Chapter 597: Little Shixiong
Chapter 597: Little Shixiong
A hush fell over the lecture hall, followed by an uproar of whispers.
"Mohua Teach?"
"How can he be teaching us?"
"..."
Master Xun's face darkened as he swept his gaze across the room.
The disciples, awed by Master Xun's authority, immediately fell silent, no longer daring to whisper amongst themselves.
Mohua spoke softly, "Master, I'm not sure if it's appropriate for me to teach..."
Master Xun replied nonchalantly, "It's very appropriate."
What was inappropriate about a disciple with a solid foundation, capable of accurately drawing mid-tier second-grade formations, teaching a few first-grade formations?
"But..."
Mohua hesitated.
Master Xun gave him a meaningful look and said, "Teach them well."
Mohua was taken aback.
He felt that Master Xun's words seemed to carry a deeper meaning, but for the moment, he couldn't quite grasp the reason behind it.
Seeing Master Xun's unrefusable demeanor, Mohua could only bow and agree, "Yes, Master."
Master Xun nodded slightly and handed Mohua a few lecture notes. He instructed, "Teach them these two formations. Don't hold back, and don't worry."
With that, Master Xun rose and left, his steps light and ethereal, as he made his way towards the back mountains.
The lecture hall fell silent, leaving Mohua and the other disciples staring at each other.
Mohua felt a bit embarrassed, but remembering Master Xun's instructions, he steeled himself and opened the lecture notes. However, before he could say anything, a tall young man stood up.
This young man was Cheng Mo, a body cultivator with a tall stature. Despite his name, which meant silent, he was usually quite talkative.
Seeing that Master Xun had walked far away, Cheng Mo plucked up the courage to voice his disagreement. "Mohua, although we get along well, I have to say that I don't feel right about being taught formations by you. I don't mean to offend, but I just can't bring myself to accept it."
'I, Cheng Mo, also have my pride!' he added silently in his heart.
The other disciples nodded in agreement.
They were all considered "pride of the heavens" in their respective families. Although they had to rein in their arrogance upon arriving at Tai Xu Men, where the best of the best gathered, they still carried that sense of pride deep within.
Elders and instructors were qualified to teach and impart their knowledge.
But an ordinary disciple like Mohua was not someone they could easily accept as a teacher.
Even though Mohua was well-liked and they had no ill feelings towards him, when it came to something as important as a master-disciple relationship, they couldn't simply ignore their misgivings. There had to be a valid reason for this arrangement.
Mohua sighed.
He had wanted to keep a low profile, quietly cultivating and studying formations on his own.
But for some reason, Master Xun had chosen this moment to put him in the spotlight.
However, regardless of the circumstances, now that things had come to this, Mohua wasn't one to back down.
When it came to formations, he had never feared anyone!
Especially not these young cultivators his age!
Mohua's gaze carried a hint of the same disdain that Master Zhuang often displayed.
"Then tell me, what qualifications do you think are necessary?"
Cheng Mo's eyes narrowed, "Let's have a competition!"
Mohua silently regarded him, his clear eyes carrying a hint of sharpness.
Under Mohua's gaze, Cheng Mo felt his heart waver.
"I... I..."
He was fairly familiar with Mohua and had some idea of his prowess in formations, though he didn't know the exact extent. Still, he was certain that Mohua was far superior to him.
Cheng Mo had spoken out of momentary frustration, his head clouded with anger. But now that he was faced with the prospect of competing with Mohua, he realized he was out of his depth.
Within the sect, his skill in formations was either at the bottom or among the lowest few.
His competition with Mohua in formations would be like Mohua competing with him in body refinement...
At that moment, another disciple stood up. "Since you're going to teach us, it's only natural that you prove yourself against all of us!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt a twinge of guilt.
Even if they won against a single opponent, it wouldn't be a fair victory.
However, Mohua casually agreed, "Sure, all of you can come at once."
The lecture hall fell silent once more.
The disciples were stunned by Mohua's bold statement. They had never expected the usually gentle Mohua to utter such "arrogant" words! The atmosphere instantly turned heated.
"Alright!"
"Let's have a proper competition in formations!"
