Chapter 413: A Decisive Choice
Chapter 413: A Decisive Choice
Yaren chatted casually about the gossip of Nanyue City as he led Moxie through the cave mansion, introducing its features.
Moxie, meanwhile, studied the exterior layout of the cave and committed Mr. Zhuang's words to memory.
"Observe the spiritual energy, the orientation, the array, and the five phases..."
With the unification of the Dao Court, the cultivation world had flourished for over 20,000 years, producing countless cultivators. Yet, the spiritual energy of the heavens and the earth had gradually thinned.
Nowadays, the natural spiritual energy in the world was insufficient to support cultivators in their practice.
However, spiritual energy still existed between heaven and earth.
It was just that this energy was either too sparse, too impure, or too polluted to be absorbed and refined by cultivators.
Moxie pondered silently:
"What exactly did Master want me to observe about the spiritual energy?"
"And what's so interesting about spiritual energy anyway?"
Moxie released his spiritual sense, examining the misty and lingering spiritual energy that permeated the cave mansion. After a moment, he gradually understood, and a realization dawned on him.
What Master Zhuang wanted him to observe was not the spiritual energy itself but its flow.
When spiritual energy flowed smoothly, it indicated a conducive environment for habitation.
While the wind might not always blow, the flow of spiritual power was constant.
It was just that this flow was extremely subtle and required patience to perceive and a discerning eye to distinguish.
The orientation was also easy to understand.
The four cardinal directions—east, south, west, and north—and the four intermediate directions—northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest.
The placement and orientation of the cave mansion within the layout of the entire immortal city were carefully considered.
As for the array, that went without saying.
Moxie was a first-rate array master and a primary array master who had overseen the construction of the Five Elements First-Rate Demon-Slaying Grand Array and the Divine Sense Twelve Patterns. He had also learned the Ultimate Array, which surpassed the first-rate level.
For the current Moxie, understanding arrays was the simplest task.
Especially arrays at the First-Rate Refining Qi realm.
This Nanyue City was only a second-rate immortal city, with the highest cultivation base being at the Foundation Establishment stage, and array masters reaching only the first-rate level.
The arrays applied in this cave mansion were mostly first-rate as well, and even first-rate nine-pattern arrays were rare, with most being simple six or seven-pattern arrays.
Moxie could see through these arrays at a glance, without needing to derive their principles.
To him now, six or seven-pattern arrays were no different from basic array patterns.
Lastly, there was the matter of the five phases...
Moxie recalled the principles of the five phases of generation and overcoming when he had created the array map for the Refining Sect.
In Daoist architecture, different rooms and arrays were all governed by the principles of the five phases of generation and overcoming.
How to utilize the metal phase generating water to store water sources, water generating wood to nourish plants, and earth generating metal to reinforce houses...
As Moxie observed, calculated, and muttered to himself, Yaren glanced at him in surprise.
This young cultivator didn't seem like an amateur.
Moreover, he seemed extremely familiar with the arrays in the cave mansion...
He seemed to have a solid foundation in arrays.
Could he be the apprentice of a grand array master, here to select a cave mansion on his master's behalf?
Yaren's spirits lifted, and his smile became even more sincere.
An array master...
Even if he couldn't curry favor with them, he must not offend them.
...
Yaren was very enthusiastic, taking Moxie and the others to see all the cave mansions in Yaxing.
After touring the premises, Moxie carefully considered and initially shortlisted three cave mansions. He then asked Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi for their opinions:
"What do you think?"
Bai Zixi didn't say anything.
Bai Zisheng, however, was not satisfied.
"They're not grand enough, not impressive enough, there aren't enough rooms, and the facilities for pill refining and artifact forging are too simple."
Moxie glanced at him, "Do you want to choose instead?"
Bai Zisheng thought about it and then backed down:
"Never mind, Master told you to choose, so you choose."
He had no interest in things like spiritual energy, layout, arrays, and the five phases. They just gave him a headache.
If Moxie chose poorly, Master wouldn't punish him.
But if he, Bai Zisheng, made a mistake, he might be punished—perhaps by being made to copy texts or draw arrays hundreds of times...
Bai Zisheng glanced at Moxie again, wondering to himself:
"Could Moxie be Master's relative? Otherwise, why would Master treat him so well?"
But then he dismissed the idea:
"Impossible. Master's relative wouldn't have such a poor spiritual root like Moxie's!"
Moxie frowned, "Are you badmouthing me again?"
"I didn't say anything!"
"You were thinking it."
Bai Zisheng opened his mouth, "Moxie, have you become a spirit? Can you read people's minds now?"
Moxie humphed softly but didn't answer.
Ever since his spiritual sense had strengthened and he had learned derivation, he had gained a vague sense of certain things.
Of course, the fact that he knew what Bai Zisheng was thinking was mainly because he knew him too well.
Bai Zisheng was cautious around strangers, but with familiar people, especially his junior martial brother whom he lived with day and night, his thoughts were written all over his face.
Bai Zisheng asked about the matter at hand: "So, which cave mansion will we choose?"
Moxie replied, "I've considered Master's criteria of spiritual energy, layout, arrays, and the five phases, and these three options are all quite similar. Choose whichever you like."
Bai Zisheng scratched his head.
He didn't think any of them were particularly good, but if he had to choose, they were all about the same.
Moxie looked at Bai Zixi, "Little Martial Sister, which one do you like?"
Bai Zisheng also looked at his sister.
Bai Zixi thought for a moment, then lightly pointed with her slender finger, "This one."
Moxie glanced at the map. This cave mansion didn't seem particularly special, except that there was a pond in the courtyard, with a lawn beside it, and a large tree growing on the lawn.
Although the layout was different, it resembled the mountain residence in Tongxian City's South Mountain, where they had studied under Master Zhuang.
