The Quest for Immortality

Mo Hua took some time to inscribe the Gold-Cutting Sword Formation inside the Spirit Sword.

Unlike the sword formations used by the Sever Gold Sect for forging swords, the Gold-Cutting Sword Formation that Mo Hua inscribed within the sword was a self-sustaining complex formation system with a spiritual power cycle.

Ordinary Gold-Cutting Sword Formations rely on a cultivator to supply spiritual power to amplify sword qi.

But Mo Hua’s modified Gold-Cutting Sword Formation altered the formation’s structure and added a Spirit Gathering Array as the formation’s eye.

The Spirit Gathering Array would pre-charge spiritual power for the Spirit Sword, and the spiritual power would undergo transformation through the formation, converting into sharp Gold-Cutting Sword Qi.

Using Spirit Stones to supply spiritual power instead would eliminate the dependence on personal spiritual power.

Mo Hua’s spiritual power was weak, and he couldn’t afford to use powerful sword techniques.

After completing the formation, Mo Hua sealed the Spirit Sword.

During his ten-day break, he visited Refining Demon Mountain.

Mo Hua found a secluded spot, expanded his Divine Sense, confirmed there were no people or monster beasts nearby, and began practicing his sword techniques.

He first drew a turtle on a large stone.

This turtle was the target.

Then Mo Hua stepped back, retreating to a distance of 170 zhang, sat cross-legged on the spot, and placed the Spirit Sword before him.

Mo Hua held his breath, focused his thoughts, and silently operated the Sword Controlling Method within the Gold-Cutting Sword Control Jue, using his Divine Sense to manipulate the Spirit Sword. He then locked onto the turtle on the faraway stone.

With a single thought, the Spirit Sword flashed.

A streak of golden light instantly shot out.

Soon after, a booming sound reverberated from the distance, the rock shattered into pieces, and stone debris flew everywhere.

Mo Hua’s eyes brightened, and he quickly got up and ran forward.

The Spirit Sword had struck the turtle with precision.

The moment it hit, the formation was activated. The accumulated spiritual power in the Spirit Gathering Array was triggered, activating the Gold-Cutting Sword Formation and converting into sharp sword qi that tore through the stone.

The large stone was covered in spider-web-like cracks.

The turtle had also been pulverized into dust.

However, the Spirit Sword bore the brunt of the sword qi unleashed by the Gold-Cutting Sword Formation, becoming riddled with cracks and rendered useless.

Mo Hua frowned slightly.

The power wasn’t too weak, but it wasn’t as strong as he’d hoped.

First, the transformation of the formation’s power was still somewhat rudimentary.

After all, his use of the Gold-Cutting Sword Formation differed greatly from its original purpose, if not entirely contradictory.

Transforming an amplification-based formation into a killing-focused formation wasn’t something that could be achieved overnight.

Second, the formation wasn’t well-suited to the Spirit Sword.

The Spirit Sword couldn’t fully bear the flow of the formation, nor could the formation fully channel the Spirit Sword’s killing intent.

Finally, the Spirit Sword itself was of poor quality.

After all, it was a cheap Spirit Sword, so its power couldn’t be expected to be too high.

Mo Hua sighed softly.

The killing power was there, but it was far from enough—certainly below his expectations.

The formation issue was something he could resolve.

Following formation principles, he could gradually optimize the formation pivot, refine the formation patterns, and amplify the formation’s power.

But forging swords wasn’t so simple.

Improving the Spirit Sword’s quality and its compatibility with the formation couldn’t be achieved by a regular Artifact Refiner—it required a Sword-Casting Master skilled in crafting sword weapons.

Master Gu wasn’t suitable.

Though Master Gu was a third-grade Artifact Refiner, he lacked backing in the Gu Family, which meant certain confidential matters couldn’t be discussed with him, lest it implicate him.

Besides, Master Gu was responsible for supporting the massive Gushan Refining Workshop to make a living.

Mo Hua couldn’t harm him.

The ideal candidate would be someone with family connections.

Preferably in the same sect as him for easier communication and collaboration on sword crafting.

Someone he could trust.

And someone with exceptional sword-casting skills.

This was crucial for the potency of his ”Divine Sense Sword Control”!

Moreover, Divine Sense Sword Control was the foundation for comprehending Sword Intent.

Thus, this also concerned whether he could grasp Sword Intent and eventually delve into the Divine Thought into Sword True Jue...

After returning to the sect, Mo Hua began looking for candidates.

However, after thoroughly scanning the disciples, he couldn’t find anyone suitable among the Taixu Sect disciples to act as his ”Sword-Casting Master.”

The Taixu Sect wasn’t particularly focused on Sword Dao.

The inheritance of sword-casting techniques within the sect was scarce.

While there were disciples skilled in artifact refining, few specialized in sword forging.

Even those who could forge swords weren’t particularly proficient.

This matter couldn’t be rushed.

Mo Hua had no choice but to ask Master Gu to forge some ordinary ”Spirit Swords” as a temporary solution.

Mo Hua used these Spirit Swords to practice sword-controlling techniques continually.

Simultaneously, he made incremental adjustments to the sword formation, enhancing the intensity of spiritual power transformation and increasing the power of the Gold-Cutting Sword Formation.

But after practicing for a while, Mo Hua discovered a very serious problem.

Practicing sword techniques was a major financial drain!

Every time he practiced sword control, activated the sword formation, and unleashed sword qi, the Spirit Sword would end up destroyed.

Though these ordinary Spirit Swords were not expensive, they were still Spirit Swords.

The cost of each Spirit Sword was at least several hundred Spirit Stones.

As a loose cultivator without family support, even though he was currently financially stable, continuing this practice would eventually exhaust his resources and bankrupt him.

Even if he didn’t go bankrupt,

Master Gu would face financial ruin since he crafted swords for Mo Hua without asking for Spirit Stones.

No matter who went bankrupt, it wouldn’t be good.

”No way!”

This didn’t align with Mo Hua’s principles of conduct.

With a serious expression, Mo Hua thought, ”I need to find a way to practice sword control and regain some funds at the same time...”

Here in Refining Demon Mountain, the only way to practice sword control and regain funds was through monster hunting.

Mo Hua roamed the mountain but helplessly discovered that his sword techniques didn’t seem very useful.

Given his current sword control’s lack of power, ambushing monster beasts was far inferior to relying on formations.

Using it to finish off monsters felt redundant.