Chapter 24 Seeking the Way_1

Translator: 549690339

When Mo Hua went to find Fatty Steward again, he was informed that the market had changed.

Fated Gathering no longer accepted the Bright Fire Formation and the Solid Earth Formation.

Mo Hua, with a face full of astonishment, then skeptically said, “The Bright Fire Formation is used for illumination, and the Solid Earth Formation is used for building houses. Unless nobody lives in Tongxian City anymore, there shouldn’t be a lack of demand, right?”

Fatty Steward inwardly complained about Mo Hua. The kid being smart was not necessarily a good thing—it made him harder to deceive. So, he didn’t bother making excuses. The more excuses he made, the harder it was to be consistent. He waved his hand dismissively:

“How would I know? The market is what it is, and there’s nothing I can do about it!”

Mo Hua was speechless. He had only saved up half of the Spirit Stones he needed for his cultivation technique, so he could only ask, “Then, what kind of Formation do you accept?”

Fatty Steward coughed and took out a Formation Diagram, the cover of which bore the words “Gold and Stone Formation Map”.

“We’re now accepting the Gold and Stone Formation. It also contains four Formation Patterns, not too different from the Solid Earth Formation.”

Mo Hua looked at the Formation Diagram and asked, “Manager, what is the Gold and Stone Formation used for?”

Fatty Steward said, “It’s somewhat similar to the Solid Earth Formation, also used for reinforcing the doors, windows, and walls of cultivators’ dwellings or cave abodes. It’s just that one reinforces earth and wood, and the other reinforces metal and stone.”

Mo Hua furrowed his brows, “If it’s similar to the Solid Earth Formation in function, and the Solid Earth Formation is unused, why would the Gold and Stone Formation be in demand?”

Fatty Steward glared at Mo Hua and stubbornly said, “The market is what it is. Don’t ask so many questions, kid!”

“Then, for this Formation, is it also three Spirit Stones per set?”

It should have been…

Fatty Steward felt a bit of regret but still raised the price:

“Technically, it is three Spirit Stones, but it’s quite scarce recently, so the price went up. Now it’s four Spirit Stones per set, though we don’t accept many, only five sets every half month.”

Scarce, yet not allowed to draw more?

Mo Hua thought Fatty Steward was somewhat strange, but this was Fated Gathering’s business. It wasn’t his place to ask too much; as long as he could earn Spirit Stones, it was fine.

If he successfully completed all the paintings, he could earn twenty Spirit Stones every half month, which was quite a substantial amount.

“Alright, it’s a deal!”

Fatty Steward breathed a sigh of relief. He directly drew a Storage Bag from underneath the counter, as if he had prepared it in advance, and handed it to Mo Hua.

Mo Hua took the Storage Bag, checked it, confirmed it was the “Gold and Stone Formation Map” and five sets of paper and ink, then bid farewell to Fatty Steward with a bow.

Just as he was about to reach the door, Fatty Steward couldn’t help but call out to him:

“Mo Hua.”

Mo Hua looked back. Fatty Steward hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Do you think this Formation is difficult?”

Mo Hua thought about it. It contained four Formation Patterns and had similarities with the Solid Earth Formation, so it wasn’t particularly difficult. He replied, “It’s manageable.”

Mo Hua took a few steps before turning back to add, “My brother should be able to draw it.”

“Oh,” Fatty Steward watched him with a complex expression and nodded, “Draw it well.”

“By the way,” Fatty Steward called out to Mo Hua again, “My last name is Mo, as in ‘do not get angry’. Just call me Manager Mo.”

Mo Hua nodded, “Alright, Manager Mo. I’ll remember that.”

Mo Hua returned to Tongxian Gate and whenever he found time, he studied the Gold Stone Formation. Because it was similar to the Solid Earth Formation and since he had previously consulted Instructor Yan on the method of drawing the Solid Earth Formation, grasping it was not too difficult.

Before one of the Formation classes, Instructor Yan had the previously corrected Formation homework distributed. The Formation Diagram submitted by Mo Hua only received a ‘Grade B’.

Mo Hua looked left and right, compared it again with the Sect’s “Detailed Explanation of Formations” and couldn’t find a single mistake. Why had he only received a ‘Grade B’?

Mo Hua was puzzled.

The disciple sitting beside him saw the ‘Grade B’ on Mo Hua’s Formation Diagram and exclaimed, “Wow, Mo Hua, you actually got only a ‘Grade B’.”

Mo Hua glanced at the ‘Grade C’ on his Formation Diagram but didn’t say a word.

