Immortality Through Array Formations

Chapter 289: Chapter 288 Exiting the Village_1

Mo Hua finished speaking and licked his lips.

His lips were red and plump, looking somewhat sinister under the reflection of the red light inside the room.

Third Householder’s heart skipped a beat.

Indeed, an ancient demon!

Those evil cultivators, like himself, at most harvested others’ energy, drew their spiritual power, or drank their blood—never did they truly consume humans as a method of cultivation.

In other words, cultivation techniques that relied on cannibalism were no simple methods, but genuine Demon Path Skills, beyond the learnings of half-committed evil cultivators like themselves.

Immediately, another thought occurred to Third Householder.

This ancient demon wanted to consume humans, but there was only him in the room—if it came to that, he would be the only choice…

Third Householder broke out in a cold sweat, his mind racing as he calculated his next move.

He couldn’t just wait for death, but if he made a move, there was no telling what sort of methods this enigmatic ancient demon possessed.

An ancient demon adept in the Demon Path’s soul-transfer techniques, no matter how weak in cultivation, had means that were deviously venomous and not to be underestimated.

Wary of this, Third Householder braced himself and asked,

“May I know, esteemed elder, what kind of people do you wish to consume?”

Mo Hua licked his lips again, “Any would do. I’m famished and not picky.”

Third Householder let out a soft sigh of relief.

As long as it was not himself, it was fine.

“May there be any matters in which the younger generation can serve you?” Third Householder bowed and inquired.

“Oh?” Mo Hua raised his eyebrows, slightly nodding, “Then, pick a few for me.”

Pick a few for what?

Mo Hua didn’t specify, but Third Householder understood: he meant to pick a few people for him to eat.

Apart from him, there were other evil cultivators at Black Mountain Stronghold, as well as captive cultivators.

The captives, having their spiritual power drained or harvested for replenishment, were already ruined at their core and weak in their blood qi.

Picking these people for the ancient demon to consume would be quite disrespectful.

If this ancient demon became enraged, Black Mountain Stronghold would be in great trouble.

The only ones left to be consumed were the stronghold’s own evil cultivators.

Having thought it through, Third Householder bowed and said,

“May I know what the esteemed elder’s taste is like and what kind of person you prefer? Perhaps I could show you the way, and you could pick for yourself.”

Third Householder intended to lead the ancient demon out, and after he had his fill, to send him away from Black Mountain Stronghold.

To lose a few evil cultivators and owe this ancient oddity a favor seemed a worthwhile trade.

He did not expect this master of the Demon Path to give them any guidance or help.

An ancient demon like this, who had lived for ages and mastered such Forbidden Techniques as soul transfer, was unpredictable and whimsical. If he desired to toy with them, it would be a simple task.

They were no match for his games.

All he hoped was that the ancient demon would remember their favor and not trouble them, then depart contentedly after being well-fed. That would be enough.

Show the way?

A thought flashed through Mo Hua’s mind, but he feigned hesitation. After pondering briefly, he lightly nodded and said,

“That works.”

“Please.”

Thus, Third Householder led the way, personally undoing the Blood Formation and opening the Beast Gate to let Mo Hua out.

Mo Hua followed behind Third Householder uninhibitedly, exiting the blood-red Pill Room together.

The night was pitch-black, dawn yet to break.

The two men walked along the paths of Black Mountain Stronghold in silence.

Third Householder wanted to send him away.

Mo Hua also wanted to leave Black Mountain Stronghold.

With their goals aligned, they both understood without saying a word.

But an excuse was still needed, and the people to “eat” still had to be selected.

Mo Hua followed behind Third Householder, composed. Along the way, whenever he encountered familiar faces—the more wicked evil cultivators—he just pointed them out casually with his finger, selecting them.

Having secretly gathered intelligence on a daily basis, he had seen plenty of evil deeds and nefarious evil cultivators. Hating that he lacked the cultivation to kill them all,

he didn’t mind “eating” them now that he had the chance.

Third Householder summoned each evil cultivator Mo Hua pointed to.

These cultivators were clueless, but they dared not defy Third Householder’s orders, and since he didn’t explain, they didn’t dare to ask. They could only follow silently.

As they approached the gates of Black Mountain Stronghold, Mo Hua had already selected four evil cultivators.

Fewer would not satisfy his “hunger,” more might arouse Third Householder’s suspicion.

They soon arrived at the bonfire near Black Mountain Stronghold’s gate, and Mo Hua’s gaze flickered when he saw “Scarface” keeping watch through the night.

The evil cultivator who practiced Replenishing from others, a notorious killer, the one Mo Hua had wanted to kill but hadn’t managed to.

Mo Hua stretched out his small hand and pointed remotely at Scarface.

Third Householder nodded slightly, then called Scarface over. Seeing his face marked with ugly scars made Third Householder sneer to himself,

“This elder’s taste is really something… to be able to stomach this. Truly, he isn’t picky.”

