The demon hunters began their mountain search under the cover of night, but Mo Hua didn't join them.
Both Mo Shan and Elder Yu forbade him from going.
It was because there might be conflicts with the Qian family. In the dark night and high winds of the Great Black Mountain, it would be quite dangerous.
Although Mo Hua wasn't afraid, he had no intention of taking risks. He stayed obediently at home, practicing formations.
Early the next morning, Mo Shan returned, looking weary with raindrops on his body but no signs of injury or having engaged in combat.
"Did you find anything?" Mo Hua asked.
Mo Shan nodded. "The Qian family has hidden themselves well; we found no traces."
"How about taking me with you tonight?" Mo Hua suggested.
Mo Shan frowned. "It's very dangerous."
"I'll stay within the camp and won't wander out," Mo Hua assured.
"What will you do there?" Mo Shan asked, puzzled.
Mo Hua smirked, "You'll see when the time comes."
Mo Shan pondered for a moment and agreed.
With Mo Hua's agility, as long as he avoided direct conflicts with the Qian family and the chaos of blades and flying spiritual energy, staying on the outskirts of the mountain would be sufficient for self-protection.
As the sky darkened, the Great Black Mountain became shrouded in a misty veil of darkness.
Accompanied by the demon hunters, Mo Hua ascended the mountain. It was pitch black, with visibility reduced to nothing.
Only the cold, damp mountain wind blew through the trees, rustling the leaves, and in the distance, the howls of demon beasts could be heard.
Mo Shan led Mo Hua to a campsite, closed the gate securely, lit a lamp, and then brought out a fur blanket, wrapping Mo Hua up like a small dumpling.
"It's cold at night in the mountains; don't catch a chill," Mo Shan cautioned.
Mo Hua peeked out from the blanket, nodding.
"Be careful and try not to go out. If you encounter danger, use that firework of yours, and the demon hunters will come rushing," Mo Shan reiterated patiently.
Mo Hua nodded again. "Don't worry, Dad, I know my way around the outskirts."
Whether it was hunting demon blood, gathering spices, mining stones, collecting herbs, or making maps, Mo Hua had run around the outskirts countless times.
To him, the outskirts were like his own backyard.
Although the Great Black Mountain at night was more dangerous, Mo Hua's spiritual awareness was strong. With careful vigilance, there shouldn't be any major problems.
Moreover, there were many demon hunters searching for traces of the Qian family in the outskirts. He knew quite a few of them.
Mo Shan smiled and patted Mo Hua's head gently before leaving. "I'm off. Take care of yourself."
After Mo Shan left, Mo Hua opened his storage bag, took out the Luopan compass of the Mother Formation, and placed it aside.
Then he released his spiritual awareness to scan the surroundings, confirming no abnormalities. Next, he took out ink and brush, and on the gate of the camp, he drew another formation.
This formation included the Earth Guard Formation, reinforcing the soil and rocks to make the gate more impregnable.
After all, Mo Hua would be spending the night in this camp.
As a formation master, he felt most secure within his own drawn formations.
Mo Hua silently thought to himself.
Then he took out some beef and fruit wine, eating and drinking while studying the formation under the lamplight, occasionally glancing at the Luopan compass of the Mother Formation from the corner of his eye.
And so, the night passed peacefully without incident.
Nothing happened at all.
Early the next morning,
After searching the mountain all night, Mo Shan, looking weary, saw Mo Hua, who was well-fed and relaxed, and felt somewhat uneasy inside.
"Will you come again tomorrow night?" Mo Shan asked.
Mo Hua nodded. "I'll be there."
And so, on the second and third nights thereafter, Mo Hua accompanied Mo Shan into the Great Black Mountain and spent the night in the camp.
But still, nothing happened.
It wasn't until the fourth night, as Mo Hua sat wrapped in his small blanket, eating lamb and flipping through his formation books, that a light suddenly appeared on the Luopan compass of the Mother Formation.
Mo Hua's eyes brightened.
They're here! They've slipped up!
Cultivators from the Qian family entered the mountains, able to evade demon hunters but not necessarily demon beasts.
Encountering demon beasts would inevitably lead to combat.
And where there's combat, there's a spiritual energy disturbance. Once such a disturbance triggers the Southern Son Formation Mo Hua had laid out in the mountains, its position can be pinpointed through the mother compass.
However, such battles didn't occur every day, requiring patience and a wait-and-see approach.
Today, however, this hare had jumped right into Mo Hua's lap.
Mo Hua spread out his map and, using the Southern Mother Formation as a guide, quickly determined their location.
It was a small hill at the boundary between the outer and inner mountains, desolate and rarely visited by cultivators.
Mo Hua extinguished the lamp, packed up his things, and then left the camp.
Outside, the moonlight was hazy, with shadows of trees casting dense patterns all around.
Mo Hua closed his eyes, focusing his spiritual awareness to the extreme.
The pitch-black surroundings instantly turned into a blank void.
After a moment, Mo Hua opened his eyes and walked in a particular direction.
There was a demon hunter there, diligently searching the mountains.
The mountain was dense with divine spirits, and the demon hunter was fully absorbed in his search. Suddenly feeling a small hand patting his shoulder startled him so much that his soul almost fled his body.
Mo Hua quickly hushed him, whispering, "Uncle Wu."
Recognizing Mo Hua's voice, the demon hunter gradually calmed down, though his heart still raced.
"Mo Hua, ah, you scared me to death."
Mo Hua was baffled. He had simply walked over and patted the man's shoulder. How could that be scary?
'We're all adults here. Shouldn't we be more composed?' Mo Hua thought to himself.
The demon hunter regained his composure and asked in a low voice, "Why are you here? Didn't your dad tell you to stay at the camp?"
"I'm looking for my dad," Mo Hua replied.
"Oh." The demon hunter nodded. "Your dad is over by the Big Mountain Rock."
"Thank you, Uncle Wu."
The demon hunter with the surname Wu glanced at Mo Hua, worriedly saying, "It's dark and dangerous in the mountains at night. Should I escort you there?"
Mo Hua shook his head. "No need, I'll manage. Uncle Wu, you go ahead with your tasks."
The demon hunter nodded. "If you encounter danger, shout, and I'll come over."
Mo Hua thanked him again and headed towards the Big Mountain Rock.
After Mo Hua left, the demon hunter continued his mountain search. As he searched, he suddenly felt a shock in his heart:
"When Mo Hua walked, why was there no sound at all?"
It was as if his feet weren't touching the ground, as if something was supporting him as he walked.
And just now, why hadn't he noticed Mo Hua approaching?
Whether it was spiritual awareness, aura, or sound, he hadn't noticed anything...
A cold wind blew through the mountains, and the trees rustled ominously.
Chills ran down the demon hunter's spine again, and he shook his head vigorously, forcing himself to focus and continue searching.
Meanwhile, Mo Hua was swiftly moving forward using the Flowing Water Step.
Faint spiritual energy rippled beneath his feet, allowing him to move silently and swiftly.
By the time Mo Hua reached the Big Mountain Rock and expanded his spiritual awareness, he indeed spotted Mo Shan not far off, carefully following traces.
Mo Shan also sensed something and looked up, spotting a small figure approaching.
"Hua'er?"
"Dad." Mo Hua walked up to Mo Shan in a few steps.
"Didn't I tell you to stay at the camp?" Mo Shan was somewhat worried.
"I know."
Mo Shan paused. "Know what?"
"I know where the spiritual mine is!"
(End of the Chapter)