Immortality Through Array Formations (The Quest for Immortality)

Chapter 683: Blood Mist

The undercurrents within the Ganxue Prefecture were flowing faster and darker.

And Mo Hua—the "man behind the scenes"—was still blissfully unaware.

Right now, he was "hungry," and all he wanted was to fish up some divine remains to "fill his belly."

A few days later, the fish finally bit.

Mo Hua had just finished class and was eating in the disciples' quarters when he received a transmission from Gu Changhuai:

"Guo Jianglong is dead."

Mo Hua asked, "Dead or 'dead'?"

"Fake dead."

"Caught the mole?"

Gu Changhuai fell silent for a moment, then said apologetically,

"No..."

He then explained the situation:

"I had limited time and couldn't watch him every moment, so I sent someone from the Gu Clan disguised as a prisoner to sneak into Dao Prison, to keep an eye on Guo Jianglong in the next cell."

"At first everything was calm—nothing unusual."

"But last night, around midnight, the watcher suddenly felt icy cold all over. It was like something slipped into Dao Prison. At the same time, he got dizzy and groggy. When he woke up, Guo Jianglong was already dead, and his corpse had begun to rot…"

Mo Hua's eyes narrowed. "Rotting?"

"Mm." Gu Changhuai replied. "His body developed festering sores, foul and putrid. No one dared approach the corpse in Dao Prison."

Mo Hua asked, "Still identifiable?"

"Same as usual," Gu Changhuai said. "His flesh was corroded by demonic energy, face disfigured, meridians ruined, and all spiritual power tainted. But this time, the demonic energy was weak, and most of the body remained intact..."

He sighed.

"You can tell the corpse's height and build match Guo Jianglong's. He also had a water-type spiritual root and even still reeked of fish."

Mo Hua nodded.

Clearly, this was a "sacrificial substitute." Demonic energy was used to erase all mismatched traits, leaving behind only those similar to Guo Jianglong—height, build, spiritual root, etc.

Quite a bit of effort had gone into this.

But who the substitute actually was, and where they'd found him—remained a mystery.

Gu Changhuai continued:

"Sudden illness, covered in demonic boils, died in prison, basic traits matched—the Dao Court officially closed the case and sealed Guo Jianglong's file."

Mo Hua slightly nodded.

Everything matched exactly what he'd heard from Young Master Jin.

"And then?" Mo Hua asked.

"No 'then,'" Gu Changhuai replied.

Mo Hua clearly didn't believe him. He said with certainty:

"Uncle Gu, you definitely held back something. You've got another plan going."

Mo Hua knew Gu Changhuai well.

Though hopeless with divine sense and formations, when it came to criminal investigation—especially against demonic cultivators—he was an old hand. No way he'd let Guo Jianglong escape so easily.

Exposed, Gu Changhuai fell silent.

"Even if I told you, it wouldn't matter."

"If you don't tell me, you'll never catch Guo Jianglong."

Mo Hua spoke with full confidence.

Gu Changhuai froze, his gaze complex. Then he let out a deep sigh.

This kid… like some little fortune-teller, always spot-on. Nothing could be hidden from him.

Since it was like that, Gu Changhuai no longer concealed the truth.

"Outside the Dao Court, I secretly stationed someone as well. At midnight the next day, a Dao Court executor delivered several corpses of executed criminals to be incinerated—Guo Jianglong was among them."

Mo Hua asked, "That executor was in on it?"

"No. He didn't know," Gu Changhuai replied.

"And then… Guo Jianglong was cremated?"

Gu Changhuai shook his head.

"He was swapped out halfway."

"A funeral procession passed by the corpse cart. While the executor was distracted, someone switched two identical coffins."

"Afterward, the executor delivered his batch to the incinerator, while the funeral team buried the one with Guo Jianglong…"

"Once buried, I secretly had someone dig it up. Inside—completely empty. Guo Jianglong was gone."

Mo Hua was a bit surprised.

This "swap-the-pillar" trick was quite skillful.

He mentally noted it—maybe he'd use it someday too.

"Where was the coffin buried?" Mo Hua asked.

"By the banks of the Yanshui River."

Mo Hua paused. "So Guo Jianglong returned to Yanshui River?"

"Seems like it…"

"Still trackable?" Mo Hua asked.

Gu Changhuai sighed.

"A water-type cultivator slipping into a river is like a fish released into the sea or a bird let loose in a forest—deep woods, wide waters—no more trace."

"And he's surely changed his appearance. No one will recognize him."

"Water-type cultivators in the Yanshui River… not too many, but not few either. I could investigate one by one, but that would definitely alert him. No chance to fish out the bigger catch later…"

"Oh…" Mo Hua nodded.

He didn't drag it out and cheerfully said:

"Uncle Gu, I'll go find him for you!"

Gu Changhuai narrowed his eyes, sensing something fishy.

"You're not about to make conditions, are you?"

Mo Hua feigned heartbreak:

"Uncle Gu, do I seem like that kind of person? Upholding justice is the righteous path's duty! As a proud disciple of the Great Void Sect…"

"Skip it if you're not saying it."

"Okay okay!" Mo Hua instantly folded and dumped his pre-prepared conditions:

"Just three little things—really minor:

If you hear anything about human traffickers, share it with me.

If I need backup, lend me a hand.

And lastly… next time, can I finish the mission first, then you issue the bounty afterward? That way Dao Court can process it quicker and I don't get stuck waiting on merits..."

He still hadn't gotten the merit from the Fire Buddha job!

The Dao Court bureaucracy was bloated, and Mo Hua held a deep grudge over it.

Gu Changhuai took a deep breath.

Three small conditions?

Which part of this was small?

The kid wasn't big, but his demands sure were.

"No."

"Come on~ I didn't say you couldn't negotiate!"

Gu Changhuai rubbed his temples.

So this brat was here to bargain like a street vendor—with him, the dignified Dao Court adjudicator.

"You get one. Take it or leave it."

"Two?" Mo Hua tested.

"Just one. Final offer."

"Fine, one it is…"

Mo Hua reluctantly agreed.

Gu Changhuai said:

"The human trafficker matter is top secret—I can't share it. As for the bounty system, that's bound to Dao Court's internal structure, so also no."

"But if you're ever in danger or need help, that much—I can promise."

Protecting Mo Hua's safety was also something his cousin had asked of him, so in a way, it was for Yu'er's sake too.

Gu Changhuai comforted himself with that logic.

He then added:

"Next ten-day break, come to the Gu Clan. I'll give you a Gu Clan secret token. With it, you can summon Gu Clan cultivators stationed in nearby second-tier immortal cities under the Dao Court."

Mo Hua was stunned.

Gu Clan Secret Token?

It could command Gu Clan cultivators stationed in second-tier Dao Court outposts?

Mo Hua felt a little embarrassed. "Isn't… isn't this a bit too valuable?"

"If you don't want it, forget it."

"I want it!" Mo Hua immediately replied.

Only a fool says no to free benefits.

Besides, he needed manpower to chase the tail of that evil god.

While Cheng Mo and the others were helpful, there were only four or five of them—far from enough.

Plus, their cultivation was honestly too low. They still needed training before they could be relied on in real action.

Gu Changhuai gave another warning:

"In my hands, this Gu Clan secret token is a command talisman. But in your hands, it's only for saving your life or calling for help. Don't misuse it. Don't even think about using it to order Gu Clan disciples around or force them into anything inappropriate. They won't agree."

"And if I find out you're abusing it—I'll confiscate it on the spot!"

He looked deadly serious.

"Mm! Don't worry!" Mo Hua promised, straight-faced. "I'd never cross the line!"

Only after receiving Mo Hua's guarantee did Gu Changhuai finally relax.

"I'll share the remaining clues about Guo Jianglong with you. If you can find him, great. If not, don't force it."

"Alright!" Mo Hua nodded.

Gu Changhuai then shared the location where Guo Jianglong's body had been buried (and later vanished), along with other clues the Dao Court found during their investigation along the Yanshui River.

When the ten-day break arrived, Mo Hua wasted no time rushing to the Gu Clan.

Seeing the determined light in Mo Hua's eyes, Gu Changhuai felt a twinge of regret… but since he'd already promised, he couldn't go back on his word. Gritting his teeth, he handed over a jade-green token carved with the character "Gu."

