Chapter 598: Merit
Chapter 598: Merit
Mo Hua, who was now addressed as "Little Senior Brother" by his fellow disciples, some around his age, some a year or two older, and others who seemed more senior than him, still felt awkward about this new title.
The disciples themselves mumbled the title shyly, as if ashamed and afraid that others might hear them.
However, this was Elder Xun's decision.
Elder Xun was a highly respected figure, and his words carried weight even among the true transmission elders of the inner sect.
These new outer sect disciples certainly wouldn't dare to disobey him.
But as the saying goes, practice makes perfect.
The more they called him that, the more accustomed they became.
After a few times, they even started to say it confidently.
However, some still harbored discontent in their hearts.
Occasionally, there would be some rebellious disciples who would find excuses to "challenge" Mo Hua.
Mo Hua didn't take these challenges to heart. Without needing to exert himself, he only needed to invoke Elder Xun's name and assert his authority as "Little Senior Brother" to assign these troublemakers extra array formation homework.
These rebellious disciples would immediately fall in line.
The spiritual sense of a early Qi Refining cultivator typically ranged from ten to thirteen strands.
These disciples, having just entered the Qi Refining stage, mostly had ten or eleven strands of spiritual sense. Drawing one or two arrays was manageable, but drawing more would be truly "painful beyond words."
Since Mo Hua practiced array formations daily, he had an extremely precise grasp of spiritual sense levels.
The homework he assigned was just enough for them to complete, but it would be a struggle and cause them pain without damaging their sea of consciousness.
It was a minor lesson.
Out of reverence for Elder Xun, they dared not shirk their task.
After Mo Hua had dealt with these challenges a few times, no disciple dared to openly challenge his "authority" again.
As time passed, Mo Hua's status as "Little Senior Brother" gradually became accepted by the disciples.
Despite his title, Mo Hua remained humble and approachable, treating others no differently than before.
Many disciples also started seeking Mo Hua's guidance during breaks or after classes to ask about array formations.
When they encountered confusion about formations that they didn't dare to ask Elder Xun about, they would come to Mo Hua instead.
Mo Hua was much more approachable than Elder Xun.
And when others sought his guidance, Mo Hua shared his knowledge without reservation.
He still remembered Instructor Yan's words:
"The path of array formations is like water; only through continuous transmission will it flourish and endure."
Hoarding knowledge would only cause the profound array formations containing the Grand Dao to decay and stagnate.
Thus, as long as someone was sincerely willing to learn, Mo Hua would teach them earnestly and explain things carefully.
The disciples benefited from Mo Hua's teachings, and the title "Little Senior Brother" rolled off their tongues more naturally.
As Elder Xun increasingly "slackened," Mo Hua taught more classes, and his bond with his fellow disciples grew stronger.
Their camaraderie, a blend of mentor and friend, deepened.
Elder Xun silently witnessed all of this, feeling a sense of relief.
With this camaraderie, Mo Hua gradually established a foundation within the Tai Xu Sect.
The longer the time, the deeper the bond, and the firmer the foundation.
However, the number of disciples was still relatively small...
There were only about a hundred disciples at Tai Yi Residence, and only they would call Mo Hua "Little Senior Brother" during the array formation classes.
This generation's geniuses numbered nearly a thousand.
Since they didn't attend the same lectures, it was only natural that Mo Hua wouldn't be able to teach them...
Elder Xun thought to himself:
"In the future, I must find an opportunity to have all the disciples of this generation attend Mo Hua's 'class' and call him 'Little Senior Brother'..."
Not a single one must be missing! Elder Xun's thoughts were far-reaching.
The foundation of a sect lay in its people, in the disciples who carried on the sect's legacy.
Bonding with the sect's disciples meant bonding with the sect itself.
As one of the Eight Great Sects, the Tai Xu Sect, though not comparable to the "Four Great Sects," was still considered a leading force in the cultivation world across various states.
