Once Mo Hua truly started learning, he realized that Flowing Water Steps wasn't as difficult as he initially thought.
The challenge of Flowing Water Steps lay in controlling spiritual power with divine consciousness and using spiritual power to manipulate the physical body. The stronger the control of divine consciousness over spiritual power, the more agile the spiritual power could manipulate the body.
Celestial Expansion Technique, this ancient technique, as Mr. Zhuang described it, didn't enhance spiritual power or strengthen the five elements but excelled in enhancing the manipulation of divine consciousness.
Mo Hua, being originally skilled in arrays as a formation master, used divine consciousness more proficiently than ordinary cultivators. After practicing Celestial Expansion Technique, he became even more adept at manipulating spiritual power and activating body techniques, which became relatively easy tasks.
His earlier struggles were mostly due to inherent physical weakness, causing instability in movements and hindering the execution of body techniques.
For ordinary cultivators, even if the physical body wasn't strong, it was adequate for practicing body techniques. The real difficulty lay in precisely controlling spiritual power to flow through the meridians and acupoints.
However, for Mo Hua, the most challenging aspect was the weak physical body. Instead of being challenging, guiding spiritual power through meridians and acupoints was rather easy for him. Moreover, Mo Hua's manipulation of spiritual power was even more meticulous than what was required by the diagrams of Flowing Water Steps. In some complex body technique maneuvers, Mo Hua could even make more intricate variations.
After about ten days, Mo Hua had mastered most of the movements of Flowing Water Steps.
However, mere mastery wasn't enough; Mo Hua felt the need for practical experience.
One day, Mo Hua arrived at the foot of a mountain outside Tongxian City and found a large tree with deep roots and lush foliage.
The tree was laden with wild fruits, small and sour, unfit for eating but abundant on the tree.
Mo Hua kicked the tree, but it remained unmoved while his own foot tingled.
Helpless, Mo Hua proceeded to draw a simple Earth Tremor Formation and buried it beneath the big tree.
The Earth Tremor Formation was a basic earth-based formation with few runes and simple to draw. When activated with spiritual power, it caused vibrations.
Mo Hua infused some spiritual power and activated the formation. The Earth Tremor Formation flashed with a grayish light, followed by vibrations that shook the tree, causing wild fruits to fall in droves.
The falling fruits pelted Mo Hua standing under the tree.
Mo Hua's spirits rose, and he began to use Flowing Water Steps to dodge the falling fruits.
About ten fruits fell, and Mo Hua managed to dodge eight or nine, getting hit only twice—one on the shoulder and another on the head.
Mo Hua held his head, sucking in cool air.
Underestimating the situation, he hadn't expected the pain from being hit.
Mo Hua glanced at the towering tree with some annoyance before walking away. About an hour later, Mo Hua returned confidently, wearing a small helmet.
He had just gone to see Master Chen.
This small helmet was specially crafted by Master Chen for him, lightweight and simple, not effective against attacks from cultivators but more than sufficient to protect against falling wild fruits.
Fearless, Mo Hua activated the Earth Tremor Formation again and began dodging the falling fruits using Flowing Water Steps.
Initially focused, Mo Hua managed to avoid getting hit a few times. However, as time passed, although his divine consciousness remained clear, his limbs grew tired, his movements less agile, and his spiritual power gradually weakened, causing him to get hit more frequently.
As evening approached, Mo Hua patted the tree and said, "I'll come back tomorrow," before heading home.
Back home, as Liu Ruhua applied medicine to Mo Hua's bruises, she lamented, "Where did you go playing? Look at all these bruises..."
"It's okay, Mom, it doesn't hurt," Mo Hua reassured.
Liu Ruhua accidentally pressed a bit too hard, causing Mo Hua to wince.
Annoyed, she said, "You said it didn't hurt?" Then, her tone softened as she continued more gently.
"These are just superficial wounds, nothing serious."
"You didn't get into a fight, did you?"
"Don't worry, Mom, I'm practicing body techniques. If there's danger in the future, I'll be able to run away..." Mo Hua reassured.
"Really?" Liu Ruhua asked.
"Yeah." Mo Hua nodded.
Liu Ruhua sighed in relief. "That's good then." She glanced at the bruises on Mo Hua's body and couldn't help but add, "Be careful, though."
Mo Hua replied confidently, "Mom, don't worry. I've just started learning. Soon, even if it rains heavily, it won't be able to wet the hem of my clothes..."
Liu Ruhua chuckled, shaking her head. She playfully pinched Mo Hua's nose, "You're quite confident!"
The next day, Mo Hua's "injuries" hadn't healed; his shoulders were still swollen, and every move caused him pain. Despite his improved proficiency in Flowing Water Steps, his performance wasn't better than the first day.
On the third day, Mo Hua's pain eased slightly, and his footwork improved further, resulting in fewer hits from the falling fruits.
Every day thereafter, Mo Hua practiced under the tree. As the fruits diminished on the tree, Mo Hua's mastery of Flowing Water Steps improved.
By the time Mo Hua became somewhat proficient in Flowing Water Steps, there were hardly any fruits left on the tree.
Mo Hua stood before the towering tree, silently watching. A few immature wild fruits hung sparsely on what was once a lush canopy.
It looked somewhat desolate...
Feeling somewhat guilty, Mo Hua drew a Water-Wood Formation and buried it at the tree's roots.
The Water-Wood Formation could nurture water qi, nourish spiritual wood, and aid in the growth of flowers, plants, and trees. It was Mo Hua's way of apologizing.
With the nurturing of the Water-Wood Formation, the leaves of the tree seemed to regain some lushness.
Although Mo Hua had become quite proficient in Flowing Water Steps, the effectiveness in actual combat remained uncertain.
After all, the trajectory of falling fruits was predictable, unlike the unpredictable punches, kicks, and spells in actual combat.
Ultimately, Mo Hua needed to find someone to spar with and gain practical experience.
But who?
Mo Shan was heading into the mountains to hunt demons, and in terms of cultivation and combat experience, he far surpassed Mo Hua, making him unsuitable. Da Huo and his companions frequently ventured into the Great Black Mountain for days at a time, sometimes even half a month, and upon returning, they were always busy with various matters, making it impractical to trouble them.
Da Zhu and the others were busy every day learning craftsmanship from Master Chen.
What about Zhang Lan?
Mo Hua pondered but shook his head. Although Zhang Lan appeared idle, he was still a dignified officer of the Court, unlikely to be truly idle every day. Besides, it was Zhang Lan who taught him the body technique in the first place; asking him to spar would seem a bit audacious.
Mo Hua couldn't think of a suitable candidate.
A few days later, Mo Hua delivered wine and food to Mr. Zhuang, asked a few questions, and then took his leave.
Walking under the large locust tree, Mo Hua noticed Bai Zixi sitting peacefully, reading a book, while delicate locust flowers gently fell on her.
Beside her, Bai Zisheng lay on his back under the tree, a book covering his face, looking utterly bored and disenchanted, occasionally rolling around in a manner that was hard to ignore.
Mo Hua sighed.
Bai Zisheng heard the sigh and immediately sat up, his eyes bright and attentive as he looked at Mo Hua.
(End of the Chapter)