Limit

After Mo Hua finished planning the construction array for the Refining Workshop, he checked it over himself and felt there were no major issues.

All the basic functions were there, and since each array was relatively independent, their interrelations were minimal. At least, there shouldn't be any problems when they were implemented.

However, Mo Hua still felt somewhat uneasy.

The construction of the Refining Workshop was of great significance, affecting the cultivation and lives of rogue cultivators for decades to come, or even longer. There could be no room for negligence.

Since he wasn't entirely confident, Mo Hua decided it would be better to consult Mr. Zhuang.

Mo Hua then went to Zuowang Residence and presented Mr. Zhuang with the planned construction array diagram he had made.

Mr. Zhuang glanced at the densely packed array diagram and raised an eyebrow. Seeing that the diagram consisted only of simple arrangements of single arrays and Compound Arrays, each independent of the others, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Sir, is there anything wrong?" Mo Hua asked.

Mr. Zhuang shook his head slightly. "It's acceptable."

"Will it work?"

"It will suffice," Mr. Zhuang replied, then took out several drawings and handed them to Mo Hua. "These are also simple construction array diagrams. You can use them as reference."

Mo Hua eagerly took them and looked through them.

The arrays on the construction diagrams were as Mo Hua expected, mainly earth-based arrays. There were single arrays ranging from five to nine array patterns, and some first-grade Compound Arrays, but none were particularly difficult and all were within Mo Hua's grasp.

However, although these construction array diagrams were primarily earth-based, they also included elements from other elemental arrays, and there were many differences in the details.

For example, how to solidify soil and stone using metal-based arrays, how to nourish earth and wood using water-based arrays, and how to ensure heating and lighting in buildings using fire-based arrays.

The frameworks looked similar, but there were many nuances worth pondering.

As Mo Hua continued to look, he became engrossed. When he snapped out of it, he noticed Mr. Zhuang reclining in his chair, peacefully resting with his eyes closed.

Mo Hua scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Mr. Zhuang opened his eyes and smiled, asking, "How does it look?"

Mo Hua thought for a moment and said, "The array diagrams you provided seem simple at first glance, but the interplay between various arrays, their planning, coordination, and the relationships of generation and inhibition are actually quite intricate. I didn't fully grasp them at first glance."

Mr. Zhuang nodded. "Indeed, when it comes to various disciplines of cultivation involving multiple arrays, understanding the planning, coordination, and relationships of generation and inhibition between different arrays requires careful consideration. It's already commendable that you can see these intricacies for the first time."

Mo Hua smiled happily. Then, after some thought, he furrowed his brow and asked, "Sir, regarding the arrays on these construction diagrams, although they are planned with consideration for coordination and generation and inhibition, they are still independent of each other. If these arrays were connected, would the overall effect of the array be stronger?"

Mr. Zhuang gave an intriguing smile. "How would you connect them?"

Mo Hua furrowed his brow, pondering for a moment, somewhat uncertain. "...Using an array hub?"

"If you connect them using an array hub, what would it become?" Mr. Zhuang asked again.

Mo Hua thought for a moment. Connecting single arrays would form Compound Arrays, and connecting so many single arrays together would be like...

"A large-scale Compound Array?"

Mo Hua glanced at Mr. Zhuang.

"In simpler terms," Mr. Zhuang's gaze held a deep meaning, "a large-scale Compound Array is actually called a 'Great Array'."

A Great Array!

Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat.

The type of array that countless array masters dreamed of and wished to create?

The most expansive in the cultivation world, with the most intricate array patterns, and the most powerful effects?

Mo Hua couldn't help but ask again, "Could I create one?"

Mr. Zhuang extended his slender and fair fingers, lightly tapping Mo Hua's head.

"Don't aim too high. You haven't even mastered Compound Arrays, so don't think about Great Arrays," he said.

Mo Hua rubbed his head and chuckled, "Alright, sir."

But he was still curious and asked quietly, "Sir, what exactly makes Great Arrays so difficult?"

Mr. Zhuang shook his head gently, somewhat resigned. "The difficulty lies in the Array Hub."

"The Array Hub?"

"Is the Array Hub difficult for Compound Arrays?" Mr. Zhuang asked.

Mo Hua nodded, "Yes, it is."

Mr. Zhuang continued calmly, "Compound Arrays only connect a few single arrays, and yet the Array Hub is not easy to master. For Great Arrays, the Array Hub connects hundreds or even thousands of single arrays."

Mo Hua was taken aback. Hundreds or even thousands?

That would require an enormous amount of spiritual consciousness in the sea of consciousness.

Even if he exhausted all his spiritual consciousness and shattered his sea of consciousness into pieces, it still wouldn't be enough...

Mr. Zhuang explained, "That's why First Grade Great Arrays are usually beyond the capability of First Grade Array Masters. Typically, Second Grade Array Masters are the ones who study and serve as the primary Array Masters for First Grade Great Arrays."

"Primary Array Master?" Mo Hua was puzzled.

Mr. Zhuang clarified, "The Array Master who plans a First Grade Great Array and personally draws the Array Hub is called the Primary Array Master."

Mo Hua asked, "Why not just draw it yourself? Why distinguish between primary and secondary?"

Mr. Zhuang chuckled, "Great Arrays are vast in scale and intricate in array patterns. Drawing one alone would be exhausting. Therefore, a Great Array is generally planned by a Primary Array Master, who draws the Array Hub, while other Array Masters, following the Primary Array Master's plan, draw the specific single arrays based on the structure of the Array Hub."

"I see," Mo Hua understood.

Many hands make light work.

Given the immense scale of Great Arrays, it would require the collaborative effort of many Array Masters to construct them.

Such a colossal and complex project would undoubtedly be crucial for a family, a sect, or even a city or realm.

No wonder many Array Masters devote their lives to pursuing Great Arrays.

Then Mo Hua thought of a crucial question, "Constructing a Great Array must require a considerable amount of spiritual stones..."

Mr. Zhuang paused for a moment and replied, "Although it's a Great Array, sizes vary. Even smaller Great Arrays don't require too many."

Mo Hua timidly asked, "For a smaller one, how many spiritual stones would be needed?"

Mr. Zhuang's expression turned playful as he smiled and said, "Didn't you excavate a spiritual mine? If you used all the spiritual stones from there, you could probably build a small-scale Great Array. Of course, assuming the Array Masters, craftsmen, and refiners don't charge fees, and excluding the spiritual stones needed to activate the Great Array."

Mo Hua was stunned.

An entire spiritual mine, with so many spiritual stones, would only be enough to build a small-scale Great Array.

Considering fees and the spiritual stones needed to activate the Array, it would still fall short...

Moreover, to plan and lead the construction of a First Grade Great Array, one generally needed to be a Second Grade Array Master—definitely not someone one could easily afford.

The thought of so many spiritual stones left Mo Hua gasping for breath.

It would take an incredibly deep pocket to build a First Grade Great Array. No wonder there had never been a Great Array in the entire city of Tongxian.

Mo Hua resigned himself. Even if he knew how to draw Great Arrays, he wouldn't have enough spiritual stones to finance one.

However, Mo Hua was still curious, "Is it really impossible for a First Grade Array Master to serve as the Primary Array Master for a First Grade Great Array?"

"Generally speaking, yes."

"What if it's not general?"

Mr. Zhuang glanced at Mo Hua, his gaze slightly intense, and slowly replied,

"If it's not general, then you just need to break through the limits of your spiritual consciousness."

(End of the Chapter)