Chapter 389: Approaching the Way
Mo Hua had another doubt:
“Master, but isn’t it said that the earth isn’t suitable to be used as a formation medium?”
Normally, formation masters would avoid using soil as a medium.
The earth’s texture is either too soft or too damp, and over time it dries and erodes, making it difficult to maintain a fixed form—unsuitable for carrying formation patterns.
Master Zhuang corrected him: “It’s not that the earth can’t be used as a medium, it’s just that most formation masters aren’t able to use it as one.”
“What one cannot do, one cannot understand. Over time, most formation masters simply assume that soil is unsuitable.”
Mo Hua hesitated for a moment before timidly asking,
“Then how can the earth carry the formation patterns?”
He still didn’t quite understand.
“What is the essence of a formation’s patterns?” Master Zhuang asked.
“They are the concrete manifestation of spiritual energy’s flow,” Mo Hua answered.
He had studied Divine-Sense Calculations, drawn large formations, and controlled the flow of spiritual energy within them through the formation’s core, so his understanding was deep.
Master Zhuang nodded. “Do you remember what I told you? Some formation masters only follow diagrams slavishly. They trace the patterns exactly, never adding or removing a stroke. Yet the formation they draw doesn’t work.”
“Because they imitate only the form without understanding the flow of spiritual energy, the formation is just an empty shell.”
“Other formation masters, unconstrained by form, draw freely, and the formations come naturally, perfectly.”
“This is because such masters communicate with the Dao using Divine-Sense, controlling the flow of spiritual energy through the patterns, rather than merely drawing lines mechanically.”
Mo Hua suddenly understood and was a little dazed.
Master Zhuang smiled. “Do you get it now?”
Mo Hua furrowed his brow, thinking aloud:
“The medium carries the formation patterns, but in reality, it’s not the patterns themselves it carries, but the spiritual energy the patterns channel.”
“Discard the form, seek the essence.”
“The patterns are merely the appearance; the inner flow of spiritual energy is the true essence of a formation.”
“So using the earth as a medium, what it must carry is the spiritual energy within, not just the superficial patterns.”
“As long as the formation’s energy harmonizes with the earth, and the patterns integrate with the ground, even if the soil dries or erodes, the formation still exists.”
Mo Hua’s thoughts became clearer as he spoke, his eyes shining with excitement.
Master Zhuang observed him and silently thought:
“To understand with a single spark—this is the intuition of a formation, and… affinity with the Dao itself.”
“Master, is that right?”
Mo Hua asked, his gaze bright.
Master Zhuang nodded. “Correct.”
Mo Hua smiled happily, then had another doubt:
“Many formation masters probably understand this principle. Why haven’t I seen others use the earth as a medium?”
He added quickly, “…except for the Sun family ancestors.”
Master Zhuang said, “The principle is clear, but actually doing it is a completely different matter.”
“Is it very difficult?”
Master Zhuang nodded. “Even if you understand it, then what? How do you make the soil carry spiritual energy? How do you make the patterns integrate with the earth? What formation do you draw? How do you draw it?”
“The principle is simple to explain, but implementing it is full of difficulties, sometimes to the point of being impossible to start.”
Mo Hua nodded thoughtfully. After a moment, his eyes lit up:
“So the key is still this Thick-Earth Formation?”
Master Zhuang raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.
Mo Hua continued thinking aloud:
“This Thick-Earth Formation, since it embodies ‘great virtue carries all things,’ contains the Way of Earth and uses the earth as its medium.”
“Conversely, learning this formation is learning to use the earth as a medium; understanding the formation is understanding the Way of Earth embodied in ‘great virtue carries all things.’”
“Once the formation is mastered and the Dao comprehended, one can naturally make the earth carry spiritual energy, integrating the patterns with the ground.”
Master Zhuang smiled slightly. “Well said.”
Mo Hua smiled shyly. “Master teaches well!”
Master Zhuang gave a slight, wry smile and shook his head. Then he slowly said:
“When cultivators seek Dao, they focus on insight, often leading to emptiness, form without substance.”
“Formations are the manifestation of Heaven’s Way, a bridge connecting cultivators with the void Dao.”
“By comprehending and applying formations, blending reality and void, one can truly understand the Dao.”
