https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-720-The-Array-and-Artifact-System/12543282/
Chapter 719: Xie Ling
Chapter 719: Xie Ling
"Junior Brother, Brother Cheng said you could help me, so I came to ask for your assistance." The disciple spoke politely.
Cheng Mo, standing beside him, puffed out his chest and nodded. "This young man is called Xie Ling, and he's also from Genzhou, like me."
"Although Genzhou is vast, my Cheng family and his Xie family don't really interact much. But since we're from the same state and are both studying in Qianzhou, we're considered fellow countrymen. It's only natural for me to help him out..." Cheng Mo patted Xie Ling's shoulder.
Xie Ling smiled gratefully. He was noticeably shorter than Cheng Mo, looking like a younger brother standing next to him.
Mo Hua asked curiously, "What's the matter?"
Xie Ling explained, "I took on a few bounties to capture a criminal cultivator, but this fugitive cultivator practices high-level fire-based spells that are extremely powerful. None of us are a match for him."
"To defend against fire-based spells, the 'Water Armor Technique' is ideal, but none of us have a water-attributed spirit root, so we can't learn it."
"Even if we did learn it, hastily trying to make up for our shortcomings in a short time won't guarantee that our shallow cultivation of the technique will be enough to protect us."
"We could buy some spiritual artifacts for fire protection, but either the grade isn't good enough, or the quality is lacking, or the fire resistance is inadequate, or they're simply too expensive and not worth it..." Xie Ling frowned, a bit perplexed, as he turned to Mo Hua and asked softly, "Junior Brother, what do you..."
Mo Hua understood and took a sip of the sweet plum juice before slowly nodding. "I see. Come back in three days."
Cheng Mo patted Xie Ling's shoulder again. "Quickly thank Junior Brother."
Xie Ling's face lit up, and he nodded repeatedly. "Thank you, Junior Brother!"
After Xie Ling left, Mo Hua pondered the matter further.
Defending against fire-based spells...
If it were a siege in a formation, one could rely on the array to manipulate water and extinguish the fire or use earth to prevent it.
But for Xie Ling and his companions, who were mainly concerned about being injured by fire-based spells, the best solution would be to use spiritual artifacts for protection.
An idea formed in Mo Hua's mind, and he discussed it with Master Gu.
Master Gu presented Mo Hua with a few options:
"The Jade Water Armor has a higher cost. It can defend against both physical attacks and spell damage, specializing in protecting against fire-based spell burns."
"The Water Armor Robe has a slightly lower cost and is more lightweight. It primarily defends against fire-based spells, but its other defensive capabilities are significantly inferior to the Jade Water Armor."
"After all, one is armor, and the other is a cloth garment."
"These two are the most commonly used and were once forged by our Solitary Mountain Artifact Forge."
"There are also some accessories that are more portable, aesthetically pleasing, and easier to carry. However, such artifacts are only decent for everyday use. In actual combat, they are far less effective at protecting the wearer compared to armor."
"Moreover, these accessories are not cheap. For example, there's the Cold Water Jade, the Fire Protection Pendant, and the Fireward Hairpin..."
Mo Hua was taken aback upon hearing this.
Fireward Hairpin.
He couldn't help but recall the first gift he had bought for his mother with the spirit stones he earned by drawing formation diagrams for his fellow disciples at Tongxian Gate—a subpar fireward hairpin.
Even ordinary wandering cultivators couldn't afford such artifacts.
Mo Hua sighed inwardly, then his thoughts turned to his mother. "I wonder how Mother is doing in Tongxian City. Is she working hard managing the restaurant every day...?"
"Has she been cultivating well? Has she reached the Foundation Establishment stage...?"
Mo Hua's mind wandered for a moment.
"Young Master?" Master Gu gently called out, noticing his distraction.
Mo Hua snapped out of his reverie and smiled. "I suddenly remembered something. Please continue, Master Gu..."
Master Gu nodded and continued, "Forging these artifacts is rather troublesome, and if we're talking about custom-made items, the process becomes even more complex, the cost higher, and the price..."
