One morning, Mr. Zhuang called Mo Hua over and asked with an expression that was somewhat inscrutable
"Mo Hua, what kind of formation master do you want to become?"
Mo Hua thought to himself that it would be great if he could become a First-Grade formation master; then he could receive a monthly stipend, be self-sufficient, and his parents would surely be happy.
But Mr. Zhuang probably didn't mean that.
"Teacher, is there a difference between formation masters?" Mo Hua asked with humility.
"There are tens of thousands of formations, so the formation masters who study them are naturally diverse, each with their own unique strengths."
"Oh..." Mo Hua was a bit bewildered.
Mr. Zhuang continued, "Some formation masters travel the Nine Provinces in search of lost forbidden formations; some visit various sects to exchange knowledge through formation duels; some devote themselves to painstaking research, ignoring the affairs of the world; and others are more pragmatic, wishing to use formations to revolutionize all industries..."
Mo Hua found it difficult to choose.
Traveling the Nine Provinces to find lost forbidden formations sounded enticing—though he didn't even know what a forbidden formation was yet; visiting sects to duel seemed good too; ignoring worldly matters to focus solely on research sounded peaceful and quiet; and being able to revolutionize industries through formations was also quite meaningful...
Seeing Mo Hua's delicate brows furrow slightly, Mr. Zhuang smiled faintly and shifted the topic
"But in truth, it doesn't matter which you choose. The rules of this world are strict, yet one could also say they are without taboo. No one dictates what kind of person you must be, nor does anyone demand what kind of formation master you must become."
"As a formation master, the choice itself is secondary. The most important things are your obsession with formations, your comprehension of the Heavenly Dao, and above all, you must remember the four words: 'Observe, Learn, Think, and Apply.'"
"Observe, Learn, Think, and Apply?"
"Observation is to broaden one's horizons; learning is to increase one's proficiency; thinking is to avoid learning without internalizing; and application is to turn what is learned into what is used. The comprehension of formations begins with observation and ends with application."
Mo Hua nodded, feeling as if he understood somewhat, yet not entirely.
"You have done well with the first three—observation, learning, and thinking—but that alone is not enough. You must also learn to apply. To study formations without applying them is like hiding treasure under a mountain where it gathers dust, or possessing talent within your belly without revealing it; ultimately, you will fail to achieve greatness. To learn for the sake of application, and to apply for the sake of refining your learning—that is the superior path."
"Then, Teacher," Mo Hua asked sincerely, "how should I best apply formations?"
"Formations are what cultivators perceive from the essence of Heaven and Earth. In other words, all things in the universe contain formations, as well as the methods for their application. If one is mindful, every tiny thread, every sip of water, and every morsel of food is intimately connected to formations."
Mo Hua had a sudden realization. His previous use of formations to temper his furnace and build stoves were actually applications of formations.
"I understand!" Mo Hua said happily. "Formations are a cultivator's perception of the Heavenly Dao, so they can naturally be applied to all industries in the cultivation world. Between Heaven and Earth, every blade of grass and every tree contains the Way of Formations. As long as one is mindful, they can all be used to study and apply formations. Is that what you mean, Teacher?"
"Exactly!" Mr. Zhuang felt quite gratified. "Furthermore, there is one most important point: learning for the sake of application and achieving mastery through integration can solve your problem of studying many diverse formations without achieving true expertise."
Mo Hua's eyes lit up.
Mr. Zhuang explained, "If you only draw formations on paper, you will inevitably end up with mere theoretical knowledge. All things in the world are different, and formation mediums vary immensely. The more you actually draw and apply formations in practice, the deeper your understanding will become, the more thorough your perception will be, and the stronger your ability to decipher formations will grow!"
Mo Hua found this very reasonable, but felt a bit troubled: "I might not have that much time..."
After all, drawing formations on specific spiritual tools or earth and stone was much more laborious than drawing them on paper. Considering the time needed for debugging the application of formations, he wouldn't be able to come to Mr. Zhuang's place for lessons at regular intervals like he did now.
