Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

Chapter 1693: Chapter 622: Apprehension in the Heart, The True Intent of a Forked Path_2

But when it comes to forging the treasure embryo crafted from the Demon Emperor’s metamorphosis, the core Taiji Formation cannot afford even the slightest oversight.

This array, though only of the Third Order, boasts powers nearly limitless.

Its effectiveness depends on the materials used to set the formation.

Previously mentioned—what constitutes Two Forms?

Yin and Yang are the Two Forms.

Heaven and Earth are also the Two Forms.

Even odd or firm-soft, black-yellow and sky-earth can mutually embody the Two Forms.

And even pure-clouded, fire-water, men-women, young-old all carry the meaning of Two Forms.

In essence, anything opposite incorporated into an array gives rise to the true meaning of Two Forms.

Its power depends on the interplay of the two.

In this sense, this Third Order Taiji Formation resembles the Third Order Heavenly Craft Qi Snatching Array from the days of Ghost God Valley, both renowned for their supposed limitless capabilities.

Back then, Han Zhan sought the destructive might of the Taiji Five Elements Sword Array, captivated by the boundless potential of the Taiji Formation.

When Luo Chen first acquired the blueprint for forging tools, he learned the basics of the Taiji Formation from Han Zhan, mastering it with ease.

Yet, his progress increasingly slowed during subsequent practice sessions.

To this day, he remains stuck at the Perfection Level, unable to reach the minimum Grandmaster Level he has set for himself.

As the core of the Yin Yang Liu Jia Array, how could it fall behind the Liu Jia itself?

”It seems I’ll have to make time to visit Han Zhan and seek his guidance.”

Luo Chen sighed, though a trace of reluctance lingered in his eyes.

Some outsiders, aware of their relationship, might find his reluctance perplexing.

Surely, they’d ask how the two—once friendly, helpful, and harmonious companions—might now avoid face-to-face dealings?

To solve this puzzle requires mentioning the apprehensions within Luo Chen’s heart.

Years ago, aboard the Langya merchant ship, Luo Chen helped Han Zhan dispel the ominous energies from the Soul Nourishing Wood, only to face an ominous backlash into his Sea of Consciousness.

That perilous encounter filled his mind with illusions so profound that even his Soul Defense Magic Item, Lan Ke Black and White Chess, failed to ward them off.

It was Han Zhan himself who intervened, decisively dissolving the illusion crisis on Luo Chen’s behalf.

Because of this incident, Luo Chen unexpectedly benefited, advancing his Slaying Dragon Technique to Finalization, and leveraging the opportunity to upgrade the Illusion Technique Mirror Flower, Water Moon with a second-layer illusion. Beyond Mirror Flower, Water Moon appeared the Ghost Immortal Towers, whose name was inspired by the words ”Ghost Immortal Tower” casually uttered by the demonic beast hunter during his white-clothed cultivator evaluation mission.

Yet, this encounter also planted a seed of unease within Luo Chen’s heart.

The crux lay in Han Zhan’s ability to invade his Sea of Consciousness despite the defenses of Lan Ke Black and White Chess!

Whether this was a common method among Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators or derived from Han Zhan’s unique soul-refining Secret Technique remained unclear, but in Han Zhan’s presence, Luo Chen felt a terrifying vulnerability unlike anything he’d experienced before.

Until that point, Luo Chen showed no signs of similar worry, interacting bravely with Han Zhan as usual.

But since arriving at the Ten Thousand Immortals Gathering, entering Eight Hundred Li Penghu, he began deliberately keeping his distance from Han Zhan.

He came up with a plausible excuse.

The rationale was that—since Han Zhan needed the Soul Nourishing Wood to recover his cultivation and strength—staying together would only tempt interference from his own numerous affairs.

Han Zhan, naturally willing, might also have discerned Luo Chen’s thoughts and proactively maintained his distance.

In short, the two had ”moved apart” for years.

Even when Luo Chen faced confusion during improvement of ”Myriad Paths Confluence,” he chose to explore on his own without seeking Han Zhan’s guidance.

But now, there was no avoiding initiative any longer.

”We should meet again, lest the bonds dwindle.”

Luo Chen muttered to himself while issuing a Sound Transmission Talisman toward the outside of his hall.

...

Within Eight Hundred Li Penghu, on a solitary island.

Unlike elsewhere, this location held no flowers, flowing waters, or birdsong—neither insects nor beasts traversing the barren land—only a desolate atmosphere that seemed completely devoid of life.

And yet, this isolated haven belongs exclusively to Han Zhan.

Days ago, Luo Chen and Han Zhan agreed upon the meeting time.

Today, Han Zhan made time to see Luo Chen.

”There’s something I’ve long wanted to say: your approach to array mastery feels too rigid—or perhaps misguided.”

”Before, I thought you had an exceptional talent for arrays. You learned numerous low-order formations with ease, advancing rapidly once grasped, even manifesting effects superior to my own as a Nascent Soul True Master. Truly remarkable.”

”But later, I realized, you seem fixated on meticulous depiction and etching, emphasizing form while neglecting essence.”

”Such a method may suffice for low-order arrays, but the moment high-order formations enter the picture, it starts to fall short.”

”You need to recognize that accomplished Array Masters rarely adhere to rigid conventions when setting formations. They adapt to circumstances, yet simultaneously reshape environments to construct arrays that align with their visions. Why can they achieve this? Because they grasp the core essence of formations!”

”With understanding comes freedom.”

”Without understanding, restrictions bind you at every turn.”

”Every high-order array carries its creator’s conceptual foundations. You may assemble a formation that perfectly mimics its shape, but without grasping its core, you achieve merely an empty facade.”

”Take, for example, the Sealing Sea Eight Diagrams Formation—you can only set it in areas abundant in water vapor, while I can forcefully establish it atop erupting volcanoes. Do you grasp the difference?”

”Or the Taiji Formation—though you mastered its basics quickly, you’re now stuck in the Minor Accomplishment Realm. The power generated merely proves bothersome to Early Stage Golden Core Cultivators. Do you understand the essence of the Taiji Formation?”

Luo Chen never anticipated that what he thought would be typical guidance from Han Zhan would spiral into such an eye-opening encounter.