Chapter 173: Escape

Qian Hong had never felt so humiliated in his life.

As head of the Qian family, he had always been respected, his status exalted, his bearing dignified—yet now he was forced to clear a first-grade earthfire array for a group of Qi Condensation disciples, his hair disheveled, his clothes filthy, his demeanor broken.

This appearance seemed to proclaim his incompetence, filling him with utter shame!

Qian Zhongxuan also felt humiliated, but since Qian Hong stood right beside him, looking even more humiliated, he instantly felt less so.

Qian Hong coughed, forcibly swallowing the blood surging into his throat, and roared at the Qian family cultivators behind him:

"What are you waiting for? Don't just stand there—chase them!"

Hearing this, the Qian family cultivators finally moved, rushing forward in pursuit.

Qian Hong had just relaxed his breath when he suddenly felt a surge of power behind him; his heart froze, and he spun around to meet the blow with a palm strike.

The collision of Foundation Establishment spiritual energy instantly generated a violent shockwave; Qian Hong felt half his arm go numb, and the opponent's spiritual energy seeped into his palm, piercing with agony.

Qian Hong staggered backward five or six steps before finally stopping.

The Qian family cultivators sensed the commotion and halted, turning to look at Qian Hong.

Qian Hong barked: "Chase the Hunter-Monsters! Intercept the spirit stones! Don't let them escape!"

The Qian family cultivators paused for a moment, then rose again, crossing the mountain path to continue their pursuit.

Qian Hong's gaze turned icy as he stared at the one who had ambushed him: "Yu Changlin, your shamelessness knows no bounds—you ambushed me!"

"Ambushed?" Yu the Elder looked utterly bewildered. "I just wanted to clap you on the shoulder and say hello—yet you struck me first. You're the one with a petty mind judging a noble heart. The truly shameless one is you."

"You don't seriously think you can single-handedly kill two of our Qian family Foundation Establishment cultivators, do you?" Qian Hong said coldly.

Qian Zhongxuan stood beside Qian Hong, his expression wary.

"What nonsense. We all agreed—no Foundation Establishment cultivators intervene. I've always been honest and trustworthy—I won't break my word." Yu the Elder swore solemnly.

Qian Hong saw through Yu the Elder's intentions and sneered:

"Even if you hold us two Foundation Establishment cultivators back, once my Qian family disciples catch up to you, you'll still be unable to escape."

"That remains to be seen," Yu the Elder said with a sly smile. "Let's see if you can catch up first."

Far ahead, Mo Hua was directing a dozen Hunter-Monsters to set up a first-grade earthfire array.

Mo Hua hadn't used up the entire earthfire array—he still had some left in reserve.

Always leave a trick up your sleeve—that's what Yu the Elder taught him.

The earlier earthfire array had blocked the main Qian force and drained the Foundation Establishment cultivators' stamina, making it easier for Yu the Elder to hold them back.

This current earthfire array was meant only to scare them, to make them hesitate and slow their advance.

After encountering the earlier earthfire array, the Qian family cultivators all knew the power of a first-grade earthfire array.

A first-grade earthfire array capable of injuring a Foundation Establishment cultivator was enough to strike terror into these Qi Condensation disciples.

The dozen Hunter-Monsters left to cover the retreat retreated while planting earthfire arrays along the Qian family's inevitable path.

Mo Hua moved swiftly with the Step of Flowing Water, scanning the terrain and searching for ideal spots to bury the arrays, while Mo Shan followed him without ever leaving his side.

The pursuing Qian family cultivators soon triggered another earthfire array.

Flames erupted suddenly, spiritual energy trembled, and with the explosions came the cries of wounded cultivators.

How is there another earthfire array?

The Qian family cultivators, both suspicious and terrified, halted in their tracks.

A few leading cultivators whipped or bribed their subordinates, and the group finally resumed moving.

But after advancing only a short distance, another explosion rang out.

