Chapter 78: The Demon Hunting Ceremony

Da Hu reached the sixth layer of Refining Qi almost a year ago, but his luck wasn't good. He missed the Hunting Demon Ceremony by just a few days, so he couldn't become a Hunting Demon Master. Because of that, he had no way to go up the mountain and hunt demons.

Er Hu and Xiao Hu had almost the same aptitude. Although they were greedy for play, they were still relatively diligent in their cultivation, so within a year, they also successively broke through and reached the sixth layer of Refining Qi.

The Hunting Demon Ceremony was held in front of the ancestral hall. Da Hu and the other cultivators who had just reached the sixth layer of Refining Qi participated in the ceremony under the guidance of some virtuous and prestigious elders.

The Hunting Demon Ceremony was quite tedious. First, they needed to burn incense and offer sacrifices to heaven and earth. After that, they swore a blood oath, cut open their palms with a knife, let the blood drip into wine, raised their cups together, and drank it together.

The elders said some words, which Mo Hua could not hear clearly from a distance, only catching a rough idea.

The meaning was that as fellow Hunting Demon Masters, although there was no blood relation, they swore with blood as an oath and drank this wine together, supporting each other, having blood flow together, and having strength used together.

Demonic beasts were several times stronger than cultivators. If they did not unite as one, they could not earn a living as Hunting Demon Masters and would easily lose their lives, becoming food for the demonic beasts.

After the blood oath, the newly promoted Hunting Demon Masters were given Hunting Demon Orders by the elders.

The Hunting Demon Order was said to be made from the bones of special demonic beasts, only the size of an infant's fist, appearing pale white.

Every cultivator who became a Hunting Demon Master would receive one Hunting Demon Order. For each demonic beast killed, a blood-colored crack would be added to the Hunting Demon Order. The more demonic beasts hunted, the more obvious the cracks would be.

A Hunting Demon Order full of cracks could be regarded as the merits of a Hunting Demon Master.

Da Hu and the other two each received a Hunting Demon Order, dripped blood on it, and then hung it around their necks.

The Hunting Demon Order with blood dripped on it would accompany the Hunting Demon Master for a lifetime. Some Hunting Demon Masters even treasured the Hunting Demon Order as much as their life, unwilling to lose it even if they lost their life. Losing a Hunting Demon Order was equivalent to losing the Hunting Demon's past and merits, and also equivalent to losing a Hunting Master's entire life.

After the blood oath and the distribution of the Hunting Demon Orders were finished, the Hunting Demon Ceremony ended.

Da Hu and the other two had tense expressions throughout and only relaxed a breath at this moment.

They wore new Daoist robes and rattan armor, holding brand new plain knives in their hands.

The Daoist robes were made of ordinary cloth, although cheap, they were still considered sturdy. The rattan armor and plain knife were spiritual tools. The rattan armor could protect the heart veins, and the plain knife was used to hunt demonic beasts. They were considered the most common spiritual tools for Hunting Demon Masters.

Uncle Meng was originally not wealthy; he basically spent all his savings just to prepare this complete set for the three of them. After this, they would rely on these spiritual tools and be self-reliant.

Mo Hua strolled around the main street with Da Hu and the other two, but seeing that they were a bit lacking in interest, he asked with concern:

"What's wrong? Aren't you happy?"

They came to a small stone bridge, leaned against the railing, and sat on the edge of the bridge, looking at the gurgling water and the distant lights intertwined.

Er Hu said: "I saw my mother secretly crying last night."

Xiao Hu said: "I saw it too. I guess she's heartbroken over the spirit stones. All the spirit stones at home are used up; she saved those up little by little."

"Not just that, we also borrowed some. I saw my father borrow from the uncles in the Hunting Demon Team, and from Uncle Mo," Da Hu said, then asked Mo Hua: "Your family doesn't urgently need spirit stones, right?"

"Rest assured, our family still has a food shop, so we're not short for now," Mo Hua comforted them.

"That's good," Da Hu breathed a sigh of relief, but the three of them were still listless.

