The Quest for Immortality

Zhang Quan died, leaving no proof behind.

The Iron Corpse was stolen, and the clues stopped there.

Now, the only option was to start with the traitor from the Minor Hidden Spirit Sect.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then ran off to ask Instructor Yan:

”Instructor, do you think that traitor is still in South Yue City?”

Instructor Yan’s gaze flickered, and he sighed:

”I’ve been searching for quite some time with no leads. Perhaps he’s no longer here...”

Mo Hua shook his head, ”Instructor, you’re lying.”

Instructor Yan was stunned for a moment.

But Mo Hua appeared certain.

Unable to resist, Instructor Yan asked, ”How do you know I’m lying?”

”I guessed!”

Mo Hua’s voice rang out clearly.

He looked at Instructor Yan with eyes clear and unclouded, the pupils deep and pure, unsullied by even a speck of dust.

Being seen with such a gaze by Mo Hua, Instructor Yan felt he couldn’t hide anything.

Even guilt arose in his heart.

Instructor Yan was silent for a long while, his inner struggle evident. Finally, he sighed and spoke up:

”That person is indeed in South Yue City...”

”I didn’t tell you before because, first, I didn’t want to get you involved, and second, because this is just my speculation. I have no proof and can’t be sure.”

Mo Hua’s eyes brightened as he quickly asked:

”Where in South Yue City?”

Instructor Yan frowned, ”I suspect he’s with the Lu Family.”

The Lu Family!

Mo Hua’s gaze shifted as he silently pondered.

The traitor, Shen Cai, had changed both his name and his appearance, likely to hide within South Yue City, and would probably seek the protection of a powerful force.

Being a Loose Cultivator was out of the question.

Firstly, the life of a Loose Cultivator was tough, and he betrayed his Sect not to live a hard life.

Secondly, being a Formation Master with no kin, it would be even more conspicuous to mix among Loose Cultivators, making his identity more suspicious.

If not a Loose Cultivator, then he must find a powerful force to depend on.

If he were to rely on one, it had to be a significant force.

It’s easy to enjoy the shade under a big tree, and within the crowd and chaos, it’s easier to blend in.

The three major powers in South Yue City: the first is the Taoist Court, the second is the South Yue Sect, and the third is the Lu Family.

The Taoist Court values lineage, and without a clean—at least apparently clean—identity, you can’t get in;

The South Yue Sect is a Sect, the Lu Family is a Clan.

Compared to each other, as long as you’re capable, you could infiltrate either.

To become an Instructor, an Elder of the Outer Gate or an offshoot, a Guest Elder, or to enter through marriage—there were many options, and the positions were quite high, with good treatment too.

Previously, Mo Hua also guessed if the traitor were to hide, he would be within the South Yue Sect or the Lu Family.

But he was a bit uncertain.

Now, Instructor Yan had also guessed it was the Lu Family...

Mo Hua asked, ”Why do you think he’s with the Lu Family?”

Instructor Yan replied, ”You were right, I did lie to you before...”

”When I was in South Yue City, I saw the handwriting of the traitor’s formations. At that time, I told you I couldn’t find the origin of this formation; I was lying...”

”I found out...”

Instructor Yan looked grave, ”This formation originated from the Lu Family.”

”And that mine, the aura of its formations, was familiar yet obscure, with a touch of something sinister...”

”I suspect the formations used in that mine are the Spiritual Pivot Formation.”

”That mine also belongs to the Lu Family.”

”I rented a house near the mines because I suspected the Lu Family. I wanted to gather some information and find clues to that traitor...”

Instructor Yan appeared somewhat helpless, ”But I didn’t expect to run into Zhang Quan, to be held hostage by him, trapped in the Corpse Walking Stronghold...”

”You know the rest...”

Instructor Yan poured out everything.

Mo Hua slowly nodded, ”Now that you mention it, the Lu Family does seem to be the most suspicious.”

