The ancient, terrifying eye was immeasurably vast.

The blood vessels in the eye were shaped like Tao Tie patterns, and all these patterns converged like ancient rules, flowing into a sea, forming a source of Tao Tie that contained infinite mysteries.

Mo Hua only exchanged a glance with this eye, and his mind was completely captivated. His spirit was being drawn away from his Sea of Consciousness, pulled into the eye. Simultaneously, the Tao Tie patterns within his body began to writhe, as if summoned by some entity, wanting to return to their origin. The formerly blue Tao Tie patterns started to glow with a bloody hue, seemingly using Mo Hua’s bones as nourishment to incubate life.

Mo Hua felt a sense of “assimilation.” Despite feeling a profound strangeness and an unspeakable fear, there was also an inner sense of returning to some kind of “origin,” a feeling of belonging. Even Mo Hua’s physical body was attracted by the裂隙 (lièxì, rift), slowly falling downwards, plunging into the boundless abyss, into the ancient eye, into the very source of the Tao Tie’s laws.

A hoarse, peculiar, chaotic voice, as if many people, many demonic beasts, many fiends, and even many unknown creatures were mixed together, sounded in Mo Hua’s ears, seeping into his mind. The voice sounded strange, like the voice of an ancient Tao Tie. Mo Hua, being human, originally couldn’t understand it, but at this moment, he seemed to grasp the meaning from the Tao Tie’s ancient babbling.

The voice seemed to say:
“My… child…”
“Come back, my child…”

Once he understood these words, it was akin to being deeply assimilated. Mo Hua’s consciousness began to grow hazy, his instincts started to yield, as if he was submerging into some maternal law, where his very bones would merge into this origin. And Mo Hua’s divinity did not resist, because deities are born of the Dao, and divinity craves laws. To deeply merge with laws was the inherent desire of his divinity. Mo Hua’s eyes gradually dimmed, and amidst the black, white, and gold colors, a chaotic ferocity emerged. His body slowly fell towards the裂隙 (lièxì). The Tao Tie’s laws pulled at the Tao Tie array patterns within him, continuously assimilating him.

Just as Mo Hua was about to fall completely into the裂缝 (lièfèng, crack), an ancient profound energy circulated within him. A flash of cyan-green light, a surge of Yi Mu (乙木, Wood energy) vitality, began to repel the Tao Tie’s laws. However, the Yi Mu vitality was no match for the Tao Tie’s laws and was instantly obliterated. The obliteration of this Yi Mu vitality seemed to anger another array in Mo Hua’s core array.

Yin and Yang cycle, life and death transform. When vitality was extinguished, life turned into death. A black death qi seeped from Mo Hua’s bones, instantly eradicating a portion of the Tao Tie’s power. The massive Tao Tie eye trembled, revealing a trace of apprehension and repulsion. The process of assimilating Mo Hua was also met with a slight obstruction.

This brief obstruction allowed Mo Hua a moment of clarity. His gaze immediately turned cold as he recognized the danger he was in. He couldn’t be assimilated! He couldn’t fall into this eye-like abyss. Mo Hua quickly shut his eyes, no longer looking at the bloody eye covered in Tao Tie patterns, isolating himself from its attraction. He even deliberately cut off the residual image of the Tao Tie eye in his spiritual sense. At the same time, he used the spiritual power from his Dantian to activate the Twelve Meridians Tao Tie Spiritual Skeleton, suppressing the growth of the bloody color within the skeleton. Mo Hua also exerted all his strength, bracing his hands against the edge of the裂缝 (lièfèng), forcibly pulling his body, which had largely fallen into the裂缝 (lièfèng), back out.

Inside the裂缝 (lièfèng), the Tao Tie’s eye trembled, and the abyss of blood and sea raged. The dense Tao Tie laws almost solidified, like glazed blood-colored beast patterns, frantically expanding and spreading in the void, causing the entire Jizai (饥灾, Famine Calamity) Great Array to fluctuate, its array patterns bulging like blood vessels. On the ground, the miasma of famine suddenly surged violently, like undulating mountains. The range of the famine also unpredictably contracted due to the array’s turmoil. Some warring tribes, sensing the shaking of the earth and the calamitous signs caused by the Tao Tie’s power, showed panic and confusion.

At this moment, Mo Hua could also perceive the instability of the great array. But he had no time to worry about that; he had to exert all his strength to break free from the裂缝 (lièfèng) and escape the gaze of the Tao Tie Law Eye. Fortunately, this裂缝 (lièfèng) seemed to have some kind of seal. The Tao Tie laws within the裂缝 (lièfèng) could only incubate inside the裂缝 (lièfèng) and could not penetrate to the surface through it. Mo Hua used the “meditation method” to calm his mind and guard his heart. After using “Tian Mo Zhan Qing” (天魔斩情, Heavenly Demon Emotion Severance) to cut off the connections to the laws, he very reluctantly pulled himself out of the裂缝’s (lièfèng) attraction.

