Chapter 774: Sword Bone

Ouyang Mu looked at the old demon cultivator again, his expression filled with emotion.Calculating it this way, this old weapon master, trapped in the demon cultivator's lair, should be considered his own sect and clan member, a true... family senior?And after several hundred years, his generation is probably quite a bit higher than his own.Ouyang Mu couldn't help but feel a sense of respect in his heart.The old demon cultivator looked at Ouyang Mu, his expression complex, and he spoke with a melancholic gaze:"That year, I was also like you, with decent weapon refining talent, but I was wooden, spoke little, and all day I only knew how to forge swords. I wanted to forge a unique immortal sword, regarding it as my lifelong wish...""Immortal sword, ah..."The old demon cultivator's expression was melancholic. "At that time, I was young and frivolous, unaware of the vastness of the world. I simply didn't know how distant and unattainable these two words were, how... despairing."Then he smiled self-mockingly. "Our generation calls ourselves cultivators. We cultivate to become immortals, but what 'immortal' is, no one knows even now.""Anything related to the word 'immortal' is profound and terrifying, indescribable..."Ouyang Mu's expression was solemn, and he nodded.He also indeed regarded forging an "immortal sword" as his lifelong cultivation dream.But the deeper he cultivated, the more swords he forged, the more he felt that the word 'immortal' was high and unreachable.In this life, in this world, he might not even be able to touch the edge of an "immortal sword."Not to mention being able to forge one himself, even just seeing one is probably a great luxury.The old demon cultivator's cloudy gaze silently looked at Ouyang Mu, his thoughts complex and unclear. In the end, he sighed and continued,"Hundreds of years ago, I was still a member of the Tai'a Sect, a disciple of the Ouyang family.""At that time, the Ouyang family had already begun to plan a change in direction, no longer focusing mainly on forging swords, but taking forging as auxiliary and sword arts as the main focus, walking the path of developing sword techniques and becoming a true sword dao sect.""But I was unwilling to cultivate sword arts; I only wanted to forge swords.""Others abandoned sword weapons and learned sword arts. I remained single-minded, day and night without rest, painstakingly researching forging methods.""It didn't matter if I wasn't valued in the sect, as long as they let me forge swords..."When the old demon cultivator said this, he couldn't help but hunch over and cough several times, coughing up blood.But he didn't care, silently wiping away the blood and continuing,"Originally, I thought I would always learn and practice weapon refining and forging swords in the Tai'a Sect like this, until I grew old. Yet, I didn't expect..."The old demon cultivator's expression was bitter. "Once, when I entered the mountains to hunt, I mistakenly entered the dense forest outside Ten Thousand Demons Valley and lost my way...""Several demon cultivators discovered me. They began to chase and kill me. My cultivation was not enough, I was not their opponent, and they captured me.""They opened their blood-dripping mouths, originally intending to eat me, but they discovered I had the ability to forge swords, so they spared my life and made me forge evil swords for them.""I... had no choice."The old demon cultivator's expression was wooden. "When I was in the sect, I also thought I was a righteous path cultivator with a firm dao heart. I thought that when facing demons, I could also uphold the righteous path and face death without fear.""But only when I truly faced those grinning demon cultivators did I discover that I was wrong.""I... knew nothing about myself.""I... am a coward."When the old demon cultivator said these words, his gaze was cold. It seemed that the inhuman torment of these many years had flattened his self-respect and he had accepted the helpless reality.Ouyang Mu's face showed sympathy. "Old... senior, this is not your fault."The old demon cultivator shook his head. "Things have come to this point, and I am already in this state. Discussing right and wrong now has no meaning..."Ouyang Mu wanted to comfort him a few sentences.But he was tongue-tied and couldn't think of any comforting words for a while.The old demon cultivator sighed and continued,"I compromised, I surrendered, I betrayed my own sect, I betrayed my own family, and I also betrayed my own sword dao.""From then on, I became a demon cultivator, an