Chapter 633: The Calamity Begins
The mountain forest was silent. The trees were dense, and sunlight filtered through, casting dappled shadows across the ground. But beneath those overlapping fragments of light—there was no sign of anyone.
Chopper Old Five frowned. "Where's that brat?"
Yin Leizi's expression was equally grim. "Hiding in the forest?"
"Hiding where, exactly?"
"Did he burrow underground?"
"There's not a single mark on the ground—how would he tunnel underground?"
"Then that means…"
The four exchanged glances, pupils shrinking.
Concealment?!
That little brat… actually knows a concealment technique?
Chopper Old Five exploded with curses. "Damn it, slippery like a loach wasn't bad enough, now he can vanish too? What the hell!"
"How the f**k are we supposed to catch him like this?"
Truly a cunning little bastard.
Even Fire Buddha's gaze darkened slightly.
Yin Leizi seemed to think of something and frowned. "That brat's only in early Foundation Establishment. Even if he learned a concealment technique, how could he possibly hide from our late-stage Foundation Establishment divine senses?"
This caught them all off guard.
"Before he was captured… does this kid have anything to do with it? Could Hidden Second have been caught by him?"
Chopper Old Five was unconvinced.
Fire Buddha's eyes flashed with malice, but in the next breath, he regained his calm, wore a benevolent expression, and spoke gently:
Ghostface Fiend's fleshy features twitched. "Hidden Second's… Small Five-Element Concealment Technique?"
"Hidden Second cultivated that technique for over two hundred years before mastering it. How old is this brat? How many dark roads has he walked? Could he really have trained it to such a level?"
Yin Leizi sneered. "Cut the crap. Early Foundation Stage—how strong could his divine sense possibly be?"
"Should we burn the forest?"
Yin Leizi glanced at the surrounding woods, eyes filled with dread.
"You wanna die? Burning the forest would attract those lapdogs from the Dao Judiciary Division. How the hell are we supposed to keep operating then?"
"If Hidden Second's been thrown into the Dao Prison, he won't spill anything. Dead either way…"
Chopper Old Five roared back, "Then you tell me what the hell happened?"
"Bullsh*t!" he cursed again.
The three of them fell silent.
Yin Leizi narrowed his eyes. "It must be that his concealment art is simply too refined."
Ghostface Fiend, who'd been silent, suddenly furrowed his brow. "That concealment technique of his… it feels familiar. Don't tell me…"
"Twelve or thirteen runes at most. What, you think he reached the heavens with it?"
"And besides…"
"No way," Yin Leizi shook his head. "That was Hidden Second's prized survival skill. He had nothing else. He clung to that technique like his life—never passed it to anyone."
"There's something fishy about this concealment technique…"
Chopper Old Five exploded. "Then what now?"
Yin Leizi's face turned red, but he couldn't come up with an answer.
"…Forget it. Heaven cherishes life. Let's spare his for now. It's getting late—we still have business to take care of."
"Getting that brat to talk won't be easy…"
They had thought he was just a young brat with decent footwork—but who would've guessed he'd learned such a powerful concealment art?
"Hidden Second's definitely inside the prison now…"
"Was his divine sense too strong? Masking perception?" Chopper Old Five muttered.
"The prison gates are like a bottomless sea. He's probably not getting out. Might not even leave with his life."
"Before he was caught, he was tortured severely—his teeth were smashed, swallowed the pieces, and still didn't give up the incantation for the concealment art…"
"With a forest this large… how are we supposed to search it?"
Instead of learning proper techniques, that brat just focused on disgusting little offshoots and backdoor arts.
Chopper Old Five said irritably, "Then what? We scatter and search?"
"This kind of concealment—silent, traceless, unseen—it erases footprints, hides from divine sense, leaves not a single clue…"
Yin Leizi frowned and looked toward Fire Buddha.
"Even Hidden Second couldn't achieve this level."
"Something's off…"
"And anyway, Hidden Second was like a cockroach…"
"What about before he was caught?"
He had been humiliated by Mo Hua, and now wished nothing more than to skin the brat alive on the spot.
But he didn't dare disobey Fire Buddha, so he buried the hatred deep inside, thinking to himself: Next time we meet, I'll chop that kid into bloody chunks with my fire-imbued blade.
The group turned to leave.
After walking several dozen steps, Fire Buddha suddenly halted.
Chopper Old Five and the others paused in confusion. They turned to look at him—he seemed to have recalled something, his expression troubled.
"Big bro, what's wrong?"
