Chapter 173: The Blocked Path
"Yu Changlin, since when did the Demon Hunters have such a powerful formation master? Why not let me meet him?" Qian Hong said coldly.
Elder Yu feigned ignorance. "What formation master? I don't see anyone."
Qian Hong's eyelids twitched. "Then what do you call this thing you set up?"
Elder Yu replied calmly, "How would I know? I was just passing by. No idea what's on the ground."
Qian Hong's temper flared. "Old fool Yu, don't play dumb with me!"
Elder Yu's tone was equally dismissive. "Old turtle Qian, stop putting on airs with me!"
Qian Hong's fury simmered, yet he knew this was no time for a battle of words. Yu Changlin would love nothing more than to trade insults all day and night; by the time they finished, the Demon Hunters would already be gone with the spirit ore, and the Qian family could do nothing.
The Earth-Fire Formation was lethal to Qi-Refining cultivators, though its threat to those at the Foundation Establishment stage was minor.
Given the urgency, Qian Hong had no choice but to take action himself, stepping cautiously into the mountain path to test for the formation's range.
Yet as he lifted his foot, he suddenly sensed a gaze locked upon him, a thread of killing intent coalescing from someone's Divine-Sense.
His instincts screamed danger. He raised his head with irritation.
"Yu Changlin, what do you mean by this?"
Elder Yu's eyes were sharp as blades, but his tone remained mild. "Mean? Nothing at all."
Qian Hong's gaze narrowed. "You want to make a move?"
Elder Yu spread his hands in mock innocence. "Do you see me making a move?"
Qian Hong's teeth ground together. "You were just focusing your Divine-Sense on me, radiating killing intent."
Yu Changlin sneered. "You're just too timid. I always look at people this way. If that frightens you, that's your problem."
Qian Hong's stare turned icy, but Elder Yu remained utterly unbothered.
Qian Zhongxuan whispered, "This old bastard is stalling for time. Patriarch, do not fall for his ploy."
Qian Hong knew as much but lacked any better countermeasure.
Qian Zhongxuan added smoothly, "Perhaps the Patriarch should take the lead in probing the formation. I will cover you from behind."
Qian Hong's eyes turned glacial. "Why shouldn't Elder Qian take the lead, and let me be the one to cover you?"
Qian Zhongxuan put on a contrite expression. "Patriarch, have you forgotten? You already assumed full command of this operation. I have failed repeatedly, suffered heavy losses, and no longer have the right to interfere."
Qian Hong silently cursed his shamelessness.
No one knew what traps Yu Changlin might have hidden ahead. If Qian Hong went to test it and Yu launched a sneak attack, he might survive, but only barely, and Qian Zhongxuan could then swoop in as the savior, earning both credit and gratitude.
In truth, Qian Zhongxuan was hoping exactly that: not for Qian Hong's death, but a severe injury would do just fine.
The two men hesitated, each calculating his own advantage.
Then Qian Zhuang stepped forward and bowed. "Might this disciple be permitted to try?"
His tone was deferential, but his eyes gleamed with excitement.
His moment to earn merit had come.
He knew this formation well. He had once suffered greatly from it, but he had also successfully broken it.
Though that success had come at great cost and left him with a severe demerit, this was his chance to turn disgrace into glory.
Qian Hong frowned. "You have a way?"
Qian Zhuang replied confidently, "Reporting to the Patriarch, this disciple has broken through an Earth-Fire Formation before!"
"A Qi-Refining cultivator broke one?"
"Yes, Patriarch."
Qian Hong's interest stirred. "Explain."
Qian Zhuang described his previous method in detail. When he finished, Qian Hong pondered a moment and nodded. "It makes some sense."
Qian Zhuang's expression brightened.
Qian Hong ordered, "I have a dozen iron armors here. Choose cultivators with Earth spiritual roots, move quickly. If this succeeds, you will be greatly rewarded."
Qian Zhuang was elated. "Yes, Patriarch!"
Soon, over ten Qian family cultivators, each at the ninth layer of Qi Refining, with Earth-aligned roots and well-tempered bodies, were assembled.
They donned the heavy iron armor and advanced according to Qian Zhuang's plan, spreading out along the mountain path to trigger and exhaust the Earth-Fire Formations one by one.
Qian Zhuang was utterly confident. He had done this before; it should work perfectly.
Once the formations were cleared, the road would be open. The Demon Hunters would have nowhere to flee, and his name would be recorded in glory.
That was what he thought... until the first Earth-Fire Formation detonated.
A thunderous explosion erupted. Crimson flames burst forth, and the air shook with violent spiritual shockwaves.
The armored cultivator was instantly engulfed by fire, then hurled backward by the surge of energy, crashing to the ground with a pained cry.
Half his body was charred, his flesh scorched and bloodied, the iron armor cracked and smoking.
Everyone drew sharp breaths. Qian Zhuang stood frozen in disbelief.
Something was wrong.
Why was the explosion so much stronger than before?
This wasn't the same Earth-Fire Formation he knew!
Qian Hong glanced from the mangled cultivator to Qian Zhuang, his eyes colder than frost, as if staring at a dead man.
Cold sweat drenched Qian Zhuang's back. He knew he was finished.
If he had stayed quiet, he might have survived unnoticed. But his hunger for credit had driven him straight into disaster.
He had hoped to turn disgrace into merit; now he had multiplied his disgrace instead.
Qian Zhongxuan shot him a scornful look, then turned to Qian Hong.
"Patriarch, at this point, the only way forward is brute force."
Qian Hong's tone darkened. "Brute force? You saw what happened. Even late-stage Qi Refining cultivators would be crippled if not killed."
Qian Zhongxuan's eyes flickered. "The path isn't wide. If one or two hundred cultivators rush through and trigger all the formations, the rest will have a clear way forward."
Qian Hong's heart chilled. His gaze toward Qian Zhongxuan grew even harsher.
This was forcing him to be the villain.
Out of nearly two thousand men, sacrificing one or two hundred would suffice.
The real question was... who would he send to die?
And how could he do so publicly, with all the Qian disciples watching? If he dared, he could kiss his patriarch's seat goodbye.
Gritting his teeth, Qian Hong said, "As Patriarch, it is my duty to lead by example and break through the formation. Elder Qian, stand beside me, in case that old fool Yu makes a move."
Qian Zhongxuan feigned hesitation.
Qian Hong immediately added, "If you join me, your previous failures will be wiped clean."
Qian Zhongxuan's brow lifted. "Truly?"
"Truly."
Qian Zhongxuan bowed. "As elder of the Qian family, I shall advance and retreat with the Patriarch."
Qian Hong cursed inwardly but kept a composed smile. "Time is short. Let us move, and stay wary of Yu Changlin's tricks."
"Very well."
The two Foundation Establishment elders launched forward together, weaving through the mountain path and triggering formation after formation.
Fiery explosions roared one after another, the mountainside trembling under waves of spiritual energy.
When the noise subsided, and the flames and smoke began to fade, both men emerged, disheveled, singed, and covered in soot.
Their robes were in tatters, their faces blackened, and though no blood stained them, their organs ached from the violent spiritual shock. It took effort not to cough up blood.
Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator could scarcely endure bathing in an Earth-Fire Formation.
(End of Chapter)