The Quest for Immortality Chapter 2421: Take Care (3)

Lord Yellow Mountain's temple, once a place of reverence, now stands in near ruin. Three of its four walls have crumbled, leaving gaping holes. The roof, partially collapsed, offers little protection from the elements, allowing wind and rain to pour in. Inside, the clay statue is fractured in two, the offering table vanished, and not a single crumb, not even a stale mantou, remains. The ground bears disheartening bloodstains.

A chill gripped Mo Hua's heart. "Could Lord Yellow Mountain be... gone?" he wondered.

Stepping inside the dilapidated shrine, Mo Hua released his Divine Sense. Before he could even begin his search, he witnessed Lord Yellow Mountain slowly reassemble himself from the broken clay statue. The deity then bowed towards Mo Hua. "Little friend, it has been a long time."

A wave of relief washed over Mo Hua. "Mountain Lord, are you unharmed?" he asked.

Lord Yellow Mountain's usually vibrant face appeared pale. "I am well enough," he replied.

Mo Hua's heart ached. With a gesture, he employed the Clear Wind Skill, sweeping away the accumulated dust to create a clean space. This spot he designated as a new offering table. He arranged an incense burner, followed by an assortment of chicken, duck, fish, and meat, fresh fruit buns, and even poured a cup of wine.

A gentle warmth spread through Lord Yellow Mountain's being.

Later, Mo Hua and Lord Yellow Mountain sat on the ground, man and deity sharing the simple meal and conversation. "How did your humble temple fall into such disrepair?" Mo Hua inquired.

"It is a lengthy tale..." Lord Yellow Mountain sighed, his gaze distant. "Months past, the Blood Sacrifice Formation activated, unleashing the rampant forces of the Demon Path upon this desolate region. The wilderness became a scene of utter chaos and frenzy."

"From time to time, wandering cultivators sought refuge in this temple."

"Within two days, however, they would inevitably fall prey to demon cultivators. Skinned and their tendons removed, their bodies vanished without a trace."

"My only recourse was to offer them guidance in their dreams each night. Yet, as a fallen Mountain God with vastly diminished strength, I was powerless to alter their grim fates. Furthermore, my humble temple could not withstand the life-and-death struggle between the righteous and the demonic."

"Fortunately, this period of intense turmoil eventually subsided as mysteriously as it began, but..."

Lord Yellow Mountain's brow furrowed, his expression grave. "Previously, I could distinctly sense a terrifying and malevolent divine aura."

"The Great Wilderness Evil God must have descended. But why did all the subsequent disasters cease? Why did the aura of the True Fetus also dissipate?"

"Where did the Great Wilderness Evil God go?"

Mo Hua, mid-chew on a chicken leg, glanced at Lord Yellow Mountain. "Would you like to know?" he asked softly.

Lord Yellow Mountain blinked in surprise. "Know what?"

"Where the Great Wilderness Evil God has gone," Mo Hua clarified.

Lord Yellow Mountain nodded dumbly, utterly bewildered.

Mo Hua then reached to his neck, producing an ancient fang talisman. "Here," he said, presenting it to Lord Yellow Mountain.

Lord Yellow Mountain froze, stiff as stone.

Initially, he believed Mo Hua was jesting. The Evil God, around Mo Hua's neck? A preposterous notion.

But as he focused his gaze on the fang talisman and carefully probed it with his senses, he detected an immense, powerful Divine Beast aura. Suppressed beneath this overwhelming power was a faint echo of ancient, primal malevolence.

Lord Yellow Mountain's Primordial Spirit felt as if it might tear itself asunder from sheer terror. A hidden Evil God, lurking for nearly a millennium, was now mere inches away?!

Stumbling backward, Lord Yellow Mountain fell to the ground. He scrambled into a corner, pointing a trembling finger at the fang talisman. "This... you... this..."

Mo Hua offered a comforting smile. "It's quite alright. I merely cleaved it in half. As for one portion, I cannot divulge its whereabouts, but the other half, I simply kept."

"Kept... kept it?"

