All the disciples present had studied Formation, drawn Formation Patterns, and had some foundation; the quality of their work was obvious at a glance.
Several other disciples, full of confidence, stepped forward.
They too had received their clans’ authentic Formation teachings, and the Formation methods they drew on the Array Plate were all neat and beautiful. After finishing, they were somewhat self-satisfied.
However, a glance at the Formation method drawn by Mo Hua made them unavoidably distracted.
The Formation Patterns were precise, not a hair out of place, as if they were directly transferred from Formation Books.
Not only that, but the strokes were like silver hooks and iron paintings, strong and forceful.
This was an Earth Series Formation.
Mo Hua also casually channeled a trace of Earth Dao Meaning, so the entire Formation also settled with a broad and profound charm.
Both form and spirit were complete.
Needless to say, they knew they had lost.
The last was about who could draw something more challenging.
A disciple from a worldly family stepped forward, dressed in white, with a handsome appearance. Mo Hua remembered that this disciple was from the legitimate lineage of the Wen Clan of Qian State, called Wen Xuan.
Wen Xuan’s demeanor was calm as he dipped his brush in ink and began drawing a Second-grade Eleven Patterns Formation.
Mo Hua was somewhat surprised, while at the same time he felt moved.
The descendants of noble clans indeed were extraordinary, as even at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, there were geniuses who could draw a Second-grade Eleven Patterns Formation.
It really was quite remarkable...
Mo Hua nodded his head.
If they were geniuses, then they should be well "nurtured" and encouraged.
They needed to see a gap to fuel their drive to chase after it.
But the gap couldn’t be so vast that they would fall into despair and lose confidence in pursuing the Dao of Formation.
Mo Hua considered this "with a heavy heart".
After thinking it through, he casually chose a Second-grade Twelve Patterns Formation, slowing his pace and adopting a solemn expression, and "exerted all his effort" to draw it out.
Seeing this, Wen Xuan’s face turned ashen, and he gasped,
"Twelve patterns..."
After examining the Formation and then looking at Mo Hua, he conceded with a bow, "I admit defeat."
But his gaze towards Mo Hua was bright with determination.
In his eyes, a fierce ambition was kindled, seeing Mo Hua as his lifelong "rival".
Mo Hua nodded his head with "satisfaction".
With that, the competition was mostly concluded.
All the disciples fell silent.
Without a competition, they had never known, but after truly facing off, they realized they really couldn’t win against Mo Hua in the realm of Formation...
For those not specializing in Formation, with only a superficial understanding of it, the competition seemed to end too quickly.
A group of disciples went up, drew a Formation, then stepped down, some even realizing they had lost before they finished drawing.
Going up quickly and coming down just as fast meant they lost just as swiftly.
Only those who truly mastered Formation knew the vast gap that lay between them...
They vaguely felt there was a deep chasm between themselves and Mo Hua, constructed by Formation.
This chasm seemed just within reach, yet it also appeared impossible to cross.
And if you weren’t careful, you might fall into it and drown...
The usually amiable Mo Hua for the first time appeared "unfathomably deep" in their eyes...
But Mo Hua felt the contest had been too brief.
He had hardly exerted himself.
Seeing no one speaking, Mo Hua looked around curiously and asked,
"Any more challengers?"
The disciples were taken aback, followed by a mix of shame and "humiliation" as they looked at Mo Hua.
It was as if Mo Hua was a very nasty, yet unbeatable "little demon king".
At that moment, another disciple with a stern face and a serious expression, as if disapproving of Mo Hua’s "misdeeds," stood up.
"I’ll do it!"
Mo Hua found him somewhat familiar, but didn’t know his name.
The disciple said, "My surname is Zheng, given name Fang, from the Zheng Family of Zhen State."
"Zheng Fang?"
Mo Hua remembered, then asked, "What do you want to compete in?"
Zheng Fang shook his head, "In the matter of Formation, I concede I am not your equal, but I cannot accept my heart being unsatisfied if you teach me, so, I want to test you."
"Test me?"
"Yes," Zheng Fang nodded, "My family possesses a set of secret Formation techniques. I’ll draw it for you once, and you must reproduce it within two hours."
"If you do it, I will acknowledge that your aptitude in Formation is exceptional, your understanding profound, and you are indeed qualified to teach us!"
"I am testing your insight!"
Mo Hua was stunned for a moment, his expression one of surprise and disbelief.
Test me like this?
And such good fortune?!
You foolish child, are you testing me, or simply gifting me your family’s secret Formation?
Mo Hua’s eyes sparkled, but he tried his best to not appear too delighted, keeping a stern face and saying seriously,
"Yes, it is necessary to test me!"
"Good!"
Zheng Fang said solemnly, then moved to the Array Plate and said in an unfriendly tone,
"This Formation, although only First Grade and an entry-level one, is nevertheless my Zheng Family’s exclusive Formation. I won’t tell you its name, I will only draw it once, and if you can’t learn it, then just admit defeat honestly!"
"Mhm, mhm!"
Mo Hua nodded eagerly, filled with anticipation.
Zheng Fang began to draw.
As soon as the first stroke landed, Mo Hua’s gaze sharpened.
Thunder Pattern!
"This is…Thunder Pattern?"
The Thunder Pattern from the Eight Trigrams Formation?!
The secret Formation of the Zheng Family was actually… the rare Eight Trigrams Thunder Formation?!
Mo Hua was taken aback.
Other disciples with wider experience were also astonished,
"This is a Thunder Series Formation?"
"It’s difficult to learn…"
"Even if Mo Hua has superb insight, he couldn’t possibly learn it in two hours..."
"Exactly, exactly."
"But isn’t this a bit underhanded..."
"It seems a little like victory without honor…"