With everything prepared, Mo Hua began his monster hunting.
Of course, he didn't need to take action himself.
Although he had reached the seventh level of Qi Refinement and the power of Fireball Technique had improved significantly, it still fell short when dealing with a late-stage first-rank monster.
At most, he could provide support and seize opportunities.
The demon hunters were skilled in killing monsters, and Mo Hua's spell power wasn't necessary.
Yu Chengyi, Mo Shan, and six other late-stage Qi Refinement demon hunters formed a team, bringing Mo Hua along, totaling nine people, to hunt a late-stage first-rank Red-eyed Goat Monster.
Yu Chengyi and Mo Shan had hunted monsters in the inner mountain for many years, and their experience far surpassed Mo Hua's. The planning before hunting was also more thorough, considering almost everything.
Mo Hua just listened on the side, focusing on learning.
Learning about the habits of monsters, the methods of hunting, and the things to pay attention to.
This hunt was similar to usual but also different because they would use the formations Mo Hua had drawn.
Previously, only mid-stage Qi Refinement demon hunters had used the seven-line formation of the Earth Fire Array to hunt mid-stage first-rank monsters.
Now that Mo Hua could draw first-rank formations, which were very powerful and could harm late-stage first-rank monsters, even late-stage Qi Refinement demon hunters could attempt to use the first-rank Earth Fire Array to hunt late-stage first-rank monsters.
Hunting monsters with formations was not only safe but also efficient.
After discussing, Yu Chengyi asked Mo Hua, "Is there anything else we should pay attention to?"
Since Mo Hua drew the formations, he wanted to ask for Mo Hua's opinion.
Mo Hua thought for a moment but couldn't think of anything to add since everyone had considered everything carefully. He replied, "No problem."
"Good." Yu Chengyi nodded. "Then we'll set off tomorrow and follow the plan."
The demon hunters spent the night at their camp in the inner mountain. The next morning, as the sky was just starting to brighten, with mist covering the mountains and dew clinging to the grass and trees, they set off.
Yu Chengyi and a few other experienced demon hunters led the way, searching for clues of the Red-eyed Goat Monster.
Mo Shan was also experienced, but Mo Hua's safety was more important, so he had to stay close to Mo Hua.
Soon, a demon hunter found the hoof prints of the goat monster, the leftover meat from its meal, and white goat hair stained with blood.
Everyone became alert, fully focused.
Yu Chengyi and a few demon hunters released their spiritual senses, starting to search for the goat monster's figure.
Before they could find it, Mo Hua had already taken out the map and marked the location for them.
"Behind the mountain path, there's a stream where it's drinking water," Mo Hua said.
Yu Chengyi and the others looked at each other in surprise.
This distance was much farther than the limit of their spiritual senses.
Was Mo Hua's spiritual sense much stronger than theirs?
Yu Chengyi jumped to the mountaintop, using the rocks as cover, and looked down. Sure enough, he saw the Red-eyed Goat Monster drinking water by the stream.
Yu Chengyi remained silent, then jumped down from the mountain and said to the others, "It's drinking water. After it finishes, it will probably return to the forest. Let's take a detour, ambush it ahead of time."
The demon hunters nodded, then took a detour and set up traps in a place where the goat monster would pass on its way back to the forest.
Mo Hua took out an iron compass with complex formations drawn on it.
Seeing it, Yu Chengyi couldn't help but ask, "What is this compass for?"
"I drew the Earth Fire Array on it," Mo Hua replied.
"Is there any difference between this and drawing it on paper?" Yu Chengyi asked.
"Using paper as the medium for the formation, the Earth Fire Array can only be used once. After it explodes, the formation paper is destroyed, and the formation dissipates," Mo Hua explained. "This compass was specially refined by Master Chen with some refined iron mixed in as the medium. It's much sturdier. After drawing the Earth Fire Array on it, it can be used multiple times."
Yu Chengyi's eyes brightened as he listened. "Are there any particular methods of use?"
"Just use it the same way as before," Mo Hua nodded.
"Alright," Yu Chengyi nodded. "Let's go!"
After setting up the traps, placing the formation compasses, and placing several spiritual stones on the formations, they erased their traces, sprinkled blood and the juice of demon scent grass, then retreated and hid behind the rocks.
Before long, the Red-eyed Goat Monster appeared at the intersection.
This goat monster was vigorous and had traces of blood around its mouth, indicating it had just finished eating. It was also extremely alert.
It stared at the traps for a long time, clearly tempted by the scent of the demon scent grass, but it still restrained itself, pacing back and forth in place without advancing.
After a while, the goat monster unexpectedly retreated and gradually walked away.
Mo Hua was surprised and asked quietly to Mo Shan, "Dad, is this monster so vigilant?"
"A late-stage first-rank monster has a long lifespan, rich experience, and is more cunning," Mo Shan explained.
"Should we chase after it since it's fleeing?" Mo Hua asked.
Mo Shan shook his head. "No, we wait here."
Mo Hua was puzzled, then his eyes lit up. "Will it come back?"
"Yes," Mo Shan whispered, his gaze fixed on the intersection. "It's just testing us. It will return soon."
Sure enough, after a while, the Red-eyed Goat Monster returned.
If they had chased after it just now, it would have detected them, and the traps would have been in vain.
Mo Hua couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Even the monsters in the inner mountain were so cunning. It seemed he had a lot to learn.
Finally unable to resist the temptation of the demon scent grass, the goat monster cautiously looked around before slowly approaching the traps and began licking the blood and tasting the scent of the demon scent grass on the ground.
Monsters had demon senses similar to cultivators' spiritual senses, but generally, monsters' demon senses were not strong enough to sense things like cultivators do.
Monsters perceived things primarily through special vision, acute smell, hearing, sensitivity to aura, and thirst for blood.
The team consisted of experienced demon hunters who naturally knew how to conceal their auras and avoid being detected by monsters.
So, even though the Red-eyed Goat Monster looked around, it didn't detect anything unusual. At the same time, it finally walked into the trap and began licking the blood on the ground, enjoying the scent of the demon scent grass.
Yu Chengyi stood up, pulled his bow, and shot an arrow. The arrow whistled through the air, carrying spiritual power, and hit the spiritual stones on the formation.
The spiritual stones turned into powder, releasing spiritual energy that permeated the Earth Fire Array compass below.
Just as the goat monster sensed something was amiss and heard the sound of the arrow, it tried to escape, but it was already too late.
The trap momentarily restrained the goat monster. Then, the fiery red formation lines on the compass flashed, activating the first-rank Earth Fire Array. The flames exploded with deafening force.
As the shockwave of the explosion dissipated, the Red-eyed Goat Monster was indeed heavily injured.
To be safe, Mo Hua activated three sets of first-rank Earth Fire Arrays. The simultaneous explosion was extraordinarily powerful.
The demon hunters didn't need to say anything. They charged forward, scattering and surrounding the heavily injured monster.
The eight of them formed two circles, with four in the inner circle attacking the monster while the other four in the outer circle supported each other to prevent the monster from escaping.
After a while, the inner and outer circles exchanged positions, alternating in a wheeling battle, gradually wearing down the heavily injured monster.
With clear objectives, decisive actions, swift and decisive kills, and comprehensive support, in less than half an hour, the heavily injured Red-eyed Goat Monster fell to the ground.
(End of the Chapter)