The Quest for Immortality

It’s beyond comprehension.

How could he, a Sword-Casting Master, know how to DRAW FORMATION?

It’d be fine if it were a Sword Array, but how could it be the near-extinct Divine Formation Patterns?

How did he learn it?

Is the Divine Formation really so insignificant?

Mo Hua was filled with doubts.

He squinted his eyes, staring at the old Monster Cultivator with suspicious movements, especially watching the Formation Patterns he drew for a while, his expression slightly solemn.

This old thing has been drawing the same Pattern repeatedly.

Which means, he might only know this one Formation Pattern.

But this Formation Pattern is truly baffling.

It’s different from the Door Barrier Divine Formation I found at the well in the SMALL FISHING VILLAGE and inside the River God Temple.

It’s different from the fog-like Divine Formation I calculated in the VALLEY OF TEN THOUSAND DEMONS.

It’s a completely new Divine Formation Pattern.

I had never seen it before.

”Could this be the complete system of Divine FORMATION Elder XUN ZIXIAN mentioned is within the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons?”

Mo Hua frowned.

But what purpose does this Formation Pattern serve?

Why did he draw this Divine Formation Pattern on the Lifebound Sword Bone?

Mo Hua’s gaze darkened.

”This old trickster probably holds many secrets...”

...

Sword casting continued.

The old Monster Cultivator, taking advantage of OUYANG MU’s inattentiveness, drew the Divine Formation Pattern on the Sword Bone, then covered it with fresh blood. Subsequently, he innocently continued the complex process of refining the Sword Bone.

Ouyang Mu also tempered the refined iron, turned around, and continued learning sword casting from the old Monster Cultivator.

Everything was as usual for the old Monster Cultivator.

Ouyang Mu was oblivious to what the old Monster Cultivator did behind his back.

After another series of complex sword casting procedures, several hours later, the old Monster Cultivator finally said:

”That’s enough for today, come back tomorrow.”

”Alright, senior.”

Ouyang Mu had been assisting for several hours and was slightly fatigued. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and nodded:

”Then I shall take my leave.”

Ouyang Mu left.

The old Monster Cultivator took out the Lifebound Sword Bone and, with his blood-colored, tumor-ridden hand, gently stroked the Divine Formation Pattern on the Sword Bone, muttering softly in a barely audible hoarse voice:

”My life... depends on you...”

Then, seemingly exhausted, he hugged the Sword Bone and fell into a deep sleep.

Mo Hua glanced at the Sword Bone, noting its length was almost identical to the old Monster Cultivator’s spine, perfectly matching, his gaze grew cold.

After pondering for a moment, he quietly left.

...

At the prison, Mo Hua shared the affair of the old Monster Cultivator with Ouyang Mu and LINGHUXIAO.

Ouyang Mu was somewhat shocked, ”Formation Patterns?”

Mo Hua nodded.

”Is it Sword Patterns?”

”No, it’s a very special type of Divine Formation Pattern, I’ve never seen it, unsure of its purpose.”

Ouyang Mu and Linghuxiao both furrowed their brows.

Linghuxiao pondered for a moment, then said, ”That means the old Monster Cultivator’s plot must be related to the Sword Bone.”

”Could he be... preparing to cast his Lifebound Sword Embryo?”

Mo Hua nodded, ”That’s possible...”

He had previously guessed this, but considering there’s no evidence, it’s hard to affirm.

”But,” Mo Hua frowned, ”using one’s spine to cast a Lifebound Sword Bone, what kind of sword casting method is this?”

Linghuxiao shook his head.

Then both of them looked at Ouyang Mu.

Among them, Ouyang Mu has the most exquisite sword casting skills and broad knowledge of artifact refining.

Ouyang Mu said solemnly:

”Specifically, I’m not sure, but in my family, some miscellaneous notes on Tao cultivation and artifact refining had similar mentions, it’s a sword casting method that combines oneself with the sword.”

”But subdividing this sword casting method, there are many branches, even differing levels of righteousness and evil, some methods are merely bloody, harming oneself but not others, while others are extremely wicked, requiring massive slaughter... ”

”Truly, this old thing uses his ’spine’ to cast a sword, what path is he on, what method is he using, I can’t tell right now.”

Ouyang Mu shook his head.

Linghuxiao furrowed his brows, after contemplating for a moment, whispered, ”There’s one question...”

He turned his head to Mo Hua and the others, and slowly said:

”Using one’s spine to cast a Lifebound Sword Bone, it must be for refining a Lifebound Evil Sword. This old Monster Cultivator is probably trying to take this opportunity to achieve Core Formation within the TEN THOUSAND DEMONS PRISON?”

Ouyang Mu was stunned, nodding repeatedly, ”This old thing said before, any monster cultivator in Ten Thousand Demons Prison, once reaching Core Formation, may leave the valley, serving the ’Young Master’ outside, thus freeing themselves far more than dwelling within the valley.”

”Moreover, after achieving Core Formation, their lifespan would increase, allowing him to live many more years, essentially defying fate...”

Mo Hua slowly nodded, but then his gaze sharpened, ”But can he last until then?”

Ouyang Mu and Linghuxiao showed expressions of contemplation.

Mo Hua continued, ”That old Monster Cultivator extracted his spine, hunched over, coughing blood continuously, sometimes sitting alone in the Chamber of Evil Instruments, stuffing handfuls of pills into his mouth.”

”Furthermore, I can clearly feel that the death qi within him is becoming increasingly heavy...”

Mo Hua looked to Ouyang Mu, ”Casting the Lifebound Sword Bone, refining the Lifebound Evil Sword, must take quite some time, I’m afraid the sword wouldn’t be finished before he kicks the bucket.”

Ouyang Mu nodded, ”Indeed...”

This old Monster Cultivator, despite clever schemes, is running out of time, what’s the point of all this fuss?

Ouyang Mu furrowed his brows, thinking for a bit, didn’t know what came to mind, suddenly shocked:

”Brother Mo, there’s another possibility.”

Mo Hua hesitated, ”What possibility?”

”It’s...” Ouyang Mu’s face turned slightly pale, ”His Sword Bone is actually already cast! He claimed to be teaching me sword casting, but it’s all just an act...”