Chapter 662

"You don't believe me?" Cheng Mo said, looking unhappy.

Mo Hua ate his bun methodically, politely, and replied vaguely, "I believe…"

But his expression clearly showed he didn't.

"Let me tell you, you probably don't know how treacherous the cultivation world is—when real combat breaks out, it's always life or death…" Cheng Mo said.

"Mm." Mo Hua's expression remained indifferent.

Cheng Mo sighed, "Why can't you understand?"

He snatched a bun from Mo Hua's hand, shoved it into his mouth, swallowed it in a few bites, then continued:

"You're a formation master—formation masters are powerful, but only because within sects or places under Dao Ting Si's control, everyone is civil, respecting status and face…"

Mo Hua's bun had been taken; his expression turned slightly displeased.

Cheng Mo quickly handed Mo Hua the "chicken leg" from his own bowl.

Mo Hua picked up the chicken leg, took two bites, and nodded in satisfaction.

Cheng Mo's eyes brightened slightly; seizing the moment while Mo Hua was in good spirits, he hurriedly said:

"Let me take you along…"

"Formation masters' techniques require prior setup; otherwise, in sudden combat, unprepared, you're at a severe disadvantage."

"Under sudden attack, you might lose your life…"

"So when cultivators truly fight, when they clash and kill, formation masters still need to cling to 'thighs'!"

"Oh…" Mo Hua gnawed on the chicken leg, blinked, and asked, "Then who's the thigh?"

Cheng Mo immediately patted his own chest:

"Me!"

"Let me tell you, my twin great axes are ancestral heirlooms of the Cheng family—kill gods if they stand in the way, slay Buddhas if they block the path. Follow me, and I'll let you see my might!"

"You'll earn merit too…"

Mo Hua eyed him suspiciously. "Big Cheng, are you up to some secret scheme?"

Taking me on missions and splitting merit?

Could he really be that foolish?

Cheng Mo chuckled awkwardly: "It's not… it's just…"

Cheng Mo glanced around, then lowered his voice:

"Let's make a deal: I take you on missions, and you call me 'Senior Brother'!"

Mo Hua was speechless. "That's it?"

Cheng Mo frowned. "What do you mean 'that's it'? Don't you understand the weight of the words 'Senior Brother'?"

Mo Hua shook his head.

Cheng Mo gritted his teeth.

Some people are drowning while others are parched.

Some don't appreciate what they have!

Cheng Mo said, "Addressing seniors from the year above as 'Senior Brother' or 'Senior Sister' is normal—it's politeness."

"Among peers, being called 'Senior Brother' or 'Senior Sister' is honor—it's prestige!"

"So…"

Cheng Mo whispered, "I take you on missions, you call me Senior Brother, and from now on, we each call each other Senior Brother…"

"But you won't gain anything from that," Mo Hua said, puzzled.

Cheng Mo smiled broadly. "It doesn't matter—I just need to not lose out!"

Mo Hua nodded, then suddenly felt something was off; his thoughts shifted, and he shook his head.

"No…"

"To me, you gain nothing…"

"But in front of Sister Situ and the others, it's different…"

"They call me 'Little Senior Brother'—if I now call you 'Senior Brother,' then you're also their Senior Brother!"

Cheng Mo's face flushed red.

He hadn't expected that his carefully thought-out scheme would be completely exposed while Mo Hua was just eating a chicken leg…

Mo Hua gave a light hum:

"Stop dreaming—I'm the 'Little Senior Brother.' I must protect the face of those who call me that, so they don't appear lower than you in rank!"

Cheng Mo's expression froze.

Mo Hua quickly finished the chicken leg, felt full, and prepared to leave.

Cheng Mo still pleaded persistently:

"Mo Hua!"

"Little Senior Brother!"

"Formation masters really struggle to get by…"

"Don't you want to leave the sect, settle grudges, hunt down criminal cultivators, slay demons and monsters, and uphold the righteous path?"

"Don't you want to feel the thrill of slaying demonic cultivators yourself?"

"I can knock them half-dead, and you can finish them off with your spells!"

Mo Hua remained unmoved.

