Chapter 30: Molten Array Diagram

Mo Hua returned home under the scorching sun. He picked up the teapot on the table and gulped down several large mouthfuls of tea, only then feeling the heat subside. He then returned to his room and took out paper and brush to begin his planning.

First was the stove.

A stove is a type of spiritual tool.

The spiritual tools used by cultivators cover a wide range of categories, including offensive swords, spears, and clubs; defensive armor and Daoist robes; spell-based hairpins and jade pendants; and daily necessities such as pots, bowls, and stoves.

Mo Hua's understanding of tool refining was limited to the easy-to-understand theoretical knowledge he had learned from the Tongxian Sect's "General Knowledge of Tool Refining" course, such as the necessity of a refining furnace, forging iron, and quenching.

However, when it came to actual refining, he was at a loss.

The Tongxian Sect's tool refining course did require disciples to refine tools by hand, but because Mo Hua was physically weak and could not even swing a hammer or perform basic iron forging, his instructor did not force him.

Now, to refine a stove—which was no ordinary spiritual tool—he would have to commission a professional tool refiner.

Next was the formation. The Molten Fire Formation contained five array lines, which was quite taxing for the current Mo Hua.

The formations Mo Hua had drawn previously contained, at most, only four array lines.

In Qi Refining stage formations, every additional array line resulted in a significant disparity in effect. A difference of a single array line represented a threshold for an array master.

Mo Hua drew formations every day and tempered his skills through stone tablets, so his divine sense had strengthened considerably. He could draw four-line formations with ease, but a five-line formation was another matter entirely.

Another difficulty was that this Molten Fire Formation had to be drawn onto the stove.

The walls of a refining furnace are made of fine iron, which has weak adsorption for ink. Drawing a formation on fine iron was far more difficult than drawing on paper, and it would also increase the consumption of spiritual power and divine sense.

According to Instructor Yan's "Elementary Treatise on Formations," the carrier of a formation—the medium upon which it is held—is generally referred to by array masters as the "array medium."

The most commonly used array medium for an array master is paper, followed by iron, wood, earth, and stone.

Mo Hua had always drawn formations on paper; he wondered if there would be any issues drawing them on a refining furnace.

After thinking it over, Mo Hua sighed. He would have to take it one step at a time.

The immediate priority was to find a way to obtain the complete diagram of the Molten Fire Formation.

The next day, after waking up and eating, Mo Hua went to find Manager Mo.

Manager Mo was somewhat stout and, hating the heat, lay listlessly on his desk. Beside him sat a fan inscribed with a formation that was being powered by spiritual energy, swaying continuously.

However, in this heat, it only blew hot air.

Mo Hua said, "Manager Mo, I see other merchant houses drawing ice-element formations on their walls to cool things down. Why don't you get a set as well?"

Manager Mo gave Mo Hua a lethargic glare. "How expensive is a whole set of formations? If you give me the spirit stones, I'll go get one!"

Mo Hua chuckled, sat at a nearby table, poured himself a cup of tea, and sipped it slowly.

In this quiet shop, Youyuan Zhai, Mo Hua was considered a very familiar regular. Manager Mo didn't treat him like a stranger, letting him do as he pleased before burying his head back on the desk.

After finishing his tea, Mo Hua said, "Manager Mo, do you have the diagram for the Molten Fire Formation here?"

Manager Mo looked up, displeased. "This is a merchant house specializing in formations. What diagram wouldn't I have?"

Mo Hua said skeptically, "Even second-grade diagrams?"

Manager Mo tapped the table angrily. "Don't go learning how to be argumentative like an adult!" Then, he asked suspiciously, "What do you want a Molten Fire Formation diagram for?"

"I saw this kind of formation drawn on the stoves in the Dining Pavilion. I was curious, so I asked," Mo Hua thought for a moment and added, "Manager Mo, do you know if there are any specific requirements for drawing a Molten Fire Formation on a stove?"

Manager Mo said listlessly, "It's just a Molten Fire Formation, what requirements could there be? Before the New Year, several dining pavilions wanted to build stoves and bought formations from me. I have the design diagrams for their stoves."

Mo Hua's eyes lit up. "Could I take a look?"

