Chapter 657: The First Year - The Quest for Immortality

Chapter 657: The First Year Fire Buddha's complexion was ashen. A hole had been opened in its chest. Yet, its cultivation level was at the pinnacle of the Foundation Establishment stage. It had forsaken its human form, its body akin to a demon's, with regenerative flesh. Its dark chest, where flesh pulsated, began to heal slowly. However, the next moment, Fire Buddha's pupils constricted. Halfway through, the flesh ceased to wriggle and became completely lifeless, unable to heal. It seemed the explosive fire spiritual energy had entirely burnt away its life force. The evil power within it had been incinerated at the very essence of "spiritual energy." Fire Buddha's eyes trembled violently. "What kind of spell is this...?" Simultaneously, the flames generated by the fusion dissipated completely. From the cavity in Fire Buddha's chest, two evil artifact "hearts" were revealed. These were the core of Fire Buddha's forbidden flame art, its nurtured natal artifacts, and the foundation of its aspiration to ascend to the Golden Core stage. These two hearts were immensely precious evil artifacts of the demonic path. Yet now, they were blasted into blackened, lustreless pieces by some unknown, terrifying spell. Even their trembling was weak and feeble. Fire Buddha was filled with terror. Without regenerating its flesh and nourishing the artifact embryos, not only would its lifelong dream of achieving the Golden Core stage be dashed, but it might also perish in this Qingcheng Mountain. Its trembling hand still reached for medicinal pills... Just then, Gu Changhuai, who had snapped back from the shock of that unfathomable spell, quickly utilized the remaining spiritual energy, sending two wind blades slicing through. These wind blades pierced along the hole opened by Mo Hua, heading straight for Fire Buddha’s primary heart, which had already dimmed. The evil artifact heart, already under the immense strain from the collapse of the spell and the resulting massive spiritual energy, finally yielded and produced fractures with a crackling noise. The cracks multiplied rapidly. Until it was utterly shattered... The medicinal pill still in Fire Buddha's hand, its expression was of disbelief. Moments later, the terror faded from its face. Its demeanor returned to one of compassion. Even a hint of confusion and relief lingered. With great effort, it looked back at Mo Hua for the last time. "So, I really will... die at the hands of this kid..." Then, its eyes slowly closed. The unbalanced evil artifact heart irreversibly collapsed. The out-of-control evil power coursed backward through its flesh and meridians. Fire Buddha's entire body became engulfed by evil flames, self-immolating, flesh swelling and distorting... Gu Changhuai's pupils contracted, feeling a heavy weight in his heart. An out-of-control evil power causing the flesh to explode?! Not good! In a flash, Gu Changhuai glanced at Mo Hua behind Fire Buddha, disdainfully clicked his tongue, dashed over to shield Mo Hua by pinning him to the ground. Mo Hua felt as though he was being protected by a "big meat shield." Then the deafening explosion rang out by his ears. The sonic waves were intense, spiritual energy erratic. The self-destructing evil fire, carrying immense destructive power, swept out like a torrential wave. Trees turned to ash, rocks to dust. The ground became charred and black. Time seemed to pass slowly, and the explosion subsided. Only then did Mo Hua open his eyes. He saw the valley had been devastated, laid bare and lifeless. Yet all the harm was borne by Uncle Gu... He was unharmed. Mo Hua shook Gu Changhuai, noticing he had already passed out and was unresponsive no matter how much he was shaken. Mo Hua struggled to his feet and saw Gu Changhuai's back, riddled with wounds, bleeding profusely, and was startled. "Uncle Gu!" Mo Hua cried anxiously. “Uncle Gu, you can’t be dead, right?” “Uncle Gu, you’re a Golden Core cultivator...” “Uncle Gu, don’t be so useless!” “Uncle Gu, hang in there...” Gu Changhuai finally stirred slightly, his breath weak and voice low, yet he gritted his teeth and told Mo Hua: “Shut up!” If he kept talking, he'd die of anger even if he wasn't mortally wounded! Mo Hua breathed a sigh of relief. He’s not dead! As long as there’s a breath, it’ll be fine. He immediately began rummaging