"Little Mohua, I'll show you that there's always someone better!"
"If you lose, you have to call us 'ge'!"
"Not just 'ge', you have to call us 'dashi ge'!"
"Yes, you have to address us as Da! Shi! Ge!"
...
Mohua rolled his eyes. Who would call whom "shixiong" remained to be seen.
Formation discussions usually had their own set of rules and procedures.
While Mohua hadn't participated in many formal formation competitions, he had demonstrated his skills a little during his time at Wuxing Zong.
Although the competitions were complex and varied, they essentially boiled down to three main aspects: speed, quality, and difficulty.
The current competition would be similar.
Moreover, since they were in the lecture hall and had limited time before the lesson, the competition would be simplified to determine a winner.
They would start by comparing their speed.
However, the disciples froze at the first step.
They had all witnessed Mohua's incredible speed when drawing formations—fluid and graceful, his small hands moving so swiftly that they almost seemed to leave afterimages...
But, they had to put up a fight regardless!
Even if they lost in the end, they couldn't let their momentum falter!
Until they gave it a try, the outcome was still uncertain.
Several disciples who considered themselves relatively quick with formations stepped forward with "generous" expressions, ready to compete with Mohua in speed on the large formation disk at the front of the lecture hall...
And then they were utterly defeated.
The next challenge was to see who could create the best formation.
Using the same formation, they would judge who had drawn it with greater accuracy, more elegant brushstrokes, and a deeper understanding of the fundamentals.
Among the disciples were those who had studied formations, practiced drawing array sigils, and possessed a certain level of skill. It was easy to discern the quality of their work.
Confident in their abilities, several other disciples stepped forward.
They, too, had been passed down formation techniques from their families, and the formations they drew on the array disks were uniformly neat and beautiful. They couldn't help but feel proud of their handiwork.
However, when they turned to look at Mohua's formation, their expressions faltered.
His formation sigils were impeccable, without a single mistake, as if they had been directly copied from a formation manual.
Moreover, his brushstrokes were powerful and graceful, like silver hooks and iron paintings.
This was an Earth-type formation.
Mohua had also channeled a trace of Earth essence, giving the entire formation a sense of profound and serene charm.
It was a perfect blend of form and spirit.
While one could strive for perfection in form, capturing the "spirit" required a deeper understanding.
Without a doubt, they knew they had lost.
The final challenge was to see who could create the most complex formation.
A disciple clad in white stepped forward, his features handsome and refined. Mohua recognized him as a direct descendant of the Wen family from Qianzhou, named Wen Xuan.
With a calm demeanor, Wen Xuan dipped his brush in ink and began to draw an eleven-pattern second-grade formation.
Mohua was surprised and couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
Indeed, the scions of noble families were extraordinary. To have a genius capable of drawing an eleven-pattern second-grade formation while still in the early Foundation Establishment stage was truly remarkable and rare.
Mohua nodded, feeling a sense of appreciation for such talent.
If one was a genius, they deserved encouragement and nurturing.
He wanted to show them a glimpse of the gap between their skills, providing them with the motivation to improve.
However, he also didn't want to discourage them by revealing too great a disparity, causing them to lose hope and give up on the path of formation mastery.
Mohua contemplated his approach, his intentions thoughtful and considerate.
After a moment's thought, he casually selected a twelve-pattern second-grade formation, slowing down his pace and drawing it with a solemn expression as if exerting all his effort.
Wen Xuan's face turned deathly pale, and he exclaimed:
"Twelve patterns..."
He glanced at the formation and then at Mohua, bowing slightly as he conceded, "I concede."
However, the look in his eyes as he regarded Mohua was fierce and determined.
It was as if he had found a lifelong "rival" in Mohua, and his gaze burned with a fiery resolve.
Mohua nodded, feeling a sense of satisfaction.
With that, the challenges came to an end.
The hall fell silent as the disciples absorbed the reality of their situation.
They had never truly grasped how skilled Mohua was in formations until they had directly competed against him...
Those who were not specialized in formations and lacked a deep understanding of them felt that the challenges had ended swiftly.
A group of disciples went up, drew their formations, and then stepped down, some without even finishing. They knew they had lost.
