Illusion Arts

Zhang Lan saw through Mo Hua's thoughts, hmphed, and said, "While I may not know illusion arts, I know plenty of other spells."

"Yeah yeah, Uncle Zhang, you're amazing," Mo Hua replied casually.

Ignoring the comment, Zhang Lan returned to the topic, "Do you know who used the illusion arts?"

"How would I know?"

Mo Hua shook his head, though the figure of Aunt Xue, veiled and ethereal, flashed through his mind.

Mo Hua had encountered several high-level cultivators, but Aunt Xue seemed the most likely suspect. The illusion arts fit well with the impression she left on Mo Hua.

"You guessed?" Zhang Lan raised an eyebrow, observing Mo Hua keenly.

Zhang Lan, being from the Dao Court, despite appearing weary, had a sharp observational ability.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then asked Zhang Lan, "What does the Dao Court plan to do?"

"Not much," Zhang Lan leisurely took a sip of wine. "A cultivator who can use illusion arts isn't easy to handle. The Qian family won't make a fuss or investigate. If they keep quiet, the Dao Court can enjoy the peace and won't interfere."

"Can the Qian family just let it go like that?" Mo Hua sounded skeptical.

"The Qian family has Foundation Establishment cultivators backing them. Despite that, someone managed to slip in unnoticed and cast illusions on their young master. They couldn't find a single clue about it. Just this fact is enough to make them afraid..."

Zhang Lan seemed somewhat gleeful, then continued, "This person could drive Qian Xing mad with illusions; naturally, they could use other spells to end his life. Using illusions was purely to intimidate them, to make the Qian family think twice about meddling in matters they shouldn't. If the Qian family can't understand this reasoning, they wouldn't have become the top family in Tongxian City."

"In the end, the Qian family is just a first-class family, bottom tier among established families. They can't compare to those true aristocratic clans."

Mo Hua suddenly realized that families were also ranked in different tiers. Zhang Lan, born into an aristocratic family, knew a lot about these things.

"Alright, let's consider this matter settled. Even if Qian Xing is cured, after these incidents, he won't dare cause trouble again. You just focus on cultivating and learning formations," Zhang Lan's tone lightened.

"Thank you, Uncle Zhang," Mo Hua expressed his gratitude.

Despite Zhang Lan's lazy demeanor, chatting with Mo Hua when he had nothing else to do was a form of care towards Mo Hua, which Mo Hua could still discern.

Zhang Lan glanced at Mo Hua and thought to himself, this kid really has good relations with people.

Leaving aside the demon hunters, that young man named Dazhu who dared to oppose Qian Xing was commendable. There were also many cultivators in the neighborhood who were quite friendly towards Mo Hua.

As for the cultivator who could use illusions, it was highly unlikely they had any connection with Mo Hua.

Who would be so bored as to drive someone from an entirely unrelated family insane?

Shaking his head, Zhang Lan bid Mo Hua farewell and left.

"Take care, Uncle Zhang!" Mo Hua waved his hand.

After Zhang Lan left, Mo Hua sat at the table, rummaging through his storage bag and looking at the stack of formations inside, feeling somewhat regretful.

It was a pity; with Qian Xing no longer causing trouble, these formations were now useless.

And about that illusion arts user, could it really be Aunt Xue?

Mo Hua wondered.

The next day, Mo Hua consulted Mr. Zhuang about formations and then visited the Bai siblings.

Bai Zisheng was dozing off, while Bai Zixi was reading a book.

Mo Hua quietly stared at Bai Zixi, trying to see if she knew anything. But from Bai Zixi's face, aside from being pretty, he couldn't discern anything else.

Bai Zixi noticed Mo Hua's gaze and turned her head, looking at him curiously.

Their eyes met, and Mo Hua whispered softly:

"Three nights ago, was Aunt Xue at home?"

Bai Zixi thought for a moment, smiling ambiguously, "Seems like she wasn't."

"Oh." Mo Hua understood and didn't press further.

After a while, he whispered again, "I have some osmanthus cakes at home. Would you like some?"

Bai Zixi nodded, and Mo Hua smiled, squinting his eyes. They both then focused on their books, not saying another word.

With Qian Xing's matter settled, Mo Hua could now focus on cultivation without worries.

He aimed to reach the fifth layer of Qi Refinement as soon as possible, which would allow him to learn spells.

Mo Hua was quite eager about spells. Illusion arts, which even Zhang Lan couldn't do, he had given up on. But simple spells like lighting a fire or generating electricity shouldn't be a problem.

Just thinking about it made Mo Hua a bit excited.

However, cultivation was a gradual process. The spiritual qi absorbed daily and the refined spiritual power were limited. As long as he practiced regularly, he couldn't speed up much, nor slow down by much either.

Based on his current progress, reaching the fifth layer of Qi Refinement would still take some time.

As for formations, Mo Hua could draw formations with seven runes, but not eight. It was likely due to his insufficient spiritual awareness, making his learning somewhat strained. He could only attempt simpler structures for now. Eight runes were already the limit for ordinary formation masters who hadn't reached the quality level.

Mo Hua being able to draw seven runes already made him a bona fide junior formation master.

Mo Hua couldn't help but feel a bit proud.

After eight runes came nine, and with nine runes, he could become a quality-level formation master!

When he could draw nine runes, he could prepare for the quality-level assessment of a formation master.

Mo Hua heard that the assessment for formation masters was the strictest, most rigorous, and most challenging among all cultivation disciplines.

"I wonder which formations will be tested?"

Mo Hua felt a bit nervous yet anticipatory.

If he could become a quality-level formation master, he could receive spirit stones every month without doing anything else. Even if something unexpected happened in the future and he couldn't cultivate, he could still subsist without starving.

Mo Hua envied this prospect greatly.

However, throughout Tongxian City, including all families and sects, very few cultivators passed the quality-level assessment to become quality-level formation masters. For an independent cultivator from humble origins like Mo Hua, becoming a quality-level formation master was indeed extremely difficult.

Mo Hua could draw eight runes now, and the step from eight to nine runes seemed within reach, yet this step felt indefinitely distant.

Previously, Mo Hua had practiced formations day and night, feeling his spiritual awareness steadily increasing. But now, the formations he practiced were more difficult and required more attempts, yet he didn't feel much growth in his spiritual awareness.

At this rate, Mo Hua wondered how long it would take to draw nine runes.

Mo Hua consulted Mr. Zhuang about this issue.

Mr. Zhuang's expression was complex; it was the first time Mo Hua had seen such an expression on his face.

"Have you not realized that your realm is too low..." Mr. Zhuang stared at Mo Hua silently. "No matter how strong your spiritual awareness is, it's limited. The foundation of your spiritual awareness strength lies in your realm."

Mo Hua suddenly understood and felt like he had asked a foolish question.

For cultivators, the strength of their physical body and spiritual power was also limited, based on their realm. Without breakthroughs in realm, neither spiritual power nor physical body could strengthen indefinitely.

Mo Hua had momentarily forgotten about the importance of cultivating spiritual awareness.

"Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Zhuang," Mo Hua said apologetically. After asking a few more questions, he bid farewell.

"Spiritual awareness is limited..." Mr. Zhuang watched Mo Hua's small figure disappear at the corner of the path, lost in thought for a long time before chuckling, "I've taught so many cultivators, but it seems this is the first time I've said this..."

After a while, Mr. Zhuang looked again at Mo Hua, who was drawing formations under the big locust tree, his gaze profound. "Is spiritual awareness truly limited..."

(End of the Chapter)