Having good relationships with his fellow disciples meant that Mo Hua would naturally have connections when he left the sect to travel the world.
Wherever he went, he would find fellow sect members, and old acquaintances would be present in all four seas.
Having people call him "Little Senior Brother" wherever he went would make things more convenient for him.
With these connections, he wouldn't forget the sect's kindness.
And with the sect's support and the help of his fellow disciples, even if he were alone in the future, he wouldn't fear the pressure from noble clans or the temptations of the Demon Sect.
Only then would he have the confidence to remain true to his initial aspirations, avoid the path of evil, and seek the true Grand Dao...
Elder Xun's eyes gleamed with profound insight as he nodded slightly.
However, he soon furrowed his brows, realizing another issue:
"Although the foundation of a sect lies in its people, the sect itself also has a system of inheritance and traditions..."
"The sect's rules must be upheld, and the logic of inheritance among sect disciples should be imparted to him."
"When something is obtained too easily, it often isn't cherished..."
"I also shouldn't be too biased towards this child, as it might negate the effects of tempering..."
"The hardships he should experience must still be experienced..."
Elder Xun raised his eyebrows slightly.
...
Mo Hua was still unaware of Elder Xun's thoughtful considerations.
He was busy with his daily routine of cultivation, attending classes, "lecturing," and studying array formations in his spare time.
Elder Xun, it seemed, wanted Mo Hua to cultivate a gentle and benevolent nature, so the formations he provided were primarily water, wood, earth, and stone-based, designed to nurture life and facilitate cultivation.
There wasn't a single killing formation among them.
Mo Hua accepted his lot and was content with what he was given. There was no need for killing formations in the peaceful environment of the Tai Xu Sect, free from criminal cultivators, demonic cultivators, traffickers, or other such evils.
His primary goal was to strengthen his spiritual sense through the study of formations, which would then allow him to learn even more complex formations.
In this way, his spiritual sense and formation mastery would reinforce each other, progressing hand in hand.
His cultivation breakthroughs were also intricately tied to his spiritual sense and formation mastery.
Practicing the Tian Yan Technique, his bottleneck was in his spiritual sense, and to break through, he needed to solve formation puzzles, especially for major realm advancements, where he would have to decipher the Mystical Heaven Grand Formation.
This time, as he approached another breakthrough, he wouldn't have his senior martial uncle "helping" him.
He would likely have to rely on himself, which made it all the more important for his spiritual sense to be strong and his formations to be intricate.
His mastery of spiritual sense was also the foundation for the power of his spells.
In the path of enlightenment, the spiritual sense was key.
Cultivation was a gradual process, and breakthroughs required time and patience. Mo Hua's current plan was to study fifteen-line formations and temper his spiritual sense to handle sixteen or even more lines, making it easier to break through to the next level.
He would start with fifteen-line formations, then move on to sixteen and seventeen, and so on...
However, after half a month, Elder Xun informed Mo Hua that there were no more formations for him to learn.
Mo Hua was stunned.
Elder Xun sighed, "I forgot to tell you earlier, but there are rules within the Tai Xu Sect."
"Rules?" Mo Hua blinked.
"Yes, rules!" Elder Xun emphasized, and then proceeded to explain patiently. "These rules were set by our ancestors, and even I cannot change them..."
Mo Hua nodded, finding it reasonable, not realizing that Elder Xun himself was one of the "ancestors" he spoke of.
Elder Xun continued, "The formations taught in class are mandated by the sect and provided to you free of charge..."
"However, formations learned outside of class are typically paid for."
"Especially since you've just joined and are only at the early Qi Refining stage, the formations you learn should theoretically not exceed eleven lines."
"Twelve or thirteen-line formations, even if you learn quickly, will only be taught next year or the year after."
"And this is not compulsory."
"Usually, a Qi Refining cultivator, even at the peak, would find twelve-line formations challenging, let alone thirteen..."
