The Quest for Immortality

Although the distance was far before, Mo Hua’s Divine Sense was sharp, sight and hearing acute, and he still roughly heard the words Iron Skill Bone was muttering before the statue of the Barbarian God.

Things like ”Blessings from the ancestors” and ”Ward off disasters”.

These words were nothing problematic.

Mo Hua paid them no mind and instead said to Iron Skill Bone, ”You follow me out.”

Upon hearing this, Iron Skill Bone hadn’t spoken yet, but the captured Barbarian Cultivators were all filled with terror:

”Mr. Witch, this person is the Golden Core of the Shugubu...”

Mo Hua replied, ”This person is an ’inside man’ of the Shugubu. It’s he who sent signals and information, leading me here to rescue you.”

Iron Skill Bone looked utterly shocked.

This pale-faced shaman was spouting nonsense?!

He was definitely not an inside man!

He was a loyal servant of the Shugubu, but due to his faith in the Barbarian God and the dire situation and enemy’s maliciousness, he had to begrudgingly yield and guide this pale-faced shaman.

He was not an inside man!

No!

However, the captive Barbarian Cultivators were all looking at Iron Skill Bone with eyes indicating they saw him as one of them, some even showing gratitude.

This made Iron Skill Bone very uncomfortable.

”Let’s go.” Mo Hua said lightly.

Iron Skill Bone, having no other choice, fearing further harm from Mo Hua, could only lean on his broken cane, hobbling along behind Mo Hua.

...

Outside the Stone Palace.

Dan Zhu and others, who had been waiting for more than an hour, were all looking grave and anxious.

They could conclude that there must be something evil inside the Stone Palace.

And Mr. Witch had been inside for so long, yet there was no sound of him.

Bi Jie from the Bi Fang Tribe wore a disdainful expression, sneering:

”A self-overestimating brat... My Bi Fang Tribe’s two Golden Cores got trapped inside, and you, a mere Foundation Establishment, think that having the title of ’Shaman’ shields you from all evils? Like a fool...”

But before he finished speaking, footsteps came from inside the Stone Palace.

Bi Fang’s face changed, and then he saw a silhouette emerging from the darkness.

This person wasn’t tall, but carried an imposing presence, appearing somewhat sacred and heroic against the sinister darkness behind him.

With skin as fair as jade, a clear gaze, and a transcendent air.

He emerged from a dead land for Golden Cores without changing his expression, his demeanor unwavering, not a single crease on his garments.

Having endured a great calamity without breaking the Taoist Heart.

Traversing through all evils while remaining untainted.

Behind him was a large group of rescued captives.

These captive Barbarian Cultivators, following Mo Hua out of the Stone Palace, lifted their heads to see the long-awaited sunlight, knowing they were saved, and wept tears of joy.

They all knelt to Mo Hua, fervently shouting:

”Thank the Lord of the Temple for the blessing!”

”Thank Mr. Witch for saving us!”

”Lord of the Temple, immortal. Mr. Witch, may your life be long and prosperous!”

The fervent worshiping chants of the Barbarian Slaves were deafening.

And Mo Hua alone, mild and amiable, stood among them.

Behind him was darkness.

In front of him was sunlight.

The brilliant light shining on his face, made his complexion like jade, almost divine.

This scene was captivating.

The Danque Tribe’s Dan Zhu members were mesmerized too.

At that moment, the image of a ”Shaman” in their hearts became closely aligned with Mo Hua’s figure.

Previously, their perception of a shaman differed among them.

But right now, they suddenly felt that the image of the ”Mr. Witch” who serves the deity should be just like Mo Hua.

Many Barbarian Soldiers were stirred emotionally, feeling that Mo Hua now seemed like a ”representative” of deities on earth.

Some Danque Tribe Barbarian Soldiers, influenced by this holy atmosphere, began to kneel partially, praying sincerely to Mo Hua.

