Chapter 119: Preparation

Mo Hua went to ask Master Zhuang about teaching others formation techniques.

Master Zhuang did not mind, "Everything I taught you, you may teach to others, as long as you wish to."

Mo Hua was overjoyed, "Thank you, Mr.!"

Master Zhuang ate meat and drank wine, his expression relaxed. Suddenly he asked curiously:

"Teaching others brings you no benefit, do you not fear the trouble?"

"Senior Yan once told me: the Way of Formations is like water; only through transmission can it flow far and long."

Master Zhuang's expression showed slight surprise.

Mo Hua looked again at Master Zhuang and said: "You taught me formation techniques—that is transmission. Though I am shallow and limited in skill, within my capacity, I wish to pass these formations on, so as not to betray your guidance and ensure the Way of Formations flows far and long."

"Flow far and long…?"

Master Zhuang's slender fingers lightly tapped the armrest of the bamboo chair, "And what good is flowing far and long?"

Mo Hua frowned slightly, thought for a moment, then said slowly:

"Formations are the manifestation of Heavenly Dao's principles; studying formations is to comprehend the Dao, drawing formations is to practice the Dao, teaching formations is to transmit the Dao. Cultivators seek the Dao and immortality—when formations flow far and long, the Dao itself flows ceaselessly…"

Master Zhuang's eyes brightened slightly, and he nodded, "Well said. The Dao gives birth to all things, the Dao transforms all things."

Master Zhuang looked again at Mo Hua and said: "No matter what happens in the future, do not forget your original intention."

"Yes, Mr.!"

After Mo Hua left, Master Zhuang lay back on the bamboo chair, raising his right hand to gaze at his palm.

Now his hand was empty—no Qi, unable to draw formations, unable to hold anything, utterly void.

"Transmission…?"

Master Zhuang's gaze grew deep, tinged with bitterness.

Master Zhuang allowed Mo Hua to transmit formation techniques, and Mo Hua sighed in relief.

Zhou'er is still young; if he learns even a little of formation techniques, he'll at least have a way to make a living in the future.

Mo Hua continued preparing for his entry into Great Heishan.

He had already learned how to make traps and understood the secrets of setting them.

In the following days, Mo Hua used his remaining supply of Spirit Ink to draw five Ground-Fire Formations, plus various small, makeshift formations that might be useful on short notice.

He also subtly gleaned from Seeing Mo Shan the rules and taboos of Great Heishan's outer mountain, as well as the basic procedures and methods hunter-killers use to slay demons.

With preparations complete, Mo Hua found Brother Da Hu and the other two.

Brother Da Hu and the others had gradually shed their youthfulness, appearing more composed, though traces of adolescence still lingered in their eyes.

They had entered Great Heishan, suffered wounds, shed blood, and silently wept—now they were slowly adapting to the life of hunter-killers. Though not yet capable of standing alone, they could at least assist hunting teams and receive a share of Spirit Stones after slaying demons.

Yet these Spirit Stones, for their hardship-filled lives, remained but a drop in the ocean.

Brother Da Hu and the others had just returned from a demon hunt with their team and were resting for a few days before re-entering the mountain.

When Mo Hua came to find them, they were delighted.

"I have something to discuss with you."

Mo Hua chewed on the sour-sweet wild fruit Madame Meng had given him, cheeks puffed out as he spoke.

Brother Da Hu and the others blinked in surprise, "What is it?"

"I'm going into Great Heishan!" said Mo Hua.

Brother Da Hu and the others stared, shaking their heads like drum toys.

"No, no, no!"

Brother Da Hu said: "Great Heishan is extremely dangerous—you cannot go!"

"Exactly, you're only at Qi Condensation Fifth Layer—you can't go."

"You're not a Body Cultivator—what if you get hurt?" Xiao Hu worried.

"Right, you're frail—you can't afford to be injured!"

Brother Da Hu thought of his own bloody chest wound, then looked at Mo Hua's thin frame.

He could endure his own injuries, but if a demon slapped Mo Hua once, he'd likely die instantly.

The more Brother Da Hu thought about it, the more terrified he became, his tone growing firmer: "You cannot go!"

Mo Hua scratched his head, "Don't worry—I'll be fine."

Xiao Hu and the others asked, "Why do you want to enter Great Heishan?"

"To hunt demons!"

Brother Da Hu and the others were startled, and refused even more strongly.

"If you won't let me go, I'll sneak in myself—that'll be even more dangerous," said Mo Hua.

Of course, he was only saying that—he knew entering Great Heishan alone was tantamount to suicide.

Brother Da Hu and the others were at a loss.

"You've become hunter-killers—don't you still earn very few Spirit Stones?" Mo Hua pressed.

They didn't want to admit it, but nodded anyway.

They had only just adapted, able only to assist and received only small shares of Spirit Stones.

Mo Hua said: "I have a way to kill demons—but I need your three help."

"What way?" Xiao Hu couldn't help asking.

"Formations!"

Mo Hua said: "I set up formations to lure demons in, first blast them into pieces, then you three finish them off."

"But…" Brother Da Hu still worried about Mo Hua.

"I'll just set the formations, then hide to the side. Once the demons are blasted and wounded, you kill them, and I'll come out—there'll be no danger," Mo Hua calculated.

"But, can formations actually injure demon beasts…"

"Don't worry, I'll set a few more. Even if the demon beasts aren't killed by the blast, they'll still be heavily wounded."

These had originally been prepared to deal with Qian Xing, but Qian Xing was useless — scared out of his wits — so now they were perfect for dealing with demon beasts.

Brother Da Hu and the other two exchanged glances. They trusted Mo Hua's formations, but they still had lingering doubts.

"Don't you want Aunt Meng to have a better life?"

Brother Da Hu and the other two fell silent. Of course they did.

Aunt Meng had endured a lot of hardship raising the three of them. Sometimes, when she didn't want the children to see, she'd sneak off alone somewhere and wipe her tears in secret.

Brother Da Hu and the other two lowered their heads, their eyes slightly reddening.

Mo Hua sighed, patted them on the shoulder, and said, "Relax. I won't do anything I'm not sure of."

Xiao Hu hesitated a little. "Are you really sure?"

"Tomorrow, or the day after, we'll head into the outer mountain first and find a weaker demon beast to test it out. If it works, great. If it doesn't, we can still run."

"We can run, sure, but can you run…"

The two Hu brothers looked at Mo Hua and said tactfully.

Mo Hua said, a little proudly: "I specially learned a movement technique. Don't worry — demon beasts won't be able to touch me."

"What movement technique?"

"The person who taught me won't let me say."

"Who taught you?"

"A passing, unknown, kind-hearted uncle," Mo Hua answered earnestly.

Brother Da Hu looked at Mo Hua suspiciously. "He wouldn't happen to be a swindler, would he?"

"How could he be? This movement technique is incredibly powerful."

Brother Da Hu and the other two looked at each other, and finally conceded:

"Fine, we'll take you into the outer mountain, but just this once. If anything happens, you have to run."

Mo Hua nodded hurriedly. "Don't worry — my life is mine; I won't lose it."

So two days later, just as the sky was growing pale, Mo Hua met up with Brother Da Hu and the other two outside Xiancheng.

The few of them set out together, heading toward Great Heishan, thick with demon energy.