Chapter 633: Trouble Arises - The Quest for Immortality

Chapter 633: Trouble Arises In the silence of the forest, where trees were dense and sunlight filtered in, leaving dappled shadows, there was no trace of any human presence beneath the overlapping shadows. Qiao Lao Wu furrowed his brows, "Where's that little rascal?" Yin Lei Zi's expression was equally grim. "Hiding in the woods?" "Hiding where exactly?" "Did he burrow underground?" "But there's not a trace on the ground; how could he burrow underground?" "Then it must be…" The four exchanged glances, their pupils slightly contracting. Concealed?! This little rascal had even mastered camouflage? Qiao Lao Wu cursed, "Damn it, not only is he as slippery as an eel, but he can also make himself invisible. This is absurd." "How the hell are we supposed to catch him?" This was something even Huo Fo Tuo and the others hadn't anticipated. They saw that this young one possessed extraordinary agility, no doubt the result of intense training, but who could have guessed that he had also trained in concealment? Ignoring proper spells to learn such irritating and obscure arts. Truly a treacherous little thing! "Something's not right…" Yin Lei Zi, deep in thought, frowned. "This little rascal is at the early Foundation Establishment stage. Even if he learned concealment, how could he possibly evade the senses of those of us at the latter stage?" "His concealment skills are suspicious…" "Is his spiritual awareness too strong? Blocking our senses…" Qiao Lao Wu wondered. Yin Lei Zi sneered, "What nonsense! He's merely at the early Foundation Establishment stage; how strong could his spiritual awareness possibly be?" "At best, it's at twelve or thirteen marks—certainly not strong enough to defy the heavens…" Qiao Lao Wu retorted, "Then what do you suggest is the reason, dammit?" Yin Lei Zi's gaze sharpened, "His concealment technique must be exceedingly refined." "That's nonsense!" Qiao Lao Wu snapped: "Yin Lao Er has lived for over two hundred years and has only just mastered his concealment skills, and yet you're telling me this kid, so much younger, could perfect them just as well?" Yin Lei Zi's face flushed red, unable to retort. Suddenly, Gui Mian Sha, who had been silent, frowned, "There's something familiar about his concealment. Could it be…" Gui Mian Sha's face darkened, "Yin Lao Er's… Minor Five-Element Concealment Technique?" The other three were taken aback. Huo Fo Tuo's eyes grew somber. "Impossible…" Yin Lei Zi shook his head. "That's the specialty of Yin Lao Er; he relies on that technique to make a living. He's never dared to teach it to anyone…" "Yin Lao Er went in, didn't he?" "The prison is like a deep ocean, there's no getting out once you've entered…" "Faced with death in the Dao Prison, not even Yin Lao Er would divulge it. After all, death is death either way…" "Before he was caught?" "Before he was caught... what does that have to do with this kid? Did Yin Lao Er get caught by this rascal?" "Moreover, Yin Lao Er is a tough nut to crack…" "Previously, when captured, he was tortured severely, even had his teeth smashed in and swallowed, yet he never uttered a word about the concealment technique…" "Prising it from him isn't easy at all…" "Besides…" Yin Lei Zi cast another cautious glance at the surrounding forest, wary. "This kind of silent, traceless, entirely concealed method… even Yin Lao Er couldn't achieve that level." Qiao Lao Wu sighed in frustration, "Then what do we do? Search the area?" "The forest is so vast, how are we to search through it effectively…" "Set the forest on fire?" "Are you crazy? Doing that would alert the Dao Court’s watchdogs. How would we conduct business then?" Qiao Lao Wu, infuriated, demanded, "What do we do then?" Yin Lei Zi frowned, looking toward the leader, Huo Fo Tuo. Huo Fo Tuo, eyes initially filled with ferocity, quickly calmed, adopting a benevolent expression, his tone gentle: "Leave it. The heavens are merciful; we'll spare his life this time. It's getting late, and we have more pressing matters to attend to…" Qiao Lao Wu was not pleased. He'd been humiliated by Mo Hua and was eager to deal with Mo Hua. However, he didn't dare defy Huo Fo Tuo, instead burying his resentment, planning to exact gruesome vengeance when they next met. The group turned to leave. After taking several steps, Huo Fo Tuo suddenly halted. The other three, slightly bewildered, looked at him, noting his confused expression. "Brother, what is it?" they asked. Pondering for a moment, Huo Fo Tuo murmured in puzzlement, "How did that little cultivator