Chapter 1111: The Big Tiger
A High-Rank Second-Grade Formation Master?!
Looking across the entire Second-Grade Black Mountain Province, not even a single high-rank second-grade formation master had emerged in the past thousand years.
Even a mid-rank second-grade was as rare as a phoenix feather or unicorn horn.
A few white-haired veteran formation masters seated nearby exchanged glances, unable to conceal the shock and doubt in their eyes.
Back in their youth, they too were hailed as geniuses in formation arts.
They began enlightenment at three, studied formations at seven, and started showing their brilliance in their teenage years. By their twenties or thirties, they reached the ninth level of Qi Refining. Through painstaking effort, they passed the grading examination in their forties or fifties to become first-grade formation masters.
That alone made them rare formation geniuses.
They were hotly pursued by nearby clans and sects alike.
Afterward, they devoted themselves to cultivation, laboriously built their foundations, and began learning second-grade formations.
Once they had made some progress, they joined their peers in taking the second-grade formation exams—an arduous journey, full of struggles they could hardly describe.
Thus, a hundred or two hundred years passed. They poured out their life's energy, their hair turned white, and they finally endured enough to reach the second grade, becoming entry-level second-grade formation masters.
That level of skill already stood at the pinnacle of formation arts within the Black Mountain Province.
And yet, the young man before them, barely in his twenties, was now claiming to explain high-rank second-grade formations—to analyze the formation principles behind pinnacle-level second-grade formations bearing nineteen marks. How could their hearts not tremble with shock, bitterness, and disbelief?
Of course, many still did not believe it.
A second-grade formation master in their twenties—while absurd—was just barely within the realm of possibility.
But advancing beyond entry-level was increasingly difficult with each step.
Mid-rank second grade was already several times harder.
As for high-rank second grade—that was an entirely different plane altogether.
A high-rank second-grade formation master in his twenties? That was simply inconceivable.
All the formation masters stared at Mo Hua. Some with shock, some with despair, some with jealousy, others with disdain, contempt, fear, or skepticism… Their expressions varied, and their thoughts were in turmoil.
Mo Hua, however, seemed unaware of everything around him. Following his own plan, he began step by step to explain formation theory.
He started with the most basic—explaining the principles of Five Element formations.
From fundamental formation lines to specialized variations.
Then he elaborated on formation hubs, from single-core hubs to compound formation structures.
From there, he expanded from Five Element theory to the Eight Trigrams, explaining the similarities between the two, such as the relationship between fire formations and the Li trigram, water formations and the Gui trigram, earth formations and the Gen trigram—how these interact, transform, and support one another.
Eventually, he moved on to the combined use of Five Elements and Eight Trigrams—how they interconnect, merge, complement, and transform in countless complex ways.
He even touched on more advanced topics—surface-level hub structures in grand formations, the overarching architecture of Five Elements and Eight Trigrams combined, and large-scale compatibility of formation lines.
At first, the formation masters were skeptical, but soon the hall fell utterly silent.
Then came astonishment at the profound insights, followed by applause and gasps of admiration.
When he delved into more obscure topics, brows furrowed and confusion set in.
Finally, when Mo Hua described the grand formation structures—vast, profound, unfathomable—everyone felt their scalps tingling, cold sweat breaking out, and their gazes filled with terror. It was like peering at the moon from the bottom of a well, or a mayfly beholding the blue sky—an overwhelming sense of despair.
At that point, when they looked at Mo Hua again, they felt as though he was one with the Dao, surrounded by a faint immortal glow, ethereal like a celestial being.
If he weren't truly an immortal descended to the mortal realm, there was simply no way he could possess such terrifying talent—and even less possible that he could reach such an awe-inspiring level of mastery at such a young age.
After finishing his explanation, Mo Hua fell silent.
The room was solemn and still—you could hear a pin drop.
A moment later, an elder with a head full of white hair—the oldest and most experienced among them—slowly rose to his feet. He clasped his hands toward Mo Hua and sighed deeply:
"I have studied formations for over two hundred years… yet I pale in comparison to Mister Mo's twenty years of profound mastery. I am truly… ashamed."
"Mister Mo's talent is indeed… shocking and peerless."
Mo Hua paused for a moment in thought, then spoke slowly:
"Honestly, I don't even know if I have any talent…"
The old master blinked in surprise.
