Chapter 156

The ground-fire arrays exploded in succession, dazzling like fireworks, accompanied by the cries and frantic scrambling of Qian family cultivators—utterly chaotic.

Mo Hua nodded, thoroughly satisfied after eating and drinking his fill.

Other hunter-killers at the mine entrance watched too, and seeing the Qian family's plight, they cheered loudly.

"Good blast!"

"Make it even louder!"

The frustration from days of Qian family ambushes and harassment vanished completely.

Elder Yu also felt immense satisfaction, hurling another round of curses at the Qian family from top to bottom.

Now the hunter-killers breathed easier—the pressure had shifted to the Qian cultivators.

Fight or not fight?

Attack and they'd be blown to pieces; don't attack and they'd hand over the spirit mine without a fight.

Either way, it was unacceptable to the Qian family.

The next day, the Qian family cleaned up the battlefield and carried their wounded back for treatment.

Originally, there were many injured but few dead.

Yet some wounded cultivators were ambushed by beast-beings on the way back.

The beasts, drawn by the scent of blood, found them—the severely wounded Qian cultivators, barely off the battlefield, ended up inside beast stomachs.

Qian Hong, head of the Qian family, flew into a rage and ordered that the spirit mine be taken at all costs!

The Qian family giant entrusted with the mission felt immense pressure and could only brood in a camp outside Wuming Peak.

The giant's name was Qian Zhuang, a direct-line member of the Qian family, but not from Qian Hong's branch—so Qian Hong assigned him this deadly task.

It suited him perfectly; though a direct-line member, he was neglected within the clan, his future uncertain.

If he could capture the spirit mine, the family would surely take notice—and reward him with spirit stones and pills, giving him a chance to reach Foundation Establishment.

Once he became a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he could secure an elder's position and wield power within the Qian family.

The power of a Qian family elder was great, but promotion was extremely strict.

Either you had Foundation Establishment cultivation, or exceptional skill in arrays, pill-refining, or weapon-forging, or held a key post in the sect or Dao Ting Si, or made extraordinary contributions to the family.

Qian Zhuang met none of these other conditions—his only path to becoming an elder was to reach Foundation Establishment.

So he must capture this spirit mine; otherwise, he'd gain no merit—and incur grave fault.

Within the family, all cultivators were kin—yet in truth, none were truly kin.

Those who brought no benefit to the family were useless.

Qian Zhuang refused to be useless—he wanted to seize the spirit mine, trample these hunter-killers, and climb higher in the Qian family.

Soon, a Qian family disciple entered and reported:

"Big Brother, the brothers checked—it was an array that exploded last night!"

Qian Zhuang frowned. "An array? These country bumpkins know how to use arrays?"

"Yes!"

Qian Zhuang's frown deepened.

He couldn't help wondering—hadn't those unbreakable vine-armors they'd faced before also been inscribed with arrays?

"What kind of array?"

"One disciple asked Master Qian back in the clan—he said it looks like a Ground-Fire Array."

Master Qian was a Qian family arrayist; though not yet first-rank, it was only a matter of time. Others respectfully called him "Master."

"Ground-Fire Array? What rank?"

"Seven array lines."

Qian Zhuang's expression turned cold. "Seven array lines? No wonder."

Seven array lines could injure late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators; if stacked together, their power grew even stronger.

Qian Zhuang seethed, then sneered: "Some arrayist actually helps these paupers!"

He didn't believe these destitute hermits could afford to hire an arrayist.

This arrayist likely signed a spirit contract—promising a share of the spirit stones from the mine upon success.

The world bustles for profit; this arrayist was no different.

The disciple asked: "Big Brother, what should we do next?"

Qian Zhuang said: "No matter. Just a seven-line arrayist—nothing to fear."

How many arrays could one arrayist possibly draw?

They were blasted once last night—probably used up most of their Ground-Fire Arrays. He didn't believe they'd have more tonight.