through his storage pouch, but soon remembered he didn’t have anything useful on hand. Mo Hua then started searching through Gu Changhuai's storage pouch. Gu Changhuai, as a nobleman of the Gu family, Dao Court Administrator, and Golden Core cultivator, must have top-grade pills in his storage pouch. Mo Hua dug around and pulled out a heap of bottles and jars from Gu Changhuai’s belongings. Mo Hua identified them one by one. Some seemed like hemostatics, some for replenishing energy, others for removing fire poison, as well as those for protecting meridians, spiritual sea, and even life-saving pills... All these lessons, Mo Hua had learned from pill classes. He began feeding Gu Changhuai with any pills he could identify clearly and knew were effective; Those that weren’t clear but might be useful for treating the injuries; And some that, though unfamiliar, wouldn’t be deadly. Mo Hua shoved them all into Gu Changhuai's mouth. The complex composition of these pills might, however inadvertently, aid Uncle Gu's injuries. At worst, the situation would be no worse than if he hadn’t taken any. After a little while, Mo Hua softly asked: “Uncle Gu, you’re not dead, are you...” Gu Changhuai spat out a mouthful of blood but was unsure if it was from anger or the medicine driving out congestion. Nonetheless, his breathing steadied somewhat. “Thanks to you, not dead yet...” Gu Changhuai remarked indifferently. Mo Hua finally felt at ease. He then grabbed Gu Changhuai's storage pouch, pulling out a message token, flipping through the records inside. It seemed to be a communication from within the Gu family. He sent a message: “Fire Buddha is dead!” “Qingcheng Mountain, Duantouyan, right side valley, come quickly!” After sending the message, Mo Hua glanced back at where Fire Buddha had been. The evil power of Fire Buddha had gone out of control, leading to self-destruction, powerful enough that not even “remains” were left. What a pity... Mo Hua furrowed his brows; he still had so many questions for Fire Buddha. Why massacre the Xie family? Was it purely for cultivating evil skills? After annihilating the Xie family, what exactly did it do? Who was the demonic palace built for? Who was this supreme leader being worshipped? ... With Fire Buddha’s death, these doubts were now temporarily unanswerable. But its demise was also fortunate, removing a scourge from the world. He'd slowly investigate the rest... Mo Hua looked once more at the "non-existent remains" of Fire Buddha and sighed. Killing this Fire Buddha was such a struggle. But at least it was over. Mo Hua then laid down some arrays, keeping a close watch on Uncle Gu’s vital signs, to prevent any “sudden death,” as he quietly awaited assistance. After a while, indeed, people arrived. Gu An and Gu Quan. Seeing Gu Changhuai’s dire, blood-soaked state, hanging by a thread, nearly frightened their souls into fleeing. "He’s alive!" Mo Hua called out. Only then did Gu An and Gu Quan relax with relief. Mo Hua instructed, “Summon some alchemists for immediate treatment. Once confirmed he’s alright, take Uncle Gu back to the Gu family for rest.” Gu An and Gu Quan cupped their hands respectfully, "Yes, young lord!" After the destruction of the demonic lair, Mo Hua, this young array master, had risen rapidly in their esteem, now only slightly below their master's standing. Gu An immediately sent a message for assistance through the communication token. "Young lord..." Gu Quan hesitated for a moment, surveying the area before looking back at Mo Hua, frowning: “What exactly happened here...?” How could the entire valley have changed so drastically? Why was the master so grievously injured? Is Fire Buddha truly dead? Gu An and Gu Quan both appeared puzzled. Mo Hua pondered briefly, then replied: “Fire Buddha tried to kill me. I fled into the mountains; Uncle Gu came to rescue me. He fought with all his might, killed Fire Buddha, but was severely injured in the process!” Gu An and Gu Quan nodded, half-believing, half-skeptical... “Remember!” Mo Hua sternly reminded, “It was Uncle Gu alone, exerting every ounce of his strength, who slew the wicked Fire Buddha!” “When others arrive, propagate this story widely!” Gu An and Gu Quan exchanged looks, a hint of bewilderment on their faces. Mo Hua reached out both small hands, trying to pat their shoulders. Although both Gu An and Gu Quan were tall, Mo