Arrays of Immortality

Chapter 18: Choices

"Forget it, let's focus on what's in front of me for now…"

Mo Hua thought to himself, then obediently began flipping through the mid-lower tier cultivation methods.

"Lesser Five Elements Technique": A mid-lower tier technique, suitable for cultivating spiritual roots of the five elements. It can cultivate up to seventy cycles of spiritual energy, requiring at least a thousand spirit stones to reach the peak of the Qi Refining Stage. Necessary rare materials: Hundred-Year Soil, etc.

"Rejuvenation Technique": A mid-lower tier technique, suitable for wood-element spiritual roots. It can cultivate up to seventy-five cycles of spiritual energy, requiring at least eleven hundred spirit stones to reach the peak of the Qi Refining Stage. Necessary rare materials: Evergreen Wood or ten-year-old Evergreen Leaves, etc.

"Hundred Flames Technique": A mid-lower tier technique, suitable for fire-element spiritual roots. It can cultivate up to sixty cycles of spiritual energy, requiring at least nine hundred spirit stones to reach the peak of the Qi Refining Stage. Necessary rare materials: Molten Fire Stone, etc.

…

The mid-tier, lower-grade techniques required a decent number of spirit stones, but they were still far more affordable compared to upper-grade techniques.

However, gains and losses coexist. The fewer spirit stones required for mid-lower tier techniques, the weaker the spiritual energy they produce.

With his mid-tier, lower-grade spiritual roots, Mo Hua could only cultivate a technique of the same level. At the same realm, his spiritual energy would barely be over half that of someone with upper-tier, lower-grade spiritual roots.

And that was just upper-tier, lower-grade. Upper-tier mid-grade and higher-grade techniques would produce even stronger spiritual energy. The further one progressed, the greater the gap in spiritual energy caused by the difference in spiritual roots—it would be like the difference between clouds and mud.

Moreover, spiritual roots are determined at birth and cannot be changed.

"Some people really are favored by the heavens from the moment they're born…"

Mo Hua shook his head. Since his spiritual roots couldn't be changed, there was no point in dwelling on it.

When he flipped to the last page of the "Catalog of Techniques," he suddenly froze upon seeing a small line of text.

"Technique Inheritance Fee… What is this?"

He found the explanation below:

The techniques within the Tongxian Sect have been carefully compiled, researched, and refined over generations by sect leaders and elders. They are the accumulated wisdom and effort of past masters.

Disciples must pay a certain amount of spirit stones to qualify for the inheritance of these techniques.

Below this were the specific fees:

The inheritance fee for an upper-tier, lower-grade technique was 1,100 spirit stones, though it was discounted to 998 spirit stones for those with rare upper-tier spiritual roots.

The fee for mid-tier techniques was slightly lower. For mid-tier, lower-grade techniques, the fee was even less, but it still required 200 spirit stones.

Mo Hua was dumbfounded.

An inheritance fee?

No one had ever mentioned this before!

Why was the sect charging such outrageous fees? This was practically robbery!

With only eight spirit stones to his name, Mo Hua let out a powerless sigh.

This cultivation world was far too realistic and harsh…

"You all need to choose your techniques, pay the inheritance fee, and the sect will then impart the chosen technique to you. Techniques are of great importance, so it's best to discuss this with your parents or elders before making a decision. Do not aim too high, but also don't let short-sightedness ruin your future cultivation prospects."

Instructor Yan finished speaking and left, his expression showing that he didn't seem particularly enthusiastic about this task.

Once Instructor Yan left, the disciples broke into small groups, chattering loudly. Some looked excited, while others appeared distressed. The room became noisy:

"What's this inheritance fee? I've never heard of it before…"

"Who knows? If the sect's charging us, can we even refuse?"

"'Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow Technique'—just the inheritance fee costs over a thousand spirit stones, tsk tsk…"

"If you actually learned it, you'd probably have to sell yourself to the sect."

"Thank you, but my spiritual roots aren't worthy."

"Both my parents have mid-tier spiritual roots, so why are mine lower-grade? There's barely any technique I can choose…"

"Read 'The Evolution of Spiritual Roots in Cultivators.' You'll understand why parents with mid-tier roots can have a child with lower-grade roots."

"Do you think there are really any upper-tier spiritual roots among us?"

"There are. I have a distant cousin with upper-tier roots, but his father was a gambler, and his mother was lazy. Their family was dirt poor, so he only picked a mid-lower tier technique. What a waste of such a good spiritual foundation—tragic, really…"

"Even if I had upper-tier roots, I couldn't afford cultivation."

"You could always marry into another family…"

"No way!"

…

While the other disciples chattered away, Mo Hua rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.

The inheritance fee far exceeded his expectations.

The "Catalog of Techniques" offered options Mo Hua could technically consider, but since his parents had only just managed to gather enough funds to pay for his tuition, they wouldn't be able to spare so many spirit stones in such a short time. Even if they borrowed from others, the burden on his family would be too great.

"If that's the case, I won't choose a technique for now. I'll make do with the 'Breathing Technique' and save up spirit stones by drawing formations. Once I've saved enough, I'll choose a proper technique to cultivate. After all, I'm only at the third level of Qi Refining, and there's still some time before I break through to the fourth level."

