The Quest for Immortality

Leader Yang hung up several maps.

Among these maps were terrain diagrams of the mines, the entrance to the Lu Family Corpse Mine, structural drawings of the stone palaces within the mine, as well as simple tunnel route maps.

Many small characters were marked on the maps.

The small characters explained matters that needed attention, including the Iron Corpses on guard, the locations of mechanisms, Corpse Poison traps, secret passages, secret rooms, and hidden doors, and so on.

They even included Formation Diagrams:

Defensive Formation, Early Warning Formation, Expose Shadow Formation, Trap Formation, Killing Formation, and Confinement Formation... and the like, all marked very clearly.

The detailed nature of these maps surprised everyone.

Leader Yang arranged tactics in accordance with the maps.

First was the division of teams, based on Cultivation Techniques and expertise in Taoist Skills, the Foundation Building Cultivators were divided into teams.

Each team of Cultivators had different offensive and defensive capabilities, complementing each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Those skilled in combat, sharp in Taoist Skills, would take the lead in attack; those physically strong and robust in Blood Qi, would take the lead in defense.

There were also some Cultivators with unusual Taoist Skills that produced rare effects, serving as surprise troops to catch the enemy unawares.

After dividing the teams, Leader Yang continued:

”The Taoist Court has allocated a batch of Pills. I will distribute them later...”

”These Pills include Poison Avoidance Pills, Spirit Revitalizing Pills, Blood Replenishing Pills, Serum Pills, and so forth...”

”The rest are commonly used Pills. You may take them as needed without me saying more.”

”But these Serum Pills are different; they are specifically to counteract Corpse Poison, hard to come by, and must be used with caution. However, in a critical moment, make sure not to hesitate.”

”Once injured, bleeding, tainted by Corpse Poison, especially Second Grade Iron Corpse Poison, it must be taken immediately, else once the Corpse Poison reaches the heart, and live ones transform into Zombies, I can only bring myself to strike you down...”

The expressions of the Cultivators present all grew serious.

Leader Yang’s expression turned solemn as he continued:

”Of course, if I am unfortunate enough to transform into a Zombie, becoming the Corpse King’s living puppet, you must not hesitate to slay me, to burn my corpse, leaving no remains behind!”

”My members of the Yang Family might die in battle, but we must not become Zombies after death, aiding the tyrant...”

Leader Yang finished speaking and then asked:

”Among us, is there any gentleman who knows Formations?”

The crowd looked at each other, and then a few Cultivators stood up, their hair either graying or white, all of them quite aged.

Leader Yang nodded.

A young man dressed in white hesitated for a moment before standing up as well.

The middle-aged Cultivator beside him tried to pull him back but didn’t catch him, muttering discontentedly:

”What’s the point of pushing into the limelight unnecessarily...”

A gaunt old man beside them sighed and shook his head.

Yet the young man in white remained resolute.

Leader Yang saw his youth and was slightly surprised as he asked:

”This young friend... are you a Formation Master?”

The young man in white nodded: ”I am a Second Rank Formation Master.”

A Second Rank Formation Master!

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole room was shocked.

”A Second Rank Formation Master, so young?”

”Impossible, right...”

”Who would lie at a time like this?”

”What’s his background?”

”Must be from a Noble Family Descendant...”

”How did a member of a Noble Family end up here?”

”Who knows...”

”He looks only about twenty or thirty years old. Such talent is truly terrifying...”

”I’m over a hundred and eighty and only a First Rank Formation Master, sigh, truly shameful...”

...

The crowd whispered among themselves, abuzz with speculation.

Leader Yang was also quite shocked, then seriously asked:

”What is the gentleman’s esteemed surname?”

The young man in white saluted with his hands: ”Leader Yang is too courteous, just call me Young Master Yun.”

”Yun… the Young Master of the Yun Family?”

Leader Yang was inwardly moved and nodded:

”Good, in this operation, I hope Young Master Yun will lend us a strong hand.”

The Young Master Yun in white nodded, ”To rid the world of Demons and protect the Taoist way is my unshirkable duty.”

The youthful spirit of the young man gave the middle-aged Cultivator beside him a headache.

