The Quest for Immortality - Chapter 172 (Patreon)

Chapter 172: The Rear Guard

Mo Hua felt the deep impact of the Dao Law and the majesty of the Dao Court for the first time.

Given the current situation, it was clear that the Qian family, traveling light and fast, was approaching menacingly. The Demon Hunters, burdened with transporting spirit mines, were moving slowly. If this continued, they would be caught by the Qian family before reaching Tongxian City.

Elder Yu said, "We need someone to cover the rear!"

Yu Chengyi, Mo Shan, and some other ninth-level Qi cultivators stepped forward.

Elder Yu nodded slightly and instructed, "When the time comes, Qian Hong and Qian Zhongxuan will likely attack. I'll hold them off, and you deal with the other Qian family cultivators. Fight and retreat, don't get entangled. We just need to buy enough time."

The remaining people nodded solemnly.

In such a situation, covering the rear meant facing a fierce assault from the Qian family, fighting against many with few, which was very dangerous.

Moreover, the Qian family had two Foundation Building cultivators. If they broke the agreement and attacked, and Elder Yu couldn't withstand them, the Qi cultivators left behind would be in great danger.

Mo Hua said, "I'll stay and cover the rear too!"

Elder Yu glared at him, "What are you, a kid, doing here? Go home!"

At that time, he would have to deal with Qian Hong and Qian Zhongxuan and wouldn't have time to take care of Mo Hua's safety.

Mo Shan also patted Mo Hua's head and said gently, "Go back, your mother is still waiting for you at home."

They didn't say much, but Mo Hua understood that staying to cover the rear meant they were prepared to die.

Even if they successfully covered the rear, a few Demon Hunters might still lose their lives.

Many Demon Hunters had already died or been injured in battles with the Qian family.

Now that the spirit mines had been dug up and they had held out until now, Mo Hua didn't want any more casualties.

Whether it was Mo Shan, Elder Yu, or the other Demon Hunters, familiar or not, Mo Hua hoped they could all return home together.

Mo Hua said to Elder Yu, "I can use arrays to cover the rear without anyone risking their lives!"

Elder Yu trusted Mo Hua's arrays.

This time, they managed to defend the spirit mines and escape successfully, all thanks to Mo Hua's arrays. But seeing the Qian family approaching, with time running out, Elder Yu was still worried:

"Time is too short, there's no time to draw arrays."

"Don't worry," Mo Hua patted his bulging storage bag, "I've prepared in advance!"

Elder Yu opened his mouth, "All of these are arrays?"

Mo Hua nodded.

Everyone looked at each other in disbelief. They had no idea when Mo Hua prepared the arrays.

"Can these arrays be useful?" Elder Yu asked again.

"We don't need to fight to the death. As long as we use the arrays to scare them and delay them, that's enough," Mo Hua said.

Elder Yu pondered for a moment and nodded, "Alright, we'll use the arrays to buy some time."

Then Elder Yu found Mo Shan and whispered, "If things go south, take Mo Hua and leave first!"

Mo Shan wanted to say something, but Elder Yu's face turned stern, "That's an order!"

Mo Shan tightened his lips and said nothing, but his brows furrowed deeply.

Elder Yu lowered his voice and said solemnly, "Mo Hua's safety is more important than anything. No matter what, you must send him back safely!"

Mo Shan was stunned, then nodded gravely.

Mo Hua was rummaging through his storage bag, taking out arrays.

A thick stack of arrays, all were Nine-Pattern Earth Fire Arrays of the first rank.

Previously, a Seven-Pattern Earth Fire Array was broken by the Qian family's iron-armored earth cultivators. So, Mo Hua learned the higher-grade first-rank Earth Fire Array just in case.

Earth Fire Arrays were effective, but in small numbers, they wouldn't change the outcome of the battle.

So Mo Hua drew them whenever he had time, secretly saving them up until now. He had accumulated a thick stack of first-rank Earth Fire Arrays.

