Chapter 630: Hua Langjun - The Quest for Immortality

**Chapter 630: Hua Langjun** The name, steeped in ferocity and restraint, seemed to glimmer with flames and blood in Mo Hua's perception. It stood apart, completely distinct from the other notorious names on the list of criminals. It was as if this name was a league worse than the others. Mo Hua furrowed his brow. "Who exactly is Boss Jiang..." "And where did this list come from?" "These varied criminals seem beyond the reach of a mere early Foundation Establishment 'trafficker' like him..." "Let alone someone as extraordinary as this 'Huo Fotuo'..." Such a list appeared hidden within Boss Jiang's diary. Mo Hua couldn't shake the sense of incongruity... "Could the list not belong to Boss Jiang?" "But if it's not his, whose could it be? And why would it be hidden in his diary?" Mo Hua pondered but found no answer, so he set aside the mystery for the moment and continued to mull over the matter of "Huo Fotuo"... Huo Fotuo... All he knew was a name. What was Huo Fotuo’s origin, his cultivation level, his age, his cultivated techniques? What was the forbidden technique tied to "Fireball Fusion" that carried significant referential value? Moreover, Huo Fotuo's status on the "list" clearly bore special significance. If the criminals on the list formed an organization, then Huo Fotuo must be at least a "leader." And not just any ordinary leader. He might even have many "underlings"... Where could he be now? Mo Hua was riddled with questions yet had no leads, so he thought of asking around. He had already asked Sister Murong, Brother Xu, Brother Feng of Tai Ah Sect, Sister Qian Qian of Hundred Flower Valley—each when he found some free time. He even inquired with some senior brothers and sisters who occasionally took on temporary tasks. But none had heard of the name "Huo Fotuo." This Huo Fotuo appeared as though he didn't exist. Alternatively, it's possible that the Dao Court never issued any related tasks. Given that, the only option was to inquire directly at the Dao Court. In the vast realm of Qianxue State's Dao Court, Mo Hua had only one acquaintance—Uncle Gu Changhuai... Having made up his mind, Mo Hua requested Sister Murong during the next break period to take on more tasks from the Dao Court. Mu Rong Cai Yun, a bit puzzled, nevertheless agreed, given it was Mo Hua's request. When she went to the Dao Court to inquire and apply for access to dossiers, Mo Hua tagged along, hoping to "stumble upon" Uncle Gu. However, as a Diansi, Uncle Gu was extremely busy, and it took Mo Hua four visits before finally encountering him. Gu Changhuai seemed to have just returned from outside, his handsome face showing signs of fatigue, yet he kept his head slightly elevated, exuding pride like a peacock. But quickly, that pride morphed into astonishment. Because he saw a beaming Mo Hua, eyes bright with excitement, looking at him intently. As if he were being eyed by a mischievous little fox... Gu Changhuai felt an ominous bump in his chest, sensing the onset of trouble. Beaming brightly, Mo Hua greeted in a clear, cheerful voice: "Uncle Gu, what a coincidence!" Gu Changhuai's brow twitched. He didn't for a moment buy that it was truly "coincidental." More likely, this scheming brat waited like a predator, anticipating his arrival. With a blank expression, Gu Changhuai asked, "You here for another task?" "Yes," Mo Hua replied. "Mostly it's Sister Murong and the others taking action, I'm just lending a hand, tagging along..." Mo Hua spoke with humility. Gu Changhuai snorted. Spare me. She's your elder sister, not your real sister; no way she'd just randomly take you along. Sect commendations hold tremendous value, and sect assignments are serious matters. If you were of no use, even real siblings would hesitate to bring you along... Let alone Murong and Ouyang families—noble families with an exterior of politeness but a core of pride. Without capabilities, who would want to hang out with you? Regardless of how adorable you might appear. Yet... Gu Changhuai surveyed Mo Hua again, bewildered. What purpose could this little figure serve? With underperforming spirit roots and physique, weak spiritual power, and only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, he seemed outright like a "drag"... How could he be of help in assignments? Gu Changhuai frowned, shaking his head, calmly inquiring, "What task are you tagging along for this time?" Mo Hua replied, "Catching a flower thief!" "At what cultivation level?" "Merely mid Foundation Establishment." Gu Changhuai was speechless. Merely mid Foundation Establishment... A bit