“My… chi…” The chaotic and terrifying murmur of the Tao Tie in his ears slowly faded. Mo Hua closed his eyes, severing the last trace of fear, and completely detached himself from the裂缝 (lièfèng). But when he turned around and opened his eyes again, he saw another pair of eyes. These were human eyes, but they were set in a demonic face. These eyes, at this moment, were filled with a mix of shock, complexity, horror, and disbelief. They stared at Mo Hua as if seeing a ghost.

Mo Hua was also startled, for the “owner” of these eyes was none other than Mr. Tu! While he was peeking into the裂缝 (lièfèng), he disturbed the giant Tao Tie eye within it, causing fluctuations in the great array. These fluctuations also “awakened” Mr. Tu. In other words, they awakened his martial uncle’s Guidao (诡道, Devious Path) clone! Mo Hua’s hair stood on end. Array breakdown, spiritual sense forming a sword, Shi Shui Bu (逝水步, Flowing Water Steps), Shui Ying Huan Shen (水影幻身, Water Shadow Illusion Body), Wan Fa Jie Tong (万法皆通, Mastery of All Techniques)—all the methods he had studied throughout his life flashed through his mind in an instant. Golden light subconsciously gathered in his eyes. A fierce sword intent condensed in his pupils.

But the next moment, Mo Hua suddenly paused. He looked at Mr. Tu’s eyes again and immediately noticed a problem. He saw very distinct emotions in Mr. Tu’s eyes, human emotions. These were not emotions that a Guidao (诡道) puppet could possess. Mo Hua frowned slightly. On the other side, the demonic Mr. Tu still maintained an indescribable shock and astonishment in his eyes.

Although Mo Hua had become a Shen Zhu (神祝, divine blessing) of the Great Wilderness, with high divinity and divine authority, his demeanor had changed significantly. But that face, Mr. Tu would never forget even if he died. Even if he descended into hell, was skinned, had his bones extracted through eighteen layers of purgatory, and burned to ash, he would never forget it. Without this boy, the Blood Sacrifice Great Array could not have collapsed. The Lord of God’s descent could not have failed. His millennium-long plan could never have been ruined.

But precisely because of this, Mr. Tu felt an inexplicable shock. This was the Great Wilderness, thousands of miles away, the heartland of the barbarous lands, the core of the Tao Tie Great Array, and even the core of the chess game of that terrifying, unmentionable Daoist.

“You… how… how could you be… here…” Mr. Tu’s voice was hoarse, as if his throat had been torn. He couldn’t understand why he would see Mo Hua here. Why the first living person he saw upon opening his eyes would be Mo Hua.

Mo Hua, however, scrutinized Mr. Tu’s appearance and asked with a solemn expression, “You… weren’t demon-seeded?”

Demon-seeded?! What he said was… demon-seeded? At these words, Mr. Tu’s pupils constricted, and he instantly understood some things. This child… was related to that terrifying “Daoist”? And, judging by their relationship, it seemed quite close, even familiar with the “Daoist’s” method of demon-seeding. No… even more so… Mr. Tu suddenly remembered that year in the Wild Heavens Blood Sacrifice Array, in the Hall of Ten Thousand Devils filled with殘屍 (cánshī, scattered corpses), those Golden Core demon heads who were controlled, fighting each other like madmen and dying miserably…

Mr. Tu guessed that these people must have died from “Dao Xin Zhong Mo” (道心种魔, Demonic Seed in the Dao Heart). Such a cruel, even insane “Dao Xin Zhong Mo” could only be wielded by that Daoist. But upon closer thought, it didn’t quite seem like that Daoist’s doing. The timing also didn’t quite match. Now, seeing Mo Hua and hearing his words, “You weren’t demon-seeded?”, Mr. Tu suddenly realized. It was Mo Hua! In the Hall of Ten Thousand Devils back then, it was Mo Hua who was the assassin! He had used “Dao Xin Zhong Mo” to secretly instigate the bloodshed and slaughter all the Golden Core demon heads in that Hall of Ten Thousand Devils! This was the inheritance of Guidao (诡道)! This was a “Little Guidao (诡道) Daoist”! Mr. Tu trembled with fear, his legs subconsciously weakened, and he took two steps back.

Mo Hua frowned, wondering why Mr. Tu was suddenly so frightened, despite him doing nothing. He asked Mr. Tu, “Are you… conscious now?”

