Chapter 729: The Hunt
Chapter 729: The Hunt
Cheng Mo and his companions lacked experience as demon hunters, so they had to start with easy tasks and work their way up gradually.
Mo Hua, the disciple, sat in the middle, deep in thought as he held a candle.
The map of Refining Demon Mountain was already complete.
He now had a good understanding of the various types of early second-grade demons within the mountain.
With everything in place, it was time to devise a plan for actual combat.
Mo Hua compared the map of Refining Demon Mountain and spent a long time studying it. He planned their route, selected the demonic beasts they would target, and devised a strategy.
The next day, Mo Hua wrote a letter and handed it to Master Gu, asking him to help craft a set of armor.
After a few days, the armor was ready, and Mo Hua found Cheng Mo. Without beating around the bush, he said,
"Let's go to Refining Demon Mountain the day after tomorrow on our day off."
Cheng Mo's injuries had just healed, and his heart skipped a beat at these words. He could still feel the pain from his wounds.
Even in his dreams, he saw the bear's slap.
Not wanting to back down, Cheng Mo put on a brave front and boasted, "Little Senior Brother, don't worry. Once we're in Refining Demon Mountain, I'll make sure to protect you!"
However, after his bravado, he cautiously asked, "Little Senior Brother, what are we going to do in Refining Demon Mountain?"
"What do you think?" Mo Hua asked.
Cheng Mo's confidence wavered, "It's not... that we're going demon hunting, is it?"
Mo Hua nodded, "You're really smart."
Cheng Mo forced a bitter smile, but he couldn't quite pull it off.
He looked at his own tall and sturdy self, who had just recovered from the bear's slap after nearly half a month.
Then he glanced at Mo Hua, who, despite growing taller, still seemed delicate and frail compared to him.
Cheng Mo lowered his voice and said, "How about we forget about it for now? There's a saying that goes, 'A gentleman takes his revenge after ten years.' Let's spare the demons in the mountain for now."
"Are you scared?" Mo Hua asked.
Cheng Mo smiled awkwardly, "It's not that I'm scared. I'm just worried that the demons might hurt you."
"Don't worry," Mo Hua said proudly, "I told you, I'm a descendant of a demon hunter family. These skills are passed down from my ancestors!"
Cheng Mo's expression was complicated.
While that's what he said, the truth was that they didn't entirely believe it...
Moreover, different mountains had different terrains and different demons, which meant different hunting methods.
You can't use the "sword" from back home to slay the demons in Qianzhou...
Seeing that Cheng Mo didn't believe him, Mo Hua sighed,
"Alright, then I'll find someone else."
As soon as Cheng Mo heard this, he immediately panicked.
It didn't matter whether they hunted demons or not, but he had to hold on to this "thigh"!
After spending so much time together, Cheng Mo and Mo Hua had become quite close. Cheng Mo knew about Mo Hua's exceptional intellect, his uncanny ability in formations, and his mysterious background.
Even the usually impartial Elder Xun would stand up for him.
This was a true "thigh" worth clinging to!
Even if Little Senior Brother just wanted to go sightseeing in Refining Demon Mountain, Cheng Mo would still insist on tagging along.
Cheng Mo smiled and said, "I'm just worried that my injuries have just healed, and I might hold you back... If you don't mind having me along, then I'll accompany you no matter what."
In other words, you have to bring me.
"Good." Mo Hua nodded in satisfaction.
Naturally, Cheng Mo also invited Si Tu Jian and the others to join them.
Refining Demon Mountain was a challenging place, with formidable demons, difficult hunts, and hard-earned merits. On top of that, the entrance fee was a hundred merits, so with their current cultivation, going to Refining Demon Mountain would basically be a loss for them.
Si Tu Jian and the others had initially given up on the idea of entering the mountain and planned to wait until their cultivation improved before attempting to hunt demons.
But when they heard that Mo Hua was taking them into the mountain, their once-discouraged hearts secretly ignited with hope once more.
Although they didn't know what kind of abilities Mo Hua possessed that would allow him to venture into the treacherous Refining Demon Mountain and hunt the vicious and bloodthirsty demons, they knew that following Little Senior Brother would definitely pay off.