Elder Xun glanced at Mo Hua, "So, the fourteen and fifteen-line formations you've been learning are way beyond the curriculum. I made an exception to teach them to you."
Mo Hua was deeply touched and expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Elder Xun!"
Then he added, a bit worried, "You... won't make me pay for it later, will you?"
Although he didn't know the exact cost of second-rate fourteen and fifteen-line formations, he was sure that official eight-trigram formations taught by the sect wouldn't come cheap...
Especially since he had learned so many.
Unbeknownst to him, Elder Xun had already given him numerous formation charts.
While there was only one fifteen-line formation, the Rain-Blessed Formation, Mo Hua had learned a large number of thirteen and fourteen-line formations.
If he had to pay for them now, his meager savings would be instantly depleted.
Mo Hua furrowed his brows, feeling troubled.
Elder Xun gave him a silent look, letting him stew for a moment before speaking, "There's no need for that. Since I'm the one teaching them to you, learn them without worry. You don't need to pay any spirit stones, and the sect's inheritance is not something that can be bought with spirit stones."
"No spirit stones?" Mo Hua was taken aback, "Then what is it?"
"Merit," Elder Xun replied.
"Merit?"
Mo Hua frowned, no one had mentioned this to him when he joined the sect.
Elder Xun explained, "Merit refers to a disciple's contributions or achievements for the sect..."
"Not just the Tai Xu Sect, but the entire Qian Xue State, the Four Great Sects, Eight Grand Gates, Twelve Streams, Qian Xue's One Hundred Gates, and the thousands of sects beneath them, all implement the 'merit system'..."
"This system was established by the ancestors of Qian Xue State to reform the sects, enhance sect cohesion, reduce the gap between rich and poor disciples, and provide every disciple with an opportunity to acquire cultivation resources and elevate the sect's status."
"When disciples join a sect, if there is a huge disparity in wealth and power, it will inevitably lead to flattery and vanity."
"The poor become the rich's lackeys, and the weak attach themselves to the strong."
"As a result, the sect would become corrupt, with cultivators' hearts tainted by greed, and none would remain true to the path of cultivation."
Mo Hua understood, "So that's why the sect limits the amount of spirit stones a disciple can bring upon joining, and regulates other resources like pills, spiritual artifacts, and heavenly treasures..."
Elder Xun nodded, "Indeed. Since you've joined the sect, you should rely on your own efforts."
Elder Xun sighed softly in his heart.
"Merit..." Mo Hua's eyes lit up. "Can this merit be exchanged for good things?"
Elder Xun nodded. "Even better than you imagine..."
Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat as he suddenly thought of that name:
The Tai Xu Divine Consciousness Sword Scripture!
If he accumulated enough merit, could he obtain that incredibly powerful sword scripture possibly hidden within the Tai Xu Sect?
Mo Hua considered for a moment but decided not to ask Elder Xun about this.
This was something he needed to keep secret...
What if he told Elder Xun and the old man asked him how he knew about it? He might not be able to answer or give a satisfactory response, which could expose the "Heavenly Machine Calculation."
Moreover, besides that sword scripture, what else could he exchange merit for...?
A second-grade supreme array?
Mo Hua's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Oblivious to Mo Hua's thoughts, Elder Xun continued his explanation:
"Therefore, merit is extremely important for sect disciples. The merit system can also enhance the disciples' loyalty and sense of belonging to the sect."
"When you contribute to the sect, the sect rewards you, aiding your cultivation. This reciprocal relationship deepens over time..."
"In this world, relationships without mutual benefit are often fleeting and fragile."
Having lived for so long, Elder Xun naturally understood this principle.
Mo Hua recalled something else and asked, "Sir, you mentioned that merit is also related to one's status within the sect. Does this refer to promotions from the outer sect to the inner sect?"
Elder Xun nodded, slightly surprised. "Yes."
After a moment of contemplation, he asked Mo Hua, "In your opinion, what does the sect value more when accepting disciples – talent or temperament?"
