After Mo Hua had planned the Architectural Formation for the Refinery Shop, he checked it himself and felt there were no major issues.
It had all the basic functions. Since they were still considered separate formations, the interaction between them was minimal, so drawing them up wouldn’t pose any problems.
Yet, Mo Hua was somewhat unsettled.
The construction of the Refinery Shop was of great importance; it related to the Loose Cultivators’ cultivation and life for the next ten, several decades, or even longer. There couldn’t be the slightest negligence.
Since he wasn’t completely sure, it would be better to consult Mr. Zhuang.
Mo Hua then went to the Forgetful Residence and presented his Architectural Formation plan to Mr. Zhuang for review.
Mr. Zhuang’s eyelids twitched at the sight of the densely packed Formation Method Map, but upon seeing that it was just a simple arrangement of Single Formations and Compound Formations, independent of each other, he finally let out a sigh of relief.
“Gentleman, is there something amiss?” Mo Hua asked.
Mr. Zhuang shook his head slightly, “It’s alright.”
“It’s sufficient,” said Mr. Zhuang, then he took out several diagrams and handed them to Mo Hua, “These are also simple Architectural Formation Maps. You can have a look for reference.”
Mo Hua took them, eager to take a look.
The formations on the Architectural Formation Maps were just as Mo Hua had expected; they mainly focused on Earth and Wood Formations. Single Formations ranged from five to nine Formation Patterns, and there were also some First Grade Compound Formations. However, none were particularly difficult, and all were within Mo Hua’s grasp.
However, although these Architectural Formation Maps primarily used Earth and Wood Formations, they were mixed with other Five Elements Formations, and there were many differences in the details.
For instance, how to solidify soil and rock with the Golden Series Formation Method, how to nourish Earth and Wood with the Water Series Formation, and how to ensure heating and lighting for a building with the Fire Series Formation.
The frameworks seemed similar, but there were a lot of details worth pondering.
Mo Hua became engrossed as he looked them over, and when he came back to his senses, he noticed Mr. Zhuang had already lain down on a chair, leisurely resting with his eyes closed.
Mo Hua scratched his head, feeling slightly embarrassed.
Mr. Zhuang opened his eyes and asked with a smile, “How do you find them?”
After some thought, Mo Hua replied, “The set of Formation Maps the Gentleman provided seems simple, but the interrelationships between various formations, their generation and restriction, there are actually many subtleties – I didn’t grasp all of it at once.”
Mr. Zhuang nodded, “Not bad. In the Cultivation World, whenever multiple formations are involved, the planning, coordination, and the relationships of mutual generation and restriction need careful contemplation… For you to notice these aspects on your first attempt is quite commendable.”
Mo Hua smiled happily, but then after thinking for a bit, he frowned and asked:
“Gentleman, these formations on the Architectural Formation Maps, even though they are arranged with consideration for coordination and generation-restriction during deployment, they are still independent of each other. If these formations were connected, wouldn’t the overall effect of the formation be stronger?”
Mr. Zhuang revealed a thought-provoking smile, “How would you connect them?”
Frowning in concentration, Mo Hua ventured uncertainly, “…With a Formation Pivot?”
“If connected by a Formation Pivot, what would it become?” Mr. Zhuang asked further.
Mo Hua contemplated for a moment; Single Formations connected would form a Compound Formation. To connect so many Single Formations would be like…
“A Large Compound Formation?”
Mo Hua glanced at Mr. Zhuang.
“You could put it more simply.” Mr. Zhuang looked at him with profound eyes, “A Large Compound Formation is actually called a ‘Large Formation’.”
Mo Hua’s heart skipped.
The Large Formation that countless Formation Masters dream of, longing to create in their wildest dreams?
The most magnificent in the Cultivation World, with the most extensive Formation Patterns and the most powerful effects?
Mo Hua couldn’t help but ask, “Can I draw it?”
Mr. Zhuang’s slender and fair fingers reached out and gently tapped Mo Hua’s head.
“Don’t aim too high. You haven’t even mastered Compound Formations, let alone think about Large Formations.”
Mo Hua clutched his head and chuckled, “Okay, Gentleman.”
