Chapter 1: Ink Painting
u, next time Teacher assigns us formation homework, I'll still look for you!"After tucking the formation diagram into his sleeve, he dashed up the mountain.Mo Hua carefully put away the two spirit sto...In the year 20,222 of the Dao Calendar, on the tenth day of the first lunar month.
Tongshen City, outside the mountains of Tongshenmen.
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Ten-year-old Mo Hua wore the simple robes of an outer sect disciple, listlessly squatting behind a large rock at the foot of the mountain. He held grass roots in his hand and was burying himself in the ground, drawing intricate patterns.
By the time of the "Maoshi" (the 5th hour of the day), disciples from various clans seeking knowledge arrived on the mountain one after another, traveling in groups of three or two, chatting and laughing.
A chubby little fellow in an Outer Sect robe, adorned with expensive jade ornaments and with small eyes and a plump face, accompanied by two or three attendants, found the ink painter engrossed in his work behind a stone.
The little chubby boy looked left and right, seeing no figure of the sect instructor, he then mumbled timidly:
“Ink painting!”
The ink painting lifted its head, revealing a handsome and delicate face like a work of art. Its eyes were clear and bright, as if holding a pool of crystal-clear water.
The little fat guy whispered, "Is it done"
The ten-year-old Mo, like a little adult, patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, I'll handle it," then took out several talismans from the storage bag behind him. He handed them to the chubby kid along with white paper and red ink.
Have a look and see if anything seems amiss.
The little fatty received it solemnly, opened the copybook, took a serious look at it, and then frowned and said:
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"I don't understand..."
Mo Hua patiently explained:
“The homework the instructor assigned was the basic array patterns of the Five Element Formation. I've drawn it for you, and I deliberately made six mistakes to prevent the instructor from realizing these patterns weren't drawn by you…”
"Six places... isn't it a bit too much of a mistake..."
Mòhuà silently watched him.
The little fat boy immediately realized his mistake and reflected:
“A person shouldn't be too greedy. It's enough for me to hand in the homework assigned by the teacher. Doing too well would raise suspicion. Once the teacher finds out, and my father knows about it, he'll definitely beat me up. It's not worth the risk.”
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Mo Hua nodded and said, “As expected of Young Master An, you figured it out so quickly!”
The little fat guy stuffed two spirit stones into Mo Hua's hand, "Mo Ge'er, you still have the best eyesight, knowing I'm smart! Here are the spirit stones for you, next time Teacher assigns us formation homework, I'll still look for you!"
After tucking the formation diagram into his sleeve, he dashed up the mountain.
Mo Hua carefully put away the two spirit stones, plucked a fresh piece of grass root, and continued drawing on the ground.
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A moment later, another slender young man with a golden paper fan came. He had a sharp face and wore even more jade pendants than the last one.
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The young master took the formation diagram, but still didn't leave. He suddenly closed his paper fan and arrogantly said: "This young master is also very skilled in formations, it's just that I don't have time to do these basic formations, so I let you write them for me."
Mo Hua was too lazy to pay him any mind. He picked up some grass and started drawing on the ground.
The thin young master was slightly annoyed, and then sneered: "It's said that among the Qi refining cultivators at the beginning of the Immortal Gate, you are the best at drawing formations. I wonder how they compare to this young master If you have time, we can have a competition."
You asked me to help you with your formation assignments, so tell me, what's your level
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However, adhering to the principle of "harmony generates wealth," mo painting still raised its head and picked out flattering words to say:
"Of course, the young master's mastery of formations is far superior. The Qian family is the number one clan in Tongxian City, and their formation inheritance is unmatched by other cultivators."
The slender young man's expression softened slightly, and he asked again, "Then tell me, among these Xianmen cultivators in the early stage of Qi refining, who can match my formation skills"
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Well, there is...
The slender young man was displeased. "Who is it"
For example, Mo Xia wouldn't foolishly say something like "For instance, me..."
“There are too many to count at the moment.”
The slender young man was obviously angry.
“That’s good!” Mok Hua said, opening his eyes and lying.
The slender young master sneered, “You’re telling me that just because your family background isn’t as good as mine, you don’t have as many spirit stones, and your array formations are better than mine, it means I’m stupid and inferior to others What’s so great about that”
Mo Hua said: "Even the most talented cultivators in Tongxian City, no matter how gifted they are or how well they learn, ultimately end up working for your Qian family's Wanbao Building, refining weapons, concocting pills, and drawing formations for you..."
"Think about it, you're only at the Qi Refining stage and already have Foundation Establishment cultivators working for you. You're just a First Grade Array Master and already have Second Grade Array Masters taking your orders. How impressive is that! The stronger your subordinates are, the greater your own abilities appear."
