Chapter 310: The Fireball Scroll
Chapter 310: The Fireball Scroll
Was there an unseen mastermind behind Black Mountain Fortress?
Over the next few days, Mo Hua found himself pondering this question whenever he had free time, but no matter how hard he racked his brains, he couldn't come up with any leads or clues to follow. It seemed like a dead end for now.
Mo Hua could only focus on his own cultivation for the time being, strengthening his spiritual sense, mastering more formations, and acquiring new knowledge.
After all, if something unexpected happened in the future, he wanted to be prepared and confident in his abilities.
There was no need to mention his daily practice with the Reverse Spirit Formation.
But what else could he learn?
Mo Hua pondered this, and suddenly recalled a fireball technique scroll he had obtained.
It was taken from the white-robed demonic cultivator who had stood guard at Black Mountain Fortress.
While the demonic cultivator specialized in the Spirit Absorption Evil Art, his spells were rather ordinary. It was only through this scroll that his fireball technique gained considerable power.
Mo Hua had outmaneuvered and killed the white-robed man, seizing the fireball scroll in the process.
However, with everything that had happened since, Mo Hua had temporarily forgotten about it.
Mo Hua retrieved the storage bag and pulled out the fireball technique scroll from his desk.
The scroll was titled "Insights into the Fireball Technique" in handwritten characters, and its edges were rough and creased, indicating it wasn't from an orthodox lineage but rather the personal insights of a cultivator.
As Mo Hua flipped through the pages, he quickly grasped the gist of it.
These insights didn't originally belong to the white-robed man either; they were likely taken from someone else as well.
The original owner of the scroll was a common spiritual cultivator named Yang.
Endowed with mediocre talent and a subpar spirit root, he naturally didn't have access to exceptional cultivation techniques. The only spell he could learn was this fireball technique.
But instead of giving up, he persevered, practiced relentlessly, and sought guidance from various spiritual cultivators skilled in the fireball technique. After devoting most of his life, he eventually discovered a unique method of his own.
This method enhanced the power of the fireball technique, transforming it from a commonplace and overlooked spell, scorned by most cultivators, into a formidable force.
The secret lay in the channels through which spiritual energy was directed.
Ultimately, all spells relied on spiritual sense to guide the spiritual energy from the qi sea through specific channels, where it would condense into various spells.
Even for the same spell with identical effects, the channel diagrams passed down through different lineages would always vary.
Sometimes the variation was in the main channels, and other times it was in the finer branch channels.
The original owner of the scroll had spent countless hours and energy collecting channel diagrams for the fireball technique from various sources. He then categorized and compared them, drawing his own conclusions and creating the most complex yet powerful channel diagram for the fireball technique.
Along with the diagram were his various insights and experiences using the fireball technique, all meticulously recorded.
Somehow, this scroll had ended up in the hands of the white-robed demonic cultivator.
After reading through the entire scroll, Mo Hua couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
How much dedication and insight must it have taken to produce this slender volume?
The perseverance, meticulousness, and single-minded focus of the cultivator who wrote these insights caused Mo Hua to feel a sense of shame in comparison.
He couldn't help but wonder if there were many other cultivators in the world with similar determination and talent, only to have their potential wasted or buried due to their background, spirit root, or lack of access to superior techniques.
Mo Hua found it a great pity.
The original owner of this scroll was likely an extraordinary genius as well, yet he remained unknown, even dying in obscurity.
At the end of the scroll, there was a simple line:
"In the Dao, there is no big or small, no strong or weak. Even a tiny spark can set the prairie ablaze."
Mo Hua's spirit was stirred by these words.
Indeed, this scroll had fallen into the wrong hands, used by the white-robed demonic cultivator for nefarious purposes, tarnishing its potential.
Mo Hua made a silent vow to master this fireball technique to perfection and showcase its true power to the entire cultivation world.
He began to study this enhanced fireball technique, following the channel diagram in the insights.
The diagram was intricate, and Mo Hua had expected it to be challenging to learn.
However, to his surprise, he mastered it in just half a day, much faster than he had anticipated.
The fireball he produced was peculiar, a deep crimson color, and noticeably smaller than usual.
It looked somewhat odd...
Mo Hua wasn't sure if he had truly mastered the technique or if he had somehow deviated from the intended result.
As for its power, Mo Hua didn't dare to test it yet, fearing unforeseen consequences, especially in a residential area.
After some thought, he decided to head to Mr. Zhuang's mountain retreat once again, walking through the bamboo grove to the pond, intending to practice on the fish as he had done before.
With a flick of Mo Hua's finger, the bizarre fireball moved as per his mental command. In an instant, it soared into the pond.
A low explosion reverberated.
In the blink of an eye, the pond water evaporated, the aquatic plants turned into charred remains, and all that was left of the fish were blackened skeletons.
