Mo Hua went to ask Mr. Zhuang about teaching Formation to others.
Mr. Zhuang didnât mind, âWhatever Iâve taught you, you can teach to others, as long as youâre willing.â
Mo Hua was overjoyed, âThank you, Gentleman!â
Mr. Zhuang was eating meat and drinking wine, his expression one of contentment. Suddenly, he asked with curiosity:
âTeaching others, you actually donât get any benefits, do you? Arenât you afraid of the trouble?â
âInstructor Yan once told his disciple that Formations are like water, they can only endure if passed down.â
Mr. Zhuangâs expression was slightly surprised.
Looking at Mr. Zhuang, Mo Hua continued, âGentleman has passed on Formation arts to me, itâs a legacy. Although I am of limited ability and my understanding of Formations is shallow, within the scope of my abilities, I also wish to pass down these Formations. In this way, I wonât let down Gentlemanâs guidance and can ensure the arts of Formation endure long into the future.â
âEndure long into the futureâ¦â
Mr. Zhuangâs slender fingers gently tapped on the armrest of the bamboo chair, âEnduring long into the future, what use is that?â
Mo Hua furrowed his brow slightly, thought for a moment, then slowly said:
âFormation arts are the manifestation of Heavenly Daoâs rules, studying Formation arts is comprehending Heavenly Dao, Drawing Formation is practicing Heavenly Dao, and teaching Formation is passing on Heavenly Dao. Cultivators seek the Dao for eternal life, and if the arts of Formation endure long, it signifies that Heavenly Daoâs flow is ceaselessâ¦â
Mr. Zhuangâs eyes brightened, and he nodded, âWell said, Dao creates everything, Dao transforms everything.â
Mr. Zhuang then looked at Mo Hua, âNo matter what happens in the future, donât forget your initial resolve.â
âI will, Gentleman!â
After Mo Hua left, Mr. Zhuang lay back in the bamboo chair, raising his right hand to gaze at its palm.
Now his hand was empty, devoid of Spiritual Power, unable to Draw Formation, clutching at nothing, empty.
âLegacy, huhâ¦â
Mr. Zhuangâs gaze was profound, tinted with a hint of bitterness.
Mr. Zhuang allowed Mo Hua to pass on the Formation arts, and Mo Hua breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhouer was still young, being able to learn some Formation arts from him, even just the simple ones, would allow him to make a living in the future.
Mo Hua continued with his preparations for entering Big Black Mountain.
He had already learned how to make traps and knew the tricks to setting them up.
In the following days, using the last of his Spiritual Ink, Mo Hua drew five Earth Fire Formations and some miscellaneous, potentially useful little Formations.
He also indirectly learnt from Mo Shan about the rules and taboos of the lower region of Big Black Mountain, as well as the basic process and methods that Monster Hunters used to hunt Monster Beasts.
With his preparations complete, Mo Hua sought out Daâhu and the others.
The trio had gradually shed their greenness, appearing more composed, though traces of youth still lingered in their eyes.
They had entered Big Black Mountain, suffered injuries, shed blood, and silently shed tears. Now, they had gradually adapted to the life of a Monster Hunter. Though they couldnât stand on their own yet, they could at least assist the Monster Hunting Team, and after hunting Monster Beasts, they could now get a share of the Spirit Stones.
However, these Spirit Stones were still but a drop in the bucket for their rugged life.
Having just completed a hunt with the Monster Hunting Team, Daâhu and the others had returned home to recuperate for a few days before they would re-enter the mountain.
They were delighted when Mo Hua came to find them.
âI have something to discuss with you all.â
Munching on the sour and sweet wild fruits given by Auntie Meng, Mo Hua spoke with his cheeks puffed.
The three of them were stunned, âWhat is it?â
âI want to enter Big Black Mountain too!â Mo Hua said.
Daâhu and the others were dumbfounded, shaking their heads like rattle drums.
âNo, no, no!â
âBig Black Mountain is very dangerous, you canât go!â Daâhu said.
