Chapter 1179: Big Guy

The barbarian general Chifeng glanced at Mohua, then without hesitation, he twisted off the limbs of the Skull Clan leader with his bare hands.

The Skull Clan leader endured the pain, glaring fiercely at Mohua:

"I will kill you!"

Mohua looked at Chifeng.

Chifeng was silent for a moment, then slapped the Skull Clan leader across the face.

The force of a Core Formation mid-stage barbarian general was extraordinary.

Instantly, five bloody streaks appeared on the Skull Clan leader's face, which swelled up, and his head rang loudly.

He immediately became submissive. Although he was furious at Mohua, this "sycophantic" pretty boy, he dared not utter another insolent word.

"Tell me, what is this cave for?" Mohua asked again.

The Skull Clan leader's voice was hoarse. "It's for sacrificing to the Barbarian God."

Mohua's eyes lit up, immediately piqued with interest. "Which Barbarian God?"

The Skull Clan leader's face was filled with reverence. "The Barbarian God is the Barbarian God; there is only one Barbarian God in this world."

Mohua found it impossible to communicate with such "illiterate" followers of divine paths.

Often, the more fanatical a person's belief, the less they truly know about their deity, uttering foolish statements like there being only one Barbarian God in the world.

Only one Barbarian God? Wouldn't he starve then?

Mohua asked again, "Do you kill people, eat people, and dance to please and worship your Barbarian God?"

When discussing the Barbarian God and sacrifices, the Skull Clan leader's expression turned fanatical:

"Humans are livestock, and so are we. But we are higher livestock. For us higher livestock to eat lower livestock is pleasing to the Barbarian God and a sign of our devotion. The Barbarian God will personally descend to witness our piety."

Mohua slightly frowned.

He knew the barbarians were savage, and there must be some fierce and deranged entities among the Barbarian Gods.

However, such extreme ferocity and madness were still somewhat beyond Mohua's expectations.

But it didn't matter; Mohua wasn't "picky."

Moreover, ever since entering the Vermilion Bird Mountain Realm, Mohua hadn't indulged in meat or eaten any Barbarian Gods.

In a peak third-grade great mountain realm, any major tribe capable of sustaining a Barbarian God would be prominent, with many Core Formation cultivators guarding them.

Mohua couldn't move as freely as he did in a second-grade small mountain realm, infiltrating tribes alone to hunt the Barbarian Gods they worshipped.

Furthermore, the methods these large tribes used to sacrifice to Barbarian Gods were highly concealed.

During the sacrifices, security was also extremely tight.

The likelihood of being discovered while concealing and sneaking was very high.

Once caught red-handed, leaving behind any trace, he would be hunted to death.

Besides, when invading a Barbarian God's dream, his physical body would be unguarded.

If something unexpected happened and his physical body was destroyed, he, as an immortal, would be unable to cultivate further.

To avoid the dissipation of his divinity and path, he would have no choice but to parasitize flesh and blood, becoming something neither god nor ghost.

That would be no different from being "dead."

In addition, with the need to infiltrate the Danque Tribe and dedicate effort to teaching Danzhu, Mohua's plan to hunt Barbarian Gods had to be put on hold for a while.

But now, "food" had delivered itself to his doorstep.

Mohua asked, "Where is your Barbarian God? Where?"

The Skull Clan leader gave Mohua a strange look, then grinned, blood dripping from his mouth, and cackled sinisterly:

"I see it now, you are a treacherous person. You are challenging the Barbarian God's orthodoxy. You overestimate yourself, possessing the arrogant heart of 'blasphemy'."

"I will not tell you the Barbarian God's location."

Mohua's gaze darkened slightly. "Are you not afraid to die?"

The Skull Clan leader stated calmly:

"Everyone fears death, and I am human, so I also fear death. But what I fear is being unable to continue serving the Barbarian God after death, unable to please the Barbarian God, unable to offer my bones and blood to the Barbarian God, and unable to receive the Barbarian God's favor."

Mohua nodded. "You're quite servile."

The Skull Clan leader showed slight anger and sneered:

"Ignorant brat, what do you know? Do you know the Barbarian God's greatness? Do you know the immortality of deities? You know nothing, lack reverence, and are so arrogant..."

Chifeng slapped him again, across the other side of the Skull Clan leader's face, shattering a row of his teeth.

Hatred in his eyes, the Skull Clan leader rasped, "The Barbarian God will kill you for me—"

Mohua sneered, pointing to the cave, "Is your Barbarian God hidden in this small cave?"

"Such a tiny place to hide? Is your Barbarian God a rat?"

