Chapter 7- The Unseen Young Master of the Demonic Cult

The Forest of Death was not known to have flat lands, but rather long mountain ranges.

Yellow Leaf Village was situated beneath the slope of a small mountain nearer to the edge of the Forest of Death. Dong-wei led Xiao Mo and Mei-Mei through the village toward the slope of the mountain.

As Xiao Mo approached, he was shocked to see a large doorway carved into its slope.

The sides of the doorway were carved into pillars and decorated with what looked like wailing ghosts. However, these pillars were cracked and deformed. Its shattered pieces were next to the doorway in the form of massive boulders.

It was only when Xiao Mo stopped beneath the doorway and looked around did he realize how massive this entry way was. According to his estimations, it should be around twenty meters wide and around fifty meters high.

"To think the Demonic Cult built something this impressive."

Xiao Mo commented as he stopped briefly to appreciate the architecture.

However, as he closely examined the entrance walls, his pupils suddenly constricted and he sucked in a cold breath of air before retreating two steps back.

"Young Master, what's wrong?"

Mei-Mei asked worriedly upon seeing Xiao Mo's reaction.

Xiao Mo didn't respond to Mei-Mei and instead looked at Dong-wei and asked in a shocked voice.

"Are my eyes really seeing things correctly? Is this rock Mythril?"

Dong-wei, who was patiently standing off to the side, smiled calmly and said with a nod.

"The Young Master's knowledge is indeed profound. Yes, the mountain itself is mostly made up of Mythril."

This time, it was Mei-Mei's turn to become surprised. She closely examine her surroundings, her heart battered with waves of shock.

"No wonder, no wonder!"

Xiao Mo couldn't help but yell, his eyes shining brightly as he turned back to look at the wall.

"The Forest of Death is not only feared because of the ferocious beasts but because the environment itself naturally suppresses a cultivator's Spiritual Energy. However, I have read that despite the dangers, renowned Masters one after another dared venture inside, all because of a single item. The legendary forging material, a material said to be a Divine substance from the heavens, Mythril. But they all came back with nothing. Some even died."

After saying this, Xiao Mo turned to look at Dong-wei, the light in his eyes growing brighter until there was a golden hue visible in them.

"In the war, the first appearance of Mythril was when the Demonic Cult wielded weapons forged with small amounts, which made their weapons far stronger than our own. It was speculated at first that the Forest of Death had deposits of this mysterious material. But it was only until a few hundred years ago that it was confirmed by a spy who infiltrated the cult that those 'few' deposits were in fact several mountains worth. Don't tell me the mountains in the Forest of Death are like this one?"

Dong-wei's heart shuddered under Xiao Mo Mo's stare and he could feel his back immediately soak with sweat. He worked hard to keep calm as he responded.

"Young Master Xiao Mo, you are correct. Most of the mountains in the Forest of Death have some form of Mythril deposit. However, these deposits are unrefined, and they are unlike the processed Divine Mythril that is well-known in the cultivation world. These unrefined Mythril reject Spiritual Energy. The past elders of the cult have speculated that this was one of the reasons why the environment in the Forest of Death suppresses a cultivator's Spiritual Energy."

Xiao Mo Mo's gaze lessened, and that golden light quickly faded away from his pupils. Looking back at the mountain wall, he spoke softly.

"Refined Mythril has a natural property to conduct Spiritual Energy, so all those renowned Masters who came back empty-handed or even died inside the Forest of Death must have seen these unnaturally hard rocks and simply walked past them, not knowing that they were exactly what they were seeking. The Demonic Cult was able to keep such a secret for so many years. If it was not for the peace treaty the world would have never known about it. Even now, everyone is unaware. It was only because I had access to my Han Clan's secret records that detailed the characteristics of refined Mythril that I was able to see some clues."

Dong-wei hearing this nervously spoke up.

"Young Master Xiao Mo, the Demonic Cult, and the Han Clan had thought it best to keep it a secret from the public. It was not the intention of our cult to keep this to ourselves."

Xiao Mo immediately waved off Dong-wei before saying.

"I do not care for these political issues so don't bother telling me these things. Honestly, I could not care less whether the peace treaty between the Demonic Cult and the Righteous Faction happens or not. But since the Demonic Cult revealed how they were able to survive in the Forest of Death with these tunnels, if they still dare to refuse, I will be the first one to appear at this entrance and carve out a path of blood all the way to your main hideout."

Dong-wei couldn't help but force a smile when he heard that.

"Young Master, it is undeniable that our cult seeks to repent. We of the younger generation have long since grown tired of living such a secluded life in a forbidden area. We wish to roam the Central Plains without being hunted down. So, we wouldn't dare go back on the peace treaty."

Xiao Mo snorted.

