Chapter 938: Orphan

This evil fetus, both familiar and strange.

Its appearance is that of a pitch-black infant, bearing some resemblance to the one that Mo Ying killed before, but obviously larger and with more deformed limbs. Its breath is more chaotic, mixed with an unknown amount of resentment, bitter hate, and malice.

At this time, it looks at Mo Ying with a cold and indifferent expression and ferocious gaze.

Mo Ying is also gazing at it.

In the pitch-black, filthy nightmare, one golden human figure and one filthy black evil infant are silently facing each other like this.

After an unknown amount of time passed, the evil infant's expression suddenly became violent. It opened its mouth full of sawtooth teeth, its gaze blood-red, and pointed its right hand at Mo Ying, murmuring strange sounds in its mouth.

Mo Ying frowned, just not knowing what it wanted to do, when he then discovered black fog surging around his body and blood-colored light shaking.

The ground everywhere was bulging, black water condensing, manifesting into one human figure after another.

The human figures were like demons, but upon close inspection, they were not exactly "demons," but true "people," one after another tragically dead people.

Their clothes were tattered, their limbs broken and arms missing, their faces full of blood tears, being enslaved, being dominated, full of countless resentments, struggling to crawl towards Mo Ying.

One after another hand grabbed Mo Ying, and one after another mouth bit on Mo Ying's body.

Intense pain transmitted.

This pain was not purely physical pain. It seemed also mixed with the suppression and torment that countless cultivators experienced in life, and the sorrow and despair of death.

Mo Ying's expression changed. He pointed his fingers together, but no fireball appeared at his fingertip.

His divine sense moved, but no formation was constructed around him. He gripped his palm, but no divine sense sword manifested in his palm.

As if in this nightmare, he was just a weak, humble low-level cultivator.

He had no cultivation, no spells, no formations, no sword arts, nothing. In the face of a great calamity, he felt despair and powerlessness.

More and more tragically dead people crawled to Mo Ying's side, gnawing at Mo Ying's body.

The pain of living and the despair of dying, like poison, permeated Mo Ying's entire body.

As the pain intensified, the powerless Mo Ying gradually felt cold and despair.

Just as he was being torn and bitten by these half-human, half-ghost demons, sinking into boundless pain, and about to be submerged by a mountain of corpses, a surge of clarity suddenly arose. His Dao heart was instantly washed clean as new.

Mo Ying suddenly awakened.

"Fake... everything is fake."

"This weak, powerless, humble low-level cultivator is not me."

"I am Mo Ying. I have the divine sense of Dao transformation, and I have my own Dao. Hundreds of thousands of formations have been tempered and refined, fused into myself. My divine sense can become a sword that cuts both the small self and evil demons."

Mo Ying's gaze became increasingly firm, blooming with sword-like sharpness.

He virtually gripped his palm.

Between his palms, a wisp of sword intent constantly twisted, flickered, and constructed, continuously breaking some intent restrictions and shattering some nightmare rules...

Finally, with subtle sounds, cracks covered Mo Ying's entire body.

Mo Ying gripped his right hand, and golden light suddenly appeared, his sword revealing its edge.

He held the divine sense sword in his hand and made the first cut towards himself.

Golden sword light flashed, directly chopping his "divine sense incarnation" into pieces.

But what was chopped was not himself, but that weak, powerless, despairing, humble cultivator who could only tragically die in the face of a great calamity.

What was chopped was the nightmare rule, which, through deception and bewitchment, had bestowed upon him that "self."

The false self was annihilated, and the true self was traced back. Mo Ying's mind instantly became clear.

The nightmare's rule was broken.

All of Mo Ying's divine sense power returned to his body.

The divine sense sword in his hand flowed with splendid light, and sword energy surged. Mo Ying waved his arm horizontally, and the sword energy pulled out a brilliant golden light, like a river breaking its banks, sweeping across.

All the half-human, half-ghost demons were cut at the waist and twisted by the golden sword light, turning to ashes.

The black gas of the nightmare was swept clean.

Mo Ying turned his head and fixed his eyes on what was ahead.

The deformed and strong "evil infant" ahead was still looking at Mo Ying with a ferocious gaze.

Mo Ying did not go to chop this "evil infant."

Because he knew that what was in front of him was just an "illusion," originally just a non-existent thing, a kind of causal force.

It was like a causal "anchor point." The nightmare and the demons came because of it, but it itself was not there at all.

The nightmare's rule was broken, Mo Ying's consciousness gradually cleared, the nightmare dissipated, and the evil infant's form also gradually disappeared.

But the evil fetus was still looking at Mo Ying...

