Chapter 522: Sishui

South of Nanyue City, within the second-rank Sishui Prefecture.

The Sishui River flows from head to tail, connecting the earthly realms.

The winding current glides along its channel, trickling far into the distance.

Mo Hua, weary from drawing arrays, pulled back the curtain, leaned out, and gazed at the green mountains and blue waters, the vast, rippling scenery—his heart felt expansive and serene.

After watching for a while, he drew back his gaze and settled calmly back into the carriage.

Outside, the Puppet Elder cracked pine nuts, listening to the sound, guiding the carriage.

Inside, Bai Zisheng sat in meditation, while Bai Zi Xi quietly read a book.

Mr. Zhuang leaned against a fur blanket, eyes closed, napping, his posture elegant and relaxed.

Yet his breath had grown even fainter.

Mo Hua frowned, deeply worried.

Since leaving Nanyue City, Mr. Zhuang's health had seemed to decline day by day; though his gaze remained as gentle and carefree as ever, his complexion had noticeably dimmed, and his daily rest periods had grown longer.

Mo Hua had asked Mr. Zhuang if he felt unwell.

Mr. Zhuang had merely patted Mo Hua's head, smiled, and said he was fine, urging him not to worry.

But his breath did not resemble that of someone well.

Mo Hua could only sigh inwardly.

It was currently the hour of Wei, afternoon past, sunlight bright and dazzling, inducing drowsiness.

Mo Hua brewed a pot of tea.

The tea leaves were a gift from Elder Su; the infusion was fresh and tender, rich in flavor, and Mo Hua added some spirit herbs, ginseng, and jade dates to regulate the cultivator's blood and nourish the meridians.

Though it might do little good for Mr. Zhuang, it was a gesture of heartfelt care.

When the tea was brewed, steam curled gently, filling the air with fragrance.

Mo Hua poured a cup first for Mr. Zhuang, then one each for his senior and junior sisters.

Finally, he poured himself a cup and sipped slowly.

Bai Zisheng, feeling drowsy and thirsty after lunch, drank his cup down in one gulp like an ox devouring peonies.

Bai Zi Xi, like Mo Hua, sat with graceful poise, her red lips parting slightly as she sipped slowly, savoring each mouthful.

Mr. Zhuang, sensing the tea's fragrance, slowly opened his eyes, smiled faintly, lifted the cup, drank, and his eyes brightened—his spirit seemed to lift slightly.

Mo Hua poured another cup for Mr. Zhuang, glanced outside at the scenery, and suddenly asked:

"Master, where exactly are we going?"

Hearing this, Bai Zisheng and Bai Zi Xi both paused their cups and turned to look at Mr. Zhuang.

Seeing three pairs of bright eyes, Mr. Zhuang felt at ease, paused briefly in thought, then spoke:

"Southward, to the Dali Mountain Prefecture."

"Dali Mountain?"

Mo Hua murmured the name, then asked again:

"If we go there, will I be able to establish my Foundation?"

Mr. Zhuang nodded slightly. "When your cultivation reaches the peak of Qi Refinement Ninth Layer and your spiritual sense reaches fourteen patterns, you may establish your Foundation."

"Cultivation will naturally progress in due course—follow the steps, don't rush."

"But reaching fourteen patterns in spiritual sense… that's not easy…"

Mr. Zhuang sighed softly within.

Not just difficult…

For a Qi Refinement cultivator, it was astonishingly hard.

Even in historical cultivation texts recording prodigies, there was almost no precedent of a Qi Refinement cultivator achieving fourteen-pattern spiritual sense…

Mr. Zhuang looked at Mo Hua, his thoughts churning.

Mo Hua, still preoccupied with Foundation Establishment, asked again:

"Then, Master, if we go to the Dali Mountain Prefecture, will my spiritual sense break through to fourteen patterns?"

"One might say… there is a chance."

Mr. Zhuang gave no further specifics.

Mo Hua's eyes brightened slightly. "So Dali Mountain Prefecture has a first-rank thirteen-pattern ultimate array?"

