Chapter 1436: Sneaking a Peek
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Chapter 1434: Sneaking a Peek
Manager Zhao led Elder Tian and Mo Hua all the way to the fourth floor.
Mo Hua had never been to the fourth floor before.
On the surface, the fourth floor of the Fortune Pavilion was far less opulent than the grand hall below and less elegant than the second floor. Its overall style was more understated and low-key luxurious. However, with an array formation every three steps and a lock every five, the security was extremely tight, and the overall construction cost was clearly much higher.
Upon reaching the fourth floor and arriving in front of a Formation Repository Pavilion, Manager Zhao said, “Please wait a moment, you two.”
He then took out a Message Transmission Token, seemingly sending a message to someone, and received a reply shortly after.
Following the instructions in the reply, Manager Zhao entered a string of “Secret Runes” at the access-restricting formation in front of the Formation Repository Pavilion.
The Secret Runes flashed, then their patterns continuously floated and transformed, finally vibrating slightly as the access-restricting formation was deactivated.
The large door of the Formation Repository Pavilion slowly opened.
Elder Tian was not visiting the Formation Repository Pavilion for the first time and was accustomed to this, his expression calm.
In contrast, Mo Hua couldn’t help but glance at the Message Transmission Token in Manager Zhao’s hand, then at the access-restricting formation of the Formation Repository Pavilion. His eyes shifted slightly, his mind seemingly pondering something.
Manager Zhao opened the door and said to Mo Hua and Elder Tian, “Please, you two.”
Elder Tian entered the Formation Repository Pavilion first.
Mo Hua followed closely behind Elder Tian. Once inside, he took a sweeping look and immediately felt a chill in his heart.
This was a massive Formation Repository Pavilion, lined with hundreds of wooden shelves. Each shelf was neatly sealed with numerous jade boxes.
Inside these jade boxes were clearly various types and categories of Formation Diagrams.
Mo Hua scanned the area and realized these were all Third-Grade Formation Repositories.
Surprised, he couldn’t help but think: “So many Third-Grade Formation Diagrams.”
“If I could learn them all, how wonderful that would be.”
Manager Zhao, walking ahead, perhaps due to a merchant’s strong sense of vigilance, felt an inexplicable thump in his heart and couldn’t help but turn to look at Mo Hua.
Mo Hua met Manager Zhao’s gaze and complimented, “Manager Zhao, your Fortune Pavilion has quite an extensive repository.”
Normally, he would have said this with a hint of “pride.”
But for some reason now, he felt an unwarranted sense of panic.
Fortunately, Elder Tian spoke up from the side, “Let me see those few formations I requested.”
“Yes.”
Manager Zhao took out another key, retrieved three different jade boxes from different bookshelves.
These three jade boxes were different from the others; they were deep purple in color, clearly of a higher grade.
Manager Zhao held the jade boxes, glancing at Elder Tian, then at Mo Hua.
Elder Tian said, “It’s fine. Young Master Mo is not an outsider.”
“But…” Manager Zhao hesitated.
Mo Hua silently looked at Manager Zhao, his eyes seeming to say, given our friendship, how can you have the nerve to call me an outsider?
Even Elder Tian, whom I’ve just met, says I’m not an outsider.
And you, a manager who’s been tomb-raiding and smuggling with me, what are you being so particular about here?
Manager Zhao had no choice. Since Elder Tian had vouched for him, he didn’t mind anymore and said, “Alright then.”
He presented the three jade boxes in his hands to Elder Tian and explained: “The Grand Manager has business matters to attend to and is negotiating deals outside, so he cannot personally receive you. I hope Elder Tian will forgive him.”
“These are the Formation Diagrams the Grand Manager just provided the Secret Runes for, instructing me to hand them over to you personally.”
Elder Tian glanced at the three jade boxes, seemingly very satisfied, and nodded with pleasure.
Mo Hua also took a glance and instantly found himself unable to look away.
