The Quest for Immortality

Mo Hua shook his head and said, ”Every person is born with a purpose, how could you be useless?”

An Xiaofu was stunned for a moment, ”What use could I be?”

Mo Hua thought for a while. He couldn’t really explain it clearly either, so he said, ”Your family runs a restaurant, and you have such a good sense of taste. How could you be useless?”

An Xiaofu sighed, ”We run a restaurant out of necessity...”

”Necessity?”

Seeing that it was still early and the meat was delicious, An Xiaofu rarely had someone to talk to. He took a bite of meat, sipped some fruit wine, and started chatting with Mo Hua:

”The An family initially engaged in artifact crafting and pill refining, but later couldn’t compete with the Qian family. Our business failed, and we had to rely on some ancestral properties to start a spiritual restaurant...”

”My grandfather didn’t like running a restaurant. He always wanted to craft artifacts and refine pills. He felt that running a restaurant was very shameful.”

...

”What’s wrong with running a restaurant?” Mo Hua was a bit puzzled.

”I think it’s great, but my grandfather doesn’t.” An Xiaofu pouted and said, ”Moreover, in the myriad professions of cultivation, there are also distinctions of high and low.”

An Xiaofu counted on his fingers and said one by one:

”First is array formation, the hardest to learn and the most widely used. Array masters are highly respected everywhere. Next are pill refining, artifact crafting, and talisman making, which are also considered good.”

”Other fields like spiritual cuisine, spiritual planting, weaving, craftsmanship, and demon hunting are not highly regarded.”

”Don’t get angry when I say this,” An Xiaofu said weakly, ”Many big families and sect cultivators look down on professions like spiritual cuisine and demon hunting, considering them lowly occupations for wandering cultivators.”

Mo Hua understood this but was somewhat dismissive, ”Without cultivators engaged in spiritual planting, spiritual cuisine, and weaving, what would they eat and wear? Without food and clothing, what else is there to boast about?”

An Xiaofu nodded, ”Exactly!”

An Xiaofu loved eating and felt that eating was the most important thing. Anything related to eating was crucial.

Liu Ruhua cooked a few more dishes, including demon meat and wild vegetables from the mountains. Although the ingredients were ordinary, the taste was excellent and very unique.

An Xiaofu, his cheeks bulging, ate to his heart’s content and couldn’t help but praise, ”Mo Hua, your mother’s cooking is really delicious.”

Mo Hua was even happier than if he had been praised himself, ”Of course!”

After they finished eating, they waved goodbye to each other.

Mo Hua watched An Xiaofu’s departing figure, pondering:

What could a good sense of taste be useful for?

Becoming a culinary master? Opening a restaurant?

But the An family already runs a spiritual restaurant...

Mo Hua had an idea but needed to think it through more carefully.

Qian Shunzhi had been investigating for a few days and finally had some leads. He went to report to the family head, Qian Hong.

”A new cave residence was recently built in the south of the city. The plaque reads ’Bai Residence.’ A veiled woman lives there with a young boy and girl, but it’s unclear if they are proficient in array formations.”

Qian Hong’s eyes showed a hint of apprehension, ”These are disciples of a major family on a journey. We can’t provoke them, and they won’t help those demon hunters. Anything else?”

Qian Shunzhi said, ”An elderly cultivator passed through, behaving mysteriously, but left Tongxian City after a few days. Several middle-aged array masters also came, stayed at inns, and had some connections with families in the city...”

Qian Hong thought for a moment and coldly said, ”These are not right. Keep investigating.”

Qian Shunzhi saw that Qian Hong looked displeased and took out several array diagrams, handing them over.

”Among the demon hunters, there is a young array master. These arrays were drawn by this young array master. Some are authentic arrays, while others are rubbings I had someone make.”

Qian Hong glanced at them and was somewhat disappointed, ”Just some common arrays, not even reaching the first grade.”

Although he was not an array master, he could count the array patterns.

These arrays were both new and old. The strokes were skilled but mostly had only five or six patterns.

A young cultivator, about ten years old, able to draw five or six patterns, already showed exceptional talent. No wonder people called him a ”young array master.”

But the Qian family was not looking for this young array master but the mysterious first-grade array master.

”Send more people to continue the search,” Qian Hong ordered.

”Yes.”

Qian Shunzhi bowed respectfully and was about to leave when Qian Hong called him back.

Qian Hong thought for a moment and handed him the array diagrams, ”Take these to Master Qian and see if he can find any clues.”

Qian Shunzhi respectfully agreed and then handed the array diagrams and their rubbings to Master Qian.

Master Qian was in the Qian family’s library, discussing with a group of array masters.

Some of these array masters were from the Qian family, some had close ties with the Qian family, and others, although not very close, came at Master Qian’s invitation.

In such a large city as Tongxian City, there were not many array masters. They saw each other frequently and naturally had some connections.

The Qian family was the largest and wealthiest family in Tongxian City, and they didn’t want to offend the Qian family.

A first-grade array master could not be an unknown figure and must have some connections with various families.

Master Qian invited these array masters to find out if they had any clues or connections.

If there was a connection, everything would be easy. They could use this relationship to establish some rapport with the array master.

But after talking for half a day, there were still no clues.

The first-grade array master seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. No one knew their background.

Just as everyone was at a loss, Qian Shunzhi brought in the array diagrams.

Master Qian took the arrays, looked through them, frowned, and then passed them around for the other array masters to examine.

”Can anyone see anything?” Master Qian asked.

”These arrays are well drawn.”

”Very methodical.”

”The strokes are very skillful, showing great skill.”

”Unfortunately, they are just low-level arrays with five or six patterns, revealing nothing...”

The array masters discussed.

A lean array master finally said, ”If these arrays were drawn by that young array master, then this young array master must have a connection with the first-grade array master.”

The other array masters nodded, ”If not, such a young age couldn’t produce such good arrays.”

While they were talking, a Qian family disciple entered the room and respectfully said, ”Master Luo has arrived.”

Master Qian immediately stood up, and the other array masters also stood and walked to the door, bowing and greeting the visitor:

”Greetings, Master Luo!”

The visitor was Master Luo, one of the few first-grade array masters in Tongxian City certified by the Dao Court.

The other first-grade array masters in Tongxian City were already old and liked to stay quiet, no longer socializing. Only Master Luo occasionally made appearances.

Master Luo returned their salutes, ”No need for such courtesy.”

Then he turned to Master Qian, ”Master Qian, long time no see.”

Master Qian quickly deferred, ”I dare not accept such a title in your presence, Master Luo.”

Master Luo smiled, ”Brother Qian, you are too modest. With your skill in arrays, it is only a matter of time before you reach the first grade.”

Master Luo entered the main hall and took the seat of honor, with the other array masters sitting in order.

A Qian family maid served tea.

Master Qian said, ”This is Misty Peak’s cloud mist tea, emerald green and tender, both in color and aroma. Please enjoy, Master Luo.”

Master Luo’s eyes brightened, and he lifted the lid of his cup. The tea’s fragrance rose like mist. He took a sip, sweet and refreshing, and praised, ”Excellent tea!”

After settling in and tasting the tea, they began discussing business.