Chapter 413: Tangyuan

"Haggle the price down by half, then negotiate slowly."

This was something Mo Hua had picked up at the market in Xiancheng.

The broker's face showed a bitter expression. "It's not… no one bargains like you…"

"Is there a problem with this formation?"

"There is…" the broker said helplessly, then suddenly gave a start. "No, I don't know…"

"Being stubborn won't help you!"

Mo Hua wore a confident look. "Write down what I just said, get another formation master to look at it—it's bound to be exactly right."

The broker was left speechless. "Then…"

"Is there a problem with the formation?" Mo Hua asked again.

"I suppose… there is…"

"Is the formation's problem a big one?"

"Yes… I suppose."

"Since your cave abode has such a big problem, why are you selling it so expensive?" Mo Hua said, entirely in the right.

The broker said bitterly, "But it can't be discounted by that much, can it?"

"I never said you can't bargain. How much are you offering?"

Under the pressure of Mo Hua's gaze, the broker ventured tentatively, "Thirty thousand… seven hundred?"

Mo Hua shook his head. "Twenty thousand five hundred."

"Thirty-six thousand?"

"Twenty-one thousand…"

……

After a round of back-and-forth bidding, Mo Hua was only willing to go up to twenty-nine thousand.

The broker gritted his teeth and said helplessly, "Let me go back and ask the owner. Please wait a moment."

"Go, go."

Mo Hua waved him off.

Bai Zisheng looked at Mo Hua in amazement. "You really know how to haggle…"

"Naturally."

Mo Hua nodded.

For a loose cultivator, even a single spirit stone was a treasure—when it was time to haggle, one naturally couldn't be polite about it.

Having spirit stones was one thing.

Not spending spirit stones unjustly was another matter entirely.

After a while, the broker came running back with a spirit contract in hand, smiling apologetically:

"I reported back to the owner. The owner didn't know this cave abode's formation had so many problems and is deeply apologetic, so he's willing to sell this cave abode to the three of you at a low price."

The broker held the spirit contract out to Mo Hua with both hands:

"The price has been discounted a little more—twenty-eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight, for good luck…"

Mo Hua looked at the spiritual energy on it; it really was twenty thousand, followed by a string of "eights."

"Your owner is that easy to talk to?"

Mo Hua was actually a little puzzled.

Nearly ten thousand spirit stones had been knocked off…

The broker smiled. "First, this cave abode truly has its shortcomings, and you, young master, spotted them—it's laughable. Second, our owner also wishes to make your acquaintance; if you buy our cave abode, it can be considered as giving us face."

Mo Hua asked suspiciously, "Your owner knows me?"

"The owner has not yet met you."

Mo Hua's bright, clear eyes rolled for a moment, then he asked again, "Behind your broker house—is it the Lu family, or the Southern Yue Sect?"

The broker was taken aback, then said:

"To be honest with you, young master, it's both the Lu family and the Southern Yue Sect…"

Mo Hua was also a little surprised. "Your broker house has such big backing?"

The broker laughed sheepishly. "It's not quite that grand… The Lu family provided the capital behind the scenes, and the owner in charge is an inner-door direct disciple of the Southern Yue Sect."

"Although both sides are backing us, neither reaches the level of elders or the family head, so it's only a small broker house…"

The Lu family, Dao Ting Si, the Southern Yue Sect…

It seemed they were all of one cloth.

Mo Hua sighed.

But he was an outsider, so for now it wasn't appropriate to inquire too much. He cupped his hands and said, "Thank the owner for me."

The broker respectfully cupped his hands. "I wouldn't dare."

After that came handing over the spirit stones, signing the spirit contract, and then transferring some cave abode formation diagrams and formation keys.

While signing the spirit contract, Bai Zi Xi said to Mo Hua, "You sign it."

Mo Hua was taken aback. "Why me?"

Bai Zi Xi said, "You picked it."

"But it was you, Senior Sister, who put up the spirit stones…"

Bai Zi Xi said, "I can't sign it."

