Inquiries About Longevity Chapter 718: Customization - Novel Cool

Chapter 718: Customization

Chapter 718: Customization

"I can't leave the sect with you, but I can help you draw array formations." Mo Hua offered.

Cheng Mo's face lit up with joy, but then he hesitated, "If we use the arrays you draw for us, isn't it the same as us buying and using arrays ourselves?"

"We've used arrays before, but we still couldn't catch that flying thief..."

"Don't worry," Mo Hua reassured, "I'll draw something different this time."

"Since ordinary array mediums are easily detectable by them, we'll use something less common."

"If array mediums won't work, we can always use customized spirit artifacts."

"Custom spirit artifacts?" Cheng Mo was taken aback. "Those are quite troublesome to make. Where would we even go to have them customized?"

"You don't have to worry about that. I'll figure something out," Mo Hua assured, taking charge of the situation.

Cheng Mo's expression turned solemn, and he couldn't help but praise, "Little Junior Brother, you sure have a lot of connections!"

At this point, Mo Hua grew curious and asked Cheng Mo, "Do you usually use customized spirit artifacts?"

Cheng Mo shook his head. "Rarely."

Mo Hua was puzzled.

Cheng Mo tried to explain, but his words didn't come out clearly. He hadn't given much thought to the intricacies of the artifact refining industry, let alone the concept of customization.

All he knew was swinging his axe wildly, sometimes without even paying attention to the type of axe he was wielding...

As Cheng Mo struggled with his explanation, his gaze fell on Situ Jian, who had just finished his chores and was now entering the dining hall from a distance.

Cheng Mo immediately stood up and called out, "Sitai! Over here!"

Situjian approached with a confused look on his face.

Cheng Mo pulled him over and seated him, then turned to Mo Hua, "Little Junior Brother, ask Situ. He's a sword cultivator, and sword cultivators are known for their keen minds and attention to detail. He's also well-versed in artifact refining techniques. Ask him, he'll definitely know."

Mo Hua had no choice but to direct his question to Situ Jian.

As expected, Situ Jian was much more reliable. He pondered for a moment before explaining, "We aristocratic descendants usually have inherited spirit artifacts. My Flame Tiger Sword, Cheng Mo's Mountain Splitter Axe, and Yang Qian Jun's Crushing Army Spear are all inherited artifacts."

"Even Hao Xuan's sword is an ancestral heirloom, but now he prefers using a staff instead..."

"These inherited artifacts are made with rare and precious materials, refined using unique methods, and they complement our respective clan's cultivation techniques and Taoist methods. When fully activated, they are incredibly powerful."

"In a sense, they are also a symbol of our aristocratic status and identity."

"Mhm!"

Cheng Mo nodded vigorously, his face filled with pride.

The pair of Kai Shan Axes he possessed were indeed ancestral artifacts, rare and powerful.

Steward Jian continued with a sigh, "But sometimes, these artifacts can be a bit inconvenient..."

"Inherited artifacts are extremely precious, and even the slightest damage is heartbreaking. Repairing them is also a tedious task."

"Moreover, they consume a tremendous amount of spiritual energy. If your cultivation level is insufficient or your skills are not profound enough, it's challenging to unleash the full power of these inherited artifacts."

"If your cultivation is lacking and you force their activation, your spiritual energy will be quickly depleted."

"In a life-or-death battle, this can be fatal."

"Additionally, the design of inherited artifacts is fixed, and the arrays within them cannot be altered. While they possess formidable power, their functions are limited, making it difficult to adapt to various situations."

"After all, the cultivation world is vast, and cultivators come in all shapes and forms, practicing diverse cultivation techniques and Taoist methods, and wielding a wide range of spirit artifacts."

"If your inherited artifact is countered by an enemy, and you don't have any backup plans, you'll be at a severe disadvantage..."

"So, in my opinion, while it's essential to have inherited artifacts, we shouldn't rely on them too heavily, or they may become a hindrance instead."

Mo Hua nodded slightly.

Situjian's thoughts were indeed much more meticulous than Cheng Mo's, and his understanding of the matter was deeper and more comprehensive.

Even Cheng Mo couldn't help but agree.

"Apart from the inherited artifacts passed down through our families," Situ Jian continued, "ordinary cultivators also tend to have some standard spirit artifacts."

"These standard artifacts are usually mass-produced and commonplace."

"They are inexpensive, so even if they get damaged, it's no big deal. They also come in various types and are quite versatile."

