Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2432 - 1102: Leaving the Sect (2)

Mo Hua’s eyes glistened with sorrow. Patriarch Dugu cast a fleeting glance at him, a moment of hesitation crossing his features before he extended the rust-stained, blood-marked broken sword to Mo Hua.

"This broken sword, I bestow it upon you. Take it out of the Sword Tomb for me."

"It has been my faithful companion throughout my life. I cannot bear for it to share my fate, buried here forever, unseen by the light of day again."

Mo Hua’s brow furrowed. "Patriarch... and you, without a sword..."

"It matters not..." Patriarch Dugu shook his head. "My having a sword or not makes no difference now. However... you must pledge one thing to me."

Patriarch Dugu’s gaze burned brightly as he fixed his eyes on Mo Hua:

"Once you depart, never set foot in this Sword Tomb again. Cultivate diligently, elevate your cultivation. Should you one day reach the Heaven Void, possessing the might to shatter the restriction I’ve laid, then return. Wield the sword I give you now... and slay me!"

Mo Hua’s countenance shifted drastically. "Patriarch!"

Patriarch Dugu simply shook his head. Clasping Mo Hua’s arm, he firmly pressed the sword, still holding a residual warmth, into Mo Hua’s hand:

"Heed my words, no matter the circumstance!"

"Furthermore, what I have spoken to you and the matter of this sword, do not breathe a word of it to anyone, not even my junior brother, your Elder Master Xun."

Mo Hua’s lips pressed into a tight line.

Patriarch Dugu offered a comforting pat on Mo Hua’s shoulder:

"You are a fine youth, possessing kindness and considerable talent. Yet, there are many things beyond your current capacity. Do not be hasty; take things one measured step at a time..."

"This broken sword, named 'Dugu', is yours to keep. It is the final gift I can bestow upon you..."

Mo Hua’s gaze grew shadowed. "Patriarch, what of my future..." He could not finish, his expression contorting as he saw Patriarch Dugu’s features begin to dissolve. The entirety of his being emanated silent, unfeeling demonic intent.

"Go now..."

Patriarch Dugu, his face now gone, akin to a fearsome 'Faceless' Celestial Demon, whispered to Mo Hua in an alien voice, "Soon, I will... no longer be your patriarch..."

A profound sense of desolation, mingled with reluctance, washed over Mo Hua.

Noticing Mo Hua’s continued hesitation, the 'Celestial Demon' that had become Patriarch Dugu ripped open a spatial rift with one swift hand and unceremoniously thrust Mo Hua into the tear.

"Cultivate well. Cherish all that you have."

These were the parting words Patriarch Dugu imparted to Mo Hua.

With his cultivation at the Heaven Void realm, Mo Hua was utterly powerless to resist.

He managed only one final glance backward at Patriarch Dugu.

Alas, what he beheld was no longer the aged, proud visage of his Patriarch, but an empty, faceless mask, devoid of features or any trace of emotion.

Having seen Mo Hua off, the silent Sword Tomb was once more occupied solely by Patriarch Dugu.

He stood there, utterly alone.

A moment later, a soft sigh escaped Patriarch Dugu’s lips:

"No wonder people seek immortality. As long as one lives, persists in living, eventually, something good will be encountered. There will always be... some hope..."

Patriarch Dugu’s form seemed to mirror the broken sword, yet his eyes blazed with a cold, inner fire.

The path of the Faceless Celestial Demon was consuming him.

With the entirety of his life’s dedication to the Sword Dao, his accumulated Sword Intent, Patriarch Dugu reversed the void into tangible reality, forging a seal. This seal bound his Dao Heart, imprisoned his Dao Body, and even extended outwards, weaving a net of blades that encompassed the entire Sword Tomb, severing its connection to the outside world...

...

Within the Elders’ Residence.

Elder Master Xun, engrossed in ancient texts and carefully deciphering their secrets, suddenly started. He rose to his feet, his gaze drawn towards the Back Hill Forbidden Area.

All the spiritual energy within the Back Hill had become tranquil, receding into the realm of reality, isolated from the world.

Such a feat was the exclusive art of a cultivator at the Zenith of the Void realm.

"Senior Brother..."

Elder Master Xun’s expression turned desolate, a wave of sorrow washing over his heart as he murmured with a sigh, "In the end... it has come to this, hasn’t it..."

...

Within the Disciples’ Residence.

Mo Hua, propelled by Patriarch Dugu, tumbled from the spatial rift back into his own chambers.

Moments later, a flicker of darkness ensued as the void crack sealed itself. All ambient spiritual energy dissipated, and the space itself became completely sealed.

Turning back, Mo Hua found only emptiness. Nothing remained.

Only the heavy broken sword in his grasp retained its warmth, heated by Sword Qi, and carried within it a fragment of Patriarch Dugu’s profound Divine Thought.

"Patriarch..."

Recalling Patriarch Dugu’s aged countenance, standing alone to suppress the encroaching darkness, a bitter ache filled Mo Hua’s heart.

Yet, he was utterly helpless.

Even the ability to breach the void once more, to return to the Sword Tomb and meet Patriarch Dugu again, seemed a distant, near-impossible prospect...

Desolation etched across Mo Hua's features, a sudden sensation caused his expression to shift. He promptly settled into a cross-legged posture, delving his Divine Sense deep into his Sea of Consciousness.

The moment his consciousness submerged, Mo Hua's Divine Thought incarnation shuddered from an intense chill. Then, it convulsed, expelling demonic thoughts like viscous black blood from its seven orifices, reforming once more into the semblance of the Little Faceless Celestial Demon.

A mocking laugh, defying gender, age, and temperament, erupted from it, a chaotic blend of countless human emotions:

"To dare attempt to devour a Celestial Demon, you..."

Before it could finish, Mo Hua had already stifled its words.

In the external world, it was no match for Mo Hua.

Within Mo Hua’s Sea of Consciousness, it found itself utterly incapable of causing any disturbance.

Mo Hua then hauled this Little Faceless Celestial Demon before his trusted companion, the large-headed beast known as "Pixiu."

The Pixiu, having only just awakened from a brief slumber, was overjoyed to receive another rare "captive." Its eyes sparkled with genuine delight and profound admiration as it gazed at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua unceremoniously tossed the Little Faceless Celestial Demon towards the Pixiu.

A terrified shriek escaped the Little Faceless Celestial Demon, utterly futile.

In its nascent, juvenile state, not yet having undergone parasitism and the hatching into a high-level demon capable of mimicking human form, it possessed no means to withstand the Pixiu's potent power of repelling evil.

And so, the Pixiu firmly grasped the Celestial Demon beneath its left paw, while its right paw maintained dominion over the Evil God, reveling in its absolute control.