Afterward, Mo Hua continued to push for “annexation,” using military force, personal shamanic prestige, and even threats of “genocide” to absorb all the small tribes along the way.

Thanks to the calculations of Hua Jialaozu, Mo Hua now had a map of the final destination of the Great Wilderness.

But a map is, after all, just a map.

With the tribes in turmoil and the situation perilous, no one knew what was happening in various corners of the Great Wilderness at that very moment.

This map was shrouded in a fog.

What Mo Hua had to do was explore the map bit by bit, clear the fog, and then annex the tribes he found along the way, constantly expanding his power.

His current military strength was not weak.

However, Mo Hua deeply understood that this military strength was far from enough to face the powerful enemies and great catastrophe that would come in the future.

He had to seize as many “pawns” as possible and strengthen his power before the true strong enemies and the true calamity arrived.

After another month of “annexation,” Mo Hua’s power further grew, and the surrounding small forces had been almost entirely “eaten” by him.

The disposable military force at Mo Hua’s command reached eleven thousand.

However, the total number of people in the entire team was twenty-five thousand.

This was because a tribe not only had military personnel but also ordinary savage cultivators.

Mo Hua couldn’t just mobilize the military and disregard the lives of ordinary savage cultivators, so some old, young, weak, and disabled people were also “absorbed” by Mo Hua.

The entire team was also quite unwieldy.

Mo Hua planned to find a territory later, temporarily establish a domain to settle the ordinary savage cultivators, and at the same time have them responsible for cultivation and production, supplying war needs, and becoming the great rear.

Only then could the savage soldiers at the front fight without worries.

Moreover, only with a stable rear and surviving relatives in the tribe would the savage soldiers at the front have a reason to “fight” and be brave and fearless.

People must first have a “home” and “relatives” to have the belief of “defending their home and protecting their tribe.”

Otherwise, these savage soldiers he had absorbed would just be a group of “mercenaries” with no reason to fight, and they would immediately collapse if the situation turned unfavorable.

Mo Hua’s “ambition” was great; he wanted to prove his Dao and provide a glimmer of hope to the people of the Great Wilderness.

This kind of thing was not enough with just military strength.

He also needed territory, needed to build massive cultivation and production capabilities, accumulate resources, and expand production. Only then could he support the populace, supply the war, ensure continuous growth, and follow a long-term path.

Of course, these things had to be done step by step.

Currently, it was still a process of small fish eating shrimp and growing into a “big fish.”

Now that all the small tribes were “eaten,” Mo Hua planned to target some weaker medium and small tribes next.

The first medium and small tribe he encountered while exploring the map was called the “Zhuiyun Department.”

This tribe had one Jindan chieftain and one Jindan great elder, with a thousand savage soldiers. Its overall strength was decent.

With Mo Hua’s military strength, taking down the Zhuiyun Department by force would be simple.

But the problem was that the Zhuiyun Department chieftain was unwilling to submit.

He scoffed at Mo Hua, this seemingly young “Shaman Lord.”

Mo Hua also couldn’t just kill everyone, and he even found it difficult to use force to fight the Zhuiyun Department.

This was because of the two words “Zhuiyun.”

Zhuiyun was the name of a type of savage horse.

And this Zhuiyun Department had been attached to a major tribe for generations, specializing in raising savage horses for the major tribe, and occasionally even presenting top-grade savage horses to the royal court.

This led to the fact that while their own strength was not strong, they had always been favored by various forces due to their special skills.

Many powerful tribes whose ancestors lacked qualifications and whose bloodlines were not noble enough could not gain the recognition of the Zhuiyun Department.

Not to mention Mo Hua, this shaman.

Moreover, this Zhuiyun Department chieftain was short-tempered, stubborn, and irritable, and he lacked discernment. He couldn’t see Mo Hua’s extraordinaryness in the divine path, nor his transcendent and refined temperament. He only regarded Mo Hua as a “swindling” brat and charlatan.

Even because he was accustomed to arrogance, he didn’t even put Lu Gu and others in the late Jindan stage in his eyes.

Presumably, having raised horses for dignitaries, he felt he was also a dignitary.

And they indeed had this capital.

If it weren’t for the famine that disrupted the Great Wilderness and threw the entire situation into chaos, this horse-breeding Zhuiyun Department would never have ended up here.

Mo Hua cherished talent and indeed found it difficult to kill.

