618 The Eagle Grabs the Bird - The Quest for Immortality

Chapter 618: The Eagle Grabs the Bird Half a day later... In the Canglang Mountains, along the Lopanshan Path, Mo Hua and his companions arrived at a rugged section of rocky terrain beside the mountain road. The disciples from the three families had met their end here. While the bodies had been collected, faint traces of blood remained among the scattered stones and foliage. The bloodstains were concentrated, indicating that the victims were taken by surprise and killed instantaneously, with no time to struggle, collapsing as their lifeblood drained away. According to the individuals from the Dao Court, the deceased disciples had been gruesomely eviscerated post-mortem, their death circumstances particularly grim. However, to Mo Hua, this was not particularly extraordinary. As a demon hunter, he had been familiar with such grisly scenes since childhood. Mo Hua examined the stones on the ground with curiosity, an expression of intrigue on his face. Murong Caiyun, puzzled, asked, "Junior Brother, what are you looking at?" Mo Hua pondered aloud, "Based on my experience, this Yin Lao Er didn’t act on a sudden whim to kill these disciples. He must have been tailing them for a long time before choosing this secluded location to make his move — a single deadly strike. After killing them, he disemboweled them. This either reflects his habitual behavior, or he's trying to hide something." Mo Hua stroked his chin, projecting a "professional" demeanor. Murong Caiyun and the others wore subtle expressions, her tone teasing, "Your experience... Junior Brother, do you often deal with such matters?" Mo Hua nodded, then hastily shook his head, denying, "I’m a proper cultivator! ‘Murder and robbery’—how could I ever do such things?! Don’t slander me!" "Alright then..." Murong Caiyun didn’t press further, aware of her Junior Brother's quirky nature and tendency for mischief. Sometimes, probing him was futile. "Can you discern Yin Lao Er’s whereabouts?" Murong Caiyun inquired of the group. Ouyang Feng surveyed the area with his divine sense, shaking his head slightly, “It’s been a few days. The residual spiritual power is faint, leaving little to ascertain.” Shangguan Xu agreed, “This is the mountains. Among the mountain winds, mists, miasmas, and demonic auras merging together, it's even harder to discern a cultivator's spiritual power traces... Perhaps Yin Lao Er considered these factors when he chose this spot to act.” Murong Caiyun frowned at the absence of leads, making further pursuit challenging. Mo Hua also furrowed his brows. His senses confirmed what the others perceived; the spiritual residue was faint, drowned in an amalgamation of mountain airs and demonic presence. His senses were sharp enough to differentiate these energies, but it hardly mattered. The spiritual trail left by Yin Lao Er was indeed too faint. This method seemed like a dead end, with no clue as to where Yin Lao Er might have fled. "The traces are too slight..." An idea suddenly ignited within Mo Hua's mind as he recalled his knowledge of secondary thunder patterns. Among these heavenly phenomena, certain things truly existed, yet went unnoticed by cultivators with less refined perception — like the secondary thunder patterns. These patterns, hidden within magnetic currents, were subtle and obscure. Typical cultivators failed to notice them, though their existence persisted nonetheless. Similarly, faint traces did not necessarily equate to a lack of leads... All things in the world stem from a single breath. Spiritual power exists as one of these worldly elements. Array formations embody the principles of all things. Therefore, if formations could be deduced, could the paths of all things in existence, including the spiritual trajectories of cultivators, also be derived? Mo Hua's craftiness came into play, as he covertly employed celestial calculations to perceive those barely-there traces of spiritual energy. However, after a moment, he sensed nothing new... The spiritual energy remained unyielding. Unaccepting of failure, Mo Hua believed there were inherent secrets within this spiritual energy. His inability to perceive them did not invalidate their presence; it merely signified his own cognitive limitations. His eyes darkened slightly, once more activating heavenly computations, amplifying his divinatory perception by force. After several heartbeats, Mo Hua’s expression shifted. He discovered that Yin Lao