"Young Master An?"
The richly dressed chubby boy was the eldest young master of the An family in Tongxian City, named An Xiaofu. Perhaps his father didn't have high expectations for him, thinking 'small fortune brings peace', thus he named him Xiaofu, meaning "little wealth".
However, because of his plump appearance, his peers privately called him An Xiaopang (Little Fatty An).
An Xiaopang was a bit slow-witted and sometimes showed a typical young master's temper, but he wasn't a bad person. He often asked Muo Hua to help him with his formation assignments.
He didn't know any formations and couldn't draw a single one. Not wanting to be punished by the tutor or be scolded by his father, he could only rely on Muo Hua for help.
At this moment, An Xiaopang was fuming, "How dare you, Muo Hua! I considered you a friend, but you look down on me?!"
Muo Hua was puzzled, "How did I look down on you?"
An Xiaopang pulled out a formation diagram with red ink corrections from his pocket, "You helped me with my formation homework, and there were six mistakes! But the one you did for that skinny monkey Qian Xing had no mistakes at all! Isn't that looking down on me? Isn't that saying I'm inferior to him?"
The "skinny monkey" in An Xiaopang's words referred to the skinny young master from earlier, Qian Xing, the third young master of the Qian family's main branch.
The Qian family was the largest family in Tongxian City, with the An family being second. Both families owned businesses, competed in trade, and had ancestral grudges. The younger generations were also in constant rivalry, competing in every aspect, including their physical appearances—one being fat and the other skinny, an embodiment of their water-and-fire relationship.
However, when it came to cultivation, both were equally lazy and inept, making them "evenly matched" in this regard.
Despite both being playboys, Qian Xing had a worse reputation. Besides being inept, he was also arrogant and bullying, having done many bad things behind the scenes. But with his family's backing, he always got away with it.
In comparison, An Xiaopang just ate, drank, and flaunted himself around town. His father's strict discipline prevented him from going too far.
"So, it's about that?"
Seeing Muo Hua's indifference, An Xiaopang's face turned red with anger.
"I'm doing you a favor," Muo Hua said.
An Xiaopang sneered, "How are you helping me?"
"How does your formation compare to Young Master Qian's?"
An Xiaopang confidently replied, "At least it's not worse than his!"
Muo Hua was speechless. Was that something to be proud of?
Muo Hua continued, "Exactly. Given his level, how could he draw a formation without a single mistake?"
"Of course, if even I can't do it, there's no way he can!"
"So you understand. How could the tutor not see that? The tutor is strict and would definitely punish him. He would also inform his father, who, having lost face, wouldn't let him off easily..."
An Xiaopang pondered for a moment, "That makes some sense, but I haven't heard about Qian Xing getting beaten. Are you lying to me..."
Muo Hua rolled his eyes, "Family shame isn't spread around. Fathers would beat their sons behind closed doors, not letting others know."
An Xiaopang nodded with lingering fear, "You're right. My father never lets others know when he beats me!"
Mo Hua continued, "This time, didn't Master An not only refrain from hitting you but also praised you?"
An Xiaopang instantly became smug, "Indeed, the tutor gave me a B grade. When my father found out, he praised my progress and gave me plenty of good things!"
An Xiaopang's temper came and went quickly. Feeling a bit guilty, he said to Mo Hua:
"It was my mistake to accuse you! I'll take you to Ling Shan Lou for a feast. It's owned by my family, so you can eat as much as you like!"
Mo Hua was surprised by An Xiaopang's generosity but declined, "No need, I have things to do."
An Xiaopang, dissatisfied, said, "My father always taught me to repay kindness. If you don't go, it means you look down on me!"
Thinking of his father's severe punishments, An Xiaopang was even more determined, "This is a significant favor. You must go!"
When An Xiaopang got stubborn, he became quite troublesome.
Mo Hua was a bit exasperated. He glanced at the array pavilion's door and suddenly said, "Young Master An, let's skip the feast, but could you help me with a favor?"
An Xiaopang patted his chest, "Just tell me!"
