Chapter 3: The Formation Master
Chapter 3: The Formation Master
Mo Hua woke up at Mao Shi and began his daily cultivation routine. After an hour, he headed to the classroom to await his instructor.
'Jiao Xi' was the general term for teachers within the Zongmen, who were responsible for instructing outer disciples in cultivation, array techniques, pill refining, and artifact crafting. They also supervised and guided the disciples in their spiritual journeys.
Tongxian Gate, like other sects in the Xiu Realm, categorized its disciples into three groups: direct descendants, inner disciples, and outer disciples.
The outer sect of the Zongmen was open to the public, primarily teaching the ways of cultivation. They relied on tuition fees, known as 'shu xi,' from the disciples. Outer disciples learned a portion of the sect's publicly available legacy, and upon graduation or leaving the sect, they maintained a sentimental connection but no actual ties.
The inner sect was the heart of the Zongmen. Inner disciples were dependent on the sect and, in addition to their cultivation, managed various sect industries, such as spirit mines, sacred sites, caves, and businesses.
Inner disciples had access to the sect's closely guarded techniques and spells, and their relationship with their masters was integral to the sect. Any misdeeds committed by inner disciples could be traced back to the sect, and if they betrayed their masters, it was considered a grave offense with severe consequences.
The direct descendants were the cream of the inner disciples, either related by blood to the sect leader or elders or possessing an exceptionally deep master-disciple bond. These direct descendants were the core of the sect and often went on to assume crucial positions, such as the sect leader or elders.
They learned the sect's most esoteric and forbidden techniques. If a direct descendant betrayed the sect, they would be relentlessly pursued and killed.
According to the 'Dao Lu,' it was forbidden for cultivators to take the law into their own hands or engage in indiscriminate killing. Pursuing and killing a traitorous direct descendant went against the Dao Lu, and the Dao Ting would hold them accountable. However, such matters were usually handled by the local Dao Ting Si, the branch of the Dao Ting that oversaw various states, realms, and even cities. Not all Dao Ting Si branches had powerful cultivators in their ranks, despite the Dao Ting's overall formidable influence.
Due to the significance of protecting the sect's core legacy, the Dao Ting Si typically did not interfere in matters concerning traitorous direct descendants, especially when dealing with a formidable sect that was a powerhouse in its region.
However, these matters held little relevance to Mo Hua.
As a mere outer disciple of the Tongxian Gate, neither an inner disciple nor a direct descendant, even if he wanted to be pursued, others wouldn't give him a second thought...
Mo Hua aspired to become an inner disciple, but without spiritual stones or connections, he estimated that it was unlikely to happen in this lifetime, let alone becoming a direct descendant.
Mo Hua calmed his mind and sat quietly for a while before seeing Yan Jiao Xi enter the room with a solemn expression.
Yan Jiao Xi was around forty or fifty years old, known for his strict demeanor, and had already cultivated to the ninth layer of Qi Refining.
Within the Tongxian Gate, Yan Jiao Xi held a high position. Among all the instructors, he was the only one knowledgeable in array techniques, and it was rumored that he might become a first-rank formation master in a few years through the 'Ding Pin' process.
Yan Jiao Xi taught array techniques to all Qi Refining disciples of the Tongxian Gate, treating clan disciples and ordinary vagrant cultivators equally. If anyone made a mistake, he showed no favoritism, meting out reprimands and punishments as necessary.
As a result, the disciples of Tongxian Gate respected and feared Yan Jiao Xi.
Tuition at the Zongmen was paid annually, so classes were held once a year.
Today was the last day of the year-end cultivation period at Tongxian Gate, and after today, there would be a long break of over half a month. The disciples would also receive their assessment results for various subjects.
Yan Jiao Xi held a stack of result slips in his hand.
The disciples' hearts raced with anticipation, and although Mo Hua was initially calm, he felt his anxiety rise as he saw his peers looking tense and nervous.
Soon enough, Mo Hua received his assessment results from the sect.
As expected, he achieved the top grade in the array technique assessment, his specialty. There weren't many disciples in the Tongxian Gate who could attain such a grade in arrays, and Mo Hua was one of them.
Mo Hua's cultivation level was graded as second-class, not because he lacked diligence but due to his limited natural talent. With a lower-middle-grade Small Five Elements spirit root, his cultivation progress was average at best. He couldn't compare to those above him, and he only had a slight edge over those below.
