Mo Hua, from a distance at the Situ family’s encampment, watched the main army of the Daoting approach like an endless tide of steel. He also saw Zhuge Zhenren among the vast forces.

But he had no intention of going up to greet him.

Because beside Zhuge Zhenren was Hua Zhenren.

And beside Mo Hua was his junior martial brother.

Hua Zhenren had long coveted Mo Hua’s junior martial brother, and the “slicing” techniques researched by the Hua family were likely prepared for him.

Naturally, Mo Hua couldn’t let his junior martial brother walk into a trap.

At night, Mo Hua lay in bed, eyes open, thoughts racing.

With the Daoting army crossing the border, the situation was turbulent. What would follow was a brutal struggle, a whirlpool of life and death.

Mo Hua vaguely sensed that something significant and unknown was about to happen. A shiver ran down his spine, preventing him from closing his eyes.

Amidst this mix of tension, anxiety, unease, and confusion, a cold abnormality suddenly arose in the room.

Mo Hua sat up and looked at the ground.

There was nothing on the ground, then a puddle of water suddenly appeared, gradually deepening and turning dark red in the darkness, like a pool of blood.

Then the bloodstain began to squirm, forming flesh, which continued to grow, transforming into a crawling monster that resembled a human but had flesh without bones.

The entire process was silent, without even a trace of spiritual aura.

An ordinary cultivator wouldn’t even be able to detect it.

Mo Hua silently watched the crawling blood-and-flesh monster, frowning slightly.

Suddenly, a flash of killing intent. Mo Hua could feel that he was locked onto by some karma. The blood-and-flesh monster, like a beast that had smelled blood, transformed into a black shadow, carrying a foul, bloody poison, and lunged at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua sat on the bed, unmoving.

The next instant, a long spear broke through the air, piercing the blood-and-flesh monster and pinning it to the ground.

The monster struggled and roared, letting out silent but spiritually disturbing wails.

Bai Zisheng stepped forward, spear in hand. With a twist of his strength, he utterly annihilated the monster, and the Xuanhuang Dragon Qi in his bloodline completely incinerated its flesh.

On the ground, only a pool of blood and flesh remained.

The blood and flesh melted like ice and snow, leaving bloodstains, which then gradually faded, turning into water.

Mo Hua looked into the distance and saw three similar puddles of water nearby, evidently from the monsters that had attacked his junior martial brother and been killed.

These puddles of water also gradually seeped back into the ground, and eventually, no trace was left.

As if nothing had ever happened.

Bai Zisheng frowned slightly, “What the hell is this thing…”

Mo Hua’s gaze narrowed, and he murmured, “Flesh, corpses, karmic locking, curse killing…”

He twitched his nose, sniffing the air. He didn’t smell anything, but he detected a familiar, unusual karmic odor.

This scent was very similar to what he had smelled when he was imprisoned in the Hua family’s dungeon.

It also closely resembled the aura of the “bandaged people” he had seen in the Hua family.

“It’s… the Hua family.” Mo Hua’s gaze darkened slightly.

Bai Zisheng was startled, “Is this something the Hua family sent to kill us?”

He had always only cared about killing, regardless of what it was. As long as it was an enemy, he would simply stab it to death with a spear, never bothering to think about who wanted to kill him.

Of course, he also didn’t care who wanted to kill him; whoever wanted to kill him, he would just kill them back.

Bai Zisheng didn’t understand, “The Hua family sent these inhuman, ghostly things to try and kill me?”

Mo Hua glanced at Bai Zisheng, sighing inwardly.

The things sent by the Hua family were certainly not simple. They incorporated Corpse Dao, Demonic Dao, Karma Dao, and some more complex elements.

For ordinary cultivators, such silent, invisible, and traceless assassinations were extremely dangerous.

It was just that his junior martial brother was too abnormal.

If you yourself are too abnormal, you can’t blame others for being too weak.

Of course, the Hua family sending these things might not have been genuinely intended to kill his junior martial brother—the Hua family knew how strong his junior martial brother was, so sending these might have just been a warning.

Perhaps not even a warning to his junior martial brother, but to himself.

Meaning, the Hua family already knew, there was no need to hide anymore.

This was clearly the work of Hua Zhenren.

When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.

When he saw Hua Zhenren, Hua Zhenren must have also seen him.

Not just Hua Zhenren, but probably when he saw Zhuge Zhenren, Zhuge Zhenren also saw him.

Mo Hua sighed softly.

He had intended to be discreet and keep a low profile, but it seemed that was no longer possible.

