Immortality Through Array Formations

Translator: 549690339

Mo Hua returned home under the scorching sun, grabbed the teapot on the table, and guzzled several mouthfuls of tea, which finally dispelled the heat. Then, he retreated to his own room and began to plan with paper and pen.

First was the stove.

The stove is a type of spiritual artifact.

Spiritual artifacts used by cultivators come in a wide variety, including offensive weapons such as swords, spears, staffs, and clubs, defensive equipment like armor and Taoist robes, magical items such as hairpins and jade pendants, as well as everyday necessities like pots, bowls, and stoves.

Mo Hua’s understanding of artifact refining was limited to the commonly accessible theoretical knowledge learned in the course “Refining Artifact Knowledge” at Tongxian Gate, such as the need for a refining furnace, forging, quenching, and other key points.

But when it came to actually refining artifacts, he was at a loss.

While the artifact refining course at Tongxian Gate also required disciples to personally refine artifacts, Mo Hua, who had a weak constitution and couldn’t even swing a hammer, was unable to do the basic forging, so the instructor didn’t force him.

Now, to refine a stove, which wasn’t an ordinary spiritual artifact, he could only seek a specialized Artifact Refiner.

Next was the formation, the Melting Fire Formation, which contained five formation patterns, was quite challenging for the current Mo Hua.

The formations that Mo Hua had previously drawn contained at most four patterns.

For formations at the Qi Refinement Realm, each additional pattern significantly altered the formation’s effectiveness. A gap of one pattern represented an entire threshold for a Formation Master.

Mo Hua practiced drawing formations every day and honed his skills using the stele, which had considerably enhanced his divine sense. He could easily handle formations with four patterns, but those with five were another story.

Another difficulty was that this Melting Fire Formation had to be drawn on the stove.

The walls of a refining furnace are made of fine iron, which has weak absorption for ink, making it much harder to draw formations on fine iron than on paper, and this would also increase the consumption of spiritual power and divine sense.

According to Instructor Yan’s “Elementary Discussion on Formation Methods,” the carrier of a formation, the medium that bears the formation, is commonly referred to by Formation Masters as the formation medium.

When Formation Masters draw formations, the most commonly used medium is paper, followed by iron, wood, earthen, and stone materials.

Mo Hua had always drawn his formations on paper until now drawing on an artifact furnace might present some unknown issues.

Mo Hua thought for a while, sighed, and decided to take things step by step.

The pressing matter at hand was to figure out how to obtain the complete Formation Method Map of the Melting Fire Formation.

The next morning, after breakfast, Mo Hua went to find Manager Mo.

Manager Mo, slightly portly and heat-intolerant, was languidly leaning on his desk, beside which was a fan that continuously oscillated, its intrinsic formation activated by spiritual power.

But with the weather being so hot, the fan only blew hot air.

Mo Hua said, “Manager Mo, I’ve seen other shops draw an Ice-series Formation on their walls to cool the place down, why don’t you get one too?”

Manager Mo glanced at Mo Hua wearily and said, “That whole set of formations is so expensive. Give me the spirit stones, and I will get a set!”

Mo Hua chuckled and then sat down at a nearby table, pouring himself a cup of tea and sipping it leisurely.

In the rarely frequented Fated Gathering, Mo Hua was considered the most frequent of regulars. Manager Mo let him be and went back to burying his head in his desk work.

After finishing his tea, Mo Hua asked, “Manager Mo, do you have the Formation Diagram for the Melting Fire Formation here?”

Manager Mo lifted his head, annoyed, and said, “This is a shop specializing in formations, what Formation Diagrams don’t we have?”

Mo Hua replied skeptically, “You have Second Grade Formation Diagrams as well?”

Manager Mo pounded the desk in irritation and lectured, “Don’t act like a contrarian, kid!” and then asked in confusion, “What do you want the Melt Fire Formation Map for?”

“I saw this formation drawn on the stove in the Food Building, got curious, so I’m asking,” Mo Hua pondered for a moment and then asked:

“Manager Mo, do you know if there’s anything particular to note when drawing a Melting Fire Formation on a stove?”

Manager Mo listlessly responded, “It’s just a Melting Fire Formation, what could be so particular about it? Before the new year, several food buildings wanted to build stoves and bought the formations from me. I have all their stove-designed Formation Method Maps here.”

Mo Hua’s eyes lit up, “Could I take a look at them?”

