Chapter 231: Hunting the Sheep Demon
Chapter 231: Hunting the Sheep Demon
With everything prepared, Mo Hua began his demon-hunting endeavor.
Of course, he still didn't need to take action himself.
Although he had already reached the seventh layer of Qi Refinement, and his Fireball Technique had become significantly more powerful, it still wasn't quite enough to take on a late First Rank demon beast.
At most, he could only lend a finishing blow or take advantage of any openings that presented themselves.
The hunters' magic wasn't lacking in power when it came to slaying demons.
Yu Chengyi, Mo Shan, and six other late Qi Refinement stage demon hunters formed a team, including Mo Hua, for a total of nine people, to begin their hunt for a late First Rank demon beast, the Red-Eyed Sheep Demon.
Yu Chengyi and Mo Shan had many years of demon-hunting experience in the Inner Mountains, and their knowledge far exceeded Mo Hua's. Their planning was also more meticulous, and they had basically taken everything into consideration.
Mo Hua just needed to listen and learn as much as he could.
He studied the habits of demon beasts, the methods of hunting them, and the matters to which he should pay attention.
This demon hunt was similar to the usual hunts, but also somewhat different because they would be utilizing the array Mo Hua had drawn.
Previously, only a mid-Qi Refinement stage demon hunter had used the Seven-Pattern Earth Fire Array to hunt a mid-First Rank demon beast.
Now that Mo Hua could draw a First Rank array, its power was strong enough to injure a late First Rank demon beast. Therefore, late Qi Refinement stage demon hunters could also attempt to rely on the First Rank Earth Fire Array to hunt late First Rank demon beasts.
Hunting with arrays was not only safer but also more efficient.
After the group finished discussing, Yu Chengyi asked Mo Hua, "Is there anything else we should keep in mind?"
Since Mo Hua was the one who drew the array, he wanted to hear Mo Hua's opinion.
Mo Hua thought for a moment and felt that everyone had considered things thoroughly. He couldn't think of anything to add, so he replied, "No problems here."
"Good." Yu Chengyi nodded. "Then we'll set off tomorrow and stick to the plan."
The demon hunters spent the night at their camp in the Inner Mountains. The next day, as the sun rose and the mountains were still veiled in a hazy light, the dew-covered vegetation signaling the start of a new day, the group set out.
Yu Chengyi and the other experienced demon hunters took the lead, scouting the way and searching for clues that would lead them to the Red-Eyed Sheep Demon.
Although Mo Shan was also experienced, Mo Hua's safety took precedence, so he stayed by Mo Hua's side.
Before long, one of the demon hunters discovered the sheep demon's hoof prints, leftover meat from its recent meal, and some white wool tinged with blood.
The group became alert, their senses heightened.
Yu Chengyi and a few other demon hunters released their spiritual sense, beginning their search for the demon beast's whereabouts.
Before they could find it, Mo Hua had already taken out his map and marked its location for them: "Beyond this mountain path, there's a small stream, and it's drinking water there."
Yu Chengyi and the others exchanged glances, their hearts secretly astonished.
This distance was quite a bit farther than the limit of their spiritual sense.
Was Mo Hua's spiritual sense that much stronger than theirs?
Yu Chengyi leaped onto a hilltop and, using the cover of the rocks, looked down. Indeed, he spotted the Red-Eyed Sheep Demon drinking by the stream after its meal.
Without making a sound, Yu Chengyi jumped down from the hilltop and told the others, "It's drinking water. After it's finished, it will probably head back into the forest. We'll take a detour and set up an ambush ahead of it."
The demon hunters nodded and chose a path that led them around to the side. They stopped at a point that the demon would have to pass to enter the forest and began setting up traps.
Mo Hua took out an iron compass, its surface etched with a complex array.
Yu Chengyi saw it and couldn't help but ask, "What is that compass for?"
"I've drawn the Earth Fire Array on it," Mo Hua replied.
