The Quest for Immortality

Yang Jishan was puzzled, but Yang Jiyong beside him was excited, despite his injuries and arm in a sling, he still enthusiastically said:

”Little Brother Mo, is this your first time at the Taoist Soldiers camp?”

Mo Hua nodded.

Yang Jiyong said, ”Then let me show you around.”

Is the military camp something to tour...

Mo Hua glanced at Yang Jishan.

Yang Jishan thought for a moment, then said:

”Alright, let Jiyong show you around so you can get familiar with the environment. If you have no other matters, join our Yang Family for a trip to the Great Wilderness. Although marching to war is dangerous, the outside world isn’t safe these days either.”

Mo Hua nodded and said, ”Thank you, Leader Yang.”

”I have some matters to attend to,” Yang Jishan patted Mo Hua on the shoulder, advising, ”Take care of yourself.”

”Mm.”

Yang Jishan nodded slightly, gave Yang Jiyong a few instructions, and then left.

After leaving, Yang Jishan returned to his tent and started preparing for the upcoming rebellion suppression.

The Taoist Court army suppressing the Great Wilderness rebellion was a major event.

As a commander in the Golden Core Realm, he needed to coordinate military affairs, which were piling up.

A pile of documents and jade slips awaited his review and execution.

While flipping through the jade slips, Yang Jishan couldn’t help but furrow his brow, pondering in his heart:

”Who exactly is this young man named... Mo Hua...”

”South Yue City...”

”The only thing I remember related to South Yue City is... the Lu Family’s corpse epidemic.”

”Ten years ago, the Lu Family dominated one area; Family Head Lu Chengyun established a corpse mine, refined corpse slaves, raised a Corpse King, with great ambition.”

”Later, the incident broke out, South Yue City underwent a corpse mutation, turning the city inside and out into mountains of corpses and seas of blood, with ominous signs of Corpse Sin emerging. It took the Taoist Soldiers Court and various family cultivators to fight desperately to kill Lu Chengyun and subdue the Corpse King, thus eradicating the South Yue City’s corpse epidemic...”

Yang Jishan silently pondered for a moment, unable to help but feel puzzled:

”But what does all this have to do with this young man named Mo Hua?”

”At that time, he was only in his teens. Could a teenager really have anything to do with the corpse epidemic in South Yue City? This seems... somewhat absurd?”

Yang Jishan’s mind was a fog of confusion; after pondering for a while, he still had no clues.

Mo Hua’s image was familiar yet unfamiliar, somewhat elusive.

Shaking his head, Yang Jishan continued to review the jade slips in front of him.

The military affairs were urgent; he could ponder Mo Hua’s matter later when he had time.

...

Meanwhile, in the Yang Family’s camp.

Yang Jiyong was beaming with pride, giving Mo Hua a tour.

Mo Hua also saw the neat and imposing Taoist soldiers of the Yang Family, witnessed various excellent weapons and armor, as well as the formations that changed during the Taoist soldiers’ battles and their various applications in war...

Even though he had only seen a little, Mo Hua felt his horizons widened, and his heart held great respect for the Yang Family’s Taoist soldiers. His tone was full of praise.

Hearing this, Yang Jiyong felt even more proud.

With people praising people, he also praised Mo Hua:

”Little Brother Mo, I indeed did not misjudge you; you’ve been talented since young, with discerning eyes, truly a rare formation genius of Tongxian City in hundreds of years.”

Mo Hua smiled and said, ”Uncle Yang, you’re too kind.”

”Don’t call me Uncle Yang; it makes me sound old.” Yang Jiyong said unhappily, ”Just call me Brother Yang.”

Since Mo Hua was still young, calling him ”Uncle” would have been fine.

Now that Mo Hua was visibly a handsome young man, calling him ”Uncle” made Yang Jiyong feel awkward.

”But...” Mo Hua hesitated and said, ”I call Uncle Lan ’Uncle,’ and you ’Brother’; doesn’t that make you a generation younger than him?”

Zhang Lan was from the Zhang Family, Yang Jiyong was from the Yang Family; both families had some past connections and even some marital ties between their elders.

They had known each other since childhood, and though considered relatives, there was some mutual friction.

Yang Jiyong was stunned, then gritted his teeth and said, ”Then, when you’re with me, call me Brother. In front of Zhang Lan, call me Uncle.”

”This way, not in front of him, I’m younger. In front of him, I’m the same generation as him.”

Mo Hua sighed slightly, ”Alright then...”

He continued to tour the camp with Mo Hua.

After touring a few more times, Yang Jiyong suddenly remembered something and asked Mo Hua, ”By the way, where have you been these past ten years?”

When the Qian Family was eliminated and the Great Demon was suppressed, he was temporarily transferred to Tongxian City.

After the Tongxian City incident ended, he was dispatched by the Taoist Soldiers Court to the Great Wilderness to guard Wolf Tooth Pass.

As a result, he knew nothing of Mo Hua’s affairs thereafter.

Mo Hua succinctly replied:

”I went roaming, learned some formations. Later, I entered a sect, learned some Tao cultivation methods. Now, nine years have passed, and it’s time I roam again, see the world, and gain more skills.”

Yang Jiyong nodded upon hearing this.

He didn’t ask in detail.

Roaming, probably just around Li State, too far, and one couldn’t travel round trip in a decade on foot.

Regarding entering a sect.

Nowadays, most Great Sects have stringent requirements for spiritual roots and family backgrounds.

Mo Hua was from a small place, with poor spiritual roots, certainly wouldn’t be accepted by a Great Sect.

If he were indeed accepted into a renowned Great Sect, he would have directly mentioned the sect he joined.

Not clarifying implies the sect he joined wasn’t too renowned either.

Since that’s the case, it’s best not to ask further.

Yang Jiyong was aware of such social nuances.

Mo Hua was waiting for Yang Jiyong to ask him, ”Which sect did you join?” so he could calmly and modestly reply: