Immortality Through Array Formations (The Quest for Immortality)

Chapter 1124: Toy

Within the Heaven's-Mystery Mist.

Mister Wu held a wolf demon skull in his hands, examining the cracks across it to determine the direction of the mist.

He wanted to pierce through the fog and see what exactly was hidden within.

These past days, he had racked his brains day and night, haunted by nothing but this pitch-black chaos, where not even a hand could be seen before the eyes.

All things arise from a beginning.

The workings of fate always leave traces. Cause and effect too must leave behind some mark.

This mist couldn't have appeared without reason.

If his deduction was correct, then this mist was a kind of "seal"—one that locked away unspeakable secrets, perhaps even a heaven-defying opportunity.

At that thought, Mister Wu's heart blazed with heat.

He had, of course, suspected that this "mist" could be a trap—something meant to destroy him.

After all, wasn't it too much of a coincidence? The sect master's nephew from the Cangwolf Sect had died, and as soon as he set out to deduce the killer, he coincidentally ended up here, facing this mist.

But he had thought it over thoroughly—and he didn't think it added up.

If it was really a trap, then the moment he entered the mist, he would already be dead. A being capable of laying down a Heaven's-Mystery Mist could kill him with causal arts as easily as crushing an ant.

But he wasn't dead—he was very much alive.

This meant that the one who laid this Heaven's-Mystery Mist… was either long gone.

Or, he merely sealed away the secret with the mist, and did not intend to use it…

To kill.

That meant the mist was safe—for him to explore at will.

As long as he found a way to pierce through it, he could uncover the truth hidden inside—perhaps even discover the legacy or opportunity left behind by a Heaven's-Mystery cultivator.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

As for the "owner" of this mist…

Mister Wu reviewed all the cause and effect surrounding this event, and formed his own theory:

The master of this mist was, in all likelihood, an ignorant "lucky fool."

Carrying a mountain of treasure without even knowing it; bearing the inheritance of a supreme Heaven's-Mystery path but clueless how to use it; blessed with immense fortune yet blind to it all.

That person had, for some unknown reason, killed the sect master's nephew—and Mister Wu just happened to trace the cause back to him, thereby discovering the mist tied to his fate, and the massive opportunity he carried.

It was that boy's misfortune— And Mister Wu's great fortune.

If he could break the mist and uncover this boy's secrets, he could steal his fate, seize his opportunity.

There were few cultivators of the Heaven's-Mystery path in this world.

And the inheritance of the Heaven's-Mystery was beyond measure.

This was Heaven's reward for his diligent study of the art of karma—a gift of fate not to be missed.

Mister Wu's gaze firmed with conviction.

But this Heaven's-Mystery Mist—its depth and density— was something he had never encountered in his entire life.

Even when the wolf skull in his hands was completely covered in cracks and finally shattered into dust…

He still had not found a way to break through the mist.

"Seeking great fortune cannot be rushed…"

Mister Wu silently reaffirmed.

He cut off the evil technique and withdrew from the mist. Throughout the entire process, he hadn't felt a single trace of anything abnormal.

Until— His divine sense withdrew from the mist, returning to his sea of consciousness and merging with his physical body…

Suddenly, an inexplicable chill bloomed from the depths of his heart.

It was followed by an overwhelming sense of depression, regret, and decay.

Mister Wu suddenly found himself wondering—why was he even alive? What was the point?

His life felt utterly directionless, just like the Heaven's-Mystery Mist he had just glimpsed—shrouded in darkness, with no path forward.

Nothing had meaning.

Nothing held value.

"Maybe... it'd be better to die? Death… would be release..."

The thought arose—and like wildfire—it began to spread uncontrollably in Mister Wu's heart, blazing stronger and stronger.

His pupils began to lose focus.

Trembling, he pulled out a dagger and slashed toward his own throat.

The dagger was laced with poison. Mister Wu struck it several times, slitting the skin of his neck—blood began to pour.

Poison seeped into his veins. Icy pain surged through him.

In that dazed, confused state, Mister Wu suddenly woke up with a jolt—realizing the dagger in his hand, the blood on the blade, the poison in the blood, the pain in his neck—and felt a wave of panic.

"What… am I doing?!"

But the poison had already taken effect—numbing him further.

Frantically, he scrambled, rummaging through his storage pouch until he found a bottle of pills. With trembling hands, he stuffed one into his mouth, then immediately sat down to meditate, expelling the poison and healing his wounds.

After a long while, the toxin faded. The cuts on his neck began to heal.

