Chapter 664: Hao Xuan

What matter will occur?

Mo Hua wrinkled his brow, and probed his head to look outside the carriage.

Outside, the night was very deep.

The carriage was traveling on the road. Not far to the left was a small immortal city, and to the right was a barren mountain.

Mo Hua hesitated a bit, but decided to get off and take a look.

He controlled the carriage to stop, then jumped down and tied the horse nearby. He released his divine sense, perceiving the unknown cause and effect breath.

There was a trace of blood color…

And a faint killing intent.

Mo Hua hid his body, following this thread of energy, his footsteps silent, heading towards the barren mountain on the right.

Dead grass was everywhere, and thorns were overgrown.

The mountain stones were also rugged, and stepping on them was somewhat painful.

After walking for an incense time, Mo Hua detected an abnormality. He stopped, squatted down, and looked at the ground, his gaze sinking slightly.

There were bloodstains on the ground, not yet dry, seemingly having just flowed not long ago.

Broken stones were scattered about.

It seemed someone had run over them with full force.

The air held a faint bloody smell, and a shallow spiritual power breath.

This is…

Mo Hua was slightly startled in his heart.

“Someone is being chased and killed?”

And the cause and effect energy was somewhat dark and gloomy, and also somewhat familiar.

Mo Hua concentrated his spirit to deduce and calculate, and suddenly started.

In a trance, he saw in the dark night of the barren mountain, two black-clothed people chasing and killing a youth.

The moonlight was bleak, and the knives were stained with cold light.

The youth's body was bleeding…

This picture flashed and was gone.

Mo Hua looked again, and all the light and shadows shattered and dissipated.

Youth…

Mo Hua showed a thoughtful gaze, then remained hidden and continued to chase.

Following the bloodstains and breath, he chased for several li further. He emerged from a narrow mountain path, and the terrain suddenly opened up.

But the bloody smell in the air also intensified.

The remaining spiritual power breath was also more obvious.

An intense battle had obviously occurred.

Mo Hua was startled in his heart. His divine sense swept a bit, and he saw not far ahead, on the mountainside, a large pool of bloodstains. The mountain stones on the ground were shattered, and some soil had collapsed.

Around, there were also traces of spiritual tools cutting and spells burning.

If Mo Hua hadn't guessed wrong, the fleeing youth had been caught up by the black-clothed people at this wide mountainside.

After both sides battled, a bout of killing, the youth was no match and was caught by the black-clothed cultivators.

He shouldn’t be dead yet…

Or at least not yet dead currently.

Otherwise, the scene remaining would not be bloodstains, but corpses, or at least flesh and limbs…

“Been caught, but not yet killed…”

“Should be nearby…”

Mo Hua’s gaze sank, his pupils deep. He released his divine sense to the extreme. Moments later, his eyes brightened.

Nearby, there was a hidden mountain cave.

Inside the cave were several vague breaths.

Mo Hua cast the Small Five Elements Hidden Trace Technique, merging with the breath of the surrounding earth, wood, mountain, and stones. His footsteps were silent, and he slowly approached the cave.

When he approached the cave mouth, there were indeed movements inside, and the breaths also became obvious.

There were a total of three people, all in the initial stage of Foundation Establishment cultivation.

Inside, there seemed to be sounds of interrogation.

“Stinky kid… damn it…”

“Who let you come?”

“Speak!”

“…Damn it… speak quickly!”

“Where are your accomplices?”

“What exactly is your purpose?”

“What exactly did you see?”

After that were the sounds of whipping and torture. After a while, a young voice, weak and intermittent, said:

“I… don’t know… cough…”

Mo Hua was startled.

This voice was very familiar…

He slowly walked into the cave mouth and probed his head inside to look. He found the lights inside were dim, and a youth was tied up, his face covered in blood.

Two black-clothed cultivators covered their faces, their gazes ferocious.

That youth…

Mo Hua looked for a while and suddenly started.

Unexpectedly, it was his fellow sect member…

Hao Xuan?

There were many disciples in the same session at the Tai Xu Sect, and Mo Hua didn’t recognize all of them.

But Mo Hua had an impression of Hao Xuan.

