Chapter 56: Improvement

After the Lotus Festival, Mo Hua continued to study formations at Mr. Zhuang's place, accompanied by Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi.

Although the three were all apprentices, they were studying different things. Mo Hua focused primarily on formations, and could only study formations.

Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi, on the other hand, studied everything. Aside from cultivation, their studies encompassed formations, alchemy, talismans, and artifact refining.

The questions they posed to Mr. Zhuang daily were also quite broad; in addition to formation-related queries, they would ask about all aspects of cultivation.

Among these questions, only those related to formations could Mo Hua understand to some degree; as for the rest, he was largely clueless.

A rogue cultivator's foundation was inherently thin. The reason he could study formations was due to his experience of living two lifetimes, his extraordinary spiritual sense, and the Dao Monument in his mind, which allowed him to practice formations without spending spirit stones. As for the various other branches of cultivation, even if he wanted to learn, he had no way to even begin.

However, even though Mo Hua did not understand these questions, he kept them in his mind. Even if he couldn't grasp them immediately, he would at least have an impression of them, so he wouldn't be completely lost when encountering them in the future.

The cultivation world was unpredictable; who knew what situations he might face later? Knowing more could never be a bad thing.

Mo Hua learned a great deal from the Bai siblings, and he had to admit that both of them possessed much higher talent and comprehension than himself. Whether it was the foundation of their cultivation, their level of formation mastery, or many other aspects, Mo Hua was far inferior.

This was likely what the so-called "favored children of heaven" from great families were like.

Mo Hua felt great admiration for Bai Zixi.

For Bai Zisheng, alongside admiration, there was also a tiny bit of disdain.

The three had not been very close before, and their interactions were somewhat reserved.

But ever since they went shopping together during the Lotus Festival, Bai Zisheng's relationship with Mo Hua had become more casual. He would seek Mo Hua out for chats whenever he had the chance, occasionally even bickering with him.

In front of strangers, Bai Zisheng was a talented, handsome, and composed prodigy of a great family.

Once familiar, Bai Zisheng was more like a competitive child, and he was somewhat of a chatterbox. Although he was diligent in his daily cultivation and studies, the moment he had free time, he loved to find Mo Hua to chat.

"Mo Hua, when can we see the demon fighting show again?"

"During the festival."

"Mo Hua, when the demon hunters in your place hunt demon beasts, what kind of Dao methods do they usually use?"

"Whatever works."

"Mo Hua, when you hunt demon beasts, can you take me along too..."

"I'm not a demon hunter yet; I don't know how to hunt them."

"Mo Hua..."

"..."

Sometimes Mo Hua would answer a sentence or two, but sometimes when Bai Zisheng asked too much, Mo Hua would simply lose interest in responding.

Seeing that Mo Hua was ignoring him, Bai Zisheng would steal glances at the formation book Mo Hua was reading. When they weren't close before, Bai Zisheng had been very reserved, but things were different now.

"The *Treatise on the Six-Harmonies Formation Pivot*? Not bad, not bad, you're learning quite fast. Are you struggling with the meaning of 'formation pivot'?"

Mo Hua actually didn't understand, so he nodded honestly.

Bai Zisheng said proudly, "Do you want to know?"

Mo Hua looked at him silently. He did indeed want to know, but he also felt a bit of disdain for Bai Zisheng's smug expression.

"The demon fighting show is on the seventh of next month," Mo Hua said slowly.

Bai Zisheng's expression brightened with joy.

"But I won't take you," Mo Hua added.

Bai Zisheng choked on his words. "Then I won't tell you what the formation pivot means either."

"I can ask Teacher."

Bai Zisheng was speechless. After a moment of internal struggle, he compromised: "Then I'll tell you what the formation pivot means, and you'll take me to see the demon fighting show!"

"No need, I'll just ask Teacher," Mo Hua refused.

