daoist array formations # Power system A cultivator's abilities and vitality depends on three foundational components: - **Blood energy**: Comes from the **Body**, depends on innate constitution and **bloodline** (heredity, extremely rare). A cultivator constitution can be further improved or remedied by using rare resources in formative years. - **Spiritual energy**: Comes from the **Sea of energy (qi)**, depends on **Spiritual root** (also heredity). The energy which empower every ability, skill, items or technology in the cultivation world. Can be cultivated or recovered using **Spiritual stone**. Measured by **number of circulations** within the meridian. - **Divine sense** (Or **Spiritual sense/awareness**): Comes from the **Sea of awareness** (*Not* heredity). The power of cultivator's mind. Used for sixth sense, spiritual energy control, calculation, and Dao comprehension. *Cannot* be cultivated with technique or items. Unlike the other two components which have physical manifestation, divine sense is totally immaterial, making developing cultivation technique hard/impossible. Measured by **formation lines** From here on, terminologies with **divine** refer to the mind, and **spiritual** refer to the energy to avoid confusion. ## Cultivation realm There are 9 cultivation realms, (+ Immortal realm). Currently, only 5 realm are known: daoist array formations How to get it? daoist array formations - **Qi refinement**: Vapor-like qi. Most rogue cultivators are stuck at this level. - **Foundation establishment**: Mercury-like qi. Can use divine sense telekinesis. - **Golden Core**: Crystalized qi. - **Feathered Manifestation**: Feather-shaped qi. Can fly. - **Void Grotto**: Can control space. Grade 5 cultivators who are close to death can choose to damage their own Dao foundation to create **Life-bound Longevity Talisman** or Demonic version's **Immortal Talisman** for their descendants. When the user is killed, the amulet will use Grade 5 power to revive the user and destroy the culprit. Higher level cultivators still exist, but are hiding. # Setting daoist array formations How to get it? daoist array formations It has been 10000 years since the **Dao Court** repelled demonic force and unified the cultivation world. The Dao Court government is divided into 7 pavilions and exerts its power through **Dao Court Official** (Police force) and **Dao Army** (Military). The territory ruled by the Dao Court is divided into 9 **zhou** (prefectures). With the exception of Dao-zhou in the center, the other 8 are named after the 8 trigrams based on their directions and characteristics. Each zhou is further divided into **boundaries** (zhoujie). Each boundary has a power grade. Within grade 2 boundary, no one can used grade-3 or above power, or they will be annihilate by the Heavenly Retribution. (However, higher grade cultivator may have the ability to used lower grade energy more effectively). # Non-human - **Demonic beast**: Animal which can use Spiritual Energy. Eating an Demon beast who have tasted human flesh can ruin your Blood energy. - **Ghost**: When mortal's soul left their body and bounded to an item/place, they become ghost. **Ghost** are dangerous, invisible entity made of divine sense. They need to constantly eat other Divine Sense to sustain themselves. - **Corpse**: Corpses which accumulate natural **Corpse Qi** from surrounding (e.g. graveyard, tomb) or corpses refined by Corpse Cultivator become walking corpse. Depending on the formation process, a walking corpse may possess special attributes. Corpse can secrete **Corpse poison**, which can turn the living into Corpse. daoist array formations How to use it? daoist array formations - **God**: Beings born from the Dao, receiving mortal's faith to empower themselves. While their main body is made of Divine Sense, they still need physical mediums to bound themselves to, most commonly an idol. God represented an aspect of the Dao. As such, they cannot use power outside of their own Dao. God's Divine Sense has advantages over other beings'. - **Demon** ## Dao Calamity When great evil accumulate, a **Dao calamity** is born. A calamity can be any kind of malevolent beings, including Greate Demonic Beast, Corpse, or Evil God. It possess the maximum power allowed in a boundary. As such, any power which can overpower a calamity will be instantly eliminated by Heavenly Retribution. There are a limited number of ways to deal with calamity: - Evacuate the whole boundary and wait for the Calamity to exhaust itself. - Use equal power in a war of attrition, often require a Dao army and/or Grand formation. - Let the calamity breakthrough, which will trigger