Instructor Yan asked, "Is it possible for a Qi Refining stage level three cultivator to draw formations?"
"Well, naturally, it is possible," Manager Pang pondered and continued:
"The cultivation world is vast, and there are countless prodigious talents. If you say someone was born able to draw formations, I'd believe it. But those are mostly rumors, and I've never seen it with my own eyes."
"Even those exceptionally talented, ungrateful, and rebellious ones...ahem, those from formation families, who have been learning formations since childhood, might be able to draw a simple formation with three patterns by the time they reach Qi Refining stage level three."
"And in the great families and sects, with their deep heritages, there must be many geniuses in formations. They just don't usually show it."
Instructor Yan said, "If that's the case, it's not impossible for Mo Hua to draw formations at Qi Refining stage level three."
Manager Pang was reluctant to admit it, but he had to agree.
His senior brother Yan was stubborn but always meticulous and discerning.
"If this is true, it's remarkable. Do you want to take a disciple?"
Manager Pang thought for a moment and continued, "I think this child is a good prospect. Why not formally take him as your disciple? It would be a good way to pass on the formations your master taught you."
Instructor Yan hadn't considered this. He was tempted but shook his head after some thought:
"The sect is in decline, and the remaining formations are fragmented and incomplete. There's nothing worth passing on. Taking him as a disciple would only mislead him. Besides, my master's dying wish is still unfulfilled, and I have no leads on that person. I can't be distracted by other matters."
Manager Pang wanted to persuade him further, but Instructor Yan waved him off.
Manager Pang sighed, "Alright, I won't push you. But what about Mo Hua..."
"Don't mention this to anyone. The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be blown down. This is an ancient truth. Besides, he's still young. We can't let him become arrogant, or he will surely go astray in the future."
Manager Pang agreed, "That's true."
Instructor Yan continued, "Also, stop giving him formation tasks. Use some excuse about poor business management."
Although business was indeed poor, Manager Pang felt his pride wounded by the comment and corrected:
"It's not poor management. It's a laid-back, destiny-driven approach!"
"Besides, the boy is drawing formations, earning spirit stones, and helping his family. Why stop him?"
Instructor Yan frowned, "At Qi Refining stage level three, even if he can draw formations, his spiritual awareness is limited. Drawing too many will overtax his spiritual consciousness, damaging his spiritual sea's foundation."
"He's still young. This is the time to build a solid cultivation foundation. He needs to learn not just formations but a broad range of cultivation paths, especially focusing on his cultivation level. He shouldn't be tempted by small profits and neglect his overall progress."
Manager Pang said, "It's not easy for itinerant cultivators. They often lack sufficient spirit stones."
"Even if the family is poor, we can't neglect his future..."
"Do you know how poor ordinary itinerant cultivators can be?"
Manager Pang's rare serious expression made Instructor Yan frown slightly.
Manager Pang said earnestly, "I know your childhood was tough. Though you had a family, being an illegitimate child, you weren't valued. Later, you joined the sect, received the master's careful teaching, and made progress in formations through your own hard work. Your situation improved a bit. But even at your worst, you had your family to fall back on. At least you had food, clothing, and no worries about survival, just some dissatisfaction."
"People often say that the path of cultivation is arduous," sighed Manager Pang. "I've been in Tongxian City for over ten years since leaving the sect. After interacting with many itinerant cultivators, I've come to realize that the hardships of cultivation can vary greatly."
"Ordinary itinerant cultivators struggle to make a living, earning just enough to support their families. Those who forge artifacts often get half their bodies burned by the furnace fire. Monster hunters lose limbs to beast attacks. Those who sell their spiritual power to do odd jobs often suffer damage to their meridians. When they fall ill or get injured, they lack the spirit stones for treatment and their survival depends on luck."
"If they manage to survive, that's fortunate. If not, they die. The worst are those who hang on by a thread, spending spirit stones and draining their families' resources. What else can they do? They just want to live."
"Indeed, cultivators shouldn't neglect their future, but these low-level itinerant cultivators can barely manage the present, let alone think about the future."
Manager Pang finished speaking, poured himself a cup of tea, and gulped it down.
Instructor Yan fell silent for a moment, then sighed and said apologetically, "I didn't consider that."
Manager Pang gave him a sidelong glance.
After a brief moment of thought, Instructor Yan said to Manager Pang, "Give me the list of formations you have here."
"What do you need it for?" Manager Pang was puzzled but obediently fetched a book from behind the counter and handed it to him.
Instructor Yan took the formation catalog, skimmed through it, then picked up a pen and marked a few formations, numbering them in order.
"What are you doing?" Manager Pang asked.
Instructor Yan replied, "Next time Mo Hua comes, have him draw the formations I've marked in sequence. This way, he can learn progressively and more solidly. I can also give him some guidance at the sect, which is better than him learning haphazardly."
"This way, he can earn some spirit stones to support his family while gaining a systematic understanding of formations."
Instructor Yan then added, "One more thing, don't let him draw too many. Collect three or four drawings every half month. If he overextends his spiritual consciousness, it will damage his spiritual sea and cause long-term harm."
Manager Pang looked at the catalog in his hand, then at Instructor Yan, and said with a complex expression, "Are you sure you don't want to take him as your disciple?"
Instructor Yan simply shook his head, stood up, and repeated, "Don't forget to follow the order I've marked."
With that, he left without looking back.
Manager Pang watched him leave, unable to speak, and sighed helplessly.
Suddenly, Manager Pang remembered something and called out to Instructor Yan.
Instructor Yan turned to look at him.
Manager Pang hesitated before saying, "There's one thing you might have gotten wrong..."
Instructor Yan frowned, "What did I get wrong?"
"When Mo Hua brought the Minghuo Formation, he was only at Qi Refining stage level two. If these formations are indeed his work, it means..."
Manager Pang paused, choosing his words carefully, "He might have been able to draw formations at Qi Refining stage level two!"
Instructor Yan's pupils constricted, showing a look of disbelief.
(End of the Chapter)