Chapter 627: Fireball

Mo Hua first went to the Merit Pavilion to find the Merit Elder. He wanted second-grade array materials.

The Merit Elder treated all other disciples in a somewhat formal and official manner, but whenever he saw Mo Hua alone, he always felt a sense of strangeness, and would involuntarily pay a bit more attention.

He glanced at Mo Hua's Taixu Token and said in surprise, "You can now... take on second-grade initial-level arrays?"

Mo Hua nodded, thinking to himself: *I could have taken them on ages ago! Not just second-grade initial-level, but second-grade middle-level arrays too! It's just that you all wouldn't let me!*

Mo Hua was still a little bothered by the fact that he had to "lower himself," "put aside his dignity," and "descend from his high position" to draw mere second-grade ten-pattern arrays.

The Merit Elder, however, exclaimed, "Extraordinary..."

Even within the Taixu Sect, which had no shortage of array geniuses, it wasn't easy for someone who had just joined not long ago to start taking on second-grade array tasks, even if they were only ten-pattern arrays.

Furthermore, Mo Hua wasn't old and looked even more youthful.

"But that's not right..." the Merit Elder said, frowning again. "You haven't been ranked yet..."

The assessment for an array master's rank was a significant event. It also benefited the sect, as it could raise the sect's ranking, thereby influencing the proportion of shares the Taixu Sect received in several major spirit mines within the Qianxue State's territory.

The Merit Elder was somewhat doubtful. After disciples within the sect passed the array master ranking assessment, the list would be sent to the Merit Pavilion, which he could see. However, he didn't recall seeing Mo Hua's name.

Because the permission was changed for him by Old Mister Xun, Mo Hua held his head very high, so he wasn't afraid of people checking. Even if there was blame, it would fall on Old Mister Xun first.

Mo Hua then honestly said, "No."

"Then you..." The Merit Elder frowned, then suddenly paused and asked, "Is this Old Mister Xun giving you a back door again?"

Mo Hua nodded, "Yes!"

The Merit Elder sighed. Such lawlessness, disregarding all sect rules, to the point where even this kind of thing could be casually changed. But the person who changed it was Old Mister Xun... It was hard to say whether this was in line with the sect rules or not...

The Merit Elder had no choice but to secretly complain in his heart that Old Mister Xun was too biased and indulged this child too much. Without being ranked, he was given the title first and allowed to take on second-grade tasks. Forcing his growth like this would surely be detrimental rather than beneficial to the child... The Merit Elder couldn't help but complain in his heart.

Mo Hua silently watched him for a long time and quietly asked, "Elder, what are you pondering?" *Quickly give me the array materials... Why are you still spacing out...*

The Merit Elder then came back to his senses, hesitated for a moment, then sighed again and gave Mo Hua the brush, ink, and array diagrams he wanted. He thought to himself, *"Whatever, I can't control Old Mister Xun's plans..."*

However, second-grade arrays weren't that easy to draw. Taking on second-grade array tasks without being ranked, if his ability wasn't sufficient, he would sooner or later cause trouble. He hoped this child wouldn't fail the task and make a fool of himself...

However, he then thought that being young and vigorous and experiencing some hardship was also a good thing. It could temper him and let him know that arrays weren't so simple... With this thought, the Merit Elder relaxed.

Mo Hua took the materials, went back, and started drawing. He could draw a first-grade flower fire array with his eyes closed. But this flower fire array seemed a bit different; the array patterns had been modified and some variations added. Although it was simple and rough, it was clear that the person who modified the array wasn't at a high level, but they were very careful.

According to the explanation, this flower fire array was placed on a flower lantern. When the flower lantern rose into the sky, the array would be activated, creating brilliant flower fires, like thousands of trees and ten thousand trees with pear blossoms blooming, incredibly beautiful. There were also words on it; they were some love poems.

Mo Hua then understood that this was a flower lantern specially designed by a male disciple from the sect to pursue a female disciple. Mo Hua hummed, "Playing quite fancy..."

