Chapter 42: Mental Journey

Mist and clouds drifted through the mountains, and within the mist lay a courtyard. Within the courtyard was a bamboo gate, and leading to the gate was a small path that wound its way down to Mo Hua's feet.

Everything appeared perfectly normal.

As Mo Hua stepped onto the path, his divine sense suddenly detected a ripple, as if something had been triggered.

However, looking around, the surrounding peaks were still peaks, the trees were still trees, and the flowers and grass were still flowers and grass; nothing had changed.

Mo Hua paused and scanned his surroundings, but he still couldn't discern anything unusual.

Mo Hua had heard that some high-level seniors enjoyed setting up formations or creating scenarios to test others; he wondered if the gentleman on the mountain shared this hobby.

Or perhaps, was this very path already the test?

Mo Hua felt a flicker of inexplicable nervousness.

Since he was dealing with a formation master and had felt a ripple in his divine sense, there was likely a formation set upon this path.

But what kind of formation could it be?

With Mo Hua's limited experience in formations, he had no clue whatsoever. No matter how much he looked, the surrounding scenery seemed unchanged.

Mo Hua pondered as he walked, but he couldn't come up with anything.

He could only remember his instructor's advice: keep his mind clear, let things take their natural course, and neither force things nor lose heart.

As he continued walking, he eventually arrived at the entrance of the courtyard.

The bamboo gate of the courtyard was simple yet possessed a certain quiet charm.

Passing through the gate, his vision suddenly opened up to a beautifully scenic courtyard. There were several elegant and unique bamboo dwellings; the ground was covered in lush green grass, the pond water was misty, and cranes were drinking dew. Just looking at it was enough to refresh one's spirit.

An elderly, gaunt man stood in the courtyard. Mo Hua hurriedly bowed and said, "Greetings, Sir."

The old man's voice matched his appearance—hoarse and dry, sounding like the weathered creak of a piece of decaying wood.

"I am not the gentleman. The gentleman is inside. Follow me."

Having said that, he led Mo Hua into a bamboo dwelling. The room was elegant and airy, with breezes flowing from all four sides.

Sitting in the middle of the room was a middle-aged cultivator in white robes. He was exceptionally handsome, possessing a natural air of elegance. His gaze exuded a sense of freedom and unconstraint, as if the affairs of the world held no sway over him.

This was the most transcendent, immortal-like figure Mo Hua had ever seen.

Seeing Mo Hua, the middle-aged cultivator smiled affably. "You are Mo Hua, right? Mr. Yan told me about you. I will ask, and you shall answer. There is no need to be formal; just say whatever you think."

Mo Hua bowed. "Yes, Sir."

The middle-aged cultivator said, "My surname is Zhuang. You may call me Mr. Zhuang."

Mo Hua bowed again. "Mr. Zhuang."

Mr. Zhuang nodded slightly and asked, "When you passed through that small path on the mountain just now, what did you see?"

Mo Hua thought for a moment and said, "There were mountains, trees, flowers, grass, and a small path."

"Besides that?" Mr. Zhuang asked with interest. "Did you see anything else? Like a person or an event?"

Mo Hua shook his head.

Mr. Zhuang said, "There is a formation on that path. A fellow Daoist gifted it to me years ago. It is called the Water Mirror Formation. The first time one walks upon it, it reveals some of one's encounters or foretells certain aspects of the future."

Mo Hua was shocked. To think such a formation existed? One that could reveal destiny and the future?

*Then, if I saw nothing, what does that mean? It doesn't mean I have no future, does it...*

Mo Hua felt a moment of trepidation, but remembering Instructor Yan's instructions, he spoke truthfully: "I saw nothing else..."

Mr. Zhuang was slightly surprised, then nodded. "I see." He then produced a formation diagram and continued, "There is ink and brush here. Draw this formation for me. Draw as much as you can."

Mo Hua glanced at the diagram; it was the Water Stabilizing Formation, the same one Instructor Yan had used for his assessment.

"Yes, Sir."

Mo Hua took the paper and brush and began drawing according to the diagram.

An hour later, having exhausted his divine sense, Mo Hua had only managed to draw five and a half lines of the formation pattern.

