The Quest for Immortality

The Shangguan Family, Wenren Family, and Gu Family all came to observe the ceremony.

Wenren Wan held Yu Er’s little hand, walking among the Shangguan Family crowd.

Gu Changhuai was also present.

The Taoist Court is busy with affairs, and he’s not particularly interested in the Mount of Tao Conference, but Wenren Wan told him Mo Hua is also participating and pulled him along, so he had no choice.

Moreover, he shares a ”profound friendship” with Mo Hua, so it wouldn’t be right not to come and see.

Additionally, representing the Taoist Court, Master Xia also came to observe.

Xia Canonical Official followed behind Master Xia, with a somewhat indifferent expression.

After the Xiao Tianquan incident, Xia Canonical Official’s status in the Xia family became somewhat distant, and her relationship with Uncle Master Xia also became somewhat estranged.

In the crowd, Master Xia and Gu Changhuai exchanged a glance, without saying anything.

After the noble families, came the sect elders.

The elders of the Four Great Sects, the Eight Great Gates, the Twelve Streams, and various other sects below them, all came to observe in significant numbers.

Among them, of course, are the elders from the Tai’a Sect, Rushing Void Sect, and Taixu Gate.

The Tai’a Sect and Rushing Void Sect, having lost the Sword Debate, are essentially disheartened, so few people came.

But Taixu Gate is different.

This Array Discussion Conference is rather crucial for Taixu Gate.

Their current ranking is eighth.

Originally seventh in Sword Debate, but after the Tool Discussion, Pill Discussion, and Talisman Discussion, evidently, the Four Great Sects and Twelve Streams—projects where they hold the advantage—have slipped to eighth.

Though not yet on the verge of collapse, they are pretty close to the death line.

If they can hold on in this last round, they can preserve their position among the Eight Great Gates.

If not, then they’ll likely end up like the Tai’a Sect and Rushing Void Sect.

Thus, most of the elders from Taixu Gate came.

Including the elders Xun Ziyou and Xun Zixian with whom Mo Hua was very familiar.

After the sect elders, come the regular disciples.

Many disciples from Taixu Gate came.

Including Cheng Mo, Situ Jian, Hao Xuan, Zheng Fang the junior brothers, Murong Caiyun, and Shangguan Xu the senior brothers and sisters of the previous batch also came.

Murong Caiyun and the others fought too fiercely during the Sword Discussion Conference, with almost everyone depleted of energy, their faces somewhat pale.

But this grand competition concerns the sect’s fate, so they had to come.

Finally, when the crowd surged like a tide, all converging onto the Mount of Tao, under the gaze of the masses, this last Mount of Tao Conference finally unfolded its curtain. s

...

Mount of Tao, Great Dojo.

Between the enormous dojo, more than a thousand desks and meditation mats were set.

This is the venue for the Formation Grand Exam.

Near the Great Dojo, some high platforms were erected.

These high platforms are for the ”honored guests” among the Taoist Court and various great families and sect leaders to observe.

Outside the high platforms are ordinary seating, densely packed, surrounding the area, numbering in tens of thousands.

Beyond the seating is Mount of Tao.

At this time, amidst the mountains, even on some trees, there are many disciples surrounding to watch.

The entire Mount of Tao, hill and dale, is full of cultivators—an illustrious spectacle.

After a moment, the disciples participating in the Array Discussion Conference gradually entered the Great Dojo, preparing themselves at their places for the Formation Grand Exam.

Everyone was watching these disciples, their gazes either filled with admiration or envy.

The ones who made it in are all talented in formations from various sects.

To represent their sect in this most prestigious debating event in the Qian Learning State Boundary is undoubtedly the cream of the crop.

And these disciples, without exception, are all in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage or even at the Peak. .

Each one either stands tall or moves gracefully, with a demeanor either polite and courteous, or gentle and wise, making others envious and longing.

This group of formation genius disciples thus stepped into the dojo under thousands of gazes.

Until a distinctly out-of-place Mo Hua walked into the crowd.

With a fair youthful appearance and noticeably shorter stature, he walked among this group of disciples like a little lamb mingling with a pack of wolves...

The observing cultivators paused for a moment, then started whispering to each other:

”Something’s off... this disciple looks so young?”

”His cultivation isn’t sufficient either.”

”Why do I feel like he’s only at the Foundation Building Middle Stage?”

”It’s not a feeling; he is at the Foundation Building Middle Stage!”

”What does this mean... Even a Middle Stage can participate in the Array Discussion Competition?”

”Cheating?”

”What cheating? I guess he got a spot and is participating as an exception...”

”An exception? Which sect does he belong to?”

Someone said, ”Judging by the Taoist Robe, looks like he’s from Taixu Gate.”

”Taixu Gate?”

Someone sighed: ”Is Taixu Gate out of people? Bringing a Foundation Building Middle Stage disciple to make up numbers? Is this a joke?”

”Probably has an unusual background, either a relative of the Sect Leader or backed by an Ancestor...”

”Most likely a noble offspring, snatching someone else’s spot.”

Someone said unhappily: ”This kind of nepotism and backdoor dealings, I reckon Taixu Gate is done for.”

This kind of criticism was happening across many places in the large seating area.

And the disciples from Taixu Gate also saw Mo Hua among the crowd.

They were stunned.

”Junior Brother?”

”No wonder we couldn’t find Junior Brother, turns out he participated in the Array Discussion Competition, but how come we knew nothing about it?”

One disciple said: ”Junior Brother acts in profound and mysterious ways, how could he let you know?”

”You’re flattering him now, but Junior Brother can’t hear you.”

”You don’t understand? He must always be kept in mind, so he can feel my admiration. Then, any formations he’ll have will be used for me first.”

”You’re dreaming.”

”I’ve verified this. Last time, I gifted Junior Brother...”