Immortality Through Array Formations (The Quest for Immortality)

Chapter 593 – Foundation

In the next formation class, Elder Xun opened by saying:

"Today, we won't be learning formation techniques. I will first teach you something even more fundamental."

Mo Hua was slightly startled.

The other disciples exchanged puzzled looks.

After all, they were all disciples of prestigious families, raised with rich cultivation heritages and surrounded by knowledge from a young age. They might not be experts, but basic formation knowledge? They had that down pat.

What other "fundamentals" could there be?

Elder Xun swept his gaze across the hall, his voice solemn:

"I know that many of you come from noble clans, armed with good inheritances. You've likely touched on many aspects of cultivation already…"

"But formations are different. The basics you know? That's barely scratching the surface. Not even that—it's just a couple of bricks sitting on top of the foundation."

"If you want to pursue the Dao of Formations to great heights, your current foundation is far from enough."

His gaze swept past Mo Hua for a moment.

"Today, I will tell you of the origins and streams of formations across this world…"

The disciples straightened their backs and sat upright.

Mo Hua also sat with his little back stiff and his full attention focused.

Elder Xun's cloudy eyes glinted sharply as he slowly spoke:

"The Dao of Formations is vast and profound."

"There are many formations in this world. Some have been passed down from ancient times. Some have evolved gradually into improved forms. And some are brand-new, innovated by later generations building upon the efforts of their predecessors."

"Not only are there countless types, the methods of construction—formation numbers, styles, techniques—are also endlessly varied."

"Even the same formation can have multiple variants."

"Across different lineages, the same formation may have slight differences in its structure, core, and activation nodes."

"Even the simplest formation—say, a Grade-One Bright Flame Formation using just three formation lines—has at least eighteen different drawing methods recorded in different formation traditions."

"Which brings me to the first truth you must understand…"

"There is no fixed rule in the Dao. No fixed shape in formations!"

"What you are currently learning are standardized formations defined and graded by the Dao Court."

"These are the most universal, the most generalized forms—codified so they can be easily studied, taught, and applied."

"In order to define grades, you must use standardized, normalized formations."

"And because the grading system is so strict, many cultivators spend their entire lives pouring their blood, sweat, and soul into perfecting only these standardized forms—exhausting themselves in the process."

"You take them as gospel."

"But…"

Elder Xun paused. His eyes turned razor-sharp.

"You must understand—this is not the true essence of formations."

"It is not their original form!"

"In their original state—formations were flawed, messy, complicated, even contradictory. That is what they truly were."

"Across eras, regions, cultivation realms, and even personal understanding—each formation is a reflection of how different cultivators perceive heaven and earth, and how they understand the Dao."

"Mistakes are normal."

"Complexity is authentic."

"All things in this world are inherently messy and complicated."

"Formations are a reflection of that complexity—a manifestation of countless variations of the Great Dao."

"If you wish to pursue the true Dao, then relying only on standardized, Dao Court–approved formations is not enough."

"Those formations are man-made interpretations. They've been polished, corrected, and artificially simplified. They represent what's been deemed 'correct', not the Dao's original face."

"The world is filled with chaos and strangeness. Formations are infinite and full of variety."

"The greatest formation masters must surpass these fixed systems. They must see with their own eyes and experience with their own minds."

"From disorder, extract clarity. From falsehood, find truth. Within complex, messy patterns, observe the traces of the Dao. From endless formation variations, feel the flow of its power."

"Only then can you comprehend the truest, most essential formations. Only then can you form your own understanding. Only then can you walk the path to prove your own Dao!"

"This… is the true foundation of formation theory!"

—

Elder Xun's words echoed like thunder.

Most disciples listened with only half-comprehension.

But Mo Hua's expression was shaken.

He vaguely remembered hearing something similar from his own master.

However, there were subtle differences. His master emphasized that Mo Hua must walk his own path, form his own style of formation.