Heavenly Retribution. daoist array formations How to dowload it? daoist array formations # Technique ## Cultivation technique - Depending on cultivation technique, cultivators are divided into **Body cultivator**, **Spiritual cultivator** and **Body-Spiritual Dual Cultivator**. **Divine Sense Cultivator** exist, but because Divine Sense cannot be cultivated, it is only a title for cultivator who is good at using Divine Sense technique (Heavenly Secret, Formation, Divine Sense lock-on, Divine Sense manifestation) - Every cultivation technique has a **bottleneck** in these stages: Lower -> Middle stage, Middle -> Upper stage, and Realm breakthrough. - Better cultivation techniques can have special effects: Increase technique aptitude, bigger energy pool, ... ## Techniques **Spiritual Cultivator** cast **Spell** by using their divine sense to circulate their qi through specific acupoints in their meridian. The more accurate the qi control, the more efficient. The more circulation require, the more powerful the spell become. daoist array formations How to get it for free? daoist array formations **Body cultivator** combine spiritual energy and blood energy to activate their **Martial art**. **Forbidden technique** are spells and martial arts which have high risk or require illegal acts to perform. Techniques with high risk can still be practiced in secret, but evil techniques are easily detect from traces of demonic qi. ## Heavenly Secrets Karma. Causality. Cultivators who practice Heavenly Secrets can use their divine sense to interprete sign from tags, coins, bones, turtle shells, stars... to trace the past and predict the future. However, as you observe the Heavenly Secret, you are also exposed to observation. If your target is more skilled in the art, you may get traced back and attacked through Causality. ## Formation Formation are manifestation of the Dao. Cultivators use their Divine Sense to connect their mind to the great Dao, then draw the Formation Lines down. During the drawing process, if the connection is sever (due to distraction or the exhaustion of divine sense), the formation will fail. daoist array formations PasteShr daoist array formations Basic components of formations: - **Formation lines**: Glyph which represent an aspect of the Dao. A formation is the combination of multiple glyphs into a closed-loop continuous drawing. The number of lines usually indicate the power level of a formation. - **Formation eyes**: The source of energy which power the formation. Normally an **Spiritual Gathering** formation line. User can inject their spiritual energy into the eye or place a spiritual stone on the eye to power the formation. - **Formation pivot**: The arrangement of formation lines. Depending on multiple factors like the relationship between formation lines (e.g. Water and Fire), cardinality (e.g. the east is corresponding to the Wood element). - **Formation medium**: The physical medium where the formation line is draw on. Usually paper, or crafted items. More skillful formation master can use more exotic medium like the land or flesh. ## Complex formation and grand formation - **Complex formation**: Combine several formations for power and flexibility. Require a formation as pivot. - **Complex formation pivot**: Connect formation, regulating the energy flow in and out of each formation, managing the relationship between formations to avoid conflict. daoist array formations How to use it? daoist array formations - **Grand formation**: Combine hundreds/thousands of formation. Require an Absolute formation as pivot. Need a large amount of material and human resources. - **Lead Formation Master**: Formation master who can draw the Grand formation pivot and lead the construction of Grand formation. ## Solving formation A formation can be neutralized by **Solving formation** or **Destroying formation**: - **Formation Medium**: Destroy the medium the formation drawn on to **Destroy** the formation - **Formation line**: Using the relationship between different types formation lines can weaken and disable part of the formation (e.g. Using water formation line to disable fire formation line). - **Formation eye**: Using the Spiritual Reversal Formation. Used when the number of formation lines is too high, or when formation line is unknown - **Formation Pivot**: Unknown. Require Grade-3 formation master. daoist array formations How to dowload it? daoist array formations ## Formation Classification Their are 8 official types of formation recognized by the Dao Court. Note: These types are based on concepts in Taoism, which is only explained with minimal detail in novel. Reading on these concepts