Third Householder then instructed Scarface, “Follow me out, there’s something to do.”

“Yes,” Scarface agreed respectfully, his heart stirring with excitement.

Being personally instructed by Third Householder surely meant an important task. Could it be a killing, or stealing Spirit Stones? Maybe even a chance to capture a female cultivator.

He had lost his woman, and his evil fire was falsely flourishing. At this moment, he urgently needed a female cultivator to replenish him.

Moreover, as long as he performed well and caught the eye of the third householder, he would inevitably be heavily relied upon by the third householder in the future.

Scarface’s heart was ablaze with excitement.

Then he saw Mo Hua, and his expression involuntarily paused.

Why is there a kid here?

What was this kid here for?

He observed and found that although the third householder was walking in front, it seemed as if he was leading the way for the child.

Scarface was shocked in his heart.

What identity did this kid have to make the third householder lead the way for him?

Scarface couldn’t understand, but he didn’t dare to voice his questions.

In Black Mountain Stronghold, being talkative might not necessarily lead to death, but it would surely make one die earlier than others.

“Open the door,” the third householder ordered.

Eating someone necessarily required a quiet and secluded place.

Such places were usually deep within Big Black Mountain, that is, outside Black Mountain Stronghold.

The third householder took it upon himself to lead Mo Hua, this “old monster,” outside. Mo Hua was secretly pleased and, without revealing anything, followed the third householder’s lead and walked out.

Once out of Black Mountain Stronghold, away from the third householder’s sight, and after he had activated his concealment, these evil cultivators couldn’t do anything to him.

With his current strength of Divine Sense, deep within Big Black Mountain, there were no cultivators who could see through his Concealment Technique.

Scarface triggered the mechanism, revealing the gates of Black Mountain Stronghold, which opened with a creaking noise.

The third householder was in front, the other evil cultivators followed behind, and Mo Hua was in between.

The group passed through the main gate of Black Mountain Stronghold.

Mo Hua, who had sneaked into Black Mountain Stronghold, now left boldly surrounded by the evil cultivators.

Upon exiting Black Mountain Stronghold, the fog suddenly thickened, but the smell of blood lessened, and the atmosphere was not as oppressive.

The third householder led everyone through secluded trails, taking lefts and rights, arriving at a quiet forest deep in the mountains.

Surrounding them was desolation, with fog enshrouding and shrubs and rugged rocks scattered throughout.

The third householder looked at Mo Hua, seeking his opinion.

Mo Hua nodded slightly, indicating that this place was just right.

The third householder then asked, “May I ask… Do you have any other commands?”

The evil cultivators looked at each other, astonished.

The third householder was actually asking this kid for “commands”?

What were the origins of this kid, and could his status be even higher than that of the third householder?

Mo Hua simply said, “How do you eat it alive?”

The third householder understood.

The evil cultivators looked at each other, still confused.

How do you eat it alive? What did that mean?

But they soon understood.

Because the third householder suddenly made his move, his hands like sharp claws, his Spiritual Power condensed like mercury, killing each of the evil cultivators, one by one, clawing through their chests and gouging out their hearts.

Scarface, the most alert among them, had thought about running away the moment Mo Hua asked, “How do you eat it alive?”

But he was only at the Qi Refining Ninth Level and couldn’t escape from the hands of the third householder, who was at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

The third householder’s sharp claw pierced through his chest from behind.

Scarface spat out blood and fell to the ground without understanding why.

“Does it meet your satisfaction, senior?”

Mo Hua nodded his head repeatedly.

Of course, he was satisfied with the death of all the evil cultivators.

He then cordially invited the third householder, “Would you like to eat together?”

The third householder was momentarily stunned.

Although he was an evil cultivator, practiced evil skills, and set up evil formations, he had never actually “eaten” people before, and he could not stomach the idea.

The third householder said, “Senior’s kind offer is appreciated. It’s best if senior enjoys it alone.”

Mo Hua, with a smile that was not quite a smile, said, “Would you like to watch me eat?”

The third householder’s heart skipped a beat, and then he understood.

Eating people for cultivation must certainly be a type of Demon Path Technique.

Given that it was a Demon Path Technique, the practice must not be known to outsiders.

Staying here meant he had offended this old monster’s taboo.

The third householder immediately bowed and said, “Please enjoy at your leisure, senior. I shall not disturb you further.”

After speaking, the third householder quickly turned and left.

As he left, he felt an obscure Divine Sense, barely discernible, following him.

The third householder’s heart trembled, realizing that the old monster was making sure he did not spy, thus keeping watch over him.

It was both a precaution and a warning.

The third householder quickened his pace until he reached the edge of the forest, and no longer sensed Mo Hua’s Divine Sense, then he finally relaxed.

Seeing that the third householder had walked far away, Mo Hua took the Thousand Jun Stick out of his Storage Bag and walked over to Scarface, smashing the stick down on his forehead.

“Playing dead in front of me?”