Immortality Through Array Formations (The Quest for Immortality)

Chapter 1131: Elder Ji

In the residence of the Sect Master of the Cangwolf Sect, Mo Hua and Sect Master Zhao were sipping tea.

"Sect Master Zhao, I'll be leaving tomorrow," said Mo Hua.

Sect Master Zhao was first startled, then overjoyed, as though a great mountain pressing on his head had suddenly vanished. But on the surface, he still wore an expression of reluctant sorrow.

"Master Mo, why not stay a few more days...?"

Mo Hua's expression grew pensive.

Seeing this, Sect Master Zhao's heart gave a loud thump.

I was just being polite—surely this little "Yama Prince" Mo isn't actually thinking of staying?

That would truly be a case of disaster born from loose lips.

Anxiety immediately took hold of Sect Master Zhao.

Fortunately, Mo Hua eventually shook his head. "No, I have to leave. But I appreciate your good intentions."

Zhao couldn't help but smile. "Not at all—it's the least I could do."

Mo Hua continued, "As for the plans I discussed with you before..."

Sect Master Zhao immediately promised, "Everything will be carried out exactly as you said."

Mo Hua looked at Zhao and slowly nodded.

This Zhao was a bit scheming, a bit fake, but honestly, he was reliable when it came to getting things done. And not a bad person, either.

After a moment's thought, Mo Hua asked, "Sect Master Zhao, do you trust me?"

Zhao froze.

Could he say no under these circumstances?

He nodded. "Of course I trust you, Master Mo."

Mo Hua nodded in return, then solemnly said, "Soon, a great calamity will sweep through the borders of Lìzhou. Where the flames of war reach, all living things will suffer."

Zhao was briefly stunned.

At first, he thought Mo Hua was joking.

Everything seemed peaceful—where would this 'great calamity' and 'suffering of all living things' come from?

But seeing the grave look on Mo Hua's face, Zhao's heart tightened slightly.

Mo Hua's ways were strange and unfathomable. Though he was only at the Foundation Establishment realm, a few words from him could stir conflict and claim lives. His mental sharpness and methods were immeasurable. Even his position as Sect Master was something Mo Hua had forcibly pushed him into.

Thinking back on all this, Zhao's expression turned solemn.

Mo Hua's face was equally grim.

Now in the relatively isolated corner of Cangwolf City, he could not see the full picture. He didn't know what was happening in the Great Wilderness or beyond Lìzhou.

But the Arhatian Dragon Banner—it was he who lit it.

He had also seen the blazing meteor fall from the sky.

At a glance, the skies over Lìzhou still seemed calm, but the flowing clouds carried a murderous undertone. The threads of fate had already been stirred—everything was chaotic and full of killing intent.

From the south, waves of blistering heat rolled in like fire dragons—mighty and unstoppable.

This was the karma forged of iron and life, blood and fire.

It was a destined upheaval.

The peace in Tongxian City and Cangwolf City was only temporary—the calm before the storm.

The coming disaster would inevitably sweep through here as well.

Therefore, preparations had to begin early.

"All the things I mentioned to you—be it the array formations, the weapon refining halls, or the state roads—must be completed as soon as possible. The sooner, the safer. The more prepared Cangwolf City is, the better its chance of survival."

"Otherwise, the entire Cangwolf region, maybe even all of Cangwolf Prefecture, will face calamity."

"Even if you're a Golden Core cultivator, even as a Sect Master, you won't be able to protect just yourself."

"You wouldn't want to have just become Sect Master only to witness your sect's annihilation... would you?"

Zhao's heart turned cold. He immediately said solemnly,

"Master Mo, your words—I will remember them well."

Mo Hua nodded, then pulled out a jade slip and handed it over.

"Sect Master Zhao, your talent in array formations is actually pretty decent. But you've been stuck in this small place—your vision is limited. It'll be hard to improve much further."

