Chapter 14 – Ji Qingbai_1
Mo Shan didn’t know why Ji Qingbai suddenly asked this question but nodded and said, “Brother Ji is correct; Huar is cultivating at Tongxian Gate, and currently, he’s at the second level of Qi Refinement.”
Ji Qingbai found it a bit hard to believe, “Second level of Qi Refinement and he can draw formations already?”
Mo Shan replied, “That shouldn’t be the case. He’s just learned a smattering at the sect and is imitating what he’s seen, scribbling a few strokes that’s all.”
“Uncle Mo, you’re being too modest. Just those few strokes he did just now were quite impressive. It shows that Mo Hua has talent.”
Mo Shan smiled and said, “If that’s really the case, then I accept your good words, Brother Ji.”
Ji Qingbai sighed and said, “Among the descendants of us Monster Hunters, not to mention Formation Masters, there are hardly a few who have a rough understanding of formations, capable of drawing a few Formation Patterns. Before the new year, I went to ask for a Formation Master’s help to draw some formations. I suffered an insult and still had to smile apologetically at him, for fear of offending him.”
The more Ji Qingbai thought about it, the angrier he became, “It was just a small formation he had to draw, and not only did he demand two hundred Spirit Stones, which was already exorbitant, but he also wanted one of my nieces to accompany him for a meal and to toast to him. If we were inside Big Black Mountain, I would have really wanted to split him with my blade!”
Mo Shan’s face also darkened, “To behave so unreasonably?”
“Exactly, but what can I do?” Ji Qingbai sighed, “We don’t know about formations, and the younger generation won’t learn them. Whenever there’s a problem, we have no choice but to swallow our pride and ask those clan Formation Masters for help. They act so arrogant and we still have to appease them with smiles.”
“Little brother Mo,” Ji Qingbai looked at Mo Shan earnestly, “if Mo Hua really wants to learn formations, you must let him continue. If there’s any difficulty, just come find me. I’ll certainly help without any hesitation as long as it’s within my power!”
“Brother Ji, you’re too kind! If the child really wants to learn, I will certainly let him continue,” Mo Shan said seriously.
Ji Qingbai nodded in acknowledgment.
The two chatted a bit more and discussed some matters about Monster Hunting, and then Ji Qingbai took his leave.
Mo Shan escorted Ji Qingbai and his son to the door.
After Ji Qingbai left, he took his son to the home of a senior on the west side of South Main Street.
On the way there, Ji Qingbai instructed his son, Ji Li, “Monster Hunting in Qingxuan City is getting more and more difficult, so this time I came to ask your Uncle Mo to join me and take a look at the Inner Mountain of Big Black Mountain. Your talent is good and you’re already at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, so come along to gain more experience. But leave the Monster Hunting to your Uncle Mo and me; don’t get involved unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
Ji Li responded, “Dad, I understand.”
“I know you understand, but you’re still young and might not completely grasp it. Monster Beasts are extremely vicious and cunning. With you having the lowest Cultivation, if you don’t make a move, it’s fine, but once you do and the beast spots a weakness, you could suffer a great loss.”
Ji Li nodded and then, out of curiosity, asked, “Dad, is Uncle Mo’s cultivation strong?”
“Of course, your Uncle Mo is the most talented Monster Hunter I’ve seen in all these years. He has great natural ability, quick reactions, and plenty of hunting experience. It’s just a pity though. For Loose Cultivators like us, once we start a family and have children, we end up using all our accumulated Spirit Stones for our children’s cultivation, leaving less for our own…”
Ji Qingbai sighed, then continued, “Otherwise, with his talent, continuing to cultivate, he could have reached the Foundation Establishment Stage.”
Ji Li remained silent for a moment; his father’s Cultivation could also have continued to improve, but the Spirit Stones he earned later were used for his own cultivation.
Speaking of Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators, Ji Li softly asked, “How’s Grandpa Zheng faring?”
“He’s not doing well,” Ji Qingbai said with a dejected expression, “Uncle Zheng is the only Foundation Establishment Elder in Qingxuan City’s Monster Hunting Guild. If he were to pass away, we Qi Refinement Realm Loose Cultivators would probably be bullied by those few clans again. The days ahead will get tougher…”
“Are there any Foundation Establishment Elders in Tongxian City?”
“Yes, there is one with the surname Yu. He has a bit of a temper but is also protective of his own. Tongxian City’s Monster Hunting Guild relies on him to maintain their authority. The clans don’t dare to go too far. If it gets too difficult in the future, just move here to Tongxian City, find a partner, and settle down here. That way, I can also rest assured.”
