Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2164 Chapter 1016: Reunion (Part 2)

Zhang Lan felt a surge of emotion momentarily, and he couldn't resist shooting a fierce look at Mo Hua:

"You little rascal, you're talking nonsense once more. Do you believe that attaining Feather Transformation is really that easy?"

"My dad remains my dad. He's merely obstinate, not actually clueless. Would he truly push me toward Feather Transformation?"

"He spent his entire life in cultivation, enduring hardships over centuries before finally striking it lucky with a fleeting inspiration, scarcely managing to reach Feather Transformation."

"Achieving Feather Transformation elevates one to the status of a True Man."

"No one grasps the challenges of the Feather Transformation Realm better than he does; how could he ever compel me..."

Here, Zhang Lan halted, a mix of relief and faint melancholy washing over him:

"In truth, forget about Feather Transformation—even forming the Golden Core proves immensely tough, mostly hinging on the Heavenly Dao's benevolence toward you."

"When fortune runs too low, attempts to form the core invariably flop. Countless cultivators remain trapped at this stage, lingering there forever."

"That's how I was in the past, fretting over the Golden Core's difficulty; fearing failure would leave me subject to destiny's whims, I lingered motionless in the Qi-refining Realm."

"Without the crisis in Tongxian City, I wouldn't have advanced to Foundation Establishment with such relative ease."

"Yet fortune smiled in its own way, as every sip and bite follows fate's decree. I unexpectedly turned disaster into gain, compelling my breakthrough to the Golden Core..."

Zhang Lan propped his head on his folded arms, legs crossed as he sprawled across the massive rock, his form swiftly reverting to its familiar 'lazy' state, his voice turning slack:

"Beginning Qi Refinement at age thirty qualifies as a seasoned cultivator."

"Core formation by forty marks you as a promising young genius, leaving ample time ahead."

"I get to savor a bit more relaxation for now..."

Mo Hua copied Zhang Lan's pose, head on arms, legs crossed, reclining in lazy fashion, and voiced his envy:

"That sounds so wonderful... I have no idea when I'll manage to form my core..."

Zhang Lan shrugged it off, "As Taixu Gate's prized disciple now, you have a Sect's full support—no shortage of heritage, no lack of elder advice, with numerous Elders watching over you. What reason do you have to fret over core formation?"

Mo Hua let out a sigh, "It doesn't relate to heritage at all. Uncle Zhang, you've mentioned it too—core formation relies on one's own fortune."

"Whether luck shines or falters, it's all about the Heavenly Dao's favor. If the Heavenly Dao overlooks me, it'll be incredibly tough..."

Zhang Lan gave a nod, "You're right..."

His own fortune had been favorable, yet that offered no guarantee for Mo Hua's.

In fact, he truly wished for Mo Hua to enjoy good fortune as well.

However, such things fell under the Heavenly Dao's domain, which paid no heed to his desires.

Zhang Lan mulled it over deeply for some time before sighing in resignation, "I can't assist you here..."

"Back in the day, I might have shared some Zhang Family wisdom for your reference..."

"But these days, as a Taixu Gate disciple, with the sect's profound roots and ancient legacy, you likely have no use for the Zhang Family's..."

Suddenly, a chill ran through Zhang Lan's core, and he bolted upright at once, his relaxed demeanor vanishing entirely.

He'd nearly overlooked it!

Water Passing Step!

This was the genuine issue!

Mo Hua noticed his abrupt shift, finding it rather odd.

With a grave expression, Zhang Lan probed Mo Hua's "account": "Mo Hua, recall how you acquired the Water Passing Step?"

Mo Hua affirmed with a nod, "A benevolent uncle who passed by gifted it to me."

"Stick to the truth—if you mess it up, I could end up dead." Zhang Lan's features grew taut.

Mo Hua looked baffled, "Is it truly that grave?"

Zhang Lan nodded firmly, "It wasn't at first, but now it is—extremely grave!"

At the outset, he served merely as an overseer in a distant minor Immortal City, casually imparting a fragment of his Zhang Family's supreme Body Skill to an unremarkable little loose cultivator.

Yet circumstances had shifted dramatically; effectively, he'd "transferred" the Zhang Family's supreme Body Skill to Taixu Gate's premier young genius.

And all this, right in the open, witnessed by the Chief Elder.

This spelled a heap of complications.

Moreover, earlier that day, Zhang Lan had eavesdropped on the entire exchange between Elder Feng and the Chief Elder.

During it, Great Elder Zhang had, before Elder Feng's eyes, exuberantly lauded the Feng family's genius, hailing his Wind Wandering Steps as matchless.

Afterward, the Carefree Sect's Wind Wandering Steps and the Feng family's version were openly outdone by Mo Hua, in full view of all.

And the technique Mo Hua wielded was none other than the Zhang family's Water Passing Step.

Elder Feng was far better off remaining ignorant of this.

Should he learn the truth, he'd undoubtedly view Great Elder Zhang's words as biting irony.

Outwardly extolling the Feng family's genius and his remarkable movement art, while covertly handing over the Zhang family's supreme Body Skill to enable a Taixu Gate disciple to overshadow the Feng heir.

Elder Feng would erupt in rage.

Even without voicing it, resentment would fester within him.

It could even sow discord between the Zhang and Feng families.

Thus, the secret of the Water Passing Step must stay sealed tight.

This went beyond Zhang Lan dodging mere punishment like fasting or ancestral penance.

Rather, it aimed to safeguard the two centuries of camaraderie between the Chief Elder and Elder Feng, plus the enduring ties spanning generations between the Zhang and Feng families.

Zhang Lan's face hardened, unyielding like the enduring stones of Taixu Mountain:

"Absolutely never reveal it!"

Mo Hua sensed the profound karmic implications at stake and nodded solemnly, "Rest assured, nothing could pry it from my lips, not even death."

"Excellent!"

Seeing the determination in Mo Hua's eyes, Zhang Lan at last relaxed, slipping back into his "lazy" routine of sipping wine and gazing at the peaks.

From then on, they reminisced about old happenings in Tongxian City.

Zhang Lan also asked after Mo Hua's current life.

Upon hearing how Mo Hua spent his days immersed in cultivation, honing Taoist Skills, and sketching formations, with all else going smoothly...

The Sect proved stable, his fellow disciples were congenial, the Elders were supportive, and even the Sect Leader and Ancestor showed warmth.

Zhang Lan felt utterly reassured.