The Quest for Immortality

Mo Hua handed over the five Daoist Robes of Fire Mastery to Xie Ling.

Xie Ling solemnly accepted them and, when the rest period arrived, went to apprehend the Sin Cultivator skilled in Fire Spells.

Two days later, the rest period ended.

Xie Ling came to see Mo Hua, bringing four others with him.

As they approached Mo Hua, they all paid their respects and said in unison:

”Thank you, Junior Brother!”

Xie Ling was immensely excited, ”Wearing the Daoist Robes of Fire Mastery you gave us, we clashed with that Sin Cultivator. No matter how he unleashed his Fire Spells on us, we were undeterred, feeling only a slight burning sensation. It’s like heaven and earth compared to before...”

”Finally, after one last exchange, we managed to capture that villain.”

The others were also visibly excited.

Although they were in the same cohort as Mo Hua, their talents and abilities were actually not too outstanding—at least not when compared to the many Heavenly Prides within Taixu Gate.

In fact, they each were geniuses from major families across the Nine State.

But when gathered in Qian State, a place swarming with geniuses, their ’genius’ status wasn’t as pronounced.

While they didn’t quite blend into the masses, they were relatively more ’mediocre’.

Their pressure was immense.

Unlike Mo Hua, who could remain calm regardless of his A-grade or C-grade, they couldn’t be so indifferent.

These genius disciples had to be ambitious.

They carried the expectations of their parents and clans on their shoulders, needing to learn everything and to excel in it, not allowing any area to be too lacking.

The Tao Cultivation curriculum of Taixu Gate was extensive and time-consuming.

Amidst their heavy coursework, the progress they could make in earning rewards was quite slow.

Especially for some geniuses who grew up sheltered within their clans, possessing great talent but disliking conflict and unfamiliar with slaughter; they rarely ventured out to undertake such reward quests to apprehend criminals.

Like Xie Ling and his peers, although they had entered the Sect for three years, their experiences in capturing Sin Cultivators were still limited, and their methods crude.

Furthermore, they were facing Sin Cultivators who were battle-hardened and cunning.

Initial stumbles were to be expected.

Now with the help of the Daoist Robes of Fire Mastery, having overcome a ”powerful foe” and captured a Sin Cultivator, accomplished the mission, accumulated experience, and earned Merit Points, all of them couldn’t help feeling a bit elated.

As a token of gratitude, Xie Ling and his fellows treated Mo Hua to chicken legs.

According to Elder Brother Cheng Mo, one of Junior Brother’s favorite foods was chicken legs; if you wanted a favor from Junior Brother, you must ”present” a chicken leg.

Mo Hua, while eating chicken legs, had a casual chat with Xie Ling and the others.

During the conversation, Mo Hua suddenly asked curiously:

”Does your Xie family from Gen State have any ancestral teachings?”

Situ Jian inherited the Li Fire Sword Technique, Yang Qianjun inherited the Yang Family Spear Technique, and Cheng Mo, from Gen State like Xie Ling, inherited the Mountain Splitting Axe Technique.

But Xie Ling...

Mo Hua really couldn’t see anything particularly unique about him...

Xie Ling nodded and replied, ”There are many mountains in Gen State. Our Xie family of Gen State has inherited the Kanyu Skill, able to discern the energy of mountains and rivers, establish life and death in tombs, pass down the Yin Yang Feng Shui Secret Formation...”

”Yin Yang Feng Shui Secret Formation?!”

Mo Hua was surprised, ”You know this Formation?”

Xie Ling replied with embarrassment, ”My talent for Formation is modest, and I didn’t learn it. I only learned some basics like discerning energy, mountain-escaping, determining tombs, and suppressing ghosts and evils.”

Mo Hua, puzzled, asked, ”Discerning energy, mountain-escaping, determining tombs, suppressing evils?”

Xie Ling explained, ”It’s about discerning the Earth Qi Mechanism, concealing oneself using mountains and rivers, scrutinizing geomancy, establishing tombs, preventing Corpse Transformation, expelling ghosts, and the more profound abilities, like cutting off life with death, reversing and altering the Heavenly secret...”

Mo Hua’s pupils dilated, aghast in his heart.

Cutting off life with death, reversing the Heavenly secret...

Scratching his head with a hint of apology, Xie Ling said, ”But my knowledge is superficial as I only have a cursory understanding of these arts, and furthermore, they’re secretive family teachings. My grandfather has instructed me not to speak of them...”

Mo Hua’s gaze became contemplative, his thoughts ebbing and flowing.

Seeing Mo Hua’s reaction, Xie Ling, worried he might have upset him, quickly added:

”However, Junior Brother, if you have time, you can visit the Xie family at the Qiong Yin Mountain Provincial Border of Gen State. I’m not in a position to teach some of the secret techniques, but if my grandfather allows, there might be a chance to pass them on...”

Mo Hua looked resolute, nodding deeply:

”Good!”

Gen State, Qiong Yin Mountain Provincial Border...

Mo Hua firmly etched this place in his memory.

...

In the time that followed, whenever Xie Ling was uncertain about a reward quest or lacked confidence, he would go to the dining hall at the Disciple’s Residence during meal times, present a chicken leg, and seek Mo Hua’s advice.

When it came to reward quests, Mo Hua had an abundance of experience.

Even the Fire Buddha fell into his hands, let alone these ”small fry” Sin Cultivators.

So every time Xie Ling asked, Mo Hua had an accurate answer.

With Mo Hua’s guidance, complemented by the right Formations and Spiritual Artifacts, Xie Ling’s subsequent reward quests went smoothly, with great efficiency.

Because of this, Xie Ling held Mo Hua in high regard.

Although young, he was knowledgeable, skilled in Formations, proactive, thoroughly strategic, and amiable.

No wonder Elder Master Xun chose him to be the ”Junior Brother.”

Moreover, no matter how difficult the reward quest, as long as one followed Junior Brother’s instructions diligently and meticulously, the likelihood of failure was low, and the risks were greatly reduced.

This wasn’t just a ”Junior Brother,” he was akin to a venerable ”Grandfather” within the Sect, guiding those who lost their way.

Thereafter, Xie Ling would brag about Mo Hua to everyone he met.

Thus, during meals in the dining hall, not long after Mo Hua sat down, numerous disciples would come over, pay their respects respectfully, and politely say, ”Junior Brother!”

”I have a favor to ask.”

”I wish to purchase a Spiritual Artifact...”

”I can’t seem to capture a Sin Cultivator...”

”Please, Junior Brother, grant me your guidance...”

These disciples, some familiar and some not, were all treated equally by Mo Hua, who did his utmost to provide answers.

The Spiritual Artifacts occasionally needed were of various kinds.