Chapter 44: Inspiration

"The *Treatise on the Origins of Formations* can only be read at Mr. Zhuang's residence; it cannot be taken elsewhere."

For the following few days, Mo Hua would arrive at Mr. Zhuang's Zuowang Residence early every morning, find a quiet and comfortable spot, and read by himself.

Whenever he encountered a question, he would note it down silently and wait until Mr. Zhuang had finished his midday nap before seeking guidance. Mr. Zhuang answered every question; often, with just a few words, he could resolve Mo Hua's doubts, leaving the boy in great admiration.

In just a few short days, Mo Hua's knowledge of formations grew significantly.

The Mo family wished to visit and express their gratitude, but Mr. Zhuang declined. He said he preferred solitude and did not socialize with others; he appreciated their kindness, but there was no need for a formal visit.

Despite this, the Mo family felt uneasy about not offering anything in return.

Mo Shan went up the mountain to hunt a wild bull on the spot. Liu Ruhua marinated and stewed the beef to perfection and prepared various kinds of pastries, instructing Mo Hua to take them all to Mr. Zhuang. She also urged him

"Since Mr. Zhuang prefers peace and quiet, we won't disturb him, but we must still send some small gifts. He likely doesn't lack things like spirit stones, so while these foods aren't expensive, they represent our sincerity. Hua'er, please give them to him; I only hope he won't find them beneath him."

"Mhm, mhm," Mo Hua nodded in agreement.

When Mo Hua delivered the food box to Mr. Zhuang, he felt somewhat nervous.

Judging by Mr. Zhuang's demeanor, he had likely tasted every delicacy imaginable; he might not even enjoy the food eaten by ordinary rogue cultivators.

However, upon receiving the food box, Mr. Zhuang seemed quite intrigued. He tasted a few slices of beef and nodded slightly.

Although it was low-grade wild demon beast meat without spiritual energy, the cooking method was unique. The aroma of the wild beef mixed with spicy seasonings offered a rustic flavor he had never experienced before.

It was the first time Mr. Zhuang had eaten beef with such a flavor; he couldn't help but eat a few more slices and even saved some to pair with wine.

Mo Hua also brought some pastries to Old Puppet. Old Puppet was somewhat surprised to receive them, but he didn't act like a stranger to Mo Hua. He took a few bites, neither praising them nor criticizing them.

Seeing that both had accepted the gifts and tasted them without dissatisfaction, Mo Hua felt relieved.

Liu Ruhua was also very happy. Whenever she had time, she would make various styles of dishes for Mo Hua to deliver to Mr. Zhuang and Old Puppet.

There were many types of demon beasts in the mountains, each with a different flavor. While Liu Ruhua was usually busy with the eatery, she spent her leisure time focusing on culinary research. She used the meats Mo Shan hunted to experiment with various cooking methods, pairing different meats with different seasonings and stewing techniques to create diverse flavors.

Some tastes were excellent, while others were harder to accept. Liu Ruhua would pick the ones that tasted good and have Mo Hua bring them for Mr. Zhuang to try.

Old Puppet, on the other hand, loved pastries. From Mo Hua's observations, Old Puppet preferred crispy pastries and especially enjoyed eating them while playing chess. Thus, Liu Ruhua made several types of crispy fruit pastries and had Mo Hua deliver them to Old Puppet every few days.

Over time, Mr. Zhuang grew accustomed to them and no longer had much appetite for the meals Old Puppet prepared.

One day, Mo Hua delivered braised meat and pastries to Mr. Zhuang and Old Puppet again. After reading for a day and asking a few questions, he took his leave to go home.

As night fell, Mr. Zhuang sat by the pond, watching the sunset while eating beef and sipping wine, looking quite leisurely.

Old Puppet sat to the side, eating pastries while playing chess against himself. After a moment, he looked up at Mr. Zhuang and said

"Your sea of qi is shattered. You can eat other things, but don't overindulge. And don't neglect the medicinal meals I make."