But he was still somewhat concerned and asked softly, “Gentleman, what exactly makes a Large Formation difficult?”
Mr. Zhuang shook his head slightly, expressing helplessness as he said, “The difficulty lies in the Formation Pivot.”
Mr. Zhuang asked, “Is the Formation Pivot of a Compound Formation difficult?”
Mo Hua nodded, “Difficult indeed.”
Mr. Zhuang said indifferently, “A Compound Formation is merely composed of a few Single Formations, and even their Formation Pivots are not easy to learn, while the Formation Pivot of a Large Formation, links to hundreds, even thousands of Single Formations.”
Mo Hua was stunned for a moment. Hundreds, thousands?
No amount of Divine Sense in the Sea of Consciousness would suffice.
Even by exhausting all Divine Sense and grinding the Sea of Consciousness to dust, one couldn’t squeeze out that much Divine Sense…
Mr. Zhuang said, “Thus, a First Grade Large Formation has never been something that a First Grade Formation Master could create. Usually, it is a Second-Rank Formation Master who learns to create a First Grade Large Formation, and becomes the chief Formation Master for a First Grade Large Formation.”
“Chief Formation Master?” Mo Hua asked, puzzled.
Mr. Zhuang explained, “A Formation Master who plans a First Grade Large Formation and can draw the Formation Pivot is called the chief Formation Master.”
“Why not draw it all by oneself? Why distinguish between a chief and the rest?”
Mr. Zhuang smiled and explained, “A Large Formation is immense in scale and its Formation Patterns complex. Drawing it by yourself, you might die of exhaustion. Hence, a Large Formation is normally planned by a single chief Formation Master who personally draws the Formation Pivot, while other Formation Masters follow the chief Formation Master’s Formation Diagram to add the specific Single Formations on top of the Pivot structure.”
“Oh, I see,” Mo Hua understood.
Just as three stakes support a fence and a good man is supported by three helpers.
Being so vast, a Large Formation couldn’t possibly be drawn by a single person, requiring a great number of Formation Masters to collaborate and construct it together.
Such a huge and complex project is of paramount importance to a Clan, a Sect, and even to an entire city or realm.
No wonder many Formation Masters pursue Large Formations as a lifetime goal.
Suddenly, Mo Hua thought of a crucial question, “Building a Large Formation must cost quite a few Spirit Stones, right…?”
After pondering briefly, Mr. Zhuang replied, “Although we’re talking about a Large Formation, they vary in scale. Smaller-scale ones don’t require as many.”
Mo Hua timidly asked, “For a smaller scale, how many Spirit Stones would that be…?”
Mr. Zhuang’s expression revealed amusement as he chuckled:
“Didn’t you unearth a Spiritual Mine? If you use all the Spirit Stones from there, you could probably build a small-scale Large Formation. That is, assuming the Formation Masters, Craftsmen, and Artifact Refiners don’t charge wages, and excluding the Spirit Stones needed to activate the Large Formation.”
Mo Hua was dumbfounded.
An entire Spiritual Mine, all those Spirit Stones, just enough for a small-scale Large Formation.
If you include the wages and the Spirit Stones needed to activate the Large Formation, that wouldn’t be nearly enough…
After all, to plan and lead the construction of a First Grade Large Formation generally requires a Second-Rank Formation Master, and they certainly don’t come cheap.
Upon thinking about all those Spirit Stones, Mo Hua couldn’t help but take a sharp intake of breath.
One would need deep reserves to build a First Grade Large Formation; no wonder he had never seen a Large Formation in Tongxian City.
Mo Hua gave up completely, knowing that even if he could draw a Large Formation, he didn’t have enough Spirit Stones to fund its construction.
However, Mo Hua was still curious, “Can a First Grade Formation Master really not act as a chief Formation Master for a First Grade Large Formation?”
Mr. Zhuang answered, “Generally speaking, that’s the case.”
“And if it’s not general?”
Mr. Zhuang looked at Mo Hua, his gaze becoming intense, and slowly said:
“If it’s exceptional, one just needs to break through the limits of Divine Sense.”