592 Yi Wood Gen Mountain
Elder Master Xun stood with his hands behind his back, casting just one glance at the four formations on the Array Plate, and they all dissipated without a trace.
He walked straight out of the Tao Teaching Pavilion, followed the jade stone path in the middle of Taixu Gate, and headed towards the back mountain alone.
All the disciples along the way bowed and said,
“Elder Master Xun, greetings.”
Elder Master Xun nodded and responded, “Greetings.”
Upon reaching the back mountain, all the Inner Sect Elders, as well as True Transmission Elders, saw Elder Master Xun and bowed to greet him,
...
“Elder Master Xun, greetings.”
Elder Master Xun just nodded slightly in acknowledgement.
Back at the Elder’s Residence, Elder Master Xun brewed a cup of tea and instructed the boy outside the door, “Go fetch a register for me.”
The Taoist Child outside bowed and said,
“Yes, Elder Ancestor.”
Then Elder Master Xun sat in his room with a cup of tea, a scroll, pondering something while reading.
The Elder’s Residence was spacious, quiet, completely bare.
There was only a table and a meditation cushion.
The tea was bland and pure.
But Elder Master Xun didn’t mind it.
After 30 minutes, the Taoist Child came with a register and respectfully handed it to Elder Master Xun.
Elder Master Xun nodded and took it, his cloudy eyes quickly scanning it.
“Li State, Second Grade Tongxian City, Loose Cultivator…”
“Mid-Lower Grade Spiritual Root…”
“To be a Loose Cultivator with only Mid-Lower Grade Spiritual Root…” Elder Master Xun felt slightly surprised, then nodded slightly, “Taking in talent regardless of their background, there is some progress…”
Elder Master Xun continued reading and saw the ‘Specialty’ section, which read, “Proficient in Formation.”
He pondered for a moment and nodded, “Indeed, not bad…”
Disciples from Li State had traveled thousands of miles to come here to learn…
“Truly commendable…”
Elder Master Xun’s expression showed a hint of emotion, his gaze turning thoughtful as he considered something…
…
Mo Hua was eating at the Disciple’s Residence, surrounded by many disciples.
Having been enrolled for over a month, Mo Hua, with his charming appearance, pleasant speech, and innocent demeanor, had a decent reputation, mixing well with fellow disciples from the Taiyi Residence.
The disciples from major families were focused on cultivation, and were often late bloomers.
Although most were seventeen or eighteen years old, having limited worldly experience, not yet reaching the stage of “seeking fame and wealth,” they were not very scheming and valued the camaraderie among fellow sect members.
A disciple said to Mo Hua,
“Be careful, Mo Hua.”
“You’ve gotten yourself into a big situation…”
“Elder Master Xun is quite stingy…”
Another disciple made a ‘shush’ gesture, “Are you seeking death, daring to badmouth Elder Master Xun…”
“I’m saying it here, he definitely can’t hear…”
“Hard to say…”
“If he does overhear…”
“Then you’ll get to experience the ‘vast depth and complexity’ of Formation firsthand…”
“Yeah, Elder Master Xun will take special care of you, teaching you those really difficult formations, your Sea of Consciousness will dry up, your hair will fall out, and you still won’t be able to learn them…”
“Really? That’d be great!”
“Of course…”
The disciple cut himself off halfway, startled as he realized these exchanges contained an unexpectedly different opinion…
He turned quietly to look at Mo Hua, unsure of what to say.
Mo Hua asked softly, “Will Elder Master Xun teach very difficult formations?”
The expression of that disciple was telling: “Mo Hua, why do you seem… so excited?”
“Not at all,” Mo Hua quickly shook his head.