In subjects that required only time and effort to master, such as Dao Calendar History and Qi Refining Theory, he achieved top grades. However, in subjects that needed spiritual stones to purchase materials, like pill refining and talisman making, he received second or third grades.
Mo Hua came from a poor background and couldn't even afford to borrow a pill refining cauldron, so it was no surprise that he didn't excel in those areas.
Instructor Yan said a few words and then temporarily left the room. The disciples inside began to flip through each other's results, whispering among themselves.
"Mo Hua, you got an 'A' in formations again!" a disciple exclaimed, sneaking a glance at Mo Hua's report card.
"Another 'A'..."
"I always get a 'B'..."
"I got a 'C'."
"Formations are so difficult. My head hurts just thinking about them..."
"..."
The disciples gathered around Mo Hua.
A disciple from the Qian family, wearing a silver-white Daoist robe, scowled and coldly huffed, "What's so great about that? It's just drawing those simple formations taught by the sect to get an 'A'."
"Then what grade did you get?" another disciple retorted.
"Why should I tell you?" the Qian family disciple scoffed.
Another disciple sneaked a peek at his report card and burst out laughing. "He got a 'C'!"
The other disciples were stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"You got a 'C' and you're laughing at others who got an 'A'? Your face is thicker than a refining furnace!"
"Thicker than the furnace!"
"And you're from the Qian family too. How embarrassing. You're even worse than me, and I got a 'B'."
The Qian family disciple's anger turned to shame, and he said angrily, "So what if it's an 'A'? Unaffiliated cultivators without formation masters, do you understand? You unaffiliated cultivators are like frogs at the bottom of a well. Without a legacy, you will never, for your entire lives, hear me out, for your entire lives, produce a true formation master. Pah, an 'A'? Remember this: unaffiliated cultivators will never be worthy of becoming true formation masters! If you don't understand, I can repeat it again."
"Unaffiliated cultivators will never be fit to be formation masters!"
The surrounding disciples fell silent.
Mo Hua looked at him as if he were a fool, then stood up and bowed to Instructor Yan, who was standing behind the Qian family disciple. "Greetings, Instructor Yan."
The Qian family disciple was struck as if by lightning. His head stiffened as he turned around, only to see Instructor Yan indeed standing behind him, his face grim.
"The sect is for imparting the Dao and cultivating. It is not for you to compare and disparage your fellow disciples!"
"How dare you mock your fellow disciples when your own formation skills are so poor?"
"Go stand outside until nightfall."
"Also, redraw the basic Five Elements formation array a hundred times. Show it to me when you enroll next year. If you can't draw it, don't bother coming back..."
The Qian family disciple's face turned ashen, but he didn't dare to retort.
Instructor Yan held a high position, and he could even reprimand direct descendants of the Qian family, let alone a distant branch like this disciple.
The Qian family disciple slunk away to serve his punishment.
Instructor Yan stood in front of Mo Hua, silent for a moment, then reached out and patted Mo Hua's slender shoulder. With a sigh, he said, "Don't mind what others say. Just focus on your studies."
Mo Hua maintained a calm expression and respectfully bowed to Instructor Yan. "Disciple will keep your words in mind."
Instructor Yan nodded, then went to his seat and gave the disciples a few more instructions before announcing the sect's year-end break, and they were free to go home.
The disciples couldn't contain their excitement and bowed to Instructor Yan, thanking him for his guidance over the year, before scattering like birds.
The disciples were overjoyed at the sect's year-end break.
However, Mo Hua's feelings were complicated as he watched them leave.
Most of these Qi Refining disciples were still young and carefree, unaware of the hardships that lay ahead on the path of cultivation.
Thinking of his father's wounds from hunting demons and his mother's worn-out face, Mo Hua's heart ached, and he couldn't help but sigh.
Becoming a top-grade formation master seemed like a distant dream, but within his capabilities, he wanted to provide a better life for his parents.
Mo Hua put away his report card and, with the twelve spirit stones in his pocket, left the Tongxian Gate without returning home. Instead, he headed toward the market district.
(Regarding the protagonist's crossing over:
Awakening of memories, non-traditional soul possession. The physical body is his own, and he has a blood relationship with his parents.
The protagonist is set as a ten-year-old child in the cultivation world, but he possesses the thoughts and cognition of a modern person.)
(End of Chapter)
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