Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Chapter 144: Formations: So Easy to Learn

At this moment, Su Ming slowly opened his eyes from his cultivation state.

His face carried a trace of irrepressible joy.

"Master!"

He called out with his spiritual sense.

"I... I think I've done it! I can now make that wisp of spiritual energy travel back and forth three times within the meridians of my arm without losing control!"

"Hmm, acceptable."

Lin Yu immediately suppressed his inner outburst and adopted that demeanor as still as an ancient well, the tone of a master.

"Controlling spiritual energy is like herding horses; this is the first step. But, do you know why we herd horses?"

Su Ming was taken aback.

"Why... to make it obedient?""Superficial." Lin Yu's voice carried a hint of perfectly measured guidance.

"Herding horses is to make them pull a cart. Spiritual energy is your horse. Formations are the cart you want to build."

"Your previous failure in setting up a formation was because you tried to build a complex cart before you had even tamed the horse. Putting the cart before the horse, how could you not fail?"

This analogy, simple and easy to understand, instantly enlightened Su Ming.

A look of sudden realization appeared on his face.

"This disciple understands! This disciple was too impatient for success before!"

"To know one's mistake and be able to correct it shows promise in a young man." Lin Yu said calmly.

"Now, look at that 'dust-repelling formation' again. Don't act yet, just look at its 'principle'."

"Master, what is 'principle'?"

"Look, why does that formation use three stones as its foundation?" Lin Yu guided patiently.

Su Ming answered without thinking. "The jade slip says it's for 'Three Powers Positioning', drawing on the meaning of Heaven, Earth, and Man."

"That is its 'name', not its 'principle'."

Lin Yu's voice held a hint of guidance.

"Your teacher asks you, when you were in the mortal world, you saw craftsmen making objects. Why does a table need at least three legs? Why does a tripod have three feet?"

Ming frowned in

Old Man Wang, the village carpenter, whose three-legged stools were always more stable than

flashed

provide

"Exactly!"

Lin Yu praised.

true 'principle' is the two words: 'stability'! Formations are constructs of energy. If the foundation is unstable, everything is a castle in the air. This is the first layer of 'principle' in the path of formations—the

Ming's heart was struck

how it

some mysterious, abstruse explanation, but the most

'Gathering' character rune."

again with your mind, break it apart. Each

closed his eyes, visualizing that rune

treated it

master's guidance and

first stroke, like a primer, 'hooks' the external

complex, interweaving strokes in the middle were like a sieve, or a whirlpool, causing

downward stroke was like an outlet, guiding the

Su Ming thought, the brighter

I

"Good."

finally carried a trace of genuine

the second layer of 'principle' in the path of formations—the principle

form'

mind was suddenly

fog that had shrouded his heart before was completely swept away at

at that jade slip again, his gaze now completely

obscure runes were no longer incomprehensible scribbles in his

exquisite

toys, constructed from

extended his

wants to

"Go ahead."

voice carried a

Feel how the spiritual energy at your fingertip resonates with the 'principle'

a deep breath and extended

fingertip did not tremble in the

his will, as easy to command

three ordinary pebbles before him, his

Those were not stones.

"stability", the most solid foundation of