Mohua's words deeply provoked the Skull Clan leader.

The Skull Clan leader's eyes widened, glaring furiously at Mohua:

"Audacious! Ignorant! How dare you mock the Barbarian God like this! From now on, you are a dead man! The Barbarian God will sooner or later bring down divine punishment upon you! You are dead! Dead!"

Seeing his ferocious expression and emphatic words, Danzhu couldn't help but look at Mohua with worry, fearing that Mohua had truly offended a Barbarian God and invited disaster upon himself.

To everyone's surprise, Mohua was not only unafraid but even a little excited.

He was eager for the Barbarian God to come and kill him.

However, he knew such "good fortune" wouldn't fall to him.

He would have to investigate the Barbarian God's whereabouts himself.

Mohua turned his head and looked at the small cave, where patterns were drawn with human blood.

It was highly probable that one of the Skull Clan's Barbarian Gods was hidden in this small cave.

However, Mohua did not rush in, nor did he make any superfluous moves; he simply stared silently at the cave.

Danzhu and the others were somewhat puzzled.

Elder Bashan became slightly impatient:

"It's just a broken cave; you can see to the end of it. What's there to be so cautious about? Just go in and take a look!"

He was a Core Formation cultivator, and he had already used his divine sense to scan the cave many times, detecting no danger within.

Therefore, he didn't take it to heart.

Elder Bashan walked directly into the cave.

But as he truly approached the cave entrance, he still perceived a faint, subtle chill.

It seemed as if something strange truly existed within the cave.

Elder Bashan paused, a little indecisive, unsure whether he should enter or not.

Just as he hesitated, he suddenly heard a voice from behind him:

"Elder Bashan, don't go in."

This was Mohua "kindly" reminding him.

However, if Mohua hadn't reminded him, it would have been fine. His reminder instead triggered Elder Bashan's rebellious streak.

As a guarding elder of Young Master Danzhu, Bashan had felt from the very beginning that Mohua was a swindler.

He had always harbored resentment towards this so-called "Mister Wu," who "bewitched" the young master with his deceptive words, making him obey his every command.

The swindler didn't want him to enter the cave.

Then he would go in precisely because of that.

Ignoring Mohua's warning, Elder Bashan walked directly into the cave. However, he emerged moments later.

The cave was very narrow and completely unremarkable, with nothing inside.

Elder Bashan walked a couple of steps, found nothing, and naturally left the cave.

After exiting the cave, Elder Bashan said, "Young Master, there's nothing strange in this cave—"

However, Mohua's expression was grave. He stared at Bashan for a few moments, then said in a deep voice, "Bind Elder Bashan with chains."

Elder Bashan was stunned.

Danzhu and the others also looked bewildered. "Mister, this is—"

Mohua stated solemnly, "Elder Bashan has been 'possessed.' In a little while, he will go mad. We must restrain him now, or the consequences will be severe."

Elder Bashan angrily retorted:

"Mister Wu, you pretty boy, what nonsense are you spouting?! 'Possessed'? How could I not know if I'm possessed? Don't you dare slander me!"

Mohua remained calm. "See, his temper is starting to flare up."

Danzhu, helpless, could only say, "Then—let's bind him first."

Elder Bashan's mouth hung open; his heart was breaking.

The young master he had diligently served and guarded for over thirty years, from childhood, had actually ordered him to be bound.

Elder Bashan said with a tremor, "Young Master! You must not listen to malicious slander! This brat is slandering me; he has ill intentions!"

Danzhu was also in a difficult position and could only say, "Just bind him for now—"

General Chifeng stepped forward, took out chains, and bound Elder Bashan.

Although Elder Bashan was angry, he did not resist in front of Chifeng. He just looked heartbroken, as if sorrow was greater than death itself.

Seeing this, Chifeng also slightly frowned, unsure what Mohua was up to.

If it was just to eliminate dissenters, this method was too crude.

But before he could ponder further, a malevolent aura emanated. Chifeng's expression changed. He looked down and saw Bashan, bound by chains, with bloodshot eyes and a ferocious expression, drooling from the corners of his mouth, as if ready to devour someone.

"This is bad!"

Chifeng's heart jolted. He immediately pressed down on Bashan's shoulders.

But at this moment, Bashan, suddenly afflicted by some unknown ailment, possessed immense strength.

Even Chifeng, a Core Formation mid-stage cultivator, had trouble holding him down for a moment.

Bashan even opened his mouth wide and bit Chifeng's palm, seemingly trying to tear off a piece of flesh to swallow.

Chifeng twisted his hand, gripping Bashan's head.