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The skinny young man was stunned, then suddenly realized, "It seems to make sense!"
"Got it."
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The slender young master nodded, gazing at the throngs of cultivators in the mountains below. His chin was lifted even higher.
"Good! Good! No matter how talented you are, or how hard you train, in the end you will all still be working for the Qian family like oxen and horses!"
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With a face full of disdain, Qian Gongzi finished speaking and walked away proudly.
After sending the young master of the Qian family away, Mo Hua continued to practice formations on the ground using grass roots.
Then, several wealthy cultivators came over. They paid with spirit stones and bought several sets of formations from Mo Hua's hands. By the time all the copied formations were sold, there were twelve spirit stones in Mo Hua's hand.
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Twelve spirit stones are already a considerable amount for casual cultivators, but for cultivators on the Dao, it is still far from enough.
Mò Huà sighed, a trace of resignation on his youthful face.
Low-level cultivators, no hope for ascension...
In the first year of Daoli, over 20,000 years ago, the largest power in the cultivation world—Dao Ting—unified the Nine Provinces of Cultivation. They bestowed titles upon aristocratic families and sects, establishing a unified hierarchy system and regulating the ranks within the cultivation industry.
Dao Ting also promulgated the Dao Law, regulating monks so that they should not kill indiscriminately, plunder, or collect medicinal herbs.
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During this period of peace, the cultivation world flourished for over 20,000 years, reaching its peak of prosperity. Its vast territory encompassed countless cultivators.
However, the Daoist tradition flourished, with prominent families enjoying wealth and influence, and clans dominating their regions.
Only the lowly itinerant cultivators, having no one to rely on, live in poverty and have little hope of attaining enlightenment.
Over the past twenty thousand years, the cultivation world has evolved. People without spiritual roots were gradually eliminated naturally, leaving only those with spiritual roots who could cultivate. However, as the number of cultivators increased, so did their consumption of spiritual energy. Eventually, all the spiritual energy in the world was depleted.
Nowadays, for cultivators to cultivate the Tao, they must not only inherit the tradition but also gather spirit stones.
However, large families occupy the spirit mines, and low-level scattered cultivators lack spirit stones. Major sects monopolize inheritance, leaving ordinary scattered cultivators with no way to cultivate.
In Tongxian City, the vast majority of casual cultivators lack both lineages and spirit stones. Throughout their lives, they can only remain Qi Refinement stage cultivators.
The Qi Refining Realm is nothing but a lowly ant beneath the vast heavens.
And ink painting, is just one of billions of ants.
And it's very likely, for life!
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The ink painting depicted a youthful face with a hint of bitterness.
The heavens may be equal, but the path of cultivation is certainly not...
Father Mo Shan made a living by hunting demons, spending his days fighting monsters and accumulating scars. His mother worked in a restaurant kitchen, enduring the heat from the stove that constantly affected her lungs, causing persistent coughs and chest pains.
While his parents scrimped and saved, hoarding all their spirit stones, it was only to allow Mo Hua to enter the outer sect of Tongxian Gate for cultivation.
However, no matter how hard Mo Hua practiced, his medium-grade spiritual roots, though slightly better than ordinary people, were still just ordinary in the world of gifted cultivators.
No matter how much one cultivates, they might only ever be a Qi Refinement Realm cultivator.
Due to his impoverished family background, he lacked spirit stones. Consequently, his ink painting skills could only be cultivated to the sixth layer of Qi Refining before he had to leave the sect and seek ways to learn a craft for a living.
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But ink painting is inherently weak!
Cultivation practitioners during the Qi Refinement period rely on things like weapon refining and monster hunting to survive. These jobs generally only require physically strong body cultivators. Inherently weak individuals like Mo Hua, who excel in painting, might even struggle to find a job that pays the bills.
If I were to remarry and have children in the future, my burdens would increase, and all the spirit stones would be used to support my family.
Ink painting has no spiritual stone cultivation, and one's cultivation will always stagnate, remaining a Qi Refinement cultivator for life.
Just like all the impoverished cultivators in this immortal city.
Just like the hundreds of millions of low-level cultivators in this cultivation world.
A lifetime is just about cultivating Qi!
Ten-year-old Mo Hua sighed, adjusted his mindset, and then went to the sect to attend classes. After a day of cultivation, Mo Hua returned to his disciple's residence, read some Taoist scriptures again, and lay down on his bed when it was midnight.
When the Mo painter closed his eyes, a broken stele appeared in his mind's eye.
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The stele had no inscription, yet from the moment I first saw it in the ink painting, I seemed to know its name.
Stele!e, leaving ordinary scattered cultivators with no way to cultivate.In Tongxian City, the vast majority of casual cultivators lack both lineages and spirit stones. Throughout their lives, they can only...