Immortality Through Array Formations (The Quest for Immortality)

Chapter 899: Daozhou

Mo Hua felt a bit unsatisfied—maybe even slightly disappointed.

"Only second-grade, and probably just a Divine Remnant…"

Right now, his Divine Sense Sword Technique had reached Minor Mastery. Using arrays to manifest swords, merging formation and sword intent—it had become incredibly profound.

While he still couldn't cut through an Evil Embryo, dealing with evil entities below that level… was practically effortless for him—even if they were "kin" to the Great Wilderness Evil Gods.

This particular second-grade Divine Remnant was close to the peak of its grade, but still couldn't truly test the full power of Mo Hua's divine sense swordsmanship.

"I wonder… can I cut down a third-grade evil spirit yet?"

Mo Hua muttered inwardly.

But this trip wasn't about testing swordplay—he'd come to save Uncle Gu. Everything else was a bonus.

As for the "Divine Remnant"? He'd swallow it for now and refine it slowly once he got back.

Mo Hua turned his head and glanced at the pile of scattered bones on the floor.

"Quit playing dead. Get up."

The bones trembled, then slowly gathered back together, reassembling into the form of the Bone Sword Spirit, who gave an awkward smile.

Mo Hua casually tossed a ram horn to him.

"You did well. Here's a little something to replenish yourself."

He'd kept that horn aside on purpose—a small "reward" for Bonehead.

The Bone Spirit looked at the ram horn and trembled slightly.

"Am I… worthy of eating something like this?" he thought.

Then he looked at Mo Hua.

He remembered how he'd been instantly pinned and mercilessly mauled by the ram-horned evil spirit, without the slightest ability to resist.

Yet that same terrifying evil spirit was cleaved in two by this little ancestor with a single swing—also without the slightest resistance…

Bonehead felt a chill creep through his soul.

"It's only been a short time, but this little ancestor has become even more terrifying…"

Following someone this monstrous… he couldn't keep acting like some wide-eyed yokel. If he wanted to keep up, he had to grow a spine—and eat whatever was handed to him, no questions asked.

"Many thanks for the reward, Young Master!"

Bonehead bowed gratefully.

Mo Hua nodded.

"Send me out."

Bonehead didn't dare delay and hurriedly replied,

"Y-Yes!"

A mist of blood spread out. When Mo Hua opened his eyes again, he was back inside the Gu family's Pill Pavilion.

Gu Changhuai lay right in front of him.

Mo Hua stood, checked the center of Gu Changhuai's brow, lifted his eyelids, and nodded.

"Good thing Uncle Gu's got some luck on his side. If he hadn't known me, he probably wouldn't have made it through this."

Mo Hua sighed inwardly. After confirming there was nothing wrong, he turned and walked out the door.

This whole affair—from entering to finishing the task—had taken him very little time.

Outside the room, everyone saw him go in… and now, just after the time it took to drink a few cups of tea, he was already back out. They couldn't help exchanging glances.

Mr. Mei hesitated and asked,

"Young Master Mo… do you need anything else for the exorcism?"

Mo Hua shook his head.

"It's done."

"…Done?"

Mr. Mei's jaw dropped, his expression shifting slightly.

"Wait, that's it?"

No sword, no incense, no robes, no spirit-mirror, nothing at all—he'd just walked in empty-handed, and in a few moments… it was over?

Even the freshly-warmed realgar wine from earlier was still hot!

Everyone's faces showed astonishment.

"Young Master Mo must be joking?"

"It can't be that fast…"

The other two cultivators from the Mystery Valley also looked skeptical.

They absolutely refused to believe that a wicked spirit that had scared even them could be exorcised by a young boy in just a few moments.

If that were true, wouldn't all their careful rituals—spirit-mirrors, talismanic robes, bronze coin swords, incense and purification rites—look like a bunch of clowns putting on a show?

They couldn't accept that.

Mr. Mei also didn't believe it—but in front of so many "professionals," this young man didn't seem like someone who'd make up stories.

He stepped into the room to inspect Gu Changhuai's condition—and immediately froze, stunned.

"…He's really healed?!"

The other Mystery Valley cultivators followed and also checked.

Their expressions were filled with disbelief.

"He really… exorcised the evil spirit?"

All eyes turned to Mo Hua.

