Chapter 722: The Array-Tool System

More and more of Mo Hua's fellow sect members sought his "guidance."

The customized spirit tools he crafted grew ever more numerous.

The spirit tool array diagrams he designed also accumulated steadily.

After some thought, Mo Hua simply gathered all these diagrams into a cohesive system for customized spirit tools.

This system of spirit tools was remarkably broad.

It included functions such as reconnaissance, surveillance, and early warning to anticipate the enemy's moves;

It included array plates like Quicksand, Earth Prison, Golden Shackles, and Wood Binding to trap enemies;

It included armor designed to defend against body cultivator strikes—sword slashes, spear thrusts, fist and foot impacts;

It also included talismanic robes that repelled fire, water, wood, and poison…

Only attack-oriented spirit tools were relatively scarce.

Because noble house disciples mostly still relied on ancestral heirloom spirit weapons.

Mo Hua's customized weapons could not match the power of these heirloom tools.

His customized spirit tools were mostly specialized in specific functions.

For example, armor-piercing blades designed to break through enemy heavy armor.

Or fire-imbued swords, water-imbued swords, metal-imbued swords, etc., to supplement disciples lacking elemental affinity with elemental attacks.

Yet noble house disciples still prized "strength shatters all techniques."

They relied on superior elemental roots, deep foundations, refined cultivation arts and dao methods, overpowering enemies with brute force.

They paid little attention to minor tricks like elemental advantages and disadvantages.

Thus, they rarely used such attack spirit tools, and Mo Hua designed few of them.

Nevertheless, this entire system of customized spirit tools had already taken substantial shape.

The framework and rudimentary form of the array and spirit tool system were now in place.

It integrated early warning, trapping, offense, and defense into one.

All that remained was to continuously upgrade the rank of the spirit tools and arrays, iterate, expand, and refine the system to bring it to its full glory.

But after deep consideration, Mo Hua realized this system was missing one crucial component:

Spirit power amplification.

In other words…

"Wuxing Source Array!"

Mo Hua's eyes flickered with interest, then he frowned.

The Wuxing Source Array was the legendary array of the ancient Wuxing Sect, capable of reinforcing the five elements and amplifying spirit power.

It was an extremely powerful array, yet since arriving in Qianxue Province, Mo Hua had used it only a handful of times.

First, because it was unnecessary.

He had initially trailed behind his senior brothers and sisters.

His seniors had deep cultivation and formidable strength.

Enemies they could defeat didn't require amplification from the Wuxing Source Array.

The only time he'd used it was during the capture of the bald eagle—under the Wuxing Metal Source Array's amplification, Elder Murong unleashed a supreme dao technique that condensed five-colored radiant light, obliterating the eagle.

But that was the only time.

And for enemies they couldn't defeat, it was best not to fight at all.

A gentleman avoids standing beneath a crumbling wall; unless absolutely desperate, there was no need to risk life and death against a superior foe.

Relying on the Wuxing Source Array to amplify spirit power for a decisive, life-or-death clash was too perilous—slight missteps meant death.

So avoid fighting if possible.

Second, the Wuxing Source Array had extremely strict usage requirements.

The cultivator had to stand within the array to receive its reinforcement; once outside its range, spirit power received no amplification.

This made the user a stationary target.

Especially for spirit cultivators—high offense, low defense, reliant on spells—who feared body cultivators closing in during life-or-death battles.

Though the Wuxing Source Array boosted spell power, it also severely restricted movement, turning the user into a fixed "glass cannon."

It had pros and cons.

But the advantages were outweighed by the drawbacks.

For body cultivators, the Wuxing Source Array was equally impractical.

The Wuxing Source Array reinforced the five elements and amplified spirit power.

Body cultivators relied on robust blood qi and powerful force for close combat, yet they still possessed elemental roots, and their blood qi itself was transformed from spirit power through the meridians.