On each of the three jade boxes was a label, inscribed with the following:
“Five Elements: Earth Coffin Formation, Twenty-Seven Runes;
“Five Elements: Blazing Inferno Slaughter Formation, Twenty-Eight Runes;
“Five Elements: Water Concealment Formation, Twenty-Nine Runes.”
Three complete sets of Third-grade High-tier Formations, each with a considerable number of runes—one even reaching the full twenty-nine runes of a high-tier formation.
Unfortunately, only the names were visible on the labels. The formation diagrams were drawn on parchment and sealed inside the jade boxes, not a single rune exposed.
Mo Hua felt an unbearable itch just looking at them.
Meanwhile, Elder Tian and Manager Zhao were still conversing:
“These three Third-grade High-tier Formations are being acquired on behalf of the sect. Your chief manager is aware of this.”
“I’ll take the formation diagrams now. As per the usual arrangement, your Fortune Pavilion can settle accounts with the Earth Sect quarterly.”
Manager Zhao cupped his hands respectfully. “Understood. The chief manager has already been informed. We shall proceed as Elder Tian wishes.”
Elder Tian gave an “mm” of acknowledgment and was about to collect the three jade boxes.
Anxious, Mo Hua suddenly spoke up, “Elder Tian, won’t you inspect them?”
Elder Tian was taken aback. “Inspect them?”
Mo Hua nodded. “In business, it’s only natural to inspect the goods.”
Manager Zhao frowned, thinking to himself, Which side is this Young Master Mo on? Why is he suddenly causing trouble for me?
Doing business with the Earth Sect is hard enough as it is.
Manager Zhao sighed and shook his head. “Why inspect formation diagrams? Who would even have the ability to forge Third-grade High-tier Formations?”
Formations were the most straightforward of things—right was right, wrong was wrong.
Unless one was a complete outsider who understood nothing, or dealing with ancient formations, peculiar formations, or Absolute Formations that no one could decipher, the authenticity of standard formations—especially the most widely used Five Elements formations—could be discerned at a glance by those in the field.
Even if it wasn’t immediately obvious, whether a formation could be activated would be revealed with a single test.
If someone had the skill to create a convincing counterfeit Third-grade High-tier formation diagram, it wouldn’t be called “forgery” but rather “research into formation variations.”
They might as well establish their own sect and create original formations.
After all, such “counterfeit diagrams” might even be more valuable than the genuine ones.
“Our Fortune Pavilion would never dare deceive the Earth Sect in our dealings. Moreover…” Manager Zhao sighed, “these jade boxes are sealed. It’s not appropriate to open them casually.”
Mo Hua, however, urged, “Just inspect them, to be safe. After all, these are Third-grade High-tier Formations. If anything goes wrong, it would be troublesome.”
Elder Tian didn’t understand why Mo Hua insisted on inspecting the formations, but after a moment’s thought, he saw no harm in it.
It was something that could be done or not—since this Young Master Mo was so insistent, it wouldn’t hurt to humor him.
Elder Tian nodded. “Very well, let’s inspect them.”
Manager Zhao said, “But these are high-tier formations… extremely valuable. I’m afraid…”
Elder Tian replied with slight displeasure, “What? Do you think someone could steal the knowledge just by looking at them?”
Hearing this, Mo Hua quickly nodded in agreement: “Exactly! These are Third-grade High-tier Formations. Who could possibly learn them just by looking?”
Manager Zhao was taken aback. After a moment’s thought, he realized it made sense.
Formations were among the most difficult things to learn. Many people studied formation diagrams day in and day out yet remained clueless.
If one could learn them just by looking, Formation Masters would be everywhere.
“Very well,” Manager Zhao sighed.
But just to be safe, he still took out the Message Transmission Token and sought instructions from the general manager of Fortune Pavilion.
The general manager agreed.
Elder Tian held a high status, and since he wanted to inspect the items, the general manager naturally wouldn’t go against his wishes.
Fortune Pavilion conducted business with integrity, treating both the young and old fairly, so they had nothing to fear from an inspection.
Afterward, Manager Zhao, in front of everyone, opened the jade box, removed the seal inside, and slowly unfolded the Formation Diagram on the parchment, presenting it before Elder Tian and Mo Hua.
