Chapter 24: Seeking the Dao

When Mo Hua went to find the Fat Manager again, he was told that the market conditions had changed.

Youyuan Studio no longer accepted Earth-Stabilizing Formations or Bright Fire Formations.

Mo Hua looked bewildered and asked suspiciously, "Bright Fire Formations are used for lighting, and Earth-Stabilizing Formations are used for building houses. Unless no one lives in Tongxian City anymore, there shouldn't be a lack of demand."

The Fat Manager felt a surge of resentment toward Mo Hua; being a smart kid wasn't always a good thing, as it made him harder to deceive. Deciding not to bother with excuses—since the more excuses one made, the harder they were to sustain—he simply waved his hand dismissively.

"How should I know? That's just how the market is. There's nothing I can do!"

Speechless, Mo Hua thought of how he had only saved half the spirit stones needed to study cultivation techniques. He could only ask, "Then what kind of formations do you accept?"

The Fat Manager coughed and pulled out an array diagram, the cover of which bore the four words: *Metal-Stone Array Diagram*.

"We are currently accepting Metal-Stone Formations. They also contain four array lines, so they aren't much different from Earth-Stabilizing Formations."

Mo Hua looked at the diagram and asked, "Manager, what are Metal-Stone Formations used for?"

The Fat Manager replied, "They are somewhat similar to Earth-Stabilizing Formations. Both are used to reinforce cultivation caves or residences, specifically for doors, windows, and walls. The only difference is that one reinforces earth and wood, while the other reinforces metal and stone."

Mo Hua frowned. "The functions are almost the same. If no one uses Earth-Stabilizing Formations, why would they use Metal-Stone Formations?"

The Fat Manager glared at Mo Hua and said stubbornly, "That's just the market! Don't ask so many questions, kid!"

"Then is this formation also three spirit stones per set?"

It should have been...

The Fat Manager felt a pang of heartache over the price, but he raised the offer anyway

"Normally, it would be three spirit stones, but they've been quite scarce lately, so the price has gone up a bit. I'll pay four spirit stones per set. However, I won't be taking many; I only buy five sets every half month."

*They're scarce, yet they won't let me draw more?*

Mo Hua felt the Fat Manager was acting a bit strange, but since this was Youyuan Studio's business, he didn't feel it was his place to pry. As long as he could earn spirit stones, it was fine.

If he succeeded in every set he drew, he could earn twenty spirit stones every half month, which was quite a substantial amount.

"Alright, deal!"

The Fat Manager breathed a sigh of relief and pulled a storage bag from beneath the counter, handing it to Mo Hua as if he had prepared it in advance.

Mo Hua took the storage bag, checked the contents to confirm it contained the *Metal-Stone Array Diagram* and five sets of paper and ink, and then bowed to the Fat Manager to take his leave.

Just as he reached the door, the Fat Manager couldn't help but call out to him.

"Mo Hua."

Mo Hua turned back. The Fat Manager hesitated before asking, "Do you think this formation is difficult?"

Mo Hua thought about it. They both had four array lines and shared similarities with the Earth-Stabilizing Formation, so it wasn't exceptionally difficult. He replied, "It's alright."

After walking a few steps, Mo Hua turned back to add, "My brother should be able to draw them."

"Oh," the Fat Manager said, looking at him with a complex expression, and nodded. "Draw them well."

"By the way," the Fat Manager called out again, "my surname is Mo—as in 'don't be angry.' You can just call me Manager Mo."

Mo Hua nodded. "Alright, Manager Mo, I'll remember."

***

Mo Hua returned to the Tongxian Sect and spent his spare time studying the Metal-Stone Formation. Because it was similar to the Earth-Stabilizing Formation, and thanks to having previously consulted Instructor Yan on the latter, he didn't find it too difficult to grasp.

One day, before the formation class, Instructor Yan had someone distribute the previously graded formation assignments. Mo Hua's diagram received only a grade of "B."

Mo Hua looked left and right, then compared it against the sect's *Detailed Explanation of Formations*. He found that he hadn't made a single mistake. Why was he only a "B"?

Mo Hua was perplexed.

A disciple sitting nearby saw the "B" on Mo Hua's diagram and cried out, "Wow, Mo Hua, you only got a B?"