Even the ”hostile” Bi Fang Tribe had some Barbarian Soldiers subconsciously bend their knees, wanting to kneel before this venerable, sacred ”Mr. Witch”.

Bi Jie was furious, glaring back at them.

The Barbarian Soldiers from the Bi Fang Tribe, already half-kneeling, stiffened and stood straight again.

This sacred solemn atmosphere lasted for quite some time.

Finally, Bi Jie couldn’t hold it any longer, suppressing his shock and confusion, and looked directly at Mo Hua, asking:

”What exactly happened inside? In the Stone Palace, what was going on? Where are my Bi Fang Tribe’s Elder Zhuo and those twenty elites?”

Mo Hua had a faint pity on his face, speaking slowly:

”Within the Stone Palace lies a deviant evil object that betrayed the Divine Way, capable of bewitching hearts; everyone from the Bi Fang Tribe is dead.”

Bi Jie’s face became extremely ugly.

Although he was grieving for the twenty elite Barbarian Soldiers, it wasn’t something he couldn’t afford to lose.

But the two loyal Golden Core Elders were extremely valuable manpower.

For them all to vanish in an instant, even Bi Jie couldn’t help but feel heartache.

Bi Jie looked at Mo Hua ferociously, ”Then what about you? Why didn’t you die inside?”

Mo Hua, magnanimous, didn’t consider his rudeness, but replied firmly:

”I said before, as a Shaman, it is my duty to spread the Lord of the Temple’s blessings, to eradicate evil objects, smooth out wickedness, uphold all beings, and rescue the Barbaric Wilderness.”

”Now my devotion has received the Lord of the Temple’s acknowledgment.”

”The Lord of the Temple granted me supreme Divine Power, which has already completely eradicated the mighty evil object that strayed from the Divine Way!”

These words shocked everyone, stirring a commotion.

Such mystical and mysterious words, not witnessing them personally, were hard to determine.

But the fact that two Golden Cores from the Bi Fang Tribe fatally perished in less than an hour in the Stone Palace was true.

And the fact that Mo Hua, a Foundation Establishment, could emerge unscathed and rescue captive tribe members from the Stone Palace was also true.

Given these facts, claiming there was divine favor and protection may not be mere talk.

People looked towards Mo Hua, with respect, but now with a hint of reverence for this ”strong man of the Divine Way”, ”high Shaman”.

Since he is a revered figure, surely he cannot be judged merely as ”Foundation Establishment”.

Bi Jie, inherently arrogant, cursed Mo Hua internally for his eloquence and mysteriousness.

But this matter was beyond his understanding of reality.

Bi Jie thought for a moment and decided to disregard it, turning to Dan Zhu and coldly saying:

”Since this... Shaman has rescued your Danque Tribe’s people, isn’t it time for your Danque Tribe to withdraw? We had agreed that your Danque Tribe would save people, but the Shugubu’s storehouse is ours, the Bi Fang Tribe’s.”

Dan Zhu wanted to agree, but when he looked at Mo Hua, he saw Mo Hua subtly shake his head at him.

Barbarian General Chi Feng also gently gripped Dan Zhu’s arm.

Dan Zhu was straightforward, but Chi Feng had fought for many years and was experienced, impossible to be duped by Bi Jie.

On the battlefield, verbal agreement meant nothing.

Leading troops into battle was only about interests.

If the Bi Fang Tribe valued the Shugubu Stone Palace storehouse so much, there must be something going on inside.

If before, the Danque Tribe was at a disadvantage, both sides unaffected, it wouldn’t have mattered.

But now, two Golden Cores from the Bi Fang Tribe were gone.

While the Danque Tribe remained intact, even adding Mo Hua, a ”Shaman” with mysterious abilities and unknown extent of power.

Comparatively, the Danque Tribe clearly had the upper hand.

Even if it led to conflict, they should fight the Bi Fang Tribe for this; if needed, they’d firmly seize the Shugubu’s storehouse.

Who knows what good things might be hidden inside that storehouse.