The Quest for Immortality

First came the design of the mine.

This large mine had to penetrate the mountain range, connecting the mountains, while also establishing a structurally rigorous and functionally complete Formation System.

Which mountains to mine, and how to connect them.

Which Formations to construct, and how to layout them.

All these were considerations.

Mo Hua first studied the structure of the various mines around South Yue City according to maps from past generations.

Then, he sought the opinions of a few Noble Clans and Sect Elders.

These Elders’ clans or sects also had mining industries.

They had managed Tao Cultivation-related businesses, defended mines, or participated in mine construction.

When Mo Hua asked them, they did not hold back any secrets.

Not only did they want to plan welfare for the impoverished Mining Cultivators, but they were also grateful to Mo Hua for suppressing the Corpse King and quelling the Corpse Menace.

Once Mo Hua became familiar with the mine structure, he spent several days drafting a large Formation Diagram.

There was no need for a Large Formation within the mine, nor was it feasible to use one.

Large Formations are grand and uniform.

Whereas the Formations in a mine are fragmented.

They need to fulfill various functions and must be as simple, solid, and durable as possible. Even if damaged, they must be easy to repair.

If a Large Formation were used and it broke, hardly anyone could fix it after Mo Hua left.

Therefore, the Formations within the mine were just a cluster of Compound Formations that included some basic-use Single Formations.

Simple, fundamental, yet practical.

Yet the workload was not small.

Additionally, Mo Hua integrated the underlying structure of the Five Elements Slaughter Demon Great Formation, using the principle of Five Elements Generation and Restraint to streamline and optimize these disparate Formations.

He made the Formations clearer and more concise, while also removing some redundant Formations, lowering some of the costs.

Despite the large number of Formations used in the mine, their complexity was not high.

Mo Hua didn’t even need to show his work to Mr. Zhuang; he just presented it to Bai Zixi. The two of them got together, reviewed the Formation Patterns, sorted out the Formation Pivots, and after patching up any omissions, the design was perfected.

He then presented it to Formation Masters of the Taoist Court to consult, and after some discussion, it was finalized.

Although there were many Formations, Mo Hua, despite his speed at Drawing Formations, was still just one person and couldn’t draw them all, so he needed the help of these Formation Masters from the Taoist Court.

They all agreed to help.

After Mo Hua left, an older Formation Master sighed in admiration, ”This Formation is well-constructed...”

A younger Formation Master expressed doubt, ”But it’s all commonplace Formations, just average, right?”

The old Formation Master glared at him, ”What do you know? The trickiest part is making good use of common Formations.”

He pointed at the Formation Diagram on the table, ”These Formations seem simple, but the layout is concise and efficient, and they complement each other well. One more would be too many, one less would be insufficient. To achieve this balance, one must have a deep foundation and robust basics...”

The old Formation Master continued to praise Mo Hua.

The young Formation Master nodded, although he still seemed somewhat unconvinced.

Simple Formations, after all, were just that—simple. Even if used to their fullest, they seemed rather plain.

The old Formation Master couldn’t help but shake his head.

Young Master Yun, looking at the Formations before him, fell silent, his brow furrowed in thought.

As a Second Rank Formation Master with deep family knowledge, he saw things more profoundly.

The disposition of these Formations appeared simple yet grand and imposing, as if derived from... a Large Formation?

Large Formations make the complex out of the simple, integrating various parts seamlessly, while these Formations exemplified the essence of simplification.

The design was indeed exquisite, but...

Young Master Yun was somewhat puzzled.

Why use only the most basic and simple Formations?

Why not use some with stronger effects, First Grade or even higher than First Grade?

Young Master Yun thought over it, confused. When, days later, Mo Hua began to draw the Formations, Yun approached Mo Hua somewhat sheepishly and rather apologetically.

Mo Hua was intently Drawing Formations when he saw Young Master Yun and asked curiously,

”Young Master Yun, is there something you need?”

Mo Hua naturally recognized him as the sole Second Grade Formation Master among the various powers of South Yue City—especially one so young—even though they hadn’t really chatted before and weren’t familiar with each other, mainly because the urgency of the Corpse Tide left no time for such interactions.

Being looked at by Mo Hua’s innocent, wide eyes, Young Master Yun felt somewhat out of his element but still managed to compose himself and voiced his queries,

”These Formations... there are better choices, right? So why choose the most basic ones?”

Mo Hua replied, ”Because these Formations are meant to be used.”

”Used?” Young Master Yun was slightly startled.

Mo Hua nodded, ”My master taught me that Formations must be learned for practical application...”

”The Formations in this world, when drawn on paper, are one thing, but when actually put to use, the situation is varied.”

Young Master Yun looked thoughtful.

Mo Hua let out a small sigh, then continued,

”This is a mine, and inside are Formations for Mining Cultivators to use.”

”Mining Cultivators are very poor.”

”Using fancier Formations might yield better results, but once they break, no one will be there to fix them for them.”

”Even if they could repair them, they couldn’t afford it.”

”Therefore, simple, durable, sturdy, easy-to-repair Formations are what’s best for them.”

Young Master Yun was taken aback.

No one had ever put it to him that way before.

Every Formation Master was studying more advanced Formations, mastering more difficult ones, to elevate their own level of Formation knowledge and to seek a grander daoist future.

Nearly no one had thought to make these most basic Formations widely accessible to the most common Cultivators...

He hadn’t realized this either.