Immortality Through Array Formations (The Quest for Immortality)

Chapter 1134: Omen of Death

"Ten years ago, on the tenth day of the seventh month, a 'distinguished client' approached me with a transport order," Wang Steward said, flipping through the archive records, his expression tinged with reverence. "It was to transfer a crate of demonic beast 'skins and bones' from Elder Ji of the Cangwolf Sect. They were for use as formation materials and were sent to the south of Lizhou, north of the Sand Sea... to Great Desert City."

These archives were confidential documents of the relay bureau—normally not accessible to outsiders.

But given the current circumstances, Wang had no choice but to violate the rules.

Not that it was his first time. He'd broken plenty of rules over the years. One more didn't matter.

What truly made his expression turn grave was that city's name.

"Great Desert City…"

Mo Hua asked, "What kind of place is that?"

Elder Ji explained, "It's a fourth-grade immortal city located within the Sand Sea, right at the border between Lizhou and the Great Wilderness."

"Fourth-grade..." Mo Hua's gaze grew serious.

In Lizhou's second-grade territories, with his late Foundation Establishment cultivation, he could walk sideways—meaning, he could kill most people and leave unscathed if not.

In third-grade territories, he'd already need to act more cautiously.

Against early-stage Golden Core cultivators, he still stood a chance. But mid to late Golden Core? It would become quite troublesome.

And in a fourth-grade territory—where powerful Golden Core cultivators gathered in large numbers and even Ascension Realm experts roamed—the danger multiplied.

After all, he was just in Foundation Establishment. Compared to Ascension, that gap was an abyss.

If he ever became a "target," surrounded by powerful Golden Core enemies or seriously hunted by a true Ascension Realm cultivator, the odds of survival were grim. Mo Hua was keenly aware of this.

After all, this wasn't Qianxue Prefecture anymore.

Back in Qianxue, sects and clans were bound by rules. Face and honor mattered. The Dao Court's laws and sect regulations still held sway.

Not to mention—Venerable Elder Xun of the Hollow Void Realm was secretly watching over him.

Even if someone at the Ascension or Hollow Void stage wanted to kill him, they didn't dare act rashly.

But outside Qianxue? The sky was vast, and the road was long. The Great Void Sect couldn't provide actual support anymore, and Elder Xun couldn't protect him.

He was on his own.

And with the Great Wilderness already in rebellion against the Dao Court, Lizhou had become a warzone, saturated with killing intent.

Offend any major power here, and a whole army of Golden Cores—perhaps even Ascension Realms—would come for his life.

Mo Hua knew this well. He had killed quite a few Golden Core cultivators—but he never truly underestimated them.

Because until now, no Golden Core or above had used their full strength—unrestricted by heavenly laws—to try and kill him.

Especially those at the Ascension Realm.

Mo Hua had never truly experienced the overwhelming might of a full-powered Ascension expert.

So, he would never grow complacent.

Qianxue and the Great Void Sect were like a greenhouse. For nine years, he'd cultivated within that protective shelter.

Now that he'd left it, he wasn't foolish enough to think the chaotic world outside was his playground.

He wasn't arrogant enough to believe that all Hollow Void or Ascension experts across the nine provinces didn't dare kill him.

Thus—caution was still necessary.

Especially in a fourth-grade territory. It was simply too dangerous—far beyond what a Foundation Establishment cultivator could manage.

However...

That tiger—after all—was something he raised himself with dried fish. He couldn't just abandon it.

Mo Hua frowned slightly and asked Wang Steward, "How do I get to Great Desert City?"

Wang replied, "It's a long journey, full of winding paths. If you truly intend to go, I can try to get you a map. But the real problem... is the Sand Sea."

"The Sand Sea?"

Wang nodded.

"The Great Wilderness is a desolate land. In the cultivation world, there's a saying: the Great Wilderness is the true form of Lizhou—the true land of Fiery Departure.

The days are blisteringly hot. The nights, bitter cold. Endless Gobi terrain. Deserts everywhere. Three thousand perilous mountains—danger lurking in every shadow.

The Lizhou we now know is just the outer fringe of the Great Wilderness, separated by a vast Sand Sea.

That Sand Sea is an immense wasteland of scorching wind and quicksand, baked for tens of thousands of years under the sun.

Birds cannot fly over it. Beasts sink into it.

Only Ascension Realm experts can cross it through sheer cultivation.

Normal cultivators entering it? Nine out of ten won't survive.

