Two days later was the Formation Discussion Assembly, also the final competition of the Dao Discussion Assembly.

For these two days, Old Master Xun did not assign Mo Hua any formation method homework, instead letting him relax properly.

Because after such a long time of formation method tempering, everything that should be learned had been learned.

There was no need to be so tense during these one or two days.

With free time, Mo Hua went to the Gu family to eat.

It wasn’t that he actively went, but rather Aunt Wan specifically invited him.

Mo Hua had been very busy lately and hadn’t gone to the Gu family at all, which made Wen Ren Wan a little worried.

Knowing that he now had some free time, she specifically prepared a table of spirit meals to nourish Mo Hua, lest he become too thin from hunger.

Unable to decline her hospitality, Mo Hua went and ate a full meal.

After eating, Yu Er went to the courtyard to play and catch butterflies.

Wen Ren Wan then handed an invitation card to Mo Hua.

Mo Hua was startled and asked, “Aunt Wan, this is…”

“This is a viewing invitation for the Formation Discussion Assembly,” Wen Ren Wan said.

“Viewing?”

“Yes,” Wen Ren Wan said softly, “I know you like formation methods, and you’ll definitely go watch the Formation Discussion Assembly. But at such a grand event, there are people everywhere, and ordinary disciples can only stand far away and watch the excitement. They can’t see anything else.”

“It’s different with this invitation. This is an invitation specifically issued by the four great sects to the major families, inviting us to watch. The seats are also very close to the front, and you can see the competition in the Dao Discussion clearly…”

Mo Hua was surprised and said, “Then this invitation must be very precious?”

Wen Ren Wan nodded, “It’s very rare. Unless they are senior sect masters and elders from fourth or fifth-grade major families, ordinary cultivators can’t get it.”

She received this invitation because she was both a direct daughter of the Wen Ren family and the future Dao companion of the next sect master of the Shangguan family.

Mo Hua said again, “There’s only one invitation, and you gave it to me. Then Aunt Wan, aren’t you going to watch?”

Wen Ren Wan said, “I’m not going.”

Mo Hua was curious.

Wen Ren Wan then said, “If I went, I’d have to sit with the Shangguan family’s people. They’re sarcastic and strange, and I don’t like it. It might also involve Yu Er and lead to some unnecessary trouble.”

Mo Hua nodded.

Wen Ren Wan was also afraid that Mo Hua would mind it and said, “You’re different, and you don’t need to care about them. Just take the invitation, find a seat, drink tea, eat fruits, and watch by yourself. You don’t need to pay attention to the Shangguan family’s people.”

“Furthermore, they will find fault with me, but you are a guest, and you have Old Master Xun backing you. The Shangguan family, being elders after all, would never shamelessly make things difficult for you.”

“The Formation Discussion Assembly happens once every three years, a rare opportunity. If you can watch a match up close, you should benefit a lot…”

Wen Ren Wan was very thoughtful in her consideration for Mo Hua.

Mo Hua was grateful in his heart.

If it were before, he would have accepted this invitation, but the situation was a bit special now…

Mo Hua declined, “Aunt Wan, I can’t take this invitation.”

Wen Ren Wan was somewhat surprised, “Why?”

Mo Hua was straightforward and liked formation methods. She had thought he would happily accept the invitation, but she didn’t expect him to decline.

Mo Hua hesitated for a moment, and finally said honestly, “Aunt Wan, I might… also participate in the Formation Discussion Assembly…”

Old Master Xun had instructed him not to tell outsiders about this matter.

But Mo Hua thought that Aunt Wan treated him so well, so she wasn’t really an ‘outsider’.

Moreover, the Formation Discussion Assembly was the day after tomorrow, so it wouldn’t matter if he said it now.

Wen Ren Wan was stunned for a long time before she realized that Mo Hua meant ‘participate’ in the Formation Discussion Assembly, not just go watch.

Wen Ren Wan was inevitably shocked, “You are only in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, and you haven’t been here long enough. Can you even participate?”