Only then did Mister Wu finally calm down, still shaken to the core.

"What on earth… just happened?"

"Was I… afflicted?"

"Is there something hidden in that mist I didn't detect? Is someone trying to kill me?"

Frowning, Mister Wu retraced every step he had taken while entering the mist. But after thinking it through, he still felt something didn't add up.

There had been no form, no substance—yet something led him toward suicide.

Such a strange karmic method… he had never seen, nor even heard of. There wasn't even a visible karmic medium—no warning, no sign.

If a Heaven's-Mystery master capable of such a terrifying technique truly wanted him dead, it would have been effortless.

But he wasn't dead—which meant it likely wasn't a "high expert" trying to kill him.

There must be… another explanation.

"But what was it?"

"Why would I suddenly develop the will to die? Why would I, in a daze, try to slit my own throat?"

Mister Wu wracked his brains, but he couldn't make sense of it.

This level of karmic technique was simply beyond his understanding.

In the end, he could only attribute it all… to the strange powers of the Heaven's-Mystery Mist.

A mist laid down by a high-level expert must possess mysterious and profound powers.

Such a vast and unfathomable Heaven's-Mystery Mist could cause those who peer into karma to become lost—lost, they would fall into decay; in decay, they would lose hope; in hopelessness, they would develop the will to die.

And with the will to die, they would end themselves.

It was a bloodless form of killing.

At that thought, Mister Wu felt a surge of fear and the urge to retreat—yet his greed for the "opportunity" still lingered deeply in his heart.

"If it's truly a great opportunity, how could it come without danger?"

"But I must… find a way to keep myself from killing myself while I'm confused…"

He made up his mind, his eyes gleaming with greed.

…

In a luxurious guest room— Mo Hua rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought.

"Looks like… still didn't die."

"Guess I'm still rusty after all…"

Using Slaughter Qi to fuse with sinister thoughts and plant a demonic seed through karma—this was a sinister Dao technique he had only recently begun researching. So far, he had only used it once. His control was naturally lacking, and expecting to achieve a "counter-kill" in a single attempt was unrealistic.

"But… it's good that he didn't die just yet."

Mo Hua contemplated silently. "If he really had died, it would've stirred things up too early and alerted others unnecessarily."

"Besides, this guy is a rare toy—perfect for experimenting with karmic demonic seeding and sinister Dao countermeasures."

"After all, once I've seeded his Dao heart with a demon, whether he lives or dies is just a matter of a single thought."

At that thought, Mo Hua suddenly froze. He couldn't help but think:

"Why do I feel… like I'm becoming a terrible person?"

Why would he start thinking of using someone as a toy?

Mo Hua frowned, reflected briefly, and then firmly reassured himself:

"It must be the Slaughter Qi. It's clouding my judgment. I wasn't this evil before…"

He nodded in agreement with himself.

Since it was the Slaughter Qi affecting his mind, there wasn't much he could do about it.

Mo Hua let out a small sigh of relief, then returned to considering the matter of the Cangwolf Sect.

There were still many secrets within the sect, but Mo Hua calculated with his fingers and realized he had already lingered at the sect for quite some time.

If he continued investigating bit by bit using such "gentle" methods, who knew how much longer it would take?

He was in a rush to form his Core. Time was precious.

And the situation in the Great Wilderness— he had no idea what it had become.

"I need to wrap this up quickly…"

"Should I just slaughter the entire Cangwolf Sect?"

The thought flashed through his mind for a moment. Mo Hua quickly shook his head, suppressing the killing intent rising within him.

"It's the Slaughter Qi again. It's messing with my head," he told himself comfortingly.

Once he calmed down a bit, Mo Hua resumed thinking:

"I definitely can't kill everyone in the Cangwolf Sect…"

"Sure, most of the sect's cultivators have probably committed countless evils—but I can't rule out that some still have good intentions."

"One wrong kill… and the consequences would be severe."

"Besides, the Cangwolf Sect is still a third-grade sect. If I wiped them out, the Dao Court would surely investigate. That would be a huge mess."

"And more importantly, the sect itself has a decent foundation. It's not completely useless…"

"It's best if I can use a borrowed blade to kill…"

"So… who should I borrow to kill whom?"

Mo Hua's gaze narrowed slightly. His eyes turned deep—dangerous.

…

In the days that followed, everything remained calm on the surface.

Elder Ji kept sending women to Mo Hua—every night, different ones knocked on his door.

Mo Hua ignored them completely.

His thoughts were all focused on playing with his "toy."

