Chapter 182: Progress

Mo Hua, following the planned architectural array diagram, drew one array after another, one compound array after another, methodically and orderly.

When his spiritual sense was exhausted, he sat in meditation to recover; when tired, he rested on the side, picked up an array treatise to read, and eased his fatigue.

Once rested, he resumed drawing arrays.

Large-scale engineering arrays had intricate array patterns; though not especially difficult to draw, they were extremely tedious and tested the array master's patience and resolve.

Fortunately, Mo Hua was accustomed to drawing arrays, having practiced day and night before, so he adapted well to actual drawing.

Moreover, he had stockpiled a thousand vials of demon blood, all refined into spirit ink; if he didn't use them now, the ink's potency would weaken over time, and that would be a waste.

Each vial had been drawn by Mo Hua, one by one, from demon beasts.

Several days passed, and Mo Hua drew arrays alone the whole time.

Master Ban had finally realized: Elder Yu had not hired any other array masters—Mo Hua was the only one drawing arrays.

This entire forging hall, so many buildings, so many arrays, containing so many array patterns—all to be drawn by one person.

Master Ban's scalp prickled at the thought.

How long would it take…?

Master Ban was frantic, yet he dared not directly ask Mo Hua.

First, Mo Hua was deeply focused on drawing arrays and shouldn't be disturbed.

Second, since learning Mo Hua was an array master who could draw first-rank arrays, Master Ban had developed a measure of awe and no longer dared to speak to him.

Array masters were always held in high esteem, unlike these lowly cultivation cultivators.

As a craftsman, Master Ban frequently dealt with array masters; most were difficult to get along with—either arrogant, haughty, or greedy; some appeared courteous but secretly looked down on craftsmen.

After all, craftsmen were mud-stained laborers doing hard physical work, nothing compared to array masters.

Thus, they dared not offend array masters and often suffered their harassment.

If building materials were unsuitable for array drawing, array masters ordered them replaced; if layouts didn't match the array diagram, array masters ordered them dismantled the heavy 【structure】 and rebuilt; sometimes, even when the array master himself had drawn the array wrong, it was still the craftsmen who had to fix it.

Master Ban hesitated for days but still dared not ask Mo Hua.

But after several days, Master Ban was astonished to discover that arrays had already been drawn into many foundations and building walls.

He walked back and forth, checked several times, and cross-referenced with the architectural array diagram—every array matched the planned design exactly, without the slightest deviation.

Master Ban froze—how fast had this array been drawn!?

So many arrays, in such a short time—could one array master possibly complete them all?

Master Ban quietly observed Mo Hua again.

Only then did he notice: Mo Hua's brushwork was extremely proficient, his strokes automatic, as if the array patterns were already etched into his mind, flowing effortlessly and at incredible speed!

In Master Ban's memory, array masters studied the diagram carefully before each stroke, hesitated before putting brush to paper, and after finishing one array, turned pale, sat drinking tea, and wasted half a day resting.

Not like Mo Hua—decisive strokes, arrays formed with each touch; one array finished, he immediately began the next.

Even when resting, he merely sat in deep meditation, and soon after, refreshed and alert, resumed drawing.

Altogether, four or five array masters combined might not draw as fast as Mo Hua alone.

Master Ban was truly awestruck.

In all these years, this was the first time he'd seen someone draw arrays as easily as drinking water.

"Could it be… he truly can finish all these arrays within the deadline, all by himself?"

Master Ban thought, half disbelieving, half hopeful.

Mo Hua drew arrays with orderly, fluid precision, while the massive construction of the forging hall had become common knowledge among several prominent families in Xiancheng.

Near the forging hall, a street held a teahouse; on the second floor, a private room was furnished plainly yet elegantly, fragrant mist swirling, tea aroma filling the air.

Elder An and An Yonglu, head of the An family, sat facing each other, drinking tea in the private room.

An Yonglu poured tea for Elder An, frowning:

"Elder Yu has truly made a grand move, building such a massive forging hall…"

"After seizing the spirit mine, he had the capital—naturally he'd do something big."

"The Qian family has really lost both wife and soldiers—suffered a huge blow!" An Yonglu said, gleeful.

Elder An glanced at his son, helplessly: "You don't think this is good for us, do you?"

An Yonglu paused. "Isn't it good that the Qian family suffered?"

Elder An sighed in frustration: "Let me ask you—once this massive forging hall is built, producing so many spirit weapons, it won't just hurt the Qian family—it'll hurt our An family's business too…"

"And judging by this layout, it's not just a forging hall—it'll include a pill refining hall too. If Elder Yu Lin actually completes it, how can we compete with him?"

"But the Qian family will be the first to suffer—we An family don't have much business in forging or pill refining anyway."

Elder An glared at him. "Do you want to spend your whole life in the food hall business? What future is there in food halls?"

"I know, but we're not as ruthless as the Qian family—we can't compete in forging or pill refining, so we can only do food halls, where harmony brings profit…" An Yonglu muttered.

Elder An sighed. "No wonder Xiao Fu is like this—you're no better as a father."

An Yonglu bristled. "Father, Xiao Fu is far worse than me—if he had half my ability, he'd still be fit to be head of the family."

Elder An coldly said: "You're truly impressive—comparing yourself to your own son."

An Yonglu fell silent.

Elder An lifted his cup to sip tea, saying nothing more, yet his gaze still drifted unconsciously toward the unfinished forging hall.

Such a grand layout, such a vast framework—Elder Yu truly has a broad vision…

Elder An sighed inwardly—he was old; even if he had the capital, he lacked the will and ambition now.

An Yonglu thought a moment, then said: "Father, will this massive forging hall even be completed successfully?"

Elder An looked at him.

An Yonglu continued: "The Qian family won't let this go—they won't allow these cultivators to grow strong. After all, the wool comes from the sheep; if these cultivators grow powerful, the Qian family's days will be hard. The Qian family has always been in the business of shearing wool."

"You're right," Elder An nodded slightly.

"Then what should we do?" asked An Yonglu.

Old Master An raised an eyebrow and said coolly, "Let's wait and see."

An Yonglu nodded, watching to see if the Qian family would make any move.

Yu Changnong had made such a commotion; though An family was anxious, they need not rush—after all, their main business was the dining halls, and their alchemy and armament trades had long been squeezed out by the Qian family.

But the Qian family was different; their core was alchemy and armament, and now they must be more anxious than anyone else.