Chapter 212: Regret_1
Mo Hua entered the room and greeted Old Mr. Feng, then curiously turned his gaze toward Master Luo.
Old Mr. Feng said, “Mo Hua, this is Master Luo, a first-rank Formation Master from Tongxian City.”
Mo Hua was taken aback and hurriedly bowed, saying, “Master Luo, hello.”
Master Luo was somewhat overwhelmed by this gesture and was about to stand up in response.
If his guess was correct, the child in front of him was already a first-rank Formation Master.
In learning, there is no distinction of order; the accomplished are revered.
Their level of expertise in formation was nearly the same; he could not accept such a courtesy.
But since Old Mr. Feng was sitting, it was improper for him to stand up, so he could only clasp his hands and smile, saying, “No need for such formalities, please take a seat.”
Mo Hua was a bit puzzled. Are first-rank Formation Masters always this polite?
Seeing that Master Luo wasn’t too particular, Mo Hua abandoned formalities as well, sitting down on a tall stool to the side, pouring himself a cup of tea, and sipping slowly.
Before leaving home, he had eaten quite a few delicious things and now felt somewhat thirsty.
The living room fell silent for a moment, rather quiet.
Master Luo hesitated for a beat, then spoke up somewhat awkwardly:
“Mo Hua, the formations for the Alchemist’s Business, were they drawn by you?”
Mo Hua glanced at Old Mr. Feng and, seeing him nod slightly, replied, “I drew them.”
Master Luo said, “I noticed that several formations are designed quite ingeniously and can even confuse Divine Sense. I wonder if there is anything special about them?”
Mo Hua thought for a moment, but did not speak.
Coming to his senses belatedly, Master Luo hurriedly said, “It was impertinent of me. My apologies.”
The insights and legacies of someone else’s formations are matters of secrecy, and it was not his place to inquire rashly.
He was also engrossed in the study of formations on an ordinary day and had never seen such methods before. He was overly eager and, finding no other topic, carelessly asked.
With peers who were seasoned Formation Masters, he could engage in cunning repartee and sly strategizing, but facing a child, Master Luo didn’t know quite how to approach the conversation.
Mainly, it was because he had never interacted with such a young Formation Master. At Mo Hua’s age, it would have been fairly good just to be a formation apprentice.
Mo Hua said, “It’s okay; I was just thinking about how to explain it.”
“The formations here aren’t purely for blocking Divine Sense; they employ the generating and overcoming relationships of the Five Elements Formation to arrange patterns, either overlapping or crisscrossing, which makes the flow of Spiritual Power from the Five Elements either generate or repulse each other, causing disordered trajectories. When Divine Sense sweeps over abruptly, it naturally becomes confused, and it’s harder to perceive what’s inside clearly…”
Mo Hua patiently explained.
Master Luo had an epiphany; such an approach stayed within the framework of the Five Elements Formation while using its layout ingeniously to confuse the perception of Divine Sense, a novel and exquisite construction.
Master Luo felt a sudden sense of enlightenment; he had never seen such a method of constructing formations before.
“Do you have a mentor, young friend?” inquired Master Luo.
Mo Hua smiled, saying frankly, “That’s something I can’t disclose.”
Master Luo nodded, feeling he owed Mo Hua, and took out a book of formations from his Storage Bag:
“This is some of my insight on formations from over the years. It’s not profound, but it’s based on experience and might be of some help. I hope you won’t find it too simple.”
Mo Hua accepted it with thanks, flipped through it briefly, and his eyes lit up. He said, “Thank you, Master Luo!”
Afterward, the two briefly discussed other formations, each gaining something from the exchange.
Master Luo had extensive experience with formations and was very knowledgeable about obscure Formation Patterns. Mo Hua was quick-witted, eager to learn, and his thoughts on formations were not bound by convention.
As it was getting late, Mo Hua stood up and took his leave:
“I have some matters to attend to, I must take my leave now. Goodbye, Master Luo!”
Master Luo stood up to see him off. After Mo Hua left, he couldn’t help but sigh.
Old Mr. Feng took a sip of tea and asked, “What do you think?”
Master Luo sighed and said, “Indeed, he has the insight and ability of a first-rank Formation Master.”