Whereas Elder Xun emphasized broad knowledge, unshackled by frameworks—laying a vast foundation through exposure to all schools.

Their words were different, but their intentions… seemed to lead to the same destination.

The specific nuances, Mo Hua couldn't fully grasp yet due to his current level.

But he could tell—Elder Xun's understanding of formations was profoundly deep.

"No fixed rules in the Dao, no fixed shape in formations…"

Capture the spirit, abandon the form…

Use formations as a raft, the Dao as the shore—once crossed, let go of the raft, and all formations become formless…

Mo Hua quietly nodded.

Elder Xun glanced at him and gave a small nod in return, then continued:

"Formations in this world are of countless types."

"Next, I will teach you the different categories of formations that exist."

"Some of them you may have heard of. Others, even if you've heard the names, you likely have no clear understanding."

"So listen carefully. Engrave them in your minds."

He glanced at Mo Hua again.

Mo Hua caught the cue and nodded rapidly.

Elder Xun nodded back inwardly, thinking, "Smart kid…" and then continued solemnly:

"All things in the world are different—countless in form, infinite in change. The Dao they contain is equally diverse and ever-shifting."

"When those Daos manifest into patterns and combine into formations, they give rise to many distinct schools of formation systems."

"Chaos, Yin-Yang, Three Talents, Four Symbols, Five Elements, Eight Trigrams, Six Directions, Seven Stars…"

"These eight are long-standing systems. Each has ancient origins, clear lineages, and unique theoretical frameworks."

"Now, I will explain them to you—one by one…"

...

Chaos and Yin-Yang—these two types of formations are Ancient Formations, first derived by ancient cultivators through their understanding and interpretation of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.

"These formations are incredibly old, with very simple structures, but the formation principles within them are extremely complex—they embody the idea that the Dao is both extremely simple and profoundly deep."

"Because their form is so plain—almost crude—they've become obscure and difficult for modern cultivators to comprehend."

"The simplicity of their form belies the difficulty of understanding them. Comprehension requires massive amounts of spiritual awareness, and even after intense thought, you might not gain any insight."

"It's precisely because of their obscurity that these formations are hard to learn, even harder to understand, and near impossible to pass on. Thus, Chaos and Yin-Yang formations have gradually been lost to time."

"The few remnants that remain are fragmentary and scattered, privately preserved and studied by major clans or Dao Courts—but systematic study is nearly impossible now…"

Three Talents Formations…

"Some disciples might have encountered a 'Three Talents Formation' when first learning formations. But that was merely a shallow introduction—barely scratching the surface, if even that."

"In truth, that was just a basic starter template standardized by the Dao Court."

"Real Three Talents formations revolve around Heaven, Earth, and Man—the scope is immense, and the potential variations are vast."

"But given your limited experience and young age, it's impossible for you to comprehend the boundlessness of the Heavenly Path, the depth of the Earthly Virtue, or the cunning transformations of the Human Way."

"Let alone the unity of all three."

"By now, you should understand that Heaven, Earth, and Man are not things your average cultivator can casually engage with. This is the realm of Dao Court-level governance and philosophy."

"Because of this, the core teachings of Three Talents formations are tightly controlled by the Dao Court and not passed down to outsiders."

"Unless you one day enter the Dao Court, or the Dao State itself, and reach its upper echelons… you won't have a chance to learn the true essence of Three Talents formations."

Four Symbols Formations…

"These are quite unique. They originate from the barbarian territories south of the Nine Provinces, passed down among the Wild Tribes."

"They're closely tied to certain bloodline-linked spirit beasts."

"The formation patterns resemble beast totems more than traditional diagrams."

"And where there are beasts, there are demons. Unless you've fully mastered the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams formations, it's best not to touch the Four Symbols."

"Otherwise, your heart and mind may become unbalanced… and you may lose your humanity."

Five Elements Formations—these need little elaboration.

"The Five Elements are the most common and widely applicable type of formations in the cultivation world."