Raising horses was not an easy task, and the Zhuiyun Department was indeed very useful to him.

He had over 150 savage horses seized from the Wujiu Department, and he was worried about not having anyone to raise them.

Moreover, if his power grew stronger in the future and he seized some more powerful savage horses or demon horses, or even some demonic beasts that could be used as horses, he would also need specialized talent to raise them.

In the current situation, such specialized “horse-breeding” tribes were either plundered by others or perished in the famine.

These people from the Zhuiyun Department were also one less if one was killed.

Once missed, it would be almost impossible to find another tribe to raise horses for him on the fog-shrouded map.

Mo Hua also found it inconvenient to use brute force, so he calmed down and negotiated amicably with the Zhuiyun Department chieftain.

His posture was very low.

However, his low posture instead became more of a reason for the Zhuiyun Department chieftain to look down on him, believing him to be a fake shaman. He ridiculed Mo Hua and dismissed Mo Hua’s recruitment with disdain.

Mo Hua’s patience gradually wore thin.

He inquired about the Zhuiyun Department chieftain’s character and found that this chieftain was short-tempered, irritable, and had a very poor moral character.

In the entire Zhuiyun Department, he was the chieftain and a Jindan, holding a high and mighty position, and his strength was also the strongest. He was accustomed to being absolute.

He was skilled in using a leather whip magical artifact. If a horse was disobedient, he would whip it fiercely.

He treated people the same way he treated horses. If anyone resisted or displeased him, he would raise his whip and lash them like a horse, regardless of their relationship.

Sometimes, when he drank, he even whipped tribe members to death.

And throughout the tribe, his authority as chieftain was extremely severe, and no one dared to resist.

Mo Hua felt murderous intent but then thought that it wasn’t that simple.

No matter how bad the Zhuiyun Department chieftain was, he was still the chieftain, and to the members of the Zhuiyun Department, he was their “leader.”

He was an outsider. Killing this chieftain would be interfering in the tribe’s internal affairs.

Even if these tribe members were rid of a “tyrant,” they might not necessarily be grateful to him.

If it were an ordinary tribe, it would be fine; Mo Hua wouldn’t care about these things.

But these people from the Zhuiyun Department, after all, needed a reason to genuinely “submit.”

Mo Hua furrowed his brow slightly, then sighed.

“It’s a pity—Daoxin Zhongmo cannot be used—”

And even less can it be used indiscriminately and on a large scale. Otherwise, he could just directly use Daoxin Zhongmo to make these people submit.

This Zhuiyun Department chieftain, in any case, deserved to die, so direct manipulation of his consciousness would be enough.

But Daoxin Zhongmo was his Martial Uncle’s exclusive technique.

Now, his Martial Uncle’s sword hung over his head. If he rashly used his technique, he might inadvertently bring disaster upon himself.

Once bitten, twice shy. Mo Hua had suffered a great setback at his Martial Uncle’s hands, so he couldn’t be careless.

“Using Daoxin Zhongmo to manipulate the consciousness of others—”

As Mo Hua thought about it, he suddenly paused, realizing a problem:

“Why do I always habitually think of learning from Martial Uncle and ‘manipulating’ others?”

“Wouldn’t that mean—I’m walking Martial Uncle’s path?”

“If I keep going like this, won’t I become more and more like Martial Uncle?”

Temporarily following Martial Uncle’s path was fine, as Martial Uncle was far stronger than him in the way of spiritual sense. This was unavoidable.

But he couldn’t always follow Martial Uncle’s path, otherwise, wouldn’t he become the next “Guidao Ren”?

Before Martial Uncle assimilated him, he would have assimilated himself first.

No.

Mo Hua frowned.

“But without Daoxin Zhongmo—”

Mo Hua pondered for a long time, and couldn’t help but think of another question.

Daoxin Zhongmo was a technique of spiritual sense, capable of planting a demonic seed to “manipulate” others’ consciousness and change their perceptions.

But—

Why must one forcefully “manipulate”?

If one could see through people’s hearts and use the flaws in human nature to “persuade” others to achieve one’s goals—

Wouldn’t the result be the same as Daoxin Zhongmo?

If he did this, wouldn’t he be able to—

Bypass the technique barrier on the “art” level of Daoxin Zhongmo and directly achieve his goals?

Mo Hua’s gaze deepened slightly.

