The Quest for Immortality

Mo Hua shook his head.

Being only at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, he didn’t have such capability...

Moreover, this was Qian State, not the Second Grade Big Black Mountain State Boundary where high-ranking cultivators were as common as clouds.

Without any power, background, or acquaintances, no one would cover for him.

He had no right to meddle in these affairs.

"Forget it, better ensure my own safety first..."

When near Qingzhou City, he would find a chance to slip away secretly.

The urgent matter at hand was to join a sect.

This was the priority, he couldn’t afford to waste time on other things.

But that calculative "Mr. Tu," he might need to keep an eye on him...

Mo Hua remembered the name "Mr. Tu," then continued practicing formations on the Taoist Stele.

The next day, after waking up, Mo Hua continued on the road with everyone.

After traveling for several days, Qingzhou City was less than a hundred miles away.

Mo Hua felt it was time to make his move; it was time for him to slip away.

The vast world was his to explore, but entering a sect was paramount.

He no longer had time to play with them.

However, when they arrived at a mountain forest to take a short rest, Boss Jiang suddenly pulled out an iron bracelet and handed it to Mo Hua, saying coldly:

"Put it on."

Mo Hua was stunned, "What is this?"

"Don’t ask, just put it on."

Boss Jiang’s tone was indifferent.

The other cultivators also looked towards Mo Hua, their smiles sinister.

Mo Hua said "fearfully," "I... I won’t put it on..."

A burly man sneered, "That’s not up to you..."

"Aren’t you... supposed to be taking me to find my master?"

Mo Hua stammered, while quietly releasing his Divine Sense, preparing to find a corner to escape unnoticed by utilizing the Water Passing Step and then conceal himself in the underbrush with the Concealment Technique.

The First Grade Concealment Technique had slightly poorer effects.

But he was small in stature, and with the help of the underbrush to blur the line of sight, it would be enough to shake off these people.

The slave traders were unaware of Mo Hua’s thoughts.

Boss Jiang smiled faintly, yet it seemed fake, as if he was grinning without really smiling:

"If you wear this bracelet, we will take you to find your master..."

"Really?"

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Mo Hua’s face showed naivety, but he had already secretly begun to channel his energy, with the heels of his feet slightly lifting off the ground.

Boss Jiang was about to say something when suddenly, a big man in the crowd scoffed:

"Find your master?"

"You naive fool!"

"Who would be so bored as to actually take you to find your master who’s whereabouts are unknown..."

The surroundings fell silent for a moment.

The expression on Mo Hua’s face gradually faded, and his eyes turned cold, with a trace of pitch-black shadow surfacing in their depths.

However, these changes were fleeting, gone in an instant, and went unnoticed by anyone.

Boss Jiang’s gaze was sharp like a sword as he suddenly looked towards the big man.

The big man closed his mouth in discontent.

Boss Jiang turned to Mo Hua, saying gently:

"Young brother, don’t mind their words..."

"We do intend to take you to your master."

"This bracelet is a Spiritual Artifact; it is both to protect you and to prevent you from getting lost, making it impossible for us to find you. You should wear it... it’s for your own good..."

Boss Jiang’s tone was gentle, but his gaze was cold and uncompromising.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "Okay!"

Mo Hua took the bracelet and wore it on his delicate wrist.

Boss Jiang felt relieved, looking at Mo Hua as one would look at a lamb.

"Let’s go..."

Boss Jiang took the lead, and with a sinister chuckle, the rest followed.

Mo Hua walked behind, silently observing them, as though he were looking at a bunch of dead men.

...

Afterward, Mo Hua behaved perfectly well along the way.

Boss Jiang found it odd, but considering that the iron bracelet was put on, he figured this small cultivator couldn’t cause any trouble and didn’t pay much attention to it.

After traveling another hundred miles or so, they arrived at an eatery as dusk fell.

This place was only a few dozen miles from Qingzhou City.

The eatery, with its thatched roof and wooden eaves, was quite spacious, yet there were no diners.

The eatery had a chubby proprietor and a thin waiter, who, upon seeing Boss Jiang and his group, focused their gaze and asked with a smile:

"Gentlemen, what would you like to eat?"

Boss Jiang spoke in a deep voice, "Nothing."

The proprietor asked, "Then how about lodging?"

Boss Jiang replied, "Can people even stay here?"

The proprietor breathed a sigh of relief, smiled, and said:

"Important people can’t, but minor ones can."

Boss Jiang nodded, "Then we won’t stay, just serve some wine and meat."

The proprietor responded, "Alright!"

The exchange between the two was somewhat strange.

Mo Hua thought for a moment and realized these people were part of the same group.

The proprietor was also a human trafficker, disguised and lying in wait here to liaise with cultivators like Boss Jiang, selling small cultivators like himself.

The group took their seats at the eatery.

The proprietor served them wine and dishes, and then, toasting to Boss Jiang, asked in a low voice:

"Did you succeed?"

Boss Jiang nodded.

The proprietor glanced at Mo Hua, frowning, "Is that him? He doesn’t seem to be the right age..."

Boss Jiang shook his head, "No, that’s just an extra catch we found along the way. The important ’merchandise’ wouldn’t possibly be brought here with us..."

"...rest assured, everything is in order..."

The proprietor then felt relieved, "That’s good..."

Boss Jiang then asked, "When will the people arrive?"

"In two hours..."

"And the people from the Gu Family?"

"They’ve left the city..."

"The Taoist Court Officials..."

"Someone’s keeping an eye out; within a ten to twenty miles radius, there are none of those dogs..."

Boss Jiang sighed in relief and nodded, "Good!"

The others also relaxed considerably.

After a journey of eating in the wind and sleeping outdoors, always fearful and anxious, this business deal was finally about to be concluded. They would earn plenty of Spirit Stones and live a good life for a few years, or maybe even more than a decade.