Chapter 24: Seeking the Dao
Chapter 24: Seeking the Dao
When Mo Hua returned to find the plump steward, he was informed that the market had changed.
Yuanzhai was no longer accepting the array formulas for the Bright Fire Array and the Firm Earth Array.
Mo Hua's face fell in confusion, and he asked doubtfully, "The Bright Fire Array is used for lighting, and the Firm Earth Array is used for building. Unless no one lives in Tongxian City, there should still be a market for them, right?"
The plump steward began to resent Mo Hua in his heart. It wasn't always a good thing that this kid was smart; he was harder to deceive. So, he decided not to make any excuses, as the more excuses he made, the harder it would be to justify them. He simply waved his hand and said, "How would I know? That's just the way the market is, and I can't do anything about it!"
Mo Hua was speechless. He had only saved up half of the spirit stones needed for his cultivation technique and could only ask, "So, what arrays are you accepting?"
The plump steward coughed and took out an array diagram with the words "Gold and Stone Array Diagram" written on the cover.
"Now we're collecting the Gold and Stone Array, which also contains four array lines, not much different from the Firm Earth Array."
Mo Hua took a look at the array diagram and asked, "Steward, what is the Gold and Stone Array used for?"
The plump steward said, "It's a bit similar to the Firm Earth Array. They are both used to reinforce the doors, windows, and walls of a cultivator's abode or cave dwelling. It's just that one reinforces earth and wood, while the other reinforces metal and stone."
Mo Hua frowned, "If its function is similar to the Firm Earth Array, and no one uses the Firm Earth Array, will people use the Gold and Stone Array?"
The plump steward glared at Mo Hua and said stubbornly, "That's just the way the market is. Don't ask so many questions, kid!"
"So, is this array also worth three spirit stones?"
It should have been...
The plump steward hesitated, but still raised the price, "Technically, it's worth three spirit stones, but recently it's been a bit scarce, so the price has gone up. I'll take it for four spirit stones, but not too many. I'll only accept five copies every half a month."
It's scarce, but I can't draw more?
Mo Hua felt that the plump steward was a bit strange, but this was Yuanzhai's business, and he couldn't ask too much. As long as he could earn spirit stones, that was enough.
If he could sell five successfully drawn arrays every half a month, he would earn twenty spirit stones, which was quite a substantial sum.
"Alright, deal!"
The plump steward breathed a sigh of relief and directly pulled out a storage bag from under the counter, as if he had prepared it in advance, and handed it to Mo Hua.
Mo Hua took the storage bag, checked its contents, and confirmed that it contained the "Gold and Stone Array Diagram" and five sets of ink and paper before bidding farewell to the plump steward with a polite bow.
Just as he was about to reach the door, the plump steward called out to him, "Mo Hua."
Mo Hua turned around, and the plump steward hesitated for a moment before asking, "Do you think this array is difficult?"
Mo Hua thought for a moment. Considering that it had four array lines and some similarities to the Firm Earth Array, he didn't think it was particularly challenging. So, he replied, "It's manageable."
After taking a few steps, Mo Hua turned around and added, "My brother should be able to draw it."
"Oh," the plump steward said, his expression complicated as he nodded. "Make sure to draw it well."
"By the way," the plump steward called out to Mo Hua again, "my surname is Mo, like the 'Mo' in 'don't get angry.' You can just call me Steward Mo."
Mo Hua nodded, "Okay, Steward Mo, I'll remember that."
Mo Hua returned to the Tongxian Gate and took the time to study the Gold and Stone Array. Thanks to his previous discussion with Yan Jiaoxi about the Firm Earth Array, he was able to grasp the Gold and Stone Array's principles without much difficulty due to their similarities.
Before the start of the array class one day, Yan Jiaoxi had someone distribute the previously graded array assignments. Mo Hua was surprised to see that his array diagram had only received a "Grade B."
Mo Hua looked at it from left to right and then compared it to the sect's "Array Explanations," but he couldn't find a single mistake. Why did he only get a "Grade B?"
Mo Hua was puzzled.
The disciple sitting next to him saw the "Grade B" on Mo Hua's diagram and exclaimed, "Wow, Mo Hua, you only got a 'B?'
Mo Hua looked at the "Grade C" on his diagram and remained silent.
