Chapter Summaries

Master Chen and the Artifact Refiners forged three small First-Grade Artifact Refining Furnaces, while Mo Hua added First-Grade Molten Fire Arrays to them. The South City Artifact Refining Guild opened and began producing Spirit Artifacts, giving Mo Hua his first clear view of the cultivation industry.

• Master Chen and the Artifact Refiners devised a plan to practice forging First-Grade Spirit Artifacts before attempting an Artifact Refining Furnace.
• After half a month of setbacks, Master Chen and the Artifact Refiners completed a small First-Grade Artifact Refining Furnace, and Mo Hua determined it could hold only a First-Grade Molten Fire Array.
• Mo Hua drew Molten Fire Arrays on the new furnaces as Master Chen and the Artifact Refiners forged two more, leaving the guild with four furnaces in total.
• Elder Yu officially opened the South City Artifact Refining Guild, where Monster Hunters and Rogue Cultivators celebrated its launch.
• The Artifact Refiners began producing Vine Armor, Broadswords, and Mind-Clearing Hairpins, and Mo Hua toured the guild and saw how cultivation goods were made.

Mo Hua learned that the Qian Family was trying to crush the Artifact Refining Guild by selling Spirit Artifacts at a loss. Elder Yu revealed his plan to outlast them while poaching their workers and cutting off their supplies.

• Mo Hua heard Elder Yu cursing Qian Hong, then learned that the Qian Family had undercut the Artifact Refining Guild’s Spirit Artifact prices.
• Elder Yu explained that Mo Hua’s superior Array Technique gave their large Artifact Refining Furnace better quality and output, allowing them to endure the Qian Family’s price cuts.
• Elder Yu said he had offered the Qian Family’s hired Artifact Refiners better pay and working conditions to draw them away.
• Elder Yu had told Monster Hunters to sell their materials to his guild and warned Rogue Cultivator markets not to do business with the Qian Family.
• Mo Hua praised Elder Yu as sinister after hearing how he planned to deprive the Qian Family of both workers and materials.

Elder Yu’s plans helped the Monster Hunters’ Artifact Refining Guild compete with the Qian Family, and the quality of its Spirit Artifacts led Master Qian to recognize Mo Hua as a genuine First-Grade Array Master. While the Qian Family considered how to approach him, Mo Hua inspected the Alchemy Guild’s plans and chatted with Master Ban.

• Elder Yu explained that plans required adapting to circumstances, and credited Mo Hua with giving the Monster Hunters more leverage against the Qian Family.
• Some Artifact Refiners and Monster Hunters joined Elder Yu’s efforts, while Qian Hong struggled to understand how Yu Changlin kept undercutting the Qian Family’s Spirit Artifact prices.
• Master Qian examined the rival Spirit Artifacts and concluded that their maker was a genuine First-Grade Array Master.
• Master Qian told Qian Hong to identify the Array Master without offending him, and warned that the cultivator might know powerful Array Techniques beyond the three already revealed.
• Mo Hua checked the Alchemy Guild’s Array Diagrams, then sat on a wall eating a chicken leg and talking with Master Ban about life and other regions.

Mo Hua completed the Alchemy Guild’s Array Techniques, and Elder Feng discovered that the Artifact Refining Furnace used a First-Grade Compound Array. Elder Feng’s inherited forging diagram let Master Chen and the other craftsmen produce a large alchemy furnace, though only after several failed attempts.

• Mo Hua finished the Alchemy Guild’s Array Techniques and brought Elder Feng to inspect the new building.
• Elder Feng recognized the Artifact Refining Furnace’s First-Grade Compound Array and asked Mo Hua to make him an alchemy furnace.
• Mo Hua explained that he needed a suitable furnace as an Array Medium, and Elder Feng found a large furnace forging diagram inherited from his sect.
• Mo Hua took the diagram to Master Chen, who agreed to discuss forging it with the other craftsmen and asked Elder Yu to supply the materials.
• Master Chen and the craftsmen studied the diagram, failed several times, and eventually forged the alchemy furnace with some flaws.

