Everyone present felt the awe and pressure of the “Divine Lord” emanating from Mo Hua, and they bowed in reverence, saying, “We respectfully obey the Divine Lord’s command.”

“We respectfully obey the command of the Shaman Elder.”

They had always held high positions, but now they all bowed before Mo Hua in submission. Though they were skilled at concealing their true feelings, their inner thoughts were undeniable. There was still a mix of suspicion, doubt, derision, worry, or resentment.

Some were clearly unconvinced, feeling that Mo Hua was abusing his power and making a mountain out of a molehill, predicting his eventual downfall.

The higher echelons of the Barbarian Desolate were accustomed to infighting, their desires deep and their understanding shallow, making their faith naturally unstable.

Mo Hua observed these emotions, one by one, without comment.

However, under Mo Hua’s divine rule, the Hou Tu Great Formation was meticulously implemented.

The people of the Barbarian Desolate indeed did not understand why they had to exhaust so many resources and engrave so many sacred patterns.

The spread of the famine had already stopped, so why bother with so much effort?

But the Divine Lord’s decree was absolute law.

The command of Mo Hua, the Shaman Elder, was paramount.

Out of faith and trust in Mo Hua, the middle and lower-level barbarian cultivators of the Great Desolate soon cast aside their doubts and wholeheartedly dedicated themselves to the construction of the Hou Tu Great Formation.

The entire Zhu Que Mountain Realm became a sea of people, meticulously organized, bustling and busy.

Even in a famine year, with people’s livelihoods struggling, the collective effort created a scene of humanity conquering nature.

At this time, Mo Hua stood before a large map of the Barbarian Desolate, staring at a particular spot, deep in thought with a furrowed brow.

Soon after, Tie Shu Gu quietly entered and reported to Mo Hua about the renovations of the Zhu Que Mountain Altar.

Although Tie Shu Gu was a “rebel” with an unyielding spirit and wavering actions, he was also one of Mo Hua’s longest-serving “confidants” besides Dan Zhu and others.

Moreover, ever since the matter of the Bai Gu Cemetery, Tie Shu Gu, entrusted by his “resurrected” ancestor, began to serve Mo Hua wholeheartedly.

Whatever Mo Hua commanded, Tie Shu Gu carried out meticulously.

Due to his special identity and some divine traditions inherited from his ancestors, Mo Hua entrusted Tie Shu Gu with some tribal affairs related to “faith” and “sacrifices.”

Mo Hua also instructed Tie Shu Gu to prepare in advance for the sacrifices at the Zhu Que Altar.

Tie Shu Gu would regularly report his progress to Mo Hua.

Now, after completing his report, Tie Shu Gu kept his head bowed, maintaining his deferential posture.

Mo Hua, however, continued to gaze at the map, silently pondering something.

After a long time, Tie Shu Gu, who had been looking down, slowly raised his head, glanced at Mo Hua with awe, and then looked at the map Mo Hua was studying, his expression subtly changing.

This slight emotional fluctuation did not escape Mo Hua’s perception. Mo Hua turned his head and looked at Tie Shu Gu with a calm gaze.

Tie Shu Gu dared not meet Mo Hua’s eyes and immediately lowered them, remaining respectful.

Mo Hua looked at Tie Shu Gu, his brow slightly furrowed, and suddenly remembered a question. He asked Tie Shu Gu, “Why did Lu Gu attack Wu Tu Mountain Realm back then?”

Tie Shu Gu was a bit surprised, not knowing why Mo Hua suddenly asked this.

“At that time, there was a great disaster, and famine was everywhere. Lord Lu Gu had no choice but to lead his troops, traveling around to find a place to settle down and live,” Tie Shu Gu replied.

Mo Hua knew about this, but what he didn’t quite understand was: “Why was it Wu Cha Mountain Realm?”

