The Quest for Immortality

The ore from the Lu Family was from a Corpse Mine, which concealed zombies.

The five Mining Cultivators who had disappeared earlier had met with a gruesome death, eaten by the zombies in the mines.

Zhang Quan killed people, bought corpses, refined zombies, and delivered the refined zombies to the Lu Family.

And the Lu Family hid these zombies in the mines.

They also laid down a tight Formation, sealing the zombies away so that no one would notice them.

Mo Hua frowned.

What exactly did the Lu Family want to do?

And what exactly was the identity of that traitor within the Lu Family?

Mo Hua glanced at the tightly guarded mine.

To mobilize so much manpower and resources, to set up a Formation, to guard the mine, that traitor in the Lu Family must at least be a real power-holding Elder, or perhaps a revered Guest Elder.

As long as that traitor was pulled out, everything would be resolved easily.

”But who could this traitor be...”

Mo Hua had no leads for the moment and kept thinking about it after returning.

Even during meals, he was somewhat distracted, daydreaming while eating.

Bai Zixi nudged him with her elbow and said softly,

”Eat your food properly.”

”Oh,” Mo Hua came back to his senses and nodded.

Bai Zisheng then leaned in and asked quietly,

”What are you thinking about?”

Mo Hua looked up at Mr. Zhuang, saw that Mr. Zhuang was drinking on his own without bothering to listen to their whispers, and then also spoke softly,

”I’m thinking about the Lu Family’s matter.”

”What matter?” Bai Zisheng’s eyes lit up.

Mo Hua hesitated for a moment, but feeling that there was no need to hide it, he told Bai Zisheng about the traitor from the Minor Hidden Spirit Sect, the Lu Family’s mines, and the cultivation of zombies.

Bai Zisheng smacked his lips, ”I told you, the Lu Family is no good.”

Then his brows furrowed again, doubting himself,

”Our Bai Family wouldn’t also... ”

Bai Zixi said helplessly, ”The Bai Family was established on military achievements.”

Bai Zisheng was stunned, then heaved a sigh of relief.

Well, military achievements were still acceptable...

That meant earning them through legitimate combat on the battlefield.

Bai Zisheng then asked Mo Hua, ”What do you plan to do?”

”I want to find the traitor from the Minor Hidden Spirit Sect hidden within the Lu Family.”

Mo Hua mused, ”The complete Spiritual Pivot Formation must be in his possession; the one who bought the zombies from Zhang Quan is probably him; the one directing the Lu Family to hoard zombies and establish the Corpse Mine should still be him...”

”Need help?”

Bai Zisheng was eager to try.

Bai Zixi also looked at Mo Hua, the implication clear.

Mo Hua hesitated for a moment, then nodded,

”Okay.”

It takes a good fence to make good stakes, just like it takes good comrades to support a hero.

He indeed couldn’t handle this matter alone; with the help of his Junior Brother and Junior Sister, it should go much smoother.

Mr. Zhuang, drinking his wine, glanced at his three little disciples huddled together, murmuring and discussing something, his expression somewhat gratified.

Then, a hint of nostalgia arose in his heart.

For a moment, he even saw his three little disciples from years past, gathered together, cultivating and playing.

But in the blink of an eye, all was gone, like smoke dissipated.

Time flies, things change, and people change.

Mr. Zhuang looked melancholic and let out a slight sigh...

...

After the meal, the three of Mo Hua set out separately to gather information about the Lu Family.

Mo Hua first went to find the Housing agency workers.

That is, the articulate and seemingly clever Housing agency worker who sold the cave dwelling to him.

When that Housing agency worker saw Mo Hua, his expression was respectful but tinged with a bit of fear.

The Housing agency worker was a bit troubled when Mo Hua mentioned his name,

”Young gentleman, how about you choose someone else?”

Mo Hua wondered, ”Why?”

The Housing agency worker chuckled nervously.

Last time he took Mo Hua to see the cave dwelling, Mo Hua’s keen eyes found more than a dozen flaws, declared the Formation worthless, and cut the price almost in half.

Now, seeing Mo Hua’s clear yet somewhat profound gaze, he felt a bit intimidated.

Although Mr. Zheng didn’t blame him for this, it still made it impossible for him to lift his head in front of his colleagues.

Now they had given him the nickname ”Half-Cutter.”

It meant that when negotiating with him, one should start by cutting the price in half.

The Housing agency worker thus declined politely, ”My abilities are insufficient, I’m not...”

Mo Hua slipped two Spirit Stones into his hand and consoled,

”I’m just looking around, not buying.”

The two Spirit Stones warmed the Housing agency worker’s heart.

The Housing agency worker hesitated for a moment but then anticipated, ”You’re really just looking and not buying?”

”Mhm, mhm,” Mo Hua answered sincerely, with an innocent look.

The Housing agency worker couldn’t resist Mo Hua, and of course, he couldn’t resist the Spirit Stones in his hand either.

Besides, Mo Hua had said he wasn’t going to buy anything.

Not buying was good.

If he wasn’t buying, he wouldn’t haggle the price...

”Alright.”

The Housing agency worker agreed cheerfully.

So, he took the lead, guiding Mo Hua through North Street in South Yue City, strolling among some houses.

These houses were all part of the Lu Family’s estate.

Mo Hua also took the opportunity to inquire about some news concerning the Lu Family.

As he was asking, the housing agency worker began to sense that something was wrong.

But he didn’t dare to ask directly, so he could only hint subtly,

”Young gentleman, are you, by any chance, holding a grudge against the Lu Family?”

