Chapter 634: Annihilation - The Quest for Immortality

Chapter 634: Annihilation Mo Hua's pupils constricted. Annihilation?! The Xie Family? "The Xie family of Bicheng City, aren't they…" Murong Caiyun nodded. "Precisely, that day, when we went to capture the traitor from the Duanjin Sect, we encountered that second-rank Xie Family." Mo Hua remembered. That day, he, Senior Sister Murong, and Senior Brother Feng took on a mission to Bicheng City to capture a traitor from the Duanjin Sect. It was said this traitor had stolen something from the Xie Family and vanished without a trace. Unable to capture him, the Xie Family issued the task to the sect. In their pursuit, the Xie Family sealed the city and searched the streets, going to great lengths. But for some reason, the reward was paltry. And indeed, the traitor was difficult to capture. He practiced the Duanjin Sect's escape technique "Dunjin Jue" and was adept at disguise, dressing as a woman, and hiding in a brothel disguised as a tavern. Catching him took quite an effort. What was peculiar about this… The traitor's disguise technique was extremely exquisite—first a man, then a woman, then an old hag, and finally a dwarf. When caught, he appeared as a burly man. No one knew his original appearance. Divine sense could only detect the presence of spiritual energy, not physical appearance. Thus, even though Mo Hua's divine sense was strong enough to recognize his spiritual energy, he couldn't restore the traitor’s fleshly appearance outside of his spiritual energy. Moreover, Mo Hua didn't even know what exactly the traitor had stolen from the Xie Family. Upon leaving Bicheng City, Mo Hua had a vague feeling that this matter was not concluded. But he hadn't anticipated it would end with the Xie Family's "annihilation." Mo Hua softly inquired: "Sister, why did the Fire Buddha annihilate the Xie Family?" Murong Caiyun shook her head. "I don't know either. The Dao Tribunal is still investigating, and outside rumors aren't very reliable." "What kinds of rumors?" Mo Hua asked curiously. "All sorts…" Murong Caiyun raised her fair fingers and counted them off for Mo Hua… "Some say the Xie Family offended the Fire Buddha years ago, sowing enmity, and the Fire Buddha came back for revenge." "Some claim the Fire Buddha was in cahoots with the Xie Family, but a dispute over spoils led him to slaughter them all." "Others suggest the Fire Buddha needed sacrifices for dark arts and used the Xie Family as offerings." "And some say the Xie Family's head once took the Fire Buddha's beloved woman, causing him to turn to the dark path. When he mastered his spells, he annihilated the Xie Family as a tribute to the woman he loved." "Even more outrageous are those who can't distinguish right from wrong, saying the Xie Family must have been acting unjustly, and the Fire Buddha executed heavenly justice by killing them." … "Rumors fly with the wind; no one truly knows what transpired…" Murong Caiyun shook her head. Frowning, Mo Hua asked, filled with an uneasy compassion: "Truly… did not a single soul survive?" With a sigh, Murong Caiyun whispered, "No…" Mo Hua's heart ached with sympathy, yet a niggling doubt persisted: "Did the Xie Family not resist at all?" "Although a second-rank family, the Xie Family surely had numerous cultivators. Even if outmatched, some should have escaped…" Murong Caiyun's gaze hardened. "I thought the same…" "This matter is quite uncanny…" "Even if the Xie Family was weak, they were among the top cultivation families in Bicheng City…" "No matter how powerful the Fire Buddha was, as a second-rank rogue cultivator alone, he shouldn't have eradicated the entire family's cultivators…" "But the fact stands…" Murong Caiyun let out a long sigh, her expression solemn. "The Xie Family was completely wiped out…" "According to the cultivators of Bicheng City, that night, the entire Xie Family estate was engulfed in flames, blood painting half the sky red. All Xie Family cultivators, like devils in hell, were slaughtered, dismembered, and then turned to ashes in karmic fire…" "In the endless blaze of karma, the mastermind, Fire Buddha, clad in robes, stood with fiery eyes, chanting Buddhist sutras, his face reflecting a cold compassion…" Picturing the scene, Mo Hua's heart chilled. The Fire Buddha seemed far more dangerous than he had imagined… And the power of his Incendiary Fire Art might be more terrifying than he had thought… Recalling Qiao Lao Wu and Yin Lei