This was a hard truth they had learned from their past experiences.
And so, during their time off, Mo Hua made a stop at the Gu family shop in Tai Xu City and picked up some spiritual artifacts. He drew simple formations on them and then met up with Cheng Mo and the others, and together, they headed for Refining Demon Mountain.
At the entrance of Refining Demon Mountain, each person spent a hundred merits to purchase a Refining Demon Token, and then they entered the mountain.
However, as they entered, Mo Hua didn't notice a man with a handsome appearance and a casual demeanor, who seemed to be an elder, glancing at them discreetly from a short distance away.
This man was none other than Xun Zi You, the elder who had been entrusted by Elder Xun to look after Mo Hua.
He was from the Xun family, a direct descendant of Elder Xun, and held the cultivation base of the latter stages of the Golden Core realm. In the inner sect of Tai Xu Gate, he served as an elder.
Watching Mo Hua enter the mountain, Xun Zi You sighed softly.
"Here he goes again..."
He had thought that after Mo Hua spent two days off consecutively in the mountain, he would stay put for a while. But now that he had some free time, he was heading into the mountain once more.
Moreover, this time, he had four young disciples following him.
Could it be that he plans to try hunting demons this time?
Xun Zi You mentally assessed the cultivation levels of the few disciples and shook his head slightly.
"It's a bit risky..."
While they might have a chance against an early second-grade demon, the risk was too high.
Moreover, there were variations in strength even among early second-grade demons.
If they encountered a weaker one, they might stand a chance and could always flee if things went south.
But if they ran into a stronger one, they might end up losing their lives in Refining Demon Mountain if they couldn't win the fight.
Xun Zi You took one last reluctant sip of his tea.
"My peaceful days are over..."
It had been troublesome enough keeping an eye on just one disciple, and now, in the blink of an eye, he had to watch over five of them...
Xun Zi You smacked his lips, finding the tea a bit bitter. He shook his head and instructed the disciple guarding the mountain gate, "Keep an eye on the entrance. I'm going into the mountain to take a look."
The disciple bowed and replied, "Yes, Elder."
Xun Zi You flashed into the mountain.
At that moment, at the foot of Refining Demon Mountain, on a large rock, Mo Hua and the four others sat cross-legged in a circle.
Mo Hua said, "This time, we will hunt a second-grade early-stage demon called the Azure Wood Wolf..."
Cheng Mo and the others nodded nervously.
Mo Hua continued, "The Azure Wood Wolf is a wood-attribute wolf demon. It's about two people tall, covered in green fur, and its claws and fangs are venomous. It possesses robust demon power, and its pupils are a brownish-wood color. The more people it kills, the darker its pupil color becomes, and it may even take on a blood-red hue..."
"The Azure Wood Wolf's attacks are similar to those of ordinary wolf demons, mainly consisting of tearing, pouncing, gnawing, and tail-whipping."
"Its saliva is venomous, and it often licks its fur, so its fur is also toxic."
Mo Hua took out a storage bag and said, "These are four sets of Class B Wood Armor, specifically designed to defend against wood-attribute demon power, and they are also imbued with a detoxification formation. Wearing these armors will protect you from most of the Azure Wood Wolf's attacks..."
Si Tu Jian couldn't help but ask, "Little Senior Brother, what about you?"
Moreover, he didn't need to engage in direct combat; he only needed to provide support from the shadows. A mere Azure Wood Wolf posed no threat to him whatsoever.
Mo Hua then briefly explained the Azure Wood Wolf's habits and emphasized the tactics and process of demon hunting, admonishing them, "You must stick to the plan and absolutely cannot make any mistakes."
Cheng Mo and the others nodded, marveling inwardly.
While they always believed in Little Senior Brother, they never expected that his plan for hunting a demon would be so thorough and meticulously devised. It seemed utterly "professional."
They had never considered so many factors before.
Xun Zi You, observing from a distance, nodded slightly.
Planning ahead and strategizing before taking action.
Not rushing in with hot-blooded impulsiveness to gamble their lives against a demon beast.
