The Quest for Immortality

Outside the Disciple’s Residence, in the secluded forest.

The ancient trees tower above, their branches lush and dense.

Mo Hua stands under the ancient tree.

This towering ancient tree is precisely the one he uses to train his Divine Thought into sword.

Hundreds of disciples have gathered together, surrounding Mo Hua.

This gathering was instructed by Mo Hua and organized by Cheng Mo, bringing together Junior Brothers from the Taixu Gate.

These disciples are certainly not all of them.

It’s the last year of Sect cultivation, most disciples are busy and have their own matters to attend to.

Some are in seclusion cultivating, some are out Monster Hunting, some are honing Taoist Skills, some are continuing bounty tasks, and some are researching Formation, Runes, Alchemy, Artifact Refining, and other Tao Cultivation techniques.

For Mo Hua to summon so many disciples on short notice, it’s already quite impressive.

Among these people, the vast majority are disciples from Taixu Mountain, with only a few disciples from Tai’a Mountain and Mount Chongxu.

Disciples from Taixu Mountain, sharing the same origin with Mo Hua, having spent a long time together, have a deep bond and more trust in Mo Hua, their ”Junior Brother.”

Whenever Mo Hua calls, most Taixu disciples, as long as they have time, will come immediately.

Tai’a and Chongxu branches have just merged into Taixu Gate not long ago, and the disciples from those two mountains are much more distant towards Mo Hua.

Of course, Mo Hua doesn’t mind.

For now, these disciples are still enough.

In the small forest, hundreds of disciples stand or sit, densely packed into a circle, all silently watching Mo Hua.

”Junior Brother, you called us, is there something you need?” someone asked.

The gazes of others also carried varying degrees of confusion.

Mo Hua straightforwardly asked:

”Are all of you going to participate in the Sword Discussion Conference?”

Some disciples nodded, others shook their heads.

Mo Hua asked them: ”Why not go?”

There was a moment of silence around, then someone said:

”Junior Brother, my cultivation foundation is a bit shallow, my Spiritual Power Circulation Times is low...”

”I’m not good at fighting skills...”

”My Taoist Skill isn’t strong.”

”I don’t know who to team up with...”

”The Sword Discussion Conference is a big event, a grand occasion, with so many people watching, I... feel a bit nervous...”

”Yes, my own strength is lacking, I’d rather not go up and make a fool of myself.”

”Losing in front of so many people, if it looks really bad, it would be embarrassing for the sect...”

The disciples discussed various reasons, ultimately stemming from either a lack of confidence, an aversion to conflict, or a fear of disgracing the sect.

After all, the entire sect consists of numerous disciples, each with different talents and character traits.

Not everyone has the ability or disposition for battle.

Mo Hua paused for a moment, and then said:

”You know the rules of the Sword Discussion Conference, right?”

”As long as you win one match, even if it’s just at the start, gaining an insignificant win, it would still accumulate one victory point for the sect.”

The disciples nodded.

They knew about this rule.

However...

”One victory point... is really too... insignificant...” a disciple murmured.

Yet Mo Hua shook his head, ”Do not reject doing small good deeds.”

”What seems like just one victory point, when accumulated, can lay the foundation for a final victory.”

”This is not just about one victory point, but about the contribution you make to the sect.”

Mo Hua’s gaze was bright and determined:

”We are all members of Taixu Gate, sharing in its honor and disgrace.”

”For Taixu Gate to prosper and become strong, it relies on the effort of every disciple.”

”Participating in the Sword Discussion Conference is not just fighting for yourselves, but also for the honor and benefits of the sect.”

”Even if you lose, there’s still honor in defeat.”

”Others may mock you, but the sect’s ancestors, sect leader, and all elders will recognize your effort and the hard work you put in for the sect.”

”And if you win, even if just one match or point, it is a real contribution towards the victory of Taixu Gate.”

”Without small steps, you cannot travel a thousand miles.”

”Victory is never achieved overnight; it is accumulated bit by bit...”

”Taixu Gate is not the Taixu Gate of one or two gifted individuals, but the Taixu Gate of all disciples!”

”The strength of Taixu Gate depends on every disciple.”

Mo Hua’s tone was sincere, directly touching the heart.

The disciples, hearing this, felt their hearts waver.

They weren’t unwilling to participate in the Sword Discussion Conference, they just felt that their efforts seemed too insignificant in the face of the grand event where talents are as numerous as clouds, hence the retraction in spirit.

Mo Hua understood.

Under normal circumstances, ordinary disciples are the ”cannon fodder,” and whether they compete or not truly makes little difference.

The sect does not force disciples to compete, leaving it entirely up to their willingness.

But the situation is different now.

Since the Three Sects Unification, Taixu Gate now has more than triple the number of grassroots disciples.

And they happen to have Mo Hua as their ”Junior Brother.”

”But, Junior Brother...” a disciple whispered, ”I want to go, but I’m really too weak...”

”And, I don’t know how to fight others...”

”Indeed, I haven’t practiced much...”

”Really going up there, I probably won’t win a single match...”

Mo Hua waved his hand, ”It’s fine, haven’t you hunted Monster Beasts before if you haven’t debated with swords?”

Everyone was taken aback.

Mo Hua continued, ”If you really don’t know how to fight or win, just treat the Sword Discussion as ’Monster Hunting.’

”You’re not going to discuss swords; you’re hunting five ’human-shaped Monster Beasts.’

And with this perspective, many disciples indeed became less anxious.

They may not have debated swords, but they were familiar with Monster Hunting.

Especially after Mo Hua streamlined the ’Monster Hunting’ process, even those disciples who were less skilled in combat and disliked harsh battles could, by following the steps, manage to kill one or two Monster Beasts at Refining Demon Mountain, earning some skin and fur to exchange for Merit Points.