Chapter 183: Unboxing ¬‿¬

— Meanwhile – Thousand Prosperity Tavern —

Within the tavern, Mo Jue had come out to celebrate with his group of old friends, including the Blood Grotto Patriarch, Hua Zuixian, and many others from the demonic path under his influence.

As for Jian Heng, due to his identity as one of the leaders of the righteous path, he could not stay and drink with the leader of the demonic path. So he excused himself and expressed his apologies.

Mo Jue understood the complication. The heart might be willing, but identity made things difficult. This was the kind of situation where the masks people wore in society were often more important than what they truly desired.

Inside the VIP room of the tavern, Mo Jue sat with the Blood Grotto Patriarch and Hua Zuixian. The two sat on his left and right.

The Blood Grotto Patriarch raised his cup toward Mo Jue. “I must congratulate you once again. Lord Mo, you have truly gained a good and powerful son-in-law!”

“Hahaha! It’s my daughter’s good karma! I’ve done nothing! Hahahaha!” Mo Jue laughed out loud, thoroughly enjoying the moment.

The celebration had been going on for about an hour, and everything was lively. The mood, the atmosphere, the food, and the wine were all at their peak. There was only one topic, a topic that everyone wanted to discuss, or rather, witness.

“By the way, Lord Mo, what was the gift that the lady from the Underworld Palace gave you on behalf of the Underworld Lord? I reckon it must be something extraordinary.”

The Blood Grotto Patriarch asked the question that everyone else was curious about but did not dare to voice.

Mo Jue looked at him. This man was truly nosy. Then again, he himself also wanted to know what was inside the gift box given by the lady from the Underworld Palace as a betrothal gift.

“Hmm… I don’t know either. Let’s open it then. I want to see what it is as well,” Mo Jue said as he took out a small engraved wooden box from his storage ring.

He was about to remove the delicate sealing ribbon tied around the box, but he paused halfway.

“Wait… I should record this as well. Then I’ll upload it to the Spirit Net and let those old farts see what kind of treasure is inside. They’ll surely envy me! Hahahaha!” Mo Jue said, laughing loudly as the effects of alcohol began to take hold.

Mo Jue took out his U-Phone 2 and handed it to Hua Zuixian, making him the cameraman to record the unboxing of the gift he had received from the so-called Hidden Ancient Sect.

Then, as if mimicking Wei Chen’s demeanor when he was broadcasting, Mo Jue began speaking with swagger, his face flushed from the power of alcohol.

“Alright, alright, to whoever is watching this, this is a gift from a Hidden Ancient Clan. I cannot name them, lest I earn their ire, so sorry to disappoint. But, to those who know me, you already know who I’m talking about.”

Mo Jue spoke as he turned the box around. Various half-eaten dishes still sat on the table, clearly revealing the setting. This was a luxurious tavern meant for cultivators or wealthy mortals.

“So, let’s open it, shall we? I can’t wait to see what’s inside… hic.”

After letting out a hiccup, Mo Jue carefully gripped the sealing ribbon and tried to tear it off.

“Hmm… this rope is surprisingly strong. I should push harder.”

With that, Mo Jue increased his strength and began tearing at the sealing ribbon.

The excitement of unsealing a mysterious box was strangely thrilling, like the first night he had spent with his wife when he took her maidenhood. Strangely, why did such a metaphor appear in his mind?

Whatever.

Mo Jue slowly opened the box, gradually revealing its contents.

The box was fully opened, and inside was a single book.

No… to be precise, it was a manual. A powerful one, carrying the scent of old paper, yet strangely well-preserved, with a dense and potent spiritual qi condensed within it.

“What is this? A manual?” the Blood Grotto Patriarch muttered as he looked at the contents. The others in the room also leaned in, curiosity evident on their faces.

“This kind of condensed spiritual qi… this manual must be very ancient. Maybe… it even dates back to before the Golden Age,” Hua Zuixian commented. He, too, could sense the powerful spiritual energy within the manual.

“Too bad that old scholar Wen Motuan isn’t here. If he were, we would already know which era this manual came from,” Mo Jue added, and everyone nodded in agreement.

“Hmm… let’s see what kind of manual this is,” Mo Jue said as he picked it up.