Mo Hua distributed the first-rank Earth Fire Arrays, and the Demon Hunters chose a narrow mountain pass, hiding the arrays in secret spots and camouflaging them so the Qian family cultivators wouldn't easily find them.

After everything was ready, the dozen or so Demon Hunters left behind hid behind rocks, waiting for the Qian family cultivators to arrive.

Mo Hua hid with them.

Time passed slowly, and everyone's faces were tense and serious.

Seeing this, Mo Hua said with a hint of regret, "It's a pity it's not nighttime."

Elder Yu was puzzled, "What difference does it make at night?"

"At night, when the Earth Fire Array explodes, it goes boom, just like fireworks. It's beautiful!" Mo Hua said.

When he used the Earth Fire Array before, Mo Hua watched happily. He even prepared wine and snacks to enjoy while watching.

But now, all the good food was gone, and Mo Hua felt a bit regretful.

Elder Yu and Mo Shan didn't know what to say. But with Mo Hua's interruption, they no longer felt tense and even had a bit of a theatrical mindset, quietly watching the road.

In less than a tea's time, footsteps grew louder, and the figures of the Qian family cultivators became clearer.

A dense crowd of nearly two thousand people.

The Demon Hunters held their breath, not speaking.

Qian Hong, upon seeing the narrow terrain, raised his hand, signaling the Qian family cultivators to stop.

He scanned the area with his spiritual sense and then sneered, shouting loudly, "Yu Changlin, hiding like a turtle?"

Elder Yu motioned for the Demon Hunters to stay put. He flashed up to a high place, then sat cross-legged on a large rock, laughing, "Hiding like a turtle is fine. But I'm a big turtle, you're a little turtle, and you have to call me daddy."

Qian Hong's eyes turned cold, his expression unchanged.

Elder Yu praised, "If there's anyone with the deepest scheming and the most patience, it's you. No matter how you're insulted, you remain unmoved like a turtle..."

Before he finished, Elder Yu suddenly acted surprised, "Could it be that your mother gave birth to you with a turtle?"

Even Qian Zhongxuan couldn't bear to listen to these words, but Qian Hong only slightly furrowed his brows and said, "Yu Changlin, are you stalling for time?"

Elder Yu didn't deny it, "You could say that."

Qian Hong said coldly, "Why? Because of those dozen or so Demon Hunters hiding behind the rocks?"

Elder Yu said, "Your Qian family is all useless. These dozen or so people are enough. Any more, and we might scare you."

"Then why don't you make a move?" Qian Hong asked.

"We'll talk after a break. Digging those mines was tiring." Elder Yu sighed, "You know, this Dahei Mountain is strange. How did we end up digging into a demon nest?"

Elder Yu asked Qian Hong kindly, "Did any of your Qian family disciples enter the mines? Did they encounter any demon beasts? I hope they weren't eaten by the beasts..."

Qian Hong's face turned slightly unpleasant.

Seeing this, Elder Yu acted shocked, "No way, your people went into the mines? Were they eaten by demon beasts? No way?"

Then Elder Yu regretted, "If I had known, I wouldn't have let them dig those mines. That way, fewer of your Qian family members would have died... This is my fault!"

Qian Hong gritted his teeth, "Yu, you old fool, stop your nonsense. What are you up to?"

Elder Yu remained calm and silent.

Qian Hong, feeling uneasy, coldly asked, "Are you going to make a move?"

Elder Yu replied, "As agreed, you don't make a move, I don't make a move."

"Fine," Qian Hong said, then ordered the Qian family cultivators to advance.

No matter what tricks Yu Changlin was playing, he would find out soon enough.

As the Qian family cultivators moved forward, Elder Yu remained still, not showing any sign of action.

"What's that old fox Yu Changlin up to?"

Just as Qian Hong was growing suspicious, explosions erupted, flames raging, engulfing the front ranks of the Qian family cultivators.

Screams followed, and the Qian family cultivators were terrified, not daring to advance.

Qian Hong instantly understood and couldn't help but curse:

"Damn it, another array!"

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