https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-156-The-Earthfire-Restoration-Formation-Part-Four-/12540962/
Chapter 157: Offensive (Part Five)
Chapter 157: Offensive (Part Five)
The Earthfire Array exploded repeatedly, dazzling like fireworks. Accompanying the cries and chaos of the Qian Family cultivators as they fled for their lives, it was quite a spectacle.
Ink Painting, now fully satiated, nodded in satisfaction.
There were other demon hunters watching from the entrance of the mine, and seeing the miserable state of the Qian Family cultivators, they cheered.
"Well done blowing them up!"
"Make it even louder!"
The frustration of being repeatedly ambushed by the Qian family in recent days had finally been vented.
Elder Yu also felt a sense of relief and took the opportunity to curse at the Qian family once more.
Now, the demon hunters could breathe a sigh of relief, but the pressure fell upon the shoulders of the Qian Family cultivators.
To fight or not to fight? If they continued the assault, they would be blown to smithereens, but if they retreated, it would mean surrendering the spirit mine.
Either way, it was unacceptable to the Qian family.
The next day, the Qian family cleaned up the battlefield and carried their wounded back for treatment.
Initially, there had been many injured, but not a significant number of deaths.
However, some of the wounded cultivators were intercepted by demon beasts on their way back.
Attracted by the scent of blood, the demon beasts found them, and the severely injured Qian family cultivators became easy prey for the beasts.
The head of the Qian family, Qian Hong, flew into a rage and ordered that they must take the spirit mine at all costs!
Qian Zhuang, the man tasked with this mission, felt the weight of the pressure. He could only ponder bitterly at their camp outside Unnamed Peak.
Qian Zhuang was a direct descendant of the Qian family, but not from Qian Hong's branch, which was why he had been chosen for this dangerous task.
This situation also happened to align with his ambitions. Although he was a direct descendant, he was not favored within the clan, and his future prospects were uncertain.
If he could capture the spirit mine this time, the family would surely view him with new respect. With the rewards of spirit stones and elixirs, he might even have a chance at achieving the Foundation Establishment stage.
Once he became a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he could attain the position of an elder and wield considerable influence within the Qian family.
The elders of the Qian family held great power, but the path to becoming one was stringent.
One had to either possess the cultivation base of the Foundation Establishment stage, demonstrate extraordinary mastery in array formation, pill refinement, or artifact forging, hold a significant position in the sect or the Court of Dao, or make exceptional contributions to the family.
Qian Zhuang didn't meet any of the other criteria, so if he wanted to become an elder, there was only one path: to become a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Therefore, he had to capture this spirit mine; otherwise, he would not only be without merit but also bear a grave demerit!
Within the family, fellow cultivators were considered kin, which effectively meant they were not truly kin.
Those who couldn't bring benefits to the family were considered useless.
Qian Zhuang didn't want to be seen as worthless, so he was determined to capture the spirit mine, step on these demon hunters, and climb to a higher position within the Qian family.
Soon, a Qian family disciple entered and reported, "Big Brother, the brothers have examined it, and last night's explosion was indeed an array!"
Qian Zhuang frowned. "An array? These country bumpkins actually know how to use arrays?"
"Yes!"
Qian Zhuang's frown deepened.
He couldn't help but think back to when they were attacking, and those uncuttable vine armors—were they also inscribed with arrays?
"What kind of array is it?"
"Some disciples asked Master Qian, and he said that from the looks of it, it should be an Earthfire Array."
Master Qian was an array master of the Qian family. Although he hadn't reached the first-rank yet, it was only a matter of time. Out of respect, others addressed him as "Master."
"Earthfire Array? What level?"
"Seven array lines."
Qian Zhuang's expression turned cold. "It actually has seven array lines. No wonder."
Seven array lines could injure cultivators at the late Qi Refining stage, and if several arrays were superimposed, their power would be even more formidable.
Qian Zhuang's heart burned with resentment, and he couldn't help but sneer, "So there's actually an array master willing to help these poor ghosts!"
He didn't believe that these poor solitary cultivators could afford the price to hire an array master.
Most likely, this array master had signed a spirit contract with them and would receive a share of the spirit stones from the mine after their success.
In this bustling world, people moved for profit, and this array master was no exception.
The disciple asked, "Big Brother, what should we do now?"
