Immortality Through Array Formations

Mo Shan had plans to drink with a few brothers from the Monster Hunting Team.

Liu Ruhua and Aunt Jiang went to see the lanterns together and to try a few new pastries from the recently opened shops.

With the sky still ablaze with fireworks, Mo Hua had no choice but to wander the streets alone.

As he was wandering, Mo Hua’s divine sense suddenly stirred and he looked up to see Elder Yu sitting on a rooftop, drinking alone, a solitary figure.

Mo Hua used the Water Passing Step and walked vertically against the wall, step by step, until he reached the rooftop.

Seeing Mo Hua, Elder Yu’s eyes brightened and he patted the tiles beside him, “Come, sit here, join me for a drink.”

Mo Hua sat down next to Elder Yu and took out some fruit wine from his storage bag to clink glasses with him.

Elder Yu’s alcohol was a strong liquor, spicy and potent.

Mo Hua’s drink, however, was sweet and one could drink as much as they liked.

The fruit wine was sweet on entry with a lingering aftertaste. Mo Hua couldn’t help but shake his little head and turned his gaze to Elder Yu, unable to stop himself from asking,

“Elder, are you alone?”

“What’s wrong with being alone?”

“It looks a bit lonely…” Mo Hua said with sympathy.

Elder Yu raised an eyebrow, sighed, and looking into the distance said, “I’m up here drinking alone because I’m happy.”

Mo Hua nodded, as long as he was happy and not desolate, that was good.

After some thought, Mo Hua suddenly asked, “Elder, is it very difficult to become a Foundation Building Cultivator?”

“What, thinking of Foundation Establishment?” Elder Yu was somewhat surprised.

“Not yet, I’m just asking,” Mo Hua said with a shy smile.

He was currently at the sixth level of Qi Refinement and had not yet reached the latter stages of Qi Refinement, so there was still some time before Foundation Establishment.

“Foundation Establishment, you say? It’s not difficult, but not simple either.”

“Elder, could you be more straightforward?”

Elder Yu choked on his drink and decided not to beat around the bush any longer, speaking directly,

“The difficulty of Foundation Establishment ultimately lies in two things: one is the Spiritual Root, and the other is Spirit Stones…”

“There is no need to go into detail about the Spiritual Root; a good Spiritual Root means profound Spiritual Power, which makes the breakthrough easier. As for Spirit Stones, it goes without saying—if you don’t have Spirit Stones, even regular cultivation is a problem, let alone Foundation Establishment.”

“What about Spiritual Objects?” Mo Hua inquired.

“Most Spiritual Objects still require spending Spirit Stones to buy, at least the Spiritual Objects we ordinary Cultivators need for cultivation can be purchased with Spirit Stones,” Elder Yu explained.

Mo Hua nodded, “So in the end, it all comes down to the problem of Spirit Stones.”

Elder Yu nodded in agreement, “Exactly.”

“Then, if one’s Spiritual Root is good and there’s no shortage of Spirit Stones, is Foundation Establishment guaranteed?”

“In this world, nothing can be said for certain. There are always exceptions, but as long as you have enough Spirit Stones, the chances of successful Foundation Establishment are quite high.”

Elder Yu took a sip of his drink and continued, “Prepare enough Spirit Stones, gather the required Spiritual Objects, and if you fail once, then try again. Eventually, you’ll succeed. And once you succeed, you are a Foundation Building Cultivator.”

Mo Hua frowned, “It seems that it’s not too difficult…”

“The journey of Tao Cultivation begins with Qi Refinement. Although Foundation Establishment is considered a step higher, it’s only one step beyond Qi Refinement. From the Golden Core Realm onwards, every step becomes increasingly difficult, with strict demands on the Spiritual Root, talent, comprehension, and inheritance.”

Elder Yu sighed, “As for Foundation Establishment, as long as you have the Spirit Stones, that’s enough.”

Despite this, among Loose Cultivators throughout the hundred years, only Elder Yu had successfully reached Foundation Establishment…

Mo Hua asked, “Does Foundation Establishment require a lot of Spirit Stones?”

Elder Yu sighed, “It varies from person to person. For cultivation, plus buying spiritual objects, you will need at least ten thousand spirit stones.”

Mo Hua silently calculated in his heart. An ordinary Qi Refinement Cultivator, earning just one spirit stone a day, would make three hundred sixty a year. To accumulate over ten thousand spirit stones would approximately take thirty years.

