The Quest for Immortality

Although that was the case, the facts were undeniable, and Commander Yang had no choice but to believe it.

Mo Hua had already started explaining the formations on the Black Mountain Stronghold map.

Where each formation was drawn, its purpose, what would happen if one forcibly broke it, and what would happen if it remained intact.

Also, the overall structure of the formations in the Black Mountain Stronghold, where the formations were strong and where they were weak, and the best route for an attack.

Where there were secret doors and escape routes that needed to be sealed off in advance to prevent the demonic cultivators from escaping...

The more Commander Yang listened, the more shocked he became.

The level of formation mastery demonstrated completely surpassed his understanding. Many of the formation principles were not only difficult for him to grasp but even understanding the general concepts was a struggle.

The last time he felt this way was in the clan school, scratching his head while learning formations from the formation master.

Commander Yang sneaked a glance at Zhang Lan.

Zhang Lan’s expression was much calmer, appearing very composed. However, it was more a kind of numbness...

It was like being in class, no matter how the instructor explained, he couldn’t understand. Over time, it just went in one ear and out the other.

Commander Yang felt much better.

He thought, Zhang Lan and he were on the same level.

His own formation skills were lacking, and the little he had learned was nothing in front of a real formation master.

Even if Zhang Lan was a bit better than him, it wasn’t by much. There was no way he could understand this level of formation.

Commander Yang secretly despised Zhang Lan for a moment, then focused entirely on listening to Mo Hua’s clear and detailed explanation of the formations.

He needed to understand the terrain and formation layout of the Black Mountain Stronghold to formulate his tactics accordingly.

Some formations he didn’t need to fully understand, but he needed to know their functions and what to be cautious of when breaking them to avoid falling into the traps set by the demonic cultivators.

The complex composite formations surpassed his formation knowledge, but fortunately, Mo Hua explained everything clearly and in detail. What he noticed, Mo Hua mentioned, and what he didn’t notice, Mo Hua also explained thoroughly.

Commander Yang listened more and more attentively, even picking up a pen to jot down key points.

After Mo Hua spent most of the day explaining the formations on the Black Mountain Stronghold map, Commander Yang felt both shocked and conflicted.

He was shocked by Mo Hua’s profound formation skills at such a young age.

He was conflicted because he had never listened so attentively in his clan school formation classes. Now, he was fully focused and even taking notes while listening to a young formation master explain formations...

Commander Yang’s attitude towards Mo Hua became much more respectful without realizing it.

This was respect for a First Grade formation master.

Compared to most First Grade formation masters he knew, Mo Hua’s formation skills were clearly a notch higher.

Commander Yang clicked his tongue in amazement and then had someone serve tea and pastries, as well as several plates of spirit fruits and spirit meat, to entertain Mo Hua.

”Mr. Mo, please help yourself.”

Commander Yang’s tone was very polite.

”Thank you, Commander Yang!”

Mo Hua had been talking for a long time and was a bit thirsty, so he didn’t stand on ceremony. He sat down and drank the sweet tea, sampling some spirit fruits and spirit meat he hadn’t tried before.

Commander Yang held the annotated map and discussed something with Zhang Lan.

They didn’t avoid Mo Hua, so he listened in openly.

However, most of their discussion was about the deployment of Taoist soldiers, offense and defense strategies, and battle formations, which he couldn’t fully understand. He could only grasp bits and pieces, hoping to use the information in the future.

Mo Hua listened with interest while eating.

After they finished talking, Mo Hua, who was now full, asked the question he was most concerned about:

”Commander Yang, can we destroy the Black Mountain Stronghold this time?”

Commander Yang thought for a moment, considering the recent plan, and then firmly said:

”Yes!”

Mo Hua’s eyes lit up, ”Really?”

Commander Yang nodded and explained to Mo Hua:

”The Taoist soldiers can be considered the most elite cultivators of the Dao Court. Their strength lies not in the individual cultivators’ levels but in the harmony between their armor, spiritual tools, formations, and the soldiers’ spiritual roots, techniques, and Daoist methods.”

”A team of ten Taoist soldiers is often chosen based on similar or compatible spiritual roots and complementary techniques. They wear refined armor and wield sharp weapons, with formations drawn on their armor and weapons to enhance morale and synchronization. In battles with cultivators of the same level, they are virtually invincible.”

”Even against higher-level cultivators, they have a fighting chance!”

”Can they defeat multiple Foundation Building cultivators?” Mo Hua asked.

He knew there were four leaders in the Black Mountain Stronghold, all at the Foundation Building stage.

From Mo Hua’s perception, there was only Commander Yang among the Taoist soldiers at the Foundation Building stage.

Commander Yang didn’t answer directly but asked Mo Hua:

”How does a Qi Refining cultivator compare to a Foundation Building cultivator?”

