Chapter 186: The Solution
After that, the Qian Family repeatedly caused disturbances.
Elder Yu captured each of them one by one, beat them until they spat blood, and then threw them back at the Qian Family's doorstep, while conveniently collecting a few spirit stones as compensation.
Yet, the Qian Family remained relentless, and even Elder Yu could not keep watch at all times.
It was like catching rats, one after another, troublesome and disgusting. The moment a few slipped through, hidden dangers emerged.
Some craftsmen were injured, some buildings destroyed, and several formations were smeared over or ruined. The entire project's progress began to fall behind schedule.
Elder Yu could only assign the demon hunters to guard the site day and night, keeping an eye on the Qian Family's people to prevent sabotage.
However, the Artifact Refinery Workshop was massive and still incomplete, full of weak points. It was easy to sneak in and cause trouble, but extremely difficult to defend completely.
The Qian Family cultivators acted like thieves: smashing one area, then shifting to another. By the time the defenders arrived, they were long gone.
The demon hunters could not stand guard around the clock, wasting manpower in vain.
Elder Yu grew increasingly frustrated.
Mo Hua was equally displeased. Every time the Qian Family caused trouble, Elder Yu or the demon hunters took action, Mo Hua had no need to intervene himself.
Yet when they sabotaged the newly drawn formations, Mo Hua had to redraw them all over again.
After several such incidents, both Elder Yu's patience and Mo Hua's tolerance reached their limits.
If the rats were not driven out, the house could never be lived in!
Mo Hua approached Elder Yu and provided several Earthfire Arrays. These were not first-grade formations, containing only seven formation runes each, but they were more than sufficient to deal with those petty troublemakers.
He then revised the architectural formation diagram, adding Mother–Child Compass Arrays around the perimeter.
Once combat broke out or spiritual power fluctuations occurred, the demon hunters could instantly detect it and rush to provide support. Even if the Qian Family cultivators tried to destroy things quietly, the use of spiritual power would expose them immediately.
By stationing different demon hunters at various posts and assigning a few patrol squads carrying the Mother Compasses to move between points, the Qian Family would have no chance to slip in unnoticed.
Once all arrangements were set, Mo Hua spent two days prioritizing the completion of the Mother–Child Compass Arrays. He then explained to the patrolling demon hunters how to use the compasses. After that, the matter no longer required his attention.
However, the damaged formations still had to be redrawn.
Mo Hua sighed softly and calmed his mind, returning to the task of drawing formations once more.
...
When night fell, Qian Shunzhi gathered several Qian Family disciples along with a few hired ruffian cultivators. They hid beneath a dirt slope far from the Artifact Refinery Workshop.
The surrounding vegetation grew thick, providing ample cover so they would not be easily discovered.
Although they had taken losses in recent days, their "achievements" were not insignificant either.
At the cost of some injuries, they had successfully delayed the construction progress. Elder Qian had acknowledged their "results," and the clan head had even rewarded them with spirit stones.
This greatly boosted their morale.
Qian Shunzhi said, "We've shed blood for the Qian Family. The clan won't forget us. Once this is done, we'll all have spirit stones to spare!"
The group, having tasted benefits, nodded in excitement.
Qian Shunzhi continued, "Act according to our usual plan: if you can fight, fight; if you can smash, smash. If things go wrong, retreat immediately."
Everyone split into small teams, hiding in various spots and waiting for opportunities to sneak into the construction site to cause damage.
Everything proceeded as usual. The Qian Family's saboteurs were already experienced in these nightly raids.
Then... an explosion shattered the night. Flames erupted, illuminating the darkness.
Several Qian Family cultivators had stepped on Earthfire Arrays.
Those with higher cultivation sustained minor injuries, pain coursing through their bodies, heads spinning, ears ringing. The weaker ones bled and suffered burns, rolling on the ground in agony.
A few ruffians even had their clothes and hair set ablaze, writhing across the muddy ground.
Qian Shunzhi's heart nearly leapt from his chest.
Earthfire Arrays!
He had not personally participated in the previous spirit mine conflict, but he had heard from those who did that a formation master among the demon hunters had used Earthfire Arrays.
These arrays were powerful, hidden, and insidiously lethal, impossible to detect or avoid.
The Qian Family had suffered heavy losses to Earthfire Arrays before, more than once.
"What should we do now?" someone shouted.
Qian Shunzhi's Sea of Consciousness raced. In desperation, he decided to take a gamble.
They had caused trouble here two days ago, and there had been no Earthfire Arrays then. Clearly, these had been laid only recently, so their numbers should be limited.
If they backed off now, the demon hunters would have more time to deploy additional arrays. In a few days, the entire site could become a minefield, and entering again would be suicide.
However, while Qian Shunzhi was willing to gamble, the others were not.
Those who had fought at the spirit mine and been blasted by Earthfire Arrays, or even merely seen their comrades or clan master blown apart, still harbored deep trauma.
They trembled at the mere mention of Earthfire Arrays, unwilling to move forward.
In truth, the arrays Mo Hua had placed contained only seven runes each, without complex layering or overlapping sub-formations.
Yet the Qian Family cultivators, haunted by their memories, dared not risk it.
Helpless, Qian Shunzhi chose to lead by example.
As a Qi-Refining ninth-layer cultivator, he reasoned that even if he triggered one, the damage would not be fatal.
He steeled himself and advanced, treading cautiously, trying to avoid danger, though his caution was meaningless, since he had no idea where the arrays were.
Every step was a gamble.
He looked composed, but he was merely pretending to be in control.
This time, fortune favored him, he did not step on a formation.
His subordinates, however, were less lucky. One misstep, and they triggered another Earthfire Array.
Qian Shunzhi was caught in the blast, experiencing firsthand the terrifying force of the array.
The explosion's spiritual shockwaves churned his blood and rattled his mind.
His skin was charred and bleeding; the pain was excruciating.
Though the seven-rune formation was not fatal to someone of his level, the suddenness and violence of the blast left a deep psychological scar.
He finally understood why the clan's disciples spoke of Earthfire Arrays in horror, and why even the Clan Patriarch himself flinched at the memory.
The explosion drew the demon hunters, who rushed over in fury. After being harassed so many times, they unleashed their pent-up anger without restraint.
The Qian Family cultivators could not withstand their assault and fled in disarray.
Limping and scorched, Qian Shunzhi returned to the Qian residence and reported everything about the Earthfire Arrays to the family elder.
He could arrange ambushes, but dealing with such formations was beyond him.
The family elder comforted him briefly before passing the matter on to the clan head, Qian Hong.
When Qian Hong heard the words "Earthfire Array," his rage surged.
Earthfire Arrays again! Could they not come up with something new?
He immediately went to consult Master Qian, the family's foremost expert in formation arts, to seek a way to break them.
After all, within the entire Qian Family, no one's formation knowledge surpassed Master Qian's.
(End of Chapter)