He was in the same disciple residence as himself. Although they didn’t interact much, they were usually familiar faces and their relationship was okay.

His array formation homework was handed in very timely, his attitude was very serious, and he treated people very politely.

The key was, he called him “Little Senior Brother.”

Moreover, he had even invited him to eat a chicken leg…

He was considered one of his own!

And at this time, Hao Xuan, who was once polite, was covered in scars and his breath was on the verge of death.

Those two black-clothed cultivators were still interrogating him.

But Hao Xuan seemed to truly not know anything, and couldn’t say it.

Those two black-clothed cultivators then furrowed their brows.

“Can’t pry open his mouth…”

“What to do?”

“Or…”

One of them made a gesture with his hand like a knife, his gaze surging with killing intent.

Mo Hua was startled.

What were the identities of these two black-clothed people?

Tai Xu Sect disciples, direct lineage of world-famous families, saying kill they just kill?

Hao Xuan also had a shocked look in his pupils. Holding his breath, he hurriedly said:

“I am a direct lineage of the Hao family in Qian State. Both my dad and mom are in the late stage of Golden Core, and I have a Cave Void Realm old ancestor…”

“I am a direct lineage of a world-famous family, you…”

One of the black-clothed people coldly laughed:

“Just this? Who isn’t…”

Another black-clothed cultivator immediately slapped him and sternly said:

“Shut up!”

The earlier black-clothed cultivator knew he had misspoke. He covered his face, his face slightly pale, and dared not speak.

Hao Xuan also understood, his gaze terrified, his face pale.

To be silenced…

They…

Before he could think about anything else, one of the black-clothed cultivators had already raised a slaughter knife, the blade flashing with grim white light.

Just at this time, a crisp call suddenly came from the cave mouth:

“Ah—”

This call sounded very afraid.

Then someone ran away.

The sound of footsteps gradually faded.

The several people inside the mountain cave were all stunned.

The raised slaughter knife also stopped.

The black-clothed person was furious: “Someone?!”

“How were we discovered?”

“Did he also hear everything I said earlier?”

“He still ran?!”

One of the black-clothed cultivators said angrily: “Damn it, quickly go chase! Don’t leak the wind!”

“Good!”

Another black-clothed person then cast a body light and chased out of the cave.

But he hadn't chased for long when there was a “boom” sound outside the cave. Something seemed to have exploded, then a miserable scream rang out, and after that, it was quietly silent.

The black-clothed cultivator who remained in the mountain cave had his pupils shrink.

“What happened?”

“What occurred?”

He wanted to call that person’s name, but the words reached his mouth and were swallowed down by him again.

Cannot leak the wind.

Cannot reveal identity.

He could only wait patiently.

But he waited for a long time, and outside the cave was still a deadly silence.

The night was deep, and the mountain forest was silent.

Only occasionally was there the screech of an owl, making people feel a chill in their hearts.

The black-clothed cultivator’s eyebrows couldn’t stop trembling.

He felt a kind of life-and-death crisis, lingering above his head, forcing him not to dare to breathe.

He gripped the knife blade tightly, staring fixedly at the cave mouth, his expression alert, his gaze not daring to leave for a moment.

He was afraid that if he wasn’t careful, someone would rush into the cave and take his life.

But this kind of standoff was extremely draining on the mind.

The black-clothed cultivator suddenly felt that he seemed to be at odds with the entire deep black night.

Everywhere was killing intent.

He couldn’t bear it and wanted to go out and take a look.

The black-clothed cultivator swallowed his saliva and moved his steps with difficulty, slowly walking towards the outside of the cave.

But his gaze was only staring at the pitch-black night outside the cave and didn’t notice his feet.

When he approached the cave mouth, golden light suddenly flashed.

Blood splashed everywhere.

The black-clothed cultivator’s two legs were cut by the golden array light, covered in blood marks, and his foot tendons were all broken.

The black-clothed cultivator's gaze was terrified:

“Mid-grade array?! When…”

Before he could think carefully, pain spread instantly. The black-clothed cultivator wailed, and then his two legs broke, his body uncontrollably collapsing to the ground.

Moments later, fire light suddenly rose.