“No giving!”

“Just a peek!” pleaded Mo Hua.

Manager Mo wanted to refuse again, but after hesitating for a moment, he sighed and reluctantly took out a large formation diagram from a cabinet behind and placed it on the desk.

“You can only look at it here. By rights, these should be kept secret and not shown to just anyone.”

As Mo Hua unfolded the paper, he found a design diagram of a stove, densely annotated with lots of text including the materials for the stove and the locations of the corresponding formation patterns. It even indicated the dimensions of the formation, and how certain strokes were supposed to be varied, and so on.

Curious, Mo Hua asked, “Are these formations different from the ordinary ones, such that they require notations on the brushwork and formation diagram dimensions?”

“Of course,” Manager Mo explained, “the formation patterns of a formation are standardized, but their specific applications vary. Some standardized spiritual artifacts have the same scale and dimensions, so naturally, one can draw uniformly. But special customized spiritual artifacts require modifications and changes according to the artifact’s shape and design.”

“For example, this stove is specially customized for the Food Building, unlike any other. Therefore, the Melting Fire Formation inside the stove must also vary according to the size, shape, and structure of the stove to be compatible…”

“I see…” Mo Hua nodded.

Mo Hua scrutinized the diagram carefully, trying to memorize all the key points for future reference.

After Mo Hua had looked sufficiently, Manager Mo collected the paper.

Mo Hua then asked, “Manager Mo, can I borrow a copy of the Melt Fire Formation Map?”

Anticipating this request, Manager Mo took out a Melt Fire Formation Map and said, “Normally, this formation map would cost ten spirit stones. I won’t charge you the spirit stones, but remember to return it to me without any damage or stains.”

Mo Hua was startled, “Ten spirit stones, is it that expensive?”

“Of course it is. Do you think it’s like those low-level formations with only two or three patterns that are common and easy to obtain? But those with four patterns, especially five or more, are quite rare. The more patterns a formation contains, the stronger its effect, and naturally, the more expensive the map.”

Manager Mo fanned himself and continued, “Some formation maps with ten patterns are even the Sect Protecting Faction secrets of certain sects and clans. You wouldn’t even get a chance to glance at those, let alone buy them with spirit stones!”

Mo Hua was astonished to hear this. Delving into higher realms of formation knowledge was indeed extremely challenging. Without any legacy, even if one wanted to learn formations, they wouldn’t know where to begin.

Mo Hua took the Melt Fire Formation Map and sincerely thanked Manager Mo.

Although Manager Mo said, “It’s a trivial matter, no need for thanks. Don’t be so formal,” his expression still showed he was quite pleased.

Before Mo Hua left, Manager Mo cautioned him one more time:

“It’s okay to study, but don’t aim too high and be stubborn, obsessively burrowing into it. Overexertion of Divine Sense could damage the Sea of Consciousness, which for a Formation Master, could be a source of endless trouble.”

After finishing, Manager Mo paused, coughed, and added, “Pass these words along to your brother…”

Mo Hua smiled, bowed to Manager Mo, and then left Fated Gathering.

After leaving Fated Gathering, Mo Hua first went home to transcribe the stove diagram from memory.

There was a lot of information on the stove diagram, and Mo Hua hadn’t memorized everything, only the key parts, but that was enough.

He didn’t need to replicate the stove design of the Food Building exactly. Besides, even if he wanted to, he did not have enough spirit stones for the refinement.

Having recorded the diagram fairly completely, Mo Hua then went out again, heading to a Refinery Shop at the end of the street.

The Refinery Shop was rather simple, but spacious, with all kinds of spiritual artifacts or household items scattered on the walls and floor, including candlesticks, teapots, pots, hairpins, bracelets, and even swords and armor, somewhat chaotic.

A sign hung in front of the shop with “Chen’s Refinery Shop” written on it. The sign was old and covered in soot, showing many years of use.

Mo Hua had learned about this Refinery Shop from Da’hu and others, purported to be the longest-established and best in the area.

The Artifact Refiner of Chen’s Refinery Shop, surnamed Chen, was commonly referred to as Master Chen.

Master Chen, with no children, had spent his life forging and refining artifacts. Although he had never become a first-grade Artifact Refiner, the spiritual artifacts he refined were always highly praised. Many Monster Hunters sought his expertise for refining rattan armor and blades.

When Mo Hua entered, Master Chen was busy hammering away with several disciples.