Immortality Through Array Formations (The Quest for Immortality)

Chapter 1126: Breaking the Vow of Abstinence

Mr. Wu tore out his own heart and died.

The wolf-head xun lost its melody, and the surrounding "werewolves," no longer under Mr. Wu's control, began to regress—their flesh peeled away, revealing human forms once more as they collapsed one by one to the ground. Mo Hua looked at Elder Zhao.

That face was still as fair and delicate as a painting, those eyes still as clear and innocent as before—but to Elder Zhao, it was now terrifying. At that moment, Elder Zhao understood what Mo Hua wanted.

Mo Hua wanted him to kill.

Elder Zhao supported himself with the wolf-patterned longsword and stood up, using the last of his Golden Core spiritual power to stab the nearby Cang Wolf Sect Master. 

The Sect Master, his formation shattered and one arm and one leg crippled, couldn't possibly rival Elder Zhao, even if he fought with all his strength. Not to mention—Mo Hua's earlier display had left a deep psychological scar. 

Just thinking of Mo Hua, like a demonic being capable of bewitching hearts, who with a single sentence had caused Mr. Wu to commit suicide… the Cang Wolf Sect Master felt a chill run through him, as if he'd fallen into an icy abyss. 

He barely managed to struggle for a few dozen exchanges before Elder Zhao pierced his heart with a sword and then severed his throat. 

The same Sect Master who had recently commanded Cang Wolf City with arrogance and authority—now, in an instant, was decapitated, dying on the spot. A life of glory, crumbled in a single day. 

Elder Zhao had never held much affection for the Sect Master of Cang Wolf Sect. But now, seeing him die by his own blade, with a lifetime of efforts gone to waste, centuries of lifespan vanished in a blink, Elder Zhao couldn't help but feel a trace of melancholy. 

Thus, the turmoil in the Artifact Guild came to an end. The battle for the position of third-rank Cang Wolf Sect Master came to a close. Only Mo Hua and Elder Zhao remained standing.

Elder Zhao raised his eyes and looked deeply at Mo Hua. This young man before him—at times naive, at times sinister, sometimes pure, sometimes profound. Though standing under the sun, with bright eyes and handsome features, it was as if he was shrouded in a dense fog, exuding an eerie aura, leaving no trace to grasp.

This "innocent" youth had played everyone like pawns. All of them were his "playthings," dancing on strings he controlled.

He didn't even need to kill with his own hands. His words alone could claim lives—his hands unstained with blood.

The more Elder Zhao thought about it, the more terrified he felt. His throat went dry, and he dared not look into Mo Hua's eyes.

Mo Hua glanced at him and spoke softly, "Elder Zhao…"

Elder Zhao shuddered instinctively, asking, "Y-Young Master Mo… do you have instructions?"

Mo Hua said, "The cleanup…"

Elder Zhao forced a gentle smile. "The aftermath will be properly handled by Cang Wolf Sect. Young Master Mo need not worry."

Mo Hua asked, "How will it be handled?"

Elder Zhao chose his words carefully. "Young Master Mo, you…"

"I'm just a passerby. What happens in your Cang Wolf Sect has nothing to do with me," said Mo Hua.

Elder Zhao sighed in relief and solemnly replied, "Our Sect Master made a mistake in his cultivation method and died from qi deviation. Cang Wolf Sect will hold a funeral in his honor and bury him with dignity."

Mo Hua nodded and cupped his hands toward him. "Then I suppose I should call you 'Sect Master Zhao' now?"

Elder Zhao's face lit up with joy, but he hesitated, "That… may be a bit premature?"

Mo Hua assumed he was being modest, but Elder Zhao explained, "To become the Sect Master of Cang Wolf Sect, there are certain qualifications."

"Qualifications?" Mo Hua frowned. "Isn't your sect a profit-driven organization? Just trying to make a living. Whoever wins takes the seat. What qualifications?"

Elder Zhao said, "That may be true, but there is still a lineage of inheritance to consider." "To officially become Sect Master, I must go to the ancestral hall, swear a blood oath, write the Sect Master decree, burn incense and offer prayers, and receive the ancestors' approval. Only then does one truly have the right to lead the Cang Wolf Sect."

"You're saying…" Mo Hua said slowly, "the ancestors of the Cang Wolf Sect?"

Elder Zhao, unaware of what was coming, nodded. "Yes."

Mo Hua smiled. "Take me to see them."

"Please, this way," Elder Zhao said, beginning to lead the way.

But after only a few steps, Mo Hua seemed to remember something. "Wait."

Elder Zhao paused, confused.

Mo Hua walked back to Mr. Wu's corpse and began to search his storage pouch. But after rummaging a bit, he glanced at Elder Zhao and asked, "Elder Zhao, do you mind…"

Elder Zhao, understanding, quickly said, "Please, go ahead."

