Cultivation Technique

Mo Hua couldn't help but touch his face and then looked down at his attire, puzzled. "What are you both looking at?"

Unable to hold back, Bai Zisheng asked, "The formation you just drew... was it the Three Realms Formation?"

Mo Hua nodded.

"Which version of the Three Realms Formation?"

"Are there many versions of the Three Realms Formation?"

"What I meant was... was it the kind that includes six formation patterns?"

"Yeah, what's wrong with that?"

Bai Zisheng's expression grew serious. "Your cultivation level is only at the third level of Qi Refining..."

"So what?"

Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi exchanged glances.

After a moment of contemplation, Mo Hua suddenly realized, "To draw a formation containing six formation patterns at the third level of Qi Refining, isn't that quite impressive?"

He had thought that in a large family where geniuses abounded, drawing a few more formation patterns shouldn't be difficult.

Bai Zisheng wasn't entirely convinced. "It's not that unusual."

"Then, when you were at the third level of Qi Refining, could you draw the Three Realms Formation?"

Bai Zisheng hesitated to answer, stuttering after a while, "Well, uh... although I couldn't draw it, it's because our family's masters didn't allow it. Qi Refining cultivators have weak spiritual senses. Forcing them to draw complex formations could deplete their spiritual energy excessively and damage their Sea of Consciousness, preventing them from becoming formation masters in the future. One shouldn't risk damaging their foundations due to reckless ambition."

"Oh," Mo Hua half-believed.

"However," Bai Zisheng added, "some cultivators in our family have extraordinary talents. At the third level of Qi Refining, they can draw seven or eight formation patterns, which isn't considered particularly rare either."

Mo Hua nodded. He knew that while his talent was decent, in the world of cultivation where there were many geniuses, he might not stand out much.

There were always people beyond people, heavens beyond heavens. He understood this well.

Bai Zisheng then patted Mo Hua on the shoulder reassuringly. "Although drawing six formation patterns at the third level of Qi Refining isn't rare, it's already quite impressive. With such talent in formations, even in our family, you would be considered above average. With effort, you'll definitely achieve something in formations in the future."

With Bai Zisheng's words, Mo Hua felt relieved.

His goals weren't grand. Becoming a skilled formation master, having a means of livelihood in the cultivation world to make his parents happy, was sufficient for now. As for the future, he would think about it later.

Only Bai Zixi silently observed Bai Zisheng.

Bai Zisheng inexplicably felt a bit guilty. He then adopted a pose of meditation and cultivation, trying to act nonchalant.

Among Master Zhuang's three named disciples, the Bai siblings were twins. Bai Zisheng was the elder brother, Bai Zixi the younger sister, both two or three years older than Mo Hua. They were at the seventh level of Qi Refining, four levels higher than Mo Hua.

This was because aristocratic children emphasized laying a solid foundation and progressing steadily, not blindly pursuing advancement.

They had to steadily build a strong foundation step by step, then attempt to break through realms. Otherwise, their cultivation would be much higher than it is now.

In terms of formation skills, Mo Hua believed he could catch up with the Bai siblings, but in terms of cultivation level, he might never surpass them.

So Mo Hua practiced his morning routine every day, spending about an hour absorbing a spirit stone, diligently cultivating at a steady pace.

With a medium to lower-grade spiritual root, Mo Hua could only accumulate his cultivation in this mundane and boring manner.

Mo Hua wasn't in a rush and couldn't afford to be. Being eager wouldn't help; progress in cultivation mostly depended on spiritual roots, with no shortcuts available.

On this particular day, while Mo Hua was cultivating, he suddenly felt a slight tingling sensation in his Sea of Qi. He knew that his Sea of Qi was now full and he could consider breaking through the realm, becoming a fourth-level Qi Refining cultivator.

Excited, Mo Hua suddenly realized something important:

He hadn't chosen a cultivation technique yet!

Initially, he planned to save enough spirit stones to select a minor Five Elements attribute technique from the Tongxian Sect—a practical one that wouldn't consume too many natural treasures.

However, after the change in leadership at the Tongxian Sect and the strict new rules, Mo Hua decided to leave the sect.

After being accepted as a named disciple by Master Zhuang, Mo Hua focused all his attention on learning formations, putting aside the matter of cultivation techniques.

Mo Hua's parents both practiced cultivation techniques, but their attributes differed slightly from Mo Hua's and leaned more towards physical cultivation, which wasn't suitable for him. Apart from the Tongxian Sect, there wasn't a suitable avenue outside to learn techniques.

