Chapter 60: Celestial Evolution Art
Mo Hua went over the instruction of the cultivation method again. There were only a few brief sentences, stating that this technique did not restrict spiritual root grade or attribute, the spiritual power cultivated would have a relatively low cycle count, and its bottleneck lay in the Divine-Sense, making it unsuitable for non-Formation Masters.
Although it did not specify which spiritual materials were required, the description carried an odd strangeness.
How could a cultivation method not restrict spiritual roots?
It made sense that the refined spiritual power would be weak, after all, if it placed no limits on spiritual roots, even Inferior-grade ones could practice it, naturally resulting in less profound spiritual power.
But what did it mean that the bottleneck was in the Divine-Sense? And why was it unsuitable for non-Formation Masters?
…
Mo Hua furrowed his brow in thought. After an uncertain amount of time, Mister Zhuang opened his eyes.
"Have you made your choice?"
Snapping back to attention, Mo Hua said, "I have made my choice, but I'm not sure which is most suitable."
"Let me see."
Mo Hua respectfully handed the selected techniques to Mister Zhuang.
Mister Zhuang went through them one by one, his expression calm, though inwardly he was a little displeased.
All the techniques Mo Hua had chosen were the ones Old Kui had picked; none of the ones Mister Zhuang himself had selected were chosen. This made Mister Zhuang feel a bit embarrassed.
It wasn't until he reached the last jade slip that his eyes brightened.
On the archaic, pale jade slip were carved the three characters: Celestial Evolution Art.
This was one of the "unique" techniques chosen by Mister Zhuang.
Mister Zhuang was highly satisfied. He thought the boy's taste wasn't bad—he was indeed teachable.
Seeing Mister Zhuang's gaze fixed on the Celestial Evolution Art, Mo Hua asked the question he cared most about:
"Sir, the key instructions for this technique do not mention any required spiritual materials. Does that mean it can be cultivated without any rare heavenly or earthly treasures?"
"That's correct," Mister Zhuang nodded.
Mo Hua was overjoyed, but quickly calmed himself. "In the Daoist path, every sip and every bite requires effort for reward. If a technique can be practiced without spiritual materials, does that mean cultivating it might bring complications in other areas?"
Mister Zhuang's eyes showed approval, and he slowly replied:
"This is an ancient technique."
"Ancient technique?" Mo Hua asked, puzzled. "What makes it different?"
"There are differences, and there are none. Techniques practiced by the ancients are techniques, and those practiced by modern people are also techniques. Both seek immortality and the Dao, each with its strengths and weaknesses, it cannot be generalized…"
"Some ancient techniques were refined over generations by cultivators, gradually becoming stable, with fewer bottlenecks. Cultivation becomes more efficient, naturally turning them into the main techniques in today's cultivation world. Others are rare and strange, difficult to practice, with meager effects upon completion, and thus gradually abandoned…"
"Some techniques are cruel and evil, easily causing one to lose their mind and fall into Demonic Cultivation, and are banned by the Dao Court. Others can reverse Heaven and alter fate, but their cultivation requirements are extremely harsh. Such techniques are contested by top cultivators, often damaged or lost, ultimately surviving only in legends passed down orally…"
"Are all ancient techniques unrestricted by spiritual roots?" Mo Hua asked.
"Not necessarily. Most techniques still restrict spiritual root attributes. Only a few place no limits on spiritual root grade, practitioners from the highest to the lowest grade can cultivate them, but these are rare."
"Techniques with fixed grades based on spiritual roots were implemented after the Dao Court unified, promoted by great families and sects across the Nine Provinces of the cultivation world. On one hand, it standardized the chaotic multitude of techniques, making them easier to practice. On the other hand…"
In truth, it was also about monopolizing technique inheritance…
Mister Zhuang's eyes narrowed slightly, but he did not continue, saying only, "You'll understand in time."