Mo Hua then unabashedly rummaged through Mr. Wu's storage pouch.

From it, he pulled out a wolf-head xun.

The xun, shaped like a wolf's head and howling like a wolf, was a strange and wild instrument.

Not knowing how to use it, Mo Hua simply kept it for now. There were also some books and jade slips, but none of the contents were rare, nor did they contain anything Mo Hua was interested in.

After a moment of contemplation, Mo Hua asked, "Where did this Mr. Wu live?" Elder Zhao frowned. "This is my first time seeing him. He never appeared in the sect before today."

Mo Hua asked again, "Does your Cang Wolf Sect have any restricted areas?"

"We do," Elder Zhao replied. "But only the Sect Master is allowed to enter…"

Mo Hua nodded. "Then become the Sect Master first."

Elder Zhao's expression turned complicated. The position of Cang Wolf Sect Master was something countless cultivators dreamed of but could never obtain. Now, from the mouth of this Young Master Mo, it sounded like picking cabbages from a field.

But at this point, it was indeed the closest he'd ever come to that title in his life. "Alright." Elder Zhao then ordered people to clean up the scene.

The corpses of the Cang Wolf Sect Master, Mr. Wu, and other fallen elders were all placed into coffins and escorted back to the sect. Mo Hua and Elder Zhao returned to Cang Wolf Sect together.

They arrived at the ancestral hall in the rear mountain of the sect.

"Originally, the election and appointment of the Sect Master requires a Grand Assembly, with elders discussing and disciples witnessing." 

"But given the urgency, we'll skip that for now…" 

Mo Hua nodded. "These formalities can be skipped." 

He looked up at the ancestral tablets lined up before the ancestral hall and asked, "What happens next?" 

Elder Zhao answered, "I must write the Sect Master's decree in blood and place it on the altar to seek the ancestors' approval. If they accept, a 'Cang Wolf blood seal' will appear on it." 

Mo Hua urged, "Hurry up and write it." 

Left with no choice, Elder Zhao retrieved a piece of wolf-hide parchment, bit his finger, and began writing in blood. He detailed his name, origin, background, cultivation level, cultivation method, reasons for wanting to be Sect Master, his qualifications, and what he would do for the sect if appointed… 

Mo Hua glanced over. The words were sincere and smooth, not a single change—clearly, Elder Zhao had prepared this a long time ago, revealing his ambition for the Sect Master's seat. 

Mo Hua didn't blame him. 

Opportunities are for the prepared. Within the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Elder Zhao was done. 

He adjusted his robes, burned incense, bowed to the ancestral tablets, prayed solemnly, and after a long and tedious process, finally knelt and respectfully placed the decree in front of the tablets, awaiting an answer from the ancestors. 

Elder Zhao looked deeply nervous, like a disciple awaiting test results. 

He knelt there, respectfully waiting. 

No one knew how long passed, when suddenly a cold wind blew, carrying a wolf's howl, as if something unseen had arrived. 

Elder Zhao's expression shifted. He knew—the answer had come. 

He kowtowed three times, picked up the decree, and instantly his face turned ashen. There was nothing on the decree. 

Clearly, the ancestors of the Cang Wolf Sect did not recognize him as Sect Master. 

Elder Zhao let out a bitter smile. 

Mo Hua didn't understand. "You really need that piece of paper's approval? You're already in the Golden Core stage. Why bother?" 

Elder Zhao sighed. "It's tradition. Without the decree, I can call myself Sect Master, but it won't be legitimate. And I won't be allowed into the sect's forbidden grounds or heritage sites." 

"I see…" Mo Hua nodded and stretched out his hand. "Give me the decree. I'll go talk." 

Elder Zhao froze. "T-talk?" 

Before he could say more, Mo Hua had already taken the decree from his hands and walked around the tablets into the inner hall of the ancestral shrine. 

Elder Zhao wanted to stop him but didn't dare. He could only watch. 

…

In the inner hall of the ancestral shrine stood a massive wolf-head statue. 

Mo Hua swept the area with his divine sense and found the place covered in array formations. The giant mouth of the wolf statue was actually a hidden door. 

Inside the inner hall of the Cangwolf Sect's ancestral shrine stood a massive wolf-head statue. 

Mo Hua swept the area with his divine sense and found the surroundings densely packed with array formations. The gaping maw of the wolf head was actually a hidden entrance. Beyond this entrance lay the Cangwolf Sect's tomb. 

The formations guarding the tomb were complex arrays composed of a mix of second- and third-grade formations—likely arranged at great cost by the sect using a third-grade formation master. 

Mo Hua had yet to reach the Golden Core stage and couldn't break a full third-grade formation. 

However, to save resources, the formations at the entrance were mostly second-grade, with only a few third-grade ones. 

