Chapter 1153: Bloody Battle
Yang Jiyong was horrified when he heard this. He immediately grabbed Mo Hua's arm, his voice trembling as he said:
"Words like that... must not be spoken carelessly."
If the Great Wilderness Sect had truly rebelled, that was one thing.
But if they hadn't, then Mo Hua's words—if they were to spread—would be considered slander against a sect directly under the Dao Court's authority, shaking military morale. That was a grave offense.
Moreover, how could the Great Wilderness Sect possibly dare to rebel?
The Dao Court's power was simply too vast. The Great Wilderness Sect rebelling was no different than seeking death.
Mo Hua shook his head. "I'm not too sure about the details, but the Great Wilderness Sect has likely rebelled—and very likely, they'll launch a mutiny tonight…"
Otherwise, there wouldn't be a death omen forming between Yang Jiyong's brows.
Yang Jiyong furrowed his brow and gave Mo Hua a deep look.
In his impression, Mo Hua never lied. But to truly believe this? That was difficult.
Out of nowhere, claiming the Great Wilderness Sect was going to mutiny.
And coincidentally—tonight?
Yet Mo Hua's expression was grave beyond doubt.
With time running short, Yang Jiyong couldn't make the call himself. "Come with me," he said, "Let's speak with my elder brother."
This matter was beyond his authority.
Mo Hua nodded.
Yang Jiyong brought Mo Hua straight to Yang Jishan's command tent.
Yang Jishan was handling military affairs. When he heard what Yang Jiyong had to say, shock and fear both flashed across his face. He looked at Mo Hua in disbelief:
"Is this true?"
Mo Hua nodded. "It's highly likely."
Yang Jishan frowned. "How do you… know this?"
"I…" Mo Hua hesitated briefly, then decided it was best to reveal a little of his secret. "I've studied some… Heavenly Secret Causality Arts."
"Heavenly Secret Causality?"
Yang Jishan's expression shifted, and Yang Jiyong's face showed outright astonishment.
Heavenly Secret and Causality—these mysterious, nearly extinct arts weren't something ordinary cultivators could even come into contact with, let alone learn.
Even within the Yang family, those among the higher-ups who understood causality were extremely rare.
And all of them were centuries old, having experienced countless tribulations and cultivation insights, before they could even grasp fragments of Heaven's Secrets and understand a sliver of causality.
Yet here was a young man in his twenties—what experiences could he possibly have? Where could he have possibly learned it?
Yang Jiyong looked completely bewildered.
Yang Jishan also found it hard to believe.
Mo Hua simply said, "I really can do it."
Yang Jishan pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "Even if you truly understand causality, the thing is…"
He paused slightly, then decided to speak frankly: "In truth, most cultivators don't know this—but before every major military campaign, the Dao Court always has experts divine the Heavenly Secrets in advance. Even now, among the upper ranks following this campaign…"
"There are Nascent Soul strategists who also comprehend causality."
After speaking, Yang Jishan looked meaningfully at Mo Hua.
The implication was clear: You're not the only one who understands causality. Even the top brass of the Dao Army have Nascent Soul realm strategists who do too.
If there really were a mutiny, why hadn't they predicted it?
But somehow you, a mere Foundation Establishment junior, did?
Mo Hua was stunned.
This... he hadn't expected.
As expected, the cultivation world was vast and full of talented individuals. Many profound arts weren't his alone to wield.
But the problem was—he had truly divined a deadly omen.
So why… why hadn't the Nascent Soul strategists reacted at all?
Had he miscalculated?
Mo Hua glanced at Yang Jishan—and then noticed that his brow also faintly darkened. That too was a sign of imminent death.
However, as a Golden Core commander, Yang Jishan's cultivation was higher. His survival chances were better, so the omen was more subtle than Yang Jiyong's.
Even so, the shadow of death between his brows was gradually deepening with time.
There could be no mistake!
Mo Hua's heart froze. His gaze turned exceedingly solemn as he said to Yang Jishan:
"I don't know the broader military movements. But Commander Yang—you and your brother, both face mortal danger. You must, must, find a way to save yourselves!"
When death comes knocking, it cannot be avoided.