He still wore the same calm expression as before, but now, to everyone watching, this seemingly frail youth suddenly felt… unfathomable.

Mr. Mei hesitated for a long time. He wanted to ask what method Mo Hua had used to drive out the spirit—but in the end, held back.

Exorcism techniques were sect secrets—not something one could casually ask about.

But still…

No matter how he thought about it, Mr. Mei just couldn't understand.

"How could a mere mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator banish a spirit so powerful… that even I felt helpless before it?"

It didn't make sense.

"Unless… he used some secret treasure from the Great Void Sect?"

Mr. Mei frowned deeply.

Elder Gu Hong, who had been waiting anxiously nearby, couldn't help but ask,

"Mr. Mei, how is Changhuai…?"

Mr. Mei snapped out of his thoughts, sighed, and solemnly said,

"Young Master Mo is truly incredible. Master Gu should be just fine now."

The moment he said that, everyone in the Gu family felt a great weight lift from their shoulders—but were also left with a lingering feeling of surreal disbelief.

All eyes turned to Mo Hua again.

"This child… is becoming more and more incomprehensible."

Mo Hua remained modest:

"I just got lucky. That evil spirit was actually all bark and no bite—not as strong as it looked. It had already been weakened by Mr. Mei earlier, which made it easier for me to finish the job. It's not that I'm all that capable."

"…Oh."

Everyone nodded vaguely, half-believing, half-doubting.

Mr. Mei, meanwhile, flushed red.

He knew Mo Hua was giving him face.

That evil spirit—whether it was weak or strong—he was very clear on. There was no way his earlier attacks did any serious damage.

Still, in the cultivation world, face was important. Mo Hua had given him a way out, and he was deeply grateful.

Mr. Mei bowed and said,

"Not at all. Young Master Mo is truly remarkable…"

The two exchanged pleasantries, each lifting the other up with flowery compliments.

Then Mo Hua seemed to remember something and turned to Wenren Wan.

"Aunt Wan, now that the evil spirit is gone, Uncle Gu's spiritual sea is mostly fine. But his vitality and spiritual power are still greatly depleted—especially his meridians. His qi is blocked. He'll need urgent care to recover."

Wenren Wan nodded.

"I understand."

Then added warmly,

"All thanks to you…"

Mo Hua simply smiled.

With the evil exorcised, his part was done. The elders and alchemists of the Gu family took over to help Gu Changhuai recover.

Mo Hua checked on Yu'er one more time, made sure she was sleeping peacefully, then stepped outside into the courtyard and found a stone table to sit down and enjoy some tea.

The Gu family's elders thoughtfully brought over several boxes of exquisite, delicious pastries to accompany his tea.

Mo Hua didn't stand on ceremony—he thanked them and accepted the treats.

After a while, Mr. Mei and the others joined him, formally saluting before sitting down as well.

They'd been busy for quite a while, and now was a good time to rest.

Naturally, their conversation drifted toward topics of divine sense cultivation.

Because Mo Hua had some "friends" among the divine beings, his knowledge of spiritual paths and god-related lore was far deeper than that of an ordinary cultivator.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mei and the others—despite some cognitive blind spots regarding "gods"—had done deep research into divine sense cultivation styles, secret traditions, and related taboos.

They drank tea and chatted.

Mr. Mei and the others were constantly amazed at Mo Hua's insight and knowledge.

Meanwhile, Mo Hua learned a lot of flashy tricks—like bronze coin swords, eight-trigram plates, heart-protecting mirrors, calming incense, evil-repelling robes, and so on…

For ordinary cultivators, these items really did help.

To a certain extent, they could assist with exorcising spirits, driving away evil, and offering spiritual protection.

Mo Hua just happened to be… an exception. So he didn't really need them.

…However—

Even if he personally had no use for those tools, in the future, if the Great Void Sect were to face formidable demonic threats and needed to establish some kind of exorcist tradition or inheritance that could "dispel evil and sever spirits," then those things might actually be worth referencing.

Mo Hua quietly took note of this idea.

"As expected—live and learn. When walking with three people, there's always something to learn from them."

He truly felt like he'd gained some new knowledge.

Mr. Mei and the others, seeing Mo Hua's outstanding talent and kind disposition, were all very pleased.

