The Quest for Immortality

”Mr. Tu was concerned that the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons would repeat past mistakes, so he temporarily dismantled the entire Yuan Magnetic Compound Formation and sealed it completely to prevent future troubles.”

”So our own ’eyes’ won’t be used to see things for others...”

The leader in black said.

Mo Hua, however, was stunned.

So that’s how it is...

Previously, he was puzzled as to why the Spirit Vision Formation of the Yuan Magnetic Formation was completely dismantled and sealed off.

It turned out to be the ”sin” he had created back then!

Jin Gui was still a bit confused, ”The Yuan Magnetic Formation is an extremely obscure formation. The Spirit Vision Formation is an advanced compound formation. It’s unlikely the Sect would teach it, and the Taoist Court officials are too bureaucratic to have such expertise... Who exactly managed to infiltrate the Yuan Magnetic Formation and use it against us?”

The leader in black said gravely, ”I don’t know either, but according to Mr. Tu’s deduction, this person must be a master in Formation Study with profound knowledge and expertise!”

Mo Hua nodded in agreement.

This Mr. Tu is certainly correct!

The leader in black continued, ”Be cautious in your actions and keep a close watch on those three youngsters...”

”Find a way to have that Ouyang boy forge the Evil Sword. This way, with a brother forging the Evil Sword for us, his seemingly righteous older brother will have no choice but to serve us as well...”

”As for the Sword Dao genius from the Rushing Void Sect, the young master holds him in high regard. He can be brought aboard. After experiencing the luxuries and earthly pleasures, he will also become one with worldly desires.”

”As for the one from the Song family... see if his parents are cooperative. If they aren’t, just sacrifice him; there’s no use in keeping him.”

The leader in black warned once more.

”Understood.” Jin Gui cupped his hands in response.

”You may leave.” The leader in black gestured with a wave of his hand.

Jin Gui bowed and withdrew.

Inside the grand hall, only the leader in black remained. He sat down in the center, took out a few scrolls of monster hide parchment, and began to peruse them.

Mo Hua was very eager to know what he was reading, but unfortunately, he was too far away to see.

”He’s not reading the Divine Tao Array, is he...”

Mo Hua felt an itch of curiosity.

Half an hour passed this way when there was another disturbance outside the door.

The leader in black closed the monster hide parchment and said:

”Enter.”

A figure in a black robe walked in, but compared to the leader in black, Jin Gui, or other monster cultivators, this figure appeared much more ”petite.”

More like an ordinary ”person” than a monster cultivator.

Mo Hua’s curiosity deepened.

At this moment, the figure in the black robe walked into the hall, lifted their hood, and complained:

”This damn place is so eerie and reeking, cousin. How do you stand it...”

Cousin?

Mo Hua frowned and took a closer look, suddenly startled.

This person, he also recognized.

Jin Yicai!

The very prominent direct descendant of the Jin family within the Sever Gold Sect.

Mo Hua clearly remembered that this Jin Yicai’s ancestor was the Sect Leader of Sever Gold Sect eight hundred years ago. His grandfather is now the Chief Elder, his father the Vice Sect Leader, and his mother the True Transmission Elder...

The whole family holds high positions in Sever Gold Sect.

It’s almost as if he was born with a silver spoon.

The last time by the Mistwater River, this Jin Yicai was caught red-handed smuggling cultivators and dealing Forbidden Pills, but still, it was suppressed from above.

Since then, he had appeared to lay low.

Yet who would have thought, behind the scenes, he was still stirring up trouble?

The leader in black glanced at Jin Yicai and asked, ”Is your conduct discreet?”

Jin Yicai replied, ”Rest assured. My father has grounded me, but those assigned to watch over me are merely Guest Elders who act according to my will. Wherever I actually go, they dare not question. Otherwise, I would complain to my mother about those Guest Elders’ poor attitude and insubordination; they wouldn’t have a place in Sever Gold Sect.”

Jin Yicai sneered, ”The saying ’close ties trump distant relations’ applies here.”

”If I give them face, they are Guest Elders and Elders; if not, they are no more than dogs our Jin family keeps.”

As Jin Yicai said this, he walked to the center of the hall and sat down arrogantly.

The leader in black frowned, ”Be discreet and act cautiously. Even towards Guest Elders, show some courtesy. Whatever you think, at least pretend on the surface.”

”I can’t be bothered to pretend...” Jin Yicai shook his head, then with a glint in his eyes, asked:

”Cousin, you asked me here, could it be that you’ve made progress with that set of things?”

Mo Hua raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

That set of things? What things?

While he was wondering, he heard the leader in black say, ”There are some clues. You can try them first.”

Jin Yicai was excited, ”Great!”

The leader in black hesitated momentarily, then opened a scroll of monster hide parchment and spoke slowly:

”Originally, direct descendants like you, living under the watchful eyes of the Ancestor and Family Head, would not bear Monster Patterns to avoid exposure.”

”But the upcoming Taoism Debating Conference is critical and cannot be delayed... Therefore, even if there’s a risk of being discovered, you must take this bold step.”

Jin Yicai was momentarily dazed and appeared somewhat nervous, seemingly still concerned about the Ancestor and Family Head, and thus worriedly asked:

”If it’s discovered...”

The leader in black interrupted, ”The situation is special now. Even if it’s discovered, it’s fine.”

Jin Yicai looked puzzled, ”Cousin, I don’t quite understand...”

The leader in black cast him a meaningful glance and asked, ”Are you doing this for yourself?”

Isn’t that obvious?

Human nature is self-serving to the core.

Jin Yicai nodded, then suddenly froze, slowly grasping the notion, ”It’s not for myself...”

The leader in black nodded, agreeing:

”Yes, with the Sword Discussion Conference approaching, you are doing this for the Sect, for the family, not for yourself!”

”No matter what methods you use, as long as you genuinely secure a place in the Sword Discussion Conference, bringing glory to the Sect and establishing significant contributions for the upcoming Sect reforms, even if the Ancestor and others find out, they will just turn a blind eye.”