MTLNOVEL Chapter 24: Chapter 575 – Departure
Chapter 575 – Departure
Contrary to what Mo Hua expected, the divine sense split by the Heavenly Trick Deduction wasn't a "clone"—
But rather a "Shadow Ink".
Illusory and real, overlapping like layered reflections, it draped over Mo Hua like a Dao robe.
This "Dao robe" was similar to his Martial Uncle's, the Trickster Daoist's—
But subtly different.
It was pitch-black, yet clean.
No filth. No bloodstains.
It carried a strange aura—otherworldly yet untainted by the mundane.
Mo Hua's eyes grew deeper—shadows of the trickster path swirled in his pupils, but they were not hollow or terrifying.
Instead, they brimmed with a sharp, focused will, radiant with divine intent.
His pupils were black as ink, yet glimmered with brilliance.
He was a master of the trickster path—not its slave.
"So this is… Martial Uncle's Heavenly Trick Deduction…"
"Or rather… its true form?"
Mo Hua looked himself over.
This Dao robe was only a thin, shallow layer, far from the grandeur of his Martial Uncle's.
But…
"Have I… really stepped into the Trickster Path?"
He was startled by the thought and couldn't help feeling uneasy.
"Am I going to become a… little Trickster Daoist someday?"
Mo Hua pondered for a while and finally sighed in relief.
Probably not…
The Heavenly Trick Deduction and Heavenly Pattern Deduction both came from the same source.
They were orthodox divine sense algorithms—formidable, righteous techniques.
His Martial Uncle's version had become terrifying because he descended into demonic cultivation, mixing in evil methods and tortured souls.
As long as Mo Hua didn't corrupt his divine sense, didn't twist it into demonic thought, didn't implant it as a parasite into others' Dao hearts—
Then simply splitting divine sense for the sake of the Trickster algorithm would not count as demonic seeding.
Mo Hua's heart settled.
"My Martial Uncle turned into a devil, but I'm not him."
"I cultivate proper arts, on the righteous path."
Still, he reminded himself—
"Stay cautious. Don't fall to demonic thoughts. Don't become a 'little devil.'"
He exhaled, then his eyes lit up with excitement.
"Now that I've split my divine sense into a Shadow Ink… draped this 'Dao robe'…"
"Will my formation-drawing speed increase?"
Mo Hua couldn't wait to test it.
Activating Heavenly Trick Deduction, trickster light flickered in his eyes—dark gray, deep and mysterious.
In his sea of consciousness, his divine sense avatar donned the ink robe, and a Shadow Ink emerged.
Simultaneously, his divine sense surged wildly—its speed more than doubled, and his formation-drawing speed skyrocketed.
The formation runes flowed like a river, smooth and swift.
On the ground, the spiritual ink slithered in arcs, connecting rapidly, taking shape in mere moments.
Mo Hua was drawing himself, and the Shadow Ink—linked to his mind—also painted alongside him, like an external manifestation of his will.
But the cost was steep:
His divine sense drained like a broken dam, pouring out in torrents.
The rate of depletion was terrifying.
Luckily, Mo Hua's divine sense was solid and deep—he could still bear it.
Teeth clenched, he endured it.
The overlapping shadows wove together, and the formation glyphs galloped like wild horses—
The pain was sharp but brief.
In just a dozen breaths, the Second-Rank Earthfire Formation was complete!
But Mo Hua's divine sense was entirely drained.
His sea of consciousness stung. His scalp tingled. Sweat beaded on his brow.
Heavenly Trick Deduction and divine sense splitting…
Drawing this way was extremely fast, but the consumption was extreme.
Previously, with his refined fourteen-pattern divine sense, painting a thirteen-pattern formation was easy.
Now, using the Trickster path, even just drawing one took a serious toll.
Still, Mo Hua was ecstatic.
To him, divine sense depletion and some mental pain were trivial compared to—
Finishing a formation in just over ten breaths!
That was way faster than before.
It still wasn't fast enough to use in the middle of a sudden fight, but—
If he could stall, buy a few seconds, and quietly draw with his divine sense…
It might just work.
And this was only the beginning.
He had only split one Shadow Ink.
Only draped one thin layer of Dao robe.
What if, in the future… he could split thousands of Shadow Inks?
His robe vast enough to shroud the sky?