Mo Hua shoved the "Catalog of Techniques" into his storage pouch, deciding not to take it home for his parents to see. His priority right now was to earn spirit stones by drawing formations.

The days that followed were the same as before: Mo Hua practiced diligently, attended lessons, and spent his spare time drawing formations.

Sect life, though monotonous, was fairly pleasant.

The scenery at Tongling Peak was beautiful, with lush green trees, gentle mist drifting around, birds soaring, and the fragrance of flowers lingering in the air.

The Outer Sect disciples often spent their time after class exploring the mountains. Female disciples, graceful and charming, would gather in groups to admire the flowers. Male disciples, on the other hand, chased spiritual beasts across the hills. Some young men and women, experiencing the stirrings of first love, whispered to each other in flower-filled valleys, while others got into fights out of jealousy.

However, none of this had anything to do with Mo Hua. He was entirely focused on studying formations. Aside from eating and attending classes, all his time was spent researching and practicing formations. Even at night, he would practice drawing formation scripts on stone tablets.

Among the disciples he was familiar with, Da Hu had already reached the fifth level of Qi Refining, while Shuang Hu and Xiao Hu were at the fourth level. They were all cultivating on Tongxuan Peak, which wasn't far from Tongling Peak. Knowing that Mo Hua was devoted to learning formations, they rarely disturbed him.

Mo Hua's face was delicate and clever, giving him an innocent and harmless appearance. He was kind to others and generally well-liked on Tongling Peak; no one thought of bullying him.

Moreover, Mo Hua's proficiency in formations earned him the favor of Instructor Yan, who held him in high regard. If anyone dared to bully Mo Hua, and Instructor Yan found out, the consequences would be severe. Instructor Yan despised disturbances among disciples and demanded they focus on their cultivation; punishments for offenders were notoriously harsh.

Besides, Da Hu and his brothers always looked out for Mo Hua. The three of them were large and burly, following the path of body refinement with the goal of becoming demon hunters in Dahei Mountain. In their free time, they often sought sparring matches with others. If Mo Hua ever ran into trouble, they'd come charging over from Tongxuan Peak with sleeves rolled up.

Mo Hua remained focused on his cultivation. The only interaction he had with other disciples was with An Xiaopang.

Mo Hua had borrowed ten spirit stones from An Xiaopang earlier that year and now returned them.

When Mo Hua handed him the spirit stones, An Xiaopang was visibly stunned. He had clearly forgotten about the loan and only remembered after thinking for a long moment.

The An family was a prominent family in Tongxian City, so he didn't really care about ten spirit stones. Of course, it was also possible that he simply had a poor memory.

After a long pause, An Xiaopang frowned as he recalled, then said with a somewhat complicated expression, "You're the first person in my life who actually returned the spirit stones they borrowed from me."

Mo Hua sighed inwardly. This must be what they mean by the foolish son of a wealthy landlord.

For An Xiaopang, spirit stones lent out were either forgotten or deliberately not returned. Since he didn't lack spirit stones, he had grown used to it over time.

"You're so… kind. Be careful not to get tricked by others," Mo Hua said, initially about to use the word "foolish," but he stopped himself and patted An Xiaopang's shoulder gently.

An Xiaopang's expression grew even more complicated, with a hint of gratitude. "Brother Xiao Mo, everyone says I'm stupid, but only you see me as kind-hearted. Among all the disciples I've met, you're the smartest, no wonder your formation skills are so good!"

Mo Hua didn't quite know how to respond.

---

Over a month later, during the sect's ten-day rest period, the disciples were given two days off.

Mo Hua left the sect and went to Youyuan Pavilion on North Street. There, he handed the completed Bright Flame Formation to Steward Wang and asked, "Is there a more difficult formation that can earn me more spirit stones?"

Steward Wang gave Mo Hua a sidelong glance. "Did your brother ask you to inquire about this?"

"Yes!" Mo Hua nodded.

"There is one." Steward Wang rummaged through the desk and pulled out a formation diagram. The diagram had several unfamiliar formation scripts.

"This is the Earth Stabilizing Formation. It reinforces soil and stone and is often used by cultivators to construct houses, caves, and strengthen doors and windows. It's more difficult than the Bright Flame Formation, and each one pays two spirit stones."

Two spirit stones—double the pay for a Bright Flame Formation!

"Can I take a look at the formation diagram first?"

Steward Wang rolled his eyes. "What's the point of you looking at it? Your brother has to see it."

Though grumbling, he still handed over the diagram. Basic formation diagrams like these weren't particularly rare, so letting someone take a look didn't matter.

Mo Hua studied the diagram and quickly noticed that many of the formation scripts were ones he hadn't encountered before, not even in the sect's teachings.

"I wonder how long it will take to learn this formation…"

The sect's techniques were too expensive, and earning spirit stones through Bright Flame Formations would take a long time.

Mo Hua wanted to try a new formation, but he hesitated. If he failed, he might lose spirit stones instead. If he couldn't complete it within the time limit, the formation guild would confiscate his deposit.

"Forget it. You can't catch wolves without risking the lamb!"

Mo Hua made up his mind. Even if he failed and lost twenty spirit stones, he could always go back to drawing Bright Flame Formations to earn them back.

If he wanted to become a formation master in the future, he would inevitably face formations far more difficult than this one. He couldn't spend his whole life drawing the same Bright Flame Formation.

(End of Chapter)