Zi, Mo Hua questioned, once again puzzled: "Did the Fire Buddha have any accomplices?" Annihilating an entire family seemed too daunting a task for him alone. "That I do not know…" Murong Caiyun shook her head. "Such mass annihilation is exceedingly brutal, with deeply negative impacts. The Dao Tribunal will typically seal off information, withholding all clues." "Has this kind of annihilation happened before?" Mo Hua asked. Murong Caiyun thought for a moment before responding, "Rarely… The last was over a hundred years ago when a small family was wiped out by dark cultivators…" "I don't know the details, I only learned about it from my aunt." "Due to the egregious nature of the last incident, smaller families were gripped with fear, prompting the top layers of the Dao Tribunal to dispatch many officials, tirelessly hunting down those rogue cultivators." "In the end, all guilty parties were captured, executed with refused enchantments, and publicly displayed to serve as warnings…" "Since then, such annihilations have seldom been heard of." "Now, with the annihilation of the Xie Family by the Fire Buddha, it has happened again…" "Such events inevitably shake the hearts of people. Therefore, until the truth is unveiled and all culprits are caught, the Dao Tribunal will not release any information." "Then…" Mo Hua softly asked, "will the Dao Tribunal issue a bounty through the sects to apprehend the Fire Buddha?" "They won't," Murong Caiyun confirmed. "They won't?" Mo Hua felt a hint of disappointment. "Indeed." Murong Caiyun nodded, elaborating: "This matter is far too perilous… "The bounties issued by the Dao Tribunal typically go after early to mid-stage Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators. While not weak, the sect disciples can handle them with cooperation." "But the Fire Buddha is different; he is extremely dangerous, a slaughterer of hundreds, too risky for them to entrust such a mission to a sect." "Many disciples hail from prestigious families; any mishap, and the sect will face severe repercussions from those families." "Moreover, due to the annihilation's gravity, strict confidentiality is maintained, leaving no room for information leaks." "At most, only when the Fire Buddha is captured and matters settled, minor assignments to mop up remnants might be given to the sect disciples…" "Oh…" Mo Hua nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face, lost in his musings. Murong Caiyun glanced at him, cautioning: "Don’t get any funny ideas…" Mo Hua was taken aback. Murong Caiyun continued, "You seem interested in the Fire Buddha?" "In a way…" Mo Hua replied vaguely. He wasn’t interested in the Fire Buddha per se, just fascinated by the forbidden techniques he wielded. Seeing Mo Hua's eyes glint with curiosity, Murong Caiyun sighed helplessly: "Pursuing the Fire Buddha is the Dao Tribunal’s task, beyond our meddling capacity." "Moreover, it's highly perilous. Falling into the Fire Buddha’s hands ensures a bleak fate. You escaped him once; escaping again is uncertain…" Her face etched with worry, Murong Caiyun cautioned, "So, under no circumstances should you take reckless risks or get involved in this mess…" Mo Hua seriously pondered her words, replying earnestly: "Sister, rest assured!" … After Murong Caiyun left, Mo Hua continued to mull over the Fire Buddha matter. His sister wasn't wrong; it was indeed a treacherous business. But acquiring forbidden techniques wasn’t easy; they couldn’t be bought with simple rewards. Furthermore, the Incendiary Fire Art, being a fire-based forbidden art, was crucial to his research on colliding fireballs, spell breakdowns, and spiritual fusion. If an opportunity presented itself, this spell had to be seized! Missing it now meant no telling when such a chance would arise again. Caution and care for his own safety were paramount. After all, he had parents to look after in their old age! Pondering deeply, Mo Hua began devising strategies: "But how can I obtain the Incendiary Fire Art techniques?" Capture the Fire Buddha before the Dao Tribunal? Once apprehended by them, even if the Fire Buddha disclosed the Incendiary Fire Art techniques, obtaining it would be impossible. Naturally, the Dao Tribunal wouldn’t hand dangerous forbidden techniques to a mere disciple of Tai Xu Sect. Moreover, given the Fire Buddha's style, it's likely he would prefer to destroy both the jade and the stone rather than give up his forbidden technique. As soon