The Quest for Immortality

This was the first time Mo Hua had seen Old Kui laugh.

It was the smile of a marionette.

Although it was stiff and slightly unnerving, it was very gentle.

Old Kui’s hoarse and kindly voice also rang in Mo Hua’s ears:

”I’ll see you off...”

Mo Hua’s nose felt sour as he waved his hand vigorously, saying goodbye to Old Kui.

Old Kui ”smiled” again, then said softly, ”Go now...”

”Hmm!”

Mo Hua nodded, took another look at Old Kui, and then reluctantly shifted his gaze away, walking toward the city gates.

Old Kui watched Mo Hua’s small figure with some regret.

What a pity... I won’t get to eat the pine nuts fried by this child for me again... Nor will I have the chance to instruct him in spells or play chess together...

Then he mocked himself:

”Even my Taoist heart has wavered...”

Old Kui shook his head and closed his eyes again, resuming his withered sitting posture.

...

And Mo Hua just kept walking, through the city gate, leaving Li Mountain City, leaving behind the city shrouded in blood, filled with Demonic Qi, dangers, and the intent to kill.

He also left behind the Li Mountain City where his master resided...

When Mo Hua looked back.

The Soul-refining Blood Banner had been fully activated, completely shrouding the entire Li Mountain City.

Before his eyes were the surging sea of blood, the fierce Demon Sword, and the sky filled with bloody Sword Qi.

Mo Hua etched all this in his heart, with a slightly chilly look in his eyes.

”Dare to scheme against my master...”

One day, I will slaughter all you Evil Demons and monsters, tear this Soul Banner to shreds, smash this Demon Sword to pieces, and crush all the Heavenly Secret Cause and Effect of the Demon Path...

Whatever Mystery Demon Ancestor, whatever Golden Core Demon Cultivator, whatever treasures of the Demon Path...

You all just wait for me...

...

At that moment in Li Mountain City, Xuan Sanren, who had just recovered from Old Kui’s intimidating presence, suddenly felt his heart quake again.

He quickly pulled a bone Compass from his bosom.

In the Compass was sealed a lock, soaked with black blood, engraved with ancient Formation Patterns; in its center was embedded a demonic eye that looked vicious and blinked continuously. ɌＡƝỒβĘȿ

This was the treasured Heavenly Secret Cause and Effect of the Demon Path: Nether Heavenly Mechanism Seal.

Xuan Sanren frowned:

”Just now, this Heavenly Mechanism Seal... trembled?”

”What does that mean?”

”What is it afraid of?”

”What’s there to fear?”

Xuan Sanren bit his finger, smeared it across his forehead, leaving a trail of blood that began to wriggle on its own, his Divine Sense becoming increasingly sharp.

He formed a gesture with his hand, meticulously conjecturing, but after a while, he was still baffled.

I can’t figure anything out...

It’s all a mystery.

Yet there seemed to be a vague hint of an ominous sign.

It was as if, by a fluke, he had released a batch of fry into the river.

But among these fry, there seemed to be a tiny and ferocious ”crocodile.”

Looking closer, however, the river stretched boundlessly, waves rippling, a sea of vagueness, and nothing could be seen.

Xuan Sanren blanked out for a moment, then shook his head, ”It’s just an illusion...”

It couldn’t be such a coincidence...

...

About dozens of miles outside Li Mountain City, there was a fork in the road. Stay tuned for updates on

Mo Hua and people from the Five Elements Sect were about to part ways here.

The Chief Elder glanced at Mo Hua, his expression complex.

The true inheritance of the Five Elements Sect lay with this child.

The future fortunes of the Five Elements Sect might also reside with him.

Although he didn’t know what the true inheritance of the Five Elements Sect was, nor what its future fortunes could be, this was what Mr. Zhuang had told him, and he could only believe it.

But...

Whether the Five Elements Sect could have that fortune in the future was another matter...

The Sect was in tribulation; the hearts of its people scattered.

From now on, they would have to lead a life under others, which would not be easy.

These disciples would probably leave one after another.

How many could stay in the end was hard to say.

As long as he was alive, perhaps it might be better, after all, he was also a Golden Core Cultivator, but what about a hundred years, two hundred years later? If he were to die, and the Five Elements Sect had no successor, would it then be erased from the history of the Cultivation World...

The Chief Elder sighed, his heart full of worry.

He looked at Mo Hua and bid farewell with clasped hands: ”Young Gentleman, take care!”

Mo Hua also paid his respects: ”Chief Elder, please take care!”

”Hopefully there will be a day when we meet again...”

The Chief Elder’s heart was filled with melancholy, then he saluted Mo Hua once more, leading the people of the Five Elements Sect mightily onto the road of uncertainty...

...

Mo Hua, on the other hand, took another path.

This was a broad mountain road.

Big White, pulling a cart, saw that Mo Hua seemed to be in a bad mood, affectionately nuzzled Mo Hua with its head, as if trying to comfort him.

Mo Hua hugged Big White too, but his expression was still a bit downcast.

Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi also felt somewhat sad.

As they walked, Bai Zisheng suddenly asked Aunt Xue, ”Aunt Xue, can you find my mother and get her to save Master?”

Aunt Xue replied bitterly, ”People at Mr. Zhuang’s level are involved in matters we simply can’t intervene with...”

”Even if it were Madam, there’s little she can do to change many things.”

Moreover, the Madam... was also making her own calculations against Mr. Zhuang...

Aunt Xue didn’t articulate this last thought.

Bai Zisheng was somewhat discontented.

Bai Zixi then asked, ”Aunt Xue, where are we heading now?”

Aunt Xue mused: ”First, let’s see the Madam; she’s also concerned for your safety. Afterward, we should probably head back to the Bai Family...”

”Back to the Bai Family...” murmured Bai Zixi, involuntarily glancing at Mo Hua.

Bai Zisheng, suddenly remembering something, his desolation abating somewhat, looked at Mo Hua and asked, ”Apprentice brother, will you come back with us to the Bai Family?”

”The Bai Family?” Mo Hua was taken aback.

”Yes.” Bai Zisheng nodded, ”Come with me to the Bai Family. I’ll take care of you, and you won’t have to worry about cultivation, inheritances, Formations, we’ll have it all...”