Chapter 182: Architectural Formations
Still, it was hard to blame him for misjudging the situation. The matter was simply too unusual.
That was what Master Ban thought to himself.
After all, throughout all his years of work, he had only ever dealt with formation masters who were already gray-haired veterans. Never once had he seen a child of ten or so drawing formation patterns on a large-scale Artifact Refining Workshop construction project.
Master Ban could not help but click his tongue in astonishment.
Now that a formation master was finally present, he felt a sense of relief. Having nothing else to do, he stood beside Elder Yu, both of them peering over Mo Hua's shoulder as he drew the formation.
Elder Yu, noticing Master Ban's attentive gaze, asked in a low voice, "Do you understand what you're looking at?"
Master Ban shook his head. "No. Do you?"
Elder Yu also shook his head. "Not really. Then what are you watching for?"
"You don't understand either, yet you're watching too," Master Ban retorted.
Elder Yu gave an awkward laugh. "I'm just curious, that's all."
Master Ban thought to himself, This is the first time I've seen such a young child drawing formations, I'm far more curious than you are.
He glanced at Mo Hua, then at the formation patterns appearing beneath Mo Hua's brush, and whispered, "What grade of formation is that?"
Elder Yu was not entirely sure. Judging by Mo Hua's level, he estimated, "Probably First-grade."
Master Ban was so startled that he gasped aloud. "What?"
Elder Yu frowned and shushed him. "Quiet, don't disturb him while he's working."
Master Ban lowered his voice but could not help asking again, "First-grade? You mean a First-grade formation?"
"That's right," Elder Yu replied.
Master Ban shook his head repeatedly. "Impossible!"
"Believe it or don't, makes no difference to me," Elder Yu said indifferently.
Master Ban truly found it hard to believe, but he knew Elder Yu was not one to lie. After thinking it over several times, he could only stare fixedly at the formation lines under Mo Hua's brush.
He did not understand formation theory, but he could at least count the number of formation lines.
One, two… five. That one had only five lines.
One, two, three… seven. That one had seven.
Master Ban's feelings grew increasingly complex. For a child in his early teens to draw a formation with seven lines already put him on par with an ordinary formation master.
To think he had just said "only" seven lines, it showed how confused he had become.
He kept counting.
Finally, in one of the single formations Mo Hua completed, he counted nine lines.
Nine lines meant First-grade!
Master Ban was utterly shaken.
"So it really is a First-grade formation?"
Elder Yu saw his stunned expression and felt a private satisfaction. When he had first learned that Mo Hua could draw a first-grade formation, his own face and tone had been exactly the same.
Master Ban looked at Elder Yu, his voice trembling slightly but still kept low. "Then… that means this kid is already a First-grade formation master?"
"Not officially. Without a Dao Court certification, it doesn't count," Elder Yu replied.
"Even so, that's incredible…"
Master Ban shook his head, still finding it unbelievable.
Now, when he looked at Mo Hua again, admiration mixed with a trace of reverence filled his heart.
A First-grade Formation Master... he had met only a handful of such masters in his entire life.
Leaning forward, he studied the formation carved upon the foundation stone and could not stop himself from sighing in praise.
"This formation is beautiful!"
Elder Yu arched a brow. "Didn't you say you don't understand formations?"
"No need to! Look at it, every stroke is as neat as if it were carved from a mold. Perfectly balanced, perfectly proportioned. In all my years, I've never seen such fine, elegant brushwork in a formation!"
Hearing the compliment, Elder Yu also felt quietly pleased, though he maintained a modest tone. "Hardly worth such praise. He's still a child, there's much left for him to learn."
Master Ban was already lost in admiration, ignoring him completely.
After completing a complex composite formation, Mo Hua's Divine-Sense was nearly spent. He put down his brush and sat cross-legged on the ground to rest.
Elder Yu immediately stepped forward, his tone unusually gentle. "Tired?"
It was the first time Master Ban had ever seen such "kindness" on Elder Yu's face.
He had known the man for years, always ill-tempered, grim-faced, hard-boned, and quick to scold.
Yet now he looked exactly like a kindly old grandfather.
It was as if he had become a different person entirely.
Master Ban was genuinely astonished.
Mo Hua was indeed exhausted. Drawing formations on large architectural components consumed both spiritual power and Divine-Sense, though still within his expected limits.
"I'm fine. I just need to meditate for a while," Mo Hua said, intending to use the meditative technique to recover his Divine-Sense.
"Good, good. Take your time, no rush," Elder Yu said warmly. He refrained from disturbing Mo Hua further, instead inspecting the finished formations. Inwardly, he admitted that Master Ban's praise was justified, every line was exquisitely precise and symmetrical.
However, Master Ban's expression suddenly grew worried.
Elder Yu could afford to wait, but he could not.
Pulling Elder Yu aside, he whispered, "How many formation masters did you hire?"
"What do you mean, how many?"
"For the architectural formation work."
Elder Yu looked slightly puzzled.
Master Ban froze. "Don't tell me this child is the only one?"
Elder Yu hesitated. "Yes, just him. Isn't that enough?"
Master Ban's tone grew strained. "Enough? How could one person possibly be enough? There are so many formations to draw! Even if he could do it all alone, the project would take forever!"
With such a large Artifact Refining Workshop and so many craftsmen waiting, how could they afford delays?
Elder Yu stroked his beard, frowning.
He had never really thought about that. The formation work had been left entirely to Mo Hua, and he had full confidence in the boy.
Even if he had doubts, it would not matter, he understood nothing about formation arrays anyway.
Yet Master Ban had a point. The architectural blueprint was densely packed with formation diagrams, far too many to count. Whether Mo Hua alone could finish them all was uncertain.
If he overexerted himself and damaged his Sea of Consciousness, that would be disastrous.
Elder Yu felt a twinge of worry. The construction could afford to be delayed, but Mo Hua must not be harmed.
Still, he reflected that Mo Hua always handled formation matters with utmost care. If he had not raised any concerns, perhaps it meant there was nothing to worry about.
Elder Yu asked, "In general, how many formation masters would it take to complete something like this?"
"At least five or six, maybe ten," Master Ban replied.
Elder Yu was shocked. "That many?"
Master Ban rolled his eyes. "Of course. Architectural formations are complex, packed with formation lines. It's not something one or two masters can handle alone."
Elder Yu's dark face reddened with embarrassment, though thankfully the color did not show.
He truly had not known.
In the past, the Demon-Hunting Division had been poor. They could barely afford to build a few huts, much less construct a grand workshop requiring formation work.
Only after a sudden windfall had they decided to build this large artifact workshop, to improve the lives of the ordinary independent rogue cultivators under them. Otherwise, he would never have realized how demanding architectural formations could be.
If not for Mo Hua, merely hiring formation masters would have cost a small fortune in spirit stones.
When the Artifact Refining Workshop and Alchemy Workshop were to be finally completed and operational, Elder Yu resolved silently to give Mo Hua a generous share of spirit stones as thanks.
(End of Chapter)