Immortality Through Array Formations (The Quest for Immortality)

Chapter 996: Supreme Goodness is Like Water

"Dao Soldiers" were an exceptionally powerful form of cultivated military strength.

Ordinary cultivators, limited in talent and cultivation, could form Dao Soldier units by relying on tactical formations, arrays, and enhanced spiritual equipment. Through unity and coordination, they could contend against those born with exceptional talent.

This was a military system capable of turning the weak into the miraculous.

Unite the weak to resist the strong.

Throughout cultivation history, there have been terrifying figures whose personal power was unmatched among their peers—yet they were still torn apart by waves of iron-willed Dao Soldiers, who charged forth with unshakable hearts and no fear of death.

In the face of massive numbers and well-equipped, fully-formed Dao Soldier units, even Heaven's Chosen cultivators had no choice but to retreat.

If ordinary cultivators could be so formidable when grouped as Dao Soldiers—

Then what about Heaven's Chosen?

If they formed Dao Soldier units, wouldn't they become unstoppable?

Indeed, throughout the history of cultivation, countless aristocratic clans, great sects, and shadowy organizations—both in the open and in secret—had attempted to raise Heaven's Chosen Dao Soldiers.

But aside from a tiny number of rare successes, nearly all of these attempts failed.

The first hurdle was cost.

Even raising ordinary Dao Soldiers required an entire system of spiritual tools, formations, cultivation methods, mystical arts, and coordinated tactics.

It took an ocean of spirit stones, grueling years of training, and an unmeasurable investment of time and energy.

With every increase in aptitude, the cost rose exponentially.

To use a Heaven's Chosen—with high-grade or even supreme-grade spiritual roots—as the foundation for Dao Soldiers? The resources and legacy required for that reached astronomical levels.

Even the most powerful families might not be able to afford it.

And more critically—Heaven's Chosen are called that for a reason: each one is unique.

They were born to lead, not to follow.

They couldn't, and wouldn't, suppress their pride and individuality to become a mere "soldier."

Especially now, in Qianxue Prefecture, where the prevailing cultivation model emphasized elite inheritance.

Sects fostered a "survival of the fittest" mentality, nurturing top-tier disciples to outshine all others, thereby bringing honor and benefits to the sect.

This suited both the sects and the great clans.

Clans didn't need their disciples to join a group of equals—they needed them to stand at the top, to dominate, and to climb ever higher.

Turning Heaven's Chosen into Dao Soldiers?

That would be a waste.

Some sects had tried to copy the Dao Soldier model and apply it to their Sword Debate formations.

Even Tai'a Sect had tried it long ago.

But the results were poor.

From team-building and coordination, to crafting spiritual weapons, synchronizing formations, adapting to changes in battle—everything was riddled with difficulties.

The cost alone was exorbitant.

The biggest problems were spiritual equipment and matching formation arrays.

After all, the Sword Debate's battlefield was ever-shifting.

And the enemies varied wildly.

Even if the sects could afford the spirit stones, they lacked the infrastructure to custom-forge massive quantities of specialized gear and arrays in a short timeframe.

Organizing it all was an even greater headache.

No one could truly earn the authority to organize Heaven's Chosen.

Each generation of a sect might have a "Senior Brother," but even if he was widely respected, he often couldn't manage every disciple or keep everyone in line.

To make matters worse, in the Sword Debate, the later rounds carried massive point rewards.

Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow—four tiers of battle.

Especially the Earth and final Heaven tiers—winning even one match could earn dozens or even hundreds of victory points.

So in the end, most sects decided it was faster and more efficient to just cultivate their top disciples and let them grab top rankings alone.

And over time, the Dao Soldier model of Sword Debates became almost entirely obsolete.

Even Tai'a Sect had shelved the plan.

But now, seeing the Great Void Sect's disciples practicing in perfect unison, advancing and retreating with such order—Sect Master Tai'a felt a sudden sense of disorientation.

"This really is… a Dao Soldier-based Sword Debate."

Then he looked more closely and was surprised.

Something was different.

Great Void's practice didn't use a one-size-fits-all Dao Soldier model. Not every disciple followed the same routine.

Someone had clearly tailored the team setups based on individual strengths, techniques, and formation compatibilities.