Mo Hua inscribed a First-Grade Fire-Wood Twin Compound Array on Elder Feng’s alchemy furnace and received Elder Feng’s treasured Dan Jade. The furnace successfully refined pills with enhanced medicinal efficacy, leaving Elder Feng and the other alchemists excited about their new Alchemy Guild.

• Mo Hua practiced and inscribed the First-Grade Fire-Wood Twin Compound Array on the dismantled alchemy furnace while Elder Feng watched.
• Elder Feng gave Mo Hua his Dan Jade, explaining that he hoped it would keep Mo Hua safe and help him grow up in peace.
• Mo Hua completed the compound array two days later and invited Elder Feng to open the furnace.
• Elder Feng and several alchemists tested the furnace, whose flames surpassed an ordinary Qi Refining Stage cultivator’s Lingli.
• Elder Feng refined Blood Qi Pills in the furnace, and the pure flames increased their medicinal efficacy by more than ten percent.

Mo Hua finished drawing the array techniques for the Artifact Refining Guild and Alchemy Guild, then headed home to rest. Meanwhile, the Qian and An Families speculated about the identity of the Array Master behind the guilds, with Old Master An suspecting the child who had once seen through his family's array techniques.

• Mo Hua completed the guilds’ array techniques, strengthened his understanding of Compound Arrays, and headed home after using much of his Monster Blood.
• Qian Shunzhi told Qian Hong and Master Qian that Monster Hunters spoke of a young, ten-year-old “Little Array Master” surnamed Mo, and Master Qian suspected the Array Master opposing them was connected to the child.
• Qian Hong ordered Qian Shunzhi to investigate unfamiliar cultivators indirectly, while Master Qian asked him to obtain some of the Little Array Master’s array techniques.
• Old Master An and An Yonglu surveyed the nearly completed guilds and worried that the An Family would lose ground in Artifact Refining and Alchemy.
• After An Yonglu remarked on the sophistication of the guild’s array techniques, Old Master An wondered whether the Array Master was the child who had once seen through the An Family’s arrays.

After learning that the Qian Family was asking about Array Masters, Mo Hua informed Mr. Zhuang and was reassured that he could not be found. Mo Hua then befriended An Xiaofu, accepted gifts from the An Family, and treated him to a meal at his family’s eatery, where An Xiaofu was impressed by the food and identified its seasonings.

• Elder Yu warned Mo Hua that someone was asking about Array Masters, and Mo Hua worried the Qian Family might target Mr. Zhuang.
• Mo Hua told Mr. Zhuang what had happened, and Mr. Zhuang assured him that the Qian Family could not find him.
• Mr. Zhuang praised Mo Hua for learning two First-Grade Compound Arrays and told him to study more arrays until he reached Seventh-Layer Qi Refining.
• An Xiaofu admitted that his grandfather and father had sent him to approach Mo Hua and gave him a Storage Bag of Array Manuals, brushes, and Spirit Ink.
• Mo Hua accepted An Xiaofu’s gifts and brought him to his family’s eatery, where Liu Ruhua served them a meal.
• An Xiaofu savored the demon beast meat, identified several seasonings, and modestly said he could not compare with Mo Hua’s Array Techniques.

Mo Hua considered how An Xiaofu’s exceptional sense of taste might be useful while learning about the An Family’s Spirit Meal Pavilion. Meanwhile, the Qian Family searched for the mysterious First-Grade Array Master, and Master Luo arrived to join their discussion.

• An Xiaofu told Mo Hua that his family had turned to running a Spirit Meal Pavilion after losing its Artifact Refining and Alchemy businesses to the Qian Family, and explained that many cultivators looked down on such trades.
• Mo Hua defended trades like Spirit Meals and Spirit Planting, then wondered whether An Xiaofu’s sense of taste could lead to a useful role.
• Qian Shunzhi reported several possible leads to Qian Hong, who dismissed them and ordered him to investigate further.
• Qian Shunzhi brought Array Diagrams drawn by the Monster Hunters’ Little Array Master to Master Qian, and the assembled Array Masters suspected the child had a connection to the First-Grade Array Master they sought.
• Master Luo arrived at the Qian Family’s Library, greeted the Array Masters, and took the seat of honor before they began discussing serious matters.

