Chapter 160: Spiritual Cultivator
Both sides agreed that Foundation Establishment cultivators would not make a move.
The next day, the Qian Family cultivators launched their offensive. Their formation stretched from the foot of Nameless Peak all the way up to the mining cave halfway up the mountain.
Their numbers were roughly double those of the Demon-Hunters.
From the highest cave entrance, Mo Hua looked down. What he saw was a dense sea of figures—Qian Family cultivators packed tightly together, numbering at least a thousand.
How could they possibly fight that?
Mo Hua turned toward Elder Yu.
Elder Yu said casually, "They only look numerous. They're nothing but rice buckets."
Thus, battle commenced.
At first, both sides merely probed, exchanging light blows.
Though the Demon-Hunters cultivation levels were slightly lower, they were seasoned from years of battling demon beasts. Their combat techniques were skillful, their instincts honed, and their coordination impeccable.
The Qian Family cultivators, by contrast, were accustomed to flaunting power rather than wielding it. Their techniques were crude, their courage shallow, and once true combat began, they hesitated at every turn.
After a brief melee, the tide became clear.
The Demon-Hunters attacked and retreated in seamless rhythm, each fighting independently yet supporting one another. Though outnumbered, they pushed the Qian cultivators back again and again.
Demon-Hunters made their living slaying monsters. If they could kill beasts, how could they fear these pampered cultivators who could barely swing a blade?
Gradually, the Qian cultivators began to falter.
Qian Zhongxuan observed without visible emotion. He merely waved his hand, signaling his forces to retreat, likely fearing that, if they lingered, Elder Yu would again berate them across the battlefield.
Thus the first day's clash ended perfunctorily. Both sides withdrew to rest and prepared to face each other again the next day.
This time, however, among the Qian cultivators appeared a new contingent... some twenty individuals.
They stood together, surrounded by layers of protection from their fellows.
Elder Yu frowned deeply. "So that old bastard Qian Zhongxuan was scheming this from the start."
He spoke, then reached for a slice of beef.
The beef belonged to Mo Hua.
Elder Yu had been observing the battle from above when he noticed Mo Hua lying prone at a nearby cave entrance, peering outside.
In front of the boy were plates of wild fruits, pine nuts, dried beef, and a flask of fruit wine.
Concerned for Mo Hua's safety, Elder Yu had joined him.
Thus, the two of them now watched the battle while snacking side by side.
Mo Hua had expected today to unfold much like the previous day, a few twists and turns, but ultimately a clear victory.
So he had prepared food and drink, ready to enjoy the spectacle.
Yet Elder Yu's furrowed brow told a different story.
Mo Hua asked, "Elder, is something wrong?"
Elder Yu pointed toward the twenty cultivators in the Qian ranks. "Look at those people."
Mo Hua examined them. Their auras were weak, their bodies frail. They did not look formidable, yet the Qian Family had arrayed them apart and guarded them tightly. Why?
"Elder, who are they?"
"You'll see soon enough," Elder Yu replied.
Moments later, both sides clashed again. The Demon-Hunters charged forward.
The Qian cultivators did not advance, instead forming a defensive line around those twenty figures.
At the same time, those twenty cultivators began forming hand seals in unison.
A chill ran down Mo Hua's spine.
Spiritual cultivators!
Within moments, their spells ignited—fireballs, ice arrows, wind blades—flying forth and striking among the Demon-Hunters.
In chaotic battle, even unguided spells found their marks.
Those hit by the spells staggered, the lightly wounded vomiting blood under spiritual impact, while the gravely injured collapsed as invading spiritual power consumed their vitality.
Meanwhile, the Qian Family's physical cultivators surged forward, pressing the advantage as their spellcasters continued to bombard from behind.
Soon, a second wave of spells filled the air, more fireballs, more ice arrows.
The Demon-Hunters suffered miserably.
If they advanced, the Qian physical cultivators blocked them.
If they held their ground, they became sitting targets for the spiritual cultivators' relentless spells.
Elder Yu's brows knitted tighter still.
Twenty spiritual cultivators, and all late-stage Qi Refining, some even at the ninth layer!
That brat Qian Zhongxuan had planned this all along, bullying them because the Demon-Hunters had no spiritual cultivators of their own.
Indeed, Qi Refining Demon-Hunters were ill-suited for spiritual cultivation.
Spellcasting required time. In battle against beasts, a moment's delay could mean death.
Thus, Demon-Hunters trained in martial techniques and body refinement, channeling spiritual power into their physical strength.
Spiritual cultivators, on the other hand, possessed fragile bodies. A single swipe from a beast could cripple or kill them outright, unlike body cultivators, who could at least withstand a few blows.
Now, against the Qian Family, the lack of spiritual cultivators proved disastrous.
The enemy possessed what they did not.
By relying on the twenty spiritual cultivators' spells, the Qian Family could wear them down bit by bit.
The Demon-Hunters had a few spiritual cultivators among their ranks, but none above the eighth or ninth layer, and certainly not enough, barely twenty in all. In this chaos, their influence was negligible.
Elder Yu simmered with restrained fury.
No wonder Qian Zhongxuan had proposed that Foundation Establishment cultivators abstain from the fight.
If Elder Yu could act, he would have charged straight through and cut down those twenty spellcasters himself, saving everyone considerable pain.
But he could not intervene. The rules bound him. The Demon-Hunters, relying only on Qi Refining body cultivators, could not break through and were left to suffer under the barrage.
Elder Yu sighed and ordered a retreat, pulling his people back to defend the mine entrance.
Qian Zhongxuan smirked and did not pursue.
He was in no hurry. With the Demon-Hunters unable to counter those spiritual cultivators, their defeat was only a matter of time.
Rushing in recklessly would only risk falling into Elder Yu Changlin's traps.
Over the years, he had fought Elder Yu many times and knew all too well the man's shameless cunning.
Though he had never truly bested him, now the tables had turned. It was finally his moment of triumph.
After the Qian Family withdrew, Elder Yu sat in silence, pondering how to deal with the spiritual cultivators.
Yu Chengyi said, "Father, why don't you secretly make a move and kill them all?"
Elder Yu glared. "Nonsense! Did you not hear what that old bastard said? The Dao Court Division's Chief Supervisor witnessed the agreement himself. If I strike now, it would be seen as defying the Dao Court. How would I explain that to the Chief?"
Yu Chengyi muttered, "Then… secretly?"
Elder Yu's eyebrow twitched. "You think they wouldn't notice it was me?"
Yu Chengyi fell silent, then hesitantly suggested, "What if we wear iron armor and charge through?"
Mo Shan shook his head. "That would slow movement, and they would still be easy targets."
Yu Chengyi tried again. "Then we send the agile ones, let them slip past the Qian physical cultivators and take out the spiritual ones from behind!"
Mo Shan nodded. "It's the only workable plan, though risky. They must be extremely cautious—if caught between both sides, they'll be doomed."
"The risk is too great," Elder Yu sighed. "If it fails, there'll be no escape."
He disliked sending his men to certain death unless absolutely necessary.
Yu Chengyi ventured one last idea. "Then what if we find spiritual cultivators of our own to counter theirs?"
Elder Yu thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Too few, too weak. They wouldn't change the outcome."
Silence followed.
Then Elder Yu suddenly asked, "Among our Demon-Hunters… who is a spiritual cultivator?"
Yu Chengyi and Mo Shan both froze, unable to think of a single name.
No proper Demon-Hunter would waste time becoming a spiritual cultivator.
They exchanged awkward looks.
Then Mo Hua raised his small hand timidly. "I am."
(End of Chapter)