Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2164 Chapter 1016: Reunion (Part 2)

Zhang Lan felt a lump in his throat from the surge of feelings, and he couldn't resist casting a fierce glance at Mo Hua:

"You little rascal, you're spouting that nonsense once more. Do you believe achieving Feather Transformation is really that easy?"

"My father remains my father. He's merely obstinate, not completely clueless. How would he ever truly push me toward Feather Transformation?"

"He spent his entire life cultivating, enduring hardships for hundreds of years until fortune finally smiled on him with a flicker of spiritual insight, just managing to attain Feather Transformation."

"Reaching Feather Transformation elevates one to True Man status."

"No one understands the challenges of the Feather Transformation Realm better than he does; how could he possibly compel me..."

Here, Zhang Lan halted, a mix of relief and faint melancholy washing over him:

"Truth be told, forget Feather Transformation—even forming the Golden Core is incredibly tough, hinging mostly on the Heavenly Dao's favor."

"When luck runs dry, core formation keeps failing. Countless cultivators get trapped at this stage, remaining so for life."

"I faced the same fears back then, dreading the Golden Core's difficulty; without a breakthrough, I'd be tossed by destiny's whims, so I lingered in the Qi Refining Realm."

"Without Tongxian City's dire crisis, I wouldn't have advanced to Foundation Establishment with such relative ease."

"Yet fortune turns in mysterious ways, every sip and bite ordained by fate. I somehow turned disaster into gain, pushing myself to the Golden Core..."

Zhang Lan propped his head on folded arms, legs crossed as he sprawled on the massive rock, his form swiftly reverting to its usual 'lazy' state, his voice turning slack:

"Beginning Qi Refinement at thirty counts as a late bloomer among cultivators."

"Core formation by forty marks you as a promising youth, leaving ample time ahead."

"Now I can savor a relaxed stretch for some time..."

Mo Hua copied Zhang Lan's pose, head on arms, legs crossed in lazy repose, and said with envy:

"That sounds truly wonderful... I have no idea when I'll manage to form my core..."

Zhang Lan brushed it off casually, "You're the shining star of Taixu Gate now, supported by a mighty Sect, rich in inheritances, guided by elders, with numerous Elders watching over you. What worry is there in forming the core?"

Mo Hua let out a sigh, "It doesn't relate to inheritances at all. Uncle Zhang, you've mentioned it yourself—core formation boils down to one's own fortune."

"Whether luck shines or fades, it's all about the Heavenly Dao's preference. If the Heavenly Dao overlooks me, it'll be exceedingly tough..."

Zhang Lan gave a nod, "You're right..."

His own fortune had been kind, yet that offered no guarantee for Mo Hua's.

He genuinely wished for Mo Hua to have strong fortune as well.

But such things fell under the Heavenly Dao's domain, and the Heavenly Dao paid no heed to his desires.

Zhang Lan mulled it over deeply for a moment, then exhaled in resignation, "I can't assist you there..."

"In the past, I might have shared some Zhang Family insights for your reference..."

"But these days, as a Taixu Gate disciple, with the Sect's vast reserves and ancient legacy, you likely have no need for the Zhang Family's..."

Zhang Lan suddenly felt a chill inside, bolting upright at once, his easygoing vibe vanishing entirely.

He had nearly overlooked it!

Water Passing Step!

This was the crucial issue!

Mo Hua noticed the abrupt shift, finding it odd.

With a grave expression, Zhang Lan probed Mo Hua's "account": "Mo Hua, recall for me how you came by your Water Passing Step?"

Mo Hua affirmed with a nod, "A benevolent stranger who passed by gifted it to me."

"Don't get it twisted—if you do, I could be in mortal danger." Zhang Lan's features grew taut.

Mo Hua looked baffled, "Is it truly that grave?"

Zhang Lan confirmed with a nod, "It wasn't at first, but now it is, gravely so!"

He had started as a mere overseer in a distant minor Immortal City, casually imparting a sliver of his Zhang Family's supreme body technique to an unremarkable little loose cultivator.

Yet circumstances had twisted; he had essentially "leaked" his Zhang Family's supreme body technique to Taixu Gate's top young genius.

And all under watchful eyes, witnessed by the Chief Elder.

This spelled serious complications.

Moreover, earlier that day, Zhang Lan had eavesdropped on the full exchange between Elder Feng and the Chief Elder.

At the time, the Grand Elder Zhang had, before Elder Feng, extravagantly lauded the Feng family's genius, hailing his Wind Wandering Steps as matchless.

Then, the Carefree Sect's Wind Wandering Steps and the Feng family's version had been openly outshone by Mo Hua.

And the skill Mo Hua wielded was the Zhang family's Water Passing Step.

Elder Feng was best left in the dark about this.

Should he learn the truth, he'd undoubtedly see Grand Elder Zhang's words as biting sarcasm.

Superficially extolling the Feng family's genius and his peerless movement art, while covertly slipping the Zhang family's supreme body technique to a Taixu Gate disciple to overshadow the Feng heir.

Elder Feng would erupt in fury.

Even without voicing it, resentment would fester inwardly.

It might fracture ties between the Zhang and Feng families.

Thus, the secret of the Water Passing Step must stay buried at all costs.

This went beyond Zhang Lan dodging personal woes like choking on a meal or kneeling before ancestors.

It was truly about safeguarding two centuries of camaraderie between the Chief Elder and Elder Feng, plus the enduring alliance of the Zhang and Feng clans.

Zhang Lan's face hardened like the unyielding stones of Taixu Mountain:

"Absolutely never let a word escape!"

Mo Hua sensed the profound karmic burden involved and nodded solemnly, "Rest assured, not even torture would loosen my tongue."

"Excellent!"

Seeing the firm resolve in Mo Hua's eyes, Zhang Lan relaxed at last, slipping back into his "lazy" demeanor to sip his drink and gaze at the peaks.

Afterward, the pair reminisced about old happenings in Tongxian City.

Zhang Lan also asked after Mo Hua's current life.

Upon hearing that beyond daily cultivation, Taoist Skill practice, and formation drawing, all was well...

The Sect thrived, fellow disciples were congenial, Elders were supportive, and the Sect Leader with the Ancestor treated him warmly.

Zhang Lan felt utterly reassured.