Chapter 299: Chapter 299: 298 Not Losing One's True Heart_1

“`

Divine Sense Proving the Dao, with the Supreme Divine Sense, peek into the Great Dao…

Mo Hua was utterly astonished.

After carefully contemplating, it seemed that focusing on Divine Sense was indeed the method most suitable for him.

All his cultivation and skills depended on Divine Sense.

Firstly, Drawing Formations required Divine Sense. Without a strong Divine Sense, one could neither comprehend nor learn and use Formations.

And Formations and Divine Sense complement each other. Constantly practicing Formations could also refine the Sea of Consciousness, thereby strengthening Divine Sense.

Secondly, the Cultivation Technique Mo Hua practiced encountered its bottleneck in the Mystery Formation within the Sea of Consciousness.

Without a strong Divine Sense, one could not solve the Mystery Formation, break the bottleneck, and one’s cultivation would forever come to a standstill.

Finally, the Spells that Mo Hua practiced, whether it was the Fireball Technique that prioritized Divine Sense locking and abided by the principle ‘only speed is unbeatable,’ or the Water Passing Step that required manipulating Spiritual Power to lead the flesh, or the Concealment Technique that hid one’s physical form from detection.

The stronger the Divine Sense, the stronger the effect of these Spells when cast.

Thus it seemed, Proving the Dao through Divine Sense was the most suitable path for Mo Hua, and it might as well be the only path for him.

Mo Hua nodded, then suddenly remembered a question and couldn’t help but ask Mr. Zhuang:

“But my Divine Sense is already at Foundation Establishment, what else is there to establish?”

“It’s still not enough.”

“Even Divine Sense at Foundation Establishment is not enough?” Mo Hua was shocked and a little confused.

Isn’t it said that in the Qi-refining Realm, achieving Foundation Establishment of Divine Sense is extremely difficult? Under such circumstances, to say that Divine Sense is still insufficient…

Mo Hua scratched his head.

Mr. Zhuang said, “It’s enough for others but not for you.”

“Why’s that?”

Mr. Zhuang did not directly answer, instead, he said: “Zisheng and Zixi’s talents exceed yours; they are older than you, have better inheritances than you, and have more Spirit Stones than you…”

Mr. Zhuang listed many things and Mo Hua could only sigh in his heart.

Comparisons are odious.

Being both registered disciples, it seemed that he was dragging his feet for Mr. Zhuang’s registered disciple group, and it was a heavy drag at that.

After listing the advantages of the Bai siblings, Mr. Zhuang asked, “Do you know why they have not yet achieved Foundation Establishment?”

Mo Hua pondered for a moment and then answered, “Are they polishing their realms?”

“Correct,” Mr. Zhuang nodded, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Qi Refinement is the first realm and also the starting point of Tao Cultivation, so one needs to strengthen the foundations and cultivate the root; Foundation Establishment should not be rushed.”

Mo Hua furrowed his brow, “Gentleman, if that’s the case, then shouldn’t Qi Refinement be the establishment, polishing the foundation, laying the foundation of the Great Dao, and not the Qi-refining Realm?”

Mr. Zhuang shook his head: “Qi Refinement only strengthens the root, but it’s different from Foundation Establishment.”

“Is there any extraordinary significance to Foundation Establishment?”

Mr. Zhuang’s expression turned grave:

“Foundation Establishment is the first major breakthrough among the many realms in Tao Cultivation!”

“When a Cultivator establishes their Foundation, Spiritual Power undergoes a qualitative change, condensing like a liquid; the physical body undergoes a qualitative change, Blood Qi like mercury; at the same time, the Sea of Consciousness expands, and Divine Sense doubles!”

Divine Sense doubles!

Mo Hua’s heart skipped a beat, “Could it be…”

Mr. Zhuang slightly nodded, his gaze deep, “This means, no matter how strong your Divine Sense is during Qi Refinement, after Foundation Establishment, it might double directly!”

Mo Hua’s heart trembled, an incredulous expression on his face.

For other Cultivators, their Divine Sense during the Qi Refinement phase, after doubling, reaches the Divine Sense of Foundation Establishment.

But his Divine Sense was already at Foundation Establishment level, so after doubling, just how powerful would his Divine Sense become…

Mo Hua found it hard to imagine and looked at Mr. Zhuang, asking:

“Then, my Divine Sense…”

Mr. Zhuang said, “Your current Divine Sense is approximately at the level of the initial phase of Foundation Establishment. After it doubles, you will have the Divine Sense of the middle phase of Foundation Establishment.”

Mr. Zhuang paused for a moment before continuing, “And if you have the Divine Sense of the middle phase of Foundation Establishment before you actually establish your Foundation, then after Foundation Establishment, although it won’t equal a Golden Core, it’s estimated that you will have the peak Divine Sense of the late phase of Foundation Establishment.”

Mo Hua’s mouth dropped open.

If this were truly the case, after Foundation Establishment, having such a strong Divine Sense, wouldn’t becoming a Second Rank Formation Master be as easy as turning his hand over?

Moreover, bottlenecks would be easier to break through, his Fireball Technique would be faster, his Water Passing Step stronger, and his Concealment Technique less likely to be detected by others.

