The Quest for Immortality

This message was obtained by Mo Hua from Hao Xuanmainly from his cousin, Hao Se.

Hao Xuan’s year-end evaluation was poor.

Especially in swordsmanship.

Ever since he got addicted to sneak attacks, he rarely used the sword, and over time, his swordsmanship became rusty.

In a sect full of geniuses, not improving in swordsmanship equates to regression.

As a result, Hao Xuan only got a ”Grade C” in swordsmanship, although he was actually a bit stronger than Mo Hua, their ratings were indeed quite similar.

But Mo Hua’s brilliance overshadowed his flaws; he excelled in formations, and his aptitude in other areas was limited, so no one blamed him.

Moreover, he doesn’t have a family, his parents aren’t around, his cultivation relies entirely on self-discipline, and no one supervises him.

To take it even further, even if his parents were around and knew Mo Hua could achieve ”Grade A1 and Grade C6” in the Qian Learning State Boundary full of sect talents, they would only feel proud of him.

After all, his starting point was too low, so achieving anything is not easy.

Hao Xuan is different.

He has a family; competition within the family is fierce and expectations are strict, his parents place a high value on his academic scores.

At his age, a cultivator’s ”academic scores” in the sect is often his entire ”meaning of existence.”

Therefore, getting a ”Grade C” is akin to the sky falling down for Hao Xuan.

His parents, including elders of the same lineage, didn’t show him a warm face.

Hao Xuan’s year was spent in fear and trepidation.

He increasingly didn’t want to stay in the family, so he took the second-best option and ran to Taixu Gate ”seeking refuge.”

His excuse to his parents was:

Didn’t do well in the exam, felt very ashamed, wanted to strive for progress, hence staying in the sect to diligently cultivate, make up studies, and wouldn’t return home for New Year.

This excuse was something he specifically learned from ”Junior Brother” Mo Hua.

And indeed, Hao Xuan’s parents didn’t oppose it.

They weren’t just non-opposing; they even felt Hao Xuan was ”motivated by shame.”

Although his exam was poor this time, knowing he strives, it’s not too late.

His parents were quite pleased.

Thus, Hao Xuan stayed in Taixu Gate, spending New Year with Mo Hua. .

He indeed practiced in his daily life, either learning swordsmanship, practicing staff skills, or consulting Mo Hua on formations, never slackening, hence not lying to his parents.

Approaching the New Year, his parents, after all, cared about this ”motivated to advance” son, so they let his cousin Hao Se specifically return to the sect to bring him some good food.

At this moment, Hao Xuan was at the Disciple’s Residence, learning formation from Mo Hua.

Hao Se placed several food boxes with dark red linings on the table and said: ”Hao Xuan, I brought you some food.”

After saying this, he bowed to Mo Hua, ”Junior Brother, Happy New Year.”

”Happy New Year...”

Mo Hua returned the gesture, but his expression was a bit bewildered.

He wasn’t very familiar with Hao Se, only remembering that in the same year within Taixu Gate, there seemed to be such a disciple, but he wasn’t deeply impressed.

In daily life, whether doing sect rewards or monster hunting in Refining Demon Mountain, they seemed to have minimal intersection.

He couldn’t even recall the name.

Hao Xuan then said: ”This is my cousin, his surname is Hao and his name is Se, he is one year older than me, but his Tao Cultivation enlightenment was with mine, we are similar in age, cultivation is also roughly the same, so we entered Taixu Gate together.”

”Oh.” Mo Hua nodded.

”Hao Se...” .

Just this name felt rather strange no matter how it was heard.

Hao Se was lively in temperament and somewhat familiar.

Mo Hua didn’t really know him, but he knew Mo Hua.

After all, among more than a thousand disciples in Taixu Gate, there was only this one ”Junior Brother.”

The family New Year gatherings have too many people and are too noisy, with many cumbersome formalities as well.

Hao Se rarely ran out, temporarily didn’t want to return, so he stayed with Hao Xuan and Mo Hua to eat spiritual meals, drink spiritual wine, and chat at the Disciple’s Residence.

While chatting, Hao Se suddenly looked desolate and sighed, saying:

”A senior sister died in Hundred Flower Valley.”

This statement was very abrupt.

Mo Hua was happily eating a drumstick and suddenly froze for a moment, ”What?”

Hao Se repeated, ”A senior sister died in Hundred Flower Valley...”

Mo Hua was stunned for a moment, looking at Hao Se, his mind racing with many thoughts but unsure where to start questioning.

How could a senior sister die in Hundred Flower Valley?

You’re not even a disciple of Hundred Flower Valley... how do you know such things?

Moreover, what’s the connection between a senior sister’s death in Hundred Flower Valley and you?

Hao Xuan sighed, somewhat reluctant to speak, but in the Disciple’s Residence, there were no outsiders, he said:

”My cousin’s lifelong wish is to become a disciple of Hundred Flower Valley...”

Mo Hua was stunned for a moment, ”Does Hundred Flower Valley accept male disciples?”

Hao Se shook his head, disappointedly saying: ”No.”

Mo Hua curiously asked: ”How do you plan to become a disciple of Hundred Flower Valley?”

Hao Se solemnly said: ”Precisely because Hundred Flower Valley doesn’t accept male disciples, my lifelong ambition is to push for Hundred Flower Valley’s reform, to have Hundred Flower Valley accept male disciples, or at least male cultivators as elders. So after graduating from Taixu Gate, even if I can’t be a disciple, I can have ’becoming an elder of Hundred Flower Valley’ as a lifelong aspiration...”

Mo Hua opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.

The world is vast and filled with all kinds of people...

”But such reform isn’t feasible, right? Hundred Flower Valley seems to be unlikely to admit male cultivators as guest elders,” Mo Hua added.

”Yes, the future is bleak...”

Hao Se looked desolate, finally gritting his teeth, ”If all fails, I heard Hehuan Sect has a cultivation technique that reverses Yin and Yang, I...”

Hao Xuan immediately covered his mouth, ”Stop it, cousin! Stop talking! If Uncle or Aunt hears, they’ll definitely break your leg.”