Cultivating immortality in the seas, I created an immortal island of eternal life.

Di Yin did not continue the topic, but instead pushed the Po Zhen Zi over.

Gao Yao reached out and took it. He wanted to ask something, but seeing that the old man had already picked up the teacup, he swallowed his words and carefully put the array flag into his pocket.

"How's your study of formations going these days?" Di Yin put down his teacup and looked at Gao Yao's face.

Gao Yao's heart tightened, knowing that this was a test: "This disciple is dull-witted and has barely grasped the basics. I can set up a spirit-gathering array, but the range is not large and the effect is limited."

"cloth."

Gao Yao looked around. The thatched hut wasn't very big, but the open space in front of it was just right. He walked out of the hut, chose a flat spot by the bamboo grove, took out spirit stones from his storage bag, and squatted down to begin setting things up.

Di Yin followed him out and stood at the door, waiting quietly with his hands behind his back.

Gao did things very slowly, carefully taking each step, afraid of making a mistake.

He silently recited the steps as he laid the cloth, not even bothering to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

In about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the formation was complete.

Gao Yao took a deep breath, placed his hands on the base of the array, and slowly poured in spiritual energy.

The spirit stone lit up, and the light spread outward from the base of the array, flowing along the pre-set path to each node, and finally converging at the center of the array to form a light blue halo.

The halo lasted for a few breaths before disappearing.

However, it could be sensed that the concentration of spiritual energy at the center of the array was indeed higher than that around it.

Di Yin stepped into the formation and looked at Gao Yao: "The direction is correct, and the node positions are roughly accurate, but the flow of spiritual energy is still sluggish, and the connection between the formation base and the nodes is stiff, as if they were forcibly put together."

As he spoke, he paced around the formation, pointing out the flaws in the Spirit Gathering Formation one by one.

Gao Yao listened attentively and took careful notes.

"However," Di Yin changed the subject, his tone softening, "being able to set up a spirit-gathering array to this extent without anyone's guidance is not shameful."

Gao Yao breathed a sigh of relief.

"But," Di Yin spoke again, this time with a sterner tone, "you were too hasty. What were you thinking when you were setting up the formation?"

Gao Yao paused for a moment, then answered truthfully, "I'm thinking about what to do next and whether I've made any mistakes."

"That's the problem." Di Yin shook his head. "He had too many distracting thoughts, always thinking about finishing quickly, always afraid of making mistakes, but he forgot that the most taboo thing in formations is impatience. One wrong step leads to another."

"Whether it's making talismans or cultivating oneself, what matters is a calm mind; excessive caution will only lead to delusion."

Gao Yao lowered his eyes and didn't reply.

He knew Di Yin was right; he had indeed been too hasty, and Ye Zi had also reminded him of this issue.

After the autumn examination, Gao Yao always felt that he didn't have enough time.

He needed to improve his cultivation, learn formations, practice talisman making, and accumulate contribution points. Each of these tasks was like a whip lashing his back, urging him to run forward.

No matter how fast you run, if your foundation is unstable, you'll fall sooner or later.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Di Yin sighed, turned around and walked back to the thatched hut.

A moment later, he took out a booklet and handed it to Gao Yao.

"This is the diagram of the Tranquility Formation. Take a look."

Gao Yao took the booklet and opened it.

The Tranquility Array is a first-order array that helps cultivators calm their minds, concentrate their energy, and eliminate distracting thoughts, similar to the Material Processing Room.

"The core of the Tranquility Array lies not in the arrangement of the nodes, but in the selection of the array's eye," Di Yin explained from the side. "If the array's eye is chosen correctly, the array is more than half complete; if it's chosen incorrectly, no matter how much effort you put in, it will be in vain."

He led Gao Yao around the bamboo forest, finally stopping at a shady spot.

"Look here." Di Yin pointed to the ground. "This place has a peaceful atmosphere and a slow flow of spiritual energy, without any obvious fluctuations. It is the most suitable place to be the core of a calming array."

Gao Yao squatted down, touched the ground with his hand, and then used his divine sense to explore. Sure enough, as Di Yin had said, the flow of spiritual energy here was much smoother than in other places.

"After selecting the array core, the nodes are arranged around the array core, with uniform spacing and consistent direction of spiritual energy guidance, without the slightest deviation."

