Chapter 40: Plans
Chapter 40: Plans
Instructor Yan stared at Mo Hua's exam paper before finally writing a 'Tier 1' on it after some thought.
Instructor Yan continued grading the other disciples' formation papers. After a while, he suddenly remembered something and flipped back to the previous papers, upgrading all the 'Tier 2' grades to 'Tier 1'.
Now, Mo Hua wasn't the only disciple who had achieved a 'Tier 1' grade.
After finishing the grading, Instructor Yan sat deep in thought at his desk, murmuring, "I suppose it's time to leave the Tongxian Sect..."
When Mo Hua received his exam paper with the 'Tier 1' grade, he nodded in satisfaction but couldn't help but wonder if the other disciples in the Qi Refining Realm could really create a Water Calming Formation...
After all, it was a formation with six formation lines.
Mo Hua made some inquiries and learned that several other disciples had also received 'Tier 1' grades. He was astonished and couldn't help but exclaim,
"There's always someone better out there. I must not rest on my laurels when it comes to my formation skills!"
However, Mo Hua didn't know that his 'Tier 1' grade was slightly different from the others.
His 'Tier 1' was genuine, while the others had been inflated by Instructor Yan.
Mo Hua planned to continue his cultivation at the Tongxian Sect, studying formations, and after some time, he would consider choosing a cultivation technique. But half a month later, he heard some outrageous news:
"Instructor Yan is leaving the Tongxian Sect, and the outer sect will no longer teach formations from now on..."
Mo Hua stood there, stunned.
Formations... he couldn't learn them anymore.
Mo Hua went to find Instructor Yan, who gave him a complicated look without saying anything and asked him to leave and come back in a few days.
After Mo Hua left, Instructor Yan went to find Manager Mo.
"Do you have any news about the matter I asked you about?" Instructor Yan asked.
Manager Mo handed him a letter. "The person you're looking for is no longer in Tongxian City, but this letter contains some clues about his whereabouts. However, I can't guarantee their accuracy."
"Thank you." Instructor Yan expressed his gratitude.
Manager Mo hesitated for a moment but eventually asked, "So, you're really planning to leave the Tongxian Sect?"
"Not just the sect, but I'll also be leaving Tongxian City," Instructor Yan replied.
"Will you ever come back?" Manager Mo inquired.
"It's hard to say," Instructor Yan sighed. "As you said, let's just leave it to fate."
Manager Mo wanted to offer some words of persuasion, but thinking better of it, he remained silent, knowing that his words would fall on deaf ears.
"What about Mo Hua, then? What do you plan to do about him? Without you, there's no one in the Tongxian Sect who can teach him," Manager Mo said.
"I have my plans. As for Mo Hua's talent in formations..." Instructor Yan trailed off, a grave expression on his face.
...it was terrifying.
Though Instructor Yan didn't say it aloud, he continued, "...his talent is indeed remarkable. It would be a shame if he couldn't continue his studies in formations. I do have a teacher-disciple relationship with him, so I'll make sure to arrange something for his future."
Manager Mo nodded, looking at his senior brother, unsure if they would ever meet again. He had so much he wanted to say, yet he didn't know where to begin.
The lifespan of cultivators was long, and goodbyes were even longer.
In the end, they sat in silence, using tea as a substitute for wine, and drank a cup together.
"Take care!" Manager Mo said sincerely.
"Take care!" Instructor Yan replied with a nod.
Instructor Yan left Youyuan Hall, disappearing into the bustling streets under Manager Mo's watchful gaze.
With no opportunity to teach formations, there was no point in staying in the outer sect of the Tongxian Sect. Moreover, Instructor Yan had always kept the matter of the Spirit Pivot Formation Manual in mind, and he wasn't going to give up on it.
Before leaving Tongxian City, Instructor Yan had one last thing to do: find a formation master for Mo Hua.
He prepared some fine wine and tea as gifts and knocked on the door of a cave mansion on the north street of Tongxian City.
This cave mansion was one of the largest on the street, exuding an air of grandeur and opulence.
The owner of this mansion was one of the only two first-grade formation masters in Tongxian City, Master Luo, whom ordinary cultivators respectfully addressed as 'Grand Master Luo'.
Instructor Yan presented his gifts and stated his purpose for the visit.
Grand Master Luo and Instructor Yan were quite close, and upon hearing this, Grand Master Luo asked in surprise, "Does this child truly have such talent that you, Yan, would come to me personally to vouch for him?"
Instructor Yan showed Grand Master Luo the Bright Fire Formation that Mo Hua had drawn. "He drew this formation when he was at the third layer of Qi Refining."
He didn't show Grand Master Luo the Water Calming Formation with five and a half formation lines that Mo Hua had drawn because he didn't want to attract too much attention.
Moreover, in general, for a cultivator at the third layer of Qi Refining to be able to draw a formation with three formation lines was already considered exceptional.