When Mo Ying entered the dream, it was looking at Mo Ying; when Mo Ying was being swallowed by the demons, it was looking at Mo Ying; when Mo Ying broke the nightmare and chopped off the demons with one sword, it was still looking at Mo Ying; now that the nightmare was about to dissipate, it was still looking at Mo Ying.

Its pupils were empty and pitch-black, seeping with blood threads, looking sinister and terrifying.

Until the nightmare thoroughly dissipated and Mo Ying awoke from the nightmare, this pair of blood-different eye pupils was still imprinted in his mind.

Mo Ying opened his eyes.

He discovered that on the tabletop, the spiritual ink had been knocked over, and the ink had permeated the array paper. The traces were still wet.

The nightmare came fast and went fast.

Not much time passed from entering the dream to waking up from the dream.

Mo Ying tidied up the table, wiped dry the ink traces, organized the book scrolls, then sat at the table, frowning in thought.

"Why did I have this nightmare?"

Was the previous evil fetus not chopped clean, or did I become stained with causality after chopping the evil fetus?

Or, was it because I met that 'young master,' personally saw the poppy-like fallen Heavenly Mechanism chains, so in the dark, causality began to operate?

"Why is this nightmare different from previous ones? In the dream, I seemed not myself. Is this also the evil god's ability?"

And...

Mo Ying frowned.

"The evil fetus I dreamed of, what is it?"

Is it already dead, or not dead?

If it's dead, why would it appear in my dream?

If it's not dead, then does it mean that the Great Wilderness Evil God doesn't just have one evil fetus?

How many evil fetuses did Mister Tu raise?

Yu'er's words, the dreams she had, floated in his mind again. Mo Ying's gaze slightly condensed, and he gradually had some guesses.

The things to do next also gradually took shape.

Mo Ying tidied up his mood and began to discard external things, resolutely continuing to draw formations.

Formations must be practiced. As long as they are practiced, there will certainly be progress.

Even if more accidents and changes appear in life, as long as there is time, formations must be practiced.

And time is limited. The past is like this, going forward without return. Any trivial time once wasted cannot be recovered.

Mo Ying continued to practice formations, but just practiced for a while, then his expression was slightly startled.

That pair of empty and pitch-black, seeping with blood threads, sinister and terrifying eye pupils floated in front of him again, silently looking at him.

This pair of eyes seemed as if it would always exist.

It would always be in some unknowable place, forever gazing at Mo Ying, forever.

Mo Ying also silently gazed at this pair of terrifying eye pupils in his heart. After a moment, he softly murmured:

"Still dare to look at me..."

"If you keep looking, I will 'eat' you..."

Several days later, in Taixu City.

Mo Ying arranged to meet with Master Gu in a restaurant.

Because it was not a rest day, Mo Ying still had classes, and time was limited. The two only simply ate a meal and chatted a bit.

Master Gu is a third-grade artifact refiner of the Gu family, in charge of the artifact refining shop that the Gu family opened in Gushan City.

The artifact refining shop was originally on the verge of closing, struggling to survive. It was Mo Ying who drew formations for them, customized spiritual tools, and also attracted business, which allowed it to revive and do better and better.

Master Gu was naturally endlessly grateful to Mo Ying. At the table, he kept pouring wine and serving dishes for Mo Ying, as if Mo Ying were a Golden Core cultivator and he were just a Foundation Establishment cultivator...

"Master Gu, there's no need to be polite," Mo Ying said.

"Should, should," Master Gu again gave Mo Ying a piece of elbow meat and smiled, "Young master has great kindness to our artifact refining shop. Later, if you have any matter, just instruct."

Master Gu had a face full of sincerity.

Mo Ying's gaze slightly flashed, and he asked: "Master Gu, how is the situation in Gushan City recently?"

"Recent situation?"

"Um."

Master Gu thought for a moment and said: "The recent situation in Gushan City... not much different from before, but our artifact refining shop's business is much better, earning more and more spiritual stones, even bringing surrounding livelihoods also better."

"Quite a few artifact refiners come to our artifact refining shop to seek livelihood. Those mining and doing hard labor, relying on our artifact refining shop, also have a meal to eat."

"Compared to some prosperous big immortal cities, or even some wealthy medium immortal cities, it is naturally far inferior. But compared to the previous Gushan City, it is already much better. More cultivators are coming and going, and the city is also gradually gaining vitality..."

Mo Ying nodded.

That is to say... the situation is improving, and days are getting better little by little.

"Then..." Mo Ying again lowered his voice and asked, "Has Gushan City had any incidents recently?"

Master Gu also involuntarily lowered his voice and asked: "Young master, what kind of incidents are you talking about?"

