The Quest for Immortality Chapter 2249: Collapse! (part 2)

Previous winners of the Formation Leader title were all considered noteworthy prodigies. Regardless, Mo Hua stands out as the most remarkable Formation Leader he has ever encountered. His Divine Sense far exceeds the standard, anchored by an exceptionally profound foundation. Furthermore, his ability to manipulate ink with that same Divine Sense to etch formations directly onto the ground, synthesized with his mastery over Spiritual Power reversal and the ensuing collapse of those formations, is nothing short of incredible.

For most, the title of Formation Leader serves merely to signify that their technical skills have reached a certain threshold. For Mo Hua, however, he only holds this title because it represents the highest possible rank in the Qian Learning State Boundary’s Formation Competition.

He even finds the label 'Formation Leader' to be... rather underwhelming for Mo Hua. These few words fail to capture the true depth of his expertise in the art of formations.

...

The origin of the 'Reversed Spirit Formation' has become a subject of scrutiny among many cultivators. Within the Sword Observation Tower, deep inside a secluded yet opulent hall, a assembly of Formation Masters from the Heaven Shu Pavilion gathered to whisper among themselves.

"Is that really... Spiritual Power reversal?"

"A Reversed Spirit Ultimate Formation?!"

"How can this be possible..."

"To imagine that the Qian Learning State Boundary holds a talent so heaven-defying that they could command such a technique?"

"It was learned during the previous Formation Competition, though it is not a complete Reversed Spirit Formation."

"Ah, I understand now..."

"Even so, it is truly impressive."

"You misunderstand. It is not the mere learning of the Reversed Spirit Formation that is frightening; it is his ingenious application of it that truly chills the soul."

"His method of triggering the collapse is clearly meticulously calculated. The structural design, the density of the formations, the intricate connections between the Spirit Pivot, the specific points of collapse, and the fluid manipulation of Spiritual Power reversal—a typical Formation Master would struggle to identify these patterns at all."

"Could it be the Inference Method?"

"Undoubtedly... but it remains a mystery which specific Calculation Method he employed."

"Did he compute this himself, or did someone perform the calculations on his behalf?"

"It is likely that a master determined the movements for him beforehand. If he were capable of calculating this all alone, that would be truly terrifying..."

"Even if someone else aided him in the calculations, his ability to execute these formations perfectly while in the heat of battle is extremely impressive."

"He possesses the makings of an exceptional formation talent—he would be a valuable addition to our Heaven Shu Pavilion..."

...

The assembly of Formation Masters continued their lively debate. Seated in the seat of honor high above, a middle-aged cultivator of elegant and noble bearing stared intently at the scene. This was the Supervisor of the Heaven Shu Pavilion. His expression remained tranquil as he observed the phantom in the painting, silently whispering the name, "Mo Hua..."

He frequently felt that this name concealed layers of intriguing cause and effect, yet whenever he attempted to reflect deeply, his mind would go blank. The Supervisor could not suppress a slight furrow of his brows.

...

Outside the Sword Observation Tower, the painting remained shrouded in thick darkness. The residues of the explosion lingered heavily. On the spectator platforms, the masses continued their frenzied chatter as Mount of Tao grew increasingly rowdy. Suddenly, a spectator fell silent, frozen in shock:

"Wait... Why has the sword discussion not concluded?"

"Could it be that... someone survived?"

Surviving a blast of such magnitude? The breath caught in everyone’s chests. Every eye was locked onto the phantom of the painting; not a word was spoken.

As time ticked by, the explosion finally withered away, the aura of the Spiritual Power reversal faded, and the darkness began to retreat from the canvas. The colors of the mountains and rivers slowly returned. However, the world remained dim, stained by the black residues left by the collapse and the total destruction of all things, with only faint traces of yellow-green forest and rocky crags visible.

Amidst that shattered landscape, a thin, solitary figure remained sitting in his original spot. He had stayed there from beginning to end, weathering the onslaught of the geniuses, the collapse of formations, and the disintegration of nature, yet he had not wavered in the slightest.

"Is that... Mo Hua?!"

The expressions of the cultivators underwent a dramatic shift. All of Mount of Tao erupted into a deafening uproar.

"Mo Hua... he didn't die?!"

"Not only did he survive, he didn't once leave his seat?!"

"How can this be? How could he survive amidst such sheer carnage?"

"This is impossible..."

Among the spectator seats belonging to the Ten Thousand Formations Sect, an elderly man with snow-white hair and a face etched with deep wrinkles widened his eyes, murmuring in total disbelief: "Is this... the Life-gate?"

Has this boy, Mo Hua, reached the level where he can independently calculate the Life-gate? What kind of terrifying monster is he... The elder’s pupils trembled; the complexity of his emotions was beyond words.

Back at the Sword Observation Tower, the Formation Masters of the Heaven Shu Pavilion sighed as they frowned in realization:

"He even calculated the Life-gate..."

"It is certain that some master planned this strategy for him."

"Ever since he stepped into the valley, he has sat motionless, surely occupying the predetermined 'Life-gate.'"

"By anchoring himself to the 'Life-gate' while arranging his own formations, he allowed the power of the collapse to obliterate everything else, relying on the intrinsic logic of life and death within the formation structure to survive."

"In all things, where death exists, a thread of life must also persist."

"Brilliant..."

"Utilizing the framework of formations to advance layer by layer, unleashing a killing blow in an instant that eradicates one's enemies, while carving out a path of survival for oneself..."

"I never imagined witnessing such sophisticated tactics at the Sword Discussion Conference. This has truly been worth the time."

"I only wonder which master crafted such a strategy."

"Could it be Elder Master Xun, the Fifth Grade Array Master from the Taixu Gate?"

"Is it the Heaven Void Ancestor..."

"Indubitably, it bears a striking resemblance to the Ancestor's methods..."

The crowd was awestruck. Only the Supervisor on his elevated seat remained silent, his pupils constricting as he looked at the desolate landscape and the eerie, young figure within. A flash of disbelief crossed his eyes. For a flickering moment, it was as if a ghostly, young Daoist was grinning back at him.

...

The luminaries of the Heaven Shu Pavilion held wildly different thoughts, while the entire Mount of Tao remained in a state of chaotic frenzy, the rumors spreading like wildfire.