Especially the large tree in the courtyard.
So, Moxie nodded, "Then it's settled."
Moxie presented the map of the cave mansion to Master Zhuang.
Ya Ren was taken aback by their decision. He hadn't expected that Mo Xie and his companions would actually want to rent the place. "Are you sure you want to rent it?" he asked again for confirmation.
Before Mo Xie could respond, Bai Zixi's crisp voice piped up from the side, "We're not renting."
Not only was Ya Ren stunned, but Mo Xie was also taken aback.
Bai Zixi said calmly, "We'll buy it."
Mo Xie whispered, "Master Sister, buying it will require a lot of spirit stones..."
Bai Zixi shook her head. "Not that many." She gently patted the golden silk brocade pouch embroidered with a phoenix pattern at her waist and whispered to Mo Xie, "Before we left, Snow Aunt gave me all the spirit stones..."
Then, anticipating Mo Xie's concern, she added, "A lot, a lot of them..."
Mo Xie was astonished.
His little master sister turned out to be a little rich girl...
Soon, however, he became puzzled. "Can this small pouch hold that many spirit stones?"
Bai Zixi nodded. "It can."
Mo Xie understood.
This pouch must be an extraordinary spiritual artifact. Ordinary storage pouches used by solitary cultivators had limited space and couldn't hold too many items. For larger objects, one would need to use a storage box.
But Mo Xie knew that some storage artifacts had enormous interiors and were, of course, extremely precious. At least, he couldn't afford them.
Mo Xie looked at the golden silk phoenix-patterned pouch again, curious about how many items it could hold. But he didn't dare to rummage through his little master sister's pouch.
On the other hand, Ya Ren was overjoyed by their words.
He had expected them to rent, but now they wanted to buy.
A big deal had turned into an even bigger one.
Ya Ren immediately smiled and said, "This cave mansion is originally priced at 40,000 spirit stones. If you friends want to buy it, our agency can offer you a discounted price of 38,000 spirit stones!"
Bai Zixi was about to nod in agreement when Mo Xie angrily interrupted, "Hold on!"
Thirty-eight thousand spirit stones?! That's ridiculous! A solitary cultivator building their foundation would typically spend around 10,000 spirit stones.
For a solitary cultivator to save up that amount, they would have to go without food or drink for thirty years or more.
How could a solitary cultivator possibly go without food or drink?
And how could they possibly have a smooth journey without any setbacks? If they encountered unforeseen circumstances and urgently needed spirit stones, they would most likely end up in a deficit. They might not even be able to scrape together a hundred spirit stones, let alone 10,000.
And they were asking for 35,000 spirit stones for this cave mansion?
Would he have to go without food or drink for a hundred years to save up?
Why was this measly cave mansion so expensive?
Mo Xie frowned, feeling indignant.
Ya Ren spread his hands helplessly. "That's just how the market is. We can't do anything about it..."
He went on to talk about the Dao Court, families, and land, implying that the high price of the cave mansions wasn't their fault. "The market has been like this for the past few years..."
Seeing that they truly had their difficulties, Mo Xie relented a little. "Then give us a discount."
Even though he wasn't the one paying, his little master sister's spirit stones were still spirit stones. He felt a pinch for her having to spend over 30,000 spirit stones.
"I can't give you a discount..." Ya Ren looked troubled. "Little brother, you have a good eye. The cave mansion you picked may look ordinary, but it's an excellent choice with a harmonious environment and smooth flow of spiritual energy..."
Mo Xie narrowed his eyes slightly. "The array formations of this cave mansion aren't good."
Ya Ren was taken aback, a hint of displeasure flashing across his face. "How can the array formations here be bad? Just the array formations alone, with their balance of the five phases, are both offensive and defensive. They can ward off thieves and enemies, promote air circulation, and enhance spiritual energy. Moreover, these array formations are all genuine first-rate ones, personally drawn by a master array master, and they're practically brand new..."
Ya Ren was a smooth talker, extolling the virtues of the cave mansion.
Mo Xie pointed to a spot on the ground. "The array formation here is broken."
Ya Ren was stunned. "Broken...?"
Mo Xie nodded. "The second array pattern of the Earth Stone Array is damaged..."
Mo Xie walked forward a few steps and then looked up. "The array formation here is drawn incorrectly."
"The fourth array pattern of the Bright Lamp Array, the fifth stroke is wrong..."
Ya Ren's mouth hung open in shock.
Mo Xie turned and looked at the courtyard. "There used to be four sets of array formations here, but they're no longer effective, and no one has maintained them. You might not even be aware of it..."
"Also, the array formation here is wrong..."
"The array formation here isn't wrong, but it's made with inferior spirit ink. It will become ineffective in two months."
"And here, the array formations conflict with each other..."
"What is this supposed to be..."
"Here..."
...
Ya Ren was completely dumbfounded.
Who exactly was this young cultivator? He hadn't even shown the cave mansion's array map to them...
Array formations were confidential, and the maps were sealed away. They couldn't be revealed until the transaction was finalized.
But how could this young cultivator see through the flaws in the cave mansion's array formations at a glance and list them so clearly, as if he knew them like the back of his hand?
Whether a cave mansion was aesthetically pleasing or comfortable to live in was a matter of subjective opinion. One person's view might differ from another's.
But the quality of array formations was an objective fact; they couldn't be used to deceive people.
And now, this young cultivator had seen through them so clearly and distinctly...
Ya Ren was dispirited, cold sweat trickling down his back.
After Mo Xie had pointed out most of the flaws, his eyes flashed, and he seized the opportunity to drive a hard bargain:
"Twenty thousand spirit stones!"
It was a bold offer, slashing the price by almost half.
Ya Ren shuddered, nearly losing his balance...
(End of Chapter)
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