I rely on learning to achieve immortality.

"A sudden enlightenment truly opens up a whole new world."

Xu Zhou stepped out of the wooden house and looked at the Thousand Wood Array in front of him, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"Why are all the formations I set up before full of loopholes?"

He paused for a moment, then couldn't help but chuckle.

"Even just half an hour ago, this great formation was already close to perfect in my eyes. There was nothing more to do except continue to increase the number of spirit woods and accumulate their age."

"But now, I've actually noticed many shortcomings in the formation."

Xu Zhou shook his head.

The greatest sign of a second-tier array master is that one has finally grasped the use of earth veins.

Even a first-tier array master can sense the existence of earth veins, and earth vein factors must be considered when setting up an array.

However, in most cases, one can only try to avoid the formation being affected by the earth's veins, as it is difficult to set up a powerful formation in places where the power of the earth's veins is mixed.

Once you reach the second tier, the array master can guide the power of the earth's veins for use in the grand array.

The earth's veins will also become the foundation of the formation, giving the great formation the ability to truly influence heaven and earth.

Xu Zhou couldn't help but think of the array formation of the Fei family's mine.

Because of the mining of spirit ore, the area around the vein was filled with impure energy. Back then, he could only use the power of spirit objects to set up a relatively simple formation.

Now, if he were to rearrange the array again, he would not only no longer need to rely on spiritual objects, but he could also channel the impure energy, making it part of the array's power, while also making the spiritual energy within the array purer.

"After reaching the second stage, everything is different from before."

"I never imagined that the first skill I would truly master to reach the second tier would be array formation."

Xu Zhou looked at the increasingly unpleasant Thousand Wood Formation before him and felt a sense of helplessness.

After that, he will probably have to re-examine the array's structure and transplant spirit wood. Modifying it to meet the average level of a second-tier array will likely take quite some time.

...

After advancing in rank, Xu Zhou also began to emerge from seclusion and resume his activities in the market.

He needed to order more materials from the merchant guild to modify the formation.

In addition, he visited the homes of several array masters in the market and discussed array formations with them. Of course, he mostly offered guidance.

Talking about these things with these first-tier array masters now won't improve his skills much. But these people have helped him a lot in the past, so giving him some pointers now is a way of repaying them.

After quickly completing these tasks, Xu Zhou focused on modifying the grand formation.

"If we can draw upon the power of the earth's veins and connect it completely with the great formation, even if some evil lords come to attack, they will perish here."

"However, the power of the earth's veins is not so easy to activate."

"If we're not careful, it could affect the environment here."

"If the power of the earth's veins is severely affected, the concentration of spiritual energy in the surrounding area will also be affected. If the spiritual energy of this place is truly damaged, the public will be enraged, and I'm afraid even the sect won't be able to protect me."

For this reason, Xu Zhou was very careful in his attempt to activate the earth's veins, fearing that something unexpected might happen.

Fortunately, the ley lines are not so easily affected.

He is not a professional ley line master, and his method of activating ley lines through arrays is relatively slow to take effect.

The effect of the spirit wood array on the earth veins is extremely gentle. In this way, not only will it not damage the earth veins, but it will even gradually strengthen them over time, making this place more suitable for cultivators to live in.

As Xu Zhou continued to improve the Thousand Wood Array, the concentration of spiritual energy in the surrounding area began to change.

People around the market also vaguely sensed that something was wrong.

Those cultivators who have been practicing diligently for many years and are most sensitive to fluctuations in spiritual energy have all noticed that the spiritual energy has become increasingly concentrated recently.

Those who cultivate the Wood Element Technique will feel it even more clearly.

The spiritual energy of wood element near the market seems to be slowly increasing.

The increase was so slight that many people thought it was just an illusion.

Occasionally, when cultivators talk about related matters, they only think that their cultivation mindset has been good recently and their cultivation techniques are running slightly better than before.

No one in the entire market, not even Foundation Establishment cultivators, noticed this subtle change.

...

Several months later.

Xu Zhou has already modified one-third of the grand formation in the valley.

He placed the spirit wood beside him and waited for it to connect with the earth's veins.

Although many spirit trees have not been properly moved, the formation is quite different from before, vaguely resembling a self-contained system, breathing with a strange melody.

Of course, only Xu Zhou, as a formation master, could perceive this. Ordinary cultivators, even those at the Foundation Establishment stage, would find it difficult to sense anything amiss.

"That concludes today's transplant procedure."

