The Quest for Immortality

Cut the price in half and then slowly negotiate.

This was something Mo Hua had learned in the Market Town of Tongxian City.

The housing agency workers showed a bitter face, ”It’s just... nobody bargains like this...”

”Is there a problem with this Formation?”

”There is...” the housing agency worker said helplessly, then suddenly perked up, ”No, I don’t know...”

”Being stubborn is of no use!”

Mo Hua appeared confident, ”The words I just said, write them down and show them to other Formation Masters, and they will confirm they’re not the slightest bit wrong.”

The housing agency worker was at a loss for words, ”Then...”

”Is there a problem with the Formation?” Mo Hua asked again.

”That’s... yes, there is...”

”Is the problem with the Formation a major one?”

”It is... I suppose.”

”So since this cave mansion has a major issue, why are you selling it at such a high price?” Mo Hua demanded righteously.

The housing agency worker said bitterly, ”But it can’t be that cheap?”

”I didn’t say we can’t negotiate. How much will you lower the price?”

Bearing the pressure of Mo Hua’s gaze, the housing agency worker tentatively said, ”Thirty-seven thousand?”

Mo Hua shook his head, ”Twenty thousand and five hundred.”

”Thirty-six thousand?”

”Twenty-one thousand...”

...

After a back-and-forth of quoted prices, in the end, Mo Hua was only willing to pay twenty-nine thousand.

The housing agency worker gritted his teeth, saying helplessly, ”I need to ask the owner. Please wait a moment.”

”Go on, go ahead.”

Mo Hua waved him off.

Bai Zisheng watched Mo Hua in wonder, ”You’re really good at bargaining...”

”Naturally.”

Mo Hua nodded.

To a Loose Cultivator, every single Spirit Stone was valuable. Naturally, one should never be courteous when it was time to bargain.

Having Spirit Stones was one thing,

Not spending them unwisely was another.

After a little while, the housing agency worker came back, holding a Spirit Pact, and with an apologetic smile, said:

”I reported back to the owner. The owner was also unaware of so many problems with the Formation in the cave mansion and feels deeply sorry. Therefore, he is willing to sell this cave mansion to the three young friends at a low price.”

With both hands, the housing agency worker offered the Spirit Pact to Mo Hua:

”The price can be even more favorable, twenty-eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight, for good luck...”

Mo Hua checked the Spiritual Energy. It was indeed twenty thousand, followed by a series of ”eights.”

”Your owner is so easy to talk to?”

Mo Hua was somewhat skeptical.

That’s nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones cut...

The housing agency worker laughed, ”Firstly, there are indeed issues with the cave mansion which you, young master, have noticed, and we have become a laughing stock; secondly, our owner also wants to make your acquaintance. You buying our cave mansion is also giving us face.”

Mo Hua said suspiciously, ”Does your owner know me?”

”The owner has not yet had the pleasure of meeting you, sir.”

Mo Hua’s sparkling eyes turned as he asked again, ”Is the backing of your housing agency the Lu Family or South Yue Sect?”

The housing agency worker was stunned, then replied:

”Not hiding anything from you, young master, there’s both the Lu Family and South Yue Sect...”

Mo Hua was also somewhat surprised, ”Your housing agency’s background is this significant?”

The housing agency worker chuckled, ”Well, it’s not all that... The Lu Family provides financial backing, and the owner who manages things is a direct disciple of the Inner Gate of South Yue Sect.”

”Although there is backing from both sides, it’s not as significant as being an Elder or Family Head, so it is just a small housing agency...”

The Lu Family, Taoist Court, South Yue Sect...

It seems they are all wearing the same pants.

Mo Hua sighed.

However, since he was an outsider, he didn’t ask too much for the time being and gave a fist salute, ”Please thank the owner for me.”

The housing agency worker gave a respectful fist salute, ”I wouldn’t dare.”

Afterward came the exchange of Spirit Stones, signing of the Spirit Pact, and handing over some Formation Diagrams and the Formation keys.

When signing the Spirit Pact, Bai Zixi said to Mo Hua, ”You sign.”

Mo Hua was taken aback, ”Why should I sign?”

Bai Zixi said, ”You picked it out.”

”But, the Spirit Stones were provided by junior sister...”

Bai Zixi said, ”I can’t sign.”

