The Quest for Immortality

Sect Leader Liao harbored some resentments.

”A First Grade Formation Master at just over ten years of age...”

The Chief Elder frowned and shook his head, ”Such talent is quite good for an ordinary cultivator, but within their faction, it’s just common.”

”Especially compared to that Mr. Zhuang of the past, it’s not even worth mentioning.”

Sect Leader Liao was slightly startled, feeling that the Chief Elder was really pompous!

A First Grade Formation Master, yet not worth mentioning...

But he didn’t dare to contradict him.

He was only at Foundation Establishment, indeed not as world-wise as the Golden Core Stage Chief Elder.

After pondering for a moment, the Chief Elder suddenly advised:

”More than this Junior Formation Master, what you should be cautious of are his senior brother and sister.”

”Senior brother and sister?”

Sect Leader Liao thought of the other two disciples around Mr. Zhuang.

One with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, the other as fresh as a hibiscus emerging from water.

They looked like a brother and sister, although separated by a Spiritual Artifact that hindered Divine Sense from probing, but their demeanor of a Great Clan, the robustness of their cultivation, and their distinguished aura...

They were flawless!

Exemplary seeds for Tao Cultivation!

And at a glance, it was clear that they were not the kind of disciples that the Five Elements Sect deserved to have.

Sect Leader Liao’s expression also became solemn:

”Chief Elder, do you mean that they are the true inheritors of Mr. Zhuang’s Formation knowledge?”

The Chief Elder nodded affirmatively, ”Correct.”

The Chief Elder thought for another moment, his eyes lighting up as if he had seen through Mr. Zhuang’s intentions:

”That Junior Formation Master is just leading the way.”

”Just over ten, at the Qi Refinement Ninth Level, a First Grade Formation Master, he aims to give us a warning.”

”But this Junior Formation Master probably isn’t that important.”

”If he were really important, he wouldn’t personally debase himself to clear the path.”

”Clearly, the truly troublesome ones are this little Formation Master’s senior brother and sister.”

”His senior brother and sister, hailing from Noble Clans with deeper cultivations, naturally possess even more profound knowledge of formations!”

”Moreover, there are two of them.”

”If they really were to learn, there’s a good chance that they might completely master our Five Elements Sect’s Ultimate Formation!”

...

The Chief Elder wore a serious gaze, and Sect Leader Liao also appeared worried.

”Then, Chief Elder, what should we do? It can’t be possible to actually stop them from learning formations, can it?”

Acting on this would equate to breaking off relations.

The outcome would be unpredictable.

The Chief Elder thickened his face, ”Delay them first, drag it out as long as possible until they lose patience.”

”And if we can’t hold them off?”

The Chief Elder’s eyes gleamed sharply, ”If we can’t hold them off, then we’ll use other methods...”

Sect Leader Liao’s expression flickered, and he nodded slightly.

...

The Five Elements Sect began to stall for time.

Mr. Zhuang, however, appeared nonchalant and not in a rush at all.

Mo Hua had no choice but to follow his master’s orders and, along with his junior brother and sister, started to ”play” within the Five Elements Sect.

The Five Elements Sect was vast, with many cave abodes; there were even more abodes than disciples...

It seemed that there was a time when they were very wealthy, with Spirit Stones so abundant they couldn’t use them all up, which is why they were so extravagant, building cave abodes everywhere. ʀ𝘼Νồ𝐛ΕŠ

Apart from the cave abodes, other Tao Cultivation structures like practice rooms, meditation chambers, Alchemy Rooms, Artifact Refining Rooms, Formation Pavilion, etc., were all readily available.

Some buildings, which were entirely unused, were also built in great numbers.

These buildings, neither occupied by cultivators nor used by them, and even without any function, had their doors closed - empty and desolate, it was unclear what they were built for...

Like most other sects, the Five Elements Sect was divided into Inner Gate and Outer Gate.

The Inner Gate is the essence of the Sect.

Inner Sect Disciples are one with the Sect, sharing in its glory and misfortunes.

They learn the orthodox heritage of the Five Elements Sect, follow the master-disciple hierarchy of the Sect, and are bound to the Sect, with shared interests.

The Sect’s assets are also managed by Inner Sect Disciples.

The Sect’s core positions are also held by Inner Sect Disciples.

Generally speaking, Inner Sect Disciples are not allowed to leave the Sect.

The Outer Gate Disciples, on the other hand, are less formal.

They are mostly freelancers who study formations.

Their relationship with the Sect includes a lineage but is not stringent; they have grace, but it is not close-knit.

As long as they pay Spirit Stones, they can learn if they want to, and if they decide not to, they can also leave; the Sect does not bind them.

The Outer Gate is more like an industry of the Sect.

The Sect shares part of its heritage with the outside world, teaching it to expand its influence and earn cultivators and Spirit Stones.

As a Third Grade Sect, the Five Elements Sect has a great reputation, and the tuition is very expensive—at least for Mo Hua, who could not afford it.

Mo Hua and the two walked together, strolling leisurely within the Five Elements Sect.

Most of the people they saw were Elders and Disciples of the Inner Gate.

The Elders within the gate ignored them.

On the contrary, some Disciples, although cautioned by their Instructors, didn’t know the full story and would point and discuss them behind their backs, buzzing with talk.

Mo Hua had strong Divine Sense, so he clearly heard what they said behind his back.

What surprised Mo Hua was that the male disciples harbored animosity towards them, while the female disciples were relatively fine with them.

The male disciples generally spoke discontentedly:

”That’s the brat who rode in on a big horse, crushed the doorstep, and swaggered into the mountain gate, leaving all the Elders inside without face!”

”Too arrogant!”

”Relying on his status as a First Grade Formation Master, he’s so conceited!” Your adventure continues at

”His senior brother, that one in white clothes, is even more conceited than him!”

”I heard that several brothers in the Sect wanted to challenge him, but he ignored them completely.”

”No, I heard that some brothers who tried to spar with him were thoroughly beaten by him!”

”That’s because he concealed his true strength; it was not a fair fight!”

”Although he is in the Qi Refinement stage, he has the strength of Foundation Establishment, yet he deliberately didn’t reveal it!”

”Truly despicable!”

...

The male disciples were indignantly furious.

The female disciples, on the other hand, said something else:

”That white-robed youth is so handsome!”

”I heard he’s from a Noble Clan too...”

”No wonder, his demeanor is different at just one glance.”

”I wonder which Noble Clan he comes from, whether it’s far away, and if I marry there, will I be able to come back to visit...”

”And that little Formation Master, so fair and delicate, he’s quite adorable too!”

”I heard he’s a First Grade Formation Master.”

”So impressive!”

...

The male disciples also heard these comments.

As a result, Mo Hua and his companions were even more scorned by the male disciples...

Mo Hua sighed helplessly.