This type of array was a second-grade entry-level array, usually unused. Second-grade array masters who had been ranked also disdained to draw it and earn these seven or eight points of merit. Mo Hua also disdained it. But he couldn't help it; when under someone else's roof, you had to bow your head. He had to start drawing from the lowest level of arrays.

Fortunately, this type of array was truly too simple. Mo Hua spent a little time and quickly finished drawing it, not wasting too much time. In the evening, he delivered the array to the Merit Pavilion.

The Merit Elder was clearly startled when he saw Mo Hua and said worriedly, "What, did you fail to draw it?" He had come back so quickly. Had he drawn it incorrectly and needed to ask for paper and ink again? It was impossible that he had finished drawing in such a short time...

Mo Hua was a little speechless, "Elder, you just can't think well of me..." It was only a second-grade ten-pattern array. Mo Hua couldn't imagine how he could fail. Unless he drank fruit wine and got drunk... But there was very little wine in the fruit wine, and he didn't get drunk.

"I finished drawing it!" Mo Hua was a bit short. He stood on his tiptoes, puffed out his chest, and said.

The Merit Elder's expression was strange. Finished drawing? He opened the storage bag Mo Hua handed over and looked at the arrays inside. He found that they were indeed completely correct, and the handwriting was neat, the array patterns beautiful. It was obvious that he was very careful and hadn't just drawn them perfunctorily... The Merit Elder looked at Mo Hua suspiciously, "Did you draw this yourself?"

"No," Mo Hua shook his head, "I spent merit and hired some senior brothers and sisters to help me draw."

The Merit Elder was stunned. He actually seriously considered for a while whether Mo Hua was telling the truth... Only then did he react and finally couldn't help but rub Mo Hua's hair. "You little brat, are you teasing me..."

Mo Hua covered his head, his face helpless, "I'm afraid if I tell you seriously, you won't believe me..."

The Merit Elder said testily, "You just have too many ideas!"

Mo Hua laughed sheepishly.

The Merit Elder verified the arrays and then issued the merit for the flower fire arrays to Mo Hua. It wasn't much, only nine points. Although the flower fire array was a second-grade array, it was too simple after all. But it was a good start.

Afterwards, Mo Hua continued to search for array tasks in the Taixu Token. He wanted to take on eleven-pattern to thirteen-pattern arrays, but no one else agreed. There was no other way, Mo Hua still had to pick only ten-pattern arrays to draw.

What surprised Mo Hua was that in the merit record, suddenly several more second-grade ten-pattern flower fire array tasks appeared. It seemed that putting the flower lantern and pursuing the beloved female disciple had been effective, leading many male disciples to imitate it. It even seemed that some female disciples were imitating it, sending them to senior brothers and junior brothers.

Mo Hua shook his head and then fully accepted all of them. He drew very quickly and well, so very soon, some disciples contacted him through the Taixu Token, asking him to help them draw flower fire arrays. Mo Hua also accepted without refusing. He just couldn't help but complain in his heart: *These disciples, they don't focus on cultivation and spend all day thinking about these trivial feelings. They have no prospects.* At the same time, he also silently despised them, thinking their flower lantern design was too poor and the technical content too low. *If only Little Senior Sister weren't away, otherwise I would definitely make a grand, splendid flower lantern for her and let them all see.*

Just like this, Mo Hua drew more and more ten-pattern flower fire arrays. Because he drew well and had many styles, some disciples added some requirements, such as using array patterns to display some colorful words. These words seemed to use magnetic patterns and add "secrets," making them relatively obscure. Purely from the array patterns, it was impossible to tell, likely because they were afraid of being discovered.

But this little trick couldn't possibly deceive Mo Hua. Mo Hua didn't need to deduce; by purely "reading" the array patterns, he could tell what words they wanted to leave. Such as "May this feeling continue, reaching into eternity," or "Holding your hand, growing old together," or "May your thoughts be like green silk, without hate, without regret, without looking back"... And some more rustic ones, "Grow old with you, the world will not be in vain"... Mo Hua was embarrassed to death.