It's best to start practicing techniques in the early stages of Qi Refining. Mo Hua was already approaching the fourth level of Qi Refining, so he couldn't delay the matter of techniques any longer.

"Zisheng, when did you learn your technique?" Mo Hua asked Bai Zisheng curiously during their free time.

Bai Zisheng replied discontentedly, "I'm older than you. You should call me Big Brother Bai or Senior Bai, not just my name. It shows disrespect."

"In a few days, my father and the others will return from hunting demons. I can take you to see what the demon beasts they hunted look like."

"Really?" Bai Zisheng's eyes lit up.

"Really!"

Bai Zisheng immediately said, "When my sister and I first started practicing, we learned techniques. It's best to learn techniques early, especially ones that align with our family's heritage. Otherwise, learning techniques from different stages can lead to deviations and potential demonic cultivation."

Mo Hua nodded.

Bai Zisheng suddenly realized something and exclaimed, "Wait, you haven't learned a technique yet?"

Mo Hua shook his head. "No, it's not easy for an independent cultivator to choose a technique."

"Even if it's not easy, you should at least have a technique..."

Mo Hua gave him a look. "You're just standing there and talking."

"What do you mean?"

"It means you're talking nonsense."

Scratching his head, Bai Zisheng said, "Unfortunately, the family's techniques are not allowed to be passed on outside. Otherwise, I could secretly give you some rare and good techniques."

Mo Hua wondered, "Aren't technique grades determined by the cultivator's spiritual roots? With medium to lower-grade roots, I can only learn medium to lower-grade techniques. If it's already medium to lower-grade, how can there be good or bad?"

"You don't know this. Some special techniques have unique effects. Some techniques cultivate faster, some focus on refining the body, and others are suitable for alchemy..."

"Of course, the grade of the technique is the most important, mainly determined by the abundance of spiritual power. But spiritual roots are predetermined and can't be changed, so there's not much to say about it."

Rare techniques with special effects...

Mo Hua pondered for a moment but shook his head. "Even if there are rare techniques, I wouldn't be able to cultivate them. If the technique is rare, then the required spiritual materials are naturally scarce. If I can't gather these materials in my lifetime, then my cultivation would be stagnant forever..."

"That's true. I forgot you're from an independent cultivator background and can't gather those rare spiritual treasures..." Bai Zisheng frowned and suggested, "Then why don't you ask Master Zhuang?"

Mo Hua thought about it and shook his head. "Master Zhuang has already taught me formations, which is already a great favor. How can I ask him for techniques as well? It would be too much to take advantage of his kindness."

Bai Zisheng nodded. "Good, you have integrity! That's what qualifies you to be my little brother."

Mo Hua corrected him, "I'm not your little brother."

"Why not? I'm older than you. You should call me Big Brother. Xixi, what do you say?"

Bai Zisheng looked at Bai Zixi, who lowered her head and ignored him.

"She's also older than you, so you should call her Elder Sister Xixi," Bai Zisheng added.

Bai Zixi blinked her dark eyelashes gently, her eyes shimmering.

Mo Hua snorted. "You're dreaming."

"So many people want to be my little brother, and you're not willing," Bai Zisheng said proudly.

"I don't care. I'm not taking you to see demon beasts."

"Fine," Bai Zisheng grumbled, "You're not keeping your word. You promised, how can you change your mind like this?"

The two argued for a while until Bai Zisheng agreed not to make Mo Hua call him big brother anymore, and Mo Hua promised to take him to see the demon beasts by the end of the month, finally settling the matter.

They continued their cultivation and studies until evening, and as they parted ways, Bai Zisheng asked again, "So, what are you going to do about your technique?"

"Hmm..." Mo Hua pondered. "I'll go back and ask my parents. Since I want to be a formation master relying on spiritual awareness rather than spiritual power, any decent technique will do."

"Just any decent one won't do. We're both apprentices of Master Zhuang. If your cultivation level is too low, it'll make me lose face," Bai Zisheng said angrily. "I'll look into it. See if there's a suitable technique within the family that isn't strictly controlled. You can learn it secretly."

With that, Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi left together.

Mo Hua shook his head helplessly but felt warmed by Bai Zisheng's goodwill. After packing up, he headed home.

Meanwhile, resting in his bamboo room, Master Zhuang opened his eyes. He lightly tapped the armrest of the bamboo chair with his slender, fair fingers, murmuring to himself:

"Techniques..."

(End of the Chapter)