Chapter 14

Mo Shan didn't know why Ji Sihai had suddenly asked this, and nodded: "Ji Brother's right—Hua is cultivating at Tongxian Gate, currently at Qi Refinement Second Layer."

Ji Qingbai found it hard to believe: "Qi Refinement Second Layer—and he can already draw arrays?"

Mo Shan said: "It's hardly that much—just picked up a few basics at the sect, copying a few strokes by rote."

"Mo Young Brother is being modest—this alone is already remarkable. Those few strokes just now were properly done, showing this child Mo Hua has talent."

Mo Shan smiled: "If that's truly the case, then I accept your good wishes, Brother."

Ji Qingbai sighed: "Among our hunter clans' next generation, let alone array masters, there aren't even a handful who can rudely grasp array techniques or sketch a few array lines. Last year, I begged an array master to draw me some arrays—I endured endless humiliation, had to smile and bow just to avoid offending him."

Ji Qingbai grew angrier as he thought: "All he had to do was draw a small array—and he demanded two hundred spirit stones, plus forced my niece to dine with him and pour him wine! If we were in Great Heishan, I'd have sliced him to pieces!"

Mo Shan's expression darkened: "So he was that unreasonable?"

"Isn't he just?" Ji Qingbai sighed. "We don't know array techniques, our next generation won't learn them—when trouble comes, we have to swallow our pride and beg those family array masters. They strut around like lords, and we still have to smile."

"Mo Young Brother," Ji Qingbai looked at Mo Shan seriously, "if this child Mo Hua truly wants to learn array techniques, you must let him continue. Any difficulties—come to me. If I can help, I won't hesitate!"

"Ji Brother, you overstate it! If this child Mo Hua truly wishes to learn, I will certainly let him continue," Mo Shan said solemnly.

Ji Qingbai nodded.

The two chatted a while longer, discussed some hunter matters, then Ji Qingbai took his leave.

Mo Shan saw Ji Qingbai and his son off at the gate.

After Ji Qingbai left, he took his son to stay at the home of a senior on the western side of Nandajie.

On the way, Ji Qingbai instructed his son Ji Li:

"In Qingxuan City, hunting demons has become harder and harder, so I came here to ask your Uncle Mo to join me in exploring the inner reaches of Great Heishan. You have good talent and are already at Qi Refinement Seventh Layer—come along to broaden your horizons. But hunting demons is for me and your Uncle Mo—we'll handle it. Unless absolutely necessary, don't interfere."

Ji Li said: "Father, I understand."

"I know you understand, but you're still young—you don't fully grasp it yet. Demonic beasts are cruel and cunning. Your cultivation is the lowest. Don't act, and you're safe. Once you do, if they spot a weakness, you'll suffer terribly."

Ji Li nodded, then asked curiously: "Father, how strong is Uncle Mo's cultivation?"

"Naturally. Your Uncle Mo is the most talented hunter I've seen in all these years—excellent talent, quick reflexes, rich hunting experience. But sadly, as a lone cultivator, once you marry, raise children, all your spirit stones go to their cultivation—you have little left for yourself…"

Ji Qingbai sighed and continued: "Otherwise, with his talent, he could have advanced all the way to Foundation Establishment."

Ji Li fell silent. His father's cultivation could still have improved too—but all the spirit stones he earned went to support Ji Li's training.

Speaking of Foundation Establishment, Ji Li asked softly: "What about Elder Zheng's health…?"

"He's dying," Ji Qingbai said, gloomy. "Elder Zheng is Qingxuan City's only Foundation Establishment elder. If he passes, we lone cultivators at Qi Refinement will be bullied even more by those families. Life will only get harder…"

"Does Tongxian City have a Foundation Establishment elder?"

"Yes—his surname is Yu. He's temperamental, but fiercely protective. Tongxian City's hunter guild survives only because of him—those families dare not go too far. If things become unbearable, go to Tongxian City, find a cultivation partner, settle down there—I'll feel better."

Ji Li, young, blushed: "Father, that's still too early to talk about."

Ji Qingbai smiled: "Not early at all. These things need planning ahead."

Ji Li changed the subject: "Can Uncle Mo's little brother, Mo Hua, really become an array master?"

"I don't know," Ji Qingbai frowned. "Becoming an array master isn't easy. From apprentice, to ungraded array practitioner, only then can one be graded as a First-Rank Array Master."

"First, becoming an apprentice isn't easy. We lone cultivators have no lineage—we must find a dedicated array master to be our Mr.," Ji Qingbai said.

"Don't sects teach array techniques too?" Ji Li asked.

"Far from enough," Ji Qingbai said. "Sects teach only the barest basics—to make you aware arrays exist, not to train you as array masters."

Ji Li gasped. He'd thought array techniques were brutally hard in the sect—turns out that was just the barest basics.

"Finding an array master as your Mr. —how easy is that? Every array master is arrogant, with thresholds higher than the sky. To beg them to take apprentices, you'd have to bankrupt your entire family."

Ji Qingbai grew angry again: "Array techniques are this hard—no lineage, no Mr. to teach—how could anyone possibly learn them?"

Ji Qingbai shook his head.

Ji Li asked: "So once you're an apprentice, you become an array master?"

"Apprentice is just the start. You must endure years of constant study and practice to slowly improve—only then can you become an array practitioner, and even then, only ungraded. You must endure more, study more, gain some reputation—only then can you apply for grading. Grading is done personally by the Dao Court—that's another massive barrier… Some array masters die before they're ever graded."

Ji Li's scalp prickled—he couldn't help asking: "Can little Mo really become an array master?"

"I hope so," Ji Qingbai sighed. "Even if it's just wishful thinking—it's still something to hope for."

Mo Hua returned to drawing the Bright Fire Array. Days later, he completed the entire array. He was far more skilled now—nine out of ten attempts succeeded, earning him eight spirit stones.

On the last day of the year, Mo Hua went to Youyuan Studio to exchange spirit stones with Fatty Manager.

Fatty Manager examined the arrays Mo Hua delivered and was quite satisfied.

"That's more like it! Now that you've taken a Mr. and become an apprentice, you should be drawing at this level!"

When settling accounts, Fatty Manager gave Mo Hua ten spirit stones—two extra as a New Year gift: "This is the holiday bonus. Not much, but it brings good fortune!"

To Fatty Manager, it was nothing. To Mo Hua, it was a fortune.

Mo Hua was delighted and recited a string of auspicious phrases: "May Manager grow ever stronger, achieve even greater glory!"

Fatty Manager nodded happily.

The next day was New Year's Eve. Mo Hua and his parents celebrated warmly.

Cultivation-world New Year customs resembled many of Mo Hua's memories from his past life, yet differed in key ways.

For example, though both sides pasted Spring Festival couplets, the characters glowed—the cloud patterns on the "Fu" character floated, and the Qilin and auspicious beasts on New Year paintings stared wide-eyed at you, sometimes even snorting in disdain—utterly novel.

The New Year's Eve feast was the most lavish of the year—there was even meat, and all the delicacies normally forbidden could be eaten to fullness.

Mo Hua had a joyful New Year. After playing with his friends for a few days, he resumed drawing arrays for Youyuan Studio.

Through relentless day-and-night effort, Mo Hua could now draw the Bright Fire Array's chart with his eyes closed—ten arrays took only three days, with success rate holding above ninety percent.

This continued until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month—the day before Tongxian Gate's enrollment—by then, Mo Hua had earned nearly fifty spirit stones.

After dinner, Mo Hua packed his belongings for tomorrow's entry into the sect, while Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua discussed the tuition fee.