Chapter 14: Ji Qingbai

Mo Shan did not know why Ji Qingbai had suddenly asked this, so he nodded and said, "Brother Ji is right. Hua'er is practicing in the Tongxian Sect; she currently has a second-layer Qi Refinement cultivation."

Ji Qingbai found it somewhat hard to believe. "Second-layer Qi Refinement, and she can already draw formations?"

Mo Shan replied, "It shouldn't be that much. She has only learned the basics at the sect; she's just copying patterns and drawing a few strokes."

"Brother Mo is being too modest. Even this is already quite remarkable. Those few strokes just now were quite proper, which shows that this child, Mo Hua, has talent."

Mo Shan smiled and said, "If that is truly the case, then I shall take your good words to heart."

Ji Qingbai sighed and said, "Among the juniors of us demon hunters, let alone formation masters, there are hardly any who even have a basic understanding of formations or can draw a few formation runes. Before the New Year, I went to seek a formation master to help me draw some formations, and I had to swallow a mouthful of indignity, even having to smile at him for fear of offending him."

The more Ji Qingbai thought about it, the angrier he became. "It was nothing more than drawing a small formation, yet not only did he demand an exorbitant price of two hundred spirit stones, he also demanded that one of my nieces accompany him to dinner and toast him. If this were in the Great Black Mountains, I would truly wish to split him open with a single blade!"

Mo Shan's expression also darkened. "To be so unreasonable?"

"Exactly! But what can I do?" Ji Qingbai sighed. "Formations are something we don't know. The juniors aren't learning them either. Once something happens, we have no choice but to swallow our pride and beg those formation masters from the great families. They act so high and mighty, and we still have to smile at them."

"Brother Mo," Ji Qingbai looked at Mo Shan solemnly, "If that child Mo Hua truly wishes to learn formations, you must make sure he continues his studies. Whatever difficulties arise, come find me. As long as it is within my power, I will absolutely not refuse!"

"Brother Ji, you overstate it! If Mo Hua truly wants to learn, I will certainly make sure he continues," Mo Shan said with a serious expression.

Ji Qingbai nodded.

The two chatted for a while longer, discussing some matters regarding demon hunting, before Ji Qingbai took his leave.

Mo Shan saw the father and son out of the door.

After leaving, Ji Qingbai took his son, Ji Li, to settle in a senior's house on the west side of South Street.

On the way, Ji Qingbai instructed his son, Ji Li

"In our Qingxuan City, demon hunting is becoming increasingly difficult. That is why I came to visit your Uncle Mo this time—to go together to explore the inner mountains of the Great Black Mountains. You have good talent and have reached the seventh layer of Qi Refinement, so you shall go along to gain some experience. However, demon hunting is a task for your Uncle Mo and me. Unless it is absolutely necessary, do not intervene lightly."

Ji Li said, "Father, I understand."

"I know you understand, but you are still young and lack experience. Demon beasts are the most ruthless and cunning creatures. Since your cultivation is the lowest, it is better not to act. Once you do, if you allow them to spot a flaw in your technique, you will suffer a devastating loss."

Ji Li nodded, then asked curiously, "Father, is Uncle Mo's cultivation powerful?"

"Naturally. Your Uncle Mo is the most talented demon hunter I have seen in all my years. He has great talent, quick reflexes, and rich experience in hunting. It is just a pity... for rogue cultivators like us, once we start a family and have children, all the spirit stones we save go toward the children's cultivation, leaving little for our own..."

Ji Qingbai sighed and continued, "Otherwise, with his aptitude, if he had continued cultivating, it would have been possible for him to become a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

Ji Li fell silent for a moment. His father's cultivation could also have continued to improve, but the spirit stones earned later were all used to support his own cultivation.

Speaking of Foundation Establishment cultivators, Ji Li asked in a low voice, "Grandpa Zheng's health..."

"He is nearing the end," Ji Qingbai said with a lonely expression. "Uncle Zheng is the only Foundation Establishment Elder in our Qingxuan City Demon Hunting Guild. If he is no longer with us, I fear we rogue cultivators of the Qi Refinement stage will once again be bullied by those great families. Life will become increasingly difficult..."

"Does Tongxian City have Foundation Establishment Elders?"

