The Quest for Immortality

”This... wouldn’t be appropriate...”

Ouyang Mu hesitated, somewhat stunned.

”What’s inappropriate?” Mo Hua said, ”From now on, in Refining Demon Mountain, I’ll have your back.”

”But, I’m a disciple of Tai’a Sect...” Ouyang Mu whispered, casting a glance at Mo Hua’s Taoist Robe, ”Senior Brother, you’re from Taixu Gate.”

Mo Hua replied matter-of-factly:

”You’ve already called me Senior Brother—what difference does it make whether it’s Tai’a Sect or Taixu Gate?”

”Broaden your horizons; don’t get stuck on sect rivalries.”

”Besides, Tai’a, Taixu, and Chongxu Sect have historical ties, and their ancestors were connected.”

”If you trace it back over a thousand years, we’re practically family. Why make a fuss about it?”

Ouyang Mu slowly nodded, feeling that Mo Hua’s words made sense.

”But I only know artifact refining and sword casting. I’m afraid I won’t be able to help you much, Senior Brother Mo.”

”Sword casting is already enough!” Mo Hua replied.

What he lacked was someone to cast swords for him.

Whether it was monster hunting or fighting, Mo Hua was never short on people.

Within the sect, when it came to combat, Cheng Mo, Situ Jian, Yang Qianjun, and Hao Xuan were always at his beck and call.

In Refining Demon Mountain, the surrounding hillsides were practically filled with his ”Junior Brothers.” A casual whistle would summon a team.

Moreover, Mo Hua was fully capable on his own.

His repertoire of techniques was already quite extensive.

For treachery, he had Concealment Technique; for defense and retreat, he relied on Water Passing Step.

For attack, he commanded Formations, Forbidden Techniques, and Sword Control.

Outside the Qian Learning State Boundary, he could even ”summon” Gu Changhuai, Uncle Gu of Golden Core Realm, and leverage the secret commands of the Gu Family to mobilize their cultivators.

He had plenty of hands for fighting.

But specialized and professional Tao cultivation talents were scarce.

At present, what he especially lacked were sword-casting masters with orthodox backgrounds, inheritance, and natural talent.

Seeing Ouyang Mu still hesitating, a glint flashed in Mo Hua’s eyes, and he added:

”If you’re unwilling, we can forget about it. I wouldn’t want to force you.”

After all, Ouyang Mu was a disciple of Tai’a Sect and a direct lineage of the Ouyang Family. Asking him to follow someone from Taixu Gate would naturally make him uncomfortable.

This was only human nature.

”Senior Brother Mo, I’m sorry...”

Ouyang Mu felt a little guilty.

Senior Brother Mo had been so kind to him, yet he rejected his offer.

”It’s alright,” Mo Hua smiled, ”If you don’t want to work with me, that’s fine. Let’s keep it strictly professional—in the future, help me cast swords, and I’ll compensate you with Merit Points.”

Ouyang Mu froze, showing some concern in his expression.

Mo Hua roughly understood and asked, ”Are you worried your father won’t let you cast swords?”

Ouyang Mu nodded.

”But you still need to earn Merit Points, don’t you?”

”I do...”

”Does your father give you Merit Points?” Mo Hua continued.

Ouyang Mu shook his head, ”No, Tai’a Sect has strict rules, and our Ouyang Family is also stringent. Within the sect, everything must be earned by oneself. We can’t rely on our status to bully others, nor exploit identity for personal gain. Even Merit Points must be accumulated step by step.”

”Then aside from sword casting, do you have any other way to earn Merit Points?”

After racking his brain in deep thought, Ouyang Mu finally had to admit that, apart from sword casting, he had no other means of earning Merit Points.

”There you have it...” Mo Hua said, ”If your father won’t give you Merit Points and you must earn them yourself, then you can only rely on sword casting to do so.”

”Besides, whether it’s learning sword casting or honing swordsmanship, those are concerns for the future. Right now, the priority is earning Merit Points and focusing on cultivation.”

”Without the present, there is no future.”

”So for now, just focus on sword casting—don’t worry about anything else.”

Ouyang Mu couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

Taking advantage of the moment, Mo Hua added some ”pressure” with a serious tone:

”Furthermore, think carefully—throughout the entire Qian Learning State Boundary, sword-casting masters aren’t exactly rare; you’re not the only one.”

”Sword-casting masters need a steady supply of monster beast materials to practice their craft.”

”Opportunities to receive stable material supply, employment for sword casting, and compensation with Merit Points are exceedingly rare.”

”If you miss this chance, you might never encounter another like it in the future...”

Hearing this, Ouyang Mu immediately became nervous.

Sect missions were always fiercely contested.

He had difficulty competing with others in the first place, and extra opportunities for sword casting outside sect teachings were exceedingly rare.

If he wanted to refine on his own, the cost of materials alone would require a significant amount of Merit Points.

Ouyang Mu still remembered the efforts he went through to acquire the Flame Demon Wolf’s spine bone for sword casting.

Ultimately, relying solely on himself, he failed to obtain it.

It was Senior Brother Mo who had someone slay the Flame Demon Wolf, extract the spine bone, and gift it to him.

If he refused now, he truly feared he’d lose such lucrative ”sword casting” opportunities in the future.

Ouyang Mu promptly nodded multiple times and said:

”Senior Brother Mo, if you don’t mind my crude skills, you can always come to me for sword casting—I’ll do my utmost!”

”Good!”

Mo Hua nodded, satisfied.

After thinking for a moment, he said, ”I’ll provide you with materials. For now, forge six or seven of those golden Spirit Swords I showed you, and then I’ll consider crafting other types.”

”Alright, Senior Brother Mo.”

Ouyang Mu agreed.

Afterward, Mo Hua located an Eagle Demon that had been felled mid-air by Sword Qi and plummeted to the ground. He skinned and collected materials before handing them to Ouyang Mu, instructing him to exchange for Merit Points at the mountain gate and save them for personal use.

The poor boy had just over three hundred Merit Points to his name.

Without some assistance, he likely couldn’t even afford the entrance fee to Refining Demon Mountain...

Ouyang Mu was both overwhelmed and deeply moved but couldn’t refuse, given his financial struggles. He silently resolved:

To repay Senior Brother Mo’s kindness, he must devote himself fully to sword casting.

Leaving Refining Demon Mountain, the two walked back to the sect side by side.

Because Tai’a Mountain and Taixu Mountain were adjacent, their paths to the sect coincided.