Chapter 523: Leaving Yanshan City
Chapter 523: Leaving Yanshan City
At the age of fourteen, Mo Hua had reached the ninth layer of Qi Refining and possessed thirteen spirit marks in his Divine Sense.
Advancing from the eighth layer to the ninth layer of Qi Refining, his cultivation boundary had broken through, and his Divine Sense had also grown stronger.
However, this growth was still within the Qi Refining realm, and in the face of a Foundation Establishment cultivator's Divine Sense, it seemed somewhat inadequate.
It was neither here nor there—not quite satisfying, yet a waste to discard.
It was also insufficient to help his Divine Sense break through the bottleneck and reach the fourteenth mark required for Foundation Establishment.
Mo Hua's Divine Sense remained at the peak of thirteen marks.
In fact, it hadn't improved much from before.
Mo Hua sighed as he sat in the carriage.
It seemed that this bottleneck would be another major obstacle.
Similar to the hurdle between Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment, advancing from thirteen marks to fourteen marks was the barrier between the early and middle stages of Foundation Establishment. Though it seemed like only a single mark difference, the gulf between them was equally unfathomable.
Mo Hua couldn't even begin to fathom it.
If it was this difficult to reach the Foundation Establishment stage, what about the Golden Core stage?
Mo Hua poked his head out of the carriage and gazed up at the sky.
Currently, he was in the Dali Mountain State Territory, a third-rate state.
In a third-rate state territory, the cultivation base that a cultivator could draw upon was limited to the Golden Core realm!
"A third-rate state territory..." Mo Hua murmured to himself.
This was the first time he had ventured into a state territory ranked second-rate or above.
Mo Hua took a breath, sensing that the aura here was different from elsewhere. The land seemed more vast, and the sky more distant.
Of course, it was possible that third-rate state territories were simply larger in size.
Or perhaps it was just his imagination...
Mo Hua looked up at the sky once more.
Even though he couldn't see it at the moment, there was a grand formation up there.
When he had obliterated Feng Wei, Mo Hua had witnessed blood-red tribulation lightning descending, its terror indescribable. It had hovered over his head before gradually dissipating.
As the lightning faded, an inconceivable formation pattern had appeared in the clouds.
He had committed one of those patterns to memory and inscribed it on his Dao tablet.
That pattern was a celestial pattern, far beyond what Mo Hua could currently comprehend.
Even now, he dared not look at it, fearing that doing so would drain his Divine Sense, causing his sea of consciousness to crack and leading to endless troubles.
Moreover, this was a celestial pattern from the tribulation lightning, imbued with annihilation laws.
Laws were always unreasonable.
If he looked at it too much, accidentally activating the celestial pattern and causing it to annihilate him, then even if his Master had vast and profound abilities, it was likely he wouldn't be able to save him...
It was better to leave it be for now and carefully contemplate it later when his cultivation level was higher and his Divine Sense was stronger.
Mo Hua lowered his head and glanced at his small hands.
Currently, his body was coursing with the spiritual power of the ninth layer of Qi Refining!
At the ninth layer, his spiritual power was more profound and substantial.
Consequently, his spell power had also increased.
Even if he relied solely on "Divine Sense Compression" and the "Speed Over Power" Fireball Technique, cultivators below the Foundation Establishment stage, with the exception of his senior martial siblings, wouldn't be able to defeat him.
Of course, his senior martial siblings were a different matter.
They could even fight those at the Foundation Establishment stage.
He still wasn't a match for Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Unless he used formation techniques to break them down...
Otherwise, the best he could hope for was a stalemate.
The kind of stalemate where he couldn't be defeated, but he also couldn't catch, grasp, or even see his opponent...
"I wonder if, after I reach Foundation Establishment and my Divine Sense and spells become stronger, I'll be able to face other Foundation Establishment cultivators head-on..." Mo Hua couldn't help but ponder this question.
His expression shifted from happiness to anticipation, worry, and then deep thought, his small face a picture of emotions.
Mr. Zhuang found this amusing and smiled gently. "Thinking about Foundation Establishment again?"
Mo Hua snapped out of his thoughts and nodded with a smile.
"There's no need to rush," Mr. Zhuang said with a slight nod. "Once your cultivation becomes even more profound and you reach the ninth layer's perfection, you can try to establish your foundation. As for your Divine Sense, don't force it. Let it come naturally..."
It seemed that it was indeed too difficult for a Qi Refining cultivator to cultivate a fourteen-mark Divine Sense.