cheeky, considering you're only at an early Foundation Establishment stage yourself, speaking as if catching a flower thief at mid Foundation Establishment was child's play... Gu Changhuai recalled his cousin's advice, conceding: "Don't need my help, right..." Mo Hua appeared surprised. Uncle Gu was being so earnest? He originally thought Uncle Gu held reservations about him and would be cautious, avoiding offering assistance lightly. Unexpectedly, the cautious one was himself. Uncle Gu turns out to be a "warm-hearted" man hiding beneath a cold exterior! Mo Hua felt touched and said, “Catching a flower thief is trivial and doesn’t require your help, but..." Mo Hua bashfully smiled, "I do have something else I hope you could enlighten me about..." Gu Changhuai's eyelid twitched. Whenever this kid smiles, it spells trouble... "Speak. What is it..." Gu Changhuai replied, tone indifferent. "Uncle Gu," Mo Hua whispered, "do you know about 'Huo Fotuo'..." Upon speaking, Mo Hua glanced up at Gu Changhuai, observing his body tensing, radiating a cold aura, with a hint of hostility in his eyes. He gazed coldly at Mo Hua. "Where did you..." Gu Changhuai paused, voice deep and slightly hoarse, "…hear this name from..." Mo Hua was taken aback. He hadn't expected such a strong reaction from Uncle Gu. Could this Huo Fotuo have some unresolved issue with Uncle Gu? Boss Jiang's list surely couldn't be mentioned... Mo Hua contemplated, then half-truthfully replied: "I overheard it from a criminal. He mentioned that Huo Fotuo possessed a powerful fire technique, unmatched within hundreds of miles..." Gu Changhuai's sharp gaze fixated on Mo Hua. Mo Hua's eyes remained calm, unfathomable, his expression completely at ease. Gu Changhuai frowned, asking, "Which criminal?" Mo Hua shook his head, "I didn't recognize him, just a chance encounter. I overheard a few words before they left. I’m just a small cultivator, didn’t dare follow..." Gu Changhuai evidently didn’t believe him, his face growing serious, falling silent. Mo Hua observantly asked in a soft tone, "Uncle Gu, is this Huo Fotuo formidable? Do you have a history with him?" Gu Changhuai hesitated, seeing the genuine curiosity on Mo Hua's face, his demeanor and tone not aligned with knowledge of past events or any apparent interaction with Huo Fotuo, slowly relaxing, though his brow remained furrowed deeply. "This isn't something you should be concerning yourself with." Recalling some past incident, Gu Changhuai seemed in poor spirits, tone somewhat stiff. Mo Hua sensed underlying stories here. But judging by Uncle Gu's guarded demeanor, he wasn't going to share. Mo Hua didn’t push it, mentally noting to ask others later. Though Gu Changhuai couldn’t grasp Mo Hua’s exact thoughts, he could tell from his overt curiosity that he would persistently seek answers regardless of not being told directly. Gu Changhuai sighed. Huo Fotuo was a cursed name, bringing heavy bloodshed. If Mo Hua truly harbored ulterior motives against the noble Guan family and Yu'er, then it would be of no consequence. Probing into Huo Fotuo's secrets would potentially lead to crossing paths with Huo Fotuo and facing a deadly end. However, if he was merely an innocent passerby who saved Yu'er, then he became Yu'er’s benefactor. Being tight-lipped and causing his death, that guilt would be immense. Besides, this tender young cultivator, only having lived for over a decade, dying prematurely would certainly be tragic. Reluctantly, after pondering for a while, Gu Changhuai finally said: "These matters really aren't for you to know..." "But I'm afraid you might naively dig in, get caught up involuntarily, and attract trouble that could get you killed...” Mo Hua was quite surprised, "Who exactly is this Huo Fotuo?" Gu Changhuai's gaze turned slightly sharp, "He is a vicious and malevolent cultivator." Mo Hua felt a slight chill, "Golden Core?" "Late Foundation Establishment," Gu Changhuai replied. Mo Hua frowned, "Late Foundation Establishment… yet still uncatchable?" Gu Changhuai sighed, "Huo Fotuo is innately cautious, always lingering within second-grade territories. His cultivation is profound, and his spellcraft exceedingly powerful…" "The Dao Court has attempted numerous times to apprehend him…" "But this wily individual, with his ruthless methods and powerful spells, wreaks havoc. Almost no cultivator below Foundation Establishment can contend with him." "Even when deploying Golden Core cultivators, limited by the heavenly restrictions, they cannot wield their life-bound treasures to defeat him. They might manage to best him but cannot kill him." "Once he