The Quest for Immortality

But Mo Hua knew this was not a simple riverbank, but rather a small island formed by accumulated silt from the river over many years.

The surrounding marshes resembled a natural maze, isolating this island.

Without the guidance of the Little Silver Fish, other external cultivators would never see this island.

Mo Hua scanned the island again carefully.

The island’s outskirts were overgrown with water plants, looking desolate and deserted, but Mo Hua could perceive the presence of many cultivators within the island.

These presences carried a bloody and sinister aura, clearly not people of virtue.

In addition, there was the aura of formations.

Near the island, there were numerous formations set up without surprise, including warnings, traps, and a number of water and earth defensive formations.

”A group of water bandits is unlikely to set up formations, so these formations should have been set up by... the Gui Water Sect for them?”

Mo Hua frowned and then turned to ask:

”Now that the water bandits have been found, what should we do?”

Xia Canonical Official pondered for a moment, glanced at Gu Changhuai, and slowly said:

”According to the information, there are no Golden Cores among this group of water bandits. Shall we two join forces and try to capture them?”

Gu Changhuai thought for a moment, shook his head, and said, ”We can’t capture them...”

”This is a Second Grade State Border, a small area, unlike those Great Province Boundaries where cultivation in your Taoist State needs no reservations.”

”In a Second Grade State Border, a Golden Core Realm match requires rigorous suppression of one’s cultivation without the slightest neglect.”

”Do you have experience in suppressing your cultivation to engage others?”

Gu Changhuai asked.

Xia Canonical Official was stunned, frowned, and replied somewhat reluctantly, ”No...”

”That’s it,” Gu Changhuai said, ”suppressing cultivation is constraining; one can’t exert much of their cultivation power, making it impossible to capture this group of water bandits, and there’s a risk of falling into their traps if careless.”

”Golden Core suppressing Foundation Establishment happens when unrestricted.”

”When it truly comes to a fight, every aspect must be considered, making the outcome unpredictable.”

”Moreover, Water Yama is not as simple as you think.”

”This person is no ordinary Foundation Establishment; his skills are mysterious and unpredictable. Without an advantage in cultivation, capturing him with a restraining method is no simple task...”

After Gu Changhuai finished speaking, he pointed to the island, ”Moreover, this island is surrounded by water. If these water bandits are defeated, they can escape into the water. Since neither of us practice Water Nature Skills, how can we catch them?”

”This is their lair. If planned properly, it’s a great opportunity to catch this group of water bandits all at once. Conversely, acting rashly with oversight will undoubtedly waste this opportunity...”

”It’s easy to lose an opportunity, but trying to find it again, might be as hard as reaching the sky...”

Gu Changhuai’s expression was indifferent, and his tone was not polite.

Uncertain if it was to vex Xia Canonical Official, Gu Changhuai, who usually didn’t speak much, suddenly became quite talkative.

Xia Canonical Official’s complexion indeed frosted over.

Though she understood some of the reasoning.

But having little experience handling cases in such a Low Grade State Realm, she hadn’t noticed until being explicitly and implicitly ridiculed by Gu Changhuai.

Xia Canonical Official was indeed a bit angry, but she soon calmed down, looking at Gu Changhuai with a somewhat unfriendly gaze but then sincerely said:

”Then according to Supervisor Gu, what should we do?”

Her tone was calm, without any other emotion, purely inquisitive.

Gu Changhuai’s eyes hesitated, showing some surprise, and after a momentary silence, his tone unconsciously became gentle:

”First, we should scout the enemy, ascertain their numbers, confirm if there are any Golden Cores, and thoroughly verify the local terrain before returning to mobilize our forces and plan properly...”

”The more critical the moment, the less we should rush for merit.”

Xia Canonical Official’s eyes flashed slightly, glanced at Gu Changhuai, and nodded slightly.

Mo Hua stood to the side, alternately looking at Gu Changhuai and Xia Canonical Official, nodding approvingly.

After discussing, it was time for specific reconnaissance.

It was already late, dusk had fallen, and the sky was gradually darkening.

The three of them took a small boat, using the lush water plants for cover, and circled the island.

Gu Changhuai and Xia Canonical Official were Golden Cores, with powerful divine senses.

Mo Hua, although at Foundation Establishment, had a divine sense approaching Foundation Establishment Peak, only one pattern away from Golden Core.

Though this pattern was currently beyond reach.

But that is compared to a Golden Core.

In comparison with this group of Foundation Establishment water bandits, Mo Hua’s divine sense was naturally ”far ahead.”

Thus, the three were careful, but not afraid of being discovered.

The island was also sparsely lined with outposts, but due to the large difference in divine senses, Mo Hua could discover these outposts, yet these outposts couldn’t detect Mo Hua and the others.

Additionally, the Little Silver Fish was guiding them.

The formations set as alerts in the water were identified by Mo Hua.

So until after more than an hour, the three completed their reconnaissance without alarming the water bandits on the island.

By then, night had fallen.

The night merged with the water, and both the sky and the water were pitch black, with only a few stars twinkling in the sky.

The originally silent island suddenly came alive with noise.

A little green fire ignited.

Then came the sounds of shouting, laughing, and cursing, the noise drawing closer from the inside of the island towards the shore.

After that, came the sound of boats entering the water.

The voices and sounds of water mixed together, creating quite a racket.

”Damn it, finally night has fallen...”

”I wonder what we can loot.”

”Haven’t killed anyone for days, even my blade is rusting.”