Asking about longevity

There are clouds and mists in the mountains, and there is a courtyard in the clouds and mist. There is a bamboo gate in the courtyard, and a path at the door winds to the foot of the ink painting.

Nothing seems out of the ordinary.

Mo Hua stepped onto the path, and then his consciousness felt a fluctuation, as if something had been triggered.

But looking around, the surrounding peaks are still peaks, the trees are still trees, the flowers and grass are still flowers and grass, there is no change at all.

Mo Hua stopped and looked around, but still didn't see anything.

Mo Hua heard that some senior experts like to set up some formations or set up some situations to test others. I wonder if the gentleman on the mountain also has this hobby.

Or maybe the path in front of you is actually a test?

Mo Hua felt a little nervous for no reason.

Since he is an array master and his consciousness fluctuates, there should probably be an array set up on this path.

But what exactly is the formation?

With the limited experience of using ink painting formations, I have no clue at all. At the same time, no matter how you look at it, you don’t feel that the surrounding scenery is any different.

Mo Hua thought about it as he walked, but couldn't think of anything.

He had no choice but to remember his teacher's instructions, with a clear mind, and let nature take its course, neither forcing nor being discouraged.

Walking like this, he had already arrived in front of Tingluo's door.

The bamboo gate in the courtyard is simple but quite interesting.

After passing the bamboo gate, the view suddenly opens up. What you see is a beautiful courtyard with several unique and elegant bamboo residences. The courtyard is paved with green grass, the pool is full of water, and the cranes are drinking dew. Just looking at it makes you feel relaxed and happy.

There was a skinny old man standing in the courtyard. Mo Hua saluted quickly and said, Hello, sir.

The old man's voice was hoarse and dry, like the sound of a piece of rotten wood weathered:

I'm not sir. Sir is inside. You come with me.

After saying that, he led Mo Hua into a bamboo house. The bamboo house was elegant and windy from all directions.

Sitting in the middle of the room was a middle-aged monk in white clothes. He had an extremely handsome face and a graceful manner. As he looked around, he showed a bit of freedom and unruliness, as if nothing in the world had ever lingered in his mind.

This is the most celestial character that Mo Hua has ever seen.

The middle-aged monk saw Mo Hua and said with an easy-going smile: You are Mo Hua, Mr. Yan told me. I ask you, you just answer. Don't be formal, just say whatever you think.

Mo Hua saluted and said, Okay, sir.

The middle-aged monk said: My surname is Zhuang. You can just call me Mr. Zhuang.

Mo Hua bowed again, Mr. Zhuang.

Mr. Zhuang nodded slightly and said, I just passed that path on the mountain. What did you see?

Mo Hua thought for a moment and said, There are mountains, trees, flowers, grass, and a path.

Other than that? Mr. Zhuang asked with great interest, Didn't you see anything else? Like someone or something?

Mo Hua shook his head.

Mr. Zhuang said: There is a formation on that path. It was given to me by a Taoist friend in the past. The formation is called the Water Mirror Formation. Walking up for the first time can reveal some of your fate or predict something. future.

Mo Hua was shocked, how could such a formation exist? Can it reveal fate and future?

So what does it mean that I didn't see anything? Doesn’t it mean I have no future?…

Mo Hua was a little worried, but thinking of Yan Jiaoxi's previous instructions, he still said truthfully: I didn't see anything else...

Mr. Zhuang was slightly surprised, then nodded and said: I understand. Then he took out a formation diagram and continued:

There is pen and ink here. You can draw this formation as much as you can.

Mo Hua took a look at the formation diagram. It was the water-fixing formation, which was also the formation used by Yan Jiaoxi for assessment before.

yes.

Mo Hua took the paper and pen, compared it with the formation diagram, and began to draw the formation.

An hour later, Mo Hua's spiritual consciousness was exhausted, and he could still only draw five and a half formation patterns.

It had only been a few days since the last time he drew the fixed water formation, and Mo Hua's spiritual consciousness had not grown so fast that he could draw the six formations in such a short time.