As Mr. Zhuang had previously explained, studying and practicing ultimate arrays could strengthen spiritual sense.

The harder the array, the stronger the spiritual sense required, the deeper the refinement of the spiritual sea, and the faster the spiritual sense would grow.

Mo Hua's spiritual sense had now reached the peak of thirteen patterns.

Though he practiced the Earth Consolidation Array and the Spirit Pivot Array daily, as he grew more proficient, his spiritual sense growth had slowed…

It was time to seek out a thirteen-pattern array to study.

Mr. Zhuang nodded. "Correct."

It seemed Master had planned this all along.

Mo Hua's eyes gleamed with curiosity.

"Master, what kind of ultimate array is there in Dali Mountain?"

Mr. Zhuang shook his head. "Not one…"

Mo Hua froze.

Mr. Zhuang paused, then a faint, elusive smile curled at his lips. "Five."

Mo Hua's heart trembled.

"Five?!"

Mo Hua opened his mouth, then turned to Mr. Zhuang, puzzled:

"Five sets… doesn't that make them like cabbages?"

If it's a supreme array, it must be rare.

How could there possibly be five sets at once?

Mr. Zhuang smiled faintly. "Guess why."

Mo Hua blinked, propping his chin in his hand, pondered for a moment, then uncertainly said:

"Five… is it related to the Five Elements?"

Mr. Zhuang nodded approvingly. "Correct!"

His tone carried a touch of emotion. "This is a set of Five Elements supreme arrays—each of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth has one set, but their core principles are identical, so the five sets form one unified system."

As Mo Hua listened, his heart felt itchy, like tiny cat paws scratching.

He desperately wanted to know: what exactly was this array? What did its array patterns look like? What was the structure of its array pivot? What use would it have once learned?

But he still had one biggest question.

"Master…"

Mo Hua hesitated. "Even if I master a Grade One Thirteen-Pattern array and practice daily, my spiritual sense still might not break through the bottleneck to reach Fourteen-Pattern Foundation Establishment realm…"

He'd only just realized this recently.

The later you go, the slower and harder spiritual sense growth becomes.

I'm now at the peak of Thirteen Patterns—seemingly just a hair's breadth from Fourteen Patterns.

But that threshold is like a heavenly chasm.

The spiritual sense I cultivate each day through drawing arrays is like a cup of water.

That cup of water poured into the heavenly chasm vanishes instantly.

To fill this chasm and break through the bottleneck… I have no idea when that might happen…

The supreme arrays of Twelve Patterns offer only limited spiritual sense enhancement.

Even if I learn the Thirteen-Pattern array, it probably won't help much more.

Mr. Zhuang's gaze sharpened slightly, and he spoke slowly:

"Enhancing spiritual sense is only one aspect…"

"Even if your spiritual sense never reaches Fourteen Patterns, if you establish your Foundation with Thirteen-Pattern spiritual sense, you must learn this set of arrays!"

Mr. Zhuang's tone was solemn, his expression grave.

Mo Hua's heart tightened. "Master, what's so special about this set of arrays?"

Mr. Zhuang did not answer directly, but asked instead:

"Mo Hua, what do you think sets you apart from Zi Sheng and Bai Zi Xi?"

Bai Zisheng and Bai Zi Xi were startled, then glanced at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua scratched his head.

There were too many ways he differed from his senior brother and senior sister.

The only thing they shared, perhaps, was that they were all Mr. Zhuang's disciples.

"Senior brother and senior sister—they come from noble families, have superior talent, good elemental affinities, and strong lineages?"

Mo Hua said weakly.

Mr. Zhuang nodded, sighing:

"You may not fully feel it yet, but when you venture deeper into the cultivation world, you'll understand—family background, elemental affinity, lineage—these are cold, cruel barriers separating the upper noble families from the lowly solitary cultivators."

"Some things noble heirs can do, solitary cultivators cannot."

"The paths they walk, you cannot tread."

"They're born with superior elemental affinities, live without want, have abundant spiritual stones and rare resources—all they need to do is cultivate. If trouble arises, someone always clears it for them; their cultivation path is already planned out for them."

