On the way back, Elder Yu instructed his son, "Don't tell anyone about Mo Hua drawing the formations just yet."
Yu Chengyi was taken aback. "Why?"
"He's still young and comes from a humble background. His exceptional talent might arouse jealousy, which wouldn't be good for him."
"Oh," Yu Chengyi replied, not fully understanding.
"But we can't keep it a secret forever. If Mo Hua truly has a talent for formations, it will come to light eventually," Yu Chengyi added.
"At least wait until he's older and has the ability to protect himself," Elder Yu said, both relieved and worried.
I hope this child can grow up safely...
Mo Hua, having finished the iron armor formations, earned some spirit stones, received some spirit ink, and even got gifts from Elder Yu, was in a very good mood.
The next day, he went to find Bai Zisheng, wanting to test the effectiveness of the Flowing Water Steps technique.
Bai Zisheng was initially pleased, but then his expression turned somber as he lowered his head.
"Aunt Xue has given me a lot of homework and won't let me spar with you."
Mo Hua was also taken aback. "Then how about just one sparring match?"
Bai Zisheng looked troubled.
"If we spar secretly, Aunt Xue won't know," Mo Hua suggested.
Bai Zisheng glanced at his sister, Bai Zixi, who was sitting nearby reading. He said, "Aunt Xue told Zixi to keep an eye on me and not let me fight with you."
The elegant and quiet Bai Zixi, who was reading a book, heard this. Her beautiful eyes moved slightly, and she glanced at Bai Zisheng, saying in a soft, melodious voice, "I can refrain from telling Aunt Xue, but can you finish your homework?"
Bai Zisheng fell silent.
Aunt Xue had given him a lot of homework, including alchemy, tool refining, and cultivation theory. If he sparred with Mo Hua, he definitely wouldn't be able to finish his homework.
Mo Hua sympathetically looked at Bai Zisheng. "You should focus on your homework. I'll bring you some good food when I have time."
Bai Zisheng felt a little better hearing this.
After leaving the Zuowang Residence, Mo Hua sighed.
He had finally learned a movement technique, but there was no place to use it. This left him quite disappointed.
"How about, since I have some time, I find another spell to learn?"
With this thought, Mo Hua felt invigorated again.
A qualified spiritual cultivator should be able to attack and defend.
But... who could he learn spells from?
Mo Hua was at a bit of a loss.
He hadn't seen Zhang Lan for many days and didn't know what he was busy with. It was probably something to do with the Tao Court, and he couldn't get away.
Even if Zhang Lan had free time, it wouldn't be appropriate to go find him.
One shouldn't take advantage of just one person.
Learning the Flowing Water Steps and using them discreetly was one thing. Asking for more wouldn't be appropriate.
If Zhang Lan, on a whim, taught him some secret technique, the elders of the Zhang family wouldn't let him off easily.
Even if they didn't kill him, they might drag him into their family as a son-in-law.
That would be a big loss for Mo Hua.
But there was no one else who could teach him spells...
After much thought, Mo Hua decided to thicken his skin and ask Mr. Zhuang.
The next day, Mo Hua brought some beef and snacks for Zisheng and Zixi, then brought some wine and meat to see Mr. Zhuang.
After asking a few questions about formations, Mo Hua hesitated several times but didn't speak up.
Mr. Zhuang, who looked like an immortal with a celestial demeanor, neither showed any signs of blood energy nor spiritual power. What if he wasn't skilled in Daoist techniques and never fought with others?
If Mo Hua asked him about these things and he couldn't answer, what then?
Mo Hua was very considerate of Mr. Zhuang, so in the end, he didn't ask.
On his way out, he encountered the Old Kui playing chess alone in the pavilion. Mo Hua gave him a few boxes of pine nuts and then played two games of Five Elements Chess with him.
As he was leaving, the Old Kui asked, "Something on your mind?"
"How did you notice?" Mo Hua couldn't help but ask.