There were three Third-grade High-tier Formation Diagrams in total: the Earth Coffin Formation, the Blazing Inferno Slaughter Formation, and the Water Concealment Formation. All the Formation Patterns on them slowly unfolded before Mo Hua’s eyes, revealing every detail with perfect clarity.
Mo Hua watched intently, unable to tear his eyes away.
Beside him, Elder Tian also felt somewhat entranced.
Third-grade High-tier Formations, with their intricate Formation Patterns, solid Formation Pivots, and the powerful aura they exuded—this kind of “aesthetic appeal” held an irresistible attraction for Formation Masters like them.
Unfortunately, given Elder Tian’s current level of formation mastery, he was still far from comprehending these three formations, each containing more than Twenty-Seven Runes.
Just as Elder Tian was feeling regretful and lost in thought, he suddenly felt his Divine-Sense tremble violently, as if sensing an inexplicable pressure.
It was as if a ferocious beast had opened its eyes and was staring at something.
But this pressure only appeared for an instant before vanishing completely, like mud sinking into the sea.
Elder Tian was startled. When he focused his gaze and looked around, there was no longer any sign of abnormality.
Everything that had just happened seemed like nothing more than a momentary illusion.
Only Mo Hua beside him was still staring curiously at the Formation Diagrams.
Seeing Mo Hua’s unwavering gaze on the diagrams, Manager Zhao sighed and asked, “Young Master Mo, how does it look?”
Mo Hua shook his head and replied honestly, “How could I possibly understand them? I was just curious and took a quick glance. It’s Elder Tian who should be examining them.”
Manager Zhao then turned to Elder Tian and asked, “Elder Tian, what do you think?”
Elder Tian felt a vague sense of doubt but still nodded slightly and said, “There’s no issue.”
Manager Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Then I’ll reseal them for you.”
“Mm,” Elder Tian nodded.
Mo Hua quietly withdrew his gaze.
Manager Zhao then resealed the Earth Coffin Formation Diagram, the Blazing Inferno Slaughter Formation Diagram, and the Water Concealment Formation Diagram back into the jade box and handed it to Elder Tian.
Elder Tian placed the jade box into his storage bag and said, “Bring over some Formation Diagrams with twenty-three to twenty-four Runes. I’ll pick a few to take back with me.”
Those three high-tier formations were for the Earth Sect’s treasury.
Elder Tian couldn’t learn them for the time being. His real purpose for this trip was to select some twenty-three or twenty-four Rune Formation Diagrams to take back, study them, and advance his formation skills.
Hearing this, Mo Hua’s heart stirred slightly. He roughly understood that this Elder Tian was likely at the Late Golden Core Stage, with his formation skills stuck between Third-Grade initial-tier and mid-tier.
For an ordinary Formation Master, this progress was indeed not slow.
In fact, if he took one more step and became a Third Grade Mid-Tier Formation Master, Elder Tian’s status would likely rise to an even higher level.
That was why he had come to Fortune Pavilion to purchase formations to study on his own.
There was just one question.
“Isn’t he an elder of the Earth Sect? Why doesn’t he exchange merit points within the sect for formations? Why does he need to buy them from Fortune Pavilion?” Mo Hua wondered inwardly.
On the other side, Manager Zhao took out five or six plain white jade boxes from the counter and presented them to Elder Tian. “Please take a look.”
Each jade box bore a seal, inscribed with the name, grade, and a brief description of the array formation’s purpose.
Elder Tian glanced over each jade box, selecting roughly three or four.
Mo Hua then said, “Elder Tian, won’t you inspect these as well?”
Elder Tian was taken aback.
Mo Hua explained, “Just to be safe.”
Manager Zhao sighed.
After a moment’s thought, Elder Tian replied, “Very well, let’s inspect them.”
Thus, Manager Zhao had no choice but to open all the jade boxes, unwrap the formation diagrams inside, and present them for Elder Tian’s “inspection.”
Mo Hua watched along, thoroughly enjoying the process.
