The Quest for Immortality

Stopping for a moment in thought, Rat took out a snuff bottle, placed it at the tip of his nose, and sniffed.

The pungent, musty smell filled his mind.

Rat endured the pain in his forehead, and at the same time, his nose grew a bit larger, his sense of smell becoming more acute.

Amidst it all, he caught a faint yet pure scent of ink from a person.

It was Mo Hua’s fragrance.

This ink fragrance was elegant yet rich, mesmerizing, unlike anything he had smelled on other cultivators before.

Because it was unique, it was also easy to recognize.

”Little rascal, let’s see where you run to...”

Rat crouched down, placing his rough hands on the ground, assuming a strange posture, channeling his Golden Core Power, spiritual power circulating around him, surrounded by yellow sand, and then with a whistle, he charged forward suddenly.

The ink scent guided the way ahead.

Following the scent, Rat chased after Mo Hua. Within a dozen breaths, he spotted Mo Hua walking alone in the tomb tunnel, cautious and somewhat sneaky.

At the same time, Mo Hua also sensed Rat’s presence. .

In his divine sense, a ”large rat” was charging towards him through the tunnel.

Mo Hua was startled.

”How did this damn rat catch up?”

This tomb robber named Rat shouldn’t understand formations, nor could he distinguish positions.

There wasn’t any tracking spiritual artifact left on him by Rat, so how exactly had he caught up...

However, now was not the time to worry about this.

Seeing Rat closing in, even just a few flashes away, Mo Hua unhesitatingly activated Water Passing Step and sprinted forward.

But Rat’s movement technique was cunning and peculiar, running low to the ground just like a rat.

Several times, Mo Hua was nearly caught by Rat.

Thankfully, though this ”Rat” had a fast movement technique with clever moves, in terms of deft maneuvering, it was still inferior to Water Passing Step.

Using the sophistication of Water Passing Step, Mo Hua narrowly avoided him several times.

Meanwhile, he marveled in his heart, in this vast world, there’s indeed nothing too strange, there truly is someone who learned this kind of bizarre movement technique.

And Rat was secretly astonished.

Avoided them all...

This little rascal... Who exactly is he? So young and possessing such exquisite movement technique?

At the same time, Rat grew increasingly certain.

The stranger Mo Hua was, the more it proved that Old Pi’s ”Gold Seeking Talisman” must be on him.

”Gold Seeking Talisman!”

Rat’s eyes grew redder, fully channeling his Golden Core Power, sprinting on all fours, chasing after Mo Hua.

All at once, Mo Hua’s pressure doubled.

But no matter how good Rat’s movement technique was, compared to the esteemed Elder Yi of the Eight Great Gates, it was much inferior.

Mo Hua always trained with Elder Yi, and now, although shackled, his movement was hindered, but in the bout with Rat, he was not at a disadvantage.

Back and forth they went, chased and dodged for dozens of rounds, leaving Rat more and more stunned.

”Can’t catch him...”

A Golden Core cultivator, and he couldn’t catch a mere Foundation Establishment kid?

Just then, whether it was because Mo Hua’s spiritual power was running low or due to being shackled and restricted, his steps faltered, his movement technique suddenly went awry, slipping to the ground, rolling a few times before stopping.

But it was clear he no longer had the strength to resist.

”Exhausted?”

Rat paused, then breathed a sigh of relief.

That’s more like it...

How could a Foundation Establishment escape a Golden Core’s capture? Clearly, those few moves earlier had been him at his fullest.

Seeing Mo Hua fall to the ground, his movement temporarily halted.

Rat’s eyes flashed with determination, immediately striding towards Mo Hua, extending his blood-stained hands to grab him.

Mo Hua was still of use, of course, he wouldn’t kill him now, just needed to strip him of his clothes, search him, and find that Gold Seeking Talisman.

But before his filthy hands could touch Mo Hua, a voice suddenly came from a distance along the tunnel:

”Who’s there?”

This voice belonged to Mr. Hui.

Rat’s eyelids twitched, secretly cursing: ”Damn it, such bad timing. Of all times, they come when I’ve almost caught the kid.”

Seeing Mr. Hui approaching.

Rat had no choice but to desist against Mo Hua, threatening: ”Not a word of this, or I’ll kill you.”

Mo Hua nodded ”fearfully.”

After a while, the sound of footsteps approached, Mr. Hui and others emerged from the shadows, relieved to see Mo Hua and Rat.

Rat was an accomplice, they had gone down the tomb together several times, and there was camaraderie.

Mo Hua was a Formation Master, inexperienced but the only one they could rely on this trip.

Mr. Hui, for now, hoped nothing would happen to these two.

Especially Mo Hua.

Only...

Mr. Hui glanced at the disheveled Mo Hua, frowned, and said, ”Little brother, are you hurt?”

Rat glanced stealthily at Mo Hua, hiding his malice.

Mo Hua mumbled, ”I... I was chased by corpses, lost my senses in panic, and fell.”

Mr. Hui’s expression grew somewhat serious, ”Bitten?”

Mo Hua shook his head, ”No.”

”That’s good,” Mr. Hui nodded, ”Let’s find the others, regroup early, leave this crossroad to avoid being targeted by corpses again.”

Mo Hua struggled to his feet, walking to Mr. Hui’s side.

Rat watched Mo Hua’s figure, showing a gloomy gaze, evidently still unwilling to let it go.

After that, the three of them moved together, based on footprints and spiritual power traces, began searching for the others in the tomb tunnel.