Immortality Through Array Formations (The Quest for Immortality)

Chapter 891 – The Demonic Sect

In the back mountain of the Great Void Sect—

Venerable Elder Xun carried a jug of wine as he slowly entered the forbidden grounds, stepping into the Sword Tomb where the air reeked of faded killing intent and withered sword auras.

Within the tomb, Grand Elder Dugu remained seated like a lone boulder atop a cliff—unmoved by wind or rain, standing vigil as always.

Elder Xun placed the wine jug in front of him and said,

"Senior Brother, today is a joyous day. Have a sip."

Grand Elder Dugu slowly opened his eyes, his gaze narrowing in faint disbelief.

"The three sects… really merged again?"

"They did…" Elder Xun smiled with gratification. "Merged again—we're one family once more… It's just a shame we can't use the old name anymore. Its karmic weight is too great."

His expression turned a little wistful.

Old relics like them still carried deep sentiment for the ancestral name.

Grand Elder Dugu's expression was complicated. He looked silently at Elder Xun and hoarsely murmured,

"You've worked hard, Junior Brother…"

Uniting the three sects was no small feat—it was fraught with obstacles.

To obscure heavenly secrets, grasp opportunities, and overcome numerous trials to bring about the merger—how much effort must it have taken, both in the open and behind the scenes?

And he—plagued by demonic interference—could only remain trapped in the forbidden Sword Tomb.

On normal days, if not for anomalies in fate or karmic disturbances, he wouldn't even release his divine sense for fear of tainting his mind.

He was, for all intents and purposes, a blind and deaf man—utterly ignorant of the outside world, unable to help in the slightest.

Thus, the burden had fallen squarely on his junior brother's shoulders.

This very same junior brother—once a quiet, unremarkable youth with mediocre sword talent—had now become the true pillar of the Great Void Sect.

And he, once the dazzling sword prodigy with immense potential, was now little more than a cripple buried alive in the Sword Tomb.

He had failed the sect's cultivation, and he had burdened his junior brother.

These thoughts weighed heavily on Grand Elder Dugu's heart, but he kept them buried deep inside.

He glanced at the wine jug and shook his head.

"With demonic interference in my soul, I cannot drink…"

"Relax, I watered it down," Elder Xun said. "Just a sip—to celebrate the three sects becoming one again."

Dugu remained silent.

Elder Xun sighed, his expression tinged with nostalgia. "It's sake… the one our master brewed back in the day. I've preserved it all this time."

Hearing that, Grand Elder Dugu was visibly moved. His hands trembled slightly as he lifted the jug and took a small sip.

Afterward, he frowned. "You lied. This isn't Master's brew."

Elder Xun nodded. "Master left behind some of the ingredients. I've been brewing it myself since then."

"As expected. Yours lacks flavor. Should've skipped it."

"I didn't bring it to get you drunk," Elder Xun said. "It's a toast for the three sects reuniting—just a taste."

Dugu set down the jug, fell into thought, then suddenly asked,

"Those two brats—Ouyang and Linghu—how did they agree to this?"

By "brats," he meant Grand Elder Ouyang of the Tai'a Sect and Grand Elder Linghu of the Chongxu Sect.

Both were younger than him and reached the Void Phase much later.

Elder Xun explained, "The heavenly fate is obscured, karma is in turmoil, the future uncertain. Their sects were barely surviving—they had no choice but to change or perish. So, the timing was ripe for the merger."

"Of course, there was another important reason they agreed to let our Great Void Sect take the lead in rebuilding the sect."

He spoke with emphasis. "At the last Dao Conference, our Great Void Sect took first place in formations."

"First in formations?"

Grand Elder Dugu blinked, surprised. "Our sect… won first in formations?"

He could almost believe it if it were swordsmanship.

But formation arts?

What right did the Great Void Sect have?

They didn't even have the foundational heritage for it…

"Who won it?" he asked.

Elder Xun replied with satisfaction, "You wouldn't know this kid, Senior Brother. He wasn't originally from our sect, nor from a prestigious family. Someone pulled strings and squeezed him into our mountain. His name is Mo Hua."

