Chapter 392: Self-Rescue

Mo Hua, along with the Thick Soil Array, decided to reconstruct the spiritual fields of Qianjia Town. However, he couldn't actually make this decision. The spiritual fields weren't his, and he wasn't a resident of Qianjia Town either.

The elder of Dongshan Village, although his cultivation wasn't high, was elderly and held significant seniority and prestige. While he didn't have much real power, important matters were usually decided by him. Mo Hua then went to ask him:

"Elder, do you want to redraw the array for the spiritual fields?"

The Dongshan Village Elder had expected this, but still found it hard to believe, and said in a trembling voice:

"Re... redraw the array?"

"Yes," Mo Hua nodded, "precisely the kind of array that the Sun Family Old Ancestor drew in the past."

The elder's pupils trembled. The Sun Family Old Ancestor, a second-grade array master, held a high status in Qianjia Town and was always a legendary cultivator. To draw an array like the Sun Family Old Ancestor's...

The elder's tone became several degrees more respectful:

"Sun Family Old Ancestor's array... Little Mister, have you learned it?"

"I've learned a bit, I wouldn't dare say I've mastered ten percent, but I've probably got seven or eight percent," Mo Hua said humbly.

The elder was lost in thought for a moment, muttering to himself:

"Sun Family Old Ancestor, but he is a second-grade array master..."

Mo Hua explained, "He is a second-grade array master, but the array he set up is actually first-grade. Otherwise, the spirit stones of Qi Refining cultivators wouldn't be enough to support a second-grade array."

The elder understood. Mo Hua then explained the pros and cons to him:

"Drawing the array will require reconstructing some spiritual fields and redrawing arrays on the field ridges."

"I learned Sun Family Old Ancestor's array, which counts as receiving his favor, so I won't charge spirit stones to draw the array for all of you."

"But the array itself requires a large amount of spirit ink and a significant number of spirit stones. At the same time, it also needs a certain amount of manpower to reclaim and organize the spiritual fields."

"This manpower and these materials will all need to be provided by yourselves."

The elder had a rough idea in his heart and nodded slowly. Mo Hua finally said, "I will draw the array, but whether to draw this array in the end is still for all of you to decide yourselves."

The elder pondered for a long time, then cupped his hands and said, "Little Mister, may I have some time? I will discuss it with everyone."

"Yes," Mo Hua nodded. Such a matter could indeed not be decided by the elder alone and required discussion with others. Mo Hua did not force the issue. If they were willing, he would draw some arrays for them. He could also learn by doing and deepen his understanding of arrays. This was for himself, as well as for the cultivators of Dongshan Village and the land of Qianjia Town.

If they didn't agree, Mo Hua wouldn't force it either. He could only find another opportunity later to reconstruct the Thick Soil Array and deepen his understanding of arrays...

After Mo Hua left, the elder summoned the spirit farmer cultivators of Dongshan Village. He conveyed Mo Hua's meaning. Everyone looked at each other. Most people still couldn't believe it:

"Did this Little Mister really learn the Sun Family Old Ancestor's array?"

"Impossible..."

"How old is he?"

"Qi Refining seventh layer, can he learn this kind of array? I see other array masters all have long white beards."

"What do you understand? Learning has no hierarchy, the capable are respected."

"Although this Little Mister is young, I see his array level is quite a bit higher than the current head of the Sun Family."

"Indeed, although I don't understand it, his array is drawn quickly and well."

"Better than everyone in the Sun Family."

"Then why is he helping us?"

"And, he's not even asking for anything, not even collecting our spirit stones..."

"If he wanted to collect spirit stones, could you afford it?"

"We're so poor we can't even make ends meet..."

"Can the Sun Family Old Ancestor's array be an ordinary array? How many spirit stones are needed to draw this array?"

"Even if we empty out the entire village's belongings, the spirit stones we gather might not even be enough for the reward..."

"I just find it strange, this Little Mister's heart is too good."

"Are you just looking for trouble? If this Little Mister was like the Sun Family, riding on our heads, then that would be acceptable?"

"Drawing this array requires reconstructing the spiritual fields, but these spiritual fields are ancestral and cannot be moved."

"Why can't they be moved?"

"Ancestral, just can't be moved..."

Everyone discussed animatedly, some approving, some opposing, some worrying anxiously and hesitating. They were spirit farmers, relying on the spiritual fields for their livelihood. Matters involving the spiritual fields involved fundamentals, so for a time they were heavily worried and found it difficult to decide.

The elder listened to their arguments, pondered for a while, then slowly said:

"This array, we must build."

