The Quest for Immortality Chapter 2299: Ten Thousand Demons Gathering (part 2)

Within the assembly hall, demon cultivators and monster cultivators from the Demon Gates outnumbered all others.

Mo Hua had suspected as much for some time, so this revelation held no surprise for him.

In addition to them, certain "familiar faces" stood out.

For instance, the "Demon Sword Sect," its members wielding demon swords and dubbing themselves Sword Slaves;

The "Yin Corpse Valley," famed for raising corpses, refining them, and forging puppets;

And the "Mystic Demon Sect," notorious for turning humans into demon embryos.

During the previous Ten Thousand Demons Gathering, those scheming to assassinate his master had come mainly from these demon sects.

The exception, one he had barely encountered, was the Hehuan Sect.

A captivating female cultivator in scarlet represented the Hehuan Sect there, her lips as bold as her robes, throwing seductive glances at Mo Hua nonstop, like she yearned to "devour" him whole, leaving him profoundly uneasy.

Yet another issue drawing Mo Hua's focus concerned the Mystic Demon Sect.

The Mystic Demon Sect's leader, a black-robed late-stage Golden Core demon cultivator, announced:

"The young master had urgent matters and returned to the sect, leaving me to attend the Ten Thousand Demons Gathering in his stead..."

Mo Hua found these words perplexing.

The young master in question had to be "Young Master Xuan."

But had not Young Master Xuan already perished, laid to rest in Solitary Mountain’s tomb?

Was it possible he lived?

Or was the Mystic Demon Sect’s black-robed Golden Core cultivator simply lying?

A faint frown appeared on Mo Hua's face as he perceived something wrong.

By all reason, Young Master Xuan could not have "emerged" from Solitary Mountain alive...

Mo Hua etched this detail into his thoughts, vowing to probe deeper later, even as he kept listening in and scanning around.

As the demon leaders conversed, Mo Hua pieced together a clear picture of their sects.

Having grasped the Golden Core demon heads' identities, Mo Hua stole a sidelong peek at the dais.

Upon the grand hall's lofty seats, despite varying placements, three figures rivaled Mr. Tu in strength.

One bore etched wrinkles, a betrayer from the Shangguan family—Shangguan Wang of the Feather Transformation Realm.

The other two included one shriveled like a decrepit servant, burdened by a massive black iron sword casket strapped to his back.

The remaining one was half-man, half-corpse; left cheek fleshly and alive, right cheek festering like carrion, a golden coffin etched with blood motifs positioned nearby.

These pair were demon path Feather Transformation cultivators.

Ever since stepping into the hall, they had stayed utterly quiet, immersed in absorbing essence and cultivating, their silence amplifying their dread aura.

Mo Hua figured they exceeded the early Feather Transformation phase.

Given the two Feather Transformation demon heads' muteness, Mo Hua limited himself to a peripheral glimpse before averting his eyes.

He avoided scrutinizing such mighty cultivators closely, least of all demon path True Men, for fear of drawing peril.

These two mighty Feather Transformation demon heads paid Mo Hua no heed, fixated solely on their absorption and cultivation.

The great hall's talks carried on.

After extended exchanges, the conversation shifted onward as expected.

"Mr. Tu..." a bald monk inked with python tattoos pressed his palms toward Mr. Tu, "We’re handling things; as for the agreed benefits, please keep your promise..."

"The Desolate Heaven Blood Sacrifice Array covers a mountain realm; we at Ten Thousand Demon Mountain merely ask that all humans there be slaughtered, to rear Monster Beasts."

His remarks spurred fellow demon cultivators to voice their claims:

"Our Sect Leader of Blood Refining Sect instructed to use the city’s cultivators to maintain a blood pool; Mistwater City would be suitable..."

"We want the corpses from the Yin Corpse Valley..."

"The Mystic Demon Sect wants the corpses of prodigies to nurture demon embryos..."

"There’s an unknown large refinery shop at Solitary Mountain; after slaughtering the city, it’s perfect to use the ready human blood and flesh there to refine the ’Demon Sword’..."

"I want a thousand strong male cultivators of Foundation Establishment Realm for replenishment, and the blood of a thousand virgins to create ’rouge’..."

...

Once erected, the Desolate Heaven Blood Sacrifice Array would desolate the nearby Qianxue region, rendering mountains, lands, humans, blood, corpses... into ideal demon path materials.

Every demon gate coveted their portion of these spoils.

Hence, the demon path eagerly allied with Mr. Tu and the Great Wilderness Evil God for this bargain.

Mo Hua maintained a serene outward demeanor, though deep inside, a spark of hatred ignited.

Choosing the path of demon cultivation erases all humanity, shatters conscience, reducing others to mere puppets, slaves, livestock, sustenance, and expendable resources...

"In this world, no heretical demon truly deserves to live."

As he gazed upon these demon leaders, an unidentified rage ignited within Mo Hua’s heart.

A blazing murderous aura roiled fiercely in Mo Hua’s chest.

Mo Hua’s expression shifted abruptly, as he sensed this killing intent harboring a wild outburst of evil Qi.

What’s going on?

Is it the rebound from the Water Prison Sect’s Seven Souls Blood Prison Pupil Skill?

Or the influence of the Fire Buddha’s True Manual of Demonic Path Cultivation?

Maybe the buildup of evil Qi from killing countless demon beasts and wicked spirits?

Mo Hua had no clue right then.

Yet the murderous urge in his heart intensified relentlessly; under its sway, the evil Qi swirling in his eyes blazed ever brighter.

This evil Qi even provoked the karma inscribed in his life chart.

Across his back, the karmic scene of "Corpse Mountain, Blood Sea" began to shimmer faintly, harboring a horrifying silhouette of the Taoist Demon that seemed poised to manifest.

Karmic visions elude ordinary sight, but those cultivators who probe the heavenly mysteries can detect them.

Of everyone there, Mr. Tu possessed the sharpest awareness of such shifts.

Sensing a dreadful wave of "evil Qi," his face paled slightly as he whipped his eyes toward Mo Hua.

Yet before he could discern a thing, a sudden "boom" rocked the grand hall.

From the blood-veined golden coffin next to the half-corpse, half-man Feather Transformation Old Demon Head of Yin Corpse Valley, waves of pitch-black sinister Qi erupted thickly outward.