Wouldn't he be able to—
Manifest a grand formation in a single thought?!
The very idea made Mo Hua jump in fright.
Then he calmed himself.
"Don't get ahead of yourself…"
For now, he needed to:
Steadily strengthen his divine sense
Deepen his algorithm comprehension
Practice divine sense painting
Construct more Second-Rank formations
Keep drawing faster and more precisely
Keep compressing the time it takes to draw formations—
Until the day he could cast them in an instant, even mid-battle, and reverse the tide in a heartbeat.
That was the true goal.
As for one-thought manifestation of formations…
He'd keep that wild dream buried for now.
At this point, Mo Hua's preparations were basically complete.
He had his spiritual ink.
He had the knowledge.
Staying in Black Mountain longer wouldn't teach him much more.
He let out a long sigh.
Though reluctant to leave…
He knew—it was time.
He needed to head to Qianzhou to study.
Otherwise, his cultivation would stagnate.
His formation path would hit a ceiling.
He'd lack proper resources.
He might never develop supreme divine sense, nor ever ascend the grand path of formations—
Let alone rescue his Master.
Two months later, an aerial ferry was scheduled to depart from the neighboring Second-Rank Qingyuan State, traveling north.
It would pass through the Kun, Dui, and Qian states before reaching the northern Kan state.
Mo Hua would board in Lizhōu and disembark when the ferry reached Qianzhou.
This information had been given to him by Chief Steward Zhou, head of Tongxian City's administrative division.
He even gifted Mo Hua a Cloud Ferry Token—carved from white jade, delicate and luxurious.
It served as the boarding pass for the ferry.
Mo Hua couldn't help but ask:
"Chief Steward, this must be expensive…"
Zhou nodded.
"It's not cheap…"
Mainly, it was hard to get.
Cross-state ferries like this required connections—without them, it was nearly impossible to obtain a ticket.
Not to mention, a fair amount of spirit stones.
"But it's fine," Zhou said, sipping his tea.
"It'll be reimbursed."
Mo Hua blinked.
"They reimburse this kind of thing?"
"Why not?" Zhou snorted.
"The Dao Court reimburses all kinds of random nonsense. Sending you to Qianzhou to study is a legitimate cause—why shouldn't it count?"
"But I'm not technically part of the Dao Court…"
"Who says you aren't?" Zhou frowned.
"You have a bronze token from Tongxian City. You might be off-record, but you still count as one of our own."
Mo Hua then remembered—
Uncle Zhang Lan had once gifted him a bronze waist token.
He hadn't used it in a while, so he forgot.
"There should be a fair amount of contribution points stored in that token. If you're ever short on spirit stones, you can trade some for resources."
"But only if you absolutely have to."
"Later, when your cultivation grows and you meet higher-level Dao Court officials—those contribution points could be really important."
Zhou warned him seriously.
Mo Hua asked curiously:
"Important how?"
Zhou replied honestly:
"I'm not a high-ranking official. I don't know."
Mo Hua paused.
"…Fair enough."
Zhou leaned closer and said quietly:
"That token—you can use it, but don't depend on it too much. You're off-record. If something goes wrong, no one will cover for you."
Mo Hua nodded, understanding.
With the bronze token, he was barely considered Dao Court personnel…
But when push came to shove—he was still technically an outsider.
Zhou clearly cared. He had given Mo Hua every possible warning.
Then he sipped his tea again and said slowly:
"You're going to Qianzhou to study.
To grow your cultivation.
To broaden your horizons.
To advance your formation arts."
"Qianzhou is filled with geniuses from all states.
If you make a name for yourself—
You'll bring honor to Black Mountain State."
"So this Cloud Ferry Token… you've earned it."
Mo Hua was touched, but the weight of responsibility made him uneasy.
He asked softly:
"What if… I don't make a name for myself?"
"What if… I don't make a name for myself?"
Chief Steward Zhou shot Mo Hua a mild glare.
"You think those so-called 'geniuses' from each state grow on trees?"
"Heaven's Chosen? Favored by the heavens? You think they're cabbages on the side of the road?"
"You can't just casually outshine people like that."
"In Qianzhou, where sects abound and talents gather like clouds, not making a name for yourself is the norm. If you do stand out? That's what would be freakish."