Mo Hua said, “I don’t know. Old Master Xun told me to go.”

He actually wasn’t sure if this was in accordance with the rules.

Anyway, Old Master Xun told him to go, so he would just go.

Old Master Xun’s arrangements were always right.

“Old Master Xun…”

Wen Ren Wan was startled, and immediately understood, but at the same time, she was a little emotional in her heart.

Old Master Xun was too fond of Mo Hua.

Such an important competition as the Dao Discussion Assembly, and he could make an exception to let Mo Hua, in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, participate.

Perhaps it was to let Mo Hua gain some experience in advance and get used to such a grand occasion…

This also meant that Old Master Xun had high hopes for Mo Hua’s future.

Wen Ren Wan was overjoyed in her heart.

She thought for a moment and decided, “Since you also want to compete, I will go watch the day after tomorrow.”

Although Mo Hua also wanted Aunt Wan to watch, he couldn’t help but ask, “Aunt Wan, don’t you dislike those people from the Shangguan family?”

Wen Ren Wan lightly snorted, “How can they compare to you? I’m going to watch your competition, it has nothing to do with them.”

Mo Hua smiled.

Wen Ren Wan patted Mo Hua’s shoulder and said somewhat happily:

“No matter what, at your age, being able to participate in the Dao Discussion Assembly is already remarkable, regardless of the outcome.”

“Your parents will certainly be proud of you, it’s just a pity they are far away in Li State and can’t be by your side.”

“If you don’t mind, Yu Er and I will count as half of your family. If you participate in the Formation Discussion Assembly, I must go watch no matter what…”

Mo Hua’s heart felt warm, and he smiled, “Thank you, Aunt Wan.”

Wen Ren Wan saw Mo Hua’s clear smile, felt relieved in her heart, and couldn’t help but smile.

After staying leisurely at the Gu family for a while, Mo Hua returned to the sect.

Aunt Wan personally saw him to the door and said some encouraging words, telling Mo Hua not to worry, to compete well, and strive to win glory for the sect.

Mo Hua replied with a smile, “Okay.”

Afterward, Mo Hua took the Gu family’s carriage and left Qing State City for Tai Xu Gate. On the way, he passed Tai Xu City. Since it was still early, he got off the carriage and went to the formation pavilion as usual to browse around, purchasing some strange and unusual formation books and formation diagrams that he hadn’t seen before to broaden his formation method knowledge.

When he was leaving, Mo Hua accidentally bumped into a disciple from Tai Xu Gate.

This disciple had a square face and upright eyebrows and eyes, and Mo Hua was very familiar with him.

“Zheng Fang?”

Zheng Fang saw Mo Hua and was also surprised, “Little Senior Brother, what a coincidence.”

“Are you buying things?” Mo Hua asked.

“Yes,” Zheng Fang said, “My pen and ink are used up, and I’m reluctant to exchange them with merit points, so I came to buy some with spirit stones.”

“Oh,” Mo Hua nodded.

He had plenty of merit points, so he usually exchanged for pen and ink directly with merit points.

Zheng Fang looked at Mo Hua and asked, “Little Senior Brother, do you have time? I want to buy a few formation books and want to ask you for advice.”

When he first entered the sect, Zheng Fang, who came from a family with a scholarly background, was very unconvinced that Mo Hua was ‘personally chosen’ by Old Master Xun as the ‘Little Senior Brother’ of formation methods.

But after interacting for so long, Zheng Fang had long been sincerely convinced.

Afterward, he almost always called him ‘Little Senior Brother,’ and his attitude was very respectful.

Mo Hua happened to have some time.

Moreover, as the ‘Little Senior Brother,’ it was his duty to help his junior brothers.

Mo Hua nodded, “Sure.”

After that, Mo Hua turned back and went with Zheng Fang to browse around the formation pavilion, ‘guiding’ him on what to buy.

Mo Hua’s current formation method foundation already had a sense of being ‘proficient’ within the scope of second-grade.

He had seen too much, learned too much, and practiced too much.