However, Leader Yang looked on with admiration and then commanded the Deputy Commander beside him:

”After the battle begins, you will follow Young Master Yun and protect him closely, ensuring his safety without fail.”

”Yes!”

The Deputy Commander acknowledged the order.

Leader Yang displayed the mine’s formation charts, pointing out several Formations that were designed as gate locks at checkpoints.

Leader Yang asked:

”Young Master Yun, please look these over, how should these Formations be broken?”

Young Master Yun shook his head: ”I haven’t learned how to break them yet, I can only teach you how to destroy them...”

Leader Yang was taken aback.

To break the Formations, isn’t there any difference between ”breaking” and ”solving”?

Usually, when they, the Taoist Soldiers, speak of breaking and solving Formations, they mean the same thing...

Yet he didn’t feel it was appropriate to ask in detail, to avoid seeming unprofessional, so he vaguely replied:

”Either is fine.”

Young Master Yun examined the Formation Diagram, pondered for a moment, and then began to indicate the weaknesses of the Formations, telling them where the Formation eye was, how the Formation Pivot operated, where the critical Formation Patterns were, and which was the weakest Formation media...

As long as they forcefully destroyed these points with Spiritual Power or physical force, the Formation could be broken.

Leader Yang was delighted, noting everything down and then instructed a few Taoist Soldier leaders:

”Remember what Young Master Yun said; at that time, make sure there is no deviation, and all these Formations must be broken!”

”Yes, Leader!”

Leader Yang then discussed with everyone, looking for omissions and drawing from collective wisdom, refining the plan to suppress the Corpse Mine bit by bit...

Once the discussion was over, someone suddenly asked:

”Leader, this intelligence is so detailed. Where did it come from?”

Upon hearing this, everyone was startled and turned their gaze toward Leader Yang.

Leader Yang couldn’t help but look toward Situ Fang.

Situ Fang then rose to speak: ”It was two children of Noble Families who told me.”

”Noble Family children?”

”Which Noble Family?”

”How did they come by this information? Can we trust it?”

...

Situ Fang frowned and declared in a loud voice: ”Our Situ Family can vouch for it.”

Someone sneered, ”What use is the guarantee of the Situ Family?”

”It’s not that we don’t trust you, but this matter is of great importance and must be handled with extreme caution...”

Situ Fang’s brows furrowed tightly.

After pondering for a moment, Leader Yang said, ”How about this, please invite these two disciples over, and we can confirm their identities...”

”This...” Situ Fang hesitated.

Leader Yang asked, ”Is there any inconvenience?”

”I can only ask for them, but whether they come or not, I can’t guarantee...” Situ Fang said.

”No matter,” Leader Yang said, ”Situ Supervisor can go and invite them.”

”Alright.”

Situ Fang nodded, clasped his hands in salute, and then took his leave.

Leader Yang stared at the map, his brow furrowed in deep thought.

It’s indeed too comprehensive...

Just like the intelligence leaked by an ”insider” within the Corpse Mine...

No, even an ”insider” would not necessarily know the details this intimately.

The topographical map and the layout of the Stone Palace are still okay, but this Formation Diagram, it’s an absolute secret, not something an ordinary cultivator could get their hands on.

I reckon that in the entire Corpse Mine, only Lu Chengyun would have it...

Is this a conspiracy by Lu Chengyun, luring us into a trap?

Or is it that the cultivator who gathered the intelligence is familiar with the inner formations and is a ”trusted aide” of Lu Chengyun?

Leader Yang’s brows furrowed in confusion, he turned his head and saw Young Master Yun also staring intently at the Formation Diagram, and couldn’t help but ask:

”Young Master Yun, what do you think?”

Young Master Yun was slightly startled, thought seriously for a moment, and then said:

”I’m not clear about other things, but at least this Formation Diagram, with its intricate principles and logical consistency, and matching with the topographical layout, it can’t be fake.”

Leader Yang nodded, feeling slightly relieved in his heart.

As long as the Formation Diagram is real, that’s good.

The Formation Diagram is crucial.

Even if Lu Chengyun intends to lure us into a trap, he wouldn’t be so irrational as to expose such confidential information...

As long as the Formation Diagram is accurate, even if there are some inaccuracies in other pieces of intelligence, they can adapt accordingly, and there shouldn’t be major problems.