Even for Mo Hua, it seemed a bit unlikely...
Mr. Zhuang thought for a moment before continuing, "If it really doesn't work out, you can still establish your foundation with a thirteen-mark Divine Sense at its peak."
Mo Hua looked a little disappointed and worried as he asked, "But won't that make me not very powerful?"
Mr. Zhuang paused, his gaze at Mo Hua complex. "You're already at the ninth layer of Qi Refining with a thirteen-mark Divine Sense at its peak. That's already very...impressive..."
Which Qi Refining cultivator could boast of having a Divine Sense on par with the peak of the early Foundation Establishment stage?
This was the Divine Sense—ethereal and elusive, difficult to cultivate, train, and enhance.
Not something that could be easily improved by consuming spirit stones like spiritual power.
Advancing a single great realm in Divine Sense was already inconceivable.
"Oh," Mo Hua said, scratching his head.
If his Master said he was impressive, then he supposed he was doing alright.
Then, he thought of another question. "Master, don't I need to temper my foundation?"
Mo Hua glanced at Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi. "Just like my senior martial siblings..."
He had heard Zhang Lan say that disciples from eminent families had to lay a solid foundation before establishing their foundation, so that their cultivation would be more solid and they could go further in the future.
Zhang Lan himself had also tempered his foundation for a long time during the Qi Refining stage.
Despite being from an eminent family, he had only reached the ninth layer of Qi Refining at such an old age, and it was only later, when facing a great demon to prevent any mishaps, that he had broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage.
Of course, Mo Hua guessed that he must have had some conflict with his clan and was being rebellious, which was why he had deliberately slacked off. Otherwise, he wouldn't have established his foundation so late.
However, his senior martial siblings were a different story.
The three of them spent every day together.
Mo Hua watched them cultivate every day, and with each session, their spiritual power became more refined, their cultivation more profound, and their auras more powerful.
Over time, even though their cultivation levels hadn't increased, their foundations were exceptionally solid.
It was enough to rival those at the Foundation Establishment stage...
Mo Hua recalled the first time they had met. Back then, he had only been at the third layer of Qi Refining, while they had already been at the late Qi Refining stage. Now, he had reached the ninth layer, and they were still at the same stage.
"Well... there's no need for you to hold back..."
"Your senior martial siblings have top-tier spirit roots, and they cultivate supreme full-cycle techniques. The Daoist arts they learn are also the best secret arts passed down by your family..."
"For a prestigious family like the Bai family, there isn't much difference between the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages..."
"The family's expectations for them go beyond mere Foundation Establishment. They want them to solidify their foundations so they can break through to even higher realms."
"The family's heritage is enough to support their cultivation endeavors."
"Once they perfect their Qi Refining and establish a solid foundation, the qualitative change in their spiritual power during the Foundation Establishment will lay the groundwork for their future path."
"In the future, they will have abundant spiritual power to wield powerful supreme Daoist arts, and their heritage will enable them to strive for even higher realms..."
"This is the path of the pride of a prestigious family, and they must refine their realms..."
Mr. Zhuang glanced at Mo Hua, "But it doesn't matter for you..."
Mr. Zhuang tried to be subtle, but his words still stung a little:
"Your spirit root is a bit lacking, your constitution is somewhat weak, and your inheritance pales in comparison to theirs. So, don't worry too much about it. Whether you refine your realm or not doesn't make much of a difference..."
"Just keep cultivating, and if you can break through, then great. Even though you may have less spiritual power and weaker blood qi, at least your Divine Sense is strong..."
"One outstanding trait can make up for a hundred flaws..."
"As long as your Divine Sense is strong, you can make do with the rest..."
...
Mo Hua's expression became complex.
He wasn't sure if his master was praising or mocking him...
Mo Hua sighed, then thought again. Perhaps this was for the best. Not having to worry about refining his cultivation would save him a lot of effort and spirit stones.
After all, his spirit root was what it was, and his situation wouldn't change. He might as well just make do and strive for Foundation Establishment...
Mo Hua calmed himself.
Others might have better endowments, but that had nothing to do with him.
He would focus on his own path.
Mo Hua's gaze softened, and he nodded slightly.
Seeing Mo Hua's expression, Mr. Zhuang was taken aback for a moment, then he gently nodded back, marveling inwardly:
"This child truly has an admirable temperament..."
...
After traveling for several more days, the carriage finally traversed the mountainous terrain of Dali Mountain State Territory and arrived at Lishan City.