Not only with formation methods, but also with the authenticity of general formation books, the quality of formation pens, and the quality of spirit ink, he could almost tell at a glance.

With Mo Hua’s guidance, Zheng Fang bought formation books and pen and ink, and then they left together. As they walked to the entrance, Mo Hua said:

“I want to go back to the sect, do you want to come along?”

Zheng Fang shook his head, “No, I have an elder who wants to return to the clan today. I received his guidance since I was young, and I want to go see him off.”

“Elder? From the Zheng family?”

“Yes.”

“Very powerful in formation methods?”

Zheng Fang nodded, “Very powerful! He’s considered one of the most powerful true transmission elders in our clan.”

Mo Hua’s eyes lit up, and he wanted to ask more, but he was afraid of delaying Zheng Fang’s time to see off the elder.

Just at this moment, a man with half-white hair, a straight figure, and solemn and upright eyebrows and eyes walked over.

“Zheng Fang.”

The man called out.

Zheng Fang turned around and immediately said respectfully, “Little Grand Uncle Master.”

Mo Hua was startled. He looked up and sized up the person who had come. He saw that the man was imposing, with deep eyes, and thunder seemed to flash in his eyes. He had an aura of authority without being angry.

Moreover, his cultivation was deep, with a feeling of soaring and becoming immortal.

A True Person in the Featherization Realm!

Zheng Fang hurriedly introduced Mo Hua:

“This is the elder I told you about, my Little Grand Uncle Master. He is a fourth-grade formation master and serves as an elder in Qian Dao Sect.”

Mo Hua felt admiration when he heard the beginning, but when he heard the last three words ‘Qian Dao Sect’, his expression cooled down.

He had always had a bad impression of Qian Dao Sect, and he had no desire to chat.

And the person who had come was exactly Elder Zheng.

He hadn’t cared about Mo Hua, this little disciple, at first, until Zheng Fang introduced Mo Hua:

“Little Grand Uncle Master, this is my Little Senior Brother from Tai Xu Gate, whom I told you about.”

Elder Zheng was somewhat surprised.

When Zheng Fang told him, he thought that the ‘Little’ in ‘Little Senior Brother’ referred to seniority.

Because they were of the same generation, he was called Senior Brother, so a ‘Little’ word was added.

But now that he saw him in person, he realized that this ‘Little Senior Brother’ was really a bit small…

He looked young, with a very tender appearance, fair and clean. Just by looking at his appearance, it was almost hard to believe that he was the ‘Little Senior Brother’ of Tai Xu Gate.

However, Dao has no precedence, and the capable are respected.

Even more so, one cannot judge a person by appearance.

Since he could be the ‘Little Senior Brother’, it meant that at least in formation methods, he definitely had extraordinary abilities.

Elder Zheng’s expression softened a bit, “Little brother, what’s your name?”

“Mo Hua,” Mo Hua said.

“Mo Hua…” Elder Zheng silently repeated the name and couldn’t help but be somewhat amazed, “Painting formations with ink, dotting ink like painting. A good name.”

Mo Hua was praised for his name and couldn’t help but nod.

He also felt that the name his parents gave him was very good.

Therefore, his impression of this ‘Elder Zheng’ improved a lot.

He actually wanted to ask this True Transmission Elder of the Zheng family for some guidance on formation methods, but he was a bit hesitant about his identity and asked:

“Are you really an elder of Qian Dao Sect?”

Elder Zheng shook his head, “Not anymore.”

Mo Hua was startled, “Not anymore?”

Elder Zheng said, “I resigned and am not doing it anymore.”

Mo Hua was greatly relieved, “That’s good!”

Elder Zheng was somewhat surprised and said with a complex expression:

“That is an elder position in Qian Dao Sect, one of the top-ranked among the four great sects. Ordinary cultivators seek it but cannot get it. What’s good about me not doing it?”

“As I said, ordinary cultivators seek it but cannot get it. Why would truly capable people have to suffer this unnecessary trouble?” Mo Hua said.