"Both talent and temperament are important, but temperament is actually more crucial than talent," Mo Hua replied thoughtfully.
"Indeed," Elder Xun agreed. "Unfortunately, nowadays, sects only focus on talent and pay no attention to temperament when accepting disciples..."
"Although human hearts are complex and multifaceted, those with poor temperament may still turn over a new leaf, and those with good temperament may be influenced and become unscrupulous."
"As for talent, it is what it is – simple and clear..."
"However, if one cultivates without a pure heart, even with great skill, it will all amount to nothing in the end, and one may easily become a puppet controlled by another's divine consciousness..."
Mo Hua nodded vigorously in agreement.
He had seen far too many cultivators who had fallen prey to demonic illusions and died at the hands of their senior martial uncles.
Those with strong willpower might be able to hold on for a while, but those with shallow temperaments would instantly go insane with just a glance from their senior martial uncles...
But...
Why did Elder Xun suddenly bring this up? Mo Hua was puzzled and asked, "Sir, what does this have to do with merit?"
Elder Xun sighed deeply, recalling the past. "In the beginning, the sects in the Qian Xue State didn't have this merit system, and there were fewer rules. When accepting disciples, they placed all emphasis on talent."
"An exceptional or outstanding genius would be fiercely competed for by numerous sects."
"Cultivation techniques, magical arts, spiritual energy, spirit pills, and rare treasures would be provided without limit."
"But..."
"This also made these geniuses overly arrogant, thinking that everything they achieved was due to their own abilities, forgetting the sect's contributions and grace."
"Countless 'prodigies' turned their backs on their sects, betrayed their masters, or even fell into demonic cultivation."
"The sects paid a hefty price, only to raise a pack of ungrateful wolves."
"Afterward, our ancestors reflected on these painful lessons and established the rules of 'merit.' Regardless of talent, if one wishes to obtain the true inheritance, they must make significant contributions to the sect."
"For outer sect disciples to advance to the inner sect, in addition to their talent, their merit is also considered."
"Whether they are ordinary disciples or direct disciples of the inner sect, they must have made certain contributions to the sect to be qualified to become elders."
"In other words, as long as your contributions to the sect are great enough, you can enter the inner sect, become a direct disciple, or even a direct disciple elder, and perhaps..."
"...become the sect master!"
Elder Xun's tone was impassioned.
After finishing, he glanced at Mo Hua and noticed that the boy was nodding but didn't seem particularly eager. He understood that Mo Hua had no intention of joining the inner sect.
Joining the inner sect meant taking on a new master.
Mo Hua's reluctance to join the inner sect implied that he didn't want to give up his original master-disciple relationship.
Even the potential of becoming the sect master of Tai Xu didn't seem to hold much allure for him.
This further confirmed that the boy already had a master.
And he was loyal and valued their relationship.
Elder Xun felt a hint of regret but also admired the boy's character.
Elder Xun added a few more sentences, concluding the origin and purpose of the merit system, and then said:
"So from now on, if you want to study arrays, you'll have to make some contributions to the sect, earn merit, and then you can exchange it for those fifteen-line, sixteen-line, or even higher-level array diagrams."
The sect wouldn't let him freeload forever.
If there were too many disciples like him, they might just drain the sect dry and bring about its downfall.
Mo Hua nodded and then asked, "Sir, in that case, how can I earn this merit?"
Elder Xun, seeing that Mo Hua wasn't displeased, nodded slightly and explained, "Getting a grade of 'A' in your various subjects can earn you some merit..."
"Contributing to the sect by crafting artifacts, pills, or talismans, or drawing array formations can also be converted into merit..."
"Participating in grand events like the Discourse Assembly or the Sword Debate Tournament, and achieving a high ranking will also grant merit as a reward..."
"Additionally, the sect will occasionally assign tasks, such as collaborating with the Dao Court to capture rogue cultivators, demonic cultivators, or evil cultivators. Completing these tasks will also earn you merit..."