To not eat or drink, or use anything, and save for thirty years.

And that’s just the spirit stones needed for one breakthrough attempt. If it failed, all the spirit stones would be exhausted, and thirty years of hard work would go down the drain.

Moreover, how could cultivators possibly not eat or drink, never fall ill, and never face unexpected crises?

Mo Hua also sighed.

Elder Yu spoke with bitterness, “The main reason Loose Cultivators can’t reach Foundation Establishment is, in fact, poverty.”

“There are many thresholds on the path of Tao cultivation, but poverty is the most despairing one.”

“If the spiritual root is inadequate, you know from the start that the path is unattainable, but poverty first allows you to see hope, then makes you experience despair. Spirit stones are always too few, and the Great Dao is always out of reach.”

In Elder Yu’s expression, there was both melancholy and helplessness.

“Is it the same for all Loose Cultivators under the heavens?” Mo Hua asked.

“Generally, yes,” Elder Yu sighed, “In the Tao Cultivation World, there are more cultivators in the Qi Refinement Realm, and they are the ones who suffer the most. The vast Nine State is limitless. When you step out of the Black Mountain Realm in the future and see for yourself, you’ll find that there are many Immortal Cities poorer than Tongxian City, and countless cultivators who are in greater distress than our Monster Hunters.”

Mo Hua’s expression fell, and he fell silent.

Only then did Elder Yu realize he had said too much — these words were not meant for a child.

Elder Yu patted Mo Hua on the shoulder and changed the subject, “We can’t control others’ affairs. At the very least, the life of Loose Cultivators in Tongxian City will get better and better, and it’s all thanks to you.”

Mo Hua felt somewhat embarrassed, “I didn’t do much, just drew a few formations.”

“Formations are most important,” Elder Yu said seriously. “Without a Formation Master to draw formations, even if a few more Foundation Building Cultivators were to emerge among the Loose Cultivators, maybe three or four, it would be to no avail. Everyone would still be poor and suffering.”

Mo Hua was stunned.

He knew that the status of a Formation Master was relatively high and that formations were difficult to learn, and that the Cultivation World needed formations in all aspects. But it didn’t seem to be as critical as Elder Yu made it out to be — more important than three or four Foundation Building Cultivators.

Elder Yu saw Mo Hua’s confusion and explained patiently:

“Qi Refinement is the foundational level. One step above is Foundation Establishment. By becoming a Foundation Building Cultivator, you have the qualifications to seek the Great Dao and change your fate.”

“I became a Foundation Building Cultivator and changed my own fate, but I cannot change the fate of other Loose Cultivators. I can contend with the Qian Family and try to protect the Loose Cultivators from being oppressed, but in reality, I can’t really help them much.”

“They are still poor and still suffering, still struggling to get by, still destined to remain forever at Qi Refinement. I have cultivation in vain. Even if I were to steal or rob, I couldn’t get many spirit stones.”

“But formations are different!”

Elder Yu looked at Mo Hua with gleaming eyes, “Even if you are only at Qi Refinement, as long as you know formations, you can truly benefit all Loose Cultivators. Let them make a living, earn spirit stones, and further their cultivation.”

“Cultivation can be used to kill, but formations can bring blessings to all beings!”

Mo Hua was moved and nodded, “Elder, I understand.”

Elder Yu nodded with satisfaction and said no more, but quietly watched the myriad lights of Tongxian City.

Mo Hua followed Elder Yu’s gaze as well.

Bright red lanterns hung from one end of the street to the other, shining on children chasing and frolicking, cultivators greeting each other or walking together, creating an extraordinary buzz.

Fireworks splendored the sky, Market Towns were close-packed, and the streets surged with people.

Laughter melded into the myriad lights, joining the dazzling fireworks to light up the entire night sky.

This myriad of lights and magnificent fireworks also reflected in Mo Hua’s eyes.

The young Mo Hua’s Taoist heart gradually became firm:

In this life, he would diligently cultivate, comprehend formations, and with heaven-reaching and earth-penetrating formations, he would seek longevity and defy fate.

To change his own fate, and the fate of all those lower-level cultivators under the sky.

Then, not only in Tongxian City but all Loose Cultivators throughout the vast sky would no longer be stuck in mere Qi Refinement!