Mo Hua stood there, stunned, his mouth gradually agape.
He had not expected this fireball technique to be so powerful...
The sheer might of it was beyond his imagination.
Then, another thought suddenly crossed his mind, "I hope Mr. Zhuang won't be angry about the state of the pond..."
As Mo Hua wondered what to do, he turned and saw Old Gui standing silently behind him, his eyes fixed on the pond with an unexpected expression.
"Grandpa Gui... about this..." Mo Hua stammered.
Old Gui waved his sleeve dismissively and said, "It's fine."
With another wave of his sleeve, the scenery rippled like reversing ripples, restoring the pond to its original state.
The pond was clear again, the aquatic plants lush and green, and the fish swam as foolishly and leisurely as before.
Mo Hua breathed a sigh of relief.
"Where did you learn this fireball technique?" Old Gui asked.
Mo Hua took out the scroll of fireball techniques from his storage bag and handed it to Old Gui. "I got it from a demonic cultivator."
Old Gui glanced at it and nodded, "Not bad."
Mo Hua was delighted. If Old Gui praised it, then this fireball technique must indeed be extraordinary.
"But the fireball technique I cultivated seems a bit unusual..." Mo Hua added.
"Unusual?" Old Gui raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Show it to me again."
Mo Hua looked at the pristine pond and hesitated to proceed.
"Don't worry," Old Gui assured him.
Reassured, Mo Hua aimed at the pond and unleashed another fireball.
A deep crimson fireball formed at the tip of Mo Hua's finger and, with a whooshing sound, flew towards the pond.
However, this time, there was no explosion.
As Mo Hua's fireball entered the pond, the space within the pond began to distort, eventually dissipating the fireball as if nothing had happened.
Mo Hua was astonished.
What level of magic was this? How could it have such an effect?
A hint of a smile, barely noticeable, appeared in Old Gui's eyes as he saw Mo Hua's shocked expression. Then he said to Mo Hua, "It's not a conventional technique, but it is indeed a fireball technique."
"Will there be any issues when I use it?" Mo Hua inquired.
Old Gui shook his head. "No issues."
Relieved, Mo Hua suddenly felt curious. "Why did the color become deeper, and the fireball smaller?"
This question puzzled Mo Hua, and even if he figured it out, he might not be correct. It was better to ask Old Gui directly, as his expertise in magic would surely reveal the secret.
Without hesitation, Old Gui replied, "It's because you cultivated the spell with your spiritual sense."
"Spiritual sense cultivation?" Mo Hua asked.
Old Gui nodded. "The meridian diagram you saw is the method for cultivating spells with spiritual sense. The more complex the meridians, the more spiritual sense is consumed, and the more potent the cultivated spell becomes."
"It's similar to formations," Mo Hua mused.
"The paths may differ, but the destination is the same," Old Gui said cryptically.
"But when I saw the white-faced demonic cultivator use the fireball technique, it was only more powerful. The color wasn't as deep, and the fireball wasn't as small..." Mo Hua recalled.
"Your spiritual senses are different," Old Gui explained succinctly.
After a moment of thought, Mo Hua asked, "Is it because my spiritual sense is too strong?"
Old Gui nodded again. "The spells cultivated with the spiritual sense of a Foundation Establishment cultivator will naturally be distinct."
With this explanation, Mo Hua was completely reassured.
Once he mastered this fireball technique, his capabilities would expand significantly. With the Invisible Technique for stealth, the Flowing Water Step for self-preservation, the Water Prison Technique for trapping enemies, and now the fireball technique for offense, his overall prowess would be greatly enhanced.
"Thank you, Grandpa Gui, for your guidance," Mo Hua expressed his gratitude.
Old Gui's expression remained wooden as he replied, "I didn't guide you."
Mo Hua simply smiled, keeping Old Gui's kindness in his heart.
As Old Gui turned to leave, he suddenly asked, "Do you want to play a game of chess?"
Mo Hua was surprised, as Old Gui rarely took the initiative to invite him to play chess unless he had nothing else to do.
Mo Hua nodded eagerly, "Sure!"
Under the cool breeze and amidst the bamboo grove, the two faced each other across the chessboard.
Once again, Mo Hua and Old Gui engaged in a fiercely competitive game, neither willing to concede. Despite the lengthy session, neither of their chess skills showed any sign of improvement.
As the sun set and dusk approached, Mo Hua had to return home, so he stood up and bid farewell to Old Gui.
As he departed, a rare hint of reluctance flashed across Old Gui's usually stoic expression.
Not only Old Gui, but Mr. Zhuang had also seemed pensive and absent-minded lately.
Mo Hua had a vague guess about what was happening.
Mr. Zhuang... might be leaving Tongxian City soon...
Perhaps he would no longer have the opportunity to seek guidance from his esteemed teacher.
(End of Chapter)
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