Indeed, he was much more capable than the average young master from a noble family.
Once everything was prepared, Mo Hua said, "Let's go!"
And so, the group of five set off on their journey to hunt their first demon beast in Refining Demon Mountain—the Azure Wood Wolf.
The Azure Wood Wolf was a wood-attribute demon beast that favored poisonous forests and bushes.
Based on its habits, Mo Hua moved lightly and quietly through the mountains, his spiritual sense extended to search for traces of the Azure Wood Wolf.
Along the way, they also encountered other early second-grade demon beasts.
Cheng Mo asked, "Little Senior Brother, aren't we going to kill those demon beasts?"
Mo Hua shook his head. "We're only killing the Azure Wood Wolf."
Seeing their confusion, he explained, "Our goal must be clear, our plan meticulous, and our execution resolute. We must not be greedy or deviate from the plan...''
"Deviating from the plan will bring unexpected troubles, and the consequences will be hard to predict."
Consequences hard to predict?
Cheng Mo and the others didn't quite understand but nodded obediently.
After searching for half an hour, Mo Hua found traces of the Azure Wood Wolf—black-green fur and grass-wood poison—under a giant tree.
Following the trail, they spent another half-hour before Mo Hua tracked down a two-person-tall, early second-grade demon beast with malevolent eyes—the Azure Wood Wolf.
"Be careful of its poison, don't be greedy for merit, and watch out for feigned death..."
Mo Hua reminded them once more before they officially began the hunt.
He first observed the Azure Wood Wolf's movement pattern and set up traps and array plates of the Earth-Killing Array along its path, taking advantage of the environment to conceal his actions.
He sprinkled grass powder to mask their presence.
He performed all these tasks with practiced ease, leaving no traces of the array.
The group then hid in a nearby forest.
After the incense stick burned for a while, the Azure Wood Wolf walked into the trap and triggered the array.
Suddenly, there was a loud rumbling, and dust flew everywhere.
The second-grade Earth-Killing Array exploded, and strands of earthen spiritual power, like giant pythons, entangled and killed, sweeping towards the surroundings, crushing the nearby rocks and trees into powder.
When the dust settled, the Azure Wood Wolf was covered in wounds, and its greenish-black venomous blood flowed down its fur to the ground. Its demonic eyes were filled with terror and anger.
Not giving it a chance to catch its breath, Mo Hua said in a deep voice, "Kill it!"
Cheng Mo and the others, shocked by the power of the Earth-Killing Array, snapped back to their senses and, remembering Mo Hua's instructions, charged forward without hesitation, giving their all.
For a moment, the howls of the demon beast and the shouts of the cultivators intermingled.
Demonic power and spiritual power intertwined.
Cheng Mo, with his robust spiritual power, wielded his mountain-splitting axe with overwhelming might, directly confronting the Azure Wood Wolf.
Yang Qianjun's spear danced like a dragon, focusing on close-range attacks.
Si Tu Jian's sword was like scorching fire, attacking from a distance.
Hao Xuan put down his staff and picked up the spiritual sword he had cultivated since childhood, manipulating sword qi from the side to deal additional damage.
Mo Hua also took the opportunity to cast a few spells to either interrupt the Azure Wood Wolf's attacks, deepen its wounds, or restrict its movements.
Cheng Mo and the others were wearing Class B Wood Armor.
The attacks of the Azure Wood Wolf were mostly neutralized, and its poison was largely ineffective against them.
However, the Azure Wood Wolf couldn't withstand their combined assault.
The situation gradually turned in their favor.
The severely injured Azure Wood Wolf tried to escape.
But as soon as its eyes shifted, Mo Hua saw through its intentions and shouted, "It's trying to run! Don't let it get away!"
Cheng Mo roared, "Vile beast, take this!" and brought his twin axes down towards the Azure Wood Wolf's waist with mountain-splitting force.
Yang Qianjun's eyes narrowed as he condensed a golden light at the tip of his spear, aiming for the Azure Wood Wolf's throat.
Si Tu Jian and Hao Xuan pursued with sword qi.
