Venerable Green Face's iron-gray face paled a bit.
He didn't understand what a "Star of Calamity" was in the tradition of the Unorthodox, but he had heard rumors that "Star of Calamity" was a general term for the unknown "evil gods" in the Qingzhou region.
Rumors said that Stars of Calamity were earth-bound evil gods, vicious, brutal, and incomparably powerful.
Those who offend a Star of Calamity will surely meet with disaster and die without a proper burial.
Venerable Green Face thought of just now, when Master Wu gouged out his own eyes, severed his limbs, lost his mind, and swallowed his hair—these terrifying transformations made his heart freeze with fear.
And Master Wu himself was still shaken.
He looked around. Although his eyeballs had been gouged out by himself, leaving a bloody mess, it was after all just external injuries.
A Golden Core cultivator's external injuries heal very quickly.
Therefore, Master Wu could see the spider corpses all over the ground, and along with them, that faint thread of terrifying evil tranformative force that had been extracted and severed.
Master Wu immediately became solemn, enduring his pain as he knelt in the center of the main hall, bowing toward the divine statue on the high seat, which was obscured by yellow silk ribbons, and said with piety, "Thank you, Lady Myriad Spiders, for saving my life."
"Greatly and benevolent Lady Myriad Spiders, may your incense offerings last forever, your lifespan rivalling the earth…"
Venerable Green Face was not too willing to bow to the Lady Myriad Spiders.
He was the mastermind of the violence, having killed and "eaten" countless people. Although he believed in Unorthodox arts, he was half-skeptical about claims of gods and ghosts.
But now in the Myriad Spider Daoist Temple, he had personally witnessed Master Wu's tragic encounter and the scene where the Lady Myriad Spiders used her divine powers to remove the calamity, so Venerable Green Face had no choice but to take it seriously.
He also imitated Master Wu, kneeling on the ground and chanting:
"Thank you, Lady Myriad Spiders for saving my life…"
Lady Myriad Spiders, greatly benevolent, may your incense offerings last forever…
The gods did not speak, remaining high above, but a silent yet profound aura enveloped the main hall, absorbing the devout thoughts of Master Wu and Venerable Green Face, repairing the damage caused by suppressing the evil transformation.
Master Wu and Venerable Green Face bowed again, then slowly rose.
Seeing the spider-filled corpses, they did not dare to linger and temporarily left the main hall.
Outside the hall, there was no one. Master Wu knew that his disciples had sensed the aura of "evil transformation," became frightened, and scattered to escape for their lives. His own face was as red as a pig's liver.
The Unorthodox is difficult to pass down; these disciples were truly getting worse with each generation, lacking both foundation and character.
No wonder the things of the Ancestral Master had all been lost.
The Unorthodox was also in such decline.
Venerable Green Face, however, didn't care about these things, but he still had many doubts in his heart, so he asked in a low voice:
"Teacher, this... Star of Calamity, what exactly is it, and what kind of divine power does it possess to make you suffer so much?"
Master Wu was not keen on recalling the terrifying experiences just now, but the matter of the "Star of Calamity" was of great importance.
If it was truly a Star of Calamity passing by, it would be a matter of heaven-shaking importance, stirring up bloody rain and gore, and could not be treated lightly.
Master Wu frowned and thought for a long time before enduring his heart palpitations to forcefully recall past events, but he dared not think too much.
He only dared to rewind his memory to when he saw that flawless jade "human face."
He didn't dare to recall what happened after that.
Even more so, he didn't dare to recall what he had said with that handsome young cultivator, or what had happened between them.
This way was relatively safer and wouldn't trigger his trauma.
Master Wu frowned, standing there pondering.
Earlier he was too frightened to think much, but the more he pondered now, the more doubts filled his heart.. Where was the Star of Calamity?
Was it that black-robed young man?
"Impossible... If that young man was truly 'Star of Calamity,' then I would have died on the spot when I first saw him..."
The true Star of Calamities are great evil deities, with malicious thoughts foremost. He absolutely could not have escaped before them.
"But I did encounter a Star of Calamity and yet I didn't die..."
So then... what exactly was going on?
Master Wu drew upon all his knowledge of Unorthodox Daoism, constantly pondering: Did I guess wrong? Was it not encountering Star of Calamity, but rather falling into some illusion from a fierce ghost or demon?
Or could it be... a special kind of Star of Calamity?
"Or perhaps... this is just a... not yet fully grown, embryo of a Star of Calamity. Which would mean..."