Dugu froze. He seriously suspected he had heard wrong.

"Who?"

"Mo Hua."

Elder Xun repeated the name, looking deeply moved. "Truly a blessing from our ancestors. If that child hadn't fallen into our lap, let alone this three-sect merger—even passing the Dao Conference would've been a nightmare…"

As he spoke, he noticed something strange in Dugu's expression. A flicker of realization passed through Elder Xun's eyes.

"Senior Brother… do you know this child?"

Grand Elder Dugu's heart skipped a beat.

Know him?

He'd even taught the kid swordsmanship…

Of course, he couldn't admit that. But he had no desire to lie either. His expression stayed cold and silent.

Elder Xun paused, then shook his head.

"How could you possibly know Mo Hua?"

"You've been wounded by demonic energy, locked down by the Great Void's Divine Binding Chains, your body and divine sense both sealed, trapped here for so many years without leaving even once."

"That Mo Hua kid never even came to the back mountain. It's forbidden—he wouldn't be allowed in even if he wanted to."

"Besides, he's busy drawing formations, cultivating, attending classes… Where would he find the time to sneak back here?"

A grand elder and a little disciple.

No blood ties. No noble family connections.

No karmic link.

No way they could possibly know each other, Elder Xun concluded.

But Dugu himself was puzzled.

Mo Hua… Could it be just a coincidence of name?

Was this Mo Hua not his Mo Hua?

It had to be a coincidence… right?

The Mo Hua he knew, while mentally gifted, was only mid-Foundation Establishment. Cheerful and innocent—not really someone who gave off "formation master" vibes.

Dugu's eyes flickered. He asked, "What does this Mo Hua look like? What's his background?"

Elder Xun, unaware, began his glowing review:

"Young—mid Foundation stage—handsome, grows more likeable the more you look at him. Spiritual roots are average, but extremely insightful. Diligent, hardworking, humble, polite, and sensible…"

He praised Mo Hua like he was describing a blossoming lotus.

Grand Elder Dugu fell silent.

There was no doubt now.

This Mo Hua was the same one he had dragged into the Sword Tomb.

But… he also wasn't quite the same.

At least, the Mo Hua Elder Xun saw and the one he knew… were quite different in impression.

"You're saying he's mid Foundation, yet managed to win first place in the Dao Conference?"

"Yes."

Dugu frowned. "That means he drew a Nineteen-Rune formation at the mid Foundation stage?"

Elder Xun nodded, eyes full of pride.

He had amazed Dry-Study Prefecture. And now, he was finally surprising even his senior brother.

"Correct," Elder Xun affirmed. "Mid Foundation, peak Nineteen-Rune divine sense. And that divine sense has been honed through countless formation drawings—profoundly tempered and remarkably solid."

Dugu's pupils shrank.

He knew Mo Hua had a strong divine sense, even exceeding his tier.

But to be able to learn complex formation arts with that divine sense?

That didn't just speak of talent—it meant the kid worked hard and had a profound grasp of divine sense manipulation.

His spiritual foundation was even deeper than Dugu had imagined.

"Then… could he really forge a new path—and learn the Divine Sword Manifestation Technique?"

Dugu's heart trembled. A glimmer of brilliance flashed in his eyes.

Elder Xun was about to continue, but he saw that flicker in Dugu's gaze.

He fell silent. His own eyes became calm and heavy.

Staring solemnly at his senior brother, he said:

"Senior Brother… don't tell me you're thinking of teaching that child the Divine Sword Manifestation?"

The two of them had trained under the same master. With all these years of brotherhood—how could Elder Xun not see what Dugu was thinking?

Grand Elder Dugu remained silent.

What could he say? What that, "Too late—I already taught him"?

Elder Xun's face darkened.

"Senior Brother, you mustn't forget—the Great Void's Divine Sword Manifestation Technique has already been classified as a Forbidden Art. No one is allowed to teach it. No disciple is allowed to learn it."

"How many disciples over the years have died, been crippled, or gone mad because of that sword technique?"