Their defeat was swift, and their pride took a hit.
But for those who were truly proficient in formations, they understood the magnitude of the gap between their skills and Mohua's. It was vast and profound...
They felt as if a deep chasm separated them from Mohua, a chasm constructed from the very essence of formations.
This chasm seemed insurmountable, and one wrong step could lead to their downfall.
The usually amiable Mohua now appeared unfathomably profound in their eyes...
However, Mohua himself felt that he hadn't truly shown his full capabilities yet.
Seeing that no one spoke, Mohua surveyed the room, his curiosity piqued. "Anything else?"
The disciples hesitated, their expressions a mix of shame and humiliation as they looked at Mohua.
It was as if they were regarding a mischievous yet unbeatable "little demon."
At that moment, a disciple with a square face and a serious demeanor stood up, seemingly unable to tolerate Mohua's "misdeeds" any longer.
"I'll go!"
Mohua recognized him vaguely but couldn't recall his name.
The disciple introduced himself, "My surname is Zheng, and my given name is Fang. I am from the Zheng family of Zhenzhou."
"Zheng Fang?" Mohua repeated, committing the name to memory. "What would you like to challenge me in?"
Zheng Fang shook his head. "In terms of formations, I admit that I am not as skilled as you. However, I cannot bring myself to accept you as my teacher, so I want to test you."
"Test me?" Mohua asked, intrigued.
"Indeed," Zheng Fang affirmed with a nod. "My Zheng family has a secret set of formations. I will draw one for you, and you must replicate it within an hour."
"If you can reproduce it, I will acknowledge that your understanding of formations is exceptional and that you are qualified to teach us."
"I am testing your comprehension!"
Mohua was taken aback, his expression a mix of astonishment and disbelief.
"You want to test me like this?"
"Are you a fool, or are you just giving away your family's secret formation technique?" Mohua's eyes sparkled with excitement, but he tried to maintain a serious expression, his small face stern as he said, "Yes, you want to test me!"
"Good!"
Zheng Fang's face was solemn as he stepped up to the array disk. His tone was unfriendly as he explained, "This formation may only be a first-grade formation and an entry-level one at that, but it is a unique technique passed down in my Zheng family. I won't tell you its name, and I'll only draw it once. If you can't learn it, then admit your defeat!"
"Yes, yes!"
Mohua nodded eagerly, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Thunder Pattern!
"This is... the Thunder Pattern?"
The Thunder Pattern of the Eight Trigrams Formation?!
Mohua was astonished.
Some of the more knowledgeable disciples also exclaimed in surprise:
"This is a Thunder-type formation?"
"It's difficult to learn..."
"As good as Mohua's comprehension is, there's no way he could master it in just one hour..."
"That's right."
"But, isn't this a bit unfair..."
"It does seem a bit unsportsmanlike..."
"Why? He boasted that he would teach us formations!"
"But... now that I think about it, it was Master Xun who asked him to teach, he can't go against Master's wishes, right..."
"You do have a point there..."
"It's not Mohua's fault..."
"Fine, whose side are you on? Don't you have any principles or stance?!"
......
The disciples whispered among themselves.
Mohua, on the other hand, was fully focused, his spiritual sense operating at full speed as he derived and calculated the trajectory of the formation in his sea of consciousness, based on the strokes Zheng Fang was drawing.
With each stroke of the formation pattern, Mohua deconstructed and analyzed it with his spiritual sense, transforming it into a more fundamental trajectory of spiritual power.
Piece by piece, the formation took shape in his sea of consciousness, gradually becoming clearer...
Until it eventually formed a complete picture.
Mohua furrowed his brows.
This was a very unique Thunder Formation...
The trajectory of spiritual power was gentle, seemingly not meant for combat...
Moreover, the design of the formation patterns was somewhat unconventional, differing in some ways from the Thunder Patterns he had learned before.
The structure of the formation's pivot...
Mohua felt that it seemed familiar, but the more he pondered, the more he felt that he hadn't seen it before...
This was indeed just a basic formation, a first-grade nine-pattern formation, but the logic of the formation was unfamiliar.