If you must cross the Sand Sea, you'll need a Sand Boat.

But large Sand Boats—those require the skeletons of sand beasts for their keel, their hides for the sails. They're incredibly expensive. And a single 'pass jade slip' for passage is rare and costly too..."

Mo Hua asked, "Can you get one of those 'pass slips'?"

Wang gave an awkward laugh.

"Young Master, you're overestimating me."

Mo Hua turned to Elder Ji.

Elder Ji also laughed nervously.

"That's... going to be difficult…"

Mo Hua simply gave him a faint glance and didn't press further. Instead, he said to Wang:

"Then please get me a map to Great Desert City."

He handed over twenty spirit stones.

Wang was overjoyed and quickly replied:

"Young Master, you're too generous. Leave the map to me. It's just that…"

Mo Hua said, "Go on."

"Well… these maps are also exclusive to the relay bureau. I don't have one on hand. I'll need to pull some strings, and with how chaotic things are outside—people dying everywhere—it might take a few days. Directional maps like this are in high demand…"

Mo Hua pondered for a moment and nodded.

He could understand, given the current state of the world.

"Three days minimum, five at most. Once I get it, I'll bring it to you," Wang promised.

Mo Hua then handed him another fifty spirit stones.

Wang was ecstatic and thanked him profusely.

As they were about to leave, Elder Ji suddenly asked curiously:

"By the way, you quit the bureau and ended up near this warehouse—what business are you doing exactly?"

Wang just smiled, not answering.

Elder Ji snorted and didn't press.

Afterward, Mo Hua and Elder Ji left the warehouse, returning to the main street and walking toward the inn.

On the way, Mo Hua kept glancing around—left and right—vaguely sensing that something about this little Relay City was off. But he couldn't quite pinpoint what.

Just then, Elder Ji laughed obsequiously:

"Young… Young Master Mo…"

Mo Hua glanced up at him, and Elder Ji mustered the courage to say:

"We found the man, got the intel… so… does this mean I can…"

Mo Hua didn't answer. Instead, he asked,

"That 'distinguished client' who bought the tiger—what was his identity?"

Elder Ji shook his head.

"I wasn't in a position to ask. I only handled the hosting."

"What about cultivation?"

He shook his head again.

"Appearance?"

This time, Elder Ji hesitated. He didn't want to say—but he couldn't not answer either. After all, not knowing identity or cultivation could be understandable.

But appearance? You just need eyes to see.

He reluctantly answered:

"Tall. Thin. Liked voluptuous women…"

Mo Hua frowned.

Elder Ji hurriedly added:

"It's true!"

"Just because you don't like women," he thought to himself, "doesn't mean others shouldn't..."

Mo Hua asked again,

"Do you know why he wanted the tiger?"

Elder Ji hesitated.

"That… I don't know. But I did look into it. It's business, after all. I needed to know the value of what I was selling…"

He lowered his voice and said:

"In Lizhou—or most of the nine provinces—'tiger demons' are just powerful beasts. Strong, sure—but still just beasts.

But in the Great Wilderness, it's different. 'Tiger' bloodlines descend from the White Tiger—one of the Four Divine Beasts—and are symbols of royal bloodlines in the Great Wilderness.

It's said that every adult royal in the Great Wilderness, if they want power, must tame a fierce tiger as their mount to prove their bloodline.

Even if a powerful tiger demon isn't tamed as a mount, it can be used for breeding—generation after generation, refining the bloodline, cultivating exotic beasts closest to the divine White Tiger. That's extremely valuable..."

Mo Hua looked slightly surprised.

"You actually know a lot."

Elder Ji smiled,

"I like making friends from all walks of life—so naturally, I hear many things."

After speaking, he tried to observe Mo Hua's mood and said:

"Young Master, your future is bright. Maybe… I shouldn't hold you back?"

He was desperate to slip away.

Being around Mo Hua, this walking catastrophe, was like suffering eternal torment.

Mo Hua only said calmly:

"Wait until we have the map."

Elder Ji wanted to argue—but after one glance at Mo Hua, he didn't dare.

He could only sigh deeply.

....

In the following days, Mo Hua stayed at the inn—cultivating, drawing formation diagrams, and deducing fatethrough divination.

Everything was calm and uneventful.

The only one who couldn't sit still was Elder Ji.

Ever since they found Wang Steward and dug up some clues, Mo Hua had loosened his leash on Elder Ji a bit.

