“Is it not that simple…” Mo Hua asked quietly.
Mr. Zhuang smiled faintly and asked Mo Hua, “How do you plan to strengthen your Divine Sense?”
Mo Hua thought for a while and said truthfully:
“The same as before, Drawing Formations, practicing solving them?”
“Your Divine Sense has already reached Foundation Establishment. Drawing First-grade Formations now, the increase in Divine Sense would be negligible.”
Mo Hua froze, only then remembering that it was no wonder these past few days Drawing First-grade Formations felt dull and uninteresting.
It was because these were too simple, no longer able to temper his Divine Sense nor comprehend the laws of the Heavenly Dao.
“Then, should I consume a Contemplation Map?” Mo Hua asked tentatively.
Mr. Zhuang couldn’t help but knock on Mo Hua’s head, shaking his head:
“Not to mention whether you can see through the true essence of the Contemplation Map, or whether you can discern what you’re consuming and what consequences it will have.”
“Even if you really could consume it, Contemplation Maps are rare. Where could you get so lucky as to come across another one?”
“Moreover, Contemplation Maps vary in strength. If the Demon within the map is too strong, it’s still up in the air who would consume whom…”
Although there was a Taoist Stele within Mo Hua’s Sea of Consciousness, it was not a certainty that he would be consumed, but he did not wish for unexpected complications to arise.
If there really was a powerful Evil Demon that infiltrated his Sea of Consciousness and encountered the Taoist Stele within, and if Mo Hua failed to keep it contained and let it escape, the trouble could be immense.
Mo Hua couldn’t help nodding his head.
If Contemplation Maps couldn’t be consumed and First-grade Formations couldn’t be drawn, there was only one method left.
Mo Hua said, “Would drawing the Reversed Spirit Formation work?”
“Not only the Reversed Spirit Formation. All First-grade Formations with ten Patterns, including those anomalies of the Heavenly Dao, can help you enhance your Divine Sense,” Mr. Zhuang said.
“Are there other anomalies of the Heavenly Dao in Formations?”
Mr. Zhuang nodded, “There are, but they’re not with me.”
Mo Hua’s eyes lit up: “Can we obtain them?”
Mr. Zhuang gave a wry smile, “Let’s talk about this later. For now, you learn the Reversed Spirit Formation. Once you’ve mastered it, I have other things to teach you. If you can fully grasp the Reversed Spirit Formation, I’ll try to find some other Heavenly Dao’s anomalies for you to learn.”
Mo Hua felt grateful in his heart and respectfully bowed, “Thank you, Master!”
Mr. Zhuang spoke a lot, showing signs of weariness.
Mo Hua then prepared to stand up and leave, not wanting to disturb Mr. Zhuang’s rest. After taking a few steps, however, Mr. Zhuang called out to him.
“I forgot to tell you,” Mr. Zhuang said, lying back in the bamboo chair, looking at Mo Hua warmly, “Those evil thoughts, they actually have their uses.”
“The Little Green-faced Ghost’s evil thoughts?”
“Correct.”
“What use are they for?”
“Using evil thoughts to refine the heart,” Mr. Zhuang said with a focused gaze, telling Mo Hua:
“Cultivators seek the Tao and aspire for immortality, facing countless obstacles and dangers. Apart from Cultivation, the greatest peril is actually the Taoist Heart.”
“Cultivators can lose their Taoist Heart?”
“Yes,” Mr. Zhuang nodded, his expression one of melancholy:
“The path of Tao Cultivation is long. At the beginning, one may be wholeheartedly dedicated to the Tao, with a steadfast Taoist Heart.”
“But as years go by and worldly desires stain the heart, gradually, one may not even know what they are Cultivating for anymore, living for so long, they might also forget why they are alive.”
“One who seeks the Tao may become obsessed with pleasures, one who vows to slay demons may fall into demonhood, one whose heart pities the world may become its poison, one who holds compassion may grow numb and apathetic…”
“In this world, the most resilient as well as the most fragile thing is the human heart.”
“In the vast world, appearances are manifold. Over the long passage of time, these erode the Taoist Heart.”
“This is also why I asked you to prove the Tao with your Divine Sense.”
“With strong Divine Sense, one can see through to the essence; with a clear mind, one can ward off external demons. Whatever happens in the future, I hope that your Taoist Heart remains as in the beginning, not losing one’s own path, not forgetting one’s original intention…”
After speaking so earnestly, Mr. Zhuang’s expression suddenly became extremely tired. He closed his eyes involuntarily and quietly fell asleep.
Mo Hua respectfully paid his respects with a light gesture, not wanting to disturb Mr. Zhuang.
He silently committed Mr. Zhuang’s words to memory, especially the last two sentences:
Not losing one’s own path, not forgetting one’s original intention.