The Quest for Immortality

”Join the Dao Soldiers Division, and I’ll cover everything!” Commander Yang pounded his chest in assurance.

”A mere Foundation Building cultivator talking big?” Zhang Lan scoffed.

Commander Yang glared at Zhang Lan, ”I may be just a Foundation Building cultivator, but some can’t even reach that level.”

Zhang Lan didn’t argue further but said seriously, ”Mo Hua is physically weak and can’t train his body. Joining the Dao Soldiers and fighting in battles would be extremely dangerous for him.”

”He won’t have to do such things,” Commander Yang replied. ”In military operations, the hardest part is ’knowing the enemy and oneself.’ With his Concealment Technique, he can scout the enemy’s situation and use it to protect himself if necessary.”

”Isn’t scouting dangerous?”

”Then forget scouting,” Commander Yang retreated further, ”he can just set up arrays.”

Mo Hua asked, ”Does the Dao Soldiers Division also lack array masters?”

Commander Yang vaguely replied, ”Not that much...”

Zhang Lan sneered, ”Don’t listen to his nonsense. Where in the cultivation world is there no shortage of array masters? Even the demonic cultivators, like those who built Heishan Stronghold, rely on their third leader, the demonic array master.”

”Not to mention that the Dao Soldiers Division is a dirty, tiring place where lives are at risk at all times. Esteemed array masters usually wouldn’t go there.”

Commander Yang blushed but persisted, ”Precisely because of this, an array master skilled in concealment and self-protection is even more valuable on the battlefield.”

Looking at Mo Hua, Commander Yang solemnly said, ”If you’re willing to join the Dao Soldiers Division, I can even apply for you to become a Deputy Commander.”

”Then you can follow me. With the Yang family’s extensive connections in the Dao Soldiers Division, no one will dare to bully you!”

Mo Hua hesitated.

It wasn’t that he feared hardship or danger and didn’t want to join the Dao Soldiers Division, but once he joined, he’d have to leave home and be away for long periods.

He still needed to learn arrays from Mr. Zhuang and take care of his parents when he grew up.

Seeing Mo Hua’s furrowed brow and troubled expression, Commander Yang quickly said, ”You’re still young; no need to decide in haste. You can think it over carefully. Even if you don’t go now, you can always come to the Dao Soldiers Division later if you change your mind. Just mention my name, Yang Jiyong.”

Yang Jiyong...

Mo Hua nodded silently, remembering the name, and then thanked him, ”Thank you, Commander Yang.”

Commander Yang smiled, ”No need to be so formal. If you call Zhang Lan ’Uncle,’ you can call me ’Uncle’ too.”

Mo Hua complied, ”Uncle Yang.”

Commander Yang nodded, his face beaming with joy.

Zhang Lan sighed helplessly, ”Yang Jiyong, after all these years, you still have no shame!”

Commander Yang snorted, ”You’re no better.”

With the map of the Misty Forest and the layout of Heishan Stronghold in hand, Commander Yang and Zhang Lan spent a day planning the operation to annihilate Heishan Stronghold.

The next day, the various factions in Tongxian City gathered at the Dao Court to discuss the operation.

Participants included Commander Yang from the Dao Soldiers Division, the old Supervisor and Chief Zhou from the Dao Court, Elder Yu, Mo Shan, Yu Chengyi from the Demon Hunter Hall, and others.

Mo Hua sat on a small stool nearby, listening in.

Commander Yang began directly, ”The array in the Misty Forest has changed. The demonic cultivators might have sensed something. If we act directly, we might alert them and fail to wipe them out.”

”The best strategy is for the demon hunters to feign an attack to lure the demonic cultivators out, then the Dao Soldiers will encircle and kill them all in one go.”

”There are four Foundation Building demonic cultivators in Heishan Stronghold. They may not all be there, but we should plan for the worst. Chief Zhou, Elder Yu, and I will each handle one. I’ll split two teams of the finest Dao Soldiers with the best equipment to take down the fourth.”

”If any of the Foundation Building demonic cultivators fall, we can outnumber and defeat them.”

”As for the other demonic cultivators, despite their sinister techniques, they’re not a threat in a head-on battle. The demon hunters just need to delay them until the Dao Soldiers charge in, then they’ll be nothing more than a disorganized mob...”

Commander Yang then opened the sand table, showing both the Misty Forest and Heishan Stronghold’s terrain.

He began detailing the plan, including how to enter the mountain, where the demon hunters would position themselves, where the Dao Soldiers would ambush, and how to attack the stronghold.

They discussed how far to feign the attack, where to retreat if necessary, how to coordinate, and when the Dao Soldiers would charge.

Elder Yu and others raised questions and suggestions, which Commander Yang either answered or considered. After half a day’s discussion, the plan gradually took shape.

Mo Hua listened attentively.

He was unfamiliar with such matters, and both the experienced Commander Yang and Elder Yu were far more knowledgeable.

The world is full of knowledge.

Mo Hua simply listened carefully, hoping to learn more.

After the meeting, the participants dispersed. Mo Hua stayed behind and quietly asked Zhang Lan, ”Uncle Zhang, is there any risk?”

Zhang Lan patted Mo Hua’s shoulder, ”There’s always risk, but this time it’s minimal.”

”Why?”

”First, because of the intelligence you overheard. Second, the Dao Court’s Dao Soldiers are stronger than you think.”

”Are they really that strong?” Mo Hua was doubtful.

”Absolutely,” Zhang Lan replied. ”The Dao Court can unify the cultivation world because of its powerful Dao Soldiers. Large-scale battles involving thousands of soldiers are entirely different from ordinary cultivator duels.”

Mo Hua hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, so he didn’t fully understand but nodded and felt somewhat reassured.

Commander Yang acted swiftly, and two days later, all preparations were complete.

Before dawn, three hundred seasoned ninth-level Qi Refining demon hunters and three hundred well-trained Dao Soldiers, led by Commander Yang, Elder Yu, and Chief Zhou, silently moved into the deep mountains under the cover of twilight.

Mo Hua wanted to go but was firmly opposed by everyone.

Not only did his father Mo Shan forbid him, but also Chief Zhou, Zhang Lan, Elder Yu, Yu Chengyi, and even Commander Yang opposed it.

They didn’t mind getting hurt themselves, but they couldn’t let Mo Hua get injured.

Mo Hua had to stay obediently at the Dao Soldiers’ camp on Nameless Peak.

The camp was relatively safe, and if they encountered any tricky arrays during the assault on Heishan Stronghold, they could return and consult Mo Hua.

Some Dao Soldiers stayed in the camp to guard it and protect Mo Hua.

Mo Hua stayed in the camp, sleepless, practicing arrays on the Dao Stele in his sea of consciousness until dawn, when distant noises finally reached him.

Even from afar, he could faintly hear the sounds of battle, filled with a solemn killing intent, and could sense waves of powerful spiritual energy without using his spiritual awareness.

It was a large-scale melee involving numerous ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators and full-force battles by Foundation Building cultivators!

Mo Hua frowned, feeling worried.

His father Mo Shan and many close uncles and elders were in the mountains, fighting against those vicious demonic cultivators.

Mo Hua wanted to go but restrained himself.

He couldn’t help much and would only cause trouble.

Mo Hua forced himself to draw arrays to calm his mind.

The battle at Heishan Stronghold lasted three days, and news finally arrived.

The Dao Soldiers and demon hunters suffered minimal casualties. Mo Shan, Elder Yu, and Zhang Lan were mostly only slightly injured.

The Heishan Stronghold, which had entrenched itself in the deep mountains for hundreds of years, was completely annihilated!