Mo Hua, looking at the map of the Barbarian Desolate at that moment, suddenly realized that Lu Gu’s tribe was actually very far from the second-rank Wu Cha land. If it was just to escape disaster, there was no need to deliberately avoid it in that direction.

Tie Shu Gu said, “Calamity comes from the west; one must seek refuge in the east.”

Mo Hua was stunned, “What?”

Tie Shu Gu said, “This is an ancient prophecy of the Shu Gu tribe. It is said that one day in the future, a great calamity will come from the west, and one must seek refuge in the east to avoid it. The east is said to be the place where the ancient true gods of the Great Desolate first manifested, where the fire seeds descended from the sky—”

Mo Hua frowned, “When did this prophecy begin?”

Tie Shu Gu said, “It has always existed. This prophecy has circulated within the Shu Gu tribe for a very long time, but it was so ancient that no one took it too seriously. Later, when disaster struck, Lord Lu Gu felt there was nowhere to go and subconsciously sought eastward. This led him to Wu Cha Mountain Realm, and there he met you, Shaman Elder—”

“These matters—” Tie Shu Gu was somewhat confused, “Shaman Elder—you didn’t know?”

Mo Hua’s eyes flickered.

He really didn’t know these things.

“Seeking eastward—”

The eastern part of the Barbarian Desolate was the Wu Tu Mountain Realm.

Wu Tu—fire seeds—

Mo Hua felt that there were too many “coincidences” in the realm of the unseen, giving him an unsettling premonition.

However, some things had to be done eventually, and the time was right.

Mo Hua instructed Tie Shu Gu, “Go pick some shaman cultivators who have some mastery of sacred patterns, then wait for me in the Shaman Elder’s hall.”

Tie Shu Gu did not ask further, bowing and saying, “Yes.”

About half an hour later, many shaman cultivators gathered in the Shaman Elder’s hall.

In the Barbarian Desolate, social stratification was strict. In many cases, bloodline and origin were more important than anything else, while the classification of cultivation paths was not so detailed.

Therefore, all barbarian cultivators involved in “auxiliary professions” like alchemy, formations, talismans, and artifacts were collectively referred to as shaman cultivators.

Even those skilled in shamanic arts and some ghost-shamanic techniques were also called “shaman cultivators.”

The overall system displayed a kind of orderly “chaos.”

Mo Hua thought of unifying and regularizing the cultivation paths and tribal system of the Great Desolate when he had the chance.

But that would be for later; with the great disaster looming, he didn’t have the leisure for it.

After gathering the talented shaman cultivators, Mo Hua sat majestically on the high seat in the hall, his gaze solemn. “The Divine Lord is above, granting me sacred methods, transmitting to me the supreme Great Dao, to enlighten all beings of the Great Desolate. This is a matter of utmost importance.”

“Next, I will, by the Divine Lord’s grace, equally transmit to you the sacred patterns that contain the supreme mysteries of the earth.”

“I hope that you will uphold the Divine Lord’s grace, diligently study, and work together to stop the disaster of the Great Desolate and save its people from suffering—”

The Divine Lord’s sacred methods, equally transmitted to all beings—

All the shaman cultivators showed expressions of disbelief.

In the Barbarian Desolate, traditions were strict, and many things, even tribal chiefs and elders, would not pass on to them.

But now, the Shaman Elder was actually going to teach them the “Divine Lord’s” inheritance.

Such a profound favor of transmitting the Dao was no less than that of “reborn parents.”

In the hall, these reclusive and proud shaman cultivators knelt on the ground, shouting, “May the Divine Lord be immortal!”

“Thank you, Shaman Elder, for your great kindness!”

“We will brave fire and water for the Shaman Elder, without hesitation—”

Mo Hua nodded slightly, then passed down the bone slips he had already prepared, containing his insights on the Hou Tu Absolute Formation, and the associated Five Elements Earth and Eight Trigrams Gen-system formations, which were linked to the laws of the absolute formation.

Mo Hua said, “These sacred patterns are all bestowed by the Divine Lord and are intimately connected with the essence of the Great Desolate’s land.”