And if you don't act to save yourself now—then it truly becomes hopeless.
Mo Hua was genuinely afraid that Yang Jishan and Yang Jiyong would follow the same tragic path as Elder Ji and Steward Wang from Xiaoyi City—dying in the chaos of rebellion.
Yang Jishan's brows furrowed deeply.
He could tell that Mo Hua genuinely cared about their lives, and he spoke with sincere earnestness—no hint of deceit.
But this matter…
Yang Jishan looked at Mo Hua—and suddenly, a shock coursed through him.
He realized that when Mo Hua spoke seriously, his entire presence transformed.
Previously, Mo Hua was a cheerful and approachable youth, with clear eyes and a friendly manner.
But now, under the darkness of night, as he uttered Heaven's Secrets, he exuded a profound and weighty aura. His eyes reflected an unfathomable depth—within them, one could see the ebb and flow of karma.
Yang Jishan's heart trembled.
That aura… he had only seen it in top family strategists who orchestrated the fate of entire clans.
Just who… is this young man?
His thoughts drifted back to Nanyue City, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't recall anything.
It was like the memories were cloaked in fog—completely inaccessible, not a single clue.
At that moment, the night winds of Fengbo Ridge howled.
A frigid wind pierced the tent, making the lamps flicker violently.
The crimson light cast across Mo Hua's face made him look as though bathed in flowing blood.
Outside the tent, the jagged ridges of Fengbo Ridge loomed like walking corpses and ghosts.
This eerie scene sent a shudder through Yang Jishan.
And in that instant, the fog of Heaven's Secrets lifted ever so slightly.
Suddenly, an image surfaced in his mind:
The sky covered in blood, hills and mountains filled with zombies—like a hellscape of undead fiends, their roars shaking the heavens.
And amid that sea of corpses stood a king—immense and terrifying, radiating tyrannical brutality.
But this undead king… was kneeling.
And kneeling before a youth who looked no older than his teens.
At the same time, the entire mountain of corpses knelt as well.
The Corpse King knelt, the Iron Corpses submitted, the dead bowed in worship.
That young cultivator before whom the Corpse King knelt had fine, painting-like features, yet carried a deeply awe-inspiring majesty.
It was none other than the boy before him—
Mo Hua.
It struck his mind like a bolt of lightning on a clear day.
Yang Jishan suddenly remembered everything—who Mo Hua truly was.
He was the mysterious youth who quelled the undead plague of Nanyue City and made the Corpse King kneel during the moment of crisis, commanding ten thousand corpses into submission.
A storm surged in Yang Jishan's heart. His entire body trembled uncontrollably.
How could he… have forgotten something so critical?
But a few moments later, his battle-hardened instincts kicked in—and even amidst the emotional storm, he calmed himself.
This was not the time to dwell on the past.
If Mo Hua really was that strange youth who suppressed the Corpse King back then—then everything he just said must be true.
Whether or not the Great Wilderness Sect truly planned to mutiny… at the very least, he had to be fully prepared.
Yang Jishan's expression turned serious. He looked to Yang Jiyong and said:
"Pass down the order—have every soldier in the camp put on their armor, activate the arrays, and enter full alert. Prepare for enemy assault…"
Then, with a heavy face, he added:
"I'll… head to the central camp and seek the Grand Commander's instructions."
After all, he was just a third-grade Golden Core commander. He could only direct his own camp.
As for the overall situation of the Dao Army—he had no authority to decide that.
Even if the Great Wilderness Sect had truly rebelled, he had to report up the chain, and it would be the Nascent Soul commanders who would convene, discuss, and issue commands.
"Yes, sir!"
Yang Jiyong responded in a low voice, immediately relaying Yang Jishan's orders.
The Yang family cultivators in the military camp had barely rested when they heard the command. One by one, they began donning armor and gripping their weapons, entering a state of full alert.
After making a round to confirm the camp's defenses were secure, Yang Jishan prepared to head for the main command tent.
But just as he was about to depart, Mo Hua suddenly grabbed his arm.
Yang Jishan paused and turned to look at Mo Hua.
Mo Hua's expression was grim as he shook his head.