Qian Zhuang replied, "It doesn't matter. It's just a seven-line array master; it's not that impressive.
Indeed, Ink Painting couldn't paint too many; at most, seven or eight Earthfire Arrays in a day.
However, Ink Painting still had many ordinary Earthfire Arrays in his possession, all from previous stocks.
These Earthfire Arrays were initially kept for the mid-Qi Refining demon hunters to set up traps and hunt demon beasts.
Now that the demon hunters were at odds with the Qian Family, Elder Yu had forbidden them from hunting in Daheshan Mountain, so Ink Painting had a surplus of Earthfire Arrays, which he could now put to good use.
And so, the Qian Family disciples were out of luck.
On the first night, they were blasted by the arrays.
On the second night, they were blasted again.
The third and fourth nights ended in the same disastrous manner.
Qian Zhuang flew into a rage, but his fury soon turned inward as he wondered just how many arrays these demon hunters had at their disposal.
However, the Qian Family disciples had had enough.
Stepping on an Earthfire Array might not result in death, but it would certainly inflict injuries, making them easy prey for demon beasts on their way down the mountain.
Thus, many Qian Family cultivators lost their fighting spirit and merely lingered on the outskirts, afraid to venture into the Earthfire Arrays.
Sensing the wavering morale, Qian Zhuang tried to rouse their fighting spirit with a passionate speech:
"Brothers, we've been attacking for four days now. They can't possibly have that many arrays left; they must be running out by now...
"We're so close, we must not falter at the final hurdle! Otherwise, all our sacrifices will have been in vain!
"As long as we push forward and occupy the spirit mine, the family head will surely bestow generous rewards!"
Qian Zhuang's words ignited the fighting spirit of the Qian Family cultivators, and they once again embarked on the mountain path.
However, they soon found themselves fleeing in disarray, their retreat illuminated by the blazing Earthfire Arrays.
Ink Painting stood at the mountain's waist, watching the unfolding scene before him, and couldn't help but feel a sense of respect for the commanding Qian Family cultivator.
To use human lives to deplete their array stockpile—what a ruthless strategy!
Qian Zhuang, who was also witnessing this spectacle, felt like vomiting blood.
"How are they still using arrays? Do they have ten hands to draw so many arrays?" he muttered in frustration.
Looking at the rugged mountain path ahead, with its dense vegetation, Qian Zhuang felt a sense of dread.
But with morale at an all-time low, another offensive was out of the question for the time being, and the Qian Family could only temporarily retreat once more.
The demon hunters had successfully repelled the Qian Family's attacks without losing a single soldier.
Elder Yu's gaze towards Ink Painting became even kinder, which made Yu Chengyi, as his son, feel rather uncomfortable.
His father had never shown him such a gentle expression; instead, he always looked like a sour, hard stone, like pickled vegetables.
After a few days of rest, the demon hunters were in much better shape, and their expressions were more relaxed.
However, Ink Painting suddenly thought of a worrying possibility and asked Elder Yu with concern: "What if the Qian Family sends a Foundation Establishment cultivator? What will we do then?"
"We'll deal with it when it happens," Elder Yu replied.
Ink Painting was slightly taken aback. "A Foundation Establishment cultivator... aren't they very powerful?"
Elder Yu nodded. "Indeed, the Foundation Establishment stage is formidable, but it's not invincible."
Ink Painting furrowed his brows, not fully understanding.
Elder Yu turned to him and explained further: "A single Foundation Establishment cultivator possesses the strength equivalent to about ten late-Qi Refining cultivators. If it's one against ten, or even five or six late-Qi Refining cultivators, they stand no chance against the Foundation Establishment cultivator because they won't be able to withstand even a few moves..."
"But if there are more than ten late-Qi Refining cultivators with rich battle experience, and they engage the Foundation Establishment cultivator together, the outcome becomes uncertain. In the end, it will likely result in severe injuries or deaths on both sides, with ten lives exchanged for one. If the late-Qi Refining cultivators persist, the Foundation Establishment cultivator may be gravely wounded or even on the brink of death, even if they don't perish."
"If there are several dozen or even a hundred late-Qi Refining cultivators, the Foundation Establishment cultivator will surely be ground down and killed as long as they can't escape."
"As the saying goes, even a fierce tiger fears a pack of wolves," Elder Yu concluded.
Ink Painting finally understood.
(End of Chapter)
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