The Quest for Immortality

”This is the Demon.”

”The Shen Family has not reached this step, but human greed is infinite, ’exploitation’ is endless... Over time, there will always be an aristocratic family that breaks the boundaries to take this step.”

”Once they do, and break through this boundary, that aristocratic family becomes a Demon Sect, ’righteousness’ turns into ’demonic’...”

Mo Hua’s expression changed.

Elder Zheng looked at Mo Hua with deep eyes, and said word by word in a low voice:

”Therefore, the righteousness and demonic path are unified yet opposed, distinct from each other, but fundamentally one.”

”The so-called ’demon’ is not born from a womb, nor from an egg, but is ’transformed’.”

”The human heart can transform, the aristocratic families can transform, and the Taoist Court, likewise.”

”Once the entire Cultivation World is unified, the Taoist Court with the deepest foundation, strongest strength, and greatest power might ultimately complete the transformation, and it is very likely to evolve into a new...”

Elder Zheng paused, his tone grim:

”...Great Demon Hall!”

Mo Hua’s pupils shrank, his heart terrified.

Elder Zheng’s words were something he had never considered before.

But the entire Solitary Mountain City, the experiences of the Shen Family, various cold facts surfaced in his mind, the more Mo Hua thought about it, the colder his heart felt.

”These matters...” Mo Hua’s voice was stagnant, ”haven’t the righteous sects, those ancestors of aristocratic families realized this themselves?”

Elder Zheng said indifferently: ”It’s very hard for people to be self-aware, once benefits are gained, they will compete, unaware of what they are truly doing.”

”Some people don’t know these matters, some don’t want to know, and some even if they know, are powerless.”

”Not to mention, some people are happy to see it happen...”

Mo Hua’s gaze trembled slightly, somewhat silent.

”Additionally, there is an even more severe issue,” Elder Zheng sighed and continued.

”A more severe issue?”

Elder Zheng asked Mo Hua: ”What do you think is the difference between the righteous and demonic paths?”

Mo Hua initially wanted to say it was the cultivation technique system, but upon reconsideration, felt that response was too superficial.

After pondering for a moment, Mo Hua slowly said: ”Is it... the Taoist Heart?”

Elder Zheng nodded, ”More than twenty thousand years ago, when the Demon Path was rampant, the reason righteous cultivators managed to brave thorns and thickets, eradicate demons and protect the Dao, was because of a Taoist Heart that refused to fall into evil, discarded selfish desires, cared for the world, pitied all living beings, and was unyieldingly strong.”

”Only with it, could they persevere in extremely harsh environments, triumph against odds, and finally, step by step, overthrow the then mighty, power covering the sky Great Demon Hall.”

”Only then could they open a future for the Nine State Cultivation World and all living beings.”

”The thing righteous cultivators should most pass down is actually this Taoist Heart.”

”But...” .

Elder Zheng looked up at the sky of Qian State, gazed at the vast distant mountains, and the sects nestled between them, shook his head with a sigh:

”Today, we pass down cultivation techniques, we pass down Taoist skills, formations, artifact refining, Alchemy Dao, runes, everything is passed down, but what isn’t passed down is the Taoist Heart.”

”Having cultivation but no Taoist Heart, selfish and self-serving.”

”Seizing the world’s benefits, seeking one’s own gain, this is what the most elite sects taught in Qian Learning State Boundary’s top ’Heavenly Proud Son’...”

Elder Zheng’s expression was self-mocking and helpless, then painful:

”Cultivation is merely an empty shell, Taoist Heart is the essence. Having cultivation without a Taoist Heart, regardless of how high one’s cultivation, or strong one’s power, they can only become a ’container’ for the Demon Path...”

”Moreover, it’s the most elite ’container’ of Demon Path that has superior spiritual root, excellent aptitude, absorbed massive Tao Cultivation resources, and inherited the most superior spell point...”

Elder Zheng’s words carried deep-rooted concern.

If one day, should a great tribulation descend, an Evil God awakens, a Heavenly Demon resurges, and the Demon Path makes a comeback, with today’s cultivators’ Taoist Heart, what will happen, he hardly dares to imagine.

Additionally, aristocratic families are consolidating their status by monopolizing inheritances.

The disparity in resources and inheritance between aristocratic family disciples and bottom-level Loose Cultivators will further worsen the situation.

Elder Zheng’s expression was wistful, ”Back then, full of fervor, I left Zhen State for Qian Learning State Boundary, entered Qian Taoist Sect, became an Elder of the Four Great Sects, thinking I could change something with my own efforts.”

”But after so many years, with painstaking efforts, in the end I hit a dead end, disheartened.”

”In the larger scheme, a person’s voice is light, even if I argue with reason, it hardly matters...”

Elder Zheng sighed with melancholy, gaze somber.

Mo Hua’s expression was equally serious.

Elder Zheng glanced at Mo Hua again and slowly said:

”These words, I’m saying them here to you alone, you keep them in your heart and must not mention them to outsiders, especially about... ’Great Demon Hall’.”

Mo Hua earnestly nodded.

Elder Zheng waved his hand, deactivating the surrounding formation, softly instructed:

”Alright, it’s getting late, I still need to pack some luggage, won’t keep you.”

”Take these Formation Diagrams and Jade Slips back, study them well. Your talent is excellent, and your future prospects are boundless.”

Mo Hua carefully stored the Formation Diagrams and Jade Slips Elder Zheng gave him, stood up, saluted, and bid farewell:

”Thank you, senior, I will definitely remember your words.”

Elder Zheng nodded slightly, then deeply gazed at Mo Hua once more, a surge of intense reluctance welled up in his heart.

Soon he will leave.

This departure spans thousands of miles between Qian and Zhen States.

The next time he meets Mo Hua, who knows when that will be.

Perhaps, in this lifetime, whether they can meet again is unknown.

After all, in a cultivator’s life, there are very many thresholds.