Artifact Refining

The next day, Mo Hua did not practice the Molten Fire Array. Instead, he took Spirit Stones to Chen's Smithy and found Master Chen.

Master Chen was somewhat surprised to see Mo Hua. When he heard that Mo Hua truly intended to refine a stove, he was even more astonished.

"Are you really planning to refine a stove?"

"Of course. But I only need a small one, about four feet tall. The materials need not be too expensive either—sturdy and durable will do."

Master Chen nodded. "That works out well. If you wanted a large stove, I might not even have enough hands here. Yours seems to be for home use, and we're all neighbors, so I'll pick some cheap but useful materials for you. I guarantee it will be affordable and durable."

Mo Hua said happily, "Thank you, Master Chen!"

"However..." Master Chen looked at Mo Hua, then glanced behind him in puzzlement.

"Where are your father and mother? Refining a stove isn't a small matter. An adult should be the one to make the decision."

Mo Hua patted his chest. "My father said to leave it to me. If there's anything, Master Chen, just talk to me."

Master Chen looked at little Mo Hua and nodded. "Sure enough, poor children take charge of the household early."

After saying that, he frowned, hesitated for a moment, but still said:

"Did you bring the deposit? The stove materials cost one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones. Refining will take twenty days, at five Spirit Stones a day, so the Artifact Refining fee is one hundred Spirit Stones. The deposit is the materials fee—you'll need to pay one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones upfront. The Artifact Refining fee can be settled after it's finished."

"Mhm, I brought it."

Mo Hua took a heavy Storage Bag from his robes. Opening it, he revealed Spirit Stones that were crystal-clear and gleaming within.

For an ordinary Rogue Cultivator family, this sum of Spirit Stones was a fortune, yet this child had simply carried it around in his clothes...

Master Chen accepted the Storage Bag with a complicated expression. He counted them and found exactly one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones. Then he took out a Spirit Contract and wrote down the materials for refining the stove, the costs, and the delivery date.

Spirit Contracts were universally recognized in the cultivation world as proof of agreements. Every Spirit Contract was specially made, difficult to destroy or forge, and served as evidence for cultivators' transactions involving Spirit Stones and property. Should a dispute arise, they could seek judgment from an authoritative cultivator or ask the Dao Court Office to mediate.

The Spirit Contract was made in duplicate. Master Chen signed his own name, then handed it to Mo Hua.

Mo Hua signed his name as well. Each of them kept one copy as proof of the Artifact Refining delivery.

Master Chen had originally wanted Mo Hua to sign his father's name, but after thinking it over, he said nothing. Since Mo Hua's parents had entrusted him with the matter, his signature was the same.

Beneath the Heavenly Dao, all living beings were equal. Regardless of cultivation level or age, once a Spirit Contract was signed, it counted.

"Mo Hua..."

Seeing the dignified yet elegant handwriting on the Spirit Contract, Master Chen finally learned that the child before him was named "Mo Hua." Looking at his features again, the boy indeed had red lips, white teeth, and brows and eyes like a painting. The name suited him quite well.

And with a fairly substantial deal concluded, ensuring that his livelihood would not be a concern for more than half a month, Master Chen found Mo Hua more and more pleasing to the eye.

"Little brother, the Spirit Contract is signed. We'll begin Artifact Refining tomorrow and make sure to finish yours as quickly as possible. If you have time, you can come by and check the progress, or even learn a little Artifact Refining. I normally don't let anyone who isn't an apprentice in the shop watch."

"Alright, alright! Thank you, Master Chen!"

Mo Hua was quite interested in Artifact Refining. Though he might never refine a single Spirit Artifact in his lifetime, he could still learn the related knowledge—the more, the better. This kind of practical Artifact Refining craft was not something sects taught either.

Over the next few days, Mo Hua continued practicing the Molten Fire Array Technique as usual. Whenever he had free time, he would run to the smithy to check on the stove's progress and ask about Artifact Refining along the way.

