The Quest for Immortality

When Mo Hua had some free time, he would also ask Young Master Yun for some knowledge about Second-Grade Formations.

His current level of Formation expertise had already far surpassed that of a First-grade Formation Master.

But Ultimate Formations seemed to be completely different from Second-Grade Formations.

Mo Hua wanted to know what exactly the threshold was for a Second-grade Formation Master as well as for Second-Grade Formations.

Young Master Yun, repaying favor with favor, answered diligently:

"Upon reaching the Second Grade, both Formation Masters and Formations are divided into three stages—the initial, middle, and high stages, corresponding to the realms of the Foundation Establishment Initial, Middle, and Late Stages."

"My current level of Cultivation is only at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage, so my level as a Formation Master is also just at the Second Grade Initial Stage."

"Second-grade Formations are just as difficult to learn and require a great deal of time and effort."

"Generally, the level of a Formation Master falls behind their own cultivation realm."

"For example, at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage, one is only a First-grade Formation Master; at the Qi Foundation Middle Stage, one qualifies as a Second Grade Initial Stage Formation Master; by the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, one becomes a Second Grade Middle Stage..."

"For someone like me, achieving Second Grade Initial Stage as a Formation Master while only at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage is already considered..."

Young Master Yun intended to say "a genius," but upon glancing at Mo Hua, he said instead: "...quite good..."

Mo Hua curiously asked, "Can a Qi Refinement Cultivator become a Second-grade Formation Master?"

Young Master Yun shook his head, "It’s not possible."

"Because of insufficient Divine Sense?"

"Typically it’s due to insufficient Divine Sense, but there’s another reason, which is Spiritual Power."

"Spiritual Power?"

"Yes," Young Master Yun explained, "between Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment, there is a difference in the ’quantity’ of Divine Sense, but there is a ’quality’ difference in Spiritual Power. Likewise, the Formation principle involved in First-grade and Second-Grade Formations, as well as the Spiritual Power driven by the Formations, also differ in ’quality’."

"So, Qi Refinement Cultivators cannot learn Second-Grade Formations."

Mo Hua felt somewhat regretful.

He had thought that if perhaps his Divine Sense were strong enough, he might try learning Second-Grade Formations.

It appeared that the restrictions of the Heavenly Dao categories were indeed very strict.

Within the same grade, one could step beyond others and learn faster.

But no matter how one exceeds the grade, they cannot surpass the category...

The Reversed Spirit Formation, the Thick Earth Formation, and the Spiritual Pivot Formation, these Ultimate Formations, although surpassing the grade, are still within the First Grade category; they are First-grade Formations, not Second-Grade Formations.

Essentially speaking, they shouldn’t be considered truly "beyond category" but rather, significantly beyond the stage...

Mo Hua nodded, gaining a deeper understanding of the concept of grades.

Afterward, he asked some other questions.

Young Master Yun answered each one.

Mo Hua was forthright with people, and Young Master Yun, not being very worldly or cunning, and both being Formation Masters, found a lot to talk about as they became more familiar with each other, their conversation flowing effortlessly.

Mo Hua taught Young Master Yun the Spiritual Pivot Formation.

Young Master Yun was extremely grateful. Thinking that he had no way to repay, he secretly taught Mo Hua some of the Yun Family’s inherited Formations.

Mo Hua felt somewhat uncomfortable, "Is this alright?"

Young Master Yun blinked, "Just don’t say I taught you."

Mo Hua was slightly stunned.

These words sounded somewhat familiar, similar to Uncle Zhang Lan.

When he learned the Water Passing Step from the Zhang Family, it seemed that Zhang Lan had instructed him the same way...

Some time passed, and the initial Formations had been drawn in the mines. Young Master Yun’s Spiritual Pivot Formation was also roughly understood.

Mo Hua then awakened the Corpse King and commanded it to lead the Iron Corpse and tens of thousands of Walking Corpses out of the Corpse Mine and into each of the mines.

The sight of zombies filing into the mines en masse, obeying Mo Hua’s commands in an orderly fashion, was both bizarre and harmonious.

To avoid any unexpected changes with the zombies, all Mining Cultivators remained inside Tongxian City.

Taoist Soldiers were stationed all around.

Yang Jishan and a few other Cultivators with profound Cultivation levels were on alert, watching the Corpse King, fearing it might rebel and turn into a Taoist Demon.

The mine once again became a busy place.

However, this time the workers were not Mining Cultivators, but zombies.

Their movements were mechanical and repetitive, pickaxing away at the mines, little by little.

For the wellbeing of their descendants, they chiseled out a home where they could be well-fed, clothed, and live in peace...

Under Mo Hua’s control, the Corpse King did not transform, the Iron Corpse heeded each command, and all Walking Corpses took it upon themselves diligently.

Everything was carried out in an orderly fashion.

Over a month later, the excavation of the mine was completed.

The mine was connected to several mountains; it was of immense scale, with broad corridors and sturdy walls, free of filthy Qi, making it both safe and somewhat comfortable.

Mo Hua then ordered the zombies to return to the Corpse Mine to rest.

The Formation Masters from the Taoist Court, as per Mo Hua’s Formation Diagrams, completed the subsequent Formations within the mine.

These Formations were simple; it made no difference whether Mo Hua drew them or not.

Mo Hua needed to draw something else.

He called over Young Master Yun and went to a workshop in the city.

In the spacious courtyard were arrayed several wooden puppets resembling bulls and horses, made of hardwood.

Young Master Yun was a bit astonished, "These are..."

"Puppets," Mo Hua said. "With the Spiritual Pivot Formation drawn on them, they can be controlled by Divine Sense to move and transport ore, reducing the labor of Mining Cultivators and improving mining efficiency..."

Young Master Yun snapped back to reality, "The help you need from me, is it related to this?"

"Yes," Mo Hua nodded. "Many Spiritual Pivot Formations need to be painted, and I can’t manage them all alone, so I need your help to paint them."

Young Master Yun nodded slightly, his heart stirring with emotion.

This was the true essence of understanding Formations and applying knowledge to practical use.

Having learned Formations, they were being used to their fullest, to benefit more Cultivators...

Before this, he seemed to have never done such a thing.

"Alright!" Young Master Yun said, readily agreeing.

Then he hesitated, a bit puzzled, "Do these puppets have names?"

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"They do!" Mo Hua smiled brightly, "You can call them ’Wooden Ox and Flowing Horses’!"