Arrays of Immortality

When Mo Hua went to find the fat steward again, he was told that the market had changed.

The formations for Bright Fire and Solid Earth were no longer accepted by Youyuan Pavilion.

Mo Hua was stunned and suspiciously asked, "The Bright Fire Formation is used for lighting, and the Solid Earth Formation is for building houses. Unless no one lives in Tongxian City anymore, there's no reason these would have no market."

The fat steward felt frustrated. This kid being too smart was really inconvenient—hard to fool. He decided not to make excuses; the more excuses, the harder they are to justify. Waving his hand, he said:

"How should I know? That's just how the market is. I can't do anything about it!"

Mo Hua was speechless. He had only saved up half the spirit stones needed for learning techniques. Helpless, he asked, "So what formations are you accepting now?"

The fat steward coughed, took out a formation diagram, and on the cover were the words Golden Stone Formation Diagram.

"We're now accepting the Golden Stone Formation. It also contains four formation patterns, not much different from the Solid Earth Formation."

Mo Hua looked at the diagram and asked, "Steward, what is the Golden Stone Formation used for?"

The fat steward replied, "It's similar to the Solid Earth Formation. Both are used to reinforce cave abodes or strengthen windows, doors, and walls of cultivators' residences. The only difference is that one reinforces wood and earth, while the other reinforces metal and stone."

Mo Hua frowned. "If the function is similar, how can there be no market for the Solid Earth Formation, but there's one for the Golden Stone Formation?"

The fat steward glared at him and said stubbornly, "That's just the market! A kid like you shouldn't ask so many questions!"

"So is this formation worth three spirit stones per diagram as well?"

It should have been...

The fat steward felt a bit pained but still raised the price:

"Normally, this would be worth three spirit stones per diagram, but it's a bit scarce lately, so the price has gone up. One diagram now costs four spirit stones. But we won't accept too many—just five diagrams every half month."

Scarce, yet they wouldn't allow more to be drawn?

Mo Hua found the fat steward's behavior a bit odd, but it was the business of Youyuan Pavilion. He couldn't question it too much. As long as he could earn spirit stones, that was enough.

If all diagrams were successfully drawn, he could earn twenty spirit stones every half month, which was quite a generous income.

"Alright, deal!"

The fat steward let out a sigh of relief and pulled a storage bag from under the counter, as though he had already prepared it in advance, and handed it to Mo Hua.

Mo Hua accepted the storage bag, checked its contents, confirmed that it contained the Golden Stone Formation Diagram and five sets of paper and ink, then saluted and took his leave.

As he was about to reach the door, the fat steward couldn't help but call out:

"Mo Hua."

Mo Hua turned around. The fat steward hesitated for a moment and asked, "Do you think this formation is difficult?"

Mo Hua thought about it. Since it also contained four patterns and was similar to the Solid Earth Formation, it wasn't particularly difficult. He replied, "It's manageable."

He turned to leave but added, "My brother should be able to draw it, too."

"Oh," the fat steward looked at him with a complicated expression, then nodded. "Draw it well."

"By the way," the fat steward called again, "my surname is Mo, as in 'Don't be angry.' Just call me Steward Mo."

Mo Hua nodded. "Alright, Steward Mo, I'll remember."

After returning to Tongxian Sect, Mo Hua took the time to study the Golden Stone Formation. Because of its similarities to the Solid Earth Formation—and having consulted Instructor Yan earlier—he grasped it without too much difficulty.

Before one formation class, Instructor Yan had students collect their marked assignments. Mo Hua found that his formation diagram was only rated B.

Mo Hua looked it over carefully, compared it to the sect's Detailed Formation Manual, and confirmed that he hadn't made a single mistake. Why was it only a B?

Confused, he sat next to another disciple, who exclaimed upon seeing Mo Hua's B: "Wow, Mo Hua, you only got a B?"

Mo Hua looked at his diagram, then at the disciple's C grade, and said nothing.

The disciple quickly covered his own grade, chuckled awkwardly, and asked curiously, "How did you only get a B?"