Master Chen did not hold anything back and answered every question. After a few days of contact, he was both astonished by Mo Hua's talent for learning and regretful over Mo Hua's poor aptitude for body cultivation.

He had seen children born weak before, but rarely one this frail. Mo Hua could not even swing an Artifact Refining hammer.

Otherwise, Master Chen truly would have wanted to accept Mo Hua as his disciple.

After watching Artifact Refining for several days, Mo Hua had two purposes. First, he wanted to learn some common knowledge about Artifact Refining. Second, he wanted to correct the brushwork and dimensions of the Molten Fire Array.

Usually, Array Techniques were drawn on paper. He could practice them repeatedly, and if he made a mistake, it did not matter—he could simply use another sheet.

But now he needed to draw it on a stove. If he slipped up for even a moment, he could hardly ask Master Chen to refine another one...

Therefore, Mo Hua needed to become thoroughly familiar with the stove's construction and frequently visit the smithy to observe its progress.

One morning, after drinking the porridge his mother had personally cooked, Mo Hua practiced Array Techniques for a while. Before the sun grew fierce, he leisurely made his way once more to Chen's Smithy.

Yet when he arrived, he found that the normally bustling shop was unusually deserted today. There were neither loud calls nor the clang-clang of hammering iron.

Mo Hua walked into the rear courtyard and saw Master Chen and several apprentices packing things away. The Artifact Refining Furnace had been extinguished, its lid opened, and ashes lay scattered across the ground after being cleaned out.

"Master Chen, what happened?"

Seeing Mo Hua, Master Chen said apologetically, "Little brother, I'm sorry. The Artifact Refining Furnace broke down. The stove you ordered may have to be delayed."

"The Artifact Refining Furnace broke?"

Master Chen wore a troubled expression as well. "This Artifact Refining Furnace has been around for many years. It had some minor problems before, but after patching and repairing it, it could still barely be used. Yet when I came in today, it simply wouldn't light. Sigh..."

"Can't it be repaired?" Mo Hua asked.

Master Chen shook his head. "Before, the problem was with the external parts of the Artifact Refining Furnace, so I could still repair it. Now, though, the internal Array Technique has probably gone wrong. There's nothing I can do about that. We can only ask a master from another Artifact Refining Pavilion to take a look. If we have to hire an Array Master to repair the Array Technique as well, that will cost quite a few Spirit Stones..."

"An Array Technique?" Mo Hua's spirits rose. "Can I take a look?"

Master Chen was startled. "Look at what?"

"I want to look at the Array Technique."

"What do you want to look at the Array Technique for?" Master Chen asked doubtfully. "Do you understand Array Techniques?"

Mo Hua said, "I learned some Array Techniques from my instructor at the sect. Let me see if there's anything I can help with. At the very least, I can help determine whether the Array Technique is the problem."

Master Chen was half-convinced and half-doubtful. Thinking that the Artifact Refining Furnace was broken anyway and there was nothing to lose by letting him look, he said, "Alright. I'll have them dismantle the Artifact Refining Furnace completely and let you see the Array Technique inside."

After saying that, he and the apprentices got to work, dismantling the Artifact Refining Furnace piece by piece.

The Artifact Refining Furnace stood as tall as two men and had been refined from all kinds of Refined Iron, making it immensely heavy. But the apprentices all had decent talent for body cultivation. Tall and broad-shouldered, they worked together without too much difficulty.

Mo Hua knew his own limits well and never even considered helping.

Once the Artifact Refining Furnace was dismantled, they could see the densely packed Array Patterns carved along its inner surface. The Array Patterns were dark red, some obscured by black ash, but upon closer inspection, it was still possible to recognize that the inside of the Artifact Refining Furnace contained a complete fire-element Array Technique.

It was precisely the Molten Fire Array that Mo Hua drew every day, yet had still been unable to complete...