Sensing something, Yang Jishan released his divine sense—and only then did he discover that amid the howling wind and the dark night over Fengbo Ridge, countless figures were lurking. They crept across the ground like ghosts or ghouls, inching ever closer to the camp.
Their direction of approach was exactly from the area where the Great Wilderness Sect was stationed.
And their timing… was too precise. Clearly, they had an intimate understanding of the Dao Army's movements.
Even their armor seemed inscribed with concealment arrays.
If Mo Hua hadn't warned them in advance, it would've been impossible to guard against this.
Yang Jishan glanced at Mo Hua, astonished not only that his warning had proven true—but that this Foundation Establishment cultivator had a divine sense sharper than his own Golden Core awareness, detecting the enemy several breaths before him.
Yang Jishan gave a subtle wave.
Yang Jiyong immediately understood and turned to issue the order, "Proceed as planned."
Within the Yang camp, soldiers began crouching and taking ambush positions.
Not long after, a glow from an array lit up. A sneaky Great Wilderness Sect cultivator was sliced cleanly in half, blood scenting the air. The heavy stillness of the night was instantly shattered by a surge of murderous intent and earth-shaking cries of battle.
"Enemy attack!"
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
The slaughter erupted without warning. In an instant, the night was stained red.
In the darkness, no one could tell who was killing or who was dying—some were beheaded with a single sword, others were run through by spears, or torn apart by formation arrays. Severed limbs were strewn across the ground.
Black and red blended together as killing intent surged.
Amid such tense chaos, Yang Jishan had no time to report to the main command.
And truthfully—there was no need to.
Because not long after, the full-scale mutiny of the Great Wilderness Sect began.
Fengbo Ridge was soon crawling with Great Wilderness cultivators.
They raised their blades against the Dao Court's Dao Soldiers.
The fires of war, fanned by the cold desert winds, spread in the blink of an eye.
The battle was ferocious from the outset.
From the very beginning, the rebellion was already at its peak intensity.
Yang Jishan soon found himself locked in a deadly fight against a Golden Core cultivator from the Great Wilderness Sect.
Yang Jiyong and the others were also caught in a bitter struggle.
Fortunately, thanks to Mo Hua's earlier warning—and the formation arrays he had prepared in advance as part of the marching defense—their side didn't fall into chaos.
Otherwise, facing a prepared and stealthy ambush from the Great Wilderness Sect, the outcome for Yang Jishan, Yang Jiyong, and their camp would've been disastrous.
After some time locked in combat, the battle reached a deadlock.
Yang Jishan was still being held off by that Golden Core cultivator. The fight was evenly matched, neither side gaining the upper hand.
That's when Mo Hua broke protocol and intervened.
He activated a trace of his divine sense, and with his Divine Dread Eye Technique, stunned the Golden Core enemy for just a few breaths.
But in a battle of life and death—those few breaths were decisive.
By the time the Great Wilderness cultivator regained awareness, Yang Jishan had already thrust his spear clean through his chest.
In Dao Army combat, first you judge the generals, then the soldiers.
On a third-tier battlefield, Golden Cores were generals, Foundation Establishment cultivators were soldiers.
Once the Golden Core died, the unit lost its commander and peak combat strength. The rest of the Great Wilderness soldiers—mostly Foundation Establishment—became far easier to defeat.
Yang Jishan twirled his spear and swiftly killed a few more Great Wilderness cultivators. Then, moving like a storm, he charged through the battlefield several times, breaking the enemy's formation and crushing their remaining forces.
The crisis at the Yang camp was finally relieved.
But before they could catch their breath, a blinding sword light suddenly illuminated the night sky, and a terrifying pressure swept across like a tidal wave.
Mo Hua's heart froze. He looked up—and saw the pitch-black night sky lit up like day.
Above, a cultivator walked mid-air. Blinding white sword light spread from his body like wings, surrounding him in divine brilliance—like an immortal descended from the heavens.
Walking in the air!
A Nascent Soul True Person!
This… was the true might of the Nascent Soul realm.
This Nascent Soul expert appeared to be a Grand Commander of the Dao Court. With a simple gesture, he unleashed a sword light that descended like a heavenly cliff—straight down.
