Mr. Feng shook his head. "It should have been quite a few years since the last array repair, maybe ten or twenty years ago. It's been running without issues for so long, which is already quite good."
"But what about this furnace..."
Mr. Feng twisted the crane patterns on the outer wall of the furnace. The inner and outer layers of the furnace began to rotate separately, eventually disconnecting from each other, revealing the array formations on the inner wall of the furnace.
"I won't go back on my promise, but I need to test you first."
Pointing at the array formations on the inner wall of the furnace, Mr. Feng said, "First, identify what these formations are."
Approaching, Mo Hua looked carefully and thought for a moment. "Meltfire Array, Wood Qi Array, Spirit Gathering Array... Is this a composite array containing three different formations?"
Mr. Feng was slightly surprised. "You even know composite arrays?"
A single formation composed of array patterns is called a single array. Connecting multiple single arrays forms a composite array.
Composite arrays are more powerful than single arrays and can achieve more complex spiritual effects. However, they cannot be learned by array masters without a deep foundation and lineage; they are often considered beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators.
Mr. Feng knew Mo Hua was studying arrays and recognized his extraordinary spiritual perception in array formations. But he didn't expect Mo Hua to recognize composite arrays now.
Mo Hua apologized, "I can't draw composite arrays, and I've only seen them in books. I haven't even mastered ordinary single arrays yet."
Mr. Feng nodded. "For your age, knowing this much is already good. This is a set called the Wood-Fire Spirit Control Array, a composite array combining the effects of Fire and Wood elements. The Wood Qi nurtures medicinal herbs, while the Fire element refines medicinal potency. The two can be harmonized through the array to refine desired elixirs."
"This seems much more complicated than repairing a forging furnace..." Mo Hua exclaimed.
"Still want to give it a try?"
"Yes," Mo Hua said. "I can't draw composite arrays, but if it's just repairing the array, I can follow the example without much trouble."
Pulling Mo Hua's hand, Liu Ruhua softly said, "If you're not sure, it's better not to trouble Mr. Feng."
Mr. Feng smiled. "No harm. Let him try as he wishes. If he makes mistakes, it's just practice. Whether it's alchemy or array drawing, if you're afraid of making mistakes, you won't gain deep insights."
"Thank you, Grandpa Feng!"
Mo Hua became less formal and asked Mr. Feng for Wood and Fire spiritual inks, starting to repair the array formations.
This Wood-Fire Spirit Control Array had worn out array patterns from years of alchemy, which hindered the flow of spiritual energy, rendering the entire array ineffective.
Mo Hua's task was simple: repair the dim and inactive array patterns to restore smooth spiritual energy flow throughout the entire array, which would count as success.
With a small pen in hand, Mo Hua dipped it in spiritual ink and began to draw the array patterns.
Mr. Feng silently admired Mo Hua's calm demeanor and uninterrupted strokes, evident of diligent practice. It was clear Mo Hua had put in considerable effort into array formations.
Among the three formations, there were a total of two incomplete and ineffective array patterns, along with six or seven other dim patterns that also needed redrawing.
Mo Hua's spiritual perception couldn't sustain drawing so many array patterns, and the consumption of spiritual energy was quite high. He took breaks two or three times midway before finally completing the array repairs.
Although he took a short break during the process, Mo Hua's spiritual perception was much stronger than Mr. Feng had anticipated.
Mr. Feng looked at Mo Hua with more seriousness in his eyes.
"Grandpa Feng, I'm done. Can you check if the alchemy furnace is okay now?"
"Oh, yes, let me see."
Mr. Feng snapped out of his thoughts, composed himself, and inspected the furnace. Despite his expectations, he couldn't hide his surprise and sincerely praised:
"Well done. You actually fixed it. This time, you've really helped me a lot."
Mo Hua grinned.
Liu Ruhua lightly tapped Mo Hua's forehead. "Grandpa Feng praised you, and you're not even being modest."
Her tone carried a slight reproach, but her expression showed deep satisfaction.
Mr. Feng started alchemy in the furnace, spending an hour to refine the elixir. He then placed the pills in a blue-and-white porcelain bottle and handed it to Liu Ruhua.
"Take one pill in the morning and one in the evening. Come see me again after you finish them."
Liu Ruhua bowed. "Thank you, Grandpa Feng."
