Chapter 567: Back to Basics
Chapter 567: Back to Basics
Mo Hua returned home, and he had successfully formed his foundation.
News of this event spread quickly throughout Tongxian City.
All the cultivators in the city, whether they had heard rumors beforehand or learned of it later, were both surprised and delighted.
They never expected that Mo Hua, after just a few short years of traveling and gaining experience, would have already achieved the Foundation Establishment.
And with his exceptional talent in array formation, given time, he might even become a second-rate array master after reaching Foundation Establishment.
A second-rate array master! The city might not produce one even in several hundred years.
Elder Yu was overjoyed, his smile stretching his wrinkled face.
He had long known that Mo Hua was an exceptionally gifted and kind-hearted child destined for a brilliant future. But he never expected that future to arrive so soon.
It felt like just yesterday when Mo Hua left on his journey, and now he had returned as a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Now that Mo Hua was back, the usually frugal Elder Yu took out his savings of spirit stones to host a grand welcoming banquet for him.
Mo Shan understood that although Elder Yu was a Foundation Establishment elder, he had spent most of his resources over the years supporting loose cultivators like them. As a result, he didn't have many spirit stones left.
But now, things were different in Tongxian City. Loose cultivators were doing better, and Mo Shan didn't want Elder Yu to spend a fortune on the banquet.
So, he suggested that since Mo Hua had achieved Foundation Establishment, they should bear the cost of the banquet themselves and not trouble Elder Yu for his spirit stones.
In Tongxian City, a Foundation Establishment banquet was considered one of the grandest celebrations.
For loose cultivators, achieving Foundation Establishment was an arduous and challenging journey.
Thus, successfully forming one's foundation was a significant milestone worth celebrating with a grand feast and numerous guests.
Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua had often fantasized about hosting such a banquet for their son, Mo Hua, but it had always seemed like a distant dream.
After all, it was not easy for a loose cultivator to reach Foundation Establishment.
Mo Hua had a weak constitution and an ordinary spirit root, which meant his path to cultivation would be full of obstacles.
Even if he did eventually establish his foundation, they might not live long enough to see it, to witness their son's achievement with their own eyes...
But now, their fifteen-year-old son had surpassed their wildest expectations.
Mo Shan and his wife were overjoyed and still found it hard to believe.
Even with Mo Hua standing before them as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, they felt like they were dreaming.
Soon, preparations for the Foundation Establishment banquet began.
Liu Ruhua took out a significant number of spirit stones she had saved over the years and hosted a grand feast at Fushan Lou.
These spirit stones were meant for Mo Hua's future, for when he would marry a wife.
But now that he had formed his foundation, Liu Ruhua was thrilled and wanted to spend some of the spirit stones to celebrate this joyous occasion.
After all, Mo Hua was still young, and there was plenty of time before he needed to think about marriage. She could always save up more spirit stones later.
Moreover, Fushan Lou was half owned by Mo Hua.
In his absence, that half belonged to Liu Ruhua.
An Xiaofu, the manager of Fushan Lou, even addressed Liu Ruhua as "Master."
He was also very close to Mo Hua.
So, hosting the banquet at Fushan Lou was almost like hosting it at their own home, and it wouldn't cost too many spirit stones.
On the day of the Foundation Establishment banquet, loose cultivators from all over the city flocked to the celebration.
Some had watched Mo Hua grow up, others were close friends with Mo Shan, and some had received Mo Hua's help in the past...
Even prominent cultivators from influential families in the city attended, including the Ans, Master Luo, Master Qian, and others from smaller clans.
There were so many guests that Fushan Lou couldn't accommodate them all.
An Xiaofu had to temporarily rent out the entire street's storefronts to make room for the celebration.
Everyone feasted and drank merrily, and the entire Tongxian City buzzed with excitement, resembling a festive New Year celebration.
Traveling merchant cultivators who happened to be in the city, unaware of the reason for the festivities, initially thought that Tongxian City must be celebrating some special occasion.
But when they inquired and learned that it was a Foundation Establishment banquet for a cultivator who was also a first-rate array master certified by the Daoting Institute, they were astounded.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator and a first-rate array master! In a second-rate city like Tongxian, such an achievement made him a formidable and renowned figure.
These traveling merchants understood the importance of paying respects to the local influential figures.
So, they prepared modest gifts and personally delivered them, hoping to share in the joy and perhaps establish a connection.
Some even went to great lengths to offer their congratulations in person to Mo Hua.
After all, it was a happy occasion, and no one minded these small gestures.
Zheng Lao, for instance, used his connections to get close to Mo Hua with a cup of wine in hand, his heart pounding with nervousness.