Er’s lingering spiritual trail began to undergo peculiar transformations. Those corporeal strands of energy birthed mysteriously abstract patterns... These patterns interlaced, resembling chains of causality... Closely resembling the ominous dream chain that emerged from the void, associated with the terrifying nightmares lurking around Yur, those mutated and distorted demons and monsters. In contrast, the demonic chains of causality bore a grim, malevolent aura. The causal traces Mo Hua glimpsed, however, appeared a pale blue with intricate, cyclical patterns... A realization struck him. Was this... authentic celestial deduction? Celestial calculations unveil the truths of the universe, originating from the manifestation of formations derived from grand principles, progressing from the essence of formations—spiritual power; permeating through the pervasive aura of all entities across the world; and into the nexus of all human experiences and destinies, culminating in the elucidation of celestial will, and comprehension of the heavenly way? This marks the beginning of celestial deduction?! A clarity blossomed in Mo Hua's mind, his consciousness expanding, allowing him a flash of insight into celestial mysteries. Yet, it was just a fleeting grasp, with the recognition dissipating as his spiritual energy waned, the divine tapestry of causality and cosmic patterns diminishing once again. "Not good..." Mo Hua’s heart skipped, quickly seizing the moment to pursue the clues within Yin Lao Er’s spiritual essence. The ethereal filaments of causality gradually unraveled, overwriting and interconnecting, solidifying into a tangible energy thread, which rose from within spiritual residue, extending its path like a guide... With renewed vigor, Mo Hua extended his hand, pointing decisively toward the western expanse of the Canglang Mountains, exclaiming, "He fled into the depths of the mountain!" Everyone fell silent. Murong Caiyun gazed curiously at Mo Hua, asking, "How do you know?" Mo Hua pondered briefly, fabricating an earnest reason, "If I were the culprit, I'd run that way too!" "..." Silence ensued among the group. Ouyang Feng chuckled lightly, "Alright then, let’s go with our ‘little perpetrator’ and take a look over there." Murong Caiyun shook her head with a wry smile, "We have little choice." With no other leads available, for now, they would follow Mo Hua's suggestion and investigate the western part of the Canglang Mountains. Besides, Murong Caiyun had faith in her Junior Brother, whose instincts in such inexplicable matters often proved astonishingly accurate... Thus, the group ventured westward into the Canglang Mountains deeper regions. Mo Hua brought up the rear, casting one last glance at the ground's bloodstains, and the spiritual traces lingering over them. These traces arose from celestial deducing—a semblance of spiritual causality, not truly of divine will. However, this spiritual presidency indicated the harbinger of celestial truth. With his current level of mental capacity, he could only discern the "presage." By continuing his efforts, advancing the deducing process, there would come a day when his calculations would reach fruition, elevating his spirit, and penetrating the core of spiritual presences, deducing an authentic, all-encompassing matrix of causes and the blueprint of life’s destiny—the authentic celestial will. Mo Hua's eyes twinkled with vitality, streaking with glints of celestial patterns, radiant like stars. As he turned away, departing, the brilliance in his gaze settled, embedding deeply into his vision. His eyes became clearer, yet more profound. ... West of the Lopanshan Path lay the heart of the Canglang Mountains. Complex terrain stretched beyond, with craggy boulders, streams, swamps, and dense soil interspersed with fallen leaves, coupled with densely veiled woods enshrouded in mist and miasma. After several dozen miles, the group spotted traces of disturbance. A serpent, about the thickness of a forearm, lay severed into two clean halves, its wounds smooth, testifying to the sharpness of the blade used—likely a dagger. Though merely an early-stage Second Grade creature, its clean, undisturbed death indicated it sensed nothing... "Yin Lao Er..." The group’s attention sharpened, instinctively turning to Mo Hua. Mo Hua nodded, "My guess was spot on!" Murong Caiyun smiled slightly, her voice carrying a subtle note of approval, "Indeed, quite impressive guessing...” She then, adopting a