Chapter 68: Practical Application
One morning, Mister Zhuang called Mo Hua over, his expression carrying an air of inscrutable mystery.
"Mo Hua, what kind of Formation Master do you want to become?"
Mo Hua thought to himself, If I can just become a First-Grade Formation Master, that'd be great. I'd get a monthly stipend, be able to support myself, and my parents would surely be proud.
But… that probably wasn't what Mister Zhuang was asking.
"Teacher, are there… different kinds of Formation Masters?" Mo Hua asked humbly.
"There are myriad formations in the world, and naturally, the Formation Masters who study them are also diverse—each with their own strengths."
"Oh…" Mo Hua blinked in mild confusion.
Mister Zhuang went on, "Some Formation Masters travel across the Nine Provinces in search of lost Absolute Formations. Some visit sects to exchange knowledge through formation duels. Some bury themselves in research, detached from worldly affairs. Others are more pragmatic, seeking to reform the world's trades through formation arts..."
Mo Hua frowned slightly in thought.
To travel the Nine Provinces and seek forgotten Absolute Formations—it sounded so grand, even if he didn't quite know what a "Absolute Formation" actually was.
Visiting sects and exchanging insights seemed fun too.
Devoting oneself to pure research—peaceful and calm.
Using formations to improve the world—meaningful and noble.
As Mo Hua pondered all these possibilities, Mister Zhuang noticed the faint furrow between his brows and smiled, shifting the topic:
"But in truth, whichever path you choose doesn't matter. The rules of this world are strict, yet also boundless. No one dictates what kind of person you must be, nor what kind of Formation Master you must become."
"As a Formation Master, the path you take isn't what's important. What matters most is your devotion to formations, your comprehension of the Heavenly Dao—and remembering four words: Observe, Study, Think, and Apply."
"'Observe, Study, Think, and Apply?'"
"Observe—to broaden your perspective.
Study—to deepen your understanding.
Think—to avoid rote learning without comprehension.
And Apply—to transform what you've learned into skill.
Understanding formations begins with observation and ends with application."
Mo Hua nodded with partial understanding. It made sense… sort of.
"You've done well with the first three," Mister Zhuang said, "but that alone isn't enough. You must learn to apply. Studying formations without applying them is like hiding treasures in a mountain where they gather dust, or hoarding talent without showing it—it'll never make you truly accomplished. Learning is for application, and application refines learning. That is the highest path."
"Then, Teacher," Mo Hua asked sincerely, "how should I apply formations properly?"
"Formations are born of a cultivator's comprehension of Heaven and Earth. In other words, everything between Heaven and Earth contains formations and methods of their application. If your heart is attentive, every thread and every grain, every drink and every meal, relates to formations."
Mo Hua suddenly realized—his use of formations in refining furnaces or building stoves had already been practical applications!
"I understand now!" he said joyfully. "Formations reflect a cultivator's understanding of the Heavenly Dao, so naturally they can be applied in all aspects of cultivation and daily life. Heaven and Earth, every blade of grass and leaf of tree, all contain the Dao of Formations. As long as one observes carefully, one can study and apply them. Is that what you mean, Teacher?"
"Exactly!" Mister Zhuang looked quite pleased. "And there's another key point—by applying what you've learned, you'll integrate and unify your scattered studies. That will solve the problem of learning many different formations without specializing in any."
Mo Hua's eyes brightened with sudden clarity.
Mister Zhuang elaborated, "If you only draw formations on paper, you'll end up as someone who talks theory but lacks practice. Everything in Heaven and Earth differs, as do the mediums for formations. By practicing and applying them, your understanding deepens, your comprehension grows keener, and your ability to break formations becomes far greater!"
Mo Hua found that very reasonable… but hesitated.
"Teacher, I might not have that much time…"
After all, inscribing formations onto spiritual tools or stones took far more effort than on paper. Adjusting and testing them required even more time. If he did that, he might not be able to come study with Mister Zhuang every day.
"No problem," Mister Zhuang said at last, clearly waiting for this moment. "I can give you a leave of absence!"
Mo Hua's instincts tingled. He sensed something was off and looked suspiciously at Mister Zhuang.
Mister Zhuang lifted his gaze toward the sky, adopting an expression of serene righteousness.
"Ordinary disciples only study one kind of formation, so they don't need to worry about application this early. But because of your cultivation art, you must learn many formations. The more diverse your studies, the harder it becomes to integrate them theoretically. Only through 'learning and applying' can you bring all your studies together and make different formations converge to the same path."
Seeing Mo Hua's expression shift from suspicion to contemplation, then to realization, Mister Zhuang struck while the iron was hot:
"So you don't need to come see me every day. Once every few days will do. If there's something you don't understand, come then and I'll guide you."
Mo Hua's doubts vanished, replaced by gratitude.
"Understood, Teacher!"
After Mo Hua left, Mister Zhuang reclined in his bamboo chair, leisurely fanning himself with satisfaction.
Old Kui's form appeared from the shadows. He gave Mister Zhuang a cold glance and snorted.
"Leading the boy astray."
"At most, it's a little premature encouragement," Mister Zhuang replied lightly. "Not misleading."
"The boy's foundation isn't even firm yet, and you're already making him think about practical application? I've never seen someone teach formations like this. If that's not leading him astray, what is?" Old Kui said, calm yet tinged with sarcasm.
Mister Zhuang's gaze turned distant. "And what counts as a firm foundation? Compared to his peers in Tōngxiān City, his is already solid. Compared to the disciples of great clans—especially those two Bai siblings—even if he studied another ten or twenty years, his foundation still wouldn't match theirs. Since he'll never catch up on the same road, why not try a different one?"
"I thought you at least had some confidence," Old Kui said dryly. "So it's just an experiment."
"The Heavenly Dao has patterns, yet remains unfathomable. How can one glimpse the Grand Dao by clinging to rules?"
Old Kui's expression shifted slightly—perhaps even moved—and after a moment, he nodded.
"You're right."
Mister Zhuang suddenly looked uncomfortable.
"I was just rambling. Those who don't follow the rules… often don't end well. You're already old enough; stop reinventing yourself and stirring your Dao heart again."
"I understand," Old Kui replied calmly.
Mister Zhuang shot him a sidelong glance, muttering, "Do you really?"
After a pause, Old Kui asked, "How long do you plan to keep teaching him?"
Mister Zhuang's tone turned slightly serious. "One should see things through. I'll stop when he becomes a First-Grade Formation Master."
"What about those two Bai siblings? Their talents are exceptional. Don't you find it wasteful?"
Mister Zhuang waved his fan lazily. "What do they have to do with me?"
Old Kui's voice was flat. "Your junior sister won't give up so easily."
Mister Zhuang gazed toward the drifting clouds in the distance.
"She wants me to care for the sake of old ties—but she's no longer that little junior sister, and I'm no longer her spirited Second Senior Brother. She knows that too, but her heart refuses to accept it. Otherwise, she would've come to see me herself long ago…"
"And my Senior Brother... he's gone to great lengths to find me…"
Old Kui stayed silent for a long time before finally saying,
"Come back to the sect with me. Otherwise, I won't be able to protect you much longer."
Mister Zhuang reclined on the bamboo chair, gazing serenely toward the mountain peaks.
"Day follows night; sun follows shadow. Seasons turn—trees flourish and trees wither. Life and death are both constants beneath Heaven. Why worry about them?"
"If I can keep eating meat, drinking wine, and watching the scenery like this for a few more peaceful days, I have no more desires."
Old Kui realized persuasion was useless, so he said nothing more. His figure gradually faded back into the shadows.
(End of Chapter)