Fire Buddha pondered for a moment, then asked doubtfully, "How did that young cultivator… recognize all of us?"
Recognizing one of them was one thing—but how did he recognize all four instantly?
The other three frowned.
"Don't tell me that brat is a Dao Judiciary dog?"
"No way. Those idiots from the Dao Judiciary couldn't raise such a crafty hound…"
"Unless…"
Yin Leizi's expression turned grave. "Could it be… the Blood Oath Roster fell into his hands?"
Fire Buddha's eyes glinted with killing intent, but he eventually shook his head. "It can't be that much of a coincidence…"
That item was highly classified. How could it have just so happened to fall into the hands of a brat none of them had ever met before?
Besides, it was sealed with rune locks and encryption sigils.
The secrets within… weren't something a mere junior cultivator could even begin to comprehend.
"Then this…"
Yin Leizi and the others were completely baffled.
Fire Buddha reined in his emotions, his face once again gentle and composed. He turned to glance at the forest where Mo Hua had disappeared, his voice hollow and calm:
"We have more pressing matters. As for that little cultivator…"
"…We will meet again."
Fire Buddha's gaze burned like karmic fire, carrying a frigid killing intent.
"Next time, I'll teach you how fire arts are really used."
Then, with solemn steps, he turned and headed west.
Chopper Old Five and the others gave the woods one last, vicious glare, then followed Fire Buddha with fury in their hearts.
...
In the forest, there was no trace of Mo Hua.
And within the forest, Mo Hua's figure had long since vanished.
He had already taken advantage of the Wood Qi of the Five Elements in the forest to cast the Small Five-Element Concealment Technique, and quietly slipped away.
Fire Buddha was dangerous.
The other three were no gentlefolk either.
Since he couldn't face them head-on, the smart choice was to run as early as possible—no need to stir up more trouble.
Mo Hua activated his concealment technique and went deep into the woods, winding his path through mountain trails. Once he was sure he had shaken off Fire Buddha and the other three, he circled around and returned to the gates of Luanshan City to wait for his senior brothers and sisters.
To be extra cautious, he even remained hidden under the concealment technique.
About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, two elegant figures appeared amid the bustling flow of people at the city gates.
One wore colorful robes and had dazzling beauty—Murong Caiyun. The other, in a hundred-flower patterned dress, was the charming Hua Qianqian.
Following behind them were Ouyang Feng and Shangguan Xu.
Mo Hua breathed a sigh of relief, canceled the concealment, and waved. "Senior Brother, Senior Sisters!"
Murong Caiyun looked surprised upon seeing him and walked up, asking:
"Junior Brother, what are you doing here? Weren't you having tea at the teahouse?"
"I ran into bad people!" Mo Hua replied with a serious face.
Bad people?
The four of them exchanged glances, then turned to Mo Hua with concern. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." Mo Hua nodded. "They tried to kill me. I ran away."
Tried to kill Junior Brother Mo?!
Ouyang Feng's gaze turned cold. The others also looked angry. "Where are they?"
Mo Hua felt warmed by their concern but still shook his head and said:
"There were four of them, at least two in the late Foundation Establishment stage. And their leader was using forbidden techniques—extremely dangerous…"
Late Foundation Stage? Forbidden techniques?!
Murong Caiyun's expression shifted. She carefully looked Mo Hua over again. His clothes were a little dusty, but he was unharmed. Only then did she relax.
Still, she was a little shocked. "You managed to escape that?"
Mo Hua replied, "I got lucky, barely escaped…"
"…Alright then."
Murong Caiyun didn't press further.
This Junior Brother of hers might be a bit odd, but when it came to staying alive, he had all kinds of weird tricks.
But escaping alone from a group with late Foundation Stage cultivators? That was a little too absurd…
Ouyang Feng's face turned grim as he thought aloud:
"Four people, at least two late Foundation Stage… we'll have to report this to the Dao Judiciary Division. But the one in Luanshan City might not be strong enough…"
"To be safe, it's better to report it directly to the Dao Judiciary of Ganxue Prefecture."
The others nodded slightly.
Mo Hua nodded emphatically too.
That was exactly what he had in mind.
If Uncle Gu was right, this Fire Buddha had extremely powerful spells and was nearly unmatched below Second Grade.
Even if the Second-Grade Luanshan Dao Judiciary sent someone after him, they'd likely be incinerated by his Flamefall Technique.
Better to head straight to Ganxue Prefecture's Fifth-Grade Dao Judiciary.
No time to waste—they hired a carriage and departed immediately. Half a day later, they arrived at the Ganxue Prefecture territory and entered the grand halls of the Dao Judiciary Division, requesting to file a report.
