Chapter 1148

So-called "beast-fighting arenas" are places where high-level cultivators watch demonic beasts fight for entertainment and gambling. Demonic beasts devour people, and participating in beast fights is also extremely dangerous. Consequently, such activities are prohibited in Lizhou, and even in Qianzhou. While not explicitly outlawed, they exist in a "gray" area.

However, the Great Wilderness is a unique region. With its rampant demonic beasts, wild customs, and lax prohibitions, underground beast-fighting arenas can find a foothold here. That said, gathering and raising demonic beasts for entertainment fights within a Fourth-Rank Great Immortal City is a gray industry not easily managed by ordinary powers. Such beast-fighting arenas undoubtedly have powerful backing.

Through both overt and covert investigations, coupled with karmic divination, Mo Hua indeed detected a familiar aura within the beast-fighting arena. This aura, imbued with a fierce and savage presence, clearly belonged to a powerful and familiar demonic beast. Mo Hua then sought a way to infiltrate the beast-fighting arena.

However, the beast-fighting arena was run with extreme secrecy. Its exterior was a Spirit Beast Pavilion, which publicly sold and boarded various spirit beasts to conceal its true nature. The surrounding area was heavily fortified with arrays, impenetrable to spiritual sense. Without understanding its true layout, infiltration was impossible.

Mo Hua waited outside, mentally calculating and tracing the auras within the beast-fighting arena. A few days later, the karmic auras within the beast-fighting arena became chaotic for a brief period. A strong surge of bloodlust flared momentarily. Afterward, several wisps of malevolent energy were added, yet the auras of a few living individuals vanished. Mo Hua surmised that demonic beasts had rioted, killing some of the arena staff. A few deaths meant a shortage of personnel.

The following day, Mo Hua concealed his aura, once again assuming the guise of the bronze-skinned Qi Refinement Realm physical cultivator, and entered the Spirit Beast Pavilion. His heavenly fate chart was shrouded in mist. His spiritual sense, having undergone Dao transformation, was exceptionally profound, and its aura-concealing effect was potent. When revealing only a fraction of his cultivation, even ordinary mid- or late-stage Golden Core cultivators could not discern his true strength. It would likely take at least an Ascension Realm cultivator to truly perceive his unusual nature.

The moment Mo Hua stepped into the Spirit Beast Pavilion, he was stopped by an attendant. The attendant asked his purpose, and Mo Hua replied, "I'm looking for work." The attendant, with a look of disdain, was about to dismiss Mo Hua, but then seemed to recall something and said, "Follow me; I'll take you to the steward." With that, he led Mo Hua to the steward.

The Spirit Beast Pavilion's steward, a slightly corpulent man in dark green brocade, sat sipping tea and addressed Mo Hua: "You wish to work here?"

Mo Hua nodded.

The steward inquired, "Why here?"

Mo Hua answered truthfully, "I'm starving. I haven't eaten for days and just stumbled in through a random door. As long as I get food, I'll do anything."

"Where are you from?"

"My hometown is Lizhou. My family was too poor, so I fled here to escape starvation."

The steward observed Mo Hua's slender frame, his delicate yet gaunt face, and his clear, innocent eyes that seemed incapable of deceit. He nodded slightly. He then asked, "Are you truly willing to do anything?"

Mo Hua nodded, "Yes."

The steward warned, "It can be dangerous. You might die."

Mo Hua replied, "I haven't eaten for days; I'm practically starving to death..." His implication was clear: when one is on the brink of starvation, danger becomes irrelevant.

The steward nodded, beckoned to an attendant, pointed at Mo Hua, and instructed, "Take him downstairs and give him a good meal." A young servant led Mo Hua downstairs and offered him some simple provisions. Mo Hua ate with relish, completely filling his stomach. Although innately frail, he had always possessed a hearty appetite since childhood. While eating, Mo Hua sensed a pair of eyes discreetly observing him; it was likely the steward.

After eating, he was brought before the steward again. The steward admonished him, "I will give you work, provide lodging and food, but remember this: you must be absolutely obedient. Do exactly as you're told. Beyond that, keep your mouth shut—do not utter a single unnecessary word, or I won't be able to save you."

Mo Hua nodded with a solemn expression.

The steward blindfolded Mo Hua with a black cloth and said, "Follow me." This black cloth had a certain effect of blocking perception. However, it couldn't restrict Mo Hua's perception in the slightest. Mo Hua's spiritual sense could still perceive his surroundings with perfect clarity. Nevertheless, he feigned ignorance, allowing the steward to lead him into the Spirit Beast Pavilion.

