Chapter 119 Preparations_1
Mo Hua went to ask Mr. Zhuang about teaching Formation to others.
Mr. Zhuang didn’t mind, “Whatever I’ve taught you, you can teach to others, as long as you’re willing.”
Mo Hua was overjoyed, “Thank you, Gentleman!”
Mr. Zhuang was eating meat and drinking wine, his expression one of contentment. Suddenly, he asked with curiosity:
“Teaching others, you actually don’t get any benefits, do you? Aren’t you afraid of the trouble?”
“Instructor Yan once told his disciple that Formations are like water, they can only endure if passed down.”
Mr. Zhuang’s expression was slightly surprised.
Looking at Mr. Zhuang, Mo Hua continued, “Gentleman has passed on Formation arts to me, it’s 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 won’t let down Gentleman’s guidance and can ensure the arts of Formation endure long into the future.”
“Endure long into the future…”
Mr. Zhuang’s slender fingers gently tapped on the armrest of the bamboo chair, “Enduring long into the future, what use is that?”
Mo Hua furrowed his brow slightly, thought for a moment, then slowly said:
“Formation arts are the manifestation of Heavenly Dao’s 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 Dao’s flow is ceaseless…”
Mr. Zhuang’s eyes brightened, and he nodded, “Well said, Dao creates everything, Dao transforms everything.”
Mr. Zhuang then looked at Mo Hua, “No matter what happens in the future, don’t forget your initial resolve.”
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.
Mr. Zhuang’s 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 Da’hu 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 couldn’t 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, Da’hu 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.
“I have something to discuss with you all.”
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, “What is it?”
“I want to enter Big Black Mountain too!” Mo Hua said.
Da’hu and the others were dumbfounded, shaking their heads like rattle drums.
“Big Black Mountain is very dangerous, you can’t go!” Da’hu said.
“Right, you’re only at the fifth level of Qi Refinement, you can’t go.”
“You aren’t a Body Cultivator, what if you get hurt?” Xiaohu expressed his worry.
“Exactly, you’re frail, you can’t afford to be injured!”
Thinking of his own bloody chest wound and then looking at Mo Hua’s slender frame,
Da’hu could hold on even when injured, but if Mo Hua were to be slapped by a Monster Beast, he’d likely die on the spot.
Da’hu’s fear grew, his tone even more adamant, “We can’t go!”
Mo Hua scratched his head, “Don’t worry, it’s going to be fine.”
Shuanghu couldn’t help but ask, “What are you going to do in Big Black Mountain?”
The three of Da’hu were startled, even more against Mo Hua going.
“If you don’t let me go, I’ll just have to sneak there on my own, and that would be even more dangerous,” 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 Da’hu were troubled.
“Having become Monster Hunters, have you still not earned any Spirit Stones?” Mo Hua took the opportunity to ask.
The three didn’t 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 weren’t many.
Mo Hua said, “I have a way to kill Monster Beasts, but I’ll need help from the three of you.”
“What way do you have?” Xiaohu couldn’t help but ask.
Mo Hua said, “I’ll set up a Formation to lure the Monster Beasts in, to blast them into serious injury first, then you three finish them off.”
“But…” Da’hu was still worried about Mo Hua.
“I’ll just set the Formation right and then hide on the side. Once the Monster Beasts are injured by the explosion, you’ll take them down, and I’ll come out. It won’t be dangerous,” Mo Hua planned.
“But, can the Formation really injure Monster Beasts…?”
“Don’t worry about that; I’ll set up several. Even if the Monster Beasts don’t die, they’ll get seriously injured.”
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 Da’hu exchanged glances; they trusted Mo Hua’s Formation skills but still had their doubts.
“Don’t you want Auntie Meng to have a better life?”
The three of Da’hu 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 Da’hu hung their heads, their eyes slightly reddening.
Mo Hua sighed and patted their shoulders, “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t do anything if I weren’t sure of it.”
Xiaohu hesitated, “Are you really sure?”
“Tomorrow, or the day after, we’ll first go into the outer mountains to find a weaker Monster Beast to test on. If it works, then that’s great; if not, we can still run away.”
“We might be able to run away, but can you…?”
Shuanghu looked at Mo Hua and said tactfully.
Mo Hua said somewhat proudly, “I’ve specifically learned a movement technique, don’t worry, the Monster Beasts won’t be able to hurt me.”
“What kind of movement technique?”
“The person who taught me didn’t allow me to tell.”
“Just a passing-by, unknown, kind-hearted uncle,” Mo Hua answered mechanically.
Da’hu looked at Mo Hua suspiciously, “He isn’t a swindler, is he?”
“How could he be? This movement technique is quite powerful.”
The three of Da’hu looked at each other and finally compromised, “Alright, we’ll take you into the outer mountain, but just this once, okay? If there’s any accident, you must run.”
Mo Hua nodded quickly, “Rest assured, my life is my own, I won’t lose it.”
So two days later, just as the sky began to brighten, Mo Hua and the three of Da’hu met outside of Tongxian City.
They set off together, heading towards Big Black Mountain enveloped in Monster Qi.