Based on the formation diagram alone, Mohua couldn't deduce its purpose, nor could he discern the principles of other related formations.
He didn't know the name or the function of the formation...
An unnamed Thunder Formation...
Mohua nodded slightly.
No wonder Zheng Fang had chosen to let him learn this. Even if he mastered it, he wouldn't be able to fathom the intricacies and specific uses of the formation.
It would be like learning it for nothing.
Mohua also recalled that Zheng Fang had mentioned that this was the "introductory" formation of the Zheng family.
That implied that this formation was just the foundation.
The truly core formations were probably those derived from this Thunder Formation?
Mohua silently labeled Zheng Fang as a "treasure-giving boy" in his mind.
Although this unnamed first-grade Thunder Formation was unfamiliar, and he didn't know its inner workings, with Mohua's own experience and comprehension in formations, learning it wasn't difficult.
Furthermore, he also possessed the Heaven's Secret Derivation Technique.
So, when Zheng Fang finished drawing the formation and turned around with a confident look, expecting to see Mohua struggle, Mohua calmly picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and gracefully replicated the formation on the array disk as if he had seen it many times before, even though he had only seen it once and had already derived its intricacies.
Zheng Fang's confident expression froze on his face as he stared at Mohua, as if looking at a little monster.
"You... have you learned this before?"
Mohua replied honestly:
"I just learned it..."
Zheng Fang opened his mouth, but ultimately, his expression turned resigned, and he walked down from the stage.
However, a new idea occurred to Mohua, and he looked at the disciples with anticipation, asking:
"Does anyone else want to test me?"
Preferably with something more challenging, rare, and something I haven't learned before!
Mohua thought to himself.
But no one responded.
Mohua asked again, but still, no one spoke.
Mohua felt a bit regretful.
If he had known, he would have pretended to struggle more.
He could have feigned deep concentration, claiming to exert all his efforts, only to barely manage to replicate this Thunder-type formation...
That would have been a better way to "fish" for more formations.
He had miscalculated...
He had been too hasty...
His cultivation experience was still too shallow, and he needed to be more careful in the future...
Mohua reminded himself, and then with a glimmer of hope, he asked again:
"Anyone else?"
Still, no one replied.
Mohua sighed and said,
"Alright then, I'll start teaching."
The disciples in the room were taken aback, and although they felt resentful, their faces turned slightly red.
But with the situation as it was, there was nothing they could do, and in the end, they could only silently lower their heads and accept Mohua's "guidance."
"Okay, let's begin the lesson!"
Mohua's voice rang out crisply.
And so, Mohua started teaching.
First-grade formations weren't difficult.
Mohua taught with ease.
His mastery of first-grade formations was profound, allowing him to teach with confidence.
Occasionally, there were some formation concepts that he understood but wasn't sure how to explain, so he recalled how Master Xun had taught him and followed his example, explaining complex concepts in a simple and understandable manner.
The other disciples may have been unwilling to accept Mohua as their teacher outwardly, but inwardly, they acknowledged his superior understanding of formations.
They knew that Mohua's skill in formations far surpassed their own.
So, even if some of them pouted and acted arrogantly, they still listened to what Mohua had to teach.
Furthermore, while Master Xun had profound knowledge of formations, his expertise was so advanced that he sometimes didn't explain the basics in great detail.
Moreover, Master Xun was stern and inflexible.
But Mohua was amicable and endearing.
Unknowingly, all the disciples in the lecture hall who were sincerely devoted to learning and improving their formation skills began to pay attention and listen intently to Mohua's lecture.
Mohua stood at the front of the lecture hall, calm and poised, as he spoke eloquently.
His demeanor and bearing were reminiscent of a "little instructor"...
Time passed, and before long, Master Xun returned. Seeing the scene in the lecture hall, he was taken aback.
He had anticipated that many disciples would be unreceptive to the idea of being taught by Mohua, and this was within his expectations.
These issues were for Mohua to resolve on his own.
Whether he could gain their respect and acceptance depended solely on his own abilities, and Master Xun would not interfere.
However, what Master Xun had not anticipated was that Mohua would resolve the issue so swiftly, taming these proud and talented disciples so quickly...