"I know your obsession, Senior Brother. I know you're unwilling to let that supreme sword art fade away. But this sword art… really mustn't be passed down again."

"Especially not Mo Hua…"

Elder Xun's expression was incomparably serious.

"No matter how strong his divine sense is, no matter how talented he is in divine arts, you absolutely must not teach him the Divine Sword Manifestation Technique!"

"His path is that of a formation master! This child is destined to become a grandmaster of formations, one who will tower above the Nine Provinces and reach unimaginable heights!"

"This concerns the very future of our Great Void Sect."

"If he becomes curious and attempts to learn the Divine Sword Manifestation, but ends up crippling his sea of consciousness or damaging his soul—it would be a catastrophic loss!"

"This sapling cannot be allowed the slightest misstep!" Elder Xun's voice was firm and resolute.

Grand Elder Dugu replied indifferently, "Understood."

Elder Xun frowned, "Senior Brother… do you really understand?"

Dugu raised an eyebrow. "Must I say it a second time?"

Elder Xun dropped the matter, though he mulled it over for a bit, finally feeling somewhat at ease.

His Senior Brother was not someone who couldn't tell right from wrong.

Besides, with Dugu's pride and discerning eye—having never even met Mo Hua—how could he possibly want to teach such a junior Foundation Stage disciple the forbidden Divine Sword Technique?

He was probably overthinking…

Of course, maybe it was because the topic involved Mo Hua that he'd gotten overly anxious.

Elder Xun picked up the wine jug in front of Dugu and said, "Alright, one sip's enough. I won't disturb your peace any further."

"Go on, go on," Dugu waved a hand dismissively.

Elder Xun stood up to leave, but after taking a few steps, he paused, furrowing his brow. He turned to look closely at Dugu.

Dugu asked, "Something else?"

Elder Xun shook his head. "No… I just feel…" He squinted at Dugu, scrutinizing him again. "Senior Brother… you seem a little different."

"Different?" Dugu froze.

"Mhm." Elder Xun pondered. "You've become… more cheerful."

And… a little livelier?

You talked more. You showed more emotion.

Almost as if something had… rubbed off on you. There was even a strange sense of familiarity in it…

Dugu's face darkened. "Is there something else? If not, get going. I need to rest."

Elder Xun shook his head. "Then take care, Senior Brother."

With the three sects having just reunited, there were many matters to handle, and Elder Xun truly didn't have much free time.

He departed.

In the quiet and solemn Sword Tomb, Grand Elder Dugu sat alone, silent as stone.

A moment later, he furrowed his brows and quietly murmured a name:

"Mo Hua…"

When the next seven-day cycle arrived…

Grand Elder Dugu split open space, pulled Mo Hua in front of him, and once again instructed him in sword techniques while checking his practice.

But this time, the old man's eyes—like an ancient mountain hiding a buried sword—couldn't stop staring at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua felt uneasy under the stare and finally asked in a small voice:

"Old Ancestor… why do you keep staring at me?"

Dugu's expression remained cold. He seemed to hesitate, but in the end, said nothing.

"Just focus on your sword training."

"Oh…"

Mo Hua silently resumed swinging his bamboo sword, chopping at the wood in the back mountain.

The wood back there was some unknown high-grade material—harder than stone. Each strike made his hands go numb.

But Grand Elder Dugu said this was essential training for any sword cultivator.

The point wasn't to split the wood, but to build a deep connection between the person and the sword—refining unity of sword and self.

Eventually, this would allow the practitioner to manifest sword intent with a single thought, fusing sword and soul, letting the sword roam the void like a divine extension of will—invincible in battle.

Mo Hua found that quite reasonable.

He had thought it over.

Sure, in the physical world, these sword techniques had little practical power due to his weak body—they were basically unusable.

But in the Sea of Consciousness, in nightmares, or in illusion realms—those divine domains of the mind—they could shine brilliantly, especially when paired with his Sword Manifestation techniques.

Mo Hua understood his own situation well.

His sword skills were lacking. When he used the Sword Manifestation in the Sea of Consciousness before, he'd simply relied on the sharpness of his divine sense—wildly hacking away.

