The next day, Mr. Zhuang's teaching thod changed. He only taught theories of array formations within the Qi-cultivation stage, pairing them with various arrays to allow Mo Hua to learn progressively.
This thod resembled that of Yan Jiaoxi, but Mr. Zhuang’s level was much higher, thus his approach was broader, the details more comprehensive, and the connections clearer.
Mo Hua also felt a secret pity for Yan Jiaoxi. If not for his limited level, Yan Jiaoxi might have been more than just an ordinary instructor, especially in terms of his educational philosophy and deep understanding of array formations, akin to Mr. Zhuang.
The complex theories of array formations previously taught by Mr. Zhuang gave Mo Hua a headache.
Mo Hua had never encountered so theories before, so he was clueless and could only morize them chanically. However, even with his good mory, these abstract theories were hard to retain. Often, he would forget earlier parts as he morized later ones. When he looked back at the earlier content, he would forget the latter, making the learning process exceedingly slow.
These difficult topics Mo Hua was learning were considered foundational by major families, which explained why such families could stand for tens of thousands of years in the cultivation world without falling.
Compared to these families, ordinary independent cultivators like Mo Hua had a significant gap in heritage and transmission, almost leading to a discontinuity among array masters.
Mo Hua sighed; comparing himself with others was pointless. He could only strive to do his best. With this self-reminder, Mo Hua cald his mind and followed Mr. Zhuang’s thods to learn array formations.
Now, starting from the Qi-cultivation stage, focusing on drawing arrays and supplenting with theory, Mo Hua learned much faster.
Because he had drawn countless arrays day and night, painting on the Dao Stele at night and on paper during the day, and occasionally scratching roots on the ground when idle.
In terms of practice volu, so array masters in the later stages of Qi-cultivation might not even match Mo Hua.
Thus, after Mr. Zhuang changed his teaching thod, Mo Hua learned very quickly. Once the theoretical part was completed, and Mo Hua started to draw the arrays himself, his progress accelerated even more.
Mr. Zhuang first had Mo Hua relearn several arrays containing five array patterns, including so with the Five Elents attributes that Mo Hua had never seen before. Elder Gui had even prepared all the necessary drawing materials for him.
Mo Hua learned eagerly and persistently.
During the day, he drew arrays at Mr. Zhuang's tranquil residence, and at night, he continued practicing in the Dao Stele within his sea of consciousness, finding the arrays with five patterns not too challenging. After a few days, he could master an array.
Then ca the six-pattern Stabilizing Water Array. Previously, Mo Hua's spiritual sense was not strong enough to complete it. Now, after more than half a month, practicing arrays every day, his spiritual sense had increased significantly. Although still sowhat strenuous, he could now fully draw the array with six patterns.
After completing the Stabilizing Water Array, Mr. Zhuang taught him several new arrays, such as the Heavyweight Array, the Flowing Sand Array, and the Small Cloud Rain Array. Supported by his spiritual sense and constant practice, Mo Hua mastered them all in half a month.
Mr. Zhuang was very pleased with Mo Hua’s progress and his temperant.
Not every child of Mo Hua's age had the determination to sit and study array formations every day.
Privately, however, Mr. Zhuang still felt a tinge of regret and said to Elder Gui:
"Mo Hua's comprehension is even better than I thought, but it's a pity he cos from an independent cultivator background. His foundational knowledge in array formations is lacking, otherwise, he might not be much inferior to those favored talents from major families..."
"What’s so great about those favored talents?"
Mr. Zhuang paused for a mont.
Elder Gui silently observed Mr. Zhuang, his voice flat and indifferent yet unmistakably ironic, "Weren’t you once a favored talent? What about those disciples you took in before, weren’t they all favored talents, and what ca of them? How low have you fallen now, do I even need to say it..."
Mr. Zhuang sighed, annoyed, "If I die young, it would surely be from frustration caused by you!"
Elder Gui remained unmoved, "Life and death are predestined, your saying this shows that you still don’t understand the Dao of Heaven."