"It's fine," Mo Hua said. "They have plenty of spirit stones."
Although Xie Ling appeared to be a mere sidekick, his family background as a scion of a prominent family meant that he certainly wasn't lacking in financial resources.
In the entire Tai Xu Gate, there was no one lacking in wealth—except for Mo Hua...
Master Gu was relieved to hear this.
However, Mo Hua had a question. "So, the Jade Water Armor protects against everything and then has extremely high fire resistance on top of that?"
Master Gu nodded. "For protective artifacts, the priority is on the 'armor' aspect first, and then other functionalities are considered."
"This is the basic concept behind the forging of standard artifacts."
"You first ensure the universal functions are in place before focusing on specific effects."
"Otherwise, what's the point of buying a 'Jade Water Armor' if it can only defend against fire and nothing else? It would be too niche."
"In the past, there were artifact forges that created such extremely specialized artifacts, but they were destined to be unpopular among the majority of cultivators. Sales were poor, and the forges suffered significant losses, eventually leading them to stop producing such artifacts..." Master Gu glanced at Mo Hua. "Young Master, you intend to..."
"Yes," Mo Hua nodded. "We'll create such extremely specialized artifacts."
"This way, the process will definitely be simpler, the cost lower, and the forging time shorter."
"Moreover, since it's a custom order, we don't need to excel in every aspect. We just need to focus on doing one thing exceptionally well."
Master Gu pondered this suggestion and soon came up with a plan. "Very well, we'll proceed as you suggest, Young Master."
Mo Hua then spent some time designing the forging formation diagram based on formations and incorporating some old artifact blueprints provided by Master Gu.
The two of them discussed the details for half a day, refining the plan.
Afterward, Master Gu returned to begin the forging process.
Three days later, Xie Ling came to see Mo Hua again.
Mo Hua informed him that everything had been arranged, but the artifact would take some time to forge.
These robes had no other use besides protection against fire.
However, their fire-resistant properties were nearly unparalleled.
Mo Hua gave the five Fireward Robes to Xie Ling.
Xie Ling solemnly accepted them, and during the upcoming break, he set out to capture the fugitive cultivator skilled in fire techniques.
Two days later, the break ended.
Xie Ling came to see Mo Hua again, accompanied by four others.
They bowed respectfully before Mo Hua and said in unison:
"Thank you, Junior Brother!"
Xie Ling was brimming with excitement. "With the Fireward Robes you gave us, Junior Brother, we fought the fugitive cultivator. Even when his fire spells landed on us, we felt only a slight burn, which was nothing compared to before. It was like the difference between day and night..."
"In the final confrontation, we finally captured that evil man."
The others were also exhilarated.
Although they were in the same year as Mo Hua, their talents and abilities were not considered exceptional—at least, not when compared to the myriad geniuses within the Tai Xu Gate.
In fact, they were all prodigies from prominent clans in the Nine Provinces.
But gathered in Qianzhou, a hub of geniuses, their talents seemed less extraordinary.
While they didn't blend into the crowd, they were relatively more "ordinary."
They were under immense pressure.
Unlike Mo Hua, who could remain calm and unperturbed even with his less-than-stellar ranking, these genius disciples had to strive for improvement.
They carried the expectations of their parents and clans, and they had to excel in everything, leaving no room for mediocrity.
The cultivation curriculum in the Tai Xu Gate was extensive and time-consuming.
With their heavy academic load, they made slow progress in completing bounties.
Especially for those who, prior to joining the sect, had been nurtured within their clans and, despite their talents, were not inclined towards conflict and unaccustomed to killing, their experience in capturing fugitive cultivators was limited.
Take Xie Ling and his companions, for example; despite being in their third year, they still lacked experience and proficiency in this regard.
Moreover, the fugitive cultivators they faced were all battle-hardened and cunning.
Stumbling at the beginning was inevitable.
Now, with the aid of the Fireward Robes, they had successfully overcome a "strong" opponent, captured a fugitive cultivator, completed their mission, gained experience, and earned merits.
Their excitement was palpable.
Xie Ling and his group specially treated Mo Hua to chicken legs.