Mr. Zhuang looked indifferent. "A broken mirror cannot be mended, and spilled water cannot be gathered. The sea of qi is already shattered; eating won't help. It's better to eat something that brings joy."

Old Puppet couldn't be bothered to argue, but after a moment, he suddenly asked, "Is it really that delicious?"

Mr. Zhuang picked up another piece of meat and savored it slowly. "The flavor is very special."

Old Puppet frowned. "What delicacies haven't you eaten in your life? Why have you started becoming such a foodie now?"

"Indeed."

Mr. Zhuang showed an expression of interest, yet his eyes hid the coldness of worldly experience

"I've grown tired of delicacies from the mountains and seas. These things are simple, but the sincerity contained within them is also simple, which makes them the hardest to come by."

"Oh," Old Puppet replied as if he hadn't heard, remaining focused on his chess game as he popped a crispy pastry into his mouth.

Mr. Zhuang watched him and suddenly asked back, "You can't even taste the flavor, so why bother eating them?"

Old Puppet stared intently at the chessboard and replied after a moment, "I chew them just for the sound."

Having said that, he picked up a crispy biscuit and began to crunch loudly.

Half a month later, once Mo Hua had nearly finished reading the *Treatise on the Origins of Formations*, Mr. Zhuang began teaching him formation theory.

The theory Mr. Zhuang taught was broader and more obscure than what Instructor Yan had taught. It was filled with formation terminology Mo Hua had never heard before, and he learned quite slowly.

Mr. Zhuang maintained a laissez-faire attitude; whether Mo Hua learned fast or slow, or whether he performed well or poorly, the man never said a word.

However, perhaps because he had eaten too much beef, Mr. Zhuang felt a sense of unease, so he asked Mo Hua

"What kind of formation master do you wish to become?"

Mo Hua wanted to say he wanted to become a First-Grade formation master first, but that goal might seem too trivial in Mr. Zhuang's eyes, and he didn't even know what different kinds of formation masters existed. So, he answered honestly

"This disciple does not know what kind of formation master he can become."

Mr. Zhuang pondered for a moment before saying, "Your spiritual roots are not top-tier. Even if you don't lack spirit stones or cultivation techniques, reaching the Golden Core stage will not be easy. One's realm determines the ceiling of a formation master; no matter how high your comprehension is, without a sufficient realm, you cannot touch more profound formations..."

"As for comprehension, your talent is actually quite good, but unfortunately, you started too late. You lack the foundation for understanding various formation theories. The children of great clans are immersed in this from childhood; they are familiar with profound formation concepts from a young age. You lack that accumulation. Even if you start from scratch now, you will be much slower."

"When I taught my previous disciple, I taught theory first, making him memorize the thousands of formation schools and theories in the cultivation world to lay a foundation. This makes it easier to integrate knowledge later and allows one to go further on the path of formations."

Mr. Zhuang looked at Mo Hua with a hint of apology in his expression, but he spoke bluntly: "But you might not be able to go very far at all. A Third-Grade formation master might already be your limit. Therefore, teaching you using the previous method would only be a waste of time and of no benefit to you."

Mo Hua's expression darkened, and he felt a sense of loss.

But upon reflection, forget being a Third-Grade formation master—even becoming a Second-Grade formation master would make him overjoyed. After all, in the entire Immortal City, First-Grade formation masters were few and far between.

He had almost let his expectations inflate along with Mr. Zhuang's...

Mo Hua thought for a moment and said solemnly, "All things in heaven and earth have their destined course. This disciple only needs to focus on learning formations. I will learn to whatever level I can reach. To dwell too much on gains and losses will only cause one to lose their original intent. I ask that Teacher does not hold back in your guidance."

Mr. Zhuang looked surprised. He watched Mo Hua silently, then smiled faintly.

"You are right. Man proposes, but Heaven disposes; one cannot let the heart wither due to the fear of gain or loss. In that case, I shall change my teaching method tomorrow."

(End of Chapter)