In a sense, was this also understanding “principles” through “techniques”?

After understanding the spiritual sense principles of Daoxin Zhongmo, abandoning fixed “techniques” and only using powerful spiritual sense to see through people’s hearts, using normal language to influence others’ cognition?

In this way, the effect would certainly not be as strong as Martial Uncle’s Daoxin Zhongmo.

But it would be more natural and more subtle.

Moreover, because there were no obvious traces of “technique,” others would not detect it and would be even less able to guard against it, and Martial Uncle should also not be able to discover it.

After a moment of thought, Mo Hua cast his profound gaze towards the Zhuiyun Department, observing everyone in the tribe.

The Zhuiyun Department chieftain probably wouldn’t work; he was short-tempered, stubborn, and wouldn’t listen to reason.

The Zhuiyun Department’s great elder was too old, his eyes cloudy, and it was hard to tell what he was thinking, so he was also not easy to approach.

Several other key figures…

The Zhuiyun Department chieftain’s eldest son had decent strength but a poor character, not suitable for important tasks.

The second son was very cunning, not worth using.

The Zhuiyun Department chieftain’s third son was the most inconspicuous, dull in temperament, and often received beatings and scoldings from his father. Yet, he never uttered a sound, appearing submissive, but his eyes were different. Mo Hua made up his mind.

Afterward, he hid himself and observed the Zhuiyun Department chieftain’s third son for two whole days.

Finally, when no one was around, he appeared mysteriously before the Zhuiyun Department chieftain’s third son.

At this time, the third son had just suffered punishment and whipping from his father and was hiding alone in his room, applying a rough herbal medicine to the whip marks on his body, like a lone wild beast silently licking its wounds in an unpopulated corner, enduring solitude and pain.

Therefore, when Mo Hua suddenly appeared, he was startled, his face turning pale.

Mo Hua glanced at the wounds on his body and asked indifferently, “What is your name?”

The young man was silent for a moment, then said in a hoarse voice:

“Chiju—”

He seemed to know who Mo Hua was and, after a moment of hesitation, still spoke his name.

“Chiju—” Mo Hua raised an eyebrow slightly. “Is that a human’s name or a horse’s name?”

The young man named “Chiju” said:

“In the Zhuiyun Department, people grow up with horses; people and horses are almost the same. What people eat, horses also eat. If a horse gets beaten—”

People also get beaten. Mo Hua looked at Chiju, his gaze as clear and deep as a pool, seemingly seeing through all the thoughts of this taciturn young man, and asked:

“Do you want to be chieftain?”

“Chiju’s” expression changed, and he quickly said, “No… no—”

Mo Hua asked him, “Is it that you don’t want to—or you don’t dare?”

Chiju was speechless.

Mo Hua slowly said, “I want to hear the truth, your most honest thoughts. In this life, you only have this one chance. If you miss it, there will be no more opportunities afterward—”

Chiju didn’t know what Mo Hua meant, but deep down, he felt a sense of urgency. It was as if destiny had laid a path before him, letting him choose.

Chiju slowly nodded, his gaze firm, “I—want to be chieftain.”

Mo Hua nodded, “Good, I understand. The Divine Lord will grant your wish and guide your path.”

Chiju was stunned, “…Grant my wish?”

Mo Hua nodded, “Yes.”

“But—” Chiju didn’t understand, “The current chieftain is my father.”

Mo Hua said, “The Divine Lord has his own arrangements.”

Chiju still didn’t quite understand and wanted to say more, but Mo Hua’s figure had already vanished from his sight.

When he arrived, there was no sign.

When he disappeared, there was no trace, as if he were a “divine” messenger.

But—to be chieftain?

Chiju felt a faint longing in his heart, but more than that, he was confused, not understanding what this meant.

The next day, he understood.

His father was dead.

The Great Elder held an elder’s meeting, gathered the members of the Zhuiyun Department, and said with a sorrowful expression, “Chieftain Daren—he suddenly fell ill and left us like this…”

Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what “sudden illness” it was.

But the Great Elder knew.

It was an “illness” where a high-level cultivator directly strangled his neck in his sleep.

At the same time, the Divine Lord’s messenger had also appeared in his dream, giving him some instructions.

The Great Elder called Chiju’s name, “Chiju, Chieftain Daren had a dying wish, appointing you as the new chieftain of the Zhuiyun Department.”