"They originated in ancient times, albeit in a rudimentary form. Over generations of development and refinement by countless cultivators, they've become the large, diverse system you see today."

"The greatest contributors to the development of Five Elements formations were the now-declined Five Elements Sect."

"Unfortunately, that sect suffered a sudden fall from prominence. The few remaining lineages now live in seclusion, idle and stagnant, far from their former glory…"

"Even so, though the Five Elements Sect has all but vanished, its formations have spread across all Nine Provinces, deeply integrated into various cultivation disciplines."

"However, some of their core inheritances… may never find a successor."

Elder Xun sighed with regret.

Mo Hua blinked innocently, pretending to know nothing.

The truth? The Five Elements Sect's "Source Pattern" was currently sitting inside him.

He'd already mastered the Absolute Five Elements Formation.

But of course, he couldn't say a word.

"Silence makes wealth…"

Mo Hua reminded himself.

Elder Xun continued after a moment:

"Six Harmonies Formations…"

"These are a bit obscure and can be roughly split into two categories. One focuses on metaphysical principles—emphasizing the union of yin and yang, and alignment of the heavenly stems."

"The other involves Six Yao formations—three Yin, three Yang—interacting through hexagrams and divination lines."

"This category is highly esoteric. Especially the Six Yao system—if you make a single mistake, you risk disturbing your mind and inviting demonic corruption."

"You could become possessed by evil entities and fall into the demonic path."

"My advice—do not study Six Harmonies formations lightly."

"Next, the Seven Stars Formations…"

"These formations are based on the arrangement of the Big Dipper: Tian Shu, Tian Xuan, Tian Ji, Tian Quan, Yu Heng, Kai Yang, Yao Guang."

"They use star patterns and celestial imagery to create powerful arrays."

"The Dao Court's Seven Pavilions are named after the Big Dipper stars."

"As such, the orthodox lineage of Seven Star Formations is found in those pavilions, and in the adjacent Celestial Observatory Bureau."

"These formations are used to observe the heavens and calculate fate. With deep understanding, one can command stellar power."

"However, like the Three Talents formations, this category is heavily classified by the Dao Court. Realistically, you will never have the chance to study them."

"Even if you did, you probably wouldn't understand them."

"These formations involve complex astrology and divination—far beyond what most cultivators or formation masters can comprehend."

"Don't worry though. Seven Star Formations, while powerful, are not part of the standardized tests for formation grading. Most formation masters never touch them."

"Finally… the Eight Trigrams Formations."

"Five Elements and Eight Trigrams are the most essential, widely applicable, and powerful types of formations."

"They are both required subjects for formation grading."

"Eight Trigrams formations are built upon the Five Elements but expand further in scope. Their structure is deeper, and their principles are more profound."

"But once mastered, they can benefit you for a lifetime."

"These will be your main focus moving forward in formation study."

"I won't go into the details now—we'll explore them together during future classes."

...

"In addition to these eight major types, there are also some rare and mysterious formation systems—"

"For example, the 'Three Enclosures' Formations, which share a root with the Seven Stars…"

"Or the 'Nine Nether' Formations, related in principle to the Six Yao…"

"These are even more obscure, and their origins are secret. No one knows exactly where they're stored—maybe within ancient cultivation clans, lost Dao Court branches, or forbidden lands where no one dares tread…"

"These eight schools I've told you about are considered the most prominent—what we call the 'Orthodox Formations of the World.'"

"I'm telling you all this not so you'll start chasing after distant, lofty dreams…"

"But to open your eyes—to broaden your vision."

"The above," Elder Xun concluded, "are the formation categories known as the 'Orthodox Schools' of this world."

"I tell you all this not to make you aim unrealistically high, but to broaden your horizons and deepen your understanding."

"Just like eating—one bite at a time. Formations must be learned one by one."

"Three Talents, Four Symbols, Six Harmonies, Seven Stars, and some of the more obscure schools—these aren't for you to worry about yet. Don't waste your energy chasing them."

