Mo Shan's expression hardened as he, accompanied by Mo Hua, found Elder Yu.
Mo Hua pointed to a spot on the map and said, "There was a fight here."
It couldn't have been demon hunters because they had agreed that if they engaged, they would signal with fireworks as a mutual warning.
Other than that, there was a slight probability of demon beasts fighting each other, causing fluctuations in demonic energy.
Most likely, it was Qian family cultivators encountering demon beasts and thus resorting to violence.
Regardless, they needed to investigate.
Elder Yu said directly, "Gather everyone, let's go."
Although the demon hunters were dispersed, they weren't far apart and communicated quickly. In no time, several hundred late Qi Refining stage demon hunters had assembled.
Elder Yu briefed them briefly on the situation and then waved his hand, saying, "Let's move out!"
All the demon hunters lowered their bodies, hiding their aura, not uttering a word as they stealthily approached the mountain peak marked by Mo Hua.
Half an hour later, they arrived.
This was a rarely visited small hilltop, desolate and remote. Because there were so few people around, the demon hunters hadn't bothered to name it, typically referring to it as the "Nameless Peak."
Among the broken stones in the forest, they found the carcass and bloodstains of a demon beast.
Mo Shan went up to take a look, wiped the bloodstains with his hand, and said, "It was killed by a cultivator, but the technique is crude, not that of a demon hunter."
Elder Yu's gaze sharpened as he released his spiritual awareness.
Mo Hua faintly sensed a ripple, but then it disappeared completely.
Those with powerful spiritual awareness are not easily spied upon.
And being spied upon by someone with powerful spiritual awareness is also hard to detect.
Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat. The spiritual awareness of a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator was indeed extraordinary.
Following Elder Yu's lead, Mo Hua also released his spiritual awareness, searching for traces in the mountains.
After a while, Elder Yu withdrew his spiritual awareness and stared at Mo Hua, visibly astonished.
After a moment, Mo Hua also retracted his spiritual awareness.
"Do you see anything?" Elder Yu asked.
Mo Hua nodded. "There's a mine shaft in the mountains, hidden with wood and stones."
Elder Yu's eyes lit up. "Mark it on the map for me to see."
Mo Hua took out the map and drew several circles near the summit of the Nameless Peak.
These were the locations Mo Hua had identified as mine shafts during his spiritual scan.
Elder Yu nodded and added a few more marks.
Mo Hua looked at them and nodded thoughtfully.
Some were ones he had overlooked, either too far for his spiritual range, too well-hidden for his spiritual strength, or simply due to his own lack of experience and carelessness.
Mo Hua silently reflected and summarized his use of spiritual awareness in his mind.
Elder Yu looked pleased and patted Mo Hua on the shoulder, saying, "Well done."
Then his expression turned serious, his gaze sharp as a sword, as he ordered:
"All demon hunters, remember these locations!"
"Split into teams, enter these mine shafts, and don't alert the enemy."
"If you encounter Qian family cultivators, disable them. If necessary, eliminate them. I'll handle the consequences with the Tribunal."
The demon hunters acknowledged the orders, their eyes filled with determination.
Shadows darted up, approaching the entrances to the mine shafts halfway up the mountain.
Mo Shan instructed Mo Hua, "You stay hidden on the side. Don't enter, and if any cultivators come out, stay out of sight and protect yourself!"
Mo Hua nodded and replied, "Dad, wear that set of vine armor."
On the vine armor were the markings of Mo Hua's refined golden armor array.
Mo Shan felt touched and ruffled Mo Hua's hair before disappearing towards the mine shaft halfway up the mountain.
Mo Hua scanned the surroundings with his spiritual awareness, finding a safe and easily concealable large pit in which to hide.
Soon, there were movements in the mountains, indicating that the fighting had begun.
Even outside, Mo Hua could hear booming sounds, cultivators shouting and cursing, and the colorful remnants of spiritual power.
Then, a loud rumble.
Mo Hua sensed an even stronger oppression of spiritual power.
It seemed Elder Yu and the Qian family Foundation Establishment cultivators were fighting.
The intense fluctuations continued for a while until a figure rushed out from a mine shaft halfway up the mountain.
The figure didn't look back and dashed straight down the mountain, leaving a blur in its wake.
Judging by the speed of the escape, it was undoubtedly a Foundation Establishment cultivator!
Mo Hua breathed a sigh of relief.
With the Foundation Establishment cultivator fleeing, the remaining Qian family cultivators would soon scatter like a falling tree.
Sure enough, in less than the time it takes to brew tea, Qian family cultivators began hurriedly emerging from the mine shafts.
Most of them were battered and bloody, clutching their arms or limping, scrambling downhill in panic.
Mo Hua decided not to act rashly. After all, he was alone and caution was necessary.
He remained quietly in the pit.
After a while, Mo Hua suddenly heard footsteps approaching. Looking up, he saw two Qian family cultivators fleeing towards him.
They looked worn out from a hard fight, their spiritual fluctuations weak, nearing depletion.
Instead of sticking with other Qian family members, they had chosen to go alone, limping past the bushes right in front of Mo Hua.
Mo Hua felt almost sorry for them without needing to lift a finger.
One of the Qian family cultivators muttered angrily, "These bastards, where did they get the intel..."
"I'll report back to the family head and make them pay!"
"...Damn it!"
He cursed as he ran.
Mid-curse, a fireball exploded in his face.
A sharp pain struck, the flaming spiritual power making him dizzy and ringing in his ears, his face burning with pain.
"What..."
Before he could react, another blow hit his face, and he collapsed.
"An ambush?!"
The other Qian family cultivator turned pale with shock. Ignoring his companion, he turned to flee. But before he could take a few steps, another fireball struck the back of his head.
He fell flat on the ground, his face hitting a rock, unconscious.
Mo Hua didn't rush out.
He scanned them with his spiritual awareness and found their spiritual power fluctuating irregularly.
They had passed out, their minds unclear, unable to control their spiritual power flow.
Mo Hua wasn't entirely at ease. He sent another fireball spell to each of them to ensure they wouldn't wake up, then climbed out of the pit.
What to do?
Mo Hua pondered for a moment, then took their storage bags.
The "Dao Code" forbade looting.
Mo Hua wanted to be a law-abiding cultivator, but when the Qian family pushed him too far, he couldn't just let them walk over him.
"Cultivators truly are bound by circumstance..."
Mo Hua sighed softly, with a hint of melancholy, as he tucked the storage bags into his arms.
Then he hurried back into the pit to see if any other Qian family cultivators would come and find themselves similarly "bound by circumstance."
Sure enough, more Qian family cultivators began to arrive in succession.
If there were many, Mo Hua would let them go.
If there were few, Mo Hua would act accordingly.
As dawn approached and the fighting in the mine shafts neared its end,
Mo Hua's arms were already full...
(End of the Chapter)