Chapter 394: Thick-Earth Formation

The elder had already decided to rebuild the spirit fields.

Mo Hua also began further planning the formation diagram.

In general formations, formation patterns are drawn on the formation medium—they align, yet remain largely independent of each other.

The formation medium is merely a conduit.

But now, drawing the Thick-Earth Formation meant reconstructing the land itself with the formation.

Using the natural terrain as a foundation, supplemented with formation patterns, the overall formation layout is coordinated so that the formation and nature merge as one.

Cultivators draw insight for formations from all things under heaven.

And then embed those formations back into all things.

Mo Hua, deep in thought and inspired, looked up at the sky.

The great celestial formations in the heavens likely follow the same principle.

By borrowing the heavens to comprehend a formation, and then merging the formation into the heavens, the heaven and the great formation become one.

The Thick-Earth Formation he was now building aimed for the same unity between formation and nature.

Only, this formation was merely First-Grade, and the spirit fields spanned no more than a hundred hectares.

A hundred hectares of fertile land seemed vast, yet compared to the boundless earth and endless sky, it was but a trifle.

But a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Even the all-encompassing celestial formations are composed of one stroke of a formation pattern after another.

Mo Hua’s gaze was steadfast.

By grasping it bit by bit, learning step by step, and grounding himself, one day he could glimpse the truth of the great celestial formations above the Nine Heavens.

And with his own strength, using supreme Divine-Sense, he could merge formations into heaven and earth, constructing a formation that penetrates both sky and ground.

Beside him, Bai Zisheng saw Mo Hua staring at the sky. The inexplicable resolve in his expression made him raise his head to glance at the blue sky as well.

But he saw nothing…

Bai Zisheng then quietly asked Mo Hua, “What are you looking at?”

“Formation!”

“What formation?”

“There is one!”

“Really?”

“Yes.” Mo Hua nodded. “Master said so.”

And he had seen it himself.

Bai Zisheng seemed half-convinced. “You can see it now?”

Mo Hua said, “Not yet.”

“You can’t see it and you’re still looking…”

Bai Zisheng muttered, but a strange competitive spark flared, and he also lifted his head, staring motionless at the sky.

Bai Zixi passed by, eyes full of curiosity. “What are you looking at?”

“Formation!”

Both Mo Hua and Bai Zisheng said in unison.

Bai Zixi looked up too. She saw nothing, but seeing the other two so earnest, she tilted her head back and looked along with them.

The sky stretched vast, clouds shifting.

On the ground, the green spirit rice swayed with the wind, forming waves that rolled endlessly.

The three of them stood on the earth, gazing skyward.

Small in form, yet aspiring high.

…

The reconstruction of the spirit fields proceeded methodically.

Mo Hua spent two days designing the formation diagram for the fields.

Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi helped as well.

On the newly constructed diagram, the spirit fields were no longer neat, tofu-like squares; they now followed the natural contours of the land.

Field ridges crisscrossed, dividing and connecting the plots.

Near the ridges, the drawn formation patterns were marked.

These formations, centered on Soil-Nurturing Arrays, supported the Thick-Earth Formation, nourishing both water and soil, and providing spiritual energy for the formation.

The ridges formed the patterns, the layout became the formation pivot, creating a complete, First-Grade, eleven-pattern Thick-Earth Absolute Formation.

Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi were astonished.

Mo Hua then showed the diagram to Mister Zhuang, who nodded in approval.

Only then did Mo Hua find the elder of Dongshan Village to discuss constructing the formation.

Mo Hua held two diagrams: one of the Thick-Earth Formation, and one of the current spirit field plots.

The cultivators of Dongshan Village were to adjust their field plots to match the layout of the Thick-Earth Formation.

This involved many issues: which plots remained unchanged, which were to be altered.

Although the plots shifted, the total number of plots per household had to remain the same, and so on…

The elder consulted others, planned carefully, then assigned each household spirit farmer their tasks, to be verified together.

Additionally, they needed to purchase spirit ink.

Spirit ink required spirit stones.

Each Dongshan spirit farmer contributed a portion of spirit stones until the required amount was gathered.

A dozen strong spirit farmers went to Shangtai City to buy the ink, then returned it to the village.

Mo Hua accompanied them.

First, because the ink was vital, and the village had spent most of its resources—no mistakes could be allowed.

Second, the quality of spirit ink varied; some were expensive, some cheap.

The farmers could not distinguish quality and could easily be tricked into buying inferior ink.

Third, because of the Sun family.

The Sun family would not give up easily.

As Mo Hua expected, they indeed encountered Sun family cultivators on the way.

A dozen farmers had left Dongshan Village, departing Qianjia Town, and soon were being watched by several sneaky Sun family cultivators.

They disguised themselves in farmers’ clothes, thinking themselves clever.

But they could not hide from Mo Hua.

Mo Hua’s eleven-pattern Divine-Sense, comparable to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, made him almost impossible to sneak past.

Trying to follow Mo Hua was like stealing under a lantern—he would notice.

Mo Hua didn’t bother confronting them; he simply led the group down several side paths and shook off the Sun family cultivators.