recognize us?" Recognizing one would be easy, but how could he identify all four of them in an instant? Yin Lei Zi and the others furrowed their brows deeply. "Could this little rascal be a lackey for the Dao Court?" "The Dao Court isn’t smart enough to train such a cunning lackey…" "Or perhaps…" Yin Lei Zi's expression turned serious, "Did our blood oath register end up in his hands?" Wrath flickered in Huo Fo Tuo’s eyes, but he ultimately shook his head, "I doubt it could be that convenient…" That piece of information is highly confidential. How could it just conveniently end up in the hands of an unknown little rascal? Moreover, it's sealed with runes and codes. The secrets it holds couldn’t be accessed by just any minor cultivator… "Then how…" Yin Lei Zi and the others were utterly bewildered. Collecting himself, Huo Fo Tuo donned an expression of serene compassion, glancing back towards the woodland where Mo Hua disappeared, his voice empty yet steady: "Our main task is of utmost importance. As for this young cultivator…" "We shall meet again…" Huo Fo Tuo’s gaze was as scorching and frigid as infernal flame. "Next time, I'll show you what true fire spells are all about…" With that, he turned westward with solemnity. Qiao Lao Wu and the others cast a malicious gaze toward the forest before following Huo Fo Tuo, each fostering their own grudges. ... Meanwhile, Mo Hua had long vanished from the forest. Taking advantage of the Five Elements Wood Qi within the woodland, he had skillfully used the Minor Five-Element Concealment Technique to stealthily make his escape. Huo Fo Tuo was perilous. The other three were no simple adversaries either. Since direct confrontation wasn't feasible, escape was the prudent course to avoid unnecessary complications. Having utilized the concealment spell, Mo Hua delved deeper into the forest, traversed the winding mountain paths, ensuring he had escaped Huo Fo Tuo and his companions, then circled back to the entrance of Luan Mountain City to await his senior brother and sister. To be extra cautious, he maintained the concealment spell. After a short period, two graceful figures appeared at the bustling city gate. It was none other than the enchantingly beautiful Mu Rong Cai Yun in her vibrant attire and the charming Hua Qian Qian in her multicolored floral dress. Ou Yang Feng and Shang Guan Xu trailed behind them. Relieved, Mo Hua dispelled his concealment, waving to greet them, "Senior Brother, Senior Sister!" Surprised to see him, Mu Rong Cai Yun approached and asked, "Junior Brother, why are you here? Weren’t you having tea at the teahouse?" "I ran into trouble!" Mo Hua exclaimed earnestly. Trouble? Mu Rong Cai Yun and the others exchanged concerned glances before turning their worried eyes on Mo Hua, "Are you alright?" "Yes," Mo Hua nodded, "They tried to kill me, but I escaped." Someone tried to kill Junior Brother Mo? Ou Yang Feng’s gaze grew icy, as Mu Rong Cai Yun and the others shared a look of anger, "Where are they?" A warmth filled Mo Hua’s heart, though he shook his head, explaining, "That group had four people, at least two were of the late Foundation Establishment stage, and their leader practiced forbidden arts, exceedingly dangerous…" Late Foundation Establishment? Forbidden arts?! Mu Rong Cai Yun’s expression shifted, scrutinizing Mo Hua further; though his clothes were a bit dirty, he was unharmed, and she exhaled in relief. However, she couldn't help but be a little amazed, "And you managed to escape?" Mo Hua responded, "I got lucky, a mere stroke of luck…" "Alright then…" Mu Rong Cai Yun chose not to delve any deeper. Her junior brother, for all his quirks, did possess a wealth of peculiar and life-saving techniques. But to escape unharmed from those at late Foundation Establishment was a tad unbelievable… Ou Yang Feng’s expression had also grown grave as he pondered, "Four of them, at least two of late Foundation Establishment, the matter must be reported to the Dao Court. Yet, the Dao Court in Luan Mountain City might not suffice…" "To be cautious, it's prudent to report to the Dao Court of Qian Xue State." Everyone nodded slightly in agreement. Mo Hua also nodded repeatedly. That was exactly what he had been thinking as well. If Uncle Gu was correct, then Huo Fo Tuo's magical prowess was formidable, unmatched by anyone below the second rank. Even if the second-ranked Dao Court of Luan Mountain City dispatched people in pursuit, they would likely be completely destroyed by the devastating Infernal Flame Technique. The wisest course would be to return to the