"It matters not," Mr. Zhuang said, having laid the groundwork for a long time, finally revealing the words he had kept in his heart: "I can give you leave!"
Mo Hua sensed something was amiss and looked at Mr. Zhuang suspiciously.
Mr. Zhuang looked up at the sky, explaining with an air of lofty transcendence
"Ordinary disciples only study one type of formation and do not need to consider their application so early. But because of your cultivation technique, the formations you need to learn are extremely diverse. The more diverse the formations, the harder it is to find a unified theoretical approach. Only through the path of 'learning for application' can you integrate various subjects and allow different formations to reach the same destination through different routes."
Seeing Mo Hua's expression shift from suspicion to contemplation, and then to sudden realization, Mr. Zhuang took the opportunity to add
"Therefore, you don't need to come to me every day. Coming once every few days will suffice. If there is anything you don't understand, I will guide you then."
Mo Hua's doubts vanished, and he said with gratitude
"Yes, Teacher!"
After Mo Hua left, Mr. Zhuang lay back in his chair, contentedly waving the fan in his hand.
Old Puppet manifested his form, glanced at him, and snorted coldly, "You are misleading the youth."
Mr. Zhuang replied, "At most, it's a bit of 'pulling up seedlings to help them grow.' It's not misleading the youth."
"His foundation is not yet stable, yet he is already considering application. I have never seen anyone teach formations this way. Is this not misleading the youth?" Old Puppet's tone was flat, yet carried a hint of mockery.
Mr. Zhuang's gaze grew deep. "What defines a stable foundation? Compared to his peers in Immortal City, his foundation is already very solid. Compared to the disciples of great families—especially those two children from the Bai family—even if he studies for another ten years, his foundation won't be considered truly solid. If he can never catch up to others on that path, it is better to try a different one."
"I thought you had at least some certainty, but it turns out you are merely trying," Old Puppet said.
"The Heavenly Dao is constant, yet elusive. How can one who adheres strictly to convention ever glimpse the Great Dao?"
Old Puppet's expression shifted slightly, seemingly moved, and he actually nodded, saying, "You are right."
Mr. Zhuang, conversely, felt somewhat uneasy. "I'm just talking nonsense. Those who do not adhere to convention might not meet a good end. You are of such an age; stop making such reckless changes. Don't go changing your own course and altering your Dao heart again."
"I understand," Old Puppet said.
Mr. Zhuang glanced at him, lay back down, and muttered, "Do you really understand..."
Old Puppet asked again, "How long do you plan to teach him?"
Mr. Zhuang's expression became slightly more serious. "A task should be seen through to the end. I will teach him until he becomes a First-Grade formation master."
"What about those two children from the Bai family? Their talent is superb; don't you think it's a waste?"
Mr. Zhuang waved his fan. "What does that have to do with me?"
Old Puppet's voice was wooden. "Your junior sister may not give up."
Mr. Zhuang looked at the drifting clouds in the distance and said
"She wants me to consider our past bond, but she is no longer that little junior sister, and I am no longer that high-spirited second senior brother. She knows this well; she just doesn't dare to accept it in her heart. Otherwise, she would have come to find me personally long ago..."
"And my senior brother... he has gone to great lengths to find me..."
Old Puppet remained silent for a moment before suddenly saying
"Come back to the sect with me. Otherwise, I cannot protect you for much longer."
Lying on his bamboo chair, gazing toward the mountains, Mr. Zhuang said calmly
"Time passes; as there is a sunrise, there must be a sunset. The seasons turn; as there is flourishing wood, there must be withered wood. Human life follows a pattern; as there is birth, there is naturally death. Life and death are common occurrences between Heaven and Earth; what is there to worry about?"
"To be able to eat meat, drink wine, and watch the scenery like this, to live a few more quiet days... that is all I desire."
Old Puppet knew he could not persuade him, so he spoke no more, and his form gradually merged into the shadows.
(End of Chapter)