Master Wu's heart jumped.
A Star of Calamity embryo?!
These four words seemed to possess a kind of magic. An incredible wave of excitement surged in Master Wu's heart, causing his fingers to tremble slightly, "The Ancestral Master's records in ancient books of a Star of Calamity embryo, with flesh as its body, not yet fully hatched, its divine powers not yet fully formed?"
Does such a "fetus-transformed evil god" truly exist in this world? And did I actually encounter one?
Master Wu was stunned for a moment, then immediately calculated with his fingers and thought: Encountering a Star of Calamity is a disaster. But encountering a Star of Calamity and not dying is fortune.
Stars of Calamity are evil gods, ruling over slaughter and disaster—that is the disaster. But if a Star of Calamity has not yet hatched, its destructive power is insufficient, and disaster can be transformed into fortune.
"Disaster is where fortune leans... when disaster and fortune intertwine, therein the Dao."
This "Star of Calamity" was my fortune, his opportunity?
"In the tradition of our sect, there is a method passed down from ancient times, conceived by extraordinary talents, which can use the evil power of the Star of Calamity to cultivate Unorthodox arts, obtaining a supreme method with power nearly equivalent to divine abilities.
But this method had never been used in practice, because no one had ever been able to find a living Star of Calamity to use for cultivating them.
"But now, I'm alive... I encountered a Star of Calamity and survived. Isn't this a revelation from the Ancestral Master hidden within the heavenly secrets?!"
And this Star of Calamity seems to be an embryo, not yet fully hatched...
In Master Wu's mind, an extremely bold idea flashed.
So bold that even he found it terrifying.
But if it could truly be accomplished, then he would be more than just a "master" of the Unorthodox.
He could even establish his own school, leap to become the Patriarch of the Unorthodox, or even the Supreme Patriarch, potentially equaling gods himself.
AnUnorthodox method that can control the power of Star of Calamity. An Unorthodox master who can control the evil power of Star of Calamity.
Then wouldn't I be someone who can kill whoever I want. Who could possibly stop me, an Unorthodox cultivator skilled in the evil arts of Star of Calamity?
Master Wu felt his blood boiling all over, his heart nearly jumping out of his throat
Venerable Green Face didn't know what was wrong with Master Wu suddenly and asked, "Master Wu... what's wrong?."
Is it that he was still affected by the earlier events, and the aftereffects haven't subsided?
Master Wu used all his strength to calm himself down, his voice hoarse as he said, "Nothing... the evil energy hasn't subsided yet, I was being a bit irrational."
Venerable Green Face nodded and asked, "Then this 'Star of Calamity'.."
Master Wu was about to say something, but his expression suddenly changed as he said, "I was wrong, it's not a Star of Calamity."
Venerable Green Face relaxed, "Not a Star of Calamity?"
Master Wu nodded and sighed, "After careful consideration... Stars of Calamity are evil gods. Those who avoid them live, those who offend them die. If it were truly a Star of Calamity, then at this moment, I would already be dead, with no possibility of survival, not even the Lady Myriad Spiders could save me..."
Venerable Green Face frowned, "Then... Master Wu, you were pretty much dead just now, and might as well have died directly."
"But I didn't die," Master Wu said, "Therefore, this is probably just an extremely vicious evil art, not the evil power of a Star of Calamity."
An Evil art?
"Correct," Master Wu said with firm gaze, "Someone used that black-robed youth as a medium to cast a death curse on me. This person's methods were extremely exquisite. I was caught off guard and fell into his Unorthodox scheme, nearly dying on the spot..."
Venerable Green Face frowned. Was the terrifying appearance of Master Wu's self-mutilation earlier really something that ordinary Unorthodox evil arts could cause?
But he didn't say anything.
Master Wu was the master of the Unorthodox, holding the authority and right to interpret "Unorthodox knowledge."
Whatever he said, that's what it had to be.
Venerable Green Face then nodded slightly in agreement, "Since it's not a Star of Calamity, that's best, and it avoids further calamity. Then what should we do next? Should we go and kill Gu Changhuai?"
Master Wu nodded, "Gu Changhuai still needs to be killed. If we don't kill Gu Changhuai, matters in the Qingzhou realm won't go smoothly."
"This change in the Qingshou realm, for you, for me, and even for the entire Unorthodox faction, is an opportunity that comes once in a thousand years and must not be missed."
Venerable Green Face nodded and asked, "What about that black-robed pretty boy?"
Master Wu remained expressionless and said, "Capture him."
