The Quest for Immortality

Mo Hua pondered for a moment, extended his finger, and tapped the Dao Discussion Jade on his forehead.

In Shen Linsu’s eyes, the disappointment grew heavier.

”This is your Taixu Gate, a crucial match.”

”Your teammates are all dead.”

”And you, at this juncture, still unwilling to fight to the death? Just to save a shred of dignity?”

”Are you truly so afraid of death?”

”I really have... overestimated you...”

In Shen Linsu’s indifferent voice, there was already a hint of condescending contempt.

Mo Hua’s expression remained calm, silently suppressing the murderous intent within his heart, restraining the sharpness in his eyes, and glanced at Shen Linsu blandly before activating his spiritual power to shatter the Dao Discussion Jade.

With the shattering of the Dao Discussion Jade, Mo Hua retreated from the field in defeat.

Shen Linsu watched silently at the spot where Mo Hua disappeared, his gaze cold and indifferent, then turned his sword to smash the Taixu Gate ”City Lord Statue” that decided the victory into pieces.

The sound of the Debating Bell rang, ending the sword discussion.

The Taixu Gate was defeated.

...

The spectators from Taixu Gate all had forlorn expressions.

Zhang Lan and others shook their heads, somewhat helpless.

This result was actually not unexpected.

However, the fact that Taixu Gate truly lost, extinguishing that last glimmer of hope, still left people feeling troubled.

Some ordinary spectators were gleeful, mocking Taixu Gate’s delusions, and Mo Hua’s incompetence.

More people felt a sigh rise in their hearts:

”This is what top-level prodigies are like...”

”Shen Linsu...”

”In the face of overwhelming power, all strategies and tricks become meaningless. Taixu Gate’s loss isn’t really wrong, given the disparity in strength.”

”Honestly speaking, Taixu Gate isn’t actually weak; it’s just a pity their opponent was too strong...”

”This is the Qian Learning State Boundary, a sect sword discussion...”

”With talents like Shen Linsu, Xiao Wuchen, Duanmu Qing, Ao Zhan... Ye Qingfeng of Daluo Sect isn’t bad either...”

”Counting further down, there are even more geniuses...”

”This year’s sword discussion is probably the one with the most prodigies in hundreds of years... We count ourselves fortunate to witness it...”

”Truly an era of great competition, with prodigies emerging...”

...

The sword discussion concluded.

The atmosphere in Taixu Gate grew somewhat heavy.

Losing the battle to Qian Taoist Sect meant they were completely cut off from the only possibility of advancing to the Four Great Sects.

Even if the Four Great Sects lost all the sword discussions in the next round.

Taixu Gate still wouldn’t have a chance anymore.

But there’s nothing to blame here.

Shen Linsu was too strong.

As junior brothers, Mo Hua and the others had already done their best.

In this kind of sword discussion match, it didn’t matter who participated; they would essentially lose.

Junior brothers are strong, but they can’t truly be ”almighty.”

Sending junior brothers to single-handedly battle Shen Linsu would be too much to ask, and it’s impossible to win...

After the disappointment, their hearts gradually relaxed.

Despite losing, at least Taixu Gate’s current ranking is at the top of the Eight Great Gates, which is already good enough.

In Tao cultivation, one must know contentment.

There are only four in the Four Great Sects.

Yet there’s only one top seat in the Eight Great Gates.

This is also something many sects can only aspire to, and even the previously low-ranking Taixu Gate never dreamed they’d be the top of the Eight Great Gates someday.

Thinking this way, everyone’s mindset became a lot more peaceful.

And the final match of the Earth Sword Discussion still remained.

This match, in fact, didn’t matter much anymore.

If they won, there’s no way to advance further.

If they lost, it’s not a big deal.

The Earth Sword Discussion had essentially ”ended” here.

Afterwards, there was the Heaven Sword Discussion.

...

In the Disciple’s Residence.

Mo Hua kept calm, summarizing the gains and losses of the day’s sword discussion, recording all of Shen Linsu’s sword techniques and bloodline abilities on a Jade Slip.

Afterwards, he devoted himself to thinking about the matter of the ”Heaven” Sword Discussion.

For him, this was the true and arduous test.

”How should the ’Heaven’ Sword Discussion be fought?”

”How to achieve first place in the sword discussion?”

At least for now, the chances seem extremely slim, truly difficult as climbing to the heavens.

But no matter how difficult, he must grit his teeth, face the challenge, and fight match by match.

Fighting gives a chance.

Not fighting inevitably results in defeat.

Mo Hua began listing his remaining trump cards on the Jade Slip, as well as some necessary tactics for the Heaven Sword Discussion.

His full attention was on the upcoming ”Heaven” Sword Discussion.

Not only Mo Hua, but in the Qian Learning State Boundary, any sect that had a chance to advance to the Heaven Sword Discussion began making subsequent preparations.

The final match of the Earth Sword Discussion, since it no longer affected the standings, had almost no attention from anyone.

And then, at this moment...

On the Mount of Tao, late at night.

On the pitch-dark Taoist Field, the forbidden high platform that others must not approach.

The Dao Discussion Heaven Instrument was operating on its own, following causality.

The roster for the final match of the Earth Sword Discussion was also being deduced slowly by it.

Soon, on the Heaven Instrument, the light flickered mildly, and the roster for the final match was imprinted word by word through the causal formation patterns.

Suddenly, the atmosphere changed dramatically, and a fissure appeared out of thin air in the dark night.

An unseen poppy flower bloomed in the night.

Amidst the entangled chains, a bloody, purple-black evil and fallen infant’s hand pressed on the Dao Discussion Heaven Instrument...