The Qian family cultivators froze again in fear; after a moment, they rallied their courage and pressed on—only to trigger another earthfire array shortly after.

Thus, flames kept flaring along the path; though few Qian cultivators were injured, their psychological torment was excruciating.

After all, no one knew where the next explosion would strike—or who would be next.

Hesitation crept into their hearts, and their steps unconsciously slowed.

Every step forward was taken with dread; every step completed brought relief of barely surviving.

Gradually, all Qian family cultivators developed a deep dread of the earthfire arrays, and their pace slowed considerably.

Qian Zhuang and the others tried to rally or threaten them, but it was useless.

Thus, they moved forward haltingly, advancing with agonizing slowness.

By the time the Qian family cultivators finally caught sight of the Hunter-Monsters' main force in the distance, the Hunter-Monsters had already carried their full bags and chests of spirit stones out of Great Heishan.

By the time the Qian family cultivators emerged from Great Heishan, the Hunter-Monsters had already begun streaming into Xiancheng.

Mo Hua brought up the rear of the Hunter-Monster column, entering the city last.

Before him stood the great gates of Xiancheng; behind him rushed the Qian family cultivators, frantic and furious.

Mo Hua exhaled in relief. After so long a battle and standoff, they had successfully mined the spirit vein—and escaped the Qian family's pursuit—safely.

The Hunter-Monsters had already entered Xiancheng; no matter how desperate the Qian family became, they could do nothing.

When Mo Hua came back to himself, he realized Yu the Elder had somehow appeared beside him.

Yu the Elder's robes were torn in several places, his spiritual energy greatly depleted; he glanced at Mo Hua, saw he was unharmed, and his expression eased slightly, his worry fading.

At the same time, Qian Hong and Qian Zhongxuan arrived as well.

They had been held back by Yu Changlin the entire way; now both looked weary—but what they saw before them was even harder to accept.

The Hunter-Monsters were laden with storage bags, carrying storage chests on their shoulders, walking calmly and openly into Xiancheng!

Those storage bags and chests were filled with spirit stones!

Spirit stones just mined!

Spirit stones that rightfully belonged to the Qian family!

Qian Hong's eyes bulged with rage.

The Qian family had spent so much time, so many spirit stones, so much manpower—and in the end, failed at the final step, gaining nothing.

He had also ended up covered in dust, a wretched and sorry sight.

This was the worst defeat he had suffered since inheriting the position of family head!

Qian Hong, overwhelmed by rage, his face twisted, roared sharply:

"Yu Changlin! You old Yu bastard! I won't let you off! I'll cut you into a thousand pieces!"

"And that array master of yours — I'll find him, and tear him into eight pieces! To vent the hatred in my heart!"

Elder Yu was unafraid of Qian Hong's threats. Over all these years, had he received few threats from the Qian family? If he truly feared the Qian family, he could never have opposed them.

But he was a little worried about Mo Hua. Although he could ensure Mo Hua's safety, he still feared that Mo Hua might be frightened.

Elder Yu turned his head and glanced at Mo Hua, only to find that there was no trace of worry or fear on his face — instead, he was secretly laughing.

Elder Yu couldn't help but ask: "What are you laughing at?"

Mo Hua blinked and whispered: "The old turtle's shell cracked."

Elder Yu frowned, not quite understanding. Then he looked up and saw Qian Hong — disheveled, clothes torn, face twisted — and only then did the meaning dawn on him.

Qian Hong, who had always kept his喜怒 unreadable, now had his composure utterly shattered. Disheveled, face twisted, loudly cursing and berating like a shrew.

After dealing with Qian Hong for so long, he had never once seen him in such a flustered and furious state.

Elder Yu couldn't help but laugh out loud as well, then turned and shouted at Qian Hong:

"Qian Hong, you old turtle — now that your shell's cracked, tuck your head in and scuttle back! Stop making a fool of yourself here!"