A few days later, Mo Hua became more skilled in his Meditation Techniques. After entering meditation, his spiritual awareness recovered twice as fast as before. Previously, after drawing one array, he needed a half-hour rest, but now, it only took the time of two or three cups of tea to recover.
However, as he continued to comprehend the Meditation Techniques, he hardly felt any further advancement.
Perhaps this was what Mr. Zhuang mentioned, that entering meditation requires a certain temperament, and without significant changes in temperament over time, the effectiveness of meditation wouldn't increase. It requires years of persistent effort for the effects of meditation to gradually improve.
This was the effort of grinding water, not something that could be rushed in a short time.
Thanks to the Meditation Techniques, Mo Hua could draw more arrays each day, and his spiritual awareness grew faster.
For nearly a month thereafter, Mo Hua spent most of his time learning array techniques from Mr. Zhuang.
Sometimes, when Mr. Zhuang felt lazy, he would give Mo Hua a few days off.
Mo Hua took the opportunity to visit Destiny's Shop, finding Manager Mo, and told him that he was going to study array techniques with his master and wouldn't have time to help Destiny's Shop with their arrays anymore.
Manager Mo wasn't surprised; he just glanced at Mo Hua and said, "Weren't these arrays drawn by your elder brother?"
Manager Mo sighed and said, "I've never seen such a talented kid. Anyway, learn well."
"Of course, Manager Mo!"
Manager Mo paused, a bit embarrassed, but then whispered, "Later, if, cough, I mean, if there's something I need your help with, if you can, please help me..."
"Don't worry, Manager Mo, considering our relationship, that's not a problem," Mo Hua patted his chest.
Manager Mo couldn't help but smile, saying with a smirk, "You sure talk big," but he looked quite pleased.
Mo Hua thought for a moment and then asked, "Where has Yan Jiaoxi gone, Manager Mo, do you know?"
Manager Mo fell silent, then sighed, "It's his private matter, related to the sect, and I shouldn't tell you. When you're older, if you still want to know, I'll tell you."
Mo Hua silently nodded.
After Meng Da Hu and his brothers left the sect, they had more time.
If there was nothing urgent, they would come to play with Mo Hua. Occasionally, when the restaurant was too busy, they would help out, and then enjoy a steaming bowl of beef noodles. Liu Ruhua would even let them take some other foods home.
Sometimes, Mo Shan was at home and would teach them some martial arts and Taoist techniques.
Taoist techniques are divided into spells and martial arts.
Spell cultivators practice spells, and physical cultivators practice martial arts.
Martial arts techniques activate the body's potential with spiritual power, unleashing powerful physical strength and attributes of the spiritual power itself, fighting enemies at close range.
For instance, Mo Shan excelled in Blazing Fist Technique. When he struck, his punches were swift and fierce, with red flames of spiritual power wrapped around his fists, demonstrating considerable power.
Meng Da Hu and his brothers practiced with Mo Shan, their punches as fierce as a tiger's wind, Mo Hua watching with envy.
Unfortunately, Mo Hua lacked the talent for physical cultivation; he couldn't learn any martial arts techniques, and even if he wanted to learn offensive techniques in the future, it would likely be through spiritual cultivation, practicing spells.
Spells involve controlling spiritual power with spiritual awareness to condense spells for long-range attacks, avoiding close combat.
Meng Da Hu and his brothers were very serious students, nearing the sixth layer of Qi cultivation. Reaching this level, they were to enter Dahei Mountain to become Demon Hunters.
Dahei Mountain was dangerous, with fierce demonic beasts. If their skills were not up to par, hunting demons in the mountain could be a life-and-death ordeal. Thus, they did not dare to slack off.
The restaurant's business was better day by day. After being open for a long time and earning a good reputation, even some wealthy cultivators from the northern part of Tongxian City would make a special trip from north to south, crossing the entire city, to enjoy a plate of beef and a pot of brewed wine.
In the entire city of Tongxian, this was the only place where one could enjoy meat for just two spirit stones.
And in the entire region of Dahei Mountain, this was the only restaurant serving such delicious demonic ox meat.
With the business thriving, Liu Ruhua, overwhelmed, hired two aunties to help. Both women came from poor families, and their husbands were disabled from demon hunting and unable to work.
As lower-class cultivators, they
worked diligently; the two aunties and Jiang Yun managed the restaurant impeccably.
Jiang Yun, hardworking and earnest, helped in the restaurant, gradually improving her living conditions, and her husband's health also improved, allowing him to perform some simple physical work. She was no longer as timid and reserved as before.
To thank Mo Shan and his wife, Jiang Yun spent time making various snacks as a thank you gift, having learned the techniques from her mother.
In her childhood, her family had once run a snack shop, but due to unforeseen changes, they lost their property, and the snack shop could no longer be operated, although the skills were passed down.
The snacks Jiang Yun made were simple but tasty. Liu Ruhua let her make more to sell in the restaurant, allowing her to earn more spirit stones to support her family.
In her spare time, Liu Ruhua also learned to make snacks from Jiang Yun. Some of the snacks Mo Hua brought to Elder Gui were those Liu Ruhua learned from Jiang Yun.
Besides, Jiang Yun also stir-fried pine nuts.
Outside Tongxian City, there were various types of pine trees, and pine nuts were abundant, but they weren't filling, so no one wanted them.
Occasionally, when Jiang Yun went up the mountain to gather wild vegetables, she would bring back some pine nuts, roasting them in a pan until they were fragrant and crisp. Placed in the restaurant, customers would use them to accompany their drinks or tea, which was also quite popular.
And surprisingly, Elder Gui liked pine nuts the most.
Once, when Mo Hua brought some snacks to Elder Gui, he also grabbed a handful of pine nuts for him.
As Elder Gui cracked the pine nuts while playing a game of Five Elements Chess with Mo Hua, the crisp sound of cracking nuts and the unique fragrance of pine nuts seemed to relax him.
Before long, the chess game wasn't finished, but Elder Gui's pine nuts were all gone.
Elder Gui's already modest chess skills clearly declined further. Though he was expressionless, Mo Hua could sense some disappointment on his face.
As Mo Hua was leaving, he said to Elder Gui, "Grandfather Gui, next time I come, I'll bring some more pine nuts for you."
Elder Gui nodded.
As Mo Hua was leaving, the usually reticent Elder Gui also admonished him, "Be careful on the road."
It was unclear whether he was concerned about Mo Hua or the pine nuts.
Afterward, Mo Hua's life gradually stabilized.
In Tongxian City, amidst the thousands of lights, there was joy and sorrow, and the cultivators also lived diligently. Mo Hua was just one of those thousands of lights, quietly cultivating and drawing arrays.
Time passed like this for over a month.
Mo Hua continued to study array techniques with Mr. Zhuang, researching array diagrams, practicing drawing arrays, and meditating to restore his spiritual awareness. His days were calm like still water, without ripples.
But Mo Hua's foundation in spiritual awareness and array techniques gradually stabilized, and his understanding of array principles deepened. After viewing the Six Paths Array Patterns several times and practicing a few more, he could basically master them.
One clear morning, the sunshine was bright, and the mountain air was crisp.
As usual, Mo Hua went to Mr. Zhuang's place to learn about array techniques, but at the door, he encountered several unfamiliar cultivators.