Chapter 980: Lonely Mountain Formation

On the Lonely Mountain above, the Gu family's large-scale spirit mechanisms stand tall. Amidst the buzzing rumble, huge spirit mechanism arms, like a giant's arms, are excavating the mountainside, digging out mine shafts. They are re-leveling the collapsed Lonely Mountain, and according to Mo Hua's plan, reshaping it into a foundation as the root of an array.

Mo Hua intends to rebuild a grand array on the Lonely Mountain. This array, of course, has not yet reached the level of a big array. To build a second-grade big array, even with Mo Hua's divine sense strength, is far from enough. Besides, the huge manpower, material resources, long time, and vast consumption of spirit stones and spirit ink are all things Mo Hua cannot afford. What Mo Hua is building is only a large-scale compound array.

But this compound array is extremely large in scale, covering most of the Lonely Mountain. Its array patterns are diverse, with complete Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, and it needs to be compatible with various array patterns. In a sense, it can be called a "prototype" of a big array. This is what Mo Hua is using for "practice." He cannot build a second-grade big array now, so he can only settle for the next best thing and use a large-scale compound array to build a pseudo big array.

Although it is a "pseudo big array," because of its immense volume, the difficulty is also extremely high. This requires an extremely deep foundation in arrays, extremely profound array knowledge, and the control of a great number of second-grade arrays. Besides, to build a large-scale compound array, the array master also needs to have a grand vision, to schedule, arrange, and control the array's main outline, overall array hub, core array eye, and array compatibility from a macro level. Truly having this kind of ability, or relevant experience, among array masters, is countable on one's fingers.

After leaving Lonely Mountain, Mo Hua returned to the sect and had actually been contemplating this matter all along. Whenever he had free time, he was planning the diagram for this large-scale compound array on Lonely Mountain. And after pondering for a period of time, Mo Hua finally drew out the array diagram. After the compound array diagram was well-planned, Mo Hua was not quite at ease and even specifically went to consult Xun Lao Mister for his opinion.

When Xun Lao Mister saw this large-scale Lonely Mountain array diagram, his inner emotions were hard to describe. He also saw that this was actually a "prototype" of a big array. Only due to current limitations in ability and the scarcity of manpower, material resources, and financial resources, it was changed to a second-grade compound array. But the grand conception and the outline of a big array were clearly visible within it. Especially in the eyes of a profound fifth-grade array master like Xun Lao Mister, just one glance was enough to see that it contained big array techniques.

Xun Lao Mister thought of the news he had initially heard from Tongxian City, and a huge wave suddenly stirred in his heart again. "This child back then... is it really possible that he primarily built a first-grade big array?" The main array master of a first-grade big array... At that time, how old was he? Xun Lao Mister was somewhat stunned and lost in thought.

He sighed slightly, then repeatedly examined Mo Hua's Lonely Mountain array diagram. He pointed out several mistakes, improved several nodes, deleted several array hubs... then, like drawing a dragon and dotting its eyes, he made the entire array diagram more concise and perfect. Mo Hua carefully pondered afterwards and benefited greatly, admiring Xun Lao Mister's array attainments even more. And with Xun Lao Mister's "correction," Mo Hua then completely relaxed.

He began to formally proceed according to this array diagram, unfolding his own plan to practice his concept of a large-scale compound array, thus step by step laying the foundation for himself to build a true second-grade big array in the future. And under Mo Hua's various coordinations, the large-scale Lonely Mountain compound array is now formally under construction. This is "specially permitted" by the Dao Court Department.

This kind of large-scale cultivation project is a "major political achievement," and the Lonely Mountain Dao Court Department is naturally happy to see it succeed. Even Xia Jiancha mobilized the power of the Jiancha and allocated a part of the spirit stones to support the construction of the Lonely Mountain compound array. Besides, the Gu family also provided quite a lot of material resources. The second-grade large-scale spirit mechanisms were basically all called over from the Gu family.

The Gu family is willing to help, partly because the Gu family indeed has a part of the refining industry in Lonely Mountain. Although this industry is very meager, under the efforts of Gu Shifu, it is now the "pillar" of Lonely Mountain City. Without the Gu family's refining workshop, a large number of people in Lonely Mountain City would starve to death. The Gu family has an upright family style, and with this reason, they naturally will not sit idly by. What's more, this is an "array project" coordinated by Mo Hua. Not looking at the monk's face but the Buddha's face, they must also grant Mo Hua this favor.

