But he felt that his words were like challenging his master, so he didn’t dare to speak loudly.
Mr. Zhuang responded with a gentle smile:
"The Bai Family has been passed down through many generations but didn’t sever because your Bai Family’s ancestors from one or two generations back, may not necessarily be dead..."
Bai Zixi was shocked to hear this, and both Mo Hua and Bai Zisheng’s mouths fell open.
If the first and second generations haven’t died, how many years have they lived?
Bai Zisheng exclaimed in disbelief,
"Tomb mounds have been built, the dead have been buried, spirit tablets have been erected, and offerings have been made, they can’t possibly be still alive..."
Mr. Zhuang said, teasing, "What, you really wish for your Bai Family’s ancestors to be dead?"
Bai Zisheng immediately covered his mouth.
This was not to be spoken casually.
It was alright to casually talk about other matters, but slandering the ancestors could get one a beating or confinement.
Still, he was very curious in his heart and secretly asked,
"They can’t really still be alive, can they...?"
Mr. Zhuang just smiled enigmatically and did not answer.
Bai Zisheng was filled with doubts in his heart.
Bai Zixi thought for a moment and then asked Mr. Zhuang,
"Master, why is it that some small families, after more than ten generations, aren’t considered prosperous but haven’t declined either?"
Small families like Bai Family, with ancestors who weren’t high in cultivation and didn’t live long, must have passed away after so many generations, but they remained stable, so it shouldn’t be considered "decline in the third and severance in the fifth."
Mr. Zhuang sighed and said:
"It’s not about how many generations a family has been passed down, but about the ancestral teachings and the family’s moral principles..."
"If the forebears are selfless, establishing meritorious deeds, and the descendants adhere to the ancestral teachings and maintain the family’s discipline, then it will naturally last for a long time."
"The third and fifth generations are actually just like one generation."
"If the descendants forget the ancestral teachings and the family’s discipline deteriorates, then relying only on the previous generation’s leftover benefits to bully and indulge in pleasures, the grace will fade after three generations, and after five, it will be severed."
"Take the Sun Family, for instance; their Old Ancestor was a benefactor to Thousand Families Town."
"But his descendants took advantage of these benefits to bully others and indulge themselves."
"On the surface, the Sun Family still looks glorious, adorned in silks and feasting elegantly, but if they don’t repent, the clan’s downfall is only a matter of time."
Mr. Zhuang seemed to recall something, feeling somewhat emotional as he said:
"For a family, having little wealth or a shortage of cultivators in succession may not necessarily lead to a decline..."
"It’s the degradation of family discipline that truly marks the beginning of its downfall."
Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi, upon hearing this, became solemn and nodded in agreement.
Being from a noble family, they had seen many varying sizes of clans and had a deep understanding.
Mo Hua, originating from a Loose Cultivator background, though not fully comprehending, still nodded along.
...
The carriage traveled leisurely, gradually leaving Thousand Families Town as Mo Hua looked back at the Spirit Field.
The Spirit Field was fertile and brimming with life.
The Thick Earth Formation operated silently, gently nourishing the land.
But who knew how long the Formation could run and how long the Spirit Field could remain fertile.
Bai Zixi followed Mo Hua’s gaze and frowned slightly, "The Sun Family won’t just let things be, will they?"
Such a fertile Spirit Field was like juicy meat by a wolf’s mouth.
Even if the Sun Family had a moment of conscience, it wouldn’t last long.
Eventually, they would not be able to resist salivating over it.
The Sun Family would be wary of Mo Hua, a Grade One Formation Master, but they wouldn’t fear these ordinary Spirit Farmers.
In the end, this Formation might still fall into the hands of the Sun Family.
However, Mo Hua looked at his Junior Sister with a smile and said,
"Don’t worry."
Bai Zixi was a bit puzzled.
Mo Hua just smiled again without speaking.
...
At this moment in East Mountain Village, Ding Dachuan went to the Elder to recount what had happened.
The Elder relieved, exclaimed, "It’s good that we could leave safely, we really owe it to that young gentleman."