evil sword master.""I abandoned my past identity and stayed in this dark, sunless Ten Thousand Demons Prison, with demon beasts as companions and demon cultivators as associates, using human bones, human flesh, and human blood to refine weapons. Until now, I don't know how many evil swords I have refined for these demon cultivators. I also don't know how many people have been killed by these evil swords, urged by these demon cultivators..."The old demon cultivator laughed a little, his mouth covered in blood. He didn't know if it was self-mockery or self-satisfaction.Ouyang Mu's mood was complex.A forge sword master is like this. Even a righteous path forge sword master cannot decide whether the sword weapons you forge will be used by people to eliminate demons and do good, or to kill indiscriminately.Not to mention a master who forges evil swords and evil weapons."And now, my great limit is approaching. The many sins I have forged in this lifetime will finally... come to an end..."When the old demon cultivator said this, he looked at Ouyang Mu. "But before death, I still have a wish. I have been trapped in this Ten Thousand Demons Prison for almost my entire life, unaware of the years, unaware of day and night, constantly researching weapon refining...""These weapon refining methods have both righteous and evil. In the end, even I myself cannot distinguish.""However, no matter whether they are righteous or evil, they are all the heart's blood of my life. I must pass them down, otherwise I will die with my eyes open."The old demon cultivator stared at Ouyang Mu, his gaze profound:"In the entire Ten Thousand Demons Prison, the only person I can pass it to is you."Ouyang Mu was startled, his expression hesitant.If they were righteous path forge sword methods, he would naturally be grateful.But this old senior is an evil sword master. Most of his skills are bloody, evil, and strange forging methods.He fundamentally didn't want to learn them.Just when he didn't know what to do, he habitually lowered his head and glanced at his sleeve. Then he felt confident in his heart."Receive senior's kindness..." Ouyang Mu's expression "hesitated" for a while, then he sighed and said: "I will learn..."The old demon cultivator exhaled a long breath, his entire body relaxing several points.Then his expression showed several points of arrogance, and he said to Ouyang Mu:"My teacher is from the Tai'a Sect Ouyang family. These forge sword skills of mine have been forged bit by bit through a thousand hammers and a hundred refinements...""At least in the category of second-grade weapon refining, I am confident that I am no worse than any forge sword master.""I have also poured too much heart's blood into the research of life-bound magic treasures.""If you learn these skills of mine, you will be an outstanding person in the same realm. Even if you cannot leave the Ten Thousand Demons Prison, only associating with these demon cultivators, you can still thrive.""Even the most ferocious demon cultivator will not dare to slight you...""If there is a day when you can form a core in this Ten Thousand Demons Prison and become a third-grade evil sword master..."The old demon cultivator's eyes revealed a glimmer of hope, and he slowly said: "The young master will even let you go out and make you a trusted aide to serve him outside.""The days outside are much more free and easy..."Ouyang Mu's expression was surprised. "I can still go out?"The old demon cultivator nodded. "Just form a core.""But," he then sighed again, "Forming a core is easier said than done. Inside this Ten Thousand Demons Prison, among so many demon cultivators, in hundreds of years, not many have been able to form a core.""Although there are reasons such as insufficient resources, defects in cultivation methods, and demonic power being easily out of control, it is also sufficient to see the difficulty of forming a core.""However, at least it's a thought..."Ouyang Mu slowly nodded.Then he again looked at his sleeve out of the corner of his eye, and according to Mo Hua's instructions, asked:"Old senior, you said you serve the 'young master'... who is this 'young master'?"Who knew that as soon as Ouyang Mu mentioned the young master, the old demon cultivator's expression immediately sank, and he said with a trembling voice:"Do not inquire, and it is best not to know. You only need to know that in this Ten Thousand Demons Prison, everything obeys the young master's commands. Do not be too curious, otherwise you will die without knowing how you died."Ouyang Mu was startled in his heart and nodded."I know."The old demon cultivator's expression eased slightly, and then he said: "Starting from tomorrow, I will formally begin to impart my lifelong learnings to you. First and foremost, is...""