And not only was his insight and ability exceptional, but his disposition was also excellent: approachable and polite, composed and generous, without reservation in his knowledge of formations.
Master Luo then said pensively, “In this vast world, truly, there is no end to wonders. This is the first time I’ve met such a prodigious talent…”
Old Mr. Feng’s gaze sharpened slightly, “If that’s the case, I have a request.”
Master Luo looked puzzled, “Please speak, Gentleman.”
“Mo Hua, this child, has excellent talent, but after all, he is still young. If he encounters difficulties, I hope Master Luo will lend a helping hand.”
Master Luo suddenly realized, “Are you talking about the Qian Family matter?”
Master Luo frowned, “It’s not that I’m unwilling to help, but for no reason at all, I can’t just oppose the Qian Family. Although Mo Hua is talented, he doesn’t have any relation to me.”
“There’s no need to oppose the Qian Family, just to say a few words when the time comes is enough.”
That was not difficult, and Master Luo was willing, but he still asked, “I need a reason, don’t I?”
Old Mr. Feng glanced at him, “Don’t you want to advance further in Formation?”
Isn’t that a stupid question? Which Formation Master wouldn’t want that?
But since Old Mr. Feng was held in high esteem and respect, Master Luo didn’t say it outright, only implying, “Naturally.”
After Master Luo finished speaking, he suddenly froze, “Are you saying… Mo Hua could help me…”
Master Luo was startled, then felt a little angry, speaking coldly,
“Mo Hua indeed has excellent talent, but he is an apprentice, and I am an apprentice as well. Moreover, he hasn’t even had his assessment, while I’ve already entered the ranks, officially recognized as an apprentice by the Taoist Court.”
“There are strengths and weaknesses in Formation, some areas where he surely can’t surpass me. Even if his talent is great and his future accomplishments in Formation far exceed mine, that is in the future, not now.”
A Formation Master has their own pride, asking nothing from others, let alone from a child. How can he maintain his dignity?
This is what Master Luo thought.
Old Mr. Feng sighed, “You don’t understand.”
Master Luo frowned, “What do I not understand?”
“Come with me,” Old Mr. Feng stood up and said to Master Luo.
Master Luo, confused, still got up and followed Old Mr. Feng, passing a high wall, entering the Alchemist’s Business, turning past several bluestone pathways, arriving in the middle of the courtyard.
A large Alchemy Furnace stood solemnly in the middle of the courtyard. Its design was ancient, the cloud patterns elegant.
The courtyard, however, was somewhat noisy and bustling.
Surrounding the place, medicinal herbs were sorted categorically, some Pill Masters were flipping through Alchemy Books, some apprentices were grasping herbs, and a few Alchemists were concentrating on controlling the flames to perform Alchemy.
Seeing the Pill Furnace, Master Luo had a premonition.
This furnace was too large, which also implied that the Formation on the furnace was absolutely extraordinary.
When he approached and saw the furnace fire, he couldn’t help but feel his heart thumping.
He pointed at the fire, looking incredulously at Old Mr. Feng, “This… this fire…”
Master Luo took another look at the Alchemy Furnace, revealing a shocked expression,
“Then… is this Formation…”
Old Mr. Feng nodded again.
Master Luo was tremendously shaken, standing there for a long time, before he finally said slowly,
“An apprentice… Compound Formation!”
Master Luo didn’t know how he got back.
It wasn’t until he returned to his own cave home, standing in his courtyard, that he came back to his senses.
An apprentice’s Compound Formation, ah!
He had not yet learned it to this day, not to mention his fellow apprentices, or even his master, had managed to create an apprentice-level Compound Formation while in the Qi Refinement Realm.
He then remembered that it was in this very courtyard that Instructor Yan had asked him to take Mo Hua as a disciple.
And he had cooly refused…
Distracted, Master Luo stood stupefied for a long time, and seeing that no one was around, he couldn’t help but slap his own mouth,
“Why is my mouth so damned loose? Why did I have to speak so absolutely? Why didn’t I leave a little room for maneuvering?”
Even if he didn’t take him as a disciple, just giving a few pointers would have also been a significant favor.
Master Luo felt bitter in his heart, his guts green with regret…