There were balanced attack-defense units, front-line slayers, rapid-attack ambushers, survivalists, and stamina tanks…

Even though the timeframe had been short and they lacked matching spiritual equipment and arrays—reducing actual combat power—it was already showing remarkable results.

At the very least, it was far more systematic and refined than the usual "free for all" team formations.

Sect Master Tai'a watched in awe and sincerely said to the Sect Master of Great Void:

"Brother Dao, your foresight is truly remarkable—these methods are exceptional."

The Great Void Sect Master smiled:

"You flatter me. It's all thanks to the disciples' own hard work."

"You're too modest."

"No, really, it's the disciples…"

"Still being modest…"

The Great Void Sect Master felt a little helpless. He was being completely honest—the disciples were the reason. Aside from granting them some autonomy, he hadn't really done much at all.

The two of them continued sipping tea.

Sect Master Tai'a watched the early prototype of a "Heaven's Chosen Dao Soldier" unit unfolding beneath them and became more and more absorbed.

Three rounds of tea passed before he finally snapped out of it and remembered why he'd come.

"Xuan'er… should be behaving himself, right?"

He scanned the field and finally spotted Ouyang Xuan near the edge of the training ground.

Everything looked normal.

Ouyang Xuan was drilling tactics alongside the sword genius from Chongxu Mountain, the formation leader Mo Hua of Great Void, a big burly guy, and another fairly talented sword cultivator.

It all seemed to be going smoothly, and the atmosphere looked fine.

Sect Master Tai'a let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"Seems like that kid Xuan'er—though arrogant—still knows how to behave when it matters. No incidents. Executes tactics well too."

"Truly, one mustn't cling to old impressions. People change. People grow."

"This younger clan member—same seniority as me—actually seems to be getting along decently with the other sect disciples."

He felt deeply gratified.

He lifted his teacup and was just about to take a sip… when a loud thud interrupted everything.

Ouyang Xuan and the big burly guy had collided due to tactical mispositioning. They both hit the ground hard.

The big guy stood up, grumbling.

Ouyang Xuan's face turned cold.

Tension flared in the air.

Sect Master Tai'a froze. This isn't good…

Before he could react, he heard a crisp voice call out:

"Xiao Xuan, try a feint from the right flank—watch your spacing, don't bump into Cheng Mo again!"

He was at the Nascent Soul stage and had sharp hearing, even from this distance.

That voice froze him.

"Xiao Xuan"? …Was that referring to Ouyang Xuan??

That little brute with his donkey temper… could he tolerate being called that?

He looked closer—and sure enough, Ouyang Xuan had an ugly expression. Clearly, he hated the nickname and looked extremely displeased.

He was clearly on the brink of snapping.

Yet the next moment—he just let out a cold snort and arrogantly turned to the right, following the instruction.

…He held back.

Sect Master Tai'a was stunned.

Was that really Ouyang Xuan?

He actually… held it in?

...He could tolerate that too?

Back in Tai'a Sect, even when he gave Ouyang Xuan a few words of advice, the boy would already start acting impatient. If a Core Elder said anything harsher, Ouyang Xuan would straight-up scowl on the spot.

Yet now this stubborn "wild mule" had come to Great Void Sect and… changed his temper?

Sect Master Tai'a fell silent for a moment, then gave Mo Hua a deep, thoughtful look—his emotions fluctuating.

Linghu Xiao from Chongxu Mountain wanted to team up with him.

And now, even Ouyang Xuan from Tai'a Mountain was actually following Mo Hua's lead. He didn't even blow up after being called "Xiao Xuan."

Could this kid be… some sort of naturally persuasive demon?

He glanced at Mo Hua—handsome features, clear eyes, radiant teeth—and grew even more suspicious...

This matter lingered heavily in Sect Master Tai'a's heart.

Even after saying his farewells to the Great Void Sect Master, leaving the training ground, and returning to Tai'a Mountain to sit in his residence, he still looked troubled.

After a while, he made up his mind and summoned an elder. He gave the order:

"Have all the disciples of Tai'a Mountain go find Mo Hua. Ask him to help form teams and train together for the Sword Debate."

The elder was briefly stunned.

"Sect Master, this…"

Sect Master Tai'a waved his hand.

"Say no more. I've thought it through. That boy named Mo Hua—if he can tame even Xuan'er, then arranging a few Tai'a disciples should be no issue."

"Besides, I've seen Great Void's training myself. It's systematic and well-organized. I'm not saying we'll win, but it's definitely better than what Tai'a's currently doing."