"Mm," Mo Hua confirmed with a nod. "If I cannot defeat it, I shall simply keep it. Occasionally take a bite, using it as 'sustenance.'"

Lord Yellow Mountain's pupils dilated in shock.

An Evil God! That was an *Evil God*!

Did Mo Hua truly consider it akin to a pig being fattened for slaughter?!

He then turned his attention to Mo Hua himself, observing an aura so profound and unfathomable it seemed beyond comprehension. Intertwined were countless threads of cause and qi dynamics. Though Mo Hua appeared as mere flesh and blood, his presence was as boundless as primordial chaos.

Furthermore, he emanated an aura that instilled even a deity like himself with an unsettling sense of dread.

This palpable sense of menace was not new. Lord Yellow Mountain had sensed it before.

However, with each instance Mo Hua 'consumed' a portion of that particular existence, this aura intensified, filling Lord Yellow Mountain with ever-growing apprehension.

Lord Yellow Mountain couldn't shake the feeling that he, the 'god,' was sharing a meal with a predator, a 'cat' lurking in wait.

With a heavy heart, Lord Yellow Mountain sighed. "This matter must be kept in the utmost confidence."

Mo Hua nodded, tucking the fang pendant back under his clothes. "I only shared this with you, Mountain God, because you are a deity. If I were to tell others, they simply would not comprehend."

Lord Yellow Mountain offered a weak, bitter smile.

Truthfully, he had no desire to comprehend it either.

Mo Hua subsequently declared, "Since the Evil God proves unkillable, I shall claim a portion of its power... and then depart from the Qianxue state boundary. Should an opportunity arise in the future, I will utterly obliterate it. If not, I shall simply... consume it like a mere snack..."

A snack...

Lord Yellow Mountain's mind momentarily faltered.

He mused that Mo Hua's utterance could scarcely be considered human speech.

Yet, it was unlikely to be of divine origin either.

For even celestial beings would refrain from such audacious declarations.

"Let it be..."

Lord Yellow Mountain let out a resigned sigh.

Slowly, within his heart, he began to assimilate this astonishing reality.

It was true that upon the formation of the cosmos and the genesis of all creation, there occasionally emerged beings of a heaven-defying nature, transcending all ordinary classification.

"Young friend, you must... exercise extreme caution, for the Evil God is a formidable adversary," Lord Yellow Mountain earnestly advised.

Mo Hua offered a nod, "I understand."

He possessed a considerable grasp of the Evil God's capabilities and afforded it due respect, refraining from any rash actions that might present an opening.

A period of silence then descended upon them.

Lord Yellow Mountain exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

Mo Hua turned his gaze back to Lord Yellow Mountain, a touch of melancholy coloring his expression:

"I fear I shall not have the chance to visit again once I descend the mountain. I shall procure some Spirit Stones and commission someone to erect a new temple in your honor. Furthermore, I will arrange for incense and offerings to be presented during the festivals."

Lord Yellow Mountain paused, a complex mix of emotions stirring within him, uncertain whether Mo Hua was a terrifying 'Evil Monster' or a genuinely benevolent youth.

He heaved a deep sigh and spoke with sincerity, "My gratitude, young friend."

Their reunion had been brief. After concluding their conversation and the customary offerings, Mo Hua rose to take his leave, "Mountain Lord, until our paths cross once more."

Lord Yellow Mountain observed Mo Hua's departure, contemplating this peculiar 'Little Ancestor' who would no longer grace him with visits, and the astonishing fact that the Evil God would leave the Qianxue state boundary alongside him. His initial feeling was one of profound relief.

However, as the realization set in that Mo Hua would truly not be returning.

No more engaging conversations, no more brought offerings, no more inquisitive questions.

In this isolated mountain solitude, there would be no companion for discourse, no endearing youth to show him care.

A sudden emptiness pervaded Lord Yellow Mountain's heart.

He could only watch Mo Hua depart, his figure gradually diminishing amidst the mountain foliage, and murmured to himself:

"Stay safe..."