Origin

A few days later, Mo Hua's meditation technique became quite proficient. After entering into deep meditation, the speed at which his spiritual awareness recovered was more than twice as fast as before. Originally, after completing a formation, he needed to rest for half an hour, but now it only took the time for two or three cups of tea.

However, further comprehension of the meditation technique seemed to make little progress.

Perhaps this was what Mr. Zhuang meant by needing a stable mindset for deep meditation. Without significant changes in mindset over time, the effectiveness of meditation would not improve. It required years of persistence for the effects of meditation to gradually enhance.

It was like grinding stone with water; rushing would avail nothing.

Thanks to the meditation technique, Mo Hua could draw several formations every day, and the speed of his spiritual awareness growth also increased somewhat.

For almost a month thereafter, Mo Hua spent most of his time learning formations with Mr. Zhuang.

Sometimes when Mr. Zhuang felt tired, he would give Mo Hua a few days off.

Mo Hua took the opportunity to visit Destiny Pavilion, where he found Manager Mo and explained that he was now studying formations with Mr. Zhuang and had no time to help with the pavilion's formations anymore.

Manager Mo was not surprised, just glanced at Mo Hua and said, "Aren't these formations drawn by your elder brother?"

Mo Hua scratched his head and chuckled.

Manager Mo sighed and looked at Mo Hua, saying, "I've never seen such a talented child like you in all my years. Anyway, study well."

"Alright, Manager Mo!"

Manager Mo hesitated for a moment, feeling somewhat awkward, but whispered, "In the future, if, uh, I mean if there's anything I need your help with, if it's convenient for you, could you help me out?"

"Don't worry, Manager Mo. Given our relationship, that's easy to handle." Mo Hua patted his chest.

Manager Mo chuckled, saying, "Quite confident, aren't you?" But he seemed visibly pleased.

Mo Hua thought for a moment and asked, "Where did Instructor Yan go, Manager Mo? Do you know?"

Manager Mo fell silent, then sighed, "That's his private matter, concerning the sect. I can't tell you. When you grow older and still want to know, I'll tell you then."

Mo Hua nodded silently.

After leaving the sect, Da Hu and the others had more free time.

If they had nothing to do, they would come to play with Mo Hua. Occasionally when the restaurant was busy, they would help out. Afterwards, they would eat a bowl of steaming beef noodles, and Liu Ruhua would even let them take some other food home.

Occasionally at home, Mo Shan would instruct them in martial arts.

The martial arts of cultivators are divided into two categories: spells and martial arts.

Spiritual cultivators cultivate spells, while Physical cultivators cultivate martial arts.

Martial arts techniques activate the body's potential with spiritual power, allowing the body to burst forth with tremendous strength, as well as the attributes of attached spiritual power, suitable for close combat with enemies.

For example, Mo Shan was skilled in the Flame Fist technique. When he struck, his fist was swift, surrounded by red fire-type spiritual power, quite formidable.

Da Hu and the others followed Mo Shan's physical training. Their fists danced vigorously, and Mo Hua watched with envy.

Unfortunately, Mo Hua had no talent for physical training, and he couldn't learn any of these martial arts techniques. Even if he wanted to learn some offensive techniques in the future, he might have to follow the path of Spiritual cultivators and learn some spells.

Spells involve controlling spiritual power with spiritual awareness to condense spells for remote attacks, without needing to get close.

Da Hu and the others studied diligently. They were nearing the sixth level of Qi refining, at which point they would enter the Great Black Mountain and become Monster Hunters.

The Great Black Mountain was perilous, with fierce monster beasts. If their skills were not refined enough, entering the mountain to hunt monsters could mean risking their lives. Therefore, they dared not slack off at all.

The restaurant's business grew better day by day. With its reputation established over time, even wealthy cultivators from the northern part of the city deliberately traversed the entire Tongxian City to eat a plate of beef and drink a pot of wine.

Throughout Tongxian City, there was only one place where one could eat meat for two spiritual stones.

And throughout the jurisdiction of the Great Black Mountain State, there was only one place where one could eat such delicious monster beast beef.

As business boomed, Liu Ruhua became too busy to manage alone, so she hired two aunties to help out. Both were from poor families, their husbands disabled from monster hunting, unable to provide for their families.

Lower-level cultivators were diligent workers, and the two aunties, along with Jiang Yun, kept the restaurant running smoothly.

Jiang Yun diligently helped out in the restaurant, and her life gradually improved. Her husband's health was also improving day by day, and he could now do some simple physical work. She no longer appeared as shy and restrained as before.

To thank Mo Shan and his wife, Jiang Yun spent time making various pastries as tokens of gratitude, reportedly learning them from her mother.

Her family used to run a pastry shop when she was young, but after a series of setbacks, they lost their property, and the pastry shop could no longer continue. However, the skill had been passed down to her.

Jiang Yun's pastries were simple but delicious, and Liu Ruhua asked her to make more to sell in the restaurant, allowing her to earn more spiritual stones to support her family.

During her spare time, Liu Ruhua also learned to make pastries from Jiang Yun. Some of them were even given to Old Kui as gifts, some of which were learned by Liu Ruhua from Jiang Yun.

In addition, Jiang Yun also roasted pine nuts.

There were various types of pine trees outside Tongxian City, and pine nuts were plentiful but not filling enough, so they were often unwanted.

Jiang Yun occasionally went up the mountain to gather wild vegetables and brought back some pine nuts to roast in a pot, making them fragrant and crispy. Placed in the restaurant, guests would either use them as snacks or pair them with tea, which was quite pleasant.

Surprisingly, Old Kui was fond of pine nuts the most.

Once, Mo Hua brought some pastries to Old Kui and incidentally grabbed a handful of pine nuts for him.

Old Kui cracked the pine nuts while playing Five Elements Chess with Mo Hua, enjoying the crisp sound and special aroma of the pine nuts, looking quite relaxed.

In no time, although the chess game wasn't finished, Old Kui had finished the pine nuts.

Old Kui's already not high chess skills obviously declined further. Although his face showed no expression, Mo Hua could sense some disappointment from his face.

Before leaving, Mo Hua said to Old Kui, "Grandpa Kui, next time I come, I'll bring you more pine nuts."

Old Kui nodded.

When Mo Hua left, Old Kui, who had always been taciturn, reminded him, "Be careful on the road."

It was unclear whether he cared about Mo Hua or the pine nuts.

After that, Mo Hua's life gradually stabilized.

Among the hustle and bustle of Tongxian City, where thousands of families lived with joy and sorrow, sweetness and bitterness, cultivators were striving to live their lives. Mo Hua was just a tiny part of these thousands of families, diligently practicing cultivation and drawing formations.

Time passed like this for over a month.

Mo Hua continued to study formations with Mr. Zhuang as usual, researching formation diagrams daily, practicing drawing formations, meditating to restore his spiritual awareness. His days were as calm as still water, without any ripples.

However, the foundation of Mo Hua's spiritual awareness and formations gradually solidified, his understanding of formation principles deepened, and after studying several times and practicing a few more times, he could basically master the formations within the Six Paths Formations.

On this sunny morning, with clear mountain winds, Mo Hua went to Mr. Zhuang's place as usual to seek advice on formations. However, at the door, he encountered several unfamiliar cultivators he had never seen before.

(End of the chapter)