“Junior martial brother…” Mo Hua called out.

Bai Zisheng looked up at Mo Hua when he heard him.

Mo Hua then said seriously, “From now on, I am not your junior martial brother. We have different stances. I also humiliated you, and you hate me to death.”

Bai Zisheng was startled, then nodded, “I understand, you are the damned Mo Hua.”

Mo Hua nodded.

The next day, Mo Hua took his junior martial brother to see Zhuge Zhenren.

The meeting place was in the main camp of the Daoting army.

The Daoting had established a huge military camp in the Second-Rank Wangji region, near its border with the Fourth-Rank Wangting Mountain Realm, to station its large army.

At the same time, this was also the main base for the final assault on the Wangting.

When Mo Hua saw Zhuge Zhenren, Zhuge Zhenren was having tea with several other Daoting Yuhua, seemingly discussing something.

A total of seven Yuhua sat together.

Besides Zhuge Zhenren, Hua Zhenren, and Mu Zhenren whom he had met before, there were four others, dressed differently and with unfamiliar faces, whom Mo Hua had never seen before.

When Mo Hua entered the large tent, everyone looked at him.

Zhuge Zhenren, seeing Mo Hua, this “little ancestor,” walk in completely unharmed and looking quite well, felt relieved. But he was also annoyed, feeling that getting stuck with such a “troublemaker” was truly an inauspicious star sign, a bad year.

The usually calm Zhuge Zhenren couldn’t help but let out a cold snort, “Good, you still know to come find me.”

Mo Hua gave an embarrassed smile.

The other unfamiliar Yuhua Zhenren, seeing Zhuge Zhenren’s expression, were somewhat surprised, but being of high status, they said nothing.

Mu Zhenren stared at Mo Hua, his gaze flickering, contemplating something.

Hua Zhenren had a cold face, making it impossible to read his emotions.

Mo Hua then waved behind him, “You, come here.”

Bai Zisheng, bound by chains, swaggered in, his attitude quite defiant.

That was just how he was; even in front of Yuhua, he acted as if no one else was there.

Upon seeing Bai Zisheng, the expressions of the Yuhua all changed somewhat.

The most noticeable change was on Hua Zhenren’s face. The moment he saw Bai Zisheng, his eyes lit up with a brilliant gleam, as if he had discovered a rare treasure.

Hua Zhenren glanced at Mo Hua and asked, “Why is this Bai Zisheng with you?”

This question was clearly asked knowing the answer.

He had even sent those monsters to kill people last night.

Of course, Mo Hua didn’t dwell on it. He also acted as if he didn’t know, simply saying:

“That day, during the chaos of the uprising, I saw this Bai Zisheng actually fleeing amidst the turmoil. How could that be allowed? This child, blinded by lust, has committed countless crimes. How could he not be punished by Daoting laws? So I pursued him and, once again, relying on my powerful cultivation, suppressed him…”

“Later, the situation became too chaotic, and I couldn’t find the main army. I could only escort him and find a safe place in the nearby Wangji region, thus wasting some time.”

“Now, the army has set out and passed through this area, and I have coincidentally brought this scoundrel Bai Zisheng before you two Zhenren.”

Mo Hua spoke half-truths, half-fictions, confidently addressing the Zhenren present.

The seven Daoting Zhenren listened to Mo Hua’s bragging, momentarily stunned.

Hua Zhenren and a few others, who knew Mo Hua’s character, were fine. But the other four Daoting Yuhua Zhenren, who were meeting Mo Hua for the first time, were all awestruck by his composed ability to spin tales.

Any discerning person could see at a glance that his spiritual root and bloodline were of third-rate aptitude.

In an ordinary family, he wouldn’t even be considered for the tail end of the direct lineage.

And who was Bai Zisheng?

Now, this young man, in front of everyone, dared to boast that he had suppressed the top prodigy of the Bai family.

As if Bai Zisheng was as common as a cabbage, and he could just grab him with ease.

Everyone present was a Zhenren, and even with their extensive experience, it had been many years since they had seen a young man who could spin such tall tales as if they were true.

It made one want to laugh, yet unable to.

But after a moment, these four Daoting Yuhua evidently realized something was amiss.

That was, Hua Zhenren, Zhuge Zhenren, and Mu Zhenren, three Yuhua, actually allowed this young man to brag here without any reaction?

They couldn’t help but look at Hua Zhenren and the others.

They saw Zhuge Zhenren supporting his forehead, Mu Zhenren with an appreciative gaze, and Hua Zhenren with a cold expression. Their expressions varied, but none of them showed any doubt.

