Gu Changhuai, standing to the side, couldnt help but furrow his brow.

On the surface, this formation appeared only complex and obscure, yet it subtly emitted a sinister aura that made hearts tremble.

Moreover, this was a formation that Mo Hua had managed to acquire through great effort from within the Demon Sect…

Gu Changhuais gaze deepened, What kind of formation is this? Could it be… an evil formation?

No, Mo Hua shook his head, How could I learn such a thing?

Gu Changhuai was still somewhat suspicious.

Mo Hua then mentioned Elder Master Xun:

I learned the formation from Elder Master Xun. How could he lead me astray? Uncle Gu, you can rest assured.

Gu Changhuai indeed felt reassured.

Elder Master Xun of Taixu Gate was righteous and highly respected, surely it was impossible for him to guide Mo Hua off the right path.

As long as its not an evil formation.

But Gu Changhuai still harbored some doubts:

Then this is…

For setting off fireworks, Mo Hua said.

Gu Changhuai was taken aback, nearly doubting his own ears, Fireworks?

Yes, Mo Hua nodded, mysteriously stating, Big fireworks!

Not knowing what to say, Gu Changhuai decided not to ask further questions, it would be pointless anyway.

But since it was for setting off fireworks, it probably wasnt a big deal.

As a noble sons descendant who grew up in the Great Immortal City, he had seen every kind of firework during festivals.

Gu Changhuai dismissed it from his mind.

Now that the ordeal was over, and the formation was in hand.

Li San lay on the ground, gravely injured, unconscious, with his body bound by a Spirit-binding Lock.

Gu Changhuai fed him a pill to sustain his life, added a few more locks to secure him, and then said to Mo Hua:

Lets go back.

Okay. Mo Hua nodded.

Gu Changhuai dragged Li San along, accompanied by Mo Hua, heading down the mountain.

The path was lined with a serene mountain landscape, the forest lush and the greenery vibrant.

Yet occasionally, there would be patches of bloodstain and several corpses.

This mountain area often sees demon cultivators, Gu Changhuai succinctly stated.

Where there are demon cultivators, naturally, there are battles, deaths, and injuries.

It was normal, and Mo Hua said nothing.

The two continued ahead, along the mountain path, turning a mountain corner, suddenly encountering rows of low thatched cottages, built along the terrain, surrounded by simple fences, which seemed a peaceful and serene village inhabited by loose cultivators.

Mo Hua felt a certain inexplicable affection and impulsively moved towards the village.

Gu Changhuai grabbed him, What are you doing?

Mo Hua pointed to the village, I just wanted to rest a bit and ask around.

Gu Changhuai shook his head, No need, theyre all dead.

Mo Hua was stunned.

Gu Changhuai sighed, This place often sees demon cultivators. How could the loose cultivators living here survive?

Mo Hua felt a chill deep inside, releasing his divine sense to carefully perceive and indeed found no living breath in this small village.

This wasnt tranquility but deathly silence.

Mo Hua was silent for a moment, then asked Gu Changhuai, May I take a look?

Gu Changhuai thought for a moment and did not refuse, Alright, as long as it doesnt delay your return to the sect.

Mo Hua nodded and slowly walked into the village along the mountain path.

The village was worn, wooden walls and thatched houses, somewhat squalid.

Yet each courtyard represented a family.

In the yards were hunting traps, dried herbs, tattered garments hung to dry, childrens wooden horses for play, and grass and bamboo woven locusts.

Each family, though impoverished, lived striving and harmoniously.

At least once it was like this.

Mo Hua silently observed the dilapidated yards.

He saw the severed limbs on the ground, the blurred flesh on the land, the dirty blood splattered on the wooden horses and bamboo locusts, and the maggots and bloodthirsty flies…

Are all the villages nearby like this?

Gu Changhuai nodded, his voice cold:

In the eyes of demon cultivators, humans are merely spirit stones and food alive.

Whether cultivating or transmitting skills, they use humans as mediums, and where they go, theyre always accompanied by bloody massacres.

These ordinary loose cultivators, once they come into contact with demon cultivators, either get eaten, killed, or recruited into the sect and become demon cultivators accomplices. Those with decent spiritual roots might even be raised as blood slaves, suffering a fate worse than death. No one is spared.

The Taoist Courts manpower is limited, even if they want to save, they cant. When they occasionally receive news and arrive at a scene, this is what they find already…

Gu Changhuai deeply sighed.

Mo Hua said nothing, silently taking in the bloody, broken yards before him.

Being from a Monster Hunter background, he had traveled far and wide, and witnessed more gruesome and bloody scenes. However, none affected him as deeply as now.

The poor yet warm yard in front made him involuntarily think of his familys small courtyard in Tongxian City.

The slain loose cultivators also reminded him of his parents and himself.

His parents were ordinary loose cultivators in Tongxian City.

And if it werent for certain opportunities, he would have just been a nobody small independent practitioner.

Other loose cultivators could be killed like weeds by demon cultivators.

His family could too.

In that fleeting moment, a heavenly secret subtly stirred.

Mo Hua seemed to glimpse at his alternative fate:

Like all other loose cultivators in the world, dying tragically in the hands of heretical demons, being killed, eaten, refined into pills, drained of blood, turned into slaves…

Mo Huas heart trembled uncontrollably.

When he sat in Taixu Mountain, observing the movements of the Demon Sect through the Yuan Magnetic Formation, he knew demon cultivators killed, he knew they drank blood, he knew of their blood banquets.