Mo Hua looked at the "C" on the disciple's diagram but said nothing.

The disciple hurriedly covered his "C" with his hand, gave a sheepish laugh, and asked curiously, "How did you only get a B?"

Mo Hua was equally confused. "I didn't make any mistakes. I don't know why it's only a B."

"If you didn't make mistakes, how could the Instructor only give you a B?"

Mo Hua showed him the diagram. "Can you see where I went wrong?"

The disciple replied righteously, "If I could see it, I wouldn't have only gotten a C!"

The other disciples sitting around also craned their necks to look at Mo Hua's diagram, and one after another, they said

"It looks like there are no mistakes to me."

"Mo Hua, did you offend the Instructor?"

"Watch out, or the Instructor might punish you."

"Instructor Yan isn't that kind of person, is he..."

Before they could finish, Instructor Yan walked into the classroom. The group of disciples quickly tucked their necks back in, sitting quietly like quails, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Instructor Yan taught as usual. At the end of the class, he said

"Cultivation is like rowing upstream; if you do not advance, you will retreat. The Way of Formations is the same. You must not become complacent and waste your time and talent."

After speaking, Instructor Yan scanned the room with a stern expression, finally looking at Mo Hua. "Mo Hua, come with me."

"Yes." Mo Hua rose respectfully and followed Instructor Yan out of the classroom.

Seeing that Instructor Yan had left, the disciples in the room huddled their heads together again.

"It's over, it's over. Mo Hua is in trouble now."

"When the Instructor said someone was being complacent, was he talking about Mo Hua?"

"But I'm complacent too! Why didn't he come for me?"

"Can you even compare yourself to Mo Hua? His formations are excellent; the Instructor thinks very highly of him."

"It's a good thing the Instructor doesn't value me. Please, don't value me..."

***

Mo Hua followed behind Instructor Yan, passing the alchemy room and the weapon-refining room, finally exiting Tongxuan Peak.

Instructor Yan did not say a word along the way. Only when a disciple or another instructor greeted a sect elder did he respond with a nod or a cupped-hand salute.

Instructor Yan led Mo Hua all the way to a residence located on Tongming Peak.

Tongming Peak was where the Sect Leader, elders, instructors, and inner disciples lived and practiced. This was Mo Hua's first time here, and the environment was indeed much more tranquil and beautiful. Many courtyards were planted with vibrant spiritual flowers and herbs, and spiritual beasts like golden pheasants strolled leisurely about.

Only here on Tongming Peak could these golden pheasants be so relaxed; if they were on Tongxuan Peak, they certainly wouldn't see the sun the next day.

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

An array was set up outside Instructor Yan's residence, with a small Bagua plate on the door. This seemed to be something Instructor Yan had set up himself, as no other courtyard or residence had one.

Instructor Yan's fingers traced a few patterns on the Bagua plate, a flash of light flickered on the door, and it opened.

Once inside, Instructor Yan sat at the desk and asked Mo Hua directly

"Do you want to be a formation master?"

Mo Hua replied humbly, "This disciple's talent is limited; I fear I cannot become a formation master."

Instructor Yan frowned. "Whether you want to or not is one thing; whether you have the talent is another. Do not lose your original intention just by looking at the outcome. All living beings in heaven and earth must eventually die; does that mean they should stop living?"

Hearing this, Mo Hua spoke with gravity, "This disciple wants to be a formation master!"

"Why?"

"Cultivation is difficult; formations can provide a livelihood."

"Anything else?"

"Cultivators seek the Heavenly Dao to become immortals; understanding formations allows one to seek the Heavenly Dao."

Instructor Yan frowned. "The Heavenly Dao is far out of reach. A cultivator might spend their entire life without even catching a glimpse of its hem."

Mo Hua said, "As you said, Instructor, attaining the Dao is up to Heaven, but seeking the Dao is up to man. Since cultivators seek the Heavenly Dao, then regardless of whether they ultimately attain it, they must never lose the heart to seek it."

Instructor Yan fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "From now on, after your classes each day, come to me. You may go back for today."

"Yes." Mo Hua did not understand why, but he still bowed and took his leave.

Instructor Yan watched Mo Hua leave, and after a long while, he let out a sigh of relief.

"He is a fine talent."