For a moment, the room fell silent. A spirit farmer frowned and said, "But, Elder, this matter is not without risk."

The elder shook his head, "I don't want the descendants of Dongshan Village to suffer hunger and starvation again."

"This matter indeed has risks, but what matter doesn't have risks? Can good things without risk fall upon us poor cultivators?"

"If we don't take this risk, then we will have to let our descendants take it."

"But our descendants may not have this opportunity again."

The elder's turbid eyes revealed a sharp light, and he slowly gazed at everyone, saying in a heavy tone:

"This Little Mister, although young, is a high person in arrays."

"His willingness to help us is our opportunity."

"Once he leaves, who else can draw such a profound array, and even if someone can, who would be willing to help us draw it?"

"Don't hold onto luck, thinking things will be better later."

"If we don't strive now, things will only be worse later."

"This is our only hope."

"If we don't grasp this opportunity, our descendants will all have to suffer hunger and starvation!"

The elder's voice was hoarse and heavy. After speaking, his old illness flared up, and he coughed violently, frowning. Everyone was silent. Some people still looked hesitant, but the majority's gazes gradually firmed up.

The next day, the elder went to find Mo Hua and conveyed everyone's decision.

"Everyone has agreed, those with spirit stones will contribute spirit stones, and those with strength will contribute strength to reconstruct the spiritual field arrays."

Afterward, the elder solemnly bowed to Mo Hua:

"I beg Little Mister, save the cultivators of my Qianjia Town from famine!"

Mo Hua could not bear such a grand禮 and hurriedly helped the elder up. The elder's face showed expectation as he looked at Mo Hua. Mo Hua, however, shook his head: "I cannot save all of you."

The elder looked startled. Mo Hua sighed: "I can only help you draw the array, but if the array could truly save you, then Sun Family Old Ancestor's array of that year would have already saved you."

"But it didn't..."

"For so many years, you all have still been living hand-to-mouth."

The elder trembled upon hearing this, then seemed to be deep in thought, his emotions fluctuating for a time. Mo Hua continued: "I can draw a good array, make the soil fertile, and increase the harvest of the spiritual fields, allowing everyone to eat their fill."

"But then what?"

"The Sun Family is still there and will still bully you."

"Spiritual fields that are built well will still be destroyed."

"Arrays that are drawn well will still be destroyed."

"You don't understand arrays, you will still be controlled by others and exploited by the Sun Family."

"If a good array is built in the spiritual fields and the land is fertile, perhaps for one or two years, or even five or six years, you can live a little better and eat a little more."

"But what about ten years, several decades, or even a hundred years later?"

"Will it be the same as before?"

The elder's expression turned from thick bitterness to inseparable sorrow. He said helplessly: "But the Sun Family has a Foundation Establishment cultivator..."

Mo Hua shook his head, "Only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and he is considered a half array master, not often fighting with people, unfamiliar with Dao methods."

"Generally speaking, a dozen or so Qi Refining ninth layer cultivators, truly willing to fight desperately, are enough to make him fear."

Mo Hua continued: "The Sun Family's tyranny relies on the spirit farmers' weakness and their passive acceptance."

"If you truly unite as one and face outward together, they won't dare to act arbitrarily."

The elder's face showed hesitation, and he sighed: "But... this way, I'm afraid there will be bloodshed and deaths..."

Mo Hua's tone was somewhat solemn: "If you shed blood, your descendants can eat their fill; if you starve to death, your descendants will also starve to death."

Upon hearing this, the elder suddenly fell into deep thought. Mo Hua again comforted him: "Actually, the Sun Family also doesn't dare to go too far." After all, there was the Dao Court Office in Shangping City. Although this kind of Dao Court Office wouldn't directly manage matters outside the Immortal City, if the contradictions and conflicts were significant, they would have to intervene. The Dao Court Office acted according to the . At least on the surface, this was the case. With the constraints of the and the duties of the Dao Court Office, the Sun Family also didn't dare to be too rampant. The Sun Family, after all, was different from the Qian Family, or rather, different from the Qian Family Old Ancestor's Black Mountain Stronghold. They were just parasites who enjoyed sucking blood, not executioners who killed indiscriminately.

"So I can only help you, I cannot save you..." Mo Hua's gaze was clear, and he said sincerely, "The only ones who can save you are yourselves."

The elder's brows were tightly locked. He pondered for a long time, then slowly let out a breath, and again bowed to Mo Hua, saying solemnly: "Many thanks, Little Mister, I understand."

(End of this chapter)