Chapter 398: Inheritance
Sun Yi felt a twinge of fear.
This young cultivator was a first-grade Formation Master—someone the Sun family could not afford to offend.
Yet Sun Ze shifted his gaze and said,
“Father, but we’ve already offended him…”
Sun Yi was taken aback.
Sun Ze continued, “Even if we let him go, he will still bear a grudge against us…”
Gradually, Sun Yi’s heart grew cold.
Indeed.
The Sun family had already crossed this young Formation Master.
At this point, hoping for a peaceful outcome seemed impossible…
But should they really strike and end things completely?
Sun Yi didn’t quite dare.
After all, he wasn’t of a ruthless, wild-bred background; he lacked the cold-bloodedness to act decisively.
Mo Hua noticed the inner struggle in the Sun family patriarch and stirred slightly in his heart. He then released his Divine-Sense to subtly probe him.
This time, the probing was brazen, completely unhidden.
Sun Yi, still hesitating, suddenly sensed something and was startled, his eyes widening abruptly.
This Divine-Sense?!
He snapped his gaze to Mo Hua, voice trembling:
“Y-you are…”
Mo Hua said nothing, silently watching him.
A chill settled in Sun Yi’s heart.
It’s over.
They’d encountered a little monster.
The Divine-Sense he first felt—the one from the Foundation Establishment stage—came from this young Formation Master right in front of him?
Qi-Refining level, Foundation Establishment Divine-Sense…
The Sun family had not only offended a first-grade Formation Master, but one whose Divine-Sense was extremely strong, potentially reaching an even higher grade in the future…
Sun Yi’s face turned ashen, stammering:
“I… my Sun family…”
Mo Hua said casually, “I can overlook it.”
Sun Yi jolted, “You really mean that?”
“I’m not lying.”
Sun Yi gritted his teeth: “Good!”
The laws of Heaven are constant.
And those who transcend the normal rules of cultivation either come from extraordinary backgrounds, possess rare talent, or have unusual temperament and methods.
Such cultivators could only be respected and kept at a distance.
Otherwise, the Sun family might really be in serious trouble.
Fortunately, this young master claimed not to hold a grudge.
Whether he truly meant it or not, the Sun family had to take the hint and send him off, avoiding irreparable conflict.
Sun Yi also recalled something even more terrifying.
Qi-Refining seventh layer, Foundation Establishment Divine-Sense, first-grade Formation Master…
And he was only the junior disciple.
There was still a senior sister, a senior brother, a low-profile master, and a seemingly simple-minded coachman behind him.
What kind of status and cultivation must they possess? How formidable must they be?
Just thinking about it made Sun Yi’s scalp tingle.
He didn’t even dare to imagine further.
Sun Yi immediately shouted:
“Stand aside!”
Sun Ze subtly understood, whispering:
“Father, you mean to pretend to let them go, then take advantage of their carelessness…”
He made a throat-slitting gesture.
Sun Yi immediately grabbed Sun Ze’s neck, silencing him.
At this moment, he truly wished he could strangle this son.
Though Sun Ze’s voice was low, Mo Hua had heard it, glancing at him with meaning.
Sun Yi hurriedly apologized:
“My son is ignorant and speaks without restraint. He is unfit for great responsibility. I beg you, young master, to forgive him.”
Ignorant, reckless, unfit for responsibility…
This meant that Sun Ze had no chance of becoming the next patriarch.
Mo Hua nodded.
Sun Yi breathed a sigh of relief, bowed, and respectfully said:
“Farewell, young master. Wishing you a safe journey!”
Other Sun family cultivators exchanged glances, completely unaware of what had just transpired in that brief moment.
But whatever the patriarch did, they followed, bowing in unison:
“Farewell, young master!”
The Sun family cultivators stepped aside, bowing respectfully.
The surrounding spirit farmers were also puzzled, but seeing the Sun family treat Mo Hua with such respect, they relaxed.
Ding Dachuan cupped his fists: “Young master, safe travels!”
Mo Hua waved, smiling: “Take care, everyone!”
“Take care, young master!”
“Safe journey!”
“May good people be rewarded!”
…
Other spirit farmers also bid farewell, offering heartfelt blessings.
Thus, under the respectful send-off of the Sun family and the warm farewells of the spirit farmers, Mo Hua left Qianjia Town, setting off toward distant lands.
There was no “shock,” nor danger.
But with the matter resolved, Mo Hua also relaxed.
Sun Yi was somewhat clumsy with formations, but he knew how to act prudently.
Leaving safely without bloodshed among the spirit farmers was the best possible outcome.
The Profound-Earth Array was already completed by Mo Hua.
With its nourishment, the soil would remain fertile, and Qianjia Town would no longer endure famine.
From now on, the people themselves must manage their affairs.
Whether they could protect the spirit fields, maintain the array, resist the Sun family, or ensure future generations would have enough to eat…
That was beyond Mo Hua’s control.
He was just a passing young Formation Master, able to help only so far.
Bai Zisheng felt a little regretful.
“I didn’t get to fight… I wanted to spar with a Foundation Establishment cultivator.”
He had been standing behind Mo Hua, waiting for the Sun family to act, ready to leap forward and display his prowess as a senior brother.
Unfortunately, the Sun family hadn’t given him that chance.
Bai Zixi said nothing.
But Mo Hua noticed she seemed to have drawn a golden sword, quietly standing behind him.
Mo Hua felt warmth in his heart, silently noting the goodwill of his junior brother and sister.
He’d make some delicious food for them when he had the chance.
The spirit farmers of Dongshan Village had sent plenty of ingredients. Though not rare, they were local specialties, unlikely to be available elsewhere.
