The Quest for Immortality

Mo Hua reviewed the technique description once more; it contained only a few lines, stating that this technique was not limited by the grade or attributes of spiritual roots, but produced a lower frequency of spiritual energy circulation, with the bottleneck being spiritual awareness—it was unsuitable for non-array masters.

The descriptions, though void of any specific required spiritual materials, emitted an odd sense of peculiarity.

How could there be a technique that didn’t limit spiritual roots? The lower yield of spiritual energy was understandable; after all, if it didn’t restrict spiritual roots, even those of lower quality could practice it, resulting in less profound spiritual energy.

But what did it mean that the bottleneck was in spiritual awareness? And why was it unsuitable for non-array masters?

...

Mo Hua frowned in contemplation, unaware of how much time had passed before Mr. Zhuang opened his eyes, ”Have you made your choice?”

Returning to his senses, Mo Hua replied, ”I have made my choice, Master, though I’m unsure which one is more appropriate.”

”Show them to me.”

Mo Hua respectfully handed over the techniques he had selected to Mr. Zhuang.

Mr. Zhuang reviewed them one by one, his expression calm but internally he felt slightly upset.

The techniques Mo Hua chose were all selected by Elder Gui; none of the techniques Mr. Zhuang preferred were chosen by Mo Hua. This made Mr. Zhuang feel somewhat slighted.

It wasn’t until the last jade slip that Mr. Zhuang’s eyes brightened.

On the ancient, pale jade slip was inscribed the words ”Heavenly Proliferation Technique.”

This was one of the unique techniques Mr. Zhuang had selected.

Mr. Zhuang was very satisfied, thinking that Mo Hua had good judgment, a teachable child indeed.

Noticing Mr. Zhuang’s focus on the ”Heavenly Proliferation Technique,” Mo Hua asked the question that concerned him most:

”Master, the cultivation essentials of the ’Heavenly Proliferation Technique’ don’t mention the need for any spiritual materials. Does this mean it can be practiced without any celestial treasures or earthly wonders?”

”Correct,” Mr. Zhuang nodded.

Mo Hua was overjoyed, but quickly regained his composure, ”In the pursuit of the great Dao, every little bit contributes to progress; if no spiritual materials are needed, does it imply that cultivating this technique might bring other complications?”

Mr. Zhuang’s eyes shone with approval before he slowly said:

”This is an ancient technique.”

”An ancient technique?” Mo Hua was puzzled, ”What’s different about ancient techniques?”

”There are differences, yet no differences. The ancient techniques cultivated by the ancients are just techniques, as are those practiced by people today. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and can’t all be viewed the same...”

”Some ancient techniques have been refined by generations of cultivators, becoming more stable with fewer bottlenecks, making cultivation much more effective, thus becoming the mainstream techniques practiced in the cultivation world today; some ancient techniques are obscure and odd, difficult to practice with lackluster results upon completion, and gradually have been abandoned...”

”Some techniques are cruel and bizarre, prone to driving cultivators mad, turning them into demonic cultivators, and thus are banned by the Dao Court; there are also those that can reverse fate, with extremely harsh conditions for cultivation, fought over by many cultivators, either being damaged or lost, eventually remaining only in the legends passed down by word of mouth among cultivators...”

”Are all ancient techniques unrestricted by spiritual roots?” Mo Hua asked.

”Not exactly, most techniques do restrict based on the attributes of spiritual roots, only a few do not restrict by grade, allowing cultivation from the highest to the lowest grades, but these are in the minority.”

”The standardization of spiritual roots and techniques for cultivation was enforced by the Dao Court after unification, pushed by the great families and major sects across the nine provinces of the cultivation world. On one hand, it was to standardize the vast array of techniques for easier cultivation; on the other hand...”

It was actually to monopolize the transmission of techniques...

Mr. Zhuang’s gaze hardened, but he did not continue, only adding, ”You will understand in time.”

”Oh,” Mo Hua nodded, somewhat understanding, then asked, ”Master, what kind of ancient technique is the ’Heavenly Proliferation Technique’?”