Cheng Mo added, "Besides, staying inside the sect all day, you won't earn much merit…"

Mo Hua stopped walking, turned around, stood on tiptoe, and patted Cheng Mo's shoulder, sighing:

"I paint second-rank arrays; the merit I earn is far greater than what you folks who fight and kill earn..."

Cheng Mo stood frozen in place, his emotions overwhelmingly complex.

Afterward, Mo Hua's life remained unchanged.

Cultivation, classes, drawing arrays.

Occasionally, when free, he practiced the sword qi of the Break Jin Yu Sword Art.

Cheng Mo still went out on missions, but sometimes still went to great lengths—even offering delicious food as bribes—to persuade Mo Hua to join him, calling him "Senior Brother."

Mo Hua's Dao heart was firm; he upheld his principles and ignored him.

Cheng Mo had no solution at all.

After some time, under Cheng Mo's lead, more disciples went out on missions.

In Grand Void Gate, all were prodigies; grouped in fives, they took on "bounties" targeting Foundation Establishment early-stage criminal cultivators—even if they couldn't win, they wouldn't suffer losses.

They cooperated with each other, clashed with criminal cultivators, and completed their missions.

For them, this was also a necessary trial.

Gradually, Mo Hua's fellow disciples from noble families also began to grow.

Even if they couldn't handle particularly vicious heretical cultivators, capturing ordinary criminals was no longer difficult.

This was within Mo Hua's expectations.

Noble family disciples possessed excellent talent and strength.

Even though raised within their families without travel or adventure experience, after a few missions and encountering setbacks, stumbling along, they gradually adapted.

Elder Murong and the others were the same.

Even before Grand Void Gate, they likely taught this way.

Through missions, they progressed step by step, controlling the "difficulty," slowly honing disciples until they could stand alone.

But this had nothing to do with Mo Hua.

These missions were too simple, the merit too little; he was too lazy to bother with them.

Mo Hua thought of another matter.

Cheng Mo's earlier words had reminded him.

"Array techniques must be prepared in advance; otherwise, in sudden combat, unprepared, you are at a severe disadvantage."

"Under sudden surprise, you might lose your life..."

Array techniques must be prepared in advance...

This made Mo Hua realize a problem:

"How do ordinary array masters actually use arrays in combat?"

In Immortal City, he had used arrays as traps.

To kill the great demon Feng Xi, he constructed the Five Elements Demon-Slaying Array, essentially building a combined containment-and-kill "trap"—first trapping Feng Xi, then slaughtering it like a pig.

After reaching Foundation Establishment and learning to control ink with spiritual sense, it became simple.

Just draw and use it on the spot...

But how exactly do other Foundation Establishment array masters use arrays in actual combat?

Mo Hua had never truly pondered this point.

Mo Hua thought about it, felt confused, and sighed.

Perhaps this is the trouble of being too skilled in arrays.

Some of the most basic things are easily overlooked if you don't pay attention...

"Practical application of arrays..."

During this time, Mo Hua decided to study it thoroughly.

He had originally planned to ask Master Xun.

But after thinking, this question wasn't particularly advanced—it would be overkill to ask Master Xun.

Besides, it might arouse Master Xun's suspicions.

Especially the phrase "practical application"—it clearly suggested restlessness.

It didn't sound like something a novice just entering Ru Sect, "never leaving his quarters," who spent every day immersed in array research, would ask.

So Mo Hua went to see Zheng Fang.

The Zheng family was an array lineage; though their ancestral inheritance was thunder arrays—extremely rare and never passed outside, even among direct descendants—it wasn't guaranteed.

But beyond that, their transmission of basic array techniques, including applications, should be very complete.

Zheng Fang often discussed array problems with Mo Hua.

He had a square face, a serious personality, and acted with rigid precision, like a "little scholar."

He studied every array problem with great seriousness.

Whatever Mo Hua asked him, except for forbidden transmissions, Zheng Fang always answered fully and without reservation.

"The practical application of arrays is based on arrays themselves, but the key to 'application' lies in the 'array medium.'"

"Array medium?"

"Yes," Zheng Fang nodded. "My uncle-grandfather once said: the Dao of Heaven and Earth manifests as 'arrays'; all things under Heaven and Earth are 'array media.'"

"Yet among all things that can serve as array media, there are many differences..."

"Some substances naturally absorb spiritual ink and resonate with array patterns, making them inherently suitable as array media..."