”There’s no grudge...”

Mo Hua pretended to be somewhat embarrassed, ”It’s just that... the Lu Family Head wants me to marry a girl from the Lu Family, and I... I’m unfamiliar with this place, so I just wanted to discreetly inquire about the Lu Family’s situation...”

Marry a girl from the Lu Family?

Marry into the family?

The housing agency worker’s expression showed both admiration and pity.

For the Lu Family Head to personally speak out and propose a marriage, this young gentleman must really be something.

But what a pity that it’s just about marrying into the family.

In this day and age, which competent cultivator would be willing to marry into a family?

The housing agency worker actually held Mo Hua in some esteem.

Although Mo Hua had hurt him deeply when it came to bargaining.

The housing agency worker wrestled with his thoughts for a moment before advising,

”Young gentleman, these words may not be pleasant to hear, but the Lu Family... is not exactly a good place. If you intend to join the Lu Family, it’s better to be cautious...”

Mo Hua’s gaze flickered, then he sighed and said, ”I don’t really want to, but...”

Mo Hua’s face turned slightly red, ”The young lady from the Lu Family is truly... quite beautiful.”

The housing agency worker was stunned, then he frowned and nodded.

”Indeed.”

Being beautiful is unquestionably a solid reason.

For the sake of a pretty girl he fancies, marry into the family then.

Mo Hua appeared naïve and innocent.

The housing agency worker did not doubt his sincerity.

He even became more enthusiastic; now, without Mo Hua asking, he spilled everything he knew about the Lu Family as if pouring beans out of a bamboo tube.

”The most powerful person in the Lu Family is the family head. It is said he has already reached the Qi Foundation Middle Stage...”

”Below the family head, there are some elders with real power. One or two at the Qi Foundation Middle Stage, while the rest are mostly at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage, all considered to be the family head’s confidants and part of the main Lu lineage...”

”If you were to marry into the family, you should choose among these branches...”

”It’s best to pick one related to the Lu Family Head. That way, you’ll be favored by the family head, and your future will be brighter.”

”Besides them, there are also some guest elders.”

”They hold an aloof status, with varying degrees of power, mostly tied by blood or marriage to other clans or sects.”

”Of course, among these guest elders, there are some who keep a low profile and stay out of the public eye.”

”If you have a good eye and can form a marriage alliance with one of them, and marry under their name, you might find an unexpected fortune, inheriting some top-secret legacies.”

”Below the powerful elders, there are some ordinary elders.”

”The regular, powerless elders; members of side branches with only a thin blood connection; fringe guest elders; supporters without much ability, and so on.”

”These are not worth attaching yourself to...”

”Especially for a young gentleman such as yourself, a Formation Master.”

”Of course.” The housing agency worker paused, then added, ”Unless it’s their younger female cultivators of exceptional beauty, capable of toppling empires and cities; that’s a different story.”

After pondering for a while, the housing agency worker advised,

”Even so, in my opinion, it’s still better not to marry into any family.”

”Beauty cannot fill the stomach, and you shouldn’t lose your way over it...”

”If you’re to marry into a family, do it for power and benefits, and don’t act impulsively based only on looks...”

The housing agency worker spoke eloquently and sensibly.

Suddenly he looked at Mo Hua, feeling it was a shame, and asked:

”Young gentleman, have you considered your Junior Sister?”

Mo Hua was taken aback, ”Consider what?”

”Marrying, of course.”

At this, Mo Hua’s face truly reddened, his expression slightly irked, he said indignantly:

”She is my Junior Sister!”

The housing agency worker mumbled to himself, ”What’s wrong with a Junior Sister, isn’t she the best match...”

Raised in the same sect, childhood sweethearts.

And she is indeed very beautiful.

Both dignified and lovely.

Together, they looked like a match made in heaven, one with fine features and clear eyes, the other with bright eyes and white teeth, like a golden boy and a jade girl.

But these words were only muttered internally.

Afterward, Mo Hua asked about some other things related to the Lu Family, and even jotted down the elders, guest elders, and supporters he had learned about on a piece of paper.

He planned to go back and scrutinize who was most likely to be the traitor from the Minor Hidden Spirit Sect.

The housing agency worker thought Mo Hua was pondering the marriage proposal and was filled with regret.

Latter, Mo Hua went to the Nanyue Inn to find Qinglan.

After the incident at the Hundred Flower Tower, Situ Fang asked the female brothel keeper for Qinglan’s deed of sale and took her out, settling her into the inn.

Qinglan helped with cleaning and cooking at the inn, becoming independent.

She came from a poor Miner Cultivator background, down-to-earth and hard-working. Having left the Hundred Flower Tower and no longer having to ingratiate herself or serve others sexually, her spirit improved greatly.

When she saw Mo Hua, Qinglan was both grateful and happy.

She personally brewed tea and served pastries for Mo Hua to enjoy.

Mo Hua then asked, ”Sister Qinglan, may I ask you some questions? About the Lu Family.”

Qinglan was slightly taken aback, then nodded and replied:

”Sure, you can ask. I’ll tell you everything I know.”

After thinking for a moment, Mo Hua started asking questions beginning with Jinhua Street.

Having spent a lot of time on Jinhua Street and having encountered many cultivators, Qinglan must have heard plenty of news.

Qinglan pondered for a while, then slowly began to speak:

”The matters of Jinhua Street have to start with the now deceased Lu Family Old Ancestor...”