jurisdiction of Qian Xue State and report the incident to the Dao Court there, which is ranked fifth. Time was of the essence, so they hired a carriage and set off immediately. Half a day later, they were back within the boundaries of Qian Xue State, making their way through the doors of the Dao Court, where they intended to lodge their report with the presiding officer. However, the process of "reporting" was cumbersome and slow. Mo Hua succinctly recounted the events and listed a series of criminals' names: "Bloodwood Butcher, Yin Lei Zi, Gui Mian Sha, Huo Fo Tuo." The officer thought Mo Hua was jesting, staring blankly for a moment before asking, puzzled, "How do you know those four have such names?" In the vast expanse of a fifth-ranked state, filled with all sorts of good and bad individuals, including many criminal cultivators, some of these names were unfamiliar even to him. How could a minor cultivator recognize them? "I overheard them talking," Mo Hua offered as a casual excuse. The officer was skeptical. It wasn't that he didn't believe him entirely; it was just hard to take at face value, leaving him indecisive. Mo Hua, finding the officer's meticulousness exasperating, said, "Where is your Gu Tiansi? I'd like to speak with him." "You know Gu Tiansi?" "Yes," Mo Hua nodded confidently, "Uncle Gu and I are quite close!" The officer was incredulous. Could the infamously stern Gu Chang Huai, often equated to the "cold-faced judge," really have a close relationship with this young cultivator? "The Gu Tiansi is very busy with official duties…" "This is important," Mo Hua insisted, lowering his voice, "Uncle Gu is petty. If you report this late, he might make things hard for you…" The officer, hearing this, was startled. Whether the matter with these criminals was true or not wasn't clear, but the young cultivator wasn't wrong about Gu Tiansi. Gu Tiansi was indeed petty! Yet to dare label Gu Tiansi as such showed remarkable audacity! "Alright, I'll take you to find the Gu Tiansi." The officer agreed readily but hurriedly added, "But… don't tell anyone it was me who brought you." "Sure!" Thus, Mu Rong Cai Yun waited in the main hall while the officer guided Mo Hua through the dignified and imposing halls of the Dao Court, turning left, then right, finally arriving at an officer's office. It seemed this was where Gu Chang Huai handled affairs within the Dao Court. Mo Hua hadn't been here before, so he memorized the route for future reference, so he could visit Uncle Gu directly if needed. The officer only dared to escort Mo Hua to the door before making a hasty exit. Mo Hua shook his head, realizing Uncle Gu wasn't very popular in the Dao Court. Others were afraid of him. Unlike himself, so amiable and likable. Outside the office was an old-fashioned doorbell, which Mo Hua rang, producing a crisp sound. A cold and aloof voice came from within, "Come in." The doors opened, and Mo Hua entered. Inside, the space was clean and orderly, with refined and elegant furnishings. Gu Chang Huai sat at his desk, focused intently, writing something. Upon Mo Hua's entrance, Gu Chang Huai looked up, initially surprised, then frowned slightly. "You again?" Seeing only Mo Hua, he asked: "How did you find this place?" The office was for official use and, while not a heavily restricted area, was also not open for random access. Mo Hua replied, "A passing, kind-hearted officer brought me here." Loyal, he refrained from describing the officer's appearance to Gu Chang Huai. Gu Chang Huai sighed, resigned, and continued writing without much interest, "Alright, what is it this time?" "I encountered Huo Fo Tuo!" Gu Chang Huai's hand jerked, leaving a long ink mark on his document. He looked incredulously at Mo Hua. "Huo... Fo Tuo?" "Yes!" "How did you encounter him?" "I ran into him at the teahouse." Gu Chang Huai was speechless. Huo Fo Tuo wasn't some peddler rushing to do business with you. You encounter him at a teahouse? Or could it be that whatever you say happens as though by your word, and you just happen to meet him when you step out? Seeing Gu Chang Huai's disbelief, Mo Hua earnestly declared, "It's true!" Gu Chang Huai didn't necessarily disbelieve, but the tale was rather incredible. The Dao Court had been pursuing the criminal with no results for so long, yet a novice from a sect claims he met him during an afternoon tea? Is he some kind of mystic? Moreover... The Dao Court required evidence; even if Mo Hua was from one of the Eight Great Sects, the Tai Xu Sect, he couldn't just expect them to take his words at face value. The Dao Court