Mo Hua cast a Water Prison Technique to restrain the Azure Wood Wolf momentarily.
With nowhere to escape, the Azure Wood Wolf could only endure the onslaught of attacks. With a unwilling roar towards the sky, it finally fell to the ground.
The group was delighted, but then they remembered Mo Hua's warning: "Demon beasts are cunning by nature and often feign death. Be extra cautious after it falls..."
The reminder sent a chill down their spines, and they dared not relax.
Following the plan, Cheng Mo and Yang Qianjun stood guard nearby, while Si Tu Jian and Hao Xuan condensed sword qi to strike from a distance.
The Azure Wood Wolf was hit by several sword qi and, as expected, struggled to get up again.
The group surrounded and attacked it once more, and the Azure Wood Wolf soon succumbed without much of a fight.
Cheng Mo and the others were covered in sweat, their arms numb. Looking at the Azure Wood Wolf lying dead on the ground, they were thrilled yet still found it hard to believe.
It was dead!
They had killed a second-grade early-stage Azure Wood Wolf with their own abilities?!
Although they mostly relied on Little Senior Brother, they had also contributed significantly.
Xun Zi You, observing from another location, was also somewhat stunned.
So fast... it's already dead? From the initial preparations, to tracking its trail, to setting up the array, to the ambush, and finally, preventing it from feigning death.
Everything was arranged clearly and decisively.
The Azure Wood Wolf's death was entirely within expectations.
Were demon beasts so easy to kill?
Xun Zi You glanced at the group, his eyes falling on Mo Hua, who calmly commanded the operation. There was a hint of disbelief in his eyes.
While his spiritual root was only middling, and his blood qi was weak, his heart, wisdom, and strategies were extraordinary.
The ancestors truly had an eye for talent; it was truly terrifying.
The Azure Wood Wolf lay dead, its blood still wet on the ground.
Mo Hua immediately took out a clean jade porcelain bottle and, using the blood-drawing technique he had learned from his little senior sister, began to draw blood from the wolf.
This blood would be used to concoct spirit ink.
He filled a total of ten bottles with blood.
Mo Hua glanced at the bottles and asked Cheng Mo and the others symbolically, "Do you want any of this blood?"
Cheng Mo and the others were quick to understand and shook their heads, "No, thank you."
They weren't formation masters, so what use did they have for demon blood?
Moreover, when Little Senior Brother showed interest in something, how could they possibly ask for a share?
They weren't fools.
Mo Hua nodded in satisfaction and proceeded to stash all ten bottles of demon blood into his storage bag.
He intended to stockpile more demon blood to concoct more spirit ink.
This way, he wouldn't have to spend merit points or spirit stones to purchase it.
He would hoard merit points, spirit stones, and even the ink itself.
The more, the better!
After storing away the spirit ink, Mo Hua clapped his hands and, taking one last look at the Azure Wood Wolf, said, "Let's begin the autopsy."
Such a large Azure Wood Wolf would be impossible to carry back whole, so following the standard procedure of most demon hunters, they would dissect it and take the valuable materials.
However, Mo Hua didn't need to get his hands dirty.
Cheng Mo, carrying his twin axes, began the autopsy of the Azure Wood Wolf under Mo Hua's instructions.
Mo Hua directed him on where to swing his axes, which bones to extract, and which internal organs were the most valuable...
Cheng Mo's technique was a bit clumsy, and it took him half a day's effort before he finally finished the task.
The Azure Wood Wolf was now skinned and stripped of its bones, its appearance completely changed, and its blood stained the ground.
The scene was a bit gory, and Cheng Mo and the others felt a bit uncomfortable.
However, Mo Hua was used to it, and he even reminded Cheng Mo, "When it comes to dissecting demon beasts, you should practice more to improve your efficiency. The faster, the better. Otherwise, after all the hard work of killing a demon beast, if you don't collect the materials quickly, you might be stumbled upon by other demon beasts or targeted by other cultivators, and that wouldn't be ideal."
Cheng Mo nodded repeatedly in agreement.
With the Azure Wood Wolf dissected, they stored the remains in their storage bags.