"Besides—there are all kinds of 'names' you can make…"
"Right now, you're in early Foundation Establishment. If you go to Qianzhou and come back at late-stage Foundation Establishment—or even mid-stage—isn't that still called 'making a name for yourself'?"
"Or say you're currently a First-Rank Formation Master. If you reach Second-Rank there—that's not just a name, that's a big name!"
"So don't put too much pressure on yourself," Zhou said.
"That place is full of geniuses—but what's that got to do with us?"
"No matter how strong their cultivation is, they won't protect us. No matter how great their formations are, they won't draw them for us."
"Likewise, even if you learn something incredible, they won't necessarily treat you like some 'precious treasure.'"
"So you just go and learn. As long as you bring back real skills—no matter how small or big—we'll all be proud of you."
Mo Hua felt much more at ease and couldn't help but smile.
"Thank you, Chief Steward!"
Zhou nodded slightly, quite pleased, and continued sipping his tea.
When Mo Hua heard Zhou mention Second-Rank Formation Masters, he asked curiously,
"Chief Steward, is it possible to be officially certified as a Second-Rank Formation Master here in Tongxian City?"
"Second-Rank?" Zhou paused, then shook his head.
"Nope."
"In a Second-Rank state like ours, we're not qualified to certify Second-Rank Formation Masters. That takes at least a Third-Rank state."
"Oh." Mo Hua nodded.
Zhou lifted his teacup, just about to take a sip, then froze. His hand trembled.
"Wait—you… you're already a Second-Rank Formation Master?!"
Mo Hua thought for a moment, then shook his head.
To be a true Second-Rank Formation Master, one needed to master at least one thirteen-pattern Second-Rank formation.
While Mo Hua found that goal within reach, at present he had only learned one—Earthfire Formation—so he wasn't quite there yet.
"Not yet. Just asking." Mo Hua said lightly.
Zhou let out a breath, calming his pounding heart.
"Just asking, huh? Scared me half to death…"
He muttered to himself:
"A Second-Rank Formation Master… That would've been absurd…"
"You're already a First-Rank Master at fifteen—that's impressive enough. But if you reached Second-Rank at this age… you'd basically stop being human…"
After that, Zhou handed Mo Hua the Cloud Ferry Token, reminding him to keep it safe. The ferry would depart on the first day of the month, two months from now—don't miss it.
Mo Hua held the cold jade token in his hand, feeling both the weight of it… and a hint of melancholy.
"So I'm really… leaving."
Once again, he was saying goodbye to Tongxian City.
Goodbye to his parents.
Goodbye to friends and family.
Off to a strange land, to walk an unknown path.
A pang of guilt welled up in his heart.
Especially toward his parents.
But he had no choice—he had to go to Qianzhou.
Mo Hua sighed.
In the time that followed, Mo Hua mostly stayed home to be with his parents.
Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua couldn't bear to part with him, but in the world of cultivation, with such an opportunity, no matter how reluctant you were—you had to let go.
Still, their hearts remained heavy and full of worry.
Mo Shan cut down on beast-hunting trips and spent more time at home with Mo Hua.
Liu Ruhua cooked him many delicious dishes.
She also packed up his luggage, stuffing his storage pouch with jerky, dried fruits, and jars of fruit wine.
She even packed a bunch of spirit stones.
Mo Hua didn't want to take them, but couldn't refuse—he only accepted half.
He wanted his parents to keep some spirit stones for themselves—to cultivate, to one day build their own foundation, maybe even form a Golden Core and live a happy, full life.
Just as everything was nearly packed, Liu Ruhua suddenly remembered something and handed Mo Hua a wooden box.
"This belonged to Zhang Dian-si. He was drinking at the restaurant that day and left it on the table."
"The next day, we heard he'd left Tongxian City and returned to the Zhang Clan… and we couldn't return this to him."
"He probably isn't coming back. You take it. If you ever meet him again, give it back then."
Mo Hua was startled.
"A wooden box?"
He took it—just a plain wooden box. Solid build, but sealed with a formation. No idea what was inside.
"Okay, Mom. I'll hang on to it. If I ever see Uncle Zhang again, I'll return it."
Still, a faint sense of suspicion crept into his mind.
Uncle Zhang Lan, though carefree and often lazy, was actually very meticulous. He wasn't the type to leave things behind…
"Why would he forget something like this at a restaurant?"
Mo Hua examined the box again—then froze.
