Mo Hua understood.
A tree that stands out in the forest gets blown over.
He had been debating whether to focus on the assessment for the First Grade, but now that Master Zhuang had advised against rushing it, he decided to put it aside for now.
Master Zhuang had vast experience and knowledge. If he advised against rushing into the assessment, then the timing must not be right.
As a cultivator who started as a wandering practitioner and still at a relatively low cultivation level, making a splash at the Dao Ting might not necessarily be advantageous.
For an Array Master, proficiency in array formations was fundamental. As long as he mastered the arrays well, success would naturally follow without the need to rush.
Seeing Mo Hua's expression, Master Zhuang knew he understood and nodded inwardly.
Mo Hua indeed had a good temperament. At his age, not all Array Masters could maintain such focus and dedication to studying array formations.
Moreover, Mo Hua was only at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement. If he attempted the assessment now and failed, it would be manageable. But if he succeeded, it would be hard for those elderly Array Masters to accept.
"Exceptional talent invites jealousy," sighed Master Zhuang inwardly, and then said, "Wait until you reach the Eighth or Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement before considering the assessment."
"Understood, Master," Mo Hua nodded.
After bidding farewell to Master Zhuang, Mo Hua focused all his thoughts on array formations, solidifying his foundation, learning more formations, contemplating deeply, and practicing extensively.
As Master Zhuang had advised, he needed to "settle down."
Currently, Mo Hua's most important task was to inscribe the compound array on the refining furnace.
The First-Grade Melting Fire Spiritual Control Compound Array was complex, incorporating two sets of First-Grade arrays and several other types of arrays, along with a special array core to control spiritual power.
Mo Hua needed to integrate all these elements into one compound array that matched the internal structure of the large refining furnace. This task posed significant challenges.
In the dead of night, within his ethereal sea of consciousness, ancient and profound Dao Stele appeared.
Mo Hua began studying the compound array on the Dao Stele.
The most challenging aspect of this compound array lay in its core array.
The core array in this compound formation, designed to accommodate two sets of First-Grade arrays, demanded a higher intensity of mental energy. Its unique function involved the opening and control of spiritual power, a feature Mo Hua had never encountered before.
In his previous attempts at compound arrays, the core arrays simply linked individual arrays, making them relatively straightforward. Now, with more complex functionalities, the structure of the core array naturally became more difficult.
Mo Hua began drawing the core array on the Dao Stele.
The first two attempts failed because his mental energy was insufficient, preventing him from completing the array.
Mo Hua sighed.
Mental energy was always the first hurdle. Without sufficient mental strength, he wouldn't be able to inscribe the array no matter what.
Mo Hua had no choice but to revert to his usual method: erasing the core array, recovering his mental strength, and starting over.
Mo Hua drew repeatedly, becoming familiar with the structure of the core array while using the Dao Stele and practicing array formations to strengthen his mental energy.
At this point, Mo Hua's mental energy was sufficient to support him in learning most First-Grade arrays and many simple compound arrays.
Now, Mo Hua clearly felt the inadequacy of his mental energy. This situation, where he needed continuous practice with the Dao Stele to enhance his mental energy, was something he hadn't experienced in a long time.
Mo Hua even found himself nostalgic for it.
He remembered Master Zhuang's words: as long as he kept practicing, he would steadily progress in array formations and eventually master them.
It was the simplest principle but also the most difficult to execute.
Mo Hua calmed his mind, focused his spiritual, and began practicing the core array of the First-Grade Melting Fire Spiritual Control Compound Array over and over again.
If he made a mistake, he erased it and started anew. If his mental energy wasn't enough to complete the array, he erased it again and started over.
The night passed in this manner. Mo Hua gained profound insights but hadn't fully mastered it yet.
Mo Hua wasn't in a hurry. If success couldn't be achieved in one go, he would persevere with the patience of water dripping through stone, without arrogance or impatience.
Mo Hua also considered simplifying the First-Grade Melting Fire Compound Array, but after thinking it over, he decided against it.
The key to establishing the refining workshop was the refining furnace. Its quality directly affected the success or failure of the workshop, the livelihoods of the city's demon hunters, and even the livelihoods of all wandering practitioners in the future. Naturally, he had to strive for perfection and do his best.
Furthermore, Mo Hua would encounter many challenges in learning array formations in the future, and the First-Grade Melting Fire Compound Array was just one of them. If he backed down now, he might develop a habit of giving up.
Since Mo Hua needed more time to study array formations, Elder Yu directly began the construction of the second phase of the alchemy workshop.
Adjacent to the refining workshop and built similarly, the construction of the alchemy workshop progressed much faster with the experience gained from the refining workshop. The architectural processes and manpower arrangements were smoother.
As for array formations, they would be left vacant for now, to be filled in by Mo Hua when he had the time.
Meanwhile, at the Qian Family's residence,
Master Qian had completed inscribing the First-Grade Melting Fire Array on three First-Grade refining furnaces. As soon as he finished, Qian Hong immediately ordered the furnaces to be sent to their refining workshop. He also instructed his disciples to supervise the refining Forges of the Qian Family's workshop, urging them to work overtime to quickly produce spiritual tools.
Before the demon hunter's refining workshop was completed and operational, he needed to accumulate a large number of standard spiritual tools to gain an advantage in competition with Yu Changlin.
The Qian Family's refining Forges worked tirelessly, sweat pouring down their faces as they forged and refined spiritual tools day and night.
Among these Forges, only a few were distant relatives of the Qian Family with meager blood ties, while the majority were ordinary wandering practitioners employed by the Qian Family.
These wandering practitioners had learned the craft of refining but couldn't afford to buy a refining furnace or establish their own workshop. Thus, they had to rely on the Qian Family's workshop for their livelihoods.
However, this livelihood was challenging to secure.
One steward suggested to Qian Hong, "The weather is scorching, and the heat from the furnaces is unbearable. The Forges are exhausted. Perhaps they should take a short break?"
Qian Hong remained unmoved.
The steward persisted, "Please reconsider, Master."
Qian Hong glanced coldly at the steward. "If they don't work hard, how can the Qian Family prosper? If they don't endure hardship, should we endure it for them? The Qian Family's current situation depends on their efforts and hard work."
The steward fell silent. After a moment, he said, "They might harbor grievances and become difficult to manage."
"It doesn't matter," Qian Hong replied calmly. "Spread my message: whoever produces the most spiritual tools this month will receive an additional reward of three hundred spiritual stones. They will strive harder in their work. Even if it's more strenuous, they will do so willingly. There's no blame on us."
The steward contemplated for a moment, then bowed respectfully. "Master, you are wise."
(End of the Chapter)