MTL - Asking About Longevity

Chapter 25 Teaching

Mo Hua returned to the monastery and sat down. A group of disciples stretched out their heads and gathered around him.

“Ink painting, ink painting, what did the teacher ask you for?”

 “Did the teacher punish you?”

Mo Hua said truthfully: "My teacher asked me to go find him after class every day."

 A disciple said: "It must be because you have slacked off in the formation, so the teacher is angry. He asked you to practice the formation every day so that you will not deteriorate in the formation."

Some disciples were very sympathetic: "It's so miserable for you. You have to draw formations under the teacher's nose every day."

“Yeah, it’s so miserable. I’m so nervous when the teacher even looks at me, not to mention that he’s staring at me and drawing formations..."

Mo Hua also sighed.

 When all the disciples saw this, they all comforted Mo Hua.

Mo Hua sighed, not because he had to draw formations under the instructor's nose, but because he went to the instructor's office every day, so he didn't have much time to draw formations for the formation pavilion to earn spiritual stones.

However, since the teacher asked Mo Hua if he wanted to become a formation master, he would probably give some advice to Mo Hua, which is a good thing.

  After class the next day, Mo Hua arrived at Professor Yan’s room at Tongmingfeng on time.

Yan Jiaoxi got straight to the point and directly placed a volume of "Preliminary Interpretation of Formation Law Theory" in front of the ink painting.

“If you want to go far in the way of formations, the foundation must be solid. This foundation not only includes the grasp of basic formations, proficiency in calligraphy, and firm spiritual consciousness, but also includes the classics and theories on formation research in the monastic world.”

“The so-called theory of formations is the summary of the experiences and theories of countless formations masters in the monastic world. What we seek is the unchanging principles among the ever-changing formations.”

“Some monks are good at drawing formations, but they know nothing about classics and theory. Once they learn advanced techniques, they will be at a loss, and it will be difficult to make further progress on the path of formations.”

"I'm still one step away from being a first-level formation master, and most of the sect's inheritance has been lost. I can't teach you the profound formation theory. Naturally, I can't compare with the teachings of some big sects from big families. But with your current formation level It should be enough.”

Mo Hua sat up straight, his expression became more respectful, "Please give me some advice."

Yan Jiaoxi nodded, opened the "Preliminary Interpretation of Formation Law Theory" and said:

“This preliminary interpretation of the classics records some basic principles of formations, such as the round sky and the square, the Bagua directions, the five elements and the composition of single formations, complex formations and large formations..."

"The formation is the manifestation of the laws of heaven and earth. The outer circle and the inner convenience symbolize the roundness of the sky and the place. The position arrangement of different formations follows the Bagua theorem. The formations with different attributes conflict with each other. A single formation is a single formation, and multiple formations are The combination of single formations is a complex formation, and the combination of a large number of single formations and complex formations is a large formation..."

"The Grand Formation is extremely powerful. The so-called Guardian Formation is this type of formation. The Grand Formation contains hundreds, thousands or even tens of thousands of formations, formed by the cooperation of dozens or hundreds of formation masters. , and only extremely accomplished formation masters can serve as the main formation masters of the formation and lead the design and sculpting of the formation..."

“Being able to become the main formation master and design and build a large formation is the lifelong expectation of many formation masters.”

Yan Jiaoxi felt a little emotional as he spoke, and then added: "But it's too far to say this. Even becoming an ordinary first-order formation master is not easy."

Mo Hua was also a little fascinated when he heard it. Even a single formation was already very mysterious. What would it look like if a large formation containing thousands of formations were activated.

Yan Jiaoxi hesitated a little, but also solemnly handed the "Preliminary Interpretation of Formation Law Theory" to Mo Hua and said:

“Take this first explanation of formations first and take a good look at it yourself. Remember not to pass it on to anyone else, or tell it to anyone else.”

