Building a long-lasting family lineage starting with genealogy

Chapter 85: Beginner's Guide to Array Formations, Guest Elder of Alchemy (First Update, Please Subscribe)

"You can't guess the secret behind it, just trust me."

Xu Chuan smiled faintly.

Xu Mingxian nodded slightly and then returned to her room.

After closing the door and activating the restriction, he studied "An Introduction to the Dao of Arrays" and "A Detailed Explanation of the Mysterious Array" in the room.

The former records some basic knowledge of array formation, including what array formation is, how to set up an array, and the difference between restrictions and array formation.

Xu Mingxian also roughly flipped through the latter.

It turned out to be the array formation experience of a Taoist named Xuanzhen from the Great Wei Dynasty.

I have cultivated the Dao for a hundred years, but my natural talents are insufficient. Therefore, I have devoted my life to studying the Dao of Arrays, traveling to all corners of the world. I once relied on a noble family to set up arrays for them, and later served as a Celestial Official of the Great Wei Dynasty, working diligently and ambitiously.

Time flows on, and a century later, I realize I have retired to the mountains and forests, leaving behind these classic texts for future scholars to study.

This book contains little content, mostly insights into various formations, comments on rare and powerful formations, and finally, his research and improvement on several formations.

Among them is the Spirit Gathering Array.

In addition, there are three other formations: the Cloud and Mist Formation, the Water and Fire Dragon Formation, and the Earth Defense Formation.

"Father is truly capable. While 'Introduction to the Way of Arrays' may be ordinary, this 'Detailed Explanation of the Profound True Arrays' must be quite precious. It is a treasured classic of arrays in the Zhou family."

"If it weren't for trying to win over Father, he definitely wouldn't have taken it out."

"But do I really have a talent for array formations?"

After a moment of contemplation, Xu Mingxian cleared his mind of distractions and began to seriously study "An Introduction to the Way of Formations".

Most formations use runes, array patterns, or natural spiritual objects as mediums to construct channels for the flow of spiritual energy, thereby achieving the gathering, transformation, or sealing of energy.

There are illusion formations, killing formations, trapping formations, defensive formations, and auxiliary formations, etc.

For example, the Spirit Gathering Array recorded in "Detailed Explanation of Xuanzhen Arrays" is a secondary array, the Cloud and Mist Array is an illusion array, and the Water Dragon and Flood Dragon Array is a killing array.

These are all the foundation of formations.

Some advanced formations are composite formations, such as "Hidden Kill within Illusion" and "Combined Trapping and Killing".

Those who possess profound knowledge of formations can set up high-level formations even if they are only at the Qi Refining stage.

However, such people are all geniuses in formations.

The art of formations relies more on innate talent and comprehension than the art of alchemy. This is why, despite the Zhou family's rich heritage, they have only produced alchemy masters, but have not cultivated a single formation master.

Although Xu Mingxian had doubts about himself, he firmly believed that his father would not speak without reason.

Therefore, he devoted himself to comprehending the Dao of Array Formation, so as not to disappoint Xu Chuan.

That night.

Zhou Sen came to find Xu Chuan.

"Elder Zhou, what urgent matter brings you here so late at night?"

Zhou Sen, with a kind face and a smile, said, "Firstly, I wanted to ask how Fellow Daoist San Shu is resting, and secondly, I wanted to ask what Fellow Daoist's plans are next."

"Arrangements?" Xu Chuan pondered for a moment, then said, "It's nothing more than returning to my old ways, gathering spiritual herbs and refining pills to meet my cultivation needs."

Excess pills are traded for spirit stones, which are then used to purchase magical artifacts.

"Hey~"

"In the last battle, all the magical artifacts were destroyed, but fortunately, I survived."

“Yes.” Zhou Sen sighed deeply, as if remembering something, and his eyes showed a look of sorrow. “Many members of my Zhou family have also died tragically while traveling abroad.”

“Fellow Daoist San Shu is lucky. He only lost some magical artifacts and valuables. With your alchemy skills, you will probably be able to earn back your savings in no time.”

"It's not that easy; it might take more than ten years."

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.

Zhou Sen suddenly remembered the confirmation of his arrival and immediately said, "Fellow Daoist, have you ever considered that fighting alone is far inferior to having a powerful force behind you?"

Xu Chuan's lips curled up slightly, a smile playing on his lips. "Elder Zhou, are you perhaps trying to recruit me?"

"Exactly."

Zhou Sen said, "The pills recorded in the previous pill formulas are quite difficult to refine. In my Zhou family, only this elder can refine them, but the success rate is pitifully low."

Furthermore, the clan has very few of the relevant medicinal herbs left, therefore I would like to ask Fellow Daoist San Shu for your assistance.

"What kind of elixir is recorded in that prescription?"