Lishan City was a third-rate immortal city, renowned for its picturesque scenery and majestic walls. The city's caves and buildings were splendid and opulent.
Most cultivators in the city were at the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages, with a small number having reached the Golden Core stage.
Their destination for this trip was the largest and only third-rate sect in all of Lishan City—the Five Elements Sect.
Before heading to the Five Elements Sect, Mo Hua and his group found an inn to rest.
Mo Hua first made sure that Dabao was taken care of, instructing the waiter to feed it high-quality hay. Seeing it eat contentedly, he then stroked its mane before leaving.
He also ordered some dried fruits, food, and tea to be sent to Mr. Zhuang's room.
Old Kui was nowhere to be seen.
Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi sat respectfully, listening to Mr. Zhuang's teachings.
Mo Hua brought the food and placed it on the table.
He had personally ordered this meal and instructed the kitchen on how to prepare each dish to suit everyone's tastes.
There was something for Mr. Zhuang, his senior martial siblings, and even Old Kui.
Having traveled all day, Bai Zisheng's stomach growled at the aroma of the food, but he quickly composed himself and continued to listen to Mr. Zhuang's instructions.
Mr. Zhuang couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Let's eat something first."
Bai Zisheng's eyes lit up, and he replied with a mix of reverence and excitement, "Yes, Master!"
During the meal, Mo Hua chatted with his senior martial siblings about the sights and experiences they had in the city.
They talked about the diverse array of cultivators they encountered, the peculiar customs they witnessed, and the array of spiritual tools, pills, and array scrolls available in the markets.
Mo Hua was impressed.
A third-rate immortal city indeed offered a different experience.
Right on the streets, he could spot numerous Foundation Establishment cultivators.
The spiritual tools and pills on display in the markets included many second-rate items, and Mo Hua even spotted a second-rate array scroll.
He wanted to browse through it, but the stall owner stopped him, saying something along the lines of, "What's a kid like you doing looking at array scrolls? This isn't something you can understand. Don't go wasting your Divine Sense."
Mo Hua was a reasonable child and didn't argue with the owner.
He knew that with his current cultivation, he wasn't yet qualified to study second-rate arrays, and looking at them would indeed be pointless.
Moreover, that second-rate array scroll was quite expensive, and the arrays within were just common ones with flashy names. It wasn't worth spending his spirit stones on.
He needed to save up for his upcoming Foundation Establishment...
However, Mo Hua did notice something peculiar.
It seemed like most cultivators in Lishan City were merchants, either running shops or selling various cultivation items in the markets.
Even among the loose cultivators, most seemed to be traders.
He didn't see any spirit farmers, mineral cultivators, demon hunters, or artisan cultivators who engaged in labor to earn spirit stones.
Puzzled, Mo Hua asked Mr. Zhuang about this.
Mr. Zhuang explained, "That's how it is in array sects..."
"The Five Elements Sect?" Mo Hua asked.
"Indeed," Mr. Zhuang nodded. "The Five Elements Sect is an orthodox sect that rose to prominence through arrays. Most cultivators within the sect are array masters."
"The cultivation world values arrays greatly."
"While individual cultivation focuses on combat prowess, arrays can influence countless cultivators."
"This is especially true for influential sects with a large number of cultivators."
"Over time, the cave residences here have become extremely expensive."
Mr. Zhuang sighed, "Don't be fooled by its remote location. The cave dwellings in this city are not something that ordinary cultivators can afford."
"With the exorbitant prices of the cave dwellings, the cost of living has skyrocketed."
"The loose cultivators in Lishan City are only able to survive due to the blessings of their ancestors, passing down a small piece of land for shelter. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to make a living."
"As a result, the number of cultivators in Lishan City has gradually decreased over the years..."
Mo Hua asked curiously, "But the streets seem bustling and prosperous."
Mr. Zhuang shook his head, "Cultivators have long lifespans, so we must look at the bigger picture and consider the long term."
"Hundreds of years ago, when I first visited this place, there were far more cultivators than there are now."
"The number of cultivators has already decreased significantly..."
"The flourishing pavilions and towers are merely a facade. Without a thriving population, it's all just a reflection on the water and a flower in the mirror, fleeting and illusory."
Mo Hua nodded thoughtfully.
Then, he asked, "So, this has nothing to do with the Five Elements Sect, right? Others are buying the expensive cave dwellings, and they can't really interfere with that..."