Mo Hua also thanked him. "Thank you,
Mo Hua chuckled.
Liu Ruhua gently tapped Mo Hua's forehead. "Mr. Feng praised you, but you don't know how to be modest."
Though her tone carried a hint of reproach, her expression was deeply gratified.
Mr. Feng spent an hour refining the pill in the alchemy furnace. Afterward, he placed the pills into a blue-and-white porcelain bottle and handed it to Liu Ruhua.
"Take two pills each morning and evening. After you finish them, come back to see me."
Liu Ruhua bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Mr. Feng, for your assistance."
Mo Hua also expressed his gratitude. "Thank you, Grandpa Feng."
As they were about to leave, Mr. Feng suddenly called Mo Hua back. After a moment of contemplation, he entrusted him with a request:
"Hua'er, if you encounter poor and weak cultivators in the future, within your capabilities, please offer them your help."
Mo Hua nodded, curious nonetheless. "Grandpa Feng, why do you mention this all of a sudden?"
Mr. Feng looked at Mo Hua and said, "I am old now. Throughout my life, I have only been able to assist scattered cultivators in this corner of the world with alchemy and healing. But you are different. In the future, you may be able to help many more cultivators..."
"To comprehend the will of heaven and benefit all beings—this was a saying passed down to me by my master. He saved me when I was destitute and taught me alchemy, which allowed me to achieve what I have today."
Mr. Feng's master upheld such ideals, saving Mr. Feng, who in turn, with his compassionate intentions, saved Mo Hua, born weak and sickly, and Liu Ruhua, afflicted by fire poison.
Mo Hua was deeply moved and nodded solemnly. "Grandpa Feng, I will remember."
Mr. Feng's eyes showed a hint of contentment.
Mo Hua then asked again, "But what if some people aren't deserving of being benefited?"
"Even those who are not deserving of benefit are still a form of benefiting," Mr. Feng replied with profound meaning.
Back at home, Mo Hua continued to study formations in his room.
Liu Ruhua finished tidying up the dining area and sat in the hall, sewing clothes.
Shortly after midnight, Mo Shan returned home dusty and weary from hunting demons in the mountains. He carried several demon beast pelts on his shoulders, had a few storage pouches tied around his waist, and his clothes were marked with scratches and bloodstains. When he saw his wife, his tired expression softened.
"Why aren't you asleep yet?"
Liu Ruhua helped Mo Shan remove the pelts and storage pouches, replacing his worn clothes with clean ones. "I couldn't rest until you came back. Are you injured this time?"
"Just some scratches, treated with medicine, nothing serious. What about Hua'er?"
"He's in his room reading. He should be asleep by now."
"Good."
Liu Ruhua served dinner, and Mo Shan ate hungrily.
The dim candlelight flickered quietly, casting a peaceful atmosphere in the room.
Seeing Liu Ruhua smiling, Mo Shan asked with a smile, "What's making you so happy?"
"Well," Liu Ruhua said, "Mr. Feng praised Hua'er's formation skills today..."
She recounted the events of the day and continued, "People often praise Hua'er for being talented and smart. It's easy for children to receive praise, but not all of it may be true. Yet Mr. Feng, with his broad knowledge, said Hua'er has talent, suggesting he might truly become a formation master..."
Liu Ruhua sighed, "I've always worried because of my weak health since birth, afraid that I'd burden Hua'er. They say 'rely on the mountain to live off the mountain,' and with so many demon beasts near the city, most cultivators can only make a living as demon hunters. But Hua'er, being frail, can't become a demon hunter. We can't take care of him forever. If something were to happen and we couldn't be there for him, how would he manage on his own? Now, with the hope of becoming a formation master, he won't have to fight demon beasts, and I can finally rest assured."
Mo Shan gently held his wife's hand. "Don't worry, Hua'er is intelligent and sensible. He will surely succeed in the future, and we will always be here to watch him grow, to see him succeed and start a family. So, you must take care of your health. We have a long road ahead of us..."
"Yeah." Liu Ruhua leaned gently against Mo Shan's chest.
In his room, Mo Hua opened his eyes. Since he had been practicing formations day and night, his mental awareness had strengthened significantly, allowing him to hear his parents' words clearly.
Mo Hua's eyes were slightly moist. He wiped them gently and then focused his awareness into his sea of consciousness, continuing to practice formations on the stone monument.
(End of the chapter)