Thus, though they were poor at spells, body cultivators could still benefit from the Wuxing Source Array's amplification.

However, due to the transformation from spirit power to blood qi, the amplification effect on body cultivators was far weaker than on spirit cultivators using direct spells.

Body cultivators faced the same core problem: restricted movement.

Close combat demands agility and swift advances and retreats, heavily relying on footwork.

In actual combat, rapid exchanges and fierce clashes made it impossible to remain within the Wuxing Source Array's range without tying one's own hands.

Otherwise, one wasn't just a target— one was a fool.

Thus, while the Wuxing Source Array looked powerful, its practical use was burdened by harsh constraints and numerous limitations.

Unless…

Mo Hua pondered briefly.

Carve the Wuxing Source Array into spirit tools like armor and talismanic robes.

Worn on the body, it allows free movement without restriction.

This is the best solution.

Previously, there were no conditions; Mo Hua could not find anyone to forge this special armor or Dao robe.

He was occupied with cultivating, studying arrays, and taking on bounty quests, so he had no time to ponder this matter.

And now…

Mo Hua carefully contemplated it.

He was under house arrest within the sect, was currently researching custom spirit artifacts, and had Third Grade Artisan Master Gu assisting him.

The timing, the location, and the people all aligned.

He could precisely use this opportunity to study the practical application of the Five Elements Origin Array.

If he mastered it, this once-famous Five Elements Sect technique, now on the brink of extinction, could finally "reemerge into the world"!

And this ultimate array could perfectly fill the final missing link in his own array and spirit artifact system:

Spirit power amplification!

Mo Hua's eyes brightened; his thoughts gradually became clear.

Integration of Daoist industry.

Combining artifact forging with array crafting, ultimately applied to cultivators.

Construct a complete array-artifact auxiliary system integrating detection, containment, offense, defense, and amplification!

First deploy this system among sect disciples to earn spirit stones.

Then, with spirit stone support, continuously refine it.

One day, when the array and forging processes matured and his experience grew, he could expand it, attempting to distribute it to the lower cultivation realms, developing relatively economical and affordable spirit artifacts and simple, easy-to-learn accompanying arrays for Daoist production.

From cultivator combat to Daoist production.

From custom to standardized.

From expensive to cheap.

Slowly popularizing it bit by bit…

"Comprehend the Dao, benefit all living beings."

True arrays should not serve only a few, but truly benefit all beings under heaven.

Mo Hua froze, suddenly enlightened; his understanding of Heaven and Earth's array Dao deepened further…

Afterward, Mo Hua eagerly began researching armor and Dao robes suitable for the "Five Elements Origin Array."

Yet this armor was extremely special.

The inheritance of the Five Elements Ultimate Array was on the verge of extinction, and almost no compatible spirit artifacts or array media had been recorded.

Even if any existed, Mo Hua could never find them.

He could only slowly explore on his own and consult with Master Gu.

This would take time.

About a month later, Master Gu personally came to Grand Void Gate, spoke with Mo Hua, and drafted a prototype for the armor.

Master Gu planned to return and test-forging it first.

He wasn't certain of the results, since Mo Hua's requirements were peculiar—he had never forged a similar spirit artifact before.

Yet Master Gu asked no further questions.

After all, array matters were too complex and obscure; he didn't understand them. He only needed to handle the forging aspects.

After the discussion, Master Gu left Grand Void Gate and went to the city's merchant pavilion.

He had sold custom spirit artifacts; he needed to collect the spirit stones.

During this month, the spirit artifacts sold well—it was a large sum of spirit stones.

Inside the Gu family merchant pavilion in Grand Void City.

When the pavilion manager handed Master Gu a pouch filled with spirit stones, he couldn't help but marvel.

"In Grand Void Gate, where did so many fools come from, willing to spend so many spirit stones on your strange and odd spirit artifacts?"

He and Master Gu had a decent personal relationship, so he spoke casually.