Wenren Wan, with her heart set on Mo Hua, also helped out quite a bit. As a direct daughter of the Wenren family and the young madam of the Shangguan family, she even contributed a part of the compound array construction's expenditure from her own pocket. As for manpower, it is mostly from the scattered cultivators of Lonely Mountain City. The scattered cultivators of Lonely Mountain City are extremely poor, mostly living hand to mouth. Mo Hua then "worked as a substitute for relief," borrowing the building of the large-scale Lonely Mountain compound array to give them something to do. And as long as they helped, no matter how much effort, they would have a meal to eat. Even those weak, lonely, and helpless orphans, as long as they helped move a few stones, could also have a full meal.

The next problem is the array. A large-scale compound array contains a large number of arrays, although not comparable to a big array, it is also far vaster than a general array project. Drawing these arrays, even for Mo Hua, would take quite a lot of time. But he doesn't have that much time, and it's also impossible for him to stay in Lonely Mountain for too long. But if he hired other array masters, he would need to spend quite a lot of spirit stones, and Mo Hua is also not at ease. After thinking it over and over, Mo Hua came up with a good idea.

He went to find Xun Lao Mister again and said he wanted to give his little junior brothers and little junior sisters an opportunity for array practice. Xun Lao Mister understood Mo Hua's meaning. After pondering for a while, his eyes brightened, and he happily agreed. This is indeed a good opportunity. Arrays cannot be "discussed on paper"; the most important thing is to "learn and apply." But in the sect, there are not many opportunities to learn and apply. Lonely Mountain City is a good chance.

At the same time, this is also a matter that benefits one side and is extremely meaningful, which is very in line with the purpose of Taixu Sect. Xun Lao Mister nodded and said, "You go ahead and arrange everything." Thus, a few days later, still during class time, Mo Hua simply brought a group of little junior brothers from Taixu Sect to Lonely Mountain for "extracurricular array practice." This group of little junior brothers has special talents in the path of arrays and also aspire to become excellent array masters in the future. Although they have profound family learning, they have always drawn arrays on paper. This is almost the first time they have actually participated in building such a grand-scale cultivation project, and they feel both novel and interesting.

This matter is led by Mo Hua, this "little senior brother." Mo Hua even allocated a part of his already overflowing, and currently seemingly fundamentally unusable, merits as their "remuneration" for drawing arrays. Therefore, all the disciples drew very seriously. They originally had profound family learning, were able to enter Taixu Sect, and were all the "outstanding ones" of their respective families, array geniuses. In Taixu Sect, they also studied arrays diligently, so the arrays they drew were both fast and good. Quite a few disciples also competed in secret, comparing who drew faster and who drew better. Everyone was full of fighting spirit.

But soon, they personally saw Mo Hua drawing arrays. In the sect, it was all on paper, one by one drawing. Mo Hua drew fast, but it just looked like that. But here in Lonely Mountain, in this kind of large-scale array project, where a vast quantity of arrays is needed, they witnessed Mo Hua's true "terror." Mo Hua held the pen, and the pen moved like flowing clouds and water, like a walking dragon and snake. While others had just drawn down several array patterns, he had already outlined a string of arrays.

His pen technique was pure and masterful, the array patterns neat and exquisite, as if copied from the array diagram, without a single mistake. He was rottenly familiar with the array diagrams in his heart, skillful to the extreme, not even needing to look. And he was alarmingly fast. No matter what array, with the spirit ink winding, in a few breaths, it would link into an array from Mo Hua's pen. A naturally formed aura flowed in the arrays, making people sigh in admiration. All the disciples were stunned.

They then knew that the little senior brother had still kept a low profile in daily life, and his array strength was far more terrible than they imagined. All the little junior brothers were somewhat dejected. However, after being dejected, they instead gained fighting spirit. With "little senior brother" as an example, even if they couldn't catch up, they couldn't fall too far behind and let little senior brother look down on them. All the disciples, looking at Mo Hua's back, all began to meticulously draw the arrays assigned to them with focused expressions, putting forth their greatest effort to make them both fast and good.

When Mo Hua was tired and stopped to catch his breath, he originally wanted to encourage everyone, but when he turned his head and saw everyone exerting their strength and meticulously drawing arrays, he was surprised and also very gratified. "They are all malleable materials..." With Mo Hua, this "big genius," leading a bunch of Taixu Sect's "little geniuses," the building of the entire Lonely Mountain compound array was extraordinarily fast. In less than ten days, the main body of the array was built.

