Chapter 377: Absolute Formation

“Supreme Divine-Sense, attaining the Great Dao…”

Mo Hua was momentarily dazed.

He hadn’t expected Mister Zhuang to hold such deep expectations for him, nor that his teacher’s plans for his path would reach so far ahead.

Originally, he’d only hoped to reach Foundation Establishment—that alone would’ve satisfied him. As for anything beyond that, he had never truly thought about it.

Mo Hua nodded earnestly.

“Master, I’ll remember everything!”

His thoughts gradually cleared.

He must continue studying profound formations, temper his Divine-Sense to greater strength, become a higher-ranked formation master, reach higher cultivation realms, and ultimately pursue the long road toward the Dao itself.

Mister Zhuang’s eyes revealed a trace of comfort.

After a moment, Mo Hua thought of something and asked,

“Master, where can I learn Absolute Formations?”

Mister Zhuang paused, a flicker of apology in his eyes.

“I once possessed several inheritances of Absolute Formations, but after certain… incidents, most were lost. If you wish to study Absolute Formations, you’ll have to find them yourself.”

Mo Hua blinked in surprise. “Find them myself? How… do I do that?”

Mister Zhuang explained calmly,

“In this world, the vast majority of formation inheritances are monopolized by the Dao Court, noble clans, and great sects—Absolute Formations included.”

“To learn from them directly is nearly impossible. Even if you could, the cost would be tremendous.”

“So, if you wish to study Absolute Formations, you must seek those secret, forgotten formations scattered across the Nine Provinces—hidden, unknown to the world.”

Mo Hua frowned slightly. “If they’re Absolute Formations, then they must be precious. And if they’re so precious, how could they possibly remain unknown?”

“Because ordinary people don’t understand formations, nor can they read formation runes. Even among formation masters, without the right inheritance, few can glimpse the mysteries of an Absolute Formation.”

Mo Hua nodded, understanding dawning—then curiosity sparked again.

“Wouldn’t the Dao Court or those great sects search for them?”

“They do,” Mister Zhuang replied with a nod. “But Heaven and Earth are vast, and the Dao of Formations is infinite. No matter how they search, there will always be things they overlook.”

“Moreover, some Absolute Formations are so exquisite that common cultivators—mere mortals in spirit—can’t even recognize what they’re seeing.”

“Even formation masters born of noble lineage or Dao Court training—most are nothing but bookworms reciting old texts. They can’t comprehend what lies beyond their established ranks.”

His tone carried a faint trace of disdain.

Mo Hua looked at him in awe, then asked quietly,

“Master… what rank are you, exactly?”

Mister Zhuang turned toward him. Seeing the boy’s bright, curious eyes, he couldn’t help but tap Mo Hua’s forehead lightly. “Don’t pry.”

“Oh…” Mo Hua rubbed his forehead, thought for a moment, and then asked,

“Then… are we going to find Absolute Formations next?”

“In a way, yes.” Mister Zhuang’s gaze turned distant and complicated.

“I’m going to a certain sect—to meet some old acquaintances. You’ll learn their formations, and along the way, we’ll also search for Absolute Formations.”

A sect? Old acquaintances? Formations?

Mo Hua blinked. “Master, what sect is it?”

Mister Zhuang didn’t answer directly.

“You’ll know when the time comes.”

Still curious, Mo Hua pressed on,

“What kind of formations will I be learning there?”

Mister Zhuang’s expression paused slightly, his tone softening with a hint of melancholy.

“It’s a formation I couldn’t learn in my youth…”

Mo Hua was startled. “Even you couldn’t learn it, Master?”

Mister Zhuang smiled faintly.

“I am still human, not a celestial being. There are things even I cannot master.”

Mo Hua hesitated. “Then… if you couldn’t learn it, will I be able to?”

Mister Zhuang’s eyes warmed. “You should have no problem.”

Mo Hua’s face lit up with excitement—then dimmed again with worry.