Master Gu smiled: "You don't understand…"

The intricacies here are complicated…

Forging techniques, process optimization, array diagram design, array engraving, and spirit artifact demand and sales channels.

On the surface, it seemed simple, but Master Gu knew that as a Third Grade Artisan, even he could achieve very little alone.

Most of the credit belonged to Young Master Mo.

Master Gu couldn't fathom how Young Master Mo had acquired so many connections within the sect.

He shook his head, looked at the manager, and smiled:

"I'll treat you to drinks at noon."

The manager accepted without hesitation and grinned: "Fine, then I'll enjoy the benefit."

That noon, the two ate spirit cuisine and drank fine wine in Grand Void City.

Since they would still need the manager's help with the merchant pavilion's affairs, Master Gu was generous.

The manager was very pleased.

With a slight buzz from wine, both host and guest were thoroughly satisfied.

After drinking, each returned home.

Master Gu still needed to return to Gu Shancheng to continue forging the next batch of spirit artifacts.

On the carriage to Gu Shancheng, Master Gu touched several heavy pouches at his waist; though moved, he still found it hard to believe.

Five hundred thousand spirit stones!

Small spirit artifacts were cheaper, large ones more expensive; at an average price of about five thousand spirit stones per artifact, nearly a hundred were sold within a month.

After deducting costs, this was still an extremely considerable income.

Moreover, this was only the beginning.

Master Gu's disciple Ding Da Chuan was also visibly shocked.

Having grown up living a hard life every single day, he truly had never seen so many spirit stones.

Master Gu thought for a moment, then instructed, "When we pass the next Xiancheng, stop for a bit. Go into the city and buy some wine and meat to bring back and treat everyone."

Ding Da Chuan was overjoyed and quickly said with a smile:

"Yes, Master!"

Life at Lonely Mountain Artifact Workshop had always been austere; it had been a long time since anyone could drink heartily and eat their fill of meat.

Then he could not help sighing, "Master, how should we spend all these spirit stones? I feel like no matter how we spend them, we just can't finish them…"

Master Gu laughed despite himself.

This silly boy, used to poverty since the day he was born, only knew what it tasted like to be poor, and had no idea what one could do with so many spirit stones.

Even if you let him think, he couldn't come up with anything.

Then Master Gu thought it over and felt a pang of bitterness.

Five hundred thousand spirit stones…

It was a lot.

These spirit stones were enough for the workshop to purchase top-grade artifact furnaces, procure many high-quality artifact materials, and buy some rare artifact blueprints.

The remaining spirit stones could also let everyone live comfortably for a good while without worrying about food and drink.

This sum of spirit stones could truly be called quite generous.

But…

Master Gu sighed inwardly.

Yet these spirit stones were, in truth, also very little.

They might amount to no more than a single banquet's expense for some noble houses.

Or perhaps merely the price of one mount, one carriage, one song-and-dance performance, one jar of fine wine, or one beauty…

The world was simply this unfair.

Master Gu glanced at Ding Da Chuan again.

This simple, poor child knew nothing.

But not knowing was perhaps for the best…

Plain and uneventful was the truth.

Once one saw the dazzling world, with desires running rampant, and without a firm Dao heart, a person would sooner or later have their mindset twisted and be completely ruined.

Master Gu looked at Ding Da Chuan and said with a smile:

"There's plenty we can do. We'll talk when we get back, one thing at a time. First, let's let everyone have a good meal, but…"

Master Gu frowned, thought for a moment, and said, "We must set aside a share for Young Master Mo."

Ding Da Chuan was startled, then nodded.

They had been able to make this deal and earn so many spirit stones all thanks to that fair and tender Young Master Mo.

Truly, one cannot judge a person by their appearance.

When they had first met, he had assumed this young master was some family's little brat, never expecting him to be so capable.

Ding Da Chuan clicked his tongue in wonder inwardly.

"Still," Ding Da Chuan said, a little puzzled, "would Young Master Mo even want it?"

