The Quest for Immortality

By the Mistwater River bank.

Mo Hua and the ”young master” within the black fog merely exchanged a glance.

Afterwards, the luxurious flower boat entered into the vast night, gradually disappearing from sight.

Mo Hua’s gaze was deep, silently memorizing those eyes, and then continued along the river bank, embarking on the return journey to the Sect.

On the way back, everything was peaceful and uneventful.

Half a day later, Mo Hua returned to the Sect and first reported to Elder Song, who was in charge of attendance, explaining the situation.

Contrary to Mo Hua’s expectations, Elder Song, who was usually unsympathetic, was unexpectedly amiable in attitude, even appearing somewhat proud.

It seemed that Mo Hua’s leave was well-pleaded, greatly preserving his face.

Mo Hua was somewhat puzzled.

After bidding farewell to Elder Song, Mo Hua went to pay respects to Elder Master Xun.

Mo Hua was aware that it was only because of Elder Master Xun’s regard that Elder Song was so lenient with him.

Other disciples simply had no right to take such frequent leave.

In the Elder’s Residence, Elder Master Xun was busy with something and looked solemn. After seeing Mo Hua, he asked a few brief questions but didn’t say much due to his preoccupation, his gaze deepening with contemplation.

Mo Hua was also puzzled but seeing that Elder Master Xun appeared to be busy with important matters, did not want to disturb him and respectfully said:

”Elder Master, your disciple takes his leave.”

Elder Master Xun nodded and as usual advised, ”Cultivate diligently, study the Formations thoroughly, focus your mind.”

”Yes.”

Mo Hua solemnly replied, then bowed and took his leave.

Elder Master Xun watched the direction Mo Hua left, furrowing his brow for a long time before collecting his thoughts.

Mo Hua’s matters could be looked into later when there was time.

The immediate priority...

Elder Master Xun glanced down at the table.

On the table, aside from a Heavenly Mechanism Compass, there was also a map and a Jade Slip.

The Heavenly Mechanism Compass, peering into cause and effect.

The map showed a vast Spiritual mines mountain range, undulating and meandering, traversing the Qianxue State Boundary and the surrounding large territories, resembling a dragon constituted of Spiritual Power.

The map was annotated with four characters:

”Qianlong Mountain Range.”

Meanwhile, the Jade Slip displayed the rankings of the Qianxue State Boundary, Four Great Sects, Eight Great Gates, Twelve Streams, and Qianxue Hundred Gates.

These rankings were determined by the ”Debating Dao Conference”, especially by the most prestigious event with the grandest atmosphere, the Qian State ”Sword Discussion Conference.”

This compass could see the future cause and effect.

This Jade Slip and this map could secure the Sect’s ”fortune and fame.”

The future destiny of Taixu Gate rested upon these three items.

But now, the Heavenly Mechanism Compass could not clear the fog; the cause and effect were undetermined, and the future was uncertain.

The other two items also feared unexpected changes.

Heaven might have unforeseen calamities.

Elder Master Xun looked out the window.

Outside the window, Taixu Mountain was as always, primordial and tranquil, its pavilions, towers, and buildings nestled among lush forests.

The disciples concentrated on their cultivation, and the Elders on teaching and imparting skills.

Ethereal clouds floated among the mountains.

All was calm and serene, a peaceful passage of time.

But in secret, undercurrents were probably already surging.

Men have fortune and misfortune, Sects rise and fall, born in strife and dying in complacency.

If preparations are not made early, and considerations are not thoughtfully planned, the existential crisis of the Sect, though seeming far away, can suddenly become imminent.

A faint sense of crisis lingered in Elder Master Xun’s heart.

Outside Taixu Gate, dangers lurked everywhere.

”But... from where exactly does this killing intent originate...”

”How should our Taixu Gate break through the situation? How to seek a sliver of survival amidst a dangerous realm infested with Evil Thoughts...”

Elder Master Xun looked at the long-established, grand Taixu Gate, his brows furrowing tighter, his aged face as solemn as a mountain.

...

In a certain Forbidden side of Qian State.

Within a sinister secret chamber.

Mr. Tu’s face was terrifyingly grim.

Under the huge White Bone on the altar, the eerie green candlelight made his face appear as horrifying as an Evil Ghost, fierce and fearsome.

His voice carried anger and deep fear.

”The River God has disappeared...”

”The incarnation of the Divine Lord has vanished.”

”The altar is destroyed.”

”The blood-red fishing village, who knows by whom, was dug up thoroughly, turned upside down...”

”The minions of the Divine Lord have also been captured...”

A chilling and terrifying Divine Punishment descended upon him, the secret chamber filled with horrifying Evil Thoughts and Fury.

Mr. Tu prostrated fully on the ground, his teeth clenched tight, blood seeping through his teeth.

His limbs were somewhat twisted, beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead, and his voice trembled.

”Begging the Divine Lord... for forgiveness...”

”I already have a lead... I...”

Mr. Tu coughed up fresh blood and was unable to finish his sentence.

As the Furious Evil Thoughts subsided and the Divine Punishment eased, Mr. Tu coughed up more blood but managed to continue speaking.

”It’s... Taixu Gate...”

”The decline of the Qian State’s Heavenly Mechanism techniques, the disappearance of Divine Tao Arrays, some old relics, either greedy for fame and fortune or selfishly maintaining their standing...”

”Indulging desires without guarding the heart, the path of Divine Thought greatly declines.”

”Only Taixu Gate retains some remnants of the Divine Thought Sword Dao heritage.”

”Taixu Gate...”

Mr. Tu’s gaze was distant, ”Centuries ago, it was just so. Hardly had the River God Temple been established and shortly after it opened, it was discovered by a genius Sword Cultivator of Golden Core Realm from Taixu Gate.”

”That person cultivated the Divine Thought into Sword technique, achieved minor accomplishment in Sword Dao, nearly...”

Mr. Tu looked wary, ”...just narrowly failed to destroy the embryo of the Divine Lord’s incarnation and ruin the altar of the River God Temple, almost rendering my century of efforts fruitless.”

”At the critical moment, it was the mighty power of the Divine Lord that defeated this man, destroyed his Taoist Heart, and broke his lifebound sword.”

”Yet, the matters of the River God Temple still seeded cause and effect.”