"I do not doubt that some of you Demonic Cult bastards are good people, but is it so easy for everyone to turn over a new leaf? I wouldn't be surprised if someone tries to assassinate me after I enter your dwelling."

Dong-wei was even more nervous now. He clasped his hands together and rubbed them as he said placatingly.

"Young Master Xiao Mo, rest assured. Our dwelling will be as safe for you as if you were in the Han Clan's main courtyard. You could even think of it as your second home."

Xiao Mo snorted at that.

Seeing that he was not appeased, Dong-wei revealed his trump card.

"Young Master Xiao Mo, even if you don't trust us cult members, you can trust the Ancestral Formation that surrounds our main hideout. It is similar to your Han Clan's Six Directional Formation, and the Empire's Imperial Formation that surrounds its capital city. It has already been infused with your Han Clan's bloodline, so it will treat you as if you were a direct descendant of the Demonic Cult Ancestor."

Xiao Mo's heart couldn't help but be moved upon hearing that.

"Oh? So do I have some authority to control the formation?"

"Uhh…"

Dong-wei hesitated for a moment then said with a forced smile.

"That… Uhm, Young Master Xiao Mo, you won't be able to control the formation, but it will offer you some protection even from Grandmaster-level opponents. It was also arranged so that even the Cult Leader who has full control over the Formation can't interfere with it or use the Formation against you in any way. Even her daughter and son, Miss Mai Ying, and Young Master Bai Luo don't have these privileges."

Xiao Mo's enthusiasm about being able to play around with a powerful formation was swept away, but it was reignited when he heard the latter words.

"The Cult Leader has another child?"

Dong-wei smiled and explained.

"Of course, it's just that Young Master Bai doesn't like interacting with others and instead prefers to stay inside to enjoy the cult's Technique Manuals and Scriptures. But it's not odd that Young Master Xiao Mo doesn't know of this, since even us cult members have never personally seen Young Master Bai."

"Huh? So strange, then how do you know he even exists?"

"Haha, that's easy. Even though we haven't seen him personally, some servants have heard his guqin melodies in the courtyard next to the Young Miss while performing their duties. And he would leave the manuals and scriptures taken from the library at his doorsteps for servants to retrieve. He would also leave notations of his insight in separate books. Students from our Demonic Academy have benefited a lot from these insights, so even though he isn't well known in the outside world as our Miss, he's secretly regarded as the role model to the youths of the Academy."

"Guqin melodies? Interesting."

Xiao Mo said rubbing his chin.

"Young Master Xiao Mo, we've delayed for some time. We've prepared a small gathering to welcome you. The Young Miss and some of the most outstanding figures from the younger generation in the Academy will be attending. So, I hope we'll make it in time."

Xiao Mo would have refused to attend such a gathering before, but he hesitated for a bit and then asked.

"Will your Young Master be attending?"

Dong-wei paused for a moment, then answered cautiously.

"I'm not sure. The Young Master was invited to attend but it wouldn't be uncommon if he decides not to."

Xiao Mo deliberated for a bit more before he finally answered.

"Okay, I'll attend. Lead the way."

Dong-wei smiled excitedly.

"The path is quite long, so we'll have to run. If that is okay with Young Master Xiao Mo."

"Sure, the faster the better."

Xiao Mo responded casually, but Mei-Mei, who had been silently standing a step behind him, looked at his back with a weird expression.

Xiao Mo could tell Mei-Mei was giving him a weird look, but he pretended not to notice.

However, just as Xiao Mo stepped fully into the large pathway, a voice appeared in his ears.

"Young Master, I won't be able to accompany you any further than this. It seems the Master has made additional preparations for your protection inside the cult than just me."

"It's okay Grandpa Ten Mo, I have Mei-Mei with me if anything really happens."

Xiao Mo sent back a spirit message of his own, and he did his best to hide the ecstasy he was feeling inside.

Now that he knew his backup plan was more feasible, Xiao Mo happily entered the mountain, eagerly wanting to meet this supposed future wife of his.

Meanwhile, some distance away from the entrance, Grandpa Ten Mo was observing the old man in simple black robes in front of him with weariness.

Smiling, the black robe old man gestured with his hand and said.

"Elder Ten Mo, we've already prepared a courtyard for you in the cult's main hideout. You don't have to worry about the safety of that little one, rather we need to focus our attention somewhere else."

Upon hearing this, Grandpa Ten Mo's eyes flashed with understanding, and he realized this was likely his Clan Leader's doing. He could only sigh at this, thinking his Clan Leader schemes really ran too deep.

'I wonder what the Clan Leader is plotting with the cult. Could it have something to do with the Royal Family? Or is it the forces in the cult who oppose this peace treaty?'

While questions swirled around in Grandpa Ten Mo's mind, he followed this elder and vanished into thin air.