The Quest for Immortality

”I’m still a child, how would I know?” Mo Hua retorted confidently.

Zhang Lan was momentarily stunned, filled with helplessness, and had to explain:

”The so-called harvesting is actually a form of dual cultivation.”

After Zhang Lan finished speaking, he paused and said, ”You should at least know what dual cultivation is, right?”

Mo Hua’s face reddened slightly, ”I just know a little.”

Zhang Lan couldn’t tell if he genuinely didn’t know or was pretending, so he continued:

”Actually, it’s just a matter between men and women. To put it plainly, it’s like that. However, dual cultivation can slightly enhance one’s cultivation, and the process is rather pleasant, so many cultivators are fascinated by researching the way of dual cultivation.”

Mo Hua had a question, ”Can dual cultivation really improve one’s cultivation?”

”It can improve it a little, but it’s better than nothing. Instead of spending time on such trivial matters, it’s better to spend more time meditating and cultivating.” Zhang Lan said.

”Then what’s the difference between dual cultivation and harvesting?”

”Dual cultivation is still considered normal, but harvesting is vicious. Evil cultivators use harvesting to extract others’ blood, essence, and spiritual power. The one being harvested might suffer from a decline in cultivation at best, or at worst, have their foundation destroyed or even die from the harvesting. Such incidents are common.”

Mo Hua’s heart chilled.

”The flower thief you are pursuing, did he also harvest people to death?”

”He’s certainly done such things, but not now. We’re chasing him because last month, he harvested a perfectly healthy woman to the point of emaciation, her qi sea completely destroyed, and she has been in a state of constant fear and confusion ever since...”

Zhang Lan sighed and gritted his teeth.

Mo Hua felt sympathy and asked, ”If we catch him, will he be sentenced to death?”

Zhang Lan nodded, ”The Dao Court has always been strict with such matters. Sentences range from a hundred years to the death penalty. For this one, the death penalty is unavoidable.”

Mo Hua felt relieved.

Zhang Lan thought for a moment and added:

”I forgot to tell you, dual cultivation is also prohibited.”

Mo Hua looked puzzled.

I’m still a child, why are you telling me this?

Zhang Lan felt a bit embarrassed under Mo Hua’s gaze, but since he had started, he had to continue:

”Normal relationships between men and women are not managed by the Dao Court. But dual cultivation is different. All dual cultivation techniques and secret arts, once discovered, will be immediately destroyed...”

”If a cultivator engages in dual cultivation and is caught by the Dao Court, they will be held accountable. Although the penalty is not as severe as harvesting, it will still be recorded and will affect your future apprenticeship and marriage...”

Mo Hua asked in confusion, ”Didn’t you say that dual cultivation is not harmful? Why is it prohibited then?”

”Theoretically, it’s not harmful, and it doesn’t violate the Dao Laws. But not banning dual cultivation indirectly allows harvesting, as some people will use the guise of dual cultivation for harvesting. Furthermore, if dual cultivation is not banned, it becomes difficult for the Dao Court to investigate. Once they start investigating, people will just claim they are dual cultivating instead of harvesting, making it impossible to deal with them...”

Zhang Lan continued, becoming more animated, ”The most frustrating thing is that some cultivators, even after being harvested, don’t realize it and still enjoy it, even defending the harvester. It’s sheer stupidity!”

”If they claim it was consensual, are you unable to do anything about it?” Mo Hua asked.

Zhang Lan snorted coldly, ”In the face of the Dao Laws, there is no such thing as consensual. Anyone who violates the Dao Laws will be caught, no exceptions.”

Mo Hua nodded.

Zhang Lan said, ”That’s the first reason.”

Mo Hua was surprised, ”There’s more?”

”Of course,” Zhang Lan said, ”The cultivation world has existed for over twenty thousand years, with countless cultivators. What kind of messy situations haven’t we seen?”

”Oh, I see.”

Zhang Lan continued, ”The second reason is that dual cultivation between Dao companions can also turn into harvesting.”

Mo Hua’s mouth fell open, ”Isn’t a good relationship required to become Dao companions?”

”What do you know?” Zhang Lan gave him a look that said, ’You’re still young, you don’t understand.’

”The closer Dao companions are, the more likely they are to harbor resentment. Today they love each other to death, tomorrow they might hate each other to the bone. Once there’s conflict, it easily turns into enmity, and what was once dual cultivation becomes harvesting...”

Mo Hua was amazed and couldn’t help but say:

”Uncle Zhang, you know so much, have you ever been harvested...”

Zhang Lan immediately grabbed Mo Hua’s ear and said:

”Don’t talk nonsense! I’m a proper cultivator!”

Mo Hua rubbed his ear and muttered softly:

”Who knows if you’re proper...”

Zhang Lan sighed helplessly, then looked at Mo Hua and said:

”You need to be careful in the future.”

”What should I be careful about? I’m not going to harvest anyone...”

Zhang Lan smiled mischievously, ”You might not harvest anyone, but you could be harvested.”

Mo Hua was stunned, ”No way...”

”Not only can female cultivators be harvested by male cultivators, but male cultivators can also be harvested by female cultivators.” Zhang Lan said with a smirk, ”Especially someone like you, who looks so handsome and adorable.”

Mo Hua’s mouth fell open.

Zhang Lan patted Mo Hua’s shoulder, ”In the future, when you see those seductive and flirtatious female cultivators, be more cautious. They might be eyeing you for harvesting.”

Mo Hua thought for a long time and nodded seriously.

Then he realized something else and curiously asked:

”If female cultivators can be harvested by male cultivators, and male cultivators by female cultivators, can male cultivators be harvested by male cultivators and female cultivators by female cultivators?”

Zhang Lan’s eyes darkened.

What kind of nonsense is this?!

What on earth is going on in your little head, how can you ask such questions?!

Zhang Lan was speechless for a long time and finally sighed helplessly, ”Go to sleep, I’m tired.”

He closed his eyes, ignoring Mo Hua.

Mo Hua wanted to ask more, but seeing Zhang Lan’s weary expression, he sensibly refrained.

The campfire flickered, and the camp gradually quieted down.

Mo Hua read the array book for a while, then around midnight, entered his sea of consciousness to practice the array techniques, and then rested briefly.

At dawn the next day, Mo Hua woke up.

As he got up, Zhang Lan and the other two also opened their eyes.

The three of them ate a simple meal and then left the camp to continue their journey.

When they arrived at Lone Cloud Peak, Mo Hua examined the terrain and marked a few places on the map.

These places were relatively hidden, rarely visited by demonic beasts, and unlikely to be discovered by other cultivators.

Zhang Lan instructed, ”Be careful not to reveal your whereabouts to avoid alerting the enemy. If you encounter the thief, don’t engage immediately. Watch from a distance and wait until we’re all together to make a move.”

Everyone nodded, then split up to search the areas Mo Hua had marked.

Mo Hua followed Zhang Lan.

With Zhang Lan’s high cultivation level, it was safer for him to stay close.

After searching around, they gathered in a forested area. Not far from the forest was a camp.

Mo Hua said, ”There are traces around, that thief should be hiding in that camp.”

”Could it be other demon hunters?” Situ fang asked.

Mo Hua replied, ”This camp has long been abandoned. Demon hunters wouldn’t stay there.”

Zhang Lan nodded and said, ”We’ll surround the camp and attack together. Mo Hua, it’s dangerous here, stay back.”

”Okay.”

Mo Hua nodded and quickly retreated to a safe distance.