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Chapter 106: The Great Tree (Part Four)
Chapter 106: The Great Tree (Part Four)
When he really started to learn, Mo Hua discovered that the Flowing Water Step wasn't as difficult as he had initially thought.
The difficulty of the Flowing Water Step lay in controlling spiritual energy with one's spiritual sense, and then using that spiritual energy to guide one's physical body. The stronger the spiritual sense controlled the spiritual energy, the more flexible the spiritual energy could manipulate the physical body.
According to Mr. Zhuang, the Ancient Tian Yan Formula was not meant to amplify spiritual energy or strengthen the five elements, but rather to enhance the control of one's spiritual sense.
As a formation master himself, Mo Hua was already more adept at utilizing his spiritual sense than the average cultivator. After cultivating the Tian Yan Formula, his abilities were further enhanced, making it a breeze to control spiritual energy and manipulate his body's movements.
Previously, he had found it challenging mainly due to his inherent physical weakness, which made it difficult to maintain balance, hindering his ability to execute the intricate movements.
For the average cultivator, their physical body might not be exceptionally strong, but it was sufficient for cultivating body techniques. The true challenge lay in the intricate control of spiritual energy, ensuring its precise flow through the meridians and acupoints of the limbs.
However, for Mo Hua, the most difficult part was his weak physical body. Surprisingly, channeling spiritual energy through his meridians and acupoints was not a difficult task at all.
Not only that, but Mo Hua's spiritual energy flow was even more intricate and delicate than what was required by the Flowing Water Step heart formula. In some of the more complex body technique movements, Mo Hua was able to execute even more sophisticated variations.
After just over a dozen days, Mo Hua had more or less mastered the movements of the Flowing Water Step.
However, merely learning the technique was not enough for Mo Hua; he felt the need to test it in actual combat.
On this day, Mo Hua arrived at the foot of a mountain outside Tongxian City, where he spotted a tall and lush tree.
The tree was laden with wild fruits, which were small, sour, and bitter, rendering them inedible. Consequently, they had grown in abundance, covering almost the entire tree.
Mo Hua gave the tree a kick, but it remained unmoved, while his foot went numb from the impact.
Helpless, Mo Hua drew a simple Earth-Moving Formation on the ground and buried it under the tree.
The Earth-Moving Formation was a basic earth-type formation that didn't require many runes, making it simple to draw. Once infused with spiritual energy, it would generate vibrations.
Mo Hua injected some spiritual energy into the formation, activating it. The Earth-Moving Formation flashed with a dull gray light before it started vibrating, causing the tree to tremble and the wild fruits to fall.
As the fruits fell towards him, Mo Hua's spirit stirred, and he began to maneuver with the Flowing Water Step, dodging the descending fruits.
About a dozen fruits fell, and Mo Hua managed to evade all but two, which struck him on the shoulder and head respectively.
Rubbing his little head, Mo Hua sucked in a breath of cool air.
"Miscalculated," he thought, not expecting to be hit so painfully.
Mo Hua shot a glance at the towering tree and then walked away, a bit annoyed. But after about an hour, he returned, his head now adorned with a small helmet, his steps full of vigor and confidence.
He had just visited Master Chen.
This little helmet was specially refined by Master Chen for Mo Hua. It was simple and lightweight, not meant to withstand a cultivator's attacks, but it was more than sufficient to protect against a few falling wild fruits.
Fearless, Mo Hua once again activated the Earth-Moving Formation and started dodging the falling fruits with the Flowing Water Step.
At the beginning, Mo Hua was fully focused, and he managed to avoid being hit. However, as time went on, even though his spiritual sense remained clear, his limbs grew tired, his movements became less agile, and his spiritual energy gradually weakened, resulting in more fruits landing on his body.
As dusk approached, Mo Hua patted the tree and said, "I'll be back tomorrow." Then he returned home.
Upon returning, Liu Ruhua tended to his bruises while admonishing him with concern, "Where have you been playing? Why are there so many bruises and swellings on your body..."
"It's okay, Mother. It doesn't hurt," Mo Hua reassured her.
"It's just bruises. I'm fine," Mo Hua assured her.
"You didn't get into a fight, did you?" Li Ruhua asked, concerned.
"No, Mother. I was practicing my body technique. This way, if there's danger in the future, I can run away..." Mo Hua explained.
"Really?" Li Ruhua questioned.
"Mhm," Mo Hua nodded.
Li Ruhua breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good then." Looking at the bruises on Mo Hua's body, she added, "Just be more careful from now on."
Mo Hua confidently replied, "Mother, don't worry. I've just started learning this. Soon, even if it's pouring rain, not a drop will touch the corners of my clothes..."
Amused, Li Ruhua shook her head and couldn't help but pinch Mo Hua's nose, "You're quite full of yourself!"
The next day, Mo Hua's "injuries" hadn't fully healed, and the bruises on his shoulders and back were still visible. Even though his control over the Flowing Water Step had improved, his performance didn't seem better than the first day due to the pain he felt with every movement.
On the third day, Mo Hua's pain had eased, and his mastery of the Flowing Water Step had progressed further. As a result, fewer wild fruits were able to hit him.
From then on, Mo Hua practiced his body technique under the tree every day. With each passing day, the number of wild fruits on the tree decreased, and Mo Hua's skill in the Flowing Water Step improved.
By the time Mo Hua became somewhat proficient in the Flowing Water Step, there were only a few wild fruits left on the tree.
Mo Hua stood before the towering tree, which stood tall and silent. A few unripe wild fruits hung lonely on the once lush branches.
The sight was somewhat desolate...
Feeling guilty, Mo Hua drew a Water-Wood Array and buried it at the tree's roots.
The Water-Wood Array was designed to gather water essence and nurture the spirit tree, aiding the growth of plants and trees. It was Mo Hua's way of making amends.
With the nourishment from the array, the tree seemed to become more vibrant, its leaves a shade greener.
Although Mo Hua had become quite skilled in the Flowing Water Step, it was hard to say how effective it would be in actual combat.
After all, falling wild fruits followed a predictable path, but in a real fight, an opponent's attacks might not be so easy to dodge.
He needed to find someone to spar with and test his skills.
But who could he ask?
Mo Shan was often in the mountains hunting demons, and his cultivation and battle experience far surpassed Mo Hua's, so he wasn't a suitable partner. As for Da Hu and the others, they had become demon hunters and frequently ventured into the Great Black Mountain. Even when they returned, they were busy with other matters, so Mo Hua didn't want to trouble them.
Da Zhu and the others were also busy learning artifact refinement from Master Chen every day.
What about Zhang Lan? Mo Hua thought but quickly dismissed the idea. Although Zhang Lan seemed to have plenty of free time, he was still a senior official in the Dao Court. It wouldn't be right to bother him every day, especially since he was the one who taught Mo Hua the body technique in the first place.
Mo Hua couldn't think of anyone suitable.
A few days later, Mo Hua visited Mr. Zhuang to deliver some food and wine and to ask a few questions. After the visit, he walked towards the large elm tree and noticed Bai Zixi sitting there, her demeanor serene as she read a book. The translucent white elm flowers gently fell onto her, adding to the peaceful scene.
Next to her, Bai Zisheng lay on his back, his book covering his face as if he was bored out of his mind. Occasionally, he would roll around, his posture far from graceful.
Mo Hua sighed.
Hearing the sigh, Bai Zisheng immediately sat up, his eyes sparkling with curiosity as he looked at Mo Hua.
(End of Chapter)
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