"They do. His surname is Yu. He has a bit of a temper, but he is protective of his own. The Tongxian City Demon Hunting Guild relies entirely on him to hold the line, so the great families don't dare to go too far. If things truly become difficult in the future, you can come to Tongxian City, find a Dao companion, and settle down here. Then I can be at ease."

Ji Li was young and blushed slightly. "Father, it is too early to talk about such things."

Ji Qingbai smiled. "It is not too early. Such matters require early planning."

Ji Li tried to change the subject and asked, "Can that little brother from Uncle Mo's house, Mo Hua, really become a formation master?"

"I don't know," Ji Qingbai frowned. "Being a formation master is not easy. One goes from an apprentice to an unranked formation master, and only then can one be officially ranked as a First-Rank Formation Master."

"First of all, even being an apprentice is difficult. We rogue cultivators have no heritage. To learn formations, one must find a professional formation master to serve as a teacher," Ji Qingbai explained.

"Don't sects also teach formations?" Ji Li asked.

"That is far from enough," Ji Qingbai said. "What the sects teach is merely the surface level, intended to let you know that formations exist, not to turn you into formation masters."

Ji Li was stunned. When he was learning formations at the sect, he thought it was incredibly difficult; it turned out that was only the surface level.

"Finding a formation master to be your teacher is not easy at all. Every one of those masters has their nose in the air, and their threshold is higher than the heavens. Even if you offer up your entire family fortune, it might not be enough to convince them to take an apprentice."

Ji Qingbai grew angry at the mention of this. "Formations are so difficult; without a heritage and a teacher to guide you, how could anyone possibly learn them?"

Ji Qingbai could not help but shake his head.

Ji Li asked, "Then once you become an apprentice, can you become a formation master?"

"An apprentice is just the beginning. You have to endure many years of constant learning and practice to slowly raise your level before you can become a formation master—and that is only an unranked one. You have to endure and learn even more until you gain some small reputation before you are qualified to be ranked. The ranking is personally determined by the Imperial Court, which is another massive hurdle... some formation masters remain unranked until the day they die."

Ji Li's scalp felt numb from listening. He couldn't help but ask, "Then can little brother Mo really become a formation master?"

"I hope so," Ji Qingbai sighed. "Call it my wishful thinking if you like, but it is at least something to look forward to."

***

Mo Hua went back to continue drawing the Bright Fire Formations, and a few days later, he had finished them all. He was much more proficient this time; nine out of ten sets were successful, which would earn him eight spirit stones.

On the last day before the New Year, Mo Hua went to the Youyuan Pavilion again to exchange his formations for spirit stones with the fat manager.

The fat manager was quite satisfied after inspecting the formations Mo Hua delivered.

"That's more like it! Since you have taken a teacher and become an apprentice, you should be drawing at this level!"

When settling the payment, the fat manager gave Mo Hua ten spirit stones, with two more as a bonus. "These are New Year gifts. Though not much, they are for good luck!"

It might not have been much to the manager, but to Mo Hua, it was plenty.

Mo Hua was very happy and picked out some auspicious words, wishing the manager "great success and continued brilliance."

The fat manager nodded happily.

The next day was New Year's Eve, and Mo Hua's family of three celebrated the New Year in a lively atmosphere.

The customs of the cultivation world during the New Year were very similar to Mo Hua's memories from his previous life, yet somewhat different.

For example, although they also pasted Spring Couplets, the characters on the couplets would glow, the cloud patterns on the "Fu" characters would float, and the auspicious beasts on the New Year paintings would widen their eyes to look at you, sometimes even snorting in disdain, which was very novel.

The New Year's Eve dinner was also the most sumptuous of the year; there would be a bit of meat, and one could eat their fill of delicacies that were otherwise unavailable.

Mo Hua had a very happy New Year. After playing with his companions for a few days after the holiday, he resumed drawing formations for the Youyuan Pavilion.

Through day and night of hard work, Mo Hua could draw the Bright Fire Formation diagrams even with his eyes closed. It took him only three days to draw ten sets, and his success rate remained above ninety percent.

By the fifteenth day of the first lunar month—the day before entering the Tongxian Sect—Mo Hua had earned nearly fifty spirit stones.

After dinner, Mo Hua was in his room packing his belongings for his upcoming cultivation at the sect, while Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua were discussing the matter of the tuition fees.

(End of Chapter)