Chapter 187

Afterward, Mo Shan replicated the method and began capturing Qian family's array masters.

The Qian family's guards had considerable cultivation, but they had to deal with the hunter-killers while also preventing Mo Shan from seizing people, leaving them exhausted and running in circles.

With the situation dire, the Qian family's array masters—who normally cared for decorum and bearing—now discarded everything, fleeing for their lives, wishing they could grow two extra legs.

In the end, Mo Shan captured only three array masters; the rest escaped.

The battlefield after the chaos was littered; some hunter-killers were wounded, and several Qian family cultivators lay groaning on the ground.

Mo Shan and the other hunter-killers worked together to bind the array masters and the remaining Qian family cultivators, then brought them back to the Artifact Forge.

The hunter-killers dumped the Qian family cultivators on the ground; Mo Shan waved to Mo Hua, who sat atop the high wall. Mo Hua nodded, leapt down with effortless grace, and landed lightly.

He had just used the Step of Flowing Water to climb to the towering gate wall of the Artifact Forge, riding the parapet, observing everything that transpired outside.

Although the Qian family cultivators avoided the Earth-Fire Array, once inside the Artifact Forge, any movement generating spiritual energy would trigger the Si Nan Zi Array. Patrol hunter-killer squads, holding the mother array compass, sensed the child array's response and rushed to reinforce.

The Qian family pretended to strike east while attacking west, catching everyone off guard—but their position had been exposed beyond doubt.

Thus, the infiltrating Qian family cultivators made little trouble before being subdued one by one.

Mo Hua was also curious: how had they bypassed his Earth-Fire Array?

He had specifically consulted Uncle Chu.

When it came to setting traps, hunter-killers were the most skilled, and among them, Uncle Chu was the most adept at using traps.

Mo Hua had consulted Uncle Chu, studied and applied trap-setting techniques himself extensively—his skill in laying traps ranked among the finest in the hunter-killer ranks.

The Earth-Fire Array set outside had been inspected by Mo Hua earlier and showed no flaws—so why had the Qian family discovered it?

Mo Hua climbed onto the wall and scanned the surroundings with his spiritual sense.

Master Yu, the Foundation Establishment elder, was absent; among all cultivators present, Mo Hua's spiritual sense was the strongest. The spiritual sense of ordinary Cultivation Stage Nine cultivators could not compare to his.

Then Mo Hua spotted the Qian family's array masters—and suddenly understood.

Immediately, Mo Hua felt another surge of delight.

Fish swimming straight to your door—why not catch it?

Mo Hua found Mo Shan, explained the situation, and said: "Focus on capturing the array masters—keep them alive!"

Mo Shan nodded and led a squad of formidable hunter-killers racing out, heading straight for the array masters. After a brief battle, they captured several and brought them back.

"Pity—we only caught three; the rest got away," Mo Shan said regretfully.

Mo Hua nodded vigorously: "Enough! More than enough!"

"What are we going to do with these array masters?" Mo Shan asked curiously.

"Hand them over to Master Yu—he'll handle it. I bet everyone will have meat to eat for the next month," Mo Hua smiled.

The next day, Master Yu arrived at the Artifact Forge and was startled upon seeing the Qian family array masters. "How did you capture them?"

"They walked right in," Mo Hua said.

Master Yu blinked in surprise. "Did Qian Hong lose his mind?"

"They tried to break my Earth-Fire Array—and ended up losing both the chicken and the rice."

The Qian family array masters had kept their distance, assuming that by avoiding direct confrontation, they'd be safe—but they hadn't anticipated Mo Hua's spiritual sense was so powerful; even from afar, he still detected them.

After learning the full story, Master Yu could not help but praise: Mo Hua was truly meticulous, and his spiritual sense usage was remarkably refined.

Even if his own spiritual sense was far stronger, a casual sweep would not have drawn his attention to these individuals, nor would he have linked them to array masters.

Master Yu nodded: "You've worked hard. Now leave them to me—tonight, everyone eats well!"

After speaking, Master Yu took the array masters to the Qian family residence.

These array masters could not be killed—otherwise, the Qian family would not let it rest. After all, cultivating even one array master required immense resources, and success was never guaranteed.

Moreover, even if they were killed, Dao Ting Si would not be easy to appease. Official rules must still be observed; within Xiancheng, unless absolutely necessary, no lives should be taken.

Since they couldn't be killed or held, they could only be used to extort.

And array masters were a heavy bargaining chip—Master Yu intended to squeeze them for every last bit!

Qian Hong was so enraged he nearly spat blood. He had investigated beforehand and learned Master Yu was not at the Artifact Forge at night; the array masters had kept their distance, and with Cultivation Stage Nine spiritual sense, they should have been undetectable.

He had even specially assigned guards to accompany them—so cautious, yet still captured?

How on earth had they been caught?

Qian Hong racked his brain but found no answer.

Meanwhile, Master Yu had already arrived at the door with the array masters. This time, he did not shout or curse; instead, he was in high spirits, his expression cheerful.

Like a gambler who had just won, holding his chips, waiting for the house to pay out spirit stones.

The losers were them. The house was them. The ones who had to pay out spirit stones were them—and these very chips had been delivered by them!

Qian Hong's teeth ground with fury, yet his face remained expressionless. He struck first with a cold laugh:

"Master Yu, you, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, kidnap my Qian family's array masters—and dare come here to extort?"

Master Yu waved his hand. "Don't waste words. Who are you trying to fool? We both know the truth—why pretend?"

Qian Hong sneered. "I will report this to the Dao Ting Si's Zhou Zhangsi."

"Go ahead," Master Yu replied calmly. "While you're at it, explain how your Qian family invaded the Artifact Forge, how many of our people you injured, how much property you destroyed, how many arrays you damaged, and how long you delayed our work…"

"So you, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, attack our juniors?"

Master Yu chuckled. "I didn't lift a finger. In fact, I knew nothing from start to finish. You caused the trouble yourselves—and got caught red-handed. I only found out this morning, so I came here to demand an explanation."

Qian Hong stared coldly. "What explanation do you want?"

"Show some sincerity. I'll return the men, and we preserve face—no hard feelings."

Qian Hong's eyelids twitched. Preserve face? Avoid hard feelings? Would this old fox, Master Yu, care about such things?

"What sincerity do you want?"

Master Yu countered: "What else could it be?"

Qian Hong clenched his teeth, forcing out: "Five hundred spirit stones per person!"

Elder Yu shook his head. "This sincerity is insufficient."

"What do you propose?"

"These are Array Masters! You must pay more!" said Elder Yu.

"How much do you want?"

Elder Yu blurted out, "Ten thousand Spirit Stones each!"

Qian Hong leapt to his feet in rage. "Don't push your luck!"

Elder Yu soothed, "You're the patriarch. Don't lose your composure so easily. Stay calm. I never said I wouldn't negotiate…"

Qian Hong swallowed his anger. "How much do you want?"

Elder Yu began haggling again, bargaining over each Spirit Stone as if Qian Hong weren't the patriarch but a street vendor selling vegetables.

After final negotiations, Elder Yu took the Spirit Stones and left satisfied.

Qian Hong's face turned ashen; he slammed his palm down, and the table before him shattered into dust.

"Yu Changlin, I will kill you!"