Chiju’s eyes widened, looking bewildered.

His two elder brothers looked furious.

All the members of the Zhuiyun Department looked puzzled, not knowing why Chieftain Daren didn’t pass on the position to the Eldest Young Master and Second Young Master.

Instead, he passed it to this youngest son whom he had least favored in his lifetime.

Before everyone could express their confusion, Mo Hua walked in with a group of Jindan cultivators from the Danque Department and Shugu Department, an imposing presence.

“I’ve come to mourn Chieftain Daren,” Mo Hua said with a regretful expression, then turned his head, his eyes sharp, and asked, “Who is the next chieftain?”

Although his voice was light, his aura was too intimidating, and no one in the Zhuiyun Department dared to answer.

At this moment, everyone knew that becoming chieftain meant bearing immense pressure from Mo Hua.

No one dared to bear this pressure.

The eldest son of the Zhuiyun Department chieftain pointed at Chiju and said, “Father, before his death, passed the chieftain’s position to Chiju.”

Mo Hua nodded, looked at Chiju, and said coldly, “I have something to discuss with the new Chieftain Daren.”

Under the terrified gazes of the Zhuiyun Department members, the new “chieftain” Chiju was led aside by Mo Hua.

Chiju looked at Mo Hua, unable to hide the shock in his heart: “You—you—”

Mo Hua said calmly, “I told you, the Divine Lord will grant your wish.”

Chiju was incredulous, “But—my—father he—”

Mo Hua said, “Your father died of old age, everything is the Divine Lord’s guidance.”

“But—” Chiju’s mind was shaken, not knowing what to say.

Mo Hua then asked him, “Didn’t you say you wanted to be chieftain?”

“Yes.”

“Why do you want to be chieftain?”

Chiju gasped, unable to speak.

Mo Hua looked into his eyes and said, “You don’t want your tribesmen to be oppressed by your father anymore. You don’t want the tribe’s savage horses to be whipped by your father anymore. Now that famine is rampant, you want the tribe to survive and multiply, and you also want the Zhuiyun Department to grow stronger—these are all things your father couldn’t do. Your father’s cruelty would only lead to the tribe’s demise—”

Chiju’s inner world seemed to be unveiled, and many obscure thoughts received reasonable explanations.

“Kneel,” Mo Hua said.

Chiju was startled, but still instinctively followed Mo Hua’s words and knelt down.

Mo Hua placed his hand on Chiju’s forehead and said in a gentle voice, “These thoughts of yours are all correct.”

“Your father would have caused the tribe’s demise.”

“And you will allow the Zhuiyun Department to survive in this chaotic world.”

“Strengthen your faith, bear the responsibility you should bear, and dedicate yourself to your tribe.”

Chiju’s expression gradually became firm, but there was still a hint of hesitation, “But—do I really have the qualifications to be chieftain?”

Mo Hua said, “If you weren’t qualified, the Divine Lord wouldn’t have chosen you.”

“The Divine Lord chose you, which means you have the capacity.”

“All you have to do is follow the Divine Lord’s guidance, overcome all your hesitation and degradation in bewilderment, and lead the tribe forward with unwavering will.”

Mo Hua’s voice was calm and steady.

A trace of piety and faith appeared on Chiju’s face.

He knelt on the ground, bowing his head to the earth, kowtowing three times to Mo Hua:

“Chiju understands, thank you, Shaman Lord, for your guidance. I will do my best to be this chieftain and not fail the Divine Lord’s trust.”

Mo Hua nodded, his gaze pleased.

When he left the Zhuiyun Department, everything had settled.

After a “coup” that was strange and somewhat peculiar but without bloodshed or casualties, the Zhuiyun Department became Mo Hua’s “followers.”

The ordinary members of the Zhuiyun Department basically knew nothing and began raising horses for Mo Hua.

Of course, they were just ordinary savage cultivators, and there was no need for them to know anything, as long as they could live in peace.

And Mo Hua also gained a deeper understanding of some spiritual sense mysteries:

Daoxin Zhongmo was about imposing one’s intentions upon another’s consciousness through demonic techniques.

And he, on the other hand, could perceive people’s hearts and evoke desires already present within them to align with his own goals.

It was not “planting” from outside to inside, but “inducing” from inside to outside.

Based on his Martial Uncle’s Dao, he walked his own path.

This was another, completely opposite “Daoxin Zhongmo”—