Just one day before, they were still children. After the Hunting Demon Ceremony, they would begin to bear the hardships of a cultivator's life. Some things they hadn't deeply experienced before, but now that responsibility had fallen on their shoulders, they only knew that life wasn't easy.

"No need to be so dejected; this is actually also a good thing," Mo Hua said.

Da Hu and the other two looked at Mo Hua together.

"Before, only Uncle Meng and Aunt Meng earned spirit stones, and you could only spend them. Now you are already Hunting Demon Masters and can hunt demonic beasts to earn spirit stones. Aunt Meng's burden will be lighter, and life will be better in the future. Wait until you pay back your debts and earn more spirit stones, then Aunt Meng can buy many good things to eat," Mo Hua said.

The three people's eyes lit up.

Er Hu scratched his head and said: "But, can we earn spirit stones? I heard my father say that most newcomer Hunting Demon Masters can only follow and watch, follow and learn, and don't get to divide many spirit stones."

"You don't fight fiercely enough?"

"Right."

"Just treat hunting demons as fighting. Before you fought with people, now you fight with demons."

"But... hunting demons and fighting are still different, right?" Xiao Hu said hesitantly.

"Then just follow the uncles in the Hunting Demon Team and learn more. Nothing is achieved in one step. The faster you learn, the earlier you can help, and then the earlier you can divide the spirit stones. Like this, Uncle Meng and Aunt Meng will both be happy."

Mo Hua comforted them a bit, and the three children cheered up more or less.

"However," Da Hu said hesitantly, "If we go hunting demons, we can't often come and find you to play."

"And maybe we won't be able to find you to play anymore..." Xiao Hu also said quietly.

After saying that, the three people's expressions became lost again.

"It doesn't matter, in a year or two, maybe I'll also reach the sixth layer of Refining Qi. At that time, I'll also become a Hunting Demon Master and can go up the mountain with you," Mo Hua said.

"Right! Right!" Xiao Hu said happily.

"Right what right?" Er Hu rolled his eyes at Xiao Hu, then looked at Mo Hua with a bit of worry, "Your body is not good, and you don't cultivate the body cultivation path. It's very dangerous to be a Hunting Demon Master, and Uncle Mo won't agree either. You should still be an Array Master. Your status is high, you earn more spirit stones, and you don't need to fight and kill."

Da Hu quickly nodded, "Being an Array Master is good!"

Xiao Hu also agreed, "Um, being an Array Master is good!"

"Okay, then I'll consider being an Array Master first. If I have other opportunities, or if I can cultivate my body, then I'll consider being a Hunting Demon Master," Mo Hua said.

However, he thought about it a bit and realized that he indeed had no talent for being a Hunting Demon Master. His body was originally weak, and he learned a cultivation method that focused on spiritual power. If he truly became a Hunting Demon Master, and demonic beasts got close, a few casual tears and bites would probably finish him off...

Mo Hua felt a bit regretful. He still quite yearned for the brave and dashing body cultivators who fought with their fists and made big, open movements.

It was a pity that he was born with a weak body and had no such opportunity.

Mo Hua patted his waist pouch, "Today I'll treat you to Liu Ji's osmanthus cake from the street, consider it a send-off for you."

Upon hearing there was food, the three people's spirits lifted.

"But, it's always you who treat, that's not very good," Er Hu said a bit awkwardly.

"It doesn't matter, wait until you become famous Hunting Demon Masters, kill many demonic beasts, earn many spirit stones, then you can treat me to good food!"

When the three people heard this, they suddenly felt heroic and nodded in unison, "Good!"

Their worries just now were swept away, and the group of people then walked towards the pastry shop majestically and spiritedly.

After eating the pastry, it was getting late, so they wanted to go home.

Before leaving, Da Hu instructed Mo Hua: "After we go up the mountain, you be careful. If someone bullies you, be sure to tell us. We'll come back and help you fight."

Mo Hua's heart was touched, and he smiled and said: "Good, that's a deal!"