Originally, he thought the one who tried to peer into his karma—after having sinister thoughts implanted and nearly committing suicide—would become fearful. But instead, it had only stirred up the man's greed even more, making him more determined and fearless.

And somehow, that man—though demon-seeded—still managed to resist death.

Mo Hua admired his courage, and even respected his capability.

Which only meant one thing—the "toy" could last even longer.

He could use him as a medium to continue experimenting and refining his techniques of sinister-thought fusion and karmic demon-seeding.

Aside from that, Mo Hua continued drawing formations for the Cangwolf Sect and became increasingly involved in their internal affairs.

He was even brought into their core plans due to his outstanding performance.

At the outer walls of Cangwolf City— The sect master pointed ahead at the vast open space under major construction, with formation foundations being laid. He said to Mo Hua:

"Master Mo, this… is the future of my Cangwolf Sect."

"This will be a massive weapon forging complex. We're pouring the entire city's strength into it, working day and night. Within three years, it'll be complete—and in five, fully operational. We'll be able to mass-produce spirit weapons and push the sect to a new level."

The sect master, while painting a glorious picture for Mo Hua, added:

"And this will also be the future of Tongxian City."

Mo Hua looked surprised. "Tongxian City?"

The sect master nodded. "While building the forging complex, I'll also begin expanding the state road in the direction of Great Black Mountain."

The so-called state road referred to a major road connecting two prefectures—broad enough for horses and carts to travel.

If a region wanted development and prosperity, a network of open state roads was essential.

Both the weapon complex and road expansion were enormous undertakings.

Mo Hua couldn't help glancing at the sect master and nodding slightly. This sect master… truly is ambitious.

The Cangwolf Sect master said sincerely:

"Master Mo, your cultivation and formations are excellent. I hope you'll lend me a hand."

Mo Hua was tempted but also seemed hesitant.

The sect master stared at him, speaking generously:

"Once the weapon complex is complete, our sect will rise to glory. And with the road expansion, your hometown—Tongxian City—will also reap the benefits."

"From then on, my sect and your city will support each other, prosper together. Isn't that a great thing?"

"This…"

Mo Hua paused to consider, then nodded firmly. "Alright."

The sect master was overjoyed. "Thank you, Master Mo. Your sense of righteousness is admirable."

Mo Hua responded humbly, "It's what I should do."

The sect master looked at him, full of delight, though a glimmer of ambition briefly flashed in his eyes…

…

And so, Mo Hua continued "working" for the Cangwolf Sect.

Their vision was truly grand and The Cangwolf Sect's plans were indeed grand.

But Mo Hua had handled even greater formation plans before, so helping with this didn't take much effort.

Moreover, because he was now involved in the Cangwolf Sect's core formation construction, Mo Hua came into contact with more of the sect's elders.

Among them, the most unusual was Elder Zhao.

Mo Hua had inquired about Elder Zhao's background from Elder Ji.

According to Elder Ji, Elder Zhao was at the peak of Foundation Establishment, just a step away from the Core Formation stage.

He was second only to the sect master in terms of cultivation level within the Cangwolf Sect.

In addition, Elder Zhao was a second-grade formation master and the most skilled in formations among the elders of the Cangwolf Sect.

Much of the previous formation planning had been led by Elder Zhao.

While other formation masters in the sect were displeased and resistant to Mo Hua interfering in the weapon workshop's formation construction, Elder Zhao was exceptionally cordial toward him.

It was clear that he recognized Mo Hua's talent in formations.

Since Elder Zhao treated Mo Hua with kindness, Mo Hua naturally responded with courtesy.

The two had shared tea several times and chatted occasionally. As fellow formation masters in the same craft, their relationship developed positively.

One day, as usual, Mo Hua and Elder Zhao were patrolling the construction site of the weapon workshop in Cangwolf City, checking for issues in the formation work and monitoring progress.

The foundation of the workshop was essentially complete.

The formation framework was also being implemented as planned.

Mo Hua was diligently inspecting the formation, but as he examined it, his expression suddenly changed. He glanced at Elder Zhao beside him, hesitated to speak, then fell silent with flickering eyes.

This subtle change in expression naturally didn't escape Elder Zhao's notice, but he acted as if nothing had happened.

Throughout the rest of the inspection, Mo Hua remained silent.

It wasn't until they finished and were about to leave the workshop that Mo Hua finally let out a quiet breath, his steps quickening slightly, as if eager to get away from this troublesome place.

But then—he was suddenly stopped.

"Master Mo…"

Mo Hua turned his head and saw that the always refined and friendly Elder Zhao now wore a cold expression.

