I rely on learning to achieve immortality.

The one-armed old man sitting on the ground was slightly taken aback and did not react for a moment.

When he recognized the sketch, his eyes widened in surprise: "It's you!"

Just as he was about to make a move, he suddenly felt a jolt in his heart.

As if he were being watched by some dangerous beast, his heart felt like it was being gripped, and the immense fear made him unable to move for a moment.

This feeling comes and goes quickly.

But he no longer dared to act rashly.

He sat down again, looking at Xu Zhou with some fear: "Who are you?"

Xu Zhou withdrew his divine sense, somewhat satisfied with the one-armed old man's reaction.

He didn't answer the other person's question, but instead repeated, "Where did you get this sketch?"

He waved the sketch in his hand, and it was none other than the array diagram he had bought from the old man a few days ago.

After buying the item, Xu Zhou spent some time studying it and found it increasingly interesting.

Although the sketch was somewhat messy and the array patterns were not very accurate, the idea behind the array arrangement was unique.

The more Xu Zhou studied the sketch, the more he could see the artist's boundless inspiration, clearly demonstrating genuine talent. This observation and learning experience broadened his horizons considerably.

A few days ago, after observing the battle flags, I finally couldn't resist the urge to find out who owned the sketch.

The one-armed old man hesitated for a long time before cautiously answering, "I drew this sketch."

"Did you draw this?"

Xu Zhou exclaimed in surprise, "Did you really draw this diagram? You understand array formations?"

The one-armed old man nodded repeatedly: "I know a little bit."

Xu Zhou looked him up and down a few times, finding it hard to reconcile the man's appearance with that wildly imaginative sketch.

Even if the array formation method doesn't require as many resources as the alchemy method, it's still among the top of the various arts of cultivation. How could this down-on-his-luck old man know how to do that?

Sensing his skepticism, the old man blushed and tried to explain, "If you don't believe me, I also have array notes I've kept over the years while I was learning, which you can take a look at."

Xu Zhou didn't speak, but simply gestured for him to take it out and have a look.

He took the notebook, glanced at it casually, and was immediately struck by a jolt.

The notebook was densely filled with many insights into array formations, clearly sharing the same lineage as the sketch.

Just a few glances were enough to captivate Xu Zhou, almost drawing him into a study mode.

He suppressed his shock, put down his notebook, and looked at the old man again.

"Where did you get this array-building inheritance?"

The old man smiled wryly: "What are you saying, fellow Daoist? I am just a first-level rogue cultivator. I found some array-related books in the market and taught myself."

"You've never seen the inheritance of array formations?"

"Never," the old man answered frankly.

Xu Zhou fell silent.

His divine sense had already been released, and the old man in front of him had only reached the fourth level of Qi Refining. His facial expressions could not escape the perception of his divine sense, and he could not see any trace of lying.

Moreover, he himself believed some of what the old man said.

Whether it's sketches or notes, besides the wildly imaginative ideas, they are also filled with many rather naive thoughts, and the array patterns are drawn rather irregularly.

Judging from many details, the other party had indeed not formally studied the art of formations and was a complete amateur.

Realizing this, Xu Zhou became even more shocked.

He was a complete amateur, yet he managed to draw that sketch. The other person's talent far surpasses his.

It's likely that the other party is the legendary natural genius of array formations.

Unfortunately, he was just a rogue cultivator, lacking both inheritance and resources. He wasted a lot of time and could only make a living by setting up a stall in the market.

Xu Zhou sighed inwardly and pointed to the notebook: "I've got my eye on this notebook. Name your price."

The one-armed old man's mind raced, and he immediately responded, "I see that you and I are destined to meet, so I will give you this notebook as a token of our friendship."

Xu Zhou shook his head and took out two jade bottles, tossing them over.

"How about these two bottles as payment for the notes?"

The old man took the jade bottle, opened it, and immediately a delicate fragrance wafted out.

He was slightly taken aback, then his face showed shock: "This...this is Qi-Inducing Dew!?"

The seemingly unremarkable cultivator in front of them casually pulled out two bottles of Qi-Inducing Dew!

The old man was stunned for a moment before he came to his senses and said in a trembling voice, "This...this is a bit too valuable."

That's what he said, but he didn't let go of the two jade bottles, clearly showing his extreme reluctance to part with them.

Xu Zhou waved his hand: "Take it. Your notes will be very helpful to me. Two bottles of Qi-Boosting Dew are worth the price."

Hearing him say that, the old man finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Xu Zhou stood up, intending to leave.

However, after thinking for a moment, he still asked one more question: "By the way, what's your name?"

He felt a surge of interest in the old man and wanted to ask his name. Perhaps if he saw him again in Dongling Market in the future, he could learn more about his array techniques.

The old man hesitated for a moment before respectfully saying, "In response to your question, my surname is Peng, and my given name is Hu."

"Peng...Hu?"

Xu Zhou paused involuntarily.

He turned back again, his gaze falling on the one-armed old man.

Only then did he begin to carefully observe the other person's face.

The wrinkled face, the slightly hunched back, and the empty sleeve on the right... no matter what, it was hard to reconcile with the figure in my memory.

But then, at a certain moment, the old man's gaze when he looked up gave Xu Zhou a sense of familiarity.

There was a hint of resentment and a touch of stubbornness in him, just like that young man who desperately fought for a chance in front of Baicaotang back then.

Xu Zhou's gaze paused slightly.

Some distant memories flashed through my mind.

Since we parted ways at Baicaotang, I heard that the other person went to Lihuo Cave, and later had bad luck, running into the fire demon.

Although he survived by sheer luck, he was left with a disability.

After that, he left the sect and his whereabouts became unknown.

After all these years, I never expected to run into you at this moment.

Although Peng Hu is only in his early sixties, his aged face makes him look no different from an eighty or ninety-year-old man among ordinary people.

Clearly, the life of independent cultivators has been very difficult these past few years.

Xu Zhou's mind raced, and he suppressed these thoughts.

Seeing that he had stopped, Peng Hu was unsure why the other was surprised. After a long while, he cautiously asked, "Fellow Daoist?"

Xu Zhou suppressed his thoughts and shook his head: "It's nothing, I just suddenly thought of something."

He paused for a moment, then took out paper and pen from his pocket and quickly wrote down lines of text.

In a short while, the white paper in his hand was filled with writing.

Xu Zhou handed them over, saying, "Take these."

Your notes are logically sound, but contain many flaws. If you continue to extrapolate from them, you'll inevitably go astray sooner or later.

I've written down a few points for revision; please figure them out yourself. I'll come back if I have any new notes in the future.

Peng Hu was overjoyed upon hearing this.

"Don't spread our secrets," Xu Zhou said again.

Peng Hu took the notes and was about to say a few words of thanks when he looked up and found that Xu Zhou had already disappeared from sight.

Peng Hu stood there for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh.

"It's a real pity that I don't know this fellow Daoist's name yet."