Chapter 848: Dragon Blood
Inside the Dragon King Temple, Mo Hua led the way at the front.
But the atmosphere among the group was rather strange.
Gu Changhuai and Magistrate Xia walked one on either side of him, staying half a step behind—not only protecting Mo Hua, but also keeping a close eye on Magistrate Xiao.
Magistrate Xiao still wore his trademark fake smile, but now that the dagger had been drawn from the map, that smile was nothing but skin-deep.
The others' attitudes toward him were also… complicated.
Water Yama was clearly one of his people. The two definitely had some connections—both overt and covert.
Back on the island during the raid against the water bandits, it had been Magistrate Xiao who helped Water Yama escape from Gu Changhuai and Magistrate Xia's grasp.
So naturally, Water Yama followed his every word.
And yet… he also seemed to harbor some fear—something subtle, but unmistakable.
That kind of unease was rare for someone like Water Yama, a man who killed without blinking.
Xie Liu also seemed vaguely aware of Magistrate Xiao's true identity.
Among the Golden Core cultivators in the temple, Xie Liu had the lowest status and weakest cultivation, so he had no say in matters—he could only tag along behind what might barely be called his "ally," Magistrate Xiao.
The strangest of them all was Xiao Tianquan.
Both he and Magistrate Xiao were cultivators from the Xiao family—they should've stood united.
But ever since Magistrate Xiao turned traitor, Xiao Tianquan hadn't said a word. In fact, he was deliberately keeping his distance, now standing beside Magistrate Xia instead.
"Looks like things in the Xiao family aren't so simple either…"
Mo Hua thought silently.
As for Ouyang Feng and Hua Qianqian—they were still technically "hostages."
Outwardly, Magistrate Xiao no longer made things difficult for them.
But Mo Hua knew full well: if anything went sideways, Brother Feng and Sister Qianqian would once again be used as bargaining chips.
For now, there was little he could do—he could only adapt as the situation changed.
Mo Hua's gaze flickered slightly.
And so the hunt continued. The group cautiously moved through the halls of the Dragon King Temple, eyes sharp and minds tense.
Mo Hua led the way, tracking the trail left by that bloody monster. Occasionally, he'd ask Water Yama about the temple's layout to determine their route.
Of everyone here, only Mo Hua was a demon hunter.
Dao Court Magistrates could track down fugitives—but they hunted people.
Criminal cultivators like Water Yama were familiar with being hunted—but that was a different kind of experience.
Only Mo Hua, raised as a demon hunter, was truly versed in the behavior and patterns of beasts and monsters.
This creature might not technically be a beast—but the principles were similar.
Mo Hua looked up at the rafters, spreading his divine sense and following faint traces and clues to pursue the monster's path.
But the temple was vast, with towering halls and countless chambers. The surrounding aura was oppressive and filled with bloody mist. Before long, the monster's trail vanished entirely.
Mo Hua could only speculate, deducing bit by bit…
Then suddenly—his expression shifted, and he stopped walking.
The others followed suit and halted.
Gu Changhuai asked, "What is it?"
Mo Hua replied, "Something's here…"
He thought for a moment, then lightly flipped himself onto the rafters with nimble ease.
The beams were made of massive timbers, unusually wide. Near the wall, there was a mess—something had dug out a large hole.
Though the hole was wide, it was shallow—you could see the bottom at a glance.
Something had clearly used this as a temporary nest.
Mo Hua guessed—it was probably the monster's hideout.
He walked closer and suddenly noticed a trace of blood inside the nest.
It was a faint bluish-green color, and its scent was incredibly subtle. It didn't carry the foul odor of human or beast blood. In fact… there was a faint, pleasant fragrance.
Fragrance?
Mo Hua frowned.
He stared for a moment… then couldn't help himself—he reached out, dabbed a bit with his finger, and touched it to his tongue.
In that instant, he heard a dragon's roar echo in his ears.
Mo Hua's pupils trembled.
"A dragon…"
He had never seen a real dragon—nor heard one.
But in this moment, he was utterly certain: that resonant, soul-shaking, metallic cry just now had been the roar of a dragon.
Dragon blood?
Mo Hua was stunned. He smacked his lips instinctively.
Unfortunately, he couldn't taste much.
The blood was already too faint, and the trace left behind had nearly dried up. What little essence remained only gave him a tiny taste—not even enough to register a flavor.
