Immortality Through Array Formations

Zhang Lan saw Mo Hua’s little tricks and harrumphed, “Although I don’t know Illusion Techniques, the Spells I do know are not a bit inferior.”

“Mhm, Uncle Zhang, you’re so amazing,” Mo Hua placated.

Zhang Lan didn’t argue with him and returned to the main topic, “Do you know who used the Illusion Technique?”

“How would I know?”

Mo Hua shook his head as he said that, but Aunt Xue’s veiled figure loomed in his mind, just a hazy shadow that flashed by.

The high-level Cultivators Mo Hua had encountered could be counted on one hand; among them, Aunt Xue was the most likely, and the use of Illusion Techniques very much fit the impression she had left on Mo Hua.

“You guessed it?” Zhang Lan asked, upon seeing Mo Hua’s expression, and raised an eyebrow.

Zhang Lan, befitting of a Taoist Court Official, had a keen sense of observation despite appearing lethargic.

Mo Hua thought, and then asked Zhang Lan, “What does the Taoist Court plan to do about it?”

“Not much,” Zhang Lan said leisurely, taking a sip of wine, “A Cultivator capable of using Illusion Techniques is no ordinary person; the Qian Family dares not publicize it or investigate it. If the Qian Family keeps quiet, the Taoist Court is happy to be left in peace and won’t bother getting involved.”

“The Qian Family can just let it go?” Mo Hua was skeptical.

“The Qian Family has Foundation Building Cultivators on guard, yet despite this, someone came in without their knowledge, used an Illusion Technique on their young master, and they couldn’t find a single clue. Just this alone is enough to scare them…” Zhang Lan said, taking some delight in their misfortune.

“If the person could use an Illusion Technique to drive Qian Xing mad, naturally they could also use other Spells to end his life. They used an Illusion Technique simply as a means of intimidation, to make the Qian Family watch themselves and not stir up trouble they can’t handle. If the Qian Family can’t understand this simple message, they could have never become the top family in Tongxian City,” he continued.

“In the end, the Qian Family is merely a first-tier family; among the assessed families, they rank at the bottom, unable to compare with the true Noble Clans.”

Mo Hua suddenly understood; the families were indeed ranked. Zhang Lan, having come from a Noble Clan, sure knew a lot about the inner workings.

“Alright, this matter is settled. Even if Qian Xing is cured, after these few setbacks, he won’t dare cause any more trouble. You can just calmly go on with your practice and study of Formation Arts,” Zhang Lan spoke with a hint of relaxation in his tone.

“Thank you, Uncle Zhang,” Mo Hua expressed his gratitude.

Considering Zhang Lan’s lazy disposition, chatting with Mo Hua when there was nothing else to do, while perhaps a way to pass the time when bored, also showed his concern for Mo Hua. This, Mo Hua could see.

Zhang Lan gave Mo Hua a glance and thought to himself that this kid really had good people skills.

Leaving aside the Monster Hunter, the fact that the young man named Dazhu dared to stand up against Qian Xing was commendable, and so many Cultivators in the neighborhood seemed quite fond of Mo Hua.

As for the Cultivator who used the Illusion Technique, it was unlikely that they had nothing to do with Mo Hua.

Who would go out of their way to terrify a member of an unrelated Clan to madness?

Zhang Lan shook his head and bid Mo Hua farewell before leaving.

“Take care, Uncle Zhang!” Mo Hua waved his little hand.

After Zhang Lan left, Mo Hua sat at the table, flipping through his Storage Bag. Looking at the thick stack of Formation Patterns inside, he felt somewhat regretful.

It was a pity that without Qian Xing causing trouble, these Formation Patterns had no place to be used.

And that Illusion Technique, he wondered if it was really used by Aunt Xue?

Mo Hua was puzzled.

The next day, after seeking advice on Formation Arts from Mr. Zhuang, Mo Hua went to visit the Bai siblings.

Bai Zisheng was dozing off, while Bai Zixi was reading a book.

Mo Hua quietly observed Bai Zixi, trying to see if she knew something. However, aside from being attractive, there seemed to be nothing else to glean from her face.

Bai Zixi felt Mo Hua’s gaze, turned her head, and curiously looked back at him.

