The Quest for Immortality Chapter 2273: Taoist Heart (2)
Previously on The Quest for Immortality...
Mo Hua gave a nod and explained, "Partly due to the Evil Path Great Formation..."
"The Evil Path Great Formation employs human blood as its ink, human flesh as its canvas, human bones as its core, refining malevolent forces through despair, remorse, and bloodshed to power the array's functions."
"Inside this formation, wicked cravings surge uncontrollably, with formless evil spirits drifting about. Once tainted by them, a cultivator slowly succumbs to demonic change..."
"Yet that's merely one factor. The other stems from the Daoist Heart."
"Daoist Heart?"
All were taken aback momentarily, their brows furrowing deeply.
Nearly everyone insists that those who cultivate the Tao require a resolute Daoist Heart.
However, this "Daoist Heart" remains little more than an abstract notion.
The Daoist Heart fails to bolster the Spiritual Root, enhance talent, hasten Cultivation speed, lessen resource demands, or serve as a benchmark for Sect recruitment.
A Great Sect won't bend its rules to take you in solely for possessing a "Daoist Heart."
Heads of mighty clans won't regard you with favor just because you hold a Daoist Heart.
With a subpar Spiritual Root, a Daoist Heart won't ease your grueling path of Cultivation.
If your power lags behind, a Daoist Heart leaves you vulnerable to the whims of the strong.
Thus, the much-touted "Daoist Heart" holds no tangible value.
Great Sects and powerful families ignore "Daoist Heart" entirely in their judgments.
The so-called "Daoist Heart" is dismissed as utterly "worthless."
Before, they might not voice it, but inwardly, they scoffed at mentions of "Daoist Heart."
Now, after the Evil God's schemes ensnared them in this Evil Path Great Formation, having beheld the surrounding carnage firsthand, their perspectives had shifted dramatically...
Mo Hua continued, "The Daoist Heart is the heart pursuing the Dao."
"Without a firm Daoist Heart, one falls prey to mortal temptations like glory, authority, and wealth."
"These stray thoughts and cravings accumulate deep within the soul."
"In ordinary times, they pose no threat, but when outer evils stir them and amplify desires, the Daoist Heart dims or vanishes entirely, leading the cultivator to Qi Deviation and descent into an 'Evil Demon.'"
"The frailer the Daoist Heart, the swifter the fall into demonhood."
Mo Hua swept his gaze over the group, "Your current clarity persists thanks to fortune in avoiding potent evil spirits, and also because your Daoist Hearts are somewhat sturdier than those of most cultivators."
"Individuals with feeble Daoist Hearts surrender their mental barriers instantly upon brushing an evil spirit, fully transforming into demons."
A prodigious disciple from the heavens trembled in disbelief, muttering, "No way... We're clearly Righteous Cultivators..."
Mo Hua regarded him steadily and questioned, "Are you... truly Righteous Cultivators?"
"Is your heart genuinely 'righteous'?"
"Do you pursue the Tao to grasp the Heavenly Dao and aid all beings? Or merely to seize Heaven and Earth's might for selfish ends, chasing fame, dominion, personal longevity, and endless bliss?"
"Is true 'immortality' what you truly seek?"
"Have you not seen that 'demons' crave the exact same?"
Recalling Elder Zheng's past lessons, Mo Hua spoke measuredly:
"You might be Righteous Disciples, yet righteous and demonic paths are one at root; demons don't emerge from birth but through transformation."
"The Demon Path arises from the Righteous Dao, birthed within your own Daoist Heart..."
...
These revelations drained the color from the sect prodigies' faces, jolting their souls.
Such truths had never reached their ears, never explained in this manner.
Though they might not fully grasp Mo Hua's words right then,
They seared into their minds like hot irons, each syllable etched indelibly.
The destinies of these many prodigies were subtly altered forever...
They remained unaware then, as did Mo Hua himself foresee...
...
With these words spoken, Mo Hua fell silent.
The hundreds of prodigies from Four Sects, Eight Gates, and Twelve Streams hushed as well, heeding Mo Hua's guidance by concentrating intently, shunning desires, murderous urges, rivalries, and petty quarrels...
Observing their compliance, Mo Hua exhaled in relief, pondering the path ahead.
His aim stayed straightforward: rescue every one of them.
The formation churned on, evil qi thickening, spirits waxing fiercer.
He remained unscathed, perpetually consuming "evil spirits," none bold enough to challenge this "major predator."
Any daring ones got "devoured" by him.
But the rest couldn't endure much longer. Prolonged exposure, as the formation peaked with oceanic evil notions, blood-mist skies, and spirit-rain torrents, would overwhelm even Divine Formations; all would perish, Taixu Gate juniors included.
Even these Sect elites were but fleshly cultivators, overly susceptible to the Evil God's taint.
"How then to escape this formation?"
"Does someone 'watch' inside the formation?"
"Is our every action under surveillance?"
"Who commands the formation, and from where?"
"That Mr. Tu perhaps?"
"Yet where hides Mr. Tu, and why no appearance?"
Mo Hua's brow creased.
Clues scarce within the trapping formation, he relied on his expertise as chief "designer" and "builder" of a First Grade Five Elements Slaughter Demon Great Formation:
A controller must exist for the formation.
This controller had to be a Formation Master—an Evil one at that.
Mr. Tu likely crafted the formation principally.
But the current operator might differ, as he undoubtedly handled weightier duties.