The Quest for Immortality

Mo Hua had another doubt.

“But, Master, isn’t the earth unsuitable to be used as Formation media?”

Generally, Formation Masters wouldn’t use earth as the media for Formations.

Because the earth’s texture might be loose or moist, or it might erode and lose its shape due to dryness and weathering, making it difficult to maintain a fixed form over time and unsuitable to carry Formation Patterns.

Mr. Zhuang corrected, “It’s not that it is unsuitable to be Formation media, but rather, most Formation Masters can’t use it as such.”

“What they can’t do, they fail to comprehend. Over time, most Formation Masters then come to believe that the earth is unsuitable to be Formation media.”

Mo Hua thought for a moment and tentatively asked,

“Then how can the earth carry Formation Patterns?”

He still didn’t quite understand.

“What is the essence of the Formation Patterns in a Formation?” Mr. Zhuang asked.

“It’s the physical manifestation of the trajectory of Spiritual Power flow.” Mo Hua answered.

He had studied Divine Sense Calculation, had drawn a Large Formation, and had controlled the flow of Spiritual Power within the Formation Patterns through the Formation Pivot, so his comprehension was profound.

Mr. Zhuang nodded, “Do you remember what I told you? Some Formation Masters only know how to follow the clues from the Formation Diagram, tracing the Formation Patterns exactly as they are without daring to add or subtract a single stroke. Yet, their Formations still lack efficacy.”

“Because they have only the form without the internal flow of Spiritual Power, these Formations are nothing but empty shells.”

“Whereas some Formation Masters are not bound by form and draw as they please, and their Formations come out naturally perfect.”

“This is because these Formation Masters are using their Divine Sense to connect with the Great Dao and control the flow of Spiritual Power with Formation Patterns, not rigidly drawing the Patterns.”

Mo Hua suddenly realized and was a bit stunned.

Mr. Zhuang smiled, “Do you understand now?”

Mo Hua furrowed his brow and pondered before saying,

“Formation media need to carry Formation Patterns, but what’s truly being carried is not the Patterns themselves but the Spiritual Power that the Patterns channel.”

“Abandoning the form, seeking the essence.”

“Patterns are merely the superficial aspect of a Formation. The internal flow of Spiritual Power is the essence of a Formation.”

“So by using ‘earth’ as Formation media, what the earth needs to carry is actually the internal Spiritual Power, not just the superficial Formation Patterns.”

“As long as the Spiritual Power of the Formation is in harmony with the earth, and the Formation Patterns become one with the earth, then even if the ground changes from dry to wet, the Formation will still exist.”

The more Mo Hua spoke, the clearer his thoughts became, and his eyes shone brightly.

Mr. Zhuang watched Mo Hua and thought silently,

“Understanding at first mention, this is his innate talent for Formations, and also… an affinity with the Great Dao…”

“Master, is this correct?” Mo Hua asked intently.

Mr. Zhuang nodded, “Indeed.”

Mo Hua smiled happily, but then he had another doubt,

“Many Formation Masters must understand this principle, so why haven’t I seen others use the ‘earth’ as Formation media?” Mo Hua then added, “… aside from the Old Ancestor of the Sun Family.”

Mr. Zhuang said, “The principles are clear, but actually doing it is entirely another matter.”

“Is it difficult?”

Mr. Zhuang nodded, “Even if you understand these principles, what next? How do you make the earth carry Spiritual Power? How do you make Formation Patterns become one with the earth? And how do you go about drawing a Formation? Which Formation should you draw?”

“Principles are simple to speak of, but in practice, they are fraught with difficulties, to the point where one doesn’t know where to begin.”

Mo Hua nodded, reflecting on the words, and after a moment, his eyes brightened again,

“So, the key is the Thick Earth Formation, isn’t it?”

Mr. Zhuang raised his eyebrows slightly, signaling for Mo Hua to continue.

Mo Hua went on thinking,

“Since the Thick Earth Formation is said to ‘carry virtue,’ it contains the Dao of the Earth and inherently uses ‘earth’ as Formation media.”

“Conversely, learning this Formation means learning to use ‘earth’ as Formation media and comprehending the Formation is to grasp the Dao of the Earth represented by ‘carrying virtue.’”

“Once you have learned the Formation and grasped the Dao, you can naturally make the earth carry Spiritual Power and become one with the Formation Patterns.”

Mr. Zhuang said with a slight smile, “Well said.”

Mo Hua gave a bashful smile, “You teach well, Master!”

Mr. Zhuang gave a faint smile, shook his head, and then said slowly,

“In cultivating the Dao, emphasis is laid on enlightenment, which without substance can easily become ethereal and formless.”

“However, Formations are manifestations of the Heavenly Dao and serve as a bridge connecting Cultivators with the abstract Heavenly Dao.”

“By pondering Formations, applying them, combining the abstract with the tangible, only then can one truly understand the Great Dao.”