Master Luo examined the Little Array Master's Cold Qi Array and concluded its brushwork showed the divine sense and Array Hub mastery of a First-Grade Array Master. When Master Qian revealed the Array Master's surname was Mo, Master Luo remembered Mo Hua, the young student Instructor Yan had once asked him to teach, and suspected they were the same person.

• Master Qian told Master Luo that the Qian Family wanted to befriend the unknown First-Grade Array Master or at least keep him neutral, and described the Little Array Master and his techniques.
• Master Luo studied the techniques, drew the Cold Qi Array's patterns on the table, and said the person who drew it was likely a First-Grade Array Master.
• Master Qian and the other Array Masters tried copying the Cold Qi Array in one stroke and found that it consumed immense divine sense, strengthening their belief that the Little Array Master was at least near First Grade.
• Master Qian said the unknown Array Master's surname was Mo, prompting Master Luo to recall Instructor Yan's request that he teach Mo Hua two years earlier.
• Master Luo suspected Mo Hua and the Little Array Master were the same person, then tried to steady himself as he realized the young man might already be a First-Grade Array Master.

Qian Hong secretly ordered Qian Shunzhi to arrange Mo Hua’s murder, but Monster Hunters caught the ambushers before they could attack. Mo Hua was left safe, while Old Zhao planned to send the Qian Family cultivators to the Dao Court Office.

• Qian Hong rejected Master Qian’s caution and ordered Qian Shunzhi to recruit Ninth-Layer Qi Refining cultivators to kill Mo Hua.
• Qian Shunzhi disguised the recruited cultivators as merchants and set an ambush for Mo Hua at a South Street Tea House.
• Mo Hua sensed the ambushers’ hostility and prepared array techniques, but turned to leave before they could strike.
• Old Zhao and other Monster Hunters restrained the Qian Family cultivators, then defeated and bound them after a fight.
• Mo Hua thanked Old Zhao, who said they would beat the captives and take them to the Dao Court Office, then gave Mo Hua the jade Talismans they had carried.

Mo Hua accepted three powerful talismans from Old Zhao and remained under Elder Yu’s protection as Qian Hong’s attempts to harm him repeatedly failed. Master Luo, curious about Mo Hua’s remarkable array talent, met him at the Alchemy Guild and was struck by his extraordinary divine sense.

• Mo Hua accepted two Blazing Flame Talismans and one Golden Sword Talisman from Old Zhao, then went home to study how to use them.
• Elder Yu repeatedly protected Mo Hua from Qian Hong’s hired cultivators, who were beaten and taken to the Dao Court Office.
• Qian Hong considered hiring Foundation Establishment cultivators but decided to keep using Qi Refining cultivators for now.
• Master Luo learned that Mo Hua was the Little Array Master and asked Elder Feng to arrange a meeting with him.
• Master Luo met Mo Hua at the Alchemy Guild and sensed that his Sea of Consciousness and divine sense were extraordinary.

Mo Hua met Master Luo, who recognized his skill as a First-Grade Array Master and exchanged array insights with him. After Elder Feng showed Master Luo Mo Hua’s First-Grade Compound Array on the Alchemy Guild’s furnace, Master Luo regretted refusing to take Mo Hua as his disciple.

• Mo Hua explained to Master Luo how his Five Elements array layouts could muddle divine sense, and Master Luo gave him an Array Manual in return.
• Master Luo praised Mo Hua’s talent, and Elder Feng asked him to speak up for Mo Hua if the Qian Family caused trouble.
• Master Luo objected that Mo Hua could not yet help him advance in Array Technique, but Elder Feng led him to the Alchemy Guild’s furnace.
• Master Luo recognized the furnace’s array as a First-Grade Compound Array and realized Mo Hua had achieved something he had never mastered.
• Master Luo returned to his Cave Abode and regretted refusing Instructor Yan’s earlier request to take Mo Hua as his disciple.

