Chapter 84: Beginning to Study Array Dao, Pill Dao Guest Elder

"You can't figure out the mysteries within. Just trust me."

Xu Chuan said with a light smile.

Xu Mingxian nodded slightly, then returned to his own room.

After closing the door and activating the restrictions, he studied "Introduction to Array Dao" and "Detailed Explanation of Xuanzhen Array Formations" in his room.

The former recorded some introductory knowledge of array Dao, including what array Dao was, how to set up arrays, and the differences between restrictions and array Dao.

As for the latter, Xu Mingxian also roughly flipped through it once.

It turned out to be the array formation experiences of a person called Daoist Xuanzhen from the Great Wei.

[I cultivated the Dao for a hundred years, but my innate talent was insufficient, so I devoted my life to studying array Dao, traveling in all directions. I once sought shelter with aristocratic families, setting up array formations for them, and later served as a Great Wei immortal official, busily pursuing success.

Years passed leisurely, and after a hundred years, I suddenly awakened. I retired to the mountain forests, leaving this text to the world, hoping later scholars will take it as a reference.]

Among them was the Spirit Gathering Array.

In addition, there were also three others: the Cloud Mist Grand Array, the Water Fire Dragon Grand Array, and the Earthen Defense Grand Array.

"Father is still the capable one. 'Introduction to Array Dao' may be ordinary, but this 'Detailed Explanation of Xuanzhen Array Formations' is definitely quite precious, a treasured array Dao text of the Zhou family."

"If not for winning over Father, they definitely wouldn't have taken it out."

"But do I really have array Dao talent?"

Xu Mingxian pondered briefly, cast aside distracting thoughts, and began earnestly studying "Introduction to Array Dao."

Array formations mostly used talismans, array patterns, or natural spiritual objects as mediums to construct spiritual qi circulation channels, achieving energy gathering, transformation, or sealing.

There were illusion arrays, killing arrays, trapping arrays, defensive arrays, auxiliary arrays, and so on.

Like the Spirit Gathering Array recorded in "Detailed Explanation of Xuanzhen Array Formations," it belonged to auxiliary arrays. The Cloud Mist Grand Array was an illusion array, and the Water Fire Dragon Grand Array was a killing array.

These were all array formation fundamentals.

Some high-rank array formations were composite arrays, such as "illusion concealing killing" or "trapping and killing combined."

Generally, those with profound attainments in array formations, even if only in the Qi Refining realm, could set up high-rank array formations. However, such individuals were without exception array formation geniuses.

The path of array formations relied even more on innate talent and comprehension than pill Dao. This was why even with the Zhou family's foundation, they had only produced a pill refinement master but hadn't cultivated a single array formation master.

Although Xu Mingxian doubted himself inwardly, he deeply believed his father wouldn't speak without basis.

Therefore, he devoted all his efforts to comprehending array Dao, not wanting to disappoint Xu Chuan.

That night, Zhou Sen came to find Xu Chuan.

"Elder Zhou, coming here so late at night, is there an important matter?"

Zhou Sen had a kind and benevolent appearance, smiling warmly, "First, I came to ask how Fellow Daoist Sansu is resting. Second, I wanted to ask what Fellow Daoist's plans are going forward."

"Plans?" Xu Chuan pondered briefly, "Nothing more than returning to my old trade, gathering spiritual herbs and refining pills to supply my cultivation needs."

"Any excess pills can be traded for spirit stones, then purchasing suitable magical artifacts."

"Alas~"

"In the last battle, all my magical artifacts were completely destroyed, but fortunately I kept my life."

"Indeed." Zhou Sen sighed deeply, as if recalling something, his eyes revealing sorrow, "My Zhou family also has many family disciples who died unnatural deaths while traveling outside."

"Fellow Daoist Sansu is still fortunate. You only lost some magical artifacts and possessions. With Fellow Daoist's pill Dao abilities, it probably won't take long before you earn back all your savings."

"How could it be that easy? I'm afraid it won't happen without more than ten years."

After speaking, the room suddenly fell silent.

Zhou Sen suddenly remembered his true purpose in coming and immediately said, "Has Fellow Daoist ever considered that going it alone is far inferior to having the backing of an influential power?"

The corners of Xu Chuan's mouth lifted slightly, with a trace of a smile, "Could Elder Zhou be trying to recruit this poor Daoist?"

"Precisely."

Zhou Sen said, "The pill recorded in the previous formula is quite difficult to refine. In my Zhou family, only this elder can refine it, yet the pill formation rate is also pitifully low."

"Moreover, the relevant spiritual medicines remaining in the clan are few and far between, so this old man wants to ask Fellow Daoist Sansu to lend me a hand."

"What pill is recorded in that formula?"

"Breakthrough Pill. It was obtained by the clan's old ancestor from an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling. It can help late-stage Qi Refining cultivators break through bottlenecks, but at most three can be consumed."