Only a few days had passed since he last drew the Water Stabilizing Formation, and Mo Hua's divine sense had not grown fast enough to allow him to draw a six-line formation in such a short time.

This time, however, his drawing was more proficient and his strokes were neater than before.

Mr. Zhuang looked at the formation Mo Hua had drawn, his eyebrows lifting slightly, and then he said

"Not bad. Are you willing to be my registered disciple? I will not teach you the secret formations of my sect, but if you wish to learn the common formations used throughout the cultivation world, I can teach them to you."

Though he didn't know why, it seemed Mo Hua had passed Mr. Zhuang's test.

Overjoyed, Mo Hua bowed respectfully to Mr. Zhuang. "Thank you, Sir! This disciple is willing!"

In the cultivation world, master-disciple relationships fell into two categories: registered disciples and personal disciples.

Personal disciples called their teacher "Master" and received direct inheritance. They followed the principle of "a teacher for a day is a father for a lifetime," and the bond between them was extremely deep.

Registered disciples were much more casual. The master taught whatever they pleased, and the disciple could not call them "Master," only "Sir." While there was an affinity between them, it was not as profound as that of a personal disciple.

Nevertheless, Mo Hua was already deeply grateful that Mr. Zhuang was willing to take him as a registered disciple.

Mr. Zhuang nodded. "Go back for today. Come here tomorrow at the hour of Chen, and I shall begin teaching you some formations."

"Yes, Sir!"

Mo Hua bowed once more—this time with the etiquette of a disciple to a teacher—and then took his leave, departing from Mr. Zhuang's courtyard with a light step.

When Mo Hua reached the foot of the mountain, he found that Instructor Yan was still waiting. Upon learning that Mr. Zhuang had agreed to take Mo Hua as an apprentice, Yan breathed a sigh of relief and said with gratification

"To be favored by Mr. Zhuang is your good fortune. You must cherish this opportunity. Mr. Zhuang is a great master; you must show him the utmost respect."

"Yes, Instructor," Mo Hua promised.

As the two walked along the mountain path, Mo Hua suddenly asked out of curiosity, "Instructor, have you ever been to Mr. Zhuang's courtyard? What did you see when you passed that small path?"

Instructor Yan turned his head and looked at Mo Hua silently for a moment before saying

"When I walked that path, I saw glimpses of certain images. Those fleeting images told me that Mr. Zhuang was willing to take you as a disciple, and that in the future, you would become an extraordinary formation master."

As Instructor Yan finished speaking, they reached a fork in the road; ahead lay Tongxian City.

Instructor Yan looked at Mo Hua and suddenly spoke solemnly, "Mo Hua."

Mo Hua turned back. Instructor Yan paused for a moment before continuing

"Formation masters seek the Heavenly Dao. However, the Heavenly Dao is infinite, while human life is finite. Only by passing formations down from generation to generation can cultivators hope to comprehend the Heavenly Dao, and only then can formations benefit all living beings."

"One day in the future, if you become a First-Rank formation master, or even beyond, and you encounter a cultivator with good character and talent for formations, I hope you will not be stingy with your guidance. The Way of Formations is like water; it only endures if it flows onward. Otherwise, it will be nothing more than a stagnant pool of dead water."

Mo Hua suddenly felt a weight upon his shoulders. He bowed to Instructor Yan and said solemnly, "This disciple will remember!"

Instructor Yan looked relieved.

Mo Hua couldn't help but ask, "Instructor, are you leaving Tongxian City?"

Instructor Yan nodded. "I can no longer stay at the Tongxian Sect, and I have some private matters to attend to. I will be leaving in a few days."

"Will I be able to see you again?"

Instructor Yan looked into Mo Hua's dark, clear eyes and smiled. "Let it be as fate decrees."

Instructor Yan reached out and patted Mo Hua's head. "Go back early and tell your parents."

Mo Hua walked toward the city gate. After a few steps, he turned back and bowed to Instructor Yan once more.

Instructor Yan waved his hand and said warmly, "Go on." He watched Mo Hua until the boy's silhouette grew small, and only then did he turn to leave.

At that same moment, Mo Hua also turned back, looked at Instructor Yan, and gave a deep bow.

Instructor Yan's figure gradually receded, eventually vanishing into the misty mountains.

(End of Chapter)