Mo Hua also felt puzzled. "I didn't make any mistakes. I don't know why it's only a B."

"If you didn't make mistakes, why would the instructor only give you a B?"

Mo Hua showed him the diagram. "Can you see what's wrong?"

The disciple confidently said, "If I could figure it out, I wouldn't have gotten a C!"

The other disciples nearby craned their necks to look at Mo Hua's diagram and murmured:

"It doesn't look like anything's wrong."

"Mo Hua, did you offend the instructor?"

"Be careful not to get punished."

"Instructor Yan isn't like that…"

Before they finished speaking, Instructor Yan entered the class. The disciples quickly straightened up and quieted down like quails, not daring to breathe too loudly.

Instructor Yan taught as usual, but before ending class, he said, "Cultivation is like rowing upstream; if you don't advance, you fall back. The way of formations is no exception. You must not slack off and waste your talent and time."

His sharp gaze swept across the room, finally stopping on Mo Hua. "Mo Hua, come with me."

"Yes." Mo Hua respectfully stood up and followed Instructor Yan out.

Once Instructor Yan left, the disciples gathered again:

"It's over. Mo Hua's in trouble now."

"When the instructor said someone was slacking off, did he mean Mo Hua?"

"I slack off, too. Why didn't the instructor call me?"

"Can you compare yourself to Mo Hua? He's really good at formations and is valued by the instructor."

"Thankfully, the instructor doesn't value me. I hope he never does…"

Mo Hua followed Instructor Yan out of the formation room, past the alchemy and crafting rooms, and finally out of Tongxuan Peak.

Instructor Yan remained silent the whole way, only nodding or saluting occasionally when greeted by disciples, instructors, or elders.

He led Mo Hua to his residence on Tongming Peak.

Tongming Peak was where the sect master, elders, instructors, and inner disciples lived. It was Mo Hua's first time here, and he noticed the serene beauty. Many courtyards were adorned with vibrant spiritual flowers and herbs, and even spirit beasts like golden pheasants strolled leisurely.

Only here could these pheasants wander so casually. On Tongxuan Peak, they wouldn't see the sunrise the next day.

Mo Hua recalled the charred chicken leg handed to him by the Shuanghu brothers.

Outside Instructor Yan's residence was a formation, with a small Bagua disc on the door—likely set up by Instructor Yan himself. Other courtyards didn't have this.

Instructor Yan traced a few patterns on the Bagua disc, and a glow flashed before the door opened.

Inside, Instructor Yan sat at his desk and asked directly: "Do you want to become a Formation Master?"

Mo Hua humbly replied, "My talent is limited. I fear I can't become one."

Instructor Yan frowned. "Whether you want to and whether you have talent are two different things. Don't lose your determination just because of results. All living beings eventually die. Should they stop living because of it?"

Hearing this, Mo Hua straightened and said solemnly, "Yes, I want to become a Formation Master!"

"Why do you want to?"

"Cultivation is difficult, and formations can be a livelihood."

"And?"

"Cultivators seek the Heavenly Dao to achieve immortality. Understanding formations is a way to pursue the Dao."

Instructor Yan frowned. "The Heavenly Dao is elusive. Cultivators may spend their lives without even glimpsing it."

Mo Hua said, "As you taught, attaining the Dao lies in Heaven, but seeking the Dao lies in us. Since cultivators pursue the Heavenly Dao, whether we succeed or not, we must not lose the heart to seek it."

Instructor Yan was silent for a moment, then nodded. "From now on, after class each day, come to me. You may leave for today."

"Yes." Mo Hua, unsure of the reason, saluted and left.

Watching him go, Instructor Yan finally sighed in relief:

"What a promising talent."

(End of Chapter)

Note:

A Bagua Disk (八卦盘) is a traditional Daoist tool featuring the eight trigrams (Bagua) from the I Ching, often centered around a Yin-Yang symbol. It is used in Feng Shui, spiritual protection, and activation of formations in cultivation practices. The disk analyzes energy flow, wards off negative forces, and can act as a trigger for magical or protective arrays. In the story, it serves as a key to activate a protective formation around Instructor Yan's residence.