“Some sacred pattern formations differ from the traditional ways of the Great Desolate; don’t worry about this. Just focus on comprehending them.”

“And the most important one is the last one, the first-rank eleven-pattern sacred pattern—”

First-rank eleven-pattern—

Upon hearing this, all the shaman cultivators were deeply shaken.

The existence of an “Absolute Formation” was not only outside the norms of the Dao Ting Nine Provinces but also far beyond the comprehension of these Barbarian Desolate formation masters.

An ordinary formation master might never encounter an “Absolute Formation” in their lifetime, let alone study and comprehend it.

Even if a formation master fortuitously obtained an Absolute Formation, if they did not understand its mysteries, could not decipher or comprehend it, they would likely dismiss it as a showy, complex, and useless “strange formation,” treating it with disdain and disregard.

But Absolute Formations were extremely important.

Absolute Formations contained the laws of heaven and earth, and such things, which transcended the scope of ordinary formations, might contain true principles of formations.

What Mo Hua intended to do now was to first popularize the “Hou Tu Absolute Formation” in the Barbarian Desolate.

He wanted these shaman cultivators to try to communicate with the Dao essence of the earth, to nurture in them a “virtue of embracing all things” under the influence of the earth’s Dao essence.

He aimed to gradually shift the Barbarian Desolate’s formation masters from believing in “gods” to believing in “heaven and earth.”

Especially to first believe in “the earth.”

“Man follows the earth.” The earth nurtures all things, with vast and continuous virtue, endlessly sustaining life.

At the beginning of cultivating the Dao Heart, one should first comprehend the vitality of the Great Dao from the earth, and the virtue and embrace that nurture all things.

Mo Hua understood that matters of the Barbarian Desolate, especially those involving the grand scheme of heaven and earth, could not be resolved by him alone.

He had clearly realized this when he was very young, while he was still building the Five Elements Demon Slaying Great Formation in Tong Xian City.

Human strength has its limits; individual cultivation is ultimately finite.

If one only seeks to be strong and ruthless, decisive in killing, and wield immense power, then one merely pursues cultivation that gathers the mighty forces of heaven and earth.

But if one truly wishes to attain the Dao, to change heaven and earth, to alter the destiny of all beings, then cultivating only one’s personal Dao and seeking individual power is ultimately insufficient.

He needed the help of more people.

He needed to change the “Dao hearts” of these people, transmit Dao methods to them, and then spread them widely, eventually condensing the Dao of all beings and gathering the strength of all beings to truly change heaven and earth.

And among these people, the most important were the formation masters; among all methods, the most important was formation.

Formations were the most direct manifestation of the Great Dao’s laws and the core productive force among the hundred cultivation professions.

And the medium for formations was the formation master.

Therefore, Mo Hua had to transmit his own Dao of formations and bring more formation masters under his “command.”

He needed to cultivate and pass on to more formation masters who pursued the Great Dao in their Dao hearts and emulated heaven and earth.

“The first-rank eleven-pattern sacred patterns are outside worldly traditions; what they contain are the laws of the divine path, the will of the Divine Lord.”

“You may not comprehend them in a short time, but as long as your hearts are sincere and you diligently contemplate day and night, one day you will understand the Divine Lord’s painstaking efforts and profound mysteries. At that time, you will also initially grasp the life force of the earth—”

Mo Hua’s tone was sincere, full of high hopes.

All the shaman cultivators bowed in respect, devoutly saying, “We恭thank the Divine Lord for his grace, and we thank the Shaman Elder for transmitting the Dao—”

Afterward, these shaman cultivators, following Mo Hua’s instructions, began to study the Hou Tu Absolute Formation and many other formation systems different from those of the Great Desolate.

They learned the Hou Tu Absolute Formation very slowly.