Elder Ji, who had been holding back for days, finally mustered up the courage to indulge himself.

Every night, he would sneak out, only returning at dawn.

That evening, just as night fell, Elder Ji once again crept out of his room like a thief.

Coincidentally, Mo Hua was feeling bored and got up to follow—curious to see what kind of mischief Elder Ji was getting into.

As he walked downstairs, he saw Elder Ji huddled in a corner with a pale-faced nobleman, speaking in hushed, lewd tones:

"Young Master Shi, where do you think a woman is most beautiful?"

"Naturally, the eyes. Like spring water, autumn moon, or winter snow—hidden in their depths are endless charms."

"Yes, yes—some are flirtatious, some pure, some regal... Me? I like the ones who look at me with disgust. The moment we get to bed—first it's disdain, then after a round of passion—those hazy eyes full of shame... mm, a unique flavor..."

"Still, I say the most beautiful is the chest..."

"Not as enchanting as the waist. Slender like a willow, soft to the touch—enough to stir any man's heart."

"Exactly! Young Master Shi, your taste is exquisite... Though feet are not bad either—like white jade, like first snow, like the radiant moon, like…"

Mo Hua's forehead twitched, his face a portrait of speechlessness.

These two... chatting about this at midnight?!

His sigh caught Elder Ji off guard. Startled, he looked up—and the moment he saw Mo Hua, it was like getting caught red-handed. His face went stiff before quickly switching to a flattering smile:

"Y-Young Master Mo…"

The pale-faced nobleman also turned to look.

Elder Ji hurriedly introduced,

"This is Young Master Shi—a new friend of mine."

Mo Hua looked over at this "Young Master Shi"—a man with refined features, striking appearance, and graceful bearing.

But his complexion was far too pale—almost unnaturally so, with a faint touch of pallor.

Earlier, when talking about women, Elder Ji's expression was full of lust.

But this Shi fellow? He seemed more like an art critic—eyes filled with admiration, almost infatuated.

Young Master Shi looked surprised to see Mo Hua, but said nothing. He simply cupped his hands in greeting, then said to Elder Ji:

"I'll head off first. Same place as before—I'll be waiting."

Elder Ji grinned, "Yes, yes! I'll definitely come."

And with that, the pale Young Master Shi left.

Mo Hua walked over and sat across from Elder Ji.

Elder Ji, sharp as ever, poured Mo Hua a cup of tea.

"Young Master Mo, it's quite late. Why aren't you studying arrays—what brings you out?"

Mo Hua glanced at him.

"What have you been doing these past few nights?"

Elder Ji put on a serious face,

"These are chaotic times—danger at every turn. I've been gathering intelligence, of course…"

Halfway through, he suddenly realized—lying to Mo Hua was pointless.

So he confessed:

"I've been... seeing women."

Mo Hua's eyes turned slightly cold.

"You've been dual cultivating?"

"No, no!" Elder Ji waved his hands quickly.

"It's all consensual. Nothing to do with dual cultivation."

Mo Hua was unconvinced.

"Consensual?"

"I paid spirit stones. She was willing. I was willing. Mutual consent!"

Mo Hua raised an eyebrow.

"There's that kind of place in this little relay town?"

Elder Ji looked quite pleased with himself.

"Young Master Mo, this is where you're inexperienced. These places exist everywhere. It's just that outsiders can't see them. But me? I'm an old hand. Anywhere I go, I can sniff out the scent of rouge and powder…"

Mo Hua gave him a cool look.

"You sound quite proud of that."

Elder Ji instantly changed his tone,

"A petty trick, not worth mentioning. Not proud, not proud at all…"

Mo Hua asked again:

"That Young Master Shi—did you meet him there?"

Elder Ji sighed,

"That fellow is a kindred spirit. We get along well. But he's... odd. He only talks, never acts. Speaks like a seasoned lover, but hasn't touched a single girl. What a waste of that handsome face…"

At this, Elder Ji snuck a glance at Mo Hua, thinking—

If anyone's wasting a good face, it's this guy.

If I had that face, what kind of woman in this world wouldn't fall for me?

With a face like his, he wouldn't even need to open the door—just leave it slightly ajar and girls would crawl into bed like fish leaping upstream...

What a shame... Mo Hua wastes that face just drawing arrays every day. A total waste of divine favor...

Elder Ji silently lamented.

Mo Hua, however, couldn't be bothered.

That was just how Elder Ji was.

