Chapter 457 - Deep Water

Chapter 457: Chapter 449 Deep Water

Mo Hua thoroughly searched the Corpse Walking Stronghold again, from top to bottom.

All Formations were dismantled, not one was left;

All storerooms were opened, not one was missed;

All secret chambers were exposed, not one was overlooked…

Mo Hua turned up quite a few things.

Most of the Spirit Stones, Spiritual Artifacts, and Pills, Mo Hua did not take.

These were considered war spoils, to be distributed among everyone.

Moreover, some of the Spiritual Artifacts and Pills were filled with a sinister energy, unclean; they were of no use to Mo Hua.

The war spoils from the clearing of the Corpse Walking Stronghold would be tallied by the Situ Family, then reported to the Taoist Court, and after that, the Taoist Court would distribute merit and rewards.

In the end, there would certainly be a share that fell into Mo Hua’s hands.

Although there would be deductions at every level, the Spirit Stones he received wouldn’t be many, but at least it was an aboveboard transaction.

Moreover, it would also increase his Merit Points.

Merit Points from the Taoist Court were more important than Spirit Stones.

Aside from Spirit Stones and Pills, Mo Hua had no qualms about taking peculiar items, especially those related to Formations.

Better to err on the side of caution, Mo Hua took everything.

There were Ultimate Formations in the Corpse Walking Stronghold.

Mo Hua conjectured that the Ultimate Formation was inscribed on the Corpse Controlling Bell.

Now that the Corpse Controlling Bell was in hand, Mo Hua had not yet had the chance to examine it closely.

It was uncertain whether the bell really contained the Ultimate Formation.

But just in case, it was better to make extra preparations.

The Ultimate Formation, if not in the bell, would still be in the Corpse Walking Stronghold. Sёarch* The Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Mo Hua collected all items inscribed with Formations from the stronghold, to prevent any oversight when he came to calculate the Ultimate Formation later.

Besides that, there were other Formations in the Corpse Walking Stronghold.

For example, that Dry Ink Screen, on which was inscribed a Formation that diverged from the Five Elements, delving into a field of Formations unfamiliar to Mo Hua.

Such items like the screen were plentiful in the stronghold.

The Formations on these items also varied widely in style.

Clearly they were not drawn by Instructor Yan, but it was also unclear who they originated from.

So, in order to broaden his horizons on Formations, enhance his experience with them, and strengthen his knowledge, Mo Hua decided to take these items back to dismantle and study them carefully.

Mo Hua continued to search and collect items.

However, his Storage Bag was too small, and after a while, it could not fit anything more.

Mo Hua was somewhat worried.

Bai Zixi then produced a brand-new Storage Bag, embroidered with auspicious cloud and phoenix patterns, and crisply said,

“This bag is big.”

Mo Hua’s eyes lit up, and he said with a smile,

“Thank you, Junior Sister!”

Thus, Mo Hua no longer had any worries and released his Divine Sense, continuing to search and select Formation-embedded items within the stronghold.

The items he picked were placed into Bai Zixi’s Storage Bag.

In this manner, Mo Hua selected, while Bai Zixi packed with the bag.

The two made a round, thoroughly scouring the Corpse Walking Stronghold again.

Only when the sky began to brighten did the two return, fully laden, stuffing a top-grade Storage Bag full to the brim.

Meanwhile, Situ Fang led the cultivators of the Situ Family in nearly clearing out the Corpse Walking Stronghold.

The Spirit Stones and such, Mo Hua had left to them.

This time, the Situ Family had mobilized on a large scale.

Mobilizing manpower required spending a considerable amount of Spirit Stones.

Although the battle went smoothly, there were inevitably some cultivator casualties, who would also need Spirit Stones as consolation.

Afterwards, everyone gathered together.

Situ Fang, along with the two Elders of the Situ Family, expressed their gratitude to Mo Hua and the other two.

