Chapter 26: Chapter Twenty-Six: Progress

Mo Hua went to Yan Jiaxi's office after every class to study array theory and ask questions about array techniques. With Yan Jiaxi's explanations, Mo Hua learned the Jin Shi arrays quickly, and combined with repeated practice on the stone tablet in his dantian, he completed all five Jin Shi array diagrams in just over ten days.

With ample time, Mo Hua drew carefully, succeeding in all but one array, and after deducting material costs, earned roughly twelve spirit stones.

During the ten-day break, Mo Hua delivered the arrays to Mo Guanshi, who examined them and nodded with satisfaction: "You… your elder brother's arrays are becoming increasingly methodical."

Mo Hua regarded Mo Guanshi with suspicion.

Mo Guanshi, somehow unnerved by the gaze, coughed and waved him off: "If there's nothing else, return to the sect—I'm very busy here."

Mo Hua glanced at the empty Youyuan Zhai, devoid of any customers, and asked curiously: "There's not a single customer here—what are you so busy with?"

Mo Guanshi considered his approach to be a detached, effortless business model—not simply poor sales, but fundamentally different from poor sales.

Yet the absence of customers was unmistakable at a glance.

Mo Guanshi grew slightly angry: "What does a child know? I handle major transactions here—whether there are customers or not, I'm busy! I say I'm busy, and I am!"

"Then you carry on with your business—I'll be going."

Mo Hua took his leave, walked a few steps, then suddenly turned back and asked:

"By the way, do you know Yan Jiaxi well?"

Mo Guanshi, sounding slightly uneasy, replied: "Not particularly well—just some fellow sect-member ties. His temper is foul and stubborn; most people can't stand him. We haven't been in contact for years, but we happened to meet recently and had tea to catch up."

"Oh…"

Mo Hua uttered a long, meaningful "Oh…"

He claimed they weren't close, yet his tone was familiar—that meant they were very close, at least with substantial ties.

Mo Guanshi quickly waved him off: "Go, go, don't disturb my business."

As Mo Hua left Youyuan Zhai, he thought:

"It seems Mo Guanshi and Yan Jiaxi really do have some hidden connection…"

Afterward, Mo Hua returned to the dull, ordinary life of the sect: daily classes, post-class consultations with Yan Jiaxi on arrays, drawing arrays back at the disciples' quarters, and entering his dantian after midnight to practice on the broken tablet.

Simple yet fulfilling.

Mo Hua's array proficiency improved daily, his spiritual sense grew steadily stronger—he could now draw four array lines of the Jin Shi arrays with ease, and his confidence grew, no longer feeling any depletion of spiritual energy.

Mo Guanshi's array orders changed several times, each time with the excuse: "Market conditions have shifted—the old arrays are no longer accepted; draw the new ones," followed by handing Mo Hua new array diagrams.

When Yan Jiaxi taught array theory, he would naturally explain the arrays Mo Guanshi had given Mo Hua—effectively spoon-feeding him the knowledge.

This largely confirmed Mo Hua's suspicion: Mo Guanshi and Yan Jiaxi must have a private connection, and both likely knew about Mo Hua drawing arrays for Youyuan Zhai.

Yet neither mentioned it, and Mo Hua pretended ignorance.

What puzzled Mo Hua was why Yan Jiaxi cared so much—answering every array question without reservation—and why Mo Guanshi offered so many conveniences.

Was it truly just because he showed talent in arrays?

Later, Mo Hua reconsidered and decided he was overthinking it.

Yan Jiaxi was rigorous and earnest in both teaching and arrays, never withholding knowledge from disciples. His attention toward him must stem from a desire to nurture talent, unwilling to see him waste his gift and squander his life—he truly wished for Mo Hua to make progress in arrays.

Mo Guanshi, having ties with Yan Jiaxi, likely arranged the array tasks gradually at Yan Jiaxi's request.

Mo Hua silently treasured their kindness.

But now he was still only a lowly Qi Condensation Stage Three cultivator, powerless to do anything—even if he wished to repay their goodwill, he could only wait until later.

Two more months passed, and besides the Jin Shi arrays, Mo Hua learned the Ni Sha array, Liu Sha array, and Tong Feng array. Combined with the spirit stones he had saved from drawing arrays, he now had over one hundred eighty.

Mo Hua planned to save two hundred spirit stones, then choose a mid-grade, low-rank cultivation technique, to spare his parents considerable burden.

Once he had saved enough and chosen the technique, he would tell his parents—they would surely be pleased.

But before Mo Hua could save enough spirit stones, disaster struck at home.

One day during alchemy class, Yan Jiaxi suddenly called Mo Hua outside, his expression solemn: "Your mother is gravely ill—return home quickly."

Mo Hua froze, then felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head, his heart turning cold.

Mo Hua requested a few days' leave from the instructor and hurried home.

But the door was shut—he knocked several times, but no one answered. Just as he grew anxious, a neighbor's aunt emerged and said:

"You're Mo Hua, right?"

"Aunt Yang, my mother…"

"I was just about to tell you—your mother is gravely ill and is being treated by Master Feng at Xinglin Tang. Go see her quickly!"

Mo Hua thanked her repeatedly and rushed toward Xinglin Tang.

Xinglin Tang was the only alchemy shop in the area.

Alchemy shops had alchemists on-site; when cultivators were injured or ill, they would go to such shops to have the alchemist diagnose them and brew medicinal pills.

Master Feng of Xinglin Tang was a renowned elder alchemist in Tong Xiancheng, who had devoted most of his life to alchemy and, in his later years, passed the grade confirmation exam to become a true first-grade alchemist—one of the few in Tong Xiancheng with a confirmed grade.

Moreover, Master Feng was the only alchemist in Tong Xiancheng who, after achieving first-grade status, still chose to operate a clinic in the lower-tier cultivator marketplace.

When Mo Hua arrived at Xinglin Tang, Master Feng was seeing a patient.

Master Feng wore a clean but faded, whitened black Dao robe, his hair and beard entirely white, his expression gentle. Seeing Mo Hua, he gave a few final instructions to the patient, then waved him over.

Mo Hua hurried forward and bowed: "Master Feng, sir! My mother…"

Master Feng nodded: "Good boy, I've examined your mother's condition. It's serious, but not life-threatening—rest easy."

Mo Hua finally exhaled, then realized his throat was parched, as if on fire.

Mo Hua had always been frail; in his panic, he had run too fast, and now, suddenly stopping, sweat poured from his entire body.

Master Feng lightly pressed his right hand against Mo Hua's back, a faint blue-green light flickering as he transferred some spiritual energy. Mo Hua felt a spring breeze sweep through his limbs and bones, his breath instantly flowing more freely.

Master Feng then poured a small cup of tea and advised: "Drink slowly—only a little at a time."

Following Master Feng's instructions, Mo Hua sipped the misty tea slowly, and his breath gradually returned to normal.