The Quest for Immortality

The leader of the caravan swept his gaze across the crowd but didn’t find the ”master” he was looking for, his brow furrowed.

After a brief moment, his expression suddenly changed, awakening to a realization:

”I understand now!”

The crowd stared at him, somewhat puzzled.

”It must be the Ink Immortal Child!” the caravan leader said with reverent conviction, ”Big Black Mountain is the domain of the Ink Immortal Child, it must be him who is protecting us!”

Mo Hua: ”...”

A burly man frowned and said, ”Boss, are you deluded? What’s this got to do with the Ink Immortal Child...what does it matter to him? Is he that idle?”

The caravan leader rebuked coldly, ”Do not be disrespectful to the Immortal Child!”

The burly man dared not retort.

The caravan leader spoke solemnly, ”The Ink Immortal Child is an immortal come down to save those in distress. At birth, he possessed extraordinary talent and immense power. In ancient legends, Tongxian City faced a calamity with the emergence of a great demon, threatening lives. The Ink Immortal Child created a Large Formation, fought the great demon, ultimately commanding the winds and rains, wielding thunder, and summoned a dreadful heavenly tribulation, obliterating the great demon to ashes...”

”That battle was truly earth-shattering, the skies and colors changed, even the terrain of Big Black Mountain was altered from it.”

”Previously, Big Black Mountain wasn’t like this; it was transformed to its current form by the Ink Immortal Child, who wielded the power of heaven and earth, tearing the mountains and rivers apart.”

”While merely at the Qi Refinement, he could change heaven and earth; it signifies that this Ink Immortal Child is definitely an immortal come down...”

Mo Hua felt awkward but couldn’t resist listening. .

Someone said, ”Boss, you’re wrong. I heard this Ink Immortal Child is not an Immortal Child but a Divine Child. He’s not an immortal come down, just a child with an astonishing talent from a young age, a rarity that appears once in a century, no, once in a millennium, a Formation Divine Child.”

”The great demon of Tongxian City was killed by him using the full power of the city to build the Large Formation. It’s not as mystical as the stories say...”

Someone else countered, ”What do you know? Do you understand formations? A Qi Refining Cultivator could build a Large Formation to kill a great demon, isn’t that mystical?”

”To be honest, I’d rather believe he is an immortal come down, naturally endowed with incredible power. It’s more credible than him being at the Qi Refining Realm and building a Large Formation to suppress and kill a great demon...”

”No, I heard that this ’Ink Immortal Child’ actually died already? Perished together with the great demon in the heavenly tribulation? That’s why there’s a monument outside Tongxian City in his memory.”

”You’re all wrong. I heard this ’Ink Immortal Child’ is actually a fabricated person. In reality, such an outrageous person doesn’t exist. Tongxian City created this legendary little cultivator just to make a name...”

...

For a moment, opinions diverged, and no consensus could be reached.

Mo Hua listened with interest.

Finally, the leader of the caravan waved his hand:

”You’re all talking nonsense. I’m the leader, what I say goes, the Ink Immortal Child is indeed Immortal Child, he’s an immortal come down, absolutely not to be offended, moreover...”

The caravan leader solemnly declared: ”I’ve heard since the Ink Immortal Child suppressed the great demon and changed the face of Big Black Mountain, he has become the Mountain God of Big Black Mountain.”

”Entering Big Black Mountain is entering his domain; if you wish to make a living here, you must be sincere in your heart, worship the Immortal Child, and not speak disrespectfully, or you might anger him and bring disaster upon us...”

Upon hearing this, everyone’s expression became solemn.

Someone suddenly understood, ”So, the monster beasts we’ve been killing along the way are actually the ’blessings’ of the Ink Immortal Child. His great mercy sees how hard our lives are and blessed us with monster beasts so we can exchange for some Spirit Stones and continue our cultivation...”

This view received everyone’s approval.

The caravan leader then led the group deeper into Big Black Mountain, knelt down, and bowed three times:

”With the Immortal Child above, may prosperity be eternal. We pray for his protection, granting us peace without calamities.”

The others followed suit, bowing three times, chanting ”Immortal Child,” may prosperity be eternal.

Mo Hua in the crowd stood blankly, somewhat helpless.

If these people prayed to him in this manner, it seemed he’d have to ”protect” them...

Later on, Mo Hua quietly intervened along the way, killed several monster beasts, helping the caravan gather some monster beast materials, and also discreetly guided them, allowing them to smoothly pass through Big Black Mountain and reach outside Tongxian City.

Outside Tongxian City, they could faintly see the imposing Demon Suppression Monument and at its top, the two golden characters:

Mo Hua.

The caravan group approached the Demon Suppression Monument and paid their respects:

”Thank you, Immortal Child, for protecting us and ensuring our safe journey.”

”May the Immortal Child’s blessings be eternal, with a lifespan matching the heavens...”

Mo Hua in the crowd showed a subtly complex expression.

After respectfully finishing their homage, the caravan leader said, ”Let’s go,” and then led the group toward Tongxian City.

Mo Hua followed behind them, heading for Tongxian City.

After a few more miles, the grand sight of Tongxian City appeared before them.

Mo Hua raised his eyes slightly surprised.

Though only ten years have passed, Tongxian City differs from his memory of the Immortal City.

The city walls are significantly taller than before.

Inside the city, voices fill the air, massive Refinery Shops and Alchemist’s Businesses stand tall, emitting distant white smoke.

The glaring fire lights of artifact refinement.

The pungent scent of pill fragrance, wafting for miles.

The road leading to Tongxian City is crowded with various Loose Cultivators.

All of them lined up in formation, like a tide, converging from all directions into Tongxian City.

Tongxian City seems like a ”huge entity,” absorbing the entire Big Black Mountain State boundary, millions of Loose Cultivators...

Others in the caravan were also shocked:

”No doubt, it’s Tongxian City...”

”Big Black Mountain State boundary, spanning hundreds of miles, the most prosperous central Immortal City, no matter how many times you see it, it still makes you yearn...”

”An Immortal City under the protection of the Immortal Child is indeed extraordinary, thriving fortune, enduring blessings...”

”Compared to this, our Hundred Families City in Azure Cloud State boundary feels so impoverished, devoid of hope.”

Someone envied, ”Someday, if we could also settle and reside in this Tongxian City, how wonderful it’d be...”

”Alas, difficult indeed...”

”Talking about it is useless, let’s get into the city quickly and take care of business...”

”Alright...”

The cultivators in the caravan nodded and said no more.

Only Mo Hua’s eyes shifted slightly, thoughtful.

...

There were many Loose Cultivators entering the city, Mo Hua didn’t make an exception, queued with everyone, from early morning until afternoon, then followed the caravan into the Immortal City.

Separated inside Tongxian City.

The caravan leader cupped his hands to Mo Hua:

”Little brother, we need to do business next, we can only send you this far, do you have a place to stay in Tongxian City?”

Mo Hua nodded, ”I do.”

The caravan leader was relieved, ”That’s good to hear. Oh, I almost forgot...” He said apologetically, ”Traveling together is fate, what is your name, little brother?”

Mo Hua smiled gently, ”My family name is Mo, given name Hua.”

”Family name Mo, given name...” The caravan leader nodded but suddenly froze, his heart trembled.

Mo... Hua?!

He abruptly looked up but found that the young man who was just standing before him had vanished strangely.

People flowed around, yet no trace could be found.

The caravan leader stood motionless at his original spot, face filled with disbelief, murmuring:

”It truly is... the Immortal Child’s protection...”