The Quest for Immortality

As Mo Hua spoke these words, he sneaked a glance at Xia Canonical Official, noticing her slightly furrowed brows and a hint of disdain in her expression, she nodded slightly.

Even though Mo Hua didn’t reveal the biggest secret, the secret he did share was enough to surprise both Gu Changhuai and Xia Canonical Official.

They hadn’t expected that Master Xiao was so deeply involved.

As for Xiao Tianquan’s affairs, they were unexpected, yet not entirely surprising.

In private, the Rouge Boat was Soul Extinguishing Town, the Young Masters’ Pavilion was a place for nobles. Such an ”olive branch” would be nearly impossible for a common noble family’s son to refuse, unless they were truly resolute and righteous cultivators.

As long as it wasn’t laid out openly, it might even be regarded as a ”fortunate” event that many would seek after.

It wasn’t too surprising that Xiao Tianquan had visited the Rouge Boat.

Mo Hua speculated, ”It seems now, this smiling tiger actually learned the superior inheritance of the Water Prison Sect.”

”The heritage of the Water Prison Sect is hierarchical, where the higher ranks suppress the lower, allowing no defiance.”

”The inheritance of the smiling tiger clearly surpasses that of the Water Yama, which is why the sinister Water Yama acts so obediently in front of him...”

Gu Changhuai frowned, ”If that’s the case, catching Master Xiao might not be that easy...”

Mo Hua also nodded, ”If we suppose that all of Water Yama’s skills come from the smiling tiger, then it is possible that the smiling tiger knows everything Water Yama does, and maybe even better.”

”That is to say, not only does he know the Gui Water Sword, but also the Water Shadow Step, Water Torture Whip, and even... that eerie Blood Pupil Skill...”

Both Gu Changhuai and Xia Canonical Official looked grave.

This means that this Master Xiao is essentially a Golden Core version of the ”Water Yama,” and reinforced Taoist skills version at that.

Or in other words, what seems like a troublesome Water Yama is actually just a ”substandard” version of Master Xiao.

”This Xiao Zhenhai is hiding so deeply...” Gu Changhuai sighed.

Xiao Zhenhai is the real name of Master Xiao.

For so many years, he has been maneuvering within the Taoist Court, and although he restrained himself in confrontations, appearing to possess middle-of-the-road cultivation prowess, it was unexpected that he hid so many immeasurable methods behind the scenes.

Xia Canonical Official said seriously, ”If that’s the case, it might be unwise to act against Master Xiao lightly. It’s best to maintain peace and leave the Dragon King Temple first...”

Mo Hua nodded.

But he knew in his heart, things might not be that simple.

Before, the smiling tiger might have thought of coexisting peacefully and fleeing far away, for he didn’t want to truly offend the Xia family and the Gu family to death. Ȑ𝓪₦ꝊВЕș

But now, knowing that the Water Prison Forbidden Box is in his hands, the situation is different.

Gu Changhuai also said, ”Xiao Zhenhai seems friendly but is wicked at heart and deep-minded; it’s necessary to guard against him...”

”Everything else is fine, except for that pupil skill. If he has cultivated it, he’s likely much stronger than Water Yama. If caught by his pupil skill in this peril-laden Dragon King Temple, it could be dire...”

Xia Canonical Official pondered for a moment, took out a jade pendant, and said:

”This is the calming jade of my Xia family, a secretly crafted spiritual artifact not shared with outsiders, which can calm the mind and ward off evil. Wearing it on the chest, if affected by the pupil skill, it can protect the heart meridian and suppress evil qi, not completely block it, but much better than none.”

She originally intended to use it against Water Yama.

Gu Changhuai, being ill-tempered and unpleasant in speech, was not her initial choice to give it to, but the situation is unique now, and among the few Golden Core people in this Dragon King Temple, only Gu Changhuai is worthy of her trust.

Gu Changhuai hesitated for a moment, then silently accepted the jade pendant, considered for a moment, and then casually handed it to Mo Hua, saying:

”You take it.”

He was worried that Mo Hua might become a victim of Master Xiao’s hand. After all, originally, Master Xiao wanted to capture Mo Hua as a hostage.

Mo Hua, however, wished he could hit Gu Changhuai’s head with a stick.

With such low emotional intelligence, no wonder he’s single all his life.

Mo Hua naturally wouldn’t accept it and frantically signaled to Gu Changhuai with his eyes.

”Uncle Gu, this jade pendant is so valuable, please keep it well.”

Gu Changhuai said, ”You...”

Mo Hua said, ”I’m fine, the smiling tiger will only target you and Sister Xia with his pupil skill. You and Sister Xia are Golden Cores, your safety ensures mine. If either of you falls prey to the smiling tiger’s trickery, only then will I be in danger...”

Gu Changhuai pondered for a moment, nodded, and finally put the jade pendant away carefully with a ”fine.”

Xia Canonical Official said nothing, silently watching Gu Changhuai, her expression somewhat strange, perhaps angry.

Mo Hua sighed, feeling a bit weary.

He suddenly understood Elder Gu Hong’s hardships as a matchmaker...

After that, everyone quieted down.

Ouyang Feng and Hua Qianqian were still healing.

Over with Master Xiao and Water Yama, things were temporarily peaceful.

Mr. Witch, at some unknown time, had knelt before the ram’s horn gate, murmuring his devotion to the Master of the Great Wilderness.

Time passed bit by bit.

The blood grooves around the ram’s horn relief were slowly filled with the blood from the three hearts used as ”human offerings.”

Finally, after a full day, the blood from the hearts was completely drained, leaving them shrunken and empty.

The blood grooves of the ram’s horn relief were thoroughly filled, displaying strange and obscure blood-colored patterns around them.

A majestic and terrifying aura emanated from the ram’s head relief.

Mo Hua’s pupils shrank slightly.

Everyone else sensed this strange aura too, feeling a bit uneasy in their confusion.

Mr. Witch immediately prostrated on the ground, bowing six times, sincerely and fearfully saying:

”Divine Lord, I have brought the sacrificial offerings, I beg the Divine Lord to open the door of the live sacrifice!”

After saying this, Mr. Witch prostrated on the ground, kowtowing devoutly.

After a while, a dull sound emerged, seemingly a response from some existent presence, to Mr. Witch’s plea.

On the door, the eyes of the ram’s horn relief momentarily flashed with an ancient golden light.

Then, the relief opened its mouth, releasing the grip on the two doors.

The door slowly opened.

Revealing a vast endless blood-sea, denser and richer than the residual blood outside, stretching as far as the eye could see, boundless.

This was a giant, boundless blood pool.

And in the center of the blood pool, stood several demon monster statues, surrounding an altar. On this altar, stood a fierce ram horn.

Before the ram horn were blood and flesh offerings, surrounded by white skeletal remains.

This is the place for sacrificing to the Evil God within the Dragon King Temple beside Mistwater River, precisely what Mo Hua has sought day and night...

The altar of the Master of the Great Wilderness!

Mo Hua even lightened his breathing for fear that breathing too hard would make the altar vanish...