Immortality Through Array Formations

Translator: 549690339

Clouds and mist shrouded the mountain paths, hiding within them a courtyard that lay beyond a bamboo gate, with a narrow trail winding its way to the feet of Mo Hua.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

As Mo Hua stepped onto the path, his divine sense detected a fluctuation, as though something had been triggered.

Yet, looking around, the mountains remained unchanged, the trees still stood as they were, and the flora continued to bloom untouched.

Mo Hua paused and looked around but could not discern anything unusual.

Mo Hua had heard that some revered seniors enjoyed placing formations or setting scenarios to test others; he wondered if the gentleman on the mountain had a similar penchant.

Or could it be that this very path was a test in itself?

Mo Hua felt an inexplicable touch of nervousness.

Since he was a formation master and he sensed the fluctuations, it was likely that a formation had been set up on this path.

But what kind of formation could it be?

With Mo Hua’s limited experience in formations, he had no clue. Even after a thorough look around, he saw no difference in the surroundings.

Mo Hua walked on, pondering, but came to no conclusion.

He could only remember Instructor Yan’s instruction: to keep his mind clear and let nature take its course, without forcing or feeling discouraged.

Continuing in this manner, he soon found himself at the courtyard entrance.

The bamboo gate of the courtyard was modest yet possessed a secluded charm.

Past the bamboo gate, the view abruptly opened up to reveal a beautiful courtyard with several elegant bamboo residences; the grass was like an emerald carpet, the pond mist enveloped, and cranes sipped dewdrops, providing a sight so refreshing it enraptured the soul.

Within the courtyard stood a gaunt old man. Mo Hua hastened to pay his respects, greeting, “Good day, sir.”

The old man’s voice was as rough and dry as his appearance, sounding like a withered branch weathering in the wind:

“I am not the sir you seek. The sir is inside, follow me.”

Having said that, he led Mo Hua into one of the bamboo residences which was elegantly simple, with breezes flowing in from all sides.

Seated in the middle of the residence was a middle-aged cultivator clad in white, with an exceptionally handsome face and a demeanor exuding a natural elegance. His every glance revealed a sense of unruly freedom, as if all the living things in the world couldn’t cling to him.

This was the most celestial and noble person Mo Hua had ever seen.

The middle-aged cultivator greeted Mo Hua with an amicable smile, saying, “You must be Mo Hua. Mr. Yan has told me about you. Just answer my questions naturally, without restraint. Speak your thoughts as they come.”

Mo Hua bowed respectfully, responding, “Yes, sir.”

The middle-aged cultivator said, “My surname is Zhuang. Just call me Mr. Zhuang.”

Mo Hua bowed again, “Mr. Zhuang.”

Mr. Zhuang nodded slightly and then asked, “What did you see as you walked along the small road up the mountain just now?”

Mo Hua considered for a moment before answering, “There were mountains and trees, flowers and grass, and a small path.”

“Nothing else?” Mr. Zhuang inquired with interest. “Didn’t you see anything else? Like people or events?”

Mo Hua shook his head.

Mr. Zhuang said, “That small path holds a formation, a gift from a Taoist friend of yesteryear. Its name is the Water Mirror Formation, which, upon first walking upon it, can reveal insights into one’s fate or even foretell aspects of one’s future.”

Mo Hua felt a jolt in his heart; such a formation existed? One that could unveil fate and the future?

Then what did it mean that I saw nothing? Surely it doesn’t imply that I have no future…

Mo Hua grew apprehensive for a moment but recalling Instructor Yan’s earlier advice, he stayed truthful, “I didn’t see anything else…”

Mr. Zhuang showed a hint of surprise, then nodded, “I see.” He then extracted a formation diagram and continued, “Here are some writing materials; draw this formation to the best of your ability, as much as you can.”

Mo Hua glanced at the formation diagram, recognizing it as the Water Controlling Formation, the same one Instructor Yan used for the assessment.

“Yes.”

Mo Hua took the paper and brush, and, comparing it with the Formation Diagram, began Drawing Formation.

Two hours later, Mo Hua’s Divine Sense was exhausted, and he could only draw five and a half Formation Patterns.

Only a few days had passed since the last time he drew the Water Controlling Formation, and Mo Hua’s Divine Sense had not grown fast enough to draw six Formation Patterns in such a short amount of time.

