“Little senior brother, brother Cheng said you can help me, so he told me to come and ask for your help,” the disciple said very politely.

Beside him, Cheng Mo straightened his chest, raised his head, and nodded: “This boy is called Xie Ling. Like me, he’s from Bingzhou. Although Bingzhou is very big, and my Cheng family and his Xie family have no connection, since we’re both from the same state and are both studying in Qianzhou, we can be considered fellow townsmen. Of course, I want to help him with his problems.”

Cheng Mo patted Xie Ling’s shoulder. Xie Ling smiled gratefully. He was quite a bit shorter than Cheng Mo, and standing beside him, he looked like Cheng Mo’s little brother.

Mo Hua asked curiously, “What’s the matter?”

Xie Ling then said, “I took on several bounties to capture an evil cultivator, but that evil cultivator cultivates superior fire-attribute spells, and his power is extremely strong. None of us are his match.”

“There are also some accessories, which are lighter, more beautiful, and easier to carry. However, this type of spirit tool is fine for normal use, but in actual combat, its defensive effect is far inferior to that of armor.”

“Little young master?”

“Whether they’ve cultivated properly or not, whether they’ve built a foundation or not…”

“This is the basic refining idea for standard spirit tools.”

The entire Tai Xu Gate has no shortage of masters with money.

Master Gu nodded and continued: “This type of spirit tool is relatively troublesome to refine. If it’s customized, the process is even more tedious and the cost is higher. The price is estimated to be…”

After Xie Ling left, Mo Hua pondered for a bit.

Of course, except for Mo Hua…

“Otherwise, if you buy a ‘Water Armor Robe,’ it can only defend against fire and nothing else, which would be too useless.”

Mo Hua sighed in his heart and then thought again: “I also don’t know how Mother is in Tong Xian City. She’s usually busy with the restaurant’s affairs. Is it hard or not hard…”

Mo Hua was a little distracted for a moment.

Xie Ling’s expression brightened, and he quickly nodded, “Thank you, little senior brother!”

“Little senior brother, you…”

“Even if they learned it, temporarily embracing the Buddha’s feet at the last moment means their spell cultivation isn’t deep, and they might not necessarily be able to defend.”

“To defend against fire-attribute spells, the ‘Water Armor Spell’ is naturally better, but none of us have water-attribute spirit roots, so there’s no way to learn it.”

“These two are the most commonly used, and they are also the two types of spirit tool armor that we at Gu Shan Refining Tool Workshop have refined before.”

Cheng Mo patted Xie Ling’s shoulder again, “Quickly thank little senior brother.”

“Going to buy some fire-resistant spirit tools, either the quality isn’t good, or the color isn’t good enough, or the fire resistance isn’t okay, and then it’s too expensive, not worth it…”

But what Xie Ling and the others were primarily afraid of was being killed by fire-attribute spells, so it was best to use spirit tools that defend the body and avoid fire.

If it were a battlefield attack, they could still rely on array disks to set up arrays, use water to extinguish fire, or borrow earth to block fire.

Defending against fire-attribute spells…

Xie Ling was a little troubled, looked at Mo Hua, and asked softly: “The Water Armor Robe costs slightly less and is also lighter. It mainly defends against fire-attribute spells. Its other defensive effects are much worse compared to the Water Armor.”

This type of spirit tool cannot be used by ordinary rogue cultivators.

However, Mo Hua had a doubt, “The Water Armor, does it defend against everything, and then on top of that, its fire resistance is extremely high?”

“The Water Armor costs more. It can defend against both strong physical attacks and spell attacks, and it mainly defends against the burning of fire-attribute spells.”

Only then did Master Gu feel relieved. He involuntarily thought of himself, when he was initially at Tong Xian Gate, drawing arrays for fellow disciples to save spirit stones, and the first gift he bought for his mother was a fire-avoiding hairpin of less than one grade.

Mo Hua was startled, came back to his senses, and smiled: “I suddenly thought of some things. Master Gu, you continue…”

“After all, one is armor, and one is a cloth robe.”

Mo Hua understood, drank a mouthful of sweet Gan Mei juice, and slowly nodded: “I know. Come back in three days.”

Seeing the situation, Master Gu gently called out.

“It doesn’t matter,” Mo Hua said, “They have a lot of spirit stones.”

“First do universal functions, then consider specific effects.”