"What matters most right now is mastering the most basic—and also the most practical—Five Elements and Eight Trigrams formations."

Then Elder Xun changed tone slightly:

"However, among all types of formations, the most fundamental formation patterns—you must familiarize yourselves with those."

"These are your foundation. When you encounter unfamiliar formations in the future, even if you don't understand the full structure, you'll at least be able to recognize the school it belongs to through its component patterns. That might be enough to let you respond appropriately—instead of panicking and making a fatal mistake."

"I've compiled a collection of the most basic patterns across all formation categories. These are just the patterns—not full formations."

He distributed a thick handout to every student, Mo Hua included.

On the front cover, it read:

"Great Void Sect Formation Pattern Compendium"

As Mo Hua flipped it open, his eyes widened—inside were countless formation patterns he had never studied before, many he had never even seen.

Intricate. Mysterious. Diverse beyond comprehension.

Though they were only individual symbols, these were the bedrock beneath the thousands of formation arts.

Mo Hua's little heart thumped wildly. He looked up at Elder Xun with shining eyes—eyes that sparkled so brightly they almost dazzled.

Elder Xun paused mid-thought, silently muttering:

"Why is this kid… so excited?"

Once the handouts containing formation patterns from all eight major schools were passed out, Elder Xun continued:

"From today on, you must study and practice every pattern in this Compendium."

"A tower is built from grains of sand. A sea is formed from gathered streams."

"Every formation in existence is built from these patterns."

"Only by mastering the patterns can you draw formations."

"I will regularly test you on how many you've learned."

"If you slack off… you'll be punished."

The other disciples groaned in distress.

But Mo Hua? He looked down at his handout like it was a divine treasure, beaming with joy.

The Great Void Sect's Formation Pattern Compendium!

A collection of patterns recorded by the sect through generations—drawn from the formations of the entire world!

For a formation master, this was one of the most fundamental, comprehensive, and crucial inheritances.

Even though these were just Grade-One patterns, a thousand-mile journey begins with a single step.

Even the most advanced formations must be built from Grade-One knowledge.

Mo Hua treated it like a priceless artifact, reluctant to put it down. Every spare moment, he would be studying it.

When no one was around, he practiced the patterns by himself:

During meals, he traced patterns on the table with his fingers.

While walking past mountain paths or grassy slopes, he drew them on the ground.

Before sleep, he drew on paper.

After falling asleep, his consciousness would enter his sea of awareness and continue practicing on the Dao Tablet.

Because these were Grade-One patterns, they were easy to draw and not taxing on his spirit.

And after drawing them on the Dao Tablet, he could review the impressions with his divine sense.

Thus—in a single night, Mo Hua could practice thousands of formation patterns.

He remembered Elder Xun's words clearly:

"Formation patterns are the foundation. And the foundation must be rock-solid."

So even though he had already memorized them inside and out, he still practiced them over and over again.

Mo Hua's goal was to engrave every type of formation pattern into his mind and soul—not just memorized, but internalized.

To know them so well that even the most obscure, complicated, or confusing pattern would, at a glance, reveal its formation lineage without him having to think.

The more he practiced, the more familiar they became.

The more familiar, the more he practiced.

After a while, Mo Hua even began to feel as though he and the formation patterns were becoming one.

It was as if the symbols were no longer foreign or external—but rather a natural extension of his spiritual will, a manifestation of his divine sense blending with the Dao itself.

This feeling was subtle and mysterious.

Mo Hua couldn't fully grasp it—so he simply ignored it and buried himself back into practice.

Eight schools of formations.

Thousands of formation patterns.

Again and again, they flowed from his brush…

And again and again, they appeared within his sea of consciousness.

What Mo Hua didn't know was—

Unbeknownst to him… he had already begun to lay the foundation for a future that could one day encompass the formations of all realms, and wield ten thousand Daos through divine mastery.

(End of Chapter)