This time, the formation was drawn more skillfully than the last, and the brushwork was neater too.

Mr. Zhuang looked at the Formation drawn by Mo Hua, raised his eyebrows slightly, and then said,

“Not bad. Would you like to become a recorded named disciple of mine? I won’t transmit some of the Sect’s formations to you, but if you want to learn the common formations of the Tao Cultivation World, I can teach you all of them.”

Although he didn’t know why, Mo Hua seemed to have passed Mr. Zhuang’s test.

Mo Hua was overjoyed and then respectfully bowed to Mr. Zhuang saying, “Thank you, Gentleman. This disciple is willing!”

In the Cultivation World, there are two types of master-disciple relationships: One is the recorded named disciple, and the other is the Direct Disciple.

Direct Disciples call their mentor “Master” and are taught personally, adhering to the idea that “once a teacher, forever a father,” resulting in a very deep bond between Master and disciple.

The relationship with recorded named disciples is far more casual; they are taught whatever the mentor wants to teach them, and the disciples cannot call them “Master,” only “Gentleman.” There is affection between recorded named disciples and their mentors, but it’s not as profound as with a Direct Disciple.

Nevertheless, Mo Hua was very grateful that Mr. Zhuang was willing to take him on as a recorded named disciple.

Mr. Zhuang nodded, “You may go back today. Come here tomorrow, two hours after dawn, and I will start teaching you some formations.”

“Yes, Gentleman!”

Mo Hua bowed again, this time with the bow reserved for a disciple to a mentor, and then bid farewell to Mr. Zhuang, leaving his courtyard with a spring in his step.

As Mo Hua walked down the mountain, he found that Instructor Yan was still waiting at the base. Learning that Mr. Zhuang had agreed to take Mo Hua as an apprentice, he breathed a sigh of relief and said with satisfaction,

“It’s your good fortune that Mr. Zhuang values you so highly. You must cherish this opportunity. Mr. Zhuang is a respected figure; you must show him great respect.”

“Yes, Instructor,” Mo Hua replied.

As the two walked down the mountain path, Mo Hua suddenly asked with curiosity, “Instructor, have you been to Mr. Zhuang’s courtyard? What did you see when you passed by that narrow path?”

Instructor Yan turned his head, silently looked at Mo Hua for a moment, and then said,

“As I walked past that narrow path, I vaguely saw some visions. These fleeting images told me that Mr. Zhuang was willing to take you as his disciple, and that in the future, you would become an outstanding Formation Master.”

Having said this, they had reached a fork in the road where Tongxian City lay ahead.

Instructor Yan looked at Mo Hua and then said solemnly, “Mo Hua.”

Mo Hua turned around, and Instructor Yan paused before saying,

“A Formation Master seeks the Heavenly Dao; however, the Heavenly Dao is boundless, while human life is finite. Only by passing down formations from generation to generation can cultivators possibly unravel the Heavenly Dao, and thus, formations can benefit all beings.”

“One day in the future, should you become a top-tier or even superior Formation Master and meet cultivators who are kind-hearted and talented in formations, I hope you will also be generous with your guidance. The way of formations is like water; it must be passed down to flow far and wide, or else it will become stagnant.”

Mo Hua suddenly felt a heavy weight on his shoulders. He bowed to Instructor Yan and said earnestly, “This disciple will remember!”

Instructor Yan’s expression was one of relief.

Unable to help himself, Mo Hua asked, “Instructor, are you leaving Tongxian City?”

Instructor Yan nodded, “I can’t stay in Tongxian Gate any longer, and I have some personal matters to attend to. I will be leaving soon.”

“Will I be able to see you again?”

Instructor Yan looked into Mo Hua’s clear, dark eyes and smiled, “Let’s leave it to fate.”

Instructor Yan reached out and tousled Mo Hua’s hair, “You should head back early, go and speak with your parents.”

Mo Hua headed toward the city gate. After a few steps, he turned around and gave Instructor Yan another bow.

Instructor Yan waved his hand and said warmly, “Go on.” He watched Mo Hua until his figure shrank in the distance before turning to leave.

Meanwhile, Mo Hua also turned back, looked at where Instructor Yan had been, and deeply bowed once more.

The figure of Instructor Yan gradually disappeared, faintly vanishing into the misty and elusive mountains.