Master Luo persuaded Master Qian to distance himself from the Qian Family’s efforts against Mo Hua and seek guidance from him in Array Techniques. Master Qian confronted Qian Hong, then began keeping his distance from him while avoiding an open break with the clan.

• Master Luo told Master Qian that the Array Masters would stop making things difficult for Mo Hua and warned him to consider his future if the Qian Family declined.
• Master Luo convinced Master Qian that Mo Hua’s Array Techniques could help him advance, and advised him to stay out of the clan’s dispute and send Mo Hua gifts.
• Master Qian agreed to let Master Luo explain the situation to Mo Hua and deliver the gifts.
• Master Qian confronted Qian Hong over ignoring his advice and sending men to kill Mo Hua, and the two parted on bad terms.
• Qian Hong became wary of alienating Master Qian, while Master Qian gradually distanced himself from him.

Mo Hua learned that Chief Administrator Zhou wanted to meet him because of his formation skills and his role in building the Artifact Refining Guild and Alchemy Guild. Two days later, Mo Hua went with Zhang Lan to the Dao Court Office, where he began his visit but was not allowed to see the underground Dao Prison.

• Mo Hua spent time at the eatery with An Xiaofu, who enjoyed chatting with the other cultivators there.
• Zhang Lan told Mo Hua that Chief Administrator Zhou wanted to meet him, explaining that Mo Hua’s formations and guild-building work had brought Zhou considerable achievements.
• Mo Hua asked Zhang Lan about meeting Zhou and joked that a Chief Administrator surnamed Fu would rank as a Deputy Chief Administrator.
• Two days later, Mo Hua followed Zhang Lan through the old, solemn Dao Court Office.
• Mo Hua wanted to see the underground Dao Prison, but Zhang Lan refused to let him go.

Mo Hua met Chief Administrator Zhou, who assured him that he had warned the Qian Family not to trouble him. The Qian Family Ancestor told Qian Hong that killing Mo Hua was no longer an option, and Qian Hong reluctantly chose to endure while he considered his next move.

• Zhang Lan brought Mo Hua to meet Chief Administrator Zhou, who praised the boy and told him to focus on studying arrays.
• Chief Administrator Zhou told Mo Hua that he had spoken to the Qian Family and that Mo Hua need not worry about them.
• The Qian Family Ancestor scolded Qian Hong for failing to act earlier and warned that killing Mo Hua now would bring little benefit.
• The Qian Family Ancestor privately worried that he was nearing death and took a medicinal pill to ease his coughing.
• Qian Hong learned how many powerful people and groups supported Mo Hua and realized that attacking him could provoke them all.
• Qian Hong decided that the Qian Family had to endure for now and make long-term plans.

Mo Hua helped An Xiaofu plan a dining hall of his own, and An Xiaofu overcame his fear to ask Old Master An for support. Fortune Meal Pavilion opened on South Street with Mo Hua and An Xiaofu as partners, while Liu Ruhua helped oversee its recipes.

• Mo Hua suggested that An Xiaofu open a Dining Hall of his own and offered to arrange its Stoves and ask Liu Ruhua for recipes.
• After struggling with fear, An Xiaofu asked Old Master An for Spirit Stones, a location, and manpower, and Old Master An agreed.
• An Yonglu accepted the plan after Old Master An told him to support An Xiaofu and preserve his connection with Mo Hua.
• Mo Hua asked Master Chen to forge a large First-Grade Cooking Stove and drew a simplified First-Grade Molten Fire Spirit-Control Compound Array inside it.
• The An Family prepared Fortune Meal Pavilion on South Street, and An Xiaofu took charge of its affairs while Liu Ruhua provided recipes and Mo Hua gave her his share.