The group enjoyed a delightful chat, and about an hour later, Mr. Mei stood up and took his leave:

"Now that the matter's been settled, we won't disturb you any longer. Another time, we can continue exchanging insights on the divine path."

Mo Hua smiled and said,

"Of course."

After Mr. Mei left, Mo Hua stayed seated with his tea, hoping to wait and see if Uncle Gu would wake up.

But after a short while, a woman in a Dao Tribunal robe stepped in.

Mo Hua blinked, surprised.

"Sister Xia?"

Magistrate Xia looked equally startled to see him, but her expression was clearly urgent.

"Mo Hua, what happened to Gu Changhuai…?"

Mo Hua replied,

"Don't worry, Sister Xia. He's no longer in mortal danger. The elders of the Gu family are tending to his recovery."

Only then did Magistrate Xia breathe a sigh of relief, her gaze flickering with complex emotion.

Mo Hua, sharp as always, noticed and asked in a teasing whisper:

"Sister Xia… you're that worried about Uncle Gu?"

Magistrate Xia's body stiffened, face tense:

"We're both officers of the Dao Tribunal. We were on assignment together. He was seriously injured—of course I should come check on him. It's basic professional courtesy."

"Ohhh, colleagues, huh…"

Mo Hua responded with a meaningful tone.

For some reason, his look made her uncomfortable. She quickly tossed him a pill bottle.

"This is a Grand Vital Essence Pill from the Xia family. Give it to Gu Changhuai for me. I still have official duties—need to go."

She turned to leave.

Mo Hua quickly called out,

"Wait, Sister Xia! I still have something to ask!"

She turned back, eyeing him.

"Really something important?"

Mo Hua nodded.

"Really important."

She hesitated.

Mo Hua added,

"It's not about Uncle Gu. It's official business."

Only then did she relax and sit beside him.

"Alright, speak."

Mo Hua glanced around to make sure no one else was nearby, then leaned in and asked quietly:

"Sister Xia, was my place of birth… locked down by the Dao Tribunal?"

She looked surprised.

"How did you know?"

"I heard it."

Mo Hua said vaguely.

"From Gu Changhuai?" she asked, raising a brow.

Mo Hua smiled, but said nothing.

After a moment of thought, Magistrate Xia nodded.

"It was my uncle's order."

Mo Hua blinked.

"Magistrate Xia?"

She nodded.

"Why?"

"I'm not entirely sure… Maybe he received someone's suggestion, or maybe he simply wanted to curry favor with you, as the genius of the Array Path."

Mo Hua blinked again.

"Do I have that much influence?"

She sighed.

"You're the top of the Array Path, and only at mid Foundation Establishment. If I hadn't seen it myself, I wouldn't believe it either."

"Besides, this might just be standard procedure. Across the Nine Provinces, whenever an outstanding genius appears, it's protocol for the Dao Tribunal to seal their place of origin."

"First, to protect them—so they aren't targeted by demonic sects."

"There have been cases where devil cultivators captured parents or loved ones of gifted youths and used them as leverage—forcing them to fall into darkness and defect to the demonic path."

"Second, the Dao Tribunal is also in a talent war with noble clans. Locking down identity info limits who can get to you."

"Someone like you, a genius in formations, would definitely be on their radar."

Mo Hua nodded slowly in understanding.

After a moment, she added:

"You're good with formations—if I had to guess, I'd say someone from the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion has their eye on you."

"The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion?" Mo Hua asked.

"Mm," she said.

"You're still low in cultivation, so it's early. But if you reach Golden Core and maintain your talent, making solid progress in formations… the Pavilion will probably recruit you directly. As for what position—you'll have to earn it."

Then she looked at Mo Hua with sincere anticipation.

"So keep working hard. As long as you stay on the righteous path and cultivate diligently, your future will be limitless…"

"You might even rise straight into the Dao Tribunal, take a role in the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, settle in Daozhou… and from then on, your lineage will flourish at the very heart of the cultivation world."

"That's the dream—a chance millions of cultivators across the Nine Provinces would die for."

She sighed with emotion.

Mo Hua nodded thoughtfully. A tiny spark of longing flickered in his heart.

"Daozhou…"

The seat of the Dao Tribunal. Surrounded by the Nine Provinces. Center of a cultivation civilization that had thrived for over 20,000 years. A realm of flourishing splendor.

