The Quest for Immortality

Above the entire Sword Tomb, a fifth-grade Sealing Formation was unexpectedly constructed.

This Formation sealed the Sword Tomb, sealing everything within it and cutting off all auras to prevent them from spreading outside.

But at this moment, the Sword Intent around Patriarch Dugu was fiercely icy, causing the Formation Patterns of the formation to teeter precariously.

Elder Master Xun’s heart sank as he crushed a Jade Slip and said, ”Murong Junior Brother, there is a change in the Forbidden Land, come help me.”

The Jade Slip pierced the void, and in just a moment, a five-colored fissure appeared in the space.

”I am busy with closed-door cultivation, don’t bother me unless it’s... ”

A tall, handsome elder with a child’s face and white hair walked out of the void fissure, and before he could finish speaking, he saw the strange appearance of Patriarch Dugu and the precarious Sealing Formation, causing his pupils to tremble and he gasped in surprise.

”Senior Brother he... ”

”No time for words, act quickly.”

The child-faced, white-haired Murong Ancestor immediately assumed a solemn expression, forming a seal with his hands, and summoned a Taixu Seal, transforming it into four Azure Dragons to suppress the eerie Heavenly Demon presence around the Sword Tomb.

Taking this opportunity, Elder Master Xun activated every layer of the Sword Tomb’s seal, then reinforced them heavily...

Layer after layer of Sealing Patterns transformed into chains of the void, sealing the Sword Tomb completely, leaving no gaps.

Also completely suppressing Patriarch Dugu within.

This Sealing Formation was left by the experts of the Taixu Gate ancestors, and when fully activated, it was enough to seal any Divine Thought, Spiritual Power, or flesh existence under the fifth grade.

Only at this moment did Elder Master Xun and Murong Ancestor slightly relax.

”What’s wrong with Senior Brother?” Murong Ancestor asked.

Elder Master Xun’s expression was heavy, and he shook his head, ”I cannot say for sure, but Senior Brother’s state is very off, I fear ’those things’ sealed inside are trying to find a way out...”

Murong Ancestor’s expression changed drastically upon hearing this, ”Then does that mean Senior Brother is...”

Elder Master Xun said solemnly, ”His mind is still present, but I don’t know how much it’s been ’tainted’, for now, we can only seal it...”

”Then...”

”Senior Brother has a Sword Dao that connects to the heavens, perhaps he might have a way himself, we can’t actually help much...”

Elder Master Xun sighed helplessly.

Murong Ancestor looked up at the Sealing Formation and then at the obscure figure of Patriarch Dugu within the formation, his expression a little melancholic, he sighed deeply: ṘÂＮＯ𐌱ĚṦ

”Back during the Heavenly Demon catastrophe, it lasted a long time, with terrible casualties. In the end, it was Senior Brother who severed his Dao path, using himself as a prison to guard the gates, bringing peace to the future of the Taixu Gate.”

”He gave up his supreme talent, gave up boundless prospects, gave up great glory, changing from the renowned number one Sword in Qian State to a living tomb. Silently, he guarded this Forbidden Land for years, now aged, undistinguishable between human and demon, not knowing if he will have a good end...”

Murong Ancestor felt deeply desolate.

Elder Master Xun also felt a pang of bitterness, but still said, ”This path was chosen by Senior Brother himself, he knows these things better than us.”

”I know.” Murong Ancestor sighed, then softly asked, ”What do we do now?”

Elder Master Xun pondered for a moment, ”With our combined strength, we will completely seal this back mountain, locking even the void, allowing no person or being to enter or leave. After a period of time, we will see what happens...”

Murong Ancestor contemplated, ”If things become untenable...”

”If things become untenable,” Elder Master Xun’s brows furrowed into a Sichuan character, he sighed, ”I will think of a way.”

He did not say what way, nor did Murong Ancestor inquire further, he just nodded:

”That’s all we can do...”

After that, both fell silent, each burdened with heavy thoughts.

The bright sunlight that shone into the back mountain seemed to be veiled in shadow, exuding a cold and heavy chill.

Murong Ancestor gazed afar, taking in the entire Taixu Mountain, he sighed softly:

”Even though the Three Sects have unified, yet these upheavals have arisen, I fear the future of our Taoist inheritance of the Taixu Gate is uncertain...”

Elder Master Xun thought for a moment, his eyes filled with troublesome thoughts, slowly shook his head and said, ”It’s not just Taixu Gate’s future that is uncertain, it’s the entire world, all the beings in this boundless expanse are uncertain of their future...”

Murong Ancestor was startled, ”Isn’t this a bit over the top...”

Elder Master Xun’s expression was indifferent, pondering for a moment, he finally voiced his concerns:

”The great calamity to the world is indeed terrifying, but it is not the most terrifying.”

”What is most terrifying is the decline of the human heart.”

”The calamities of the past were certainly perilous, but there were still great cultivators like Senior Brother with immense cultivation, immense perseverance, and a grand vision, who gave up fame, gave up honor and disgrace, and gave up themselves to shoulder the burden for the myriad beings, to resist this great tribulation.”

”But now?”

”Now the Sects of the world are led by profit. The disciples under them mostly carry out selfish deeds under a facade of righteousness. If people do not cultivate their hearts, if hearts do not seek the Dao, selfish and self-serving, once a real tribulation is encountered, what kind of situation would it be?”

Seemingly visualizing that scene, Elder Master Xun’s expression turned extremely severe, his voice bore a chilling coldness. .

”I have a premonition that under the decay of the human heart, the next great tribulation might be this Nine State’s... Death Tribulation.”

These words were so shocking that even Murong Ancestor felt startled.

Murong Ancestor said in a deep voice, ”The Nine State is unified, the Taoist Court is mighty, even if there is some decline, it shouldn’t be to this extent...”

But these words didn’t sound like they were addressed to Elder Master Xun, rather, they seemed to be spoken to reassure himself.

Elder Master Xun remained silent for a moment, then looked into the distance.

”Let us hope so...”

...

Everything in the back mountain was securely sealed by the formation, unknown to outsiders.

Time flowed quietly.

Three days later, Mo Hua had almost fully recovered.

He could continue to attend classes, cultivate, and draw formations again.