The Quest for Immortality

Elder Master Xun spoke earnestly.

Mo Hua’s expression was serious as he nodded.

The Ancestor truly deserves the title, having deep and farsighted insights.

This also served as a reminder for him.

His spiritual power was low, making him afraid of depleting it.

He had many trump cards, but feared being targeted.

If, in the future, he were truly to stand in the eyes of ten thousand people, he would need to find ways to resolve these shortcomings.

His trump cards must also be properly arranged.

Not to be used lightly, but when used, it must be decisive, clinching victory.

Ideally, without others discerning the subtleties.

These considerations he had not pondered deeply beforehand.

”Gentleman, I understand now.” Mo Hua nodded.

With relief, Elder Master Xun nodded and said in a reassuring voice:

”As I said, mastering the formation is the greatest help you can provide, other matters need not burden you, moreover...”

Elder Master Xun patted Mo Hua on the shoulder, ”...do not underestimate your senior brothers and sisters. Although they might not match the top disciples of the Four Great Sects, they are still geniuses from various families and clans. Being able to join our Taixu Gate, their talents and abilities are among the best, so rest assured.”

Mo Hua nodded, ”Hmm!”

...

About half a month later, at the Qianxue state boundary, after the sect’s restructuring, the first significant ”Sword Discussion Conference” commenced.

This was a grand event.

The Four Great Sects and several major families behind them devoted considerable manpower and resources to organize this Sword Discussion Conference with unprecedented scale and grand arrangements. Even the cultivators who came to observe were more numerous than ever before.

In Qianxue state boundary, the Immortal Cities were teeming with people, carriages flowed ceaselessly, horses moved like wandering dragons, spirit beasts were as numerous as stars, flying boats soared through the sky, creating a spectacular scene.

Mo Hua was eager to witness it.

Cheng Mo and the others wanted to drag Mo Hua along to join the excitement.

However, Elder Master Xun disagreed, instructing Mo Hua to calm his restless mind and focus on learning formations.

Knowing the importance of priorities, Mo Hua sat alone in the Disciple’s Residence, silently drawing the most difficult formations among the second grade nineteen-pattern peaks, over and over again, during the bustling times in the Qianxue state boundary. ȒÃ𐌽ộʙÊʂ

Amidst this interweaving of noise and tranquility.

The Sword Discussion Conference concluded.

As expected, Tai’a Sect and Rushing Void Sect suffered a crushing defeat.

Their core disciples were swept aside almost completely by the Taoist Court’s investigation of the Rouge Boat.

The remaining disciples, with their solitary efforts, struggled to compete with the Four Great Sects, other Eight Great Gates, Twelve Streams, and even some top sects within the Qian Learning Hundred Gates.

Moreover, with the expansion of quotas in this Sword Discussion Conference, it added insult to injury for them.

This meant they were essentially using ’substitute’ and ’cannon fodder’ disciples to compete against the ’main force’ and ’substitutes’ of other sects.

This was simply a nightmare.

They barely stood a chance.

Thus, Tai’a Sect and Rushing Void Sect became the biggest losers of this Sword Discussion Conference.

In contrast, Taixu Gate fared relatively well, ranking seventh among the Eight Great Gates in the sword rankings.

Originally, they were often at the bottom, and now they’ve slightly moved up a position.

Moreover, this was achieved under immense pressure following the sect’s restructuring and facing deliberate targeting and blockade by various major sects.

Murong Caiyun’s cohort of disciples nearly gritted their teeth and fought hard to reach this point.

Upon finishing the competition, several disciples, including Murong Caiyun, collapsed from spiritual power exhaustion and meridian depletion, being sent to the Pill Room for healing.

Taixu Sect Master felt both gratified and emotional.

”They are all good children...”

In the Elder’s Residence, Taixu Sect Master sat opposite Elder Master Xun.

Taixu Sect Master sighed, ”I come from a family and have seen many geniuses, and I know that sometimes, disciples with superior-grade spiritual roots aren’t necessarily that remarkable.”

”It’s sufficient that the spiritual root suffices, but it’s the heart and mind that are truly precious.”

”These disciples, in such critical moments, managed to withstand the pressure and gave their all to bring honor to our Taixu Gate and preserve the ranking. Regardless of their innate talent, they are all promising and could be of great use in the future...”

Elder Master Xun nodded, ”Indeed, these children, if they wish to enter the Inner Gate in the future, should be given some leeway; if they have family ties and don’t wish to stay in the sect, they should be given an extra Inner Gate legacy; other situations should be given some special considerations based on circumstances...”

Taixu Sect Master nodded, ”Alright, I will issue these instructions.”

He then sighed deeply, ”This time, Tai’a Sect and Rushing Void Sect truly suffered.”

Due to their poor performance in the Sword Discussion Conference, their ranking had long since dropped unknown ranks.

Though this was anticipated, the actual occurrence still sent a chill down the spine.

The three sects shared an alliance, somewhat sharing the same fate.

By comparison, Taixu Gate’s current situation seemed slightly better.

But this is only relative, and it does not mean they can relax henceforth.

Both seventh and eighth positions are still at the bottom.

Furthermore, there are still the upcoming comparisons in Debating Devices, Debating Pills, Debating Talismans, and Debating Arrays.

If Taixu Gate holds its ground, perhaps they can maintain their current rank, even if it slips to eighth, it is still among the Eight Great Gates.

But any slight mishap and losing grip could mean a far worse ranking, one that is uncertain.

The situation is far from optimistic.

Taixu Sect Master remained somewhat uneasy.

While it’s true that the debates on dan array talisman devices do not weigh as heavily as Debating Sword and the time isn’t long, the scale isn’t as large.

But after all, it involves four debates, bringing too many variables.

It’s not the common probabilities that worry, but the rare possibilities...

Taixu Sect Master glanced at Elder Master Xun, only to find him calmly sipping tea.

A feeling of helplessness filled Taixu Sect Master.

This ancestor truly has the bearing of a vast ocean, reaching this point without a trace of anxiety.

How does he maintain such composure?

Seemingly perceiving Taixu Sect Master’s thoughts, Elder Master Xun poured him a cup of tea, saying calmly, ”We’ve done all we can, now we leave it to destiny, worrying is useless, have some tea.”

Taixu Sect Master could only respectfully take the teacup and take a sip.

He couldn’t tell if it was bitter or sweet, it was tasteless.

Elder Master Xun kept sipping his tea silently, but in the deepest recesses of his eyes, there was a hint of barely detectable anticipation and brilliance.

No one knew he had forged a ”treasure sword.”

He was now waiting.

Waiting for the day this brilliantly shining sword, enough to shock the entire Qian Learning state boundary, would be drawn from its sheath.

After this, the debates continued to proceed one after another, working towards the conclusion.

Finally, two days later, was the Array Discussion Conference.

This also signifies that the conclusion of this round of the Dao Discussion Conference is almost upon us...