The Quest for Immortality Chapter 2215: Qilin Blood

Meanwhile, cultivators everywhere who got wind of the sword discussion roster were swept up in a tumult of emotions.

A few breathed sighs of relief, others smirked with satisfaction, while some shook their heads in sorrow, bemoaning Taixu Gate's string of bad breaks, cursed by fate, where even their single shot at success slipped right through their fingers.

Taixu Gate, Sect Master’s chamber.

"Why him, of all people, Shen Linsu..."

The leaders from the Three Mountains Sects had convened, their expressions grim.

Had luck turned just a touch kinder in these past two matches, steering clear of those powerhouse foes, victory might have been within reach.

Yet fate had other plans, delivering exactly what they dreaded.

The adversary turned out to be the toughest nut to crack.

"Our forebears aren't watching over us..." Chongxu Sect Leader murmured with a heavy heart.

Taia Sect Leader mulled it over, then asked, "Do you see any shot at pulling this off?"

Chongxu Sect Leader shot him a look, "As a sect leader yourself, aren't you familiar with Shen Linsu's background?"

Taia Sect Leader's eyes widened briefly, then he fell quiet, at a loss for words.

Chongxu Sect Leader spoke in a hushed tone: "The Qianxue Four Talents, by rights, stand far above your average disciples."

"Top-tier spiritual roots, elite cultivation techniques, a flawless cycle of spiritual power."

"When it comes to aptitude for the Dao, legacy, and resources, the divide is immense."

"They're already a cut above the rest."

"But this batch of Four Talents surpasses even those from before..."

Chongxu Sect Leader's brow creased faintly as he continued slowly: "Each one possesses a mysterious, potent bloodline..."

The mere mention of bloodline cast a somber pall over the room.

Chongxu Sect Leader hesitated, let out a breath, and pressed on:

"The Duanmu clan's Colorful Phoenix Bloodline, the Ao clan's Half-step Dragon Vein, the Xiao clan's Dustless Sword Bloodline, the Shen clan's Kirin Bloodline..."

"Back in earlier generations of Four Talents—or even across the whole Qianxue region—awakening just one gifted bloodline was a rare feat."

"Yet here, in this era, four have emerged... something that was once beyond imagination."

"That's precisely why the Four Great Sects brim with such assurance."

"Bloodlines like these, the Taoist Court downplays them, noble houses shroud them in mystery, but they undeniably exist."

"Certain souls enter this world already elevated."

"From birth, they're favored by the Heavenly Dao, endowed with these exceptional bloodlines that stir to life as they cultivate..."

"In a way, folks like them might not truly qualify as 'human'."

"Those who bear bloodlines excel beyond measure: in spells, they shatter the heavens; in body refinement, their forms endure unbreakable; in sword arts, their sword intent achieves eternity..."

"Such bloodline gifts elevate their physique and spiritual energy to realms ordinary cultivators can scarcely touch, like the difference between heaven and earth, bridged by an uncrossable gulf."

"And that's not even the half of it..."

"Each has received a unique Eternal Life Rune, inscribed by their family's Heaven Void Ancestor."

"Is a bespoke Eternal Life Rune something commonplace?"

"Even among mighty clans and sects' core heirs, this 'Eternal Life Rune' is granted only once in centuries."

"It's a safeguard for their destiny, a vow of endurance, underscoring how dearly these prodigies are valued."

"To the common onlookers at the sword discussions, it's all thrilling chaos, mere entertainment, with scant grasp of the deeper layers."

"They might miss it, but as sect leaders, how could we be in the dark?"

"Overcoming elites like these—it's far easier said than done."

The trio of sect leaders sat in heavy silence.

The loftier one's position, the more hidden truths one uncovers, the deeper the weight of grasping 'bloodline' fully.

Even so, a spark of defiance lingered.

Taia Sect Leader in particular voiced it:

"This is a defensive bout, with Taixu Gate holding the fort. That boy Mo Hua's array prowess is top-notch; maybe..."

Chongxu Sect Leader shook his head, "There's a faint hope at best, but temper your expectations."

"Truth be told, back when you and I were at Foundation Establishment, pitting ourselves against a prodigy like Shen Linsu, victory would have eluded us too."

"It's truly a steep climb for these youngsters..." Taixu Sect Leader sighed deeply, "Let the kids give it everything they've got."

Taia Sect Leader nodded in agreement, "If they win, splendid; if they fall short... we'll take it in stride..."

"The ancestors withhold their favor, but it's not for lack of effort from our disciples..."

...

Taixu Gate, Disciple’s Residence.

Mo Hua eyed the sword discussion list, mulled it over, and let out a soft sigh:

"Such rotten luck..."

During the Earth division sword discussions, he'd clashed with Qianxue Four Talents standouts like Heavenly Sword Sect's Xiao Wuchen, Longding Sect's Ao Zhan, and Wanxiao Sect's Duanmu Qing, dropping every encounter.

Now Shen Linsu from Qian Taoist Sect entered the fray.

This meant he'd squared off against the entire Qianxue Four Talents.

His fortune wasn't merely sour; it was abysmal.

Sword discussions were tough by nature, but his slate of foes pushed it to nightmare levels.

In the Heaven division, such matchups wouldn't raise eyebrows.

But in Earth division contests, the rivals 'drawn' for him bordered on the ridiculous.

"That Dao Discussion Heaven Instrument—could it have been tampered with, singling me out on purpose?"

Mo Hua grumbled, brow furrowed.

Of course, dwelling on such notions now served no purpose.

What mattered was the duel tomorrow.

How should he approach the fight?

Could he actually topple Shen Linsu?

Mo Hua's face tightened as he sank into thought.

He'd crossed paths with Shen Linsu just once, and from gut instinct alone, he sensed the guy's talents and cultivation were off the charts.

Taking on Shen Linsu would prove brutally challenging.

Yet that wasn't the core issue.

The real hurdle loomed larger: even supposing he bested Shen Linsu, then what?

Beat Shen Linsu, claim another victory, and with a dash of fortune, one of the Four Great Sects suffers back-to-back losses.

Taixu Gate squeaks into the sword discussion's top four.

But after that?

How to tackle the Heaven division sword discussions?

Based on the ongoing progress, precious few from Taixu Gate seemed poised to reach the Heaven division stages.