The Quest for Immortality Chapter 6: Spirit Stones

Inside the room, Mo Hua pondered for some time, biding his moment until Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua wrapped up their talk. He slipped into relaxed attire and, acting as though unaware of anything, cheerfully stepped out from the home.

The trio was having their meal. Since Mo Shan had already dined, Mo Hua chatted endlessly with him about those entertaining beast-hunting escapades.

Mo Shan picked out a handful of tales to recount, like the one about a cyclopean wolf, a double-headed tiger, and a tripod-legged boar.

Certain groups managed to slay an adult demonic beast yet couldn't secure its core. They peeled away some useless pelts and didn't catch their error until it was far too late—the core was snatched by rivals, leaving the squad captain in such bitter remorse that he vomited blood and collapsed.

One fellow even nabbed a creature from an ancient bloodline, which fetched a fortune when sold to a prominent sect, granting him a comfortable existence. But one fine day, he disappeared entirely...

Mo Hua absorbed the narratives eagerly, fully cognizant of the violent, perilous, and ruthless aspects that his father deliberately left out.

Mothers and fathers forever strive to protect their young from the world's brutal truths, yearning for an innocent and merry youth.

Once the yarns were spun, three small faces popped up at the threshold, their gazes sparkling upon spotting Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua indoors. All three rose together and called out:

“Hello, Uncle Mo, Auntie Liu!”

These kids, bearing the Meng surname, resided on the identical block, their households depending on beast pursuits for sustenance, just like Mo Hua's.

The Meng seniors were close pals of Mo Shan and dwelt close by, so Mo Hua had frolicked with them from early days. The trio went by Meng Da Hu, Meng Shuang Hu, and Meng Xiao Hu, listed by age.

In the vicinity of Tongxian City, beasts resembling tigers ranked as the mightiest. Bestowing tiger-themed names on offspring was meant to bless them with feline power and nobility.

As their monikers suggested, the youngsters appeared sturdy and vigorous.

Mo Hua, being the littlest and frequently sickly in youth, was improbable to develop tigerish traits. Noting his refined, spotless look—like a fragile ceramic figure—Mo Shan borrowed the “Hua” from Liu Ruhua's name for his boy, dubbing him Mo Hua.

Liu Ruhua handed out a steamed bun to each tot. They claimed they didn't desire one, yet their hands extended instinctively to grab it, cramming it in and puffing their faces while murmuring, “Thank you, Auntie Liu!”

No one in the locale matched Liu Ruhua's culinary prowess, sparking jealousy among the other youths toward Mo Hua.

Mo Shan shooed them away, “Off you go to frolic, but don't forget to return for the midday meal!”

Mo Hua and the Meng siblings bobbed their heads and bolted from the dwelling.

Among the Meng brood, Da Hu was direct, Shuang Hu was sharp-witted, and Xiao Hu was chatty. Each was elder and loftier than Mo Hua, typically taking charge of the games.

Da Hu blabbered ceaselessly on spots for dragon parades, firework displays, thronged areas, and locales with lithe, performing lasses…

Yet their chatter overwhelmed them, hindering any firm choice of destination.

In the end, they settled that grown-ups select wisely, but kids crave it all—they'd tour every spot!

With the year's close looming, sect hopefuls enjoyed breaks, and wandering cultivators came back from distant labors, rendering Tongxian City far busier than normal, streets teeming with crowds.

A few at the Qi-cultivation level showed off their weapon arts with blades and lances, as spirit cultivators cast dazzling yet impractical spells, leaving the young ones amazed and yearning. Artisans versed in mechanisms crafted self-moving playthings powered by scant spirit energy—carven bunnies, hounds, felines, and countless more, impossible to catalog fully.

Da Hu, Shuang Hu, and Xiao Hu reveled in it all, deeming every sight novel and thrilling, whooping with delight, whereas Mo Hua joined in the fun while scanning for spirit stone opportunities.

Surveying the scene, he saw lucrative pursuits already claimed, and untried ones surpassed his present skills.

