Chapter 13: Needle Box

What a book!

"Oh, is there a difference? Aren't they all the same?"

Chen Mobai's knowledge of formations was limited to what he learned in class. He considered the Azure Water Formation to be only slightly more advanced than the formations discussed in regular lessons, seeing no fundamental difference.

How could this be two different systems?

"On Terra, all cultivation resources have been nationalized. The spirit veins within the Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens and Seventy-Two Blessed Lands were consolidated by a Soul Transformation Patriarch using a supreme magical treasure."

"Therefore, on Terra today, formations that require array flags to be driven into spirit veins are largely no longer researched. However, this knowledge forms the foundation of array theory, so we, as formation teachers, still explain it in high school classes."

"However, in reality, formations of Tier 2 and above, which require drawing power from spirit veins, are now relics of the past. The Immortal Sect supports, and major academies guide, the advancement of array theory towards utilizing the power of natural celestial phenomena and the sun, moon, and stars."

Only after Chan Si finished speaking did Chen Mobai understand that formations like the Azure Water Formation, which require rooting in water veins, are extremely rare throughout the Immortal Sect.

It wasn't that the formation itself was difficult; rather, it was incredibly hard to get permission from the Immortal Sect's Ministry of Natural Resources to draw power from spirit veins within their territory for array deployment.

"'Perhaps the private tutor my mother hired was a cultivator who participated in the development of sea regions,' Chen Mobai offered, 'which is why he was so insistent on formations that require water vein placement.'"

Chen Mobai offered a strained explanation. Chan Si gave him a suspicious look but didn't press the matter.

"Give me your phone number."

"What?"

Chen Mobai was taken aback, not expecting Chan Si to suddenly ask for his number.

"'My knowledge of formations is merely rudimentary; I've only recently solidified my understanding in this field by teaching at your school for the past few years. This Azure Water Formation is somewhat beyond my current expertise, and I'll need to consult someone. As it happens, a senior professor specializing in formations recently arrived at Danzhu Academy for a collaborative exchange. I'll consult with them. Give me your phone number, and let's add each other as contacts. I'll forward the answer to you as soon as I have it.'"

Chen Mobai was surprised by Chan Si's humility, as he was a professor of formations yet claimed to have only a rudimentary understanding.

"'Thank you for your effort, Teacher Chan,' he said."

Afterward, Chen Mobai immediately took out his phone and added Chan Si as a contact.

Just as he was about to leave, he reconsidered and felt a little awkward. He then scanned thirty pages of his Azure Water Formation notes, which were photos stored on his phone, into a text document. He sent it to Chan Si, explaining it was reference material from his private tutor.

"'Hmm, with these, I should be able to give you an answer within a day or two,' Chan Si replied. 'After all, the principles of array theory remain constant despite their myriad variations.'"

Chan Si's eyes immediately lit up upon seeing the document Chen Mobai sent. She pulled out her paper and pen and began calculating and simulating the Azure Water Formation's operation, apparently intending to first see if she could deduce all its intricacies using her own abilities.

Seeing her so engrossed, Chen Mobai didn't dare to disturb her. He quietly left the office and closed the door behind him.

He had initially considered giving Chan Si the original 'Detailed Explanation of the Azure Water Formation' for reference. However, recalling that its origin might lie outside the Immortal Sect's territory, and that it potentially contained evidence implicating him in a killing, he decided caution was best.

After much deliberation, he decided that once he returned home, he would scan the entire book's contents, character by character, into a digital document, meticulously removing any traces that could reveal its true origin, before sending it to Chan Si.

After leaving the office, Chen Mobai planned to head straight home.

With his new Tier 2 mid-grade spirit vein treasure site, he found the school's Tier 1 spiritual energy cultivation rooms somewhat lacking.

However, on second thought, it was better not to draw too much attention.

Immortal Sect Fifth High School was a national institution, and its students generally came from ordinary backgrounds. Even prodigies like Song Zheng and Yan Bingxuan, who were already in the late stages of Qi cultivation, highly valued their two hours of free cultivation time each afternoon.