...Forging life-bound evil swords!""Okay." Ouyang Mu's expression was somewhat indifferent.Seeing this, the old demon cultivator sighed. "I know that although you promised to become an evil sword master, your heart still cannot accept it for a while.""Your surname is Ouyang, you are from the same sect as me, and also from the same clan. I am also unwilling to force you.""How about this, you come over tomorrow. I will first teach you righteous path weapon refining methods. After you finish learning, you can then slowly go from righteous to evil, refining evil weapons and forging evil swords...""Ten Thousand Demons Valley is a fierce place. I am not free, so I can only help you to this point. After that, you can only seek your own fortune..."Ouyang Mu was startled, then felt grateful in his heart, and cupped his hands."Many thanks, old senior."This old demon cultivator waved his hand indifferently. "Stop saying some false words. Go, come back tomorrow."Ouyang Mu performed a rite, then took his leave and was escorted back to prison by a demon cultivator.Inside the evil weapon room, only the old demon cultivator was left."Tai'a..."His voice was hoarse, like an old tree crow, silently muttering these two words. Then suddenly, his entire body trembled violently.The old demon cultivator reached out to cover his mouth, but it was a step late, and blood was already coughed out of his mouth.He hurriedly took out a large pile of red and white pills from his storage bag with trembling hands and swallowed them whole into his mouth.After a while, the coughing eased somewhat.The old demon cultivator hunched his body and slowly sat down, tilting his head and staring at the gloomy furnace fire inside the white bone weapon refining furnace. In his cloudy gaze, there was an inexplicable light.Mo Hua frowned, then slowly left.He went to a prison.Inside the prison, Ouyang Mu and Linghu Xiao were chatting in low voices.Song Jian was secretly eating something on the side.He was eating the dried meat given to him by Mo Hua. Because it was not easy to obtain, he ate it carefully, tearing it off bit by bit and throwing it into his mouth to chew.The guarding demon cultivator was not there, so Mo Hua revealed himself.The three people inside the prison were already used to it.Mo Hua came and went without a trace, truly like a "ghost."The few people simply chatted for a sentence. Ouyang Mu said with some emotion: "That old senior is unexpectedly an Ouyang family member...""I also don't know if he can help us escape..."Mo Hua shook his head. "Don't think about it."Ouyang Mu didn't quite understand.Mo Hua said: "That old thing is an old liar. The words he says are to deceive you."Ouyang Mu was startled. "He's not an Ouyang family member?""That's hard to say," Mo Hua pondered. "That old thing's words, eight or nine out of ten are false, at most only one or two sentences are true.""He is a disciple of the Tai'a Sect Ouyang family, this sentence is possibly true. But other words, counting one by one, all have not a few flaws...""Think about it..." Mo Hua said:"The dense forest outside Ten Thousand Demons Valley is very dangerous. What was he, a weapon refining master, doing running into the dense forest alone for no reason?""And there is an array inside that dense forest, so divine sense cannot distinguish direction. This is true for cultivators, and also for demon cultivators.""If he just simply entered the dense forest, how could he coincidentally run into a group of demon cultivators?""If the demon cultivators were extremely hungry, and they encountered him, they would have certainly eaten him long ago. How would they have left him as a forge sword master?""Whether he can forge swords or not, unless he himself takes the initiative to say so, the demon cultivators probably wouldn't know?""Also, he has been trapped in this Ten Thousand Demons Prison for hundreds of years, eating raw and drinking blood. He doesn't know how much flesh and blood he has eaten. His humanity has been almost obliterated long ago. How could he still care about the feelings of the same sect and clan?""Even if he is from the same sect and clan, what of it?""So, the old thing's words sound fine, but if you think about it carefully, they all have not a few flaws..."Of course, this was just what Mo Hua said on the surface.In fact, when he was listening to the old