In the end, Mo Hua still hadn't chosen a technique. As they parted ways, Mo Hua's figure seemed somewhat despondent.
Bai Zixi noticed this and suddenly spoke up, "I'll have Aunt Xue fetch some spiritual items for you."
Mo Hua was slightly stunned. He hadn't expected Bai Zixi, who usually kept her distance, to have such a kind heart. He couldn't help but smile, but politely declined, "No need. Cultivation is a lifelong endeavor. I can't rely on others for my entire life of cultivation. Besides, no work, no gain. I can't just take others' things casually."
Bai Zixi's expression remained indifferent, showing neither happiness nor displeasure.
After Mo Hua finished speaking, he sincerely added, "Thank you!"
Mo Hua always felt grateful for others' kindness.
After the group left, Mr. Zhuang, who had been sunbathing from sun to moon on a recliner, finally got up leisurely. He walked to his dusty and secluded small study, muttering under his breath, "Kui Lao is so lazy. How long has it been since this study was cleaned?"
Suddenly, Kui Lao's figure appeared behind him:
"If it's not being used, what difference does it make whether it's cleaned or not?"
"I've told you so many times, don't appear out of nowhere like this. This courtyard used to be nice, but now it feels eerie," Mr. Zhuang complained unhappily. Then, he paced around the study, rummaging through various books and jade slips, making the already messy study even more chaotic.
"What are you looking for?"
"I'm looking for a few scrolls of techniques," Mr. Zhuang casually replied.
"Are you looking for those for Mo Hua?" Kui Lao asked.
"Yes."
"In the past, you weren't this concerned about your disciples," Kui Lao's tone was calm but carried a hint of sarcasm.
Mr. Zhuang picked a few jade slips and spread them out on the table in an orderly manner, then sat down slowly and began to examine them one by one:
"In the past, I was solely focused on the Dao, inevitably aloof. Now that times have changed and I'm detached from the Dao, naturally, I have the leisure to mind other matters."
Kui Lao fell silent, and the room instantly quieted down.
After a moment, Mr. Zhuang couldn't help but say, "You could speak occasionally too. Otherwise, this room really feels eerie."
Kui Lao replied coldly, "What do you want me to say?"
Mr. Zhuang thought for a moment and said, "Tell me, which technique would be good for Mo Hua?"
"The best one is to not choose."
"Why not choose?"
"If you don't interfere, you won't be entangled in karma. Mo Hua would also have fewer troubles."
Mr. Zhuang shook his head, "You believe in karma, I don't. Even if there is karma in this world, it's not something you can avoid just by wanting to. Perhaps when I came to this Li State and took Mo Hua as my apprentice, I had already triggered karma. Once the celestial mechanism starts to operate, it cannot be changed."
Mr. Zhuang finished speaking and felt a bit unlucky, mocking himself, "When a person loses their Dao heart, their mentality ages. This sounds just like those old folks at Tianquan Pavilion who like to argue."
Kui Lao replied calmly, "I'm just one of those old folks at Tianquan Pavilion who like to argue."
Mr. Zhuang smiled wryly, "You're still a bit different." Then, he changed the subject and asked, "How about the 'Dual Principles Technique'?"
"Too obscure."
"The 'Five Elements Vitality Technique'?"
"His meridians can't handle it."
"How about the 'Dao Xuan Formula'?"
"He would be hunted down by the Dao Xuan Sect."
...
Mr. Zhuang pondered for a while, but Kui Lao rejected each suggestion. Finally, he asked, "Do you have any techniques from your side that we can look at?"
"My techniques here are also not suitable."
Mr. Zhuang sighed, "It's such a hassle having a poor spiritual root. If only Mo Hua had a superior spiritual root, choosing techniques would be easier. When I selected techniques back then, I just picked the best one. There was no need for all this picking and choosing."
Kui Lao rolled his eyes silently.
"To be outstanding, to be of medium grade, to have a Five Elements spiritual root, and the required spiritual items shouldn't be too expensive..." Mr. Zhuang muttered.
"The requirement to be outstanding is unnecessary..."
Mr. Zhuang shook his head, "No, as my disciple, you must stand out."
