Cultivating immortality begins with formations.

"Lu Yuan, accept your fate."

"The art of formations is beyond the reach of us rogue cultivators. It would be wise to switch to another method as soon as possible."

Late at night, Lu Yuan, sitting alone in his room, once again recalled the words of his fellow townsman at the banquet earlier, and couldn't help but sigh softly.

"Cultivating immortality is difficult!"

"Formations are even more difficult!"

Time flies like a wild horse galloping past a crack in the wall. Before he knew it, he had been reincarnated here for a full thirty years.

Fifteen years ago, he and three fellow villagers stumbled into a deep mountain cave and, by chance, discovered the remains of a monk.

Only then did I realize that this place was actually a world of cultivation.

Following the map found among the cultivator's remains, we successfully arrived at Jiuling Market.

He officially embarked on the path of cultivation.

However, limited by his inferior Five Elements spiritual root, he faced many difficulties.

Among the remains of that cultivator was a fragment of a first-tier array master's inheritance.

However, the art of formations is profound and obscure.

It requires not only talent and resources, but also countless experiences and insights accumulated over time.

The other three fellow villagers had already switched to other practices.

Only Lu Yuan persisted.

As a top student at the Academy of Fine Arts, he believes that this incomplete array is an unfulfilled opportunity from his previous life.

But the reality is much harsher.

After years of cultivation, he only managed to successfully inscribe a Qi-gathering array five years ago.

And his cultivation level was the lowest among the four people from the same village.

"Could it be that all those years of persistence were ultimately just unrealistic ambitions?!"

His gaze fell on the ten low-grade spirit stones that his fellow villagers had pooled together for him, and the last embers of hope in Lu Yuan's heart flickered.

"If this is the last time and it fails again, then give up completely and look for another way."

"But leaving the market is absolutely impossible. Even if I die, I will die in this place of cultivation."

He carefully wrapped the spirit stone and put it away close to his body.

Lu Yuan pushed open the wooden door, stepped into the morning light, and strode towards the market.

The bluestone pavement, worn smooth by time, reflects the faint morning light. A gentle breeze caresses the face, carrying a faint and pure spiritual energy—a unique and comforting atmosphere found only in the market.

Jiuling Market is situated on a second-tier spiritual vein, backed by the Jiuling Mountains where demonic beasts roam. It is a gathering place for many demon-hunting cultivators and immortal cultivation forces, and is bustling with noise all day long.

Lu Yuan's goal for this trip was clear.

The purpose is to exchange the ten low-grade spirit stones in hand for an array plate to inscribe the array and the spirit essence liquid to draw the array patterns.

Rinse one last time.

Walk along the main street of the market and enter the Baibaoge (treasure pavilion).

This Treasure Pavilion is an asset of the Glazed Tile Sect, mainly engaged in the purchase and sale of finished pills, magical artifacts, talismans, and various spiritual materials.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, it's been a long time."

The middle-aged, slightly overweight shopkeeper, Mr. Luo, came out from behind the counter and greeted them with a smile.

Five years ago, Lu Yuan successfully engraved a set of Qi-gathering arrays, which he sold to Baibaoge. He has only come here twice since then, yet he was still recognized.

Lu Yuan was somewhat surprised, but still smiled and said, "Manager Luo, I want a jade array plate and two bottles of spirit essence liquid."

Upon hearing Lu Yuan explain his purpose, Manager Luo revealed a slick smile: "Fellow Daoist Lu, you must be more than confident in engraving the array this time."

Lu Yuan smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

After the jade array plate and the spirit marrow liquid were brought over, Lu Yuan examined them carefully.

The array plate, about the size of a disc, gleamed with a warm, bluish light and contained cloud-like spiritual patterns.

The essence liquid has a mild aroma and a pure texture.

Both are of superior quality.

Manager Luo waited patiently, and only spoke when he saw that the man was satisfied:

"A jade array plate costs six spirit stones, two bottles of spirit marrow liquid cost four spirit stones... Fellow Daoist Lu is a regular customer, so I'll just charge you nine spirit stones."

"Thank you, Manager Luo."

Lu Yuan did not refuse; one spirit stone was equivalent to half a month's worth of food for him, and he could not refuse.

"It's alright."

"There aren't many cultivators in the market who are dedicated to the Dao of Arrays. Since we've encountered one, our organization should naturally seek to establish a good relationship with him."

Manager Luo spoke frankly: "I only hope that Fellow Daoist Lu will not forget this day when he becomes a formation master."

