Chapter 146: Chapter 146 Kui Wood Wolf (Five More Updates) _1
Having already mastered the Golden Armor Formation and crossed the threshold of First-grade Nine Patterns,
Mo Hua just needed to continue learning and practicing formations as he did before.
With Mr. Zhuang’s knowledge, he said it wouldn’t be hard for him to become a Second Rank junior Formation Master, which greatly boosted Mo Hua’s confidence.
But upon further reflection, he realized that while becoming a Second Rank Formation Master might not be difficult, becoming a Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage was another story...
A Loose Cultivator’s journey to Foundation Establishment is fraught with challenges.
Mo Hua sighed.
Let’s just take it one step at a time.
When Mo Hua got some free time, he made a trip to the Refinery Shop and asked Master Chen to craft a new set of rattan armor.
The common armors used by Demon Refining Masters are rattan and iron armor.
Rattan armor is made from vines that have been soaked in water and dried, then refined by Artifact Refiners. Its defense is average, at best able to barely block an attack from a First-grade Mid-phase Monster Beast. If not inscribed with an Iron Armor Formation, it is easy to get injured during monster hunting.
Iron Armor is crafted from fine iron and can defend against attacks from late-phase First-grade Monster Beasts; however, it consumes a lot of fine iron and is expensive to make, so the average Monster Hunter cannot afford it.
Late-phase Qi Refinement Monster Hunters would usually ask Artifact Refiners to mix fine iron into their rattan armor, combining vine and iron to strengthen its defense without being excessively costly.
The rattan armor Mo Hua asked Master Chen to refine was the type used in the late stages of Qi Refinement.
During a previous trip to the Inner Mountain for monster hunting, Mo Shan encountered a troublesome Monster Beast. In the struggle, his rattan armor got torn open with a crack.
Mo Shan didn’t have the heart to discard his cracked rattan armor and continued to wear it.
Seeing this, Mo Hua wanted to make a new set of rattan armor for his father.
Because it was Mo Hua’s request, Master Chen gave his full attention to the task. He didn’t even let Dazhu and the others help, personally handling the hammering, tempering, water-soaking, and everything else.
And he mixed in a generous amount of fine iron.
Mo Hua wanted to give Master Chen some Spirit Stones, but Chen refused.
When Mo Hua tried to give them again, Master Chen’s already dark complexion grew even darker:
“You look down on me, don’t you?”
Mo Hua would draw formations for him and occasionally dig up some ores to give to him. Although he didn’t say much, he always remembered these favors in his heart.
Mo Hua had no choice but to bring him several pounds of beef, which Master Chen gladly accepted with relish.
After bringing the rattan armor back, Mo Hua inscribed a First-grade Golden Armor Formation on it!
The First-grade Golden Armor Formation truly includes nine Formation Patterns. Even a Qi Refining Ninth Level Cultivator should be able to use it.
With the Golden Armor Formation inscribed, the rattan armor’s defense should be much stronger.
Mo Hua didn’t want to see his father, who was a Monster Hunter, covered in scars anymore.
A few days later, Mo Shan was to enter the Inner Mountain for monster hunting again. Liu Ruhua prepared his travel bag, getting dried meat and provisions ready.
Mo Hua then gave the rattan armor to Mo Shan.
Upon seeing the brand new, meticulously crafted rattan armor, Mo Shan was momentarily stunned.
“This is...”
“My son gave it to me.”
Mo Shan’s tone was flat, but there was a hint of pride in his demeanor that he couldn’t hide.
The other Monster Hunters looked on, their hearts bitter and resentful.
“Alright, that’s enough.”
“If you want to laugh, just laugh... we won’t hit you.”
“You’d have to be able to beat him first.”
The men joked for a while.
Suddenly, Mo Shan’s expression became serious, “We’re close.”
All the Monster Hunters’ expressions turned solemn, they stopped joking, and were on full alert.
Crouched low, using the thick shrubs of the forest for cover, they carefully moved forward until they finally found the Kui Wood Wolf Demon by a babbling brook in the forest.
The Kui Wood Wolf Demon was drinking water at the stream, its cruel eyes scanning the surroundings.
Mo Shan, in a low voice, said, “Same rules as always, I’ll go first. Be careful not to get wounded by its claws!”
Everyone nodded.
Mo Shan took advantage of the Kui Wood Wolf Demon being unaware, relying on his swift movement technique, he leaped forward, his fists like the wind and wrapped with fierce flames, aiming a punch toward the ribcage of the Kui Wood Wolf.
Midway through the punch, the Kui Wood Wolf became alert and twisted its body, so the punch only hit its back.
The Kui Wood Wolf, hurt by the impact, retreated a few steps, blinked its black eyes which flashed deep green, the malice in its eyes deepening.
The other Monster Hunters also emerged from all sides, surrounding the Kui Wood Wolf.
The encirclement and kill officially began.
Surrounding and killing Monster Beasts was a very time-consuming and energy draining task that required intense concentration.
The Monster Hunters needed to be fully prepared, combatting the beasts at close range without a trace of carelessness, or else it was easy for the beasts to find an opening and cause dire consequences.
Monster Beasts have tough bodies and more profound Blood Qi than Cultivators, so it is necessary to spend time wearing them down bit by bit to death.
This process was quite lengthy and tested one’s cultivation, Taoist skills, patience, and experience.
Those who dared to hunt monsters in the Inner Mountain were all seasoned Monster Hunters.
Mo Shan’s team was no exception.
They cooperated with each other tacitly, acted decisively, didn’t linger in unfavorable situations, and didn’t hesitate to exploit any weakness they found.
Time passed bit by bit.
During the hunt, Mo Shan was even more cautious than usual, pushing his movement technique to the limit, dodging attack after attack, not wanting to leave a single scratch on the rattan armor.
After about two hours, the Kui Wood Wolf’s breath weakened, and it finally collapsed weakly on the ground.
Despite this, everyone kept their distance and stayed wary.
A Monster Hunter stepped forward, carefully checked the body, and then breathed a sigh of relief, “It’s dead.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and walked toward Mo Shan.
Catching something out of the corner of his eye, Mo Shan had a sudden premonition and shouted urgently, “It’s not dead yet!”
Before his words fell, the Kui Wood Wolf lying on the ground opened its eyes.