It was also the land with the richest spirit stone veins, deepest heritage, most Daoist texts, longest tradition, and greatest power.

Still… Mo Hua figured it was a long way off.

Thinking about it now was a bit premature.

There was something far more urgent at hand.

"Sister Xia," Mo Hua asked,

"Was Uncle Gu injured during a demonic sect sweep? Blasted by a Golden Core devil cultivator? What exactly happened back then?"

"That's Tribunal business…" she started to say.

Mo Hua sighed.

"Why does she sound just like Uncle Gu? Always using the Dao Tribunal as a shield."

He pressed gently:

"The Dao Tribunal is still going to fight these demon sects, right? What if Uncle Gu gets targeted again? He got lucky this time—but next time?"

"Even if it's not Uncle Gu, there are others. If they die at the hands of those devils… that's a heavy loss too."

Magistrate Xia was momentarily speechless.

After a brief silence, she nodded.

"…You're right."

And Gu Changhuai had told her: Mo Hua held a bronze warrant—an unofficial agent of the Dao Tribunal. Technically, not an outsider.

Plus, after what happened at Dragon King Temple, she trusted Mo Hua deeply.

She considered for a bit, then decided to give him the general picture:

"This demonic sect is extremely secretive. They never reveal their name. What we know is—they worship a kind of 'monster deity', and keep a statue of a beast carved from mountain stone."

"This 'beast' feeds on flesh and blood. Their cultivators share the same bloodthirsty nature."

"On the surface, they act like normal cultivators—but in secret, they raise 'blood slaves' and feed on their blood. Every seven or fourteen days, they hold 'blood feasts', where they gather to slaughter and gorge."

"If they don't feed regularly, they grow manic and violent."

"The sect has about a dozen Golden Core devil cultivators—ranging from early to late stage. All are ruthless, eerie, and drenched in blood."

"The only late-stage Golden Core among them is believed to be their leader."

"A month ago, the Tribunal launched a joint operation and successfully eliminated one early-stage Golden Core devil cultivator."

"This latest mission was to target a second. Though we were ambushed and faced setbacks, the plan mostly succeeded. But in the end—this devil cultivator went berserk, his eyes turned blood-red, and he charged at Gu Changhuai like a madman…"

"Then… he self-detonated his Golden Core."

Her expression was grave.

Mo Hua frowned deeply.

Worshipping a monstrous deity, feeding on blood, self-detonating a Golden Core, and charging right at Uncle Gu like he wanted to die with him…

Mo Hua's expression darkened.

Then he asked,

"Sister Xia, those Golden Core devil cultivators—was there something strange about them?"

Magistrate Xia frowned slightly.

"Strange?"

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then described it:

"Just like Xiao Zhenhai… They have a sort of twisted, evil aura. When you look at them directly, it pressures your divine sense. Sometimes you even see… unspeakable bloody visions."

Magistrate Xia frowned in thought, then slowly nodded.

"Yes… that sounds right."

"I see…"

Mo Hua fell silent, lost in thought.

Just as he was about to ask more, a commotion rose from within the pill chamber—then a voice rang out in joy. Uncle Gu had woken up.

Suddenly, Magistrate Xia looked a bit flustered. She stood up.

"I should go."

Mo Hua quickly called out:

"Sister Xia! Uncle Gu just woke up—you're not going to see him?"

"No need. It's just Gu Changhuai—what's so worth seeing?"

She turned to leave.

But after a few steps, she turned back and said:

"If you ever need help with Dao Tribunal matters, you can come to me."

Mo Hua smiled,

"Thank you, Sister Xia."

She gave him a faint smile in return, then turned and left.

Mo Hua got up and walked into the inner room.

Uncle Gu had indeed awakened, though he was still very weak and couldn't speak. He glanced toward Mo Hua through the crowd—his gaze distant and complicated.

Mo Hua nodded slightly, signaling he understood, and that there was no need for words.

Then Uncle Gu drifted back into sleep.

Only then did Elder Gu Hong truly let out a breath of relief. She turned to Mo Hua and said with heartfelt gratitude:

"I don't even know how to thank you… If there's ever anything I can help with in the future, I'll never refuse."

Mo Hua smiled:

"Uncle Gu has always looked after me. This was the least I could do—Elder Hong, no need to be so formal."