Mo Hua chose the simple route: he directly used his divine sense to manipulate his ink and, with the Reverse Spirit Array, collapsed most of the second-grade formations, revealing a pitch-black opening. 

From within, a cold wind blew, accompanied by faint, indistinct wolf howls. 

Without hesitation, Mo Hua grasped Elder Zhao's command token and stepped into the tomb. 

Beyond the entrance stretched a long passageway. 

The passage sloped downward into darkness. At the end, it opened into a gloomy mausoleum. The tomb was ancient, but at its center stood an altar. 

The altar was new—apparently constructed just a few years prior. 

On it lay offerings, and a wolf head had been drawn using fresh blood. 

The altar bore a distinct Great Wilderness style. Mo Hua found it somewhat familiar, though upon closer inspection, there were many differences. 

It seemed to share a common origin but diverged in development. 

For some reason, ever since he stepped onto the path of divine transformation through Divine Sense, Mo Hua had felt a strange sense of familiarity whenever he saw such altars.

With a light step, he leapt onto the altar and, as if by habit, sat cross-legged at its center.

As soon as he sat, a wave of comfort gradually spread through his body.

Then came an intense drowsiness. His divine sense seemed to be tugged at, as though something was trying to draw it from his physical form. Soon, Mo Hua closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep. 

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself inside a grand hall exuding a savage, primeval style. 

All around the hall were statues of blue wolves. On the high seats sat cultivators in wolf-patterned robes. 

Each of them emanated an aura of evil and corruption—most were clearly third-grade demonic entities. 

Mo Hua almost drooled with excitement. 

At that moment, among the ancestors of the Cangwolf Sect, one pointed at Mo Hua and shouted harshly: "Who are you, brazen intruder? How dare you trespass into the ancestral shrine, enter our tomb, and defile our altar—!" 

Mo Hua calmly swept his gaze around, inhaling deeply the long-missed stench of demonic energy. Suppressing his excitement, he asked back: "Why don't you all agree to let Elder Zhao become sect master? That man—while perhaps a bit insincere—isn't all bad." 

"Absurd!" sneered one of the old Cangwolf ancestors.

"Since when does a junior like you get to meddle in our sect's affairs?" 

"But you—" 

His gaze sharpened as he stared at Mo Hua, eyes gleaming with a greedy, wolfish glint. Blood-like drool even trickled from the corner of his lips. 

"Do you even know where this is? And you dared walk in?" 

Just as Mo Hua observed them, they too scrutinized him. 

Mo Hua's divine sense form appeared as a child. With his aura concealed and divine essence unrevealed, he looked like a plump, tender "lamb" filled with fresh, clear divine energy. 

Now this juicy "lamb" had walked straight into a pack of wolves. 

Many of the Cangwolf Sect ancestors were visibly salivating. 

"I don't care what this place is," Mo Hua said blandly, still focused on his question. "Why not let Elder Zhao be sect master?" 

A scrawny Cangwolf ancestor chuckled darkly: "A wolf's nature is to hunt meat a thousand miles away. Since we're the Cangwolf Sect, we must act like wolves—fight, kill, seize." 

"That Zhao brat might have decent cultivation, but his heart is too soft. He lacks ferocity—not fit to be our sect master." Mo Hua asked, "Can't we just talk this through? I think he's fine." 

This comment sparked a round of mocking laughter. 

Clearly, no one took his "naïve" opinion seriously. 

Mo Hua sighed. "So… there's no room for discussion?" 

No room for discussion… That was perfect. A faint smile curled at the corners of Mo Hua's lips. Then, gazing at them with grave intent, he asked: "Then let me ask you another question…" 

"You weren't always half-human, half-wolf, were you?" 

At these words, the expressions of the entire pack of Cangwolf ancestors changed. Reading their reactions, Mo Hua nodded slightly and continued: "Did you turn into wolves because of the altar in the ancestral tomb?" 

"Who told you to build that altar? And who taught you the ritual?" 

"What Dao exactly are you trying to cultivate?" 

At that moment, one of the Cangwolf ancestors—whose divine sense was deepest and whose killing intent was heaviest—immediately thrust out his wolf claw and pointed at Mo Hua with a chilling growl: "Kill him!"

"Tear his soul to pieces, chew it to mush, leave not even a bone behind!"

Before the words had even fully landed, one of the Cangwolf Ancestors leapt down from the high platform.

He started off as a half-human, half-wolf creature, using all four limbs to crawl. After just a few paces, he fully transformed into a pure wolf demon, baring his razor-sharp fangs as he lunged straight for Mo Hua's head— As if he meant to swallow Mo Hua's skull whole. 

But before he could even get close, a flash of golden light swept by, and that wolf demon was instantly dismembered. Its body burst apart, mangled limbs scattering across the floor. 

In an instant, the hall fell dead silent. 

Most of the Cangwolf Ancestors—now in demonic form—looked on in stunned confusion. None of them could comprehend what Mo Hua had just done. 

