"If I were really tested on culinary skills, my cooking alone could hang all the disciples out to dry!

Unfortunately, they don't test culinary skills...

None of Mo Hua's strengths are tested.

Only his weaknesses are.

However, there is one exception, 'chess skills.'

Mo Hua had once thought that he was proficient in this...

Whether in Tongxian City or on the road while traveling, Mo Hua would often play chess with Grandpa Gui if there was nothing pressing.

Mo Hua thought Grandpa Gui was a master; his chess skills had to be excellent.

And since he could match Grandpa Gui move for move, each winning half the games,

that meant his own chess skills must not be poor!

But when the actual evaluation came around, he was shocked...

The Sect's assessment of chess skills was too pragmatic, too calculated, each move strategically planned, completely devoid of enjoyment...

He played eighteen games and won just two...

Mo Hua then realized there might be a possibility...

Either the Sect's instruction was misguided.

Or...

Both he and Grandpa Gui were terrible at chess...

Mo Hua was a bit crushed.

Even though he was weak himself, he never imagined Grandpa Gui's reputation would suffer because of him...

Mo Hua sighed deeply.

The Sect was dedicated to impracticalities rather than realities.

Or rather, it wasn't just Taixu Gate; possibly the entire Qianxue State Boundary generally behaved the same way.

Thus in the course titled 'Tao Cultivation and the Hundred Arts,' Mo Hua barely scraped by and achieved a 'Grade C'...

...

This Grade Sheet of 'One A's and Six C's' had to be taken home to show to my parents.

Other disciples who had received 'One A's and Six C's' also looked distressed and dared not take theirs home.

Mo Hua was comparatively calm.

He sent the grade sheet to Li State, along with a letter home, roughly as follows:

Dad and Mom:

I tried my best, but there are too many geniuses in the Sect, and I simply couldn't compare. Sadly, I only managed to get six 'Grade C's'...

It's unfortunate...

Fortunately, my Formation skills are still remarkable!

Even in Taixu Gate, one of the Eight Great Gates of Qianxue State Boundary, my Formation skills are not much inferior to those of other prodigies...

Elder Master Xun has also praised me highly.

...

Additionally, I've gotten quite familiar with Taixu Gate...

I've also built connections with the Taoist Court Officials!

You don't need to worry.

The New Year is coming, eat well, and have a good time!

Once I achieve the Golden Core, I'll come home!

Mo Hua.

Mo Hua sent the grade sheet along with the letter back home.

The journey to Li State is long.

Upon entering Li State, Tongxian City is quite remote.

It's uncertain when this letter will arrive or when I might receive a reply...

...

After the year-end assessment, there's a month-long New Year's break.

Disciples within the gate can either go home or stay in the Sect.

Mo Hua chose to stay in the Sect.

Li State is too far away, and he can't return home. He can only think about Dad and Mom, Elder Yu, and other neighbors, friends, and companions from Tongxian City...

Guess what they're doing now.

Are they bustling about, strolling the streets, watching animal fights, eating delicious foods?

Is Tongxian City brightly lit up, teeming with excitement, with dazzling fireworks to watch in the evening...

"I wonder if they miss me..."

Mo Hua sighed.

...

The next day, Yu Er was also going home. Before leaving, he gripped Mo Hua's sleeve tightly, his eyes brimming with tears as he looked at Mo Hua.

Wenren Wei saw him and said,

"Young Master Mo, why not join us at the Shangguan Family for the New Year celebration?"

Mo Hua thought for a moment and shook his head, "I'd rather not go to the Shangguan Family..."

The Shangguan Family had immense power, surely many rules, and strict supervision.

He wasn't familiar with them and would feel uncomfortable there.

Moreover, the Shangguan Family surely had some cunning old ancestors.

Mo Hua instinctively didn't want to deal with these kinds of "old ancestors" so as to avoid being targeted.

"How about the Gu Family?" Wenren Wei suggested again.

Mo Hua was startled.