But when he looked up, he was shocked to discover that the "first-rate array master" and "Foundation Establishment figure" was none other than the young cultivator he had traveled and chatted with on the road. His mouth hung open in surprise, wide enough to fit an egg.
During the banquet, toasts were made, and cups clinked together.
Elder Yu was beaming with happiness, his face creased with smile lines, but there seemed to be a hint of melancholy in his eyes.
Time waits for no one.
Before Mo Hua's return, Elder Yu had been the only Foundation Establishment cultivator in Tongxian City, bearing the pressure of standing up against the formidable Qian family. He couldn't afford to show any weakness.
That was why he had always been stern, quick to scold, and even a bit unscrupulous in his methods.
But now, with the improved lives of loose cultivators, Elder Yu finally felt some relief, and suddenly, he felt the weight of his years.
That fiery determination he once had seemed to have faded away.
Seeing Mo Hua achieve Foundation Establishment at such a young age, Elder Yu felt a mix of emotions—pride, surprise, and a sense of passing the torch—though he didn't show it outwardly.
Mo Hua, now with his strengthened soul sense and heightened perception, noticed the subtle change in Elder Yu's demeanor.
So, he went over to drink with the elder.
Mo Hua drank a fruity wine that his mother had brewed herself. It had a gentle, sweet taste with a hint of alcohol but none of the sharpness.
Elder Yu, on the other hand, stuck to his strong liquor.
After a while, Mo Hua quietly said, "Elder, you're still at the early stage of Foundation Establishment..."
Elder Yu was taken aback, and he couldn't help but glare at Mo Hua. "Foundation Establishment is no easy task. It's like climbing a mountain with each step more challenging than the last."
"Oh.
Mo Hua shook his head. "How can you call yourself old? Think about it, if you break through to the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment, you'll gain another hundred years of lifespan. If you reach the late stage, you'll gain even more... If you keep breaking through, you'll never grow old."
Elder Yu let out a laugh, "It's not that easy..."
"What is easy then?" Mo Hua asked, "Standing up against the Qian family isn't easy, nor is it easy for solitary cultivators to make a living. Even if it's difficult, we still have to try."
"If something needs to be done, then we do it."
"Whether it's easy or hard, whether we succeed or fail, it doesn't matter..."
Elder Yu's eyes glazed over, and after a moment, he said in a daze, "Who... who told you all this?"
Mo Hua patted his chest, "Me, myself!"
Elder Yu clearly didn't believe him.
Mo Hua's face turned serious as he said, "Elder, I've already traveled and gained experience. I'm now a Foundation Establishment cultivator who has 'seen the world'."
Seeing Mo Hua's unwavering expression and demeanor, Elder Yu couldn't help but shake his head and smile. He then pondered, "Yes, what does being old have to do with anything...?"
"I was too tired before and had no time to cultivate. Now that I can finally take a breather and have some free time, isn't it the perfect opportunity to focus on improving my realm and advancing my cultivation?"
"Cultivator, one who cultivates oneself and establishes one's destiny."
"If one doesn't cultivate and temper oneself, how can they be considered a cultivator?"
"So what if I'm old?"
"So what if I'm getting up there in years?"
"As long as one is alive, they must firmly hold onto their Daoist heart and wholeheartedly seek the Dao..."
Understanding dawned on Elder Yu, and gradually, his eyes regained their sharpness, along with a hint of stubbornness.
Mo Hua nodded in "relief" and then said, "Elder, this time, you're freeloading off my banquet. Next time, it'll be my turn to freeload off yours."
"Freeloading?"
Elder Yu was taken aback, then realized that Mo Hua was referring to the "Foundation Establishment banquet."
"What banquet of yours am I freeloading off?"
Mo Hua's face turned solemn, "I want to freeload off your 'Golden Core banquet'!"
Elder Yu spurted out a mouthful of his drink.
'I'm already this old, and I've only reached the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and you're already thinking about freeloading off my "Golden Core banquet"?
'You kid, you're even more daring than me.'
But as he paused, another thought crossed his mind. 'Why shouldn't I dare to think that? Why not?'
'Whether or not I can form a Golden Core is another matter, but if I don't even have this aspiration, what's the point of cultivating?'
Elder Yu grit his teeth and cursed, "Fine! Damn it all, Golden Core it is!"
Elder Yu's voice was a bit too loud, and with the addition of his curse, everyone nearby heard him and looked over, their expressions astonished.
Elder Yu realized he had spoken too rashly.
However, he had a thick skin, so he pretended nothing had happened and clinked his cup with Mo Hua's, continuing to drink.
Everyone else also turned away, pretending they hadn't heard anything.