According to Cheng Mo, one of the foods that Mo Hua loved the most was chicken legs, and it was customary to "offer" chicken legs when seeking his assistance.
As Mo Hua enjoyed his chicken legs, he chatted casually with Xie Ling and the others.
In the midst of their conversation, Mo Hua suddenly asked out of curiosity: "Does your Xie Clan in Genzhou have any secret arts as well?"
Shi Tu Jian had the Li Fire Sword Art, Yang Qian Jun had the Yang Family Spear Art, and Cheng Mo, who was also from Genzhou, had the Mountain-Splitting Axe Art.
But what about Xie Ling...?
Mo Hua couldn't help but wonder, as he truly hadn't noticed anything special about him.
Xie Ling nodded. "Genzhou is mountainous, and our Xie Clan has inherited the art of Feng Shui, which includes identifying the qi of the land, determining the location of graves, and setting up yin-yang and Feng Shui formations..."
"Yin-yang and Feng Shui formations?!"
Mo Hua was astonished. "You know such formations?"
Xie Ling shook his head ruefully. "I'm not talented in formations, so I didn't learn them. I only picked up some skills in perceiving qi, escaping through the mountains, determining grave locations, and exorcising ghosts."
Mo Hua was puzzled. "Perceiving qi, escaping through the mountains, determining grave locations, and exorcising ghosts?"
Xie Ling explained, "It involves perceiving the qi of heaven and earth, using the mountains to escape, assessing Feng Shui for grave locations, preventing corpse transformation, exorcising ghosts, and even more profound techniques like using death to alter life and reversing destiny..."
Mo Hua's pupils dilated, and his heart skipped a beat.
Using death to alter life and reversing destiny...
Xie Ling scratched his head, a hint of apology in his voice. "However, I'm not proficient in these arts. I only have a superficial understanding, and my grandfather instructed me not to speak of these clan secrets..."
Mo Hua's eyes narrowed in thought, his mind racing.
Xie Ling, mistaking his expression, quickly added, "But if you're free, Junior Brother, you can visit our Xie Clan in the Kunyin Mountain area of Genzhou. I can't make decisions regarding these secret arts, but if my grandfather agrees, perhaps he'll be willing to impart them to you..."
Mo Hua's eyes shone with seriousness as he nodded deeply.
"Good!"
Kunyin Mountain in Genzhou...
Mo Hua committed this place to memory.
...
From then on, whenever Xie Ling encountered something he didn't understand or wasn't sure about during his bounty hunts, he would bring a chicken leg to the dining hall in the disciples' residence and seek Mo Hua's guidance during mealtimes.
Mo Hua was incredibly experienced when it came to bounty hunts.
Even Fire Buddha had fallen into his hands, let alone these "small fry" fugitive cultivators.
Thus, Xie Ling always received accurate answers.
And whenever he asked, Mo Hua would provide a response.
With Mo Hua's guidance, along with the assistance of complementary formations and spiritual artifacts, Xie Ling's subsequent bounty hunts went smoothly and efficiently.
As a result, Xie Ling admired Mo Hua greatly.
Despite his young age, Mo Hua possessed extensive knowledge, excelled in formations, planned meticulously, and was sincere in his interactions.
No wonder Old Master Xun had chosen him to be the "Junior Brother."
No matter how difficult the bounty, as long as one followed Mo Hua's instructions diligently and meticulously, failure was unlikely, and the risks were significantly reduced.
He wasn't just a "Junior Brother"; he was a wise mentor within the sect.
"I want to buy a spirit artifact..."
"I'm trying to capture a criminal cultivator, but I just can't seem to catch them..."
"Little Brother, please guide me..."
Among these disciples were both familiar and unfamiliar faces.
Mo Hua treated them all equally and did his best to answer their queries.
Occasionally, the spirit artifacts they needed were quite varied.
Some requested a compass for reconnaissance, a spirit mirror for revealing hidden enemies, armor to protect against spells, swords, or physical attacks, and some weapons that caused elemental damage or bleeding.