Inside the Spirit Beast Pavilion, proper stables housed various spirit beasts, with people constantly coming and going. However, within the main hall, a hidden passage led to a subterranean structure. Mo Hua followed the steward into the hidden passage, descending stone steps. After walking for an unknown duration in the darkness, he finally heard the steward say: "All right, remove the blindfold."

Mo Hua removed the blindfold from his eyes and squinted, revealing before him a colossal and magnificent underground beast-fighting arena. At the center of the arena was a blood-soaked dueling ground where demonic beasts fought. Tiered spectator stands encircled the arena, like a vast, inverted bucket. Deeper within the arena lay countless subterranean dungeons, teeming with the fearsome auras of various demonic beasts, their low roars echoing from within.

Mo Hua, at the opportune moment, feigned an expression of shock and apprehension: "This... this is..."

The steward cast a glance at Mo Hua. "Don't concern yourself with where this is. You were hungry, weren't you? Work here, and you'll have food. Beyond that, be deaf and mute; that's how you'll survive longer... Understood?" The steward's gaze was stern as he fixed it on Mo Hua. Mo Hua swallowed and timidly nodded.

The steward summoned another servant and instructed, "Take this lad, get him cleaned up, and teach him the rules. Two slave laborers died just yesterday, so we conveniently need to fill their positions..." If someone of or above the rank of deacon died and a replacement immediately applied, the steward might still be suspicious. However, Qi Refinement Realm laborers and slaves were so low in status that their deaths were inconsequential. If someone showed up, they were simply replaced; it wasn't worth thinking about. After giving these instructions, the steward departed. He had numerous responsibilities and important patrons to serve, making him a very busy man.

After the steward left, another servant led Mo Hua deeper into the beast-fighting arena. "Here, food and lodging are provided. The food isn't great, but you won't starve. The living conditions aren't good, but you won't be sleeping on the streets. Beyond that, just do your assigned duties. I have nothing more to advise you on. If you behave, I needn't say more. If you don't, you'll die sooner or later, and any advice from me would be wasted. Laborers and slaves are essentially the same; like stray dogs, no one cares if they die. In any case, now that you're here, you're on your own..."

The servant, his voice cold and somewhat numb, led Mo Hua to a cramped, meager stone room and stated: "This room was originally for two people. But the previous two occupants both died, so now you'll live alone."

Mo Hua nodded, "Okay."

Having spoken, the servant departed indifferently. Mo Hua simply tidied the room and settled in, thus beginning his life as a "servant"—or rather, a quasi-"slave"—within the beast-fighting arena. During the day, he labored strenuously, performing various menial and arduous tasks: feeding demonic beasts, cleaning cages, sweeping the arena, and clearing away the blood and flesh of fallen beasts. His nightly sleep was short, and he occasionally had to stand night watch to prevent demonic beasts from gnawing through their chains and causing mayhem. The deacons and stewards showed no kindness to these servants and slaves, often resorting to beatings and curses. Yet, the servants and slaves offered no resistance.

Mo Hua soon realized a distinct difference between the Great Wilderness and the Nine Provinces governed by the Daoist Court. This had never occurred to him before. In Qianzhou and Lizhou, even in the most impoverished and desolate regions, despite the hardships of life, people still retained a sense of their inherent humanity. However, in Desert City, the difference was stark. These low-ranking individuals, serving as "slaves" and "servants," worked without complaint, endured beatings and curses, and showed little temperament regardless of how they were treated. It was as if they regarded themselves as mere domesticated "livestock," not as human beings.

Mo Hua was uncertain if this reflected the system and traditions of the Great Wilderness. Desert City, situated at the very edge of the Great Wilderness, and even under the direct jurisdiction of the Daoist Court and its subordinate Great Wilderness Gate, already exhibited such customs. What about the depths of the Great Wilderness? Would there be even more of these cultivation "slaves" who are neither treated nor consider themselves as human beings? Mo Hua's expression was somewhat solemn. However, as a "slave" himself now, he could do little.

Moreover, he had a more pressing matter to attend to: to find his "Big Tiger." If Big Tiger had indeed been captured and brought to this arena, it would mean he would undoubtedly be forced to fight as a "battle beast," engaging in death matches against other demonic beasts for the amusement of high-level cultivators, becoming a tool for the nobles' gambling. Such beast fights are exceptionally brutal; a moment's carelessness could lead to disembowelment and death. Should a beast perform poorly and cause a "patron" to lose a wager, the patron might even purchase a "Demon Extermination Order" with spirit stones to have it executed in an act of vengeful spite.