wasn't so staffed as to waste resources. Gu Chang Huai sighed, "How do you know it was Huo Fo Tuo?" Mo Hua solemnly described: "He's tall, with a benevolent look, mostly silent, wearing ordinary clothes over a kasa, with his head tied up, concealing several fiery scars…" "There were three others with him: a burly man wielding a bloodstained chopping knife, possibly 'Bloodwood Butcher' Qiao Lao Wu, a sullen, lean man likely 'Yin Lei Zi,' and another muscular man with a fierce expression, probably 'Gui Mian Sha'…" Gu Chang Huai discarded his indifferent demeanor, growing more serious with every word. What Mo Hua described didn't ring false. These were indeed infamous criminals with heinous reputations throughout the state boundary. However, Gu Chang Huai looked at Mo Hua seriously, "How do you know so much about these criminals?" Names like "Bloodwood Butcher," "Yin Lei Zi," "Gui Mian Sha," rolled off his tongue as if he were listing menu items. Mo Hua, upright and indignant, declared: "Though my own cultivation isn't high, I adhere to the teachings of my sect—upholding justice, eradicating evil, hating sin, and I've long aimed to bring these criminals down!" "So, I've made it a point to gather intel on them, leading to a slightly extensive knowledge of their affairs…" Gu Chang Huai felt a slight headache. What are you going on about? Upholding justice, hating sin… Is that really you? Even when lying, you should do it more convincingly. Yet, he couldn't help but suspect there was some truth to Huo Fo Tuo’s emergence. However, the evidence was flimsy… Height and appearance, garments and scars… They only indicated a resemblance to Huo Fo Tuo. Others in the world practice Buddhism and bear similar scars and robes. Gu Chang Huai frowned, "Any other clues to prove it’s Huo Fo Tuo?" Mo Hua thought for a moment, "He's adept in fire spells; when performing magic, two blazing flames rise within him, akin to two hearts…" Gu Chang Huai’s heart skipped a beat, "He attacked?" "He did." Gu Chang Huai fixed his gaze on Mo Hua, "And you escaped?" "Yes." Mo Hua nodded, "As soon as he struck, I fled." "How did you manage to escape?" Mo Hua found the question unnecessary, "Naturally, by running with my legs…" Gu Chang Huai felt exasperated. "What I meant…" He composed himself, stopping mid-sentence, as his intuition suggested further probing might be unwise. Some things are better left unasked, especially concerning a cultivator's survival methods. Yet Mo Hua was becoming more inexplicable to him. "You have no idea where Huo Fo Tuo went, do you?" Gu Chang Huai inquired, his voice firm. Mo Hua shook his head, "I was lucky to escape; following them wasn’t an option…" "Where did you encounter them?" "Outside Luan Mountain City…" Mo Hua elaborated, "Where the mountain paths of Luan and Bi Mountains meet, there’s a forest and a small teahouse…" "The intersection of Luan and Bi Mountain paths…" Gu Chang Huai nodded, "Alright, I understand. I’ll personally investigate. If it's as you say…" He glanced at Mo Hua, "Consider it a contribution to your merit." Mo Hua brightened, "Thank you, Uncle Gu." Gu Chang Huai nodded slightly, lost in thoughtful contemplation. "Uncle Gu, do you think…" Mo Hua asked cautiously, "Why would Huo Fo Tuo suddenly appear?" Gu Chang Huai shook his head, "I don't know. Don’t concern yourself with it. Stay out of it." With that, Gu Chang Huai tidied his documents and hurriedly left. He also summoned several teams of officers, dispatching them in different directions to presumably track Huo Fo Tuo’s movements. Mo Hua had a strong desire to join in on the pursuit, but he knew that Uncle Gu would certainly not allow it. So, he returned to the sect with his senior brothers and sisters. Once back at the sect, the whole incident with Huo Fo Tuo weighed heavily on his mind. How could they capture Huo Fo Tuo? How could he acquire the cultivation method for the forbidden "Infernal Flame Technique" from Huo Fo Tuo? And what exactly did Huo Fo Tuo, with his benevolent appearance yet ruthless nature, intend to accomplish with his sudden appearance? The clues were too scarce, leaving Mo Hua puzzled and without answers. Mo Hua asked his senior sister, Mu Rong, to help gather some information. He sensed that Huo Fo Tuo's emergence must have a purpose… A few days later, Mu Rong Cai Yun found Mo Hua and paused before saying gravely, "Bi Mountain City's Xie family was annihilated by Huo Fo Tuo." "The Xie family was reduced to a sea of flames; men, women, young, and old were all burned to a crisp, with no survivors left..." (End of Chapter)