Elder Gu Hong looked at Mo Hua, and the more she looked, the more pleasing he seemed to the eye. She secretly thought: If there's a chance in the future, I must help him find a good marriage match.

But just as that thought arose, a sudden jolt went through her heart.

She remembered the time she'd tried to divine Mo Hua's romantic fate… and had encountered a terrifying karmic backlash. The red string of fate had snapped into fragments.

Now that shattered red thread seemed to float before her eyes again.

She looked at Mo Hua deeply.

Mo Hua, however, noticed nothing. He simply handed her a bottle of pills.

"These are from Sister Xia—for Uncle Gu."

"Sister Xia…?" Elder Gu Hong hesitated.

"That girl from earlier?"

"You saw her?"

"I did."

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then lowered his voice and asked,

"Don't you think she and Uncle Gu… are kind of a good match?"

Elder Gu Hong was stunned, then her eyes lit up—but a sigh quickly followed.

"Those two are like they were carved from the same mold. Cold on the outside, warm on the inside. One's handsome, the other's beautiful. They do suit each other… but… Changhuai doesn't deserve her."

Mo Hua frowned.

"Why not?"

Elder Gu Hong sighed:

"She's from the Xia Clan—one of the noble lineages above Fifth Grade. Not the usual kind of fifth-grade family, mind you. There's a chasm between them and common clans."

"Our Gu family, if you're generous, might count as quasi-Fifth Grade. Realistically, we're just Fourth Grade."

Mo Hua was surprised.

"The Xia Clan is that powerful?"

Her eyes grew serious.

"Ancient noble family… who knows how many old monsters they're hiding. Their foundation is terrifying. What you can see—at best—is just the tip of the iceberg."

Mo Hua clicked his tongue. Still, after a pause, he added,

"If fate wills it… who's to say?"

Elder Gu Hong sighed.

"Let's hope so."

Mo Hua nodded.

"Yeah."

Elder Gu Hong looked at him quietly for a while and thought, This child is busy matchmaking for others, but his own fate… is likely extraordinary too.

Who knows what obstacles await him—countless chasms and perils along the way…

But these thoughts, she kept to herself.

Now that Gu Changhuai had woken, Mo Hua finally felt at ease.

The Gu family presented him with a pile of gifts as thanks.

Mo Hua hadn't planned to accept them.

This was just a small gesture, after all. And truthfully, he'd already received the real reward. Besides, the Gu family had treated him well over time.

But Wenren Wan persuaded him:

"If you don't accept, the Gu family will feel guilty."

Mo Hua had no choice but to accept the gifts reluctantly.

Sometimes being too well-liked was a problem—people lined up to give him things. It'd be rude not to take them.

So after accepting the gifts, Mo Hua returned to the Great Void Sect.

His first task upon returning: go into seclusion in his disciple residence and sink his consciousness into his sea of awareness.

At midnight, the Dao Stele emerged.

Mo Hua retrieved something from it: the Divine Husk he had pulled out from Uncle Gu's sea of awareness and then slain and barely refined.

Divine Husks were different from ordinary evil spirits.

Even if slain, they retained the essence of an evil god. If consumed recklessly, they could corrupt one's soul.

Mo Hua used the tribulation lightning from the Dao Stele to purify and "disinfect" it thoroughly.

Sure enough, brilliant golden divine marrow was extracted and refined.

Mo Hua was overjoyed.

For a while now, he'd been burning through his divine marrow stockpile without replenishing it. Finally—some gains!

Without hesitation, he swallowed the divine marrow.

In that instant, every inch of his divine sense incarnation felt like it was being nourished by heavenly rain. His spiritual body grew visibly stronger. The gold in his divine soul grew purer.

Even the tiny cracks across his divine sense began to heal.

The fusion between his Great Void Origin and soul also progressed significantly.

His realm of divine sense transformation rose step by step.

Mo Hua couldn't help thinking: If I could just keep hunting Divine Husks and eating divine marrow like this…

Then maybe, before long—I'd break through the bottleneck of the Heavenly Derivation Art, and reach late Foundation Establishment.

Even the fusion between the Great Void Origin and his life soul would speed up. And the growth of the God-Slaying Sword… would be like a dragon taking flight.

(End of this Chapter)