Immortality Through Array Formations - Chapter 120
Chapter 120 Monster Hunting_1
Big Black Mountain is dark and deep, its boundaries unknown.
The older generation of Monster Hunters from Tongxian City usually divide Big Black Mountain into three sections: the Outer Mountain, the Inner Mountain, and the Deep Mountain.
The Outer Mountain of Big Black Mountain is where most Monster Hunters hunt Monster Beasts; the area has few poisons, lighter miasma, and although the terrain is treacherous, it’s not exceedingly dangerous.
The Monster Beasts in the Outer Mountain are mostly at the middle phase of the first grade, with the occasional late phase first grade Monster Beast appearing, but not often.
The Inner Mountain of Big Black Mountain, on the other hand, is extraordinarily perilous, riddled with poisonous creatures, thick miasma, and fog that confounds the mind.
The Monster Beasts in the Inner Mountain are mainly at the late phase of the first grade, and occasionally there might even be a second grade Monster Beast.
If a Cultivator at the Qi Refinement Realm encountered a second grade Monster Beast and couldn’t avoid it in advance, it would almost certainly be a life-and-death situation. Therefore, not many Monster Hunters could enter the Inner Mountain.
As for the Deep Mountain of Big Black Mountain, it is an absolute forbidden zone, off-limits to all Cultivators.
Mo Hua had never heard of a Monster Hunter daring to enter the Deep Mountain of Big Black Mountain, and Mo Shan had also told Mo Hua that entering the Deep Mountain meant certain death.
Being of low status, Mo Hua was well aware of his limitations.
He wouldn’t even glance at a forbidden zone like the Deep Mountain.
He wouldn’t step foot into a perilous place like the Inner Mountain either.
Only the Outer Mountain, and specifically the outermost edge of the Outer Mountain, was the activity range Mo Hua had in mind for himself.
Mo Hua and the three Da’hu entered Big Black Mountain, stopping at the edge of the Outer Mountain.
The woods were dense all around, the mountain paths rugged, and the deep mountains hidden by mystery, occasionally emitting eerie and strange sounds.
The air was filled with a light miasma, mixed with the mountain’s fresh breeze and an indistinct bloody smell that was uncomfortable to smell.
Occasionally, there was also a faint Monster Qi lingering in the seclusion of the mountain corners.
This was just the edge of the Outer Mountain, and Mo Hua already felt an inexplicable oppression.
If this were the Inner Mountain or the Deep Mountain, Mo Hua didn’t dare imagine it.
“What do we do next?” Shuanghu whispered.
All three turned their gaze to Mo Hua.
“Leave it to me,” Mo Hua said.
Mo Hua had already planned everything.
First, he determined the route the Monster Beasts took out of their lair by examining the footprints on the ground, the hair rubbed off on the trees, the bloodstains on the stones, and the faint Monster Qi left in the air.
At a narrow fissure in the mountains, a spot they had to pass through, Mo Hua set a trap.
Inside the trap was a Wood Binding Formation, which could trap a middle phase first grade Monster Beast, but not for long—only about ten breaths.
Around the trap, there were five sets of Earth Fire Formation, each embedded with a Spirit Stone.
Mo Hua covered the traps with rubble, placed some Bloody Herbs on top, and splashed some blood water over them.
The Bloody Herbs were gathered by favor through Aunt Jiang, and the blood water was the residue from Monster meat cooked in eateries.
Once everything was ready, Mo Hua, with the three Da’hu, hid behind some boulders.
“Is this really going to work?” Xiaohu asked.
“Let’s give it a try,” Mo Hua said with an attitude of experimentation.
This plan had been rehearsed many times in his mind, considering the trap, the Bloody Herbs, the blood water, and every subsequent detail—it should be foolproof.
Monster Hunting is dangerous; there can be no negligence.
Moreover, this was Mo Hua’s first time participating in the hunting of Monster Beasts, so he prepared very thoroughly.
The group waited behind the boulders.
From the rising morning sun with its spreading mist to high noon when the mountain fog had all but dissipated, there was still no sign of any Monster Beast.
“Maybe no Monster Beast will come,” Xiaohu started to get restless.
“Hush,” Mo Hua placed his finger to his lips and whispered, “Laying traps requires carefulness and patience, just as Uncle Chu said. We cannot rush.”
The three found this reasonable and nodded in agreement.
Another two hours passed, and amidst the rustling of the trees, a Monster Beast finally showed itself.
With crimson fur, sharp teeth and claws, dripping saliva, it was a Split Claw Wolf Demon!