"Your chess skills have declined," the Old Kui said.
Mo Hua opened his mouth to speak.
"This simple Five Elements Chess game can be played with your eyes closed. How could my skills possibly decline?" he thought to himself.
However, Elder Kui's words reminded him, and Mo Hua took the opportunity to ask quietly, "Grandpa Puppet, do you know any spells?"
Elder Kui hesitated for a moment before replying, "I know a little."
Mo Hua's eyes lit up. "Could you teach me some?"
Elder Kui got up and started walking away.
Mo Hua thought Elder Kui was unwilling, but then Elder Kui turned around after a few steps and said, "Follow me."
"Oh, okay," Mo Hua hurriedly followed.
Elder Kui led Mo Hua to another grassy area, far from the big locust tree.
The terrain here was open and covered in lush green grass. There were small bridges, ponds, and a bamboo grove rustling in the wind.
"When learning spells, don't just look at their power. The right spell for you is the best one," Elder Kui advised.
Mo Hua listened intently and then asked, "Grandpa Puppet, which spell should I learn?"
Elder Kui thought for a moment and said, "Mysterious and unpredictable spells, like illusion spells, strange arts, and other arcane techniques..."
Mo Hua's eyes brightened.
"...You can't learn those because your spiritual roots aren't good enough."
Mo Hua: "..."
"Extremely powerful spells, like those from the Five Elements..."
Mo Hua's spirits lifted.
"...You don't have enough spiritual power to use them."
Mo Hua looked at Elder Kui with some resentment.
Elder Kui's face showed a hint of a smile. "But your spiritual sense is exceptional, so you don't need to learn anything complicated. The simplest spell will do."
Elder Kui handed Mo Hua a thin book.
Mo Hua opened it and saw three large characters on the cover: "Fireball Technique."
Mo Hua frowned, pondered for a moment, and couldn't help but ask, "Grandpa Puppet, how is this Fireball Technique different from other fireball spells?"
Elder Kui shook his head. "It's the same."
Mo Hua flipped through the book and found that the Fireball Technique recorded here was not much different from the "Basic Qi Refining Spells: Fireball Technique" he had seen before.
He felt a little disappointed.
"Don't want to learn it?" Elder Kui asked.
Mo Hua hesitated for a moment, but he felt that Elder Kui was right. Complicated, difficult spells requiring a lot of spiritual power were indeed not suitable for him.
Besides, he hadn't planned on learning any extraordinary spells in the first place. Starting with the basics was best; practicality was what mattered.
He was grateful that Elder Kui was willing to teach him and had no reason to be picky.
Mo Hua shook his head and said sincerely, "I do want to learn it, Grandpa Puppet. Please teach me."
Elder Kui gave a barely perceptible nod.
"The key to spells lies in three aspects: spiritual sense, spiritual power, and meridians."
"Use your spiritual sense to guide your spiritual power through your meridians to specific acupuncture points, forming a circuit. This allows the spell to take shape."
"Body techniques are also a type of spell. Since you've learned a body technique, you should understand the similar principles. Learning the Fireball Technique now shouldn't be difficult..."
Elder Kui explained a few key points, and Mo Hua memorized them. Then he followed the instructions and circulated his spiritual power according to the meridian diagram in the Fireball Technique.
The Fireball Technique was simple, and the route for circulating spiritual power was much simpler than that of the Swift Water Steps.
After a few attempts, Mo Hua mastered it.
"Try it," Elder Kui said.
Mo Hua held his breath, focused his spiritual power, activated his meridians, formed a circuit, then pointed towards the nearby pond.
A faint red spiritual power gathered at Mo Hua's fingertips, forming a ball of red gaseous flame. Under Mo Hua's guidance, it flew straight towards the pond.
The fireball exploded on the water's surface, stirring up the water, shattering the aquatic plants, and startling the fish below.
The pond's surface rippled with waves, leaving it in a mess.
(End of the Chapter)