He always felt that, although Young Master Mo was young, he already possessed a certain transcendent air of an immortal sage.

A figure like that might not necessarily care for these spirit stones.

Master Gu shook his head and said, "This is what Young Master is rightfully owed. Whether he wants it or not, we must give it. That is the principle of being a person. A drop of kindness received should be repaid with a gushing spring."

"Moreover, for us, Young Master himself is far more 'precious' than these spirit stones."

"We absolutely must not lose the greater for the lesser."

"But there's no need to say it outright now. Otherwise it would seem as if we're deliberately repaying a debt of gratitude, which would feel awkward. We'll quietly set aside a share and save it for Young Master Mo—that's all."

Ding Da Chuan nodded repeatedly. "As always, Master, you think things through thoroughly."

Master Gu patted the storage pouch at his waist, and on his resolute face, a faint smile also appeared…

…

Inside the Grand Void Gate.

At this moment, Mo Hua still did not know that two people were secretly "saving" spirit stones for him.

Without realizing it, he already had two "little spirit stone vaults."

Mo Hua continued studying formations.

The armor still needed to be refined for a while; before that, he carried on as always, diligently practicing formations.

Mo Hua lay on the desk and, stroke by stroke, slowly drew out a second-grade, seventeen-pattern formation.

After finishing it, he went on to draw the second one.

These were all assignments arranged for him by Old Mr. Xun.

"Learn more—the more you learn, the better; the more solid, the better. If you run out of formation diagrams, come find me again…"

Old Mr. Xun's words like these were exactly what Mo Hua loved to hear.

But in his heart, he also found it a little strange.

Originally, Old Mr. Xun had said that the sect's system couldn't be ignored, and that Mo Hua had to go earn his own merit and exchange for formations himself.

But now, Old Mr. Xun no longer cared about any of that.

He kept urging Mo Hua to learn, cramming formations into him like force-feeding a duck.

Although Mo Hua's appetite was huge and he digested quickly—no matter how much Old Mr. Xun fed him, he could take it all in—still, in his heart, he had some doubts.

Old Mr. Xun seemed a little anxious?

But anxious about what?

Could Old Mr. Xun have some other plan?

Mo Hua couldn't quite figure it out.

He had also secretly sized up Old Mr. Xun, but Old Mr. Xun's thoughts were as deep as the sea, his expression as still as an ancient well—utterly unreadable, not a single clue to be found.

Mo Hua tried probing, asking:

"Old Mr. Xun, do I still need to go certify my rank now?"

He could already draw second-grade high-tier introductory formations, and his formation experience was broad, his foundation solid, and the formations he knew extremely numerous.

Going to take the formation examination and certifying as a second-grade mid-tier formation master should pose no problem.

Hearing this, Old Mr. Xun slightly raised his eyes and only said calmly:

"No rush."

"Oh."

Mo Hua confirmed in his heart—Old Mr. Xun definitely had some arrangement.

But since Old Mr. Xun said no rush, he wouldn't rush either.

Anyway, as long as there were formations to learn, that was fine.

The more formations he learned, the deeper his comprehension, the higher his attainment, the more solid his foundation.

Mo Hua's divine sense was strong, his recovery fast, and he still had the Dao Stele to assist.

Studying formations day and night like this, although he could only learn seventeen-pattern ones, Mo Hua's foundation in second-grade high-tier formations had already become more solid than that of many genuine second-grade high-tier formation masters.

Sand piled up makes a tower.

What he had to do now—or rather, what Old Mr. Xun had him do now—was to keep expanding, consolidating, and deepening the foundation of his formations…

Several days passed like this, and the armor still wasn't finished being refined.

Mo Hua was eating in the dining hall when Cheng Mo suddenly found him and asked:

"Senior Brother, is there any way to defend against demonic power or demonic energy?"

Mo Hua was puzzled. "Are you going to deal with demonic cultivators?"