The disciple quickly covered his own ‘Grade C’ with his hand, giggled sheepishly, then curiously asked, “How did you only manage to get a ‘Grade B’?”

Mo Hua was also puzzled, “I didn’t draw it wrong. I don’t know why I only got a ‘Grade B’.”

“If you didn’t draw it wrong, how could Instructor only give you a ‘Grade B’?.”

Mo Hua showed him the Formation Diagram, “Can you see any mistakes?”

The disciple said confidently, “If I could see what’s wrong, I wouldn’t have only gotten a ‘Grade C’!”

The other disciples sitting around craned their necks to look at Mo Hua’s Formation Diagram, then they said one after another:

“It looks like there’s nothing wrong to me.”

“Mo Hua, did you offend the instructor or something?”

“Be careful, or the instructor might punish you.”

“Instructor Yan isn’t that kind of person…”

Before they could finish, Instructor Yan walked into the cultivation room. The group of disciples quickly retracted their necks and sat as still as quails, not daring to let out a breath.

Instructor Yan conducted the class as usual and said at the end of the lesson:

“Cultivating the Tao is like sailing against the current; if you do not advance, you will fall back. The way of formations is the same, you all must not slack off and waste your time and talent for nothing.”

After saying this, Instructor Yan looked around sternly, finally turning her gaze to Mo Hua and said, “Mo Hua, come with me.”

“Yes.” Mo Hua stood up respectfully and followed Instructor Yan out of the cultivation room.

Seeing Instructor Yan leave, the disciples in the room gathered their heads together again:

“It’s over, it’s over, Mo Hua is done for now.”

“The instructor mentioned some people slacking off; was he referring to Mo Hua?”

“But I’m slacking off too, why didn’t the instructor come for me?”

“Can you compare with Mo Hua? Mo Hua’s formation paintings are so good, he’s highly regarded by the instructor.”

“I’m glad the instructor doesn’t regard me highly; please never regard me highly…”

Mo Hua followed Instructor Yan, leaving the cultivation room, passing by the Pill Room and Refining Room, and finally left Tongxuan Peak.

All along the way, Instructor Yan said nothing. Only when disciples or other instructors and Sect Elders greeted them, did she either nod her head or clasp her hands in response.

Instructor Yan took Mo Hua all the way to her residence located on Tongming Peak.

Tongming Peak was where the Sect Leader, Elders, instructors, and Inner Sect Disciples lived and cultivated. It was Mo Hua’s first visit; indeed, the environment was much quieter and more beautiful. Many courtyards had brightly colored Spirit Flowers and Spirit Grass, and there were also Spirit Beasts like the Colorful Chicken taking leisurely strolls.

Only on Tongming Peak could these few Colorful Chickens stroll so leisurely; on Tongxuan Peak, they would definitely not see the sun the next day.

Mo Hua thought of the charred chicken leg Shuanghu had given him.

There was a Formation outside Instructor Yan’s residence, and there was a small Bagua Plate on the door. This must have been set up by Instructor Yan herself, as the doors of other courtyards and residences did not have one.

Instructor Yan ran her finger over the Bagua Plate a few times, a flash of light appeared on the door, and it opened.

Once inside the house, Instructor Yan sat in front of the desk and directly asked Mo Hua:

“Do you want to become a Formation Master?”

Mo Hua replied modestly, “Disciple’s aptitude is limited; I’m afraid I can’t become a Formation Master.”

Instructor Yan frowned and said, “Wanting to and having the talent are two different matters. Don’t just look at the outcome and lose your original intention. Every creature under heaven is destined to die, should they therefore not live at all?”

Upon hearing this, Mo Hua said solemnly, “Disciple wants to become a Formation Master!”

“Why do you want to?”

“The path of cultivation is tough. Formations can provide a means of livelihood.”

“And?”

“Cultivators seek the Heavenly Dao to become immortals, and understanding formations can lead to comprehending the Heavenly Dao.”

Instructor Yan frowned and said, “The Heavenly Dao is distant and elusive; cultivators might spend their entire lives unable to glimpse even a corner of it.”

Mo Hua responded, “As the Instructor has said, the path to enlightenment lies in heaven, but the pursuit of it lies within us. Since cultivators are seeking the Heavenly Dao, no matter whether they ultimately achieve enlightenment or not, they must not lose the heart of pursuit.”

Instructor Yan was silent for a moment, then nodded, “From now on, come to me after every class. You may go back today.”

“Yes.” Mo Hua was confused but still bowed respectfully and took his leave.

Instructor Yan watched Mo Hua leave and after a long while exhaled:

“He’s a promising seed indeed.”