It was sealed with a compound formation.
And not just any compound formation—it was the very first one he'd ever learned from Basic Introduction to Compound Arrays.
The one he had asked Zhang Lan about the very first time they met.
Only the two of them should know that.
"This wooden box… was it left here on purpose?"
Mo Hua stared at the seal.
It was—terrible.
Sloppy. Crude.
Clearly the person who drew it had tried their best, but their formation skill was just… tragic.
Mo Hua had seen enough.
"Yep. Definitely Uncle Zhang's handiwork."
"He used this beginner-level formation to seal the box… Was he hiding something?"
Curiosity won out. He decided to open it.
With a tap of his finger, divine sense surged. Ink patterns flickered—and the crude seal unraveled instantly.
The box opened.
Inside, there was a single handwritten book.
A bit old and worn.
There was no title on the cover.
But inside… diagrams of meridian flows, and detailed explanations. Most people might not understand, but Mo Hua recognized it instantly—
Second-Rank "Flowing Water Step" Body Technique!
This was something…
Uncle Zhang Lan had left for him.
Mo Hua stood stunned.
Then a wave of emotion surged.
He flipped to the last page and found a line of small characters. Though the handwriting was deliberately blurred, Mo Hua—familiar with formation glyphs and brushwork—recognized it:
"Clan's legacy technique. Do not bring shame to it."
"Left behind by an unknown, kindly uncle passing through."
A warm light filled Mo Hua's heart, and he smiled brightly.
He silently etched Zhang Lan's kindness into his heart.
"When I see Uncle Zhang again—I'll repay him handsomely."
And then, realization hit.
This body technique solved a huge problem.
For a spirit cultivator, not having a movement technique was like a meat bun without legs—everyone gets a bite, and you can't even run.
Finding a new body technique would be tedious—and likely subpar.
Just like with formations, cultivation techniques, spells, and body arts all relied on lineage and progression.
First-Rank to Second-Rank to Third-Rank…
From shallow to deep, step by step.
That ensured solid foundations and deeper insights—making the techniques stronger.
Now that he had the Second-Rank Flowing Water Step, even when facing cultivation geniuses in Qianzhou—
He could now defend himself!
Mo Hua let out a relieved breath.
Then immediately began studying the Flowing Water Step.
Mo Hua let out a breath of relief.
He immediately began learning the Second-Rank Flowing Water Step.
Since he had already mastered the First-Rank version thoroughly, picking up the Second-Rank wasn't too difficult.
As time passed, Mo Hua's mastery of the technique gradually rose to the level of a Second-Rank Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Compared to the First-Rank, the Second-Rank Flowing Water Step had far more variations and was significantly more complex.
However, just as Mo Hua was getting into the groove of comprehending those many changes—
He heard something that made his jaw practically unhinge…
Instructor Yan… was getting married?!
The news came directly from Instructor Yan himself.
Manager Mo, seeing Mo Hua's stunned expression, nodded knowingly:
"That's exactly the face I made when I first heard it too…"
"Instructor Yan… is marrying who?" Mo Hua couldn't help asking.
"It's that one we saw the other day—you remember? Hair tied up, no makeup, plain appearance, but refined temperament… very intellectual."
Manager Mo rattled off the description in one breath.
Mo Hua recalled her immediately.
That graceful and composed female formation master…
Now that he thought about it, she and Instructor Yan actually made quite the fitting pair.
"But…" Mo Hua frowned, thoroughly puzzled,
"How did Instructor Yan even meet her? And how did it go so far, all the way to marriage?"
Manager Mo wore an expression that said: "You won't believe this even if I told you."
"Her surname is Shen, given name Ru. She's from the Shen Clan in the neighboring state."
"My senior brother visited their home himself—said he wanted to 'exchange formation insights'…"
"Then the two really hit it off, spent some time together, and now… wedding bells."
Mo Hua's jaw dropped.
Visited in person?!
Was this still the strict, dead-serious formation fanatic Instructor Yan he knew?
Manager Mo tsk-tsked in amazement.
"Truly, people can't be judged by appearances… I never thought my senior brother had it in him. Respect, serious respect…"
Mo Hua was stunned too, but deep down, he was genuinely happy for Instructor Yan.
Instructor Yan had been burdened for half a lifetime—pursuing justice for the Lingyin Sect's grudges, tracking traitors, recovering lost legacies…
Such a man deserved someone to share his life with.
