Chapter 13: Needle Box

"What's the difference? Aren't they all the same?" Chen Mobai's understanding of array formations was limited to what he had learned in class. He perceived the Jade Water Array as only slightly more advanced than the formations typically discussed, seeing no fundamental distinction. How could they constitute two different systems?

"On Earthstar, all cultivation resources have been nationalized. A grand ancestor at the Soul Transformation stage used a supreme magical artifact to consolidate and unify all spiritual veins from the thirty-six Grotto-heavens and seventy-two Blessed Lands." "Consequently, array formations that require array flags to be embedded directly into spiritual veins are no longer a focus of study on Earthstar. However, this knowledge remains fundamental to array formations, so we, as array formation teachers, still cover it in high school classes." "In practice, array formations of the second tier and higher, which necessitate drawing power from spiritual veins, are now relics of the past. The Immortal Sect, with guidance from various Daoist academies and schools, promotes array formations that leverage the power of natural phenomena, the sun, moon, and stars."

Only after Chansi finished speaking did Chen Mobai realize that array formations like the Jade Water Array, which rely on being rooted in water veins, were exceedingly rare throughout the Immortal Sect. The difficulty wasn't in the formation itself, but in obtaining permission from the Immortal Sect's Ministry of Land and Natural Resources to extract spiritual vein power for array setup within its territories.

"Perhaps the private tutor my mother hired participated in the development of the sea regions, which would explain their particular interest in array formations that utilize water veins," Chen Mobai explained, somewhat unconvincingly. Chansi gave him a suspicious glance but didn't probe further.

"Give me your phone number.""Huh?" Chen Mobai was caught off guard by Chansi's sudden request for his number.

"My understanding of array formations is rather basic; I've only truly solidified my foundation in this area since I started teaching at your school a few years ago. This Jade Water Array is somewhat beyond my current expertise, and I'll need to consult someone. Conveniently, a senior professor specializing in array formations is visiting Danzhu Academy for an exchange. I'll consult them. Give me your phone number, and we can add each other as friends; I'll forward the answer to you immediately once I have it." Chen Mobai was surprised by Chansi's humility, finding it remarkable that an array formation professor would claim such a modest understanding.

"Thank you for your effort, Teacher Chansi." With that, Chen Mobai promptly took out his phone and added Chansi as a friend. Just as he was about to depart, a wave of embarrassment washed over him. He then scanned thirty pages of detailed Jade Water Array explanations, which he had stored as photos on his phone, into a text document and sent it to Chansi, claiming it was reference material provided by his private tutor.

"Hmm, with this, I should be able to give you an answer within the next couple of days. After all, despite their variations, the principles of array formations always remain the same." Chansi's eyes lit up upon seeing the document Chen Mobai sent. She promptly took out her paper and pen, beginning to calculate and simulate the Jade Water Array's operations, apparently intending to first try and deduce its full intricacies on her own. Seeing her so absorbed, Chen Mobai didn't dare to interrupt. He quietly retreated, closing the door behind him.

Chen Mobai had initially considered giving Chansi the original, complete explanation of the Jade Water Array for her reference. However, recalling that its origins might lie beyond the Immortal Sect's borders, and that it could potentially link him to a murder, he decided caution was paramount. After careful deliberation, he resolved to return home, meticulously scan the entire contents of the book into a document, remove any identifying traces, and then send it to Chansi.

After leaving the office, Chen Mobai decided to head straight home. With his newly acquired second-tier mid-grade spiritual vein treasure land, he found the school's first-tier spiritual energy cultivation rooms somewhat unimpressive.

However, upon reflection, he concluded it was best not to attract undue attention. Immortal Sect Fifth High School was a national institution, and most of its students came from ordinary backgrounds. Even prodigies like Song Zheng and Yan Bingxuan, already in the late Qi Condensation stage, highly valued the two hours of free cultivation time available each afternoon.

It wasn't unheard of for students to forego the school's cultivation rooms. Three students, already at Qi Condensation Level 8, found the peak first-tier spiritual energy insufficient for their needs. Their parents had helped them rent individual second-tier low-grade cultivation rooms elsewhere, and these students would leave school directly after morning classes. Therefore, if Chen Mobai were to stop using the school's cultivation room, it would undoubtedly draw attention.

Qi Condensation cultivators must not exceed eight hours of daily cultivation, as their meridians and dantian would otherwise be unable to cope. Chen Mobai had no intention of wasting time. Thus, while in the school's cultivation room, he retrieved the Flying Needle Sect disciple manual that the brown-robed youth had dropped and began to read it.

The manual was a mere twelve thin pages. A substantial section detailed the origins of the Flying Needle Sect, explaining that its founding patriarch was a disciple of the Flying Sand Sect, a branch of the Ten Directions Palace. After successfully achieving Foundation Establishment, he left his sect, having lost hope of forming a Golden Core.

The subsequent two or three pages were dedicated to praising how the Flying Needle Sect patriarch, upon arriving in the Eastern Wilderness, forged a three-hundred-year legacy that commanded respect in all directions. Following this were standard sectarian rules, common to most major factions, such as prohibitions against disrespecting one's master or ancestors, and engaging in wicked deeds.

None of this information was particularly useful to Chen Mobai, except for the page detailing sectarian benefits, which offered him a rough understanding of the origin of spirit stones. Beyond the responsibilities of a sect member, joining the Flying Needle Sect naturally entailed an annual stipend of spirit stones.

Early Qi Condensation disciples received five spirit stones annually; mid-Qi Condensation disciples received ten; and late Qi Condensation disciples received twenty. The brown-robed youth, being at Qi Condensation Level 6, was already at the peak of the mid-Qi Condensation stage. Ten spirit stones would have been utterly insufficient for his cultivation needs. He had likely conspired with the old man to open this aquatic manor, hoping to earn some extra income.

He simply hadn't anticipated that, immediately after leaving his sect and before he could even demonstrate his abilities, he would be ambushed and killed by the old man within the aquatic manor. The final page bore the brown-robed youth's signature and the Flying Needle Sect's official stamp.

"This sect manual was issued and printed in Year 6478 of the Yuan Era." The Yuan Era? That must be the local calendar of the Eastern Wilderness!

At this point, Chen Mobai already had a nascent idea about the aquatic manor's location. This place, known as the Eastern Wilderness, likely had an abundance of spirit stones. If his cultivation proved successful in the future, he resolved to leave the aquatic manor and explore the surface world.

Having finished reading the Flying Needle Sect disciple manual, Chen Mobai then retrieved the needle box, carefully opening it with the intent to attempt spirit refining.

Twelve earthy-yellow flying needles lay neatly arranged inside. He channeled spiritual power into them, and one by one, they began to rise. Exerting his full strength, a total of ten needles integrated with his spiritual power and slowly ascended. It seemed that a cultivator at Qi Condensation Level 6 could control all the flying needles. Chen Mobai mused that since he was at Qi Condensation Level 5 and could manage ten, they would be perfectly suited for him if fully refined.

However, having never controlled a magical artifact before, he found that after just three minutes, the majority of his spiritual power was depleted, and all ten flying needles dropped uncontrollably. "No wonder he launched them three at a time," Chen Mobai realized.

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

After meditating to recover his spiritual power, he attempted to manipulate three flying needles again. Although he managed to sustain them for fifteen minutes, the earthy-yellow needles remained incredibly stiff and unresponsive. If only he had the corresponding spirit refining technique.