Chapter 174: Escape

Qian Hong had never felt so humiliated in his life.As the head of the Qian family, he was always respected, his status esteemed, and his demeanor dignified. But now, he had to wade through the Earth Fire Array for a group of Qi cultivators, looking disheveled and utterly embarrassed.

This appearance seemed to display his incompetence, making him feel utterly disgraced!

Qian Zhongxuan also felt humiliated, but seeing Qian Hong looking even more humiliated beside him made him feel a bit better.

Qian Hong coughed, forcefully swallowing the blood rising in his throat, and angrily shouted at the Qian family cultivators behind him:

“What are you waiting for? Hurry and chase them!”

The Qian family cultivators, hearing his words, finally moved forward to pursue.

Just as Qian Hong breathed a sigh of relief, he felt a surge of energy behind him. Turning quickly, he engaged in a fierce clash.

The clash of Foundation Building stage spiritual energy created a violent shockwave. Qian Hong felt his arm go numb, and the opponent's spiritual energy seeped into his hand, causing intense pain.

Qian Hong staggered back four or five steps before stopping.

The Qian family cultivators, sensing the commotion, halted and looked toward Qian Hong.

“Chase the demon hunters! Seize the spirit stones! Don’t let them escape!” Qian Hong barked.

The Qian family cultivators hesitated for a moment before resuming their pursuit, crossing the mountain path.

Qian Hong glared at his attacker, saying, “Yu Changlin, how shameless of you to launch a sneak attack!”

“Sneak attack?” Elder Yu feigned ignorance. “I was just trying to pat you on the shoulder and say hello. You attacked me first. The shameless one is you.”

“Do you think you can take on two Foundation Building cultivators from the Qian family alone?” Qian Hong sneered coldly.

Qian Zhongxuan stood beside Qian Hong, his expression wary.

“What nonsense are you talking about? We agreed that Foundation Building cultivators wouldn’t intervene. I am a man of my word,” Elder Yu declared confidently.

Qian Hong saw through Elder Yu’s intentions and sneered, “Even if you hold us back, once our cultivators catch up with you, you’ll have nowhere to run.”

“That’s not for sure,” Elder Yu said with a faint smile. “Let’s see when they catch up.”

Not far ahead, Mo Hua was directing about ten demon hunters to set up the Earth Fire Array.

Mo Hua hadn’t used all the Earth Fire Arrays; he kept some in reserve.

It was Elder Yu who taught him to always keep a trump card.

The earlier Earth Fire Array had delayed the main force of the Qian family, wearing down their Foundation Building cultivators, making it easier for Elder Yu to hold them back.

The current Earth Fire Array was meant to intimidate them, making them hesitate to advance recklessly, thus slowing their progress.

After experiencing the earlier Earth Fire Array, the Qian family cultivators knew its power.

An Earth Fire Array capable of injuring Foundation Building cultivators was enough to terrify these Qi cultivators from the Qian family.

The dozen or so demon hunters left behind continued to set up Earth Fire Arrays along the Qian family’s path while retreating.

Mo Hua used the Passing Water Step, scouting for suitable spots to lay the arrays, with Mo Shan shadowing him closely.

The pursuing Qian family cultivators soon triggered another Earth Fire Array.

Flames erupted, spiritual energy surged, followed by the sounds of explosions and cultivators' screams.

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The Qian family cultivators, both fearful and suspicious, halted.

A few leaders either urged or tempted the group forward, and they continued their advance.

But shortly after, another explosion rang out.

The Qian family cultivators, once again startled, stopped. After a moment, they mustered their courage and continued, only to trigger another Earth Fire Array soon after.

Thus, the journey was marked by sudden bursts of flame. Though not many were injured, the psychological torment was immense.

No one knew where the next explosion would occur or who would be hit next.

With growing hesitation, their pace unconsciously slowed.

Every step was taken with trepidation, and every completed step was a moment of relief.

Gradually, all the Qian family cultivators developed a fear of the Earth Fire Arrays, and their progress slowed significantly.

Qian Zhuang and others tried to motivate or threaten them, but it was futile.

Thus, they proceeded slowly, halting frequently.

By the time the Qian family cultivators finally saw the demon hunters in the distance, the latter were already leaving Dahei Mountain with storage bags and chests full of spirit stones.

When the Qian family cultivators exited Dahei Mountain, the demon hunters were entering Tongxian City one after another.

Mo Hua was at the rear of the demon hunter team, entering the city last.

Before him was the gate of Tongxian City, and behind him were the hasty and furious Qian family cultivators.

Mo Hua breathed a sigh of relief. After such a long and chaotic confrontation, they had finally finished mining the spirit mine and escaped the Qian family’s pursuit, securing their safety.

The demon hunters had entered Tongxian City; no matter how anxious the Qian family was, there was nothing they could do.

When Mo Hua came to his senses, he found Elder Yu standing beside him.

Elder Yu’s clothes were torn in several places, and his spiritual energy was significantly depleted. He glanced at Mo Hua and, seeing him uninjured, relaxed.

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

They had been held back by Yu Changlin all the way, and now both looked exhausted. But what they found hardest to accept was the scene before them.

The demon hunters, laden with storage bags and carrying storage chests in pairs, walked into Tongxian City unscathed and openly!

Those storage bags and chests were filled with spirit stones!

Freshly mined spirit stones!

Spirit stones that should have belonged to the Qian family!

Qian Hong’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

The Qian family had spent so much time, spirit stones, and manpower, only to end up with nothing.

He himself was now dirty and disheveled, utterly embarrassed.

This was the greatest defeat since he had become the head of the family!

Qian Hong’s anger overwhelmed him, his face twisted as he roared:

“Yu Changlin! You old scoundrel! I will not let you go! I will have you cut into a thousand pieces!”

“And that array master of yours, I will find him and tear him into eight pieces to vent my anger!”

Elder Yu wasn’t afraid of Qian Hong’s threats. Over the years, he had faced many threats from the Qian family. If he were truly afraid, he wouldn’t have opposed them.

But he worried about Mo Hua. Though he could protect Mo Hua, he feared the young man might be frightened.

Elder Yu turned to look at Mo Hua, only to find him smirking instead of showing fear.

“What are you laughing at?” Elder Yu couldn’t help but ask.

Mo Hua blinked and whispered, “The old turtle’s shell is cracked.”

Elder Yu frowned, puzzled. Then he saw the disheveled and enraged Qian Hong and understood.

Qian Hong, usually composed and emotionless, was now completely unhinged, looking like a madwoman, shouting insults.

Despite their long acquaintance, Elder Yu had never seen Qian Hong in such a state.

Elder Yu couldn’t help but laugh and then shouted back at Qian Hong:

“Qian Hong, you old turtle, if your shell is cracked, just hide your head and roll away. Stop embarrassing yourself here!”