Chapter 113: Spell Technique
On the way back, Elder Yu instructed his son: "Don't tell anyone about Mo Hua drawing the formation for now."
Yu Chengyi blinked. "Why not?"
"He's still young, comes from humble origins, yet his talent is remarkable. Such brilliance easily invites envy, it may bring him more harm than good."
"Oh." Yu Chengyi nodded, half understanding.
"But we can't hide it forever," he added. "If Mo Hua truly has formation talent, it'll come to light sooner or later."
"At least wait until he's a bit older, when he has the strength to protect himself."
Though Elder Yu's gaze carried warmth, there was a shadow of worry behind it.
Hopefully this child can grow up safely…
After finishing the Iron Armor Formation, Mo Hua had earned spirit stones, gotten some free spiritual ink, and even received gifts from Elder Yu, he was in excellent spirits.
...
The next day, he went to find Bai Zisheng, wanting to test the results of his Flowing-Water Step.
At first, Bai Zisheng looked delighted. But then he suddenly recalled something and drooped his head, his expression dimming.
"Aunt Xue gave me a ton of assignments… She also said I can't spar with you anymore."
Mo Hua froze. "Not even one spar?"
Bai Zisheng looked troubled.
"If we just spar secretly, Aunt Xue won't find out, right?"
Bai Zisheng snuck a glance at his sister, Bai Zixi, who sat nearby reading gracefully. "Aunt Xue told Zixi to watch me, to make sure I don't fight you."
Bai Zixi's long lashes lifted slightly as she looked up, her calm eyes flickering with amusement. In her soft, melodic voice, she said:
"I can choose not to tell Aunt Xue… but can you finish your assignments?"
Bai Zisheng immediately fell silent.
Aunt Xue's assignments were endless, alchemy, artifact refinement, Dao theory. If he sparred with Mo Hua, there was no way he'd finish.
Mo Hua gave him a sympathetic look. "Then just focus on your studies. I'll bring you some tasty snacks later."
That perked Bai Zisheng up a bit.
Leaving the Forgetful Meditation Abode, Mo Hua sighed.
He'd finally learned a movement art, and now had no one to practice it on. That was… quite disappointing.
"Maybe… since I've got some free time now, I should learn a spell or two?"
At that thought, his spirits lifted again.
Only by mastering both offense and defense can one be a true spiritual cultivator.
But… who could teach him spells?
Mo Hua scratched his head.
He hadn't seen Zhang Lan for days, likely busy with Dao Court Division affairs.
But even if Zhang Lan were free, it wouldn't be right to bother him again.
You can't just keep plucking the same sheep.
Learning the Flowing-Water Step was already taking advantage of him a bit. Asking for another technique might push it too far.
If Zhang Lan, on a whim, taught him some family's top-secret technique… the Zhang family's elders would probably never let him go.
If they didn't kill him to silence him, they might just marry him in.
That would be an even worse fate.
Yet, aside from Zhang Lan… there was no one else to ask.
After much thought, Mo Hua decided to shamelessly try his luck with Mister Zhuang.
...
The next day, he brought beef and pastries for Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi, and a few jugs of wine and meat to visit Mister Zhuang.
After asking a few formation-related questions, Mo Hua hesitated several times before stopping himself.
Mister Zhuang had the air of an immortal, no detectable blood energy or spiritual fluctuation. What if he wasn't skilled in spell arts at all?
If I ask and he can't answer, that'd be awkward.
Out of "consideration" for Mister Zhuang, Mo Hua decided not to bring it up.
On his way out, he ran into Old Kui, who was playing Five Elements Chess alone in the pavilion. Mo Hua offered him a few boxes of pine nuts and sat down to play two rounds.
When they finished, Old Kui asked, "Something on your mind?"
Mo Hua blinked. "How did you tell?"
"Your chess has gotten worse."
Mo Hua's mouth twitched.