Bai Zisheng also nodded at the side. "Aunt Xue won't let us sign spirit contracts with outsiders."

Mo Hua was slightly startled, then understood.

Probably a member of a prominent family, with certain taboos—signing a spirit contract could lead to being deceived or ambushed.

"Alright."

Mo Hua signed the spirit contract, then handed it to Bai Zi Xi: "Little sister, you keep it."

Bai Zi Xi had wanted to refuse, but after thinking it over, she accepted it.

After purchasing the cave dwelling, they needed to tidy it up.

Mostly the arrays.

The previous arrays were too shabby; Mo Hua looked down on them.

And since it was his own residence, he felt safer arranging the arrays himself.

Mo Hua spent some time reconstructing the cave's array diagram.

This array diagram consisted mostly of first-rank arrays, even incorporating the Thick Earth Array.

Mo Hua, along with his senior and junior sisters, renovated the cave's arrays according to the diagram.

Afterwards, they had the agent hire people to clean the place thoroughly.

The cave dwelling was now clean and neat; arrays were painted on doors, windows, corridors, flowers, courtyards, and every corner, interconnected to form a sophisticated and intricate first-rank compound array.

Mo Hua was finally satisfied.

Once everything was settled, Mo Hua and the others returned to the inn to bring Mr. Zhuang to the cave dwelling.

Mr. Zhuang saw the tranquil courtyard, the quiet bamboo chamber, the serene pond.

And though numerous, the arrays harmonized naturally with the courtyard, the chamber, the plants, and every step, forming a unified whole—he nodded with considerable pleasure.

Dinner was eaten beneath a large tree in the courtyard.

Mo Hua laid out a low table, and everyone sat cross-legged on the grass.

The table was set with various dishes.

Having been to the mine, breathed its air, and seen the miners' gruesome deaths, Mo Hua's trio had had poor appetites these past days.

Mo Hua himself was fine; Bai Zi Xi, with her eyes covered by Mo Hua, was unaffected.

The main problem was Bai Zisheng—he couldn't tolerate even a trace of meat or grease.

So Mo Hua prepared some light vegetarian dishes and snacks.

That day's main dish was sesame-filled tangyuan.

A gentle breeze stirred, and leaves danced.

As Mo Hua ate the tangyuan, he asked Mr. Zhuang: "Master, isn't the flow of spiritual energy important?"

Mo Hua had been puzzled about this for some time.

What could the flow of spiritual energy within the cave dwelling indicate?

He suspected it had something to do with wind direction and qi patterns, but these were only guesses—he wasn't certain of the deeper reasons.

Mr. Zhuang replied succinctly:

"The flow of spiritual energy is tied to spiritual veins."

"Spiritual veins?"

Mo Hua paused in surprise.

Mr. Zhuang nodded slightly. "A spiritual vein refers to vast spiritual energy circulating through heaven and earth, forming a qi channel."

"Vast spiritual energy…" Mo Hua said, "So now, are there no spiritual veins left?"

Because spiritual energy in the world today was extremely thin.

"There are still some," Mr. Zhuang said coolly. "But ordinary cultivators cannot see them…"

Mr. Zhuang paused, took a bite of tangyuan, nodded, then continued:

"Existing spiritual veins are either within the Dao Court or in ancient clans or Shijiahuo Sects that have endured without decline."

"Some mid-tier powers, if they plan far ahead and wish to ensure their longevity, also attempt to construct artificial spiritual veins using arrays…"

Mo Hua was slightly startled. "Artificial spiritual veins?"

"Precisely," Mr. Zhuang said with a sigh. "They expend vast amounts of spiritual stones, using special arrays to construct massive spiritual energy flows, creating a continuous, self-sustaining spiritual vein."

"To provide spiritual energy for their descendants' cultivation."

"But it's extremely difficult and prohibitively expensive…"

"And what ordinary cultivators see as spiritual veins are actually another form."

Mr. Zhuang looked at Mo Hua and said slowly: "You've seen them."

