The Quest for Immortality

”Just don’t know, what exactly is their purpose...”

Xun Ziyou’s expression was solemn, lost in thought.

Mo Hua glanced at Xun Ziyou, thinking to himself that this was as far as he could remind him.

He couldn’t say any more.

Xun Ziyou silently noted this matter in his heart, planning to investigate it thoroughly when he returned.

But the urgent matter at hand was still Mo Hua’s so-called ”Divine Tao Array.”

Xun Ziyou asked Mo Hua:

”Do you want me to split the tree open to show you the formation inside?”

”No need,” Mo Hua replied, ”it would be too conspicuous, and the formation in this forest is likely interconnected with divine thoughts as eyes and the woods as pivots. Interfering even slightly could trigger a chain reaction, potentially affecting the flow of divine thought and alerting the core of the formation, alarming the snake in the grass.”

”There’s also a possibility that the trees serve as media for the formation, integrating seamlessly. If a tree is cut, the formation inside might become ineffective...”

Xun Ziyou nodded, somewhat half-understanding.

The child was speaking in a profound way; he didn’t fully grasp it.

Anyway, the trees couldn’t be cut.

”Then what will you do?” Xun Ziyou asked.

If he couldn’t cut the trees, how could he observe the formation patterns?

”I’ll just take a look,” Mo Hua answered.

”Look?”

Xun Ziyou was momentarily stunned.

How to look?

Just as Xun Ziyou was puzzled, he saw Mo Hua sit cross-legged, take out pen and paper, and stare intently at the large tree.

Meanwhile, an aura both bizarre and mysterious emanated from Mo Hua.

This was completely different from the feeling he gave before.

Xun Ziyou’s pupils slightly contracted.

This aura...

Elder Xun was considered ”one of us,” so Mo Hua didn’t conceal some methods.

Of course, Elder Xun was not a Formation Master and didn’t walk the path of Divine Sense Proving the Dao, so even if Mo Hua used some divine thought techniques, Elder Xun probably wouldn’t grasp the details.

Mo Hua merged Heavenly secret Tricky Calculation and Heavenly secret Calculation, his gaze clear yet unified, concentrating as he observed the tree, analyzing the aura of the formation that was one with the tree.

This aura was wrapped deep inside by the tree’s wood energy.

Layer upon layer of barriers covered it.

Mo Hua gradually deduced as his divine sense infiltrated layer by layer.

Finally, after an indeterminate time, Mo Hua sensed some faint white aura.

This aura was not the spiritual energy of flora or the spiritual power of a formation, but the aura of divine thought.

But this divine aura was faint white, a mist-like divine thought, merely ordinary cultivator’s divine thought, not yet transformed.

Moreover, though this divine thought was faint white, it was cold and felt somewhat sinister.

It was clear that the cultivator who drew these formations was not respectable.

Moreover, there was even a trace of the Great Wilderness Evil God’s aura.

This trace of aura was extremely subtle, almost undetectable.

If not for Mo Hua’s extensive dealings with the Great Wilderness Evil God, having even consumed its offerings, devoured divine remains, eaten the Evil God’s incarnations, and absorbed much of the Great Wilderness Evil God’s Divine Marrow.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to sense it.

”Indeed... on the surface, the Great Wilderness Evil God seems absent everywhere, but in the shadows, He is lurking everywhere...”

Mo Hua sighed slightly in his heart.

Then he settled down, beginning to deduce while recording formation patterns.

Xun Ziyou stood silently behind him, vigilantly watching the surrounding forest for any monster cultivators or demon cultivators appearing, or dangerous monster beasts threatening Mo Hua’s safety.

Meanwhile, he also used the corner of his eye to glance at what Mo Hua was recording.

But soon he realized he couldn’t comprehend it...

It was an extremely unconventional set of formation patterns, completely different from any known formation system.

Each stroke formed a self-contained system, constructing a complete formation logic.

Yet, to the eyes, it made no sense at all.

Xun Ziyou suddenly felt a bit relieved.

Thankfully, at the start of his cultivation, he hadn’t forced himself to learn formations, obeying the ancestor’s command to become a Formation Master.

Otherwise, studying formations to this day, only to find himself unable to understand a second grade junior Formation Master’s formations, wouldn’t his Taoist Heart collapse?

