The Quest for Immortality Chapter 2422: The Hundred Flowers Jade Token

After saying his goodbyes to Lord Yellow Mountain, Mo Hua made his way down the mountain. In the small Immortal City nestled at the mountain's base, he used some Spirit Stones to arrange for the construction of a temple dedicated to Lord Yellow Mountain. He also arranged for regular offerings to be sent, ensuring the Mountain Lord wouldn't suffer from hunger, exposed to the elements daily.

Even though the Lifebound Divine Statue had been recovered, the matters of incense and faith were seemingly disregarded by Lord Yellow Mountain.

However, one cannot simply go without sustenance!

This applies to mortals as well as deities.

With these arrangements made, Mo Hua cast a final glance towards Kushan Mountain, silently offering his good wishes to Lord Yellow Mountain, before departing by carriage.

A considerable distance remained to Taixu Gate after leaving Kushan Mountain.

Mo Hua settled into the carriage, closing his eyes to find some rest.

The rhythmic clip-clop of the horse hooves continued for an incalculable period, until suddenly, the surrounding forest became eerily gloomy. An unnatural silence descended, accompanied by a faint metallic scent and the permeation of Evil Qi.

Mo Hua slowly opened his eyes.

Ever since he became entangled with his fated wickedness, he had developed an extreme sensitivity to specific types of Qi, such as 'life,' 'death,' and 'evil qi.'Previously, encountering Evil Qi required the use of his Divine Sense to perceive it or computational power to analyze it.

Now, Evil Qi manifested at the causal level, appearing almost like a distinct 'scent' to him. Mo Hua could detect it through sheer instinct.

Mo Hua lifted the carriage's curtain and peered outside.

The scene revealed a desolate village. Dilapidated houses bore the faint traces of past habitation, but now stood utterly abandoned.

The residual blood Qi in the atmosphere had been thinned by the mountain breeze.

Yet, a pervasive and deadly malevolence lingered.

Without the need for calculation or deduction, Mo Hua's vision was instantly flooded with vivid scenes.

His eyes seemed granted the ability to clearly discern the intricate cause and effect leading to death, witnessing the profound pain and utter despair of the world.

He saw Demon Cultivators engaged in murder, blood-drinking, corpse manipulation, and skinning. He witnessed innocent cultivators desperately struggling, resisting futilely, and succumbing to agonizing despair.

This spectral tableau unfolded in stark black and white, yet it was vividly stained with blood.

Mo Hua let out a soft sigh.

Continuing his journey within the carriage, he passed several more villages and encampments, each eerily empty.

Even a city that had once pulsed with life and activity, a place where Mo Hua had previously wandered its streets, savored noodles, and watched acrobatic performances, now lay in ruins.

A melancholic expression settled upon Mo Hua's face.

This was the grim consequence of the Blood Sacrifice calamity...

When the Desolate Heaven Blood Sacrifice Formation is activated, an altar is essential as the focal point for the blood sacrifice.

The altar located in Solitary Mountain City had been dismantled by Mo Hua, and similarly, the altar in Little Fishing Village was also destroyed by his actions.

Consequently, the cultivators residing in these two locations were spared from the blood sacrifice disaster, experiencing no fatalities.

However, Mo Hua recognized his inability to eradicate every single altar.

For some to survive meant that others were destined to perish.

These Immortal Cities and villages had fallen victim to this calamity. Numerous innocent cultivators endured horrific torture and slaughter at the hands of Demon Cultivators during the blood sacrifice disaster, their very flesh and profound despair offered as sacrifice upon the altars.

The once vibrant settlements of these cultivators were now reduced to desolate ruins and abandoned villages.

These individuals were lives, each possessing value.

Yet, because they were predominantly low-level cultivators, impoverished and humble in their status, the world offered only a fleeting moment of mourning before moving on.

Some might not even spare a trace of sorrow.

Their perspective was limited to the cold, unfeeling numbers recorded in the Taoist Court's ledgers.

Indeed, even many deceased humble Loose Cultivators were not accounted for in the official death statistics.

Those who truly bear the immense cost of pain, despair, and death during these monumental catastrophes are the silent, often overlooked, 'majority.'

They lived their lives unobtrusively.

Upon their demise, they passed without a sound, their remains silently interred amongst the hills and the grasses.

Mo Hua gazed upon the desolate scene with profound compassion, a sense of helplessness and powerlessness washing over him. Finally, he exhaled a sigh and murmured softly:

"Still... not strong enough..."

The celestial movements are constant; a gentleman should perpetually strive for self-improvement without respite.

Only through achieving sufficient strength can one hope to alter the fundamental dynamics of the Cultivation World, and indeed, influence the very fate of all sentient beings.

Mo Hua lifted his gaze to the vast, towering, and seemingly endless sky, lost in a daze.

...

After departing Kushan Mountain, the carriage journeyed onward, and after approximately half a day, it finally re-entered the Qian Learning State Boundary.

However, Mo Hua did not immediately proceed to Taixu Gate. Instead, he made a detour to visit Gui Water Sect. As he had surmised, he found Yu Canghai, the former Elder of the Water Prison Sect, residing there.

Following the incident involving Water Yama, Yu Canghai had initially taken refuge with the Gu Family to lie low. Mo Hua hadn't followed up on his whereabouts afterward, but unexpectedly, Yu Canghai had now ascended to the position of Elder within Gui Water Sect.

Yu Canghai expressed a degree of surprise upon seeing Mo Hua, then let out a sigh and explained:

"With the backing of the Gu Family and an introduction from Supervisor Gu, I gained entry into Gui Water Sect and subsequently became an Elder here."

"The higher echelons of the Gui Water Sect were purged by the Taoist Court, and the majority of the remaining disciples are oblivious to my background. They merely perceive me as a 'spy' from the Taoist Court, thus they refrain from offending me or probing into my past."

"The legacy of Gui Water Sect largely originates from the Water Prison Sect. I find the act of teaching to be rather straightforward, making my role as an Elder quite manageable."

Mo Hua then inquired, "Did you take in Little Shunzi and Little Shuizi?"

"Yes," Yu Canghai affirmed, "I must keep these two children near me to feel truly at ease..."

"Should they manage to enter the Inner Gate in the future and become my personal disciples, I could then rightfully carry on the lineage of the Water Prison Sect."

"In this life, I would have no regrets. Beneath the nine springs, I can face the ancestors with a clear conscience."

With that, Yu Canghai emitted a sigh and bowed towards Mo Hua, "All of this is thanks to you, my young brother. I am deeply indebted to you."

Mo Hua acknowledged with a nod, remaining silent.

Yu Canghai stood to serve Mo Hua with tea.

Accepting the teacup, Mo Hua took a sip and then declared, "The Water Prison Forbidden Box is now in my possession."

Yu Canghai's entire body quaked, spilling tea onto his own hand, and he looked up at Mo Hua with sheer astonishment.