Thanks to the sheer power of his divine sense, even crude strikes were enough to one-shot most spirit monsters.

But these techniques were too rough and unrefined.

If given the chance, he wanted to truly learn and hone his sword techniques—aiming for a higher level of finesse.

In the real world, fine—he couldn't become some elite sword cultivator.

But in the mental realms—where his divine sense became his body and weapon—his sword skills could absolutely come in handy.

Thus, even though he couldn't leave a scratch on the wood no matter how hard he slashed, Mo Hua trained with full focus and dedication.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Even the grand path of the sword was hidden within each humble swing.

Mo Hua's expression was calm and intent—his eyes steady.

His sword strikes were clumsy, crude, and ineffective.

But in every motion, he poured in his complete heart and soul.

Grand Elder Dugu silently observed him, his thoughts quietly stirring:

"His swordplay is like rotting wood… but his sword heart is like uncut jade."

"And with his mastery of formations… and a divine sense far beyond his realm…"

Dugu stared intently at Mo Hua, his gaze sharpening slightly—

What exactly was running through that ancient mind, none could say.

...

The days passed, one after another.

After the unification of the three sects, the Great Void Sect underwent tremendous changes.

But for Mo Hua, it felt like nothing had changed at all.

He still cultivated as usual, attended classes, studied formations and sword techniques.

He still substituted for array lectures.

And just like always, there was a crowd of disciples calling him "Senior Brother."

Except—now he had more students.

And even more people calling him "Senior Brother."

Time flowed on, and after another month of cultivation, Mo Hua finally confirmed something:

There was no way he'd break through to late Foundation Stage this year.

He hadn't even touched the bottleneck.

The bit of hope he'd been clinging to… finally, and peacefully, died.

He could only rely on a backdoor method.

Elder Xun also kept his word—he didn't make Mo Hua repeat the year.

While this broke sect rules, well… rules are made to be broken—especially when it's for Mo Hua.

After all, he was the first and only Head of the Formations Path in Great Void Sect history.

Even if Mo Hua didn't mention it, Elder Xun would never actually let him stay behind a grade.

Another month or so passed, and then came the year-end evaluation.

Mo Hua calmly closed his eyes and aced the test, scoring a 1st-A and 6th-B, thus wrapping up another year.

And with that, the New Year arrived.

This year, Mo Hua received extraordinarily grand treatment.

The heads of the Shangguan, Wenren, and Gu families personally wrote invitations inviting him to the New Year Banquet.

The invitations were handwritten by the three family heads and delivered to the Great Void Sect by Wenren Wan.

Thanks to Mo Hua, Wenren Wan's status in the sect soared.

All the elders treated her like a living Goddess of Treasures, warmly and graciously.

The Great Void Sect even made a rare exception and gave her the title of "Guest Elder."

Of course, it was just a title—with no authority or obligations.

But considering this was the new, expanded Three-Sects-Merged Great Void Sect, that title was still incredibly prestigious.

So Wenren Wan now had a much easier time entering the sect.

She handed Mo Hua the gilded, jade-inlaid, exquisitely crafted invitation card and said:

"Don't feel pressured. Come if you're free. If you're not, no need to force yourself. These banquets are pretty boring anyway."

Though she was born a Wenren, married into the Shangguan, and had deep ties with the Gu family…

Wenren Wan understood perfectly: the noble clans were cold and calculating—a vanity fair full of schemes and ambition.

She didn't want Mo Hua to get dragged into that too early.

She didn't want these things interfering with his cultivation or formation studies.

Mo Hua pondered for a moment, then asked:

"Will there be good food?"

Wenren Wan froze for a beat, then smiled with pursed lips:

"This is a joint banquet from all three clans. The scale's bigger than ever, with even more distinguished guests… There'll be more good food than you can finish."

Mo Hua's eyes lit up, and he nodded enthusiastically:

"Then I'll go."

Wenren Wan chuckled.

"Good."

And so, during the festival, Mo Hua attended the Gu family banquet.

Even Elder Xun approved.

