Instructor Yan fell silent for a moment before replying, “He’s not from a clan; he’s just a Loose Cultivator.”
Master Luo then became silent, and the interest in his eyes faded considerably.
Instructor Yan tentatively asked, “Does the Master have any concerns?”
“Loose Cultivators are difficult to teach…” said Master Luo.
“Brother Luo…”
Master Luo waved his hand and said, “Old Brother Yan, you know what I’m talking about. You should understand how troublesome it is to take a Loose Cultivator as an apprentice.”
“Although Mo Hua is young, he’s clever, well-behaved, diligent, and hardworking, and his talent in formations is extremely high. With just a bit of guidance from Brother Luo, his future achievements in formations will surely be boundless,” Instructor Yan earnestly said.
“It’s not about that,” Master Luo sighed and explained:
“Not to mention what kind of innate talent or comprehension the child has, just the ceremonial gifts required for apprenticeship, can he afford them?”
Master Luo stood up and began to pace slowly. “It’s not that I covet these gifts, but apprenticing and accepting disciples have always been matters bound by tradition. I have accepted many disciples, and each has offered a considerable ceremonial gift. If by chance, he’s unable to pay, or pays too little, how am I to explain it to my other disciples? Even if they don’t dare to voice their displeasure, they will certainly hold a grudge in their hearts, thinking that I am biased and cannot treat all fairly.”
“Not just the ceremonial gifts for apprenticeship, but even the ink, brush, paper, and inkstone needed to learn formations, which of these do not require spirit stones? Can a Loose Cultivator’s family wealth sustain it?”
“Even if he manages to become a Formation Master one day, he’ll still have only two paths to walk: either to attach himself to a clan or to a sect. If he doesn’t affiliate himself, his cultivation and study of formations will be fraught with difficulties. If he does affiliate, it’s as if he’s sold himself; he will lose his own name, background, and parents, no longer the master of his fate. How then could he have any regard for me, his master?”
“So no matter how you look at it, taking him as an apprentice or disciple brings me no benefit whatsoever.”
Having finished speaking, Master Luo sat down and took a sip of his tea.
Instructor Yan also remained silent. He understood what Master Luo was talking about and could not refute it. Initially, he had thought that given Mo Hua’s extraordinary talent, Master Luo might at least consider it, but now it seemed his own thinking was too naive.
Loose Cultivators without a Formation Master, there really was a reason for it…
Instructor Yan looked disheartened.
Seeing this, Master Luo sighed as well and said in a softer tone, “If he at least had the background of a clan, even if it was just an offshoot or a branch, I would have taken him in. But Loose Cultivators are different, there are too many concerns, and I don’t have the energy for it…”
“For Loose Cultivators to become Formation Masters, it’s simply too difficult!” Master Luo lamented.
Instructor Yan tried once more to plead, “Mo Hua, this child, really has a unique talent for formations…” and was about to present the Water Controlling Formation Diagram with five and a half formation patterns that Mo Hua had drawn.
But as he was about to do so, Master Luo said, “It doesn’t matter if he can draw three formation patterns; even if at the third level of Qi Refinement he could draw four or five formation patterns, I still wouldn’t take him.”
Instructor Yan’s hand stopped mid-action, and with no alternative left, he had to put the formation back.
“Brother Luo, is there really no way?”
“Old Brother Yan, feel free to come over any time, whether to discuss or chat, but as for this matter, there is no room for negotiation,” said Master Luo.
“Brother Luo…” Unable to find the words, Instructor Yan could only sigh, “Just don’t regret it later.”
“Many cultivators have said the same to me, but to this day, I have yet to regret anything!”
With nothing more to say, Master Luo picked up his teacup as a signal to show the guest out.
Instructor Yan sighed, his expression one of disappointment, and rose to take his leave.
After Instructor Yan left, Master Luo sat inside the room. A disciple poured him tea and asked softly, “Master, if he truly can draw the Bright Fire Formation at the third level of Qi Refinement, then his talent must indeed be remarkable.”
“Indeed,” Master Luo picked up his tea, took a sip, and said, “But what use is high talent? The Way of Cultivation is not just about talent. How many people were extraordinary in their youth, only to end up as nothing special? Spirit stones, lineage, family background—each one of these is very important. Without them, even talent is just a rootless plant, destined to wither eventually.”
“But still, if Master provided some guidance, he could at least owe you for the kindness…”
Master Luo shook his head, “You think of human nature as too simple. Loose Cultivators born into poverty often have extreme mindsets; any slight mistake could lead to holding a grudge. There are far too many cases of gratitude turning into enmity over the smallest issues. Why should I wade into such murky waters?”
“What you say is true, Master, but it’s such a pity for such talent to go to waste.”
“It is a pity,” Master Luo placed the teacup down and sighed, “but that’s fate, beyond our control.”