Chapter 157: The Offensive
The Earth-Fire Reforging Arrays erupted one after another, dazzling like fireworks. Mixed in with the cries and shrieks of the Qian family cultivators as they ran in all directions, the scene was remarkably lively.
Mo Hua, well-fed and content, nodded with deep satisfaction.
Other Demon Hunters watching from the mine entrance cheered loudly at the sight of the Qian cultivators' misery.
"Beautiful explosion!"
"Make it louder next time!"
Days of pent-up frustration from the Qian family's ambushes and harassment were instantly swept away.
Elder Yu, feeling utterly refreshed, unleashed another torrent of curses upon the Qian family from top to bottom.
Now that the Demon Hunters had vented their anger, the pressure shifted to the Qian cultivators.
To fight or not to fight?
If they attacked, they would be blasted sky-high.
If they did not, they would be handing over the spirit mine for free.
Either choice was intolerable to the Qian family.
...
The next day, the Qian cultivators cleared the battlefield and carried their wounded back for treatment.
At first, most were injured but few had died.
However, on their way back, some of the wounded were intercepted by demonic beasts.
The beasts, drawn by the smell of blood, hunted them down. The heavily wounded Qian cultivators who had just left the battlefield ended up as dinner in some beast's belly.
The Qian Family Patriarch, Qian Hong, flew into a rage and ordered that, no matter the cost, the spirit mine must be taken!
The commander, a burly man, felt enormous pressure. He sat brooding in a camp at the base of Nameless Peak.
His name was Qian Zhuang, a direct descendant of the Qian family, though not of Qian Hong's immediate line. That was precisely why Qian Hong had sent him to fight and bleed.
This suited Qian Zhuang just fine. Although a direct descendant, he was not favored within the clan, and his future prospects were uncertain.
If he could capture this spirit mine, the family would surely see him in a new light. He might even be rewarded with spirit stones and pills, enough to help him reach Foundation Establishment.
Once he became a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he could claim the title of Elder and wield power within the clan.
The Qian Elders held great authority, but promotion was strict.
One either had to reach Foundation Establishment, possess extraordinary skill in formations, alchemy, or artifact forging, hold a major position within a sect or the Dao Court Division, or render exceptional service to the clan.
Qian Zhuang met none of these conditions. His only path to power was cultivation.
Which meant this spirit mine had to fall. Failure would not only bring no merit, it would be a grave offense.
In the Qian family, all cultivators were kin, which meant, in truth, none were.
Anyone who failed to bring benefit to the clan was worthless.
Qian Zhuang refused to be worthless. He would conquer the spirit mine and rise higher by trampling over these Demon Hunters.
Before long, a Qian disciple entered and reported,
"Big Brother, the brothers investigated. The explosion last night, it came from a formation!"
Qian Zhuang frowned. "A formation? Those country bumpkins know how to use formations?"
"Yes!"
His frown deepened.
He could not help recalling how their earlier attacks had failed to cut through those vine armors. Could it be that formations had been drawn on them too?
"What kind of formation?"
"One of our brothers sent word to Master Qian back at the clan. He said it appears to be an Earthfire Array."
Master Qian was a formation master of the Qian family, though not yet first-grade, he was close enough that everyone called him "Master" out of respect.
"EarthFire Array? How many runes?"
"Seven runes."
Qian Zhuang's expression turned cold. "Seven-runes… no wonder."
A seven-rune array could injure even late-stage Qi-Refining cultivators. Several overlapping could be devastating.
Qian Zhuang's eyes filled with resentment, then a sneer. "So, some formation master decided to help these beggars!"
He refused to believe that those impoverished rogues could afford to hire a formation master.
That meant the Formation master must have signed a spiritual contract with them, helping them in exchange for a share of the mine's spirit stones once it was secured.
The world revolved around profit, and Formation Masters were no exception.
The Qian disciple asked, "Big Brother, what should we do next?"