Mo Hua thought to himself that these standard artifacts were also useful for concealing one's identity when conducting illicit activities.

He recalled the black-robed traffickers who used such common artifacts to abduct, kidnap, and murder without leaving any traces behind.

If they had used their own family's inherited artifacts, their identities would have been easily exposed, and their backgrounds would have been quickly uncovered.

"Using standard artifacts for nefarious deeds..." Mo Hua blinked, committing this information to memory.

Unlike Mo Hua, who had mischievous thoughts, Situ Jian continued his explanation earnestly, "While standard artifacts are convenient, the problem is that they tend to be crude."

"From the materials used to the design, craftsmanship, and arrays, they are all of inferior quality, resulting in inconsistent performance."

"Some better standard artifacts can be quite expensive because of high production costs and low volume, leading to inflated prices. As a result, fewer cultivators purchase them."

"Oh..." Mo Hua nodded, then asked, "What about customized spirit artifacts?"

"The biggest issue with customized spirit artifacts is that they are incredibly troublesome to create," Situ Jian replied.

"To refine a customized spirit artifact, you need an array master who is not only experienced and knowledgeable about arrays but also proficient in array calligraphy and well-versed in practical arrays."

"Finding such an array master is extremely difficult."

"Some array masters may be knowledgeable about array theory but lack skill in actually drawing arrays, resulting in clumsy and awkward strokes..."

"Others may be capable of drawing arrays well and have decent calligraphy skills, but they work too slowly, which is also unacceptable."

"There are also array masters with rigid thinking, sticking only to standard patterns without any flexibility..."

"Array masters are already scarce, and when you add these stringent conditions, the number of suitable candidates dwindles even further."

"The ideal array master should have a profound understanding of arrays, be knowledgeable, adaptable, practical, and skilled in both drawing and speed..."

Steward Jian sighed, "Such array masters are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, and it's challenging to secure their services.

Cheng Mo also nodded, but halfway through, he suddenly realized something was amiss and looked at Situ Jian suspiciously. "I feel like you're beating around the bush and flattering Mo Hua."

The more Cheng Mo thought about it, the more he agreed with his own assessment.

You, Situ Jian, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes! So, you're also this kind of person!

Situ Jian glanced at Cheng Mo, "I'm just speaking the truth. Don't lump me together with you."

Cheng Mo proudly declared, "When I flatter someone, I never beat around the bush!"

Mo Hua couldn't help but feel a little helpless and asked Situ Jian, "Then what?"

Situ Jian was interrupted by Cheng Mo and lost his train of thought. After a moment's thought, he continued, "Apart from formation masters, there are also artificers."

"Artificers need to be skilled and experienced in their craft, with flexible thinking, but not too unconstrained. They must still adhere to the standard norms..."

"Custom spirit artifacts don't have fixed templates, but they must follow certain rules."

"Additionally, there are various aspects to consider within the cultivation industry, such as furnaces, materials, and processes."

"It's just very troublesome..."

Situ Jian sighed, "In our Situ family, we once invited some formation masters to collaborate with our clan's artificers to forge a batch of specially designed piercing spirit swords."

"But the formation masters looked down on the artificers as coarse, and the artificers found the formation masters haughty and arrogant. Neither side saw eye to eye."

"When it came to the actual forging, the artificers felt that the formation masters' formations were inadequate and incompatible with the spirit artifacts."

"The formation masters believed that formations were supreme and unalterable. If changed, the effectiveness of the formation would be weakened. They insisted that the problem lay with the spirit artifact, and it was up to the artificers to find a solution."

"This back and forth bickering led to multiple changes in the process, wasting a significant amount of forging materials and formation spirit ink."

Situ Jian smiled bitterly, "In the end, we spent a fortune, but most of the spirit swords that were forged were defective, and only a handful were usable..."

Mo Hua was also astonished by this revelation.

He had expected complications, but not to this extent...

Seeing Mo Hua's reaction, Situ Jian asked, "Little Senior Brother, do you want to forge custom spirit artifacts?"

Mo Hua didn't hide it and nodded, "Yes, I want to try, starting with something simple."

"Then there's the artificer, the furnace, and the artificer's guild..."

"I have some connections."

Situ Jian was surprised, and like Cheng Mo, he felt that his "Little Senior Brother" had a wide network and unconventional means.

"But there's one problem," Mo Hua said, "Forging these things may take quite some time, and you might not be able to use them to catch the flying thief during the next break."

In two days, it would be the next break.