Hua's arms were a bit short and couldn't quite reach them. Silently, Gu An and Gu Quan squatted down, offering their shoulders for Mo Hua to pat. Mo Hua successfully patted their shoulders, nodded, and then whispered, "You wouldn't want Uncle Gu's achievements being claimed by someone else..." The two of them stiffened and immediately grasped the situation. Fire Buddha was dead, Changhuai had been gravely injured, and aside from young Mo Hua, no one else knew what truly happened there. The two understood the prowess of young Mo Hua. But in the eyes of others, Mo Hua was just a child with little influence; anything he said might not be believed. In such circumstances, it would be easy for someone with ulterior motives to exaggerate and unjustly claim credit. Gu An and Gu Quan became resolute. That simply wouldn’t do. Fire Buddha was slain at such a great cost by their master. This merit must not be misappropriated! Thus, from the start, they needed to insist that it was Changhuai who single-handedly defeated Fire Buddha! Gu An and Gu Quan shared a look of gratitude with Mo Hua. Young Mo Hua was truly a good person! He genuinely cared for their young master! Gu Quan nodded, saying, "Don't worry, young Mo Hua, I'll spread the word right away..." Mo Hua nodded in satisfaction. Later, the alchemists from the Gu family arrived, assessed Gu Changhuai's injuries, and noted that the pills had been administered in a timely manner. His energy and blood were slowly recovering, and his meridians were healing well, so there was no serious concern. Given that Gu Changhuai was a Golden Core cultivator with a solid foundation, he simply needed some time to recuperate. Subsequently, Gu Changhuai was taken back to his family. Word of Gu Changhuai “single-handedly” defeating Fire Buddha also made its way back to the Dao Court, causing quite a stir. A Golden Core destroying a Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator wasn't major news. However, the fact that this demonic cultivator was at the peak of Foundation Establishment, notorious and unrestrained across the Second Class Domain, changed everything. Consequently, many cultivators, both openly and covertly, started to pay attention to Gu Changhuai. Some admired him, some were cautious, and others had hidden agendas… ... Back in his family, Gu Changhuai took some pills and awakened early. Upon hearing about his injury, Wen Renwan showed great concern and personally concocted some pills to heal him. Especially after learning that he had been injured protecting Mo Hua, her gaze turned approving. It was as if the younger brother she had nurtured had finally matured. A hundred-plus-year-old Gu Changhuai had mixed feelings. The Gu family was also in a bit of a commotion. However, realizing that Gu Changhuai was not seriously injured and that he had personally dealt with Fire Buddha, the family elders were quite impressed. Although his temper was a bit lacking, among his peers, Gu Changhuai indisputably had superior talent and methods. Gu Changhuai felt even more conflicted. By twilight, Mo Hua also came to bid farewell. He had to return to the Taixu Sect. His seven-day break was over, Fire Buddha was dead, he had acquired the Flame Art, and classes would resume the following day. But before leaving, he needed to align his “testimony” with Uncle Gu. Mo Hua, munching on fruit, softly said: “Uncle Gu, you were the one who killed Fire Buddha alone. Please don’t mention me…” Gu Changhuai frowned, “You don’t want the spotlight?” “Yeah.” Mo Hua nodded, “Fire Buddha was a demonic cultivator. He might have had subordinates or partners…” “I’m just a small Foundation Establishment cultivator. If they target me, it could be dangerous!” Gu Changhuai remained silent, somewhat speechless. Was it the demonic cultivators who were dangerous, or you... Yet, Mo Hua’s low cultivation was true; a Foundation Establishment novice indeed faced too much danger... Gu Changhuai nodded, “I understand.” Mo Hua grinned, his eyes narrowed with pleasure. With their “testimonies” aligned, everything was seamless. No one outside would know of Mo Hua’s involvement in Fire Buddha’s death. He would appear to be just an innocent, unremarkable sect disciple pursued by Fire Buddha. Gu Changhuai reflected for a moment, then quietly glanced at Mo Hua again. In the valley, the collision of two fireballs, the collapse of