Arrays of Immortality

Chapter 15: Tuition Fees

When sects open their outer gates, they recruit disciples and teach cultivation knowledge and skills. To join a sect and study, disciples must pay tuition fees.

The tuition fees vary according to the rank of the sect. The higher the rank, the more expensive the fees.

Tongxian Sect is only a first-grade sect in the cultivation world. However, in Tongxian City, where there are only first-grade sects, it is the largest one. The annual tuition fee is 100 spirit stones, excluding various miscellaneous charges.

A hundred spirit stones are not exorbitant, but they are by no means cheap. It's about the amount an average Qi-refining rogue cultivator could save in a year—assuming there are no injuries or unexpected expenses that require spending large sums of spirit stones.

If illness or disaster strikes, or if a costly problem arises, it's entirely possible to end up with no savings for the year.

The New Year celebrations were joyful, but after the holiday, the heavy burdens of a cultivator's life seemed to press down once more.

Mo Shan placed a storage pouch on the table and said, somewhat ashamed, "I borrowed some spirit stones from a few brothers, and together with what I saved before, we have a little over eighty…"

Liu Ruhua comforted him, "I'll speak to the steward at the kitchen building tomorrow to advance some spirit stones…"

Before Mo Shan could say anything, he noticed Mo Hua eavesdropping by the door.

"Hua'er!"

Having been caught, Mo Hua awkwardly smiled and ran over to sit beside his mother.

Liu Ruhua affectionately pinched Mo Hua's ear and scolded, "You're so young, and already you know how to eavesdrop!"

"Dad, Mom, are we short of spirit stones?" Mo Hua asked.

Mo Shan sighed, "We are a bit short, but your Uncle Ji said yesterday he'd lend me some. He also repeatedly told me to make sure you study well at the sect."

"Uncle Ji?"

"Yes, your Uncle Ji said you're smart and praised you highly," Liu Ruhua said, patting Mo Hua's head.

"But Uncle Ji's family isn't exactly well-off either," Mo Hua replied.

Mo Shan sighed softly, "I'll repay him as soon as the New Year is over. These days, who has extra spirit stones lying around?"

"I do!" Mo Hua said with a cheeky grin.

Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua were both stunned.

Mo Hua ran back to his room, his little legs pattering, and quickly returned, clutching a storage pouch in his hands.

Mo Hua opened the pouch, and inside were fifty spirit stones, shimmering with colorful light. However, the scene he imagined—his parents crying tears of joy and praising him for being so sensible—did not happen.

Mo Shan's expression grew serious, and Liu Ruhua's brows furrowed.

"What's wrong?" Mo Hua asked anxiously.

Mo Shan tried to maintain a calm tone and asked, "Hua'er, who gave you these spirit stones?"

"No one gave them to me. I earned them myself!"

Mo Shan was startled. "You… earned them?"

Liu Ruhua's expression softened, and she gently pulled Mo Hua into her arms. "Tell me, how did you earn them?"

"I draw formations for Youyuan Pavilion. Just simple ones. I earn one spirit stone per formation."

Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua exchanged looks. They thought back to how Mo Hua had spent most of his time indoors during the New Year, rarely going out, and when he did, he quickly returned. It turned out he had been earning spirit stones by drawing formations.

They looked again at the storage pouch. One spirit stone per formation meant Mo Hua had drawn nearly fifty formations.

Liu Ruhua hugged Mo Hua even tighter.

Mo Shan wanted to say something several times but ultimately just reached out and gently patted Mo Hua's head.

"These spirit stones are hard-earned. Keep them for yourself—to cultivate or buy something nice. I'll figure out the tuition fees for Tongxian Sect."

Mo Hua knew his father would not use these spirit stones. He quickly replied, "Then, Dad and Mom, you keep them for me. I'm just a child and don't need so many. Besides, it'd be easy for someone to steal them."

Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua fell silent, unable to refuse.

Finally, Liu Ruhua said, "Alright, we'll hold onto them for you."

"Mm-hmm!" Mo Hua nodded vigorously.

"Alright, it's getting late. You have to join the sect tomorrow. Go to bed early."

"Okay! Goodnight, Dad and Mom!"

Mo Hua stood up to return to his room but stopped and turned back. "Dad, Mom, if you need to use them, just use them. Don't save them for me."

Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua could only smile helplessly.

Watching Mo Hua return to his room and close the door, Mo Shan sighed and said bitterly, "As a father, I feel ashamed to be outdone by my own child."

Liu Ruhua comforted him. "Don't say that. Hua'er is thoughtful, and that's a good thing. We should be happy that he can earn spirit stones with his own skills. But…"

She looked down at the spirit stones before glancing at Mo Shan, concern in her voice. "He's so young. Can he really draw formations and earn so many spirit stones? I'm worried someone might be taking advantage of him…"

"I'll check on it tomorrow," Mo Shan said, his gaze growing sharp.

The next day, Mo Hua got up on time, practiced his cultivation briefly, and went with his mother, Liu Ruhua, to Tongxian Sect's outer gate to pay the tuition fees and register for school.

Mo Shan left home early as well. According to Liu Ruhua, Mo Shan was going into the inner mountains with a group of demon hunters, so he needed to prepare early.

At Tongxian Sect's outer gate, Liu Ruhua paid the tuition fee, completed the registration process, and could not help but look at Mo Hua a few more times.

Once he entered the sect, she wouldn't see him again except during holidays when the sect was closed.

Liu Ruhua reminded Mo Hua to study well, get along with his fellow disciples, eat properly, dress warmly, and not bully others before reluctantly leaving.

Mo Hua waved until his mother's figure disappeared at the end of the road. Then he turned around.

Instead of entering the sect immediately, he headed to Youyuan Pavilion on North Street, where he collected materials for twenty Bright Fire formations from the fat steward, promising to deliver them within half a month at the latest.

The sect allowed one rest day during each ten-day period of the month. Mo Hua planned to sneak out during his break to trade with the steward.

The steward only charged a deposit of ten spirit stones for the twenty sets of materials. Given his previous "cooperation" with Mo Hua's older brother had gone smoothly, and the formation quality was improving, the steward was satisfied. For Mo Hua's sake, he didn't raise the deposit.

After making the arrangements, Mo Hua left Youyuan Pavilion contentedly.

Unbeknownst to him, a burly man was watching him quietly from outside the shop.

Once Mo Hua had gone, the man entered Youyuan Pavilion.

The doorbell rang, and the fat steward looked up to see a rugged yet handsome man with sword-like brows and sharp eyes staring at him intently, exuding an imposing aura.

The steward could immediately tell this man was a demon hunter—someone who had truly seen bloodshed. His attitude was not good either, and his gaze made the steward feel like a preyed-upon beast.

Although the steward believed his cultivation was on par with the man's, if they fought, it would be hard to say who'd win. Demon hunters risked their lives fighting beasts, while he spent his days behind a counter, his combat skills rusty.

Carefully measuring the situation, the steward adjusted his demeanor and asked politely, "What kind of formation does this esteemed guest require?"

The man—Mo Shan—unfolded a crumpled piece of paper showing a roughly drawn formation with smudges and corrections.

"What formation is this?"

The steward glanced at it. "It's a Bright Fire formation."

"You accept these formations?"

The man's tone annoyed the steward, but he remained polite. "Of course. This is a common formation, frequently used by ordinary cultivator households, so there's high demand."

Mo Shan asked sharply, "Was that boy who just left also drawing formations for you?"

The steward replied cautiously, "We don't disclose customer information. Youyuan Pavilion protects its clients' privacy—that's our policy."

Mo Shan's gaze turned razor-sharp. Feeling the pressure, the steward reconsidered his stance. After all, principles could be flexible.

"It's not the boy. It's his older brother."

"Older brother?" Mo Shan frowned.

"Yes," the steward explained. "The boy is too young to draw formations. He just runs errands for his brother, who does the drawing."

"And that's what he told you?"

"Of course," the steward replied. "Why else would we do business with a child?"

The steward added warily, "As for his identity, I won't say more."

Mo Shan scoffed. Who needs you to tell me my own child's name and address?

Realizing Mo Hua wasn't being exploited, Mo Shan relaxed and bowed slightly. "I've disturbed you. Farewell."

The steward breathed a sigh of relief and nodded with feigned arrogance.

As Mo Shan left and his figure disappeared through the door, the steward muttered to himself irritably, "Didn't even buy anything…"

(End of chapter)