Chapter 374: Tongxian Festival
Chapter 374: Tongxian Festival
Mo Hua attained the rank of a first-grade array master through the assessment.
The news spread back to Tongxian City, filling everyone with joy.
Thus far, he was the first and only first-grade array master from a loose cultivator background in Tongxian City.
Elder Yu decided to hold a celebration.
It was to commemorate Mo Hua's achievement as a first-grade array master and also to rejoice in the united effort of Tongxian City in slaying the mighty demon, Feng Xi.
Moreover, Elder Yu had another purpose—to bid farewell to Mo Hua.
Mo Hua was about to embark on a journey, leaving Tongxian City.
And in slaying the great demon to protect the peace of Tongxian City, Mo Hua's contribution was unparalleled.
Elder Yu had no way to repay him, so he wanted to send Mo Hua off with a city-wide festival.
Elder Yu specially found Zhou Palms, and after several discussions, they decided on the first day of November as the Tongxian Festival.
Upon Mo Hua's return from Cangyun Sect, he found Tongxian City decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, exuding a festive atmosphere.
Knowing the reason behind it, Mo Hua was overjoyed.
After all, festivals were lively and exciting.
Although Qing Shan City was large, it was not as vibrant as Tongxian City and naturally not as interesting.
However, Mo Hua still had some concerns:
"We used up almost all our spirit stones building the grand array. Do we still have enough to spare for the festival?"
Elder Yu remained calm and replied, "We were even poorer back then, but we still celebrated, didn't we?"
Mo Hua paused slightly, feeling that it made sense.
Elder Yu smiled and said, "Regardless, we must celebrate. When we are wealthy, we celebrate extravagantly, and when we are short on money, we celebrate more frugally."
"Even though we spent most of our spirit stones on the grand array, the remaining ones are still sufficient for our use."
"Moreover, our foundations, such as the Artifact Forge and the Elixir Refinery, are still here. Now that we also have the mountain road, making travel more convenient, Tongxian City will become more prosperous in a few years."
Mo Hua nodded, reassured by Elder Yu's words.
Then, he asked with a hint of expectation, "Will our lives get better and better from now on?"
Elder Yu nodded, "Rest assured, loose cultivators are not afraid of hardships. As long as we are not oppressed, our lives will surely improve day by day."
'As long as we are not oppressed...'
Mo Hua's heart stirred upon hearing this.
The way of man is to take from the surplus and make up for the deficit.
In this world, there were probably many cultivators who suffered from oppression and exploitation, and Tongxian City in the future...
Seeing Mo Hua deep in thought, Elder Yu furrowed his brows slightly and patted him on the shoulder, smiling, "There's no need to think too much about it. Just focus on cultivating, maintain your heart of the Dao, and do what you can."
Mo Hua's eyes lit up, and he nodded:
"Alright!"
After that, it was time for the joyous festival.
He also invited Zi Sheng and Zi Xi to join him.
Master Zhuang had agreed to accept them as disciples, and Xue Yi had specifically given the siblings a break since her mission was accomplished.
Moreover, they would be leaving Tongxian City soon, and whether they could return in the future was uncertain.
So, Xue Yi didn't restrict the two children and wanted them to have fun and not leave any regrets.
Bai Zi Sheng was thrilled, and Bai Zi Xi's eyes shone like the stars in the sky.
On the day of the Tongxian Festival, Mo Hua played the role of a "landlord" and took Bai Zi Sheng and Bai Zi Xi on a tour of the city.
The streets were bustling during the day and brightly lit with lanterns in the evening.
Mo Hua led the way, with Bai Zi Sheng and Bai Zi Xi following behind him.
Bai Zi Sheng looked around with great interest, and whenever he saw something new, he would ask:
"Mo Hua, what's that?"
"Mo Hua, is that tasty?"
"Mo Hua, this bamboo dragonfly can actually fly..."
......
Mo Hua, as the junior disciple, could only patiently answer their questions.
Bai Zi Xi didn't talk much, but whenever she saw cakes that she hadn't eaten before, she would stop and stare at them silently.
Mo Hua understood and bought a few pieces for Bai Zi Sheng, Bai Zi Xi, and himself. They each had a piece and ate as they walked.
Although they were "buying" things, Mo Hua didn't have to pay any spirit stones.
Because even if he offered to pay, the sellers wouldn't accept his money.
Almost all the cultivators on the street knew Mo Hua, and they were aware that he was the young array master who had built the grand array and slain the mighty demon. Now, he was also recognized as a first-grade array master by the Dao Court.
Therefore, no one would take Mo Hua's spirit stones.
Some cultivators selling goods on stalls would even pick out the best items they had and give them to Mo Hua as gifts.
If Mo Hua tried to refuse, they would be unhappy.
The three of them walked along, receiving a pile of gifts but not spending a single spirit stone.
Bai Zi Sheng and Bai Zi Xi were amazed.
Bai Zi Sheng whispered, "Mo Hua, if I didn't know you, I would suspect that this entire street was owned by your family..."
Mo Hua couldn't help but laugh at this.
During the day, the street was bustling with people coming and going, creating a lively noise.
But when night fell, and the lanterns were lit, the dots of light reflected off each other, extending into the distance, transforming Tongxian City into a different scene.
There were more interesting activities in the evening.
For example, the usual demon-fighting play in Tongxian City.
Because they were celebrating the slaying of Feng Xi, the "demon beast" in the "demon-fighting play" became a pig demon, which had a huge body and looked stupid.
The pig demon was played by a disguised demon hunter.