“Formation masters who exhaust the depths of formations approach the Dao; only by attaining the Dao can one achieve longevity…”
Master Zhuang looked at Mo Hua with deep, expectant eyes.
“Exhaust the formations, and approach the Dao…”
Mo Hua silently repeated this, his gaze clear, his expression resolute.
He nodded and saluted solemnly:
“Master, your disciple will remember!”
After Master Zhuang spoke, his previously profound gaze relaxed. He waved his hand:
“Study the Thick-Earth Formation well, see how much you can grasp. If you have questions, come to me.”
“Yes!”
Mo Hua ran off to practice formations again.
The mountain wind blew through the courtyard.
Old Kui silently appeared behind Master Zhuang, frowning: “Are you really going to teach him something this profound?”
“If he can learn it, why not teach?”
Master Zhuang thought for a moment and sighed:
“I originally only intended for him to try searching for formations, to exercise his Calculations. If he truly failed, I would then reveal the truth.”
“Unexpectedly, he really found it himself.”
“Even derived the formation diagram…”
“Though these things are difficult, since he can learn them, there’s no reason not to teach.”
“Time is limited, and I want to teach him more…”
Old Kui raised an eyebrow. “You’ve already calculated it all?”
“Not exactly,” Master Zhuang shook his head. “It was just a fortuitous chance. Before coming, I never imagined that the absolute formation of the Earth Sect would be hidden here.”
He glanced subtly, thinking, “Is it my luck, or Mo Hua’s good fortune?”
The Earth Sect’s absolute formation is no ordinary formation.
Old Kui asked in doubt, “Was there a branch of the Earth Sect with the surname Sun?”
“Just a name, merely a title, not to be taken literally,” Master Zhuang said calmly.
Old Kui nodded, lifting his eyes to the endless spiritual fields, feeling impressed:
“Not reaching the heavens, but it can ‘penetrate the earth.’ Such mastery of formations—even if second grade—would be extraordinary.”
“To think such a person’s Sea of Consciousness shattered and he died…”
Master Zhuang’s gaze darkened slightly, but he said nothing.
Old Kui looked at him again. “Mo Hua learning this absolute formation—will it cause any trouble?”
Master Zhuang said nonchalantly: “What trouble could there be?”
“This absolute formation is a secret of the Earth Sect.”
Master Zhuang snorted. “If they can’t learn it, does that mean others can’t?”
“Besides, if you don’t steal or rob, and a feast falls before you, why not take it? Heaven gives it; if you don’t take it, you suffer for it.”
Old Kui asked, “What if the Earth Sect tries to make trouble?”
“Relax, I’ve already thought of a way.”
Old Kui doubted: “A proper method?”
“As long as it works, does it matter if it’s proper?” Master Zhuang said calmly. “Besides, the Earth Sect is in Kun Prefecture, ten thousand eight hundred miles away. They might not even encounter us.”
Old Kui said lightly: “As long as you’re confident.”
The courtyard fell silent.
After a while, Old Kui spoke again:
“They’ve caught up.”
Master Zhuang was unsurprised. “With such a commotion in Tōngxiān City, if the Grand Elder still can’t calculate it, he might as well retire.”
“And you?” Old Kui asked.
Master Zhuang reclined on his bamboo chair, watching the shifting clouds, and said calmly:
“Do as needs be, and it will be done.”
“You’re not afraid they’ll catch up?”
“They can calculate; I can calculate. Every step I take ahead, it would take them a year or two to catch up.”
“And the Strange Daoist? He won’t let you go either,” Old Kui said.
Master Zhuang smiled faintly. “He never planned to let me go.”
“He’s cunning, and having embraced demonic cultivation, sealed his Daoist path, perfected his Dao-Sin—his methods are even more ruthless.” Old Kui said.
“After all these years, sect grudges must be settled,” Master Zhuang said.
Old Kui sneered, “Settle them? You’ll die a hundred deaths if you meet him…”
He was about to say more but was interrupted by Master Zhuang.
“Don’t worry…”
Master Zhuang gazed at the sky, eyes distant, sighing:
“I’ve planned everything.”
His expression was neither sorrowful nor joyful, his gaze calm, beyond life and death.