The four Daoting Yuhua were all taken aback.

In the pacification of the Great Wilderness, each Yuhua had their own responsibilities.

The hunt for Bai Zisheng had always been secretly orchestrated by the Hua family.

Many things, they didn’t know much of the inside story, so at this moment, while surprised, they quickly realized that there might be something wrong here.

At the very least, this young man who was “full of hot air” might not be as simple as he seemed.

And what Hua Zhenren said next confirmed this.

Hua Zhenren looked at Mo Hua, actually nodded, and praised, “You did well; capturing Bai Zisheng is a great merit.”

“Since that’s the case, then this Bai Zisheng…”

Hua Zhenren’s gaze narrowed, “You can hand him over to me now, right?”

A Yuhua, asking a Zhuji for a person?

Not an imperative tone, but a calm yet requesting tone?

The four Daoting Yuhua were all startled.

Even more shocking to them was that the Zhuji youth actually shook his head directly, refusing Hua Zhenren’s request.

“I still have use for this Bai Zisheng. I cannot give him to you temporarily,” Mo Hua said.

Hua Zhenren was refused, his gaze becoming even colder, “He is a criminal of the Daoting. What use do you have for keeping him?”

Mo Hua merely said, “He has an affair with a demoness from the Great Wilderness. I plan to go to Longchi next, and he will be useful.”

“After the battle of Wangting ends, when I return from Longchi and this Bai Zisheng is no longer useful, I will give him to you, Zhenren.”

Hua Zhenren’s face darkened, and he immediately reached out to grab Bai Zisheng, who was behind Mo Hua.

Mo Hua was startled and immediately shouted, “You want to kill me!”

Zhuge Zhenren reflexively pressed down on Hua Zhenren’s hand, saying helplessly, “Brother Hua… don’t be impulsive.”

Mu Zhenren glanced at Mo Hua, then also said to Hua Zhenren, “Hua Zhenren, with a major battle imminent, it’s important to remain calm and composed.”

Hua Zhenren glanced at Mu Zhenren, his arm, held by Zhuge Zhenren, clenched and then relaxed, slowly lowering.

The other four Daoting Yuhua were all surprised by this.

What was the origin of this young man, that he could command such protection from both Zhuge Zhenren and Mu Zhenren?

A Daoting Yuhua dressed in armor carefully scrutinized Mo Hua’s face, finding his features and demeanor familiar. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he remembered, saying:

“You are Mo Hua?”

Mo Hua was startled, “You… know me?”

The Yuhua, clad in dark silver armor, imposing and extraordinary, nodded and said:

“I am the Grand General of the Daobing Division, an Yuhua Zhenren of the Yang family. Yang Qianjun is my nephew, and he has always called you junior martial brother, praising you highly. During the Ganxue Sword Debate back then, I even went to watch and saw you lead your fellow disciples to shine brightly at the debate… I never thought, after ten years, I would meet you here in the Great Wilderness. It must be fate…”

Mo Hua’s eyes also lit up, and he immediately bowed, saying, “This junior greets Grand General Yang. Grand General, you are too kind; this junior is undeserving.”

Grand General Yang scrutinized Mo Hua again and asked, “After you graduated, you didn’t stay in Taixu Gate? What made you think of coming to the front lines of this Great Wilderness?”

Mo Hua sighed and said, “To be honest with the Grand General, my hometown is in Lizhou. When the Great Wilderness rebelled, the flames of war spread to Lizhou, leaving it devastated. I then thought of joining the Daobing Division to help suppress the rebellion and serve the Daoting.”

“However, during the incident at Fengpoling, when the Great Wilderness Gate rebelled, I got separated from the army. After several twists and turns, I ended up alone here on the front lines…”

Grand General Yang even looked surprised, “So, you are still a member of the Daobing Division?”

Mo Hua nodded, then produced a token, “I have a Daobing令 (Daobing Ling, Daobing Token).”

The Daobing Ling in his hand was genuine, which Grand General Yang could see at a glance. There were even some “Yang” family seals on the Daobing Ling, which made him even more surprised, “Who processed this Daobing Ling for you?”

“Brother Yang Jishan and Yang Jiyong,” Mo Hua said.

Grand General Yang was startled, “You know Jishan and them too?”

Mo Hua nodded, “I’ve known them for a long time.”