It's Five Elements Chess! You could play it blindfolded! How does one even get worse at it…?
Still, Grandpa Kui's words gave him an idea. So Mo Hua leaned closer and asked quietly: "Grandpa Kui… do you know any spell techniques?"
Grandpa Kui hesitated a moment. "A little."
Mo Hua's eyes brightened. "Then could you teach me some?"
Without answering, Grandpa Kui simply stood up and walked away.
Mo Hua blinked in confusion, thinking he'd been refused, but a few steps later, Grandpa Kui turned and said:
"Well? Come along."
"Oh! Yes!" Mo Hua hurried to follow.
Grandpa Kui led him to a grassy area far from the great pagoda tree, open ground with soft greenery, a pond, a small bridge, and a rustling bamboo grove nearby.
"To learn spell arts, don't just chase after power. The best spell is the one that suits you."
Mo Hua nodded earnestly. "Then what kind of spell suits me, Grandpa Kui?"
Grandpa Kui pondered. "Mysterious and unpredictable spells, illusion arts, trickster arts, esoteric arts…"
Mo Hua's eyes shone.
"…you can't learn those. Your spiritual root is too poor."
Mo Hua: "..."
"Then there are the powerful spells, great Five Element arts…"
Mo Hua perked up again.
"…but your spiritual energy is too weak to use them."
Mo Hua gave Grandpa Kui a betrayed look.
Old Kui's lips twitched with a faint smile. "However, your Divine-Sense is exceptional. You don't need complicated techniques, just master the simplest ones."
He tossed a thin booklet to Mo Hua.
Mo Hua opened it and saw two large words on the cover:
Fireball Technique.
He frowned, thinking for a moment before asking, "Grandpa Kui, is this Fireball Technique any different from the usual ones?"
Old Kui shook his head. "No."
Mo Hua flipped through the pages. It was almost identical to the Foundational Qi-Refining Spell Arts: Fireball Technique manuals he'd seen before.
A tiny pang of disappointment hit him.
"Don't want to learn it?" Old Kui asked.
Mo Hua hesitated. But thinking it over, Grandpa Kui was right, complicated or high-level spells requiring great spiritual power weren't suited for him anyway.
Besides, he'd never expected to learn some grand or earth-shattering art. Starting with something practical was best.
And Grandpa Kui was even willing to teach him, how could he possibly complain?
Mo Hua shook his head firmly. "I do want to learn, Grandpa Kui. Please teach me."
Grandpa Kui nodded almost imperceptibly.
"The essence of spell arts lies in three things: Divine-Sense, spiritual energy, and meridians."
"Use Divine-Sense to guide spiritual energy along the meridians, circulating through specific acupoints. Once the circuit is formed, the spell condenses."
"Movement arts are also a kind of spell. Since you've learned one, you should understand the principle. Learning Fireball should be easy for you."
…
Grandpa Kui explained several key points, and Mo Hua memorized each one carefully.
Then, following the incantation and meridian diagram in the manual, he circulated his spiritual energy.
The Fireball Technique was simple, its energy flow much easier than the Flowing-Water Step.
After a few tries, Mo Hua had it figured out.
"Try it," Grandpa Kui said.
Mo Hua drew a deep breath, focused his mind, guided his spiritual power through his meridians, formed the circuit, then extended two fingers toward the pond.
A faint red light gathered at his fingertips, forming a small sphere of gaseous flame. Under his Divine-Sense, it shot forward.
Boom!
The fireball exploded across the water's surface, sending up waves, shredding water weeds, and startling the fish below.
Ripples spread in chaotic circles across the pond.
...
(Author's Note)
Daily updates are around ten thousand words now, so the chapters are shorter.
Fewer words per chapter means cheaper too.
If I get lazy naming chapters later, I'll just post longer ones~
...
(TN: Only when Mo Hua calls Old Kui "Grandpa Kui"; otherwise, he is referred to as Old Kui.)
(End of Chapter)