On the return trip, the Sun family sent even more cultivators to block the road.

But Mo Hua took the group along a remote mountain path, and they returned safely.

The accompanying farmers were astonished.

Ding Dachuan even whispered,

“Little Master, do you happen to be able to divine…”

The Sun family cultivators’ whereabouts were clear as day to him.

Mo Hua gave a wry smile:

“My Divine-Sense is just a little stronger, that’s why I noticed them in advance.”

Ding Dachuan nodded but clearly didn’t believe it.

Little Master was only at the Qi-Refining stage; even with strong Divine-Sense, how much could it really be?

He thought divination was a more plausible explanation…

Then, the formal construction of the formation began.

While building, some farmers patrolled nearby to prevent Sun family mischief.

The most enthusiastic was Bai Zisheng.

Originally, Mo Hua wanted him to help draw the formation.

He did draw for a while.

But upon hearing that patrolling was needed to guard against the Sun family, he looked at Mo Hua eagerly:

“I want to fight… no, patrol!”

Mo Hua disagreed: “Drawing the formation is the main task.”

Bai Zisheng sighed.

As a senior, in other matters he would act independently without asking the junior, but now they were constructing a formation—he had to follow Mo Hua.

Bai Zisheng stayed to draw, but looked dejected, sighing, unable to muster energy.

Seeing this, Mo Hua said:

“You go patrol. The Dongshan villagers aren’t strong enough to fend off the Sun family.”

Bai Zisheng’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Really.”

Feeling a little guilty, he hesitated:

“You don’t want me to help draw the formation?”

Mo Hua rolled his eyes. “Fine, or do you want to stay and draw?”

Bai Zisheng immediately jumped up, “Never mind! I can’t draw as well as you. You handle the formation, I’ll patrol and keep the Sun family scum away!”

He left, elated, striding proudly.

Mo Hua smiled.

From then on, Bai Zisheng patrolled near the spirit fields, watching for Sun family cultivators causing trouble.

One night, a few Sun family cultivators tried to sneak around and gather information.

Bai Zisheng, without hesitation, moved like the wind and charged.

They were no match; in moments they were dealt with, noses bloody and faces bruised, fleeing in panic.

Remembering Mo Hua’s instructions, Bai Zisheng struck without lethal force, avoiding escalation.

The beaten Sun family cultivators returned home, embarrassed, and reported to Sun Yi.

He asked, “Did you find anything?”

No answer was needed; seeing their injuries, he understood.

They had discovered nothing and had been beaten.

Sun Yi could only shrug:

“Go recover.”

The Sun family cultivators withdrew, and Sun Ze entered:

“Father, could it be that they really found our ancestral formation?”

Sun Yi’s expression darkened. “Not impossible… that kid isn’t simple. The commotion at the spirit fields suggests they truly found something…”

“What do we do, act now?” Sun Ze asked. “Our family’s inheritance cannot fall into outsiders’ hands.”

Sun Yi said nothing.

Sun Ze urged, “Father, you’re not planning to wait, are you?”

Sun Yi frowned. “I don’t know exactly what they’re doing now.”

“Maybe that kid learned our ancestor’s formation and wants to redraw it?” Sun Ze speculated.

Sun Yi gave him a cold look. “Nonsense.”

Sun Ze was puzzled. “Isn’t it possible…”

Sun Yi snorted. “You don’t know how profound our ancestor’s formation was…

The formation he left behind isn’t something easily learned.

Don’t talk about that kid; even with ten years of study, he could only grasp a fraction.

Even if he studies for another few decades, his formation level couldn’t match a tenth of our ancestor’s.”

Sun Ze was shocked:

“Our ancestor really was that powerful?”

Sun Yi looked at his son with disdain:

“You don’t study seriously, have only learned superficial formation knowledge, and have no idea how deep it goes.

Even among First-Grade formation masters, the gap is vast; Second-Grade is even more so.

Divine-Sense, understanding of formations, and formation skill all vary enormously.”

Sun Ze nodded reluctantly.

He had thought the Sun family’s formation inheritance declined, and their ancestor might not have been that impressive.

He realized he had overestimated others, but underestimated their ancestor.

“But what is that kid doing now, and what formation is he drawing?”

Sun Yi thought for a moment, shaking his head:

“Don’t know, wait until they finish.”

Sun Ze grew anxious. “We really just let them be?”

“You don’t understand.”

“Understand what?”

Sun Yi’s gaze sharpened. He said calmly:

“No matter what they do, it will ultimately benefit our Sun family.”

Sun Ze froze, pondering.

Sun Yi continued: “These people are outsiders. No matter what they do, eventually they will leave.

Once they leave, the villagers can still be controlled by us.

Any benefit the villagers gain ultimately comes back to our family.

This Qianjia Town belongs to the Sun family; everything here is ours!

Moreover, the formations in the spirit fields ultimately enrich the land.

We just need patience; in the end, we can recover the ancestral formation and rely on the fertile spirit fields to ensure our descendants are well-fed and secure…”