"He's just a nominal disciple, not someone who has formally become your apprentice and served tea," Kui Lao remarked.
"You don't understand," Mr. Zhuang said mysteriously, "Even nominal disciples must stand out. Only then can they reflect the extraordinary nature of their master."
"You've said before, true experts are arrogant with their abilities, while the useless rely on boasting..." Kui Lao interjected.
"Can't you remember the nice things I've said for once?" Mr. Zhuang frowned.
"In the past, you were arrogant and rarely spoke kindly."
Mr. Zhuang felt a bit disgruntled and changed the subject, "Let's focus on the main matter—selecting techniques."
Mr. Zhuang began rummaging through the room again, keeping the ones he found suitable and discarding the others without a second thought.
Kui Lao silently followed behind Mr. Zhuang, occasionally handing over a few jade slips. Mr. Zhuang glanced at them with some disdain but still kept them. He muttered, "Your taste in selecting techniques is still so commonplace..."
The next day, Mo Hua spent the whole day practicing formations. As evening approached and he was about to head home, he saw Mr. Zhuang beckoning him from the bamboo pavilion.
Mo Hua walked over, greeted him respectfully, and asked, "Is there something you wish to instruct me on, Master?"
Mr. Zhuang directly placed a large bundle of assorted jade slips and scrolls in front of Mo Hua, "Take your pick."
Mo Hua couldn't help but be surprised, "Master..."
"If you address me as 'Master,' I can't mistreat you. Choosing techniques is just a matter of raising your hand," Mr. Zhuang said.
Mo Hua thought of Mr. Zhuang, who was always lazy and could lie on a recliner all day, presenting him with clearly carefully selected techniques. Warmth filled Mo Hua's heart, and he stood up respectfully, bowing again.
"Please choose for yourself. I'll meditate on the Dao for a while," Mr. Zhuang waved his hand, then lay back on his chair, closing his eyes to rest.
Mo Hua tried not to disturb Mr. Zhuang, gently and earnestly examining the pile of techniques before him.
"The Art of Spiritual Transformation," "Sitting Dao Technique," "Taoist Yin-Yang Scripture," "Immortal Path Divine Art"...
Just the names of these techniques were profound, and their effects were extraordinary. Some could amplify spiritual power, some could cultivate both body and spirit, and some could even overcome bottlenecks in cultivation, enhancing spiritual power to thirty celestial meridians. Moreover, the names of most of the required spiritual items were quite familiar to Mo Hua.
Even with Mo Hua's current knowledge at the early stage of Qi refining, he recognized these items, indicating that while rare, they were not priceless treasures or extremely rare innate spiritual items.
It was evident that Mr. Zhuang had put considerable thought into selecting these techniques.
Mo Hua silently remembered this sentiment and then focused on selecting techniques.
First, he chose the least expensive ones with the fewest required spiritual items. Next, he looked for those that could cultivate the most celestial meridians of spiritual power. Then, he sought those that best suited his attributes and finally those with the most practical effects...
After careful consideration, Mo Hua finally selected a few that were relatively suitable, but then he frowned.
While they required the fewest celestial and spiritual items, it didn't mean they were affordable. In actual terms, it still amounted to over a thousand spiritual stones.
Over these days, Mo Hua had seen techniques that required tens of thousands of spiritual stones. Compared to those, a few thousand spiritual stones were the cheapest.
However, Mo Hua suddenly realized that even a few thousand spiritual stones were beyond his current means.
Mo Hua felt a bit disheartened.
At this moment, Mo Hua suddenly came across a rough-looking jade slip, which seemed unusually ancient and rustic compared to the elegant and delicate books and jade slips around it.
Mo Hua picked it up, and as his consciousness immersed into it, three simple and ancient characters, "The Celestial Expansion Scripture," imprinted themselves in his mind. As he continued to read, Mo Hua suddenly felt that something was missing from the description of this technique.
Mo Hua pondered for a moment before realizing that this technique didn't have any notes on the required celestial and spiritual items.
Did this mean that cultivating this technique required no additional celestial and spiritual items?
This thought immediately struck Mo Hua's young heart, making him excited beyond words.
(End of the Chapter)