"I see. However, this humble one still needs to consider this for a few days. I hope Elder Zhou won't take offense."

"That's natural. My Zhou family is not like those demonic cultivators. Coming and going follows the heart, and we naturally won't force anyone."

"Many thanks." Xu Chuan cupped his fists.

Zhou Sen then also left the room.

Xu Chuan didn't immediately agree, naturally to leave Zhou Sen with an impression of cautiousness.

Previously at the Zhou family, he had already left an impression of greed and greed combined with caution were precisely the characteristics of the vast majority of rogue cultivators.

Over three days, Xu Chuan visited every shop and workshop in the Yuehu Market.

His main purpose was to understand the prices of immortal cultivation items, such as the prices of various pills like detoxification, healing, and magical power advancement pills, as well as custom-made magical artifacts versus purchased ones. Flying swords, magical robes, and defensive items all had different prices.

There were also immortal cultivation techniques, spiritual herbs, and so on.

Xu Chuan also saw three techniques that the Xu family had purchased at great cost. These techniques were all complete.

Currently, among the five immortal cultivation techniques the Xu family possessed, only the wood-attribute "Everlasting Spring Art" was complete. The rest could only be cultivated to seventh layer of Qi Refining.

He haggled and spent one spirit stone to purchase a complete "Golden Sword Art."

This cultivation method was a grade higher than the "Fire Element Formula."

If it were the "Fire Element Formula," such an ordinary technique, no one would want it even for half a spirit stone.

In the Yuehu Market, all the pavilion shops were backed either by Yuehu Commandery immortal cultivation families or by rogue cultivators who had been operating here for a long time.

As for street vendors, they were all rogue cultivators who would stay at most a few months before leaving.

"Low-grade magical artifacts are still too inferior for late-stage Qi Refining. At the very least, it needs to be a middle-grade magical artifact. But purchasing a middle-grade artifact myself is too much of a loss, and I currently can't afford it anyway."

"Let's see. It would be great if I could get something from the Zhou family."

Returning to the pill shop, Xu Chuan handed the "Golden Sword Art" to Xu Mingxian for him to cultivate this technique in the future.

He also gave him twenty spirit stones.

To serve as capital for array formation materials in the future.

Xu Mingxian collected all the items into his storage bag.

This storage bag couldn't even be considered entry-level and could only be called defective. It was only five cubic feet in size, but it was still enough for storing a few texts and some spirit stones.

As for entry-level storage bags, they had a radius of several zhang, but the spirit stone price was eighty.

Even Qi Refining families probably only had elder-level figures who could possibly possess them.

…

Three days later.

Xu Chuan went directly to find Zhou Sen.

"Elder Zhou, this poor Daoist has finished considering. I'm willing to become a guest elder of the Zhou family, but I have three conditions. I hope you'll agree, otherwise this matter should be dropped."

"What matters? Fellow Daoist, please speak and let me hear them."

Zhou Sen didn't dare agree immediately, fearing this rogue cultivator Xu Chuan would ask for excessive demands.

"First, this humble one comes and goes freely. The Zhou family must not obstruct me. After all, Fellow Daoist can also see this humble one's cultivation. After approaching Foundation Establishment, in the future I will also need to go out to seek Foundation Establishment opportunities."

"Second, a monthly salary of five spirit stones, and for pills refined, refine six and take one."

"Third, this humble one currently has no magical artifacts for self-defense. I hope your esteemed clan can gift me a middle-grade magical artifact."

Hearing this, Zhou Sen's brow furrowed slightly as he pondered carefully.

"Rogue cultivators value freedom. Guest elders inherently have little binding force, and other guest elders in the clan are all the same. A monthly salary of five spirit stones isn't high for an alchemist like Fellow Daoist Sansu, but refining six and taking one..."

"Forget it. With this person's pill Dao abilities, ultimately it's still my Zhou family who benefits more."

"But the last condition..."

This condition was what troubled Zhou Sen the most.

Middle-grade magical artifacts were precious, exceeding even the spirit stones he earned in a year's worth of monthly salaries for refining pills for the Zhou family.

After pondering briefly, Zhou Sen looked directly at Xu Chuan, "Fellow Daoist Sansu, the first two conditions this old man can agree to, but for the third, if you agree to refine pills for my Zhou family for more than ten years, this old man will without hesitation request the clan allocate a middle-grade magical artifact for you."

"Then change it to a low-grade magical artifact. That should be acceptable, right?"

"Then let it be so."

Zhou Sen feared Xu Chuan would raise other conditions or give up on joining, so he agreed.

"Fellow Daoist Sansu, tomorrow I'll have the clan send over the guest elder token."

"Many thanks, Elder Zhou." Xu Chuan smiled and cupped his hands.