"I've left behind some formation diagrams and insights. If you follow them step by step, and keep training diligently, maybe you'll go even further in the future…"

Zhao hesitantly accepted the jade slip. But the moment he scanned it, he was shaken to the core.

He was a Golden Core early-stage cultivator, capable of drawing Grade-2 formations with seventeen runes.

Once, he had been the chief formation elder of Cangwolf Sect.

In the surrounding regions of Cangwolf Prefecture, he was considered a once-in-five-centuries formation master. His expertise in this small world was practically unrivaled.

He often felt the loneliness of standing too high.

Until he met Mo Hua.

At first, he didn't think Mo Hua's formation skills were all that superior.

Until Mo Hua used strange and mysterious formations to cripple the old Sect Master of Cangwolf Sect—only then did Zhao realize how terrifying he was.

Now, having seen the contents of this jade slip—the insights and secrets it contained—he truly understood the phrase: there's always a higher mountain, always someone greater.

His past self had merely been a frog peeking at the moon from the bottom of a well.

The insights in this jade slip were clear yet profound, rich with the depth of high-grade formation mastery. Every word was precious and exquisite.

Elsewhere, people would literally kill for this level of formation doctrine.

And yet Master Mo had just handed it to him—freely.

Even the formation master who had once accepted Zhao as a disciple with great ceremony had never treated him this well.

Zhao's emotions were in turmoil.

Mo Hua told him, "Study well. External fame and profit are temporary. For a formation master, mastery of formations is the true foundation."

Zhao was deeply moved, cupped his hands and said:

"Thank you, Master Mo, for your teaching."

Mo Hua gave him a few more instructions on handling matters after his departure and left the next day.

Sect Master Zhao personally escorted Mo Hua to the gates of the Cangwolf Sect, feeling a mixture of relief and respect as he said:

"May your journey be smooth and your future bright, Master Mo. Take care."

Mo Hua replied, "Take care as well, Sect Master Zhao," then boarded his carriage and left Cangwolf Sect.

The carriage traveled along the main road, heading out of Cangwolf City.

The scenery along the way flowed past.

The grand, gilded, and decadent towers of the main city had all been demolished. In their place now stood scripture pavilions, where people could borrow and study the foundational cultivation techniques and spell manuals of the Cangwolf Sect.

Beyond the central city was the outer district, home to many rogue cultivators.

The streets here showed some signs of life.

Many loose cultivators had joined efforts in building the weapon workshops and state roads for the Cangwolf Sect, earning some spirit stones to help support their families.

Children on the streets could finally eat a full meal.

And so, these poor streets now held a little more laughter and joy.

Poverty— the root of all evils.

Sometimes, eliminating poverty is also a form of "demon-slaying."

As for what the future held—well, that depended on their own efforts.

Finally, the carriage circled around to the outskirts.

Mo Hua carefully examined the weapon workshop and state road projects one last time, confirming that everything was proceeding according to his formation plans—only then was he at ease.

Now, he finally understood why the Cangwolf Sect's previous leadership had built such a large refining facility and wide roads.

It wasn't just to suck resources.

More than that, it had been part of Sect Master Duan's preparations for rebellion.

The refining hall was to produce "military gear" for cultivation warfare.

The state roads would link Cangwolf Prefecture to the Black Mountain Prefecture, and eventually, using Lìzhou as a springboard, connect to the northern Kamprefecture.

With military gear and a connected highway network in place...

If Cangwolf Sect used shamanic secret arts to tame fierce "wolf soldiers," they could conquer not only all of Cangwolf Prefecture, but the neighboring regions as well.

One had to admit—Sect Master Duan's ambition was vast, his thinking deep, and his actions incredibly thorough.

No one would have thought that the leader of a mere Grade-3 sect dared to harbor thoughts of rebellion.

Mo Hua let out a quiet sigh.

Thankfully, both Sect Master Duan and Mister Wu had been taken care of before the incident occurred—courtesy of him.