Mo Hua addressed each of these requests, designing artifact formation diagrams based on formations, which were then crafted into finished products by Master Gu.
However, this soon led to a problem.
Mo Hua was overwhelmed.
Designing artifact formation diagrams was manageable, as it was related to formations and offered Mo Hua an opportunity to learn.
But when it came to mundane tasks like buying and selling artifacts, negotiating prices, bookkeeping, and deliveries, it was a waste of his time.
He pondered a solution and came up with an idea.
During the term break, Mo Hua approached Master Gu and asked, "Master Gu, does the Gu family have any shops, markets, or storefronts in Tai Xu City near the sect?"
Master Gu was taken aback, surprised by the inquiry. "What do you have in mind, young master?"
"I want to sell all the custom-made artifacts at your shop. You can keep whatever profit you make, big or small," Mo Hua replied.
While earning spirit stones was beneficial, he currently had more important matters to attend to.
Moreover, he wanted to use these spirit stones to support Master Gu and his family.
Especially the impoverished artifact refiners of Solitary Mountain Artifact Forge.
Mo Hua was content to apply his knowledge of formations, integrate theory with practice, and deepen his understanding of formations without profiting from it financially.
He didn't want to make a profit from this endeavor himself.
The reason he didn't approach Wen Renwan was that he knew she had her own difficulties, and he didn't want to burden her with such trivial matters.
Master Gu's heart trembled, and he immediately replied, "I'll look into it."
Although he was a Nascent Soul cultivator of the Gu family, he oversaw the artifact forge and wasn't particularly familiar with the specifics of their business operations.
However, he knew that this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Master Gu used his connections to gather information and shared his findings with Mo Hua: "The Gu family doesn't have many businesses in Tai Xu City near the sect, only one shop."
"This shop doesn't make much profit, so they sell a little of everything, from pills to artifacts and formations, to make ends meet."
"I have some connections within the clan, so I've arranged for the custom-made artifacts to be sold at the shop."
"The shop will take a ten percent cut of the earnings."
Mo Hua nodded in agreement.
However, he didn't fully understand the intricacies of running a business either.
He decided to leave the matter in Master Gu's capable hands.
And so, the plan was set in motion.
Even though Mo Hua didn't mention it, Wen Renwan found out about it.
Near Qian Xue State, the businesses jointly operated by the Gu and Wen Ren families, including some of the Upper House's artifact forges and shops, were mostly overseen by Wen Renwan.
Previously, there were also some artifact forges and shops belonging to the Shang Guan family, but these had been reclaimed and leased to the Shen family.
This was Shang Guan Ce's decision, and Wen Renwan had no say in the matter.
However, aside from these, some of the businesses jointly run by the Wen Ren and Gu families were still under Wen Renwan's management.
When Master Gu inquired about the shop within the Gu clan, this development naturally didn't escape her notice.
In fact, it was with Wen Renwan's consent that Master Gu was able to leverage his connections and sell custom artifacts at the shop.
Wen Renwan agreed because of Mo Hua.
Otherwise, in a place like Tai Xu City, located right next to a major sect, the rent for a storefront would be exorbitantly high.
Master Gu might not have been able to afford this expense on his own.
The percentage that the shop would take was also set by Wen Renwan.
She did this to protect Mo Hua's interests.
Wen Renwan was concerned that Mo Hua might be taken advantage of in this business deal, so she directly took a ten percent cut from the shop, thinking that if the artifacts didn't sell well and the business failed, at least she would have secured some spirit stones for Mo Hua to prevent him from losing out.
And so, the plan was set in motion, and from then on, the custom-made artifacts were sold at the Gu family shop.
Mo Hua became a hands-off manager, free from the burden of day-to-day operations.
As more and more of his fellow disciples sought his guidance and purchased artifacts, Mo Hua's network of connections within the Tai Xu Sect expanded.
He became acquainted with elders, senior disciples, and his peers, and his reputation among his fellow disciples grew.
Whenever they faced a dilemma, they would ask Little Brother for advice. It became a common practice.
More and more disciples would come to pay their respects at the dining hall, and soon, the chicken legs were almost sold out...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