"For emergency use only. Rescue and support. No fooling around!"

He emphasized again.

"Mm!" Mo Hua solemnly nodded, as if swearing an oath.

Only then did Gu Changhuai hand over the token.

Mo Hua took the Gu Clan Secret Token, finding it cool and heavy to the touch, slick and jade-smooth—obviously a precious item.

Uncle Gu is such a great person! Mo Hua thought sincerely.

At first, he put the token into his storage pouch… but that felt too disrespectful. So he moved it into his storage ring instead.

With the Gu Clan's secret token in hand, Mo Hua now had a proper "backer" in the nearby second-tier prefectures. It would make his work easier—and give him far more confidence.

He felt like he stood a little straighter.

But having received such a gift, he couldn't afford to slack off.

He had to help Uncle Gu—or rather, help himself—track down the "fake-dead" Guo Jianglong.

He couldn't let down Uncle Gu's trust.

Especially not the honor of this precious Gu Clan Secret Token.

Mo Hua's expression turned solemn as he nodded firmly.

After bidding farewell to Gu Changhuai, he also went to see Aunt Wan and shared a meal with Yu'er. Then he set off toward the lower reaches of the Yanshui River.

This mission—he'd go alone.

Since this was a covert surveillance operation, and there was no official merit to earn yet, he hadn't brought Cheng Mo and the others along.

Upon arriving at the Yanshui River, Mo Hua found the grave where Guo Jianglong had faked his death and been buried.

There was no gravestone—just a mound of dirt. Around it were some token Feng Shui formation patterns, meant to "guard" the tomb.

Being close to the riverbank, the soil was half-wet.

Mo Hua didn't even need to dig. A sweep of his divine sense confirmed that the coffin was empty.

But inside the coffin, some lingering aura remained—faint but familiar. Mo Hua could tell at a glance—it was Guo Jianglong's.

His eyes grew deep and focused, and a trace of Heavenly Mechanism surfaced.

Fine threads of cause and effect extended from the coffin and floated toward the river—only to vanish without a trace in the vast flow.

Mo Hua recalled the other clues Uncle Gu had mentioned, then concealed himself and began methodically tracking along the Yanshui River.

There were traces of Guo Jianglong in the river, as well as pale, white threads of karmic energy—but they were all quite faint now.

Even so, faint threads meant that Guo Jianglong was still nearby.

He was a water-element cultivator, born of water, thriving in it. This river was like his second life. The paths beneath the water were his true escape routes. There was no way he'd stray far.

And besides—the most dangerous place was often the safest.

Mo Hua calmed his heart and found the spot where the karmic lines were thickest. He concealed himself and sat down, ready to wait like a hunter beside a rabbit hole.

Meanwhile, he took out the manuals he'd acquired from Guo Jianglong and quietly flipped through them.

The first was the White Wave Technique.

Mo Hua couldn't and wouldn't cultivate it—but the internal circulation paths, meridian keypoints, flaws, and weak spots? Those were worth studying in detail.

Know your enemy and yourself, and you'll never be defeated.

Understanding Guo Jianglong's cultivation method was the key to countering him.

The second was the White Wave Movement Technique.

Unlike Mo Hua's own Shifting Water Steps, which focused on dodging and escape, this technique was a full-fledged water-type movement art.

It emphasized unity with water—allowing the user to glide and swim through rivers like a fish, freely and without constraint.

Mo Hua thought this could be handy someday, so he decided to learn it.

Time was limited—no need to master it. Just knowing the basics was enough to be useful.

Then there was a water-based monster-avoidance spell: Beast-Repelling Aqua Technique. It helped cultivators evade aquatic monsters, venomous flora, whirlpools, and other hidden dangers in the water.

In a way, it resembled a waterborne monster hunter's toolkit.

Except this "monster hunter" wasn't from the mountains—he worked underwater.

Naturally, monster-hunting techniques were something Mo Hua found inherently interesting.

So of course—he had to learn this one too.

The cultivation world was vast. There was no end to learning.

And so, Mo Hua continued flipping through these water-based techniques and spells, all while keeping part of his attention on the movements in the river.

The more he studied, the more familiar he became with the Yanshui River's rhythms…

The more Mo Hua observed, the more intimately he came to understand the Yanshui River.