"Just, are there any strange incidents, weird incidents, or..." Mo Ying's gaze slightly sank, "a big murder case where many people died?"

Master Gu's expression was startled, "Murder case?"

"Um," Mo Ying nodded, "the kind where the Tu family was wiped out and many people died."

Master Gu frowned, thought seriously, and shook his head, "No."

"No?"

"Um, it's still quite peaceful recently," Master Gu said, "and Gushan City is mostly scattered families and households. Since its decline, there are also few small families. It's impossible to have that kind of 'Tu family extermination, many people died' situation."

After all, a scattered cultivator family just has that few people, and it's not called "extermination."

Mo Ying nodded, but felt strange in his heart.

No accidents, no big cases...

The Gu family artifact refining shop's business is getting better and better, even bringing surrounding cultivators a meal to eat. The flow of people in the city is increasing, and it is also gradually gaining human spirit.

All of this is clearly developing in a good direction.

But why...

That day when surrounding the demonic sect, when he encountered that registrar named "Fan Jin," why did he want to transfer away from Gushan City so much?

If it was purely just wanting to transfer, that would be nothing.

People go to higher places, which is understandable.

But in his eyes, yet hiding deep fear...

In Gushan City, exactly what thing made this Dao Court registrar Golden Core also feel "fear"?

The more Mo Ying thought about it, the stranger it felt. Then he opened his mouth and asked: "Master Gu, do you know Fan Jin?"

"Fan Jin?" Master Gu was slightly startled, "Does young master mean, the registrar Fan from Gushan City?"

"Um," Mo Ying nodded.

"You actually know him." Master Gu was very surprised.

Mo Ying only simply said: "By chance, we had a brief encounter."

Master Gu nodded, didn't ask more, thought for a moment, then said:

"I have drunk wine with this Registrar Fan several times, so we have some friendship. This person's character is not bad, just a bit small-minded and utilitarian, likes to put on airs, and is a bit of a bully to the weak and afraid of the strong, but not too excessive. Usually in affairs, he is also quite rule-abiding. Gushan City is too poor, there is no oil and water to fish, so his position as registrar is also considered 'clean'..."

"Oh..." Mo Ying seemed thoughtful.

Master Gu observed his words and expressions and whispered: "Young master, could this Registrar Fan have committed something, or has he offended you?"

Mo Ying smiled, "Nothing, he said he is the registrar of Gushan City and wants to invite me to eat. I just casually asked."

Master Gu relaxed, thinking in his heart, nothing good.

This big head Fan, indeed has some eyesight. He can recognize such a "big leg" like the young master, who doesn't show mountains or reveal waters...

The two chatted a bit more. After finishing their meal and drink, Mo Ying returned to Taixu Gate. Before leaving, he said: "Master Gu, three days later is a rest day. At that time, I will go to Gushan City to see."

Master Gu was startled upon hearing this, then greatly pleased, and hurriedly said:

"Young master, please rest assured, I will certainly arrange it well. At that time, I will personally come to pick you up."

Mo Ying smiled: "Trouble, Master Gu."

Three days later, Mo Ying then took the Gu family's carriage, personally escorted by Master Gu, and together they went to Gushan City.

On the way, Mo Ying was full of thoughts. Suddenly, his heart had a feeling, and he looked up.

He discovered in the distance, on a mountain top, hidden in deep mountains and old forests, a broken temple exposed a little of its head—exactly the location of his old friend, Yellow Mountain Lord's temple.

"Mountain Lord..."

Mo Ying temporarily had an idea and wanted to detour to visit Yellow Mountain Lord.

After all, he hadn't seen this old friend for a long time, and he didn't know how he was doing now, whether he was drinking rainwater and eating spoiled mantou every day.

But on second thought, Master Gu was in a hurry, and the road to Gushan City was quite far. Detouring to visit Mountain Lord would inevitably delay time.

"Next time... next time, I will definitely go find Yellow Mountain Lord to play."

Mo Ying silently thought in his heart.

A gust of mountain wind blew, blowing into the withered mountains. The mountain forests rustled, and the mountain god temple deep inside seemed to also tremble slightly.

After that, Master Gu drove the carriage, and Mo Ying closed his eyes to rest in the carriage.

The carriage sped like lightning. Another half day passed, and they finally arrived at Gushan City.

Mo Ying lifted the carriage curtain, poked out his head, opened his eyes to look around, taking in all the scenes of Gushan City.

The mountain city was still quite dilapidated, with bare stones, withered vegetation, and a gray sky. There were many abandoned mines around, and people were sparse.

Having been used to seeing the prosperity of Qianxue State and its surrounding immortal cities, looking at Gushan City would give a strong sense of disconnection.

