The Quest for Immortality

”Junior Brother...”

Cheng Mo, tall and broad-shouldered, with eyes clear and brimming with a faint hint of admiration, stared at Mo Hua, making him feel all kinds of discomfort.

”Can you sell me a set of this armor? I’ll pay any amount of Spirit Stones!”

Cheng Mo was practically drooling with desire.

The others, hearing his words, all turned their blazing gazes toward Mo Hua.

Especially Situ Jian and Hao Xuan.

The two had never worn this armor before and hadn’t experienced the sensations of spiritual power augmentation or greatly enhanced Taoist Skill potency, so their faces were full of curiosity and longing.

Situ Jian, who was a Sword Cultivator, was eager to know how powerful his Li Fire Sword would become when amplified.

Hao Xuan, now a ”Club” Cultivator, had once been a Sword Cultivator.

Even though he now favored surprise attacks with a club, no one could resist the allure of trying out a sword technique of overwhelming power.

Mo Hua said, ”This armor has a lot of restrictions. The Formation inside is very complex. Without my Divine Thought controlling it, there’s no way to amplify spiritual power...”

The group looked slightly disappointed.

But Cheng Mo quickly said, ”Junior Brother, whatever thing you’re working on next, be sure to bring me along! I won’t ask for much—just let me wear this armor, and I’ll chop wherever you point.”

Cheng Mo solemnly swore.

Mo Hua gave a resigned nod, ”Alright...”

He looked up at the sky, noting the late hour, then said, ”It’s getting late—we should skin this Pig Monster and deal with the rest back home.”

”Agreed.”

This was a Second Grade Middle Stage Pig Monster, with a fat head, big ears, and a unique species. Skinning, dismembering, and extracting materials from it promised considerable Merit Points.

Cheng Mo raised two large axes and began hacking the pig’s head.

The others busily divided the work.

Off in the distance, Elder Xun, after a complicated internal struggle, finally calmed himself.

No matter what Mo Hua’s identity was or where he learned the Formation, it wasn’t his business.

This was a matter for the Patriarch.

The Patriarch’s affairs were beyond the reach of him, a mere Golden Core Stage descendant. He lacked both the courage and the authority to intervene.

His sole responsibility was to heed the Patriarch’s orders—ensure this child’s safety.

Beyond that, none of the rest mattered.

Elder Xun nodded to himself, then quietly glanced over at Mo Hua and the group.

”Still, for these kids to manage to kill a Second Grade Middle Stage Pig Monster with its tough hide and heavy build...”

”Youth truly is formidable...”

Elder Xun reflected with admiration.

Though it had taken combined effort, it was still remarkable.

The last time he saw a disciple capable of leading a team to hunt Foundation Establishment-level Monster Beasts with mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, it was Brother Xuan...

The image of that upright, strong-featured man with sword-like brows and long beard floated to mind.

Lost in thought, Elder Xun’s gaze dimmed, and his heart sank with melancholy.

The heavens truly envy talent...

Back then, Brother Xuan was hailed as a peerless Sword Dao Genius—a descendant of the legendary Patriarch Dugu, who was unrivaled in Sword Dao, a divine figure of Taixu Gate. He carried the hopes of the entire sect.

But for reasons unknown, his Lifebound Spirit Sword was shattered. From then on, he fell into obscurity and disappeared among the masses.

Now, his whereabouts remain a mystery.

In those days, the two of them had cultivated side by side, practiced swordplay together, shared punishments inseparably—a bond of deep camaraderie.

But now, with time drifting by and the Great Dao stretching endlessly ahead, the chances of meeting again seemed slim.

Elder Xun momentarily stood stunned and lost in memory...

But he didn’t have long to grieve. Soon, he felt several cultivators’ essences approaching from afar.

Elder Xun turned, following the sensation with his gaze, his brows furrowing slightly.

Meanwhile, Mo Hua and the others were busy skinning and dismembering the Pig Monster.

A moment later, Mo Hua suddenly froze, looking up toward the mountain path, his eyes sharpening as he said in a deep voice:

”Someone’s coming.”

Cheng Mo was a bit surprised and released his Divine Sense, but found no figures nearby.

Seeing Mo Hua’s grave expression, however, Cheng Mo and the others instinctively understood something was amiss. They each tightened their grips on their axes and swords, their faces tense with vigilance.

Soon enough, several cultivators’ essences entered their Divine Sense range.

The group exchanged uneasy glances, sensing trouble.

These cultivators clearly knew of Mo Hua and the others’ presence and made no effort to hide it, arrogantly striding forward until they emerged at the forest’s edge.

A group of eight cultivators, all clad in golden Taoist Robes, swords at their waists, uniformly attuned to Golden Series Spiritual Roots. Their faces were handsome but carried a haughty air.

Mo Hua thought, I knew it.

The Sever Gold Sect...

Among the group, their faces were unfamiliar. Seven were Foundation Building Middle Stage, while the leader stood out as Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

It seemed to be a senior disciple from Sever Gold Sect leading a team in a Monster Hunt.

This late-stage Sever Gold Sect senior disciple was tall and thin, impressive-looking on the surface, holding his head high with an air of self-importance.

To his right, a Sever Gold Sect disciple stepped forward, pointed at Mo Hua and the group, and sneered:

”You brats have some nerve, stealing our Sever Gold Sect’s monster!”

Cheng Mo’s eyes narrowed as he retorted coldly:

”This Pig Monster was killed by us with great effort—what does it have to do with your Sever Gold Sect?”

The Sever Gold Sect disciple let out a derisive laugh. ”A bunch of mid-stage Foundation Establishment disciples still wet behind the ears—how could you possibly kill this Second Grade Middle Stage Monster Beast?”

”This Pig Monster is clearly our kill!”

”Indeed,” another disciple chimed in, ”We joined forces to encircle and injure it, chasing it for ages. It was just within our grasp when you little whelps swooped in and snatched it away.”

”Since we’re all sect disciples of the Qian Learning State Boundary, leave the Pig Monster, and we’ll let this slide.”

Cheng Mo, irate at their lies, shouted, ”Shut your damn mouth!”

The faces of the Sever Gold Sect disciples darkened. One snapped back harshly:

”Watch your tongue, boy!”

”Or we’ll teach you unruly whelps a proper lesson on behalf of your elders!”