Observing the cultivators displaying talents and peddling their arts, Mo Hua inwardly lamented how tough survival truly was.

Shuang Hu caught Mo Hua's downcast air and queried, “Mo Hua, what's troubling you?”

At those words, Da Hu promptly declared, “Is somebody picking on you? I'll thrash them!”

Xiao Hu bobbed his head fiercely too, “Thrash them! Thrash them!”

The Meng grown-ups had long taught them to safeguard the delicate Mo Hua, and with Liu Ruhua's tasty dishes plus portions set aside for them, the trio felt grateful and devoted. Should anyone hassle Mo Hua,

they'd promptly hike up sleeves and dive into battle.

Mo Hua, hailed as the brightest novice cultivator nearby, frequently aided with schoolwork puzzles, deepening their camaraderie.

Witnessing their battle-ready zeal, Mo Hua grinned despite himself and replied:

“Nobody's picking on me. I was merely pondering ways to gather spirit stones.”

Gathering spirit stones...

Da Hu and the rest sobered up too, clueless on the matter.

They could lend fists in scraps but spirit stone acquisition eluded them.

Mo Hua's mind wandered once more, inquiring:

“Do you know the ways array masters acquire spirit stones?”

For Mo Hua, the expansive cultivation realm boiled down to routine drills and array pattern studies, leaving vast gaps in knowledge. He knew array mastery ensured no want for essentials, yet how rank-and-file, particularly novice aides, sustained themselves remained an enigma.

Da Hu roamed widely and could hold insights Mo Hua lacked.

After mulling, Da Hu wagged his head and admitted, “Array master exams are brutally hard. Even our block lacks a first-rank one, so I'm no expert…”

“Not only our block—even across Tongxian City, array masters are scarce, and certified first-rank ones rarer still. Our Meng kin's remote uncle has toiled at arrays two decades without passing…” Xiao Hu added, head shaking in wonder.

“That's off base. Uncle Meng's merely an array apprentice. He sought tutelage but flubbed the queries from experts, who thus rejected him,” Shuang Hu cut in, then tallied on digits:

“Apprentice, basic array master, first-rank array master… Uncle Meng's nowhere near qualifying. The qualified ones already boast renown.”

Mo Hua probed further, “Then, what's his livelihood like?”

“Word is he sketches basic arrays for trade associations and pockets some spirit stones, which he spends on inks and sheets to hone more patterns, cycling back to aid the associations without ever ascending to mastery…”

“Trade associations, eh…”

“Yep, even short of first-rank, a basic array master sketching for trade associations can amass decent spirit stones, sufficient for carefree meals,” Shuang Hu elaborated, then turned to Mo Hua:

“Fancy becoming an array master?”

“Indeed,” Mo Hua owned up freely, “My body's too frail, so beast hunting's out—I'd barely survive one beast claw. I must devise a sustenance path. But that's distant talk; right now, I aim to snag some spirit stones. Success means pastries on me!”

At that, Da Hu and crew lit up instantly.

“You bet!”

“With your brains, you'll snag spirit stones for sure and rise as an array master!”

“Pastries, pastries!”

For everyday cultivator clans, even humble roadside sweets counted as luxuries.

Following more explorations, they'd skipped the dancer sightings from their chatter, but covered the rest, and by midday, they trooped home content for the noon repast.

Having eaten, Mo Hua informed his folks of heading out to amuse himself, then ventured solo to Tongxian City's northern quarter.

Tongxian City's north brimmed with affluence, its south with vibrancy.

The south featured abundant bazaars, chiefly humble peddlers and booths, whereas the north hosted grander trade halls stocking spirit charms to elixir tools, with steadier wares of superior caliber—and steeper costs, naturally.

Yet Mo Hua hadn't come to purchase; spirit stones were beyond his grasp.

He strolled the avenue's length, eyeing each trade hall, then slipped into one sporting an entrance array yet seeming rather rundown and hushed, drawing the sparsest custom.