Qian Zhuang said coldly, "Doesn't matter. Just a seven-rune formation master... not a real threat."
How many arrays could one man possibly draw?
After last night's explosions, they had probably used up most of their Earthfire Arrays. There was no way they could do it again tonight.
Mo Hua, of course, could not draw too many Earth-Fire Reforging Arrays, only seven or eight per day.
However, he still had a large stock of ordinary Earthfire Arrays, leftovers from earlier hunts.
Originally, these arrays were meant for mid-stage Demon Hunters to trap and kill demonic beasts.
Since Elder Yu had forbidden hunts in the Black Mountain after hostilities began, Mo Hua's stockpile remained unused.
Now, they were finally being put to good use.
Thus, the Qian disciples' bad luck truly began.
The first night, they were blown up.
The second night, they were blown up again.
The third and fourth nights... still explosions.
Qian Zhuang, enraged and humiliated, was determined to find out just how many arrays these Demon Hunters could possibly have.
But his men refused to advance.
Stepping on an Earth-Fire Reforging Array might not mean instant death, but it guaranteed serious injury, and injured men often fell prey to beasts on their way down the mountain.
Fear spread among the Qian cultivators. Many hung back at the edges, refusing to set foot near the array zones.
Sensing morale slipping, Qian Zhuang rallied them with fiery words:
"Brothers! We've been attacking for four days already! They can't possibly have that many formations left, they must be running out!"
"We're just one step away from victory! If we give up now, all our sacrifices will have been for nothing!"
"Capture the mine, and the Patriarch will reward you richly!"
The Qian cultivators, stirred by his speech, charged up the mountain once more.
Then... another thunderous explosion.
Once again, they were blown apart and sent fleeing in chaos.
Mo Hua, standing halfway up the slope, watched the scene unfold and could not help feeling a certain admiration.
To use human lives just to exhaust his stockpile of formations... this Qian commander truly had guts.
Meanwhile, Qian Zhuang, watching the carnage, nearly spat blood.
"What the hell... more formations?! Are you growing ten hands or something? How can you draw so many?!"
He looked at the rugged, overgrown mountain slope ahead and felt his scalp tingle.
For now, morale had completely collapsed, and another assault was impossible. The Qian family could only retreat once again.
The Demon Hunters, without losing a single man, had repelled yet another offensive.
Elder Yu's expression toward Mo Hua grew even warmer and fonder, much to the discomfort of his own son, Yu Chengyi.
After all, his father had never looked at him that kindly. To Yu Chengyi, Elder Yu had always been as bitter and unyielding as a pickled-stone weight.
With a few days of rest, the Demon Hunters' morale recovered, and their spirits lightened.
Mo Hua, however, suddenly thought of something and asked Elder Yu with concern,
"What if the Qian family sends a Foundation Establishment cultivator? What do we do then?"
Elder Yu answered calmly, "What we always do."
Mo Hua was startled. "But aren't Foundation Establishment cultivators supposed to be really strong?"
Elder Yu nodded. "They are. But not invincible."
Mo Hua frowned in confusion.
Elder Yu looked at him and explained,
"A Foundation Establishment cultivator's strength is roughly equal to ten late-stage Qi-Refining cultivators. If it's one against five or six, the Qi-Refining side has no chance. They'd be crushed in a few exchanges."
"But if there are more than ten—battle-hardened, late-stage cultivators—then the outcome is uncertain. Most likely both sides would take heavy damage, trading life for life, ten for one. The Foundation Establishment cultivator might survive, but he'd be gravely wounded."
"And if there are dozens—or even a hundred—late-stage Qi-Refining cultivators, and the Foundation Establishment cultivator cannot flee, then he'll be ground to death without question."
"There's an old saying: even a fierce tiger fears a pack of wolves. The principle is the same."
Mo Hua suddenly understood.
"Ah… that makes sense."
(End of Chapter)