Chapter 2085: Wood’s Renewal (part 2)
The Quest for Immortality
After a moment, the Pavilion Elder suddenly said:
"Do you know about the Young Masters’ Pavilion?"
The question came abruptly, causing the Supervisor’s fingers, holding a chess piece, to tremble.
The piece fell onto the chessboard, landing on a "dead eye".
The Supervisor thought about picking it up, but then remembered "a move once made cannot be taken back," hesitating for a moment before slowly withdrawing his hand.
The Pavilion Elder seemed not to notice his actions, still staring at the board, considering where to place his piece.
The Supervisor said softly, "Just some children’s... trivial playthings..."
The Pavilion Elder neither agreed nor disagreed, only saying, "’Pavilion’, this word, should not be used lightly."
"Yes..." the Supervisor replied slowly, "Children do not understand the weight of things..."
The Pavilion Elder said no more, focusing on the game.
The Supervisor was anxious in his heart.
The two continued playing, black and white stones falling in succession.
On the board, the Pavilion Elder was still at a disadvantage, making frequent blunders, with his stones being captured one by one.
As they played, the Pavilion Elder suddenly said, "Would you like my position as Pavilion Elder?"
This remark was like a bolt from the blue.
The Supervisor dropped his chess piece, fearfully kneeling down, "Master, I, your student..."
The Pavilion Elder waved his hand, "Just making conversation, why so tense?"
The Supervisor knelt, not daring to move. .
The Pavilion Elder’s murky eyes glanced at him, with both appreciation and a hint of disappointment, sighed slowly:
"The position of Pavilion Elder, whether you want it or not, one day I must give it to you..."
The Supervisor replied in a bitter tone, "Master, you overestimate me, I..."
The Pavilion Elder waved his hand.
The Supervisor could not continue.
The Pavilion Elder looked at him, speaking with deep meaning:
"You must understand what it is you truly want. Once you understand, pursue it with determination."
"Whether you seek the Dao, immortality, fame, power, or the position of Pavilion Elder, you must be clear... "
"Do not let yourself be confused, carried away, progressing step by step without direction."
The Supervisor sincerely said, "Disciple understands now."
The Pavilion Elder sighed inwardly, shaking his head slightly with disappointment.
"Are the preparations for the Qian Learning State Boundary all done?" the Pavilion Elder asked again.
"Yes..."
The Pavilion Elder took out a Jade Slip and handed it to him, "Integrate this Formation into the reward for the top of the Qianxue Debate as the favor from the Dao Court Tian Shu Pavilion."
The Supervisor respectfully stood up, accepted the Jade Slip with both hands, and glanced at it, noticing the words "Wood Revitalization Formation," he asked:
"Master..."
"This is in the Pavilion," the Pavilion Elder said.
The Supervisor paused and then said, "Pavilion Elder, forgive this student’s ignorance, what is the deeper meaning of this Formation?"
The Pavilion Elder showed a compassionate expression:
"The purpose of the Qianxue Debate has become too focused on victory and strife. The disciples must understand that the ultimate goal is to save people with the sword, not to use it to oppress, or even kill."
The Supervisor cupped his hands, "Master’s heart is kind and benevolent."
The Pavilion Elder had already started packing up the chessboard, murmuring, "Playing with you is really no fun..."
After collecting a board where he would lose in less than ten moves, the Pavilion Elder waved his hand, "You may leave now."
The Supervisor, having no choice, carefully put away the "Wood Revitalization Formation," bowed, and said, "Student takes his leave."
The Pavilion Elder ignored him and started snoozing again.
This nap, the Pavilion Elder slept very peacefully.
As if he was no longer a high-ranking, powerful Pavilion Elder, but just an ordinary old man who liked playing chess and napping.
The Supervisor respectfully retreated, leaving the high pavilion, returning to his own room, pondering the ancient Formation Jade Slip in his hand, furrowing his brow.
"Instead of saying it was a lesson for the debate disciples, perhaps the Pavilion Elder was... hinting at me?"
"To have kind thoughts, like a dead tree reviving, saving others is saving oneself?"
"Could it really be that simple?"
The Supervisor’s gaze turned slightly somber, thoughts churning, tempted to open the Jade Slip.
But recalling the Pavilion Elder’s deep and ocean-like eyes, and the earlier admonishment, he immediately quelled the small notion in his heart.
The Pavilion Elder not saying something doesn’t mean he doesn’t know.
Don’t even think about fooling him.
Otherwise, it would be like covering one’s ears while stealing a bell, something a fool would do.
The Supervisor placed the Jade Slip etched with "Wood Revitalization Formation" into a jade box, wrote an order, stamped it with his seal, then called for a trusted aide, instructing:
"Deliver my seal, under the name of the Tian Shu Pavilion, send this jade box to the Qian Learning State Boundary, as an additional reward for the top of the Qianxue Debate."
"Yes."
The trusted aide respectfully took the jade box and retreated, handling matters according to the Tian Shu Pavilion’s procedures, following the rules.
Thus, this seemingly luxurious but otherwise unremarkable jade box was delivered to the Qian Learning State Boundary with the command from the Tian Shu Pavilion.
It had the Tian Shu Pavilion’s order.
It had the Supervisor’s seal.
It was a sealed jade box.
Everything appeared normal.
But no one knew what kind of world-changing, universe-disturbing thing was truly contained within this jade box...
"Wood Revitalization Formation?"
"What is it?"
Within the Taixu Gate, in the dining hall, Cheng Mo and other disciples also received the news, but were puzzled.
"Fools, it’s said to be the Wood Revitalization Formation, of course, it’s a formation."
"Nonsense, I know it’s a formation. What I want to say is, what kind of formation is this, that it’s worth the Dao Court specially giving it as a reward?"
"It sounds like just an ordinary formation."
"What grade is it?"
"It wasn’t mentioned, only the name of the formation."
"Speaking of Wood Revitalization Formation, my family seems to have one stored away..."
"Don’t kid yourself, it must not be the same. What your family has hidden away surely isn’t anything good."
"Formations can indeed have the same name, but the Dao Court’s Wood Revitalization Formation is definitely not of the same level as yours."
"Exactly, if it were something common, giving it out as a reward would be a disgrace?"
"Why offer such a formation? Wouldn’t it be better to reward with a Sword Array, Killing Formation, or Heaven, Earth, and Man Three Talents Formation..."