Mo Hua thought again and said:
"If I do have any talent, it's just this—I persist. Every day, I draw formations, study formations, comprehend formations… I study during the day, and even dream about studying at night. I devote myself completely, focus solely on the Dao of formations, constantly learning and constantly thinking. Other than that, I don't consider anything else, nor do I ever wonder whether I 'have talent' or not…"
"The earthworm has no sharp claws or strong bones, but it eats dirt above and drinks spring water below—all because it devotes itself with one heart."
The old master's expression trembled. In the end, he let out a long sigh, bowed deeply, and said:
"Thank you… Mister Mo, for your teachings."
The rest of the formation masters also stood, bowing sincerely to Mo Hua, and echoed in unison:
"Thank you, Mister Mo, for your teachings."
Instructor Yan also stood and bowed solemnly to Mo Hua.
Mo Hua bowed in return with respect.
In the vast Dao Lecture Hall of Tongxian City, an atmosphere of reverence and vitality quietly rose.
The Formation Lecture concluded perfectly.
Following that, the Dao lectures on alchemy, artifact refinement, and talisman crafting were held in sequence.
However, in these fields, there was no figure like Mo Hua—a high-level cultivator with extraordinary insight—to preside and lecture. The alchemists, smiths, and talisman masters merely exchanged knowledge and experiences with one another.
Even so, it was a fruitful event for all.
Tongxian City began to develop the early stirrings of a scholarly atmosphere in cultivation.
At the final session of the lecture series, Mo Hua—coming from a major sect and now at the late Foundation Establishment stage—once again took the stage to explain the Dao of Foundation Establishment cultivation.
This time, the number of cultivators attending was far greater. The entire great hall was packed densely.
Outside the hall, many cultivators even perched on rooftops or hung from trees—just for the chance to hear Mo Hua teach.
After all, formation cultivators were a minority.
But cultivation itself—everyone had to practice it.
Every Qi Refining cultivator wished to reach Foundation Establishment. And every Foundation Establishment cultivator naturally sought to improve further.
Within the Great Void Sect, Foundation Establishment wasn't considered difficult.
But that was because the Great Void Sect was a fifth-rank major sect, with deep-rooted legacies. When it came to the basics like Foundation Establishment, the sect had a tried and true system—developed over generations by successive Sect Masters and Ancestors, refined and validated over time.
It was the product of countless geniuses and high-level cultivators' accumulated wisdom.
Back when Mo Hua trained in the Great Void Sect, he didn't think much of it.
But once he returned to Tongxian City, he realized: for ordinary rogue cultivators, the path to cultivation beyond Foundation Establishment was like a desert—desolate and barren.
Most rogue cultivators, even if they reached Foundation Establishment, had no idea how to proceed further.
They could only grope forward using fragments of oral tradition or their own trial and error.
As a result, for rogue cultivators in Foundation Establishment, every step forward was extremely arduous.
This was the true meaning of the saying: "There is no door to the Dao."
Thus, Mo Hua explained the Great Void Sect's Foundation Establishment system to the public—what it truly meant to build a foundation.
How to breathe and refine spiritual energy after the initial stage of Foundation Establishment.
What to be cautious of during breakthroughs—how to reduce the chance of failure.
Which taboos in cultivation must never be touched.
Which meridians must never be used for circulating spiritual energy in a full cycle…
His teachings left the crowd in awe. Many rogue cultivators who had long suffered from a lack of guidance felt as though a divine nectar had been poured into their minds—they were suddenly enlightened.
Many cultivation details weren't difficult—they just needed to be known.
But the hard part was in that very word: "knowing."
Lacking inheritance, without teachers, the path of cultivation was full of walls. For rogue cultivators in the past, trying to learn these things was like chasing a dream.
After this final lecture, Mo Hua's reputation soared even higher.
After this Dao Discourse gathering concluded, Mo Hua's reputation soared even higher.
Everyone now knew that Tongxian City had produced a "Little Immortal" — someone with the potential of a Heaven-tier cultivator, possessing an immortal demeanor and Daoist grace. Not only was his talent astonishing and cultivation deep, his array skills were exceptional, but he also had a benevolent heart, spreading the Dao widely among grassroots cultivators.
On another front, Elder Yu had already begun expanding Tongxian City.
The expanded Tongxian Sub-City would have much more space, allowing more itinerant cultivators to settle down and make a home there.
Once this news spread, all the rogue cultivators who frequently traveled near Tongxian City were overjoyed and full of gratitude.
Some array masters — even some second-rank veteran ones — who had attended the Dao Discourse, also decided not to leave.
They were wealthy and experienced, and many simply purchased estates in Tongxian City and settled down.