"Oh," Mo Hua nodded half-understandingly, then asked, "Sir, which type of ancient technique is the Celestial Evolution Art?"
"It probably belongs to the rare and strange category."
Mister Zhuang thought for a moment, then added:
"Some have practiced this technique before. Learning it is simple—only requires refining spiritual stones—but the breakthrough is peculiar. For other techniques, the bottleneck is usually in the meridians or the Qi Sea, requiring the refinement of heavenly and earthly materials to surpass it. This technique's bottleneck lies in the Sea of Consciousness. The Sea of Consciousness is ethereal and unpredictable, difficult to grasp, and rarely has supportive materials, so whether one can break through is uncertain."
"Even if spiritual materials are rare, there's usually a way to obtain them, only the cost varies. But facing the Sea of Consciousness as a bottleneck is tricky—sometimes there's no clear approach. Combined with the weak spiritual power this technique produces and lack of other effects, it gradually fell out of cultivation."
Mo Hua listened silently, then asked the final question:
"What does the note 'unsuitable for non-Formation Masters' mean? Must one become a Formation Master to cultivate this technique?"
"No," Mister Zhuang shook his head. "It doesn't mean only Formation Masters can practice it. Among the myriad professions of the Daoist path, Formation Masters consume the most Divine-Sense, and their use and understanding of the Sea of Consciousness surpass other cultivators. Since the bottleneck of the Celestial Evolution Art lies in the Divine-Sense, it is naturally most suitable for Formation Masters. Put another way, if a Formation Master doesn't cultivate it, other types of cultivators are even less likely to succeed."
"I see…"
Mo Hua calculated in his mind, then made a firm decision.
Seeing this, Mister Zhuang asked, "Have you decided which technique to cultivate?"
"I have," Mo Hua nodded. "Sir, I want to cultivate Celestial Evolution Art."
Mister Zhuang felt somewhat relieved, thinking this boy and he were somewhat compatible, unlike Old Kui, whose taste in techniques was so mediocre.
Mister Zhuang intended to hand the jade slip of Celestial Evolution Art to Mo Hua, but hesitated. After a moment, he sighed and asked seriously:
"Mo Hua, are you really sure?"
Mo Hua looked at him with slight confusion.
"This technique is easy to practice, but the breakthrough involves too many variables, and the spiritual power is weak. Whether for cultivation or combat, it is inherently inferior."
Though somewhat reluctant, Mister Zhuang pointed at the other techniques Mo Hua had left:
"These are not particularly unique, but they are stable and practical, with a decent spiritual power cycle. The few required spiritual materials, though a bit troublesome, are not rare—one could obtain them."
Mo Hua, however, was resolute:
"I've made my decision. My spiritual root is mediocre and cannot compare with others. I only hope to make progress in formations, not to disappoint your teachings. If I want to become a Formation Master, Divine-Sense is most important; the quantity of spiritual power doesn't matter."
"The bottleneck for a Formation Master is the Divine-Sense. The bottleneck of the Celestial Evolution Art is also in the Divine-Sense. For me, it's effectively the same. As long as I focus on formations, strengthening my Divine-Sense will suffice. The Daoist path is never smooth—success is Heaven's will, effort is man's."
Mister Zhuang was slightly stunned, then nodded: "What you said is correct. It is rare for someone your age to have such a firm Dao heart."
Mo Hua felt embarrassed by the praise. "Sir, my Dao heart isn't actually that strong…"
Mister Zhuang was slightly taken aback.
"It's mainly because I can't practice the other techniques. This one doesn't require spiritual materials, so it's the only choice…"
Mister Zhuang: "…"
Mo Hua was also helpless.
The issue of Divine-Sense could be addressed with effort, but the "few spiritual materials" could cost tens of thousands of spiritual stones. For someone like Mo Hua, who came from a humble background, there was truly no way.
When one is poor, one's Dao heart naturally becomes firm, there's no choice otherwise.
(End of Chapter)