Anxious, Bai Zisheng scratched his head. "Teacher is very busy. There's no need to disturb him with such small questions. Besides, Teacher's explanations are profound; you've only just begun your studies, you might not even understand."

Although the term "just begun" made Mo Hua somewhat unhappy, what Bai Zisheng said was indeed the truth.

Mr. Zhuang's mastery of formations was so high that things he considered trivial and worth mentioning might take Mo Hua a long time to figure out, given his lack of prior experience.

Mo Hua said "reluctantly," "Fine then, I promise you. But if you can't explain it clearly, I still won't take you."

Overjoyed, Bai Zisheng hurriedly said, "Don't worry, among the disciples in my family, no one studies formations better than I do, except for Zixi."

Then, Bai Zisheng began to explain urgently

"The formation pivot is the central hub of a formation, used to connect the formation patterns and conduct spiritual energy..."

"To use a cultivator as an analogy: the formation eye is like the Qi Sea, the formation pivot is like the meridians, the formation patterns are like the collateral vessels, and the formation medium is like the physical body that carries the vessels. A cultivator's spiritual energy flows out from the Qi Sea, through the core meridians, fills the collateral vessels, and condenses into Dao methods. Similarly, a formation's spiritual energy emerges from the formation eye, passes through the formation pivot, and activates the formation patterns, allowing the formation to take effect..."

Once Bai Zisheng finished, Mo Hua understood and couldn't help but glance at him.

Without sufficient understanding, it would be impossible to explain it so simply and clearly. This showed that Bai Zisheng's foundation in formations was indeed very solid—it was just that he talked a bit too much sometimes...

Mo Hua couldn't help but ask, "Do you always talk to others like this?"

"Talk to whom?"

Mo Hua thought for a moment. "Um... the disciples in your family?"

Bai Zisheng showed a look of disdain. "I can't be bothered with them."

Mo Hua asked curiously, "Why?"

"I don't like the way they look at me."

Bai Zisheng's expression turned cold. "It's either flattering, jealous, contemptuous, or indifferent. It makes me uncomfortable, so I don't care to deal with them."

Mo Hua was slightly stunned. He hadn't expected that the seemingly easygoing Bai Zisheng could be so perceptive.

After speaking, Bai Zisheng's expression returned to normal. "I've explained the meaning of the formation pivot to you. You must take me to the demon fighting show on the seventh!"

"Fine, fine," Mo Hua said helplessly, then added: "I'm going to practice formations now. Don't talk to me for the next hour."

Bai Zisheng waved his hand. "Practice, go ahead. No one is stopping you."

Mo Hua then took out the *Three Talents Formation* and began to draw.

This was a formation Mr. Zhuang had previously asked Mo Hua to draw. After several days of practice, Mo Hua could barely draw it, but he was prone to making mistakes, and his brushwork was not yet proficient.

Bai Zixi read her book elegantly, and Mo Hua focused on drawing the formation; the bamboo pavilion instantly fell silent.

Bai Zisheng meditated for a while, looked at Bai Zixi, then at Mo Hua, and patiently meditated for a bit longer. Finally, he couldn't resist and peeked over to watch Mo Hua drawing.

As he watched, Bai Zisheng's expression became serious. Several times he wanted to say something, but in the end, he held back.

However, he no longer had the heart to cultivate; he stared at the formation under Mo Hua's brush without even blinking.

Bai Zixi, who was originally reading, noticed Bai Zisheng's unusual behavior and gently tugged his sleeve, wanting him to focus on his cultivation, but unexpectedly, Bai Zisheng was completely unaware.

Slightly annoyed, Bai Zixi followed Bai Zisheng's gaze and also saw the formation Mo Hua was drawing. In an instant, she too found herself unable to look away.

The fully absorbed Mo Hua did not notice and continued drawing the formation to himself.

When he finished drawing the Three Talents Formation and looked up, he saw Bai Zisheng's wide-eyed stare, and turning his head, he saw Bai Zixi's bright, spring-like eyes.