"How is this different from drawing it on paper?" Yu Chengyi asked.
"When using paper as the array medium, the Earth Fire Array can only be used once. After it detonates, the array paper is destroyed, and the array disappears," Mo Hua explained. "This compass was specially refined by Master Chen at my request. It contains some fine iron, which serves as the array medium, making it much more durable. The Earth Fire Array drawn on it can be used multiple times."
"Good!" Yu Chengyi nodded.
The group set up the traps and placed the array compass, along with several spirit stones, on top of it. They then erased their tracks, sprinkled blood and Demon Luring Grass juice, and hid behind the rocks.
Before long, the Red-Eyed Sheep Demon appeared at the intersection.
This sheep demon had a formidable aura, its mouth still stained with blood from its recent meal, and it was extremely vigilant.
It stared at the trap for a long time, obviously tempted by the Demon Luring Grass, but it restrained itself, pacing back and forth in place without moving forward.
After a while, the sheep demon even started to back away, gradually moving farther away.
Mo Hua was startled and whispered to Mo Shan, "Father, is this demon beast unusually cautious?"
"Late First Rank demon beasts have long lifespans, rich experience, and are more cunning," Mo Shan replied.
"If it runs, should we chase it?" Mo Hua asked.
Mo Shan shook his head, "No, we'll wait here."
Mo Hua was slightly taken aback, but then his eyes lit up, "Will it come back?"
"Indeed." Mo Shan also lowered his voice, his eyes fixed on the intersection, "It's testing us too. It will return soon."
Sure enough, after a while, the Red-Eyed Sheep Demon turned back.
If they had chased it earlier, the sheep demon would have noticed, and the trap would have been wasted.
Mo Hua marveled inwardly; even a demon beast in the Inner Mountains had so many tricks up its sleeve. He realized that he still had a lot to learn.
The Red-Eyed Sheep Demon couldn't resist the temptation of the Demon Luring Grass any longer. While glancing around warily, it began to move towards the trap.
Demon beasts had their own form of consciousness, similar to a cultivator's spiritual sense, but it was generally not strong enough for them to perceive things like a cultivator could by projecting their spiritual sense outward.
Demon beasts perceived their surroundings mainly through their special vision, keen sense of smell and hearing, sensitivity to auras, and thirst for blood.
The team of demon hunters were all veterans, wise in the ways of hunting. They naturally knew how to conceal their auras to avoid detection by the demon beast.
So, when the sheep demon looked around, it found nothing amiss. At the same time, it finally stepped into the trap and began to lower its head to lick the blood on the ground, savoring the pungent aroma of the Demon Luring Grass.
Yu Chengyi stood up, drew his bow, and fired an arrow infused with spiritual power. The arrow struck one of the spirit stones on the array.
The spirit stone shattered, releasing its spiritual energy, which seeped into the Earth Fire Array compass below.
The sheep demon had just sensed something amiss and was about to flee when it heard the sound of the arrow cutting through the air. But it was already too late.
The trap momentarily entangled the sheep demon, and then the fiery red runes on the compass flashed. The First Rank Earth Fire Array was triggered, and the explosive spiritual power of the flames created a deafening blast.
When the aftermath of the explosion cleared, the Red-Eyed Sheep Demon was indeed severely injured.
To be safe, Mo Hua had set up three First Rank Earth Fire Arrays, and the combined explosion of all three was extraordinarily powerful.
Without needing to say a word, the group of demon hunters immediately rushed forward, spreading out to surround the sheep demon.
The eight hunters divided into two circles, with four in the inner circle attacking the demon beast, and the other four on the outside responding to any attempts by the beast to escape.
After a while, the inner and outer circles switched places, taking turns to wear the demon beast down in a relentless assault.
Their purpose was clear, their actions decisive, and their teamwork seamless.
In less than half an hour, the severely wounded Red-Eyed Sheep Demon finally fell.
(End of Chapter)
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