It wasn't that no students opted out of using the school's cultivation rooms. Three students, already at Qi cultivation Level 8, found the top-tier Tier 1 spiritual energy insufficient for their needs. Their parents had rented them Tier 2 low-grade private cultivation rooms outside, so they would leave school directly after morning classes.

Therefore, if Chen Mobai were to forgo using the school's cultivation room, it would undoubtedly attract attention.

Qi cultivation practitioners could not train for more than eight hours a day, or their meridians and dantian would be overstressed. Chen Mobai didn't want to waste his time here.

So, while in the school's cultivation room, he took out the Flying Needle Sect disciple manual that the brown-robed youth had dropped and began to peruse it.

It was a thin booklet, only twelve pages long.

A lengthy section detailed the origins of the Flying Needle Sect. Its founding patriarch was once a disciple of the Flying Sand Sect, affiliated with the Ten Directions Hall. After successfully establishing his foundation, he left his sect, despairing of ever forming a core.

The subsequent two or three pages extolled how this Flying Needle Sect patriarch, upon arriving in the Eastern Wilderness, established a three-hundred-year legacy, commanding respect from all corners.

Following that were the standard rules common to all major sects: injunctions against deceiving one's master, disrespecting ancestors, or engaging in wrongdoing.

None of this was useful to Chen Mobai, except for the page on sect benefits, which gave him a rough idea of the origin of spirit stones.

Joining the Flying Needle Sect, in addition to its responsibilities, naturally came with the benefit of an annual spirit stone stipend.

Disciples in the early stage of Qi cultivation received five spirit stones annually; those in the middle stage, ten spirit stones; and those in the late stage, twenty.

The brown-robed youth, at Qi cultivation Level 6, was already at the peak of the middle stage. Ten spirit stones would barely suffice for his cultivation needs. He likely conspired with the old man to open this water mansion, hoping to earn extra income and make a fortune.

He hadn't anticipated, however, that so soon after leaving his sect, and before he could even showcase his abilities, he would be ambushed and killed by the old man within the water mansion.

The final page bore the brown-robed youth's signature and the Flying Needle Sect's seal.

"This sect manual was issued and printed in the year 6478 of the Yiyuan Era."

"Yiyuan Era?"

"That must be the local calendar of the Eastern Wilderness!"

At this moment, Chen Mobai already had a nascent idea about the water mansion's location.

This place, the Eastern Wilderness, likely has an abundance of spirit stones.

If his cultivation proved successful in the future, he resolved to leave the water mansion and explore the land above.

After finishing the Flying Needle Sect disciple manual, Chen Mobai took out the needle case, gently opened it, and decided to attempt refining its contents.

Twelve earthy-yellow flying needles lay neatly arranged inside. He channeled spiritual power into the case, and one by one, the needles began to rise. Ultimately, with a concentrated effort, ten of them responded to his spiritual energy, slowly ascending.

Could it be that Qi cultivation Level 6 allows one to control all the flying needles?

Chen Mobai mused, considering he was at Qi cultivation Level 5 and could control ten. If fully refined, these needles would be perfectly suited for his use.

However, having never controlled a magical artifact before, he found that after just three minutes, most of his spiritual energy was depleted, and all ten flying needles fell uncontrollably.

"'No wonder he always launched them in sets of three,' Chen Mobai murmured."

Recalling the brown-robed youth's use of the needles, Chen Mobai realized how mistaken he had been. Even if a Qi cultivation Level 6 practitioner could levitate all twelve flying needles, achieving fluid, precise control like an extension of one's arm would likely require at least Qi cultivation Level 7 or higher.

After meditating to restore his spiritual energy, he again attempted to manipulate three flying needles. While he managed to sustain them for a quarter of an hour, the earthy-yellow needles that rose remained incredibly stiff and unresponsive.

If only there were a corresponding refining technique?