the formation, the fusion, the spiritual power turning into a terrifying small fireball piercing Fire Buddha’s chest — it all flashed back in his mind. Gu Changhuai couldn’t help but twitch his eyelid, speaking gravely: “Your... spell...” Mo Hua blinked, “What spell?” Gu Changhuai kept a straight face, “There’s no one else here.” Mo Hua awkwardly smiled, “It was nothing, just an 'ordinary' fireball spell…” Gu Changhuai’s voice was icy: “A Foundation Establishment beginner’s one fireball spell, piercing the chest of a peak Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator, truly ‘ordinary’...” Gu Changhuai emphasized the words “ordinary” heavily. Mo Hua blinked, “It was just a fluke… Fire Buddha had a fatal flaw in his chest, maybe my fireball spell just happened to pierce through...” “He was just unlucky…” Looking at Mo Hua’s face, as pure as a blank sheet of paper yet as sturdy as a city wall, Gu Changhuai felt helpless. Gu Changhuai sighed, “Reflect on it when you get back, come up with a more credible excuse.” Then he added, “You don’t need to tell me this excuse…” He meant that if Mo Hua were ever uncovered, as long as he could deceive others, it was good enough. Mo Hua’s eyes lit up, and he smiled: “Thank you, Uncle Gu!” Gu Changhuai resignedly shook his head. Initially, he only thought Mo Hua’s gift in formations was extraordinary, but he never expected that he harbored such a formidable spell. How could cultivators of the same level compete with him? The Taixu Sect indeed lucked out with this “little monster”... Key was, from the outside, you couldn’t tell at all; he looked just like a guileless, harmless little disciple. Gu Changhuai couldn’t help but shake his head again. Seeing Gu Changhuai looked a bit weary, Mo Hua said, “Uncle Gu, I won’t bother you anymore. Take care and recover well, I’m heading back to my sect.” “Mm.” Gu Changhuai nodded. Mo Hua grabbed one more spiritual fruit and turned to leave, but was soon called back by Gu Changhuai. “Mo Hua.” Mo Hua turned back, puzzled. He thought, surely Uncle Gu, a dignified Golden Core Administrator, wouldn’t be so stingy about a single spiritual fruit… Gu Changhuai’s expression was conflicted, his eyebrows proud yet carrying hesitation. After a lengthy pause, he reluctantly muttered: “Thank you…” Because of Mo Hua, he might not have truly managed to defeat Fire Buddha. Failing to bring Fire Buddha to justice would have surely led to future disasters. However, this "thank you" was barely audible, said with great difficulty. Mo Hua was momentarily stunned, then a bright, sunny smile broke across his face. “Mm!” ... Afterwards, Mo Hua returned to his sect. He first visited Mr. Xun, telling him that his formation tasks were complete and that the Dao Court, mainly the Gu family, were very grateful. Mr. Xun had no doubts, stroking his beard in satisfaction. Maintaining good relations with the Dao Court and Gu family would certainly provide beneficial connections in future endeavors. Subsequently, Mo Hua resumed regular classes. Fellow disciples like Cheng Mo, Situ Jian, and Zheng Fang curiously asked questions after class. They wanted to know how Mo Hua managed to take a seven-day break, who approved it, and what he did during that time. Mo Hua replied that he spent seven days drawing formations. That quickly dampened their curiosity. Only Zheng Fang remained interested, inquiring about formation-related topics. Mo Hua selectively shared some intriguing formation knowledge, managing to fool Zheng Fang. After that, everything returned to normal. Mo Hua enjoyed a calm, stable life within the sect. The demonic lair in Biping Mountain, the eerie demonic palace, the bronze labyrinth, the mysterious altar, and the vanishing demonic figure–Fire Buddha, gradually faded away. And soon, Mo Hua’s first year in the sect came to an end. Thank you to Feng Zhi Qiaokeli, Yeeeeea, Yi Qi Xiuxian, Dufengshi, Fa1c0n, and Buganduonantianhuezailan for their rewards~ I saw some friends saying they want a group. I’ll make one in the coming days when I have time~ Lastly, could you spare some base votes for the month? (.) (This chapter ends) It seems like you've provided a segment of a web page from a novel website, featuring an interface with options and features like reading settings, novel categories, rankings, and a search bar. 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