"You noticed it, didn't you?"

Mo Hua was startled. "Noticed what?"

"You noticed…" Elder Zhao's eyes narrowed slightly. "What kind of formation I've laid down?"

Mo Hua looked confused, seemingly puzzled. "Didn't you show me the formation diagram yourself? Of course I know what kind of formation it is…"

Elder Zhao stared at Mo Hua's innocent face for a long moment, then let out a laugh and shook his head with a sigh.

"Master Mo, not only are you brilliant and skilled in formations… but you're also a master of playing dumb."

"If I didn't know you well enough, I might have been fooled by your cunning."

Mo Hua cursed silently in his heart:

What do you mean, 'know me well'?

And how am I cunning…?

Elder Zhao gave a nod.

Several Cangwolf Sect elders and disciples, armed with swords and blades, surrounded Mo Hua.

Mo Hua's expression grew tense. He asked, "Elder Zhao… what is the meaning of this?"

Elder Zhao said, "Let's not speak in riddles, Master Mo. I'm sure you already understand why I'm doing this."

Seeing the situation, Mo Hua stopped pretending and said calmly, "You've set up a trap and a killing formation in this workshop… Who are you planning to kill?"

Elder Zhao didn't answer, but the implication was clear.

In the entire Cangwolf Sect, who else was worth such elaborate scheming?

Mo Hua's gaze sharpened slightly. "So now… you want to kill me to silence me?"

Elder Zhao sighed softly. "Master Mo, I didn't want to hurt you… I altered the formation, shifted the core, and even set up numerous illusions to hide it, all just to avoid being noticed by you… but in the end, you still saw through it with a single glance…"

"Blame it on your incredible talent in formations… You've made things difficult for me."

Mo Hua's face turned serious. "Don't forget my identity—I am a disciple of Qianxue, a fifth-grade major sect."

Elder Zhao shook his head. "The Cangwolf Sect is on the brink of disaster. Your Qianxue Sect is far away. Given the urgency of the situation, I can't afford to worry about that now."

A flash of panic flickered in Mo Hua's eyes, but he still tried to remain composed.

"You wouldn't dare kill me! If I die, the sect master will know!"

Before Elder Zhao could respond, another elder among the crowd spoke coldly:

"Brother Zhao, why waste words with this kid? Kill him, and we'll deal with whatever comes next. If he leaks this, we're all finished."

The others agreed:

"That's right, Elder. Kill him first!"

Their swords and blades pointed straight at Mo Hua's chest.

Mo Hua's face turned pale.

Seeing this, Elder Zhao sighed and said:

"Master Mo, I truly envy your talent, and I admire your ability… I really don't want to kill you."

Mo Hua frowned. "Then what are you trying to say?"

Elder Zhao said, "As long as you promise not to tell anyone what happened today… I'll let you go. I won't kill you."

Mo Hua's face darkened. "You want me… to betray the sect master?"

Elder Zhao said quietly, "You're not even a disciple of the Cangwolf Sect. What betrayal are you talking about?"

Mo Hua looked solemn. "The sect master has shown me immense kindness—even willing to build a state road to Tongxian City for my sake. With such gratitude, how could I possibly betray him?"

Elder Zhao sneered coldly, looking at Mo Hua as if he were too naive. "You really believe the sect master values you? That he truly wishes to prosper together with Tongxian City?"

Mo Hua's expression changed slightly. "What do you mean?"

Elder Zhao's gaze turned frosty. "From beginning to end, the sect master has been using you—using your inheritance, your talent, your reputation."

"Under his leadership, the Cangwolf Sect has been violently exploiting others, indulging in extravagance. The surrounding immortal cities have all become blood-drained puppets."

"As for the road to Great Black Mountain—it's not for 'mutual prosperity.' It's to swallow Tongxian City whole and use it as nourishment to strengthen the Cangwolf Sect."

"If you truly help him, you're aiding a tyrant. You're handing over Tongxian City to a vicious wolf."

"From that moment on, all the cultivators of Tongxian City will suffer in unbearable misery."

"And you—once hailed as a genius of formation arts—will become a sinner in the eyes of all Tongxian City, cursed by the masses…"

Every word Elder Zhao spoke struck straight at the heart.

Mo Hua's face turned deathly pale—like an innocent youth seeing the darkness of human nature for the first time. His entire worldview shattered.

"The sect master… was using me…? He never truly cared about me…?"

Mo Hua's voice trembled in disbelief.

(End of this Chapter)