This time the formation was drawn more skillfully than last time, and the handwriting was more neat.

Mr. Zhuang looked at the formation drawn by Mo Hua, raised his eyebrows slightly, and then said:

Not bad. Are you willing to be my registered disciple? I won't teach you some of the sect's formations, but if you want to learn the formations that are common in the monastic world, I can teach them.

Although I don’t know why, the ink painting seems to have passed Mr. Zhuang’s test.

Mo Hua was overjoyed, and then he saluted Mr. Zhuang respectfully and said, Thank you, sir, my disciple is willing!

There are two types of master-disciple relationships in the cultivation world, one is a registered disciple, and the other is a direct disciple.

The direct disciples are called Master, and they are passed down from master to father. It is emphasized that one day is a teacher, and a lifetime is a father. The relationship between masters is very deep.

Registered disciples are much more casual. You can teach whatever you like. Disciples cannot call them master, but can only call them sir. There is a friendship between master and disciple, but it is not as deep as that of a personal disciple.

However, Mr. Zhuang is already very grateful for being able to accept Mo Hua as his named disciple.

Mr. Zhuang nodded, You will go back today. Come over tomorrow at Chenshi, and I will start teaching you some formations.

Okay, sir!

Mo Hua saluted again, this time as a disciple saluted Mr. Zhuang, then said goodbye to Mr. Zhuang and left Mr. Zhuang's court with brisk steps.

Mo Hua walked to the bottom of the mountain and found Yan Jiaoxi still waiting at the foot of the mountain. When he learned that Mr. Zhuang agreed to accept Mo Hua as his apprentice, he was relieved and said happily:

It is your blessing to be valued by Mr. Zhuang. You must cherish this opportunity. Mr. Zhuang is an expert, and you must respect him more.

Yes, teach. Mo Hua agreed.

The two walked along the mountain road for a while, and Mo Hua suddenly asked out of curiosity: Jiao Xi, have you been to Mr. Zhuang's courtyard? What did you see when you passed that path?

Yan Jiaoxi turned his head and looked at the ink painting silently. After a moment, he said:

When I walked along that path, I vaguely saw some pictures. These fleeting pictures told me that Mr. Zhuang is willing to accept you as his disciple, and that you will become an amazing formation master in the future.

After Yan Jiaoxi finished speaking, the two of them had reached a fork in the road, and in front of them was Tongxian City.

Yan Jiaoxi looked at the ink painting and suddenly said solemnly: Ink painting.

Mo Hua turned around, Yan Jiaoxi paused for a moment and said:

Array masters seek the way of heaven, but the way of heaven is infinite, and human life is limited. Only by passing on the formation from generation to generation can monks be able to explore the way of heaven, and the formation can benefit all living beings.

One day in the future, if you become a first-level formation master, or even a first-level formation master, and meet a monk with a good character and talent for formations, I hope you will not hesitate to give me advice. The formation path is like water, and it will only last if it is passed down. Otherwise, It will just be a pool of stagnant water that cannot flow.

Mo Hua suddenly felt a little heavy on his shoulders. He saluted Yan Jiaoxi and solemnly said: Disciple, remember this!

Yan Jiaoxi looked relieved.

Mo Hua couldn't help but ask: Teacher, are you leaving Tongxian City?

Yan Jiaoxi nodded, I can't stay at Tongxian Sect anymore, and I have some personal matters, so I will leave soon.

Then can I see you again?

Yan Jiaoxi looked at Mo Hua's dark and clear eyes and smiled, Let it go.

Yan Jiaoxi reached out and touched Mo Hua's head, Go back early and talk to your parents.

Mo Hua walked towards the city gate. After walking a few steps, he turned back and saluted Yan Jiaoxi.

Yan Jiaoxi waved his hand and said warmly: Go. Then he kept looking at the ink painting until the back of the ink painting became smaller, and then turned and left.

At this time, Mo Hua also turned around, looked at Yan Jiaoxi, and bowed deeply.

Yan Jiaoxi's figure gradually moved away, disappearing faintly in the misty mountains.