"Now that the three sects have merged for this, there's no point keeping boundaries."

"Let's just follow their lead and tag along…"

Sect Master Tai'a had always been a straightforward doer.

If someone's better—you learn from them.

If someone's stronger—you follow them.

This was called practical realism.

Thanks to that mindset, Tai'a Sect had once managed to "tag along" all the way to the top of the Eight Great Sects.

When he gave orders, few elders dared go against them.

"Then…" the elder said cautiously, "I'll go make the arrangements?"

"Mm." Sect Master Tai'a nodded. "The sooner, the better. The Qianxue Sword Debate is just around the corner. Time waits for no one."

"Understood."

The elder took his leave and passed down the instructions.

And the news quickly spread among the disciples.

Within Tai'a Mountain's Disciple Quarters

A crowd of disciples gathered, voices raised in confusion:

"The Elder gave orders—we're to find 'Senior Brother Mo' and let him lead us in the Sword Debate."

"Who's 'Senior Brother Mo'?"

"Mo Hua! Who else?"

"Yeah, I know that. I mean… he's from Great Void. What's that got to do with us from Tai'a?"

"Didn't he teach you formation arts before?"

"He did, but still—at most I greet him politely. I'm not calling him 'Senior Brother' behind his back. He hasn't earned that."

"Suit yourself. You don't want to call him that, I will."

"No backbone."

One disciple retorted,

"He taught me formations, gave me a grade-A on my assignments, and said I had great potential! Who else am I gonna call senior brother—you?!"

"Show some gratitude…"

"Alright, enough. Back on topic."

"Are we really going to follow Mo Hua into the Sword Debate?"

"What else can we do? It's the Elder's command—it came straight from the Sect Master."

"But Mo… Senior Brother Mo… he's just a formation cultivator. Is he even good at actual fighting?"

"No clue…"

"But I heard things are really different on Great Void's side. A few Tai'a disciples already joined their teams, and the stuff they're training is completely different from us…"

"So… we're really going to Great Void?"

The Tai'a disciples hesitated.

Then someone's eyes lit up and turned to a small, dark-skinned disciple in the crowd.

"Muto! You're close with Senior Brother Mo, right? Is he really that amazing?"

Ouyang Mu was hunched over a table, working on a blueprint for a spiritual tool.

These were all design tasks Mo Hua had handed over to him—adjusting and refining weapon and array compatibility.

When he heard the question, Ouyang Mu lifted his head.

Though still small and thin, he'd matured noticeably after his time with Mo Hua and surviving the Myriad Demon Valley disaster. His temperament had grown steadier, and there was a quiet, confident determination between his brows.

Unknowingly, his Tai'a peers had started to respect him more.

Ouyang Mu put down his brush and said seriously:

"Senior Brother Mo is… very capable."

"How capable?"

"It's just formations, right?"

"Exactly—he has poor spiritual roots, weak spiritual power, doesn't know any top-level techniques, his body's frail… what's he even going to do in the Sword Debate?"

Ouyang Mu shook his head.

"It's not just formations. But I can't explain everything to you. Just know that if you want to rank high in the debate, follow Senior Brother Mo. Be respectful. Be sincere. Don't get sneaky—he'll see through it in a heartbeat."

"This isn't just for Great Void or Tai'a—it's for yourselves too. What you choose is up to you."

Having spoken his piece, Ouyang Mu stopped talking and returned to his blueprint.

He wouldn't be attending the Sword Debate himself.

His ambitions didn't lie in duels or battlefield glory, but in mastering the art of crafting high-grade sword tools.

Still, the debate involved sect honor—and more importantly, Senior Brother Mo. He couldn't just sit this one out.

So all the spiritual weapon forging and design for Mo Hua's plan had been left in his hands.

That not only lightened Mo Hua's burden, but also gave Ouyang Mu the chance to hone his own weapon-crafting skills through hands-on experience.

For a Foundation Establishment disciple, it was an invaluable opportunity—one Ouyang Mu treasured deeply.

Everything Mo Hua entrusted to him, he pursued with full focus and dedication.

The others looked at the absorbed, focused Ouyang Mu—and suddenly, the room fell silent.

People who could devote themselves so wholly to something… were worthy of respect.

His words stayed with them.