Instructor Yan nodded slightly too, then his expression grew despondent:

”The Lu Family’s power is too great, owning several mines, with multiple Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed, engaging in mining, brothels, gambling dens, restaurants, occupying the majority of prosperous Jinhua Street. Their relationships in South Yue City are intertwined and complicated...”

”I don’t have the ability to investigate the Lu Family, and even if I did, I’m afraid that...”

Instructor Yan heaved a deep sigh.

Mo Hua understood Instructor Yan’s difficulties.

With the Lu Family being such a large local force, Instructor Yan, a cultivator from outside, even as a Formation Master, had no way to investigate.

And even if he found out anything, Instructor Yan, not being skilled in Taoist Skills, couldn’t do much.

If he went to report to the Taoist Court, claiming that someone from the Lu Family betrayed their master and destroyed their lineage,

Likely, the one being detained would be Instructor Yan himself.

Mo Hua then comforted Instructor Yan:

”Instructor, in fact, Manager Mo is right—you should consider your own lifelong affairs. It’s time to find a partner, settle down, and live happily.”

Instructor Yan stopped short, somewhat helplessly.

Mo Hua continued, ”What goes around comes around. Maybe that person will meet his end on his own one day?”

”These days, just stay here with peace of mind, drink tea with Mr. Zhuang, chat, and discuss formations...”

”As for the rest, let nature take its course; don’t take it too much to heart.”

Although he said this, Instructor Yan’s dilemma wasn’t likely that easy to resolve.

But having heard Mo Hua’s words, some warmth stirred in Instructor Yan’s heart.

For many years, he’d been somber, his temperament somewhat frosty.

The care of others was something he seldom felt.

But almost immediately, Instructor Yan realized something was off and looked at Mo Hua with suspicion, ”Are you... planning to do something?”

Mo Hua smiled and shook his head:

”Nothing much.”

What he planned to do, he couldn’t tell Instructor Yan just yet.

Later, he changed the topic and chatted with Instructor Yan for a bit before heading to the Taoist Court to seek out Situ Fang.

It was inconvenient to talk at the Taoist Court, so the two found a secluded teahouse.

Mo Hua whispered:

”Sister Situ, has your Court Leader ever taken bribes from the South Yue Sect?”

Situ Fang was taken aback, thought for a moment, and nodded.

”Then, has he ever taken bribes from the Lu Family?”

Situ Fang nodded again.

Mo Hua fell silent. He changed his approach and asked:

”So, in South Yue City, is there a sect or clan that hasn’t bribed him?”

Situ Fang hesitated and said,

”There might be some, but such forces likely no longer exist...”

Mo Hua found it hard to believe, ”He’s that greedy?”

Situ Fang said diplomatically, ”After all, he is my immediate Court Leader; I shouldn’t really judge his right and wrong.”

Mo Hua understood.

It meant he was so corrupt that even she had nothing to say.

Mo Hua frowned, ”He’s so greedy, and nobody does anything about it?”

Situ Fang coughed twice, then said in a lowered voice,

”The Taoist Court has power, and where there is power, there is greed, it’s only a matter of how much or how little.”

”There are those who aren’t greedy, but they’re rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.”

”Power and money beget each other.”

”As long as you have power, people will bring Spirit Stones to your door, you won’t even need to lift a finger, and they’ll put those stones in your pocket.”

”And as long as you have Spirit Stones, naturally, you can use them to exchange for power...”

Mo Hua nodded, then suddenly found something odd,

”Sister Situ, your tone, why does it sound so much like Uncle Zhang Lan...”

Situ Fang expressed disdain, ”That’s what he told me.”

Mo Hua was taken aback.

Situ Fang sighed, ”He was worried that I was too straightforward, too naïve, so he told me these words when I first became a Supervisor.”

At first, Situ Fang didn’t believe it.

But after becoming a Supervisor and witnessing many things, she had no choice but to believe.

Mo Hua pondered for a while, then asked,

”Which family has bribed Court Leader Qian the most?”

”That would definitely be the Lu Family.”

”Is the Lu Family the richest?”