After all, across the entire Black Mountain Prefecture, no other immortal city could compare to Tongxian City in terms of peace, prosperity, popularity, the rich atmosphere of array cultivation, and the vibrant vitality that pulsed from top to bottom.
What's more, Tongxian City was still developing.
As array masters, staying behind meant boundless opportunities.
And with more array masters present, communication and exchange became much easier — even simple tea gatherings among friends were more frequent.
The entire Tongxian City was suffused with a flourishing, thriving atmosphere.
Everything was getting better, and everything was progressing exactly as Mo Hua had envisioned.
Seeing all this, Mo Hua felt gratified — then he suddenly realized that everything he could do had already been done. For the time being, there was nothing else that required his involvement.
Tongxian City could now develop very well with Elder Yu and everyone else.
"Perhaps... it's time to leave..."
This thought surfaced suddenly — unexpected, yet completely natural.
Mo Hua's expression darkened slightly, a trace of sorrow in his gaze.
He had just returned home not long ago, and now, in the blink of an eye, he was about to leave again...
Such is life — filled with joy and sorrow, with reunions and partings.
This time, as he left once more — where would he go? What would he face? What hardships lay ahead? How long would it be before he could return home again? He had no answers.
Mo Hua let out a deep sigh.
Because he sensed his departure was near, he cleared out his schedule to spend all his time with his parents.
This, too, was his duty as a son.
His mother, Liu Ruhua, could feel something in her heart. Though she was quietly saddened, she said nothing — only trying every day to prepare delicious meals for Mo Hua.
She wanted her child to eat well before he left home again.
Mo Shan, too, remained silent. Occasionally, he would take Mo Hua for walks in the Black Mountains, retracing the paths of Mo Hua's childhood, while passing down some demon-hunting techniques — and, of course, life lessons.
He told Mo Hua that all things must be planned thoroughly, and actions must be taken cautiously.
No matter what you encounter, preserving your life is the top priority.
If you meet a strong enemy, kill if you can — do not hold back.
If you can't kill them, escape — without hesitation.
And if you do strike, remember to finish the kill — never be careless, or you might suffer later...
As a demon hunter, Mo Hua had been raised on such lessons, and had long internalized and practiced them throughout his travels.
But now, hearing Mo Shan repeat each word patiently and earnestly, Mo Hua engraved every sentence deep in his heart, not daring to neglect a single one.
These insights into life — the more you reflect on them, the deeper they become. The more you live them, the more they benefit you.
Father and son continued deeper into the Black Mountains.
This was the same path Mo Hua had taken as a child to ascend the mountain — but the terrain had changed, and the road now held many new sights.
Whenever they encountered something interesting along the way, Mo Shan would point it out to Mo Hua.
Mo Hua, in turn, would ask about recent events in the Black Mountains.
As they walked together, father and son chatted casually and warmly.
"Oh right, Dad..." Mo Hua suddenly thought of something and asked, "What about Uncle Meng and Aunt Meng? I haven't seen them since I got back."
Uncle Meng and Aunt Meng had lived on the same street as Mo Hua when he was young. They had always treated him well, often saving the best food for him.
They had three sons — Da Hu (Big Tiger), Shuang Hu (Double Tiger), and San Hu (Triple Tiger).
The three boys were strong and physically gifted — excellent prospects for body refinement — and had been Mo Hua's childhood playmates.
They went to school together, cultivated together, strolled the streets together — sharing food, fun, and secrets.
Mo Hua had always been frail, and whenever someone bullied him, it was those three who stood up for him.
They even once dared to steal an elder's prized golden pheasant, roasted it, and gave it to Mo Hua to eat.
After they got caught, the three brothers "chose death over betrayal" and never gave Mo Hua away...
But ever since Mo Hua had left to travel the world, he hadn't seen them again.
Mo Shan said, "Didn't those three boys join the Great Wilderness Sect? You know about that, right?"
Mo Hua nodded. "Mm."
Mo Shan sighed. "I heard those three kids are doing quite well in the Great Wilderness Sect. They're highly valued, and all became personal disciples. So they arranged for someone to bring their parents over, saying they wanted them to enjoy a good life…"
"Your Uncle Meng and Aunt Meng — they suffered their whole lives, endured endless hardships just to raise those three boys. And now… it's finally their time to enjoy the fruits of all that labor."
As he spoke, Mo Shan looked touched, visibly comforted.
But Mo Hua frowned slightly.
"The Great Wilderness Sect…"
"Great Wilderness Sect…"
For some reason, an uneasy feeling faintly stirred in Mo Hua's heart.
The two of them continued deeper into the Great Black Mountain.
