Mo Shan didn't understand why Ji Qingbai suddenly asked this question, but he nodded and said, "Brother Ji, you are correct. Hua'er is cultivating at Tongxian Sect and is now at the second level of Qi Refining."
Ji Qingbai found it hard to believe, "At the second level of Qi Refining, he can already draw array formations?"
Mo Shan replied, "Not quite, he's just picked up some basics at the sect and is copying them."
"You're being modest, Brother Mo. Even so, it's quite remarkable. Those few strokes just now had proper form, indicating that Mo Hua has talent."
Mo Shan smiled, "If that's true, then let's hope for the best."
Ji Qingbai sighed, "Among our demon hunter juniors, there are hardly any who understand arrays, let alone can draw array patterns. Earlier this year, I asked an array master to help draw some arrays and had to endure a lot of frustration. I had to flatter him to avoid offending him."
The more Ji Qingbai thought about it, the angrier he got. "It was just a small array, yet he demanded two hundred spirit stones and even wanted my niece to accompany him for a meal and drinks. If we were in the Great Black Mountain, I would have slashed him with my sword!"
Mo Shan's face also darkened, "How unreasonable!"
"Exactly. But what could I do? We don't know how to draw arrays, and our juniors don't learn it either. When something happens, we have to lower ourselves to beg those array masters from prestigious families. They act so high and mighty, and we have to smile and bow to them."
"Brother Mo," Ji Qingbai said seriously, "If Mo Hua really wants to learn array formations, make sure he continues with it. If you encounter any difficulties, come to me. I will do everything I can to help."
"Brother Ji, that's too kind! If Mo Hua truly wants to learn, I will ensure he continues," Mo Shan replied with a serious expression.
Ji Qingbai nodded.
They chatted a bit more about demon hunting matters, and then Ji Qingbai took his leave.
Mo Shan saw Ji Qingbai and his son off at the door.
After they left, Ji Qingbai and his son headed to the home of an elder on South Street West.
On the way, Ji Qingbai advised his son, Ji Li, "Demon hunting is getting increasingly difficult in Qingxuan City, so this time I came to see your Uncle Mo to go to the Inner Great Black Mountain. You have good talent and are at the seventh level of Qi Refining now, so come along to gain some experience. But leave the demon hunting to me and your Uncle Mo unless absolutely necessary."
Ji Li responded, " I understand, father."
"I know you understand, but you're still young. Demon beasts are extremely ruthless and cunning. With your cultivation being the lowest, it's safer if you don't intervene. If you do and they see a flaw, you'll suffer greatly."
Ji Li nodded and then curiously asked, "Father, is Uncle Mo's cultivation strong?"
"Of course. Your Uncle Mo is the most talented demon hunter I've seen in all these years. He's talented, quick to react, and has extensive demon hunting experience. It's just a pity that, as a rogue cultivator with a family and children, most of his spirit stones go to his child's cultivation, leaving less for his own."
Ji Qingbai sighed and continued, "Otherwise, with his talent, he could have continued cultivating and might have even reached the Foundation Establishment stage."
Ji Li was silent for a moment. His father's cultivation could also have advanced further, but the spirit stones he earned were used for Ji Li's cultivation.
Ji Li quietly asked, "How is Grandpa Zheng's health…?"
"He's not doing well," Ji Qingbai replied with a somber expression. "Uncle Zheng is the only Foundation Establishment elder in Qingxuan City's demon hunting guild. If he passes away, we rogue cultivators in the Qi Refining stage will probably be bullied by those big families even more, and life will get tougher..."
"Does Tongxian City have a Foundation Establishment elder?"
"Yes, his surname is Yu. He has a bad temper but is protective of his own. The demon hunting guild in Tongxian City relies on him for support, so the big families don't dare to go too far. If things get really bad, you should come to Tongxian City, find a dao companion, and settle down here. It would give me some peace of mind."
Ji Li, being young, blushed slightly, "Father, it's too early to talk about this."
Ji Qingbai smiled, "It's not too early. These things need to be planned in advance."
Ji Li, wanting to change the subject, asked, "Can Uncle Mo's younger brother, Mo Hua, really become an array master?"
"I don't know," Ji Qingbai frowned. "Becoming an array master is not easy. You start as an apprentice, then move to a non-ranked array master, and only after that can you be officially ranked as a first-rank array master."
"Firstly, being an apprentice is not easy. As rogue cultivators without any inheritance, to learn array formations, you have to find a specialized array master to be your teacher," Ji Qingbai explained.
"Aren't there array formation teachings in the sect?" Ji Li asked.
"Far from it," Ji Qingbai replied. "The sect only teaches the basics to make you aware of array formations, not to make you an array master."
Ji Li was astonished. When he studied array formations in the sect, he found it extremely difficult. He hadn't realized it was only the basics.
"Finding an array master to be your teacher isn't easy. These array masters are all very proud, and their thresholds are extremely high. To ask them to take an apprentice, even if you give up everything you have, it might not be enough."
Ji Qingbai got angry just thinking about it. "Array formations are so difficult. Without inheritance and without a teacher, how could one possibly learn them?"
He shook his head.
Ji Li asked, "So, if one becomes an apprentice, can they become an array master?"
"Being an apprentice is just the beginning. You have to endure for many years, continuously learning and practicing to gradually improve your skills. Only then can you become an array master, and that's just for non-ranked. To get officially ranked, you have to continue learning and practicing until you gain some fame. Then you can qualify for ranking, which is done by the Dao Court. That's another big hurdle... Some array masters spend their whole lives just trying to get ranked."
Ji Li was already overwhelmed and couldn't help but say, "Can Mo Hua really become an array master?"
"Let's hope so," Ji Qingbai sighed. "Even if it's just wishful thinking on my part, at least it's something to hope for."
...
Mo Hua continued drawing the Minghuo arrays, and a few days later, he finished all the arrays. He had become much more proficient, successfully completing nine out of ten, which earned him eight spirit stones.
On the last day before the new year, Mo Hua went to Destiny Pavilion again to exchange the arrays for spirit stones.
The fat manager at Destiny Pavilion was quite satisfied with the arrays Mo Hua handed over.
"That's more like it. Since you've apprenticed and become a student, you should be drawing at this level!"
During the settlement, the fat manager gave Mo Hua ten spirit stones, with an additional two as a holiday gift. "This is a little something for the New Year. Although it's not much, it's for good luck!"
It wasn't much for the manager, but it was a lot for Mo Hua.
Mo Hua was very happy and said many auspicious things like "Wishing the manager great success and prosperity."
The fat manager was pleased and nodded repeatedly.
The next day was New Year's Eve, and Mo Hua's family of three celebrated the New Year lively.
The customs of the cultivation world's New Year were similar to those in Mo Hua's memories from another life, but there were also some differences.
For example, while they both pasted Spring Festival couplets, the characters on these couplets would glow, the cloud patterns on the "Fu" character would move, and the auspicious beasts in the New Year paintings would stare at you and occasionally snort, which was very novel.
The New Year's Eve dinner was the most lavish meal of the year, with some meat and other delicacies that were rarely eaten.
Mo Hua had a great New Year. After playing with his friends for a few days, he continued drawing arrays for Destiny Pavilion.
With his day and night efforts, Mo Hua could draw the Minghuo array even with his eyes closed. He could complete ten arrays in just three days, maintaining a success rate of over ninety percent.
This continued until the fifteenth day of the first month, the day before Mo Hua was to enter Tongxian Sect. By then, he had earned nearly fifty spirit stones.
After dinner, Mo Hua was packing for his return to the sect, while Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua discussed the tuition fees.
(End of the chapter)