beforehand is recommended. ### Chaos and Two Modes Obtuse. These two types contain the simplest yet most profound aspect of the Dao. Note: Liangyi (Two modes) has many translations (Two modes, dual powers, two extremes...). Taiji refers to yin and yang as one, Liangyi is yin and yang counted separately. daoist array formations How to get it? daoist array formations ### Three powers The three powers are Heaven, Earth, and Man. Requires experience and maturity to understand the relationship between individuals and the world. Can be used for divining Heavenly Secret. Managed by the Dao Court. ### Four Symbols Corresponding to 4 divine beast. The standard formation use Beast line. The evil, corrupted Four Symbol formations used Demonic Beast Line. Most popular in the Great Wilderness in the south. Can be used to empower or suppress a being flesh and blood by drawing power from many beasts and demonic beasts. Since four symbols formation use blood as ink and flesh as medium, it blurs the line between Evil and Righteous method. Practitioner must practice caution when drawing to avoid being corrupted. daoist array formations How to use it? daoist array formations ### Five Elements Fire, water, wood, metal, and earth. The Five Elements is the most basic formation. It use the generative and destructive relation between the 5 elements to manifest physical effects. ### Six Harmonies A niche type of formation. Erroneous practice may cause insanity or draw attention from evil god and heavenly demon. ### Seven Stars 7 stars of big dipper. Seven stars formation allow users to observe the sign from heaven and derive heavenly secret. A master of seven stars formation can derive power from the stars. Managed by the Dao Court. daoist array formations How to get it? daoist array formations The Dao Court's 7 pavilions are named after the 7 stars. ### Eight trigrams Like 5 elements, also used to control and manifest physical phenomena, but more encompassing. Notable: - **Thunder formation**: The power of thunder require a clear, righteous mind. - **Thunder-Magnetic formation** and **Prime-Magnetic formation**: Controlling thunder is difficult. However, controlling its secondary product -electromagnetism (Commonly called **Prime-magnetism** in the novel)- is easier. Allow communication over great distance. **Prime-Magnetic formation** control polarity, which generate electric as a secondary effect. ### Others daoist array formations How to dowload it? daoist array formations There are other formation categories. However, they are extremely rare. ### Immortal Grade Formation In the sky far above is the **Immortal Grade Formation**, which divide the land and assign power-limit to boundaries. ### Absolute formation **Absolute Formation**: Does not belong to any category. Each of them is a manifestation of a fundamental Dao principle. Require more Formation Lines than the limit of their grade. Successfully learning the Absolute Formation led to unique Dao comprehension. All absolute formation with "Spiritual" in their name is related to an aspect of spiritual energy. daoist array formations How to dowload it? daoist array formations Known absolute formation: - **Grand formation pivot**: Due to the amount of formation lines required, grand pivot can be considered an absolute formation specialized in managing energy flow. - **Spiritual reversal formation**: The reverse of **Spiritual Gathering**. Used on Formation eyes to disable the underlying energy. Required **Derivation Calculation** to observe the energy flow. Can be used to trigger **Formation breakdown**, which turn the energy within the formation into purely destructive force. - **Nurturing Earth Formation** (Earth as in the land, not the earth element): Heritage of the **Earth Sect**. Can be used to enhance the nurturing aspect of the earth to enrich the soil. Comprehending Nurturing Earth allow user to detect the qi of Earth. With assistance, user can even detect the Earth's divine sense (also called **Dao Essence**). Detecting the Dao Essence of Earth let user draw any other formation on the soil. - **Spiritual Pivot Formation**: Legacy of the destroyed **Hidden Spiritual Sect**, Spiritual Pivot formation focus on "controlling". Can be used to control a large amount of puppet/corpse. Comprehending Spiritual Pivot improves the precision of Divine Sense. - **Five Elements Spiritual Formation**: Legacy of the **Five Elements Sect**. Require user to comprehend the essence of five elements. The user can use their divine sense to control the formation, enhance the effect of Five Elements. - **Green Dragon Formation**: Empower the user with the power of dragon, require