In this manner, the inspection lasted the better part of the day. Elder Tian ultimately selected six formation diagrams to take back for further study, spending over 1.8 million spirit stones in total.
Mo Hua, standing by, had observed fourteen formation diagrams without spending a single coin since he didn’t purchase any.
After completing his purchase, Elder Tian said, “I’ll be heading back. Inform your head manager to notify me when new formation diagrams arrive.”
Manager Zhao promptly replied, “Certainly, certainly.”
Elder Tian turned to glance at Mo Hua, nodding as he remarked, “Young Master Mo, truly a remarkable talent.”
Mo Hua wasn’t sure why Elder Tian suddenly praised him, but he humbly responded, “You flatter me, Elder.”
Elder Tian continued, “It’s a pity it’s getting late today. Next time, if you have the chance, let’s sit down for some tea and discuss array formations.”
Mo Hua cupped his hands respectfully and said, “I am honored by your kindness. I will certainly do so.”
Elder Tian looked Mo Hua up and down once more, nodded, bid farewell with a “Until we meet again,” and turned to leave.
Manager Zhao personally escorted Elder Tian to the door. Returning moments later, he stared at Mo Hua for a long while, his expression filled with astonishment as he said: “I never imagined… Young Master, you actually have connections with the Earth Sect’s Elder Tian?”
Mo Hua answered truthfully, “I didn’t expect it either.”
Manager Zhao shook his head and asked, “Would you like to stay a while longer, Young Master, and have some tea?”
Mo Hua, however, replied, “I should be going as well.”
Manager Zhao pressed, “Won’t you stay a bit longer?”
Mo Hua nodded, “No, I won’t.”
His mind was still filled with many things he had memorized, and he feared they might slip away if he lingered over tea.
“Very well,” Manager Zhao said. “You’re welcome to visit again whenever you have time.”
Mo Hua replied sincerely, “I certainly will.”
This “certainly” came from the bottom of his heart.
He never expected the Fortune Pavilion to house so many Third-Grade formation diagrams.
Whenever he had free time in the future, he would definitely visit often.
After bidding farewell to Manager Zhao, Mo Hua left the Fortune Pavilion.
However, he did not return to the minor blessed land. Instead, he found a nearby teahouse, booked a quiet private room, took out a jade slip, and meticulously transcribed all the formation diagrams he had “scanned” and memorized with his eyes onto the jade slip.
The most crucial ones were the three high-grade formation diagrams: the Twenty-Seven Runes Earth Coffin Formation Diagram, the Twenty-Eight Runes Blazing Inferno Slaughter Formation Diagram, and the Twenty-Nine Runes Water Concealment Formation Diagram.
In addition, there were fourteen Third-Grade formation diagrams ranging from twenty-three to twenty-four runes.
Elder Tian had selected four of these and purchased them with spirit stones.
But every formation diagram that had passed before Mo Hua’s eyes had been imprinted by his divine sense, becoming his own possessions.
All in all, he had acquired a total of seventeen Third-Grade formation diagrams.
Having walked through the Fortune Pavilion’s Formation Repository Pavilion just once, he had “seen” so many array formations that Mo Hua’s conscience actually felt a twinge of pain.
But on second thought, he hadn’t stolen or robbed anything—he had merely glanced at it with his eyes and couldn’t forget it afterward.
If anyone was to blame, it could only be his own eyes.
Mo Hua sighed.
“In the future, when doing business, I’ll give Manager Zhao a bit more benefit to ease my conscience,” Mo Hua thought to himself.
Mo Hua meticulously copied all seventeen Third-Grade Formation Diagrams onto the Jade Slip.
Afterward, he checked it three more times to ensure there were no mistakes or omissions before carefully storing the Jade Slip in his Storage Ring.
Then, he returned to the minor blessed land, ready to learn new Third-Grade Formations.
Especially those three Third-grade High-tier Formations—Earth Coffin, Flame Slaughter, and Water Concealment.
Up until now, Mo Hua had never formally studied a Third-grade High-tier Formation. He was quite curious about the effects of formations with Twenty-Seven Runes or more.