Since the pig demon was so large, there were many demon hunters in disguise.
In addition to the trio of Da Hu, Da Ping, and Da Zhu, as well as the few teenagers, even Yu Chengyi and Yu Chengwu joined in the fun.
After watching the "demon-fighting play," it was time to eat the "pig-killing dish."
Feng Xi had already been turned into black ash by Mo Hua's grand array, so the "pig-killing dish" here was made from other grass-eating pig demons.
Every cultivator in Tongxian City was treated to a portion.
From then on, it became a custom in Tongxian City. Every year on the first day of November, the Tongxian Festival, the cultivators would celebrate the defeat of the pig demon by enjoying a hearty meal of pork.
After the feast, it was time for the fireworks.
This time, the fireworks formation was designed by Mo Hua.
Building upon the previous formation, he incorporated new array patterns.
Drawing from his experience with the Five Elements Demon-Slaying Grand Array, he utilized the principles of the five elements, the divine consciousness, and computational techniques to create a display with richer colors, clearer trajectories, and reduced spirit stone consumption.
Before the fireworks display, Mo Hua led Bai Zi Sheng and Bai Zi Xi to a spot on a roof.
"This spot on Elder Yu's house offers a great view of the fireworks," Mo Hua explained to the siblings.
Bai Zi Sheng hesitated and whispered, "Won't Elder Yu get upset if you climb on his roof?"
"No," Mo Hua shook his head. "I asked Elder Yu for permission beforehand."
At most, they would only crush a few roof tiles, which wouldn't cost much to replace.
Bai Zi Sheng nodded, feeling relieved.
Thus, the three fellow disciples—a junior brother, a junior sister, and a junior disciple—sat side by side on the roof, their legs swinging lightly as they eagerly awaited the fireworks display.
Mo Hua himself was also filled with anticipation.
Although he had designed the formation, he had used a different painting style, and he was curious to see the actual display of lights.
Seated side by side on Elder Yu's roof, Mo Hua and Bai Zi Sheng each held a skewer of grilled pork in their left and right hands, respectively.
Bai Zi Xi held a box of pastries, filled with white, sticky, rabbit-shaped treats.
The three of them waited excitedly.
Soon enough, the fireworks erupted.
First, a clear ring cut through the night sky, followed by a trail of fire.
Then, the light of the five-colored formation soared into the sky, converging in the air to create a dazzling display of multicolored fireworks that spread out in all directions before bursting again, layer upon layer, forming a magnificent canopy of light that filled the entire night sky with a kaleidoscope of colors.
It was reminiscent of the grand array's activation, when the heavens were illuminated with radiant light.
However, this spectacle lacked the aura of slaughter, replaced instead by a sense of prosperity and peace.
Mo Hua and his companions gazed up at the sky, their clear eyes capturing the brilliance of the fireworks, forever engraving the moment in their memories.
At that moment, all the cultivators in Tongxian City looked up, captivated by the breathtaking display, their minds wandering in awe.
The array masters of Tongxian City were equally astounded by the fireworks, though they couldn't help but wonder: "Was it really necessary to use such a complex formation just for fireworks...?"
...
The Tongxian Festival concluded amidst an atmosphere of excitement and cheerfulness.
After the festival, Master Zhuang prepared to depart.
One morning, Mo Hua bid farewell to his parents outside the city.
Elder Yu, Old Mr. Feng, Chen Shi, Zhou Palms, Zhang Lan, Da Hu, Da Zhu, Da Ping, and many others had gathered to see him off.
The crowd outside the city was overwhelming.
Everyone looked at Mo Hua with reluctance in their eyes.
"You must respect your teacher and cherish his teachings. Listen to Master Zhuang's instructions," Li Ruhua instructed, her voice thick with emotion. "Also, take good care of yourself..."
Mo Hua nodded solemnly, his eyes stinging with unshed tears.
Mo Shan didn't say much. He simply patted his son's head, his expression gentle as he gazed at him.
The others also bade their farewells, offering words of concern and advice.
After a while, the Bai family's carriage arrived.
Mo Hua climbed aboard, then poked his head out of the carriage window to wave goodbye to everyone.
He was bidding farewell to his parents, the elders, his friends, acquaintances, and companions.
He was also bidding farewell to his hometown, the place where he was born and raised.
From that moment on, he would embark on a long journey, encountering the myriad facets of the world and delving into the profound mysteries of array mastery, with no certainty of when he would return.
The carriage carrying Mo Hua gradually moved farther and farther away.
Li Ruhua stood there, her eyes fixed on Mo Hua, unwilling to let him go. She continued to watch until his figure disappeared at the end of the road, vanishing beyond the layers of mountains and clouds, until she could no longer see him at all.
Only then did she silently shed tears of parting.
...
Half a year later, at the foot of Great Black Mountain.
A massive Demon-Subduing Monument was erected.
This monument was personally supervised by Old Man An, constructed with the finest stone materials that could withstand the elements.
Inscribed on the monument were the names of the cultivators who had made outstanding contributions during the battle against the great demon in Tongxian City.
The defeat of the great demon was the greatest achievement of Tongxian City in hundreds, if not nearly a thousand years.
This monument was also the largest Demon-Subduing Monument in nearly a millennium.
As long as Tongxian City stood, the monument would remain, and the names upon it would be remembered.
At the top of the monument, in a prominent position, was the name of Old Man An, his calligraphy bold and powerful, easily visible from a distance.
And above Old Man An's name was an even more distinguished name:
"Mo Hua."
---
(End of Volume 1: Black Mountain Arc)
Volume 1 has come to an end~
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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