Mo Hua looked regretful—but his heart suddenly skipped a beat.
"The Dragon King Temple… Could that monster actually be related to 'dragons'?"
The scales on its body—could they be dragon scales?
That would explain why sword and spell couldn't harm it—why it was harder than any gold or steel he'd ever seen.
And the blood flowing in its veins… could that really be dragon blood?
"No… that's not right."
Mo Hua shook his head.
Dragons were divine beasts. They wouldn't look so monstrous or bloodthirsty.
And although that creature was strong, it was still a far cry from the mythical might of a true dragon.
Besides, it had eaten people, and drunk human blood—its essence had definitely been contaminated. That meant the blood in its body couldn't be true dragon blood.
"More likely, dragon blood was just the catalyst."
"That monster ate dragon blood, refined it within its body—and that's how it grew those scales, that immense blood energy, and that powerful physique…"
Mo Hua nodded slightly. That seemed plausible. And as he thought about it, a light sparked in his eyes.
Clearly, this creature harbored even more secrets than he'd imagined.
No matter what—it had to be caught and studied.
Of course, he knew full well—he couldn't capture it alone.
Luckily, he now had a whole group of… well, let's call them "muscle."
Mo Hua jumped down from the rafters.
Magistrate Xiao gave him a false smile and said:
"What did Young Master see up there to keep you so captivated?"
Since he was locked in a standoff with Gu Changhuai and the others, he hadn't dared to climb up himself.
Mo Hua replied:
"There's a nest. The monster used it as a den. It probably isn't far—we should keep searching."
He didn't mention the dragon blood.
Magistrate Xiao couldn't possibly guess, and just nodded.
"Very well."
Mo Hua continued to lead.
They circled around the area. Mo Hua found more signs of the creature's movements—but not a single glimpse of the monster itself.
Just as he was frowning in thought, he suddenly felt his chest tremble—like something was stirring inside him.
"Dragon blood…"
The drop he'd tasted earlier… was now taking effect.
Mo Hua felt the blood in his body start to flow faster.
Another dragon roar echoed in his ears. His heartbeat quickened, his meridians throbbed with pain, and his limbs began to tingle—as if the dragon blood within him was awakening, trying to devour his own bloodline.
Even though it was just a trace.
Even if it wasn't pure dragon blood.
With his frail body, he couldn't withstand it at all.
His physique was too weak, his bloodline too thin—this sliver of "dragon" power was far beyond what his body could bear.
"Crap… I really shouldn't go around licking things…"
Mo Hua was filled with regret.
Fortunately, dragon blood wasn't something he could just eat whenever he wanted.
He had only licked the tiniest trace—barely even a blood speck—so the disruption in his bloodline only lasted a moment before gradually settling down.
Cold sweat poured from Mo Hua's forehead as he let out a long sigh of relief.
Magistrate Xia, seeing this, looked concerned. She reached out with a fair hand and gently wiped his forehead, frowning.
"Mo Hua? What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Mo Hua sighed. "Ate something bad."
Magistrate Xia looked confused—how could he have eaten something bad at a time like this?
"Sister Xia, I'm fine now. Let's keep searching for the monster. That's more important…"
Mo Hua quickly changed the subject.
Seeing that he was alright, Magistrate Xia didn't press further. She just nodded and asked:
"That monster seems to have vanished. How do we find it now?"
Mo Hua also frowned. He released his divine sense again and scanned the surroundings—but still found nothing.
That monster seemed to have completely disappeared.
Suddenly, his heart gave another jolt.
Mo Hua flinched.
Still not done?!
But upon focusing his senses, he realized—it wasn't his heart that was beating.
It was… someone else's.
The monster's heart?
Mo Hua closed his eyes, holding his breath to concentrate. A moment later, his eyes opened in realization.
No—it wasn't a heartbeat.
It was a spiritual resonance between souls.
Mo Hua's brow furrowed slightly.
That tiny trace of dragon blood he'd ingested…
It seemed to contain the spiritual imprint of an ancient divine beast.
And through that sliver of dragon blood, Mo Hua had somehow formed a subtle connection with the spirit of that ancient creature.
He could now sense the flow of other dragon blood within the Dragon King Temple.
In other words—he could sense the monster's location.
Mo Hua was stunned.