"Hmm?" Venerable Green Face was startled, "Not kill him?"
Master Wu shook his head, "This person is mysterious and sinister, and must carry an Unorthodox inheritance. Someone wants to use him to cast a curse to harm me. I need to capture him and interrogate him thoroughly."
Venerable Green Face nodded, "Good."
Master Wu pondered for a moment and added, "Don't harm him."
Venerable Green Face was surprised, "Don't harm him either?"
Master Wu nodded, "His blood, flesh, skin, and hair are probably all mediums for the curse art. Once injured, there could be unknown disasters. Therefore, don't harm him. Just use some treasures to suppress him, capture him, and I'll interrogate him thoroughly."
In Master Wu's eyes, a hard-to-describe murky light flashed, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.
Venerable Green Face just nodded, "I'll follow your instructions, Master Wu."
Master Wu said, "Then go do it. If there are any problems, come find me."
"Alright," Venerable Green Face cupped his hands, "Farewell."
Master Wu returned the gesture and said, "Venerable, take care."
One was a Master, one was a Venerable. One cultivated Unorthodox arts, one had instigated a riot. Both were late Golden Core stage cultivators who wanted to make waves, so naturally they had no time to spare.
After a brief exchange, the two parted ways.
After watching Venerable Green Face walk away, Master Wu's expression changed slightly. He took a deep breath and recalled the Ancestral Master's records: after three hundred years of cultivation, a great opportunity would descend upon him. His heart was both anxious and auspicious.
Venerable Green Face walked for a while and stood in the gaze of...
A cold feeling:
Those who cultivate Unorthodox arts are no good... treating me like a fool?
Sooner or later, I'll eat you all all-
Outside the Myriad Spider Ancient Forest.
A stretch of迷守 and dense forest.
After another half day, Mo Hua finally led Gu Changhuai and a group of Dao Court cultivators out of the Gan Lao Forest and into the "sealed" Myriad Spider Daoist Temple.
The Myriad Spider Daoist Temple was exactly as it was when Mo Hua had first come, with no changes.
Mo Hua's gaze swept through the temple, and finally he looked up at that one item being enshrined, which seemed solemn and vast, but somehow-
It faintly exuded a bit of an old, red, and sinister divine statue-
And this divine statue seemed to be looking at Mo Hua.
The man and the statue stared at each other for a moment, then the light in the statue's eyes vanished, and some kind of aura also disappeared without a trace.
Mo Hua also restrained the sharpness in his eyes. He didn't do anything, just led Gu Changhuai and the others out of the wild temple-
Leaving the wild temple, they were still within the range of the Myriad Spider Ancient Forest.
The forest was dense, making it hard to determine direction, but the danger was much less, and that feeling of being watched was gone-
Mo Hua, even more familiar with the way, led Gu Changhuai and the others straight forward, eventually leaving the range of the Myriad Spider Ancient Forest, then following the wilderness south for several dozen li until there were no more trees around, only bare mountain slopes, and only then did he feel relieved.
Mo Hua said: "For now there's no danger, let's rest and recover here for a while-"
The group of Dao Court cultivators, as if granted amnesty, all bowed and thanked Mo Hua, then found places to sit, began taking medicinal pills, and sat in meditation to heal their injuries.
Gu Changhuai also let out a long sigh of relief. Although there were some casualties, they had managed to bring many comrades out of the death zone and save their lives, which he felt fortunate for.
Gu Changhuai then cupped his hands toward Mo Hua and said sincerely:
"Great kindness needs no thanks."
Mo Hua waved his hand, "Why be so formal between us…"
We're all old comrades, no need for thanks.
Looking at Mo Hua's casual attitude toward this life-saving grace, Gu Changhuai was truly filled with emotion.
If it weren't for the fact that he had met Mo Hua back in the Qian Xue realm, who was then only a minor disciple of the Tai Shu Sect at the Foundation Establishment stage.
He probably wouldn't have been able to pass through this current difficulty, and so many brothers who had followed him through life and death would have been buried with him.
Gu Changhuai thought of this and felt a lingering fear, his face turning pale again.
Mo Hua then said: "Uncle Gu, you should rest too."
Gu Changhuai looked around and still had some concerns.
Mo Hua said: "Don't worry. I've calculated it. Within thirteen shichen, there should be no danger."
Even the time was precise down to the shichen...
Gu Changhuai found it incredible when Mo Hua said this, but he also truly felt relieved.
In the turbulent Qingshou realm, danger lurked everywhere, and there was rarely a moment of peace.