serious demeanor, considered the serpent demon’s remains, speaking softly: "The serpent's blood is half-dry, indicating it hasn't been dead for long. It's likely that Yin Lao Er is still in the mountains," Murong Caiyun stated. "As Gu Dian Si mentioned, this individual is skilled in concealment, deviously cunning, and exceedingly ruthless. We must all be extra cautious." Everyone nodded with a solemn expression. Having come to an agreement earlier, the group now set out to capture Yin Lao Er in the heart of the mountains. Their rule was clear: capture if possible, otherwise eliminate—the same principle applied to all cultivators guilty of criminal acts. Thanks to Mo Hua's suggestion, a concrete plan had been established for their pursuit. Mo Hua had prepared numerous miniature magnetic arrays. As they searched the mountainous expanse, he set these up along the way. Although the vast and treacherous terrain of the Canglang Mountains posed a formidable challenge, these small geomagnetic arrays provided useful anchoring points. They could be used to ascertain direction, identify their quarry, track movements, and call for mutual assistance. However, there was one drawback: they were quite costly. Individually, the expenses for each small geomagnetic array weren’t exorbitant, but using many raised the overall cost significantly. Thankfully, Senior Sister Murong assured him that she could cover the expenses. She would compensate him with spirit stones equivalent to the value of the formations. For the disciples of noble families, spirit stones were not scarce; what mattered more was earning merit. Bolstered by Senior Sister Murong's promise of reimbursement, Mo Hua laid out the geomagnetic arrays more liberally, weaving a net across a decent portion of the Canglang Mountains. Should Yin Lao Er stumble into this net, escape would prove nearly impossible. As Hua Qianqian observed Mo Hua laying the arrays, cradling several compasses and scrutinizing his path, she couldn't help but express concern, "Junior Brother Mo, can you really manage keeping track of so many arrays at once?" The broader the spread and higher the number of small geomagnetic arrays, the more taxing they would be to monitor... "It’s fine," Mo Hua replied modestly, "My divine sense is quite adequate, not particularly weak..." Even so, Hua Qianqian remained a bit worried. Shortly after, Mo Hua suddenly froze, pointing to a floating mark on one of the compasses, "Someone's here!" The other members of the group paused in surprise, their faces soon brightening with excitement. Given the solitude of the Canglang Mountains’ depths, the likelihood was high that the presence was indeed Yin Lao Er. "Let's go check it out!" declared Murong Caiyun. "Alright," Mo Hua nodded. With that, Mo Hua and the others followed the compass's guidance. They arrived at a small grove where Mo Hua had buried a magnetic array at the base of a large tree. Nearby lay the body of another beast. This time, it was a demon monkey, sprawled lifeless on the ground. Its throat was slit open, its abdomen torn apart and its inner elixir removed, leaving blood soaking into the muddy earth and fallen leaves. The death of this humanoid creature mirrored the fate of the previous disciples almost exactly. It was undoubtedly Yin Lao Er. Murong Caiyun extended her senses; the surrounding silence lacked any sign of a cultivator. She turned to Mo Hua, asking, "Can you locate him?" Mo Hua glanced at the compass again, pointing to the right, "Over there." "Okay." With Murong Caiyun’s nod, they continued their pursuit. Arriving at a small stream, they lost Yin Lao Er's trail. Mo Hua studied the compass again, pointing out another direction... Although they hadn’t yet caught sight of him, they kept a relentless watch on Yin Lao Er's movements. They felt it—each step brought them closer to their notorious target. The thought of this progress prompted Murong Caiyun to cast Mo Hua a look of newfound respect. Mo Hua's expertise in laying formations, mountainous search efforts, and tracking abilities were all exceedingly strong... Had it been any other foundation-building cultivator, they would have been caught by Mo Hua long ago—it was only because Yin Lao Er excelled in stealth and vigilance that the chase had lasted so long. Once again, they silently marveled at Mo Hua, their perspectives of him evolving with admiration. Mo Hua, in turn, remained focused, his eyes glued to the compass while in his mind he mapped the terrain