Mo Hua couldn’t help but fantasize for a while until he lifted his head to find Mr. Zhuang looking at him, the corners of his mouth carrying a faint smile.

Mo Hua’s mind was startled again.

Based on his intuition and his understanding of his master, Mr. Zhuang surely had more to say.

“Is it not that simple…” Mo Hua asked quietly.

Mr. Zhuang smiled faintly and asked Mo Hua, “How do you plan to strengthen your Divine Sense?”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Mo Hua thought for a while and said truthfully:

“The same as before, Drawing Formations, practicing solving them?”

“Your Divine Sense has already reached Foundation Establishment. Drawing First-grade Formations now, the increase in Divine Sense would be negligible.”

Mo Hua froze, only then remembering that it was no wonder these past few days Drawing First-grade Formations felt dull and uninteresting.

It was because these were too simple, no longer able to temper his Divine Sense nor comprehend the laws of the Heavenly Dao.

“Then, should I consume a Contemplation Map?” Mo Hua asked tentatively.

Mr. Zhuang couldn’t help but knock on Mo Hua’s head, shaking his head:

“Not to mention whether you can see through the true essence of the Contemplation Map, or whether you can discern what you’re consuming and what consequences it will have.”

“Even if you really could consume it, Contemplation Maps are rare. Where could you get so lucky as to come across another one?”

“Moreover, Contemplation Maps vary in strength. If the Demon within the map is too strong, it’s still up in the air who would consume whom…”

Although there was a Taoist Stele within Mo Hua’s Sea of Consciousness, it was not a certainty that he would be consumed, but he did not wish for unexpected complications to arise.

If there really was a powerful Evil Demon that infiltrated his Sea of Consciousness and encountered the Taoist Stele within, and if Mo Hua failed to keep it contained and let it escape, the trouble could be immense.

Mo Hua couldn’t help nodding his head.

If Contemplation Maps couldn’t be consumed and First-grade Formations couldn’t be drawn, there was only one method left.

Mo Hua said, “Would drawing the Reversed Spirit Formation work?”

“Not only the Reversed Spirit Formation. All First-grade Formations with ten Patterns, including those anomalies of the Heavenly Dao, can help you enhance your Divine Sense,” Mr. Zhuang said.

“Are there other anomalies of the Heavenly Dao in Formations?”

Mr. Zhuang nodded, “There are, but they’re not with me.”

Mo Hua’s eyes lit up: “Can we obtain them?”

Mr. Zhuang gave a wry smile, “Let’s talk about this later. For now, you learn the Reversed Spirit Formation. Once you’ve mastered it, I have other things to teach you. If you can fully grasp the Reversed Spirit Formation, I’ll try to find some other Heavenly Dao’s anomalies for you to learn.”

Mo Hua felt grateful in his heart and respectfully bowed, “Thank you, Master!”

Mr. Zhuang spoke a lot, showing signs of weariness.

Mo Hua then prepared to stand up and leave, not wanting to disturb Mr. Zhuang’s rest. After taking a few steps, however, Mr. Zhuang called out to him.

“I forgot to tell you,” Mr. Zhuang said, lying back in the bamboo chair, looking at Mo Hua warmly, “Those evil thoughts, they actually have their uses.”

“The Little Green-faced Ghost’s evil thoughts?”

“Correct.”

“What use are they for?”

“Using evil thoughts to refine the heart,” Mr. Zhuang said with a focused gaze, telling Mo Hua:

“Cultivators seek the Tao and aspire for immortality, facing countless obstacles and dangers. Apart from Cultivation, the greatest peril is actually the Taoist Heart.”

“Cultivators can lose their Taoist Heart?”

“Yes,” Mr. Zhuang nodded, his expression one of melancholy:

“The path of Tao Cultivation is long. At the beginning, one may be wholeheartedly dedicated to the Tao, with a steadfast Taoist Heart.”

“But as years go by and worldly desires stain the heart, gradually, one may not even know what they are Cultivating for anymore, living for so long, they might also forget why they are alive.”

“One who seeks the Tao may become obsessed with pleasures, one who vows to slay demons may fall into demonhood, one whose heart pities the world may become its poison, one who holds compassion may grow numb and apathetic…”

“In this world, the most resilient as well as the most fragile thing is the human heart.”

“In the vast world, appearances are manifold. Over the long passage of time, these erode the Taoist Heart.”

“This is also why I asked you to prove the Tao with your Divine Sense.”

“With strong Divine Sense, one can see through to the essence; with a clear mind, one can ward off external demons. Whatever happens in the future, I hope that your Taoist Heart remains as in the beginning, not losing one’s own path, not forgetting one’s original intention…”

After speaking so earnestly, Mr. Zhuang’s expression suddenly became extremely tired. He closed his eyes involuntarily and quietly fell asleep.

Mo Hua respectfully paid his respects with a light gesture, not wanting to disturb Mr. Zhuang.

He silently committed Mr. Zhuang’s words to memory, especially the last two sentences:

Not losing one’s own path, not forgetting one’s original intention.