Chapter 35: Chapter Thirty-Five: Complete

Zi Mo had been studying the Flame Melting Array for sixteen days.

On this day, Mo Hua rose early; the morning sun shone on the table, fresh and bright, without the scorching heat of noon.

Mo Hua spread paper on the table, prepared red ink, and began drawing the Flame Melting Array.

This was something Mo Hua did every day for over a dozen days.

But today was different: Mo Hua would formally draw a complete Flame Melting Array.

Last night, in his spiritual sea, Mo Hua had already drawn the Flame Melting Array on the broken stele, meaning his spiritual sense was now sufficient to support five array lines.

Through repeated practice and having repaired the array on the furnace at the Artisan Shop, Mo Hua had the Flame Melting Array's lines memorized perfectly.

Mo Hua drew carefully and cautiously; after an hour, when he felt a slight sting in his spiritual sense and it began to dwindle, he made the final stroke of the Flame Melting Array.

Mo Hua infused a trace of spiritual energy; it flowed slowly along the red array lines, from the first stroke of the first line to the last stroke of the fifth line, ultimately connecting the entire array without obstruction.

Success!

Mo Hua exhaled deeply, feeling as if all his accumulated effort had naturally come to fruition.

"A five-line array!"

A Qi Condensation third-layer cultivator can draw a five-line array.

Mo Hua knew that a normal Qi Condensation third-layer cultivator could draw at most three lines; those from major clans and sects, with higher talent and better inheritance, would likely surpass him in array skill at the same realm.

But even if they were stronger, they wouldn't be much stronger.

Mo Hua nodded.

And as long as he kept drawing, his spiritual sense would inevitably grow stronger, making array study easier—becoming a Grade One Array Master was merely a matter of time.

Once he truly became a Grade One Array Master, even if he hadn't passed the official grading, merely as an ordinary array master, he could earn plenty of spiritual stones, and his parents wouldn't suffer so much.

Thinking this, Mo Hua couldn't help but feel happy.

Then the fatigue from days of repeated array practice overwhelmed him; Mo Hua fell onto the bed and promptly fell asleep.

Liu Ruhua entered the room with several washed wild fruits, saw the freshly drawn array on the table and Mo Hua fast asleep on the bed; she tidied the table, draped a fur-blanket over Mo Hua's small belly, and stared at him for a long while.

Seeing Mo Hua sleep peacefully, drooling crystal-clear saliva in his dream as if eating something delicious, Liu Ruhua couldn't help smiling, wiped his mouth with her sleeve, then rose and left.

Several days later, Chen Dazhu came to inform Mo Hua that the stove had been forged.

Chen Dazhu was the eldest disciple of Master Chen, tall and sturdy, with a simple, hearty smile.

Mo Hua followed Chen Dazhu to Chen's Artisan Shop and saw a stove, one person's height, ancient yet sturdy, with three legs and a round body capped by a lid.

The stove's lid was open—it would be sealed only after the array was drawn inside.

"The stove is forged, young brother, take a look—do you find it satisfactory?"

Mo Hua circled the stove, examined it from all sides, and touched it; the weight felt solid, clearly made with premium materials and meticulous craftsmanship.

Mo Hua nodded and praised: "No wonder you're Master Chen—this is the best spiritual artifact I've ever seen."

Of course, he hadn't seen many spiritual artifacts.

Master Chen stroked his beard. "Naturally—whatever you ask for, I'll make the best."

"Thank you, Master Chen!"

Mo Hua said happily, then pulled out a storage bag. "Inside are sixty spiritual stones—payment for your hard work."

Twenty days' labor required over a hundred spiritual stones; Mo Hua halved the price and added a little extra.

Master Chen had wanted to refuse, but remembering the shop's poor business these past months and how his disciples, including Chen Dazhu, often couldn't even afford a full meal, he accepted it—but told Mo Hua:

"Next time you need forging, come to me—I'll give you the lowest price in Xiancheng."

"Mm-hmm, thank you, Master Chen!" Mo Hua said happily.

"But," Master Chen hesitated, "this stove still needs an array drawn on it to function—who will draw the array?"

Mo Hua patted his chest: "I'll draw it myself!"

Master Chen was both surprised and not entirely surprised.

Mo Hua had repaired the array on the artisan shop's furnace; since furnace, alchemy stove, and cooking stove share similar processes and core arrays, it made sense for Mo Hua to draw it himself.

But…

Master Chen gently advised: "Repairing an array and drawing one are different, aren't they? I've heard drawing arrays consumes far more spiritual sense. Young brother, your cultivation is low—your spiritual sense probably isn't enough. Don't force it, or you might damage your spiritual sea."

"Don't worry," Mo Hua said, "I know my limits."

Master Chen said no more; on arrays, he understood no more than this young cultivator.

Since Mo Hua was short, Master Chen dismantled the assembled stove and laid it flat on the ground so Mo Hua could draw the array.

Chen Dazhu and the other disciples helped, then stood aside, necks craned, curiously watching Mo Hua draw the array. They rarely saw cultivators drawing arrays and found it fascinating—especially since the one drawing was Mo Hua, younger than them all.

Mo Hua first dipped his brush in water and practiced drawing array lines on the stove's inner wall—to familiarize himself with the brush and adapt to drawing on a spiritual artifact.

He also mentally anticipated problems he might encounter while drawing.

Preparation ensures success; lack of preparation leads to failure. More preparation beforehand greatly increases the array's success rate.

After preparing, Mo Hua spread the Flame Melting Array diagram beside him for reference, then took out his brush and a small bottle of ink.

The ink was bright red and thicker, said to be mixed from the blood of a fire-element tiger-like beast; though only mid-grade, it was better than what Mo Hua had used before—the best he could afford.

This small bottle cost ten spiritual stones—enough for only two Flame Melting Arrays—so he must be fully prepared to avoid failure.

If he failed, the wasted ink alone would break his heart.

Mo Hua held his breath, calmed his mind, and began drawing the array. His previously innocent, childish face grew solemn; his clear black-and-white eyes shone brightly, as if holding starlight.

Master Chen and the disciples stood nearby; seeing Mo Hua's solemn expression, they dared not even breathe, afraid of disturbing him—their expressions tenser than Mo Hua's.

Mo Hua's delicate white hand held the brush, fingers and wrist moving nimbly, guiding the tip to glide across the furnace wall, tracing vivid array lines with perfect rhythm and order.

Though the others couldn't understand the array or its lines, they watched, spellbound, as the mysterious lines seemed to flow from the brush's tip.

After some time, Mo Hua finally stopped, exhaling deeply.

Seeing this, the others, for no clear reason, also exhaled in relief.

Foreman Chen hesitated and said in a low voice, "Little brother, is this... a successful painting?"

On Mo Hua's serious little face, a bright, innocent smile reappeared.

"Mm, it succeeded!"