The Quest for Immortality

Mo Hua didn’t even blink, speaking with utmost seriousness.

Elder Yu Canghai nodded, ”I see...”

He contemplated the matter with common sense. He never would have imagined that the invaluable Water Prison Forbidden Box, something he dared not even dream of, was now in Mo Hua’s possession.

He certainly couldn’t have foreseen that Mo Hua, in the Foundation Building Middle Stage, could wrest this supreme inheritance of the Water Prison Sect from the cunning and malicious Water Yama.

Mo Hua feared Elder Yu might overthink things and quickly asked him another question:

”Does Shui Yan’s mastery of Pupil Skills mean that although he doesn’t know how to nurture righteous evil, he still knows something about the Contemplative Jade Casket Dao Prison Map method?”

Elder Yu Canghai’s expression tensed, indeed drawn in by this question.

After pondering for a moment, he nodded and said, ”It’s very possible. If he can use the Pupil Skill, it means he’s somewhat grasped a part of it.”

”Then wouldn’t he be formidable once his Pupil Skill reaches perfection?” Mo Hua asked.

”He won’t achieve that,” Elder Yu Canghai shook his head.

”Why?” Mo Hua was puzzled.

Elder Yu Canghai’s expression was solemn as he sighed:

”Pupil Skills are not that simple. The inheritance of Pupil Skills in the Cultivation World is extremely rare. Aside from those requiring a powerful bloodline to cultivate, all other inheritable Pupil Skills, without exception, are related to the Divine Soul.”

”The path of the Divine Soul is mysterious and unfathomable.”

”Since it involves the Divine Soul, it’s not something that can be understood just by looking at diagrams.”

”That Pupil Skill of Shui Yan might have decent power, but it’s just a facade. Ultimately, it’s still a deviant path vastly inferior to the authentic Pupil Skill inheritance of the Water Prison Sect.”

Mo Hua asked, ”Is it related to the Divine Soul or to Divine Sense?”

”The Divine Soul.”

”What’s the difference?”

”This...” Elder Yu was stumped again, looking troubled, ”The Water Prison Sect’s Taoist inheritance has declined. I only know there is a difference between Divine Soul and Divine Sense, but I can’t explain it clearly...”

Mo Hua scrutinized Elder Yu and saw the bitterness in his gaze, realizing he wasn’t lying, so he didn’t probe further.

After considering for a moment, Mo Hua asked another question:

”On the Water Prison Forbidden Box, there’s a Dao Prison Diagram containing a cultivation method for Forbidden Techniques... So what’s inside the box?”

”Since it’s called a ’Forbidden Box,’ it should be able to open, right?”

”And what’s inside the box?”

Elder Yu still sported a wry smile, ”The Forbidden Box belongs to the Sect Leader, only the Sect Leader can open it. I don’t know what’s inside, but I assume it should be superior Daoist Magic that only the Water Prison Sect Leader can learn.”

”Like the Water Prison Skill you mentioned?” Mo Hua asked.

”It’s possible.” Elder Yu nodded.

”Anything else?” Mo Hua asked again.

Elder Yu shook his head, indicating he was unsure.

Mo Hua continued, ”Then how can this box be opened...”

The whole box seemed like a single piece of jade, with no lock, no key, and not even a seam...

These words were on the tip of his tongue, but Mo Hua swallowed them back down.

The Water Prison Forbidden Box wasn’t officially in his possession, and saying such a thing would likely raise Elder Yu’s suspicions. .

Elder Yu pondered, ”The conditions to open the box are very stringent. One must learn Pupil Skills and feed it with the Sect Leader’s essence blood, but I, as an Elder, am not clear on the specifics.”

Mo Hua glanced at Elder Yu and sighed inwardly.

This Elder Yu keeps going in circles, never getting to the point, always skimming the surface and knowing nothing of the core issues.

If the Water Prison Sect’s Taoist inheritance is lost, it wouldn’t be undeserved at all.

Whether he truly doesn’t know or is pretending not to know is unclear.

Mo Hua shook his head.

Continuing to ask would yield nothing, so Mo Hua stood up and bade farewell. Just before leaving, he remembered something and asked Elder Yu:

”By the way, what’s the name of the Water Prison Sect’s Pupil Skill?”

Elder Yu hesitated for a long time before slowly speaking, ”According to the sect records, this Pupil Skill is called... Seven Souls Blood Prison Pupil.”

”Seven Souls Blood Prison Pupil?”

Mo Hua nodded, committing the name to memory, and was about to leave when Elder Yu stopped him again.

”Young brother...”

Elder Yu looked worried, his eyes holding a glimpse of hope as he asked, ”Can this Forbidden Box still be retrieved?”

”Rest assured,” Mo Hua comforted him, ”I will have Uncle Gu expedite the pursuit of Shui Yan. As soon as he’s caught, it can be retrieved.”

Elder Yu felt somewhat comforted, bowing, ”Thank you, young brother.”

Leaving Elder Yu, Mo Hua pondered:

Should this Forbidden Box be returned to Elder Yu?

Since it’s the supreme inheritance of the Water Prison Sect, it should naturally be returned to its rightful owner. I can’t bring myself to secretly covet it.

However, there’s no rush now; I’ll wait until I’ve thoroughly understood it myself.

Moreover, given Elder Yu’s current circumstances, living under others’ roofs and facing daily uncertainty, returning it might instead bring him disaster.

I’ll secretly give it back once he’s more stable.

This is for his own good!

Mo Hua righteously found an excuse for his own little thought.

Currently, this Forbidden Box is safest in my hands!

Afterward, Mo Hua had a meal with Aunt Wan, returned to Taixu Gate, and continued studying the Water Prison Forbidden Box in the Disciple’s Residence.

”There must be something inside the box...” Mo Hua mused.

But for now, I can’t open it, and even if I could, whatever is inside would definitely be superior Taoist Skill, something I couldn’t learn.

Even if I could, given my modest spiritual power, I couldn’t use it at all.

So, there’s no rush to open the box; mastering the Pupil Skill is good enough.

Mo Hua vaguely felt that this Pupil Skill might be even more suited for him than those precious superior Water System Dao Law inheritances exclusive to the Water Prison Sect Leader.