The Quest for Immortality

Ouyang Feng looked around and asked, ”Are there any other cultivators nearby?”

Mo Hua shook his head, ”I wouldn’t know.”

Ouyang Feng released his Divine Sense to scan the surroundings but indeed found no traces of others.

He glanced at Mo Hua again, his brows twitching as he asked, ”You... didn’t come to the mountain alone, did you?”

If it were someone else, he wouldn’t have thought so.

But Mo Hua...

He had worked alongside Mo Hua on rewards before and knew this Junior Brother, although he seemed naive, was bold, meticulous, resourceful, and unyielding in his ambitions.

A lone trip into Refining Demon Mountain was not beyond him.

Indeed, Mo Hua had entered the mountain alone.

He had come to practice Sword Control by himself.

One sword, one eagle, a clean profit of 800 Merit Points.

Such a venture wasn’t suited for teamwork, nor was there any need for it.

But strictly speaking, he wasn’t entirely alone in the mountain.

The vast wilderness was filled with his ”Junior Brothers,” scattered across nearby mountain ridges, enabling him to navigate the terrain with ease.

”Not exactly,” Mo Hua gestured toward a nearby mountain ridge and said, ”I have plenty of little brothers.”

Ouyang Feng and the others were taken aback, unsure of what this Junior Brother meant...

”Plenty of little brothers”? What did that even mean?

However, since Ouyang Qian and the others were unfamiliar with Mo Hua, they didn’t feel it appropriate to inquire deeper.

Ouyang Feng, being more acquainted with Mo Hua, didn’t delve further either, as they were among other Tai’a Sect disciples.

Meanwhile, Mo Hua was already adeptly skinning and cleaning the eagle, storing its materials into his Storage Bag.

Although he claimed the eagle was something he stumbled upon,

Even if it was scavenged, it was still his!

And since it was his, it should be tucked away quickly to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Seeing Mo Hua’s sharp, self-assured demeanor, never one to suffer losses, Ouyang Feng couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head, a faint warmth flickering at the corners of his mouth.

He glanced over at the timid Little Wood by his side, inwardly sighing.

If Mu’er had just half... no, even a fifth of Mo Hua’s cleverness...

He wouldn’t be so prone to suffering losses in the future.

”It’s getting late. We should take our leave so as not to disturb you,” Ouyang Feng said, then glanced at Mo Hua and reminded him, ”Be careful in the mountain.”

”Mm, mm.” Mo Hua nodded, ”Don’t worry, Senior Brother Feng.”

Ouyang Feng didn’t say any more, heading toward another mountain trail. Yet, he hadn’t walked far when he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Scenes of Refining Demon Mountain flashed through his mind.

The disciples of Taixu Gate had entered the mountain ahead to hunt monsters...

Traps, armor, spiritual artifacts... all embedded with formations.

Standardized hunting practices.

Mo Hua had just remarked, ”I have plenty of little brothers...”

Ouyang Feng’s heart clenched, his expression tinged with disbelief.

”Could it be...”

Unable to resist, Ouyang Feng turned his head to look at Mo Hua again.

Mo Hua had already finished cleaning the eagle. His lean frame, pale face, and hands stained with monster blood carried an air of detached calm.

Looking at the ferocious dead eagle before him, it was as though he were merely gazing upon a chicken he had just slaughtered...

Ouyang Feng’s pupils contracted as he promptly called out:

”Mo Hua.”

Hearing this, Mo Hua paused, a hint of puzzlement flickering in his gaze as he turned to Ouyang Feng, who, after a moment of thought, pulled a slightly dark-skinned, thin Tai’a Sect disciple closer and spoke gently:

”This is Ouyang Mu, my younger brother...”

A fleeting trace of affection flashed through Ouyang Feng’s eyes as he smiled and said to Mo Hua, ”If you encounter him in the mountains, I must trouble you to look after him.”

At these words, Ouyang Mu froze.

The other Tai’a Sect disciples were equally stunned.

Ouyang Feng, a direct lineage disciple of Tai’a Sect, with Superior-Grade Spiritual Roots, extraordinary talent, and great respect among his peers,

Usually appeared affable and gentle yet remained inwardly proud, never asking anyone for favors.

No one had expected him to turn to a junior cultivator from another sect today, requesting him to look after his younger brother.

The revelation was beyond everyone’s expectations.

Mo Hua, however, thought little of it.

He shared a good relationship with Senior Brother Feng, having completed many missions with him and received much guidance in the past.

Now watching over his younger brother was a natural gesture.

”Mm, mm.” Mo Hua nodded repeatedly, ”Don’t worry, Senior Brother Feng. If the opportunity arises, I’ll be sure to look out for him.”

Mo Hua glanced again at the slim, dark-skinned cultivator beside Ouyang Feng and silently committed his name to memory:

Ouyang Mu.