Mr. Zhuang looked at Mo Hua, his gaze warm yet filled with pity:

"But you cannot. Your future path must be walked by yourself; your spiritual stones must be earned by yourself; if you offend others, no one will stand by you; any trouble you face, you must resolve alone…"

"Yet your talent for arrays is exceptional, your comprehension unparalleled. In time, you will inevitably cross paths—and even clash—with the prodigies of the great noble families, major sects, and even the Central Dao Court."

"In such contests among prodigies, lacking a family or sect is your greatest disadvantage."

"And you cannot even cultivate your body—your future dangers will be immense…"

…

Mo Hua's expression grew solemn.

Bai Zisheng and Bai Zi Xi looked at Mo Hua with concern.

After a moment's thought, Bai Zisheng silently resolved himself and said:

"Master, rest assured—I'm the senior brother. I'll protect little brother! He's my junior, and in a way, he's part of the Bai family. I won't let anyone bully him!"

Mr. Zhuang paused, surprised yet heartened as he looked at Bai Zisheng.

The Bai family… could still produce a child like this…

Truly rare.

Mr. Zhuang patted Bai Zisheng's shoulder. "Having this heart is already enough…"

Mr. Zhuang's words were veiled; he left unsaid much.

Noble families are never warm and affectionate.

The Bai family is no different.

In time, Zi Sheng and Zi Xi themselves might struggle to protect even themselves…

Mr. Zhuang's gaze flickered, his heart sighing.

But all of that, naturally, is for the children's mother to worry about—he can't manage everything himself.

Mr. Zhuang turned his gaze toward Mo Hua.

Mo Hua furrowed his brow in thought, his clear, large eyes blinking rapidly, then suddenly lit up as he looked at Mr. Zhuang and asked:

"Master, are these things related to the arrays I'm about to learn?"

Mr. Zhuang felt a deep sense of emotion.

What a brilliant child—he grasps things instantly.

He nodded and said, "Exactly."

Outside the carriage window, the Si River surged endlessly, winding its way far into the distance.

Mr. Zhuang said, "Among the prodigies of the Nine Continents of the cultivation world, there are countless as numerous as carp crossing a river…"

"Yet without exception, each cultivates only their own cultivation art, studies only their own Dao methods, and strengthens only their own combat abilities."

"They compete fiercely with one another, each seeking to overpower all other prodigies through sheer personal strength, arrogant and unmatched."

"Such a path is extremely difficult."

"It requires outstanding elemental roots, profound family heritage, unparalleled opportunities, deep foundational cultivation, powerful Dao methods, and top-grade spiritual artifacts—all to overpower peers and become a true child of heaven…"

Mr. Zhuang paused slightly, glancing at Mo Hua:

"But you cannot follow this path."

Mr. Zhuang listed Mo Hua's shortcomings once more:

"Your elemental roots are poor, your lineage is weak, your innate physique is frail, your spiritual artifacts are crude, your cultivation art, though unique, does not enhance spiritual power—only your arrays surpass theirs."

"In direct confrontation, you have no advantage."

"And some extremely rare cultivation resources can only be obtained through direct competition."

"Therefore, you cannot follow their path. When seeking opportunities, you cannot rely on your own combat prowess."

"You must possess combat methods, but you must not focus on combat."

"You cannot overpower prodigies through your own strength."

"Then you must forge another path—do not cultivate combat, but instead assist combat…"

"Assist combat?"

Mo Hua was stunned—he didn't quite understand.

Mr. Zhuang explained: "Simply put, it means enhancing the power of others' Dao methods."

Mo Hua began to understand, but still couldn't fully grasp it.

What's the difference between cultivating combat and assisting combat?

Mr. Zhuang smiled faintly, his tone profound:

"If you cultivate combat, you compete directly with all prodigies—you become their enemy, and they will never treat you kindly."

"But if you assist combat, you help them compete against other prodigies—they will instead depend on you."

"The stronger your ability to assist combat, the less they dare offend you."