Fortune Meal Pavilion opened successfully, giving An Xiaofu a lively role and a dream of expanding his business while helping Rogue Cultivators. As Immortal City prepared for an especially prosperous New Year, Mo Hua reflected on how his knowledge of arrays had helped improve people’s lives.

• Old Master An opened Fortune Meal Pavilion with Liu Ruhua’s recipes, affordable dishes, and a large first-grade stove, and the pavilion quickly filled with customers.
• Mo Hua encouraged An Xiaofu to manage the pavilion in his own friendly way, and An Xiaofu grew more confident as he greeted diners and shared stories.
• An Xiaofu asked Mo Hua whether people would look down on him for running dining pavilions, and Mo Hua urged him to pursue his ambition of feeding people across the Nine Provinces.
• Master Ban finished the Alchemy Guild and thanked Mo Hua before leaving Immortal City with his craftsmen to spend the New Year at home.
• Immortal City celebrated a prosperous New Year, with its cultivation businesses providing Rogue Cultivators with better food, work, and ways to earn Spirit Stones.

Mo Hua delivered Liu Ruhua’s New Year gifts to Mr. Zhuang and Old Kui, then spent the festival enjoying a play and strolling with Da Hu and his friends. After learning how costly ordinary cultivators’ breakthroughs could be, Mo Hua reflected that his own Heavenly Derivation Art required solving a Riddle Array instead, and wondered what awaited him at his next breakthrough.

• Mo Hua brought Liu Ruhua’s food and wine to Mr. Zhuang, chatted with him, and learned that Mr. Zhuang enjoyed their conversations despite preferring quiet.
• Mo Hua gave Old Kui crispy pastries and pine nuts, then played Five Elements Chess with him for half the day.
• Mo Hua watched Da Hu, his brothers, Da Ping, and Da Zhu perform a Monster Fighting Play, then joined them in exploring the festival.
• Mo Hua asked Da Hu and the others about breaking through to late-stage Qi Refining and learned that spiritual objects and pills made repeated attempts difficult for Rogue Cultivators.
• Mo Hua remembered that the Heavenly Derivation Art required no spiritual objects, but that he would need to solve a Riddle Array when he advanced beyond the sixth level of Qi Refining.

Mo Hua spent the days before New Year delivering gifts and returning the goodwill of cultivators who had sent him presents. After receiving gifts from Master Luo and Master Qian, he went to thank Master Luo in person and found a crowd waiting outside the First-Grade Array Master’s residence.

• Mo Hua returned New Year gifts to the old Chief Administrator, Old Master An, and other acquaintances, giving them practical items with arrays he had drawn inside.
• Mo Hua visited Master Chen, who offered to refine a first-grade spiritual artifact for him, but Mo Hua could not decide what to ask for.
• Mo Hua brought Elder Feng a gift and received assorted pills, including Digestive Pills, in return.
• Mo Hua received gifts from Master Luo and Master Qian, accepted Master Qian’s offerings, and prepared gifts to thank Master Luo.
• Mo Hua arrived at Master Luo’s crowded residence and considered returning another day, but one of Master Luo’s disciples spotted him.

Mo Hua visited Master Luo’s mansion, where the Array Masters welcomed him and recognized his deep knowledge of Array Techniques. After Mo Hua left with gifts, Master Luo cautioned Master Qian against probing into the powerful figures who might guide him.

• Master Luo personally welcomed Mo Hua into his mansion, surprising the cultivators gathered outside.
• Master Luo introduced Mo Hua to Master Qian, who addressed him as Little Master Mo after Mo Hua invited him to use his name.
• Mo Hua admired the Array Techniques on display, joined the tea gathering, and impressed the Array Masters with his comments on Array Hubs and Array Patterns.
• Master Luo and Master Qian escorted Mo Hua out with gifts of Array Technique books and fine tea.
• After Mo Hua left, Master Qian wondered who had guided him, and Master Luo advised him not to investigate experts beyond their reach.