Chapter 33: Refining
Chapter 33: Refining
The next day, Mo Hua did not practice the Molten Fire Array but instead went to Chen's Refining Shop with a Spirit Stone to find Master Chen.
Master Chen was surprised to see Mo Hua, and even more so when he heard that he intended to refine a stove.
"You really want to refine a stove?"
"Of course. But I'm only making a small one, about four feet tall. It doesn't need to be made of expensive materials, just something sturdy and durable."
Master Chen nodded, "In that case, if you were making a large stove, I might not have enough manpower here. This one seems to be for home use, and since we're neighbors, I'll pick out some affordable and useful materials for you. I guarantee it will be cost-effective and durable."
Mo Hua happily said, "Thank you, Master Chen!"
"However," Master Chen looked at Mo Hua and glanced behind him, hesitating, "Where are your parents? Refining a stove is not a small matter. It would be best to have an adult make the decision."
Mo Hua patted his chest and said, "My father said he trusts me to handle it, Master Chen. You can discuss everything with me."
Master Chen looked at the young Mo Hua and nodded, "Indeed, the children of the poor learn to be responsible early on."
After saying this, he frowned and hesitated again before continuing, "Have you brought the deposit? The materials for the stove will cost one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones, and it will take twenty days to refine it. The refining fee is one hundred Spirit Stones, and we charge five Spirit Stones per day. The deposit is for the materials, so you'll need to pay one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones upfront, and you can settle the refining fee after it's completed."
"Mmm, I have it with me," Mo Hua replied.
He took out a heavy storage bag from his pocket and opened it to reveal a collection of translucent Spirit Stones.
This amount of Spirit Stones would be considered a small fortune for an ordinary loose cultivator family, yet this child had carried it all with him...
With a complex expression, Master Chen took the storage bag, counted exactly one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones, and then took out a Spirit Pledge. He wrote down the details of the stove's materials, costs, and delivery date.
The Spirit Pledge was a recognized contract in the cultivation world. Each Spirit Pledge was unique and difficult to destroy or forge, serving as proof of transactions involving Spirit Stones and goods among cultivators. In case of disputes, one could seek mediation from authoritative cultivators or the Court of the Dao.
There were two copies of the Spirit Pledge. Master Chen signed both copies, then handed one over to Mo Hua.
Mo Hua signed his name as well, and each of them kept a copy as proof of the refining agreement.
Master Chen had originally wanted Mo Hua to sign his father's name, but he thought better of it and decided not to say anything. After all, if his parents had entrusted him with this responsibility, his signature would be just as valid.
Under the heavens, all beings are equal. Regardless of cultivation level or age, a signature on a Spirit Pledge held weight.
"Mo Hua..." Master Chen noticed the elegant and handsome handwriting on the Spirit Pledge and realized that the child's name was indeed Mo Hua. He glanced at his appearance—his lips red, teeth white, and features as exquisite as a painting—and found that it suited his name quite well.
Moreover, with this substantial business deal, he wouldn't have to worry about making a living for more than half a month, and he found himself liking Mo Hua more and more.
"Little brother, now that the Spirit Pledge is signed, we'll start refining the stove tomorrow. Rest assured that we'll work hard to deliver it on time. If you have time, you're welcome to come and check on the progress, or even learn about refining. Usually, I don't allow outsiders to watch, but I'm making an exception for you."
"Great! Thank you, Master Chen!"
Mo Hua was quite interested in refining, even though he might never be able to refine a spiritual artifact in his lifetime. Nevertheless, he could always learn more about the practical art of refining, which was not something his sect would teach.
In the following days, Mo Hua continued to practice the Molten Fire Array as usual, and whenever he had free time, he would visit the refining shop to check on the stove's progress and ask about refining-related knowledge.
Master Chen was generous with his knowledge and answered all of Mo Hua's questions. After a few days of interaction, he was surprised by Mo Hua's exceptional comprehension abilities but lamented his poor talent for cultivation.
He had seen children with weak constitutions before, but rarely any as frail as Mo Hua, who struggled to even swing the refining hammer.
Otherwise, Master Chen would have considered taking Mo Hua on as his disciple.
Mo Hua spent several days observing the refining process. He wanted to learn the basics of refining and also to calibrate his brushstrokes and dimensions for the Molten Fire Array.
Usually, he practiced the array by drawing it on paper, which allowed him to practice freely without worrying about mistakes since he could always get a new sheet of paper.
However, this time, he would be drawing the array on a stove, and a mistake would be costly...
Therefore, Mo Hua wanted to familiarize himself with the structure of the stove and regularly check on its progress at the refining shop.
One morning, after drinking the porridge made by his mother, Mo Hua practiced the array for a while. Before the sun grew too hot, he slowly made his way to Chen's Refining Shop.
Upon arriving, he noticed that the usually bustling shop was unusually quiet. There were no loud hawker cries or the familiar "clang clang" of metalworking.
Mo Hua walked to the backyard and saw Master Chen and his apprentices tidying up. The refining furnace was extinguished, its lid open, and on the ground were ashes from the cleanup.
"Master Chen, what happened?" Mo Hua asked.
Master Chen saw Mo Hua and apologized, "I'm sorry, little brother. Our refining furnace broke down, so I'm afraid there will be a delay with your stove."
"The refining furnace is broken?"
Master Chen looked dejected, "This refining furnace is quite old, and while it had some minor issues before, we could still use it after some repairs. But today, it just wouldn't light up no matter what we tried. Sigh..."
"Can't it be fixed?" Mo Hua asked.
Master Chen shook his head, "Previously, it was just external components that needed fixing, and I could manage those repairs. But now, I believe there's a problem with the internal array, and there's nothing I can do about it. We'll have to ask for help from other refiners, and if we need to invite an array master to fix the array, that will cost quite a few Spirit Stones..."
At the mention of "array," Mo Hua's eyes lit up, "Can I take a look?"
Master Chen was taken aback, "Look at what?"
"I want to take a look at the array," Mo Hua clarified.
"Why do you want to see the array? Do you understand arrays?" Master Chen asked, puzzled.
"I've learned a bit about arrays from my teacher at the sect," Mo Hua explained. "I thought I might be able to help in some way, or at least confirm if there's an issue with the array."
Master Chen was skeptical but also curious. After all, the refining furnace was already broken, so there was no harm in letting Mo Hua take a look. "Alright, then. We'll disassemble the refining furnace completely so you can see the array inside."
With that, he and his apprentices began the meticulous process of taking the refining furnace apart piece by piece.
The refining furnace stood as tall as two men and was made of various refined iron alloys, making it incredibly heavy. Fortunately, the apprentices all had good physical cultivation talents, and with their combined strength and coordination, the task was manageable.
Mo Hua was well aware of his limitations and didn't even consider offering to help.
Once the refining furnace was disassembled, they could see the intricate array patterns engraved inside. The array lines were a dark red, partially obscured by soot, but still discernible. It was indeed a complete fire-attribute array—the Molten Fire Array that Mo Hua had been practicing but had not yet mastered.
(End of Chapter)
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