He didn't want Mo Hua showing up in public too much, to avoid becoming a target of schemes.

But the Gu family was different. They were upright and clean, and had built a strong friendship with Mo Hua.

The Shangguan and Wenren families also had some ties with him.

So this banquet—was worth attending.

It was time for Mo Hua to get a taste of the treatment a Formations Champion of Ganxue Province truly deserved—one who had crushed countless so-called "geniuses."

The Gu family did not disappoint.

In the past, when Mo Hua came to mooch meals, he sat with Aunt Wan—at a table a bit off to the side.

Now, he still sat with Aunt Wan and Yu'er…

But their table was right next to the Gu Family Head.

During the banquet, the usually stern and rigid Gu Shouyan even smiled at Mo Hua, kindly asking what he wanted to eat.

Shangguan Family Head Shangguan Ce and Wenren Family Head Wenren Jingxuan were seated not far away—slightly above Mo Hua in rank.

But whenever there was a lull, they'd come chat with him.

And the conversation topics—clearly chosen with care.

After a few exchanges, the topic always slid smoothly into formations, and they'd praise Mo Hua's talent, profound attainments, and boundless future.

They were all clan heads—seasoned schemers.

Trying to flatter a young disciple without making it obvious?

Their skills were absolutely masterful.

Warm as spring breeze, flawless as glass.

It didn't lower their status, didn't feel awkward, and gently showered Mo Hua with sincere care and attention.

Even Mo Hua was in such a good mood, he ate several extra chicken legs.

Wenren Wan smiled gently, eyes sparkling.

Yu'er was also delighted—mimicking Mo Hua and munching chicken legs with her hands.

Now, no one dared criticize her.

No one dared say she was learning bad habits—

Because the person she was learning from… was the Champion of the Formation Competition, the undisputed No.1 in Ganxue Province.

When you're an absolute genius—everything you do is "right."

And so, the banquet ended with all guests and hosts thoroughly pleased.

Well—except for one person.

Sitting beside Mo Hua, a high-ranking elder from the Shangguan family, had a face that looked like it had been dipped in pig's blood the entire night.

Mo Hua quietly asked Wenren Wan for his name:

"Shangguan Wang."

"Shangguan Wang…"

Mo Hua mulled it over and quietly made a note of the name.

After the banquet, Mo Hua was stuffed as usual and went for a digestive stroll through the Gu family's backyard.

As expected, plenty of elders hurried over to give him gifts.

They weren't particularly valuable, but all sincere.

Mo Hua said things like "How could I accept this…?"

…but eventually, "overwhelmed by kindness," accepted every single one.

As he strolled, he thought of Gu Changhuai.

He hadn't seen "Uncle Gu" much during the banquet.

After some thought, Mo Hua found his way to the study—and sure enough, saw Gu Changhuai alone at his desk, reading jade slips.

Gu Changhuai looked up, a little surprised.

"You actually have time to wander around?"

This banquet was basically thrown in Mo Hua's honor.

The Shangguan and Wenren clan heads were clearly trying to build connections and plant goodwill.

Mo Hua just shrugged and said:

"I'm just here for the free food."

His eyes swept toward the jade slips on Gu Changhuai's desk and curiously asked:

"Is the Dao Judiciary Office really that busy lately?"

"It's manageable…" Gu Changhuai replied evasively.

Mo Hua didn't buy it.

That expression screamed "definitely hiding something."

And if someone's still working during the banquet—something big's up.

Mo Hua asked:

"Another case?"

Gu Changhuai wanted to brush him off… but then realized:

Mo Hua wasn't the same as before.

He already knew a lot. Possibly more than he did in some cases.

And with that curious, obsessive personality of his…

Gu Changhuai felt a headache coming.

After a while, he sighed, checked the room, sealed the doors and windows, activated the wards—and only then spoke solemnly:

"There's been another massacre case. And this time, the attack was even faster and more decisive.

The Dao Judiciary Office's investigation… confirms it: It was the work of an organized Demon Sect."

Mo Hua's eyes sharpened.

"A Demon Sect?"