If his master had failed to learn it, could he truly succeed?

If he couldn’t, wouldn’t that disappoint his teacher… or worse, shame him?

Mister Zhuang could clearly read his thoughts. His eyes gleamed faintly as he smiled.

“When I failed to learn it back then, I was mocked—looked down upon. This time, I’m bringing you along so you can avenge that humiliation for me.”

Mo Hua froze for a moment.

Mocked? Looked down upon?

Someone dared to belittle his master?

Mo Hua’s little face hardened in determination.

“Master, don’t worry! I’ll definitely learn that formation, slap their faces with it, and make them choke on their arrogance!”

Mister Zhuang blinked—then burst into quiet laughter.

“Good. Make them choke on it.”

…

Afterward, Mister Zhuang gave a few more instructions and pointers on formation theory before weariness crept into his face.

Seeing that, Mo Hua rose and quietly excused himself, closing the door softly behind him.

Walking down the corridor, he mulled over his thoughts.

He had never truly understood why Mister Zhuang left Tōngxiān City or why he wandered the lands—but now, it seemed it was all… for his sake?

A warm feeling welled in Mo Hua’s chest—but alongside it, unease.

It couldn’t be that simple.

He remembered the strange Daoist that his master had warned him never to speak of, never to think about—best to forget entirely.

He remembered Fēng Xī’s resurrection, the countless faces on its monstrous head—and among them, one that looked eerily like that very Daoist.

In his mind, he could still hear that twisted, layered voice echoing from Fēng Xī’s hollow eyes:

“Your aura…”

“Not bad…”

“Familiar…”

“Who are you?”

Those overlapping voices came from different throats, yet together, they formed one meaning:

“Your aura… feels familiar… Who are you?”

He’d never met that Daoist—so why did his aura feel “familiar” to him?

Thinking it over, Mo Hua realized it must be because of Mister Zhuang.

He was Mister Zhuang’s disciple, constantly around him, learning his formations—the Five Elements Great Demon-Slaying Array itself came from Mister Zhuang. Naturally, some of his master’s aura had rubbed off on him.

And that Daoist had said it was “familiar.”

Which meant… he knew Mister Zhuang.

And judging from everything, their connection was far from friendly.

That Daoist was certainly not a good person—and his methods were strange and terrifying. Mo Hua had no idea what realm he was in, what spells he used, or even what kind of being he was.

A thread of worry crept into his heart.

Mister Zhuang’s life force was weak, his Divine-Sense fragile—if he had a grudge with that Daoist and was being hunted… it could be dangerous.

And if such a thing really happened, Mo Hua had no way to help.

He couldn’t exactly shatter another massive formation again…

Even if he wanted to, there wasn’t one available to shatter.

Lost in thought, he walked down the inn corridor—when suddenly, he noticed a young girl walking toward him.

Her face was unfamiliar, yet her aura felt faintly familiar.

As they brushed past each other, Mo Hua blinked and hesitated.

“Zi Xi?”

The girl turned around, raised her delicate pinky finger, and corrected him,

“You should call me Senior Sister.”

Mo Hua froze—then said softly, “Little Senior Sister…”

Bai Zixi nodded in satisfaction.

Mo Hua asked, “Why do you look like this?”

“I used illusion arts to change my face—less trouble that way,” Bai Zixi replied.

“Oh.” Mo Hua nodded.

Her original appearance was far too striking; wherever she went, eyes followed, and trouble wasn’t far behind.

Now, though she was still quite pretty, it was merely an ordinary sort of beauty—no longer the kind that stunned onlookers.

Bai Zixi tilted her head. “How did you recognize me?”

“I guessed…” Mo Hua answered honestly.

She gave him a doubtful look but didn’t press further.

Still, she couldn’t help but wonder—her appearance had changed completely.

So just how, exactly, had Mo Hua recognized her?

(End of Chapter)