dragon bloodline and strong body. - **Taotie Twelve Meridians Spiritual Skeleton Formation**: Drawn on cultivator skeleton, turning it into Spiritual Skeleton, which can store Spiritual Energy. When the user's sea of qi is depleted, they can unseal the spiritual skeleton for a 2nd reservoir. daoist array formations PasteShr daoist array formations ### Puzzle formation Used as a puzzle to "conceal" a truth. Only by solving the formation can the truth be reveal. - **Heavenly Puzzle Grand Formation**: **Heavenly puzzle** is a special type of puzzle formation. Has special relationship with divine sense that is not yet explained. ### Divine Dao formation **Divine Dao formation** has the ability to misled, redirect, and seal Divine Sense. Allow cultivators to seal God despite the Divine Sense disadvantage. ### Formation Flow **Flow**: The essence of a category of technique. E.g. the essence of Five Elements Formation is called Five Elements Formation Flow. Used to lower the difficulty of learning technique of the same category. Flow can take on many forms: a formation line, a technique structure or theory... By using **Flow**, the user is actually follow the Flow creator Dao, which can be detrimental to developing their own Dao. daoist array formations How to dowload it? daoist array formations ## Divine Sense technique ### Calculation Divine Sense can be used for complex calculation. However, these techniques require a great quantity of Divine Sense. - **Derivation Calculation** is a category of technique which allow Formation Master to see the Energy flow of a formation. The Energy flow is the true nature of formation. As long as the Energy flow is correct, formation master can freely alter the formation line without losing effect. User can use the qi flow to reverse-engineered the line and pivot used for the formation. Required for **Spiritual reversal formation**. - **Heavenly Secret Derivation Calculation**: The best Derivation technique. Advance user can use it for causality divination. - **Heavenly Secret Deception Calculation**: Use divine sense to create another "shadow" which can calculate in parallel with the user. Can be used to accelerate, parallelize and propagate other divine sense technique. - **Unity Calculation**: The secret technique of **Five Elements Sect**. Can be used to unify many Formation Lines into one **Prime Formation Line**. Used to create the **Five Elements Formation Flow: Five Elements Prime Formation Line**. daoist array formations How to get it? daoist array formations ### Other - **Divine Sense Lock-On**: Using Divine Sense to aim spells at a target. If the target has superior divine sense, they cannot be lock-on. - **Divine Sense Object Control**: Telekinesis. Use divine sense to control grade-2 spiritual energy to control object. - **Divine Sense Sword Control**: Object control combined with sword technique. Faster and dealing more damage. - **Divine Sense Ink Control**: Object control on ink. Used to draw Formation without pen. Very difficult. Divine sense is used both for object control and drawing formation at the same time. - **Drawing Formation on Earth**: Require comprehending the Earth's Dao essence. Paired with Ink Control to draw formation without equipment. - **Divine Sense Manifestation**: Manifest your own self within your Sea of Consciousness. Can also manifest familiar objects, techniques and formations. Can be used to confront threats invading the Sea of Consciousness. - **Divine Sense Sword Manifestation**: Manifest a sword made of Divine Sense. Can be used to damage other Divine Sense entity (God, ghost,...) - **Demonic Heart Seed**: 1 of the ten **Profound Demonic Arts**. Once the technique of **Illusive Demonic Sect**, currently under the possession of **Mystical Demonic Sect**. Allow user to create a demonic seed and plant it inside victim's Dao heart, turning them into a puppet or manipulating their perception. daoist array formations How to use it? daoist array formations - **Heaven Derivation Cultivation technique**: An ancient cultivation technique. Uniquely has Divine Sense bottlenecks. Can improve user's Divine Sense control. Can use Heavenly Puzzle Grand Formation to change user's divine sense quality. ### Strange Dao The "Strange" in **Strange Dao** stands for abnormal, eerie, deceptive, unknowable. The Strange Daoist is the master Strange Dao, capable of many Strange techniques: - **Heavenly Secret Deception Calculation** (Lit. Heavenly Secret Strange Calculation) - **Demonic Heart Seed** - **Strange Dao Heaven Sealing Formation**: Based on Deception Calculation's propagation, create a continuously propagating seal. daoist array formations