After all, it was an Absolute Formation. Even though these shaman cultivators were all above Foundation Establishment and their spiritual senses were sufficient, they were limited by their comprehension. It was still very difficult to perceive the Dao essence of the earth, certainly not something that could be achieved overnight.

This was within Mo Hua’s expectations.

However, they quickly grasped the other ordinary Five Elements Earth and Eight Trigrams Gen-system formations.

And that was enough.

In Mo Hua’s conception, the Hou Tu Absolute Formation could currently only be drawn by himself, to outline the framework of the entire pseudo-great formation.

The remaining large number of intricate Five Elements Earth and Eight Trigrams Gen-system formations, used for filling in the laws, would be drawn by these barbarian shaman cultivators.

During this period, if any shaman cultivator with exceptional talent, through serendipitous circumstances, managed to comprehend the “Hou Tu Absolute Formation” over time, Mo Hua would promote them to “elder” among the formation shaman cultivators.

Mo Hua would personally summon these talented shaman elder, teach them formation methods, and point out the profound mysteries of formations.

Afterward, they would represent Mo Hua, traveling throughout the Barbarian Desolate, upholding Mo Hua’s will, to expand the Hou Tu Great Formation.

In this way, starting from points and spreading to areas, eventually building a large-scale Hou Tu Formation throughout the entire Barbarian Desolate, capable of resisting famine.

This was Mo Hua’s overall plan.

Currently, these shaman cultivators still needed to learn more, practice more, comprehend more, and also gain more practical experience.

Soon, Mo Hua gave them their first opportunity for practical application.

Mo Hua officially began constructing the first “Hou Tu Formation Ground” capable of resisting famine and stimulating the earth’s vitality.

This formation ground would start from the southeast corner of the Zhu Que Mountain Realm, then extend eastward to the second-rank Wu Cha and the Wu Tu Mountain Realm.

This was Mo Hua’s initial landing spot and the first “base” he established when he came to the Great Desolate.

Mo Hua was not clear about the current state of the Wu Tu Mountain Realm.

He was also somewhat worried about whether the people he first met, the familiar faces, might have already died.

Previously, with incessant tribal wars in the Zhu Que Mountain Realm, Mo Hua had no opportunity to return.

Now that Mo Hua had unified the Zhu Que Mountain Realm, with ample manpower and resources, he finally had the ability to carve out a path from the famine to the Wu Tu Mountain Realm.

The Hou Tu Absolute Formation could only be created by Mo Hua himself, and only he could draw it.

He could only first draw parts of the Hou Tu Absolute Formation according to his conceptual plan.

Then, other shaman cultivators would fill in the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams formations around the Hou Tu Absolute Formation he had drawn.

Mo Hua pointed a finger, and spiritual ink coiled around his fingertip, then, as if endowed with “life,” it spontaneously outlined a formation on the ground, integrating with the earth.

Although the other shaman cultivators had witnessed such “divinely assisted” techniques more than once, they still couldn’t help but exclaim in awe.

“As expected of the Shaman Elder, his sacred path leaves no trace, truly divine and mysterious—”

Everyone praised him endlessly.

Afterward, they took out various bone brushes, knelt on the pre-laid formation media, and meticulously drew the formations, stroke by stroke, following the grand formation blueprint Mo Hua had provided.

Since it was their first time participating in such a large-scale formation project, many shaman cultivators made a few mistakes.

Mo Hua, while drawing the Hou Tu Absolute Formation, also released his spiritual sense to review all the formations. When he found a problem, he pointed it out and offered a few pointers.

The respective shaman cultivators felt both shame and admiration, then proceeded to correct their mistakes as Mo Hua instructed.

In this way, Mo Hua drew, reviewed, and instructed.

With Mo Hua’s guidance, the other shaman cultivators adapted to the formation project and gradually stopped making errors.

And in the process of participating in the formation’s construction, their own formation skills subtly and continuously improved, and their understanding of formations deepened.

The more this happened, the more they admired Mo Hua’s formation mastery.

