Chapter 36: The Stove

Seeing Mo Hua's smile, Master Chen and the others also grew cheerful.

Master Chen couldn't help praising: "Young brother, you're truly remarkable—I've lived half a century and never before seen a cultivator so young draw a formation."

Mo Hua, flustered by the praise, shyly said: "Master Chen, first let's see if the stove with the drawn formation works."

Master Chen called out, and with several strong apprentices, they reassembled the stove, inserted a few spirit stones, and soon flames ignited inside.

Master Chen nodded and said: "No problem—except for its smaller size, this stove is no different from those expensive ones forged in the dining halls, and the flame is even fiercer."

Mo Hua sighed in relief, and afterward, Master Chen ordered Dazhu and several apprentices to deliver the stove to Mo Hua's home.

After discussing with his parents, Mo Hua ultimately decided to open the eatery at home.

First, it's convenient; second, the shopfronts near the nearby market are far too expensive. It's a small business already—if we spend a fortune renting a shop and lose money, we'll be ruined.

Moreover, where Mo Hua lives, though mostly poor cultivators dwell, it's near a major road with plenty of foot traffic, and lively during festivals. As long as the food tastes good, it won't go unsold.

Mo Hua's home is small—just a standard two-bedroom, one-living-room layout—with a tiny courtyard outside, typical for a Qi Condensation cultivator's dwelling. It's fine for a family of three, but too small for an eatery.

Mo Shan then negotiated with several neighbors, paying them spirit stones monthly to lease their courtyards, and asked his hunter-team friends to help convert one into a kitchen, linking several courtyards together—thus creating a large open space where tables and chairs could be placed for diners to eat and rest.

The stove was too large to fit in a storage bag, so Dazhu and several apprentices carried it to Mo Hua's home. When the group arrived, Mo Shan and his wife were still tidying the courtyard, digging soil and building walls—the place looked messy.

Dazhu and the others laboriously helped install the stove, then sat for a cup of tea before taking their leave.

Though Mo Hua had confidently promised before and always proved reliable, seeing the stove actually built and standing right before them, Mo Shan and his wife still found it hard to believe.

Liu Ruhua touched the stove and said: "It looks similar to those in big dining halls, just smaller—but clearly sturdier and more finely crafted. Still, it must've cost a lot of spirit stones."

"I fixed the formation in Master Chen's alchemy furnace—he gave me a 50% discount—and I drew the formation in this stove myself, so it didn't cost much." Mo Hua was slightly proud.

Liu Ruhua and Mo Shan exchanged glances—they knew Mo Hua had some talent for formations, but hadn't expected him to not only repair others' formations but already draw them directly onto spirit artifacts.

Liu Ruhua pulled Mo Hua into her arms and praised: "Hua, you're amazing!"

Mo Shan looked at his son, eyes filled with pride.

He had once worried about Mo Hua's frail body, but now seeing his talent for formations, he knew that even without body cultivation, Mo Hua could earn a living solely through formations—without risking his life fighting beasts, as he himself did. It was perfect.

"Mom, let me tell you how to use the stove."

Mo Hua took Liu Ruhua's hand and explained how to use it, how many spirit stones to use, how to control the heat. It wasn't difficult—Liu Ruhua understood after one explanation.

Liu Ruhua cooked dinner using the stove: a pot of plain rice porridge, a few simple vegetables, and soft, white steamed buns—simple yet delicious.

Eating his mother's food, Mo Hua was deeply moved—recently, most meals had been cooked by Mo Shan, and the taste spoke for itself.

Mo Hua said bluntly: "Mom, your cooking is far better than Dad's!"

"You little rascal!" Mo Shan grumbled, ruffling Mo Hua's hair—but seeing his wife's smile, he couldn't help smiling too.

After dinner, Liu Ruhua asked: "Opening an eatery is fine, but what should we sell?"

Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua both looked at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua met their gazes and said: "Beef!"

Mo Shan paused, frowning: "Where would we get beef? Spirit-infused meat is expensive—we can't afford it, and nearby are all cultivators who wouldn't buy it even if we made it."

Mo Hua said: "Dad, didn't you kill a wild ox before? Use that meat."

"Wild beef… too tough, dry and stringy—nobody wants to eat it."

"Then stew it for two days and two nights. Even the toughest meat should fall apart by then—if cooked long enough, it'll absorb flavor."

"Stew it for two days and two nights…" Mo Shan's gaze involuntarily turned to the stove. "So you forged this stove not just so Mom can cook without using spiritual energy—but also to stew meat…"

"Mm-hmm!" Mo Hua nodded.

"Will that even work?" Mo Shan hesitated.

"It will," Liu Ruhua's eyes lit up. "Spirit-infused meat is prized for its tenderness—it doesn't need long cooking, or it loses its spiritual energy. But it's too expensive for families like ours."

"Non-spirit meat is cheap, but tough and dry—it needs long stewing. Poor cultivators can afford it, but lack the means to stew it properly, so they rarely eat it."

"With this stove, we can make cheap but delicious meat—even ordinary cultivators can afford it."

Mo Shan nodded and added: "But two days and two nights of fire will consume a lot of spirit stones."

Mo Hua counted on his fingers and said: "About ten spirit stones per batch—but one batch yields a lot of meat. If we sell it, we shouldn't lose money."

"Then I'll try stewing a batch tomorrow or the day after, and calculate the cost," Liu Ruhua said.

Mo Shan nodded: "I'll go get more wild beef—the home supply is gone. Old Zhao's family probably still has some. If this meat can sell, then the meat from hunted beasts will finally have a market—everyone's life will improve."

With night falling, Liu Ruhua urged Mo Hua to go to sleep.

Mo Hua stood up, suddenly remembering a question, and asked:

"Mom, forging a stove isn't that hard, right? Then why don't ordinary cultivators use them?"

"Silly child," Liu Ruhua smiled, stroking Mo Hua's face.

"Forget alchemy—even if you don't draw the formation yourself, hiring another formation master will cost far more spirit stones."

"Becoming a formation master is hard. Once you become one, you aim higher—relying on your clan or sect to draw higher-level formations and earn more spirit stones. Who cares about poor cultivators like us?"

"It's not just formation masters—all cultivators are the same. When people climb upward, they never look down…"

Mo Hua's heart was heavy, and he couldn't speak.