Mo Hua worried about Big Tiger. Thus, whenever he had spare time, he would subtly search the beast-fighting arena's dungeons for any sign of him. However, despite searching for a long time, he found no trace. While there were a few tiger demons in the dungeons, their size and fur coloration were incorrect. Deeper within the dungeons, several secret cells were located. Outside these secret cells, elaborate arrays were in place. As a newcomer, Mo Hua dared not disturb the snakes in the grass by rashly tampering with them. If detected, his entire infiltration plan would be ruined. Moreover, if the secret cells held a more formidable type of demonic beast that went berserk, the outcome would be equally disastrous.

Mo Hua secretly employed the demon bone divination technique. The karmic divination indeed pointed to this beast-fighting arena, but more specific details remained elusive. It seemed many individuals and events were involved in this matter, making the divination extremely challenging. The chaotic residual thoughts of deceased demonic beasts and people, along with the complex auras within the arena, also hampered karmic divination. The situation had reached a stalemate for the time being. Mo Hua was growing anxious, but for the moment, he had no better option than to patiently await an opportunity.

Three days later, the opportunity indeed presented itself. The steward gathered the servants, his piercing gaze sweeping over them, and said coolly: "An inner arena servant accidentally broke a cup and was beaten to death by a patron. We need a replacement." All the servants and slaves lowered their heads.

The beast-fighting arena was divided into an inner and outer section. The outer section was responsible for menial tasks like feeding demonic beasts, which was dirty, exhausting, and offered poor food and clothing. The inner section served the patrons, bringing tea and water. While seemingly glamorous, it was equally dangerous. The "patrons" were of high birth and often capricious, sometimes proving more savage than the demonic beasts themselves. Demonic beasts were confined to cages, but patrons were not. Even a minor misstep that offended a patron or displeased them could result in a gruesome death. For this reason, many servants preferred to remain in the dirty and arduous outer section, dealing with fierce demonic beasts, rather than entering the inner section to attend to patrons.

As soon as the steward said this, they all lowered their heads. Only Mo Hua did not lower his head. In other words, only Mo Hua "looked up," making him conspicuously stand out in the crowd. The steward instantly noticed him. After a moment's thought, he recalled that Mo Hua was one of those he had brought in merely to fill ranks. After all this time, he was still alive, evidently well-behaved and compliant. And... The steward then reflected, realizing that during his time there, Mo Hua, as a newcomer, had never been beaten, scolded, or punished, indicating he was clearly obedient and agreeable.

"Come here," the steward told Mo Hua. Mo Hua walked forward. The steward carefully scrutinized Mo Hua, finding him a bit thin, but upon closer examination of his face, he was quite struck by its beauty; though not fair, it was exceptionally handsome, possessing a simple yet profound charm. The steward mused that while patrons had varying temperaments and preferences, a pleasant appearance was always more agreeable and less likely to provoke their ire. He then asked Mo Hua, "Are you willing to work in the inner section?"

Mo Hua asked, "Will I get enough to eat? The food outside isn't enough."

The steward paused slightly, then, quite pleased, nodded and replied, "Not only will you get enough to eat, but you'll eat well."

Mo Hua nodded, "Okay, I'll go."

The steward nodded with satisfaction. The other servants, meanwhile, secretly cast sympathetic glances at Mo Hua.

Thus, Mo Hua transferred from the "outer section" to the "inner section," donning clean, neat clothes to serve tea and water to the "patrons" observing the beast fights. He finally witnessed the true appearance of the arena's inner section. The inner and outer sections of the beast-fighting arena were segregated. In the outer section, he had only dealt with demonic beasts. But in the inner section, he served the "patrons" and could observe the beast fights up close.

The beast fights were exceptionally brutal. Before entering the arena, these demonic beasts were fed bloodlust pills to ignite their savagery. Thus, their battles were to the death, with relentless tearing and gnawing, leaving entrails spilled across the ground. The more gruesome the spectacle, the more excited the "patrons" became. These "patrons" were invariably clad in lavish silks, with arrogant expressions and defiant gazes. Attended by numerous servants and retainers, they exuded an imperious and formidable air. However, their cultivation levels were generally not high, typically ranging from Qi Refinement Ninth Layer to mid-to-late Foundation Establishment. They appeared to hail from various major and minor families and sects within Desert City.

As Mo Hua poured them tea, he couldn't help but roll his eyes inwardly. He had expected truly distinguished "patrons," only to find them little more than useless scions of decadent families. The more worthless they were, the more they reveled in tormenting and harming the weak. If it weren't for his current inconvenience, he would have collapsed the arrays and incinerated these wretched individuals into ash.