"There's a divine soul hidden within dragon blood?"
Why?
Could it be that divine beasts like dragons were called such because their souls could merge perfectly with their flesh and blood?
Mo Hua was shaken. But now wasn't the time to ponder too deeply. He turned to the others and said:
"I know where the monster is. Follow me."
With that, Mo Hua strode confidently toward the corridor on the right.
Everyone looked at each other, confused as to how he knew.
But Gu Changhuai and Magistrate Xia had always trusted him and followed without hesitation.
Water Yama also had no doubts—he already knew Mo Hua was unusually skilled, full of bizarre and unexpected tricks.
Xie Liu, wanting the Water Prison Lockbox, had no choice but to follow closely.
Xiao Tianquan hesitated for a moment… but joined in with the group.
Only Magistrate Xiao stood behind, quietly watching Mo Hua's back. His gaze grew more and more puzzled—this little noble was getting harder and harder to read.
After a long pause, a flicker of red light passed through his eyes, and he too silently followed.
The group followed Mo Hua until they arrived at a small plaza.
Before them was a field of corpses.
On the stone-paved ground, blood splashed like ink, wild and chaotic like mad calligraphy.
Among the dead were both Dao Court magistrates and rogue cultivators. With one glance, the seasoned group could tell—
There had been a massacre.
A sudden, overwhelming slaughter.
Not long ago, the temple's defenders had likely gathered here for unknown reasons—only to be annihilated in an instant.
Whoever did it hadn't used spells or artifacts. They'd relied purely on overwhelming physical strength.
Most likely… the monster.
Mo Hua scanned the area with his soul sense, then pointed at a plaque hanging high above a distant hall.
"It's there."
It was a massive signboard—broad and thick, painted deep blue with golden calligraphy. On it were three bold characters:
"Yasha Hall."
Everyone looked in the direction Mo Hua pointed and frowned.
Water Yama asked,
"Where's the monster? I don't see anything."
"Just a feeling… it's in that direction."
Mo Hua's voice was calm but resolute.
"It's probably hiding behind the signboard over the Yasha Hall—might've dug a tunnel behind it."
Magistrate Xiao drew his sword, intending to strike and test it—but Mo Hua stopped him.
"Don't attack blindly. You'll alert it."
Magistrate Xiao looked at him, then slowly sheathed his sword.
"Then what does Young Master propose?"
Mo Hua appeared full of confidence.
"Leave it to me. Not to brag, but my family has been hunting monsters for generations. Everything I know, I inherited from my ancestors…"
Magistrate Xiao gave him a strange look.
This little noble—whatever kind of legacy he'd received growing up—it sure was a mixed bag of bizarre and unpredictable skills.
"Very well. I'll leave it to you." said Magistrate Xiao.
Mo Hua nodded and declared:
"Know your enemy and know yourself, and you'll never lose a hundred battles. When hunting monsters, you must always prepare thoroughly before making a move."
"Otherwise, even a small mistake can be fatal."
"From what we know so far, this monster is soaked in blood essence. Its—fish—scales are incredibly tough. Its physical body is freakishly strong. Its claws are tainted with toxic, bloody filth."
"It may be rank two, but ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators don't stand a chance."
"Especially its scales—they're immune to blades, fire, and spells. Whether spiritual tools, brute force, or techniques—none of it works."
Magistrate Xiao frowned slightly.
"Even peak Foundation Establishment cultivators working together couldn't break through?"
Mo Hua pointed at Xie Liu.
"Ask him."
Xie Liu didn't want to admit it, but he had to speak the truth.
"I struck it dozens of times with the Yin Water Sword Qi… it didn't even scratch a scale."
The moment he said this, the group understood.
Xie Liu was a Golden Core cultivator—he had suppressed his strength to Foundation Establishment peak, and even then dozens of strikes couldn't dent the scales. The rest of them wouldn't fare any better.
"So," Mo Hua said, "A direct confrontation won't work. We probably can't capture it—much less kill it."
"But it seems to have a weakness…"
"A weakness?"
Xie Liu frowned.
He'd fought that monster for dozens of rounds and hadn't seen the slightest vulnerability.
Mo Hua nodded.
"Its weakness is the blood Qi surrounding its body."
"Everything in the world operates by a set of principles."