Xun Ziyou sighed deeply, giving Mo Hua a profound look before dismissing his thoughts, no longer watching what Mo Hua was drawing—since he couldn’t understand anyway—and instead focusing all his energy on guarding the surroundings, watching for hidden dangers.

Before, he thought the ancestor was making a fuss, sending a late Golden Core Stage to covertly care for a Foundation Building Middle Stage youngster.

Now it seemed, with such formation talent, it was already fortunate that the ancestor hadn’t sent a Feather Transformation Realm to secretly protect him...

After a period of thirty minutes, Mo Hua captured most of a Divine Tao Array on one tree, then put away his pen and ink and stood up, saying:

”Let’s move ahead.”

Xun Ziyou glanced around, nodding.

Mo Hua proceeded forward, looking around and again finding a large tree. He sat down to continue deducing and recording the formation patterns.

Xun Ziyou remained on guard beside him.

In this manner, they spent the entire day, with Mo Hua recording a thick stack of formation patterns.

During this time, all was calm with no monster cultivators or other dangers appearing.

As the sun set and darkness approached, Xun Ziyou said, ”Let’s go back first.”

”Alright,” Mo Hua agreed.

Before uncovering the secrets deep within this forest, it was best not to stay overnight among the trees.

The two headed back.

Xun Ziyou accompanied Mo Hua to the mountain gate, bidding farewell, ”I must remain in the mountains. Be careful on your way back to the sect.”

”Hmm,” Mo Hua nodded.

Xun Ziyou thought for a moment and added, ”Tomorrow is still a rest period. If you want to return to the forest to copy the formations, remember to find me, I’ll take you inside.”

Mo Hua’s eyes lit up, smiling, ”Thank you, Elder Xun!”

Elder Xun nodded slightly.

Then Mo Hua, on his own, left the Refining Demon Mountain and headed towards the Taixu Gate.

As he walked, anticipation brewed in Mo Hua’s heart.

He wanted to return to the sect as soon as possible to categorize and study the thick stack of divine formation patterns he had copied, to see if he could recreate the complete Divine Tao Array set up within the dense forest.

Moreover, this Divine Tao Array was evidently much more profound than the one he had acquired previously in a small fishing village.

If his conjecture was correct, the functionality of this Divine Tao Array would be greatly beneficial to him!

Mo Hua’s lips curled into a smile, his steps light, but before reaching the Taixu Gate, he encountered a familiar face.

It was Ouyang Mu.

Accompanying Ouyang Mu was another disciple from the Tai’a Sect, appearing to be from a higher class, tall and lanky, with a long face.

Mo Hua greeted, ”Little Wood.”

Hearing this, Ouyang Mu turned to see Mo Hua, his face lighting up with joy, and hurriedly responded:

”Brother Mo.”

The long-faced disciple from the Tai’a Sect beside him looked slightly surprised.

Mo Hua approached, and Ouyang Mu introduced,

”This is Senior Brother Ma from our Tai’a Sect, who is in the same class as my elder brother.”

Mo Hua then remembered seeing this ”Senior Brother Ma” when he first entered the Refining Demon Mountain and met Senior Brother Feng.

Following standard etiquette, Mo Hua greeted him.

Senior Brother Ma returned the greeting.

”Senior Brother Ma has brought me some pills, spiritual artifacts, and jade slips needed for cultivation, entrusted by my elder brother...”

Ouyang Mu said with a smile.

Despite having such an excellent elder brother, constantly being compared, and facing a lot of criticism, Ouyang Mu still held great respect and admiration for his elder brother.

Ouyang Mu had also just left the Refining Demon Mountain and was returning to the sect, conveniently traveling the same path.

Mo Hua walked with Ouyang Mu for a stretch, and along the way, they chatted about some trivia concerning the Refining Demon Mountain.

Senior Brother Ma, on the other hand, spoke rarely, his gaze carrying a hint of caution.

At a fork in the road, Mo Hua said goodbye to them.

Ouyang Mu and Senior Brother Ma headed back to the Tai’a Sect.

Mo Hua entered the Taixu Gate.

But just as he entered the mountain gate, Mo Hua’s face gradually turned cold, his eyes carrying a hint of seriousness.

He had just sensed from ”Senior Brother Ma” a trace of...

The Evil God’s aura.