"The Breakthrough Pill was obtained by our clan's ancestor from an ancient cultivator's cave. It can help break through bottlenecks in the late stage of Qi Refining, but a maximum of three pills can be taken."

"I see. But I need to consider this matter for a few more days. I hope Elder Zhou will not take offense."

"That's natural. My Zhou family isn't those demonic cultivators. We can leave or stay as we please, and we won't force anyone."

"Thank you," Xu Chuan said, clasping his hands in thanks. Zhou Sen then left the room.

Xu Chuan's refusal to immediately agree left Zhou Sen with a cautious impression.

He had a reputation for greed from his time at the Zhou family.

Greed and caution are characteristics of the vast majority of independent cultivators.

Over three days.

Xu Chuan visited every shop and workshop in Yuehu Market.

The main focus is on understanding the prices of items used in cultivation, such as the prices of various pills for detoxification, healing, and enhancing magical power. Also, the prices of custom-made magical artifacts and purchased magical artifacts, as well as flying swords, robes, and defensive items, are all different.

There are also cultivation techniques, spiritual herbs, and so on.

Xu Chuan also saw the cultivation techniques that the Xu family of the Three Gates had acquired at great expense; these techniques were all complete.

Of the five cultivation techniques currently in the Xu family's possession, only the wood-attribute "Evergreen Technique" is complete; the others can only be cultivated to the seventh level of Qi Refining.

He bargained and spent one spirit stone to buy a complete copy of "The Golden Sword Manual".

This technique is of a higher grade than the "Golden Origin Technique".

If it were the most ordinary version of the "Golden Origin Technique," no one would want even half a spirit stone.

In Moon Lake Market, all the shops in the attic are either backed by a family of cultivators from Moon Lake County or by independent cultivators who have been operating in this area for a long time.

As for those who set up street stalls, they are all independent practitioners who stay for at most a few months before leaving.

"A low-grade magic weapon is still too inferior for the late stage of Qi Refining. It should at least be a mid-grade magic weapon, but it would be too wasteful to buy a mid-grade magic weapon myself, and I can't afford it at the moment."

"Let's see, if we can squeeze something out of the Zhou family, that would be great."

Upon returning to the alchemy shop, Xu Chuan handed over the "Golden Sword Manual" to Xu Mingxian, instructing him to cultivate this technique in the future.

They gave him another twenty spirit stones.

To be used as materials for future formations.

Xu Mingxian put everything into her storage bag.

This storage bag isn't even a beginner-level item; it's more of a defective product. It's only five cubic feet in size, but it's still enough to hold a few books and some spirit stones.

As for the beginner-level storage bag, it is several feet in diameter, but it costs eighty spirit stones.

Even in Qi-cultivating families, only elders might possess such a thing.

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Three days later.

Xu Chuan went directly to Zhou Sen.

"Elder Zhou, I have made up my mind and am willing to become a guest elder of the Zhou family, but I have three conditions. I hope you will agree to them, otherwise this matter will have to be dropped."

"What is it, fellow Daoist? Please tell me."

Zhou Sen didn't dare to agree immediately, fearing that Xu Chuan, this rogue cultivator, would make exorbitant demands.

"First, I am free to come and go, and the Zhou family must not stop me. After all, you can see that my cultivation level is close to Foundation Establishment. In the future, I will also go out to seek opportunities for Foundation Establishment."

"Second, a monthly salary of five spirit stones, and one out of every six pills refined will be taken from the salary."

"Thirdly, I currently lack any magical artifacts for self-defense, and I hope that the noble sir can gift me a mid-grade magical artifact."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Sen frowned slightly and pondered deeply.

“Rogue cultivators value freedom, and guest elders don’t have much of a binding force. The other guest elders in the clan are the same. A monthly salary of five spirit stones isn’t high for a pill refiner like Daoist San Shu, but he takes one-sixth of the pills he refines.”

"So be it. In the end, my Zhou family will benefit more from this person's alchemy."

"But the last one."

This is also the issue that Zhou Sen is most conflicted about.

The value of a mid-grade magic artifact exceeds the spirit stones he earned for refining pills for my Zhou family for a year.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhou Sen looked directly at Xu Chuan and said, "Fellow Daoist San Shu, I can agree to the first two conditions, but for the third condition, if you agree to refine pills for my Zhou family for more than ten years, I will ask the clan to allocate a mid-grade magic weapon for you without hesitation."

"Then replacing it with a low-grade magic weapon will surely be acceptable, right?"

"Then so be it."

Zhou Sen was afraid that Xu Chuan would bring up other conditions or give up joining, so he agreed.

“Fellow Daoist San Shu, I will have my clan send over the guest elder token tomorrow.”

"Thank you, Elder Zhou," Xu Chuan said with a smile, cupping his hands in thanks.

(End of this chapter)