Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 3

Chapter 3 – Formation Master_1

Mo Hua rose at 6 A.M. to begin his daily cultivation routine.

After concluding his hour of practice, he made his way to the classroom to await the arrival of the instructor.

At Tongxian Gate, "Instructor" is the title given to those who educate Sect Disciples, providing specific guidance in areas such as cultivation, formations, alchemy, and artifact refining. They are also tasked with monitoring and directing the cultivation progress of those in the Outer Gate.

Following the standard of other sects in the Cultivation World, Tongxian Gate divides its followers into three ranks: direct disciples, Inner Gate, and Outer Gate.

The Outer Gate serves the general public, teaching the Tao and offering cultivation instruction to generate revenue through tuition fees. The techniques shared with Outer Gate Disciples are those the Sect is comfortable making public; when these students eventually graduate or depart, they maintain a sentimental connection to the Sect, though no formal obligations remain.

In contrast, the Inner Gate represents the Sect's foundation. These disciples are dependent on the Sect and are responsible for managing its diverse interests, including spiritual mines, spiritual lands, caves, and commercial enterprises, alongside their personal cultivation.

Inner Gate Disciples are granted access to the Sect’s restricted spells and techniques. Bound by the sacred master-disciple bond, their lives are inextricably linked to the Sect. If an Inner Gate Disciple causes trouble in the outside world, the Sect is held liable; conversely, betraying the Sect is viewed as a heinous, unforgivable crime that carries brutal penalties.

Direct disciples are the chosen successors handpicked from the Inner Gate. These individuals are typically blood relatives of the Sect Leader or Elders, or they share an exceptionally deep master-disciple kinship. Occupying the Sect's core, they are the ones destined to inherit high-ranking positions like Sect Leader or Elder.

These elite disciples are taught the most guarded, core techniques and profound secrets that are strictly forbidden from being shared externally. Should a direct disciple turn traitor, they are marked for death and must be hunted down.

While the “Taoist Law” generally forbids cultivators from taking the law into their own hands or engaging in random killing, pursuing a direct disciple for betrayal is a violation that usually demands accountability from the Taoist Court. Nevertheless, betrayal cases are typically handled by the local Taoist Court. Although the Taoist Court wields supreme authority, its branches across various states, realms, and cities are not always garrisoned by the most powerful cultivators.

Because the betrayal of a direct disciple involves a Sect’s most sensitive teachings, the matter is treated with gravity, and local Taoist Courts usually avoid intervening—particularly when dealing with the Great Sects that rule over a region.

Of course, none of these high-level politics concerned Mo Hua.

He was merely a Class C disciple within the Outer Gate of Tongxian Gate, far removed from the Inner Gate, let alone the rank of direct disciple. Even if he had the urge to betray the sect, he wasn't important enough for anyone to bother hunting him down...

While Mo Hua aspired to join the Inner Gate, his lack of Spirit Stones and influential connections made it an impossible dream for this lifetime, to say nothing of becoming a direct disciple.

Mo Hua settled his thoughts and centered his Qi, waiting quietly until Instructor Yan entered the room with a grim look on his face.

Instructor Yan appeared to be in his late forties or fifties. He was a stern man who had already attained the Qi Refining Ninth Level.

Within the hierarchy of Tongxian Gate, Instructor Yan was highly respected because he was the sole teacher of formations. Rumor had it he was on the verge of becoming a Class A Formation Master after his upcoming evaluation in a few years.

Every disciple in the Qi Refinement Realm at Tongxian Gate learned formations from him. Whether they hailed from a prestigious Clan or were simple Loose Cultivators, Instructor Yan treated them all with the same strictness, showing no mercy for errors and handing out rebukes and punishments whenever necessary.

Consequently, the disciples of Tongxian Gate viewed Instructor Yan with a mixture of reverence and dread.

Since the Sect's tuition is settled on an annual basis, the curriculum follows a yearly cycle.

Today was the final day of the academic year at Tongxian Gate. Following today’s session, there would be a long holiday lasting over two weeks. The results for the disciples' various subject assessments were also scheduled for release today.

Instructor Yan held a bundle of report cards in his grip.

Anxious energy filled the room. While Mo Hua usually remained composed, the sight of his peers acting as if they were facing a mortal foe made him feel a bit twitchy as well.

Soon, Mo Hua was handed his Sect assessment card.

Just as he expected, his formation grade was a Class A, marking it as his best subject. Very few disciples at Tongxian Gate were capable of earning a Class A in formations, but Mo Hua was among that elite few.