Grand General Yang was taken aback for a moment, then nodded with a smile, saying:

“You are Qianjun’s junior martial brother, an acquaintance of Jishan and Jiyong. You entered the Daobing Division through my Yang family’s connections, so in a way, you are half a ‘Yang’ family descendant, one of our own…”

Mo Hua smiled and cupped his hands, saying, “Thank you for your kindness, Grand General Yang.”

Grand General Yang looked at Mo Hua, his face full of admiration.

The swiftness of this conversation left the other Yuhua momentarily stunned.

Not just Hua Zhenren, but even Zhuge Zhenren had a bewildered expression, finding it utterly preposterous.

Could relationships be formed so easily?

He walked in, said a few words, and this young man transformed, becoming a member of the Daobing Division.

He became “half a Yang family descendant,” personally certified by the Yang family’s Grand General, one of their own?

“You… this…”

Zhuge Zhenren didn’t know what to say.

Not only were the Yuhua present baffled, but even Mo Hua’s junior martial brother, Bai Zisheng, behind him, was somewhat shocked and utterly confused.

How had his junior martial brother managed to mingle all these years?

How could he, with just a few words, “hook up” with one of these powerful and imposing Daoting Yuhua he’d never met?

Was he the scion of a prominent family, or was I?

Bai Zisheng couldn’t help but mutter to himself.

“Grand General Yang…” Mo Hua began, still wanting to foster more connections.

Zhuge Zhenren immediately interjected, “Alright, a major battle is imminent; serious matters are at hand…”

He couldn’t let this kid keep talking. If he did, who knew what other connections he might pull out…

“I’ll take this boy away and settle him,” Zhuge Zhenren said. “Everyone, please continue with your important discussions. The Wangting battle cannot be delayed…”

Grand General Yang nodded slightly.

The others also nodded in agreement.

Zhuge Zhenren said to Mo Hua, “Follow me…”

“Oh.” Mo Hua followed behind Zhuge Zhenren for a few steps, then also said to Bai Zisheng, “You, follow me.”

Bai Zisheng sneered, but did not refuse, and followed behind Mo Hua.

Thus, Zhuge Zhenren led Mo Hua, and Mo Hua led Bai Zisheng, out of the main tent.

Hua Zhenren’s gaze was dark, and he clenched his hands, wanting to forcibly keep Bai Zisheng several times. However, due to Mo Hua’s unconventional “connections,” he ultimately held back.

Zhuge Zhenren led Mo Hua to his own tent, while Bai Zisheng was arranged a separate lodging.

Mo Hua was a little uneasy, “That Bai Zisheng…”

Zhuge Zhenren said, “Don’t worry, now that he’s with me, Hua Zhenren won’t make a move.”

Mo Hua nodded, then relaxed.

Zhuge Zhenren glanced at Mo Hua, thought for a moment, and said coldly:

“Don’t get involved in the Wangting matters. I’ll have someone escort you out of the Great Wilderness later. Don’t wade into these troubled waters.”

How could Mo Hua leave? He shook his head and said, “I still have important things to do.”

Zhuge Zhenren asked, “You really want to go to Longchi?”

Mo Hua nodded.

Zhuge Zhenren’s expression was somewhat solemn, “You don’t even know what Longchi is, nor what’s inside it, yet you dare to go?”

Mo Hua’s heart stirred, and he couldn’t help but look at Zhuge Zhenren, “Zhenren, you know?”

Zhuge Zhenren shook his head, “Don’t ask.”

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then whispered, “Zhenren, if the Wangting is captured next, does that mean… many people will die?”

Zhuge Zhenren said, “This is war; casualties are inevitable.”

Mo Hua hesitated for a moment, then ultimately hinted, “But what if… too many die, too much blood and Qi, resentment soaring to the heavens, might it… breed something?”

Zhuge Zhenren was initially unconcerned, but with each word Mo Hua spoke, his expression grew colder, eventually emanating an icy aura.

He looked at Mo Hua, his gaze sharp, “Do you… know something?”

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then dipped his finger in tea and wrote the character “孽” (nie, evil karma/sin) on the table.

Zhuge Zhenren’s pupils constricted, and he remained silent for a long time.

After writing the character “nie,” Mo Hua looked back at Zhuge Zhenren, and seeing Zhuge Zhenren’s expression change from shock to icy calm, his heart skipped a beat, and he immediately realized.

Zhuge Zhenren, he knew!

Zhuge Zhenren knew very well in his heart what would happen if the Great Wilderness Wangting was conquered, causing immense slaughter and evil karma…

He knew it, but he… did not stop it.

No, perhaps, he had planned it this way… from the beginning?