As Mo Hua looked at the scenery around them, his mind was still occupied with thoughts of the three brothers—Da Hu and the others—as well as Uncle and Aunt Meng…
A moment later, Mo Hua's expression changed slightly, as if he suddenly remembered something. He released his divine sense and swept through the deep mountain.
His twenty-stripe divine sense spread out, and in nearly an instant, it enveloped most of the mountain.
There were quite a few second-grade demon beasts dwelling within, either lying dormant in the forest, resting, feeding, or sleeping.
As Mo Hua's divine sense swept past, most of these beasts remained unaware.
Only a few—those with extraordinary talent and sharp senses—instinctively perceived a deadly aura like death incarnate and cowered in their caves, trembling.
But Mo Hua frowned.
Gone?
Where did it go?
Where's my big tiger?
Mo Shan noticed the change in Mo Hua's expression and asked, "What's wrong?"
Mo Hua paused for a moment, then asked, "Father, what happened to that big tiger in the mountain?"
"Big tiger?" Mo Shan was momentarily stunned.
"Yes," Mo Hua nodded. "The one I asked you to feed dried fish to while I was studying in Qianzhou. That tiger."
Mo Shan suddenly recalled and nodded.
"Ah, that tiger demon. It was a strange one—different from other demon beasts. It didn't attack people, and I never saw it eat humans either. It even seemed a little human-like."
"I did as you asked, brought it dried fish from time to time. Everything was fine, but over a year ago, it just disappeared."
Mo Hua was surprised. "Disappeared?"
Mo Shan nodded. "Gone. I don't know where it went. I asked other demon hunters too, but none of them had seen it."
"Although… your Uncle Zhao…"
Mo Shan frowned and thought back, then said:
"Your Uncle Zhao once said that one night, while hunting and staying overnight in the Great Black Mountain, he heard the wind howling outside the camp around midnight, along with a tiger's roar that shook the mountains—like someone was fighting a demon beast."
"He didn't dare go out. Only at dawn did he venture outside, and saw the ground covered in blood—human and demon alike. A huge swath of trees had collapsed, and half the mountain rocks had crumbled. The battle was extremely intense."
"After that night, no one ever saw that strange tiger again."
Mo Hua's eyes narrowed, his heart sinking:
"My tiger… was it hunted?"
He later spent some time searching through the mountains again but found nothing—no sign of the big tiger at all.
It had already been a year. After so long, wind, rain, and time would have erased any traces. Even if there had been clues, they were long gone.
In the following days, Mo Hua inquired with several local demon hunters, but still found no specific leads.
He couldn't afford to spend too much time on this matter and had no choice but to let it go for now.
In the days that followed, Mo Hua continued staying by his parents' side, occasionally meeting old acquaintances.
Elder Yu would occasionally stop by to talk about the expansion progress of Tongxian City.
During his free time, Mo Hua used it all to think about his upcoming Core Formation.
The cultivation world was vast and boundless. Even just Lì Prefecture was an expansive territory. Tongxian City and the Great Black Mountain were only a tiny portion of it—there were wide stretches of land Mo Hua had never even set foot in.
Even the Great Wilderness itself was only a part of Lì Prefecture.
Where exactly should he go? Where should he undergo Core Formation? There were too many choices, and Mo Hua couldn't decide for the moment.
Late at night, Mo Hua sat at his desk, pondering this question.
He thought for a long time, but still found no clear answer. His divine sense started to dull again—and before he realized it, he drifted into another dream.
In the dream, he saw a person.
It was an old man, his face worn with age, expression full of anguish, streaked with blood and tears. He knelt before Mo Hua, pleading:
"Divine Lord, you must not break your word…"
Mo Hua frowned. "How have I broken my word?"
The old man's face was blurry. He kept kowtowing repeatedly, his forehead bloody. "You promised me—you promised to protect the bloodline of the Great Wilderness."
"Divine Lord, you must not go back on your word."
Mo Hua's gaze darkened slightly. "The bloodline of the Great Wilderness—who are they?"
The old man didn't answer. He just kept kowtowing, face now a bloody mess. "You promised me, Divine Lord…"
"Divine Lord, save the Great Wilderness…"
Mo Hua frowned. "How am I supposed to save them? Who should I save?"
But the old man still didn't answer. Whether he didn't know or didn't dare say, he remained kneeling, tears of blood streaming down, repeating:
"Please, Divine Lord, save the descendants of the Great Wilderness…"
"So much suffering… my Great Wilderness faces extinction… our bloodline is on the brink…"
(End of this Chapter)