as the Fire Buddha is captured, this fire technique will be buried with him. "Capture the Fire Buddha before the Dao Tribunal? Or directly kill him and search his corpse?" But how? Rely on myself to do it? Mo Hua pondered and reluctantly shook his head. "Not likely…" The Fire Buddha is extremely vigilant, with strong personal cultivation, spells, and methods. Moreover, he has rogue cultivators like Yin Lei Zi, Blood Woodcutter, and Ghost-Faced Fiend as his underlings. These henchmen aren't easy to deal with either. If I were to kill him with my own strength, I would need thorough preparation, setting a trap with a grand first-grade formation just to subdue a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator like the Fire Buddha. But where could I find such a formation to dismantle? Not to mention, a first-grade formation is exceedingly costly; dismantling it just to kill one Fire Buddha would be a waste. Plus, with the Fire Buddha's cautious nature, even with a trap set, he might not fall for it. Therefore, I would have to rely on someone else to kill him… I could only assist from the sidelines, offering small help. So, who could do it? Mo Hua rubbed his chin, pondering… Sister Murong and Senior Brother Feng are definitely not suitable. With only mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, even as outstanding disciples of the Eight Great Sects, they pale compared to the late-stage Foundation Establishment, mass-slaughtering Fire Buddha. Winning or not is another story. Should they fail, it might even cost them their lives. Murong Caiyun is concerned for me and doesn't want me to take risks. Likewise, I don't wish for the senior siblings, who have helped me greatly, to endure such peril. They don't have as many means of self-preservation as I do. So who else is there? After much contemplation, Mo Hua could think of only one person who might manage to help kill the Fire Buddha. That would be Uncle Gu Changhuai… With his Golden Core stage cultivation, and as a Dao Tribunal official, His status is appropriate, and his cultivation is sufficient. Moreover, Uncle Gu seems to have been aiming to bring the Fire Buddha to justice. But the crux of the problem is, he's from the Dao Tribunal. Even if he arrests the Fire Buddha and coerces the secrets of the "Incendiary Fire Art" from him, in public or private, he's unlikely to hand it over to me. If I were in Uncle Gu's shoes, I wouldn't share the Incendiary Fire Art with someone like Mo Hua, whose background is unknown and who is considered dangerous. In his mind, I am someone "dangerous." He certainly couldn't allow a "dangerous" small cultivator to learn an even more "dangerous" forbidden technique… Yet, after careful thinking, Mo Hua found no other alternatives. Uncle Gu was already the sole option. Mo Hua sighed softly. "We'll take one step at a time…" "First, find a way through Uncle Gu to get involved with the Dao Tribunal, gather intel, and join the chase for the Fire Buddha…" "Then act according to the situation, finding a chance to tag along with Uncle Gu to seize the 'Incendiary Fire Art' techniques while remaining in the shadows…" For now, that's all he could do. Thereafter, Mo Hua continued his daily routine of attending lectures, cultivating, assisting Yu'er with her studies, drawing formations, and whenever time allowed, inquiring about the Fire Buddha. But as Murong Caiyun mentioned, the Dao Tribunal indeed wouldn't issue a mission concerning the Fire Buddha to the sects. For most disciples, "Fire Buddha" remained a mere rumor—a topic of idle conversation after lectures. In their lifetime, they likely wouldn't even come into contact with such matters. Disheartened, Mo Hua had no choice but to find time to visit the Dao Tribunal and seek Uncle Gu. However, the Tribunal was stringent, and one couldn't casually wander its offices. Navigating through the facility with the route memorized and relying on his wits to elude the officials along the way, Mo Hua finally reached Gu Changhuai's office, only to find it empty. Gu Changhuai had gone out to capture rogue cultivators. Mo Hua had no way of knowing if Gu Changhuai was after the Fire Buddha and found no one to ask, leaving him no choice but to return empty-handed. "Doing things in the Dao Tribunal without anyone there is really inconvenient…" Mo Hua lamented. He needed to think of another plan. During the leisure of a ten-day break, Mo Hua accompanied Yu'er back to the Gu family. It was