Bashan still didn't stop, his muscles bulging, struggling desperately.

Fortunately, Mohua had instructed Chifeng to chain Bashan beforehand, otherwise, he couldn't have been subdued in a short time.

If Bashan went mad and started biting and eating people indiscriminately, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Chifeng had no choice but to forcefully restrain Bashan's limbs.

But dragging this on was not a solution.

No one knew how long Bashan would remain mad.

Danzhu and the others' expressions were grim.

Just then, Mohua spoke up:

"Hang Elder Bashan up, feet off the ground, head down, suspended from a tree. This way, the evil energy will rise and won't enter his brain."

Chifeng hesitated for a moment. Although he found it somewhat absurd, he nodded and complied.

Elder Bashan, bound by chains, was hung head-down from a nearby large tree, like a black bear, struggling profusely.

Mohua said, "Whip him. Let out some blood to expel the evil energy."

Chifeng took out an iron whip and struck Bashan's body, lash after lash.

Bachuan, also a guarding elder, felt a pang of pity. However, Bashan's current state was so sinister and bizarre that he was not in a position to say much. He only hoped that Mister Wu's method could save Bashan.

After dozens of lashes, the previously mad Bashan indeed gradually began to regain consciousness.

He was in pain all over, covered in blood, and realizing he was being whipped while hanging from a tree, he felt a mix of shock, confusion, and agony.

"Lord Chifeng, why is this—"

Chifeng frowned, looking at Bashan, and asked cautiously, "Do you remember what you just did?"

Bashan thought for a moment, then suddenly remembered the impulse to "eat people" that had surged in his heart just before his memory loss. His face instantly turned pale.

"I—"

Bashan was bewildered and confused, unable to speak.

Chifeng held the iron whip, his expression grave.

Danzhu also looked worried. After all, Bashan had been his guard since childhood, and their bond was deep.

Danzhu looked at Mohua.

Mohua remained silent.

Seeing this, Bachuan quickly bowed to Mohua, respectfully saying, "Please, Mister Wu, find a way to save Elder Bashan—"

Mohua was silent for a moment, just about to speak, when he suddenly heard a sharp burst of laughter.

Everyone turned and discovered that the person laughing was none other than the Skull Clan leader.

"What are you laughing at?" Bachuan frowned.

The Skull Clan leader looked sinister and scoffed triumphantly:

"Save him? What will you use to save him? This fool, so audacious, dared to step into the Barbarian God's forbidden ground. This is a grave sin."

"Now he has been struck by divine punishment, a curse has entered his mind, turning him into a man-eating savage beast, a living sacrifice to please the Barbarian God."

"Save him? He can't be saved. Just wait for death!"

Bashan's expression was terrified.

Danzhu, Chifeng, and the others all had tightly furrowed brows.

Deities are intangible, not existing in reality.

The path of deities is not something proper cultivators delve into.

Faced with such invisible and exalted beings, all they could do was believe or disbelieve. They could not use their physical eyes, or even a cultivator's divine sense, to discern the truth of the divine path or perceive its authenticity.

Judging by Bashan's current state, he had indeed been afflicted by "divine punishment."

If that were truly the case, his life was certainly beyond saving.

Everyone's mood instantly turned utterly cold.

Bashan's face was ashen.

To everyone's surprise, Mohua sneered, "No need to listen to this idiot's nonsense. Who said he can't be saved?"

Bashan was startled and looked at Mohua, at this "Mister Wu" whom he had once thoroughly disliked. "Mister Wu, I—"

Mohua nodded. "Don't worry, he can be saved."

A glimmer of hope involuntarily appeared in Bashan's eyes, and he said with a tremor, "Really?" Mohua reassured him, "Really."

"But—" Bashan still found it hard to believe, mumbling, "This is divine punishment. I went mad. I wanted to eat people. I'm beyond saving, I—"

Mohua said, "It's not divine punishment. A mere mountain barbarian evil spirit, a ghoul at most, dares to call itself a god? You just succumbed to some evil thoughts; it's nothing serious."

Hope gradually bloomed in Bashan's heart. "Truly?"

Mohua said, "Don't forget my identity—"

"You are—" Bashan was startled, only now realizing Mohua's ambiguous identity:

"You are—a Shaman Elder!"

Mohua nodded with satisfaction.

Bashan looked at Mohua again, and only then was he startled to realize that Mohua's demeanor was pure, as clear as jade. This was not the face of a mere pretty boy, but a celestial appearance.

His amiable eyes made him seem approachable; this was not flattery or hypocrisy, but an expression of compassion.