escapes, he vanishes for a time, resurfacing once the dust settles to kill again…" Understanding dawned on Mo Hua. The Dao Court's third-grade Golden Core officials are too busy to catch him, and even if they try, the restrictions make it hard to kill him. Second-grade officials sent to capture him end up dead… Mo Hua asked, "Is Huo Fotuo's immensely powerful spell a 'forbidden technique'?" Gu Changhuai's gaze tightened, but considering Mo Hua was a disciple of the Supreme Void Sect, he reasoned the boy might know a bit about 'forbidden techniques.' "Yes," Gu Changhuai nodded, "It is a forbidden technique…" "But the spell he practices is an incomplete 'forbidden technique.'" "After practicing this 'forbidden technique,' one's blood becomes agitated by fire, leading to a violent, bloodthirsty temperament." "This murderous intent is uncontrollable…" "And so this fiend… frequently succumbs to his fiery temper, misusing the 'forbidden technique,' committing massacres, and slaughtering innocents to satiate his 'bloodlust'…" "To date, the number of practitioners burned alive in agony by his spells remains unknown…" Gu Changhuai's eyes burned with intense killing intent, his right hand clenched tight, turning bone-white. "This monstrous being deserves to be torn to shreds," he seethed, "death would be too merciful..." Mo Hua was somewhat stunned. It was his first time witnessing such profound hatred and overt killing intent from Uncle Gu. To offer comfort, Mo Hua assured, "Uncle Gu, rest assured, the long arm of justice will eventually catch him; such villains won't escape punishment." A self-deprecating smile graced Gu Changhuai's lips. "The long arm of justice…" His emotions swelled, and as he pondered saying more, realization struck that perhaps he had disclosed too much to this mischievous youth. Certain things should not have been uttered at all! "Enough, that's all," Gu Changhuai said with a flick of his sleeve, cautioning: "I tell you these things to make you understand that Huo Fotuo is extremely dangerous. You're just a fledgling cultivator; it's best not to meddle." Mo Hua responded indignantly, "I'm not a child; I'm fifteen!" Gu Changhuai snorted, "I'm over a hundred." Mo Hua was astonished, "Uncle Gu, you're that old?" Gu Changhuai felt a pang of irritation, resisting the urge to tug at Mo Hua's ear, "Over a hundred isn't old! For a Golden Core cultivator, a hundred-odd years is quite young!" "Sure, sure," Mo Hua placated, quietly musing, "If over a hundred is young, then I must still be a kid…" Mo Hua pondered a moment, then slyly asked more about Huo Fotuo. This was a rare chance; if Uncle Gu was in a less good mood later, it might be hard to ask. "Uncle Gu, do you know where Huo Fotuo's current whereabouts are?" Gu Changhuai remained silent. Mo Hua understood. "No idea, then..." "Would the Dao Court issue a bounty for Huo Fotuo?" Again, Gu Changhuai was silent. But from his sour expression, Mo Hua deduced the answer: "No." "Would Huo Fotuo's bounty be very expensive?" "It seems likely…" "Does Huo Fotuo have accomplices?" "Probably, otherwise how could he have escaped the Dao Court's encirclement?" "Has Huo Fotuo been in hiding for a long time?" "Seems so…" Mo Hua watched Gu Changhuai's expressions closely, interpreting his signals while conversing back and forth with himself. Finally, Gu Changhuai had enough, hoisting Mo Hua up, and began to lead him out, "Go back to your sect and cultivate diligently. Stop prying into matters you shouldn't…" Mo Hua's legs dangled in the air, kicking uselessly as he was carried off, yet he protested: "I need to wait for my senior sister!" "I still have a task!" "We can't return until we've caught the flower thief!" Left with no choice, Gu Changhuai dropped Mo Hua at the front hall, instructing: "Wait here and don't bother me anymore." "Alright…" As Gu Changhuai turned to leave, Mo Hua suddenly called out, "Uncle Gu!" When Gu Changhuai turned back, Mo Hua grinned, "Just one more question…" Gu Changhuai was about to refuse but remembered his cousin's reminder and sighed: "Go on, ask." "What does Huo Fotuo look like?" Mo Hua inquired. Frowning, Gu Changhuai replied, "Didn't I tell you not to dig into this?" Mo Hua explained, "I'm worried that if I happen to meet him, knowing what he looks like would help me escape in time." "As if you'd encounter him that suddenly!" "I'm saying just in case!" Mo Hua stressed, "What if I meet him and don't recognize him, obliviously chatting up to end up killed?" Your thought process is peculiar... Gu Changhuai silently mused. Yet he found himself without a solid counterargument. Avoiding danger