Cheng Mo and the others would definitely go out to catch the flying thief.

There was no way they could make it in time.

Only then did Situ Jian understand why Mo Hua had suddenly brought up the topic of custom spirit artifacts.

Indeed, this was a problem.

Mo Hua pondered for a moment and suggested, "How about this, during the next break, you guys go as planned. If you manage to catch him, great. If not, let him go for now, and during the following break, I'll prepare some formation media and spirit artifacts for you to take along."

"Alright." Cheng Mo nodded and then proudly declared, "As long as we can catch that damn flying thief, I'll pay double the cost of the formations and spirit artifacts!

After a brief pause, Cheng Mo added, "In spirit stones, of course..."

"Deal!"

Mo Hua smiled, his eyes narrowing.

Afterward, Mo Hua wrote a letter and had someone deliver it to Gu City, explaining the situation to Master Gu in advance.

During the break, Mo Hua paid another visit to Gu City.

Master Gu was already waiting for him.

As always, Master Gu's expression was calm and composed, but his eyes held a hint of anticipation.

The two found a teahouse in the city and sat down.

Mo Hua handed over several special formation charts to Master Gu.

These charts not only included the layout of the formations but also incorporated diagrams for forging, creating a fusion of formations and blacksmithing.

"Master Gu, I'd like to ask you to forge a few things for me..."

"These are two simple spirit artifacts, one a stone needle and the other a silver needle, along with two types of special formation plates..."

Mo Hua unfolded the forging formation charts and explained each one to Master Gu.

After Mo Hua finished speaking, Master Gu carefully examined the charts and asked a few cautious questions.

He inquired about the materials to be used and the dimensions of the artifacts.

Some of the artifact designs, while compatible with the formations, were quite intricate and would increase the cost.

Mo Hua answered each question thoughtfully.

Regarding some of the forging processes and structural issues, Mo Hua only needed a moment's thought before making adjustments on the spot.

This discussion lasted for over an hour before the forging formation charts were preliminarily finalized.

Although they were only preliminary, because the formation media and spirit artifacts themselves were not complex, they were essentially ready for production.

Once they returned, they could start forging a batch to see the results.

After they finished their discussion, Mo Hua said, "Master Gu, please calculate the total cost, including the materials and labor."

Master Gu hesitated for a moment and then smiled, "Although these are custom-made, they are low-cost spirit artifacts with simple processes. They aren't worth much, so there's no need for Young Master Mo to be so polite."

Mo Hua shook his head, "These aren't for me."

Master Gu was slightly taken aback.

Mo Hua smiled, "They're for my fellow sect members. They don't lack spirit stones, so there's no need to save on costs."

Master Gu's eyes flickered as he gradually understood, and he nodded, "Alright."

Mo Hua smiled back.

Life was already tough for artificers in Gu City.

Although Master Gu had achieved the Golden Core stage, managing such a large artificer's guild with numerous disciples under his wing didn't leave him with much financial leeway.

Therefore, Mo Hua wanted to start with custom spirit artifacts.

This way, he could not only help Cheng Mo and his fellow sect members capture the rogue cultivator and earn merit, but he could also improve the business of Master Gu's artificer's guild.

For now, he had to start small and take it one step at a time.

After finishing his explanation about custom spirit artifacts, Mo Hua stood up and bid his farewell.

Master Gu saw him out personally, seeing off Mo Hua's carriage with his eyes, and only then did the huge rock in his heart slowly settle.

This young master truly was a "noble one."

Perhaps the loose cultivators of Solitary Mountain City would be able to live peacefully and comfortably in the near future...

Master Gu looked at the array formation charts in his hands once more, his eyes shining with appreciation.

At first glance, these charts seemed to contain only a few simple spirit artifacts.

But this was an important beginning...

...

Before the ten-day break was over, Mo Hua returned to the sect, awaiting news from Cheng Mo and the others about their pursuit of the flying thief.

If they hadn't caught him, then during the next break, the custom spirit artifacts that Master Gu helped refine could be put to use.

If Cheng Mo and his group had already caught the thief, that would be fine too.

Successfully apprehending the rogue cultivator was a good thing regardless.

These spirit artifacts would definitely be useful in the future, so there was no rush.

One evening, Cheng Mo and his group returned, their heads hanging low.

Mo Hua didn't need to ask; just from their expressions, he knew they had failed.

"That bastard!" Cheng Mo exclaimed.

