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Chapter 196: The Massive Furnace
Chapter 196: The Massive Furnace
After mastering the First-Rank Melting Fire Array, the next step was to inscribe it onto a furnace for smithing artifacts.
The next day, Elder Yu informed Mo Hua that the furnace had arrived.
A towering, several-zhang-tall furnace stood proudly in the courtyard.
Its style was ancient and rustic, standing on three sturdy legs, with a lid like an eave, and a belly as large as a basin. It was adorned with cloud patterns and forged from fine iron, radiating a deep, dark gray sheen.
Mo Hua, who was already small for his age at around ten years old, looked even tinier standing in front of the massive furnace.
Not only was Mo Hua astonished, but even Master Chen beside him was awe-struck.
He circled the furnace, examining it from all angles, wanting to reach out and touch it but not daring to. It was as if the furnace were a phantom of his imagination, and one touch would make it vanish.
In his entire life, he had never seen such a gigantic furnace.
During his younger days as a student, he had only borrowed other people's furnaces—small, rudimentary, and lacking in firepower. It would take half a day just to heat up a piece of iron. It was a tedious and exhausting process, and the results were rarely satisfactory.
Later, as an assistant to a smith, he had toiled day and night, saving up spirit stones for a long time before he could afford his own furnace. With that furnace, he had finally earned the qualification to open his own artifact-forging business.
His furnace wasn't large, and neither was his shop, but he was content.
There were countless artifact smiths who went through life without ever owning a furnace, let alone running their own business.
He had also apprenticed at larger artifact-forging shops and witnessed true First-Rank furnaces. The enormous furnaces and the blazing flames within had filled him with envy.
But those belonged to others and had nothing to do with him. He could only look on, and he knew that he might never get the chance to use a First-Rank furnace to forge a spiritual artifact in his lifetime.
Yet now, a brand-new and pristine furnace stood before him.
This was a genuine First-Rank furnace, and it was even larger than any he had seen before.
And he would be able to use this furnace to forge spiritual artifacts!
Just the thought of it made Master Chen feel as if he were dreaming. He still found it hard to believe.
Elder Yu looked rather pleased with himself. "Well, what do you think? This furnace is big enough, isn't it?"
Mo Hua nodded slowly. "It's... a bit too big, isn't it?"
"Didn't you tell me to get a furnace and that bigger was better?"
"I did say that, but this is a bit too big..." Mo Hua stuck out his tongue, then asked, "Are all First-Rank furnaces this big?"
"No," Elder Yu replied. "This one is exceptionally large, which is why it didn't sell."
Mo Hua blinked in surprise. "It didn't sell?"
"Yes, too big and impractical. It didn't sell." Elder Yu eyed the furnace before him. "Usually, the furnaces used by small artifact-forging shops are smaller. Even for medium to large shops, there's no need to use a First-Rank furnace of this size."
"The larger the furnace, the more difficult it is to inscribe the array. It also requires more materials and is costly to make and sell. If we hadn't discovered that spirit mine, we wouldn't have been able to afford it either."
"If it didn't sell, why did they make such a big furnace in the first place?" Mo Hua asked, puzzled.
"How would they know it wouldn't sell if they didn't make it?" Elder Yu patted the furnace. "And now it has sold. We bought it!"
Mo Hua was momentarily at a loss for words.
Elder Yu laughed again. "We even got a bargain. This furnace has been sitting here for years, gathering dust, and no one showed any interest. It gave me a good reason to haggle and drive the price down."
Mo Hua was secretly astonished. If Elder Yu thought the bargain was 'harsh', then the price must have been slashed mercilessly...
"Alright, I've brought the furnace as you requested. The rest is up to you now." Elder Yu patted Mo Hua's small shoulder.
With such a large forge, Mo Hua could attempt to inscribe the First-Rank Melting Fire Array.
However, there were numerous variations of composite arrays that incorporated the First-Rank Melting Fire Array, and the specifications and structures of forges varied greatly. Thus, Mo Hua had to carefully consider which array formation to use, how to construct the composite array, and how to inscribe it onto the forge.
After much consideration, Mo Hua finally settled on an array formation known as the "First-Rank Melting Fire Spirit-Controlling Composite Array." He intended to use this on the large First-Rank forge.
The First-Rank Melting Fire Spirit-Controlling Composite Array was structured around the basic Five Elements Array Pivot, linking two sets of First-Rank Melting Fire Arrays, one Spirit-Gathering Array, one Cold Qi Array, and one Metal and Stone Array.
It consisted of one array pivot and five arrays, including two First-Rank arrays!
This was, by far, the most challenging array Mo Hua had ever attempted, requiring an immense amount of spiritual sense and an astonishing level of spiritual sense strength.
Mo Hua decided that if he could master it, he would inscribe this composite array. If not, he would cut corners and omit one of the First-Rank Melting Fire Arrays, thus significantly reducing the overall difficulty.
This was a compromise, a fallback plan.
If possible, Mo Hua still wanted to give it his best shot and successfully inscribe the entire composite array.
After all, opportunities like this didn't come around often. It was unlikely that someone would spend a hefty sum to purchase such a large First-Rank forge for him to practice array inscription again.
Mo Hua cherished the opportunity to apply his knowledge and improve his array-inscribing skills.
Mo Hua took his time, carefully designing the array based on the forge's specifications, inner wall layout, and the fundamental array formations required for the First-Rank Melting Fire Spirit-Controlling Composite Array.
After reviewing his design and ensuring he hadn't overlooked anything—or at least, anything that he could think of—Mo Hua presented the array diagram to Mister Zhuang.
Mister Zhuang couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, thinking that his disciple's inquiries were becoming more and more outrageous.
He was probably only at the sixth layer of Qi Refining, yet he was seeking guidance on a composite array that incorporated two First-Rank arrays, and he had even adjusted it according to the forge's specifications.
While it wasn't perfect, it considered the basics, and with some adjustments, it could be functional.
Mister Zhuang glanced at the diagram and casually pointed out a few areas. "Consider these spots again. The way you've drawn it will hinder the flow of spiritual energy, resulting in greater consumption of spirit stones during forging."
Mo Hua nodded eagerly.
Spirit stones were hard to come by, so he had to be mindful not to waste them!
"Also, the role of the array pivot here isn't merely to connect the individual arrays to form a composite array, but to control the gathering and dispersion of spirits, regulating the amount of spiritual energy transmitted and thus controlling the heat of the forge. Pay close attention to this when you're inscribing it," Mister Zhuang instructed.
"Yes, Mister," Mo Hua replied.
Mo Hua asked a few more questions, to which Mister Zhuang provided detailed answers.
After Mo Hua had asked all his questions and was about to take his leave, he suddenly thought of another question. Humbly, he asked, "Mister, do I have the qualifications of a First-Rank Array Master now?"
Mister Zhuang gave him a silent look. "Yes."
If you're already inscribing composite arrays with two First-Rank arrays, then there aren't many cultivators in the cultivation world who could claim the title of First-Rank Array Master if you don't.
Mister Zhuang thought to himself.
"Then, do I need to go to the Dao Court for an assessment?" Mo Hua asked.
Mister Zhuang fell silent. After a long contemplation, he said, "Let's not rush it. Rising to fame at a young age isn't necessarily a good thing. You still have much to learn, so take your time and continue to improve."
(End of Chapter)
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