But the "reporting" procedure was… well, complicated. And slow.
Mo Hua briefly summarized what happened, then rattled off a long list of names:
"Bloodwood Chopper, Yin Leizi, Ghostface Fiend, Fire Buddha."
The registrar thought Mo Hua was joking and stared at him blankly for a while before asking in confusion:
"How do you know those four go by those names?"
Ganxue Prefecture was vast, full of cultivators of every stripe. There were many criminals and rogue cultivators. Some of the names Mo Hua gave were even unfamiliar to the registrar himself.
How could a little cultivator recognize them?
"I overheard them talking," Mo Hua casually made up an excuse.
The registrar remained half-skeptical.
It wasn't that he didn't believe him—it was just a little too hard to believe. He hesitated, unsure what to do.
Mo Hua, impatient with the red tape, asked, "Where's Director Gu? I'll talk to him."
"You know Director Gu?"
"Yep." Mo Hua nodded. "Me and Uncle Gu—we're tight!"
The registrar gave him a yeah right look.
That cold-faced 'grim reaper' Gu Changhuai, who looked down on everyone, friends with a little cultivator like you?
"Director Gu is busy with official duties…"
"This is important," Mo Hua said seriously. Then he leaned closer and whispered, "Uncle Gu holds grudges. If you delay reporting this, be careful he doesn't make your life hell later…"
The registrar's face twitched.
He didn't know whether those criminal names were real or not, but Mo Hua said one thing that was true—
Director Gu does hold grudges.
And anyone bold enough to say Director Gu is petty… clearly wasn't your average cultivator!
"…Alright, I'll take you to him," the registrar agreed. But then he added, "Just don't tell him I brought you."
"Deal!"
So while Murong Caiyun waited in the main hall, the registrar led Mo Hua through the grand and solemn halls of the Dao Judiciary Division, winding through corridors and pavilions, finally arriving at one of the Judiciary's private offices.
This, it seemed, was where Gu Changhuai did his work.
Mo Hua had never been here before, so he made a mental map of the route. Next time he needed something, he'd come knock on Uncle Gu's door directly.
The registrar only dared bring him to the door, then quickly slipped away.
Mo Hua shook his head. Looks like Uncle Gu doesn't have many friends here.
Everyone's scared of him.
Unlike me—so lovable.
There was a doorbell outside the office, styled in an antique fashion. Mo Hua gave it a shake, and a clear chime sounded.
A moment later, a cold, aloof voice came from within: "Come in."
The door opened. Mo Hua stepped inside.
The office was tidy and refined. Gu Changhuai sat at his desk, focused, writing something.
When Mo Hua entered, Gu looked up and froze for a moment before frowning.
"…You again?"
He glanced around. Seeing Mo Hua was alone, he asked:
"How did you even find this place?"
The Judiciary's internal offices were where the directors worked. It wasn't exactly forbidden territory, but regular outsiders weren't allowed to wander in.
Mo Hua replied, "A kind-hearted registrar passing by brought me."
He was loyal—he didn't snitch on the guy's appearance.
Gu Changhuai sighed, a little exasperated, then returned to his writing and said indifferently, "Alright, what is it this time?"
"I ran into Fire Buddha!"
Gu's hand trembled—his brush dragged a long streak of ink across the scroll. He looked up at Mo Hua in disbelief.
"Fire… Buddha?"
"Yup!"
"How did you run into him?"
"I was just drinking tea at a teahouse—and there he was."
Gu was speechless.
Fire Buddha wasn't some street vendor desperate to make a deal with you… You were just sipping tea and bump! you ran into him?
Or could it be… this kid really had "speech magic"? Say Fire Buddha's name, and poof—he shows up?
Mo Hua saw the disbelief in Gu's eyes and insisted, "It's true!"
Gu didn't necessarily disbelieve him—it was just… too ridiculous.
The Dao Judiciary had hunted Fire Buddha for so long without a trace. And you—a little sect disciple—just went for tea and happened to find him?
What are you, some kind of prophetic street psychic?
Let alone the rest…
Moreover…
Even within the Dao Judiciary Division, they had to speak with evidence. Just because Mo Hua was a disciple of the Great Void Sect, one of the Eight Major Sects, didn't mean that whatever he said would automatically be taken as truth.
The Dao Judiciary didn't have enough manpower to waste on baseless claims either.
Gu Changhuai sighed. "How do you know the one you encountered was Fire Buddha?"