If anyone else had said this, Gu Changhuai would never have believed it.
But coming from the mouth of "all-powerful" Mo Hua, this sense of security was completely in another league.
Gu Changhuai nodded, "Good."
After speaking, he didn't say more but sat down to meditate and rest, calming his mind to heal his injuries and recover his spiritual energy.
Mo Hua sat beside him, protecting Gu Changhuai while his eyes moved, constantly calculating in his mind.
To consider the situation in the Qingshou realm and the deep secrets of Unorthodox methods.
---
On the desolate slope, time passed little by little.
When Gu Changhuai's injuries improved and he opened his eyes again, the sky had completely darkened.
A crescent moon hung in the sky.
But because the Qingshou realm was frequently turbulent with blood flowing everywhere, this moon also had a blood-red hue.
Mo Hua was staring at this moon, lost in thought. When he noticed Gu Changhuai had awakened, he turned his head and asked:
"How are your injuries?"
Gu Changhuai nodded and said calmly: "It's nothing."
Previously trapped in the Myriad Spider Ancient Forest, he had fought in turns with Venerable Green Face and his followers, and the accumulated injuries were not light to begin with.
Before that, he had taken Exploding Spirit Pills and fought a life-or-death battle with Venerable Green Face.
Although Mo Hua had intervened and killed Venerable Green Face, the injuries in his body were even more severe and not so easily healed. He was just putting on a brave front, saying "it's nothing."
Mo Hua glanced at Gu Changhuai's complexion and understood.
With the Qingshou turmoil and hidden dangers, it was indeed not a good time to heal injuries peacefully-
The injuries accumulated from prolonged battle also couldn't be completely healed in a short time-
But compared to when he was being chased, Uncle Gu's complexion was somewhat better, and color was returning to his face-
Gu Changhuai looked at Mo Hua and then remembered something, asking: "By the way, weren't you in Houtu City?"
Mo Hua sighed: "I'm not staying anymore. It's boring."
Boring?"
Don't...
Gu Changhuai asked: "Did you offend too many people?"
Mo Hua didn't speak.
Gu Changhuai nodded, as if he had expected this.
If not many people were offended, then it must be Mo Hua. So far, Gu Changhuai hadn't seen anyone more hated than Mo Hua.
Especially after the recent battle in the Myriad Spider Ancient Forest, when he had been "disgusted" by Mo Hua's Fireball technique--
Even if it was only for that moment, after dozens of rounds of exchange, Gu Changhuai was even more certain of this.
Then you're not going back to Houtu City?" Gu Changhuai asked again.
Mo Hua said: "For now... I probably won't go back."
Gu Changhuai's gaze was somewhat subtle as he asked: "Then can you really give up the Flower Queen?"
Mo Hua was startled, "What Flower Queen?"
Gu Changhuai said: "Which other Flower Queen could it be? The Flower Queen of Yu Chun Lou, Yu Nu Jiao."
Mo Hua froze, "You even know about this?"
Gu Changhuai nodded, "The mysterious and unfathomable Mo Gongzi of the Tai Xu Sect, with a single spirit stone, won over the most beautiful Flower Queen of Yu Chun Lou. The young masters of the great families of Qingzhou, who vied for her favor and offered treasures to win her smile, lost all face..."
Gu Changhuai's tone was as if reading an official document.
---
Mo Hua's scalp went numb, "Who told you that?"
Gu Changhuai said: "It's written that way in the Dao Court documents."
Mo Hua's expression changed, "Such a trivial matter, and Dao Court documents it?"
"This is no trivial matter..." Gu Changhuai pondered: "Put yourself in my shoes. If I were a young master from a Qingzhou family, I probably wouldn't be able to swallow this humiliation and would want to kill you..."
Mo Hua helplessly didn't want to talk about this topic.
Then he suddenly remembered something and asked: "By the way, how are Xianyi and Yuer2?"
Gu Changhuai paused when he heard this, and his expression gradually darkened.
Mo Hua saw this and his gaze changed slightly, "What's wrong?"
Gu Changhuai shook his head, "Nothing"
Mo Hua's mind moved, his gaze sharpened, and he said: "Something happened to Yuer?"
Gu Changhuai knew he couldn't hide it from Mo Hua, so he sighed, "It's not exactly that something happened..."
Gu Changhuai paused for a moment, his expression darkening, his brow furrowed:
"Ever since you left, Yuer has... changed greatly..."
"His disposition has become somewhat... unrecognizable2]"