Forge Equipment Grades

Mo Hua nodded proudly.

Master Chen was shocked, "It hasn't been long, and you can already draw First Rank formations?"

"It's no big deal." Mo Hua waved his hand dismissively and continued:

"With a First Rank forging furnace plus a First Rank Melting Fire Formation, we should be able to attract quite a few forge masters."

Drawing a First Rank formation is no big deal...

Master Chen's mind was filled with mixed emotions. He sighed and said, "Rest assured, with a First Rank forging furnace and a First Rank formation, no forge master will be able to refuse."

The skill level of forge masters largely depends on the quality of their forging furnace. There are very few First Rank forging furnaces in Tongxian City, let alone furnaces with a First Rank formation drawn on them.

If they were to refuse, wouldn't they be idiots?

"That's good." Mo Hua felt reassured.

Then he remembered another question, "Master Chen, how are the grades of forges determined?"

"Grades?"

"Yes," Mo Hua nodded, "Just like formations, where nine Array Patterns make up a First Rank formation, what standards determine if a spiritual weapon can be called a First Rank spiritual weapon?"

Forging furnaces are actually a type of spiritual tool, used for cultivation production, unlike the spiritual weapons used for attack or defense by ordinary cultivators.

Independent cultivators in Tongxian City cannot forge First Rank forging furnaces, and Elder Yu's promised First Rank forging furnace will also have to be purchased from outside.

But among independent cultivators, there should also be forge masters capable of forging First Rank spiritual weapons. Why then can't they forge First Rank spiritual weapons?

"This is a long story..." Master Chen said.

Mo Hua sat on a small stool, looking like he was ready to hear a story.

Master Chen took a sip of his wine, organized his thoughts, and began:

"Firstly, determining the grade of formations is the most difficult. Only cultivators who have reached the ninth layer of Qi Refinement can become First Rank formation masters..."

Master Chen glanced at Mo Hua and coughed, "Generally speaking, only those at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement can become First Rank formation masters."

He continued, "Compared to formation masters, the standards for forge masters, alchemists, including talisman makers, are much more lenient. As long as they reach the late stage of Qi Refinement, accumulate experience, and achieve a certain level of forging skill, they can forge First Rank spiritual weapons and generally become First Rank forge masters."

"Why then do independent cultivators rarely forge First Rank spiritual weapons?" Mo Hua asked.

"There are many reasons, such as the high cost and scarcity of materials for First Rank spiritual weapons, which ordinary independent cultivators cannot afford. Or it could be due to lack of heritage; many forging manuals for spiritual weapons are not available to independent cultivators, and some forging techniques cannot be learned..."

Master Chen sighed, "Of course, the most important reason is that we don't have good forging furnaces."

Mo Hua's eyes lit up, "Forging furnaces are that important?"

"Naturally," Master Chen sighed, "The forging furnace is the weapon of the forge master, just like the sword in the hands of a sword cultivator. Without a sword, how can one practice sword techniques? Without a forging furnace, what can you forge?"

Mo Hua nodded frequently, finding it very reasonable.

Master Chen pointed to his forge furnace, "Don't be fooled by my old and small forge furnace. Among the independent forges in Tongxian City, it's considered quite good."

Master Chen looked somewhat proud, "Many people envy my forge furnace and want to borrow it to refine spiritual weapons, but I haven't agreed. How could I casually lend it to anyone who just wants to eat?"

"So, many independent cultivators can't become First Rank forge masters mainly because they lack good forge furnaces and can't refine First Rank spiritual weapons?"

"Exactly," Master Chen said, "Without a forge furnace, there's simply no opportunity to refine a First Rank spiritual weapon, so how could one become a First Rank forge master?"

Mo Hua was curious, "Are forge furnaces really that crucial?"

"Of course," Master Chen said, "The refined iron ores and even the tough bones of demonic beasts in the cultivation world must be melted by furnace fire before they can be forged. During the Qi Refinement stage, without alchemical fire, one can only rely on furnace fire. If the furnace is of low grade and has weak firepower, materials can't be properly melted, and naturally, forging becomes impossible..."

Mo Hua understood, then asked, "So, if you have a good forge furnace with strong firepower, how do you go about forging a First Rank spiritual weapon?"

Master Chen sighed, "This is a bit complicated to explain."

Mo Hua poured him a glass of wine, "Take a sip and tell me slowly."

Master Chen looked at Mo Hua's curious expression and sighed in resignation, "Since you want to know, I'll simplify it."

"The grade of spiritual weapons is determined by standards set by the Dao Court. For a First Rank spiritual weapon, criteria include how much refined iron or equivalent materials are used, how many forging processes are involved, and how many times it's been forged."

"The most important criterion is the number of forging sessions. Generally, for a First Rank spiritual weapon, the baseline is a hundred forgings. Depending on whether the spiritual weapon's materials are tough, its shape unique, and its forging technique intricate, adjustments are made. After approval by most forge masters, it becomes customary, then formally regulated by the Dao Court in the established standards."

"Sounds complicated..."

"That's because you're not a forge master, so it sounds intricate. If you were a forge master, swinging a heavy hammer according to the forging manual for days, refining refined iron, everything would naturally become clear."

Mo Hua looked at his small arms and legs, pondered for a moment, and decided to let it go.

Master Chen chuckled, "Simply put, it's about how many times you can strike iron. The more times you forge a spiritual weapon, the higher its grade remains. There's a saying: 'Thousand hammers refine a hundred times, a hundred refinements create a masterpiece,' which explains this principle."

"That's similar to drawing formations, isn't it? The more formations you draw, the more Array Patterns you include, the higher the grade. It seems the principles in this world are interconnected," Mo Hua nodded.

Master Chen also smiled, "I don't understand formations, but according to your explanation, that's indeed the case."

Mo Hua asked again, "Then what about alchemy and talisman making? Are they similar too?"

"Alchemy and talisman making... I reckon they're quite similar, but I haven't studied them, so I'm not clear about the intricacies. After all, each profession is distinct, and it's not good to make unwarranted assertions."

Mo Hua nodded; that was true.

While he was quite proficient in formations, his knowledge of forging, alchemy, and talisman making was superficial. He hadn't personally studied or practiced these disciplines, so he often found himself at a loss.

Not only alchemy and forging, but even with formations, the disparity between complex and single formations was significant. He was familiar with the Five Elements formation, but when it came to other types like the Three Powers formation, or those mentioned by Mr. Zhuang such as the Taiji formation, Four Symbols formation, Seven Stars formation, Eight Trigrams formation, and others, the differences were profound.

It seemed that learning and applying them would be quite different from the Five Elements formation.

Moreover, Mo Hua had heard of some ruthless and forbidden evil formations like demon formations, monster formations, evil formations, ghost formations, and corpse formations that were strictly prohibited by the Dao Court.

Suddenly, Mo Hua had another question and asked, "Master Chen, are you familiar with talisman making?"

"Not very familiar," Master Chen replied truthfully.

"Do you know a bit about it?"

Master Chen was puzzled, "What exactly do you want to know?"

"Talisman making and formations, are there any differences?"

During his cultivation at Tongxian Gate, Mo Hua had also taken some basic courses on talismans, but they were too superficial and academic, not aligned with the practical aspects of cultivation.

While studying formations, Mo Hua always felt that the formations he drew on paper were very similar to the "talisman" he remembered from another world.

Mo Hua never quite understood the differences between the two.

(End of the Chapter)