The Quest for Immortality

After the banquet, the reputation of Mo Hua as a ”disciple of a fifth-grade major sect, direct apprentice of the Heaven Void Ancestor, who reached the late Foundation Establishment stage in ten years, and an extraordinary genius in Tao cultivation” spread, causing a sensation in Tongxian City.

They didn’t quite understand other things.

After all, the fifth-grade state boundary was too distant for them, lacking any tangible sense.

Just how large a major sect is, or what the Heaven Void realm entails, most people had no concept.

But the cultivation of the ”Foundation Establishment Late Stage” was an undeniable fact.

And advancing from the early to late Foundation Establishment stage in just ten years was truly astounding.

Especially for the local cultivators of Tongxian City, the feeling was even more profound.

They had watched Mo Hua grow up.

Now, in just a blink of an eye, after twenty years or so, the once little junior formation master, who ran around the streets painting formations, clever and kind-hearted, had become a powerful cultivator at the late Foundation Establishment stage, almost unbelievable.

In Tongxian City, this had already reached the top-tier ”ancestor” level figure.

Even the once notorious, tyrannical Qian Family ancestor, at most, only reached the middle Foundation Establishment stage.

How could this not leave them in awe?

Almost every cultivator in Tongxian City, whether Monster Hunter, Artifact Refiner, Pill Master, ordinary loose cultivator, or even some small family cultivators, had benefited from Mo Hua and had him paint formations.

Mo Hua’s high cultivation genuinely delighted them, making them feel proud when boasting outside.

To other visiting loose cultivators, being over twenty with late Foundation Establishment cultivation undeniably affirmed Mo Hua’s identity as an ”immortal child descended to the mortal world.”

In many small Immortal Cities, the highest cultivators were merely at the early Foundation Establishment stage.

At Mo Hua’s age and realm, he was indeed a ”genius defying the heavens.”

For a time, Mo Hua’s fame soared.

Countless cultivators wanted to visit Mo Hua, with invitations and visit requests flying like snowflakes to the doorstep of Mo Shan’s house.

Mo Shan mostly declined them.

As a father, he cared about his child, knowing Mo Hua returned from afar and needed rest without disturbance.

After all, receiving visitors was very time-consuming and exhausting.

Mo Hua only met with familiar elders and friends, politely declining unfamiliar visiting cultivators.

He didn’t have time to visit anyone else either.

But there was one exception.

A few days later, Mo Hua specifically visited Xinglin Pavilion to see Old Mr. Feng.

Old Mr. Feng, compassionate and not fond of noise, devoted his life to saving the dying and helping the distressed, adhering strictly to his principles.

In Mo Hua’s childhood, often sickly, he received much care from Old Mr. Feng, nurturing a deep sense of respect and gratitude.

After a few noisy days, finding some free time, he personally visited Old Mr. Feng.

Xinglin Pavilion had been newly renovated, much wider than before, specifically built by Elder Yu for Old Mr. Feng.

Old Mr. Feng, now elderly and weak, reduced his consultation times, focusing primarily on teaching his apprentices.

He wanted to pass on his lifelong research in Alchemy Dao to his disciples, expanding branches and spreading leaves, enabling accomplished disciples to treat more impoverished loose cultivators.

When Mo Hua arrived at Xinglin Pavilion, Old Mr. Feng was in the middle of a lesson with his disciples.

His hair was completely white, his gaze sharp, and he taught with a gentle rigor, word for word without error.

Mo Hua didn’t disturb him, just sat aside listening.

Mo Hua’s alchemy skills were quite poor, only managing to barely pass with a ”C” grade in Alchemy Dao assessments at Taixu Gate.

But his poor practical alchemy skills didn’t mean he was completely ignorant of alchemical principles.

Taixu Gate, being a fifth-grade major sect, had a comprehensive inheritance system including cultivation skills, Taoist skills, formations, pills, artifact refining, and runes, many of which might not be mastered but couldn’t be unknown.

And because Taixu Gate is a major sect with deep heritage, even if Mo Hua only learned the ”basics” of Alchemy Dao and could only earn a ”C,” his theoretical knowledge was still superior to ordinary Pill Masters in small places.

This illustrated the profound inheritance of the Qianxue state boundary’s major sects.

Thus, even though Mo Hua wasn’t a true Pill Master, he broadly understood much of what Old Mr. Feng was teaching.

As he listened more, admiration began to rise in Mo Hua’s heart.

Old Mr. Feng’s teaching in Alchemy Dao wasn’t exceptionally sophisticated but was extremely understandable and practical.

Many medications were tailored to the spiritual roots and meridian characteristics of the local cultivators.

The herbs needed for alchemy were inexpensive and locally sourced, minimizing the cost for loose cultivators to take pills for healing.

This was truly a pragmatic and life-saving Alchemy Dao.

Mo Hua had an epiphany.

As Old Mr. Feng focused deeply, talking, he suddenly noticed Mo Hua listening attentively on the side and paused, then gestured to his disciples, ”We’ll stop here for today; you’re dismissed.”

”Yes, Master.”

The disciples paid respectful homage and then dispersed one by one.

The hall instantly fell silent.

Only then did Mo Hua step forward, bowing respectfully, and said sincerely:

”Grandpa Feng, I’ve come to see you.”

Old Mr. Feng scrutinized Mo Hua from top to bottom, his eyes lighting up, showing an extremely gratified smile as he nodded:

”Good...”

He gave Mo Hua another look, nodding, ”Very good!”

Mo Hua smiled slightly.

The two then sat before the tea table, sipping tea together.

”Have you reached the late Foundation Establishment stage?” inquired Old Mr. Feng.

”Yes.”

”Good,” Old Mr. Feng said again, then pondered for a moment, continuing, ”Have you experienced the atmosphere of the fifth-grade great state?”