However, he also secretly memorized these flowery words, thinking that perhaps he could use them someday in the future. After drawing ten-pattern arrays for half a month, Mo Hua saved more than two hundred merit points. His "qualification" as a second-grade initial-level array master could also be considered to have a foundation, and the explanation below his name also became richer. Finally, there were also eleven-pattern tasks he could take on. Mo Hua was extremely happy.

Eleven-pattern arrays were not difficult originally. After Mo Hua took them on, he also finished drawing them very quickly, again being both fast and good. Then there was the first, then the fifteenth. Successively, other disciples also accepted his task "applications." Both ten-pattern and eleven-pattern tasks were available. Just like pebbles falling into a deep pool, they created some ripples. Mo Hua's "array master" title also slowly gained some fame among the disciples in the Taixu Token. Some disciples began to recognize Mo Hua's array attainments. And some disciples would specifically "invite" Mo Hua to take on their rewarded "tasks."

Mo Hua was very satisfied, feeling that these people were truly his fellow sect senior brothers and sisters, and indeed very discerning. He spent ten days resting and still mixed tasks with Senior Sister Murong. Daily, he continued to do array tasks. His array tasks became more and more numerous, and his "resume" also became thicker and thicker. The difficulty of the array tasks also gradually increased. From ten-pattern to eleven-pattern, then to twelve-pattern, and finally to thirteen-pattern... Thirteen-pattern was the most difficult array at the second-grade initial level.

Even so, Mo Hua never failed, and he even drew better than some ranked array masters. Gradually, Mo Hua also became "a little famous." Some disciples who "invited" him to draw arrays, although they didn't know his specific identity, would still respectfully call him "Senior Brother Mo," and their words were very polite. Sometimes when Mo Hua wasn't free, they would even specifically wait for him. In order to have Mo Hua personally draw the arrays for them, they would even specifically add merit. It wasn't much, generally just a few points, but although the merit was small, it was a form of recognition.

Mo Hua later inquired and only then learned that some second-grade array masters would "outsource" their orders. They would first take on the task, and if they couldn't draw it, they would hire some junior brothers and junior sisters who, although not ranked, probably had the strength of eleven or twelve-pattern arrays to help them draw. Then they would get the merit and divide it according to the proportion. Therefore, someone would add merit and ask Mo Hua to draw it "personally." They were afraid that Mo Hua would take the task and then "outsource" it to others.

Mo Hua shook his head. Doing array tasks was equivalent to others providing paper and ink for him to practice arrays. He himself felt that it wasn't enough; how could he give it to others to draw... From ten-pattern, all the way up to thirteen-pattern. The Merit Elder at the Merit Pavilion saw it all. When he personally saw Mo Hua take the paper and ink for a thirteen-pattern array, and then the next day, this array was drawn perfectly without flaw and handed to him, the Merit Elder's face changed. He looked at Mo Hua, and his eyelids couldn't help but tremble.

He then realized that this little child, who looked well-behaved but wasn't very eye-catching, was actually a genuine second-grade initial-level array master! Early stage of the Foundation Establishment period, second-grade initial-level array master... The Merit Elder exclaimed in his heart. No wonder... Old Mister Xun valued this child so much, even not hesitating to use a back door to give him permission... Having such astonishing array talent was indeed worth cultivating. And he wasn't arrogant or impatient, and he was very diligent in doing tasks. Although it was said that he used a back door and was given permission, the arrays were all drawn by himself, and the merit points were all earned by himself.

The Merit Elder nodded, and his attitude towards Mo Hua became increasingly kind. His gaze towards Mo Hua also became increasingly appreciative. Even sometimes, some trivial procedures, he would directly waive for Mo Hua. Mo Hua taking on tasks and handing them in also became more and more convenient. And for a thirteen-pattern array, generally speaking, one task could earn about twenty points of merit. This type of task wasn't frequent, but as long as there was one, Mo Hua could complete it within half a day. Therefore, his merit points increased steadily, and he saved more and more.