The sword energy plunged into the Great Wilderness Sect's ranks. Spiritual power surged like a landslide, splitting the earth.
Regardless of whether they were Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, or even Golden Core—all were annihilated in an instant by the brilliance of that sword.
Such is the power of a single sword strike.
Mo Hua was completely shaken, his soul trembling at the sight.
At that moment, from the Great Wilderness Sect's camp, a yellow-golden light soared into the sky.
A Nascent Soul expert from the Great Wilderness Sect, his back marked with tiger stripes, shot up like a raging beast. Blood energy surged as he flew into the air and threw a punch—colliding head-on with the Dao Court's sword-wielding True Person.
Sword met fist, and the shockwaves rippled in all directions.
Every cultivator caught in that wave—whether from the Dao Court or the Great Wilderness Sect—was torn apart.
The sword cultivator avoided the tiger-marked man and unleashed another sword slash into the enemy ranks, once again slaughtering countless Great Wilderness cultivators.
The tiger-marked man let out a cold laugh and roared savagely toward the Dao Army. His roar was so fierce it vaporized the flesh of several Golden Core commanders and numerous Foundation Establishment Dao soldiers, leaving only white bone.
The battlefield instantly became even more brutal.
Mo Hua felt a chill deep in his heart.
This… this is the true power of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
They could fly above the battlefield, unchecked—true Nascent Soul Realms, real True Persons.
From their lofty perch, cutting down lower cultivators… it truly was like immortals butchering mortals.
Despite being only one realm apart from Golden Core, the gap felt like a heavenly chasm.
No wonder Golden Cores were merely called "great cultivators"… but upon reaching Nascent Soul, one could be called True Person.
And above them, the battle between Nascent Soul cultivators raged on. Several Grand Commanders of the Dao Court and top figures from the Great Wilderness Sect had all joined the fray.
In an instant, Fengbo Ridge was engulfed in heavenly light and earth-shaking force.
Mountains crumbled, earth cracked, blood and flesh flew, and the scene became inhumanly tragic.
Yang Jishan's face was pale with terror. "The Nascent Soul True Persons have joined the battle!"
Without hesitation, he shouted to his soldiers: "Quick! Everyone—retreat to the eastern third-grade sector!"
When Nascent Soul cultivators fight—it becomes a massacre. No one beneath Golden Core can withstand it.
If they stayed, and were caught in the aftermath, they would all die.
Saying this, he grabbed Mo Hua. "Come! With me!"
Mo Hua nodded solemnly.
Yang Jishan and Yang Jiyong gathered their troops and shielded Mo Hua as they led a retreat toward the eastern third-grade section of Fengbo Ridge.
Other Dao soldiers had clearly come to the same conclusion. In panic, they shoved and trampled one another as they fled toward the eastern and western flanks.
All while still locked in chaotic skirmishes with the Great Wilderness Sect.
The battlefield had become a complete, blood-soaked mess—an utter chaos.
Before Mo Hua and the others could even reach the third-grade zone, a squad suddenly appeared ahead of them—led by three Golden Core cultivators of the Great Wilderness Sect, with one to two hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators following behind.
The moment the two sides met, one of the Great Wilderness Golden Cores shouted:
"It's Yang Jishan! Kill them!"
Seeing that the opposing side had three Golden Cores, Yang Jishan's heart sank. But this was a narrow path—there was no escape. He had no choice but to brace his spear and charge forward.
But taking on three at once was exceedingly difficult.
Worse still, the opposing side consisted of two early-stage Golden Cores and one mid-stage Golden Core.
Yang Jishan himself was only early-stage Golden Core, and already fatigued from earlier battles. Under their relentless assault, his moves began to slow.
If he were to fall, the rest of the Yang family cultivators would be mercilessly slaughtered.
This... might very well be a death omen.
Mo Hua's expression was grim. He wanted to unleash the Divine Dread Sword to help Yang Jishan kill one of the enemies.
But Yang Jishan was under heavy pressure from all sides—barely able to hold on.
Even if the Divine Dread Sword created an opening, he wouldn't have the strength left to land the killing blow.
