Chapter 197: Chapter 197: Unfair_1 Mo Hua continued to grasp the Melting Fire and Controlling Spirit Compound Formation, although progress was somewhat slow. Sometimes when he felt tired from studying, he would go and look at the large refining furnace, compare it with the Formation Diagram he designed, and simulate the potential challenges he would face while Drawing Formation. This helped clear his thoughts. While Mo Hua was observing the refining furnace and focusing his attention entirely on thinking about Drawing Formation, he suddenly looked up and saw Elder Yu standing next to him. It seemed that when Mo Hua was watching the refining furnace, Elder Yu had been watching him for quite some time, but it was unclear for how long. Elder Yu, seeing Mo Hua come back to his senses, asked kindly, “How is the study of the Formation going?” “I’ve learned about half of it, but it’s probably going to take some more time to fully understand it.” Elder Yu nodded, “You should balance work and rest, don’t overexert yourself.” “Thank you, Elder Yu,” Mo Hua said with a smile, then asked, “Aren’t you in a hurry, Elder?” After all, the sooner the Formation is completed, the sooner the Refinery Shop can start operating, and everyone can earn some Spirit Stones earlier. The situation being as it is, the Qian Family will not let things rest; if the Refinery Shop starts too late, it might become subject to others’ control. Elder Yu’s demeanor remained calm, “I’ve been in a hurry for over a hundred years, a few more days won’t matter.” Mo Hua didn’t quite understand. Elder Yu dusted off the ground and sat down next to Mo Hua, and said: “Since I began Qi Refinement, I haven’t had a single good day. The Loose Cultivators around me are the same—looking miserable, bustling about every day, but not earning much in the way of Spirit Stones. I often wondered, where did all the Spirit Stones go?” “It was not until I saw the Qian Family, their mansion, their food and clothing, as well as their Refinery Shop and Alchemist’s Business…” “In the Qian Family’s Refinery Shop, it’s the Loose Cultivators who forge the iron, quench the metal, and exert all the effort, while their own Cultivators just have to sit there watching, occasionally drinking tea and giving orders without having to do anything else.” “I always think about how despite our Loose Cultivators’ hard work and suffering, we only get to eat poorly, while those of the Qian Clan, a bunch of worthless people who can hardly do anything, don’t need to do anything and can yet enjoy delicious food every day.” Elder Yu sighed, “Later, after reaching Foundation Establishment and clashing with the Qian Family, through face-to-face and secretive struggles, relying on my thick-skinned and sharp-tongued nature, daring to risk my life, I managed not to suffer too much. In the process, I came to understand some truths…” “I too wanted to improve the lives of Loose Cultivators, and thought about starting a few Refinery Shops and Alchemist’s Businesses; but I had neither Spirit Stones nor knowledge of Formations. Everything I wanted to do was arduous.” “I’ve lived through such days for over a hundred years, endured for over a hundred years, and been in a hurry for over a hundred years. Now that such a large Refinery Shop has been built and the Alchemist’s Business is halfway done, I am no longer in such a hurry.” “The things we’ve done in these few months amount to more than what I’ve done in the past hundred years combined, so why the rush?” Elder Yu looked contented. Mo Hua gazed at Elder Yu, his white hair showing his age, his physique skinny but his eyes still sharp, and couldn’t help but admire him. “But what if, after the Refinery Shop is built, we still can’t compete with the Qian Family?” Mo Hua voiced his concern. “Then we’ll sell it,” said Elder Yu crisply. Mo Hua was stunned, “Sell it?” “Yes!” Elder Yu nodded, “It’s best if we can surpass the Qian Family, but if not, we’ll just sell both the Refinery Shop and Alchemist’s Business. Selling them could bring in a large sum of Spirit Stones, which would be a considerable amount when distributed among everyone; we certainly won’t come out at a loss.” “Is it easy to sell something like that?” Mo Hua was uncertain. Elder Yu raised an eyebrow, “How could such large Refinery Shop and Alchemist’s Business not be easy to sell? Others who want to build them may not have the time or ability to complete them.” Elder Yu then pointed to the various Formation Patterns around, “And your painted Formations, could average Formation Masters draw these? Even if they could, how many Formation Masters would they need to hire and how much time would it take?” “Don’t worry,” Elder Yu patted Mo Hua on the shoulder, “based on these Formations you’ve drawn, both Refinery Shop and Alchemist’s Business will sell for a sky-high price!” “A sky-high price?” Elder Yu nodded, “I won’t sell unless it’s a sky-high price. When it