"We almost had him after watching him for a whole day and night, but his wind-type movement technique was too fast. He managed to escape from the crowd once again."

"There was no trace of him when we went after him..."

Cheng Mo sat next to Mo Hua, eating his spirit meal and complaining, his eyes then turning to Mo Hua expectantly.

According to custom, they should give up at this point.

It was pointless to keep wasting time like this.

Not only was it a waste of time, but they also weren't earning any merit.

However, the more Cheng Mo thought about it, the angrier he became, especially when he recalled the contemptuous look the flying thief had given them as he escaped.

Mo Hua nodded and said, "I've already asked Master Gu to help refine them, and they should be ready before the next break."

Cheng Mo was overjoyed.

Seven days later, Master Gu sent someone to deliver a storage bag to the Great Void Sect, which was given to Mo Hua.

Inside the bag were two types of spirit artifacts and two types of formation plates.

Mo Hua took the time to draw the array formations on them before handing them over to Cheng Mo and explaining: "That flying thief is experienced and has probably been caught in many arrays set up by others. Therefore, we can't use ordinary formation plates or conspicuous array flags. We need to use more covert means..."

"There are two types of spirit artifacts here, stone needles, and silver needles."

"They have array formations engraved on them using micro-carving techniques."

"The stone needles are for reconnaissance. The array formation on them is a Minor Magnetic Array. Stick them into the ground, toss them into gravel, or nail them into rocks, and they won't be easily noticed."

"The silver needles are for tracking. They have the Mother-Child Compass Array on them. When the thief least expects it, stab the needle into his body, be it flesh, clothing, or hair. Then use a compass to locate him, and he won't be able to escape even if he grows wings."

"Next are the two types of formation plates."

"Since we're dealing with large-scale Quicksand and Wood Binding Arrays, we can't do without formation plates."

"However, these formation plates are specially refined, choosing only refining materials that are compatible with soil, so while they may not be durable, they are also inconspicuous when buried underground and won't be easily sensed."

After that, Mo Hua explained the commonly used methods of the demon hunters for setting up arrays and traps.

"Do you understand?"

Cheng Mo nodded, and then shook his head.

He was only suited for swinging his axe; he couldn't do something that required so much brainpower.

On the other hand, Hao Xuan listened intently, his face serious as he remembered everything clearly.

Mo Hua then reminded them of a few more things to pay attention to.

A few days later, during the ten-day break, Cheng Mo and his group set off again.

Mo Hua stayed in the sect this time, cultivating his painting of array formations and awaiting news from Cheng Mo.

Two days later, Cheng Mo and his group returned, their faces relaxed and carefree. Cheng Mo, in particular, held his head high, his chest puffed out, looking proud and triumphant.

"We set up stone needles with the Minor Magnetic Array in the mountains, so we were aware of any movement."

"That flying thief was no exception."

"As soon as he showed his face, we caught him."

"But he's good at movement techniques and fast, luckily Yang Qian Jun's spear technique is excellent, and he managed to stab him in the back. Si Tu Jian was also quick-witted and immediately stabbed the silver needle into the thief's wound."

"With the silver needle on him, the flying thief was like a fish that had swallowed a hook, no matter how he tried to escape, he was still connected to the line."

"We chased him through the mountains like a cat playing with a mouse."

"Finally, when he was exhausted, we captured him using the arrays we had set up in advance."

"When that dog of a flying thief was caught, he kept asking in disbelief, 'How did you catch me?'"

"I didn't say a word and just punched him..."

Cheng Mo narrated the story vividly, feeling extremely pleased.

After he finished speaking, Cheng Mo offered Mo Hua a large chicken leg and praised, "You truly are amazing, Little Junior Brother!"

Mo Hua took the chicken leg and took a bite, nodding in satisfaction.

From then on, whenever Cheng Mo had a problem, he would come to Mo Hua for advice.

He would also often buy from Mo Hua some stone needles, spirit needles, or formation plates for reconnaissance, tracking, or ambushing.

With these specially made spirit artifacts and array media, apprehending rogue cultivators became twice as effective with half the effort.

One day, Mo Hua was in the dining hall having a meal.

The tall and burly Cheng Mo came over with a disciple, stopping in front of Mo Hua.

Cheng Mo instructed the disciple, "Call him Little Junior Brother."

The disciple respectfully called out, "Little Junior Brother," to Mo Hua.

Mo Hua was stunned.

For a moment, he felt as if he had become the boss of a gang, and the disciple was paying respects to him.

(End of Chapter)

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