Without the help of Mo Hua and his companions, the casualties in this battle would likely have been higher, and whether they could have successfully taken down the Corpse Walking Stronghold was still uncertain.

After all, the stronghold’s Formations were strong, and the Iron Corpses were impervious to sword and spear, making a direct confrontation very difficult.

Mo Hua waved his hand and said, “No need to be polite.”

Then he asked, “What’s next?”

Situ Jin stroked his beard, pondering for a moment, and did not hide anything from Mo Hua, instead speaking frankly,

“After we tally up everything, we won’t go through the South Yue City Taoist Court but will use the Situ Family’s connections and influence to report to the Taoist Court in the name of the neighboring South Mountain City.”

“South Mountain City’s Taoist Court?”

Situ Jin nodded, “The Court Leader of South Mountain City, his wife’s surname is Situ.”

Mo Hua then understood.

Situ Jin continued, “This merit will bypass the South Yue City’s Taoist Court and be credited to Miss Fang.”

“Of course,” Situ Jin looked at Mo Hua and added, “Gentleman, it will also be credited to you, including not only Spirit Stones but also Merit Points distributed by the Court.”

“As to how many Merit Points, that depends on the operations on the Court’s side.”

After all, where there are people, there are divisions of interest.

In a place like the Taoist Court, even if clear water flows through, they scrape off three layers of oil.

Situ Jin went on, “Besides this, the Situ Family also has some modest gifts for the Gentleman…”

In the end, it was thanks to Mo Hua that they had this opportunity to earn this merit.

Merit, at times, is something that cannot even be bought with Spirit Stones.

With this merit, Miss Fang will also be valued by her Clan.

In their branch, there are not many promising youngsters; Situ Fang is diligent in her Cultivation and serious in her affairs, standing out among them.

Therefore, Situ Jin was truly grateful to Mo Hua.

“Where, where, Elder is too courteous…”

Although Mo Hua modestly demurred with his words, he couldn’t resist asking curiously,

“What kind of modest gift is it…”

Situ Jin was caught off guard, and he couldn’t help but chuckle.

This young Gentleman was straightforward and truly candid.

Situ Jin smiled and said, “Spirit Stones and such common things, the Gentleman may not care for, so the Situ Family will prepare some of the Family’s Formation Books to give to the Gentleman, to build a good relationship…”

Mo Hua wanted to say that he too was fond of mundane things like Spirit Stones.

But saying that would seem like he was losing face.

So Mo Hua felt too embarrassed to speak up.

However, he was pleased with the prospect of studying Formations.

He wondered what sort of Formation Books the Situ Family would send him.

Mo Hua expressed his thanks:

“Thank you, Elder, and thank you, Sister Situ!”

Situ Fang smiled upon seeing Mo Hua accept their Situ Family’s goodwill and nodded slightly.

Afterward, Zhang Quan was taken into custody by Situ Jin and sent to the Taoist Court.

The zombies and coffins were all accounted for and handled by the Taoist Court.

The Corpse Refining Coffins, being artifacts of the Demon Path, were to be destroyed.

Zombies pose a great danger; if they lose control, they will rampage, wandering around and devouring the flesh and blood of the living.

Corpse Poison can also easily cause cultivators to turn into zombies.

So typically, zombies would be incinerated by the Taoist Court to prevent further calamity.

But all of this had little to do with Mo Hua now.

Situ Fang still had some loose ends to tie up, and she also had to wait for a handover of certain matters with the Taoist Court of South Mountain City, so she was going to be quite busy.

Instructor Yan had already been escorted back to South Yue City ahead of time by the cultivators of the Situ Family.

With matters at the Corpse Walking Stronghold resolved, Mo Hua took his leave, returning with Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi.

By this time, the day had already brightened, and the morning glow filled the sky, spreading on the path.

Mo Hua and his companions walked shoulder to shoulder on the mountain stones, draped in the glow of dawn, looking at the desolate yet somewhat wild scenery of the mountains, slowly making their way back.