To find someone he cared for, to live a long, peaceful life together—nothing could be better.
Plus… there'd be wedding food.
Mo Hua had already started mentally listing what delicacies he might find at the banquet…
Instructor Yan moved fast.
He got engaged quickly, and was married even faster.
Just half a month later, the wedding was held in Tongxian City, complete with a banquet.
Mo Hua joined the festivities, basked in the good vibes, and ate to his heart's content.
At the wedding, Mo Hua met Shen Ru—Instructor Yan's new bride.
She wore a red wedding robe, elegant and reserved. Even for her wedding, her makeup was minimal—refined, simple, and graceful.
Mo Hua stepped forward to congratulate them.
Shen Ru, upon seeing Mo Hua's painting-like features and clear, bright eyes, found him instantly likable.
When she heard from Instructor Yan that Mo Hua also studied formations, she lit up even more.
She gifted Mo Hua a large red envelope and praised:
"Such a clever child. With effort, he'll surely become a First-Rank Formation Master in the future!"
Instructor Yan looked a bit awkward and quietly mumbled:
"He… already is a First-Rank Formation Master…"
Shen Ru froze.
She turned her head, eyes wide, staring at Instructor Yan in disbelief—completely shocked and speechless for a long moment.
The wedding was lively, cheerful, and full of joy.
After it ended, Manager Mo looked immensely gratified, as if a long-standing burden had been lifted from his heart.
"That's my senior brother all right…" he sighed.
Once he made up his mind, he acted swiftly and decisively—never dragging his feet.
He turned to Mo Hua with heartfelt advice:
"You should learn from this in the future. If something needs letting go—let go. If something's worth holding onto—never let it slip through your fingers!"
Mo Hua blinked, confused.
"Hold onto what?"
Manager Mo gave him a world-weary, knowing look:
"You'll understand… when you're older."
Mo Hua blinked again, still not getting it.
The days that followed were peaceful and gentle as flowing water…
But like flowing water, they slipped away bit by bit.
Mo Hua barely felt the passage of time—
Before he knew it, the day of departure had arrived.
He felt reluctant, but packed his belongings and prepared to leave.
Before he set off, he earnestly reminded his parents:
"Dad, Mom—you must keep cultivating!"
"No slacking!"
"The road ahead is long—don't fall behind…"
"Build your Foundation, then form your Golden Core…"
"Then live a peaceful, happy life, together forever…"
"Once I've learned the ways of formations in Qianzhou, I'll come back to see you!"
Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua couldn't help but smile wryly.
Shouldn't they, as the parents, be the ones giving such parting advice?
Still, it lightened the sadness of their farewell a little.
Soon after, Mo Hua boarded a carriage bound for Yundu City, the Cloud Ferry's departure point.
The carriage stopped outside the city gates.
Just like the last time he left, many cultivators from Tongxian City came to send him off.
Their eyes were full of hope and warm wishes.
Mo Hua smiled and waved at them all.
In this world, everyone has their own story, their own life to live.
Mo Hua hoped that everyone in Tongxian City would live peaceful, happy lives—that their stories would be full and colorful.
As for him—
He would embark on his journey, walking his unknown path, in pursuit of his own Dao.
The carriage rolled steadily away, leaving Tongxian City behind, entering the vast expanse of Black Mountain.
As it passed through the deep forests, Mo Hua suddenly paused.
He stepped out of the carriage and waved toward the distant woods.
In the forest, a large tiger appeared.
Big Tiger had come to see him off.
A few days earlier, Mo Hua had already said goodbye.
He had explained he was headed to Qianzhou—traveling by cloud ferry, across nine states.
Big Tiger, a demon beast living deep in the mountains, couldn't possibly go with him.
Worried that the tiger might go hungry, Mo Hua had asked his father, Mo Shan, to bring along some dried river fish when hunting—and if he saw a tiger with black-and-white stripes, to please feed it in his stead.
This parting—who knew when they'd meet again?
Mo Hua stood atop the carriage, waving toward Big Tiger in the distance.
Big Tiger stared at him quietly, eyes a little lost.
Only when Mo Hua's small figure disappeared from view did it droop its big head, turn, and walk back into the woods— Its silhouette retreating… Lonely.
(End of Chapter)