Master Gu gave Mo Hua several options:

Mo Hua was startled by his words.

Although Xie Ling looked like a little follower, his family background was absolutely not lacking in money.

“And this type of accessory is not cheap either, like Han Shui Jade, fireproof pendants, fire-avoiding hairpins…”

Fire-avoiding hairpin.

Mo Hua had an idea in his heart and went to discuss it with Master Gu again.

Master Gu nodded, “Armor spirit tools must first be ‘armor’, and then consider other uses.”

“This kind of spirit tool with extreme effects has been refined by refining tool workshops before, but this kind of spirit tool is destined not to be suitable for mass cultivators. Few people buy them, sales don’t go up, and the refining tool workshops suffer extremely serious losses. Gradually, no refining tool workshops refined them again…”

Master Gu looked at Mo Hua, “Little young master, you plan to…”

“Yes,” Mo Hua nodded, “We’ll just make this kind of extreme spirit tool.”

“This way, the process will definitely be simpler, the cost will also be lower, and the refining time will also be shorter.”

“And this is originally a customized spirit tool, so it doesn’t need to be good at everything. It only needs one thing and do it to the extreme, and that’s fine.”

Master Gu pondered for a bit, then had an idea, and nodded: “This is the best. Then I’ll follow the little young master’s instructions.”

After that, Mo Hua spent some time designing the refining tool array diagram based on arrays and combining some old refining tool blueprints given by Master Gu. The two discussed for another half a day to perfect the details. Master Gu then went back to work.

Three days later, Xie Ling came to find Mo Hua again. Mo Hua told him that everything was arranged properly, but the spirit tool would take some time to refine. Xie Ling felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted after getting Mo Hua’s confirmation.

About eight days later, Master Gu, according to Mo Hua’s intention, refined five fire-avoiding dao robes, and Mo Hua drew arrays on them. These dao robes had no other uses, they could only avoid fire. But the effect of avoiding fire was almost brought to the extreme.

Mo Hua handed these five fire-avoiding dao robes to Xie Ling. Xie Ling solemnly accepted them and went to capture the evil cultivator who was good at fire spells on the remaining days.

Two days later, the remaining days ended. Xie Ling came to see Mo Hua and also brought four other people. The several people came in front of Mo Hua, all bowed, and said in unison: “Thank you, little senior brother!”

Xie Ling was extremely excited, “We wore the fire-avoiding dao robes that little senior brother gave us and fought with that evil cultivator. When his fire-attribute spells burned on our bodies, we were completely fearless, only feeling a slight burning pain. Compared to before, it was truly a world of difference…”

“Finally, we captured that evil person in the end.”

The other several people also had excited expressions. Although they were in the same batch as Mo Hua, their talent and ability were not considered too outstanding – at least in Tai Xu Gate, compared to a crowd of geniuses, they were not considered too outstanding. Strictly speaking, they were all genius disciples from major clans in the Nine Provinces. But gathered in Qianzhou, where geniuses gather, these geniuses of theirs are no longer so ‘genius’. Although not to the point of blending into the crowd, they are relatively ‘ordinary’. Their pressure is extremely great. Unlike Mo Hua, who has one armor and six bing, and can still have a calm heart, it’s all the same to him. These genius disciples must progress. They carry the expectations of their parents and families, want to learn everything, and want to learn everything well, nothing can be too bad.

Tai Xu Gate has many cultivation lessons, which are very time-consuming. In addition to heavy coursework, their progress in completing bounties will be very slow. Especially some genius disciples who were raised in clans before, although they have good talent, they are not fond of fighting and are not used to killing, so they don’t go out to do bounty tasks many times. Like Xie Ling and the others, although they are already in their third year, they still have very little experience in going out to capture evil cultivators, and their methods are also very crude. Moreover, they are facing evil cultivators who are experienced in battle and cunning in character. It’s inevitable to stumble at the beginning. Now, with the help of the fire-avoiding dao robes, they successfully defeated the ‘strong enemy’, captured the evil cultivator, completed the task, accumulated experience, and earned merit. Several people’s moods couldn’t help but feel a little joyful.

Xie Ling and the others specially invited Mo Hua to eat chicken legs. According to Brother Cheng Mo, what little senior brother likes most is chicken legs. When asking little senior brother for help, they must ‘offer’ chicken legs.