The title written on the cover read: Heavenly Demon Void Piercing Manual.

“This… this manual… it says Heavenly Demon?” Hua Zuixian muttered in disbelief. Among those present, he possessed deeper knowledge of lore and ancient folktales than most demonic path cultivators.

The Blood Grotto Patriarch frowned in confusion. “Why? Isn’t that just a name? Many idiot upstarts in the demonic path used the Heavenly Demon title before. In the end, all of them got beaten to a pulp by me and Patriarch Mo!”

“I recall it was mostly me doing the beating while you stood there gloating after I saved your ass,” Mo Jue shot back.

“Don’t nitpick like some old hag. Continue! I want to know what’s written inside!” The Blood Grotto Patriarch, emboldened by alcohol, spoke as if they were back in their younger days.

“F*ck! Old blood demon, get the hell away from me, it’s disgusting! This is my gift. I’ll read it and tell you what it says. This might be some kind of secret, powerful technique!” Mo Jue said as he “lightly” pushed the Blood Grotto Patriarch away with his foot planted squarely on his face.

Mo Jue then slowly opened the manual, like opening the legs of a maiden. He was careful and guarded, afraid that the shameless demons in the room might try to sneak a peek at what should be his alone, like protecting his wife’s most intimate secret.

Again… why did such a ridiculous metaphor appear in his mind?

I must have drunk too much. Mo Jue thought.

He then began reading the manual, but the moment he read the first verse, his mind trembled as an epiphany rose within him. His Dao of Severing began to undergo a qualitative transformation.

It was like brushing away layers of dirt from an ancient archaeological site. The veil of mystery was gradually lifted before him.

In his mindscape, two powerful Heavenly Demons appeared, shadowy figures holding a spear and a sword. Yet Mo Jue knew they were the same person. This vision was a demonstration, meant for him to comprehend.

Before the Heavenly Demons stood a towering figure, a ten-kilometer-tall golden Buddha. Its radiant dharma light was blinding, burning away the demons that crowded the ancient battlefield like concentrated sunlight incinerating a swarm of ants.

Layers upon layers of dharma shields formed before it, thousands of them. They were a seemingly insurmountable barrier, blocking the path of slaughter.

Like a teacher demonstrating a technique, the spear-wielding Heavenly Demon moved first. Taking a stance, it gathered power as the Dao of Piercing converged into its body.

Then, with a thrust, a devastating strike infused with both body and soul was unleashed. A roaring surge of power erupted as a cyclone of spiritual qi condensed into the spear. It pierced through thousands of layers of dharma shields in a single strike, like a knife slicing through wet paper.

The spear broke through the layers and struck the Buddha’s body, even piercing out through its back after passing through another thousand layers.

Yet, like a miracle, the Buddha was reborn through nirvana. Its battered body restored itself, returning to perfection. Another thousand layers of dharma shields formed, shining even more brilliantly than before.

Now it was the turn of the sword-wielding Heavenly Demon.

“When you wish to pierce, do not focus on the target. What you pierce is not the target, but the Dao itself, the very concept of piercing. Overcome the illusion of material form and pierce the Dao. Once you master it, nothing can obstruct your thrust.”

This verse echoed throughout the mindscape as the sword-wielding Heavenly Demon thrust forward.

Boom!

A terrifying force erupted, yet unlike the spear, this strike caused almost no disturbance. It was as if the swordsman possessed a deeper understanding of piercing, and thus required no spectacle.

Because what was pierced was not matter, but concept, the Dao itself.

This time, both the Buddha and the thousands of layered shields were pierced as if they did not exist, like empty air allowing a draft to pass through.

With that final strike, the Buddha construct crumbled into dust. The radiant dharma light faded and dispersed, consumed by the overwhelming demonic qi that surged forth to shield the demons below.

The epiphany ended, and Mo Jue jolted awake. It was the Blood Grotto Patriarch who had shaken him.

Bam!

A punch struck the Blood Grotto Patriarch’s face, sending him flying to the other side. It was a good thing the walls of the tavern were reinforced by powerful arrays, so they did not break, and Mo Jue had not used much strength.

“What the hell!?” the Blood Grotto Patriarch protested.

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