Mo Shan nodded with a smile. "Yes."
"Are demonic beasts difficult to deal with?"
"Indeed, they are not easy to deal with. Demonic beasts have strong vitality and thick skin. It's possible for five or six cultivators of the same realm to hunt down one, but it's safer with eight or nine."
Bai Zisheng pondered for a moment and asked, "So, do you think I, with my own strength, can kill a demonic beast?"
"With your own strength... killing a demonic beast might be difficult, being killed by one is more likely," Mo Hua said quietly while nibbling on a chicken leg.
Bai Zisheng was unconvinced and gave him a light glare.
Mo Shan chuckled, "Not now, but in the future, when your cultivation level is higher, it's highly probable."
Bai Zisheng was greatly encouraged.
"Father, lying is not right," Mo Hua said.
Bai Zisheng was unconvinced, "Uncle Mo is a demon hunter, he must know better than you."
He had asked Mo Hua before if he could hunt down a demonic beast alone. Mo Hua said no, which made Bai Zisheng somewhat skeptical. However, since Mo Hua had faced demonic beasts before and he hadn't, Mo Hua's words carried some credibility.
But now Uncle Mo said he had great potential, maybe he really could hunt down a demonic beast with his own strength in the future.
After all, Uncle Mo was a genuine demon hunter, while Mo Hua was just a small formation master who could only trick demonic beasts through formations.
Mo Shan added, "Even if you can really kill a demonic beast with your own strength, it's still better to find some companions for mutual support. Demonic beasts are extremely cunning."
Bai Zisheng nodded. "Uncle Mo, rest assured, I understand."
He usually listened to Mo Hua's stories about demonic hunting, some were from Mo Hua's own experiences, and some were heard from others.
There were many stories of demon hunters who, due to a moment of carelessness, were ambushed or deceived by demonic beasts and lost their lives in vain, so he always took it to heart.
Then Bai Zisheng curiously asked, "Is the Inner Mountain of Great Black Mountain much more dangerous than the Outer Mountain?"
Mo Hua's cultivation level was not high, only at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, so he could only stay in the Outer Mountain. When talking about the experiences in Great Black Mountain's Inner Mountain, it was limited to the Outer Mountain.
Talking about demonic beasts, miasma, mountain mists, dangerous places, etc., Bai Zisheng found it thrilling yet intriguing. If the Outer Mountain was like this, what would the Inner Mountain be like?
Mo Hua ate meat while listening attentively, he hadn't been to the Inner Mountain yet, but he would eventually.
Regarding the Inner Mountain, he had only heard bits and pieces from other demon hunters, and he didn't know much about it.
Seeing the two pairs of black eyes staring at him, Mo Shan sat down and patiently explained:
"Miasma, misty forests, poisonous swamps, and such things that exist in the Outer Mountain, also exist in the Inner Mountain, but the miasma is denser, the mist is deeper, and the toxicity is heavier."
"Most of the demonic beasts in the Inner Mountain are at the later stage of Tier One, with extremely strong strength. If you're unlucky, you might encounter Tier Two demonic beasts, which would be a real life-threatening situation."
Mo Hua asked, "Father, have you encountered Tier Two demonic beasts?"
Mo Shan nodded, "Only seen from a distance, their blood permeated the entire forest. We were lucky to discover them early and hide away promptly. That demonic beast seemed to be full and was dozing off, so it ignored us."
Mo Hua breathed a sigh of relief.
Bai Zisheng then asked, "Can't Tier Two demonic beasts be killed?"
"It's very difficult," Mo Shan sighed, "At least five or six, or even seven or eight Foundation Building cultivators are needed. It's not easy to gather such a team."
Mo Hua was somewhat worried, "Father, will you encounter Tier Two demonic beasts in the future?"
Seeing Mo Hua's concerned gaze, Mo Shan felt warm in his heart and smiled, saying:
"The Inner Mountain is very vast, and it's rare to encounter them. Tier Two demonic beasts are already scarce, residing in the vast Inner Mountain. It's not easy to come across them."
"Moreover, Tier Two demonic beasts have strong vitality. They can be sensed from afar. As long as you remain vigilant and evade in advance, there generally won't be a life-threatening danger."
Mo Hua nodded.
Mo Shan continued, "Apart from the environment and demonic beasts, the most dangerous thing in the Inner Mountain is actually people."
Mo Hua and Bai Zisheng exchanged surprised glances.
"Are they demon hunters, or other cultivators?" Mo Hua asked.
"Both. There are demon hunters from other regions who deliberately snatch prey, as well as various types of cultivators with inscrutable intentions."
Mo Hua asked curiously, "Then why haven't I encountered these cultivators in the Outer Mountain?"
Mo Shan smiled and explained, "Great Black Mountain is vast, with towering mountains sprawling and connecting to other territories. The Tongxian City area is just a part of Great Black Mountain..."
"The Outer Mountain of Great Black Mountain is connected to Tongxian City, not to other regions, but it's different for the Inner Mountain."