Mo Hua frowned, thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up:

"Spiritual mines?"

Mr. Zhuang nodded. "The spiritual energy within spiritual veins, altered by celestial and terrestrial conditions, seeps underground and fuses with rocks, soil, and vegetation over centuries, forming spiritual mines."

"So spiritual mines are essentially a non-flowing 'spiritual vein,' a one-time 'spiritual vein,' a solidified 'spiritual vein'…"

Mo Hua nodded involuntarily, thought further, then suddenly felt his heart leap and asked:

"Then Master, if I can perceive the flow of spiritual energy in the mountains, discern the past paths of spiritual veins, can I deduce… where spiritual mines lie?"

Mr. Zhuang smiled with approval:

"That's the logic…"

"Spiritual perception, spiritual force calculation, array energy trajectories, and celestial spiritual energy flows—all are interconnected, forming a coherent system."

"But actually doing it is still very complex."

"Study more, practice more—start with spiritual energy flow, progress from simple to complex, from shallow to deep. Who knows? One day you might truly calculate spiritual veins from spiritual energy flow, and thus deduce the locations of spiritual mines…"

Spiritual mines!

Mo Hua nodded eagerly, his eyes gleaming.

If we really find a spirit vein, wouldn't we become rich?

We could dig up so, so much spirit stone!

Mo Hua looked like a little greedhound.

Mr. Zhuang chuckled and shook his head.

This isn't that simple.

The Dao Court has developed for over twenty thousand years; undiscovered spirit veins in this cultivation world are already exceedingly rare.

Even if one is found, such a large piece of meat, everyone wants a bite—often meaning blood and storm…

Mr. Zhuang's gaze flickered uncertainly; he sighed softly inside.

Turning his head to look at Mo Hua, Mr. Zhuang suddenly hesitated, then wore a look of keen interest.

His disciple appears well-behaved, yet is mischievous and unpredictable.

Back then, he helped the lone cultivators and forcibly seized a spirit vein from the Qian family.

If he truly discovers a spirit vein in the future, perhaps he'll find a way to cheat his way to a feast…

After that, silence fell; Mo Hua ate with focus.

His cheeks were stuffed full.

The glutinous rice balls were fragrant and sweet.

Mo Hua couldn't help eating more, then turned to find Bai Zi Xi staring blankly at the glutinous rice balls in his bowl.

Mo Hua asked curiously, "Not tasty?"

Sweet things—he remembered his junior sister liked them.

Bai Zi Xi shook his head.

Mo Hua's gaze grew puzzled.

Bai Zi Xi looked at Mo Hua, then pointed at the glutinous rice balls in his bowl, saying, "They're a bit like you."

Mo Hua froze, then frowned.

He looked at the glutinous rice balls in his bowl.

White, round, and glistening.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, uncertainly said, "Junior sister, are you saying I'm pale?"

Bai Zi Xi shook his head again.

Mo Hua was even more confused.

Bai Zi Xi scooped up a white, glutinous rice ball with a spoon, took a small bite—and black sesame filling oozed out…

Mo Hua froze, thought for a long time, then finally understood.

His junior sister was calling him scheming.

His face is white, but he's a little backstabber.

Mo Hua grumbled discontentedly, "I'm not scheming…"

Bai Zi Xi nodded, "You are!"

In the mine, you frightened, framed, tricked, and threatened people—you're so skilled at it.

Bai Zisheng nodded beside him:

"Exactly! On the surface, you look harmless, but your mind is full of tricks…"

Mo Hua glared at Bai Zisheng, "Scheming is better than being an idiot!"

Bai Zisheng scowled, "How dare you call your senior brother an idiot!"

"I didn't say it—you just admitted it…"

…

Under the big tree, Mo Hua and Bai Zisheng bickered noisily, full of energy.

Mr. Zhuang's expression was calm, a faint smile on his lips.

Bai Zi Xi took another bite of the glutinous rice ball, his eyes slightly narrowed, gaze clear and glistening.

(End of Chapter)