The Quest for Immortality

In just an instant, Fire Buddha had moved like a raging fire, darting past Gu Changhuai and creating a distance of several meters.

In the blink of an eye, he had gained another several meters.

Gu Changhuai shouted harshly, “Stop him!”

All the Enforcement Leaders, upon hearing this command, their expressions turned serious. They raised their swords and closed in, forming an impenetrable defense at the entrance of the stone bridge, blocking Fire Buddha’s path.

Fire Buddha focused his gaze, and fire from the meteor he rode erupted around him, as he began to launch a fierce assault.

Once he broke through the defense and left the stone bridge behind, he would be like a dragon entering the sea, free and unbound.

Fire Buddha clashed fiercely with the Enforcement Leaders.

His eyes were damaged, thus he could not unleash the full extent of his Evil Qi; he could only intimidate simply, unable to instill fear in the hearts of the Taoist Court cultivators.

However, relying on the torrent of Evil Power and the formidable might of Forbidden Techniques, he was slowly breaking through the encirclement.

On the other side, Gu Changhuai was also rushing over with all his might.

Just as Gu Changhuai was about to arrive, Fire Buddha was nearing the stone bridge entrance.

With only a few Enforcement Leaders around, and a marshaling of the Godspeed Talisman, with a spark of his fiery energy, he could break free and ascend to the heavens.

A cold and ruthless smile played upon Fire Buddha’s face.

At that moment, the ground beneath him quaked once more, and a familiar sensation came over him.

Without looking, Fire Buddha knew.

It was that damn Formation again!

A glance from the corner of his eye confirmed that indeed there were grey Formation Patterns beneath his feet, converging into a stone cage, briefly binding him.

This Formation was both precise and swift.

Fire Buddha was infuriated.

It must be that weird little ghost, hiding somewhere, striking from the shadows once more.

In the brief moment, the Trapping Formation took to form, Fire Buddha’s movements were hindered, and immediately several Taoist Court’s Enforcement Leaders sealed in and attacked.

One of them shouted, “Fire Buddha, meet your death!”

He was young, handsome, and well-dressed in a fresh Taoist Court uniform—a prodigy from the Xiao family’s Direct Lineage, Xiao Tianquan.

He had yet to directly engage Fire Buddha in battle.

Now, at the final moment, he burst forth to deliver this one sword strike.

This sword strike was formidable; Spiritual Power overflowed, and indeed, it landed on Fire Buddha’s left shoulder.

But Fire Buddha was no ordinary foe; with a wave of his right hand, Evil Fire spread out, burning Xiao Tianquan’s left arm, forcing him to retreat and revealing half his body.

Gu Changhuai, who had caught up from behind, swung his folding fan with all his strength, unleashing several sharp Wind Blades that suddenly hit Fire Buddha’s back, shredding his Kasaya to pieces.

Fire Buddha endured Gu Changhuai’s attack, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth, but a cold smile revealed itself on his lips.

He then activated the Ten Thousand Miles Divine Travel Rune, taking advantage of the half-exposed Xiao Tianquan, and like a fiery blaze, he made his escape.

Mo Hua tried one last Water Prison Technique, but it was futile.

Seeing Fire Buddha about to escape, Mo Hua was somewhat angry.

This Xiao Tianquan, truly useless.

Better for him to have stayed hidden, reaping the benefits of others’ work.

At the crucial moment, he leaped out, wanting to snatch the prize, that was fine, but then he should have at least killed Fire Buddha.

Or, at the very least, fought to keep him there.

As it was now, merely exchanging a few wounds with Fire Buddha and letting him get away, it was utterly insufficient for success and excessive in failure.

Mo Hua was grumbling to himself when suddenly, his expression became startled.

His Divine Sense was powerful, his gaze sharp, so in the midst of chaos he saw…

The moment Fire Buddha escaped, he and Xiao Tianquan brushed past each other.

And for an instant…

Did they exchange a look?

Xiao Tianquan, clutching his arm, had a somewhat strange look in his eyes.

And Fire Buddha, looking at Xiao Tianquan, had an exceptionally calm expression.

Without a word between them, it was only in a flash, but there was a slight crossing of their gazes.

This feeling, it was as if…

They were acquaintances?

Mo Hua was inwardly shaken, but when he looked again, Xiao Tianquan’s expression was now one of gravity, seemingly frustrated that Fire Buddha had escaped.

While Fire Buddha had already turned into a streak of firelight, with the Ten Thousand Miles Divine Travel Rune, he had found his way to freedom.

In a rage, Gu Changhuai, from behind, commanded loudly,

”Chase him!”

He too transformed into a fierce gale, pursuing in the direction of Fire Buddha’s escape, followed by several Taoist Court cultivators in his wake.

Mo Hua watched Xiao Tianquan silently, his thoughts stirring.

It seemed…

There was a bigger fish…

…

Mo Hua did not join Gu Changhuai in the chase after Fire Buddha.

Fire Buddha was too fast, and he couldn’t catch up; moreover, he did not possess enough Spiritual Power to sustain his movement technique over such a long chase.

He stayed honestly in Bishan City, waiting for Uncle Gu’s news, an opportunity to rest himself as well.

The next morning, Gu Changhuai returned, weary and covered in dust.

”Fire Buddha escaped

Gu Changhuai sighed deeply, his tone bitter.

Mo Hua felt it a pity, but he wasn’t surprised.

A Demon Cultivator like Fire Buddha, with surging Evil Power, was difficult to kill unless thoroughly besieged and completely exhausted; otherwise, outside, there were too many variables, making it hard to finish him.

”Uncle Gu, what is a Ten Thousand Miles Divine Travel Rune?” Mo Hua asked quietly.

Gu Changhuai looked surprised and sighed, “It’s an exceptional Rune, the top-tier rune used by cultivators below the Golden Core for traveling or fleeing

”Such runes are usually possessed only by large clans or noble families

Mo Hua said, “So the rune that Fire Buddha had, did he rob it, steal it, or was it

Given to him by someone?

Mo Hua didn’t spell it out, but Gu Changhuai understood, his face growing solemn.

Mo Hua glanced around and then said quietly, “Uncle Gu, that Howling Celestial Dog… Xiao Tianquan, seems to know Fire Buddha

Gu Changhuai’s eyes hardened, “How do you know?”

”I saw it Mo Hua said, “When Fire Buddha was escaping, he exchanged a look with Xiao Tianquan, a look that was like one between acquaintances