Chapter 178: The Limit
After finishing the architectural formation plan for the Artifact Refinery Hall, Mo Hua went over it carefully and found no major issues.
All the basic functions were included. Since each formation was relatively independent, there were not many interconnections between them, so inscribing them would not pose much of a problem.
Even so, Mo Hua still felt a lingering unease.
The construction of the Artifact Refinery Hall was a significant affair. It concerned the livelihoods and cultivation of independent rogue cultivators for the next ten, even dozens of years, perhaps longer. There could be no margin for error.
Since he was uncertain, it would be better to consult Mister Zhuang.
Thus, Mo Hua went to the Forgetful Meditation Abode and presented his architectural formation blueprint to Mister Zhuang for review.
At a glance, Mister Zhuang's eyelid twitched at the dense web of formation lines, but after seeing that they were only simple arrangements of single and composite formations, all independent of one another, he exhaled in relief.
"Sir, is there anything wrong with it?" Mo Hua asked.
Mister Zhuang shook his head slightly. "It will do."
"Can it be used?"
"It will suffice," Mister Zhuang replied. He then produced a few more formation diagrams and handed them to Mo Hua. "These are also basic architectural formations. You can study them as reference."
Mo Hua accepted them eagerly and began examining the drawings.
The formations in these blueprints were mostly as he expected, dominated by earth and wood attributes. The single formations ranged from five to nine formation patterns, and there were some first-grade composite formations as well. None were beyond his current ability to comprehend.
However, while the core of these blueprints centered on earth and wood formations, they incorporated the other Five Elements in subtle and intricate ways.
For example, how to use metal-type formations to harden stone, water-type formations to nourish wood and soil, or fire-type formations to provide heating and illumination.
The framework appeared familiar, yet the subtleties held much worth in further study.
Mo Hua grew absorbed in his observation, and when he finally returned to himself, he saw Mister Zhuang reclining in his chair, eyes closed, resting leisurely.
Mo Hua scratched his head in embarrassment.
Mister Zhuang opened his eyes with a smile. "How is your study going?"
Mo Hua thought for a moment before answering. "These blueprints appear simple, but the interweaving of formations and their mutual interactions of generation and restraint are very intricate. I haven't yet fully understood them."
Mister Zhuang nodded approvingly. "Good. In any path of cultivation, once multiple formations come into play, the planning, coordination, and the balance of mutual reinforcement and opposition among them require considerable thought. For you to already perceive that is quite commendable."
Mo Hua smiled happily but soon furrowed his brow.
"Sir, though these architectural formations emphasize coordination, they still function independently. If all of them were connected together, wouldn't the overall effect be stronger?"
Mister Zhuang gave a faintly amused look. "And how would you connect them?"
Mo Hua pondered deeply, then answered uncertainly, "...By using a formation core?"
"And if you connect them with a formation core, what does it become?" Mister Zhuang prompted.
Mo Hua thought it through. Connecting single formations formed a composite formation. Connecting many composite formations together would make it...
"A large-scale composite formation?" he ventured.
Mister Zhuang's eyes glimmered. "You can put it more simply. A large-scale composite formation is called a Grand Formation."
A Grand Formation!
Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat.
The very thing countless formation masters dreamed of, the most vast, most intricate, and most powerful of formations in the cultivation world!
He could not help but ask, "Can I draw one?"
Mister Zhuang extended his slender white finger and gently tapped Mo Hua's forehead.
"Do not aim too high. You haven't even mastered composite formations yet. Don't trouble yourself with Grand Formations."
Mo Hua covered his head and grinned sheepishly. "Yes, sir."
Still, curiosity gnawed at him. "Sir, what makes a Grand Formation so difficult?"
Mister Zhuang sighed softly. "The difficulty lies in the formation core."
"The formation core?"
"Is the core of a composite formation difficult?" Mister Zhuang asked.
Mo Hua nodded. "It is."
Mister Zhuang said evenly, "A composite formation connects only a few single formations, yet its core is already hard to master. As for a Grand Formation, its core links hundreds—sometimes thousands—of formations together."
Mo Hua froze. Hundreds or even thousands?
How could one's Sea of Consciousness contain enough Divine-Sense for that?
Even if he exhausted every trace of it, grinding his Sea of Consciousness into dust, it would still be far from sufficient.
Mister Zhuang continued, "Therefore, a First-grade Grand Formation is never drawn by a First-grade formation master. Typically, only a second-grade formation master can design and construct a first-grade Grand Formation, serving as its chief formation master."
"Chief formation master?" Mo Hua repeated in confusion.
"One who designs the Grand Formation and constructs its core is called the chief formation master."
"Why not just draw everything oneself? Why divide roles?"
Mister Zhuang chuckled. "Because a Grand Formation is immense and its formation lines innumerable. One person attempting it alone would die of exhaustion. Usually, the chief formation master designs the structure and inscribes the core, while other formation masters follow the blueprint to draw the individual component formations."
"Ohhh." Mo Hua nodded in understanding.
As the saying went, 'One fence needs three stakes; one hero needs three aides.'
Such an enormous and complex undertaking could never be completed by one person. Only through the cooperation of many formation masters could a Grand Formation be realized.
A project of that magnitude was no trivial affair, it was a matter of immense significance, perhaps affecting an entire clan, sect, or even a whole city or realm.
No wonder so many formation masters regarded the creation of a Grand Formation as their life's ultimate pursuit.
Mo Hua then asked the most practical question, "Building a Grand Formation must cost an enormous number of spirit stones, right?"
Mister Zhuang thought briefly. "Even within the term 'Grand Formation,' sizes vary. A smaller-scale one would not require too many."
Mo Hua hesitated. "And by 'not too many,' how many do you mean...?"
Mister Zhuang gave a knowing smile. "Didn't you all excavate a spirit stone mine? If you used all the stones from that mine, it might be enough to construct a small Grand Formation, provided no formation masters, artisans, or craftsmen demand payment, and you do not count the stones required to power it."
Mo Hua's eyes widened.
An entire mine's worth of spirit stones, only enough for a small Grand Formation?
And that was without paying anyone or fueling the formation afterward!
After all, a formation master capable of designing and leading the creation of a first-grade Grand Formation would have to be at least second-grade. Such a person was not easily hired.
The sheer scale of expense made Mo Hua draw a sharp breath.
What kind of wealth would it take to construct such a formation? No wonder there was not a single Grand Formation in all of Tōngxiān City.
He sighed inwardly. Even if he could draw one, he would never have enough spirit stones to build it.
Still, his curiosity lingered. "Sir, are you saying that a first-grade formation master truly cannot become the chief formation master of a first-grade Grand Formation?"
"In general, that is the case."
"And if it isn't general?"
Mister Zhuang looked at him, his gaze deepening. Slowly, he said,
"If it isn't general... then one must simply surpass the limits of Divine-Sense."
(End of Chapter)