The Quest for Immortality

”That’s true...”

”Add some variations to the Formation?”

”I don’t think it’s a good idea...” An Elder said, ”We are all old folks, having studied for so many years. We’ve seen a lot and have dabbled in various Formation variations.”

”Those disciples are different; they are just little kids. Their years alive don’t even amount to a fraction of our ages. Altogether, they haven’t trained in Formations much, knowing only a few basic Formation Formations. Testing Formation variations would be too difficult for them.”

”But the Sect has reformed, we can’t leave the Array Discussion Conference completely unchanged. Let’s just change it a little and test one or two Formation variations.”

”Anyway, there’s room for error in this competition. Failing to create three arrays results in defeat, but failing to create one or two is no big deal.”

”I still think it’s a bit too difficult.”

”You’re overthinking it. Don’t forget, this is the Qian Learning State Boundary, which is never short of geniuses.”

”To win at the Array Discussion Conference, you need some real skills.”

”Then let’s proceed like this. We will pick some formations, then let Master Wen review them, and he will make the decision...”

”That sounds good.”

...

They were merely expressing their opinions.

But regardless of the opinions, the final decision was entirely up to Master Wen, who served as the chief examiner.

Afterward, everyone began selecting questions according to the outlined rules and the ideas and directions they had discussed.

Starting from the Sixteen Patterns.

The Array Discussion Conference starts testing from the Sixteen Patterns.

This is a threshold meant for elimination.

If one cannot even reach the Sixteen Patterns, they wouldn’t qualify to compete against the Formations geniuses of various sects.

Having surpassed the Sixteen Patterns earns a certain ranking.

Though it might not be high, it is indeed a contribution to the Sect.

Beyond Sixteen Patterns, it gets harder with every single Pattern.

Every single Pattern is a major hurdle that can filter out a large number of people.

Especially at the end, the gap from Eighteen Patterns to Nineteen Patterns is a world of difference.

Disciples who can draw the Nineteen Patterns are exceedingly rare.

Within the Debate Hall, many Elders of Formation Arts were either pondering, flipping through records, making decisions, or struggling with one Formation after another. ŘαΝΟʙЕ𝘚

According to the rules, they first listed the formations, then filtered them, and finally presented them collectively to the chief examiner, Master Wen.

Master Wen would then set the questions, sealing them in a Jade Slip.

Thus, the selection of questions was done by the elders while the setting of questions was done by Master Wen.

It was very fair for everyone.

All of this had to be finalized the night before the Array Discussion Conference ended. The Elders wouldn’t leave until the Conference truly concluded, which helped to prevent leaks.

Time slowly passed.

The selection and setting of questions started from Sixteen Patterns and became increasingly difficult...

No one knew how long had passed, but it finally approached the end.

Upon choosing the last question, which was meant to be an ordinary one above the Nineteen Patterns, nearing the Foundation Establishment Peak for the ”capping” test.

Master Wen seemed somewhat undecided, being caught between several formations, looking left and right, unable to make a decision. .

Everyone waited quietly.

No one knew how long had passed, but Master Wen still hadn’t decided.

An elder laughed and said, ”Master Wen, is this your first time as the chief examiner?”

The middle-aged Master Wen, who was mild-mannered and always serious in his tasks, nodded, ”Indeed.”

The elder continued, ”Master Wen, don’t trouble yourself with the last question. It’s essentially a contingency, a placeholder. Over the years, no one has been able to draw it...”

”Not to mention this last question; even several of the previous Nineteen-Pattern formations are rarely completed by disciples.”

”You must understand, most of them are at Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and few are at Foundation Establishment Peak.”

”Their Divine Sense at most reaches Eighteen Patterns or Nineteen Patterns; that’s already remarkable.”

”Moreover, this is a ’Final Exam’.”

”Starting from the initial Sixteen Patterns, drawing all the way up is a test of the Taoist Heart, Divine Sense, and perseverance. They must withstand the pressure of being the focus of attention; the further they go, the more tired and difficult it gets.”

”These disciples come from families of privilege, accustomed to comfort, unable to endure until then.”

”Disciples who last from start to finish, completing one or two Nineteen-Pattern formations, are few and far between.”

”Much less capable of drawing this final question.”

Master Wen asked, ”Has it never happened?”

”Never.” The elder replied.

Beside him, an older Elder of Formation Arts added, ”This ’capping’ formation involves principles.”

”This question isn’t really meant to be solved but to show disciples that beyond is beyond, heavens beyond heavens, that the formations are vast, with endless learning. They cannot draw all formations, nor can they learn many formations.”

”As Formation Masters, they must maintain humility, never have arrogance, and continually strive.”

”Therefore, as long as this final formation is difficult enough, just pick one and add it in without overthinking.”

Master Wen humbly nodded in agreement.

But his meticulous nature, somewhat obsessive-compulsive about not doing things ’randomly,’ meant he had principles for every decision. Once tasked with choosing, he couldn’t help struggling.

His hesitation delayed things by another thirty minutes.

Everyone quietly watched him.

Master Wen came back to his senses, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Still, he couldn’t just ’randomly’ pick, so he deliberated that since the final formation couldn’t be drawn by disciples and was meant for the ’capping,’ the standard should be ’difficulty.’

The hardest formations relate to Dao.

Following his heart, he chose the most profound, obscure formation, involving the fundamental changes of Spiritual Power, and put it in.