Leader Yang soon became curious again.

Who exactly are the two descendants of Noble Clans that Situ Fang mentioned?

And what is the identity of the cultivator who obtained the intelligence?

An hour later, Situ Fang led two cultivators in.

It was Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi.

As soon as the two entered the hall, everyone present felt as if a light had shone before their eyes.

Bai Zisheng had sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, an imposing demeanor, and though only in the Qi-refining Realm, his spiritual power was profound, clearly indicating a deeply solid foundation.

Bai Zixi was disguised, with merely a beautiful and delicate appearance, but her aura was crisp and clear, and her eyes were like shining ripples, dazzling like glittering glass, unforgettable to anyone who saw them.

The spiritual power around her was surging, and compared to Bai Zisheng, she was certainly not inferior.

At a glance, one would know they were from prominent families, with extraordinary and sublime Spiritual Roots, but at the same time, their aura was somewhat obscure, making it difficult for others to discern their true abilities.

Some cultivators secretly tried to probe with their Divine Sense.

But as soon as their Divine Sense extended, they felt it being absorbed by something and dragged into an abyss, disappearing without a trace.

The cultivator who attempted to spy turned pale, a chill settling in their hearts.

These two individuals’ identities were clearly not to be trifled with by them.

Leader Yang was taken aback for a long while before he finally opened his mouth to ask:

”May I know where the two young friends come from?”

Bai Zisheng said, ”Our surname is Bai.”

Surname Bai?

Leader Yang’s heart gave a shiver, which Bai?

In the Cultivation World of the Nine States, there are several significant clans with the surname Bai...

But looking at their eminent identities, he did not delve further and turned to the main topic:

”I wonder where did you get the news about this Corpse Mine from?”

Bai Zisheng said, ”It was gathered by my junior brother.”

”Junior brother?”

”Yes,” Bai Zisheng said, ”My junior brother is an expert in formations, and was used by Lu Chengyun, who captured and trapped him in the Corpse Mine.”

”Then this intelligence...”

Bai Zisheng nodded and said, ”It’s all information he gathered from inside.”

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Leader Yang frowned.

An expert in formations? How expert could he be?

This intelligence included a Formation Diagram, could that really be gathered as well...

Leader Yang was half-convinced.

He looked again at Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi, and his hesitations gradually eased as he thought to himself:

”If this junior brother is indeed the disciple of these two young Bai Family cultivators, he must have some exceptional abilities, and it wouldn’t be surprising for him to accomplish things that ordinary people couldn’t...”

Meanwhile, the silent Bai Zixi secretly tugged at Bai Zisheng’s sleeve.

Only then did Bai Zisheng, somewhat reluctantly, say:

”I have one more thing... I would like to ask everyone here, to help rescue my junior brother...”

Bai Zisheng was usually not one to ask for help; if not for Mo Hua, he wouldn’t have wanted to ask these people for assistance.

But there were too many zombies in the Corpse Mine, and it wasn’t easy for him to break in forcefully, and Mo Hua hadn’t returned for a long time...

Leader Yang said, ”Of course.”

This junior disciple was the younger brother of these two Bai Family members, and also hijacked by Lu Chengyun for his use; he was clearly not an ordinary person in terms of both identity and strength.

Furthermore, he had passed on such critical intelligence, helping them immensely, so they were definitely going to rescue him regardless.

Leader Yang then asked:

”What does this young junior brother of yours look like? What are his features, and what is his name?”

Bai Zisheng replied, ”He’s thirteen years old, knowledgeable in formations, with a countenance like a painting, his name is Mo Hua.”

Thirteen years old?

So young?

All those present were somewhat astonished.

Leader Yang was also taken aback.

Mo Hua?

This name, why does it sound so familiar, as if I’ve heard it somewhere...

It seemed like someone had mentioned it to him before?

Leader Yang couldn’t recall at the moment, so he temporarily set it aside and solemnly said:

”Everyone, when we attack the Corpse Mine, if we encounter this young cultivator named ’Mo Hua’, we must assist him and ensure his rescue!”

All the cultivators present nodded their heads.

They all remembered the name ”Mo Hua.”

However, they had no idea what this name really signified...