The Gu Family...

That seemed alright.

With Uncle Gu there, he had visited a few times, and Elder Master Xun had also mentioned that the Gu Family, being part of the Taoist Court, was considered a "clear stream" with fairly strict family values.

Yet Mo Hua still hesitated.

He wanted to spend the holiday alone, refining the Fireball Forbidden Skill.

Yu Er then tugged at Mo Hua's sleeve, her eyes full of reluctance.

Mo Hua's heart softened, and he sighed, "Alright."

Yu Er immediately beamed with joy.

Thus, little Yu Er, holding Mo Hua's hand, skipped joyfully all the way to the Gu Family.

Wenren Wan was also delighted to see Mo Hua.

She even inquired about Mo Hua's Sect examination.

Upon learning that Mo Hua had ranked "Grade A and six Grade C's," Wenren Wan was somewhat surprised.

She had thought that Mo Hua's claim of "being good at Formation" was just a casual remark, but it turned out he truly excelled in Formation...

To achieve a "Grade A" in Formation among the Eight Great Gates of the Taixu Gate was indeed incredible.

Wenren Wan was happy for Mo Hua.

As for the six "Grade C's" following the "Grade A," Wenren Wan simply chose to ignore them.

Nobody's perfect, after all.

Mo Hua's situation was different; one couldn't be too harsh.

"Make yourself at home, don't be shy," Wenren Wan warmly told Mo Hua.

"Thank you, Aunt Wan," Mo Hua replied with a smile.

Beside them, Gu Changhuai was somewhat helpless.

This was the Gu Family...

Unfortunately, in front of Wenren Wan, he really had no say.

Afterward, Mo Hua temporarily stayed at the Gu Family, playing with Yu Er for a few days.

Yu Er wouldn't stay at the Gu Family forever, as he was the legitimate heir of the Shangguan Family with a special status, and some of his schedules were already arranged whether he liked it or not.

According to the plan, Yu Er was to play at the Gu Family for a few days, then return to the Shangguan Family before the New Year, and after the New Year, go to the Wenren Family for a visit.

Before the holiday ended, he would return to the Gu Family for a brief rest, then go back to the Taixu Gate.

Mo Hua could not possibly travel everywhere with Yu Er and could only play with him at the Gu Family during the days leading up to the New Year.

After a few days of fun, Yu Er bade farewell to Mo Hua, reluctantly returning to the strict Shangguan Family with a face that showed his "disinterest in life."

Later, Mo Hua strolled around Qingzhou City, observing the local customs before preparing to say goodbye and return to the Sect.

Returning to the Sect, he had to inform the Gu Family.

Mo Hua went to find Gu Changhuai.

Gu Changhuai was neither surprised nor did he try to retain him.

Mo Hua was too cunning, and Gu Changhuai couldn't handle him, nor did he want to.

"There's one thing…" Gu Changhuai said, "The Demon's Cave has been destroyed, and Fire Buddha is dead. The Taoist Court will award Merit Points, and I will convert some for you..."

"However, such matters involve a lot of paperwork and the process is slow, so you'll need to wait a bit longer..."

Mo Hua's eyes lit up, and he quickly nodded, "Uh-huh!"

Merit Points were indeed valuable!

Slow is fine, as long as they come eventually.

Uncle Gu was quite reliable...

After that, there wasn't much left to talk about, and since Gu Changhuai was rather cold by nature, Mo Hua prepared to leave.

But just as he was about to get up, someone came to the door.

It was an elderly woman with a rosy complexion and a joyous expression, seemingly a distinguished relative or elder of the Gu Family.

As soon as the elder of the Gu Family entered, she cheerfully said to Gu Changhuai,

"Changhuai, it's rare for you to be home, I wanted to talk to you about a marital arrangement..."

Gu Changhuai's face darkened.

Mo Hua, who had just risen, blinked, then silently sat back down and quietly stretched out his hand to grab a piece of melon from the fruit plate on the table, taking a bite.

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