Mr. Zhuang shook his head, "The Five Elements Sect is actually fueling the situation..."
"How so?" Mo Hua was perplexed.
Mr. Zhuang explained, "Hundreds of years ago, the Five Elements Sect had fallen from its glory. In order to revive the sect, the ancestors of the Five Elements Sect relocated the sect to this remote Lishan City."
"Lishan City is secluded and free from distractions."
"The ancestors of the Five Elements Sect wanted their disciples to focus solely on studying array formations and attract other array masters to gather here for mutual learning and exchange of knowledge, turning Lishan City into a center for array masters and a true city of array studies."
"This move indeed yielded remarkable results."
"The Five Elements Sect gradually grew stronger, the atmosphere of array studies thrived, and Lishan City flourished as the gathering place for array masters."
Mr. Zhuang sighed, "But then things took a turn for the worse..."
"With the gathering of array masters, the prices of cave dwellings soared, and the land in Lishan City became extremely valuable."
"Their ancestors' good intentions ultimately couldn't compete with the allure of spirit stones..."
"The later generations of the Five Elements Sect started having different ideas. They demolished the original residences, halls, and pavilions that were used for studying and exchanging knowledge, and built luxurious cave dwellings to sell or rent at high prices, reaping enormous amounts of spirit stones."
"They could just lie down and spirit stones would flow into their pockets."
"This easy and abundant source of spirit stones gave rise to laziness and a desire for pleasure among the sect's disciples, causing them to neglect the study of array formations and the pursuit of the Dao."
"However, while the Five Elements Sect seemed to gain a lot from this, the benefits came at the cost of their ancestors' hard work and their future prospects."
"The efforts of their ancestors were all in vain."
"Due to the high prices of the cave dwellings, ordinary cultivators couldn't afford to live here and gradually left."
"Even some talented array masters of humble backgrounds couldn't afford such expensive dwellings and had to look for accommodations elsewhere."
"The disciples of the Five Elements Sect, with their easy access to spirit stones, indulged in pleasure and lost their motivation to diligently study array formations."
"The atmosphere of array studies in Lishan City gradually faded."
"The standard of array formations in the Five Elements Sect also declined, and some array techniques were even lost...""
Mr. Zhuang's expression turned solemn as he sighed,
"Whether it's an array master or an array sect, they must always keep in mind that array formations are the foundation. Short-sighted greed will only lead to a flourishing city turning into a desolate wasteland."
Mo Hua's heart stirred at these words.
A gathering place for array masters... What a sight that would have been...
Mo Hua felt a mix of anticipation and regret, and he couldn't help but ask,
"Master, has the Five Elements Sect never thought of changing this situation?"
With such a large sect and so many array masters, surely someone must have seen the issue with their greed.
Mr. Zhuang sighed,
"It's too late to change now... The entire sect has grown accustomed to earning spirit stones without lifting a finger. From top to bottom, their interests are deeply entrenched, and anyone who tries to make changes will be seen as an enemy of the sect."
"They don't have the courage or the ability to make such changes."
"Even if there is someone with the ability to make changes, they might not want to because the ones who benefit the most from the current situation are often the ones with the power to change it..."
To cure the disease, one must first endure the pain of cutting the flesh.
Mo Hua sighed.
Indeed, the affairs of the world were complicated.
However, there was one more thing that caught his attention.
Mo Hua asked, "Master, you mentioned that the ancestors of the Five Elements Sect moved the sect to Lishan City after its decline. What was the sect like before its downfall?"
"How influential was the Five Elements Sect back then?"
Mr. Zhuang's expression turned solemn as he sighed,
"That was thousands of years ago..."
"Even if the Five Elements Sect wasn't considered the absolute top sect back then, it was undoubtedly one of the best array formation sects in the entire cultivation world, a true first-rate sect."
Mo Hua's eyes widened in surprise.
He never expected that the Five Elements Sect had such a glorious past.
A first-rate sect in the entire cultivation world.
That would put them at the pinnacle.
"Was their inheritance that powerful?" Mo Hua asked in astonishment.
"Indeed." Mr. Zhuang nodded,
"The Five Elements Sect relied on and was famous for a complete set of array formations, ranging from low-grade to high-grade, that could enhance the five elemental spiritual energies!"
Mr. Zhuang looked at Mo Hua with a serious expression and said,
"This is the reason why you must learn and master that set of first-rate thirteen-pattern Five Elements Supreme Array!"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