"Of course, such tasks are too dangerous and bloody for someone at your current stage..."
...
Elder Xun went on, explaining a multitude of details.
Mo Hua listened intently and then asked, puzzled, "Sir, why didn't I know about any of this before?"
Elder Xun raised an eyebrow, "That's because you didn't have the authorization to know."
"Authorization?"
Elder Xun pointed at Mo Hua's waist.
Mo Hua understood, "The Tai Xu Token?"
"Indeed." Elder Xun replied, "When you joined, someone should have told you about the importance of the Tai Xu Token, instructing you not to lose it..."
"Not only is it necessary for your daily classes and movement within the sect, but more importantly..."
"...the Tai Xu Token determines your level of authorization within the sect!"
"As you've just joined, your token is still at the initial stage, and aside from attending classes and being allowed in the outer disciple quarters, you have virtually no other privileges."
"After a year of cultivation in the sect, when the sect has a better understanding of your background and capabilities, your true privileges will be unlocked."
"This includes the 'merit' privileges."
"With these privileges, you can use your Tai Xu Token to take on tasks for the sect, earn merit, and exchange it for a series of treasures, techniques, and array formation manuals that are exclusively preserved by the Tai Xu Sect, as well as spiritual stones, pills, and other cultivation resources."
Mo Hua was astonished, but then frowned in worry, "But I've only been in the sect for four or five months. Surely I can't unlock the privileges of the Tai Xu Token yet, right?"
"Don't worry," Elder Xun assured him, "I can help you unlock it in advance."
"Ah?" Mo Hua was taken aback, "Can we do that?"
Elder Xun nodded, "Since you've been studying array formations under me for quite some time, I know you well enough to unlock your privileges early. It's not a big deal."
"Give me your Tai Xu Token." Elder Xun instructed.
Mo Hua respectfully handed over his initial Tai Xu Token, which was rather plain and bore only a single sword insignia.
Elder Xun took it, and with a slight fluctuation of his spiritual sense, the token flashed with a soft light.
Then, he returned the token to Mo Hua, "There, it's done."
Mo Hua was surprised, "That's it?"
Unlocking privileges seemed rather simple.
He pondered, suspecting that Elder Xun had used his spiritual sense to activate an array within the token, altering its privileges.
However, as he was only at the early Qi Refining stage, he couldn't quite understand the specifics of what Elder Xun had done.
Mo Hua took back his Tai Xu Token and scanned it with his spiritual sense. Indeed, he felt that his token was now different, as if it contained something more.
Before he could examine it further, another question came to mind.
"Sir, you mentioned that the sect's rules can't be changed..."
Mo Hua looked at Elder Xun with a doubtful gaze, "But aren't you changing the rules by doing this?"
Elder Xun hesitated for a moment.
This boy's mind worked incredibly fast.
With a serious expression, he said, "No, it doesn't count as changing the rules!"
"Really?"
Elder Xun nodded firmly, "If I say it doesn't count, then it doesn't!"
"... "
Mo Hua didn't know how to respond to that.
But since Elder Xun had given him the privileges, he decided not to dwell on it further.
After all, he was a new disciple and didn't fully understand the intricacies of the sect's rules.
Mo Hua held the Tai Xu Token, his eyes sparkling with anticipation as he thought about checking the token later to see what tasks he could take on and what treasures he could exchange for.
Elder Xun looked at Mo Hua and gave him a final piece of advice, "In the path of cultivation, it's best to be steady and avoid being overly ambitious."
"Although I've unlocked your privileges, you're still new to the sect and your cultivation is still shallow. You lack experience..."
"Start with some basic tasks like drawing array formations, sweeping the grounds, or guarding the gates..."
"As for chasing rogue cultivators, slaying demonic cultivators, or wiping out evil sects..."
"...those dangerous tasks, you must avoid at all costs!"
"Yes, sir!"
Mo Hua nodded obediently.
(End of Chapter)
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