It would even make people have the illusion of whether these people were living in the same world or not.

But Master Gu was also right.

Compared to before, Gushan City was already much better. At least the passing cultivators did not have that much decadence and sorrow on their faces, but instead more vitality.

The carriage leisurely moved forward along the rugged mountain stone street, all the way to a large artifact refining shop located in the southeast corner of Gushan City.

Above the door plaque of the artifact refining shop, there was a plaque with the five big characters "Gu Family Artifact Refining Shop" written in vigorous strokes. Below it hung a small plaque with the four words "Gushan Branch" written on it.

Entering the artifact refining shop, there was a scene of bustling activity.

Compared to before, the changes inside the artifact refining shop could be said to be earth-shattering.

The artifact refining furnaces were bigger, the melting fire formations were more complete, and there were also more artifact refining masters and disciples.

Everyone divided the work and cooperated, putting one spiritual tool embryo after another into the artifact refining furnaces to burn and quench, and then taking them out to forge.

In the roaring flames, sparks flew. Row after row of various spiritual tools that had just come out of the furnace were neatly placed in the large courtyard.

Whether in terms of scale, stoves, manpower, or output, everything far surpassed the past.

Mo Ying had not been to Gushan City for a long time. Since he had discussed the plan and set the standards for formations and spiritual tools, he then became a "hands-off boss."

At this time, looking at the scene in front of him, Mo Ying was also inevitably somewhat shocked and praised Master Gu:

"Master Gu, your artifact refining shop is being managed increasingly well..."

Master Gu received the praise with a face full of pride and bowed to Mo Ying with cupped hands: "This is all thanks to young master. Without young master, where would the artifact refining shop be today?"

Mo Ying waved his hand and modestly said: "Where, where, I just helped a little bit, that's all."

Master Gu then ordered someone to go and call a large group of artifact refining disciples and instructed them: "Come, greet Ink young master."

"Ink young master is good!"

A group of sturdy artifact refining disciples, dripping with hot sweat, all bowed and said in unison:

"Greetings, Ink young master!"

"Ink young master's great kindness and virtue are unforgettable!"

This scene was too grand, making Mo Ying somewhat embarrassed. He hurriedly said: "No need to be polite, you all go back to your work."

Master Gu then let them disperse and said to Mo Ying: "Young master, I have arranged a banquet tonight, specifically to entertain you. There is still some time now, shall I take you for a stroll around?"

Master Gu guessed that Mo Ying had his own intentions for coming to Gushan City.

He couldn't guess this intention, so he could only do his best to take Mo Ying to look around everywhere.

Mo Ying nodded, "Trouble, Master Gu."

"Young master, please." Master Gu then personally led the way, leading Mo Ying on a tour of the artifact refining shop.

To outsiders, these are secrets.

But Mo Ying was different. If he wanted to see, Master Gu naturally wouldn't refuse.

After touring the artifact refining shop, Master Gu again led Mo Ying outside the artifact refining shop.

Outside the artifact refining shop, there were also quite a few cultivators gathered in the nearby open space, sitting cross-legged, with back baskets in front of them, and various kinds of black, gray, or white ores.

"These are also scattered cultivators. Their cultivation is not high, they don't know how to refine artifacts, and they have no other skills. They only have a body of strength and can only carry bamboo baskets to try their luck inside Gushan and pick up some leftover ores from mining."

"If they are lucky, these ores can be used for refining and can be exchanged for several pieces of broken spiritual stones to buy some coarse grain and barely fill their stomachs."

"If they are unlucky, then they will only starve."

"Before, there were only a few artifact refining shops in Gushan that could survive. The quality of the ores they picked was also very poor, and basically no one collected them."

Master Gu sighed a bit and said:

"But now it's good. Our artifact refining shop is doing bigger and bigger and needs quite a few ores. They pick some ores and come here to sell them. Even if the quality is very poor, they can basically exchange for some broken spiritual stones. Although it's not much, at least it won't let them starve."

Mo Ying felt pleased in his heart, yet somewhat complex. He turned his eyes to look and discovered that in the crowd, there were still quite a few children around ten years old.

They were black and thin, their faces were also dirty, their arms were like bamboo poles, and they carried bamboo baskets on their backs. Inside the baskets were black and gray ores.

The heavy ores pressed them down so that they couldn't straighten their waists.

There were not just one or two such children, but many.

Mo Ying's heart ached, and he also vaguely had a bad premonition. Then he asked: "Do these children go picking ores alone? Where are their parents?"

Master Gu's expression was bitter, and he shook his head, "This is Gushan City. Most of these children are orphans..."