Master Xun furrowed his brows, deep in thought, before finally nodding in satisfaction.
He did not interrupt Mohua's lesson but instead quietly left the room.
...
From then on, whenever Master Xun had something to attend to, he would ask Mohua to "substitute" for him.
Sometimes, even when he had nothing urgent to do, Master Xun would find excuses to skip class and have Mohua teach in his place, instructing this roomful of disciples.
A "disciple" teaching other disciples about formations.
Soon, this peculiar arrangement came to the attention of the elders of Tai Xu Men.
Some of the disciples' influential families from Qianzhou also caught wind of this, and most of them were displeased. They exerted pressure, causing some of the authoritative elders of Tai Xu Men to confront Master Xun and demand an explanation.
Some of the true inheritance elders could only grit their teeth and approach Master Xun. Despite their reluctance, they had no choice but to speak up and politely ask:
"Master Xun, is this... not against the rules?"
Master Xun lowered his head to sip his tea, not even bothering to lift his eyelids. "What rules?"
"This..."
The elders hesitated.
What could they say...
Many of the rules in Tai Xu Men were established with the involvement of this elderly master.
How dare they mention rules in front of him...
However, Master Xun was different from the other elderly masters who were in seclusion for cultivation or hiding in the shadows.
Master Xun dedicated himself to the duty of "imparting knowledge and teachings." Even at his advanced age, he still personally instructed disciples in formations, and although he had a quirky and stubborn personality, he did not put on airs. That was why they dared to voice their concerns.
One of the elders pondered for a moment before speaking in a low voice, "Letting a disciple teach other disciples... this seems a bit, well, irregular."
"Irregular?" Master Xun frowned, contemplating before nodding, "Yes, it is indeed irregular."
The elder's eyes lit up, "Since that's the case..."
"Since that's the case," Master Xun said, "let's give him an official position as a 'little instructor.' That way, it will be perfectly 'regular.'"
A little instructor?!
The elder's heart sank, and he hastily said, "Master Xun, this... it's unprecedented for an outer sect disciple who has just entered the sect to become a 'little instructor.'..."
"Well, now there is a precedent..." Master Xun nodded, "Someone has to be the first, after all."
"This... won't do..."
The other elders also chimed in, "Master Xun, this is inappropriate..."
"It really is quite... bizarre."
"Forgive our disrespect... but this is indeed a bit too... whimsical."
"The position of a little instructor is out of the question..."
The true inheritance elders voiced their objections.
Master Xun took a sip of tea and sighed, "I'm not being unreasonable. Since you all object, then let's compromise. Forget about the 'little instructor' position, and let's just give him a little more seniority, addressing him as a 'little shixiong' will do..."
The other true inheritance elders were taken aback, their hearts sinking.
This wasn't good. They had walked right into his trap.
Master Xun was making a concession, but it seemed that his original intention might not have been to make Mohua a "little instructor" at all...
One of the elders, with a stiff expression, tried to object further.
"I'm afraid that..."
But Master Xun's face darkened, and he spoke with a hint of anger:
"What do you mean?"
"I've already made a concession by not insisting on the 'little instructor' position. Adding a little seniority and addressing him as a 'little shixiong' is just a nominal change without any actual position. Do you still have objections?"
"Are you implying that I'm too old and that my words carry no weight?"
The true inheritance elders felt bitter, their foreheads breaking out in cold sweat. In the end, they could only placate him, saying:
"Master Xun is right, it's just the title of a 'shixiong'..."
With that said, they were left with no choice but to grit their teeth and concede,
"Fine, fine! So be it!"
Master Xun was satisfied and nodded, waving his hand to dismiss them, "Alright, that's enough fuss over a small matter..."
"The matter is settled!"
The true inheritance elders could only smile bitterly and accept this decision.
During the next formation class, Master Xun called Mohua to the front of the lecture hall and said to the disciples below,
"Outside this room, you can do as you please, and I won't interfere..."
"But from now on, within this lecture hall where formations are taught..."
Master Xun pointed at Mohua, his voice aged but firm, "All of you disciples must address him as..."
"Little Shixiong!"
(End of Chapter)
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