The Quest for Immortality-Chapter 1240: Breakthrough (2)

After that, it’s the Array Competition.

Fewer people attend the Array Competition.

In the Dao Discussion Conference, among the four categories of Tao Cultivation—Alchemy, Artifact Refining, Runic Magic, and Formation—Formation is the climax, scheduled last.

But the disciples, having watched the first three, have mostly lost interest.

Besides, next up is the Sword Discussion Conference.

Most disciples’ expectations are placed on the Sword Discussion Conference, a competition bustling with contestants from the Four Great Sects, Eight Great Gates, Twelve Streams, and Qianxue Hundred Gates, all vying for supremacy.

Thus, they naturally don’t care much about the Array Competition.

Moreover, among the various Tao Cultivation categories, although Formation is prestigious, it’s also relatively the most tedious and the most boring to watch.

Alchemy begins with lighting a furnace, and the flames rise.

Artifact Refining swings a heavy hammer, sparking brilliantly.

Refining Rune involves Condensing Techniques, brimming with flowing light and color.

Only the Formation Masters merely draw formations, which really appear very plain and ordinary.

For those disciples who are well-versed in formations, it’s fine; ordinary disciples, who only learn general formation traditions, can hardly comprehend the intricacies.

Having them sit by, watching a group of disciples perplexed as they draw formations for several hours, is indeed tough to endure.

Therefore, relatively speaking, the Array Competition is the least attended.

However, Mo Hua is quite the opposite.

He is most interested in the Array Competition.

He attended almost every important competition.

After observing many disciples’ Formation drawings, Mo Hua had a rough estimation of the proficiency level of the genius disciples participating in the competition.

These participating senior brothers and sisters are definitely stronger than himself.

All of them have Cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, with most possessing Nineteen Patterns in their Divine Sense.

Occasionally, there are those at the peak of Eighteen Patterns.

But Eighteen Patterns are actually just there to "accompany" the race.

The sects of these disciples generally have mediocre Formation traditions, so managing to select a few disciples with Eighteen Patterns who specialize in formations to participate in the Array Competition is already quite remarkable.

And the difficulty of the formations for assessments is not all Nineteen Patterns High-Order Formations.

Starting from Seventeen Patterns, then Eighteen, and finally Nineteen.

Eliminating step by step.

Those who remained at the end all had deep Divine Sense of Nineteen Patterns at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage and most had already passed the assessment as Second-grade High-level Array Masters.

Mo Hua currently does not know how to construct Nineteen-Pattern Formations.

But that’s because his Divine Sense is not sufficient, not because these formations are overly difficult.

Even the final, more niche and profound Nineteen-Pattern Array used in the championship assessment—the Postnatal Eight Trigrams Concealment Array.

Mo Hua watched it and didn’t think it was very difficult.

"With this level..." Mo Hua couldn’t help thinking, "could I possibly win first place in six years..."

Mo Hua thought about it and found it hard to believe.

First place in the Array Competition within the Qianxue State Boundary?

He quickly shook his head.

It shouldn’t be that simple...

One must not aim too high without grounding; stay practical!

He shouldn’t have such conceited thoughts, underestimating the heroes of the world!

Mo Hua slowly nodded, calming his mind, maintaining a humble attitude, and then continued watching.

He watched until the Sword Discussion Conference concluded.

To Mo Hua’s surprise, the top three of the Array Competition were all disciples of "Four Great Sects."

Specializing in formations and named after "Formation," the Ten Thousand Formations Sect only got fourth.

The first place was taken by a disciple bearing the surname "Shen," who seemed talented but carried an air of pride, and even looked somewhat disdainful.

He wore an exquisite cloud-white Taoist robe trimmed in gold.

Mo Hua recognized this Taoist robe.

It was the robe of the Qian Daoist Sect.

First place in the Array Competition, from the Qian Daoist Sect...

One of the Four Great Sects of Qianxue, the Qian Daoist Sect.

It was that very sect, whose Sect-Entering Order Mo Hua carried when he approached them, but was politely dismissed, belittled for his lowly Spiritual Root, and not allowed to enroll.

Even now, thinking about it, Mo Hua still felt somewhat bitter.

Mo Hua couldn’t help but curl his lips, muttering in his heart:

"Looking down on me..."

Mo Hua considered himself not to be petty, but he needed to stand up for himself.

This matter had to be addressed sooner or later.

That bun must be eaten back one day.

"Qian Daoist Sect!"

Mo Hua hummed softly, remembering it in his heart.

The surrounding Elders and other upper-level cultivators from various sects and families stood up, congratulating the winning disciple.

The Array Competition, although less attended by disciples,

Seemed to have more Elders watching, due perhaps to the unique status of formations, than previous Alchemy, Artifact, and Rune Competitions.

The top-ranked disciple from the Shen Family returned the greetings respectfully, however, his face still held traces of arrogance.

The Elders of the Qian Daoist Sect all had smiles on their faces, appearing dignified yet arrogant, exchanging pleasantries with others.

As if the first place in the Array Competition was expectedly in the bag for Qian Daoist Sect.

The Array Competition thus concluded.

...

After a while, it was time for the most important event, the Sword Discussion Conference.

The Sword Discussion Conference was also held at Mount of Tao.

Upon reaching Mount of Tao, Mo Hua realized what it meant for an event to truly be a grand affair.

The entire Mount of Tao was indeed bustling with noise and excitement like a sea of people.

The mountain was densely packed with disciples from various sects.

Nearly every disciple’s face showed excitement, anticipation, envy, and aspiration among other emotions.

Usually, such expressions only appear on the faces of disciples during yearly holidays.

Mo Hua was also infected by the atmosphere, feeling a thrill in his heart.

Cheng Mo, Situ Jian, and Hao Xuan were also there.

Especially Cheng Mo, who had also advanced to the Foundation Building Middle Stage, had nothing to do the following year, so he ran to Mount of Tao every day.