"While others are either loose and formless, fluid and unstable, or chaotic and lawless—unsuitable as..."

Zheng Fang paused here and used a more precise phrasing:

"It's hard to use as a 'Chanmei'…"

"There are some, but very few…"

"Only a few great Array Masters, whose understanding of the laws of Heaven and Earth differs from ordinary people—those who can 'turn stone to gold,' transform decay into wonder—can inscribe array patterns onto materials that, by common knowledge, are 'not Chanmei'…"

Mo Hua couldn't help but nod.

Zheng Fang continued: "Thus, in learning array techniques, Chanmei is merely a 'medium,' but in applying array techniques, it is the 'foundation.'"

"No matter how advanced the array, it requires a suitable 'Chanmei' as its base."

"And the history of Chanmei is equally long…"

Zheng Fang looked as if he had a long story to tell.

"At first, Array Masters themselves found and used their own Chanmei…"

"Later, as the cultivation industry developed and specialties diversified, Array Masters couldn't even keep up with learning array techniques, let alone spend vast amounts of time crafting their own Chanmei…"

"So the crafting of 'Chanmei'…"

Mo Hua's eyes lit up, "Was it handed over to Artificers?"

Zheng Fang nodded. "Yes."

He then rummaged through his storage bag and pulled out a booklet.

The booklet depicted several simple Spirit-Tool models.

"As for Array Paper, there's no need to elaborate—it's the most basic and cheapest Chanmei…"

"Other types of Spirit-Tool Chanmei include Array Flags, Array Discs, Array Tokens, Array Stones, Array Bases, and so on…"

"All of these are crafted separately by Artificers."

Mo Hua frowned slightly. "But the sect never taught us how to craft these talismans."

Zheng Fang nodded again. "The Sect doesn't teach it…"

"Just as array techniques are divided into many categories—broad types like Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, Yin-Yang and Three Talents, Four Symbols and Seven Stars…"

"And within the minor categories, such as Magnetic Array techniques…"

"Each of these array types varies greatly in complexity…"

"Similarly, Artifice is subdivided into many branches—such as Chanmei crafting, Dao Robe crafting, Armor crafting, Weapon crafting, Ornament crafting, and so on…"

"And also items like lamps, incense burners, screens, Alchemy Furnaces—all the Spirit-Tools cultivators need for daily life and production."

"Typically, an Artificer will specialize in only one or two branches, striving for perfection."

"The Sect doesn't teach all of them—only the most important, largest-scale, and most widely applied branches of Artifice…"

"Spirit-Tool Chanmei have narrow applications, so they clearly aren't among them."

"So that's how it is…"

Mo Hua suddenly understood, his heart filled with reflection.

The knowledge within cultivation was indeed profound and diverse; if he didn't ask carefully and learn patiently, he wouldn't even know about many of these things…

Mo Hua praised: "You know so much!"

Zheng Fang beamed, yet still replied modestly:

"Oh, nothing much…"

…

After that, Mo Hua roughly understood.

Chanmei is the foundation of array application.

In Xiancheng, because it was a small Immortal City with limited heritage, the supporting level of array techniques was also restricted.

Mo Hua was still a Qi Condensation-level novice Array Master, and the Chanmei he used were extremely crude.

He usually just made do—anything that worked was fine.

He had no concrete concept of them in his mind.

But after he reached Foundation Establishment, his spiritual sense transformed, and "using the earth as Chanmei" allowed him to bypass many limitations of Chanmei entirely.

But this wasn't necessarily good…

After deep thought, Mo Hua realized that while he himself might not need these methods, he couldn't afford to lack them—or to not know how to use them.

He couldn't ignore "ordinary" array techniques just because his own methods were extraordinary.

These fundamental techniques were the accumulated wisdom and crystallized experience of countless Array Masters across the cultivation world, refined and passed down over generations.

They likely contained vast and precious knowledge of "array application" and practical array thinking.

Mo Hua nodded, adjusting his mindset.

He too must learn how to use "Chanmei" to enhance his array application.

Array application must be grounded in Chanmei.

"Chanmei…"

Mo Hua asked around within the Sect.

Indeed, some disciples were skilled in Artifice, but almost none specialized in crafting Spirit-Tool Chanmei.

