Exorcist Master - Chapter 77 - Sacred Mountain in Myanmar (Part XXXI)

Mahoraga is a serpent god in Buddhism, but in China, it has a legendary story tied to it-Nüwa¹ Mends the Heavens.

Of course, this is merely a myth. The real Mahoraga is actually a type of giant python with a human-like face pattern on its head, giving it a human head and serpent body appearance at first glance. Fascinatingly, the human face pattern coincides with the python’s gender. However, such creatures have long been extinct.

Chen Shaoxian was astonished that the enormous snake facing him was in fact the Mahoraga. It flicked its tongue, as thick as a baby’s arm, to sniff Chen Shaoxian.

The pungent stench nearly overwhelmed Chen Shaoxian, but he was grateful for having smeared some dust on his neck earlier; otherwise, he might have been nauseated to the point of collapse.

At the same time, countless pythons of varying sizes slithered in from all directions, surrounding the concrete platform and wriggling, as if in worship.

The Mahoraga sniffed the spot on Chen Shaoxian’s neck and surprisingly sneezed. The stinky saliva and mucus splattered all over Chen Shaoxian’s face.

Nearly retching in disgust, Chen Shaoxian stood his ground. He didn’t dare move, knowing that at this proximity, the Mahoraga’s senses could swiftly lead to his demise.

The Mahoraga seemed repulsed by Chen Shaoxian’s scent and slithered past him, sniffing others in turn.

Chen Shaoxian quietly cautioned, “Don’t move.”

Everyone stood petrified, allowing the Mahoraga to sniff them. It lost interest after a few sniffs since the group’s smell failed to whet its appetite.

The Mahoraga made its way to the edge of the concrete platform, revealing its entire form.

Gasps were heard from everyone at the sight of the giant python, which was certainly large enough to swallow an elephant whole.

Chen Shaoxian noticed that horns had grown from the Mahoraga’s rear head.

The Mahoraga reached the edge of the concrete platform, opened its massive jaws, and the nearest smaller pythons filed into its mouth. The Mahoraga was consuming its own kind, and astonishingly, the smaller pythons didn’t resist and obediently slithered into its mouth, much like a king enjoying a feast.

Watching the wriggling pythons and the widely gaping and drooling Mahoraga, the others felt a wave of nausea.

The Mahoraga’s neck continued to undulate as pythons slithered into it one by one, causing its belly to swell. Soon, it was full.

The Mahoraga closed its mouth and rested for a while, then emitted a hissing sound. The other pythons, as if pardoned, vanished in an instant.

The sated Mahoraga slowly slithered past Chen Shaoxian and his group, glancing at them before turning away and disappearing.

The group dared not breathe heavily, only relaxing and taking a breath once the Mahoraga was truly gone.

The pressure from the Mahoraga was far greater than that from the mountain boar and Inu Oni. While the group could put up a fight against the mountain boar and Inu Oni, they didn’t even entertain the idea of resisting the Mahoraga-it would likely take a cannon to deal with such a creature.

Fortunately, they had escaped without harm, but their relief was premature. Moments after the Mahoraga vanished, the sound of digging earth echoed throughout the cavern.

Chen Shaoxian glanced at his watch; the hands were aligned, marking midnight. Alarmed, he pointed ahead and urgently said, “Signal flare.”

Song Yumu swiftly fired one in the direction Chen Shaoxian indicated.

Under the flare’s light, everyone saw the earth with emerging bone claws.

Chen Shaoxian seemed to understand something, ran to the altar, and lifted the shrine. Just as he suspected, a talisman was pressed beneath it. He picked it up, deciphering the faded runes-Calming Soul Spell.

At that moment, a thunderous roar resounded. The recently absent Mahoraga surged forth, heading straight for the burning signal flare, crushing all bone claws in its path.

An idea struck Chen Shaoxian, and he shouted, “Let’s follow the Mahoraga.”

The group promptly followed behind the Mahoraga. The ground it traversed was covered with a thin layer of mucus, making their footing somewhat sticky as if stepping on glue.

The Mahoraga quickly reached the still-burning signal flare, opening its massive mouth and swallowing it without fear of the intense heat, then writhed on the ground in pain.

Chen Shaoxian hurriedly said, “Fire another one, as far as you can.”

With a swoosh, Song Yumu launched another signal flare.

Still rolling in discomfort, the Mahoraga raced toward the flare trailing its fiery tail, and the group once again followed it in pursuit.

In this manner, Song Yumu would fire a flare, the Mahoraga would chase it, and the group would follow the Mahoraga.

The Mahoraga’s rolling periods became longer, seemingly digesting the signal flare it had swallowed. The air began to carry a faint burnt odor.

When Song Yumu moved to fire another flare, Chen Shaoxian stopped him, “Let’s walk the rest of the way ourselves.” Seeing Song Yumu’s confusion, Chen Shaoxian quickly explained, “Every creature has the right to live and hold value in its existence. Besides, the Mahoraga hasn’t harmed us. Let’s continue on our own.”

Song Yumu shook his head in resignation, finding it increasingly difficult to understand Chen Shaoxian.

Footnote:

1. Nüwa(女娲):Nüwa is a goddess in Chinese mythology who is credited with creating humanity and repairing the heavens.