âRight, youâre only at the fifth level of Qi Refinement, you canât go.â
âYou arenât a Body Cultivator, what if you get hurt?â Xiaohu expressed his worry.
âExactly, youâre frail, you canât afford to be injured!â
Thinking of his own bloody chest wound and then looking at Mo Huaâs slender frame,
Daâhu could hold on even when injured, but if Mo Hua were to be slapped by a Monster Beast, heâd likely die on the spot.
Daâhuâs fear grew, his tone even more adamant, âWe canât go!â
Mo Hua scratched his head, âDonât worry, itâs going to be fine.â
Shuanghu couldnât help but ask, âWhat are you going to do in Big Black Mountain?â
âMonster hunting!â
The three of Daâhu were startled, even more against Mo Hua going.
âIf you donât let me go, Iâll just have to sneak there on my own, and that would be even more dangerous,â Mo Hua said.
Of course, he was just saying that; Big Black Mountain was so perilous that going there alone was undoubtedly seeking death.
The three of Daâhu were troubled.
âHaving become Monster Hunters, have you still not earned any Spirit Stones?â Mo Hua took the opportunity to ask.
The three didnât want to admit it but still nodded their heads.
They were still getting used to the job and could only help with strategic planning, so the Spirit Stones they received werenât many.
Mo Hua said, âI have a way to kill Monster Beasts, but Iâll need help from the three of you.â
âWhat way do you have?â Xiaohu couldnât help but ask.
âFormations!â
Mo Hua said, âIâll set up a Formation to lure the Monster Beasts in, to blast them into serious injury first, then you three finish them off.â
âButâ¦â Daâhu was still worried about Mo Hua.
âIâll just set the Formation right and then hide on the side. Once the Monster Beasts are injured by the explosion, youâll take them down, and Iâll come out. It wonât be dangerous,â Mo Hua planned.
âBut, can the Formation really injure Monster Beastsâ¦?â
âDonât worry about that; Iâll set up several. Even if the Monster Beasts donât die, theyâll get seriously injured.â
This was originally what he prepared to deal with Qian Xing, but Qian Xing chickened out, and now it was just right to use against Monster Beasts.
The three of Daâhu exchanged glances; they trusted Mo Huaâs Formation skills but still had their doubts.
âDonât you want Auntie Meng to have a better life?â
The three of Daâhu fell silent; of course, they did.
Auntie Meng had suffered a lot in order to raise the three of them. Sometimes, not wanting her children to see, she would hide away and wipe away her tears alone.
The three of Daâhu hung their heads, their eyes slightly reddening.
Mo Hua sighed and patted their shoulders, âDonât worry, I wouldnât do anything if I werenât sure of it.â
Xiaohu hesitated, âAre you really sure?â
âTomorrow, or the day after, weâll first go into the outer mountains to find a weaker Monster Beast to test on. If it works, then thatâs great; if not, we can still run away.â
âWe might be able to run away, but can youâ¦?â
Shuanghu looked at Mo Hua and said tactfully.
Mo Hua said somewhat proudly, âIâve specifically learned a movement technique, donât worry, the Monster Beasts wonât be able to hurt me.â
âWhat kind of movement technique?â
âThe person who taught me didnât allow me to tell.â
âWho taught you?â
âJust a passing-by, unknown, kind-hearted uncle,â Mo Hua answered mechanically.
Daâhu looked at Mo Hua suspiciously, âHe isnât a swindler, is he?â
âHow could he be? This movement technique is quite powerful.â
The three of Daâhu looked at each other and finally compromised, âAlright, weâll take you into the outer mountain, but just this once, okay? If thereâs any accident, you must run.â
Mo Hua nodded quickly, âRest assured, my life is my own, I wonât lose it.â
So two days later, just as the sky began to brighten, Mo Hua and the three of Daâhu met outside of Tongxian City.
They set off together, heading towards Big Black Mountain enveloped in Monster Qi.