Immortality Through Array Formations

As the end of the year drew near, completing the Refinery Shop earlier meant that he could settle the repayment of Spirit Stones sooner, providing his craftsmen and disciples with closure, and allowing everyone to return home for a good New Year celebration.

Master Ban took it to heart and basically spent every day at the Refinery Shop, urging on the craftsmen under him, instructing the Monster Hunters who came to help, and personally taking care of some tasks the disciples couldn’t handle well.

During this time, Master Ban also frequently saw Mo Hua.

Mo Hua would just stand there with his hands behind his back, looking around here and there, occasionally muttering something, and taking out a piece of paper to jot something down.

If uninformed, one might think he was a little craftsman too.

Remembering Elder Yu’s words, Master Ban decided to let him do whatever he wanted, so he didn’t interfere.

Occasionally, Mo Hua would ask him some questions, and if Master Ban had time, he answered them all. As thanks, Mo Hua would use the wine and meat from his own eatery. Once Master Ban tried it, he could never forget it.

Tender yet chewy, spicy and with a hint of wild flavor.

It’s not that Master Ban had never eaten meat before, but he had never tasted meat as delicious as this. He usually was hard at work and ate meals haphazardly, not particularly concerned with the quality of his food. But the taste of this meat was truly unique, unforgettable even if he tried.

Master Ban quietly memorized the name of Mo Hua’s eatery, intending to buy some more after the completion of the Refinery Shop, once he had settled his accounts and earned some Spirit Stones, to let his grandchildren have a taste.

About a month and a half later, the rudimentary structure of the Refinery Shop was initially completed.

What needed to be done next was for a Formation Master to paint Formation Patterns on the walls, inside the building, and on some key foundation stones. After that, his craftsmen would continue the construction, seal the Formations with earth and stonework, and then do some final touch-ups, and the whole Refinery Shop would be finished.

Master Ban was somewhat worried.

It was time for the Formation Master to start painting the Formations, but where was the Formation Master?

He occasionally sought out Elder Yu to discuss matters, but after many back-and-forths, he hadn’t seen a trace of a Formation Master.

Normally, at the beginning of the construction of a Refinery Shop, the Formation Master would need to survey the terrain and the construction layout. During the building process, the Formation Master should also be visiting frequently.

But all this time, Master Ban couldn’t recall ever seeing a Formation Master.

If the Formation Master didn’t understand the construction layout, how could he paint the Formations?

Moreover, he had seen the Architectural Formation Map, and although he didn’t understand Formations, he could tell at a glance that there were many complex Formations used in this building, not something an average Formation Master could paint, nor something that one or two Formation Masters could finish.

If the Formations were poorly drawn, the project couldn’t be completed.

Similarly, if the Formations were drawn too slowly, they couldn’t finish on time. If it dragged on, it might be indefinitely postponed. Not being able to settle the accounts at the end of the year was a very real possibility.

At this thought, Master Ban became increasingly anxious.

After holding back several times, he found Elder Yu and couldn’t hide his anxiety as he said, “Elder Yu, our work is finished at this stage, but what about the Formations…”

“There’s no rush,” Elder Yu said, not seeming to be in a hurry at all.

You’re not in a hurry, but I am…

Master Ban thought, and then asked Elder Yu, “Have you hired a Formation Master?”

“I hired one long ago.”

“That’s a relief.” Master Ban felt reassured, but couldn’t help asking, “Why haven’t I seen him then?”

Elder Yu seemed to smile, “You have seen him.”

Master Ban was taken aback, “Where have I seen him?”

“You’ll see when the Formation Painting starts tomorrow,” Elder Yu said.

Master Ban furrowed his brow, unable to recall when he had ever seen a Formation Master, but since Elder Yu said that the Formation Painting would begin tomorrow, he would know then.

The next day Master Ban arrived early at the Refinery Shop and waited.

He hadn’t slept well all night, always worried that Elder Yu was deceiving him.

The project of the Refinery Shop was so large, and if anything unexpected happened, and he couldn’t settle the Spirit Stones, he really wouldn’t know how to explain it to his craftsmen and disciples.

Elder Yu, as a Foundation Building Cultivator, had a good relationship with him, and wouldn’t intentionally set him up, but despite this reasoning, Master Ban couldn’t help feeling worried.

As hearts are separated by a layer of skin, who could truly be sure?

As dawn broke, around 6 A.M., Elder Yu arrived.

Master Ban stared at Elder Yu for a long time, then peered at the area behind him, finally unable to contain his curiosity, he asked:

“Did you come alone? Where’s the Formation Master?”

Seeing his anxious expression, Elder Yu reassured him, “Don’t worry, he’ll be here soon.”

Master Ban had no choice but to patiently wait.

After a while, as 6 A.M was approaching, Mo Hua came along, slinging a storage bag over his shoulder and holding a big steamed bun, eating as he walked towards the Refinery Shop.

The morning sun pierced through the clouds, casting a light golden rim upon him.

Mo Hua struggled to finish the steamed bun, and upon raising his head and spotting Elder Yu and Master Ban, greeted them from a distance.

Master Ban stood dumbfounded for a long time, and as Mo Hua approached, he couldn’t help asking, “Mo Hua? What are you here for…”

Mo Hua patted his storage bag and said with a smile, “I’ve come for serious business.”

Before Master Ban could ask what the serious business was, Elder Yu asked with a smile, “Is everything prepared?”

Mo Hua nodded, “It’s all set.”

Then, Mo Hua headed inside the Refinery Shop, followed by Elder Yu.

With no time to ask, Master Ban could only follow them inside, his mind filled with doubts:

What serious business? What exactly was this child going to do?

Master Ban soon found out.

Mo Hua arrived at the foundation of a building, spread out an intricate Architectural Formation Map, and took out three types of Formation Pens—fine, medium, and large—from his storage bag. He then ground Spiritual Ink of the Five Elements’ five colors and began Drawing Formation.

With a Formation Pen in his small hand, Mo Hua, dipped in Spiritual Ink and glanced at the Formation Diagram, then traced formation patterns on the stone foundation.

His demeanor was collected, and his technique was proficient, his brushwork seemingly effortless.

He appeared to have the air of a master!

Master Ban was shocked.

The Formation Master Elder Yu mentioned was this child?

This ten-some-year-old child could be a Formation Master?

Master Ban felt a tumult of emotions, his thoughts in disarray.

It took him a while to recall why Elder Yu had said he had met the Formation Master before.

Indeed, Mo Hua was a regular in the neighborhood, often stopping by to drink and chat with him; how could he have not met the boy?

Upon further reflection, Master Ban remembered the first time he saw Mo Hua, the boy had been lying on the ground examining the stone foundation, likely surveying the terrain and understanding the architectural layout. His frequent visits thereafter were to ensure that the construction layout matched the Architectural Formation Map…

Considering this, these were indeed the tasks of a Formation Master; he had simply never thought of it from that perspective.

Master Ban felt indescribably complex emotions—it was no wonder he hadn’t thought of it; who would have guessed such a thing…

Master Ban looked at Mo Hua again.

Mo Hua, immersed in Drawing Formation, wore a serious expression, his gaze slightly focused, his movements relaxed yet precise. His orderly strokes contained a sense of unrestrained flair as one complex pattern after another emerged under his pen, forming enigmatic arrangements.

This persona was starkly different from the innocently cheerful, adorably sweet child of just a few days ago.

Master Ban sighed; despite having lived so many years and seen so many cultivators, he didn’t expect to have been so mistaken…