The Quest for Immortality

Inside the temple, it remained deathly silent; the high walls of the grand hall, with their ancient carved beams, appeared overwhelmingly oppressive.

After walking for a short while, they arrived at the entrance of the temple.

Xie Liu glanced at Shui Yanluo, who said nothing but silently walked up to the doorway, retrieved the Fish Bone Token once more, and inserted it into the mouth of a nearby gatekeeping monster beast statue.

The token flashed, and the monster statue trembled.

Subsequently, it seemed as if a formation was activated, the thick iron chains on the door began to crank, drawing the heavy gate open slowly.

Seeing the door open, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The temple door opened wider and wider. Xie Liu led the way, heading outside, but as he reached the doorway, his expression suddenly changed dramatically.

Through the crack of the door, an icy blue sword light flashed by.

An icy sword qi shot straight at his face.

Xie Liu tried his best to turn his head, yet the sword qi still cut one of his ears. The fresh blood hadn’t yet had the chance to flow before it was frozen solid by the ice spiritual power.

Immediately after, a green Wind Blade slashed over.

This Wind Blade aimed directly for his heart meridian.

Xie Liu drew his longsword, placing it horizontally across his chest to block the Wind Blade, using its force to propel himself backward, retreating back into the temple.

As Xie Liu retreated, the people outside rushed in.

Leading was a cultivator holding a feather fan, tall and strikingly handsome.

Mo Hua’s eyes lit up.

”Uncle Gu!”

Gu Changhuai, hearing Mo Hua’s voice, silently breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, still alive...

Despite knowing Mo Hua’s cunning, able to navigate between Xie Liu and Shui Yanluo without much trouble, Gu Changhuai was still somewhat worried before.

Now seeing Mo Hua unharmed and quite spirited, Gu Changhuai relaxed and then directed his spiritual power to attack Xie Liu.

Behind Gu Changhuai was Xia Canonical Official, wielding an ice-colored short sword.

Following them were two others, dressed in the official Taoist Robes of the Taoist Court, one a Supervisor, the other an Enforcement Leader.

Mo Hua couldn’t help but be taken aback at the sight.

”It’s ’Howling Celestial Dog’... and ’Smiling Tiger’?”

”Why are they all here?”

On the other side, Gu Changhuai quickly suppressed Xie Liu, especially with Xia Canonical Official assisting from the side, leaving Xie Liu at a disadvantage.

He didn’t possess the many bizarre skills of Shui Yanluo, so when facing head-on, his cultivation and Taoist Skills were clearly inferior.

Meanwhile, Xiao Tianquan found Shui Yanluo, and the two began to fight fiercely.

It seemed he indeed intended to deal with Shui Yanluo personally.

Shui Yanluo merely looked at him with a cold smile, saying nothing more.

Mo Hua stood aside, watching the spectacle unfold.

In this situation, it wasn’t his turn to act yet.

Similarly, ’Smiling Tiger’ Master Xiao also stood by without hastily making a move, but observed the situation quietly.

The situation gradually became clear.

After watching for a while, Master Xiao finally acted.

He took out a longsword; the sword was shrouded in deep blue water light as he started to conjure sword qi.

”Deep blue water light...”

Mo Hua caught a glimpse of this sword light and suddenly sensed something was wrong. As moments passed, the feeling grew stronger.

An indistinct but powerful hostility surrounded him, directed at him.

”What’s happening?”

Mo Hua was startled and, upon raising his eyes, realized at some point, ’Smiling Tiger’ Master Xiao was staring at him, with an icy gaze.

And the sword qi from his deep blue longsword was also aimed at him.

Mo Hua was suddenly shocked.

This Smiling Tiger, he wants to kill me?!

Has he lost his mind?!

Mo Hua hurriedly pushed his Water Passing Step to its extreme, his form flowing like water, retreating backward.

Master Xiao, having suddenly attacked, was somewhat surprised at Mo Hua’s quick response, but his gaze soon darkened, and with a flicker, he transformed into nearly ten water shadows, attacking Mo Hua at an even faster speed.

Water Shadow Step!

Moreover, it was an even more intricate Water Shadow Step than Shui Yanluo’s.

Mo Hua, feeling helpless, resorted to using the Concealment Technique.

However, Master Xiao was a Golden Core cultivator, experienced and with keen perception.

While Mo Hua was concealed, he hadn’t gone far, and his aura still lingered slightly; Master Xiao could vaguely sense Mo Hua’s position.

Estimating the location, he slashed at the concealed Mo Hua.

At this moment, Ouyang Feng unleashed the Taia Sword Technique, shielding Mo Hua from that strike.

Hua Qianqian, seeing that the Taoist Court Supervisor unexpectedly attacked Mo Hua, also wore a frosty expression and wielded the Hundred Flowers Spirit Needle towards Master Xiao.

Master Xiao swept his sword, knocking Ouyang Feng back, making him cough up a mouthful of blood, and with a backward flick, swept Hua Qianqian’s Spirit Needle aside.

Then expanding his Divine Sense, he found Mo Hua had vanished who-knows-where, making him look troubled as he muttered:

”This little rascal, so slippery...”

Having no choice, since he couldn’t capture Mo Hua, he could only target the other two.

Master Xiao’s sword light was swift, stabbing Ouyang Feng’s right arm, temporarily crippling his meridians, rendering him unable to use his sword.

With a backhanded throw, he launched a poisonous dart, hitting Hua Qianqian’s shoulder.

Hua Qianqian, poisoned, turned deathly pale, her lips slightly blue.

Now, both Ouyang Feng and Hua Qianqian were powerless to resist.

This sudden turn of events shocked not only Mo Hua but everyone present, leaving them unprepared.

However, all these changes occurred in just a few exchanges, swift as they were.

Once Master Xiao had Ouyang Feng and Hua Qianqian in his grasp, the scene fell silent instantly.

Gu Changhuai stopped his movements, wearing a stern expression, ”Master Xiao, what do you mean by this?”

”What do I mean?” Master Xiao’s expression remained plastered with a smirk, but the smile on his face grew more indifferent, ”Supervisor Gu, don’t feign ignorance, you must have suspected me for some time.”