Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2046 Chapter 978: Solitary Mountain Formation (Part 2)

Upon grasping Mo Hua's objective, Elder Master Xun reflected for a moment before his expression brightened, and he gave his enthusiastic consent.

This was, without a doubt, a premier chance for growth.

The Dao of Formation cannot be mastered through mere "theoretical study"; the core principle lies in the ability to "apply what you've learned" in practice.

However, practical opportunities within the Sect are scarce.

Solitary Mountain City presented a perfect venue for such experience.

Furthermore, this endeavor would benefit the local region, making it a deeply significant act that resonated perfectly with the core mission of Taixu Gate.

Elder Master Xun gave a firm nod, instructing, "You shall oversee the entire matter."

Consequently, several days later during the scheduled lesson time, Mo Hua led a contingent of Taixu Gate Junior Brothers to Solitary Mountain to conduct an "off-campus formation practice."

This particular group of Junior Brothers possessed unique gifts in the Dao of Formation and were driven by the ambition to become elite Formation Masters one day.

Despite their extensive family backgrounds in the art, their experience had been limited to drawing formations on paper. This was virtually the first time they had participated in the actual construction of such a massive Tao Cultivation project, leaving them feeling both fascinated and refreshed.

The entire event had been organized by their "Junior Brother," Mo Hua.

Mo Hua even went as far as allocating a portion of his own merit points—which were so vast they seemed inexhaustible—to serve as compensation for their formation work.

As a result, every disciple applied themselves with the utmost seriousness.

Coming from prestigious family lineages and having earned their place in Taixu Gate, they were the "crème de la crème" of their clans and true formation geniuses. Their diligent study at Taixu Gate ensured that the formations they produced were both rapid and high in quality.

A secret rivalry emerged among many disciples as they competed to see who could work with the most speed and precision.

The air was thick with their competitive spirit.

However, it wasn't long before they bore witness to Mo Hua drawing a formation himself.

Back at the Sect, drawing one formation after another on paper already seemed fast compared to Mo Hua, but here at Solitary Mountain, where large-scale projects demanded immense volume, they finally glimpsed Mo Hua's truly "fearsome" capabilities.

Mo Hua gripped his brush, his movements as fluid as drifting clouds and flowing water, dancing like a dragon or a moving snake. While others were still struggling with a few formation patterns, he had already completed an entire sequence of formations.

His craft was flawless, the patterns so neat and refined they looked as if they had been pressed directly from a formation diagram without a single error.

The formation diagrams were so deeply etched into his mind and so thoroughly practiced that he didn't even require a reference glance.

The speed was simply staggering. No matter the complexity, the spiritual ink flowed, and within a few breaths, a complete formation would manifest beneath Mo Hua's brush.

A sense of natural grace swirled around the finished works, leaving the onlookers stunned and inspired.

The disciples stood there, utterly speechless.

Only then did they realize that their Junior Brother usually hid his light under a bushel; his proficiency in formations was far more terrifying than they had ever suspected.

A wave of discouragement washed over the Junior Brothers.

Yet, following that brief moment of dispiritedness, a new ambition took root.

With "Junior Brother" serving as their benchmark, they felt that even if catching up was impossible, they could not allow themselves to fall so far behind that they earned his disappointment.

Fixing their eyes on Mo Hua's back, the disciples became intensely focused, striving to complete their assigned formations as perfectly and quickly as they could.

Exhausted, Mo Hua paused to catch his breath, intending to offer some words of encouragement. However, when he turned around, he found everyone brimming with vigor and working tirelessly, a sight that both surprised and pleased him.

"They truly are promising talents..."

Under the leadership of the "great genius" Mo Hua and his team of Taixu Gate "little geniuses," the progress on the Solitary Mountain Compound Formation was incredibly swift.

The main structure of the formation was finished in less than ten days.

Since the remaining minor formations could be easily handled by Mo Hua alone, he prepared to escort the Junior Brothers back to Taixu Gate.

As they descended from Solitary Mountain and entered Solitary Mountain City, the surrounding views were far from pleasant.

The mountains were desolate, and the city itself lay in ruins.

Along the paths stood loose cultivators in tattered robes with sallow complexions, accompanied by orphans whose bones were as thin as twigs and skin as dark as charcoal.

Zheng Fang frowned, hesitating for a long time before he finally found the words to ask Mo Hua:

"Junior Brother, why are these cultivators so desperately poor?"

On their arrival, they had traveled by carriage and worked in isolation at the peak of Solitary Mountain, so they had not truly witnessed the grim reality of the city.

The other Taixu Gate disciples turned to Mo Hua, their eyes filled with visible discomfort.

Mo Hua paused, asking, "Have you really never encountered cultivators like this before?"

Zheng Fang gave a quiet "hmm," and the others nodded in agreement.

Mo Hua’s eyes lingered on them for a moment before he understood the situation.

Zheng Fang and his peers were the offspring of aristocratic families. Even those from less wealthy branches were supported by their clans; they lived "pampered" lives, mixing with other noble children and visiting the estates of great families, major sects, or thriving immortal cities.

They had never seen true destitution.

In various immortal cities, there were always some less fortunate cultivators who wore plain clothes and ate simple meals, unable to afford pricey spiritual artifacts or many spirit stones for their Cultivation.

In their minds, those were already the poorest of cultivators.

But the reality of "impoverishment" was beyond their wildest dreams.

Just as the destitute cannot conceive the true scale of "wealth," the wealthy cannot fathom how truly "poor" the destitute can be.

Mo Hua felt a complex mix of emotions.

Zheng Fang inquired further, "Junior Brother, are there many people living in such poverty?"

Mo Hua was silent for a beat before offering a conservative estimate: "At least half of the cultivators in this world live like this."

Of the remaining half, most live slightly better lives, but only just.

They still struggle for their daily bread and suffer through their Cultivation.

The true children of aristocratic families are but a tiny fraction of the whole.

Yet the Nine States are vast, and the number of cultivators is beyond counting.