Mo Hua glanced back at Qianjia Town, feeling a tinge of emotion:
“The Sun family ancestor was formidable. A pity his descendants neither inherited his formations nor his character.”
Mister Zhuang, who had been resting with eyes closed, slowly opened them and sighed:
“The blessings of forebears wane by the third generation, and are cut off by the fifth.”
Mo Hua asked in puzzlement: “Master, is it always the third generation?”
“Just a general saying. But most often, it diminishes generation by generation.”
Bai Zisheng muttered softly:
“Our Bai family has passed down many generations…”
Indeed, the Bai family had thrived over many generations, not following the “third generation wanes, fifth generation ends” rule.
But he felt he was arguing with the master, so he dared not speak loudly.
Mister Zhuang smiled gently:
“The Bai family persisted through many generations because the ancestors of the first and second generations may not have truly died…”
Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi widened their eyes.
If the first and second generation ancestors hadn’t died, how long had they lived?
Bai Zisheng exclaimed in disbelief:
“The tombs were built, the bodies buried, the ancestral tablets erected, the incense offered. They couldn’t still be alive…”
Zhuang joked, “So, do you wish your Bai ancestors were dead?”
Bai Zisheng immediately covered his mouth.
Such matters must not be spoken lightly.
Other matters could be casually discussed, but questioning the ancestors’ fate was punishable.
Still, curiosity gnawed at him, and he whispered:
“Could it really be that they’re alive…”
Zhuang, inscrutable, smiled without answering.
Bai Zisheng remained deeply perplexed.
Bai Zixi thought for a moment and asked:
“Master, some small families pass down over ten generations. Not flourishing, but not declining either. Why is that?”
Small families, unlike the Bai family, had ancestors of modest cultivation and short lifespans. Over ten generations, the forebears surely passed, but the family remained stable, so they didn’t fall under “third generation wanes, fifth generation ends.”
Zhuang sighed:
“Whether the third generation wanes or the fifth ends depends not on how many generations have passed, but on ancestral teachings and family values…”
“If the predecessors were selfless and accomplished great deeds, and the descendants honor those teachings and maintain the family’s values, the family will endure.”
“Three generations, five generations, it’s all as one.”
“If descendants ignore ancestral teachings, allow family values to decay, exploit the family’s legacy, and pursue indulgence, then by the third generation blessings wane, by the fifth they are cut off.”
“Take the Sun family, for example. Their ancestor benefited Qianjia Town.”
“But his descendants exploit those blessings.”
“On the surface, the Sun family may seem prosperous, but if they do not repent, the family’s decline could happen overnight.”
Zhuang, as if recalling something, sighed:
“For a family, limited wealth or a shortage of cultivators does not necessarily lead to decline…”
“Decadence in family values is the true beginning of decay.”
Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi nodded solemnly.
Being from noble families, they had seen many families rise and fall, and understood this deeply.
Mo Hua, from a humble background, didn’t fully grasp it, but still nodded along.
…
The carriage moved slowly, leaving Qianjia Town behind. Mo Hua glanced once more at the spirit fields.
The spirit fields were fertile and vibrant.
The Profound-Earth Array operated silently, nurturing the land.
How long the array would continue to function, and how long the fields would remain fertile, remained unknown.
Bai Zixi followed Mo Hua’s gaze, frowning slightly:
“The Sun family still won’t give up easily.”
Such fertile spirit fields were like meat near a wolf’s mouth.
Even if the Sun family had a moment of conscience, it wouldn’t last.
Eventually, temptation would prevail.
The Sun family would respect a first-grade Formation Master like Mo Hua, but they wouldn’t hesitate to exploit ordinary spirit farmers.
In that case, this array would likely fall into the Sun family’s hands.
Mo Hua, however, smiled at his senior sister:
“Don’t worry.”
Bai Zixi looked puzzled.
Mo Hua smiled again, saying nothing.
…
At this time in Dongshan Village, Ding Dachuan approached the elder, recounting everything that had happened.
The elder relaxed, sighing: “It’s good that they left safely. We really owe this young master a great deal.”
Ding Dachuan nodded.
Then he turned and suddenly noticed Miaor drawing something on the ground, astonished:
“Miaor, what are you drawing?”
“Formation!” Miaor’s voice was childish.
Ding Dachuan was shocked: “A formation? Where did you learn that?”
Miaor pulled out a book from close at hand: “Brother gave it to me. I’m supposed to copy it, then teach others once I’ve drawn it.”
The elder’s heart trembled: “Which brother?”
Miaor pointed to the spirit fields, meaning the brother who had drawn the formations there.
“Could… I see it?” the elder asked, voice trembling.
Miaor thought for a moment and nodded.
Brother said it was alright for family to see it; the elder wasn’t an outsider.
The elder took the formation book with trembling hands.
The book was written clearly and understandably. Though he didn’t know formations, he could grasp the general idea.
It was a soil-based formation book, recording various earth-element formations used in the spirit fields.
The formations progressed from simple to complex.
From basic patterns requiring little Divine-Sense, to six-pattern nurturing-earth formations, culminating in the eleven-pattern Profound-Earth Absolute Formation—all recorded with explanations.
Which formation to study at which stage, step by step, from beginner to mastery.
A complete formation inheritance book, closely tied to the spirit farmers.
With this book, even without the Sun family, the spirit farmers might eventually draw formations for themselves.
The elder suddenly understood Mo Hua’s words: “One can only rely on oneself.”
For a moment, his emotions surged, his cloudy eyes brimming with tears.
His heart stirred, filled with gratitude. Though his movements were limited, he solemnly faced the distant mountains and offered a deep bow.
Mist and clouds swirled around the distant mountains.
Mo Hua’s carriage gradually receded, disappearing among the layered peaks.