"Lend me ten spirit stones."
An Xiaopang frowned. He didn't have ten spirit stones on him. His father never allowed him to carry more than five spirit stones to prevent him from spending them frivolously.
He could treat Mo Hua at Ling Shan Lou by putting it on his father's tab, but spirit stones were a different matter. His father was worried he might spend them on dubious things, leading to trouble.
An Xiaopang took out the five spirit stones he had and looked at his attendants, "Give me all your spirit stones, I'll repay you at home."
The attendants reluctantly handed over their spirit stones, just enough to make ten.
An Xiaopang handed the spirit stones to Mo Hua, "Here you go, no need to repay."
Mo Hua shook his head, "I'll return them in a few days."
Mo Hua weighed the spirit stones in his hand before carefully putting them away. After bidding farewell to An Xiaopang, he returned to the array pavilion. The manager was still dozing off with no customers in sight.
Mo Hua tiptoed to place the ten spirit stones on the counter.
"I've brought the spirit stones!"
The manager, waking from his nap, saw Mo Hua and the spirit stones on the counter.
He picked up the spirit stones, inspected them for quality, nodded, and then reached under the counter to retrieve a storage bag.
"Inside, there's a diagram of the 'Minghuo Array,' ten array papers, and spirit ink—enough to draw ten Minghuo Arrays. You have ten days to complete this task. If you fail to meet the deadline, you forfeit the entire deposit. For each successful Minghuo Array, you earn one spirit stone. If you make a mistake or the array is substandard, one spirit stone from your deposit will be deducted. These are the standard rules of the business, and your brother should be aware of them."
Mo Hua nodded.
If he successfully completed all the arrays, he could earn ten spirit stones. If he failed entirely, he would lose ten. Succeeding in more than half would be profitable.
The manager reminded, "Ten days only, don't forget. If you're late, I'll keep the deposit."
Mo Hua quickly nodded, thanked the manager, and left.
Back home, Mo Hua locked himself in his room to study the array.
Earning up to ten spirit stones was a significant opportunity. Although he earned twelve spirit stones by helping his peers with their assignments, it wasn't a regular income.
Helping peers with assignments wasn't a long-term solution, as it could hinder their progress.
The business was different. If he succeeded, he could earn a steady income and practice his formations, killing two birds with one stone.
Mo Hua spread out the diagram of the 'Minghuo Array' before him.
The diagram, drawn by another array master, served as a template.
The diagram included detailed annotations, explaining the array lines, brush techniques, ink usage, and other key points—standard practices in the cultivation world.
The annotations for the Minghuo Array included details on where to use fire element array lines, how to connect the lines, how to mix and apply the ink, and more. Many of these concepts were new to Mo Hua and somewhat challenging to understand.
This was his first time seeing a formal array diagram. The basic arrays he learned at the sect were for beginners and only included one or two basic lines, unlike the comprehensive arrays used in the cultivation world.
The annotations for the Minghuo Array included a note:
Minghuo Array, Fire Element Array, contains three lines, requires at least Qi Refining Stage 3.
But what caught Mo Hua's attention was a handwritten note in red ink:
For those below the required stage, insufficient spiritual sense, proceed with caution!
Mo Hua, at Qi Refining Stage 2, frowned.
Every action in cultivation required spiritual sense—to guide spiritual energy, use spells, control spiritual tools, and more. Drawing arrays consumed the most spiritual sense.
The note highlighted the importance of spiritual sense, with a specific stage requirement and red ink.
Mo Hua realized he might not have understood the extent of "much" spiritual sense needed...
"Does drawing arrays really consume that much spiritual sense?"
Mo Hua pondered.
"Well, let's get familiar with the array lines first. I'll practice on the tablet tonight."
Mo Hua memorized the diagram of the Minghuo Array, had dinner with his parents, and practiced the lines on regular paper. By midnight, he lay in bed, closed his eyes, and a quaint, ethereal tablet appeared in his spiritual sea.
(End of Chapter)