Mo Hua ate chicken legs and chatted with Xie Ling and the others. While chatting, Mo Hua suddenly asked curiously: “Your Xie family in Bingzhou, also has an inheritance?”

Si Tu Jian’s inheritance is the Li Fire Sword Law, Yang Qian Jun’s inheritance is the Yang family spear law, and Cheng Mo, who is also from Bingzhou like Xie Ling,’s inheritance is the Open Mountain Axe Law. But Xie Ling… Mo Hua really didn’t see anything special about him…

Xie Ling then nodded: “Bingzhou has many mountains. Our Xie family in Bingzhou, our family tradition is Kan Yu technique, distinguishing the qi veins of mountains and rivers, determining life and death burial, passing down the Yin Yang Feng Shui secret array…”

“Yin Yang Feng Shui secret array?!” Mo Hua was shocked, “You know this array?”

Xie Ling said ashamed: “My talent in arrays is not good, so I didn’t learn it. I only learned some methods of distinguishing qi, escaping mountains, determining tombs, and suppressing evil.”

Mo Hua didn’t understand, “Distinguishing qi, escaping mountains, determining tombs, suppressing evil?”

Xie Ling said: “Distinguishing the qi mechanism of heaven and earth, borrowing the form of mountains and rivers to escape, observing Feng Shui, determining burial, preventing corpse transformation, driving away ghosts and evils, and more advanced, breaking life with death, reversing the heaven machine…”

Mo Hua’s pupils were shocked, and he was horrified in his heart. Breaking life with death, reversing the heaven machine…

Xie Ling scratched his head, feeling slightly apologetic: “However, my learning is not refined, I only roughly know some superficial knowledge, and these are all family secret teachings, grandfather admonished me, I cannot say…”

Mo Hua’s eyes showed deep thought, and his heart’s emotions fluctuated.

Seeing the situation, Xie Ling still thought Mo Hua was unhappy, and quickly said: “However, little senior brother, if you have time, you can come to my Xie family as a guest in the Qiong Yin Mountain state boundary of Bingzhou. Some secret techniques, I cannot decide, but if grandfather agrees, he might pass them on…”

Mo Hua’s gaze was serious, and he nodded deeply: “Good!”

Bingzhou, Qiong Yin Mountain state boundary… Mo Hua firmly remembered this place.

After that, when Xie Ling did bounties, as long as he had something he didn’t understand or wasn’t sure about, he would run to the dining hall of the disciple residence during mealtime, offer a chicken leg, and then ask Mo Hua.

Mo Hua was extremely experienced in doing bounties. Even the Fire Buddha was defeated by him, not to mention these ‘small fry’ evil cultivators. Therefore, everything Xie Ling asked was accurate. And if he asked, Mo Hua had to answer. With Mo Hua’s guidance, plus matching arrays and spirit tools, Xie Ling’s bounties were all very smooth, and the efficiency was also very high. Xie Ling therefore admired Mo Hua very much. Although he was not old, he knew truly a lot, his arrays were good, he was prepared for rain, he calculated without omission, and he treated people sincerely and kindly. No wonder Old Mister Xun chose him as ‘little senior brother’. And no matter how difficult the bounties were, as long as he honestly and meticulously followed little senior brother’s instructions, he basically wouldn’t fail, and the risk was also much smaller.

Where was this ‘little senior brother’, he was simply a ‘old grandpa’ pointing the way in the sect.

After that, whenever Xie Ling met people, he would boast about Mo Hua. Therefore, during mealtime in the dining hall, Mo Hua would often have disciples walk over as soon as he sat down, respectfully bow, and politely call out, “Little senior brother!”

“I have a matter to request.”

“I want to buy a spirit tool…”

“Want to catch an evil cultivator, but no matter what, can’t catch him…”

“Please, little senior brother, point the way…”

Among these disciples, some were familiar, and some were not. Mo Hua treated them all equally and tried his best to answer. Occasionally, they needed to use spirit tools, and they were various. There were Si Nan for detection, spirit mirrors for breaking invisibility, armor for defending against spells, knives and swords, fists and feet, and also some weapons for breaking armor, causing bleeding, and attaching five-element spell damage. Mo Hua designed refining tool array diagrams for all these demands based on arrays, and through Master Gu, refined the finished spirit tools.

