The Quest for Immortality

Second-grade High-level Formation Master?!

Throughout the entirety of the Big Black Mountain State boundary’s second grade, not a single second-grade high-level Formation Master has emerged in the past centuries.

Even those at the second-grade middle-level are as rare as phoenix feathers.

The elderly Formation Masters seated among them exchanged glances, unable to hide the shock and suspicion in their eyes.

These veteran Formation Masters were once considered geniuses in formations in their youth.

They started their enlightenment at the age of three, began learning formations at seven, and emerged as standouts in their teens. By their twenties and thirties, they reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement, and through diligent study, passed the assessment in their forties and fifties to become first-grade Formation Masters.

Such individuals were already considered rare formation prodigies.

They were the targets of fervent recruitment by various families and sects in the surrounding area.

Subsequently, they dedicated themselves to cultivation, laboring through Foundation Establishment, and continued to learn second-grade formations.

Upon achieving mastery in Dao, they would gather with peers to participate in the assessments, the hardships of which were beyond words.

In such a way, over the course of one to two hundred years, they poured their blood and sweat, turned their hair gray, and finally reached the second grade, becoming second-grade primary-level Formation Masters.

This level was already considered the pinnacle of formation skills within the Big Black Mountain State boundary.

Yet, the young boy before their eyes, just over twenty, claimed he could explain second-grade high-level formations, elucidate the principles of the peak second-grade nineteen-pattern formations. How could this not stir a complex mix of emotions in their hearts?

Of course, many remained skeptical.

A second-grade primary-level Formation Master at just over twenty, although astounding, could still be reluctantly believed.

But advancing beyond the primary level, each step became significantly harder.

The second-grade middle-level was several times more difficult.

As for the second-grade high-level, it was an entirely different realm.

A second-grade high-level Formation Master in their twenties was too incredible to fathom.

The assembly of formation masters fixed their gaze on Mo Hua, their expressions varied with shock, despondency, jealousy, disdain, scorn, fear, skepticism... diverse in appearance, their thoughts racing.

Mo Hua turned a blind eye to everything around him, simply following his plan, step by step explaining formations.

He began with the most basic principles of the Five Elements Formation.

Starting from basic formation patterns and progressing to complex variations.

Then he moved on to the formation pivot, from a singular pivot to the structure of compound formations.

Afterward, he expanded from the principles of the Five Elements formations to the categories of Eight Trigrams, discussing the similarities between the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, elaborating on the transformations between Fire Formation and Li Formation, Water Formation and Gui Formation, Earth Formation and Gen Formation...

Finally, he addressed the complex changes when combining the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, including connectivity, integration, complementarity, and transformation...

And, certain more profound layers of the Large Formation’s superficial pivot structures, the grand framework of the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, and the compatibility of numerous formation patterns...

...

The Formation Masters present began with doubt, gradually fell silent.

Then, upon hearing the profound parts, they were moved to admiration, even banging the table in amazement.

When they reached the abstruse parts, they slowly frowned, their expressions puzzled.

Finally, when they encountered the grand layouts of the formations, strategic maneuverings, and the unfathomable complexity, they felt their scalps tingle, broke into a cold sweat, and terror welled up in their eyes, reminded of the despair of gazing at the moon from a well or an ephemeron glimpsing the blue sky.

By this point, when they looked at Mo Hua again, they felt he was one with the Great Dao, radiating an immortal glow, like a divine figure.

Unless a true immortal descended to the mortal world, it would be impossible to possess such terrifying talent. Nor would it be possible at such a young age to have such awe-inspiring proficiency in formation skills...

After Mo Hua finished explaining the formation principles, he paused.

The full audience was silent and solemn, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Moments later, a white-haired, elderly, most senior Formation Master slowly stood up, saluted Mo Hua with a hand gesture, and sighed:

”I have diligently studied formations for over two hundred years, yet am far outstripped by Young Master Mo’s vast knowledge achieved in slightly over twenty years. This is truly... humbling...”

”Young Master Mo’s talent is indeed... astonishing beyond comparison...”

Mo Hua paused for a moment and then slowly said, ”Actually, I don’t know if I have talent...”

The white-haired old Formation Master was stunned.

Mo Hua thought for a moment and said, ”My sole talent may be in persistently drawing formations, studying formations, understanding formations... Learning during the day and even in my dreams at night, staying focused, single-mindedly, constantly learning and thinking, without considering anything else, never considering whether I have ’talent’...”

The worm lacks sharp claws and strong bones, feeds on dirty soil, drinks from the underworld, with a single focus.

The white-haired old Formation Master was visibly moved, eventually sighing and saluting deeply, ”Thank... you, Young Master Mo, for sharing your knowledge.”

The other Formation Masters also rose, sincerely saluted Mo Hua together, and said in unison, ”Thank you, Young Master Mo, for sharing your knowledge.”

Instructor Yan also stood up and solemnly saluted Mo Hua.

Mo Hua bowed and respectfully returned the courtesy.

The grand Taoist field of Tongxian City quietly rose in a scholarly atmosphere.

...

The formation philosophy discussion ended perfectly.

Subsequently, the discussions on alchemy, artifact refining, and rune refining were held sequentially.

However, in these fields, there wasn’t a high-level cultivator like Mo Hua, who stood out with transcendental proficiency, to preside over and impart knowledge. The various Pill Masters, Artifact Refiners, and Talisman Masters only exchanged knowledge and shared information with one another.

Nevertheless, everyone gained substantial benefit from this.

Tongxian City also began to develop an initial scholarly atmosphere for Tao cultivation.

At the end of the Tao Discussion Meeting, Mo Hua, hailing from a Great Sect and having reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, presided to explain the Tao of Foundation Establishment cultivation to everyone.

This time, there were even more cultivators listening, densely packed, filling the entire Taoist field.

Even outside the field, some cultivators perched on rooftops or clung to large trees, all to listen to Mo Hua’s teachings.

After all, cultivators specializing in formations were a minority.

But cultivation was something every cultivator needed to progress in.

All Qi Refining cultivators wished to reach Foundation Establishment. And every Foundation Building cultivator aspired to advance their cultivation further.