"Thank you for your kind words, Manager Luo."

Lu Yuan solemnly cupped his hands in greeting.

He felt the goodwill of Baibaoge, but there was no point in saying more; he simply kept it in his heart.

After leaving the Treasure Pavilion, Lu Yuan went to the Treasure Refining Hall.

His current identity is that of an array apprentice there, making a living by helping weapon refiners and array masters process basic array patterns.

Engraving the Qi-gathering array is not a task that can be accomplished overnight; it will take at least ten days.

The Refining Treasure Hall would not grant him such a long leave, and Lu Yuan had already made up his mind.

If this fails, then the path of formations will be abandoned forever.

Therefore, I simply resigned.

Without further ado, the Refining Hall deducted one spirit stone from his wages for the ten days.

Lu Yuan didn't compete; with his Qi Refining Level 3 cultivation, he had no right to fight.

He didn't want to be labeled as maliciously demanding back wages, so he simply walked out of the Refining Hall with an indifferent expression.

……

Back home

After finishing two large bowls of spirit rice, accompanied by dried demon beast meat, Lu Yuan felt warmth in his stomach and his energy was abundant.

After washing up, I felt refreshed and invigorated.

The night was deep and quiet, and all was still.

He sat cross-legged in front of the desk.

The success five years ago made him ecstatic, thinking that he had finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel.

But the subsequent series of failures brought him back to reality.

Among the myriad arts of cultivation, very few rogue cultivators practice formations.

This is because the massive amount of resources required is practically a bottomless pit.

Ten spirit stones might be enough for a talisman master to practice hundreds of times, but for him, one failure would be enough to wipe out everything.

The jade array plate and the spiritual essence liquid were placed quietly on the table.

Lu Yuan closed his eyes and focused his mind, dispelling distracting thoughts. Only after his mind was completely calm did he slowly pick up the engraving brush.

Just as he finished adjusting his breathing and was about to put pen to paper...

Suddenly, a faint light appeared in the field of vision, which then unfolded into a phantom light curtain:

Name: Lu Yuan

Lifespan: 30/66 (Lifespan increased, triple effect)

[Realm Level: Qi Refining Level 3]

[Spiritual Root: Five Elements Spiritual Root (Low Grade)]

[Technique: Five Elements Technique (Mastery required; breakthrough possible after 30 years of practice)]

[Skills: Qi Gathering Array (Proficient, requires 30 years of training to break through), Five Elements Mist Array (Beginner, requires 15 years of training to break through)]

[Techniques: Fire Separation Spell (Beginner level, breakthrough possible after three years of practice), Qi Concealment Technique (Minor mastery, breakthrough possible after five years of practice)]

[Lifespan can be infused into skills and spells to increase cultivation progress; current lifespan infusion limit: 35 years]

"Huh?"

Lu Yuan's eyes widened in disbelief.

The lake of my heart shattered like a clear mirror, instantly unleashing a raging storm.

This thing has finally arrived.

Lu Yuan said that he couldn't have transmigrated for nothing. Transmigrating without a system was like the Second Battalion Commander losing his Italian artillery.

Deep Blue, add more...

Wait!

The awakening of his cheat ability had momentarily clouded his judgment, and only now did Lu Yuan realize how to use it.

Lifespan?

In other words, this is a life-or-death system.

Lu Yuan pondered for a moment, his gaze gradually settling.

Rather than living a mediocre and unproductive life, it's better to extend one's lifespan and defy fate.

[Gathering Qi Array, Infusing Thirty Years of Lifespan]

[Gathering Qi Array (Perfect)]

[Remaining infusionable lifespan: 5 years]

For an instant.

As if enlightened, insights into the formation kept flooding into my mind, as if I had been immersed in the Qi Gathering Formation for thirty years with complete focus.

That's so true.

Lu Yuan felt a surge of emotion.

The weakness he had imagined did not appear; he ran to the water vat and bowed his head.

His face, reflected on the water, had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and was handsome and dashing—a appearance that even Xu Gong of the north of the city could not match.

Most importantly, he shows no signs of aging.

"It seems that the end of this lifespan will not affect one's physical appearance."

Becoming a short-lived being with only six years left to live did not discourage him, since as long as he continued to cultivate, his lifespan could be extended.

Furthermore, he has thirty years of experience in formations, especially in advancing the Qi Gathering Formation to perfection.

If things go smoothly, the formation will succeed.

With this, you will no longer need to worry about spirit stones in your future cultivation.

Lu Yuan's eyes were bright and his spirits were high.

……