The Quest for Immortality

After this, besides sword training, Mo Hua had many formations to learn.

Elder Master Xun would tutor him on various Five Elements Eight Trigrams Formations at a set time and quantity each day.

In the beginning, it wasn’t too advanced but started from the Sixteen Patterns. According to a formation catalog Elder Master Xun had somehow compiled, they went through it one by one, filling in any gaps.

Elder Master Xun reviewed all the formations in the catalog that Mo Hua hadn’t learned, was unfamiliar with, or didn’t fully understand, to solidify Mo Hua’s foundational knowledge of formations.

The formations weren’t of high grade, nor were they difficult, and most were formations he had learned before. Thus, they weren’t very challenging, and the learning was somewhat tedious and dull.

But Mo Hua understood Elder Master Xun’s good intentions, so he settled down and studied earnestly.

Not accumulating small steps, one cannot reach a thousand miles.

Not accumulating small streams, one cannot form rivers and seas.

In learning anything, the foundation is the most important. The more solid the foundation, the higher one can climb in the future. Otherwise, if one aims too high, even if a tall building is built, it might collapse soon.

Mo Hua’s foundation in formations was already solid enough.

But since he had the opportunity, he wanted it to be even more solid.

Thus, during the day, he followed Elder Master Xun to learn formations.

In the evening, he would go to the Tao Teaching Room to practice Sword Qi.

After practicing Sword Qi, he returned to the Disciple’s Residence at night, further comprehending the ”Sword Dao Primary Solution” given by Patriarch Dugu, deepening his understanding of Sword Dao.

At 1 a.m., he would immerse his Divine Sense into the Sea of Consciousness and continue practicing formations on the Taoist Stele repeatedly.

After the seven-day cycle, he would go to the back mountain to see Patriarch Dugu.

The days were busy and very fulfilling.

Within Taixu Gate, the most skilled ancestor in formations taught him formations. The most skilled ancestor in swordsmanship taught him swordsmanship.

Mo Hua felt that even the Sect Leader of Taixu Gate might not have such privileges.

Of course, he didn’t dare tell Elder Master Xun about the Divine Thought into sword True Jue taught by Patriarch Dugu.

Because Patriarch Dugu specifically reminded him to prohibit mentioning this to anyone.

Mo Hua naturally dared not be clever, lest he displeases Patriarch Dugu and the matter of Divine Thought into Sword would be ruined.

Thus Elder Master Xun and Patriarch Dugu both taught their own areas.

Neither was aware that they were teaching the same disciple.

And the attitudes of the two ancestors towards Mo Hua were vastly different.

Elder Master Xun was exceptionally fond of Mo Hua, considering him to be a unique ”genius”; in formations, no matter what it was, he learned instantly and understood upon a touch. Every day he treated Mo Hua as if basking in spring breeze. 𝑅₳₦ǑʙÈṩ

Patriarch Dugu, however, kept a stern face.

Because Mo’s skill level in Sword Dao hadn’t made significant progress.

Learning anything was like a turtle’s pace. The principles he understood, the rules he knew, but when it came to practice, it was like he hadn’t practiced at all.

He hadn’t taught such a dull-witted Sword Dao disciple in his life.

Therefore, Patriarch Dugu often doubted himself.

Were the anomalies of Sword Qi humming, Sword Intent condensing into smoke, and Sword Cloud vividly manifesting in the Forbidden Land merely his illusion?

Had he been too hasty in deciding to teach Divine Thought into Sword to this child Mo Hua?

Now it seemed that this child not only had a hard time mastering the Sword Technique but even learning it was challenging...

Patriarch Dugu sighed heavily.

But he was an ancestor, his words held weight, and having promised Mo Hua, he wouldn’t easily break his promise.

”Let’s continue teaching and see...”

After all, if he didn’t teach Mo Hua, he didn’t have other things to do.

Having such a lively child around to talk to occasionally was also a good thing.

And so, Mo Hua learned both formations and swordsmanship together.

However, while he learned one skill extraordinarily well, the other poorly, which made him quite helpless.

But no matter what, his foundation in formations was continuously being built up deeper.

His understanding of swordsmanship was also bit by bit being ”enlightened” due to his day-and-night efforts and the grand insights of Patriarch Dugu...

Busy and rushed, he learned for more than a month; Mo Hua had no time for anything else. When he snapped back to reality, he suddenly remembered there were some matters he hadn’t yet had time to address.

Some tasks he also hadn’t managed to finish.

”Indeed, when one is busy, they easily forget things...”

Mo Hua sighed.

Two days later, it was time for a break; Mo Hua asked Elder Master Xun for leave to visit the Gu Family in Qingzhou City.

Although Elder Master Xun let him go nowhere and focus on learning formations, he hadn’t truly ”confined” him.

In his leisure time, a simple stroll was permissible.

But situations like before, visiting places like River God Temple, Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, Rouge Boat, Dragon King Temple, arresting Sin Cultivators, seeking altars, asking for lengthy leaves, such scenarios couldn’t happen anymore.

Mo Hua arrived at the Gu Family, greeted Aunt Wan, and then went straight to Gu Changhuai’s study.

Gu Changhuai was reading and, seeing Mo Hua, was somewhat surprised. He frowned and said, ”Didn’t you say you were going to focus on learning formations and wouldn’t come out?”

”There’s something I need to do, I’ll go back once it’s done...” Mo Hua said.

”What is it?” Gu Changhuai’s expression appeared somewhat wary, basing this on past experiences, Mo Hua’s interests typically didn’t bode well.

”It’s nothing major, just...” Mo Hua lowered his voice and asked, ”What has become of the Rouge Boat matter?”

Gu Changhuai was silent for a moment.

He initially planned to brush it off with ”Taoist Court Affairs cannot be disclosed,” but Mo Hua was clever and not so easily dismissed.

In this matter, Mo Hua wasn’t really an ”outsider”; he probably knew more about the inside story than anyone else.

Moreover, back in the Dragon King Temple, Mo Hua had ”sacrificed himself for the greater good” to save him...