demon cultivator speak, his divine sense keenly detected some unusual fluctuations in the old demon cultivator's divine thoughts.It seemed he was thinking some other thoughts.Besides, it was just from the intuition of cause and effect.When the old demon cultivator spoke, the lines of cause and effect were a bit disordered.Mo Hua's near-instinct detected that there were likely some tricks in his words.The simple little wooden head silently opened his mouth wide. At the same time, he couldn't help but wonder:How exactly did this little senior brother's head grow? How many minds must he hide in his heart...On the side, Linghu Xiao frowned when he heard this. "If this old demon cultivator has other plans, then Junior Brother Mu is in danger?""Yes." Mo Hua nodded. "Although, none of you are ever safe. Whether it's Jin Gui, or that old demon cultivator, or the young master behind him, they are all after your ideas."Up to now, the demon cultivators have already used not a few means, openly and secretly.Now, openly, they are only targeting the little wooden head.But this is probably just the beginning. Linghu Xiao and Song Jian are also unlikely to be exempt.According to the information Mo Hua has overheard these past few days.Among the three people, Linghu Xiao's situation is slightly better.His sword heart is clear, and he is a rare genius seen in the Chongxu Sect in five hundred years.No matter whether he enters the righteous or demonic path, he is a "treasure."Although the demon cultivators also broke Linghu Xiao's little finger, their attitude was quite respectful, obviously daring not to easily offend him.According to Mo Hua's guess.These demon cultivators most likely want to directly let Linghu Xiao board the "ship" of that young master, using "clothes cannons" to entice him, corrupt him, and let him fall, thereby becoming demons together, the same as mud.As for what kind of clothes cannons are on the ship.He is still pure and has less experience, so he temporarily cannot imagine.But Song Jian...Mo Hua turned his head and looked at Song Jian, who was still gnawing on dried meat. He felt a little sympathy in his heart.Song Jian is a hostage.These demon cultivators probably don't even think about "assimilating" him.It's not impossible that he will be directly eaten one day.Song Jian detected Mo Hua's gaze, snorted coldly, and turned his back, seemingly unwilling to see Mo Hua, but still silently chewed the dried meat.Mo Hua sighed in his heart:"Never mind, this pitiful child. Just don't tell him, lest after he knows, he can't even eat dried meat."On the other side, Ouyang Mu was a little sad.He still thought that the old demon cultivator truly did not forget the Tai'a Sect, worried about his family in his heart, and wanted to impart his lifelong learned forging methods to himself.The human heart is indeed dangerous..."Senior Brother Mo, what should I do then? He taught me to forge swords, do I still want to learn?"Mo Hua thought for a moment, and nodded. "You want to learn.""Just pretend you don't know anything. Forget what I just said, and still regard that old thing as an old senior from your Ouyang family who, although he mistakenly entered the wrong path, is nearing his deadline and has a thread of good thought in his heart.""Learn the things he teaches you normally. Anyway, it's not learning for nothing.""If you encounter other situations, then act according to the opportunity. I will teach you at that time..." Mo Hua said."Okay, Senior Brother Mo." Ouyang Mu repeatedly nodded."However," Ouyang Mu was a little puzzled. "What exactly are that old demon cultivator's plans?"Mo Hua's gaze condensed slightly."We'll know then..."The next day, inside the evil weapon room.The old demon cultivator was again looking at his demon skin paper.Ouyang Mu was refining white bones and melting refined iron.After the white bones were melted, the old demon cultivator put away the demon skin paper and said in an old voice: "Almost. I will now teach you how to forge life-bound sword bones.""Yes." Ouyang Mu remembered Mo Hua's instructions and nodded.The old demon cultivator's expression was solemn, and he slowly said:"All swords must have bones.""This bone refers to the sword root bones, the sword's 'spine', not necessarily literally a 'skeleton'.""Depending on the forging inheritance, the materials for sword bones can be gold and jade, silver companions, copper and iron, or spiritual objects like wood and stone. Of course, they can also be demon bones, beast bones, or even human bones and other skeletons...""The sword bones of