”It belongs to the category of the obscure and odd.” Mr. Zhuang thought for a moment before adding, ”This technique, too, had its practitioners in the past. It’s simple to practice, only requiring the cultivation of spirit stones, but its bottleneck during breakthroughs is quite peculiar. Other techniques usually have bottlenecks in the meridians or the Qi sea, needing the cultivation of celestial treasures and earthly wonders for breakthroughs. The bottleneck of this technique, however,

lies in the sea of consciousness. The sea of consciousness is elusive and hard to grasp, and there are scarcely any supporting spiritual materials, so whether one can breakthrough is a question mark.”

”Spiritual materials, however rare, can always be procured, just a matter of cost; but when it comes to issues with the sea of consciousness, that’s where it gets tricky, sometimes even impossible to start. Coupled with the fact that this technique produces weak spiritual energy and lacks other effects, it gradually fell out of favor.”

Mo Hua listened silently, then asked one last question:

”So, what does it mean in the technique description that it’s ’unsuitable for non-array masters’? Does one have to become an array master to practice this technique?”

”Not exactly,” Mr. Zhuang shook his head, ”It’s not that one has to become an array master to practice this technique, but among all the cultivation professions, only array masters extensively use and understand the sea of consciousness, and the bottleneck of the ’Heavenly Proliferation Technique’ lies in spiritual awareness, making it most suitable for array masters, or rather, if array masters find it challenging, other cultivators would find it even more so.”

”I see...”

Mo Hua pondered this, then made up his mind.

Mr. Zhuang, seeing his resolve, asked, ”Have you decided which technique to cultivate?”

”I have,” Mo Hua nodded, ”Master, I wish to cultivate the ’Heavenly Proliferation Technique’.”

Mr. Zhuang felt somewhat relieved, feeling a kinship with Mo Hua, unlike Elder Gui, whose taste in techniques was rather vulgar.

Mr. Zhuang was about to hand over the jade slip of the ’Heavenly Proliferation Technique’ to Mo Hua, but suddenly hesitated, and after a moment, he sighed deeply and asked seriously:

”Mo Hua, are you truly certain?”

Mo Hua looked puzzledly at Mr. Zhuang.

”This technique is simple to cultivate, but the variables in breaking through are too many, and the spiritual energy it provides is weak. Whether in cultivation or in combat, you will always be somewhat inferior.”

Despite some reluctance, Mr. Zhuang still pointed to the other techniques Mo Hua had ’left over’:

”These techniques may not be unique, but they are stable and practical, and the spiritual energy they cultivate isn’t insignificant. Some spiritual materials, though somewhat troublesome, are not rare and can always be acquired.”

But Mo Hua was resolute, ”I have decided, Master. Mo Hua’s spiritual roots are mediocre, and it’s difficult to compare with others. I only hope to make some progress in array techniques, not to let down your teachings. Since I wish to become an array master, spiritual awareness is naturally the most important; the quantity of spiritual energy doesn’t matter much.”

”The bottleneck of array masters lies in spiritual awareness, and so does the bottleneck of the ’Heavenly Proliferation Technique’; to me, it’s all the same, as long as I focus on studying array techniques and enhancing my spiritual awareness. The path of cultivation is never smooth; success is in the hands of heaven, but effort is in the hands of man.”

Mr. Zhuang was slightly stunned, then nodded in agreement, ”You are right. It’s rare for someone of your young age to have such a firm Dao heart.”

Mo Hua was embarrassed by such high praise, ”I don’t really have a firm Dao heart...”

Mr. Zhuang was taken aback.

”It’s mainly because I can’t practice the other techniques either. This technique doesn’t require spiritual materials, so I had no choice but to choose it...”

Mr. Zhuang: ”…”

Mo Hua was also quite helpless.

Issues with spiritual awareness can always be thought through, but those ’few spiritual materials,’ worth thousands of spirit stones each, were completely out of reach for Mo Hua, who came from an independent cultivator background.

When one is poor, their Dao heart naturally becomes firm; there’s no other option but to be firm.