"Thus, though you have no noble family, any noble family can become your ally; though you have no sect, any sect can become your backing."

"In the utilitarian and opportunistic world of cultivation factions, among the countless prodigies with superior elemental roots, cultivation arts, and Dao methods—you will still have your place!"

Mr. Zhuang sighed.

"The first beam to stick out rots first."

"You must not stick out, nor need you stick out."

"Learn to hide in the shadows, learn to leverage momentum, navigate among all factions with ease, and you alone will endure long, steadily advancing your cultivation, comprehending arrays, and seeking true Dao…"

After speaking, Mr. Zhuang's expression grew reflective.

When he was young, he had never understood this truth.

He had relentlessly sought to overpower his peers, arrogant and haughty, looking down on the world—but rigidness breaks easily, and he suffered greatly…

Mo Hua suddenly understood.

Assist combat—avoid the enemy's edge, hide in the shadows, learn to leverage momentum.

Only then could he carve out a place for himself amid the rigid barriers, conflicting interests, and fierce competition of the cultivation factions.

His master had thought so far ahead for him…

Mo Hua's heart stirred with deep gratitude.

But all this was still far off.

He hadn't even reached Foundation Establishment, let alone competed with prodigies.

Mo Hua pondered a moment, then asked:

"Master, is the Five Elements Absolute Array of the Da Li Mountain region an array that assists combat?"

Mr. Zhuang nodded. "The Five Elements Absolute Array, fundamentally, is an enhancement of Five Elements spiritual power."

Enhancement of Five Elements spiritual power!

Mo Hua's eyes lit up—he wanted to ask for more details, but Mr. Zhuang merely smiled faintly, teasing him:

"You'll find out when the time comes."

Mo Hua pouted.

But he dared not silently criticize Mr. Zhuang.

If he so much as thought it, Mr. Zhuang would know—and tap his little head.

Mo Hua could only ask about other things:

"Master, what grade is the Da Li Mountain region?"

"Third grade."

Mo Hua was startled—it was a third-grade realm!

"Then doesn't that mean there are Jin Dan cultivators?"

Mr. Zhuang nodded. "There are some, but not many. Dali Mountain is a remote region within a third-grade state boundary, lacking abundant cultivation resources. Though ranked third-grade, it cannot sustain many Jin Dan…"

"Only the larger clans and sects have Jin Dan to guard them."

"Ordinary cultivators still mostly rely on Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement."

"Oh." Mo Hua nodded.

He wanted to ask more about the Five Elements Absolute Array and the Dali Mountain state boundary, but noticed Mr. Zhuang looked weary, as if exhausted, so he said with concern:

"Master, you should rest for a while."

Mr. Zhuang glanced outside, his expression tinged with nostalgia:

"It's fine, wait a bit—up ahead is Longquan Waterfall. I'd like to see it."

"Master, have you been here before?" Mo Hua asked involuntarily.

Mr. Zhuang nodded, his expression filled with melancholy and longing: "I have… but it was… very, very long ago…"

Very, very long ago…

Just how long ago was it?

Master doesn't look that old…

Mo Hua mused to himself.

He looked up again and saw Mr. Zhuang's spirit dim, his gaze dull, lost in thought.

"Master, how long until we reach Longquan Waterfall?"

Mo Hua asked softly.

Mr. Zhuang snapped back to himself, paused to think, then said:

"Probably another hour…"

Mo Hua considered, then said: "Then Master, you should sleep for a while. I'll wake you when it's time."

Mr. Zhuang paused slightly, then his expression softened with warmth, and he agreed:

"Alright."

Mr. Zhuang closed his eyes peacefully and fell into a calm sleep.

Mo Hua sat upright, timing the minutes while gazing out the window.

He too wanted to see what this Longquan Waterfall, of which Master spoke, truly looked like.

Inside the carriage, silence. Outside, the Si River roared.

The carriage followed the swift current, heading south along the road, moving steadily forward…

Most of today was spent planning the outline, so I'm late—sorry~

(End of Chapter)