On the way, Bai Zisheng lamented,

“We didn’t manage to slaughter Zhang Quan…”

He had wanted to finish Zhang Quan off with a spear thrust while he was passed out from anger, but Mo Hua hadn’t allowed it.

“Zhang Quan has someone backing him; we need to keep him alive to try to find out who that is,” Mo Hua said.

“Zhang Quan won’t talk, though.”

“It’s not up to him anymore.”

Bai Zisheng asked, “You’re not thinking of interrogating Zhang Quan yourself, are you?”

Mo Hua nodded.

Bai Zisheng hesitantly said, “You’d better not go… ”

Mo Hua was somewhat puzzled. “Why not?”

Bai Zisheng replied, “With how angry you made Zhang Quan, he’d rather die a thousand deaths than tell you anything.”

Mo Hua was stunned. “Surely he’s not that narrow-minded.”

Bai Zisheng couldn’t help but feel speechless. “I say his tolerance is already quite great. If it were any less, you would have already angered him to death… ”

Mo Hua frowned and murmured in doubt,

“Am I really that infuriating?”

He hadn’t noticed it himself.

Bai Zisheng sighed, “It’s that innocent face you make when you anger people that’s the most infuriating.”

Mo Hua didn’t believe it and turned to ask Bai Zixi,

“Little Senior Sister, do I anger people?”

Bai Zixi’s beautiful eyes shifted slightly as she spoke softly,

“Not really.”

Mo Hua nodded, feeling that his Little Senior Sister was right.

Bai Zisheng could only look at his sister and helplessly shake his head.

After walking alongside each other for a while, Bai Zisheng suddenly remembered something and asked,

“Just how many zombies were there in the Corpse Walking Stronghold?”

Mo Hua replied without a second thought, “Five Iron Corpses, six hundred and thirty-seven Walking Corpses.”

“Did you actually count them?”

“Of course,” Mo Hua nodded. In the Corpse Walking Stronghold, he probably knew the number of zombies better than Zhang Quan, the Householder.

Bai Zisheng clicked his tongue, “That’s a lot…”

But Mo Hua shook his head, “No, it’s not enough…”

Bai Zisheng was taken aback, “Still not enough?”

Mo Hua affirmed, “Not enough!”

Bai Zisheng was puzzled.

Mo Hua then explained, “Zhang Quan’s method of refining corpses is passed down from his ancestors. He’s been purchasing bodies and refining zombies for decades, if not over a hundred years. Given all these years, the number of zombies he’s refined can’t just be this amount…”

“And it’s not just him refining; he established the Corpse Walking Stronghold, where bandits kill people and Mining Cultivators buy corpses. A couple of hundred Corpse Cultivators are also refining corpses. Over time, the number of zombies they’ve refined is definitely not small.”

Bai Zisheng frowned, “Does he have other places to hide the zombies?”

“Not hiding, perhaps selling.”

Mo Hua remembered Zhang Quan mentioning something about “sending corpses.”

He wouldn’t be refining corpses to “give” them to others; there must be some sort of transaction involved.

It was still all a mystery for now, with no clear leads to follow.

Bai Zisheng exclaimed, “The waters are deep indeed…”

Mo Hua nodded and looked toward the other side.

By now, they had reached South Yue City, and the opposite side of the road was a mine.

It was late morning, and the dawn light had dissipated, leaving the sunlight searing.

The mine was baking in the heat.

The Mining Cultivators began their work under the scorching sun.

Their heads bared to the fierce sunshine, feet on sizzling stones, bodies marked with lashings turned dark, hands cracked, backs bent, they toiled in hardship and numbness under the overseers’ abuse.

For them, every breath was an immense struggle.

Like a person drowning in deep waters, gasping for air but unable to breathe.

Mo Hua’s gaze shifted slightly as he murmured,

“The waters of South Yue City are very deep…”

“That’s why these Mining Cultivators live amidst such treacherous conditions…”