The Quest for Immortality

”It’s useless,” Elder Master Xun nodded.

The Taixu Sect Master was taken aback. ”Then why do you still want me to get this thing?”

”I don’t see much use for it,” Elder Master Xun looked a bit puzzled, ”but after some divination, the hexagrams show that Mo Hua might actually need it. How exactly? I can’t say...”

The Taixu Sect Master had a subtle expression. ”Ancestor, didn’t you say you can’t predict the future?”

”This... it’s not fortune-telling.”

”Isn’t it?”

”It’s complicated. Anyway, that’s how it is... If you haven’t studied the Heavenly secret technique, you won’t understand it even if I explain.”

”Alright...” said the Taixu Sect Master.

You’re the Ancestor—whatever you say, goes.

But there was something else nagging at him. The Taixu Sect Master hesitated, ”Is Mo Hua’s own Magical Treasure really that hard to determine? Even with your insight, you can’t be sure?”

Elder Master Xun quietly took a sip of tea.

Like he could know for sure...

No one truly knew whose disciple Mo Hua actually was.

That whole cultivation path of his was wild and unpredictable, full of bizarre, scattered things—who knows how much he’s learned, or who he learned it from.

Even as a Heaven Void Ancestor, he really couldn’t get a handle on it.

But that was not something to admit out loud.

Elder Master Xun said, ”I know what I’m doing. You don’t need to worry, just get the ’Wood White Gold Jade’ spell point casting technique for him. This kind of legacy—only you have the connections.”

With Elder Master Xun’s instructions, the Taixu Sect Master naturally wouldn’t refuse.

Even though this legacy is no small matter and not easy to obtain, now that he’s Taixu Sect Master, he still has to consider the Sect’s interests.

Plus, the spell point is for Mo Hua.

Mo Hua’s a kid he really likes—even putting aside any plans to forge ”good karma,” he genuinely wants to help out.

”Rest assured, Master. I’ve already sent a letter to ask, there should be a reply soon.”

Elder Master Xun nodded happily. ”Thank you for your trouble.”

The Taixu Sect Master saluted. ”Don’t mention it, Master—this is my duty as Sect Master.”

After that, the two continued sipping tea, chatting about Sect matters.

The preparations for the Sword Discussion Conference were advancing step by step.

...

A few days later, at Refining Demon Mountain.

Mo Hua was back at Refining Demon Mountain for some Monster Hunting.

Ever since the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons incident, he’d rarely come here—this time, it was specially organized by the Sect Elders.

The point was to have Disciples enter the mountain, hunt Monster Beasts, and hone their Taoist Skills.

On top of that, a new item had been added: sparring matches between Disciples.

The Elders didn’t spell it out, but Mo Hua could guess—this was clearly to prepare for the Sword Discussion Conference.

To see which Disciples really had strength, who had a talent or knack for dueling, who was insightful—who could be useful, who could shine for the Sect at the Conference. ᚱ𝒶ŊỗΒƐS

Since it’s a Sword Discussion, you can’t just judge by Cultivation on paper.

Cultivation’s one thing—actual battle’s another.

Some Disciples have only Cultivation—when it’s time for real fighting, they get nervous and barely use half their abilities.

Others look mediocre on paper, but they’re sharp, daring, and when it comes to combat, they perform way above expectations.

You only know once they’ve really fought.

Only by letting the Disciples spar and experience actual combat can promising candidates for the Sword Discussion Conference be chosen.

It wasn’t just Mo Hua who understood—every other Disciple did too.

The Sword Discussion Conference wasn’t just about their personal future—it was about the reputation of the Sect, about Sect interests.

Besides, after nine years of study, each gets only one shot at the Dao Discussion Conference.

Every Disciple treasured this opportunity like nothing else.

Midway up Refining Demon Mountain, on a spacious hillside.

The Elders were setting up Disciples for one-on-one sparring, testing their martial and spell skills.

It’s just practice—the point isn’t really who wins or loses, but to help the Elders get a measure of each Disciple’s strength.

Mo Hua did not participate.

If he did, it’d be pointless.

On paper, his strength was abysmal.

Among the fellow Disciples, besides Cheng Mo, Situ Jian and a handful who really knew Mo Hua and had seen him show off once or twice as Junior Brother, most of them had never even seen Mo Hua fight or duel—

At best, they’ve seen Mo Hua throw a couple Fireball Techniques.

In their minds, their innocent ”Junior Brother” was a freakishly talented Formation expert whose other abilities—including physical body and Spiritual Power—were laughably weak.

Sparring with him is pointless.

And honestly, no one really dared to spar with Mo Hua.

If Junior Brother got hurt, fine, at worst you eat a couple Fireball Techniques and maybe get a little burn.

But if you accidentally injure him, that’s when things get ugly.

Mo Hua’s always been Junior Brother—kind, gentle, always helpful—and has tons of friends in the Sect. Pretty much every Disciple owes him something.

If you hurt him, piss everyone off—good luck mixing at Taixu Gate after that.

Not to mention, Mo Hua’s pale and delicate, physically fragile—if you hurt him, even just a scrape, that’s already a crime.

The Elders wouldn’t dare let Mo Hua spar either.

This is the Taixu Gate’s Formation Leader, their treasured prodigy. He’s not the Ancestor’s real grandson, but it’s basically the same—and if he got hurt during a Formation match, who could bear that blame?

So, in this huge forest, with blades and spells flying everywhere, the Disciples are going at it, lively as can be.

Mo Hua could only sit atop a big tree, watching the show.

The Elders even set up a protective Formation around his tree, afraid that stray spells might fly up and accidentally harm him during the matches below.