Bai Zisheng also nodded on the side, ”Aunt Xue doesn’t allow us to sign Spirit Pacts with others.”

Mo Hua was taken aback for a moment, then understood.

He guessed clan members of prominent families probably had some taboos - signing Spirit Pacts could lead to being cheated or targeted.

”Alright then.”

Mo Hua signed the Spirit Pact and, after signing, he gave the Pact to Bai Zixi, ”Junior sister, you keep it.”

Bai Zixi intended to refuse, but after thinking it over, accepted it.

After buying the cave mansion, it needed to be tidied up.

Especially the Formation.

The previous Formation was too shabby for Mo Hua’s taste.

And since it was going to be his place of residence, he felt more at ease setting up the Formation himself.

Mo Hua spent some time restructuring the Formation Diagram of the cave mansion.

This Formation Diagram now utilized mostly First-grade Formations and even included the Thick Earth Formation.

Together with his junior brother and junior sister, Mo Hua renovated the Formation inside the cave mansion according to the Formation Diagram.

Afterward, they had the housing agency arrange for someone to come over and clean up.

The cave mansion was tidy and clean, with doors, windows, corridors, flowers and courtyards, every nook and cranny adorned with Formations. These Formations were interconnected, forming a sophisticated and complex First-grade Compound Formation.

Only then was Mo Hua satisfied.

After getting everything in order, Mo Hua and his companions returned to the inn, and brought Mr. Zhuang to the cave mansion.

Mr. Zhuang, seeing the tranquil courtyard, the peaceful bamboo rooms, and the quiet pond,

As well as the numerous, yet naturally integrated Formations matching each courtyard, each room, and every step with grass, nodded in pleased content.

Dinner was enjoyed under the big tree in the courtyard.

Mo Hua laid out a low table, with everyone sitting on the grass.

The table was arrayed with various dishes.

Because they had been to the mines, smelled the odors in the mine shafts, and seen the dreadful state of the deceased Mining Cultivators, Mo Hua and his companions had not had much of an appetite these days.