of the Canglang Mountain, contemplating where Yin Lao Er could be hiding. He just knew that soon, they would confront each other. Their relentless pursuit continued... And indeed, a little more than an hour later, they finally caught up with Yin Lao Er. The wiry, gaunt Yin Lao Er, with a face like a vulture, sat before a rock, roasting some unknown meat. The moment Mo Hua and the others neared, he sensed their presence. Yet instead of fleeing or hiding, he slowly rose to his feet, staring at Murong Caiyun and her group with a cold gaze, his voice raspy and perplexed, "How did you know I was here?" Murong Caiyun, of course, wouldn’t divulge their methods. She sternly responded, "Yin Lao Er, your crimes against the cultivators are numerous. Surrender without resistance, or don't blame us for being harsh..." Yin Lao Er sneered, "Harsh? Just the four of you?" Murong Caiyun paused. Four? She glanced around, realizing Mo Hua had, at some point, used his concealment techniques. He had silently vanished to an unknown hiding spot, unseen by Yin Lao Er, who counted only four. "Such cleverness..." Murong Caiyun mused, her gaze hardening as she challenged, "The four of us are more than enough!" Yin Lao Er laughed derisively, cutting a piece of roasted meat into his mouth, chewing it with disdain, "You're overreaching, thinking you can capture me? Maybe in your next life..." As he spoke, his form began to fade, ultimately vanishing from sight. In the instant his figure dimmed, Murong Caiyun fired a spell, a burst of multicolored light racing toward where he stood. However, the light only shattered the ground where he had been—Yin Lao Er was gone. Ouyang Feng and Shangguan Xu moved to surround him, only to come up empty-handed. Yin Lao Er had already employed a minor Five Elements Concealment Technique, slipping away unnoticed. Murong Caiyun frowned. At that moment, she heard Mo Hua's soft, clear voice in her ear, "Senior Sister, to the right, by the stream..." Following his guidance, Murong Caiyun's eyes found an indistinct footprint within the trickling water. She instantly directed a beam of light there. Yin Lao Er defended the attack with his dagger, but doing so forced him into visibility, a puzzled look on his face. Murong Caiyun’s eyes sharpened, "Chase!" With nods from Ouyang Feng and the others, they propelled themselves after Yin Lao Er. Witnessing their approach, Yin Lao Er smirked before vanishing again. Mid-pursuit, Murong Caiyun lost sight of him, forcing her to halt. Just then, Mo Hua's voice came once more, "He's in the brush..." Ouyang Feng and the others heard it too. Their eyes met with surprise, but they soon nodded in agreement, pressing on in pursuit... Darting into the thicket, crossing streams and scaling cliffs, Yin Lao Er found himself reaching desolate woods. He climbed up a large tree, concealing himself, cautiously peering down the path they’d come from, dread etched on his brow. Could he not lose them? What was going on? These disciples, seasoned for only about twenty years, clearly couldn’t see through his concealment. So why were they always able to track him? They didn’t possess techniques to dispel concealment either. His garments and storage pouches all checked clear of tracking objects. What were they relying on to follow him? And the most crucial puzzle, one Yin Lao Er couldn’t unravel—how did they know he was hiding in this part of the Canglang Mountains’ western depths? He'd left no visible trace... Could it be... Yin Lao Er trembled inwardly, contemplating, "Was it some formidable celestial diviner, unraveling my fate and locking onto me?" A chill gripped his heart. After mulling it over, he shook his head. Impossible... "Why would such a powerful master trouble themselves with someone as insignificant as me?" The indecipherable mystery eluding him, he scoffed, "Fine, I'll play along with these little brats..." Yet as the game unfolded, Yin Lao Er realized something was amiss. He discovered the small magnetic arrays. Deftly arranged and subtly hidden, the handiwork of a well-seasoned Second Grade formation master. And in these deep woods, it seemed these geomagnetic arrays spread everywhere... For a moment, Yin Lao Er felt like a mere bird, while the whole Canglang Mountain lay like an enormous net. An unseen, untouchable mastermind, meticulously precise and wickedly shrewd, aimed to slowly draw the net tight and trap him like a bird! It wasn’t he entertaining them. Instead, he was the one being "entertained." Yin Lao Er's expression darkened, anger quietly seething in his heart. What audacity! Did they think him a pushover, theirs to toy with at whim?! His face twitched with rage, simmering with murderous intent. But he held himself back. This wasn't a time for reckless errors. These junior disciples from the sects likely hold significant status, and killing them would undoubtedly provoke serious troubles. Moreover, should he be caught by them and delivered to the Dao Court, the consequences would be even more severe... Not to mention the lurking "mastermind" in the shadows, watching like a tiger eyeing its prey. Suppressing his anger, Yin Lao Er fled deeper into the Canglang Mountains. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t escape the persistent tracking of these sect disciples. After spending more than half a day running through thickets, fording streams, wading through swamps, and even covering himself in demonic filth, Yin Lao Er finally reached his breaking point. Murderous intent surged within him. "You little brats!" he spat in frustration. "You think I won't kill you?!" These mere mid-level Foundation Establishment cultivators, still studying in the sects, naive to the true dangers of the world, dared to come hunt him... His eyes glowed red. "I’ll grant you a swift death... And as for those two female disciples—this mountain can be quite dull. I’ll deal with them after they die." He planned to sneak up with his concealment technique, taking them down one by one. Numbers didn’t matter to him—he had plenty of experience in killing... As the group drew near once more, Yin Lao Er released an evil chuckle before maximizing his minor Five Elements Concealment Technique, erasing his presence completely, rendering even his spiritual power imperceptible. For an instant, even Mo Hua, who was diligently keeping watch on Yin Lao Er, lost sight of him. Yin Lao Er had vanished entirely... A chill gripped Mo Hua's heart. So this is... the minor Five Elements Concealment Technique? The ability to dissipate one's spiritual presence? Mo Hua extended his divine sense to its utmost, his gaze deep and penetrating. He could catch glimpses of faint shadows, but this perception was erratic and hard to hold on to. The form had dissolved; spiritual power was thin, indistinct... Suddenly, he sensed a fierce intent to kill. Alarmed, he shouted, "Senior Sister Murong, behind you!" Among the mountainous woods, Murong Caiyun moved stealthily as she searched for Yin Lao Er. At Mo Hua's urgent warning, her face blanched in alarm, instinctively crushing the talisman she had held in readiness. A Gold Bell Talisman! A pale gold light manifested into a bell shape, enveloping her protectively. Simultaneously, a sharp dagger, coated in a toxic water enchantment, appeared abruptly, slicing toward the back of her neck. But it struck the golden bell instead. Layer by layer, the golden light dimmed as the dagger inched forward. The bell shield wouldn’t hold much longer but managed to buy Murong Caiyun a crucial moment to evade with her movement technique. Ouyang Feng flashed to her side, sword ready to intercept the dagger's trajectory. Shangguan Xu launched a strike from behind, aiming to encircle. Hua Qianqian unleashed her floral spiritual needles, blocking any escape routes. Yin Lao Er cursed under his breath, his form twisting to evade, though his shoulder took a hit from a needle before he vanished again, employing his concealment technique to disappear entirely. Silence reigned, not even the rustle of footsteps. Amidst the oppressive mountain stillness, Murong Caiyun’s eyes flicked toward a distant spot, shouting urgently, "Mo Hua!" By a large tree in the distance, where moments before nothing had existed, a swift, venomous dagger materialized out of thin air, charged with icy spiritual energy, lunging forward. A faint blue water image emerged under the dagger, revealing its target. Flowing motion, shadows upon shadows. A figure appeared under the blade, graceful as a receding river tide, withdrawing calmly. The Second Grade Water Step Technique! With the Water Step, Mo Hua evaded the attack, though it revealed his presence. On the other side, having missed, Yin Lao Er showed his face once more, staring at Mo Hua in disbelief... The scheming "mastermind," who had woven a magnetic net across Canglang Mountains as if to entrap him like a hawk snatching a bird, was none other than this youthful, seemingly naive boy? (End of Chapter)