Moreover, Mohua seemed to emanate a soft, pure light, like a saint enduring hardship and fighting injustice.

This must be someone sent by the divine will to save the common people.

If such a person wasn't a Shaman Elder, who else could be?

At that moment, the Shaman Elder himself said he was fine, implying he had resisted, and that the one who inflicted the punishment upon him was not a true deity.

How could such a pronouncement not be authoritative?

Bashan was deeply moved.

He had never, at any moment, wished more fervently than now that Mohua truly was a Shaman Elder.

"However—" Mohua mused again.

Bashan's heart instantly leaped.

Mohua said, "You did, after all, succumb to some evil thoughts. You might have to endure a little hardship, take a few more whips, feel some pain, bleed a bit to expel the evil energy. For the next month, you must eat lightly and refrain from eating meat."

Bashan quickly nodded. "Yes, Shaman Elder, you are absolutely right. Bashan will certainly obey."

To solve the problem with just a few lashes, Bashan was incredibly grateful.

He even felt that Mister Wu whipping him was a "blessing," helping him overcome his misfortune.

Mohua nodded slightly.

This Elder Bashan had been too annoying throughout the journey, constantly questioning him.

Therefore, he needed to teach him a lesson and make him understand who was "the boss."

He could distrust him, but he had to obey.

Otherwise, in the future, whatever he did would be opposed, and he would have to explain more, which would be exhausting.

Mohua didn't have that much spare time.

"Whip him," Mohua said.

Chifeng hesitated for a moment, then continued to whip Bashan.

This time, when Bashan was whipped again, he not only felt no pain but instead felt like he had "profited." He even sincerely said to Mohua:

"Thank you, Shaman Elder, for saving my life!"

Elder Bachuan, standing by, also breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Bashan was free from the "divine punishment" and no longer feared for his life. He bowed deeply to Mohua, saying:

"Many thanks, Shaman Elder, for your grace."

Danzhu, looking at Mohua, was somewhat shocked.

He was perceptive and naturally intelligent.

Although he didn't know what Mohua had done, he could perceive that in the blink of an eye, Bashan's and Bachuan's attitudes towards Mohua had undergone a drastic change.

Danzhu was greatly shaken inwardly, feeling more and more that Mister Wu's grasp of human psychology was extraordinary.

In fact, Danzhu even began to wonder deep down.

"Could Mister Wu truly be a 'Shaman Elder'?"

"Is he not just teaching me things under the guise of a Shaman Elder?"

Only the Skull Clan leader watched Mohua with a sinister expression:

"He's a Shaman Elder? No—a Shaman Elder would never look like this. He's definitely not a Shaman Elder—"

Mohua, however, ignored him and ordered someone to gag him.

Then, after a moment of hesitation, he himself walked towards the small cave.

"Mister, be careful—" With Bashan's prior example, Danzhu feared Mohua might also be possessed, but Mohua shook his head and said, "It's fine."

After speaking, Mohua walked straight into the cave.

The cave was shallow, empty, and crude, with only a stone altar.

A faint evil aura permeated the altar, and malevolent thoughts subtly lingered.

Mohua searched the cave, sensed the energies within, and combining it with his own divine path experience, sighed faintly after a moment of contemplation. He hadn't lied; Bashan had indeed been possessed.

However, the evil thoughts in Bashan weren't deep. Hanging him up, whipping him for a while, making him bleed and feel pain, then scaring him a bit to clear his mind, and finally abstaining from eating meat for a period would suffice for his recovery.

This was also a "lesson" for him.

The Skull Clan leader hadn't exactly lied.

In the Skull Clan's understanding, once the ritual was performed and the Barbarian God descended, anyone who entered this forbidden cave would inevitably suffer "divine punishment," go mad, and die.

That wasn't wrong either.

But the problem was that the "Barbarian God" worshipped by the Skull Clan hadn't truly descended.

Or rather, it had descended, but only a tiny bit.

Inside the cave, only a wisp of the Barbarian God's aura remained.

Mohua felt it was a great pity.

This was clearly a third-grade Barbarian God; if consumed, it would undoubtedly be a "great tonic."

Unfortunately, the duck that was within grasp had flown away for some unknown reason.

Mohua turned to leave but suddenly felt something was amiss.

He looked around, then quickly stepped onto the altar, his gaze profound. He pinched a wisp of aura between his fingers and sniffed it at his nose.

In an instant, Mohua's eyes widened. He had actually detected a faint scent of—depravity—from the altar.

The Skull Clan's Barbarian God was an evil deity?!

Mohua's heart rate quickened slightly.

This was a big one!