Cheng Mo thought for a moment, then said: "Not exactly. It's a bounty posted by Dao Ting Si, saying to capture a few criminal cultivators. It's just that these people practice some unorthodox demonic arts, but not the orthodox kind—they sort of fell into the demonic path halfway…"

"Just in case, so I came to ask you."

Mo Hua frowned slightly.

Practicing unorthodox demonic arts, falling into the demonic path halfway?

A mission posted by Dao Ting Si?

Mo Hua was startled, and suddenly recalled what Uncle Gu had told him before:

"A group of demonic cultivators of unknown origin has poured into the area around Qianxue State Boundary…"

"Their origins haven't been traced yet. Exactly how many there are, what their cultivation levels are, is still unclear."

"Their area of activity is also limited to a few second- and third-grade small state boundaries near Qianxue State Boundary. Their plot is unknown, but they certainly don't have good intentions…"

The person Cheng Mo wanted to capture—was it one of this group of "demonic cultivators"?

Dao Ting Si didn't have enough manpower, so they could only post the bounty for capturing demonic cultivators to the sects?

Mo Hua thought for a moment and felt it was very likely.

And now that Cheng Mo mentioned it, he only just realized that recently, the fellow disciples who came to consult him, the bounties they took, the questions they asked, had all become somewhat dangerous.

Before, it was still catching some flying thieves, apprehending a few criminal cultivators.

Now, the opponents they had to deal with were clearly all desperate outlaws who had blood on their hands.

Looking at it now, the bounties they took were very likely all for dealing with that group of "demonic cultivators" Uncle Gu had mentioned.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then said carefully:

"Unorthodox demonic arts come in many varieties. For instance, some people use baleful qi to seize others' minds, some have poison in their blood, some are accustomed to using vicious unorthodox artifacts, some practice dual cultivation harvesting…"

"If you encounter those who cultivate baleful qi, you must keep your distance and not look into their eyes."

"If their blood carries poison, you must use fire-type spells or formations to counter it."

"Against vicious unorthodox artifacts, you can't clash head-on with spiritual artifacts—especially inherited spiritual artifacts, or they'll be corrupted."

"Those who practice dual cultivation harvesting generally have excellent movement techniques, so once you catch them, you have to break their three legs to prevent them from doing evil again…"

Mo Hua told Cheng Mo everything he had seen of the various demonic cultivator methods in the Bishan Demon Lair, and the many demonic cultivator arts he had witnessed, "as if enumerating his family treasures."

Cheng Mo was shocked.

After hesitating for a long time, looking left and right, he lowered his voice and said nervously:

"Senior Brother, how do you know all this so well? You couldn't be…"

Mo Hua glanced at him lightly. "Know yourself and know your enemy; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. If you don't know the demonic methods, how can you exterminate demons?"

Cheng Mo was stunned, pondered for a moment, then nodded and said:

"Makes sense!"

But Mo Hua was also very curious.

He wanted to know why this group of demonic cultivators had suddenly appeared, and what exactly they were plotting.

Could it be related to the Evil God?

If that's the case, it cannot be ignored.

But he is trapped within the sect, unable to leave Qianxue Province, and cannot go investigate.

Mo Hua pondered in silence, then suddenly a flash of inspiration struck him.

He summoned Cheng Mo, along with a group of disciples who were close to him and often called him "Little Senior Brother," and said to them:

"When you take bounties, complete missions, capture criminal cultivators or demonic cultivators, if you come across any strange, inexplicable objects, remember to bring them back for me to examine."

Sister Situ frowned. "For example?"

"For example," Mo Hua thought for a moment, then said slowly, "statues, broken swords, ram horns, bones—such strange items…"

"Or perhaps…" Mo Hua's gaze sharpened slightly as he spoke slowly, "encrypted letters, blank jade slips, transmission tokens with their messages erased, and…"

"Certain sect identity tokens!"

(End of Chapter)