general spiritual swords don't require that much attention.""But for life-bound sword embryos, which are warmed and raised to be fused with spiritual power, and life-bound magic treasures that are related to life, the requirements for sword bones are extremely strict.""Even, the sword bones themselves directly determine the final quality of the life-bound spiritual sword magic treasure.""Good bones can forge good swords.""A sword without root bones is just scrap iron..."Having finished, the old demon cultivator then took out a section of long spine bones from his storage bag and said with a solemn gaze:"This is the material used to forge sword bones."Ouyang Mu looked at the blood color on the bones, his expression slightly changed. "This is... human bones?"The old demon cultivator said indifferently: "What if it's human bones, what if it's demon bones? Skeletons that can forge superior sword bones are just good bones...""If you want to learn, you must gradually abandon these pedantic ideas related to righteousness and evil, otherwise, how can you stand firm in Ten Thousand Demons Prison later?"Ouyang Mu hesitated and said: "Yes, senior..."The old demon cultivator's expression was slightly pleased. "I will forge, you watch from the side.""Okay."Then the old demon cultivator began to bring Ouyang Mu and formally learn to "forge sword bones."This set of procedures was very tedious and required extremely high weapon refining techniques.Mo Hua didn't quite understand.He only understood some theoretical things about weapon refining skills, of course, including some knowledge of array diagram design.He was not good at actually refining weapons.He couldn't even swing a second-grade weapon refining hammer well.Therefore, when the old demon cultivator taught the little wooden head to forge swords, he could only watch from the side.However, although Mo Hua didn't understand the weapon refining skills very well, he cared about another matter very much:"Whose exactly is this root of human bones used to forge 'sword bones'?""This root of human bones is treasured and heavily guarded by this old demon cultivator, specially kept to refine life-bound sword bones. This explains that the origin of these human bones is certainly not simple..."Mo Hua stared at the hunched old demon cultivator, and suddenly felt a chill in his heart.Could this root of bones be...This old demon cultivator's own spine bones?He pulled out his own spine bones to forge life-bound sword bones?Mo Hua gasped.What kind of sword forging method is this?It was too ruthless.Mo Hua again stared at the old demon cultivator's body, bent as if his bones had been drawn out. The more he looked, the more it felt like it.Evil cultivators kill people, peel bones and forge swords, which is only ruthless to others. But this old thing is ruthless to himself..."But, what special meaning is there in using one's own bones to forge a sword?"Mo Hua didn't quite understand.Inside the evil weapon room, the old demon cultivator quenched blood, melted iron, forged bones... in one go, his weapon refining craftsmanship was indeed perfect.Ouyang Mu watched without blinking, and at the same time pondered which methods he could learn.After forging like this for a while, the old demon cultivator then said:"The following forging procedures are blood sacrifice methods. If you don't want to learn, you can watch."Ouyang Mu hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded.The old demon cultivator took out a section of refined iron and handed it to Ouyang Mu. "Take this refined iron and quench it in the blood pool over there. We will need it in a while.""Yes, senior."Ouyang Mu took the refined iron, walked to the side, and put it in the blood pool to quench the blood.The old demon cultivator glanced at Ouyang Mu, his gaze cautious, then his withered old hand slowly took out a brush from his storage bag.Afterward, he used this brush to begin drawing something on the sword bones. His actions were very covert.Although he sent Ouyang Mu away and avoided Ouyang Mu's gaze, he did not avoid Mo Hua.From the moment he took out the brush, Mo Hua was a little shocked in his heart.This evil sword master doesn't swing a hammer; he changed to using a brush?What does he want to draw?Mo Hua was very curious, then held his breath, tilted his head, and stared for a while. Suddenly his pupils shrank, and his mind and spirit were shocked.This old demon cultivator, who was proficient in forging swords, secretly drew on the sword bones, and it was unexpectedly...God path array patterns?!(End of this chapter)