Immortality Through Array Formations

"But!"

Elder Shen's gaze was piercing, his voice lifted: "Following the footsteps of the past Sect Leaders of our Qian Taoist Sect, who governed with vigor and diligence, over generations our cultivators have aspired to grow stronger. United in spirit, we toiled tirelessly, expanding our might to this day..."

"Our Qian Taoist Sect is now beyond compare with its former self!"

"All our disciples are prodigies, with top-grade talents!"
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"Today, we stand at the forefront of the four major sects! We are the greatest sect within the Qian Xue State boundary!"

"Therefore, this Sect-Entering Order has been changed in both format and wording."

"No longer does it read 'not to be refused,' but 'earnestly hoped to be accepted!'"

"It is others who beg us to 'accept' them into our sect, not us being 'commanded' to take in disciples!"

Elder Shen's words resounded with authority.

The other elders felt their spirits rise, sharing in the glory.

An elder spoke up: "Then this Sect-Entering Order, being an old matter and somewhat dishonorable, shall we... refuse it?"

Elder Shen pondered for a moment before shaking his head:

"No need to be so hasty, one must consider all things carefully..."

"These past events, though not glorious, are unchangeable facts."

"We cultivators must remember past humiliations, engrain them into our hearts so that we might carry the weight of our resolve and continue to grow stronger, ensuring our Qian Taoist Sect stands tall for thousands of years!"

The others flattered him:

"Worthy of being Elder Shen!"

"Far-sighted and visionary!"

"Grand in scope and extraordinary in tolerance!"

...

Elder Shen gestured modestly, a thought occurring to him, and he asked:

"This disciple seeking admission, what is the nature of his talent?"

Someone passed up a record of "native place."

With just a glance, Elder Shen's brows knotted.

"A Loose Cultivator..."

"And from the remote areas of Li State at that..."

"A middling to low-grade Small Five Elements Spiritual Root..."

Elder Shen found it barely worth a glance.

The other elders also looked over the record, and one couldn't help but chuckle: "In the special skills section, it says... Formation?"

The rest were taken aback and then burst into laughter.

"He really dares to claim that..."

"Probably has nothing else to write..."

"Formation..." an elder shook his head, "My own five-times-great-grandson has an exceptional talent for formations, and I dare not let him pursue that path nor claim to be proficient..."

"Truly... ignorance is bliss..."

"After all, cultivators from small places might feel grand after learning a few formations, not knowing the vastness of the world, that there are skies beyond skies..."

An elder joked: "Why not ask him just how many formations he knows?"

"You really have too much free time..."

"What's the use of asking? Could he possibly create a Second Grade formation?"

"Do not underestimate the cultivators of the world..."

"That may be so, but this is Qian State, the Qian Xue State boundary, where the geniuses of the Cultivation World converge. We lack not for a 'formation genius'..."

...

After discussing for a while, someone curiously asked:

"How did he come by this Sect-Entering Order?"

"Well, about that..."

"An ancient 'Sect-Entering Order'—could he have picked it up?"

"Where is it that easy to pick up? Couldn't it be that he... resorted to killing and robbing for it?"

"Or perhaps, he's someone's chess piece?"

Elder Shen shook his head, "Just now I made some quick calculations and while it's a bit unclear, presumably clean and without issues, no signs of 'Evil Cause and Evil Effect.' Most likely he indeed found it by chance..."

An elder clicked his tongue in admiration: "What luck..."

"Indeed, even a Sect-Entering Order could be found..."

Elder Shen nodded: "Some people in this world do indeed encounter extraordinary fortunes..."

"Since this boy has such fortune, then..." an elder probed Elder Shen's intention.

Elder Shen mused for a moment and slowly said: "Having fortune is one thing, but..."

Elder Shen's expression became slightly haughty as he reflected:

"Our Qian Taoist Sect offers such a grand opportunity; he simply cannot bear it!"

The elders were startled, and they exclaimed in admiration:

"Elder Shen speaks wisely!"

"A fortune too great can also be a misfortune..."

"A person of light fortune cannot withstand such overwhelming wealth..."

"This is also for his own good..."

...

"But..." some elders were concerned, "if we refuse, will that not damage the prestige of our Qian Taoist Sect?"

After all, those holding the Sect-Entering Order were generally not refused.

If they were refused, they might be labeled as "untrustworthy," and that would sound bad if it got out...

Elder Shen frowned, pondering before he spoke with weighty consideration:

"It's not 'refusal,' it's 'under deliberation'..."

The crowd was taken aback.

"Under deliberation?"

Elder Shen nodded, "It's not rejection, merely that this matter is special and requires thorough discussion..."

Thorough discussion.

As for how long they will deliberate, be it a month, a year, or more than a decade, whether or not a decision is reached, and what that might be...

That was the concern of the Qian Taoist Sect and no one else's business.

Elder Shen did not articulate this, but everyone understood.

The others nodded:

"This is for the best..."

"Such a significant matter indeed requires thorough discussion..."

"Indeed, Elder Shen handles matters fittingly, measuring every action with perfect discretion..."

...

"So how shall we deal with this Sect-Entering Order?" someone else asked.

Elder Shen said indifferently:

"Just enter it into the record of cultivators."

The Sect-Entering Order was precious, one per person. Once entered into the records, if returned, it could not be used by others again.

And once "under deliberation," the matter of the order-holder's admission into the sect was effectively stalled.

Thus, the matter was properly dealt with.

Elder Shen nodded slightly.

The light of the Sect-Entering Order flashed momentarily as it was recorded.

Elder Shen annotated "under deliberation" on the record, then tossed it aside, burying it under a pile of documents where it began to gather dust in silence.

As he discarded it, his glance fell once more on the name atop the record.

"Mo Hua..."

The name was swiftly forgotten by Elder Shen, who didn't deem it to be of any significance...