Chapter 178: Limitations
Chapter 178: Limitations
After Mo Hua planned out the array formation for the Artifact Refinery, he inspected his work and felt somewhat uneasy.
The basic functions were there, and since they were all separate arrays, they weren't too interconnected. At least, drawing them out like this shouldn't cause any issues.
However, Mo Hua still had his doubts.
The construction of the Artifact Refinery was of utmost importance; it would affect the cultivation and lives of rogue cultivators for the next decade, several decades, or even longer. He couldn't afford to be negligent in the slightest.
Since he wasn't confident in his own abilities, it would be better to seek guidance from Master Zhuang.
Mo Hua went to Zuo Wang Ju and presented his array formation plan to Master Zhuang.
Master Zhuang glanced at the intricate array diagram, his eyelids twitching. Upon seeing that it was simply a basic arrangement of single and compound arrays, independent of each other, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Is there a problem, Master?" Mo Hua asked.
Master Zhuang shook his head slightly. "It's passable."
"Will it work?" Mo Hua inquired further.
"It will suffice," Master Zhuang replied, taking out several diagrams and handing them to Mo Hua. "These are also simple architectural array diagrams. You can refer to them."
Mo Hua eagerly took the diagrams and looked them over.
As he had expected, the arrays on the architectural diagrams mainly consisted of earth and wood-type arrays, with single arrays ranging from five to nine array lines, as well as some first-grade compound arrays. They weren't particularly difficult and were within Mo Hua's capabilities.
However, while these architectural arrays primarily focused on earth and wood, they also incorporated other elemental arrays, and the details varied greatly.
For example, there were arrays that used metal element arrays to solidify earth and stone, water element arrays to nourish the wood, and fire element arrays to provide heating and lighting for the building.
Although the frameworks were similar, the intricacies and nuances of each diagram were worth pondering over.
Mo Hua became engrossed in studying the diagrams, and when he finally snapped out of his trance, he realized that Master Zhuang had already reclined in his chair, comfortably resting with his eyes closed.
Mo Hua scratched his head awkwardly.
Master Zhuang opened his eyes and smiled, asking, "How are they?"
"These array diagrams you gave me seem simple at first glance, but the interplay of various arrays and their interrelationships are quite complex," Mo Hua replied thoughtfully. "There are many intricacies, and I couldn't fully understand them at first glance."
Master Zhuang nodded in agreement. "Indeed, once you start dealing with multiple arrays across different aspects of cultivation, you need to put in effort to consider their planning, coordination, and how they interact with each other. It's impressive that you were able to discern these subtleties on your first try."
Mo Hua smiled happily, but then frowned as another question came to mind. "Master, although these architectural arrays emphasize coordination and interrelationships, they are still independent of each other. If we were to connect these arrays, wouldn't the overall effect of the formation be stronger?"
A meaningful smile played on Master Zhuang's face as he asked, "How do you plan to connect them?"
Mo Hua furrowed his brows in concentration for a moment before tentatively suggesting, "With an array hub?"
"And what would that accomplish?" Master Zhuang prompted further.
Mo Hua tried to visualize it. Connecting single arrays would create compound arrays, and connecting all these single arrays...
"Would it create a large compound array?" Mo Hua ventured, glancing at Master Zhuang.
"You can put it more simply," Master Zhuang said, his gaze filled with deep meaning. "A large compound array is what we call a 'grand array.'"
Grand array!
Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat.
Was this the grand array that countless array masters dreamed of creating?
The most massive, intricate, and powerful category of arrays in the cultivation world?
Mo Hua couldn't help but ask, "Can I create one?"
Master Zhuang extended his slender, pale fingers and gently tapped Mo Hua's head.
However, he still had his concerns and asked in a low voice, "Master, what exactly makes grand arrays so difficult?"
Master Zhuang shook his head slightly, a hint of helplessness in his voice, "The difficulty lies in the array hub."
"The array hub?"
Master Zhuang asked, "Is the array hub of a composite array challenging?"
Mo Hua nodded, "Very difficult."
Master Zhuang replied nonchalantly, "A composite array only links a few single arrays, and even then, the array hub is not easy to master. As for grand arrays, their array hubs connect to hundreds or even thousands of single arrays."
Mo Hua was stunned. Hundreds or thousands? That would require an immense amount of spiritual sense, more than one could possibly have.
Even if one exhausted their spiritual sense and crushed their sea of consciousness to bits, it would still be impossible to squeeze out that amount of spiritual sense...
Master Zhuang continued, "That's why a first-rate grand array is usually not something a first-rate array master can create. Typically, it takes a second-rate array master to learn how to create a first-rate grand array and act as its primary array master."
"Primary array master?" Mo Hua asked, confused.
Master Zhuang explained, "The array master who plans a first-rate grand array and is capable of drawing out its array hub is known as the primary array master."
"Why not just draw it all yourself? Why bother with distinctions like primary and secondary?"
Master Zhuang smiled, "Grand arrays are massive in scale, with innumerable array patterns. You'd exhaust yourself to death trying to do it alone. That's why grand arrays are usually a collaborative effort, with one primary array master planning and personally drawing the array hub, while other array masters work based on the primary master's plan, adding specific single arrays to the array hub structure."
"Oh, I see." Mo Hua finally understood.
Many hands make light work. Given the sheer size of grand arrays, it was only natural that they would require the cooperation of multiple array masters to be constructed.
Such a massive and complex undertaking would undoubtedly be of utmost importance, impacting a clan, a sect, or even an entire city or realm.
No wonder many array masters aspired to create grand arrays throughout their lives.
Then, Mo Hua thought of a crucial question, "Building a grand array must require a lot of spirit stones, right...?"
Master Zhuang pondered for a moment before replying, "While it is a grand array, the scale can vary. A smaller-scale grand array doesn't require an excessive amount."
Mo Hua asked weakly, "How many spirit stones would a smaller-scale one need...?"
A look of amusement crossed Master Zhuang's face as he said, "You have a spiritual mine, don't you? If you use up all the spirit stones from there, you should be able to build a small-scale grand array. Of course, this assumes that the array masters, artisans, and refiners don't charge a fee, and it doesn't include the spirit stones needed to activate the grand array."
Mo Hua was left speechless.
An entire spiritual mine, countless spirit stones, and it would only be enough for a small-scale grand array.
If they were to include the fees for the masters and the spirit stones needed to activate the grand array, it would still fall short...
After all, an array master capable of planning and leading the construction of a first-rate grand array would typically be a second-rate array master, and they certainly wouldn't come cheap.
Thinking of the enormous number of spirit stones required, Mo Hua couldn't help but draw a sharp breath.
Just how wealthy would one need to be to build a first-rate grand array? No wonder there weren't any grand arrays to be seen in all of Tongxian City.
Mo Hua gave up on the idea; even if he knew how to create grand arrays, he didn't have the resources to make it happen.
Nevertheless, his curiosity persisted, "Is it truly impossible for a first-rate array master to be the primary array master of a first-rate grand array?"
"Generally speaking, yes."
"Then what if it's not so general?"
Master Zhuang looked at Mo Hua, his gaze sharpening as he slowly said, "If it's not so general, then all you need to do is surpass the limitations of your spiritual sense."
(End of Chapter)
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