One after another, fireballs cut through the black night, bombarding his body nonstop.

The black-clothed cultivator tried to struggle, but his flesh couldn’t withstand the array’s killing power, the continuous fireball explosions, and the burns from the fire element spiritual power.

His injuries became heavier and heavier.

He didn't know how long had passed. In a series of torments, the black-clothed cultivator's breath gradually weakened, even to the point of dissipating.

The black-clothed cultivator breathed his last and became a corpse.

The fireballs stopped for a bit, but only for a bit.

Then the fire light rose again and continued to bombard, leaving the black-clothed cultivator’s entire body a mess…

Pitch-black deep night, hidden mountain cave.

After the unknown black-clothed cultivator was killed, his corpse was still being swallowed by the flame explosions.

Hao Xuan's face was pale.

Array killing people, fireballs whipping corpses, hiding in the shadows, ruthless and vicious!

What kind of person was this?

Too ferocious…

Suddenly, the fireball technique stopped.

The mountain cave also quieted down.

Hao Xuan then discovered that inside this mountain cave, only he was left alive.

And although he couldn’t see, it seemed like some “thing” in the opposite shadows looked at him and then slowly walked towards him.

Hao Xuan’s gaze was terrified, his hands and feet were icy cold, and he couldn’t help but shiver.

“Don’t… don’t come over…”

But that shadow walked closer and closer.

That vague pressure became stronger and stronger.

Just as Hao Xuan was terrified to the extreme, his face utterly pale, suddenly a small, short shadow appeared in front of him.

Then the shadow gradually solidified, a human figure emerged, revealing a cute little face.

“Hao Xuan, I came to save you!”

Mo Hua revealed an innocent smile.

Hao Xuan was stunned for a moment, then the entire person was foolish.

At that instant, he suspected he was dreaming.

Everything seemed so unreal.

Whether it was the black-clothed cultivators who chased and killed him, or Mo Hua who saved him…

It was as if he would open his eyes and wake up, the sun would shine, and he would be lying in his disciple residence bed, then reluctantly go to class.

Hao Xuan closed his eyes, then opened them again.

Not a dream…

The night was still so deep.

The chill between the mountains was still so heavy.

Blood from his forehead dripped into his eyes, the corners of his eyes were spicy and painful, his body was also covered in scars, and the chains tying him were also dug into his flesh.

The white, grim knife light that had hung over his head just now was still fresh in his memory.

It was truly a life hanging by a thread…

Hao Xuan was stunned for a long time, looking at Mo Hua, and suddenly tears welled up.

“Mo Hua…”

He looked at Mo Hua, just like he saw his closest relatives…

From childhood to adulthood, how had he suffered this kind of sin? He had almost lost his life…

Mo Hua untied Hao Xuan’s chains and also fed him healing, hemostatic, and Qi-nourishing pills.

His injuries gradually improved, and his breath also gradually stabilized.

Hao Xuan let out a complete sigh of relief, saying:

“I still thought I was going to hang here…”

Mo Hua thought for a bit, and then said curiously:

“Don’t you have that talisman on your body? The life-saving one, the one that flashes golden light…”

Hao Xuan was startled, “Life Destiny Longevity Talisman?”

“Mm.” Mo Hua nodded.

He had just heard Hao Xuan himself say that he was a direct lineage of the Hao family and had a Cave Void Realm old ancestor.

Hao Xuan shook his head and sighed:

“Such a precious talisman, how could I deserve it…”

“I do indeed have a Cave Void Realm old ancestor, but the old ancestor may have many, many great-grandsons and great-great-grandsons like me…”

“Unless my spiritual root seizes the creation of heaven and earth, and my root bone shakes the ancient and shines the present… or my bloodline is special, and I am the only heir in the old ancestor’s lineage, the only incense, and if I die, the lineage will be extinct, otherwise it is impossible for the old ancestor to plant a Life Destiny Longevity Talisman for me…”

“Planting this talisman will damage the origin of cultivation…”

“A Cave Void old ancestor can probably only plant one in their lifetime…”

“So, unless their great limit is approaching, or there is no hope for cultivation in this life, otherwise it is impossible to damage their origin, cut off their Dao path, and plant this kind of against-heaven Life Destiny Longevity Talisman for their descendants…”

“Life Destiny ‘Longevity’ Talisman, it has the words ‘longevity,’ it really is equivalent to another life…”

Mo Hua heard this and was shocked in his heart.