Mo Hua used his saved merit points to exchange for many sixteen-pattern arrays. Now he had a lot of merit points, almost enough for him to be self-sufficient in learning the various Eight Trigrams arrays collected by the Taixu Sect, and he even had quite a bit left over. Mo Hua knew more and more arrays, and his divine sense also became stronger and stronger. And because he captured more and more evil cultivators and handed over martial arts manuals, there were also many of those. Mo Hua picked and chose and learned quite a few new martial arts. Such as the Gold Blade Technique, Wood Poison Technique, Quicksand Technique, etc.

These martial arts were all of low grade, but they were all treasure martial arts of some sects within the Qianxue State territory. They had been refined and purified, removing the rough and keeping the essence, removing the false and keeping the true, all of them being the essence of martial arts... So in some sense, they were also very superior inheritances. Moreover, because they were low-grade martial arts, Mo Hua could also use them boldly and without worry, not afraid of being found out.

The only problem was that the power of these martial arts was not great. They couldn't even compare to Mo Hua's original Fireball Technique. Low-end martial arts weren't originally known for their power; Mo Hua knew this, but he still felt disappointed. He now seemed to have no powerful killing moves. Collapsing a large array was too troublesome, too powerful, with too many restrictions, too eye-catching, and fundamentally couldn't be used as a regular killing method. Controlling ink with divine sense to set up a killing array... It required finding an opportunity, it required surprise, it required careful planning, and the execution was still a bit slow after all. Moreover, this method of setting up arrays was very special, too eye-catching, not low-key enough. Setting up arrays still required spending spirit ink and burning spirit stones. It was okay to use occasionally, but if used frequently, he would "go bankrupt"...

"It would be best to learn a martial art that is not too powerful, the grade shouldn't be high, the consumption of spirit power shouldn't be too great, the casting needs to be fast, it needs to be something that can be seen, and not afraid to display in front of people..." Mo Hua thought for a long time but still had no idea.

One evening, after Mo Hua finished eating, he and Yu'er lay on the grass, looking at the brilliant sunset on Taixu Mountain, like an ink painting. Mo Hua was still thinking about martial arts. Unknowingly, the sky gradually darkened, the sunset dimmed, and the sun set behind the mountain. As the sun, which had restrained all its light, sank under the mountain, in the last instant, it seemed that myriad fire lights intertwined. The sunset light suddenly brightened, then returned to dimness.

Fire light, intertwined... sunset... Mo Hua's eyelids twitched, and a segment of sealed memory suddenly floated into his mind. That was during his travels, by the side of the Si River, when he asked Puppet Grandpa for martial arts... Puppet Grandpa spread out his palm, and a fireball appeared... The fireball presented a light red gaseous form, then followed the guidance of divine sense, and the spirit power compressed inwards, condensing into a deep red fire silk. The fire silk contained astonishing spirit power, floating in the air. After that, another fireball was born in Puppet Grandpa's palm, and that fireball was again condensed into a fire silk. After that, another fireball, condensed into a fire silk... After ten or so rounds, there were no longer any fireballs in Puppet Grandpa's palm, but more than ten deep red, astonishingly scorching fire silks. Finally, these fire silks intertwined, condensing into a small fireball.

This Fireball Technique, with intertwined spirit silks, was more like a spirit power line ball woven with flame as the thread, rather than a fireball. Multiple compressions, spirit power restructuring. It seemed to be a simple Fireball Technique, but it revealed something strange. Puppet Grandpa casually waved, and this fireball quickly flew out, falling into the river. The surface of the river instantly boiled up. A large river, a huge lake surface, was evaporated into a large hole by this small Fireball Technique. The surrounding water vapor formed clouds and fog, and hot air rose. A moment later, the river water poured back. The originally calm river surface formed a huge vortex...

This scene replayed non-stop in Mo Hua's mind. At the same time, Puppet Grandpa's words echoed in his ears: "The principles of complex martial arts often hide in the most simple, most ordinary things..." Multiple compressions, spirit power restructuring, condensing into a fireball, containing huge power... Mo Hua was shocked in his heart: "What kind of Fireball Technique is this..."

(End of Chapter)