Returning to his island, Lu Fan made a life-changing decision. Previously, he had cultivated using an Aqua Qi art, which colored his internal energy blue. But now, he transitioned to Century Wood Art, a technique renowned for its focus on life force. With this change, the qi in his body transformed from blue to a vibrant green, radiating a sense of vitality. He even taught the art's mortal version to his wives, enabling them to enhance their health and lifespan despite not being able to cultivate qi directly. Once they reached the Innate level, they would be able to live significantly longer than ordinary mortals.
Exploring the four core arts, Lu Fan found himself most captivated by Formation. It was less resource-intensive than other arts, instead relying on skillful understanding of patterns and the interplay of different elements. Formation scrolls described natural formations and how cultivators could use formation flags to recreate these phenomena. Inspired, Lu Fan devised a plan to minimize costs: he would first test his ideas on a small scale with miniature formations before building anything large.
He sought out local craftsmen to produce miniature tools, such as small flasks, lenses, and weights. With these, he crafted miniature formation flags—tiny, pin-sized flags engraved with intricate patterns. Using a few spirit stones, he made a set of 100 such flags. Excited to start, he began with a basic Spirit Gathering Array by arranging ten flags in a standard pattern, testing their effectiveness. The miniature array succeeded in drawing a small amount of spiritual energy, confirming the viability of his idea.
Lu Fan then began experimenting with more flags, though his initial attempts disrupted the array's stability. Through trial and error, he refined the setup, eventually expanding the array to 51 flags. With time, he realized he could arrange these flags in three dimensions, amplifying their effectiveness. Remembering a magnetic field experiment from his previous life, he used spirit stones as anchors and tapped the flags to create patterns that simulated the flow of spiritual energy.
Taking his experiments further, Lu Fan explored different materials, using items that either absorbed or amplified qi in the environment. He crafted pure material flags with single elemental properties, using inexpensive metals and wood to observe their effects. After countless trials, he documented 134 unique Spirit Gathering Array patterns. Some materials interfered with each other, while others independently boosted qi flow. By focusing on the independent combinations, Lu Fan developed a complex array unlike any he'd seen.
With his design complete, Lu Fan set out to construct a full-scale version. He carved pillars himself from black stone, a material naturally neutral to qi. Each pillar varied in size and had a precise slot for placing formation flags. After weeks of labor, he transported the pillars to a remote, flat mountain peak. He arranged them into a three-dimensional Spirit Gathering Array, some pillars buried underground, others standing above.
Once he positioned the flags, the array activated. Spiritual energy gathered at the center, forming a thick mist that gradually condensed into Spiritual Water. Observing the results, Lu Fan placed a spirit stone at the array's center and watched as it absorbed qi, slowly transforming from low-grade to mid-grade—a remarkable success.
To ensure the area was safe, he placed a rat inside the array, observing its reactions. The rat seemed unaffected, but to keep his discovery secret, he killed it afterward. Satisfied that his array was both effective and stable, Lu Fan set about building a black stone house himself over the array's center, concealing it from view. The hidden structure would protect the formation and ensure no one stumbled upon his newfound resource.
With everything in place, Lu Fan returned home, content with his progress. His second wife was now pregnant, and in keeping with tradition, he decided to take yet another wife, expanding his family and strengthening his ties within the clan. His journey as both a cultivator and family man was truly just beginning.