According to his understanding, in such a big sect, the hierarchy is strict, and superiors and inferiors are clearly divided.

To get along well, one needs to act like a ‘grandson’ towards superiors and like a ‘grandfather’ towards inferiors, otherwise, one will inevitably receive unnecessary trouble everywhere.

Mo Hua’s words struck a chord with Elder Zheng.

Elder Zheng asked again, “Then suppose, you are given a quota for a disciple of Qian Dao Sect, would you be willing to go?”

Mo Hua shook his head, “They won’t accept me.”

They really didn’t accept him.

Initially, he had taken the ‘sect entry order’ given by his Master, traveled thousands of miles, and rushed to Qian Dao Sect, but he was still disliked for his poor qualifications and rejected at the door.

The threshold of Qian Dao Sect was too high, and he couldn’t climb it.

He still remembered this account in his heart.

Elder Zheng didn’t know the inside story and asked again, “Then suppose, they are willing to accept you, would you go?”

Mo Hua still shook his head, “No, I’m not interested anymore.”

He was doing too well at Tai Xu Gate now.

Old Master Xun taught him formation methods, and the old ancestor in the back mountain taught him Divine Sense Transformation Sword.

So many elders in the sect were kind to him, and a group of junior brothers called him Little Senior Brother every day.

Compared to Tai Xu Gate, a mere Qian Dao Sect was not worth mentioning.

Elder Zheng saw that Mo Hua was sincere in his words and didn’t speak falsely, and that he didn’t even care about Qian Dao Sect, which was at the top among the four great sects. Suddenly, he became interested:

“Meeting is fate, I invite you to drink tea and have some snacks.”

On the side, Zheng Fang’s mouth opened wide.

It was the first time he had seen his Little Grand Uncle Master, who was always serious and rigid in his actions, invite a Foundation Establishment disciple to drink tea.

Mo Hua was not polite and smiled, “Thank you, Senior Zheng.”

Elder Zheng then found a tea house nearby, requested a private room, and invited Mo Hua to drink tea and eat pastries with Zheng Fang accompanying them.

The two of them chatted during the meal.

Mo Hua was not restrained by Elder Zheng’s identity in the Featherization Realm, and he spoke calmly, naturally, and unrestrainedly.

After all, he often spent time with the Cave Void Old Ancestor in the sect.

After a long time, he naturally developed some demeanor, and when interacting with other high-level cultivators, he naturally wouldn’t be nervous.

The two of them mainly chatted about formation methods.

The more they chatted, the more surprised Elder Zheng became. He didn’t expect that the ‘Little Senior Brother’ his nephew-grandson always talked about actually had such profound insights and foundation in formation methods. He then asked:

“Little brother, where is your family tradition from, and where is your master from?”

Mo Hua shook his head, “I am a rogue cultivator, with no family tradition…”

Although he had a Master, it was inconvenient to say.

“Rogue cultivator…”

Elder Zheng was even more surprised.

He never thought that in the current Qian Xue State, one could still find a rogue cultivator with poor spiritual roots and no family background.

Families monopolized, sects set thresholds, and the poor had nowhere to stand and nowhere to seek knowledge.

Rogue cultivators were very difficult.

Elder Zheng was emotional in his heart.

He was also curious, “Since you are a rogue cultivator, how did you enter Tai Xu Gate, and how did you learn these skills?”

Mo Hua avoided the main point and simply said, half-truthfully:

“When I was young, I was guided by an expert in formation methods, which can be considered entering the door. Later, entering Tai Xu Gate was also a coincidence of fate…”

“Old Master Xun of Tai Xu Gate is virtuous and respected, and he teaches without discrimination, not minding my rogue cultivator identity. I am now learning formation methods by his side…”

“Old Master Xun…”

Hearing this name, Elder Zheng was solemn and respectful, and couldn’t help but sigh:

“Tai Xu Gate is indeed a remnant branch of a great sect, and it has a bit of ancient style. Old Master Xun is also truly admirable.”