Mo Hua replied seriously:
"He's tall, has a kind face, doesn't talk much, and underneath his ordinary clothes, he wears a monk's robe. His hair was tied up, but it was fake—beneath it were several burn scars from fire-branding rings…"
"He was with three others. One was a burly man who wielded a blood-red cleaver, called 'Qiao Lao Wu'—possibly the notorious criminal known as Bloodwood Chopper…"
"Another was a gaunt man with a gloomy complexion—most likely Yin Leizi. The last one was another large man, his face full of vicious lines and a brutal expression—he's probably Ghostface Fiend…"
Gu Changhuai's lazy expression disappeared as his face grew graver with every word.
Mo Hua didn't sound like he was making it up.
These names were indeed infamous criminals within the Second-Grade territories, all with heinous records.
But still…
Gu Changhuai looked at Mo Hua sternly. "Where did you learn about these criminals?"
Bloodwood Chopper, Yin Leizi, Ghostface Fiend… he rattled them off like a grocery list.
As if these criminals were menu items and he was the waiter taking orders…
Mo Hua stood upright and declared with righteous indignation:
"Although my cultivation is still low, I never forget the sect's teachings: uphold justice, eliminate demons, hate evil as one would a sworn enemy, and cleanse the world of crime. I've long dreamed of wiping them all out in one fell swoop!"
"So I usually like to collect information about wanted criminals. That's why I know… just a bit more than usual."
Gu Changhuai felt a headache coming on.
This kid is full of it.
Uphold justice? Hate evil? Are we even talking about the same person?
If you're going to lie, at least write a rough draft first.
Still, something deep inside told him this matter with Fire Buddha… might actually be true.
But… the evidence was still a little weak.
Height, looks, robes, branding scars…
All it proved was that this person resembled Fire Buddha. There were plenty of monks out there with branding scars and robes.
Gu Changhuai frowned. "Any other clues to prove it was really Fire Buddha?"
Mo Hua thought for a moment. "He was extremely skilled in fire-based spells. When casting, two flames ignited in his body—like he had two hearts burning."
Gu Changhuai's heart jolted. "He attacked?!"
"He did," Mo Hua nodded.
"You escaped?" Gu stared at him.
"Yes. The moment he made a move, I ran."
"…How did you run?"
Mo Hua blinked, confused. "With my legs, obviously."
Gu nearly choked.
"I meant—"
He paused halfway through his sentence, frowning deeply.
Some things really weren't meant to be asked.
Especially a cultivator's life-saving techniques…
In his eyes, Mo Hua was becoming more and more of a mystery.
"Do you know where Fire Buddha went afterward?" Gu asked in a low voice.
Mo Hua shook his head. "I was lucky just to escape. No way I dared follow them…"
"Where exactly did you encounter them?"
"Outside Luanshan City…"
Mo Hua thought for a second, then gave more detail. "In the forest where the roads between Luanshan City and Bishan City intersect—there was a small teahouse there."
"Where the roads between Luanshan and Bishan intersect…" Gu Changhuai nodded. "Alright. I'll take people to investigate personally. If this is true—"
He looked at Mo Hua. "You'll be rewarded with merit points."
Mo Hua's eyes lit up. "Thank you, Uncle Gu!"
Gu nodded slightly, already frowning in thought.
Mo Hua then asked quietly, "Uncle Gu… why do you think Fire Buddha suddenly showed up? What's he after?"
Gu shook his head. "No idea. Don't get involved."
After saying this, he quickly organized the documents in his hand and rushed out the door.
He summoned several teams of officers and ordered them to split up—clearly preparing to track down Fire Buddha.
Mo Hua really wanted to follow, but he knew without even asking: Uncle Gu would never allow it. So he had no choice but to return to the sect with his senior brothers and sisters.
Even back at the sect, Mo Hua couldn't stop thinking about it.
How could they catch Fire Buddha?
And how could he get the cultivation method for Fire Buddha's forbidden technique—Falling Flame Art?
And that man with a compassionate expression but a body count in the hundreds…
Why had Fire Buddha resurfaced now? What was he planning?
There were too few clues. Mo Hua thought and thought but couldn't figure it out.
So, he asked Senior Sister Murong for help in gathering some intel.
He had a strong hunch—Fire Buddha wouldn't show up without a reason.
A few days later, Murong Caiyun came to find him.
She paused for a moment, then said with a solemn expression:
"The Xie family of Bishan City… was wiped out by Fire Buddha."
"The entire Xie estate became a sea of fire. Every man, woman, and child was burned to cinders—no survivors."
(End of Chapter)