Chapter 204: Identity
Elder Yu was halfway through his proud laughter before realizing what Mo Hua had just said. He glared at the boy.
"How is that called devious? That's called a cunning rabbit with three burrows! You should learn from that, be sharp, stay alert, and always think ahead."
Mo Hua nodded quickly. "I'll definitely learn!"
Being a bit more cautious in everything was certainly a good habit; otherwise, one would inevitably suffer losses someday.
"But things can't possibly go that smoothly, right?" Mo Hua frowned slightly.
"Of course not," Elder Yu said. "Plans are just plans. Reality changes endlessly. You must be ready to adapt. That's what I've learned through years of scheming and suffering losses against the Qian Family."
Mo Hua could not help but ask, "You scheme so much already, how could you still suffer losses?"
Elder Yu sighed. "Scheming means little if you hold no cards. Even the cleverest cook cannot make a meal without rice."
He had few spirit stones and was the only Foundation Establishment cultivator among them. The fact that he could still stand against the Qian Family at all was impressive.
Now, however, the situation had changed.
Elder Yu looked at Mo Hua.
With a formation master like Mo Hua on his side, he finally had a strong card to play, and would no longer let his people be taken advantage of by the Qian Family.
The thought made Elder Yu pat Mo Hua's shoulder with deep emotion.
"It's all thanks to you."
Mo Hua had no idea why Elder Yu suddenly praised him but still smiled brightly.
...
Afterward, events indeed unfolded much as Elder Yu had predicted: a plan could only go so far, reality always had its variations.
Things generally proceeded according to his strategy, though not without deviations.
Some artifact refiners left the Qian Family to join Elder Yu's workshop, while others were retained by the Qian Family through higher pay.
Most of the Demon Hunters' materials stopped flowing to the Qian Family, though a few marketplace traders still secretly dealt with them.
The results were not perfect, but the Qian Family was left in chaos.
Qian Hong had to handle endless trivial issues daily. When he finally had time to think, he realized something was off.
Whenever they lowered prices, Yu Changlin would lower his as well.
After repeated price wars, the Qian Family had consumed most of their refined spiritual artifacts, yet Yu Changlin's side still seemed well-stocked.
Why?
The Demon Hunters' Refining Workshop had only just begun operations. How could they have produced so many spiritual artifacts so quickly?
Qian Hong was completely puzzled.
He sent Qian Family cultivators to investigate secretly, but Elder Yu kept the secret of the refining furnace tightly sealed. No one could uncover anything.
Only when Qian Hong examined the artifacts themselves did an absurd thought arise in his mind.
Could it be that the Demon Hunters' refining furnaces were not inferior to those of the Qian Family... perhaps even superior?
He immediately sought out Master Qian for advice. After inspecting the artifacts, Master Qian's expression grew grave. After a long silence, he sighed.
"Only a First-Grade Refining Furnace engraved with a First-Grade Molten Fire Array could refine spiritual artifacts of this quality."
Qian Hong's eyelid twitched. "So, the formation master among the Demon Hunters…"
Master Qian exhaled slowly. "Is a genuine First-Grade Formation Master."
A chill crept up Qian Hong's spine. In a daze, he murmured: "How much must Yu Changlin have spent to hire a First-Grade Formation Master?"
Master Qian shook his head.
He could not fathom it either. The status of a First-Grade Formation Master was extraordinary. Even the Qian Family would treat one with utmost respect. Why would such a person assist a group of Demon Hunters? What could he possibly gain?
Master Qian frowned. "Next, we must identify this formation master and uncover his background. Otherwise, we will continue to suffer in the dark."
Qian Hong's eyes narrowed. "I will find him... no matter what."
Master Qian gave him a stern look. "It is enough to discover his identity. Do not offend him."
Qian Hong frowned. "He has crossed our Qian Family time and again, and we still need to be polite?"
"This formation master is no ordinary man. If he were willing to aid our Qian Family, we would soar like a tiger with wings. Becoming a Second-Grade clan would be only a matter of time."
"I doubt he'd be willing," Qian Hong muttered.
"Perhaps not," Master Qian replied. "But do not provoke him. If we can win him over, that would be ideal. If not, we must at least ensure he remains neutral. The worst outcome is mutual destruction."
Qian Hong was perplexed. "Is this formation master truly that important?"
Master Qian replied, "He has already demonstrated mastery of the First-Grade Earth-Fire Array, the First-Grade Earth-Stone Array, and the First-Grade Molten Fire Array."
"So what if he knows three First-Grade arrays?"
Master Qian sighed. "Knowing three First-Grade formations is already rare, but that's not the issue. What if these three are only part of his repertoire? What if he commands others... arrays we've never even heard of?"
Qian Hong's expression grew increasingly solemn.
"Until he reveals his stance, it is best not to provoke him," Master Qian said seriously. "The Dao of Formations is vast and unfathomable. Some formation masters wield powers you cannot even imagine."
Qian Hong's pupils contracted slightly, revealing a hint of fear.
...
Meanwhile, the very formation master he feared was at that moment sitting atop a wall, munching on a chicken leg and swinging his legs lazily while chatting idly with Master Ban.
The Refining Workshop was already completed and operational, while the Alchemy Workshop was still under construction.
Elder Yu had already paid Master Ban the first batch of spirit stones.
With payment in hand, Master Ban felt secure and worked with renewed vigor.
The Alchemy Workshop's overall layout matched that of the Refining Workshop: first constructing the foundational buildings, then having Mo Hua inscribe formations, followed by the craftsmen completing the final touches.
Though the foundational structures were still incomplete, Mo Hua had come early to inspect the layout and verify the Formation designs.
Because the site had already been surveyed once during the Refining Workshop's construction, and both projects shared identical layouts, the Alchemy Workshop required far less time for verification.
After a few rounds of inspection, Mo Hua understood the layout well enough.
With nothing urgent left to do, he climbed onto the wall, eating his chicken leg while chatting with Master Ban.
Master Ban was deeply grateful to Mo Hua.
Had Mo Hua not drawn the formations so efficiently, the Refining Workshop could not have been completed on schedule, and without completion, they could not have received their spirit stones.
Moreover, for someone so young to possess such profound formation skill was something Master Ban had never witnessed before.
He enjoyed chatting with young Mo Hua and readily answered whatever the boy asked, topics ranging from architecture and craftsmanship to cultivation, daily life, family, and customs of various cultivators.
They talked about delicacies and amusements across different regions, strange local traditions, infamous villains, and their misdeeds... anything and everything.
Mo Hua's curiosity was fully satisfied, and his horizons broadened immensely.
Every cultivator's life was like a painting: no matter how ordinary, there was always some hue unseen by others.
Without these conversations, Mo Hua would never have known such stories.
He wondered if, someday, he would be able to travel across the Nine Provinces, meeting more people, hearing more stories, and witnessing the extraordinary colors hidden within the ordinary scroll of life.
The thought filled Mo Hua's heart with quiet longing.
(End of Chapter)