He didn’t expect that the seemingly famous Qian Dao Sect was internally corrupt and only had a reputation.

On the contrary, the seemingly declined Tai Xu Gate actually had such an unrestrained style of seeking Dao.

Indeed, it was famous in name, but it was difficult to match in reality.

The old ancestor had also misjudged initially.

Elder Zheng’s mood was heavy for a while.

Mo Hua secretly looked at him and softly asked, “Senior Zheng, I heard that the Zheng family inherits the Thunder Formation?”

Elder Zheng was startled and nodded, “That’s right.”

Mo Hua was curious and really wanted to ask what the principle of the Thunder Formation was, but he was afraid of being rude by rashly asking about someone else’s inheritance.

Elder Zheng seemed to see through Mo Hua’s idea and said:

“The Thunder Formation is an ancient formation Dao and the core formation inheritance of the Zheng family. It cannot be passed on to outsiders. Moreover, this formation requires a very high level of inner nature for disciples. Those with impure hearts and unsteady Dao hearts cannot easily learn it.”

Mo Hua nodded and deeply agreed.

Elder Zheng was curious, “Don’t you feel that I am giving you the runaround?”

“Giving the runaround?”

“The saying about the Dao heart, after all, is illusory…” Elder Zheng said.

“How can it be?” Mo Hua shook his head.

Speaking of the Dao heart and Divine Sense, that involved his ‘specialty’.

Mo Hua said with a serious face, “The Dao heart is very important. Cultivators seeking Dao need to have an upright and firm heart for seeking Dao.”

“Otherwise, the Dao path is long, and all phenomena are vast, demons and ghosts, evil thoughts breed… Sooner or later, one will get lost in various turbulences and forget their original intention.”

“Or indulging in one’s own power, or being intoxicated by personal fame and fortune, or indulging in improper emotions and desires, one’s Dao heart will eventually be extinguished.”

“As long as the Dao heart is extinguished, even if the cultivation is higher, the power is greater, and the fame is more prosperous, one is just a puppet of selfish desires and very easy to be manipulated…”

Mo Hua spoke eloquently, combining his own experiences and feelings about the Divine Sense Dao.

Elder Zheng was stunned for a moment, and suddenly felt a sense of meeting too late in his heart.

This child speaks so well!

Why didn’t he meet such disciples in Qian Dao Sect?

He even personally poured a cup of tea for Mo Hua.

After being silent for a moment, Elder Zheng suddenly had an impulse in his heart:

Such a good seedling, he must teach him something.

But the Zheng family’s Thunder Formation could not be taught without the old ancestor’s approval…

Elder Zheng then asked, “Do you have any formation methods you want to learn? Besides the Thunder Formation, as long as I know them, I can teach you.”

Mo Hua’s expression lit up with joy.

He didn’t expect that this seemingly strict Senior Zheng was actually a very good person.

However…

What should he ask to be taught?

Mo Hua pondered for a moment.

First, it had to be second-grade formation methods. Even if he was taught third-grade ones, he wouldn’t be able to do them.

But for second-grade formation methods, especially the common Five Elements and Eight Trigrams formations, Old Master Xun had already taught him too much.

No matter how powerful Senior Zheng was, he should not surpass Old Master Xun in the foundation of these basic formation methods.

There were indeed many special formation methods.

But the Thunder Formation couldn’t be taught, and Senior Zheng probably didn’t know the other Eight Trigrams, special Qian Formation, or Kun Formation either.

Not Absolute Formations either.

Absolute Formations were secrets, extremely precious. It would be too brazen of him to ask about this kind of inheritance.

Moreover, his Divine Sense was not strong enough now, so he couldn’t learn Absolute Formations either.

Then what else could he ask?

Mo Hua quickly went through the formation methods he could learn now and those that might be useful to learn next. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he asked:

“Senior Zheng, are you familiar with Yuan Magnetic formation methods?”

“Yuan Magnetic formation methods?”