But with that, there was a problem. Mo Hua was too busy. Designing refining tool array diagrams was still okay, after all, it was related to arrays, and Mo Hua could learn things. But things like other trivial matters, especially buying and selling spirit tools, pricing, calculating accounts, and going back and forth to deliver goods, really wasted time. He pondered for a bit and thought of a method.

During the resting day, Mo Hua found Master Gu and asked: “Master Gu, does the Gu family have a business pavilion, market, or store in Tai Xu City?”

Master Gu was startled and said in surprise: “Little young master’s meaning is…”

Mo Hua said: “Put all the custom spirit tools in the store to sell. You can calculate how much you earn yourself.”

Although earning spirit stones was a good thing, he now had more important things to do. And these spirit stones, he planned to use to subsidize Master Gu and the others, especially those poor refining masters in Gu Shan Refining Tool Workshop. Mo Hua himself would promote his learned arrays practically, know and act in unity, and deepen his understanding of arrays. This was enough. He himself didn’t want to earn how many spirit stones in this aspect.

As for not looking for Wen Ren Wan, it was because Mo Hua knew that Aunt Wan herself had difficulties, so there was no need to trouble her with such small matters.

Master Gu was slightly shocked in his heart and immediately said: “I’ll go and ask.” Although he was a Golden Core of the Gu family, he was in charge of the refining tool workshop and was not particularly familiar with specific operations. But he also knew that this time might really be a once-in-a-thousand-years good opportunity.

Master Gu used some connections and inquired about the specific situation, then told Mo Hua: “Within Tai Xu City near Tai Xu Gate, there are not many industries of the Gu family, only one business pavilion.”

“This business pavilion doesn’t have high profits, so it sells a little of everything, such as pills, spirit tools, arrays, and so on, to earn a little something.”

“I still have some connections in the clan, so I discussed it well and entrusted people to put the customized spirit tools in the business pavilion for sale.”

“The business pavilion will take one percent of the earned spirit stones.”

Mo Hua nodded. But actually, he didn’t understand these operational matters very well either. Anyway, it was fine to hand them over to Master Gu himself to handle. This matter was probably decided like this.

But even though Mo Hua didn’t say anything, Wen Ren Wan still knew. Near the Qian Xue state boundary, the Gu family and the Wen Ren family cooperate in some cultivation industries, most of which are looked after by Wen Ren Wan. Before, there were also some refining tool workshops and business pavilions of the Shang Guan family. But these were all taken back by the Shang Guan family and then leased to the Shen family. This was Shang Guan Ce’s decision, and Wen Ren Wan had no way. But besides that, some cultivation industries of the Wen Ren family and the Gu family were still in Wen Ren Wan’s hands.

Master Gu’s inquiries about the business pavilion within the Gu clan, these movements, naturally could not be hidden from her. Even Master Gu could mobilize connections and go through relationships to sell custom spirit tools in the business pavilion, it was also because Wen Ren Wan nodded and agreed. Wen Ren Wan agreed only because of Mo Hua. Otherwise, in a city like Tai Xu City, an immortal city adjacent to a big sect, the spirit stones needed to simply lease a business pavilion were very expensive. Master Gu might not be able to afford this cost.

Taking a percentage was also set by Wen Ren Wan. She left this percentage for Mo Hua. Wen Ren Wan was worried that Mo Hua would be taken advantage of in doing business with Master Gu, so she directly took one percent from the business pavilion, thinking that if the spirit tools didn’t sell and the business failed, she could at least intercept some spirit stones for Mo Hua so that he wouldn’t suffer a loss.

The matter was then decided like this. After that, all custom spirit tools were put in the Gu family business pavilion to sell. Mo Hua acted as a hands-off boss and felt relaxed. And as he ‘pointed’ more fellow disciples, more people bought spirit tools, and the Tai Xu disciples who had connections with him also became more and more numerous. Mo Hua’s connections in Tai Xu Gate also became wider and wider. From the ancestors of Tai Xu Gate, down to the teaching elders, and senior brothers and sisters of higher grades, and then to fellow disciples, Mo Hua knew acquaintances. Especially among the fellow disciples, Mo Hua had considerable prestige.

When encountering undecided matters, ask little senior brother. It almost became a habit. In the dining hall, the disciples who ‘worship’ the ‘hall’ also became more and more numerous. The chicken legs in the dining hall were almost sold out…

(End of this chapter)