Grand Master Luo's eyes lit up, and he nodded in approval. "Indeed, it's not bad at all!"
Grand Master Luo examined the Bright Fire Formation diagram and asked, "May I ask which family he's from? The Qian Family? The An Family? Or perhaps the Chen Family?"
Instructor Yan remained silent for a moment before replying, "He doesn't come from a cultivator family. He's a lone cultivator."
"A lone cultivator... they're difficult to teach," Grand Master Luo replied.
"Brother Luo..."
Grand Master Luo waved his hand. "Little brother Yan, I understand what you're saying, but you should be clear on the troubles that come with taking on a lone cultivator as an apprentice."
"Mo Hua is young, but he's obedient, diligent, and hardworking. His talent for formations is exceptionally high. With your guidance, his future in formations will surely be limitless," Instructor Yan earnestly pleaded.
Grand Master Luo sighed. "It's not about his talent or understanding. Let's just say, can he even afford the customary gift for apprenticeship?"
Grand Master Luo stood up and slowly paced the room. "It's not that I'm greedy for these gifts, but the rules of apprenticeship must be followed. I've taken on many disciples, and each one has offered a substantial gift. If he alone can't afford it or offers less, how can I explain that to the other disciples? Even if they don't dare to say anything, they will surely harbor resentment and believe that I'm being partial."
"It's not just the gift for apprenticeship. The ink, paper, and brushes for studying formations all cost spirit stones. Can a lone cultivator's resources support that?"
"Moreover, even if he masters formations and becomes a formation master, he will still have only two paths to choose from: rely on a family or join a sect. If he doesn't rely on anyone, his cultivation and formation studies will face many difficulties. If he does rely on someone, it will be like selling himself; he will lose his name, his origins, and his parents. He will no longer be in control of his own life, and he will no longer see me as his master."
"Therefore, whether it's taking him as an apprentice or a disciple, there is absolutely no benefit to me."
Grand Master Luo finished speaking and sat down to sip his tea.
Instructor Yan also fell silent, understanding Grand Master Luo's concerns and having no rebuttal. Initially, he had only thought that Mo Hua's exceptional talent would make Grand Master Luo consider taking him on. Now, it seemed that he had oversimplified the matter.
There was indeed a reason why lone cultivators rarely became formation masters...
Instructor Yan's expression turned glum.
Seeing this, Grand Master Luo also sighed and softened his tone. "If he had some sort of family background, even if it was just a distant branch, I could take him in. But lone cultivators are different; there are too many concerns, and I don't have the energy for that..."
"It's too difficult for a lone cultivator to become a formation master!" Grand Master Luo lamented.
Instructor Yan still wanted to persuade him and said, "Mo Hua's talent for formations is truly one of a kind..." He reached for the Water Calming Formation diagram that Mo Hua had drawn with five and a half formation lines, intending to show it to Grand Master Luo.
But before he could fully take it out, Grand Master Luo said, "Even if he could draw three formation lines, if he could draw four or five formation lines at the third layer of Qi Refining, I still wouldn't take him on."
Instructor Yan's hand paused, and with no other choice, he put the formation diagram away.
"Brother Luo, is there really no other way?"
"Little brother Yan, you're welcome to visit me anytime, whether it's for discussing the Dao or casual conversation. But on this matter, there's no room for negotiation," Grand Master Luo said firmly.
"Brother Luo..." Instructor Yan was at a loss for words and could only sigh. "Just don't regret it in the future."
"Many cultivators have said the same to me, but I, Luo, have never regretted anything in my life!" Grand Master Luo declared.
The two fell silent, and Grand Master Luo poured tea to see Instructor Yan off.
Instructor Yan sighed, his expression filled with disappointment, and he bid farewell.
After Instructor Yan left, Grand Master Luo sat in his room, and a disciple quietly poured tea for him. "Master, if Mo Hua could really draw the Bright Fire Formation at the third layer of Qi Refining, then his talent is truly remarkable."
"Indeed," Grand Master Luo picked up his tea and took a sip. "But what use is talent? Cultivation is not solely dependent on talent. Many people are astonishingly talented in their youth, but in the end, they fade into mediocrity. Spirit stones, inheritance, and family background—each of these is important. Without them, talent is like a rootless tree, destined to wither eventually."
"But, Master, if you were to guide him, he would surely be grateful for your kindness..."
Grand Master Luo shook his head. "You're underestimating the complexities of the human heart. Lone cultivators often come from humble backgrounds and have extreme personalities. It's easy for them to hold grudges if things don't go their way. There are countless stories of small favors being forgotten and minor slights being remembered as great injustices. Instead of earning his gratitude, I might end up creating an enemy. Why would I want to get involved in such messy affairs?"
"Master's words are wise," the disciple acknowledged. "But it is a bit of a pity to let such talent go to waste."
"It is a pity," Grand Master Luo set down his tea cup and sighed. "But that's fate. Some things are beyond our control."
(End of Chapter)
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