Yu'er's first return to the Gu family since joining the Tai Xu Sect. At the entrance, Wenren Wan awaited eagerly with hope in her eyes. Though it was her idea to send Yu'er to the Tai Xu Sect, as a mother, her heart was ceaselessly worried… Concerned about Yu'er's cultivation, her well-being, her happiness, and most crucially… Whether she was free from nightmares and could sleep peacefully. Soon, the carriage stopped at the Gu family's doorstep. Yu'er jumped off, calling sweetly for her mother before rushing into Wenren Wan's embrace. Holding Yu'er, noticing her fair skin, rosy cheeks, good spirits, and how much heavier she felt—appearing healthy and a bit chubbier—Wenren Wan couldn't be happier. This showed that at Tai Xu Sect, Yu'er lived joyfully, free from illnesses and dreadful nightmares. Wenren Wan sent a grateful look towards Mo Hua. That evening, Wenren Wan prepared a table laden with delicacies unfamiliar to Mo Hua. Mo Hua indulged heartily, his appetite whetted. Next to him, Yu'er sat clutching a small bowl, mimicking Mo Hua with puffed cheeks. Sitting at the side, Wenren Wan rested her cheek on her hand, watching the two—one big, one small—with a gentle, warm smile in her eyes. After some time, Gu Changhuai arrived. He appeared travel-worn as if just returning from the Dao Tribunal but came to see Yu'er upon hearing of her return. Stepping in, he caught sight of Mo Hua by Yu'er's side, a complex expression crossing his face as his scalp tingled. He could sense trouble was brewing… "Changhuai, you just returned, why not have a meal as well?" Wenren Wan spoke gently. Yu'er, a bit shy, greeted him formally, "Hello, Uncle…" Gu Changhuai's heart melted at the innocence in her "Uncle." Yet his expression remained as stiff as ever, struggling to convey warmth. Mo Hua watched, shaking his head. Wenren Wan glanced at Mo Hua, then at Gu Changhuai, understanding the unspoken words and smiled: "I'll take Yu'er outside for a walk to help with digestion…" Looking at Gu Changhuai with a piercing gaze, she continued, "You take care of Mo Hua." Gu Changhuai felt bitterness rising. With that, Wenren Wan took Yu'er and left. Sighing, Gu Changhuai sat across from Mo Hua, poured himself a cup of wine, downed it in one go, and said helplessly: "You didn't come just to see me, did you?" Mo Hua responded honestly, "Not entirely…" Sending Yu'er home was partly to reunite her with Aunt Wan, relieving her worries. Partly to prevent ventures of Yu'er returning alone at night, only to be besieged by demons, disrupting her sleep. And missing out on his own divine sense "nourishment." His final motive was, of course, Gu Changhuai. "So, what is it?" Gu Changhuai sighed. This little troublemaker was unavoidable. Blinking, Mo Hua softly asked, "Uncle Gu, can I join the Dao Tribunal in hunting the Fire Buddha?" Gu Changhuai had expected this and rejected the idea firmly: "No way!" "Why not?" Mo Hua pressed. Taking in Mo Hua, Gu Changhuai sighed: "You're too young, your cultivation lacking, just starting out in the sect, and most importantly, you're not part of the Dao Tribunal…" Mo Hua curiously inquired, "If I were part of the Dao Tribunal, would it be possible?" Gu Changhuai smirked inwardly. A Tribunal member… Joining the Tribunal wasn’t so easy. From the lowliest officials to the top—the Vice and Chief Tribunal Masters—each applicant undergoes rigorous tests before admission. The exams are exceptionally demanding, covering a wide range: spiritual roots, cultivation techniques, martial arts or magic, familial background, criminal records, and any history within three generations of relatives imprisoned or demonized, among others… The scrutiny is exceedingly strict, with very high requirements. Besides, you're a rogue cultivator, lacking both status and backing. How could you possibly join the Tribunal… Gu Changhuai replied nonchalantly, "Well, if you were Tribunal personnel, I might consider it…" Mo Hua silently produced a bronze badge. Its archaic design was modest yet familiar… Gu Changhuai paused, his brow twitching wildly. With a sly glint in his eyes yet a serious demeanor, Mo Hua declared: "Uncle Gu, actually… I do hold a position within the Dao Tribunal…" Year-end matters have caused a delay in releases, apologies~ (.) (End of Chapter) If there are any errors in the chapter or if you wish to report an issue, please use the "Report Chapter Error" function provided. 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