"The mountain paths in the Inner Mountain are even more intricate, connecting in all directions. Cultivators from the southern border, if they want to enter the city or take a detour, must inevitably pass through the Inner Mountain."
"The Inner Mountain is cold and secluded, oppressing people's hearts and easily giving rise to evil thoughts. There are often incidents of robbery, murder, and treasure theft. Afterwards, the bodies are destroyed on the spot, leaving no trace for anyone to know."
Mo Hua felt a chill in his heart as he listened.
Demonic beasts were dangerous, but human hearts were even more perilous.
Those who prey on humans in this world might not necessarily be demons; they could also be humans.
Mo Shan noticed Mo Hua and Bai Zisheng's tense expressions and realized that discussing such topics on a festive day like the New Year might not be appropriate. So, he changed the subject and began telling some amusing stories about demonic hunting.
It was Bai Zisheng's first time hearing them, and he listened with great interest.
Mo Hua was okay, as he had heard some of the stories before, leaving Bai Zisheng to catch up on what he hadn't heard.
However, now that he had entered Great Black Mountain, he knew what demonic hunting was like. The stories that once seemed interesting now carried a sense of danger and unpredictability, making them taste entirely different.
Unconsciously, the sky darkened, and Liu Ruhua insisted they stay for dinner.
Bai Zisheng was excited about it, but Aunt Xue politely declined, saying, "Thank you, Sister Liu, for hosting us for so long, but it's time for us to go back."
Liu Ruhua couldn't insist further and accompanied Mo Hua and Bai Zisheng to the door.
Bai Zisheng felt somewhat reluctant to leave.
There was food, drink, stories to listen to, and people to chat with here. Going back meant only practicing and doing boring homework.
Bai Zixi couldn't discern their expressions, but there was a faint regret in his eyes as he glanced around.
Mo Hua was carefree. Although he had to practice and practice formations every day, he could play whenever he wanted. Unlike the two siblings from the Bai family, who had to do their homework according to the rules every day.
Seeing their somewhat low spirituals, Mo Hua's eyes brightened, and he invited, "Aunt Xue, there will be lanterns and fireworks on the fifteenth day of the month. Why don't you come and watch with us?"
Aunt Xue smiled gently at Mo Hua's invitation but still declined, "We appreciate your kindness, but we won't watch the fireworks."
Mo Hua chuckled, "The fireworks are activated by formations, and the formations were drawn by me. They look quite nice."
Aunt Xue was somewhat surprised. "You drew them?"
"Yeah," Mo Hua nodded, "I put a lot of effort into it!"
In reality, it didn't take him long. After all, it was just some formations for fireworks, not too difficult.
Seeing Mo Hua's confident look, Aunt Xue couldn't help but laugh, pondered for a moment, and nodded, "Then we'll come to see when you set off the fireworks."
Bai Zisheng was delighted, sending grateful glances to Mo Hua, while Bai Zixi's eyes also lit up as he looked at Mo Hua.
On the fifteenth day of the first month, as night fell, the streets were adorned with lanterns and decorations.
Mo Hua checked the fireworks formation again to ensure everything was in order before nodding in satisfaction.
The fireworks formation was a combination of ordinary fireworks formations, not even a first-grade formation, and didn't require many formation patterns, so Mo Hua found it quite easy to draw.
The fireworks formation was drawn on both sides of the riverbank, using the stones of the riverbank as the formation medium. As long as he crushed the spiritual stones and infused them with spiritual energy, the formation could be activated, sending fireworks into the night sky.
Mo Hua didn't use paper as the formation medium because paper was disposable. Once the formation was activated, the formation paper couldn't bear the spiritual power of the formation and would be destroyed.
On the other hand, using soil and stones as the formation medium allowed the formation to be used multiple times.
This way, not only on the fifteenth day of the first month but also on every festival in the future, they could activate the formation to release fireworks to celebrate.
Mo Hua went to Elder Yu to reimburse the spiritual stones used for the fireworks formation.
Because the formation wasn't complicated and didn't consume many spiritual stones, Elder Yu readily agreed.
At the hour of the dog, Mo Hua activated the formation.
After that, Mo Hua ran to the stone bridge with his parents, Bai Zisheng, Bai Zixi, and Aunt Xue to watch the fireworks.
After fifteen breaths passed since the formation was activated, the formation patterns lit up.
The colorful formation patterns on both sides of the riverbank lit up one after another, then condensed into colorful lights, rising swiftly into the dark night sky. They blossomed into dazzling fireworks, layer upon layer, like thousands of flowers blooming, resembling a shower of stars.
The pitch-black night served as a backdrop, and the fireworks, like beautiful embroidery, wove a splendid and colorful tapestry on the night sky.
The sky was glittering and breathtaking.
In an instant, countless cultivators looked up at the night sky, at the brilliant fireworks, watching them bloom and illuminate the streets and alleys of Tongxian City.
(End of the Chapter)