Chapter 33: Chapter Thirty-Three: Forging

The next day, Mo Hua did not practice the Melting Fire Array; instead, he took spirit stones to Chen's Artifact Workshop and found Master Chen.

Master Chen was surprised to see Mo Hua, and even more so when he heard Mo Hua truly intended to forge a stove.

"You really plan to forge a stove?"

"Of course. But I only need a small one—about four chi tall. The materials don't need to be expensive; just sturdy and durable."

Master Chen nodded. "That's perfect. If you wanted a large stove, I might not have enough hands. Since this is for your own use and you're a neighbor, I'll pick you some affordable, reliable materials—guaranteed value and durability."

Mo Hua beamed. "Thank you, Master Chen!"

"But," Master Chen glanced at Mo Hua, then peered behind him, frowning.

"Where are your parents? Forging a stove isn't trivial—it needs an adult to approve."

Mo Hua patted his chest. "My father said it's my responsibility. You can speak directly to me."

Master Chen looked at the small boy, then nodded. "Truly, poor children grow up fast."

He frowned, hesitated, then said:

"Do you have the deposit? The material cost for the stove is one hundred fifty spirit stones. The forging will take twenty days, five spirit stones per day—so the crafting fee is one hundred spirit stones. The deposit covers the material cost: you must pay one hundred fifty spirit stones upfront. The crafting fee can be settled after completion."

"Yes, I brought it."

Mo Hua pulled a heavy storage bag from his robe, opened it, and inside were countless translucent spirit stones.

This sum would be a fortune for an ordinary cultivator family—yet this child carried it tucked in his chest…

Master Chen accepted the bag with a complex expression, counted carefully—exactly one hundred fifty spirit stones—and then took out a spirit contract, writing down the materials, fees, and delivery date.

Spirit contracts were the cultivation world's recognized proof of agreement; each was unique, hard to destroy or forge, serving as official evidence for spirit stone transactions. In case of disputes, authoritative cultivators or Dao Ting Si could arbitrate.

The spirit contract had two copies. Master Chen signed his name, then handed one to Mo Hua.

Mo Hua signed his name as well. Each kept one copy as proof of the artifact delivery.

Master Chen had intended to make Mo Hua sign his father's name, but after thinking, he said nothing—he figured if the parents entrusted the matter to him, Mo Hua's signature would suffice.

Beneath Heaven's Dao, all beings are equal; whether high or low in cultivation, young or old, once a spirit contract is signed, it holds.

"Mo Hua…"

Master Chen, seeing the elegant, refined script on the contract, realized the boy's name was "Mo Hua." He studied his face again—rosy lips, white teeth, brows like painted strokes—and indeed, the name suited him well.

Plus, having secured a substantial deal, his livelihood for half a month was secure. He grew even fonder of Mo Hua.

"Young brother, the contract is signed. We'll begin forging tomorrow—I'll work hard to finish it for you. If you have time, you can come watch the progress, or even learn artifact forging. Normally, I don't let outsiders observe, unless they're apprentices."

"Great! Thank you, Master Chen!"

Mo Hua was genuinely interested in artifact forging. Though he might never forge a single spirit artifact in his life, learning related knowledge was worthwhile—more was better. Sects never taught such practical forging skills.

In the following days, Mo Hua continued practicing the Melting Fire Array as usual. In spare moments, he visited the workshop to check the stove's progress and asked questions about artifact forging.

Master Chen didn't withhold knowledge—he answered every question. After several days of interaction, he was both amazed by Mo Hua's rapid comprehension and saddened by his abysmal body refinement potential.

He'd seen weak children before, but rarely one this frail—he couldn't even swing a forging hammer.

Otherwise, Master Chen would have seriously considered taking Mo Hua as a disciple.

Mo Hua observed the forging for several days: first to learn basic artifact knowledge, second to refine the stroke and dimensions of the Melting Fire Array.

Normally, arrays were drawn on paper—you could practice endlessly, make mistakes, and just replace the paper.

But now he had to draw it on the stove. If he made a mistake, he couldn't ask Master Chen to forge another one…

So Mo Hua needed to understand the stove's structure intimately—and visit the workshop often to monitor progress.

One morning, after drinking the porridge his mother had cooked, and practicing the array briefly, Mo Hua strolled slowly to Chen's Artifact Workshop before the sun grew hot.

At the workshop, he found it unusually quiet—no loud calls, no rhythmic "clang clang" of hammering.

Mo Hua walked to the back courtyard and saw Master Chen and several apprentices packing up. The forging furnace was cold, its lid open, the ground littered with cleaned ash.

"Master Chen, what happened?"

Master Chen, seeing Mo Hua, apologized: "Young brother, I'm sorry—the forging furnace broke. Your stove will be delayed."

"The forging furnace broke?"

Master Chen looked frustrated. "This furnace is old. It's had minor issues before, patched up just enough to keep working. But today, it won't ignite at all… sigh…"

"Can't it be fixed?" Mo Hua asked.

Master Chen shook his head. "Earlier problems were with external parts—I could repair those. Now it's likely the internal array that's damaged. I can't fix that. I'd have to ask another artifact master to inspect it—and if we need an array specialist to repair it, it'll cost even more spirit stones…"

"Array?" Mo Hua perked up. "Can I take a look?"

Master Chen blinked. "Look at what?"

"The array."

"Why would you look at the array?" Master Chen frowned. "Do you understand arrays?"

Mo Hua said, "I studied some arrays at the sect with Mr. I can check if it's truly an array issue—maybe I can help."

Master Chen hesitated, then thought: the furnace was already broken; no harm in letting him look. "Alright. I'll have them fully dismantle it so you can see the internal array."

He and the apprentices began dismantling the furnace piece by piece.

The furnace stood two people tall, forged from refined iron—extremely heavy. But the apprentices, all with decent body refinement, were tall and strong; with teamwork, they managed without much strain.

Mo Hua knew his limits and didn't attempt to help.

Once dismantled, the furnace's interior revealed dense, intricate array markings—dark red, partially obscured by soot, but still legible. The pattern was unmistakably a complete fire array.

It was the very Melting Fire Array Mo Hua drew daily but had never yet completed.