The Quest for Immortality

Mr. Feng and Master Chen both agreed, so Mo Hua informed Elder Yu.

Elder Yu was a bit surprised, “Mr. Feng agreed too?”

Though Mr. Feng only had a cultivation of the ninth level of Qi Refining, he was a First Grade Alchemist. He had established a Dan Hall in Tongxian City, treating and saving people for many years, earning extensive connections and high prestige among cultivators.

Elder Yu had previously visited Mr. Feng specifically to bring up this matter indirectly, but Mr. Feng had tactfully declined, citing old age and fatigue as reasons for not taking on additional work.

Elder Yu hadn’t expected Mr. Feng to agree now.

With Mr. Feng’s alchemical skills and extensive network, there was no need to worry about lacking alchemists for the alchemy business.

Elder Yu was curious, “How did you persuade them?”

Mo Hua frowned, “I didn’t say much. But since it’s a good thing for everyone, Grandpa Feng and Master Chen usually wouldn’t refuse.”

They didn’t refuse you, but they refused me...

Elder Yu examined Mo Hua again, sighing inwardly.

This child’s influence seemed to surpass that of him, a Foundation Building Elder...

Mo Hua then inquired about the main matter, “Elder Yu, what about the refining furnace you bought?”

“It’s on the way and will arrive in a few days.”

There were refining furnaces sold in Tongxian City, but none of First Grade quality. Even if a few sellers wanted to sell, Elder Yu had inquired, and they didn’t dare to act due to the Qian family’s influence.

So Elder Yu used his connections to purchase a new First Grade refining furnace from the neighboring Xian City.

“Will it get hijacked?” Mo Hua was a bit worried.

“Payment on delivery. If it gets hijacked, it’s not our concern. I need to see the refining furnace delivered to the refining shop’s door, or I won’t pay them the spirit stones.”

Mo Hua nodded.

As expected of Elder Yu, meticulous and cautious, never acting without assurance.

It was a good habit, one Mo Hua felt he should learn well.

“And the arrays on the refining furnace... no problem, right?” Elder Yu asked.

Mo Hua patted his chest, “Don’t worry, leave it to me. I haven’t learned it yet, but I should soon.”

Learning on the spot...

Elder Yu had mixed feelings. If it were any other array master, he would be uneasy about them learning the array last minute. But with Mo Hua, Elder Yu had no such concerns.

“Let me know when the refining furnace arrives.”

“Mm-hmm.” Mo Hua nodded.

In the meantime, Mo Hua focused on learning the First Grade Molten Fire Array.

At the same time, Master Qian went to the study to see the family head, Qian Hong.

Master Qian looked slightly pale and a bit weary, but his spirit was high, and his eyes were filled with excitement.

“Family Head, after these days of painstaking research, I have fully mastered the First Grade Molten Fire Array!”

Qian Hong raised an eyebrow, overjoyed, “Thank you, Master Qian. I will immediately instruct to clear out the First Grade refining furnace in the family, erase the previous arrays, and have you personally inscribe the Molten Fire Array.”

Qian Hong cupped his hands, “This matter troubles you greatly, Master.”

“It’s my duty.”

Qian Hong also breathed a sigh of relief, “In this way, we can seize the initiative.”

The Demon Hunter’s refining shop was smoothly built, and everything else was progressing rapidly. Yu Changlin even bought a First Grade refining furnace from another place, which added pressure on Qian Hong.

Refining heavily relied on the refining furnace.

As long as their refining furnace was better than the Demon Hunters’, and their arrays were stronger, the quality and quantity of the spirit tools they produced would be higher.

If Yu Changlin wanted to compete with their Qian family, it would be a fool’s dream.

As long as Yu Changlin’s refining shop ran at a loss, its downfall was only a matter of time. Then he would take action to swallow up the refining shop.

Yu Changlin had been busy for so long, only to prepare the groundwork for their Qian family.

Qian Hong pondered again and felt the only variable was the array.

In most cultivation industries, the core array was crucial.

Qian Hong was always a bit uneasy and confirmed again, “Are you certain the array masters among the Demon Hunters can’t possibly know the First Grade Molten Fire Array?”

Master Qian waved his hand, “Rest assured, Family Head, it’s absolutely impossible!”

Qian Hong was somewhat puzzled, “Why are you so certain, Master?”

Master Qian smiled confidently, “Before mastering the Molten Fire Array, I couldn’t be so sure. But now that I’ve mastered it, I understand. This array is very difficult, not something an average array master can learn!”

Qian Hong frowned, “Is it really that difficult?”

“Family Head, you’re not an array master, so you don’t understand the difficulties.”

Master Qian explained, “The Molten Fire Array’s array patterns are rather obscure. Compared to basic fire arrays, the strokes are slightly different, the array hub structure is conventional, but it requires more spiritual sense.”

Qian Hong’s eyes narrowed slightly, “Aren’t they all First Grade arrays? Why is there a difference in spiritual sense requirements?”

“You may not know,” Master Qian said solemnly, “Arrays are manifestations of the Dao of Heaven, but their grades are human-defined. How could the array patterns manifested by the Dao of Heaven strictly follow human-defined standards?”

“So within the same grade, there can be variations in difficulty. Some arrays require more spiritual sense, some less, but generally, they’re within the same framework, just with slight differences.”

Qian Hong was a bit moved, “Arrays are truly profound.”

Master Qian continued, “Compared to other First Grade arrays, the Molten Fire Array requires slightly more spiritual sense. Don’t underestimate this slight increase. When spiritual sense approaches its limit, each additional bit is as hard as ascending to heaven. This extra bit of spiritual sense required by the Molten Fire Array is a major hurdle for array masters, one that not all can overcome.”

“Moreover, the array patterns are quite obscure, requiring much practice to familiarize. But due to the high spiritual sense requirement, it’s not suitable for frequent practice, making it exceptionally difficult to master. If someone truly masters it, they must have the capabilities of a First Grade Array Master.”

Qian Hong listened with partial understanding but grasped the key points and happily congratulated, “Master, having comprehended this array, your array skills must have advanced. Next appraisal, the title of First Grade Array Master should be within reach.”

“Family Head flatters me. It’s only increased the chances. Until it’s certain, nothing is guaranteed.”

Master Qian spoke modestly, but his expression was quite proud.

There were few true array masters in Tongxian City, and he was about to become one of them!

Qian Hong immediately gave orders to prepare the First Grade refining furnace and have Master Qian inscribe the array.

Two days later, Mo Hua also learned the First Grade Molten Fire Array.

Though he had learned it, Mo Hua still frowned.

Generally, he could master a First Grade array in one or two days. But the Molten Fire Array took him four or five days of practice to fully inscribe it.

It wasn’t due to the slightly higher spiritual sense requirement.

To Mo Hua, the Molten Fire Array’s spiritual sense requirement was only a bit more, not significant, and less than that of a First Grade Composite Array.

Mo Hua’s slower progress was due to the obscure array patterns. He was used to drawing patterns based on basic styles, and any deviations would easily cause errors.

Mo Hua repeated the practice for several days, finally memorizing the patterns and fully inscribing the Molten Fire Array.

“This First Grade Molten Fire Array is indeed a bit difficult.”

Mo Hua nodded in agreement.