comes to bargaining, I’m fairly adept.” Mo Hua looked at Elder Yu and thought that a moment ago he was a “Tao Cultivation Industrialist,” but in the blink of an eye, he had turned into a “Tao Cultivation Real Estate Merchant.” “Who would buy it then?” Mo Hua quietly asked. “There would be many interested,” Elder Yu said. “The best case would be to sell to the An Family, so that they and the Qian Family would compete against each other, allowing us Monster Hunters to watch the drama unfold and profit from it; secondly, sell to other clans from Immortal Cities, drawing the tiger away from the mountain, letting them compete with the Qian Family. If all else fails, selling to the Qian Family is also an option.” “The Qian Family?” Mo Hua exclaimed, surprised. “The world hustles and bustles, all for the sake of profit; as long as they can afford to pay with Spirit Stones, selling to them is not out of the question. After all, I’ve done business with the Qian Family before…” But that was taking hostages from the Qian Family for ransom; it shouldn’t really count as doing business… Mo Hua silently mused to himself. “Of course, these are all less desirable strategies, ripe with the potential of raising a tiger to cause trouble later on. The best-case scenario is if we handle it ourselves, providing the Loose Cultivators of Tongxian City with a stable means of livelihood.” Mo Hua nodded his head and then asked, “Elder Yu, did you already have all these considerations in mind from the beginning?” “Naturally,” Elder Yu said, looking at Mo Hua and patiently elucidated, “For an affair this substantial, to go all in without consideration is to gamble, which isn’t the right approach. One must always think things through completely, have strategies in place, so moving forward there is a method, and retreating, there is also a way out. Especially, one must always leave oneself a way out.” Mo Hua took deep benefit from this, nodding and saying, “I’ll remember this!” Elder Yu looked at Mo Hua with satisfaction, then let out a long sigh and stood up, “Then you go on with your work, I won’t disturb you further.” “Certainly, Elder, take care.” After Elder Yu had left, Mo Hua continued to ponder about Formation techniques. Mo Hua’s heart still wished to learn the Formation Diagram as quickly as possible, so the Refining Furnace would be ready sooner and the Refinery Shop could start operating earlier. However, learning Formation techniques indeed requires a methodical and gradual process. One can only proceed step by step, like water droplets piercing stone, learning bit by bit until at last, success comes naturally. Mo Hua couldn’t rush the process. Three weeks passed by, and Mo Hua finally mastered the Formation Pivot of the Melting Fire Compound Formation; afterward, he spent several days practicing how to add a First Grade Melting Fire Formation and other formations within the framework of the Formation Pivot. Later on, he took some time to reevaluate the compatibility of the Compound Formation with the structure of the Refining Furnace. When Mo Hua felt that he was thoroughly prepared and everything was in place, he began to work on the large First Grade Refining Furnace, starting to draw the First Grade Melting Fire and Controlling Spirit Compound Formation. Elder Yu was watching from the side. Before Mo Hua started drawing, Elder Yu was calm and composed, but now as Mo Hua began to move the Formation Pen, Elder Yu suddenly felt nervous. Perhaps it was because of the long-cherished wish that had accumulated over the years, which now seemed likely to be fulfilled… Elder Yu sighed to himself. The large Refining Furnace in the courtyard had been disassembled, its scattered parts neatly arrayed on the ground; the massive hearth stood open, positioned in the center of the courtyard. The first step for Mo Hua was to draw the Formation Pivot of the Compound Formation, then on it, draw a First Grade Melting Fire Formation, and afterward inject Spiritual Power to test whether the formation would activate. If it didn’t activate, it meant there was a problem with the Formation Pivot, necessitating a review and troubleshooting, followed by redrawing. If the formation activated successfully, it would mean the Formation Pivot was fine and what would remain is to continue adding another First Grade Melting Fire Formation and other related formations according to Mo Hua’s plan. Having prepared the Spiritual Ink, Mo Hua positioned the large Formation Pen and, with bated breath, began to formally draw the Formation. The pen, soaked in Spiritual Ink, made contact with the inner wall of the Refining Furnace, smoothly descending, sketching the first Formation Pattern. The First Grade Melting Fire and Controlling Spirit Compound Formation. This was a formation that surpassed the capabilities of an ordinary First Grade Formation Master and was the most challenging Formation that Mo Hua had ever drawn to date!