Furthermore, one observation quite surprised Mo Hua. Among the "patrons" observing the fights, besides the richly clad scions of Desert City families and sects, there were also individuals clad in demonic beast furs, tall and savage, evidently cultivators from the Great Wilderness, mixed among them. This sight was rather incongruous, entirely different from Mo Hua's expectations. However, after pondering for a while, he gradually understood. The Daoist Court and the Great Wilderness had not been "at odds" before this. For a long time, the Great Wilderness had even submitted to the Daoist Court. Desert City, situated at the intersection of these two regions, was home to both cultivators from families under Daoist Court rule and barbarian cultivators from the Great Wilderness. It was therefore unsurprising that both sides intermingled, engaging in exchange and trade. It was merely that, with the Great Wilderness's rebellion, the situation had suddenly grown tense. However, even with the Great Wilderness's rebellion, it didn't imply that all its "clans" had rebelled. Nor was it possible for the Daoist Court to indiscriminately slaughter all cultivators in the Great Wilderness, without regard for good or evil or underlying reasons. Such a "slaughter-the-province" level of carnage would seem excessively deranged even for a Demonic Sect, let alone the Daoist Court. Nonetheless, these were merely temporary circumstances. As the conflict intensified and battles grew brutal, the animosity between the Daoist Court and the Great Wilderness deepened. No one could predict what would happen next...

Having observed the inner section and grasped the general situation, Mo Hua continued with his duties of serving the "patrons." He kept his aura suppressed, maintaining a faint presence, which ensured he rarely angered the patrons and was thus spared from beatings, scolding, or even death. Even if a few imbeciles, seized by a sudden whim, desired to torment Mo Hua for their amusement, a single glance from Mo Hua would instill an inexplicable fear in their hearts, promptly bringing them back to their senses.

Thus, Mo Hua performed his duties exceptionally well. The only problem was that even in the inner section, he still hadn't uncovered any leads regarding Big Tiger. There was no sign of Big Tiger within the arena itself. Mo Hua found this very strange. His intuition was usually reliable, and while his karmic divinations weren't infallible, their general direction had never been significantly mistaken.

"Where is Big Tiger..."

One day, while Mo Hua was serving in the inner section, holding tea and frowning in silent contemplation, his heart suddenly jolted just as he felt perplexed. Just then, a voice announced with authority: "Young Master Tuoba has arrived. Kneel." A group of slaves knelt in unison, bowing their heads to the ground, not daring to utter a sound.

Mo Hua couldn't kneel. Fortunately, several standing family disciples performing respectful bows, and burly Great Wilderness cultivators were in front of him. Mo Hua thought for a moment, then, holding the tea tray and keeping his head lowered, he retreated behind these individuals. With his aura suppressed and his mind focused, his presence didn't seem out of place.

Moments later, a contingent of gold-armored guards cleared a path ahead. Following them, a tall, imposing, and inherently noble youth, clad in golden beast-patterned battle armor, strode forward. This youth's status appeared exceptionally high. As he passed, the kneeling cultivators held their breath, not daring to stir a single inch. Those bowing also deepened their genuflections, displaying extreme reverence. Mo Hua, head bowed in the crowd, felt a surge of curiosity about the identity of this "Young Master Tuoba" with such a grand procession. However, constrained by his current status, he suppressed his urge to look up.

Yet, immediately after, a wild, unrestrained tiger's roar suddenly reverberated in his ears. The tiger's roar was strange, yet subtly familiar. Mo Hua's heart trembled, and he instantly looked up. He then saw, behind Young Master Tuoba, eight burly, muscular men laboriously leading a massive, black and white striped fierce tiger forward with eight colossal golden iron chains. This black and white fierce tiger had restraining arrays covering its forehead, limbs, back, and tail, along with golden iron chains and harnesses designed to suppress its demonic energy. Its incredibly sharp teeth and claws were also completely bound. Despite this, its entire body still emanated a terrifying, chilling demonic aura. It took a full eight peak Foundation Establishment physical cultivators, straining with all their might, just to manage to drag it along.

Mo Hua was instantly stunned upon seeing this ferocious Big Tiger. Its appearance had changed drastically from his memory, yet its aura remained intensely familiar. The fierce tiger, which inherently detested restraint, seemed to sense a familiar gaze, a long-lost aura. It paused abruptly, its four claws digging into the stone paving, bringing itself to a forceful halt. No matter how the eight burly men pulled, they couldn't move it an inch. Big Tiger's gaze trembled, as if in disbelief. Its head, bearing the majestic "King" character on its forehead, sniffed around before suddenly jolting and looking up sharply in Mo Hua's direction.