The Quest for Immortality

Li State, amidst the desolate mountain paths.

Once a powerful Elder of the Canglang Sect, second only to one, Elder Ji, now drove the carriage like a mere charioteer.

Mo Hua sat inside the carriage, eyes closed in meditation, contemplating the art of Heavenly Mechanism Causality.

The journey south from Canglang Sect had been fairly smooth.

Due to the turmoil at Canglang Sect, the former Sect Leader and Mr. Witch were killed, and the seeds of rebellion were snuffed out in the cradle.

As a result, most areas of the Canglang State were not affected by the flames of war.

Throughout the journey, the boundaries and Immortal Cities of various regions experienced no significant upheaval.

The overall order had not yet collapsed.

At such a time, Elder Ji’s usefulness came to the fore.

He had been in charge of hospitality, dealing, and networking in Canglang Sect, indulging in all sorts of vices, thus having a broad network of acquaintances, with boon companions scattered through neighboring Immortal Cities.

Furthermore, he was a Third Grade Elder of the Canglang Sect, and with such a prestigious status, he was respected wherever he went.

Be it entering a city, scouting paths, gathering information, or handling affairs, none were difficult for him.

Thus, throughout the journey, Elder Ji led the way.

Mo Hua remained as a leisurely ”Young Master,” enjoying good food, drink, and accommodations wherever they went, without a worry in the world.

But once they crossed beyond the Canglang State boundary, after traveling roughly a thousand miles south, the situation completely changed.

Along the way, clear signs of war could be seen.

The air was filled with the scent of burning, decay, and blood.

Hundreds of miles of barren land stretched, desolate.

Elder Ji drove the carriage over two hundred more miles, with dusk approaching, necessitating a stop for rest, spotting an Immortal City in the distance, the city gates collapsed, black smoke billowing.

The name of the Immortal City had been smeared off.

Entering the city, they found the buildings in ruins, devastation everywhere.

At the corners of the city walls, corpses were scattered.

There were also living people, in ragged clothes, their faces menacing, fiercely fighting over something.

In the struggle, several cultivators had their necks snapped, their eyes rolling up, falling to the ground, never to awaken again...

Others, yellow-faced and emaciated, squatted in the corners, chewing on some sort of meat.

Mo Hua lifted the carriage window, witnessing these scenes, his gaze solemn, sensing an imminent foreboding.

Perhaps a chaotic era of Tao Cultivation is truly approaching...

On the desolate, ruined streets, the Canglang Sect’s carriage moved singularly, conspicuously.

Soon, desperate cultivators rushed up, intending to seize the carriage.

Elder Ji slapped several of them away, his Spiritual Power reverberating, emanating a Foundation Establishment Late Stage’s pressure, instilling fear into the menacing, greedy cultivators, who fled in panic.

”Blind fools!”

After behaving submissively along the way, Elder Ji finally vented, cursing inwardly:

”I dare not offend that monster called Mo, yet I can’t deal with you scum?”

He made a move to kill a few to make an example, only to feel a cold gaze on the back of his neck.

Chilled, Elder Ji quickly withdrew his hand, turning to smile, ”Young Master Mo, did I startle you?”

Mo Hua’s expression remained indifferent.

Elder Ji dared not voice his anger, muttering to himself:

Damn, he’s at Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and so am I. Yet, in front of him, I, a Foundation Establishment Late Stage, feel inferior even to a dog, damn it!

Isn’t it said that cultivation is a cultivator’s foundation?

Nobody told me that the disparity in technique and strength among cultivators of the same realm could be so vast...

Even Golden Core Realm’s Sect Leader Duan doesn’t have such a weird oppressive feel.

Elder Ji sneaked a glance at Mo Hua:

Could this brat be a reincarnation of some ancient monster? Truly sinister.

While cursing internally, Elder Ji kept a polite smile:

”Young Master Mo, shall we... find a place to rest?”

Mo Hua gave Elder Ji a light look, his eyes penetrating, unsettling him.

Eventually, Mo Hua just nodded:

”Hmm.”

Unnecessarily relieved, Elder Ji drove the carriage in a circle around the streets, eventually stopping in front of a guesthouse.

The sign of the guesthouse had been burned away, the doors tightly shut, yet there was life within.

Elder Ji knocked, but there was no response.

Impatient, he cursed, ”Where are the people? Dead?”

Still no reply came, so he channeled his Spiritual Power, slamming his palm onto the door, which creaked and cracked.

Then a timid voice from inside said:

”Master, master, the shop is closed, no longer in business.”

Elder Ji coldly replied: ”I’ll count to three. If the door isn’t opened, you’ll learn the might of a Foundation Establishment Late Stage great cultivator.”

The inn’s cultivator, hearing his ”Foundation Establishment Late Stage great cultivator,” was utterly shocked.

In this small place, even Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivators were rare, let alone a Foundation Establishment Late Stage one.

Immediately, an elder opened the door, welcoming Elder Ji’s carriage inside.

”Aware of the grand presence, forgive our lack of hospitality,” the elder bowed and smiled obsequiously.

Elder Ji, feeling acknowledged, ordered, ”Prepare two fine rooms.”

”Yes, yes, please wait a moment.”

The elder hurriedly went to make arrangements.

Once everything was settled, Mo Hua and Elder Ji each chose a room to stay in.

Feeling somewhat weary, Mo Hua stayed in his room, flipping through Formation Books, while ordering Elder Ji to scout for some information in the city.

Reluctantly, Elder Ji went to inquiry.

As night fell, Elder Ji wandered around this unnamed Little Immortal City, found some living people, and gathered some information. After roughly four hours, having gained enough, he was ready to report back to Mo Hua at the inn.