A few knew how, but what they crafted were only the most basic "Array Paper" and "Array Disc."

Such Array Paper and Array Disc could be bought anywhere.

Moreover, the combination of array and Chanmei in their case was only the most rudimentary form, offering little research value.

"What's needed are more specialized Chanmei…"

Mo Hua considered posting a reward in the Grand Void Token, but he hesitated—he hated to waste Merit Points.

After all, Merit Points were valuable.

And he still knew very little about Artifice for Chanmei; even if he posted a reward, he wouldn't know exactly what kind of Spirit-Tool Chanmei he wanted crafted.

"If it's not possible within the sect, why not ask outside the sect?"

Mo Hua silently pondered.

Then, during his ten-day break, he went to the Gu family.

The Gu family was also a prominent clan.

Even if their influence was less than the Shang family, they were still far stronger than the Qian family or Lu family he had encountered.

Every clan must have its industries.

Among these industries, there must be alchemy of spirit artifacts.

After all, spirit artifact forging is one of the four great Daoist industries.

If they have a spirit artifact forging industry, even if they don't specialize in forging array media, their forge masters still know something about making array media.

In Qianxue Province, anyone who survives by spirit artifact forging must have real skill.

Gu Changhuai was busy with Dao Ting Si affairs and had not returned.

Mo Hua had no intention of seeking him out.

The Gu family's industries? A Gu Diansi like him might not care much.

Mo Hua then found Xu Wanyi.

Xu Wanyi paused and said, "Array media spirit artifacts..."

"The Gu family used to do this kind of business—I forget whether it was selling paper or array discs—but the profits were poor, so they shut it down..."

"It's gone now?"

Mo Hua felt disappointed.

Xu Wanyi said, "The forge shop was shut down, but the forge masters still remain in the forge district—they've just switched to forging other spirit artifacts..."

Mo Hua's eyes lit up. "Can I visit them?"

Xu Wanyi nodded. "Of course. But the Gu family's joint ventures with the Shang family are scattered across Qianxue Province and surrounding Xiancheng..."

"There are many forge shops among them—I don't know where these forge masters have been reassigned. You'd need to ask someone..."

"Mm-hmm," Mo Hua smiled. "Thank you, Xu Wanyi!"

An hour later, Xu Wanyi had gathered the information.

"In Gushan City—it's quite far. Round trip might take a full day and night. Do you want to go?"

Mo Hua paused. "A full day and night...?"

"Yes," Xu Wanyi said hesitantly. "Shall I send someone to bring the forge master back for you to ask?"

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"I'll go myself."

After all, he was the one seeking help—how could he ask others to make the round trip?

The forge masters in the forge district were always busy with their forging.

Mo Hua had felt this deeply when he was in Tongxian City.

Xu Wanyi nodded. "Very well. I'll have someone send you."

"No need," Mo Hua said.

Xu Wanyi looked at Mo Hua, uneasy.

Mo Hua smiled apologetically and whispered:

"I also want to enjoy the journey..."

Xu Wanyi was startled—she thought, he's still just a child, still a bit playful.

"The outside world is dangerous," Xu Wanyi warned.

"It's fine," Mo Hua said. "I have the letter-seal from Uncle Gu, and I carry my Dao Ting Si badge. If danger arises, I can always run."

Xu Wanyi sighed.

She knew Mo Hua had his own mind, so she stopped pressing.

"Then be careful."

"Mm!" Mo Hua nodded.

Afterwards, Mo Hua traveled alone on a Gu family carriage, leaving Qingzhou City for the distant Gushan City.

Mo Hua had planned it out.

First, he would go to Gushan City and ask the Gu family's forge master about the crafting of array media spirit artifacts.

For example, what are the exact differences between array flags, array discs, and array bases?

What kind of array media suits which array formations?

Then he would consider, based on the situation, how to better combine array formations with array media, expanding his methods of array application.

On the return trip, he would detour through the ruined temple on Kushan.

Buy some wine, meat, pastries, and spirit fruits, and visit his "old friend," the fallen mountain god Huang Shanjun.

It had been a long time since they last met—Mo Hua truly missed him.

He wondered how Huang Shanjun was doing these days.

Would he be delighted to see him?

(End of Chapter)