The Quest for Immortality

Now carrying these inheritances with him, he feels even more ”direct lineage” than some Sever Gold Sect’s direct lineage disciples.

”Entry-level is enough,” Elder Master Xun said confidently, ”Even if you only learn the ’entry-level,’ you’re still better than them.”

”Even if their inheritance is excellent, if they’re not ambitious themselves and can’t learn beyond you, then there’s nothing that can be done.”

Mo Hua felt a bit embarrassed but understood somewhat.

This is just an ”excuse.”

The moves he possessed from the Sever Gold Sect had a background, a story, and that’s enough; the reality doesn’t truly matter.

Elder Master Xun thought for a moment and then advised:

”This matter is too significant and all winds have been blocked externally while it appears calm on the surface, there are turbulent undercurrents beneath.”

”The Taoist Court, the Four Great Sects, and various sects, especially the Sever Gold Sect, and even my Taixu, Tai’a, and Chongxu Gates, are engaged in open and covert struggles continuously until the issue settles down; it likely won’t quiet down anytime soon.”

”So during this period, keep a low profile and don’t let anything slip.”

”As for the reason for requesting leave, if fellow disciples inquire, just say I gave you a task to travel far and spent about seven or eight days drawing formations.”

”Regarding specific reasons...” Elder Xun looked at Mo Hua meaningfully, ”You can make it up yourself, you’re quite familiar with that.”

”I’m not... very experienced...”

Mo Hua said somewhat guiltily.

Elder Master Xun raised his eyebrow slightly and didn’t pursue further, instead, he asked the last question with a solemn expression:

”Has your Divine Thought been stained with some evil spirit in the Demon Refining Diagram?”

”Yes.” Mo Hua nodded slowly.

To be precise, it’s ”devoured,” not stained.

But even Elder Xun didn’t think along those lines.

”Stained” with evil spirits was already a situation he could conceive of as quite dire.

He never witnessed it firsthand, so he couldn’t imagine just how ”ferocious” Mo Hua was in Divine Thought state.

”Stained with evil spirits...” Elder Master Xun frowned.

”It’s fine,” Mo Hua said, ”Gentleman, through meditation, I can gradually purify these evil thoughts.”

”Meditation?” Elder Master Xun was stunned, his heart stirred.

Could it be... the Meditation Technique imparted by that person?

Elder Master Xun pondered slightly, then nodded:

”Alright.”

However, he still felt uneasy, retrieving from the storage bag a stick of sandalwood incense with golden patterned borders and a simple jade box containing an ancient scroll.

”This Calming Incense is top-grade, light it during your meditation; it will help you focus your mind and discard distractions.”

”As for this scroll...” .

Mo Hua’s heart skipped a beat upon seeing this scroll, blurting out:

”Contemplation Map?!”

Elder Master Xun raised his eyebrow, slightly surprised but not entirely so, ”You’ve seen a Contemplation Map?”

”Yes, seen some.” Mo Hua replied honestly.

Elder Master Xun listened, slightly astonished.

Seen ”some.”

More than one?

”So young yet has such notable experiences...”

Elder Master Xun thought.

”Since you know, I won’t say much more. This Contemplation Map is a Divine Way treasure of our Taixu Gate; don’t open it lightly, especially not in front of outsiders.”

”When you return to the Disciple’s Residence, light the incense, then open this map, contemplate on this map, it will benefit your Divine Thought.”

”In this world, ’clean’ Contemplation Maps are rare, you should cherish it.”

Mo Hua, somewhat feeling overwhelmed with honor, said: ”Gentleman, such a precious thing, are you really giving it to me?”

Elder Master Xun hesitated, glared at Mo Hua frustratedly:

”What do you mean ’giving’? I’m temporarily lending it to you, read it, restore your Divine Sense, then return it.”

”Oh...” Mo Hua nodded.

Lending is better than not having it.

Elder Master Xun handed the Contemplation Map to Mo Hua.

Mo Hua solemnly accepted it.

But at the moment Mo Hua received it, Elder Master Xun felt a sudden pang, as if he was ”sending a sheep into a tiger’s mouth.”

His hand froze, holding onto the Contemplation Map, not letting go.

Mo Hua held the Contemplation Map with both hands but saw Elder Master Xun’s reluctance, feeling puzzled, ”Gentleman?”

Elder Master Xun snapped back, looked at Mo Hua with a subtle expression, hesitated for a moment before solemnly saying:

”Remember to return it.”

”Do not, by any means, damage it for me...”

”Mm, mm.” Mo Hua promised earnestly, ”Gentleman, rest assured.”

Though until now, any Contemplation Map seen or touched by him hadn’t remained ”intact.”

But those were others’ Maps.

And the ones from his own Sect, surely, would be different.

Receiving Mo Hua’s assurance, Elder Master Xun no longer hesitated and temporarily handed the Contemplation Map to Mo Hua.

Mo Hua solemnly accepted it and treasured it carefully.

Then Elder Master Xun gave a few more instructions before getting up to leave. Before departure, he said:

”Take care these days, recover well before returning to class, but make sure to catch up on any missed lessons.”

”Cultivation is like rowing upstream, if you don’t advance, you will regress, do not slack off.”

”Okay, Gentleman.” Mo Hua responded obediently.

”By the way...”

Elder Master Xun was already standing, took one last look at Mo Hua, recalled something, hesitated repeatedly before confirming:

”Your Divine Sense, has it strengthened again?”

Before, when Mo Hua lay in bed afflicted by evil spirits, his Divine Thought was weak, thus his aura wasn’t apparent.

After chatting for a while, Elder Master Xun could clearly sense that Mo Hua’s Divine Sense was evidently more profound and refined compared to before.

”Yes, my Divine Sense accidentally broke through again...” Mo Hua said.

Even though anticipated, Elder Master Xun couldn’t help but his heart stirred.

Another breakthrough.

Though Cultivation doesn’t grow much, the Divine Sense keeps breaking through consistently, truly...

”Good, good,”

Elder Master Xun nodded cheerfully.

With this, his arrangements have taken a step forward.

The previously impossible seemed now, to have some prospects.

Elder Master Xun felt deeply gratified, full of hope and said:

”Recuperate well, wait till your Divine Sense is fine again, then come find me, I’ll teach you the eighteen-pattern formation...”

Mo Hua, however, shook his head, ”Not eighteen-pattern.”

Elder Master Xun was taken aback.

”I accidentally broke through a bit more...” Mo Hua said quietly, ”Now it’s nineteen patterns...”

Nineteen...

Elder Master Xun felt a tightness in his chest, nearly lost his breath.

Divine Sense at nineteen patterns?

From seventeen directly to nineteen, breaking through two realms in one go?!

Elder Master Xun took a deep breath, filled with disbelief.

The Cultivation just reached the Foundation Building Middle Stage, yet the Divine Sense already neared the Foundation Establishment Peak level?

That boy named Zhuang... where did he find such a disciple, one who remains low-key, yet possesses such ”defiant” Divine Sense talent?