The Quest for Immortality

The Array Discussion Conference adopts the format of a formation assessment, with a three-defeat elimination.

Accumulating three formation failures, either unable to paint or painting incorrectly, is considered a defeat and results in leaving the examination hall.

This grants the disciples a certain degree of tolerance.

After all, formations are vast and profound, with diverse categories, varied styles, and myriad legacies.

No matter how excellent a disciple is, it is impossible to ensure painting every formation correctly without any errors.

If a disciple with nineteen-pattern strength fails due to a flaw in inheritance or a momentary mistake, painting a sixteen-pattern formation incorrectly, it would be too unfortunate if they had to leave.

While the Array Discussion Array is a competition, its essence is still ”selection”.

To select the truly exceptional Array Dao geniuses.

Thus, efforts are made to avoid some ”blunder” situations.

With the ability to test disciples’ formation experience, formation foundation, formation painting ability, Divine Thought depth, will strength, and other strengths, while also providing a certain degree of tolerance, the ”three-defeat” formation assessment has gradually been adopted, becoming the mainstream format of the Array Competition.

The Array Competition starts from sixteen patterns, testing one pattern upward.

Each pattern is a checkpoint, requiring the painting of a certain number of formations.

Participating disciples who accumulate three formation failures are considered defeated in the Array Discussion.

Rankings are determined based on the order of defeat.

The individual who persists to the end is the Array Leader of this Array Dao Conference.

At this time, the first formations tested are the sixteen patterns.

The sixteen-pattern formation is only a Second Grade Middle Stage Array, and under Mo Hua’s pen flows like clouds and water, completing several sixteen-pattern formations in no time.

After completion, he glanced over with inspection, confirmed no errors, and relaxed mindfully.

Then he sat upright, resting with closed eyes.

Elder Master Xun said the formation assessment is a lengthy process, a significant test of Divine Thought, a tug-of-war.

Therefore, one must seize every moment to recover Divine Sense.

Soon, many other disciples in the hall also completed the formations and were meditating for rest.

This is the Qian Learning State Boundary’s Array Discussion Conference for the Foundation Establishment Late Stage and above, with countless geniuses.

The formation questions painted easily by Mo Hua are, for most people, not difficult.

To reach this stage, one would not be unable to paint a sixteen-pattern formation.

Of course, exceptions exist in any assessment.

Some disciples in the hall began scratching their heads, regretting, face turning pale, or sighing with hands covering their faces.

Some have sufficient Divine Thought but not enough formation strength; they fail on formations they cannot paint, the painted formations are not tested, leading to defeat with a darkened face. Ꞧ𝖆ＮỒᛒЕs

Others have adequate formation strength but insufficient Divine Thought, unable to withstand such continuous consumption, making mistakes.

Others have no issue with formation strength or Divine Thought but lack psychological resilience, tense during major assessments.

At this time, under the gaze of all, the pressure intensifies, unable to unleash more than twenty percent strength.

Scarcely painting a few strokes, hands begin trembling, mind goes blank.

Quickly, after completing three formations and using up all three tolerances, they can only retreat with a defeated expression.

The mentors of these disciples also stood by, beating their chests and stamping their feet, sighing with regret.

Thus, the sixteen-pattern formation assessment cleared out a small batch of disciples.

Some have already made mistakes on one or even two formations, with little tolerance left, and can only brace themselves for the last stand.

Approximately one-third of cultivators have not made a single mistake.

Among them is Mo Hua.

By his side, one or two people have already retreated; Mo Hua remains seated steadily.

This scene is noticed by everyone familiar with Mo Hua.

Junior Brothers of Taixu Gate, the senior brothers and sisters from the higher level, the closely acquainted Elders, as well as Wenren Wan and Gu Changhuai, all breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, he held up...

Though they know Mo Hua’s formation level is good.

This is, after all, a formation assessment, with so many people watching, the on-site pressure is immense, and all his opponents are naturally older and more cultivated geniuses from various sects.

They feared Mo Hua would not endure the pressure and make a mistake, ending with an early exit.

Thankfully, indeed...

Getting past sixteen patterns is fine; after all, securing at least some ranking, it wouldn’t be disgraceful to mention.

Many silently thought this.

With the sixteen patterns done, next is the seventeen patterns.

There is a rest period of about an hour in between.

This schedule is ample for Mo Hua, his Divine Sense has fully recovered during this time.

After an hour, the seventeen-pattern assessment begins.

Suddenly, the difficulty increases sharply.

Sixteen patterns belong to Second Grade Middle Stage formations; seventeen patterns advance into Second Grade High-Level formations.

This serves as a major threshold, which is ”genius” territory for typical Foundation Establishment disciples.

The true formation masters who can learn the Second Grade High-Level formations at the Foundation Establishment Realm are scarce throughout the cultivation world.

Among the examination hall, the eliminated cultivators visibly increase.

Many ponder repeatedly, scratching their heads, unable to solve the problem.

But formations are such that no matter the effort, if one cannot paint, they simply cannot, especially under exam conditions, with no time to think.

Finally, these disciples can only sigh deeply, giving up helplessly.

Some painted wrongly, exhausted their three chances, could only regret sadly, blaming themselves for not working harder or painting a few more times in normal times.

So close yet so far...

Moreover, some disciples, while painting, had their Divine Sense entirely depleted, covering their heads and collapsing as the invigilator took them down for rescue...