Mo Hua felt unwilling and puzzled.
He wanted to get to the bottom of this matter.
The next day, he went to visit Mr. Zhuang.
"Gentleman, why do Big Demons exist, and how are the state boundaries assessed?"
Mr. Zhuang silently looked at Mo Hua and asked, "Do you really want to know?"
Mo Hua nodded his head.
Mr. Zhuang remained silent for a long time before finally speaking,
"I can tell you about the causality of the Great Dao involved here, but you must remember not to tell anyone else; otherwise, it will bring disaster upon you."
Mo Hua’s expression became grave, and he nodded.
Mr. Zhuang let out a slight sigh and began to speak,
"All things in the world originate from the Dao."
```
"From Dao comes the One, from the One comes the Two, from the Two comes the Three, and from the Three come all things. Be it a Big Demon or the assessment, all are things derived from the Great Dao."
"Defying the Heavenly Dao, catastrophes are born, thus leading to Big Demons;"
"The Heavenly Dao’s checks and balances, the classification of regions in Nine State, this is why assessment exists."
Mr. Zhuang spoke concisely and to the point.
Mo Hua frowned slightly, contemplating carefully.
Mr. Zhuang then explained further:
"What we call a Big Demon is one kind of calamity caused by the Great Dao. When a Cultivator acts against the heavens, violates natural affection, it breeds calamity."
"Calamities that violate the Heavenly Dao are collectively referred to as Taoist Demons."
"And a Big Demon, is one type of Taoist Demon."
"’Taoist Demon’ is a term used internally within the Taoist Court’s Heavenly Observatory; it is not mentioned to outsiders. Because the Taoist Court fancies itself as acting in accordance with heaven’s mandate, the existence of Taoist Demons would imply that the Taoist Court is at fault, in violation of the Heavenly Dao."
Mr. Zhuang’s expression was serious as he looked at Mo Hua and said:
"Thus, these words should go from my mouth to your ears and must not be known to others. Especially the term ’Taoist Demon’."
Mo Hua’s expression was solemn as he nodded seriously.
Then Mo Hua pondered and said slowly:
"So, that pig becoming a Big Demon is due to the deeds and desires of the Patriarch of the Qian Family, which harmed the nature and violated the Heavenly Dao. This nurtured the Taoist Demon within the Pig Monster?"
After all, he had killed people for two to three hundred years, brewed Human Life Pills for over two hundred years, and nurtured the Lifespan Transformation Elixir for more than a hundred years, committing countless acts of slaughter.
Mr. Zhuang nodded slightly, "Simply put, that’s the case, but there are others at play here, and it is better that you do not know now."
"Is it a strange Taoist?"
Mr. Zhuang was taken aback, his gaze sharpening, "Who told you that?"
"The Patriarch of the Qian Family, and a young Pill Master at the Alchemist’s Business, they both mentioned a Taoist."
Mo Hua recounted honestly, "The Evil Skills and the pill recipe for the Lifespan Transformation Elixir were both given by a Taoist. But I don’t know if the Taoist they speak of is the same person."
But Mr. Zhuang put a hand on Mo Hua’s shoulder, his expression grave, and said:
"Do not speak of it, do not even think about it, forget that Taoist."
Mo Hua wanted to ask why, but seeing Mr. Zhuang’s face more stern than ever, he nodded in agreement and said:
"Yes, Gentleman."
Mr. Zhuang breathed a sigh of relief.
Mo Hua had never seen anyone who could make Mr. Zhuang so wary.
However, since Mr. Zhuang did not want to talk about it, he didn’t think further and turned to ask other questions:
"Gentleman, then what is the matter with the state boundary assessment?"
"What do you want to know?" Mr. Zhuang looked at Mo Hua.
Mo Hua organized his thoughts and continued:
"Why does the Taoist Court assign assessments to state boundaries?"
"Without the assessment, there wouldn’t be any limitation on cultivation, the Taoist Court could then dispatch high-ranking Cultivators to exterminate Big Demons, and it wouldn’t lead to the annihilation of all living beings within the state boundaries."
"Upon what does the Taoist Court base its assessment?" Mr. Zhuang countered.
Mo Hua thought for a moment and said, "Annihilation by the laws of the Heavenly Dao?"
Because if there were no forceful annihilation by the laws of the Heavenly Dao, even if Cultivators didn’t act according to the state boundary classifications, it would have no impact.
The so-called state boundary assessments would be rendered meaningless.
"What, then, are the laws of the Heavenly Dao?" Mr. Zhuang asked.
Mo Hua was startled and muttered softly, "How should I know that..."
Mr. Zhuang shook his head slightly, "You know."
Mo Hua’s expression was one of surprise, "I know?"
When did I know that? How could I not know about it myself...
Mo Hua furrowed his brows and thought for a while, then suddenly his heart jumped and he exclaimed in astonishment:
"Could it be... Formation?!"
Mr. Zhuang nodded and said, "Correct."
"But... where is the Formation?"
Mo Hua had guessed it, but still couldn’t understand.
Mr. Zhuang pointed to the sky, and Mo Hua couldn’t help but look up. The sky appeared vast and infinite, with tumbling clouds, profound and endless.
"This sky, is itself a Formation!" Mr. Zhuang said in a heavy tone.
Mo Hua was deeply shaken, blurting out in disbelief:
"This is... a Formation?"
"Indeed," Mr. Zhuang nodded, his gaze profound, "And it’s not an ordinary Formation, this is a Large Formation, the most powerful one known in this world!"
"The most powerful Large Formation..." Mo Hua was transfixed, murmuring, "Does that mean..."
Mr. Zhuang nodded and said, "The Innate Large Formation, also called the Immortal Grade Formation in legends!"
Mo Hua was immensely shaken inside and speechless for a long time.
Heaven is just three feet above, and it turns out that the sky is the most powerful Formation in the world.
It turns out that the most powerful Formation in the world has always been suspended above, covering every inch of the Cultivation World, concealing every Cultivator.
What kind of transcendent craftsmanship this must be...
Mo Hua looked up at the sky, feeling his own insignificance and the boundlessness of Formations.