Their eyes met, and Mo Hua asked softly,

“Was Aunt Xue home three nights ago?”

Bai Zixi thought for a moment and said with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, “It seems she wasn’t.”

“Oh.” Mo Hua understood and did not ask further.

After a while, he whispered, “My family also has osmanthus cakes, do you want some?”

Bai Zixi nodded, and Mo Hua squinted his eyes with a smile. Afterwards, both of them concentrated on reading and did not speak again.

With Qian Xing’s matter settled, Mo Hua could cultivate in peace.

He wanted to cultivate as quickly as possible to the fifth level of Qi Refinement so that he could learn spells.

Mo Hua was really looking forward to learning spells. He gave up thinking about illusion techniques that even Zhang Lan couldn’t perform, but casting a small fire or sending a jolt of electricity should be no problem.

Thinking about it, Mo Hua felt a bit excited.

However, cultivation was a slow and meticulous endeavor. There was a limit to the spiritual energy he could absorb daily and spiritual power he could refine. As long as he practiced regularly, there was no way to significantly speed up or slow down the process.

According to his current pace, it would still take some time to reach the fifth level of Qi Refinement.

In terms of formations, Mo Hua could draw a formation containing seven formation patterns, but not yet one with eight.

It was likely due to insufficient divine sense, which made learning somewhat forced; he could only attempt to draw those with simpler structures. However, eight formation patterns were already the limit for an average formation master, and an unranked formation master could usually only draw formations of this level.

Being able to draw seven formation patterns, Mo Hua already considered himself a genuine junior formation master.

Inside, Mo Hua couldn’t help feeling a bit smug.

And beyond eight was nine; with nine formation patterns, one could be considered first-rank!

Once he could draw nine formation patterns, he would be ready to prepare for the first-rank formation master’s assessment.

Mo Hua had heard that the assessment for formation masters was the strictest, most exacting, and most difficult among all Tao cultivation classifications.

“I wonder what formations the assessment will cover?”

Mo Hua felt a bit nervous, yet he was also looking forward to it.

If he could become a first-rank formation master, he could receive spirit stones every month without doing anything else. Even if an accident happened in the future and he was no longer able to cultivate, he could still receive a basic allowance and not starve to death.

Mo Hua envied that thought.

But in the entire Tongxian City, including all clans and sects, the number of cultivators who could pass the assessment to become first-rank formation masters was few and far between, let alone for a poor loose cultivator like him. This showed just how difficult the assessment for formation masters was indeed.

Mo Hua could draw eight formation patterns, but the step from eight to nine seemed infinitely far away.

Previously, when Mo Hua practiced drawing formations day and night, he could feel his divine sense steadily growing. But now that the formations he was practicing were more challenging, done more frequently, he found that the growth of his divine sense wasn’t as noticeable.

At this rate, he had no idea how long it would take to be able to draw nine formation patterns.

Mo Hua had consulted Mr. Zhuang on this issue before.

Mr. Zhuang had a complicated look on his face, and it was the first time Mo Hua had seen such an expression on him.

“Haven’t you realized that your realm is too low…” Mr. Zhuang silently looked at Mo Hua, “the divine sense is ultimately limited, and the foundation of its strength is your realm.”

Mo Hua had an epiphany and felt he had asked a foolish question.

The bodies of cultivators and the strength of their spiritual power were also limited, naturally determined by their realm. Without breaking through to a new realm, no matter how much one refined their body or spiritual power at their current realm, neither would increase.

It was just that cultivators worked on their physical bodies and spiritual power, but not divine sense, so Mo Hua had momentarily forgotten this.

“Thank you, sir, for your guidance.”

Mo Hua said, a bit embarrassed. After asking a few more questions, he got up and took his leave.

“Divine sense is limited…” Mr. Zhuang watched Mo Hua’s small figure disappear at the bend of the road, lost in thought for a long while before he chuckled and said, “I have taught so many cultivators, but it seems this is the first time I’ve said that…”

After a moment, Mr. Zhuang looked towards Mo Hua, who was drawing formations under the pagoda tree, with a profound gaze, “Divine sense… Is it really limited…”