Arrays of Immortality

Instructor Yan asked, "Is it possible for a Qi Refining third-layer cultivator to draw formation diagrams?"

"Well, theoretically, it is," the plump steward pondered and continued,

"The cultivation world is vast, and there are countless prodigies. If you told me someone was born capable of drawing formations, I'd believe it. But those are just rumors—I've never seen it with my own eyes."

"Even the exceptionally gifted, who are ungrateful and rebel against their sects... cough, those born into formation families, who've studied since childhood, might manage to draw simple formations with three formation lines by the third level of Qi Refining."

"And in the great families and sects with profound heritages, there's no shortage of formation geniuses among their disciples. They simply remain hidden."

Instructor Yan said, "In that case, it's not entirely impossible for Mo Hua to be capable of drawing formations at the third level of Qi Refining."

The plump steward was reluctant to admit it, but at this point, he had no choice.

This Senior Yan, though stubborn, had always been meticulous and insightful.

"If that's true, then this is extraordinary. Do you plan to take him as your disciple?"

The steward thought for a moment and continued, "I'm telling you, this child is indeed a good seedling. Why don't you formally accept him as your student? You can pass down the formations your master left you."

Instructor Yan hadn't considered this before. He was clearly moved, but after some thought, he shook his head.

"The sect is declining, and the formations left behind are nothing but fragmented scripts. There's nothing worthy of being passed down. Taking him as my disciple would only mislead him. Besides, my master's last wish remains unfulfilled. I still haven't found that person, and I don't have the energy to focus on anything else."

The steward tried to persuade him further, but Instructor Yan just waved him off.

The steward sighed. "Fine, I won't push you anymore—you never listen anyway. But this Mo Hua…"

"Don't mention anything to anyone for now. 'The tall tree catches the wind'—this has been true since ancient times. He's still young; we can't let him develop arrogance, or he'll surely go astray."

The steward agreed, "You're right about that."

Instructor Yan continued, "And don't let him take any more formation orders from here. Make up some excuse about poor business."

The steward felt a bit embarrassed when this was brought up. "It's not poor business. I call it 'Zen-like management'—our transactions are left to fate!"

"Besides, why stop him from earning spirit stones? Drawing formations supplements his household income."

Instructor Yan frowned. "Even if he can draw formations at the third level of Qi Refining, his divine sense is limited. Drawing too much will deplete his divine sense and damage his sea of consciousness, leaving permanent harm."

"Also, he's still young. Now is the time to build a solid foundation for his cultivation. It's not just formations—he needs to explore the many paths of cultivation. Especially his own cultivation level; he can't neglect it for small gains."

The steward replied, "You know that the lives of rogue cultivators aren't easy, right?"

Instructor Yan's brows furrowed slightly as he noticed the steward's rare serious expression.

The steward solemnly said, "I know you had a rough childhood—though you had a family, as a concubine-born child, you weren't valued. Later, you joined the sect, received careful guidance from your master, and worked diligently to make progress in formations. Your situation may have been difficult, but you still had a family to rely on. At least you had food and clothing, and no worries about survival, even if you weren't satisfied with your circumstances."

"People often say that cultivating is hard," the steward sighed, "but it wasn't until I left the sect and spent over ten years here in Tongxian City dealing with rogue cultivators that I realized the difficulty they face is worlds apart."

"For ordinary rogue cultivators, survival is a struggle with little reward. Refiners get half their bodies burned in fire accidents. Monster hunters lose limbs to beasts. Those who sell their spiritual power to do odd jobs often suffer from damaged meridians. If they fall ill or are injured, they don't even have the spirit stones for treatment. Whether they survive depends on luck."

"If they pull through, that's great. If not, they die. The worst fate is clinging to life, burning through their family's meager savings, and dragging everyone down. What can they do? They're just trying to stay alive."

"Cultivators shouldn't neglect their future, but these bottom-tier rogue cultivators can't even afford to think about the future."

After finishing, the steward drank a cup of tea in one gulp.

Instructor Yan was silent for a moment. Finally, he sighed and said with an apologetic tone, "I didn't think it through."

The steward rolled his eyes.

Instructor Yan pondered briefly, then said, "Give me the list of formations you have here."

"What do you need it for?" The steward was puzzled but obediently fetched a book from behind the counter and handed it to Instructor Yan.

Instructor Yan flipped through it, marked several formations with a pen, and added sequential numbers beside them.

"What are you doing?"

Instructor Yan explained, "Next time Mo Hua comes, let him draw the formations in the order I marked. This way, he'll learn systematically, and I can give him some guidance in the sect. It's better than letting him study haphazardly."

"This way, he can earn spirit stones to support his family while learning formations in a structured way."

Instructor Yan added, "And remember, don't let him draw too many. Three or four diagrams per half-month are enough. If he overuses his divine sense and damages his sea of consciousness, it will cause serious problems."

The steward looked at the list, then at Instructor Yan, and asked with a complicated expression, "Are you really not planning to take him as a disciple?"

Instructor Yan simply shook his head, then got up to leave. Before leaving, he reiterated, "Don't forget—make him draw in the order I marked."

With that, he left without looking back.

The steward watched his retreating figure, speechless for a long while. Finally, he sighed helplessly.

Suddenly, the steward remembered something and called out to Instructor Yan.

Instructor Yan turned around to look at him.

The steward hesitated, then said, "There's one thing you might've gotten wrong…"

Instructor Yan frowned. "What is it?"

The steward thought for a moment and said carefully, "When Mo Hua brought in the Flame Formation diagram, he was only at the second layer of Qi Refining. If these diagrams are really his work, then…"

He paused and added thoughtfully, "It means he could draw formations as early as the second layer of Qi Refining!"

Instructor Yan's pupils constricted, and his face showed a look of disbelief.

(End of Chapter)