Chapter 13: The Needle Box

"Ah, what's the difference? Aren't they all the same?"

Chen Mobai's knowledge of array formations was limited to what he learned in class. He thought the Bishui Array was just a bit more advanced than what was taught in class, but there was no fundamental difference.

How could these be two different systems?

"On the Earth Origin Star, all cultivation resources have been nationalized, and all the spirit veins of the Thirty-Six Cavern Heavens and the Seventy-Two Blessed Lands have been condensed and unified by the Law Ancestor using supreme magical treasures."

"Therefore, on the Earth Origin Star, it is basically no longer common to study array formations that require array flags to be driven into spirit veins. However, this knowledge is the foundation of array formations, so as array formation teachers in high school, we still teach it."

"But in reality, array formations above the second stage, which require the extraction of spirit vein power to be set up, have become historical dust. The direction in which the Immortal Sects and the major Daoist academies are guiding the advancement of array formations is to borrow the power of natural phenomena and the sun, moon, and stars."

After Chansi finished speaking, Chen Mobai finally understood that the Bishui Array, which required being rooted in a water vein, was extremely rare in the entire Immortal Sect.

It wasn't that the array formation was difficult, but it was hard to get permission from the Immortal Sect's Natural Resources Department to extract the power of the spirit veins within the Immortal Sect's territory to set up an array.

"Maybe the private tutor my mother hired had participated in the development of the sea, so he was particularly obsessed with array formations that require water veins."

Chen Mobai tried to explain, and Chansi gave him a suspicious look but didn't delve deeper.

"Give me your phone number."

"Huh?"

Chen Mobai didn't expect Chansi to suddenly ask for his number and was a bit taken aback.

"I only have a basic understanding of array formations. In recent years, I've been teaching at your school and have been catching up on this knowledge. The Bishui Array is a bit beyond my capabilities, so I need to consult someone. Fortunately, a senior professor specializing in array formations has come to Danzhu Academy for an exchange. I'll consult with him. Give me your phone number, and we can add each other as friends. I'll send you the answer as soon as I have it."

Chen Mobai didn't expect Chansi to be so humble, considering she was a teacher of array formations and still claimed to only have a basic understanding.

"Thank you, Teacher Chansi."

After saying that, Chen Mobai immediately took out his phone and added Chansi as a friend.

Just as he was about to leave, he thought it would be a bit impolite, so he scanned the thirty pages of detailed Bishui Array explanations stored on his phone into a text document and sent it to Chansi, saying it was reference material given to him by the private tutor.

"Hmm, with this, I should be able to give you an answer in a couple of days. After all, the principles of array formations remain the same."

Chansi's eyes lit up when she saw the document Chen Mobai sent. She took out her paper and pen and began to calculate and simulate the operation of the Bishui Array, seemingly trying to deduce the entire mystery of the array formation with her own abilities.

Seeing her immersed in her work, Chen Mobai didn't dare to disturb her and quietly left, closing the door behind him.

He originally wanted to give Chansi the original "Detailed Explanation of the Bishui Array" for reference, but thinking about its origin, which might be outside the Immortal Sect's territory, and its connection to evidence that he might be a murderer, he decided to be cautious.

After much consideration, he thought that after returning home, he would scan the entire book page by page into a document, eliminating all possible traces, and then send it to Chansi.

After leaving the office, Chen Mobai planned to go home directly.

He now had a second-stage middle-grade spirit vein treasure land and found the first-stage spirit qi cultivation room at school a bit lacking.

But after some thought, he decided it would be better not to draw attention.

The Fifth High School of the Immortal Sect was a national school, and most of the students here came from ordinary families. Even geniuses like Song Zheng and Yan Bingxuan, who were already in the late stage of the Qi Condensation realm, cherished the two free hours of cultivation time every afternoon.

There were also students who had given up on the school's cultivation room. Three students who had reached the eighth layer of Qi Condensation found the first-stage top-grade spirit qi insufficient and had their parents rent them second-stage lower-grade single cultivation rooms outside, leaving school after morning classes.

So, if Chen Mobai didn't use the school's cultivation room, it would definitely draw attention.

Cultivators in the Qi Condensation realm should not exceed eight hours of cultivation per day, or their meridians and dantian would not be able to handle it. Chen Mobai didn't plan to waste time here.

So, in the school's cultivation room, he took out the disciple manual of the Flying Needle Sect that the brown-clothed youth had dropped and started reading it.

It was only twelve thin pages.

A large portion of it introduced the history of the Flying Needle Sect, stating that the founder was a disciple of the Flying Sand Sect from the Ten Directions Hall. After successfully reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, he left the sect because he had no hope of reaching the Core Formation stage.

The next few pages praised how the founder of the Flying Needle Sect came to the Eastern Wasteland and established a three-hundred-year legacy, becoming a formidable force.

Then, it listed the rules of the sect, such as not betraying one's master and not committing evil deeds, which were common in all major sects.

These rules were of no use to Chen Mobai, but the page about the sect's benefits gave him a general idea of the origin of spirit stones.

Joining the Flying Needle Sect came with the responsibility of the sect, but it also included the benefit of receiving spirit stones annually.

Disciples in the early stage of Qi Condensation received five spirit stones per year; those in the middle stage received ten; and those in the late stage received twenty.

The brown-clothed youth was at the sixth layer of Qi Condensation, the peak of the middle stage. Ten spirit stones were far from enough for his cultivation. He must have been trying to earn extra income by collaborating with the old man to open the underwater palace, hoping to make a fortune.

He didn't expect that just after leaving the sect, before he could show his skills, he would be killed by the old man in the underwater palace.

The last page was the brown-clothed youth's signature and the Flying Needle Sect's seal.

This sect manual was printed and distributed in the 6478th year of the First Yuan Era.

The First Yuan Era?

It must be the local calendar of the Eastern Wasteland!

At this point, Chen Mobai had a vague idea of where the underwater palace was located.

The Eastern Wasteland must have plenty of spirit stones.

If his cultivation progresses, he must leave the underwater palace and explore the land.

After finishing the disciple manual of the Flying Needle Sect, Chen Mobai took out the needle box and gently opened it, trying to refine it.

There were twelve earth-yellow flying needles neatly arranged inside. He infused his spiritual power, and the needles rose one by one. With all his might, he managed to combine ten flying needles with his spiritual power, and they slowly rose into the air.

It seems that the sixth layer of Qi Condensation can control all the flying needles?

Chen Mobai thought that since he was at the fifth layer, he could control ten. If he fully refined them, it would be just right to use.

But since he had never controlled a magical tool before, after only three minutes, he found that his spiritual power was almost depleted, and the ten flying needles fell uncontrollably.

"No wonder he used them in groups of three."

Chen Mobai recalled the brown-clothed youth's casting scene and realized how far off he was. Even at the sixth layer of Qi Condensation, one could raise twelve flying needles, but to control them smoothly, one would need at least the seventh layer of Qi Condensation.

After sitting in meditation to recover his spiritual power, he tried to control three flying needles again. Although the time extended to a quarter of an hour, the earth-yellow needles flew stiffly and were unresponsive.

If only there were accompanying refinement techniques.