Mr. Tu, questioned by the “Little Guidao (诡道) Daoist,” turned pale, but looking at Mo Hua’s clear eyes, Mr. Tu instantly felt a sense of incongruity. Something was off. This young man in front of him was clearly “alive,” his gaze was vibrant, and he had his own thoughts. This young man had a different demeanor from that terrifying Daoist; he didn’t seem to be on the same path. Moreover, that Daoist had no so-called “inheritors.” There wasn’t even a “living person” near that Daoist. Mr. Tu remembered again that this young man came from the Tai Xu Sect (太虚门), a legitimate prestigious sect, and had deep connections with the sect’s patriarchs. He also had a “ferocious god” dwelling within him. Given this, he absolutely wouldn’t be… that Daoist’s minion.

But precisely because of this, it was utterly inconceivable! He was alive! He knew “Dao Xin Zhong Mo” (道心种魔), understood its intricacies, which meant he must have had dealings with that Daoist. In other words… this young man was someone who could remain conscious and alive after having dealings with the Guidao (诡道) Daoist. He was even a “living person” who could enter the core of this ancient Huang Tian Tao Tie Liu Dao Lun Hui (荒天饕餮六道轮回, Barren Heaven Tao Tie Six Paths of Reincarnation) Great Array, without being devoured by the Tao Tie, without his flesh and blood withering, and without his spiritual sense being sucked dry.

Mr. Tu’s mind was greatly shaken, and a glimmer of faint hope appeared in his ashen eyes. He shed his external demonic body, revealing his scarred, “slave-like” broken body, and his originally gaunt and pale face. Mr. Tu looked at Mo Hua with complex emotions and said in a hoarse voice, “You… quickly leave…”

Mo Hua frowned and said, “I have something to do here…”

Mr. Tu shook his head, “It’s almost too late. It’s already a miracle that you’ve made it this far… if you delay any longer…” At this point, Mr. Tu suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. His blood was black, with black granulation writhing within it. Despair and pain appeared on Mr. Tu’s face; his features began to contort, and his voice became hoarse and urgent: “Quick… quick, go…” “I… it… is waking up…” Mr. Tu’s features began to deform, turning deathly pale, and streaks of black lines, like blood vessels, appeared on his deathly pale face. These black lines were mixed with terrifying Guidao (诡道) aura, denser than any Guidao (诡道) aura Mo Hua had encountered before. It was even close to… the origin of Guidao (诡道).

This was… the power of martial uncle’s true body. Mo Hua took a deep breath. His rationality clearly told him that at this moment, he had to leave, otherwise, once martial uncle “descended,” he might not be able to leave. But Mo Hua’s heart was still in a dilemma. There were too many things he wanted to know and explore that he hadn’t gotten answers to. This dilemma only lasted for a few breaths, and Mo Hua could only grit his teeth and make up his mind. Hesitation would only lead to trouble.

Mo Hua was about to turn and leave, but Mr. Tu suddenly called out to him: “Fellow Daoist…” Mo Hua paused slightly. On Mr. Tu’s half-demon, half-human face, an extremely complex and struggling emotion appeared, along with some despair and lament from worldly vicissitudes. Then, Mr. Tu stretched his long demonic claws into his chest, fumbled around his heart, pulled out a bloody object from his heart, and handed it to Mo Hua. Mo Hua’s expression was solemn; he took it and his pupils trembled. Mr. Tu handed him a small dog. A small dog made of green straw, crudely shaped, stained with flesh and blood, hidden by Mr. Tu in his heart.

Mr. Tu said hoarsely, “This thing… can’t save me anymore… you keep it…” “I can’t let it discover… I’m still… I… still… otherwise…” Mr. Tu’s condition suddenly changed; his pupils began to turn black. Mo Hua’s heart turned cold, and he quickly put the “chu gou” (刍狗, straw dog) stained with flesh and blood into his storage bag, then used Shi Shui Bu (逝水步) and turned to flee.

All around were black and red blood vessel array patterns and corrupted flesh-and-blood stone walls, all looking identical. But Mo Hua was an array master, with exceptionally keen insight; these seemingly identical things were, in his eyes, completely different. Mo Hua used these Tao Tie array patterns as markers and quickly fled along the path he came from, heading out of the great array. His figure, after a long time, once again pulled out a deep blue streak of water light.

Within the great array, Mr. Tu was still struggling desperately, fighting. He fought for his own “reason” and his own existence, and perhaps also to buy Mo Hua a little more time to escape. But no matter how much he fought, struggled, or tried, he ultimately couldn’t stop the spread of black blood threads. Mr. Tu’s eyes also gradually dimmed. The intensity of his struggle also gradually weakened. Finally, his face became completely cold and terrifying, and his remaining sanity was declared extinguished. A strange aura suddenly emanated, twisting the surrounding space. That trace of wicked thought within Mr. Tu finally “awakened.”