On the other hand, Yu Chengyi, who was not too far away, seemed a bit dazed.
'My dad... it's been a long time since he cursed at someone...'
Ever since life in Tongxian City had gotten better, his dad's temper had become much "gentler," and he rarely cursed at people like he used to.
His gentleness had become so familiar that it made Yu Chengyi feel a bit estranged.
But now, Yu Chengyi heard his dad curse again...
Although it was plain and simple, just a "Damn it all," it lacked finesse but was full of emotion.
Yet, for some reason, Yu Chengyi felt a sense of relief in his heart.
'This is indeed the dad I'm familiar with...'
Yu Chengyi thought to himself.
Mo Hua also wanted to curse along, but as he was about to speak, he saw his mother, Liu Ruhua, looking at him, so he swallowed his words.
'I'm a good kid, I don't curse...'
Mo Hua thought to himself.
...
After the Foundation Establishment banquet, Mo Hua was busy again for a while.
This was mainly because he had too many acquaintances and friends in Tongxian City. He visited them one by one, and before he knew it, several days had passed.
He met with Yan Jiaoxi.
Yan Jiaoxi, along with Mo Guanshi, was busy rebuilding the Little Spirit Seclusion Sect.
Establishing a sect from scratch was challenging, but Yan Jiaoxi was determined and wouldn't give up.
The remains of the previous elders and sect leaders of the Little Spirit Seclusion Sect had been turned into iron corpses by the traitor Lu Chengyun, who used them to wreak havoc.
After the corpse infestation was resolved, these "corpse-transformed" remains were cremated and brought back by Yan Jiaoxi. They were buried on a hilltop near Tongxian City.
Amidst the lush greenery and clear waters, the remains of the Little Spirit Seclusion Sect's predecessors were laid to rest.
Mo Hua paid his respects and offered incense to honor them.
Having learned the Lingxu Array from the Little Spirit Seclusion Sect, he considered himself a recipient of their legacy and was grateful for their teachings. Thus, he naturally wanted to pay his respects and express his gratitude.
Yan Jiaoxi looked at Mo Hua with satisfaction, but as always, he was strict with his words and didn't say much.
The two chatted over tea, discussing arrays for a while, before Mo Guanshi quietly pulled Mo Hua aside.
Mo Guanshi took out a stack of paintings and showed them to Mo Hua, his face filled with worry, "I've been troubled by this matter these past few days. Can you give me some advice...?"
Mo Hua looked at the paintings and saw that they were all portraits of female cultivators.
They were both familiar and unfamiliar to him.
He recognized them because various sects and clans had sent him such "beauty portraits" privately to entice him to marry into their families. Lu Chengyun had done something similar back in Nanyue City.
However, what was unfamiliar was that the female cultivators in these portraits looked much more "mature" and didn't match his age, making them unsuitable.
"These are..."
Mo Guanshi whispered, as if he were doing something shameful, "I'm helping my senior brother find a Dao companion..."
Mo Hua's heart sank as he guessed the reason, and he also lowered his voice, "In this matter... shouldn't you let Senior Brother Yan choose for himself?"
Mo Guanshi pouted, "He's as dense as wood and as unyielding as an iron tree. Asking him is pointless..."
He flipped through the portraits and laid them out in front of Mo Hua, "Help me take a look..."
"How about this one?
"But where did all her spirit stones come from?"
Mo Guanshi paused, then slapped his forehead, "Right, right, that kind won't do..."
"That was close, almost got fooled by appearances."
"If I showed these to my senior brother, he'd scold me to death..."
Mo Guanshi pointed to another portrait, "This one's looks are slightly inferior, but she comes from a good family background, from the Song family a hundred miles away... However, it's said that her temper isn't very good, so even after a hundred years, she still hasn't married..."
"A bad temper, she probably wouldn't get along with my senior brother..."
Mo Guanshi nodded, "That's true, if he really married her, and their personalities clashed, there would probably be more trouble..."
He shook his head, continuing to mutter:
"This one is the daughter of a sect elder, if my senior brother wants to rebuild the sect, she might be able to help him..."
"This one won't do, she's too worldly..."
"This one... the portrait looks too fake, she probably bribed the artist with quite a few spirit stones as a 'gratuity'..."
"This one has too much makeup, her face is painted ghostly white..."
...
Mo Guanshi went through several portraits, finding faults with each, until finally, his eyes lit up:
"This one's good! Although her appearance is average, her temperament is excellent, and she's devoted to array formations. She's been unmarried for over a hundred years, she's quite similar to my senior brother..."