"Modifying the formation cannot be done in one step, otherwise it will cause too much change to the earth's veins and may have unexpected effects."

He wasn't in a hurry.

Even though the Thousand Wood Formation has not been fully modified, it is already a true second-tier formation, enough to protect his own safety.

Even if he were to encounter another evil cultivator like Ghost Monk who came to kill him, he could handle it calmly and was even quite confident that he could keep him here forever.

Even if he were to break ties with the Hu family, and both their Foundation Establishment stage ancestor and Hu Wenjun attacked simultaneously, he was quite confident that he could defend Red Maple Valley.

He now makes modifications every day, not only to improve the surrounding spiritual environment, but also to practice array formations as a side activity.

A moment later, Xu Zhou returned to the wooden house.

On the surface, it's just an ordinary wooden house, but once you enter, the concentration of spiritual energy in the surroundings immediately rises a level, making your mind clearer.

As array formation techniques improved, even ordinary spirit-gathering arrays and mind-calming arrays were strengthened.

The two arrays in the wooden house are even comparable to the setup of a sect's Foundation Establishment room.

Xu Zhou sat back down at his desk and continued his studies, which had been paused earlier.

After advancing in the array formation, his energy returned to the "Miscellaneous Elixir Chapter".

Besides alchemy, he would also study the Taiyi Needle Classic.

Although no one seeks his medical advice now, and his medical skills seem to be of little use, Xu Zhou still practices them from time to time. Perhaps in the future, he will gain insights that will have a profound impact.

Putting everything else aside, if he didn't have a thorough understanding of medicine, he really wouldn't have been able to create the Azure Wood Divine Light that could turn a person into wood.

In addition, the second-tier Detoxification Decoction and other high-level pills like the Clearing Obstacle Pill also require the support of medical skills to be refined.

Xu Zhou then quietly studied his craft in the wooden house.

Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind.

With a sweep of his divine sense, he connected with the Thousand Wood Array and, with the array's assistance, immediately saw the scene a hundred feet outside the valley.

A cultivator in a green robe appeared near Red Maple Valley and was walking through the air towards the valley entrance.

He was clearly a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"This person?"

Xu Zhou frowned inwardly.

Although the green-robed cultivator looked unfamiliar, he could still recall where he had seen him before, thanks to his Foundation Establishment cultivator's memory.

Three years ago, when Elder Lu's merchant ship arrived at the market, many wandering cultivators disembarked together.

Xu Zhou glanced at them briefly, but still remembered their faces.

"He's back again?"

If Xu Zhou remembered correctly, almost all the wandering cultivators left with the merchant ship after the auction.

For some reason, this green-robed cultivator came to Red Leaf Market again.

Just as he was pondering this, the green-robed cultivator arrived at the front of the formation.

The other party stopped outside the valley and did not rush into the formation, but simply bowed slightly towards the valley.

"My name is Cui Donglin."

"When I passed through this place a few years ago, I felt that the spiritual energy here was peaceful and suitable for quiet meditation, so I planned to stay nearby for a while."

He spoke calmly and unhurriedly, saying, "Since we will be cultivating together in the same place from now on, it is only right and proper for me to inform all my neighbors."

At this point, he raised his hand and waved.

A beam of light slowly flew out, enveloping a wooden box, and stopped outside the formation.

"These are just a few small items, nothing more."

After saying that, Cui Donglin took a half step back without waiting for a response, waiting for Xu Zhou's reply.

Xu Zhou observed the other party through the array for a moment, pondering briefly.

With the help of the array, he transmitted his divine sense remotely and carefully scanned the wooden box, discovering that it contained a stone disc with no obvious spiritual energy fluctuations.

Seeing that the other party meant no harm, he slightly raised his hand.

Outside the valley, the mist churned slightly, and the wooden box was instantly drawn into the formation by a wisp of green mist, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

A moment later, Xu Zhou replied loudly, "Fellow Daoist Cui, you are too kind."

In recent years, Xu has had little contact with outsiders and has neglected his neighbors.

His tone remained calm, and he did not activate the formation to welcome the other party again, but simply exchanged a few pleasantries.

"I am currently in seclusion and unable to receive guests. I hope Fellow Daoist Cui will not take offense. I will meet with you again when I have more free time."

Cui Donglin nodded slightly and said with a smile, "In that case, I will not bother you any longer these days."

I live near Wusong Stream and eagerly await Fellow Daoist Xu's visit someday.

After saying that, the other person turned and left, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.