Chapter 187: Night Raid
Master Qian looked relaxed, smiling faintly. "Back and forth, it's the same old tricks. Clearly, that formation master doesn't know many formations. His level is just so-so."
Qian Hong exhaled in relief upon hearing that.
Master Qian then asked, "How was the power?"
"This time it didn't seem to reach the first-grade level. The formation's power was about equivalent to one with seven array patterns."
Master Qian nodded. "In such a short time, that formation master couldn't possibly draw many first-grade formations. Using seven-pattern arrays as substitutes makes sense."
"With seven patterns, the power isn't great. A Qi-Refining ninth-layer cultivator with an earth spiritual root, wearing iron armor, could withstand it unscathed."
He then shook his head. "Too reckless. There's no need for such brute-force methods. You can't just charge in every time, it startles the enemy and wastes armor."
Qian Hong asked, "Then what solution does Master Qian propose?"
"The method is simple," Master Qian said with a slight smile. "I'll assign some ordinary apprentice formation masters from the clan to accompany your men. They can identify where those Earth-Fire Arrays are."
Qian Hong looked puzzled. "Only formation masters can tell?"
"Indeed!" Master Qian's expression grew proud. "Heaven and earth move in cycles, and every action leaves a trace. Some things can't be perceived without keen Divine-Sense or deep study. Formations are the same. Within them, the array patterns carry faint flows of spiritual power, ordinary cultivators can't detect them, but we, who have drawn these lines thousands of times, can distinguish them easily."
Qian Hong's eyes lit up. "Then I must trouble Master Qian!"
However, he hesitated, frowning. "Sending our clan's formation masters could be risky. If anything happens to them, the loss would be unbearable."
After all, formation masters devoted their lives to formations and typically had weak cultivation. The Qian family had spent great effort cultivating them; losing even a few would be a heavy blow.
"No need to worry," said Master Qian. "They won't take part in the fighting. They'll merely observe from a distance and mark the Earth-Fire Array positions."
Qian Hong nodded. "I'll send more men to ensure their protection."
"That would be best," Master Qian replied.
...
At the second watch of the night, the crescent moon hung dimly over a pitch-black sky.
Several of the Qian family's apprentice formation masters followed Qian Shunzhi to the outskirts of the southern city's Artifact Refining Workshop. They hid in the grass at a distance, quietly extending their Divine-Sense to sense fluctuations in the surrounding spiritual energy. Soon, they detected traces of fire-elemental array patterns and pinpointed the locations of the Earth-Fire Arrays.
They compared the results with a city map, marking the positions before handing the chart to Qian Shunzhi.
Though still injured, Qian Shunzhi had been personally tasked by the clan head with this mission. If successful, it would be a great merit, and an excellent chance to regain favor.
He carefully stored the map, then gathered the Qian family disciples and several ruffian cultivators, pointing out the marked Earth-Fire Array locations.
"Memorize them well."
The group nodded.
Qian Shunzhi divided the cultivators into teams, assigning routes to each. Then he waved his hand. "Go!"
Under the cover of night, the teams crept toward the Refining Workshop from different directions.
"Follow the plan," Qian Shunzhi whispered.
The cultivators split into groups, avoiding most of the Earth-Fire Arrays as they stealthily approached.
A few were triggered, sparks flaring briefly in the darkness, either from missteps or overlooked traps.
Qian Shunzhi had anticipated this. No operation could ever be flawless.
That was why he had ordered simultaneous attacks from multiple fronts. Even if one group drew attention, the others could advance while the enemy was distracted.
The dim night made visibility poor. Amid the chaos, confusion was inevitable.
The Demon Hunters would never guess from which direction the attack came.
As long as they could use the distraction to destroy some buildings and damage formations, the mission would be a success.
Qian Shunzhi watched from afar.
His leg, still injured from a previous Earth-Fire Array explosion, made running difficult. Besides, he dreaded another encounter with Elder Yu. That man, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, was shameless and ruthless, Qian Shunzhi dared not imagine what might happen if he fell into his hands again.
Previously, he had no choice but to lead in person. Now, with his injury as an excuse, he could safely observe from behind.
Everything unfolded as he expected.
The Earth-Fire Arrays detonated only in a few spots, just enough to draw the Demon-Hunters' attention and create confusion.
Several Qian family cultivators had already infiltrated the site, and spiritual fluctuations indicated either combat or sabotage.
In the black night, multicolored spiritual lights flared across the Refining Workshop.
Yet the chaos lasted only a short while before fading. The noises subsided, and the spiritual ripples gradually stilled.
Those who had infiltrated did not return.
The entire Refining Workshop loomed in the dark like a slumbering beast, its jaws open wide, swallowing them whole.
Qian Shunzhi's mind went blank.
What happened?
The plan had been flawless, distraction and ambush should have worked perfectly.
Why did everything go silent so quickly?
Just then, he saw a group emerging from the workshop, sprinting straight toward them.
In the darkness, he could not make out their faces, but instinct screamed: They were not his men.
"Retreat! Quickly!" Qian Shunzhi barked.
His words came too late. The Demon-Hunters had already caught up.
At their head was Mo Shan, broad-shouldered, sharp-eyed, his movements swift and lethal.
Mo Shan blurred forward, appearing before Qian Shunzhi in an instant, and launched a Blazing Fist punch straight toward his face.
Qian Shunzhi crossed his arms to block, but searing pain shot through them, and a cracking sound echoed, bones snapping.
Mo Shan followed with a heavy kick. Qian Shunzhi was sent flying, crashing to the ground, his entire body aching, unable to move.
Leaving him sprawled there, Mo Shan turned on the remaining Qian formation masters.
The Qian family guards stepped in to protect them. All were Qi-Refining ninth-layer cultivators, strong and seasoned, and for a brief time they held Mo Shan at bay.
Yet Mo Shan did not waste effort on a prolonged fight. Using swift, precise movements, he slipped past them, closing in on one of the Qian formation masters.
The formation master barely had time to react before Mo Shan appeared before him. A sharp strike to the neck, darkness fell.
Mo Shan caught the man by the collar, swung him effortlessly, and hurled him toward a group of Demon-Hunters waiting nearby.
They caught the unconscious formation master, pulled out ropes, and tied him up tightly, like trussing a pig.
(End of Chapter)