Though in the end, the Arhatian Dragon Banner was still lit… at least the spark of rebellion in Cangwolf City had been snuffed out ahead of time.

The foundation for that rebellion no longer existed.

Otherwise, Cangwolf City at this very moment would likely already be engulfed in flames of war.

That war would have swept through all of Cangwolf City and beyond. Under the Cangwolf Sect's ravenous, wolf-like invasion, even Tongxian City wouldn't have escaped unscathed.

But now, at least Tongxian City, Black Mountain, and even all of Cangwolf Prefecture still had room to breathe—time to prepare for the coming catastrophe.

It was, in a way, fortune within misfortune.

Mo Hua felt a faint sense of relief in his heart.

Then, he left Cangwolf City alone, in a carriage.

Before departing, he had thought about going to say goodbye to Chief Luo.

After all, he didn't have many "acquaintances" in all of Cangwolf City.

But after some thought, he gave up on the idea.

There was too much karma entangled with him right now—he was still carrying the banner of rebellion.

Meeting Chief Luo now wouldn't do any good. In fact, it might even harm him.

Chief Luo was just a man trying to earn an honest living. Life hadn't been easy for him.

Better to leave things be than to stir up unnecessary trouble. No need to tie more karma to the man.

But there was another "acquaintance" Mo Hua did intend to visit.

The carriage left Cangwolf City and headed south for two li, stopping at a crossroads near the foot of a mountain.

There, two men in black uniforms from the Dao Judiciary stood waiting. Between them was a tattered prisoner—clothes in rags, head covered with black cloth, a scar across his chest, and bound tightly with spiritual chains on both hands and feet.

The carriage slowed to a halt, and Mo Hua lifted the curtain.

One of the Judiciary officers stepped forward and saluted. "Young Master Mo, per Sect Master Zhao's orders, we've brought him to you."

Mo Hua nodded. "Good work."

The two officers escorted the prisoner onto the carriage, cupped their fists, and said, "He is yours to deal with as you see fit," before taking their leave.

Only Mo Hua and the prisoner remained inside.

The man was covered in blood—clearly tortured—and still struggling against his restraints.

Mo Hua removed the black cloth from his head and said calmly, "Elder Ji. Long time no see."

The battered and miserable Elder Ji's eyes went wide when he saw Mo Hua. Shock, fear, and horror flickered in his gaze.

But his mouth was sealed by shackles and unable to speak.

The Dao Judiciary's tools were thorough—lots of different restraints that could bind a person's limbs, senses, and even spiritual meridians and core.

Mo Hua casually flicked his finger, and a streak of black light flashed, undoing the shackles on Elder Ji's mouth.

Elder Ji spat out a mouthful of blood, his gaze filled with a mix of resentment and barely-contained rage.

If not for Mo Hua, the Cangwolf Sect's former Sect Master wouldn't have died. He himself would still be living in a haze of wine and women, enjoying a carefree life as an elder.

This Mo Hua… was nothing short of a walking disaster.

But Mo Hua sat comfortably on a soft wolf-fur rug, leisurely sipping his tea as he said coldly, "Keep staring at me like that, and I'll dig your eyes out."

Elder Ji trembled, instinctively lowering his head, not daring to meet Mo Hua's gaze.

A moment later, realizing how spineless he appeared, Elder Ji grew furious inside. But even angry, he didn't dare lift his head.

He remembered clearly…

How Sect Master Duan had been toyed with until death.

How Mister Wu had been driven to self-mutilation.

Elder Ji remembered it all.

Head still hanging low, Elder Ji soon heard Mo Hua speak again.

"You should be grateful. It was I who had Sect Master Zhao pull you out of the Dao prison. Otherwise, with your crimes, you'd be spending the rest of your life tortured, until you died a miserable death down there."

That's what Mo Hua said.

But Elder Ji couldn't feel even a sliver of gratitude.