As evening fell, Mo Hua and the others began their journey back.
At the mountain gate, they sold the materials they had obtained from the Azure Wood Wolf.
The materials weren't particularly valuable, and since Mo Hua and his group didn't focus on artifact refinement, they had little use for them.
They could sell them outside for spirit stones, but here, they were exchanged for merit points.
The wolf's head, damaged fur, spine, claws, tail, and some of its organs could all be sold for a good price.
In total, they earned 2,500 merit points.
On average, that was 500 merit points per person. After deducting the 100 merit points for the hunting permit, each person still made a net profit of 400 merit points.
Of course, they also had to deduct the expenses for purchasing the spiritual artifacts, pills, and formations.
However, since these were bought with spirit stones and didn't waste any merit points, Cheng Mo and the others didn't mind.
With the merit points in hand, the group was excited.
Cheng Mo and the others even considered giving Mo Hua an extra 200 merit points.
After all, this hunt for the Azure Wood Wolf was mostly dependent on Mo Hua's help in preparing the spiritual artifacts, formulating the plan, and guiding them throughout the process.
Without Mo Hua's assistance, they wouldn't have been able to take down the wolf.
They were now convinced that Mo Hua must have come from a family of demon hunters, as his wealth of experience could not be explained otherwise.
Hao Xuan, filled with admiration, asked, "Little Senior Brother, have you hunted many demon beasts before?"
Mo Hua humbly replied, "I'm passable..."
Most of his kills were assisted by formations, and while he didn't have many under his belt, his success rate was impressive.
To date, his most glorious achievement as a demon hunter was taking down a major demonic calamity known as the "Sealed Boar."
However, he didn't feel like mentioning it, as others might think he was bragging.
The next day, Mo Hua led Cheng Mo and the others in another hunt for an Azure Wood Wolf, following the same procedure as before.
This hunt went just as smoothly.
After a brief summary, Mo Hua further refined their hunting strategy based on the demon beast's habits and the terrain of Refining Demon Mountain.
This included determining what spiritual artifacts to prepare before entering the mountain, how to scout, track, ambush, surround, and finish off the demon beast, as well as how to deal with the aftermath.
This set of procedures was specifically tailored for hunting the Azure Wood Wolf.
You have to take things one step at a time.
Hunting demon beasts was a skill that had to be learned one beast at a time.
Most fellow disciples were newcomers, and it was unrealistic to expect them to be able to hunt any demon beast from the start.
By starting with the Azure Wood Wolf, they could gradually adapt to the process of hunting demon beasts, build their confidence, gain experience, and eventually become qualified demon hunters.
Mo Hua nodded, his heart filled with emotion.
This Little Senior Brother of his truly had the bigger picture in mind.
Who else would be as considerate as him?
Mo Hua then called over Cheng Mo, "See if there are any other disciples who want to enter Refining Demon Mountain, and tell them to come find me."
He intended to spread this set of hunting procedures among the Tai Xu Sect disciples.
That evening, Cheng Mo brought over several more disciples.
The group stood before Mo Hua, straight-backed and respectful, and greeted him in unison, "Greetings, Little Senior Brother!"
Mo Hua nodded and asked, "Do you want to enter Refining Demon Mountain?"
"Yes!" they replied.
Mo Hua didn't beat around the bush and directly handed them a jade slip, saying, "Start with hunting the second-grade Azure Wood Wolf. Don't aim too high or be careless."
"This jade slip contains the entire set of procedures. Follow them step by step..."
Mo Hua then went on to explain the do's and don'ts, from scouting to hunting, dissecting, and dealing with the aftermath, leaving no detail untouched.
He even thoughtfully informed them of the necessary formation media and spiritual artifacts and where they could be purchased.
The disciples were immensely grateful and thanked Mo Hua repeatedly.
From then on, at the entrance of Refining Demon Mountain,
Elder Xun noticed that more and more Tai Xu Sect disciples were entering the mountain, wearing the same armor, carrying the same formations, and moving in the same formation and rhythm, all targeting the same type of demon beast...
(End of Chapter)
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