I rely on learning to achieve immortality.

Xu Zhou waited for a while in front of the Shen residence, and then saw a richly dressed cultivator stumbling and running towards him.

The other person ran closer, then steadied himself and bowed respectfully, asking, "May I ask if you are Senior Xu of the Golden Flame Sect?"

Seeing the sweat on the other person's forehead, they seemed quite nervous.

Xu Zhou returned the greeting: "No need to panic. I am here today only as an array master."

Shen Guanlan repeatedly agreed.

However, given Xu Zhou's status, he dared not look him in the eye as an equal and respectfully invited him into the mansion.

A moment later, the two sat down in the hall.

Shen Guanlan carefully brewed tea for Xu Zhou, and at the same time tentatively asked, "I have never heard of Senior Xu being proficient in array formations before. I never expected to meet you here today. It is truly an honor for this junior."

Xu Zhou explained, "I had been studying array formations for a long time, but I was only doing it in seclusion, so it was unknown to outsiders."

Now that I feel I've encountered some bottlenecks in my array formation practice, I finally realize that I need to exchange ideas with fellow practitioners to improve. Having heard of Fellow Daoist Shen's outstanding array formation skills, I wish to pay him a visit to seek his guidance. Please forgive any inconvenience this may cause.

"No, no, I wouldn't dare."

Upon hearing this, Shen Guanlan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

This Senior Xu was not as unapproachable as rumored; he was quite kind and not as arrogant as ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.

With that in mind, he relaxed considerably.

"I wonder, which part of the Dao of Arrays would Senior Xu like to discuss specifically?"

Shen Guanlan said with considerable confidence, "As long as it is something I know, I will answer without reservation."

When it comes to array formations, this is his domain. He wouldn't show any fear even when facing a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

He thought to himself: I heard that Senior Xu specializes in alchemy, so he probably doesn't have much time to deal with other things. His array formation skills are probably only at the middle to upper level.

All I need to do is answer questions and offer a few words of praise when appropriate, and that should be enough to satisfy my seniors.

If you're lucky enough to win over a senior, you might gain a favor in return.

Thinking this way, Shen Guanlan was in a great mood.

Xu Zhou smiled slightly: "I have never asked anyone for advice on formations before, so please let Fellow Daoist Shen start."

Shen Guanlan nodded and said, "In that case, let's discuss how spiritual energy attributes affect the formation."

This topic is quite broad. It can be discussed in a very simple way, or in a very detailed way, depending entirely on the level of expertise of both sides.

He wanted to use this topic to test Xu Zhou's level of array formation skills before making any further plans.

Xu Zhou nodded: "My understanding of this path is somewhat one-sided; I'm better at controlling the spiritual energy of the wood and water attributes..."

At that moment, Xu Zhou casually raised some basic questions.

These questions are not difficult to answer, Shen Guanlan replied casually.

The two chatted rather casually.

As Xu Zhou pointed out several details of the array, the relaxed expression on Shen Guanlan's face gradually faded.

Many of the array theory theories that Xu Zhou talked about were already familiar to Shen Guanlan, but many of them were also quite imaginative, making him unsure whether they were correct for a moment, and he fell into a brief period of contemplation.

After figuring out the solution and explaining it, Xu Zhou pondered for a moment and was able to ask even more questions.

As time went on, the composure on Shen Guanlan's face gradually faded.

He gradually discovered that Xu Zhou's questions were becoming increasingly detailed.

There were some things he had never even considered before.

Later on, he wasn't answering anymore; he was thinking as he spoke.

Shen Guanlan was secretly surprised.

Senior Xu's skill in array formations seems to be not much worse than mine.

Realizing this, he couldn't help but blush.

He had just wanted to give Xu Zhou some pointers, but after chatting for a long time, he still couldn't figure out Xu Zhou's skill level.

If things continue like this, it's hard to say who will be giving advice to whom.

However, Xu Zhou's line of thought became increasingly profound, leaving one with no time to spare.

Shen Guanlan's contemplation time gradually lengthened, and his mind became increasingly strained. He was no longer aware that his attitude had changed without him realizing it.

After chatting for an unknown amount of time, the two came to a disagreement about a certain concept of array formation.

Without hesitation, Shen Guanlan said, "Absolutely impossible! If this spiritual energy recirculation used wood-type array patterns, and the array didn't collapse on the spot, then all my decades of studying arrays would have been for nothing..."