“Yes,” Mo Hua nodded, “I am dull, and I have researched them a bit before, but I am not proficient and have many doubts…”

“Yuan Magnetic formation methods should actually be called ‘Thunder Magnetic’ formation methods. Their core is the ‘secondary thunder pattern’. The secondary thunder pattern contains the word ‘thunder’, so is it also related to the Eight Trigrams Thunder Formation? The secondary thunder pattern represents the secondary thunder flow. What are the differences and similarities between it and true thunder and lightning…”

Elder Zheng’s expression gradually became somewhat shocked.

Disciples nowadays had researched formation methods to this level?

Thunder Magnetic, secondary thunder pattern, secondary thunder flow. These obscure formation method concepts were things that third or fourth-grade formation masters would research after having special inheritance…

However, it was good that it was a bit difficult.

As a dignified fourth-grade formation master, it wouldn’t be interesting to answer those basic formation method questions.

Elder Zheng pondered for a moment and nodded, “The secondary thunder pattern and its accompanying secondary thunder flow, which cultivators call ‘Yuan Magnetic’, are extremely weak and obscure thunder and lightning. They can be considered a kind of ‘thunder formation’ derivative, but they are different in nature from true thunder formations, and their uses are also greatly different.”

“The Zheng family inherits the Thunder Formation, but over so many years, they have more or less been involved in derivatives and secondary formation methods related to ‘thunder’.”

“Yuan Magnetic formation, secondary thunder pattern. Although these are also rare formation method inheritances, unlike the Thunder Formation, they are not true secrets and are not forbidden from being transmitted externally. I can tell you…”

Mo Hua was overjoyed, “Thank you, Senior Zheng.”

Then, Mo Hua asked Elder Zheng many questions about the related formation Dao knowledge of Yuan Magnetic formation methods, secondary thunder patterns, and secondary thunder flow.

Elder Zheng told him everything he knew without reservation.

The two of them chatted very happily.

It wasn’t until the sky gradually darkened and it was evening that Elder Zheng wanted to leave. Mo Hua, who had benefited greatly, was still somewhat reluctant to part.

He was reluctant and asked, “Senior Zheng, are you returning to the clan today?”

Elder Zheng nodded, “There is still a farewell banquet tonight at Xu Hour, and then we will leave by cloud boat.”

He carried the Thunder Formation inheritance and resigned from the position of elder in Qian Dao Sect, which implicitly offended Qian Dao Sect.

It was best to leave the Qian Xue State as early as possible to avoid any complications.

Mo Hua felt somewhat regretful, “Formation Discussion Assembly? Aren’t you going to watch?”

Elder Zheng shook his head with an expression of indifference, “Not watching.”

It didn’t matter anymore.

His expression was somewhat complex.

The Formation Discussion Assembly seemed like a grand event, but at its root, it was just a ‘gathering’ of families and large clans.

It had nothing to do with the vast majority of ordinary cultivators in this world.

Even, the future Formation Discussion Assembly would also be a ‘game’.

Those so-called sons of heaven who were not ‘concerned about the world’ would occupy all the fame and fortune, and then use this to gradually climb to high positions and seek personal interests.

All of this would gradually ‘disconnect’ from the cultivators at the bottom of this world.

The silent and unknown majority would be gradually forgotten.

This was the trend, almost irreversible.

Especially the formation methods, which originally had a high threshold, families would intensify their monopoly, and the barriers would become increasingly high, leaving almost no chance.

This Formation Discussion Assembly was already without suspense, and there was nothing to watch.

Mo Hua was somewhat regretful, but he could only say goodbye:

“Then I wish Senior a smooth journey, a safe return to the clan, and further progress in formation methods in the future.”

Elder Zheng smiled slightly, “I also wish you to be young and promising, with limitless future.”

Mo Hua smiled with narrowed eyes.

Afterward, the few people parted.

Mo Hua and Zheng Fang walked shoulder to shoulder back to Tai Xu Gate.

Elder Zheng watched them leave, especially looking at Mo Hua’s back. Suddenly, he felt the depression in his heart dissipate, and he was greatly comforted.