Chapter 100: Elder Yu (Part Three)
Chapter 100: Elder Yu (Part Three)
From then on, every few days, someone would come through Mo Shan to ask Mo Hua to draw array formations. And without fail, they all requested the Iron Armor Array on their rattan armor.
Mo Shan handled these requests, and Mo Hua simply had to draw the arrays; it wasn't too troublesome, and he didn't have to advertise his skills.
The Iron Armor Array consisted of only six array patterns, which posed no challenge to Mo Hua anymore. Moreover, he could draw it very quickly, so fulfilling the occasional request was not much of a time waste.
Drawing the Iron Armor Array earned him five spirit stones and half a bottle of spirit ink.
After drawing a few, Mo Hua had accumulated some spirit stones and ink, but the ink was all of the metal attribute, suitable only for drawing metal-based arrays. It couldn't be used for other types.
The Iron Armor Array, with its mere six patterns, was only useful for intermediate-stage array cultivators. Basically, only novice demon hunters used it.
For someone like Mo Shan, at the late-stage of Qi Refinement, it was useless. Even with the Iron Armor Array, rattan armor would be as flimsy as paper against a peak first-grade demon beast. It offered little extra protection.
However, most demon hunters were at the intermediate stage of Qi Refinement, and every year, new cultivators joined their ranks. These demon hunters were the ones who needed the Iron Armor Array the most.
Although the array's strength might only buy them an extra moment against a demon beast's attack, that moment could mean the difference between a light and severe injury, or even life and death.
Mo Hua wanted to draw more Iron Armor Arrays so that young demon hunters like Da Hu would suffer fewer injuries.
For ordinary solitary cultivators, a light injury was bearable, but a severe one made survival difficult. And if they perished, it would be a disaster for their entire family.
Among the demon hunters of Tongxian City, those acquainted with Mo Shan were a minority. Most demon hunters wouldn't go out of their way to request an array formation because formations were difficult to draw, and array masters were hard to come by and expensive. So, the number of hunters seeking Mo Hua's services wasn't particularly high.
One day, after Mo Hua had finished dinner and was browsing through an array manual in his room, he heard someone arrive. Mo Shan was unusually enthusiastic in welcoming the guest, and Mo Hua couldn't help but wonder who it was.
Mo Shan was usually straightforward and had many friends, but Mo Hua had never seen him act so warmly before.
After a while, Mo Shan called out to Mo Hua and asked him to come and greet the guest.
Mo Hua lifted the door curtain and saw a hunter with an exceptionally long beard and advanced years. The elder was sitting upright and solemn in the center, wearing the typical demon hunter's attire. His expression was stern, commanding respect without anger. He didn't seem like an easy person to get along with.
Mo Shan said, "This is Elder Yu. Hua'er, greet Elder Yu."
Elder Yu? An elder of the Demon Hunter's Hall?
Mo Hua politely greeted him and then realized that this Elder Yu had a profound aura. A subtle oppressive force emanated from his body, and when Mo Hua tried to observe him with his spiritual sense, he found that he couldn't penetrate it; he could only vaguely sense a person sitting there.
As Mo Hua probed with his spiritual sense, a gleam flashed in Elder Yu's eyes as he glanced at him.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator! And not an ordinary one at that!
His spiritual sense alone far surpassed Mo Hua's!
Mo Shan patted Mo Hua's head and said, "Hua'er, Elder Yu is looking for you regarding something. Chat with him. I'll go help your mother with the cleanup."
"What could Elder Yu want with me?" Mo Hua wondered.
He was perplexed but nodded anyway.
After Mo Shan left, Elder Yu got straight to the point. "I heard from Mo Shan that you can draw the Iron Armor Array?"
Elder Yu nodded slightly. "In that case, good. I have a matter I wish to discuss with you."
"Please, Elder, speak."
Elder Yu secretly nodded to himself. He had heard about Mo Shan's son, that at such a young age, he was already an array master, but he hadn't believed it, thinking it was too far-fetched.
However, when more people started saying the same thing, he began to believe it, but deep down, he felt that someone so young and talented would surely be proud and arrogant, especially an array master. In his experience, array masters were all haughty, regardless of their actual skill; their tempers were worse than the last.
Initially, he hadn't held a favorable impression of Mo Hua, but now, seeing how handsome and polite the boy was, his expression softened.
"I intend to ask for your help in drawing a batch of arrays, all Iron Armor Arrays, to be inscribed on rattan armor. During the Demon Hunting Ceremony, we can give a set to each of the young demon hunters. That way, when they venture into the mountains to hunt demons, they will have some protection."
Mo Hua's eyes lit up with realization. In a while, it would be time for the Demon Hunting Ceremony, where a new batch of young cultivators would become demon hunters.
As an elder of the Demon Hunting Hall, Elder Yu was responsible for maintaining the rules and protecting the demon hunters, especially the young and inexperienced ones who had yet to witness the true ferocity of demon beasts. These newcomers needed protection, and in two to three decades, they could become the backbone of the demon hunters.
"How many sets do you need?"
"About a hundred sets," Elder Yu replied.
"A hundred sets..."
Mo Hua was taken aback. This would keep him busy for a good while.
"Is that possible?" Elder Yu asked tentatively.
Mo Hua hesitated, "Elder, when do you need these arrays by?"
Elder Yu thought for a moment. "Before the Demon Hunting Festival. We should have about three months."
Three months would be more than enough time. Mo Hua nodded, "That's doable."
Elder Yu breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Mo Hua's low cultivation level, he had been worried that the boy's limited spiritual sense and concentration wouldn't be sufficient to complete so many arrays in time.
But now, seeing Mo Hua's confident demeanor, he didn't seem to be lying, and Elder Yu felt somewhat relieved.
Even if he couldn't finish all of them, completing seventy to eighty percent would still be good.
Elder Yu hesitated for a moment, thinking to himself before speaking, "I heard from Mo Shan that you charge five spirit stones per Iron Armor Array when drawing arrays for others. Those cultivators are friends with your father, so you charge them less out of goodwill. But for these hundred arrays, we won't mention those friendships. I can offer eight spirit stones per array as payment. What do you think?"
Eight spirit stones weren't considered a lot for an array master. Their spiritual sense was limited, and the number of arrays they could draw in a day was restricted, so naturally, they hoped for a higher price for their work.
Normally, this price wouldn't be enough to hire an array master.
However, this was already Elder Yu's limit. The Demon Hunting Hall had a large family, but they were all impoverished solitary cultivators. Everything depended on him, and everything required spirit stones. These eight spirit stones were the highest price he could offer.
"Eight spirit stones per array..." Mo Hua furrowed his brows.
Elder Yu saw Mo Hua's expression but kept his own face neutral, though his heart sank a little.
Array masters were indeed difficult to deal with.
Elder Yu sighed inwardly.
(End of Chapter)
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