After all, if it weren't for Mo Hua, he would never have ended up in the Dao prison in the first place.

Elder Ji raised his head slightly and looked at Mo Hua, asking, "Why… did you pull me out?"

Mo Hua didn't hide it. "I want to ask you a few things."

Elder Ji frowned. "About what?"

Mo Hua asked, "That scar on your chest—where did it come from?"

Elder Ji replied, "I already told you. It was from a beast."

"What kind of beast?" Mo Hua pressed.

Elder Ji's expression shifted slightly before he slowly replied, "A… tiger demon."

Mo Hua raised an eyebrow. "What did it look like? Where did it attack you?"

Elder Ji hesitated for a moment, then frowned and asked, "Why are you asking me this?"

Mo Hua's face showed no trace of amusement. "You're questioning me?"

Elder Ji froze, irritation flashing in his heart. He had begun to feel some anger again—until he met Mo Hua's pitch-black eyes, deep as the abyss, and that small bit of courage was instantly extinguished.

"…It was outside Tongxian City. In Black Mountain. A mid-grade second-rank tiger demon, black-and-white striped, extremely savage. It killed over a dozen of my men before we subdued it…"

Mo Hua's eyes narrowed. "And then?"

"Then… naturally, we killed the beast and divided its carcass. Avenged my brothers," Elder Ji replied, his eyes flickering.

Mo Hua's gaze turned colder.

"Why were you even in Tongxian City, killing a second-grade tiger demon in the first place?"

Elder Ji said in a low voice, "There were sect matters to handle. We happened to pass through Tongxian City. We camped in Black Mountain for the night. Built a fire. That damned beast came charging into our camp… so of course, we killed it."

Mo Hua slowly nodded.

He took out a strange, iron plate and tossed it on the floor.

Then he ordered, "Kneel on it."

Elder Ji, naturally, had no intention of kneeling.

Mo Hua's eyes turned icy, a clear killing intent emanating from him.

Left with no choice, Elder Ji reluctantly knelt on the iron plate.

The instant his knees touched it, he let out a blood-curdling scream—his face contorted in agony, eyes wide with shock.

A pain beyond words lanced through his body, boring straight into the bone.

His face went ghostly pale, and he struggled violently, trying to stand.

Mo Hua pointed with one finger—Water Prison Technique.

A water-based binding spell wrapped around Elder Ji's limbs, chaining him firmly to the formation plate.

It felt like thousands of needles were stabbing into his knees.

And the needles carried the powers of the Five Elements—one moment they scalded with fire, the next froze with water, stabbed with metal, poisoned with wood, and stiffened with earth.

The torment cycled endlessly—every wave of pain more distinct and layered than the last. Cruel. Artful.

Elder Ji wanted to die.

Never in his life had he suffered pain like this.

"M-Master Mo… p-please…" Elder Ji's voice shook. The pain made even words hard to form.

Mo Hua ignored him.

He simply poured himself another cup of tea, took a sip, and calmly said:

"I don't like being lied to."

Mo Hua's voice was calm, but the chill behind it was unmistakable.

"You think it over. When you're ready to tell the truth, then speak. Otherwise—your screaming sounds better than your lies."

In Elder Ji's heart, the more he thought about it, the more convinced he was that Mo Hua was some kind of ghost child that had just crawled up from the underworld.

Sinister, cruel, and utterly twisted.

He looked pure and innocent on the outside… but took visible pleasure in tormenting others.

The torture array continued to spin. The pain continued to escalate.

Elder Ji finally couldn't take it anymore and shouted, "I'll talk! I'll talk!"

But Mo Hua just kept sipping his tea, like he'd gone deaf, utterly ignoring him.

"I said I'll talk! I'll say it all!"

Still, no reaction.

The pain kept intensifying.

Elder Ji was on the verge of a breakdown. "Young Master! Lord Mo! Ancestor! I'll talk, I swear! I'll tell you everything!!"