It was just like when he first entered Great Black Mountain—strange at first, then familiar, until he came to know every blade of grass and leaf like the back of his hand.

Now, the same was happening with the Yanshui River.

To Mo Hua's eyes, it was becoming clearer and clearer.

The river's flow, the drifting water plants, the darting spiritual fish, and even the lurking water beasts hiding in the murky mud, lying in wait like hidden threats...

Before he knew it, Mo Hua felt a subtle connection forming between himself and the river.

That stretch of water almost seemed to be resonating with his divine sense—bit by bit, faintly, like a ripple across space.

The Yanshui River, once dangerous and unknown, was starting to feel almost... familiar.

As if it were his own backyard pond.

It was a strange and mystical sensation.

Just then, Mo Hua's divine sense stirred.

Within the familiar river, a very familiar aura approached from the distance—

Guo Jianglong!

Mo Hua didn't even need to look. He sensed it immediately.

The vast Yanshui River shimmered in the light.

Guo Jianglong was submerged beneath its surface, drifting with the current, swimming freely like a giant fish.

Mo Hua couldn't help but feel a strange illusion—

It was as if a fish he had once released was now leisurely swimming right back into his own "pond"...

His eyes lit up slightly.

In the river, Guo Jianglong continued to drift along with the current.

Mo Hua, still hidden from sight, walked silently along the riverbank, tracking his every move.

He followed like this for a long time. Guo Jianglong remained in the river, flowing with the current—never once stepping ashore.

Mo Hua followed patiently.

Who knows how long had passed, when finally, under the cover of night, the surface of the water dim and still, Guo Jianglong turned and swam toward the shore.

Nearing the bank, he lingered at the water's edge for a moment, making sure no one was around.

Only then did he finally leap ashore with confidence.

Under the faint moonlight, Mo Hua could clearly see his appearance.

Previously, Guo Jianglong had a smooth, pale face and a snow-white body, like a sleek white fish.

Now, however, he had taken on the appearance of a rugged man—dark-skinned and rough-featured, with a long, bristly beard. He was still bare-chested, but thick body hair covered his skin, and his muscles were dense and dark—like a hulking black fish.

On the surface, he looked nothing like his previous self.

But Mo Hua simply snorted internally:

"Heh. Think a little disguise will fool me?"

A man's face can change, but his spiritual essence cannot.

Such superficial flesh alterations couldn't possibly deceive Mo Hua's divine sense.

"But still, the big fish finally took the bait…"

He smiled inwardly.

After stepping ashore, Guo Jianglong cautiously looked around.

Then he pulled several dead fish from his storage pouch and tossed them into a basket.

Carrying the basket on his back, he started walking inland.

Mo Hua silently followed him like a shadow.

As they moved farther inland, the moonlight gradually brightened, casting a silver glow on the narrow dirt path.

The rough-looking Guo Jianglong walked straight ahead, completely unaware that from the moment he left the river, a hidden "little cultivator ghost" had been tailing him the entire way.

After a while, the road widened, and a small fishing village came into view.

The village was old and shabby, with worn-out fishing nets and baskets scattered all around.

A faint fishy smell lingered in the air.

It was now late at night. The quiet village had only a few dim, flickering lanterns glowing in the darkness.

Mo Hua paused, calculating his position—

And suddenly realized: this was the same fishing village those river cultivators had mentioned earlier, the ones who'd invited him to dinner.

Guo Jianglong walked straight into the village.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then followed.

The village was poor—quiet, but peaceful.

Guo Jianglong continued ahead, and Mo Hua trailed closely behind.

They walked for a while longer, until Guo Jianglong turned into a narrow, secluded little hut—and then vanished.

Mo Hua frowned, spreading his divine sense across the area—but found nothing.

"Where did he go?"

Perplexed, Mo Hua prepared to use Heavenly Pattern Deduction to trace the karmic threads.

His pupils deepened, heavenly runes flickering in his eyes as he scanned the surroundings—

And in that instant, a cold and sinister aura suddenly surged forth.

The quiet little village, dimly lit and peaceful only moments ago, was now abruptly shrouded in a faint, blood-red mist…

(End of this Chapter)