The Quest for Immortality

”Qian Learning State Boundary, Fifth Grade, Taixu Gate.”

Thus, naturally and casually showing off a bit.

Yet Yang Jiyong, being adept in human relations, didn’t ask at all, leaving Mo Hua slightly displeased.

However, these were just trivial matters.

After pondering for a moment, Mo Hua turned his attention to serious matters: ”Brother Yang, how is the situation in the Great Wilderness now? Where have the rebels reached?”

Yang Jiyong paused slightly, showing a contemplative expression.

This information should be considered military secrets, not to be disclosed to outsiders.

Still, he thought about it; soon he’d definitely bring Mo Hua aboard the Yang Family’s cause, so some things, naturally, had to be shared with Mo Hua.

Of course, the most confidential details could not be spoken.

Yang Jiyong selected only the speakable parts, such as when the Barbarian Soldiers of the Great Wilderness started the rebellion, and how the front lines extended from place to place.

Which passes defended by the Taoist Court had fallen, which held firm, and which still had no news.

Then Yang Jiyong said: ”Simply put, the situation is like this... Currently, the Barbarian Soldiers and the Taoist Soldiers are entrenched along Wolf Tooth Mountain north of Wolf Tooth Pass, each occupying their territories, engaging in constant battle without end. More of it is Taoist Soldier secrets, I can’t say much more.”

”But these aren’t really crucial. Regardless of the situation, we Taoist Soldiers just follow orders to fight.”

”What’s more, the Great Wilderness is vast and sparsely populated, with endless desolate mountains, harsh environment, and complex terrains like sand seas and abyssal swamps, crisscrossed and extremely complex.”

”Often, knowing the grand scheme is useless.”

”When the war really starts, unless it’s a direct showdown, most of it involves skirmishes and battles in desolate mountains and brutal terrains.”

”Thus, for us frontline Taoist Soldiers, rather than knowing the so-called grand scheme, it’s more important to know which mountain has fierce monsters, which swamp has deadly poisons, and which ridges have Barbarian ambushes.”

”Follow military orders, pass through mountains when met with them, cross waters upon encountering them, and kill enemies when seen...”

Yang Jiyong’s words were straightforward and blunt.

This was his experience as a Taoist Soldier for many years.

The strategy for war is considered by Feather Transformation Realm Great Commanders or generals.

For those charging into battle, it’s about the mountains and waters right before them, about one enemy and another’s blades and spears.

From a realistic perspective, it’s about thinking how to kill one enemy, destroy a unit, and win a battle.

Anything beyond that is mere empty talk.

After pondering for a moment, Mo Hua nodded in agreement.

Brother Yang’s words were indeed quite true.

The so-called grand scheme is actually very general.

Victory in war ultimately comes from eliminating enemies, winning small battles, accumulating bit by bit.

Just like constructing a Large Formation, it starts with individual Formation Patterns, layers of Single Formations, and tiers of Compound Formations; only by portraying them all can the final Large Formation be formed.

In terms of cause and effect, it’s about continually stacking the causes of ”victory” to eventually reach a certain extent for the result of ”victory.”

Without accumulating small streams, a river cannot form.

Without accumulating small formations, a Large Formation cannot be created.

Without accumulating small victories, the ultimate full victory cannot be achieved.

Cultivation, formations, warfare, all follow this principle.

Mo Hua asked again: ”And... what about the Great Wilderness Sect?”

”Great Wilderness Sect?” Yang Jiyong didn’t quite understand.

Mo Hua said: ”The Great Wilderness Sect, isn’t it the Taoist Court’s directly affiliated sect set to govern the Great Wilderness?”

”Now with the Great Wilderness in rebellion, hasn’t the Great Wilderness Sect been implicated?”

Yang Jiyong shook his head, ”It’s like the saying: ’If heaven wants to rain, mothers want to marry,’ when the royal family of the Great Wilderness rebels, the Great Wilderness Sect—in the end, it’s just a Fourth Grade Sect, what can it do?”

”Initially, the territory of the Great Wilderness is vast, sparsely populated, and chaotic internally among the Barbarian Tribes, unbound and wild, fundamentally ungovernable. For the Great Wilderness Sect to reach this stage is already quite an achievement.”

”To blame the sect entirely for the Barbarian rebellion is simply unrealistic.”

”Moreover, now that the Great Wilderness princes are in rebellion and Barbarian Soldiers are encroaching, the Taoist Court also needs the Great Wilderness Sect to assist in quelling the rebellion.”

”For the Great Wilderness Sect, this is also an opportunity...”

Mo Hua said: ”Seeking merit through guilt?”

Yang Jiyong said: ”Not only that...”

Mo Hua’s mind shifted, ”The Great Wilderness Sect wants an upgrade?”

Yang Jiyong glanced at Mo Hua in astonishment, internally admiring, this kid has indeed been clever since childhood.

Yang Jiyong nodded, ”The Great Wilderness Sect is Fourth Grade, at the frontier it’s already at its peak. Without setting outstanding feats, the Taoist Court absolutely won’t let the Great Wilderness Sect be promoted to Fifth Grade.”

”But now, the situation has changed, the royal family of the Great Wilderness has rebelled. This opportunity for upgrading to Fifth Grade has arisen.”

”As long as outstanding merits are established during the rebellion suppression, the Great Wilderness Sect could possibly break through the existing specifications and ascend to be a Fifth Grade Great Sect.”

”A frontier Fifth Grade Great Sect could be considered a small dynasty.”

Yang Jiyong’s words carried many reflections.

Mo Hua’s mind shifted, and he asked, ”The Yang Family’s relationship with the Great Wilderness Sect, is it pretty good?”

Yang Jiyong nodded, ”Not bad. The Great Wilderness Sect governs the Great Wilderness, and my Yang Family, originating from the Taoist Soldiers Court, has generational disciples guarding the Great Wilderness. The Yang Family and the Great Wilderness Sect have many interactions; over time, as they come and go, the friendship is rather good.”

Mo Hua fell silent.

He didn’t expect the Yang Family to have such a connection with the Great Wilderness Sect.

As such, the Yang Family couldn’t really be his ”backer.”

If he went against the Great Wilderness Sect, the Yang Family would undoubtedly be caught in a dilemma.

Even if they wouldn’t turn against him outright, they might not be willing to tear up their relationship with the Great Wilderness Sect for his sake.