The Quest for Immortality

”What’s the difference between the Sword Discussion Conference and the Taoist Skill Discussion Conference?” Mo Hua asked Cheng Mo.

Cheng Mo replied: ”The Taoist Skill Discussion Conference is a general term that includes categories such as pills, artifacts, talismans, formations, and swordsmanship. The Sword Discussion Conference is just one of those categories.”

”Pills, artifacts, talismans, and formations are assessments of Taoist cultivation skills.”

”The Sword Discussion Conference assesses combat skills. Disciples from various Great Sects within the Qian Learning State Boundary spar and engage in martial contests...”

Mo Hua was puzzled, ”If there are sword discussions, magic battles, and martial meetings, why call it a Sword Discussion Conference alone?”

Cheng Mo scratched his head, ”I don’t know either, maybe it’s because sword cultivators are the coolest?”

Mo Hua silently looked at him.

Cheng Mo gave an embarrassed smile, ”How about I call Situ Jian over? He’s a sword cultivator; he definitely knows.”

Cheng Mo indeed ran off to call Situ Jian over.

By the time Situ Jian arrived, Mo Hua realized that it had been a while since they met, and Situ Jian had reached the Foundation Building Middle Stage.

Among fellow disciples, cultivation progress varies.

Moreover, it’s affected by the cultivation techniques and Taoist skills practiced, as well as whether one has ample cultivation resources, whether they need to solidify their foundation further, and considerations of perfecting the Spiritual Power Cycle, hence, disciples’ cultivation progress cannot be generalized.

Situ Jian was quite successful, having prepared ample Spiritual Objects and having nearly completed the Cycles, so his breakthrough came earlier.

For Cheng Mo and Yang Qianjun, they needed to temper their Blood Qi further, so they were slower.

As for Mo Hua...

He didn’t need anything; as long as he could breakthrough realms, Blood Qi and Spiritual Power didn’t matter at all.

His Spiritual Root didn’t have much to be particular about either.

Situ Jian explained to Mo Hua: ”The term ’Debating Sword’ has a long history...”

”The Sword Discussion Conference initially only involved debates on swordsmanship, with sword cultivators sparring with each other to determine superiority and decide who’s the best.”

”Whoever claims first place is recognized as the leader of the Sword Discussion Conference and is generally accepted as the foremost among fellow disciples in terms of cultivation and combat strength.”

”But Body Cultivators and Spiritual Cultivators were not convinced. Why should the first among sword cultivators be considered the first among all disciples?”

”So later on, Body Cultivators and Spiritual Cultivators also joined in.”

”But since Body Cultivators and Spiritual Cultivators don’t use swords, competing against sword cultivators and winning meant that someone who does not practice swordsmanship could claim first place in the Sword Discussion Conference, which didn’t make sense.”

”Thus, it turned into team battles, with one sword cultivator, one body cultivator, and one spiritual cultivator making a team of three to fight each other.”

”Later, following the organization of Taoist Soldiers, it became a competition of five-person squads.”

”Initially, it was straightforward combat, with the best team winning.”

”Some senior ancestors from Qian State felt that such brashness wasn’t reflective of real combat situations and therefore changed the rules by adding objectives like capturing flags, monster hunting, seizing swords, among other restrictions, to create what is now the Sword Discussion Conference...”

”Five disciples from the same sect team up, working together to achieve the goals, discussing both cultivation techniques and valuing cooperation and strategy. If they win, all five are champions; if they lose, they’re all eliminated. They share the glory or the disgrace.”

Mo Hua nodded, beginning to understand a bit.

Cheng Mo patted Situ Jian on the shoulder and praised: ”You really do know a lot.”

Situ Jian helplessly replied, ”Sometimes you should also pay more attention, instead of just swinging your axe...”

Cheng Mo smiled and then invited Mo Hua: ”Junior Brother, do you want to come and see? This is the grand event of Qianxue State Boundary that happens once every three years.”

Situ Jian added: ”And for us, it’s probably the only chance we’ll get in our lifetime.”

Mo Hua was somewhat confused, ”Can we only participate once?”

Situ Jian nodded slightly, ”Generally, only disciples who have been in the sect for more than nine years, in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, with their cultivation, Spiritual Power, and Blood Qi at their peak, and who have not yet had a breakthrough to Golden Core can participate in the Sword Discussion Conference.”

”If someone is from a later cohort, lacking a few years of learning, their cultivation, Blood Qi, and Spiritual Power would all be far inferior, unable to compete with the Heavenly Prides of other sects...”

Mo Hua nodded in understanding.

Cheng Mo sighed: ”I wonder if I could participate in the next batch...”

”Forget about it,” Situ Jian shook his head, ”At least not until the batch after the next.”

Cheng Mo was a bit unconvinced.

Situ Jian continued: ”The Taoist Skill Discussion Conference is of great significance. It’s not just about an individual disciple’s cultivation future but also about the development of the Sect. Selection of disciples for the conference is extremely strict; every spot is precious...”

Cheng Mo was somewhat unhappy, but he knew that what Situ Jian said was true.

Mo Hua, on the other hand, was curious.

It’s understandable that it’s about an individual disciple’s future prospects. If one performs well at the cultivation conference and gets noticed, not only will the sect value them more, but they will also be appreciated by other cultivation powers and might even earn a great deal of Merit Points.

But how does this relate to the development of the Sect...

Is a debate about Dao really that important?

Mo Hua asked Situ Jian, and Situ Jian inquired:

”Junior Brother, do you know about the Qianlong Mountain Range?”

”The Qianlong Mountain Range?”

Mo Hua furrowed his brow, seeming to have a slight memory of it.

Situ Jian said: ”The Qianlong Mountain Range is a gigantic mountain range that spans across the Qianxue State Boundary. Within this range lies an enormous Spirit Mine with an astonishing output of Spirit Stones.”

An astonishing output of Spirit Stones, a gigantic Spirit Mine!

Mo Hua was inwardly startled.

Situ Jian lowered his voice and said: ”This is what I heard from my grandfather...”

”Apparently, the Taoist Court tried every possible means to take over this Qianlong Spirit Mine, employing various tactics, but they were ultimately suppressed by the efforts of dozens of senior ancestors from the Great Families of Qian State.”

”However, the Taoist Court still refused to give up.”

”With such a vast amount of Spirit Stones at stake, the families would not budge an inch.”

”Finally, both sides compromised. A small portion of the output from these Spirit Mines were to be handed over to the Taoist Court as ’Spiritual Tax’, with the rest being used by the Great Sects within the Qianxue State Boundary.”

”The Sects, having obtained these Spirit Stones, expanded and grew, widely accepting disciples, teaching, and nurturing talent. By doing so, the Spirit Stones from the Qianlong Spirit Mines were used for the benefit of all.”