“A Formation Master thoroughly studying Formations draws near to the Dao, and by attaining the Dao, one may achieve immortality…”

Mr. Zhuang looked at Mo Hua with profound and expectant eyes.

“Thoroughly studying Formations, drawing near to the Dao…” Mo Hua repeated softly, his gaze becoming clear and his expression increasingly resolute.

He nodded solemnly and said with respect,

“Master, your disciple remembers!”

After Mr. Zhuang finished speaking, his once profound gaze turned lazy, and he waved his hand,

“Study the Thick Earth Formation more, see if you can comprehend any part of it, and come to me if you have any questions.”

“Hmm!”

Mo Hua ran off to practice Formation again.

In the courtyard, the mountain breeze blew.

Old Kui silently appeared behind Mr. Zhuang and frowned, “Should you be teaching him such profound matters?”

“If he can learn it, why not teach it?”

After thinking for a while, Mr. Zhuang then sighed,

“Originally, I just wanted him to try searching for Formations, to exercise his Calculation spell point. I planned to reveal the truth to him when he truly couldn’t find it.”

“But I did not expect him to find it on his own.”

“He even deduced the Formation Diagram…”

“These matters, although difficult, do not present a reason not to teach him if he can learn.”

“Time is short, and I wish to teach him more…”

Old Kui’s eyebrows twitched slightly, “Have you calculated all of this?”

“Not exactly,” Mr. Zhuang shook his head, “it was just a coincidence. Before coming here, I did not anticipate finding the Earth Sect’s Ultimate Formation hidden in this place.”

After finishing his thoughts, Mr. Zhuang’s gaze shifted slightly, “I don’t know if it’s my good luck or Mo Hua’s fortunate destiny.”

The Ultimate Formation of the Earth Sect is no ordinary Formation.

Old Kui was puzzled, “Is there a branch of the Earth Sect bearing the Sun surname?”

“Surnames are just that, merely labels; they can’t be taken as truth,” Mr. Zhuang said indifferently.

Old Kui nodded, his eyes slightly lifting to gaze at the continuous Spirit Fields, quite moved,

“Though not encompassing the heavens, it can ‘penetrate the earth.’ With such Formation proficiency, even being Second Grade, he must be more than an ordinary individual.”

“Such a person, to have died with his Sea of Consciousness shattered…”

Mr. Zhuang’s gaze also became slightly focused, yet he said nothing.

Old Kui glanced again at Mr. Zhuang, “Learning this Ultimate Formation, Mo Hua won’t get into any trouble, will he?”

Mr. Zhuang dismissively replied, “What trouble would there be?”

“This Ultimate Formation is the Earth Sect’s secret transmission.”

Mr. Zhuang snorted, “If they can’t learn it, can they prevent others from learning?”

“Besides, he didn’t steal it or rob it; if meat falls into your lap, why not eat it? To not take what is given by heaven is to invite misfortune,” Mr. Zhuang spoke confidently.

“What if the Earth Sect causes trouble?”

“Don’t worry, I’ve already thought of solutions,” Mr. Zhuang said.

Old Kui was somewhat skeptical, “Are they legitimate solutions?”

“If it works, who cares about legitimacy?” Mr. Zhuang remained composed, “Moreover, the Earth Sect is in Kun State, which is tens of thousands of miles away from here; it’s uncertain whether they could even find this place.”

Old Kui indifferently said, “As long as you are certain in your own mind.”

The yard became quiet for a while, with neither of them speaking.

A moment later, Old Kui broke the silence,

“They are on their way here.”

Mr. Zhuang wasn’t surprised, “With such a commotion in Tongxian City, if the Pavilion Elder couldn’t calculate this, he might as well retire and go back home to spend his old age.”

“What are you going to do?” Old Kui inquired.

Mr. Zhuang lay on a bamboo chair, watching the clouds shift, and said indifferently,

“Nothing in particular, we’ll do what needs to be done as planned.”

“Aren’t you afraid they’ll catch up?”

“They can calculate, and so can I, every time I’m one step ahead. It would take them at least a year or two to catch up to me.”

“What about Gui Tao’s people? He won’t let you off either,” Old Kui said.

Mr. Zhuang smiled faintly, “He never intended to let me go.”

“He’s craftier than you, plus he has succumbed to demons, sealed as a ‘Taoist.’ With his Taoist Heart planted with devils and having reached completion, his actions are even more unscrupulous,” Old Kui stated woodenly.

“After so many years, sector grudges must come to an end,” Mr. Zhuang said.

Old Kui sneered, “How can you end it? If you meet him, you have no chance of survival…”

Old Kui wanted to say more but was interrupted by Mr. Zhuang.

“Don’t worry…”

Mr. Zhuang gazed at the sky, his eyes distant and contemplative,

“I have everything planned out.”

His expression was neither sad nor happy, his gaze steady, in a state beyond life and death.