As long as he wasn't forcing people or using dual-cultivation tricks, Mo Hua didn't care what sort of nonsense he got up to.

"Just be careful," Mo Hua said coldly. "Don't die under a woman."

Elder Ji laughed,

"To die under a peony blossom—what a romantic way to go. If I die in a woman's arms, that's a good end."

Mo Hua sipped his tea and went back to reading and studying arrays.

Seeing that Mo Hua truly didn't care, Elder Ji felt like he'd received a royal pardon. Cheerfully, he slipped away—off to who-knows-what debauchery.

Time flew by.

Four days later, Wang Steward brought news—he'd managed to get a map from the relay bureau: a route from Lizhou to Great Desert City.

Mo Hua returned to the warehouse to see him.

This time, he didn't plan to stay any longer. Once he had the map, he'd leave the relay town and head toward the Great Wilderness.

Wang Steward handed him the map in secret, whispering,

"Young Master Mo, I've given you the map—but please don't say it came from me. Otherwise, I'll be dragged into it and end up in deep trouble…"

"Mm," Mo Hua nodded. "Don't worry."

Wang Steward finally let out a sigh of relief.

He personally escorted Mo Hua to the door.

Just as Mo Hua was turning to leave after saying farewell, he suddenly noticed that Wang Steward's forehead—his glabella, which had looked perfectly normal before—was now slowly turning black.

And not just faintly black—it was thick, ominous, and reeking of death.

Mo Hua's pupils shrank. He suspected what it meant, but wasn't entirely certain.

Wang Steward noticed Mo Hua staring at him, and with Mo Hua's brows furrowed, a sense of unease crept over him. In a low voice, he asked:

"Young Master Mo, is something wrong…?"

Mo Hua paused in thought for a moment before slowly speaking:

"Wang Steward, your glabella has darkened. It appears… you may soon face a sign of death."

Wang Steward froze, stunned. It felt like Mo Hua was cursing him to die. He was annoyed, but since it was Mo Hua saying it, he didn't dare show his displeasure. He just forced an awkward smile.

Mo Hua saw through his thoughts and said seriously:

"I'm not joking. You really are in danger these days."

Wang Steward was taken aback. He nodded uncertainly, half-believing and half-doubting.

That was all Mo Hua could say.

He had tried deducing things just now, but all he saw was a haze—he couldn't pinpoint exactly what kind of calamity Wang Steward would face.

All he could offer was a final warning:

"Be extra cautious."

With that, he turned and left.

Walking out of the warehouse and onto the main street, Mo Hua kept pondering the ominous "death sign" on Wang Steward's forehead.

He was deep in thought—until he looked up after a while, and his pupils suddenly contracted sharply.

On the bustling streets of the small relay town, every single cultivator he saw… without exception… had blackened glabellas—each one showing signs of death.

Mo Hua felt a chill in his heart.

In that instant, he realized: this wasn't just about Wang Steward.

The entire town—nearly all the cultivators within it—were about to face a disastrous mass death.

Frowning deeply, Mo Hua turned and hurried back to the inn, where he called for Elder Ji.

Elder Ji had apparently enjoyed another "pleasant" night—his complexion was a bit pale, but thankfully, the area between his brows was still clear. No sign of death.

"Something's wrong," Mo Hua said.

"What's wrong?" Elder Ji asked, confused.

Mo Hua was about to explain, but then stopped himself.

Some heavenly secrets must not be spoken aloud. If revealed, they might shift fate and bring unintended consequences.

So instead, Mo Hua said:

"We need to get out of the city. Now."

He still wasn't sure what exactly was happening inside the relay town. The top priority was to leave and keep themselves safe—then he could decide what to do next.

Elder Ji knew Mo Hua had strange abilities and didn't question it. He simply nodded:

"Alright."

The two of them hitched their cart and made for the city gates.

But as soon as they reached the gates—they were stopped.

A guard cultivator said:

"There's been rioting among cultivators nearby. Several immortal cities have already fallen. For now, only this relay town remains relatively stable."

"Therefore, to ensure the safety of everyone inside, no one is allowed to enter or leave for the next three days."

Elder Ji tried to talk his way through, but was flatly rejected.

Mo Hua looked up at the city walls.

He saw that they were covered with alert arrays, as well as concealment-breaking and defensive formations.

Not far away, a powerful Golden Core realm cultivator stood on guard.

Mo Hua's heart sank.

The entire town was sealed.

And none of the cultivators inside… would be able to escape.

(End of this Chapter)