”Yes.” Situ Fang nodded and sighed,

”Most of the mines in South Yue City belong to the Lu Family, most of the Mining Cultivators in South Yue City work for the Lu Family, how could they not be rich?”

What she probably left unsaid:...and most of the Taoist Court has been bought by the Lu Family...

Mo Hua muttered to herself internally.

Seeing Mo Hua’s expression, Situ Fang frowned and then reminded,

”Don’t oppose the Lu Family...”

”Powerful dragons do not suppress local snakes; the Lu Family has immense power, deep connections, and complex relationships. Unless the Taoist Court intervenes, such local forces can do a lot of bad things and still cover everything up perfectly once they collude with the local Taoist Court officials.”

”It’s like trying to remove grass without taking out the roots...”

Her own Situ Family, upon arriving in South Yue City, also abided by the rules.

There may have been conflicts of interest, but they would never tear each other apart.

The problems in South Yue City are deep-rooted.

They were not something the Situ Family could just decide to resolve.

Moreover, Situ Fang was only a Supervisor.

Situ Fang deeply valued her friendship with Mo Hua and feared that he was unaware of the peril within, and that his passion might recklessly entangle him in matters from which he could not extricate himself.

Mo Hua then nodded and said with a smile,

”Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”

After confirming the relationship between the Lu Family and the Taoist Court, Mo Hua took another trip to the Lu Family’s mines.

On the surface, the mines of the Lu Family were as noisy and busy as ever.

But Mo Hua noticed that the surrounding Formations had changed.

The Formations were more comprehensive and the guards more vigilant.

Around the perimeter of the mines, many Expose Dust Formations had been set up, and at the gate, even an Expose Shadow Formation had been laid...

These Formations seemed to be guarding against someone like herself...

At the same time, the Cultivators guarding the mines had been replaced.

The Cultivator from the Lu Family named Lu Ming had been transferred away.

The number of Lu Family Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed at the mines had also doubled.

They no longer had beautiful maids fanning them, nor fine food and drink, instead, they sat quietly with focused expressions, occasionally releasing Divine Sense to scan around, as if on guard against something.

”There’s a big problem...”

Mo Hua muttered to herself.

With Foundation Establishment cultivators, Expose Dust Formations, and Expose Shadow Formations, it was not going to be easy to slip in.

Mo Hua planned to check it out at night.

But come nighttime, those two Foundation Establishment cultivators were still there.

With a sweep of Divine Sense, Mo Hua could even detect that many corners were stealthily filled with Lu Family Cultivators.

There was no mining at night, yet their vigilance had intensified.

They didn’t leave Mo Hua any chance.

”The problem is huge...”

Deciding it was futile, Mo Hua simply waited outside until midnight.

Finally, at 1 a.m., some noises emanated from inside the mines.

Waves of sinister qi drifted over.

However, unlike before, these sounds were very subtle.

The qi inside was also weak and hard to detect.

It was as if it had been deliberately repressed or obscured by formations or something similar.

The intense and dreadful atmosphere that Mo Hua had sensed before, teeming with dark and eerie vibes that sent shivers down one’s spine, was completely different now.

The qi from the mines was faint now, and the noises were low.

Even an ordinary Cultivator passing by might not notice anything unusual about the mines.

Mo Hua’s expression became serious.

He sat down cross-legged, released his Divine Sense and concentrated on sensing the qi from the mines.

A moment later, Mo Hua opened his eyes, certain in his heart.

He wasn’t wrong in his guess.

The qi in these mines was that of zombies!

Previously, he wasn’t sure.

But after dealing with Zhang Quan, visiting Corpse Walking Stronghold, stealing the Corpse Controlling Bell, taking the ”Zombie Image,” and even consuming a few zombies,

Mo Hua was now very familiar.

That deathly qi was the Corpse Qi from zombies.

That rotting stench was the putrid odor from Walking Corpses.

The evil formations were exactly the Spiritual Pivot Evil Formations inscribed on zombies.

Formerly, the dense and chilling qi was because within this mine were countless zombies!

This mine owned by the Lu Family was a Corpse Mine!