requires prior knowledge; otherwise, how would one evade a threat they don't recognize? Gu Changhuai felt a headache coming on and finally relented with a sigh: "Tall, benevolent face, dressed in a blood-red kasaya, with fiery bald marks on his head, and skin with a reddish hue…" Mo Hua committed this to memory. As Gu Changhuai turned to leave again, Mo Hua called him back, recalling something. "Uncle Gu…" "What is it now?" "Just one last question!" Gu Changhuai's brow furrowed, "Didn't you just say the last one?" "This time it really is the last one!" Mo Hua assured confidently. Gu Changhuai sighed heavily, exasperated, "Speak!" Mo Hua's eyes brightened as he lowered his voice to ask, "Uncle Gu, what's the name of the spell that Huo Fotuo uses?" Cautious, Gu Changhuai replied, "I cannot tell you that." "Really, just this final question!" Though Gu Changhuai was dubious, knowing the name of a spell shouldn't be a problem. It was a forbidden technique, after all. This mischievous kid wouldn’t actually try to cultivate it, surely. If he did, Gu Changhuai thought to himself, he'd just capture him and lock him up in Dao Prison! With that thought, and seeing Mo Hua's eager expression, Gu Changhuai sighed again and explained, "The forbidden technique Huo Fotuo cultivates is known as…" "Fallen Fire Technique!" Mo Hua was momentarily stunned, then his eyes shone with excitement. "Fallen Fire Technique?!" Gu Changhuai noticed Mo Hua's reaction, suddenly feeling uneasy. Could this boy... Truly be so reckless as to desire learning this 'forbidden technique'? Surely, he wouldn't be so audacious as to target 'Huo Fotuo'… Deeply unsettled, Gu Changhuai cautioned: "This is a forbidden technique; you must not learn it…" Mo Hua nodded, "Rest assured, Uncle Gu, I won't learn it." I'm just borrowing its concept to reference, to "copy" the spell structure, not to truly "study" it... Unaware of Mo Hua's true intention, Gu Changhuai nodded and finally left. Satisfied, Mo Hua reflected that his visits had not been in vain, for Uncle Gu indeed knew about Huo Fotuo. Forbidden technique! Fallen Fire Technique! From its name alone, the spell sounded formidable, and "Fallen Fire" seemed to share some connection with the fireball technique. Unfortunately, the exact location of Huo Fotuo remained unknown. And the Dao Court had no information. It seemed further contemplation and planning were necessary… Mo Hua waited patiently for Sister Murong, then joined the tardy Brother Feng and others, gathering outside the Dao Court to travel together by carriage to Luan Mountain City, a second-grade city, on a mission to capture the flower thief—Hua Langjun. Luan Mountain City lay north of Bì Mountain City, a second-grade city. Recently, several young female disciples from minor clans within the city appeared pale and emaciated, their energies weak. Upon investigation, their families discovered they were victims of energy siphoning. The perpetrator was none other than Hua Langjun, the flower thief wanted by the Dao Court. The young female disciples were sweet-talked by Hua Langjun, willingly turning themselves into cauldrons, losing their vital energy through being siphoned. Despite being drained, they were enamored with his charm, insisting on defending Hua Langjun, saying things like: "He loves me…" "Even if my energy is taken, I am willing…" "It's a mutual agreement; it's none of your business…" These were words that Mu Rong Cai Yun shared with Mo Hua after gathering information. Mo Hua was utterly astonished. In this age, some cultivators are so blinded by beauty that they can't distinguish between righteousness and evil. Even when someone wants to consume their flesh and blood and siphon their life essence, they would consent and even find joy in it… Fortunately, the laws of the Dao are still impartial. Siphoning is a crime. Hua Langjun, balancing his time skillfully, managed to enchant and linger among several female disciples in Luan Mountain City. However, because his "time management" was over-optimized and too tightly packed, he didn’t have the chance to flee when exposed and instead hid away in some brothel or secluded mansion. Every action leaves a trace, and every event leaves a mark. Since there was evidence left behind, escape was futile, especially with Mo Hua on the case. Using his divine sense to carefully survey and calculate causes and effects, Mo Hua quickly picked up Hua Langjun's trail. Following the traces, the group eventually found their way to… the bedchamber of the head's original partner in Wang's family, Luan Mountain City's largest second-grade family… (End of the Chapter)