Mo Hua truly couldn't draw many—only seven or eight Ground-Fire Reassembly Arrays per day.

But Mo Hua still had many ordinary Ground-Fire Arrays in stock—leftovers from before.

Originally, these Ground-Fire Arrays were meant to be set as traps by mid-stage Qi Condensation hunter-killers to hunt beast-beings.

Since the hunter-killers had fallen out with the Qian family, Elder Yu had forbidden them from hunting in Great Heishan—so Mo Hua had hoarded many Ground-Fire Arrays, and now was the perfect time to clear them out.

Thus, the Qian family disciples suffered dearly.

The Qian family was blasted on the first night.

They were blasted again the second night.

The third night, the fourth night—still blasted.

Qian Zhuang flew into a rage, then grew reckless—he wanted to know just how many Ground-Fire Arrays these hunter-killers had.

But the Qian family disciples refused to go on.

Stepping on a Ground-Fire Array might not kill you, but it would surely injure you—and then you'd be easy prey for beast-beings on the way down, ending up in their bellies.

So many Qian family cultivators began to consider retreating, lingering at the edges, unwilling to step into the Earth Fire Array.

Qian Zhuang sensed trouble, and declared with fiery passion:

"Brothers, we've attacked for four days—they can't possibly have that many arrays; they've surely run out by now…"

"We're just one step away—we absolutely cannot fail at the final hurdle! Otherwise, all our sacrifices will be in vain!"

"If we storm the peak and seize the spirit mine, the clan lord will reward us handsomely!"

The Qian family cultivators, stirred to fervor, marched up the mountain path again.

Then, once more, they fled in disarray, burned and beaten, back through the flames of the Earth Fire Array.

Mo Hua stood midway up the mountain, watching the scene before him, and could not help but feel deep respect for the Qian family commander.

He's actually using lives to drain my array reserves—what a ruthless man!

But Qian Zhuang, watching this, nearly spat blood.

What the hell—how is there still an array?

Do you have ten hands, to draw so many arrays?

Looking at the long stretch of rugged terrain ahead, thick with grass and trees.

Qian Zhuang was haunted.

But with morale shattered in the short term, another assault was impossible—the Qian family once again had to lower their banners and withdraw.

The Hunter Demon Slayers repelled the Qian family's assault without losing a single soldier.

Elder Yu's gaze toward Mo Hua grew even warmer and friendlier, making Yu Chengyi, his own son, feel deeply uneasy.

His father had never once shown him a kind face—cold, hard, like a salted-cabbage stone.

After several days of rest, the Hunter Demon Slayers' condition had improved greatly, their expressions more relaxed.

But Mo Hua suddenly remembered a question, and asked Elder Yu with concern:

"If the Qian family sends a Foundation Establishment cultivator, what do we do?"

"Do what we've always done."

Mo Hua blinked in slight surprise. "A Foundation Establishment cultivator isn't supposed to be incredibly powerful?"

Elder Yu nodded. "Foundation Establishment is indeed powerful—but not invincible."

Mo Hua frowned, not understanding.

Elder Yu looked at Mo Hua and explained further:

"One Foundation Establishment cultivator's cultivation is roughly equal to ten late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators. If it's just one—or even five or six late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators—facing a Foundation Establishment cultivator, they stand no chance at all. They simply can't survive more than a few strikes…"

"But if it's more than ten late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators, seasoned in battle, they can hold their own against a single Foundation Establishment cultivator—the outcome becomes uncertain. In the end, it's mostly a matter of trading wounds for wounds, lives for lives—ten lives for one. By the time the Qi Condensation cultivators are all dead, the Foundation Establishment cultivator, even if still alive, will be mortally wounded."

"If there are dozens—even hundreds—of late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators, and the Foundation Establishment cultivator can't escape, he will inevitably be worn down to death."

"As the saying goes: even a fierce tiger fears a pack of wolves. That's exactly the principle."

Mo Hua suddenly understood.

Five a. m. —so tired~