The Quest for Immortality

Mo Hua followed the planned architectural array diagrams, drawing one array after another, one set of composite arrays after another, methodically and orderly.

When his spiritual sense was exhausted, he would sit down and meditate to recover. If he got tired, he would sit aside and rest for a while, reading theoretical books on arrays to relieve fatigue.

After resting, he continued drawing arrays.

For such a large-scale project, the arrays were numerous. Although not particularly difficult, they were incredibly tedious and tested the array master’s patience and determination.

Fortunately, Mo Hua was accustomed to drawing arrays. Having practiced day and night before, he was now well-adapted.

Moreover, he had accumulated a thousand bottles of demonic blood, which he had all converted into spirit ink. If he didn’t use it now, the effectiveness of the spirit ink would weaken over time, which would be a waste.

These were all obtained by Mo Hua, bottle by bottle, from demonic beasts.

Days passed, and Mo Hua continued drawing arrays alone.

Master Ban also understood that Elder Yu had indeed not hired other array masters; only Mo Hua was drawing the arrays.

For such a large artifact crafting shop, with so many buildings and arrays containing countless array patterns, it all had to be completed by one person.

Just thinking about it made Master Ban’s scalp tingle.

How long would it take to finish...

Master Ban was anxious, but he couldn’t directly ask Mo Hua.

Firstly, Mo Hua was focused on drawing arrays and couldn’t be disturbed.

Secondly, ever since knowing Mo Hua was an array master and could draw First Grade arrays, Master Ban had a bit of reverence for him and didn’t dare to speak to him casually.

Array masters always had a prestigious status, different from them, the lower-level independent cultivators.

Master Ban, as an artifact craftsman, often dealt with array masters. Most of them were difficult to get along with—some were arrogant, some were aloof, some were greedy. Even those who were polite on the surface looked down on artifact craftsmen in their hearts.

After all, artifact craftsmen were seen as mere laborers, doing hard work that couldn’t compare to array masters.

Therefore, they didn’t dare to offend array masters and often suffered from their difficulties.

Sometimes the building materials were unsuitable for drawing arrays, and the array masters would make them replace them. Sometimes the layout didn’t match the array diagrams, and they had to rebuild. Sometimes, even when the array master made a mistake, it was still the craftsmen who had to make corrections.

Master Ban hesitated for days but didn’t dare to ask Mo Hua.

However, a few days later, Master Ban was surprised to find that many foundations and inner walls of the buildings had already been drawn with arrays.

He checked them repeatedly against the architectural array diagrams and found they matched exactly.

Master Ban was stunned. The arrays were drawn so quickly!

So many arrays, in such a short time, was it really possible for one array master to finish?

Master Ban secretly observed Mo Hua.

He then discovered that when Mo Hua drew arrays, his brush strokes were very skillful, and he drew without hesitation, as if these array patterns were already deeply ingrained in his mind. His drawing was smooth and fast!

The array masters in Master Ban’s impression would carefully ponder over the array diagrams and cautiously draw each stroke. After completing one array, they would be pale and need to sit down and drink tea to rest, taking half a day.

But Mo Hua was different. He drew decisively, forming arrays with each stroke. After completing one array, he would quickly move on to the next.

Even when he needed to rest, he would meditate and soon be full of energy again, continuing his work.

In this way, even four or five array masters together might not be faster than Mo Hua alone.

Master Ban was truly amazed.

In all these years, it was the first time he had seen someone draw arrays as effortlessly as drinking water.

”Could it be... he can really finish drawing all these arrays by himself within the project deadline?”

Master Ban thought in disbelief but also with some expectation.

Mo Hua continued drawing arrays methodically yet fluidly, while at the same time, the construction of the artifact crafting shop caused a stir in Tongxian City, known to all the prominent families.

Not far from the artifact crafting shop, there was a street with a teahouse. On the second floor, in a private room with an elegant and simple layout, the air was filled with the fragrance of tea.

Old Master An and the head of the An family, An Yonglu, were sitting opposite each other, drinking tea.

An Yonglu poured tea for Old Master An, frowning, ”Elder Yu is really ambitious this time, building such a large artifact crafting shop...”

”He seized the spirit mine and now has the capital, so naturally, he wants to do big things.”

”The Qian family really suffered a great loss this time!” An Yonglu said with some schadenfreude.

Old Master An glanced at his son and sighed, ”Do you think this is a good thing for us?”

An Yonglu was taken aback, ”Isn’t it good that the Qian family suffered a loss?”

Old Master An looked at him helplessly, ”Let me ask you, with such a large artifact crafting shop, producing so many spiritual artifacts, it will affect not only the Qian family but also our An family’s business...”

”And looking at this layout, it’s not just an artifact crafting shop but also a pill refining shop. If Yu Changlin really completes it, how can we compete with him?”

”But it’s the Qian family who should be worried first. Our An family doesn’t have much artifact crafting or pill refining business.”

Old Master An glared at him, ”Do you want to do restaurant business forever? How much can you achieve with that?”

”I know, but we can’t compete with the Qian family’s ruthlessness. We can only do some peaceful business like restaurants...” An Yonglu said in a low voice.

Old Master An sighed, ”I don’t blame Xiaofu, but as a father, you’re not much better.”

An Yonglu felt a bit indignant, ”Father, Xiaofu is much worse than me. If he had half my abilities, he could be a decent head of the family.”

Old Master An said coldly, ”You really have some nerve, comparing yourself to your own son.”

An Yonglu felt embarrassed.

Old Master An picked up his cup and sipped his tea, saying nothing more. However, his gaze occasionally drifted to the unfinished artifact crafting shop in the distance.

Such a grand layout, such a grand framework, Elder Yu indeed had great vision...

Old Master An sighed in his heart. He was old now, and even if he had the capital, he didn’t have the ambition or drive.

An Yonglu thought for a moment and said, ”Father, can such a large artifact crafting shop be successfully completed?”

Old Master An glanced at him.

An Yonglu continued, ”The Qian family won’t sit idly by. They won’t watch these independent cultivators grow stronger. After all, their wealth comes from exploiting them. If these independent cultivators become strong, the Qian family’s days will be tough. They’ve always made a living by fleecing others.”

”What you said is correct.” Old Master An nodded slightly.

”Then what should we do?” An Yonglu asked.

Old Master An raised an eyebrow and said calmly, ”Wait and see.”

An Yonglu nodded, intending to see if the Qian family would take any action.

With such a big move from Elder Yu, the An family, though anxious, didn’t need to rush. After all, their main business was restaurants, and their artifact crafting and pill refining businesses had already been squeezed out by the Qian family.

But the Qian family was different. Their core business was artifact crafting and pill refining, so they were definitely more anxious than anyone else now.