They also genuinely acknowledged and appreciated Mo Hua, the “Shaman Elder.”

Such a venerable Shaman Elder was willing to personally transmit the Dao to them, these shaman cultivators, personally teach them formations, personally lead them in constructing the grand formation, correct their errors in real-time, urge them to improve, and help them comprehend deeper mysteries—

Such a pure and selfless Shaman Elder was truly a “gift” from the Divine Lord to the Great Desolate.

And it was an immense favor from the Divine Lord to them, these shaman cultivators.

Not only was the “Divine Lord” represented by Mo Hua consolidating the faith of the Barbarian Desolate,

But Mo Hua himself, in his flesh and blood, also unwittingly gathered the admiration of many.

Mo Hua used the Hou Tu Absolute Formation as a guide, with the shaman cultivators drawing formations, and a large number of Shen Nu tribe barbarian cultivators clearing mountain paths and laying formation media.

Through everyone’s efforts, a path forged with sacred patterns slowly extended into the famine-stricken land where “living beings ceased to exist.”

The ferocious power of the famine was also suppressed by the sacred patterns laid by Mo Hua.

Witnessing this, everyone was again shocked and increasingly marveled at the greatness of the Divine Lord’s power.

Thus, half a month later.

Through everyone’s efforts, a mountain path densely covered with sacred patterns traversed the famine, reaching the easternmost part of the Barbarian Desolate.

And after such a long time, Mo Hua finally returned to Wu Tu Mountain Realm, the place where he first entered the Barbarian Desolate.

Looking around, among the mountains, tribes were scattered, and the aura of the barbarian cultivators was peaceful.

The entire Wu Tu Mountain Realm was surprisingly stable.

Outside was famine and war, but within the Wu Tu Mountain Realm, enveloped by the famine, it seemed unaffected, exactly as it was when Mo Hua left.

Everything was also operating in an orderly fashion, just as Mo Hua had arranged and according to the rules he had set.

This was a stroke of luck for Mo Hua.

But in his heart, that strange premonition, like a “maggot adhering to the bone,” grew stronger.

Mo Hua always felt as if someone was watching him, and an invisible hand had set up a “trap” for him long ago.

Mo Hua frowned, and after some thought, he led his guards and Xiao Zha Tu, who had long wished to return home, back to the Wu Tu tribe.

Upon arriving at the Wu Tu tribe, Xiao Zha Tu saw his grandfather, Elder Zha Mu.

Elder Zha Mu was already old, his face weathered, nearing the end of his life, but he clung to a执念 (zhíniàn), doing his best to live.

This obsession was probably his only bloodline in this world, his little grandson.

Therefore, when Xiao Zha Tu walked into the Wu Tu tribe, his face streaming with tears, and threw himself into Elder Zha Mu’s arms,

Elder Zha Mu, filled with relief, also couldn’t help but shed tears.

All people must die.

And in times of great disaster, human lives often become even more cheap.

These ordinary barbarian cultivators, powerless to resist the capriciousness of fate, could only hope to see their loved ones one last time before they died.

Knowing that their dearest ones were still alive in the world, they would have no regrets.

Elder Zha Mu’s aged face streamed with tears of joy, his little grandson held tightly in his arms.

Mo Hua, however, looked slightly stunned.

Having always stood at a high vantage point, perceiving heavenly secrets and controlling power in the name of the Shaman Elder, and dominating everything with his “divinity,” a faint, warm pang arose in his heart at this moment.

This was nothing special, but the “warmth” highlighted the somewhat coldness in his heart.

Mo Hua’s perception of his own spiritual state was inherently delicate and keen.

At this moment, he could perceive that this warmth seemed to be his—

“Humanity.”

His own humanity was “sprouting” in the depths of his heart—

This meant—

Mo Hua’s expression was complex, and he felt a faint unease in his heart.

“It means—my humanity has, unknowingly, shown signs of extinction—or rather, has actually—”

“Extinguished” a part—”