Actually, Mo Hua was fine, since Bai Zixi had her eyes covered by Mo Hua and didn’t see much.

```

The main issue was with Bai Zisheng, who couldn’t be exposed to the slightest smell of meat.

So, Mo Hua made some lighter vegetarian dishes and desserts.

That day’s staple food was soup dumplings filled with sesame paste.

A gentle breeze passed, causing the tree leaves to rustle.

As Mo Hua ate the soup dumplings, he asked Mr. Zhuang, ”Master, is the flow of spiritual energy very important?”

Mo Hua had been puzzled about this before.

Inside the cave dwelling, what could the flow of spiritual energy signify?

He guessed it had something to do with the direction of the wind and the momentum, but these were only his speculations. He wasn’t sure about the deeper reasons.

Mr. Zhuang spoke succinctly,

”The flow of spiritual energy is related to the Spirit Vein.”

”Spirit Vein?”

Mo Hua was slightly taken aback.

Mr. Zhuang nodded slightly, ”The so-called Spirit Vein refers to the vast streams of spiritual energy that flow through nature, forming patterns of energy.”

”Vast spiritual energy...” Mo Hua said, ”So now, does that mean there are no Spirit Veins anymore?”

Because the spiritual energy in the world had already become extremely thin.

”There still are,” Mr. Zhuang said indifferently, ”it’s just that ordinary cultivators can’t see them...”

Mr. Zhuang paused, took a bite of the soup dumpling, nodded, and then continued,

”The existing Spirit Veins are either in the Taoist Court or within some ancient noble clans or sects that have been passed down to this day and have not yet declined.”

”Some mid-level powers, if they have far-reaching plans and want to sustain their legacy, will also try to use Formation methods to artificially create Spirit Veins...”

Mo Hua was surprised, ”Artificial Spirit Veins?”

”Indeed,” Mr. Zhuang said reflectively, ”it takes a large amount of Spirit Stones and special Formation methods to construct a massive flow of spiritual power, thus forming an ever-flowing and everlasting Spirit Vein.”

”Using the spiritual energy within the Spirit Vein to cultivate for future generations.”

”It’s just that this is very difficult, and the cost is too great...”

”And what the general cultivator sees as a Spirit Vein is actually another form.”

Mr. Zhuang looked at Mo Hua and slowly said, ”You’ve seen it too.”

Mo Hua furrowed his eyebrows and thought for a while, his eyes lighting up,

”Spiritual mines?”

Mr. Zhuang nodded, ”The spiritual energy in the Spirit Veins, due to the changes in the terrain and buried underground, merges with the mountains, stones, and vegetation. Over the years, it forms Spiritual mines.”

”So Spiritual mines are actually a kind of ’immobile Spirit Vein,’ a ’one-off Spirit Vein,’ solidified ’Spirit Veins’...”

Mo Hua nodded in understanding, thought for a moment, then jumped in his heart, and asked,

”So, Master, if I can discern the flow of spiritual energy between the mountains, determine the direction of ancient Spirit Veins, would it be possible to calculate... where there might be Spiritual mines?”

Mr. Zhuang smiled encouragingly,

”The principle is that indeed...”

”Divine Sense Calculation, perception of spiritual power, Formation energy trails, and the flow of nature’s spiritual energy all have things in common and form a system.”

”But making it happen is very complicated in practice.”

”You should learn more and practice more, start from the flow of spiritual energy, from simple to complex, from shallow to deep. In the future, perhaps you could indeed deduce Spirit Veins from the flow of spiritual energy, and thus locate Spiritual mines...”

Spiritual mines!

Mo Hua nodded repeatedly, his eyes shining.

If he really found a Spiritual mine, wouldn’t that mean striking it rich?

He could dig up so many Spirit Stones!

Mo Hua revealed a greedy little look.

Mr. Zhuang couldn’t help but chuckle and shake his head.

It wasn’t that simple.

After more than twenty thousand years of Taoist Court development, the Spiritual mines in the cultivation world that hadn’t been discovered were already few and far between.

Even if one was discovered, such a big prize attracted many would-be claimants, which often meant a storm of blood and violence...

Mr. Zhuang’s gaze flickered, and he sighed softly in his heart.

Turning to look at Mo Hua, Mr. Zhuang suddenly hesitated again, showing an amused expression.

His disciple seemed obedient but was also whimsical and mischievous.

He was able to help a Loose Cultivator brazenly snatch a Spiritual mine from the Qian Family.

If he really discovered a Spiritual mine in the future, perhaps he could take a cunning opportunity and reap a juicy reward...

Afterward, there was no more talking, and Mo Hua concentrated on eating.

His cheeks were stuffed full.

The soup dumplings were fragrant and sweet.

Mo Hua couldn’t help but eat more, and turning his head, he saw Bai Zixi seated beside him staring blankly at the soup dumplings in her bowl.

Mo Hua asked curiously, ”Don’t they taste good?”

He remembered that Junior Sister was supposed to love sweet things.

Bai Zixi shook her head.

Mo Hua’s gaze held some confusion.

Bai Zixi glanced at Mo Hua, then pointed at the soup dumplings in her bowl and said, ”They kind of look like you.”

Mo Hua was stunned, then frowned.

He looked at the soup dumplings in the bowl.

White, round, and translucent.

After thinking for a while, Mo Hua asked uncertainly, ”Junior Sister, are you saying I look pale?”

Bai Zixi shook her head again.

Mo Hua was even more puzzled.

Bai Zixi scooped up a snowy-white dumpling with her spoon, gently bit into it, and the black sesame filling oozed out...

Mo Hua froze, and after a long while, he finally understood.

Junior Sister was calling him scheming.

A fair face on the outside, but with a little dark heart on the inside.

Mo Hua muttered in dissatisfaction, ”Where am I scheming...”

Bai Zixi nodded and said, ”You are!”

In the mines, there was threatening, framing, deceiving, and intimidating - his methods were quite skilled.

Bai Zisheng also nodded on the side,

”Exactly, you seem harmless on the outside, but you have so many cunning ideas in your heart...”

Mo Hua glared at Bai Zisheng, ”Being scheming is better than being a fool!”

Bai Zisheng was indignant, ”How dare you call your Senior Brother a fool!”

”I didn’t say that, you admitted it yourself...”

...

Under the big tree, Mo Hua and Bai Zisheng bickered endlessly in a lively manner.

Mr. Zhuang looked on unperturbed, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Bai Zixi then took another bite of her soup dumpling, squinting slightly, her gaze sparkling and clear.