 After that, Yan Jiaoxi explained some basic theories on the formation, and then asked Mo Hua to go back. Mo Hua returned to his disciple's residence, holding a thin volume of "The Preliminary Interpretation of Classical Theory" in his hand, but it felt heavy. It was also the first time I realized the importance of monastic inheritance. If no one taught me, these things would be enough for me to explore for a lifetime.

But he was just an ordinary disciple, so Yan Jiaoxi could be so attentive, which made Mo Hua feel more and more grateful.

Mo Hua calmed down and read "The Preliminary Interpretation of Classical Theory" word by word. If he didn't understand something, he would write it down and prepare to ask for advice tomorrow.

 Before going to bed, I dug out the "Golden Stone Formation Diagram" again in my ink painting, memorized the patterns in the formation diagram, closed my eyes and entered the sea of ​​consciousness, and practiced the Golden Stone Formation on the stone tablet.

There are only four formation patterns in the Golden Stone Formation, which is not too difficult, but it does take time to become familiar with the formation patterns and practice them.

 Benefiting from "Preliminary Interpretation of Formation", I started to draw the gold and stone formation diagram in Mo Hua, and felt that my thinking became much clearer.

Why are the four formation patterns in the west? Because the west belongs to gold, which is suitable for the attributes of the gold and stone formation diagram. The specific painting method also has a lot of hexagrams to pay attention to.

 In the past, I only knew how to draw according to the formation diagram, but I didn’t know why I drew like this. Now I have a deeper understanding.

On the second day, Mo Hua went to Tongming Peak.

Yan Jiaoxi asked Mo Hua some questions from "The Theory of Formation", and Mo Hua answered them one by one, confirming that Mo Hua had carefully read "The Theory of Formation". Yan Jiaoxi couldn't help but nodded.

 After that, Mo Hua raised some questions he had written down and asked Yan for advice. Yan Jiaoxi also answered them one by one, his expression obviously more relieved.

When Mo Hua went back on the third day, Yan Jiaoxi used specific formations as examples to analyze them for Mo Hua so that Mo Hua could understand some basic theories of formations.

Yan Jiaoxi first talked about several formations of one formation, including the open fire formation that had been drawn by ink paintings, and several formations that had never been learned by ink paintings. Then there were formations that included two formations, which had never been learned by ink paintings. Mo Hua listened carefully to the formation he saw.

Among the four formations, the first one I taught was the Solid Earth Formation. This was something I had asked Mo Hua to teach me before. Although I was already quite proficient in Mo Hua, when I listened to the teacher’s explanation, I realized that I had only done it before. I know it, but I don't know why. There is a lot of difference in understanding of the formation.

After talking about the solid earth formation, Yan Jiaoxi mentioned the gold and stone formation:

"The functions of the gold-stone formation and the solid-earth formation are similar. Among the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, earth can produce metal. Therefore, when monks build cave dwellings, they will use the solid-earth formation to consolidate the foundation and the gold-stone formation to reinforce the building. Because earth produces gold, , the effect of the formation will be better. These two formations can be understood by referring to each other..."

Mo Hua suddenly became enlightened after hearing this.

 Yan Jiaoxi explained for an hour, and then assigned a few homework assignments, asking Mo Hua to find some examples of formations that were effective and counterproductive, and then asked Mo Hua to go back.

Mo Hua returned to his disciple’s home, and the more he thought about it, the more strange he felt.

 In the examples given by Yan Jiaoxi, many of the formations were drawn by himself for the formation pavilion.

 Needless to say, the open fire formation and the solid earth formation were made by the fat steward. Today, the teacher also specially explained the golden stone array diagram to himself. Although it was to illustrate the relationship between the five elements, it was still too coincidental.

"Is there any relationship between Jiao Xi and Fat Butler? Could it be that Jiao Xi already knows that I drew all the formations in Youyuan Zhai?"

Mo Hua thought secretly in his heart.

 (End of this chapter)