Mo Hua recalled Elder Yu’s words and replied, ”Ten Qi Refining ninth level cultivators can exchange for one early Foundation Building cultivator.”

”That’s correct but not entirely accurate,” Commander Yang said. ”It’s not just any ten Qi Refining ninth level cultivators that can contend with an early Foundation Building cultivator.”

”If those Qi Refining cultivators lack combat experience and don’t coordinate well, even ten or more of them will be picked off one by one by a Foundation Building cultivator.”

”Only those with extensive battle experience, firm will, and perfect coordination can fight beyond their level.”

”Is that what Taoist soldiers are?” Mo Hua asked.

Commander Yang nodded, ”Not only that, but Taoist soldiers also have specialized armor and formation support. In formation, they can even kill Foundation Building cultivators head-on!”

Mo Hua was astonished.

Taoist soldiers were indeed formidable. No wonder the Black Mountain Stronghold, despite its size and secrecy, was so wary of the Dao Court’s discovery and the Taoist soldiers’ eradication.

Even a group of Qi Refining ninth level Taoist soldiers could stand against Foundation Building cultivators.

If one Qi Refining ninth level couldn’t, then ten could. If ten weren’t enough, then a hundred.

Once hundreds or thousands of Taoist soldiers formed battle formations on the battlefield, a few higher-level cultivators wouldn’t stand a chance.

Mo Hua suddenly realized:

”This is similar to formations. If the formation patterns are not strong enough, accumulate them to form a single formation. If a single formation is not enough, accumulate more to form a composite formation. If the composite formation is still not enough, accumulate even more to form a grand formation!”

”Accumulating grains of sand forms a tower, and gathering rivers forms a sea. Formations build up to form greater arrays, and cultivators combine their strengths to overcome the strong. This is also a principle of the Dao of Heaven!”

The more Mo Hua spoke, the brighter his eyes became.

Although Commander Yang didn’t understand formations, he couldn’t help but nod, finding it very reasonable. His years of leading troops in battle gave him a deep understanding of this concept.

Mo Hua had another doubt, ”What kind of formations do Taoist soldiers use?”

Commander Yang hesitated, then apologized:

”This is a secret of the Dao Court and cannot be disclosed to outsiders.”

Actually, it wasn’t that it couldn’t be said, but he didn’t know either.

These formations were standardized and distributed by the Dao Court, and the Taoist soldiers only used them without needing to understand or repair them, so naturally, he didn’t know what formations were drawn on them.

However, admitting his ignorance would be too embarrassing, so he used a pretext to brush it off.

Mo Hua didn’t doubt him and also apologized, ”I was being presumptuous.”

The secret formations of Taoist soldiers indeed shouldn’t be pried into. He was just curious to know how these formations differed from those he usually studied.

”These are minor matters, don’t worry about it,” Commander Yang, feeling a bit guilty, waved it off.

After a brief chat with Commander Yang, Mo Hua prepared to leave.

Commander Yang, however, looked hesitant and wanted to say something.

Mo Hua asked, ”Is there something else, Commander Yang?”

Commander Yang glanced at Zhang Lan and sighed:

”There’s one more thing. The fog array in the deep mountains has changed, and we can’t find where the Black Mountain Stronghold is.”

He had asked Zhang Lan to invite a formation master, one to explain the formations on the Black Mountain Stronghold map and the other to venture into the deep mountains to reconfirm the location of the fog array, facilitating their attack on the Black Mountain Stronghold.

However, the scouts he sent discovered that the positions of the fog arrays in the foggy forest had changed. Moreover, the fog in the forest had become denser.

Naturally, the guide map Mo Hua previously drew was no longer useful.

With the guide map invalid, they couldn’t find the entrance to the Black Mountain Stronghold, making the plan to eradicate it impossible.

Mo Hua hesitated. He had promised Elder Yu not to venture into the deep mountains.

Moreover, the third leader might still hold a grudge against him.

But without finding a way through the foggy forest, there was no way to eliminate the Black Mountain Stronghold.

Mo Hua looked at Commander Yang and Zhang Lan and asked, ”Will you act as my bodyguards?”

Commander Yang nodded, ”Zhang Lan and I will escort you.”

”What if we encounter Foundation Building demonic cultivators?”

Commander Yang said coldly, ”I’ll mobilize several teams of Taoist soldiers. If we encounter Foundation Building demonic cultivators, we’ll kill them on

sight! We will ensure your safety and won’t let a hair on your head be harmed.”

Zhang Lan also said, ”That’s what I told Elder Yu. With Taoist soldiers protecting you, even if a Foundation Building demonic cultivator wants to kill you, they probably won’t dare. That’s why he agreed to let me ask for your help.”

Mo Hua nodded, ”Alright, let’s go check out the foggy forest.”