At this point, he finally realized that his tone was inappropriate.

A cold sweat broke out on Shen Guanlan's back. He immediately shrank back and cupped his hands, saying, "This junior has offended you just now. I hope senior will forgive me."

Xu Zhou was lost in thought at that moment.

After a long pause, he waved his hand:

"It's alright. Thanks to what you just said, I realized that my previous thinking was indeed misguided."

Xu Zhou couldn't help but shake his head: "I have studied formations for many years and am most skilled at setting up formations with spirit wood. Who knew that spirit wood would both make me and break me, and I would get stuck in a predicament with it."

If it weren't for Fellow Daoist Shen's advice, I'm afraid I would have been trapped here for a long time, and I don't know if I would have been able to get out.

Shen Guanlan wiped his sweat and said with a forced smile, "Senior's talent in array formations is exceptional; this difficulty is only temporary. I believe that even without me, Senior would have figured it out on his own at some point."

He paused, then added, "Moreover, the method you used to set up the array with spirit wood is something I could hardly have imagined before. If I had to say, I would say I benefited from this conversation."

Xu Zhou couldn't help but laugh when he saw this.

"However, we've indeed been talking for quite a while now, so let's call it a day."

Upon hearing this, Shen Guanlan realized that it was already sunset and nightfall.

He was secretly surprised, not expecting that so much time had passed without him noticing.

Xu Zhou didn't immediately get up to take his leave, and casually said, "Speaking of which, array masters in Red Leaf Market must be doing quite well, right?"

Shen Guanlan smiled and said, "If we only compare him to ordinary cultivators, he is naturally stronger."

However, the array masters in the market are ultimately only at the first level of skill, unable to set up any high-level arrays. All they can do is patch things up for others.

He couldn't help but sigh: "If a large family really needs to set up a core formation, we still have to ask the second-tier formation master of the Golden Flame Sect to take action."

"For ordinary array masters like us, it's already quite good if we can lend a hand at this time."

Xu Zhou hummed in agreement and didn't ask any further questions.

Shortly afterward, he got up to take his leave.

Shen Guanlan respectfully saw him off, and upon returning to his residence, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

What followed was joy and excitement.

"I never expected that Senior Xu, who was rumored to be exceptionally reclusive, would actually be skilled in array formations!"

"I have benefited greatly from today's exchange of ideas."

"I need to quickly write this down and study it carefully. When I talk about it with the other old guys in the market, I guarantee they'll be amazed!"

...

a few days later.

Shen Guanlan found an opportunity to visit one of his array master friends.

The original intention was to share my insights from the past few days with the other party, and also to subtly show off a bit.

Unexpectedly, when he recounted his ordeal, his friend's expression turned strange.

"Did Senior Xu go to your place too?"

Shen Guanlan was taken aback upon hearing this.

The two stared at each other for a moment, then immediately realized what was going on.

Without bothering with idle chatter, he immediately got up and went to the residences of several other famous array masters in the market to inquire.

It would have been better if they hadn't asked; once they did, they all fell silent.

In just a few days, Xu Zhou had already visited each of them individually.

Each visit was conducted in a very low-key manner, and almost no information was leaked except to themselves.

After confirming the matter, the group looked at each other in bewilderment.

After a long pause, Shen Guanlan gave a wry smile: "I originally thought that Senior Xu came specifically to ask me about the spirit wood formation."

A person next to him shook his head and sighed, "But we're talking about earth vein array patterns."

"What we discussed was the stability of the attributes within the formation," someone else added.

The more they talked, the more complicated their expressions became.

They also discovered that Xu Zhou's discussions were completely different from everyone else's.

All the questions they discussed touched on their respective areas of expertise.

Moreover, no matter what issues are discussed, he always has a way of thinking that deviates from the mainstream but is still self-contained, as if he has pondered these ideas thousands of times in private.

Someone shook their head in shame: "I thought Senior Xu only had a slight understanding of formations. Now it seems that he has probably studied them seriously for many years."

Another person sighed: "Senior Xu's reputation in array formations has never been heard of before. Just how long has he been studying in secret?"

But someone else said, "That's true, but don't forget, Senior Xu is an alchemist."

The group fell silent.

They devoted half their lives to studying only the art of array formations.

Xu Zhou, besides alchemy, has actually reached such a level in array formation.

After a long pause, someone suddenly said:

"In the future, this Red Leaf Market might have one more Foundation Establishment Array Master."