Chapter 180: The Formation Master

The construction progress of the Refining Artifact Row is advancing according to Ban Shifu's expectations.

The year-end is approaching, and if the Refining Artifact Row finishes early, he can settle the spirit stone payment promptly. This will also provide an accounting for his subordinate craftsmen and disciples, so everyone can go home for a good New Year.

Ban Shifu is very attentive, spending most of his days at the Refining Artifact Row. He supervises the subordinate craftsmen, instructs the demon hunters who come to help, and even personally handles some tasks that his disciples don't do well.

During this period, Ban Shifu also often sees Mo Hua.

Mo Hua simply carries a small bag, looking around here and there, occasionally muttering something, and taking out a paper to record some things.

If someone didn't know the situation, they would think he was also a small craftsman.

Ban Shifu remembers Elder Yu's words, that he should just let Mo Hua do whatever he wants, so he doesn't interfere.

Occasionally, Mo Hua still asks him some questions. If Ban Shifu has free time, he answers them one by one. Mo Hua then uses wine and meat from his own eatery as a reward. Ban Shifu ate it once and could no longer forget it.

Soft and tender, yet chewy, fragrant and spicy, and still carrying a hint of wild flavor.

It's not that Ban Shifu hasn't eaten meat before, but he's truly never eaten such delicious meat. He usually works hard and eats only a few casual mouthfuls, not being very particular about food. But the taste of this meat is truly special; he can't forget it even if he wants to.

Ban Shifu silently remembered the name of Mo Hua's family eatery, planning that after the Refining Artifact Row is finished and he settles the earned spirit stones, he will buy some more to bring back for his grandchildren.

About one and a half months later, the initial prototype of the Refining Artifact Row was completed.

The next step is for array masters to draw array formations on the walls, inside the rooms, and on the foundations of some key buildings. After that, the craftsmen will build further, using earth, wood, bricks, and stones to seal the array formations, then make minor repairs. The entire Refining Artifact Row will then be finished.

Ban Shifu was a bit troubled.

Next, they need array masters to draw the array formations, but where are the array masters?

He occasionally finds Elder Yu to discuss matters, but after many visits, he hasn't seen a single array master.

Normally, at the beginning of the Refining Artifact Row's construction, the array masters should survey the terrain and building layout. During the building process, the array masters should also frequently come to check.

But for such a long time, Ban Shifu hasn't seen an array master even once.

If the array masters don't understand the building layout, how can they draw the array formations?

Moreover, he looked at the building array diagram. Although he doesn't understand array formations, he can see at a glance that the array formations used in this building are numerous and complex. They cannot be drawn by a general array master, nor can they be finished by just one or two array masters.

If the array formations are not drawn well, this project cannot be completed.

Similarly, if the array formations are drawn too slowly, they also cannot complete the project on schedule. Once delayed, it is very likely to be indefinitely delayed, and failing to settle the payment by year-end is very possible.

Just thinking of this made Ban Shifu anxious.

He endured it repeatedly, then found Elder Yu, and said with difficulty, unable to hide his anxiety: "Elder Yu, our work is at this stage. Look at these array formations..."

"No rush." Elder Yu's tone was a bit unhurried.

You're not in a rush, but I am...

Ban Shifu said in his heart, then asked Elder Yu: "Have you invited the array masters yet?"

"Already invited them long ago."

"That's good." Ban Shifu breathed a sigh of relief, then couldn't help but ask: "Then why haven't I seen them before?"

Elder Yu seemed to smile slightly, "You've seen them."

Ban Shifu was stunned for a moment, "Where did I see them?"

"They will start drawing the array formations tomorrow, you'll see then." Elder Yu said.

Ban Shifu frowned, unable to recall when he had seen an array master, but since Elder Yu said they would start drawing the array formations tomorrow, he would know when he saw them tomorrow.

The next day, Ban Shifu was waiting at the Refining Artifact Row early.

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

The Refining Artifact Row is such a big project. If something goes wrong and he cannot settle the spirit stones, he will really have no way to account for his subordinate craftsmen and disciples.

Logically, Elder Yu is a Foundation Building cultivator, and their friendship is also not bad, so he wouldn't deliberately trick him. But even though the reason is sound, Ban Shifu still couldn't help but worry.

One's heart is separated by one's belly; who can be sure?

The sky gradually brightened. Around the Mao time, Elder Yu came over.

Ban Shifu stared at Elder Yu for a long time, then looked behind him. After a while, he couldn't help but ask:

"Did you come alone? Where are the array masters?"

Elder Yu saw his anxious expression and comforted him, saying: "Don't worry, they will come soon."

Ban Shifu could only endure his temper and continue waiting.

After a while, when it was almost the end of Mao time, Mo Hua came walking towards the Refining Artifact Row, carrying a storage bag and holding a large bun in his hand, eating as he walked.

The sunrise broke through the clouds and spread down, casting a shallow golden edge on his body.

Mo Hua finally finished eating the bun with great effort. He looked up and saw Elder Yu and Ban Shifu, then greeted them from a distance.

Ban Shifu was stunned for a long time. After Mo Hua walked closer, he couldn't help but say: "Mo Hua? What are you doing here..."

Mo Hua patted his storage bag and laughed: "I came to do some proper business."

Before Ban Shifu could ask what proper business, Elder Yu asked with a smile: "Is everything prepared properly?"

Mo Hua nodded: "Properly."

Then Mo Hua walked inside the Refining Artifact Row, and Elder Yu followed.

Ban Shifu had no time to ask and could only follow them inside, but he was always puzzled:

What proper business? What exactly does this child want to do?

Soon, Ban Shifu knew.

Mo Hua went to a building foundation site, spread out a drawing with a dense building array diagram, took out three types of array pens from his storage bag—fine hair, medium hair, and large hair—ground five colors of spirit ink corresponding to the five elements of gold, wood, water, fire, and earth, and then began to draw array formations with his hands.

Mo Hua held the pen with his small hand, dipped it in spirit ink, looked at the array diagram, and then outlined array patterns one by one on the foundation.

His expression was composed, his technique skilled, and his pen movements were effortless.

He looked exactly like a master!

Ban Shifu was dumbfounded.

Elder Yu said the array master was this child?

Can this ten-year-old child also be an array master?

Ban Shifu's heart was filled with emotions, his thoughts a bit messy.

He recalled for a long time, then finally understood why Elder Yu said he had seen the array master.

Of course, this child Mo Hua often came to stroll nearby. He even drank wine and chatted with him for no reason. How could he not have seen him?

Ban Shifu thought carefully. The first time he saw Mo Hua, Mo Hua was lying on the ground looking at the foundation. He should have been surveying the terrain and understanding the building layout. After that, he often came over to see if the building layout conformed to the building array diagram...

Thinking this way, these were indeed all things that an array master does. It was just that he had never thought in this direction.

Ban Shifu's mood was complex and difficult to describe. It wasn't his fault he couldn't figure it out; if this matter were put on anyone, who could figure it out?

Ban Shifu looked at Mo Hua again.

Now, Mo Hua, concentrating on drawing the array formation, had a serious expression, his gaze slightly condensed. Each stroke and painting was composed and steady, his penmanship orderly yet free and easy. One complex array pattern after another appeared under his pen, connecting into a profound and mysterious array formation.

This appearance was completely different from the innocent and lively child who smiled sweetly and cutely in the previous days.

Ban Shifu sighed. He had lived so many years, seen so many cultivators, and unexpectedly misjudged.