Ji Li, still young, blushed a little, “Dad, that’s still a long way off.”
Ji Qingbai chuckled, “It’s not too early. These kind of things need to be planned in advance.”
Ji Li then thought of changing the subject and asked, “Can little brother Mo Hua from Uncle Mo’s family really become a Formation Master?”
“I don’t know,” Ji Qingbai frowned, “It’s not easy to become a Formation Master. You start as an apprentice, then become an unranked Formation Master, and finally get assessed to become a first-rank Formation Master.”
“Firstly, it’s not easy just being an apprentice, as we Loose Cultivators have no inheritance. To learn Formation Art, one must find a specialized Formation Master to be a mentor,” said Ji Qingbai.
“Don’t Sects also teach Formation Art?” asked Ji Li.
“That’s a far cry from the real thing,” replied Ji Qingbai, “What the Sect teaches is just the surface, meant to let you know about the existence of Formation Art, not to train you to become a Formation Master.”
Ji Li was astonished. When he had studied Formation Art in the Sect, he felt it was extremely difficult, and now he learned that it was just the basics.
“Finding a Formation Master as a mentor, how easy can that be? Those Formation Masters, each more arrogant than the last, set the bar higher than the heavens. Even if you offer them everything you have to take you on as an apprentice, it’s still not enough.”
Ji Qingbai got angry whenever he spoke about this, “Formation Art is so difficult; without inheritance, without a mentor’s teaching, how can it be possible to learn?”
Ji Qingbai couldn’t help shaking his head.
Ji Li asked, “So, after becoming an apprentice, can you become a Formation Master?”
“Being an apprentice is just the beginning. You need to endure many years, constantly learning, constantly practicing, to slowly improve your skills and then you can become a Formation Master, and that’s still an unranked one. You need to endure further, keep learning, make a little name for yourself before you are qualified for assessment. The assessment is conducted by the Taoist Court, and that’s another major hurdle… Some Formation Masters never pass their assessment until death.”
Ji Li already felt his scalp tingle from listening and couldn’t help saying, “So can little brother Mo really become a Formation Master?”
“Let’s hope so,” Ji Qingbai sighed, “Even if it’s my vain hope, at least it’s something to look forward to.”
Mo Hua returned home and continued drawing the Bright Fire Formation. A few days later, he finished the entire Bright Fire Formation. He had become much more proficient this time; out of ten sets, nine were successful, earning him eight Spirit Stones.
On the last day before the New Year, Mo Hua went back to Fated Gathering to exchange with Fatty Steward for Spirit Stones.
Fatty Steward was quite satisfied with the Formation Art that Mo Hua delivered.
“That’s more like it. Since you’ve taken on a mentor and become an apprentice, you should be drawing at this level!”
When settling the account, Fatty Steward gave Mo Hua ten Spirit Stones; the extra two were a gift, “This is a New Year’s gift. It’s not much, but it also brings good fortune!”
To Fatty Steward it might not be much, but to Mo Hua it was quite a bit.
Mo Hua was very happy and picked out some auspicious phrases like “Wishing the Steward bigger and stronger achievements, creating more glory” to say.
Fatty Steward nodded happily in response.
The next day was New Year’s Eve, and Mo Hua’s family of three had a lively celebration.
The customs of celebrating the New Year in the Cultivation World and Mo Hua’s memories from another life had many similarities, but also some differences.
For example, although both pasted Spring Festival couplets, the couplets would glow, the cloud patterns on the character “Fu” (luck) would move, and the Kirin auspicious beasts in New Year paintings would stare at you with wide eyes, sometimes snorting at you, which was quite novel.
The New Year’s Eve dinner was also the most sumptuous meal of the year, which might include a bit of meat, and all the delicacies that were not usually available were enjoyed to the fullest.
Mo Hua had a very happy New Year, and after playing with his friends for a few days, he continued painting Formations for Fated Gathering.
Through night and day of hard work, Mo Hua could draw the Bright Fire Formation Diagram with his eyes closed; he only needed three days to paint ten Formation Diagrams, and his success rate remained above ninety percent.
This went on until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, which was the day before Tongxian Gate’s school entrance; by that time, Mo Hua had earned nearly fifty Spirit Stones.
After dinner, Mo Hua was packing for his entry into the Sect the next day, while Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua discussed matters concerning their offerings.