Only then did Mo Hua seem to hear him. He calmly deactivated the Water Prison Technique and shut down the formation on the torture plate. With a soft sigh, he said:

"See? If you'd just talked earlier, it'd all be over by now. Why go through all that pain? What was the point?"

Elder Ji was shaking with a mix of rage, fear, and humiliation.

Now he truly understood—falling into this brat's hands meant there was no bargaining.

If you annoyed him, he really would "play" you to death.

His earlier judgment must have been correct:

This Mo fellow—he didn't like women, didn't like men… Either he was some saint above base pleasures—or just a monster with a twisted soul, a true deviant who would stop at nothing.

Mo Hua said, "Let me ask you again—what I asked before. That tiger. Did you really kill it?"

This time, Elder Ji didn't dare lie. "I… I don't know."

Mo Hua glanced at him calmly.

Elder Ji trembled and quickly added, "I really don't know. I sold it to someone."

"Sold it?"

"Yes!" Elder Ji blurted, desperate. "I sold it!"

Seeing Mo Hua still unconvinced, he hurried to explain:

"About ten years ago, a high-status cultivator came to Cangwolf City. I… I… showed him around… drinking, gambling, women, the works…"

"He had a great time. So he proposed a deal—he wanted me to capture a 'tiger' for him."

Mo Hua's eyes narrowed slightly. "Capture a tiger?"

Elder Ji nodded. "Yes. Especially those powerful tiger demons who ruled over mountain forests. The more unique their bloodline, the better. Ideally, one with a '王' (king) character on its forehead…"

"But Young Master, you know this too—tiger demons are kings among beasts. Rare enough as is. A tiger demon with a literal '王' mark? Even rarer."

"I didn't want to agree at first. But the man promised all sorts of rewards if I succeeded. Even said he'd grant me and the Cangwolf Sect a great opportunity."

"I wasn't sure what to do, so I went to the Sect Master. He agreed—and even assigned me a team to hunt the tiger demon."

"I sent word far and wide… eventually heard about a massive black-and-white striped tiger deep in Black Mountain, near Tongxian City."

"It took an enormous effort. We lost over a dozen men—but we caught it."

"After that, I handed it over to that distinguished 'guest'."

"And sure enough, just as he promised, he gave me all kinds of things—cultivation techniques, spirit stones, even beautiful women…"

Mo Hua's gaze sharpened. "And the so-called 'great opportunity' for the Cangwolf Sect?"

Elder Ji shook his head. "That… I don't know. You'd have to ask the—former Sect Master."

Anyway, as far as he was concerned—he got his spirit stones and beauties. That was enough.

Mo Hua asked again, "So who was this guest? Where is he now?"

Elder Ji shook his head. But seeing Mo Hua's displeasure, he hurriedly added:

"Young Master, I really don't know. He was a noble guest—I didn't have the right to ask his name. I just showed him around, drank with him, kept him entertained. That's all."

"Can you find him again?" Mo Hua asked coldly.

"This…" Elder Ji frowned, thinking hard. Then said slowly, "There is one clue…"

"At the time, after capturing the tiger demon, I tied it up and escorted it south of Cangwolf City, to a place called Little Relay City. There, per the guest's instructions, I personally handed the tiger over to a manager at the local courier station…"

"But… that was ten years ago."

"Little Relay City?" Mo Hua's eyes narrowed. Then he pointed at Elder Ji. "Take me there. Now."

Elder Ji hesitated.

Mo Hua's voice went cold. "Find that man—and I'll spare your life. Fail… and there's no point in keeping you alive."

Elder Ji could only force out a bitter, "Yes…"

After that, Elder Ji changed out of his prison clothes, had the chains removed, put on a plain gray robe, and sat at the front of the carriage.

Under Mo Hua's gaze, he took the reins and began driving them south—toward Little Relay City.

(End of this Chapter)