"No!"

"Just one look!" Mo Hua insisted.

Manager Mo wanted to refuse again, but after a moment of hesitation, he sighed and helplessly pulled a large diagram from a cabinet behind him, placing it on the desk.

"You can only look here. Strictly speaking, these are confidential and shouldn't be shown to just anyone."

Mo Hua opened the drawing and found a design for a stove. The diagram was densely annotated with text, detailing the materials used for the stove, the corresponding positions of the array lines, and even the dimensions of the formation and how certain strokes should vary.

Mo Hua asked curiously, "Are these formations different from ordinary ones? They even have annotations for brushwork and dimensions?"

"Of course," Manager Mo explained. "The array lines of a formation are standardized, but their specific applications differ. For some standardized spiritual tools where the scale and size are identical, you can naturally use a uniform drawing. But for some custom-made spiritual tools, you need to make variations and changes based on the tool's specific shape and form."

"Take this stove, for example. It was custom-made for the Dining Pavilion and is different from others. Therefore, the Molten Fire Formation inside must be adjusted according to the stove's size, shape, and structure to be compatible..."

"I see..." Mo Hua nodded.

Mo Hua studied the diagram carefully, trying to memorize all the key points for reference.

Once Manager Mo saw that Mo Hua had seen enough, he put the drawing away.

Mo Hua asked again, "Manager Mo, could you lend me a copy of the Molten Fire Formation diagram?"

Anticipating this, Manager Mo took out a copy of the diagram and said, "Normally, this diagram would cost ten spirit stones to buy. I won't charge you, but remember to return it once you're done, and do not damage it."

Mo Hua said in surprise, "Ten spirit stones? Is it that expensive?"

"Naturally. Do you think these are low-level formations with only two or three array lines? Those are everywhere, and you can get their diagrams easily. But four-line, and especially five-line or higher diagrams, are quite rare. The more array lines included, the stronger the formation's effect, and naturally, the more expensive the diagram becomes."

Manager Mo fanned himself and continued, "Some diagrams containing ten array lines are even secret legacies of certain sects and clans. Forget buying them with spirit stones—they wouldn't even let you take a single look!"

Mo Hua was stunned. It was indeed extremely difficult to study formations at a profound level. Without a legacy, even if one wanted to learn, there would be no way to start.

Mo Hua took the diagram and sincerely thanked Manager Mo.

Manager Mo said dismissively, "It's a small matter, no need for thanks. Don't be so formal," but his expression showed he was quite pleased.

Before Mo Hua left, Manager Mo added a warning

"Researching is fine, but don't be overly ambitious, and don't be stubborn and throw yourself into it blindly. If your divine sense is overused and damages your sea of consciousness, it will cause endless trouble for an array master."

After pausing, Manager Mo coughed and continued, "Pass these words along to your elder brother..."

Mo Hua smiled, bowed to Manager Mo, and left Youyuan Zhai.

After leaving, Mo Hua first went home to transcribe the stove's design from memory.

There was a lot of information on the stove diagram; Mo Hua couldn't remember it all, only the key parts, but that was enough.

He didn't need to copy the Dining Pavilion's stove design exactly; besides, even if he wanted to, he didn't have enough spirit stones to refine it.

Having memorized most of the diagram, Mo Hua went out again and headed to a tool-refining shop at the end of the street.

The shop was somewhat simple but quite spacious. Various spiritual tools and household items were displayed on the walls and floor, including candlesticks, teapots, cookware, hairpins, bracelets, and even swords and armor, creating a somewhat cluttered appearance.

A sign hung in front of the shop that read "Chen's Tool Refining Shop." The sign was old and stained with black soot, having been used for many years.

Mo Hua had heard about this shop from Da Hu and the others; it was said to be the oldest and most skilled shop in the vicinity.

The refiner at Chen's Tool Refining Shop was surnamed Chen, and everyone called him Master Chen.

Master Chen had no children and had spent his entire life forging tools. Although he had not become a first-grade refiner, his work had an excellent reputation, and many demon hunters sought him out to refine vine armor and blades.

When Mo Hua entered, Master Chen was leading several disciples, the "clang-clang-clang" of their heavy hammers echoing through the shop.