For some of the subsequent fragmented arrays, Mo Hua could draw them himself casually. He then planned to bring these little junior brothers back to Taixu Sect. Descending from Lonely Mountain, they arrived at Lonely Mountain City. The scenery along the way was not very good. The mountain was desolate, and the city was dilapidated. There were scattered cultivators in rags with sallow faces on the street, and orphans who were like black charcoal, skin and bones. Zheng Fang frowned tightly, hesitated for a long time, and finally slowly opened his mouth to ask Mo Hua: "Little senior brother, how can these cultivators... be so poor and miserable?"

When they came, they were riding carriages, and Lonely Mountain was also undergoing closed construction above, so they didn't truly see the scenery inside the city. Other disciples of Taixu Sect also all looked towards Mo Hua, their eyes showing intolerance. Mo Hua was startled and asked, "Have you all... never seen cultivators like this before?" Zheng Fang said "um," and the others also all nodded. Mo Hua's gaze paused slightly, then he understood.

Zheng Fang and the others are all children of family clans. Even if their origins are not good, they are protected by their families and can be considered to "live in luxury." They associate with all family clan children, and the places they go in and out of are either big family clans, big sects, or prosperous immortal cities. It's not that they haven't seen poor people. In big and small immortal cities, there are some poor cultivators who dress simply, eat plainly, cannot afford famous spirit tools, and don't have much spirit stones to cultivate. This, in their cognition, are already very poor cultivators.

But the truly "poor and miserable" still far exceeded their imagination. Just as poor people cannot imagine how truly "rich" the rich are, the rich also cannot imagine how truly "poor and miserable" the poor are. Mo Hua's mood was somewhat complex. Zheng Fang asked, "Little senior brother, how many such poor people are there?" Mo Hua was silent for a moment, and could only conservatively say, "In this world, at least more than half are such cultivators." Among the remaining half, most may live a bit better, but not by much. They still have to worry about their livelihood and suffer for cultivation. True family clan children are only a very small number.

But the Nine Provinces are too big, and there are too many cultivators. Although the proportion of family clan children is small, their number is definitely not small. When they gather together and interact with each other, they will have the illusion that everyone around is prosperous, and the world's clans are full of splendid halls. But prosperity is only one corner. Beneath the prosperity, more real cruelty is covered up. These little junior brothers also tore open a corner of prosperity for the first time and saw the most poor and miserable truth of this world. Everyone was somewhat silent for a time.

Seeing the situation, Mo Hua sighed slightly. These disciples are all children of family clans and may also eagerly pursue fame and fortune when they grow up. But at least at this time, they are inexperienced and still have a sincere heart and will feel pity for the poor and miserable in this world. Mo Hua then smiled gently and comforted them: "The arrays you drew in Lonely Mountain will be used as a foundation to build a large mine shaft, providing a future for these poor scattered cultivators in Lonely Mountain City and allowing them to gradually live better lives."

"Perceive the heavenly way, benefit all living beings..." "Your arrays have changed their circumstances and also changed their fates, even the fates of several generations thereafter." "This is the wonder of arrays, and also the 'way' that array masters seek throughout their lives..." Including Zheng Fang, all the disciples were slightly stunned, then their gazes gradually brightened. "Perceive the heavenly way, benefit all living beings..." This sentence touched their hearts and was also like a seed, left in their hearts, gradually taking root and sprouting.

After sending off Zheng Fang and the others, Mo Hua did not return to Taixu Sect but arrived at the refining workshop in Lonely Mountain City. The large-scale compound array on Lonely Mountain is only the first step. The original ores of Lonely Mountain had been almost mined out, but the Shen family, disregarding everything, blew up half of Lonely Mountain, exposing some ores that were buried underground or previously difficult to mine. These ores are naturally not as precious as Minghuang Copper Mine, but after refining, they will also have quite good gains, enough for the scattered cultivators of Lonely Mountain City to make a living.

But the key lies in "refining." The large-scale compound array on Lonely Mountain is for restructuring the mine shaft, just like what Mo Hua did in Nanyue City initially. But Lonely Mountain is already very barren, so the mined ores still need to be further "refined." Refining requires more advanced arrays. Without exception, these arrays are all second-grade high-rank arrays, even including a part of second-grade nineteen-pattern arrays. Currently, among the disciples of the same session in Taixu Sect, only Mo Hua can draw them.

These arrays are drawn on a large-scale furnace. Thereafter, the ores mined from Lonely Mountain will all be sent to the refining workshop and refined into more pure spirit ores through this large-scale furnace, and then processed through refining. Gu Shifu, leading all the refining masters, has already preliminarily built the furnace. The huge furnace, like a strange beast that can swallow and spit ores, almost occupies one large half of the refining workshop. After that, Mo Hua will draw the arrays needed for the furnace one by one, and then it will be considered completed.

