Immortality Through Array Formations

Master Qian sighed, “Master Luo is perceptive. We’re all Formation Masters, and we all know how rare a first-grade is, so we’d rather not tear off the façade and embarrass everyone unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

“Then what does Little Brother Qian intend to do?”

Master Qian said, “No matter what happened before, my Qian Family is willing to make friends with him. Spirit Stones, anything can be discussed. If that’s not possible, we hope he will neither help nor make things difficult for my Qian Family, and we will still treat him courteously. If this Formation Master is truly unreasonable, then my Qian Family will have no choice but to tear off the façade.”

Master Luo nodded, “To go to such lengths, Little Brother Qian has certainly done all one could.”

“Does Master Qian have any knowledge of this Formation Master’s background?” Master Qian asked.

Master Luo shook his head, “I’ve never had any dealings with him, nor have I heard of such a person.”

Master Qian was slightly disappointed; he had thought that since the man was a first-grade Formation Master, he should have had some interaction with Master Luo.

“Does Little Brother Qian have any clues?” Master Luo asked.

Master Qian then shared some information he knew, including that the Formation Master had used several first-grade Formation Methods and might have taken on a disciple, someone called ‘Junior Formation Master’. It was unclear whether the disciple was in name only, or truly his lineage successor.

“These are the Formation Methods drawn by the Junior Formation Master.”

Master Qian handed the Formation Methods to Master Luo.

Master Luo took them and after a glance praised, “Well drawn.”

“Can Master Luo see who his master might be?” A Formation Master asked.

Master Luo reflected for a moment then shook his head, “These are all basic Five Elements Formations, nothing rare or revealing of Sect or Clan heritage. It’s hard to tell.”

Everyone was somewhat disappointed and started to speculate about the Formation Master’s heritage.

Master Luo continued to browse the Formation Methods in his hands.

Junior Formation Master? I wonder how old he is; his talent in Formation Patterns is truly remarkable.

As he flipped through, he furrowed his brow as if pondering something. After a moment, he dipped his finger in tea water and drew something on the tabletop.

The tea water sketched simple Formation Patterns on the crimson table.

Master Luo drew several times, his expression growing ever more solemn and even seemed incredulous.

Noticing this, Master Qian asked, “Master Luo, have you discovered something?”

Master Luo hesitated, then said, “It’s nothing.”

But Master Luo still looked puzzled and drew the Formation Patterns on the table several more times with tea water, before finally asking slowly:

“Are these Formation Methods really drawn by that Junior Formation Master?”

Master Qian looked over and saw that Master Luo was holding a stack of Formation Methods, the top one being a Cold Air Formation.

This Cold Air Formation was an authentic method, not imprinted from something else, and the handwriting was very fresh, likely drawn recently. Since it was a Cold Air Formation, it was probably used to lower the temperature wherever it was drawn.

Master Qian nodded, “Indeed, they were drawn by the Junior Formation Master.”

Master Luo tapped the table with his finger, pondered for a moment, and then said, “If I’m not mistaken, the one who drew this Formation Method is a first-grade Formation Master.”

All the Formation Masters were astonished and looked at each other in confusion.

“The Cold Air Formation is not a first-grade method, Brother Luo, why do you say this?” Master Qian asked, frowning.

“Although the Cold Air Formation is not a first-grade method, look at these Formation Patterns. Based on the Formation Pivot, they outline everything essential, drawn from start to finish in one stroke, and still with extra effort to spare. This suggests the person understands the Formation Pivot very deeply, and his Divine Sense is also very strong, hence the ease with which the strokes are made.”

Master Luo pointed at the water stains on the table, “I just tried to draw the Cold Air Formation several times following this method. After finishing, I realized it consumes a great deal of Divine Sense; someone who’s not a first-grade Formation Master couldn’t draw it.”

Upon hearing this, Master Qian immediately took out paper and pen, and copied the stroke method of the Cold Air Formation.

After he finished, his expression turned serious.

Following this method, using the Formation Pivot as the framework, capturing the Formation Patterns in one stroke—the method was remarkably fast, but it also consumed a tremendous amount of Divine Sense!

Any Formation Master who could draw it, if not a first-grade, was at least a half-step away from it, with Divine Sense strong enough to draw out nine Formation Patterns.

Other Formation Masters also tried their hand at it, drawing the Cold Air Formation.

Some barely managed to complete it, some failed by a few strokes, their Divine Sense unable to keep up, and some could only draw half of it.

Everyone’s faces reflected utter disbelief.

“Does that mean that the junior Formation Master is actually a first-grade Formation Master?”

“It’s simply… preposterous!”

“Formations are not child’s play. To ascend to such a level at such a young age? It’s not that easy…”

The Formation Masters chattered amongst themselves.

Master Luo coughed lightly and the hubbub began to quiet down, with everyone turning to look at him.

“The Cultivation World is vast with innumerable geniuses. It’s not impossible for someone of a young age to reach the level of a first-grade master. It’s just that we are limited by our own little corner and lack broader exposure,” Master Luo said.

Upon hearing this, all sighed deeply.

Seeing the crowd’s expression changing, Master Luo added, “Moreover, this is just speculation. The truth still needs to be verified.”

Master Qian also said, “Indeed, we need to investigate this matter thoroughly.”

Even though he said this, deep down he felt that there might be some truth to Master Luo’s words.

The junior Formation Master could probably really draw a first-grade Formation.

This level of delineation, simplicity and concentration in the Formation Patterns, though appearing simple, truly demonstrated one’s foundation, and at least he himself couldn’t draw it without copying someone else’s work, even though he was almost a first-grade Formation Master.

The crowds murmured once again, while Master Luo sat to the side, sipping tea.

As he had said, the Cultivation World is boundless, with all sorts of talents.

There’s a staggering disparity between Loose Cultivators and clans, and similarly, an immense gulf separates small families from the Great Clans.

What is considered talented in a small place might be stunning locally but only passable in the entirety of the Cultivation World.

Moreover, even if there were such a genius, what does it have to do with him?

Master Luo was very composed.

“By the way, what’s the name of this junior Formation Master?” Master Luo suddenly recalled and asked.

Master Qian responded, “I don’t know the full name, but I know his family name is Mo.”

“Surname Mo, huh…”

Master Luo nodded. Without ‘Mo’ (ink), Formation Patterns cannot be completed—it indeed is a suitable surname for a Formation Master.

Master Luo took a sip of tea, as old memories suddenly surfaced from the Sea of Consciousness.

“The name Mo… feels somewhat familiar…”

He vaguely remembered a day two years ago when Instructor Yan had sought him out, asking him to take on a student as a disciple.

What had Instructor Yan said again?

After thinking for a while, Master Luo remembered Instructor Yan’s helplessness and pleading words:

“Little Mo Hua is young, but sensible and diligent. He’s extremely gifted in Formations, and with Brother Luo’s guidance, his prospects in Formations would surely be boundless…”

Master Luo’s heart skipped a beat.

It couldn’t be such a coincidence…

Master Luo reassured himself that it could just be a common surname—there can’t be so many coincidences in the world.

But they both had the surname Mo, both studied Formations, and both were highly talented…

Master Luo took a deep breath, calming his emotions.

Even if it was the same person, it didn’t matter—it was just exceptional talent in Formations.

Just a teenage first-grade Formation Master, nothing more!

I, Luo, will not regret it!

Master Luo took another sip of tea only to find that the original sweet taste had turned bitter in his mouth…