Mo Hua leaned in for a closer look, seeing a woman with her hair tied back and a natural face, without any makeup. Her features were not outstanding, but her temperament was intellectual, and indeed, she seemed well-suited to his senior brother.
The more Mo Guanshi looked, the more suitable he found her, but after a while, he hesitated again:
"It's just that my senior brother has a block of wood for a brain, and a stubborn personality. Others might not be willing to look his way..."
"What's wrong with my block of wood brain?"
A cold voice suddenly interrupted them.
Mo Guanshi looked up to see Yan Jiaoxi staring at him with a cold expression.
Damn...
Mo Guanshi's heart sank.
He realized that while he and Mo Hua had been huddled together, secretly helping Yan Jiaoxi choose a "Dao companion," Yan Jiaoxi had been standing behind them, silently watching...
He must have heard all the bad things he had said...
Beside him, Mo Hua remained silent, his eyes darting back and forth.
With his powerful soul sense, he had, in fact, detected Yan Jiaoxi's approach long ago, but seeing Mo Guanshi so engrossed in his task, he didn't want to interrupt him...
Yan Jiaoxi's expression was unpleasant.
Mo Guanshi sensed that something was wrong and stammered:
"I just remembered... I... I have some matters to attend to back at the array pavilion, so I'll be leaving now..."
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and ran off with the speed of the wind.
Mo Hua was surprised to see that the plump Mo Guanshi had such nimble movements...
With Mo Guanshi gone, Mo Hua also felt it inappropriate to stay, so he stood up and bowed, "Senior Brother Yan, I'll be taking my leave as well. I'll come visit you again next time."
Yan Jiaoxi nodded, looking at Mo Hua with anticipation, but also admonished him, "Don't learn any bad habits from that fat man..."
The "fat man" Yan Jiaoxi referred to was, of course, Mo Guanshi.
"Yes, Senior Brother Yan!"
Mo Hua readily agreed, then left as well.
After Mo Hua left, Yan Jiaoxi sigthed helplessly, bent down, and started picking up the scattered pieces of paper on the ground.
But as he picked up one of them, he suddenly paused.
The portrait depicted a woman with her hair tied back and a natural face, without any makeup. She had a focused gaze, free from worldly distractions, a female array master who could create nine-patterned formations...
For a moment, Yan Jiaoxi was lost in thought...
...
After bidding farewell to Yan Jiaoxi, Mo Hua paid a visit to Old Man Feng.
Old Man Feng had been a great benefactor to Mo Hua.
When Mo Hua was young, he had a weak body and insufficient blood qi, and it was Old Man Feng who had nurtured him with Elixir pills.
Later, when his mother fell ill, it was also thanks to Old Man Feng's help that she recovered without any complications.
During the foundation establishment banquet, Old Man Feng hadn't attended.
As a Elixir master, he was busy overseeing the Xinglin Hall, healing people, and couldn't afford to take time off. Moreover, due to his old age, he didn't enjoy noisy gatherings.
Liu Ruhua had prepared some delicate and light dishes and asked Mo Hua to bring them to Old Man Feng to taste.
Mo Hua also gave Old Man Feng some alchemy books and elixir formulas that he had collected during his travels as a token of their reunion.
Old Man Feng was overjoyed, stroking his beard and nodding repeatedly.
He looked at Mo Hua with a sense of emotion.
Mo Hua had indeed grown up under his watchful eye, from a small child to the person he was now, and even though he was only fifteen years old, his age was not that important. He had already become a renowned first-rate array master and a foundation establishment cultivator, famous throughout the region...
And with his array formations, he had helped countless cultivators in Tongxian City.
"Good child..."
Old Man Feng's eyes were filled with warmth.
The Xinglin Hall was bustling with people coming and going, and Old Man Feng was quite busy.
Mo Hua didn't want to disturb him further, so after chatting for a while and confirming that Old Man Feng was doing well, he took his leave.
As Mo Hua was about to leave, Old Man Feng suddenly seemed to remember something. He hesitated for a moment, then spoke up seriously:
"Mo Hua..."
"At such a young age, you've achieved such cultivation and mastery in array formations, it's truly remarkable, and your future is boundless..."
"But even if your cultivation becomes even more profound in the future, to the point where the countless cultivators and common people in this world are nothing but insignificant ants, mere specks of dust beneath your feet..."
"You must never forget your initial aspirations, and never become aloof and indifferent."
"Don't forget, no matter how insignificant a person may seem, they are still a human being, with their own joys and sorrows, a living, breathing human being..."
Mo Hua was taken aback, and then his eyes shone with clarity, his Dao heart illuminated, and he smiled brightly, "I understand, Grandpa Feng, I'll keep your words in mind!"
(End of Chapter)
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