Nineteen-pattern arrays are in the public category, the extreme of second-grade arrays. For ordinary second-grade array masters, drawing this kind of array is extremely difficult. But Mo Hua's divine thought has already formed a core, so drawing these arrays is roughly like eating and drinking for him; he doesn't spend much effort. And although this furnace is large, its volume is definitely not comparable to the compound array of Lonely Mountain. Therefore, although quite a few arrays are involved, this quantity can be solved by the array "monster" Mo Hua alone.

After spending some time roughly drawing the arrays on the furnace, Mo Hua then let Gu Shifu dismiss everyone and stayed in the furnace himself, preparing to draw the last array. This is an absolute array. Second-grade twenty patterns, secondary thunder flow array. This is the Yuan magnetic absolute array that Wenren Wan secretly took out from the Shangguan family and gave to Mo Hua, and also the first second-grade absolute array that Mo Hua has mastered. He doesn't know if it's because he traced back the source of the thunder magnetic array flow and comprehended a part of the origin of thunder magnetic, but he learned this "secondary thunder flow absolute array" unexpectedly smoothly, fundamentally not spending much time.

And the function of this secondary thunder flow array is actually also simple, it just directionally derives "secondary thunder flow" through the array. But secondary thunder flow covers an extremely broad range, and its uses are also varied. Mo Hua specifically went to consult Zheng Elder and then understood that this secondary thunder flow array is unexpectedly a "production" class absolute array. Its derived secondary thunder flow has only one use, which is to magnetize ink-class ores to generate "magnetic ink." Magnetic ink is very precious. Therefore, arrays for producing "magnetic ink" are also extremely rare.

But Mo Hua had never expected before that this secondary thunder flow array of the Shangguan family was unexpectedly for producing magnetic ink. However, big families all operate various different industries, so it is not strange for the Shangguan family to collect this kind of industry array. This array seems to have been bestowed by the Dao Court, and there are probably other reasons inside, but it involves the Shangguan family and the Dao Court, so Mo Hua just doesn't know. He only needs to learn this array and then learn and apply it.

Moreover, this absolute array was given to him by Wan Aunt. Now, he will use this absolute array in the Gu family's refining workshop, and a part of the gains produced will also be fed back to Wan Aunt, considered as returning the favor. After thinking about it, Mo Hua began to draw this second-grade twenty-pattern secondary thunder flow array on the last furnace. Thus, this last small furnace also became a "magnetic ink furnace." It's just that on the surface, no one can see it. No one knows that Mo Hua, inside the furnace of this Lonely Mountain refining workshop, secretly painted an absolute array. Even Gu Shifu doesn't know.

Mo Hua only told him that this last furnace can produce a small amount of precious magnetic ink. But there are many methods for producing magnetic ink, and they are very confidential, so Gu Shifu doesn't understand much either. He only sighs in admiration at Mo Hua's array attainments that turn decay into magic. Mo Hua then instructed Gu Shifu: "Behind this magnetic ink furnace, where the ink stone is magnetized, there is a jade slip. It probably needs to be replaced once a month. Remember to keep the replaced jade slip well and bring it to me when you have time."

"Jade slip?" Gu Shifu didn't understand much but didn't ask more. Although Mo Hua is only in the Foundation Building stage, in Gu Shifu's eyes, he is already considered a profound "expert." Especially after experiencing the trip to Lonely Mountain, Mo Hua is even more profound in Gu Shifu's eyes. Gu Shifu solemnly said: "Young master, rest assured, I will certainly remember." Mo Hua nodded satisfactorily. These jade slips are of great use to him.

The "magnetic ink furnace" drives the array through spirit stones, producing secondary thunder flow to "magnetize" ores and generate "magnetic ink." Where there is secondary thunder flow, naturally there will be secondary thunder patterns. These secondary thunder patterns are generated and react within the magnetic ink furnace and will finally be recorded one by one on jade slips by Mo Hua. These secondary thunder patterns are a completely different kind of array pattern. Mo Hua will use the secondary thunder patterns on these jade slips to deeply trace back the source of the thunder magnetic array flow from another angle.

In other words, once this magnetic ink furnace operates, it will produce magnetic ink, increasing the gains for the refining workshop. At the same time, it will also continuously produce large amounts of "secondary thunder patterns" for Mo Hua. These secondary thunder patterns will provide rich thunder magnetic materials to facilitate Mo Hua to trace back the source of the thunder magnetic array flow more quickly and conveniently, strengthening his "thunder magnetic little person."

(End of this chapter)