The disciple quickly used his hand to cover up his "Grade C" and then asked curiously, "How come you only got a 'B?'
Mo Hua showed him the array diagram and asked, "Can you spot any mistakes?"
The disciple proudly declared, "If I could point out the mistakes, I wouldn't have gotten a Grade C myself!"
The other disciples sitting nearby craned their necks to get a better view of Mo Hua's diagram, then shook their heads one by one.
"I don't see any mistakes either."
"Mo Hua, did you offend the instructor?"
"Be careful, or the instructor might punish you!"
"...I don't think Instructor Yan is that kind of person."
Before they could finish their sentence, Instructor Yan entered the cultivation room, causing the group of disciples to quickly retract their necks and sit quietly like quails, not daring to make a sound.
Instructor Yan began the lesson as usual, and at the end of the class, he said, "Cultivation is like rowing upstream; if you don't advance, you will retreat. The same is true for the path of formations. You must never slack off and waste your time and talent."
After scanning the room with a stern expression, Instructor Yan finally looked at Mo Hua and said, "Mo Hua, come with me."
"Yes," Mo Hua replied respectfully as he rose to follow Instructor Yan out of the cultivation room.
As soon as Instructor Yan left, the disciples inside huddled together again.
"It's over, it's all over for Mo Hua now."
"When the instructor mentioned someone slacking off, was he talking about Mo Hua?"
"But I've been slacking off too. Why isn't the instructor coming after me?"
"How can you compare yourself to Mo Hua? His formation drawings are so much better, and he's highly regarded by the instructor."
"I'm just glad the instructor doesn't have his eye on me. I hope he never does..."
Mo Hua followed Instructor Yan out of the cultivation room, past the elixir chamber and the artifact refinement chamber, and eventually out of Tongxuan Peak.
Along the way, Instructor Yan remained silent. He only nodded or bowed in greeting when they passed by other disciples, instructors, or sect elders.
Instructor Yan led Mo Hua all the way to his residence on Tongming Peak.
Tongming Peak was where the sect leader, elders, instructors, and inner sect disciples lived and cultivated. This was Mo Hua's first time there, and he couldn't help but notice the serene and beautiful environment. Many courtyards were filled with vibrant spiritual flowers and grasses, and there were even some spiritual beasts like peacocks strolling leisurely.
Only on Tongming Peak could these peacocks afford to be so carefree. If they were on Tongxuan Peak, they wouldn't live to see the next sunrise.
Mo Hua recalled the charred chicken leg that Shuang Hu had given him.
Instructor Yan's residence was protected by a formation, and there was a small bagua plate on the door, which he had presumably set up himself, as none of the other residences or courtyards had one.
Instructor Yan's fingers traced a few patterns on the bagua plate, and a flash of light appeared on the door before it opened.
Once inside, Instructor Yan sat down at his desk and asked Mo Hua directly, "Do you want to become a formation master?"
Mo Hua humbly replied, "Disciple has limited talent, so I'm afraid I won't be able to become a formation master."
Instructor Yan frowned. "Wanting to become one and having the talent for it are two different things. Don't lose sight of your initial aspirations just because of the outcome. All living beings under the heavens will eventually die, but does that mean we should stop living?"
Hearing this, Mo Hua's expression turned serious as he said, "Disciple wants to become a formation master!"
"Why?" Instructor Yan asked.
"Cultivation is difficult, but formations can provide a means of livelihood."
"And?"
"Cultivators seek the Dao of Heaven to achieve immortality, and understanding formations is a way to seek the Dao."
Instructor Yan furrowed his brows. "The Dao of Heaven is far beyond our reach. Cultivators may spend their entire lives and still not catch a glimpse of its true nature."
"As you said, achieving the Dao lies in the heavens, but seeking the Dao lies within ourselves," Mo Hua replied. "Since cultivators seek the Dao of Heaven, they should never lose their aspiration for the Dao, regardless of whether they ultimately attain it or not."
Instructor Yan remained silent for a moment before nodding. "From now on, come to me every day after class. For today, you may return."
"Yes," Mo Hua replied, though he was puzzled by the instructor's words. Nonetheless, he bid farewell with a respectful bow.
Instructor Yan watched Mo Hua leave, then let out a sigh of relief after a long while.
"What a promising talent."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