The next day, Tai'a disciples began showing up one after another to seek out Mo Hua, earnestly requesting:

"Please, Senior Brother—guide us in the way of the Sword Debate."

What they really meant was:

"Senior Brother, please take us under your wing."

Mo Hua didn't refuse anyone.

After all—more people meant more strength.

The more base-level disciples that could be enhanced through a "Dao Soldier system," the stronger the Great Void Sect would become—and the greater their odds of claiming the top spot.

Mo Hua began taking names and forming teams.

Of course, he wasn't very familiar with the Tai'a disciples, so before assigning anyone to a group, he'd usually ask one crucial question:

"Who do you have a grudge with?"

"Who's the one you'd rather die than team up with?"

"Got any close friends?"

Questions like that.

All to avoid accidentally putting two bitter enemies in the same team and causing the whole squad to implode from within.

Once teams were assigned, Mo Hua went through them one by one, arranging tactics, and then considering customized spiritual tools and arrays for each.

After that, the Tai'a disciples were brought into Great Void Mountain to participate in training.

In an instant, the Great Void training ground swelled with people—bustling crowds, overlapping silhouettes, multicolored spells flying through the air—it was lively chaos.

Word quickly spread: the Tai'a Mountain disciples had "snuck into" Great Void and gotten "recruited" by Mo Hua.

Naturally, Chongxu Mountain couldn't sit still.

Initially, the three-sect collaboration had a clear outlier: Great Void stood apart because of Mo Hua.

But now that Tai'a had voluntarily aligned with Great Void…

Chongxu suddenly became the awkward third wheel.

Their sect master wasn't happy about that. So, after consulting the Ancestral Elder, he too allowed Chongxu disciples to "go follow" Mo Hua.

And of course—Mo Hua welcomed them all.

Thus began another round of absorption.

The training grounds of Great Void roared with life.

Disciples from all three sects were now teammates and sparring partners, blending together, exchanging blows and battle cries. The entire field was packed, spirited, and indistinguishably merged.

Even the Sect Master of Great Void was a little dazed by the sight.

Venerable Elder Xun himself looked on with mixed disbelief and admiration.

None of them had expected that the disciples of three sects—who'd still had lingering tensions—would now be merged so thoroughly, all thanks to the Sword Debate… and all because of Mo Hua.

Now, all of Great Void Mountain buzzed with energy and unity, brimming with vitality.

The three sects… were truly merging.

In the midst of the enormous training ground—

Whenever Mo Hua had a moment, he'd clasp his hands behind his back and walk through the field, offering tactical advice, refining formation drills, and correcting flaws in each squad.

Every disciple, no matter their origin, strength, or cultivation, would respectfully address him as:

"Senior Brother Mo."

Up on the high pavilion—

Sect Master Great Void watched this and couldn't help but shake his head in amazement:

"Not to hide it from you, Ancestor… I've served as Elder, even Sect Master, for so many years. I've seen countless disciples. But truly… I've never seen a child quite like Mo Hua…"

Born with poor background.

Lacking even decent spiritual roots.

Neither dominant in presence nor temperament.

And yet, throughout the entire sect—even the merged disciples from all three mountains—from supreme geniuses to average cultivators, all of them obeyed him.

It was truly… beyond comprehension.

Venerable Elder Xun, standing beside him, gazed at Mo Hua's poised and graceful figure among the crowd.

He felt both satisfied… and a little sentimental.

Originally, it had indeed been his plan to raise Mo Hua to be the "Senior Brother" of the Tai'a, Great Void, and Chongxu alliance.

But even he hadn't expected… that Mo Hua could actually reach this level.

Watching the boy move among the disciples with ease, Elder Xun suddenly trembled slightly and remembered an ancient saying:

"The highest virtue is like water."

"Water benefits all things and does not contend."

"And because it does not contend, none in the world can contend with it…"

Because it does not contend… none in the world can contend with it.

Elder Xun murmured softly, his pupils tightening. For a long time, his emotions could not settle.

On Great Void Mountain, the disciples of the three sects mingled noisily and freely.

Amid the busy training and intensive preparations, time flowed swiftly.

And soon, the three months passed in a blink.

Across the entire Qianxue Province, and even beyond it to the greater Qian Prefecture, in thousands of sects and among tens of thousands of cultivators— The long-awaited Sword Debate Grand Assembly…

finally began.

(End of this Chapter)