Its strength was probably around the middle phase of the first grade.
Just right for Mo Hua.
Mo Hua’s spirit lifted, and the three Da’hu were also on full alert.
The Split Claw Wolf Demon was not easy to deal with; they had suffered losses many times before.
As Split Claw walked, it glanced from side to side, its eyes filled with ferocity, extremely alert, occasionally scraping the trees and at times licking its dark red claws.
While walking, Split Claw soon arrived in front of the trap.
Enticed by the scent of Bloody Herbs and the rotten smell of blood, its eyes revealed greed, but it remained cautious, circling the trap a few times before ultimately stepping inside.
The trap was triggered, and pale green Spiritual Energy shackles sprouted from the Wood Binding Formation, binding Split Claw in place.
Split Claw struggled desperately, appearing to free itself after just a few moments.
Mo Hua peeked out from behind the rocks, his right hand pointing forward, and a fireball condensed and flew straight out, tracing an arc. However, it didn’t hit Split Claw but exploded at its feet.
“Did it miss?”
Da’hu and his two companions were surprised to see Mo Hua using the Fireball Technique.
But as the fireball flew out and did not hit Split Claw as they had anticipated, the three of them felt a bit of regret.
“No, it hit its mark,” Mo Hua said with a calm smile.
His target wasn’t Split Claw, but the Spirit Stone beneath its feet.
The Spirit Stone under Split Claw was shattered by the fireball, releasing Spiritual Energy that flowed into the Earth Fire Formation buried underneath.
The Formation Patterns flashed red, and three moments later, five sets of the Earth Fire Formation exploded.
With a deafening boom, the rocks shattered.
Mo Hua and the others were also left with ringing in their ears from the shock.
Once the thick smoke cleared, there were shattered rocks and burnt marks everywhere.
The Split Claw Wolf Demon was covered in wounds, half of its fur charred black, its gaze malicious, but its breath was feeble.
While it was down, time to take its life!
Mo Hua waved his hand, “Go!”
Da’hu and the others, recovering from the shock of the Earth Fire Formation’s explosion, heard Mo Hua’s shout and immediately charged, forming a pincer movement to surround Split Claw.
Mo Hua remained hidden behind the rocks, only his head peeking out to watch the fray.
Not being skilled in Body Cultivation and hand-to-hand combat, he wouldn’t get in the way of Da’hu and the others.
Da’hu and his companions had good talent in Body Refinement, and after their tempered experiences in Monster Hunting, had become quite adept in their use of Taoist Skills and Martial Arts.
Da’hu used boxing techniques, Shuanghu used sword techniques, and Xiaohu used leg techniques.
Their coordinated advances and retreats entangled in battle with Split Claw, whirling punches roared, leg strikes swift like the wind, and blade shadows dense.
Fire-series and Earth-series Spiritual Power intertwined in the fray, contending with the dark red demonic power of Split Claw.
After dozens of exchanges, the already severely injured Split Claw could no longer endure, and Shuanghu’s sword struck it on the lower back, ending its life there and then.
The trio was marked with wounds and spotted with blood, but none serious.
They stood in their place, somewhat in disbelief.
The Split Claw had died just like that?
For their Monster Hunting Team to kill a mid-phase Second-Grade Split Claw Wolf Demon, they would need one or two late Qi Refinement Realm Monster Hunters to be in charge, and at least five or six middle Qi Refinement cultivators to take turns fighting to the death with the beast.
Additionally, there would have to be several Cultivators in the periphery to assist and prevent the Split Claw from escaping.
Only after several trials, if nothing unexpected occurred, would they be able to kill the Split Claw.
Now, with just one trap set up by Mo Hua, a few Formations laid, and a single fireball tossed, the Split Claw was severely injured.
The three of them ganged up on a severely wounded and dying Split Claw, and took it down… quite effortlessly.
This was way too easy, far simpler than they had expected.
As Da’hu and his companions looked at Mo Hua, recalling the power of the Earth Fire Formation’s blast, they were filled with awe.
To be able to blast a Second-Grade mid-phase beast, with such formidable physical strength, to the brink of death…
Mo Hua had somehow managed to lay down such powerful Formations without them realizing!
Their gazes toward Mo Hua had changed a bit.
Mo Hua then poked his head out from behind the rocks and looking at the Split Claw, he asked, “Has it stopped breathing?”
The trio came back to their senses.
Da’hu nodded and said, “It has stopped!”
“Good!” Mo Hua’s spirits lifted, holding a jade bottle as he ran out from behind the rocks.
He was preparing to use the Blood Drawing Art.