How had a Gold Core-level wolf demon been slaughtered in the blink of an eye? 

A heavy sense of dread settled over them. 

Hadn't they already followed the sect's secret inheritance to transform into powerful "demonic entities"? Weren't they now immortal? 

In the entire Cangwolf Province—especially in this third-grade Cangwolf City— Demonic entities, especially ones of third-grade quality gathered in one place, were essentially untouchable. 

Weren't they supposed to be the strongest? 

Then why—why could they still be killed? And worse—killed like dogs by this tender-skinned little brat, who didn't even break a sweat, who they couldn't even understand how he killed with such ease. 

Why? 

What was this kid? 

All of Cangwolf Sect's ancestors stood frozen in shock. 

Mo Hua, on the other hand, had a thoughtful look in his eyes. 

When one human kills another, it gives rise to Slaughter Qi. 

But killing demonic entities? It doesn't. After all, demonic entities aren't human. 

He had already tested this earlier with that wolf demon who leapt at his face. 

Sure enough, after killing it, no Slaughter Qi was generated. 

He had also just now used Spirit Sword from Divine Sense—something he hadn't tapped into in a while. 

Yes, it still caused a bit of sharp pain and some backlash, but not enough to be a real problem. 

This meant: within the Sea of Consciousness, he could still use Divine Sword Manifestation. 

It was only when trying to manifest divine sense into the real world—through the Soul-Cleaving Sword emerging from the brow to pierce the barrier between mind and matter—that it became too dangerous. That kind of attack overexerts the soul, exposes the divine spirit to the physical world, and invites much stronger backlash and Slaughter Qi. 

But none of that mattered right now. Even the altar and its mysteries could wait. 

The immediate priority—was a good meal. Mo Hua had been starving for too long, and he no longer felt like being polite. Time to feast! Fiery red arrays began to spread across the Wolf Hall. 

Golden sword light crisscrossed in the air. 

The Five Elemental Arts surged in cycles without pause. 

The ancestors of the Cangwolf Sect, once haughty and bloodthirsty, were now filled with terror. As demonic entities, they only knew how to shapeshift and engage in brute-force soul combat. When had they ever seen such a vast display of—formation techniques, sword arts, and divine spellcraft—so perfectly fused together? 

They couldn't comprehend it. They were all at the Gold Core stage in divine sense too—so why did they feel like rotting wood before Mo Hua, being shredded apart as easily as dry leaves in a storm? No matter how much they struggled, they couldn't muster the slightest resistance. 

All they felt was a bone-chilling despair. They couldn't understand—what kind of being in this world could possess such overwhelmingly unstoppable divine sense? But no one gave them the answer. 

Mo Hua didn't say a single unnecessary word—he simply unleashed devastation with thunderous power. The entire group of Cangwolf Ancestors, now twisted into demonic entities— Was utterly annihilated. 

After the killing, Mo Hua summoned a Groundfire Array and used it to incinerate the remaining divine essences of these "demonic entities," burning off their foul energies. Then he opened his small mouth and devoured them all into his belly. 

But he didn't refine them right away—he planned to savor them later when he got back. After all, this wasn't Ganxue Province anymore. 

Times were hard. Resources were scarce. He couldn't afford to be wasteful. 

A rare, quality meal like this—he had to plan every bite, chew slowly, and extract maximum value. He glanced around to confirm there was nothing left behind, then exited the Wolf Hall. 

Back in the Cangwolf Tomb, Mo Hua opened his eyes. 

He looked once more at the altar, memorizing its structure and design, and then stood up with the wolf-skin command token in hand. He exited the tomb, returned to the inner hall, bypassed the ancestral tablets, and arrived at the shrine. 

Elder Zhao was still waiting there. 

Mo Hua handed him the wolf-skin command token. "Alright, you're the sect master of Cangwolf Sect now. The token bears the blood seal."

Elder Zhao beamed with joy—but as soon as he accepted the token, his smile froze. The token did have a blood seal… But something about it looked a little too… casual.

Elder Zhao gave Mo Hua a nervous side-glance and asked in a low voice: "Um, Young Master Mo, this blood seal… don't tell me you—" 

Mo Hua nodded, "That's right. I drew it myself." 

Elder Zhao: "…" 

Silence hung for a moment. 

Then Elder Zhao quietly asked: "Then… what about our Cangwolf Sect's ancestors…?" 

Mo Hua sighed lightly, "I truly tried to reason with them. But they wouldn't accept you. They felt your nature wasn't suited to lead the sect." 

Elder Zhao's expression turned gloomy. "Then—?" 

Mo Hua replied plainly: "So I killed them all and drew a blood seal for you. Now you're the sect master."

Elder Zhao's mind went blank. His knees gave out with a wobble, and he collapsed to the floor. 

(End of this Chapter)