"Formations need a core to channel energy. A cultivator's movement depends on the heart for blood and the spiritual sea for Qi. Even demon beasts require their demon cores to provide power…"
"This monster is no different. It relies on that filthy, unknown blood Qi to move, feed, and hunt."
"Once its blood Qi is drained, it'll lose all support and be helpless."
"So, the key to hunting this monster is twofold: first, trap it; second, wear it down."
"With this many Golden Cores here, we can handle the attrition. The real issue is how to trap it."
Mo Hua looked around at the group.
"Any of you have spirit tools or formations for restraining an enemy? Take them out now and set them up in advance."
Everyone hesitated slightly.
Water Yama frowned.
"You little brat, don't you know how to lay formations yourself?"
Mo Hua sighed, exasperated.
"I'm only mid-stage Foundation Establishment. My divine sense is limited. The formations I set up aren't high-grade enough to restrain a peak rank-two monster."
"Besides, I've used up most of my formations along the way."
Gu Changhuai looked at Mo Hua with a complicated expression but said nothing.
Magistrate Xia, while aware of Mo Hua's formidable array skills, didn't know exactly how deep they went—so she didn't question it either.
The others found his explanation reasonable.
Mo Hua continued:
"Time is tight—we need to work together. If you're holding back your trump cards now and we all get trapped in this temple, you'll regret it when it's too late."
After a moment of silence, Gu Changhuai was the first to step up. He produced a set of chains and two array discs.
"These chains are standard traps from the Dao Court, meant for ambushes. The arrays are from my Gu family—usually I don't get to use them."
Then Magistrate Xia took out a woven net.
"This is the Xia clan's Earthsnare Net. It's rank two—it can bind an enemy for a short while."
"I rarely bring arrays since they're cumbersome to deploy…"
With their lead, the rest followed suit—each taking out something:
Magistrate Xiao, Xie Liu, Water Yama, even Xiao Tianquan.
Still, Mo Hua wasn't satisfied. He began subtly scanning the group, watching for anyone trying to withhold a spirit tool or array disc, locking onto them with a sharp gaze that screamed:
"Hand it over or I'll stare holes through you."
"That's all we've got…"
"Still not enough."
"All these spirit tools and arrays should be more than sufficient."
Mo Hua shook his head.
"That monster's fast and cunning. Trapping it won't be easy—we have to be fully prepared. If it escapes and hides deep within the Dragon King Temple, we may never find it again."
"…Fine."
And so, Mo Hua successfully "sheared the sheep," collecting almost every enemy-binding tool and formation from the group.
Only then did he feel at ease.
After surveying the terrain, he began "directing" everyone to set up formations, take positions, and ready their restraint tools—the hunt was on.
Magistrate Xiao was the first to strike. With a sword slash, he sent a blade of light at the plaque over the Yasha Hall.
No one knew what material that plaque was made from—it seemed like solid metal, and though it didn't break under the blow, the force of the strike knocked it loose from the eaves. It crashed down, revealing a dark, blood-reeking hole behind it.
"As expected…"
Magistrate Xiao's pupils shrank.
From within the hole came a sound—slowly stepping out was a monster, gnawing on a mangled limb, clearly enjoying its meal.
But having its feast interrupted, the beast flew into a rage. Its blood-red eyes flared as it let out a shrieking howl.
The sound was strange—like a river-dwelling Yaksha that eats men, or perhaps a powerful alien beast.
But to Mo Hua's ears, now attuned, it was clear:
That cry… was like a dragon's roar.
His eyes flickered sharply.
Now that the monster had revealed itself, the group didn't hesitate—battle began immediately.
A full-scale fight erupted.
Gu Changhuai summoned blades of green wind.
Magistrate Xia conjured icy sword Qi.
The "Smiling Tiger" and Xie Liu both wielded their Yin Water Swords.
Water Yama cracked his Water Punishment Whip, and Xiao Tianquan used the Xiao clan's signature sword technique.
Ou Yangfeng was injured. Hua Qianqian was poisoned. Neither could fight.
Mo Hua, the youngest and lowest in cultivation, wisely didn't join the fray. He found a clean, blood-free step nearby, sat down…
…and watched the show.
None of the cultivators present were "rookies." All had ample experience in life-and-death combat.
Not to mention—four Golden Cores were working together.
Mo Hua had no concerns.
Everything was going exactly according to plan.
(End of this Chapter)