The Quest for Immortality

Dan Zhu pondered for a moment, quietly digesting Mo Hua’s words, then bowed deeply to Mo Hua.

This bow in the Great Wilderness is the standard ”student’s salute.”

”Dan Zhu sincerely remembers the teachings of the Gentleman.”

Mo Hua received Dan Zhu’s bow with a gentle gaze.

But in his heart, he was not entirely calm.

These words were spoken to Dan Zhu, but also to himself.

Anyone who achieves the Great Dao must not only have talent beyond the world but also possess unwavering perseverance and indomitable determination...

A momentary failure and setback are nothing.

All failures will forge oneself, becoming steps to ascend the Great Dao.

Mo Hua’s gaze was calm and resolute.

...

In the days that followed, the situation of Dan Zhu and his people became increasingly harsh.

The core issue was the famine.

The famine made the land barren, and all affected Barbarian Cultivators fell into extreme hunger, making survival difficult for all small to medium tribes.

The Great Wilderness descended into widespread chaos for a time.

Moreover, the occupied Shugubu tribe rebelled, internal strife persisted, and the surrounding area was no longer a good place to settle down.

They had to find another place.

But where to settle became a problem.

After all, the famine was spreading, and no one knew which direction in the Barbaric Wilderness was safe. If surrounded by the famine, the forces that Dan Zhu painstakingly gathered would face utter disaster.

Even if not affected by the famine, they would still get caught up in disputes with other tribes, leading to meaningless consumption.

This was not the result Mo Hua wished to see.

Therefore, after discussing most of the day, they could only come to one conclusion:

Return to the Danque Tribe.

With the sudden changes in the situation, the chaos of the situation, and the uncertain future, returning to the Danque Main Department turned out to be the best option.

Even Mo Hua had to admit.

Returning to the Danque Main Department, with the protection of the large tribe’s power, was at least safer.

First, settle down, then plan for development.

Besides, he also needed to find a quieter place to study the mysterious ”Taotie Absolute Array” of twenty-three patterns.

The Taotie Absolute Array certainly wasn’t easy to learn.

With battles raging everywhere, dangers abounding, many matters still required his attention, and Dan Zhu’s fortunes also needed his divination.

He simply couldn’t find a quiet period to fully concentrate on comprehending this ancient Taotie Absolute Array.

Thus, returning to the Danque Main Department was imperative.

Even if it meant temporarily abandoning his plan to ”take” Dan Zhu away, achieve success, and plan development.

But compelled by circumstances, there was no other choice.

Mo Hua agreed.

Dan Zhu had no objections either; he always listened to Mo Hua.

Chi Feng breathed a sigh of relief; he had wanted to persuade Dan Zhu to return to the main department for a long time.

As the talented Young Master of the Danque Tribe, staying outside is unsafe.

Ba Shan and Bachuan also wouldn’t object.

But unexpectedly, the strongest opposition came from Iron Skill Bone.

He seemed as if the sky had fallen, shocked:

”Shaman Master, how can you withdraw the troops? Go and continue attacking the Shugubu Tribe! Continue to occupy the altar! Continue to... continue... How can you suddenly just... give up halfway?”

If you don’t attack the Shugubu Tribe, how can I trick you to death?

How can the true Barbarian God kill you?

How can I prove my loyalty to the Barbarian God?

Iron Skill Bone was very anxious, extremely worried.

Mo Hua’s expression was somewhat subtle.

Dan Zhu and the others also had confused expressions, not knowing what poison Iron Skill Bone had taken.

Had he forgotten that he was the leader of the Shugubu tribe?

Why was he anxious when they weren’t attacking the Shugubu Tribe?

Could this person have a treacherous heart, being a natural ”traitor”?

Mo Hua sighed, feeling a bit helpless inside.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to continue attacking the Shugubu Tribe, didn’t want to continue ”consuming” the Barbarian God, but circumstances didn’t allow it.

Moreover, he had already temporarily ”consumed” the twenty-three patterns and needed to settle down.

The twenty-four patterns certainly wouldn’t be achieved overnight.

After all, twenty-three patterns to twenty-four patterns represent the Divine Sense threshold from Initial Golden Core to Golden Core Middle Stage.

Initial Golden Core and Golden Core Middle Stage are fundamentally different concepts.

This isn’t simply one pattern.

Achieving twenty-four patterns likely requires further tempering.

At least, one needs to thoroughly prepare, study the principles of the Taotie Absolute Array, and become familiar.

Additionally, the ”bone carving” method also requires advance consideration.

The Plastic Bone technique of Wood White Gold Jade must also begin preparation.

And the downside of life force depletion after bone carving needs to be addressed.

After all, his Core Formation is overly complex, unconventional, and difficult.

Planning ahead prevents failure.

So preparing everything that can be prepared in advance would enable a faster advance towards the Golden Core Realm once Divine Thought breaks through to twenty-four patterns.

”Consuming” the Barbarian God is not currently the most urgent matter.

Such a decision cannot be changed.

Iron Skill Bone’s face showed clear pain,

Mo Hua not following him to consume the Barbarian God made him incredibly pained.

But he also lacked the ability to compel this human disguised ”demon shaman” to follow his orders.

Iron Skill Bone looked disheartened, as if life was worse than death, feeling that life held no hope.

...

Afterward, Dan Zhu slightly reorganized, and the group left the Shugubu territory, following Mo Hua, the shaman’s guidance, avoiding the famine’s area, heading east toward the Vermilion Bird Main Department.

They had come with over a hundred Barbarian Soldiers.

Returning now, there were as many as five or six hundred people.

Among them, the surviving Barbarian Soldiers of the Danque Tribe numbered less than a hundred.