His cultivation grade, however, was only a Class B. This wasn't due to laziness, but rather his mediocre potential. Possessing a medium-grade Small Five Elements Spiritual Root meant his progress was capped—he was better than some, but lagged behind the truly talented.

In subjects that required only time and study, such as the history of the Taoist Calendar and Qi Refinement theory, he consistently earned Class A marks. However, in practical subjects that required purchasing expensive materials, like alchemy and rune making, he slipped to Class B or C.

Coming from an impoverished background, Mo Hua couldn't even afford to rent a Pill Furnace, which inevitably hampered his performance. During tests, he had to rely on sheer guesswork when trying to refine items, making his success a matter of luck and his grades highly erratic.

Still, his overall performance was quite respectable. As the saying goes, “One excellence can cover a hundred flaws.” Mastering formations was notoriously difficult, so a Class A in that discipline was a significant achievement.

After a brief address, Instructor Yan had to step out for a moment. Immediately, the students began whispering and comparing their marks.

“Mo Hua, you got another ‘Class A’ in formations!” a disciple noted, peeking at Mo Hua’s results with envy.

“Another Class A...”

“I’m stuck at Class B...”

“I only managed a Class C.”

“Formations are just too difficult; those patterns give me a massive headache...”

“...”

A crowd of disciples gathered around Mo Hua.

“Hmph!” A disciple from the Qian Family, dressed in a shimmering silver-white Taoist robe, snorted in annoyance at the display.

“What’s the big deal? You just drew a few basic sect formations to get that ‘Class A’.”

“And what mark did you get?” another student challenged.

“That’s none of your business!” the Qian family disciple snapped.

Another boy caught a glimpse of the card and started laughing, “He got a ‘Grade C’!”

The group went silent for a heartbeat before erupting into laughter.

“You have a ‘Grade C’ and you’re mocking an ‘A’ student? You’ve got some nerve!”

“Your skin is thicker than a smithing furnace!”

“You’re a Qian Family disciple, yet you’re so clumsy. You’re worse than me, and I only got a ‘B’.”

The Qian family disciple turned red with fury, “So what if it’s a ‘Class A’? There has never been a Formation Master among Loose Cultivators, don't you get it?”

He pointed an accusing finger at Mo Hua and the rest. “You lot are just Loose Cultivators—frogs in a well with no legacy to follow. Listen well. In your entire life, not one of you will ever become a true Formation Master. Pah, bragging about a ‘Class A’! Mark my words, a Loose Cultivator can never be a real Formation Master! Do I need to say it again?”

“Loose Cultivators aren't worthy of the title!”

The surrounding students fell into a somber silence.

Mo Hua looked at the boy as if he were an idiot. He then stood up, looked past the Qian Family disciple, and bowed deeply.

“Instructor Yan, good day!”

The Qian Family disciple froze as if struck by lightning. He turned his head slowly and found Instructor Yan standing right behind him, his expression dark with anger.

“The sect exists to impart the Tao and nurture growth, not to provide a stage for you to insult your classmates!”

“Your own understanding of formations is pathetic, yet you have the audacity to belittle others?”

“Go outside and stand at attention until sunset as punishment.”

“Furthermore, you are to draw the basic Five Elements Formation Patterns one hundred times. Present them to me when the new term begins. If they aren't done, don't bother returning...”

The Qian Family disciple’s face went pale, but he didn't dare utter a word of protest.

Instructor Yan held enough authority to discipline even a direct heir of the Qian family, let alone a distant relative like him.

The shamed disciple slunk away to serve his sentence.

Instructor Yan stood before Mo Hua for a moment. He reached out, patted the boy’s thin shoulder, and sighed, “Ignore the noise of others. Just focus on your path.”

Mo Hua remained calm and bowed respectfully, “This disciple will remember your words.”

With a nod, Instructor Yan returned to the front of the class. He gave a few final words of advice before announcing the start of the year-end break, dismissing the students.

The disciples struggled to contain their joy, thanked the instructor for his guidance, and then bolted out of the room like startled animals.

While the break brought excitement to most, Mo Hua felt a heavy weight in his chest.

Most of these young Qi Refinement disciples didn't yet understand the grueling reality of the cultivation world.

Thinking of his father’s scarred body from hunting monsters and his mother’s tired face, Mo Hua felt a pang of sadness and sighed.

While becoming a first-grade Formation Master was a distant goal, he desperately wanted to provide his parents with a better life through his current skills.

Mo Hua tucked away his report card and, clutching his twelve Spirit Stones, skipped the trip home and headed straight for the Market Town instead.