If Mo Hua struck personally, and used the God-Slaying Sword...
That would surely trigger the Karmic-Calamity (Fate-Calamity).
And on such a chaotic battlefield, drawing Karmic-Calamity and letting the Trickster Qi backfire would be no different from digging his own grave.
With no other choice, Mo Hua used some temporary arrays and Five Element spells to stall the three Golden Cores.
But as soon as he acted, one of the tall, thin Golden Cores from the Great Wilderness Sect snapped his gaze toward him and shouted:
"It's that brat!"
"The one the Young Lord wants!"
"Capture him! Or kill him."
"Young Lord said—alive, bring him back. Dead, bring the corpse."
Immediately, the two early-stage Golden Cores charged toward Mo Hua. The mid-stage Golden Core continued pressing Yang Jishan.
But the two early-stage Golden Cores... clearly couldn't catch him.
Mo Hua's body moved like flowing water—slipping right through their encirclement and escaping in a flash.
"Damn it, what the hell is this kid…"
"Isn't he just Foundation Establishment? Two Golden Cores can't even catch him?"
"Less whining, more killing!"
The tall, thin Golden Core attacked with a poisoned hook, aiming to rip through Mo Hua's neck.
The other Golden Core swung a spiked mace straight at Mo Hua's skull.
But Mo Hua dissolved into mist, evading yet again.
Frustrated, the two Golden Cores cursed and lunged after him once more.
Yang Jishan saw that Mo Hua was in danger and tried to help, but he was completely suppressed by the mid-stage Golden Core wielding a skull-faced saber. Gasping for breath, Yang Jishan was filled with desperation.
Yang Jiyong, at peak Foundation Establishment and already injured, was trapped in a ring of Great Wilderness disciples—locked in a bitter struggle.
Surrounded by the two Golden Cores, Mo Hua quickly assessed the situation, and his heart sank slightly.
If this dragged on, things would go from bad to worse.
The death omen he had foreseen… was about to come true again.
His brow furrowed slightly. Then he looked at Yang Jishan and softly infused a thread of divine sense into his voice:
"Commander Yang, go—now!"
Yang Jishan was briefly stunned.
Mo Hua then turned cold-faced and shouted at the three Golden Cores:
"It was that bastard Young Lord who sent you after me, wasn't it?"
"Bastard…" The tall, thin Golden Core echoed unconsciously—then realized what he'd just said and smacked himself across the face. "Pah! You dare call the Young Lord a bastard? You're dead meat!"
Mo Hua sneered. "Did I lie? If he's not a Great Wilderness bastard, then what is he?"
That line completely enraged all three Golden Cores.
"Insulting the Young Lord?! Once I catch you, I'll carve you into a thousand pieces!"
"Grind your bones into dust!"
Mo Hua gave them a scornful smile. "You three trash have such pathetic footwork, you'd lose even to a dog fighting over fresh dung."
"You little punk, you're dead!"
The mid-stage Golden Core in battle armor, wielding the skull-faced saber, flew into a rage. He abandoned Yang Jishan and charged straight at Mo Hua.
As shimmering water vapor rippled through the air, Mo Hua flashed away from the saber and shot him a mocking grin before activating his movement art to escape again.
It was an open and blatant provocation.
The other two Golden Cores—one slashing with his poison hook, the other smashing with his spiked mace—hit nothing but mist.
"Damn it! Big Bro!" the tall, thin one shouted toward the mid-stage Golden Core.
The mid-stage Golden Core cursed and said:
"Chase him! The Young Lord wants that guy. If we fail, we won't be able to explain to the Lady."
"Got it!"
"Peel his skin, rip his tendons!"
The three Great Wilderness Golden Cores immediately abandoned the Yang family Dao soldiers and chased after Mo Hua.
Yang Jishan wanted to follow—but after such prolonged combat and heavy injuries, he had no strength left to save Mo Hua.
He could only watch helplessly as Mo Hua, all alone, lured away three powerful Golden Core cultivators from the Great Wilderness Sect.
Blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, Yang Jishan was consumed by guilt… and bitter regret.
(End of this Chapter)