Master Qian looked relaxed and smiled faintly, "It's always these same things. Obviously, this formation master doesn't know many formations. His level is just like that."
Qian Hong sighed in relief upon hearing this.
Master Qian asked again, "How powerful are they?"
"It seems there are no top-grade ones this time. The formation's power is only about seven array patterns."
Master Qian nodded, "In such a short time, that formation master couldn't draw many top-grade formations. He can only make do with seven array patterns."
"With seven array patterns, the power isn't great. A ninth-level Qi Refiner with earth-spiritual roots, wearing iron armor, can go unharmed."
Master Qian shook his head, "It's too reckless. There's no need. We can't always charge in head-on. It not only alerts the enemy unnecessarily but also wastes iron armor."
Qian Hong said, "Then, Master, do you have a method to deal with it?"
"The method is simple." Master Qian smiled, "I'll pick some ordinary formation experts from the clan to go with you. They can spot where these earth-fire formations are."
Qian Hong looked puzzled, "Only formation experts can see them?"
"Yes!" Master Qian's expression was confident, "The myriad things in heaven and earth constantly leave traces. Some things, if your spiritual awareness isn't deep enough or you haven't studied them thoroughly, you won't see their clues..."
"Formations are the same way. The array patterns have faint spiritual energy fluctuations. Ordinary cultivators can't discern them, but those of us who deal with formations regularly, after seeing thousands of array patterns, naturally can tell."
Qian Hong's eyes brightened, "Then, we'll rely on you, Master!"
But after thinking about it, he still had some concerns, "Sending clan formation experts over, if they encounter danger, it might not be worth the loss..."
After all, formation experts usually focused on studying formations, so their cultivation and strength were relatively weak. If the Qian family invested heavily in training them and they all went and got hurt, it would indeed be a heavy loss.
"No problem." Master Qian said, "The formation experts won't directly risk themselves. They'll just observe from a distance and identify the positions of the earth-fire formations."
Qian Hong said, "I'll send more people to protect them."
Master Qian nodded, "That's the best way."
At the ugly hour of the night, with a crescent moon faintly visible, the sky was pitch black.
Several Qian family formation experts followed Qian Shunzhi to the outskirts of the southern city's alchemy workshop. They hid in distant bushes, extending their spiritual awareness to carefully discern the abnormal spiritual energy around them, sensing the fire-type array patterns and pinpointing the positions of the earth-fire formations.
The Qian family formation experts compared this with the city map, marking down these earth-fire formations, then handing the map to Qian Shunzhi.
Qian Shunzhi's injuries hadn't healed yet, but this task was personally ordered by the family head. It was of great importance; once completed successfully, it would be a significant achievement and earn recognition from the family head.
This was an extremely rare opportunity.
Qian Shunzhi carefully stored the map, gathered Qian family disciples and a group of unruly cultivators, and pointed out the positions of the earth-fire formations to them one by one.
"Do you remember them clearly?"
The cultivators nodded.
Qian Shunzhi divided the cultivators into teams, each marked with a specific route. Then he waved his hand, "Let's move!"
Thus, a group of cultivators, under the cover of night, stealthily approached the outskirts of the alchemy workshop.
Qian Shunzhi whispered, "Proceed according to the plan."
His followers automatically split into several groups, taking different routes, avoiding the earth-fire formations on the ground, stealthily moving closer to the alchemy workshop.
Most of the Qian family cultivators avoided the earth-fire formations, but a few were triggered here and there, sporadically lighting up the night with flames.
Some were due to Qian family cultivators' carelessness, accidentally triggering the earth-fire formations; others were due to the Qian family formation experts overlooking their positions in the darkness.
All of this was within Qian Shunzhi's calculations.
No matter how careful they were, it was impossible to be completely foolproof.
Therefore, he divided the cultivators into several teams to attack simultaneously. Even if they triggered the earth-fire formations and attracted the attention of the demon hunters, they could still advance on multiple fronts, making the demon hunters spread thin and exhausted.
With the night shrouded in mist, visibility was poor, and in such chaos, it was normal to be distracted and unable to cover all angles.
The demon hunters couldn't possibly know where the attack was coming from.
As long as they took advantage of the chaos, destroyed several buildings, and damaged some formations, their mission would be a success.
Qian Shunzhi watched from afar.
His legs were injured by the earth-fire formations, preventing him from running fast. Hence, this time, he didn't lead the mission personally. Moreover, he feared being captured by Elder Yu again.
Elder Yu, though a Foundation Establishment cultivator, had thick skin and deep connections. Qian Shunzhi couldn't predict how he would be tortured if caught again.
In the past, he had no choice but to go personally, but now that he was injured, it was better to observe from behind.
Things were progressing according to his plan.
The earth-fire formations exploded sporadically, posing minimal threat. Instead, they caught the attention of the demon hunters, diverting their focus.
Several Qian family cultivators had managed to infiltrate. There were fluctuations of spiritual energy indicating either battles or the dismantling of buildings.
In the pitch-black night, colorful spiritual energies lit up around the alchemy workshop.
But the chaos only lasted for a while; soon, the situation stabilized. The chaotic noises diminished, and the spiritual energy fluctuations in various places gradually subsided.
The infiltrated Qian family cultivators did not come out again.
The entire alchemy workshop seemed like a nocturnal beast, opening its mouth wide and swallowing them all.
Qian Shunzhi's thoughts were in turmoil.
What's going on?
With the dim night and the chaotic situation, their strategy of diversion should have been effective.
Why did everything quiet down so quickly?
Just then, Qian Shunzhi noticed a group of people coming out and heading straight towards them.
In the dark sky, Qian Shunzhi couldn't see clearly who they were, but he vaguely felt they were definitely not their own people!
Qian Shunzhi immediately shouted, "Quick, retreat!"
After speaking, some Qian family cultivators hurriedly escorted a few formation experts and rushed back.
But it was already too late; soon, a group of demon hunters caught up with them.
Leading them was a demon hunter with sharp eyebrows and a robust stature, moving swiftly and cleanly—it was Mo Shan.
Mo Shan swiftly approached Qian Shunzhi, throwing a punch with raging flames, aimed straight at Qian Shunzhi's face.
Qian Shunzhi crossed his arms to block the punch, but his forearm instantly burned painfully, accompanied by a crunching sound, as if bones had broken.
Taking advantage of the situation, Mo Shan followed up with a kick. This time, Qian Shunzhi couldn't resist, and he was kicked back, falling to the ground. His whole body ached, and he felt powerless to run any further.
Mo Shan left Qian Shunzhi and headed towards the Qian family formation experts.
The Qian family guards intervened to block him. Each of them was at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, with solid cultivation. For a short while, they were evenly matched with Mo Shan.
Mo Shan didn't linger with them for long, swiftly using concise and fierce movements to bypass the guards, reaching a Qian family formation expert.
The formation expert hadn't realized what was happening when suddenly a figure appeared before him. Immediately, his neck stung, and everything went black as Mo Shan struck him unconscious with a chop to the neck.
Mo Shan knocked out the formation expert, grabbed his collar, and casually tossed him towards a few demon hunters nearby.
Those demon hunters caught the formation expert, brought out ropes, and quickly bound him securely, resembling how one would tie up a pig.
(End of the Chapter)