He knew the Life Destiny Longevity Talisman was precious, but he didn’t think it would be so precious…

One origin for the Cave Void, one life for the descendants.

Immediately, Mo Hua furrowed his brows and thought of his Little Senior Brother and Little Senior Sister…

Earlier, outside Li Mountain City, his Little Senior Brother and Little Senior Sister, to save him and to deal with the holy son and his group of Golden Core demon cultivators, had their Life Destiny Longevity Talismans shattered…

Once the Life Destiny Longevity Talisman is shattered, what about them in the future…

Won’t they have no life-saving talisman?

Such a precious talisman, planting one is already very luxurious, there shouldn’t be another Cave Void to plant a second one for them, right…

Mo Hua sighed, his expression very worried.

“I also don’t know if Little Senior Brother and Little Senior Sister will be alright…”

Hao Xuan still thought Mo Hua was worried about him, and was more moved. He comforted Mo Hua, saying:

“Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

Mo Hua: “Mm, it’s good that you’re fine…”

Hao Xuan thought for a bit, then with a serious face, solemnly said to Mo Hua:

“Mo Hua, you saved my life. From now on, you are my close Senior Brother!”

Mo Hua comforted him, saying:

“This is what I should do, no need to take it to heart…”

Hao Xuan still had a stubborn look on his face.

After a while, he suddenly thought of something else and said doubtfully:

“Right, Mo… Little Senior Brother, were those two black-clothed cultivators killed by you?”

“When did you… become so powerful?”

“I still thought you only knew array formations…”

Mo Hua blinked his eyes and sighed:

“Actually, my cultivation is very poor, fundamentally not their opponent. I just set up an array in advance and calculated without thinking, which is how I luckily solved the two…”

Immediately, Mo Hua showed a “scared” expression, “Now that I think about it, I still feel some lingering fear…”

Hao Xuan nodded, “So that’s how it is…”

But he nodded for a while, and suddenly paused, realizing something was wrong:

“That’s not right. That person was hit dead by the fireball technique, and after being hit dead, you still…”

Still used the fireball technique to “whip the corpse”…

So ferocious.

And the technique was well-practiced, done with ease, not at all like a “lucky” appearance…

Mo Hua was startled and patted Hao Xuan’s shoulder, saying with a serious face:

“That was your illusion, you were injured and a bit dazed, you saw it wrong…”

“Those two people both died in the array, it has nothing to do with me…”

Hao Xuan’s expression was blank.

Me… dazed me?

Seeing this, Mo Hua immediately changed the subject:

“These are all small matters. Right, how were you chased and killed by these two people? Who are these two people?”

Hao Xuan’s attention was indeed shifted. He thought for a bit, and suddenly said in alarm:

“There are still others!”

“What others?” Mo Hua was slightly startled.

“People who were being chased and killed!” Hao Xuan said urgently.

Mo Hua furrowed his brows, “What exactly occurred?”

Hao Xuan then told the original story:

“We five people, and Cheng Mo, Si Tu Jian and them, originally accepted a reward and came to the nearby immortal city to do a task…”

“After the task was done, we were just going back together, but when we passed by the barren mountain, we just saw a group of cultivators with sneaky behavior, covering their faces, carrying bags, pushing boxes, not knowing what they were doing…”

“We felt suspicious, so we secretly tracked them…”

“But not long after, we were discovered by them. As soon as they saw us, their faces changed drastically, they all drew out knives and swords, and killed towards us…”

“We fought an array, but were outnumbered and were no match, so we could only scatter and escape…”

“Before escaping, I just happened to glimpse what was inside their hemp bags and boxes…”

Hao Xuan paused for a bit, and then said coldly: “It was all people…”

Mo Hua’s expression was startled, and after, he seemed to have thought of something. His gaze froze, revealing a trace of cold light.

Again… human traffickers…

(End of this chapter)