Mr. Zhuang simply lay back in his lounge chair, thoughtfully adding, "The heavens are not benevolent; all beings are re dogs. If one truly understands the Dao of Heaven, can he still be considered human?"
Elder Gui
continued to play chess alone, sitting still as if he were petrified wood.
After teaching many array formations containing six patterns, because six patterns were relatively complete and involved many basic forms, it required extensive study and understanding.
When Mr. Zhuang was ready to teach seven-patterned array formations, he discovered sothing quite surprising—Mo Hua’s spiritual sense had grown unusually fast.
The first ti Mr. Zhuang t Mo Hua, his spiritual sense was insufficient to draw six patterns, but now, a month later, not only could he support himself to complete an array with six patterns, he was even able to draw six and a half patterns of a seven-pattern array.
Mo Hua’s spiritual power had progressed minimally over the month, but his spiritual sense had increased rapidly.
Mr. Zhuang frowned slightly, sensing sothing amiss.
One day, as Mo Hua was learning an array with seven patterns, Mr. Zhuang suddenly asked, "Mo Hua, do you know about visualization techniques?"
Mo Hua looked baffled, "Disciple has never heard of it."
"Is that so," Mr. Zhuang tapped the table thoughtfully, then asked, "Have you ever seen any strange images or patterns that, upon a single glance, imrse one’s spiritual sense uncontrollably?"
Mo Hua thought for a mont and shook his head.
The strangest thing he had seen was the Dao Stele in his mind, but it had no discernible patterns or lines, and staring at it did not lead to imrsion.
Mr. Zhuang paused, then added, "You must have noticed that your spiritual sense is growing faster than others."
Mo Hua nodded, "Disciple draws arrays during the day, and at night, I dream of practicing them too. Moreover, practicing in dreams does not consu spiritual sense, allowing it to gradually strengthen over days and nights."
He didn’t ntion the Dao Stele, but everything else was true.
Mo Hua wasn’t entirely sure whether his increased spiritual sense was due to the Dao Stele or simply because he kept drawing arrays.
Mo Hua then asked, "Master, does continuously drawing arrays enhance spiritual sense?"
Mr. Zhuang was montarily speechless.
Drawing arrays continuously consus spiritual sense but also continuously trains the sea of consciousness. Over ti, naturally, the spiritual sense also strengthens.
However, the usual practice in the cultivation world is to first find ways to enhance spiritual sense, then learn array formations.
Because relying on drawing arrays to enhance spiritual sense is extrely slow and carries the risk of depleting spiritual sense, potentially damaging the sea of consciousness irreversibly.
Thus, very few cultivators think of relying on such a simplistic and slow thod, fraught with great risk, to enhance their spiritual sense.
Mr. Zhuang felt that things weren’t so simple, and looked at Mo Hua doubtfully. But eting Mo Hua’s gaze, he found a pair of unusually sincere and straightforward eyes.
Mr. Zhuang had taught many disciples and seen eyes filled with admiration, fear, and craftiness, but never such candid eyes. He chuckled, "Well then."
"Do you know ditation techniques?" Mr. Zhuang asked again.
Mo Hua shook his head again.
"ditation techniques allow a cultivator to enter a ditative state through ditation, recovering spiritual sense more quickly. This isn’t sothing a cultivator of your level should learn, but you are sowhat special, so you can learn it now."
Mo Hua didn’t know what Mr. Zhuang ant by special, but he was happy to learn sothing new, "Thank you, Master."
"But there is one thing you must rember," Mr. Zhuang’s expression beca more serious.
"If anyone asks why your spiritual sense grows quickly, just say it’s because of the ditation techniques I taught you. Don’t say anything else."
Mo Hua was sowhat confused, but he felt that Mr. Zhuang was looking out for his best interest and silently morized his words.
Mr. Zhuang nodded and pulled a thin booklet from his sleeve, inscribed with three characters:
"ditation Techniques."
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