"The spiritual energy of the Tranquility Array flows in the opposite direction to that of the Spirit Gathering Array. It gathers from the outside to the center and then spreads outward from the center, forming a cycle. The more stable the cycle, the better the tranquility effect."

Gao listened attentively, memorizing every word.

Over the next hour, Di Yin personally guided him in setting up a calming array.

Gao Yao discovered that although Di Yin was stern in his words and actions, he was more serious than anyone else when it came to teaching.

The setup of the Tranquility Array is much more complex than that of the Spirit Gathering Array, with more nodes and a more precise flow of spiritual energy.

Gao tried three times; the first two attempts failed, and the third attempt was barely successful.

The moment the formation was activated, a cool sensation spread from the center of the formation, enveloping an area of ​​several feet in radius.

Standing in the center of the formation, Gao Yao felt his mind clear up considerably, and those chaotic thoughts gradually faded away like smoke blown away by the wind.

"It's done." Di Yin nodded, a rare look of approval on his face. "Although it's a bit rough, it's usable."

Gao Yao bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Master."

"It's not really guidance, I just thought you weren't too stupid, so I gave you a few pointers." Di Yin turned and walked back to the thatched hut, sat down on the futon, picked up the now-cold tea, and took a sip.

Gao Yao followed him in and stood with his hands at his sides.

"I've taught you everything I needed to. Go back now," Di Yin waved his hand.

Gao Yao bowed and was about to leave when Di Yin suddenly spoke.

"etc."

Gao Yao stopped.

"These are turbulent times, so be careful. Things are not peaceful outside, and they are not peaceful within the sect either. There are some things that you should not get involved in, so stay away."

Di Yin's tone became more serious: "If you encounter any problems that you can't solve, you can come to me."

Gao Yao was stunned.

This was the first time Di Yin had spoken such words voluntarily; it was a genuine offer of protection.

Although I don't know what the other party knows, or to what extent this protection will go, it at least shows that in the old man's heart, I am no longer just a pawn that has been handed to me.

"Thank you, Master." Gao Yao quickly bowed again, this time sincerely.

Di Yin didn't speak again, closed his eyes, and his breathing gradually became even and long.

Gao Yao left the thatched hut and gently closed the door behind him.

The wind was strong in the bamboo forest, and the bamboo leaves rustled.

The setting sun shone from the west, turning the entire bamboo forest a pale gold color.

Gao Yao walked down the stone steps, his steps lighter than when he came up.

When he reached the halfway point of the mountain, he looked back and bowed again.

Gao Yao turned back and continued walking down.

He felt a pang of emotion. That old man, Di Yin, said he wouldn't teach, but in reality, he had taught everything he needed to.

They say they don't care, but they actually do manage everything they're supposed to manage.

They're just not good at expressing themselves.

When he first became Di Yin's disciple, the old man ignored him and barely spoke a word to him. He thought he was just a nominal disciple, and that it would be good enough if he could learn something; he never expected to receive any protection.

But now, Di Yin has taken the initiative to speak.

It wasn't because of the bet, nor because of Wang Yao's feelings, but because she recognized him as a person.

The feeling was like drinking a sip of hot tea in winter, warming you from your throat all the way to your stomach.

However, the turbulent times they mentioned...

Even an old man like Di Yin, who doesn't concern himself with worldly affairs, said that these are turbulent times, and the waters here are indeed much deeper than he thought.

Gao Yao shook his head and quickened his pace.

......

By the time we got back to Turtle Reef Island, it was completely dark.

Gao Yao didn't go to the Enlightenment Room to cultivate as usual, but went straight to the shed. Now that he had learned the Tranquility Array, he could start preparing for the upgrades to the Material Processing Workshop and the Talisman Making Room.

A second-tier material processing workshop requires a hundred years of lifespan, sixty low-grade spirit stones, thirty plants of Radiant Grass, and the carving of a Spirit Gathering Array.

A second-tier talisman-making room requires a hundred years of lifespan, sixty low-grade spirit stones, twenty spirit light grasses, and the carving of a spirit-gathering array.

I have already mastered the Tranquility Formation, and I have also prepared my lifespan in advance. With no shortage of spirit stones, I can easily gather all other materials.

Gao Yao stood up, walked out of the talisman-making room, and looked at the scattered fishing lights in the direction of the market.

I should go to the market tomorrow to pick up some materials.

......