be talented, but he was still a direct descendant of the Ouyang Clan.
He'd been missing for days—and yet the Ouyang Clan hadn't raised an alarm?
Or maybe… things in Tai'e Sect were murkier than they appeared?
The two elders exchanged looks, both falling silent.
Xun Ziyou's gaze turned cold, and he said slowly:
"Let's wait and see how the Myriad Demon Valley situation plays out. I'm curious to see—after such a colossal mess—how certain people plan to clean it up…"
...
Deep within the Myriad Demon Valley...
Inside a lavishly decorated, blood-hued cavern.
Jingui, dressed in a gray robe like a demon cultivator, bowed low with cupped hands before a burly black-robed cultivator sitting atop a tiger-skin throne.
"Senior Brother…"
The black-robed cultivator's gaze turned cold.
"In this valley, call me Leader, not Senior Brother."
"Yes, Leader…"
Jingui quickly corrected himself and bowed again.
The black-robed leader gave a faint nod.
"Speak."
Jingui kept his head down and reported,
"One of the wardens in the Myriad Demon Prison died. Supposedly, he stole some demon blood and ended up getting eaten by the beast."
"Cultivated all those years only to die like a dog. Useless trash!" the leader cursed, then added coldly,
"One warden dead? Replace him. This is the Myriad Demon Valley—we have no shortage of demon cultivators."
"Understood," Jingui replied humbly.
The black-robed leader looked at him.
"Did you deliver the fingers?"
Jingui nodded.
"Ouyang Mu's severed finger has been delivered to Tai'e Sect—into the hands of his brother, Ouyang Feng."
"As for the Song family, Song Jian's parents also received their son's severed finger."
"Only the Chongxu Sect…"
Jingui hesitated.
"That Linghu Xiao is quite isolated in the clan. He doesn't have any close elders. I don't know who to send his finger to."
The black-robed leader responded,
"Forget the Chongxu Sect for now. Linghu Xiao is… different. His public identity must be kept intact, at least kept 'clean.'"
"That boy has a natural sword heart and a brilliant sword talent. The Young Master thinks very highly of him. In the future, the Chongxu Sect might even be handed over to him…"
"Yes."
Jingui bowed again—but a flicker of jealousy passed through his eyes.
This was the difference.
Those with talent were always favored. They didn't have to lift a finger to receive special treatment.
Even when cultivating into monsters, they were treated with respect.
Meanwhile, he toiled tirelessly, flattered endlessly—and still got treated like a dog, ordered around on a whim.
Still, he dared not show even a hint of that bitterness.
Enter the valley, then board the ship.
Getting into the valley was just the first step.
Now that he had entered the Myriad Demon Valley, his fate was sealed—there was no going back. If he wanted to climb up, he'd just have to grit his teeth and keep pushing forward.
"One more thing…"
Jingui hesitated, then added cautiously.
"Speak," said the leader, his face still cold.
Jingui furrowed his brow slowly.
"Lately, there've been multiple incidents in the Myriad Demon Prison where demon cultivators have suddenly lost control…"
"Perfectly fine one moment, then suddenly go mad for no reason. Completely lose their minds."
"I don't know if it's because the warden died and there's no longer any control… or if there's some other reason."
His tone was grave.
"Demon cultivators going berserk?" The black-robed leader frowned, his expression gradually darkening.
"What are you trying to say?"
Jingui's eyes glinted subtly.
"I'm wondering… could there be a traitor inside the valley?"
"Or… someone may have infiltrated and done something to sabotage us…"
The leader's expression changed sharply. His eyes turned vicious—blade-sharp and deadly.
The air itself grew heavier with pressure.
Jingui bowed his head in silence, not daring to breathe too loudly.
After a while, the leader slowly shook his head.
"This Myriad Demon Valley was modeled after the great demonic fortress of the Demon Sect—Mount Myriad Demons."
"These uncontrollable demon cultivators are restrained using a top-secret Four Symbols Formation of the Great Wilderness, designed by Mister Tu himself."
"The valley gate is sealed with an ancient divine formation long since lost to the world."
"Within the valley are numerous protective demonic measures."
"It's impossible for a traitor to exist. And no one could sneak in undetected, let alone tamper with things to cause cultivators to go berserk."
Jingui still felt uneasy.
"But…"
"No but," the leader cut him off coldly.
He sneered and took a deep breath.
"You're not a formation master. You don't understand what the Four Symbols Formation or the Divine Formation truly means."
"If you did, you wouldn't raise such amateur concerns."
Jingui quickly bowed again, smiling obsequiously,
"Yes, Leader. I'm ignorant in the ways of formations. I'm not even worthy of polishing your boots."
But his flattery was too crude—it didn't win the leader's favor.
The black-robed leader frowned, lost in thought.
Seeing this, Jingui bowed and prepared to take his leave. But just before he could exit—
"Jingui."
The leader called out to him.
"You'll be taking over as warden of the Myriad Demon Prison."
Jingui froze in shock. A cold sweat broke out instantly.
"Leader, I…"
But the leader's gaze was indifferent.
"Your insights may be limited, but your concerns were valid. The Young Master is currently in the valley, so we must not allow a single mistake that might leave a bad impression."
"Since the previous warden is dead, you'll take over. This is a sign of trust."
"If you perform well, I'll report it to the Young Master and recommend you for commendation."
Jingui wanted to decline, but the leader's expression had shifted from cold to merciless.
A chill swept through his heart.
There was no room left to refuse.
He could only grit his teeth and answer:
"Yes!"
The leader nodded slightly, then added:
"You'll also be in charge of those three brats. No matter what means you use, get them to 'submit' as soon as possible. Make them join us…"
A slight smile curled across his lips—revealing bloody gums.
"...and start eating human flesh."
(End of Chapter)