Chapter 157: Surprise Attack (First Update)_1 “The Qian Family’s Foundation Establishment doesn’t make a move because they’re afraid of being worn down, then encircled and killed to death?” Mo Hua asked. “Yes, but not entirely.” Elder Yu said, “On one hand, the Qian Family’s Foundation Building Cultivators do indeed fear being worn down. Once I take action to hold him back, he won’t be able to escape and will inevitably be killed.” “Therefore, in such chaotic battles, Foundation Building Cultivators usually balance each other out and don’t act rashly. Once they take action, they either settle the outcome with a decisive strike or have some other important purpose that can sway the battle.” “On the other hand, the Qian Family has more than one Foundation Building Cultivator…” Elder Yu said with a light chuckle. Mo Hua asked in confusion, “Isn’t that an advantage for the Qian Family?” Elder Yu did not answer directly but said: “One monk will have water to drink, two can fetch enough water, but with three monks there will be no water to drink.” “Oh.” Mo Hua understood, “They all want others to take the risk and fight for their lives while they reap the benefits.” Elder Yu nodded approvingly. “Is the Qian Family’s infighting really that fierce?” “Even close brothers settle accounts clearly, let alone they are one clan but with so many bloodline branches and intertwined interests, their scheming and infighting aren’t necessarily rooted in any clan sentiment.” Mo Hua nodded. No wonder Elder Yu always curses the Qian Family as a nest of ungrateful white-eyed wolves with black hearts but no lungs. If they’re like this even towards their own clan cultivators, what about others? “What if all the Qian Family’s Foundation Building Cultivators come together?” Mo Hua asked. “I actually hope they all come together.” Elder Yu raised his eyebrows slightly, “If they all come, leaving their clan and industries undefended, and should an enemy take notice and pilfer their properties clean, slaughtering their direct lineage thoroughly, that would be quite entertaining.” Elder Yu’s expression was rather schadenfreude. Mo Hua opened his mouth wide, “Does that kind of thing really happen?” “How could it not? You’re still young, live a few hundred years, and you’ll see that in this world, there’s nothing that can’t be done, only what you can’t imagine.” Mo Hua was quite shaken, “But the Taoist Court would do something about it, wouldn’t they?” “Once it’s already been plundered and the killing done, what use is the Taoist Court…” Elder Yu wanted to swear a few times, but remembering he was in front of Mo Hua, he slightly held back. “If the direct disciples are slaughtered clean and only the Foundation Building Cultivators remain, that’s still just a hollow force, too ambitious but powerless, soon to be squeezed out with no place to stand.” “Moreover, if those important industries of the Qian Family outside are left without Foundation Establishment protection, and there’s a mishap, that’s when they’ll truly suffer a devastating blow…” “The bigger the family and the enterprise, the harder it is to maintain. That’s why they dare not let their Foundation Building Cultivators come to the battle too early.” So that’s how it is… Mo Hua suddenly realized. Seeing Mo Hua deep in thought, Elder Yu thought he was still worried and said: “Don’t worry, the Qian Family’s Foundation Builders may look fierce, but in reality, they’re all soft eggs and cowards. I can easily deal with one, and even if two or three come, I still have ways to cope.” Mo Hua was astonished; Elder Yu was actually that formidable. “Elder, is your cultivation very high?” Mo Hua asked. “It’s not that my cultivation is high,” Elder Yu sighed, smiled bitterly, and said, “It’s just that I dare to stake my life in a fight, and they don’t.” Mo Hua looked at Elder Yu. On Elder Yu’s lean arms and around his neck, there were various crisscrossing light scars, which were not noticeable due to his dark skin unless one looked closely. These scars must have been left from fighting to the death… Mo Hua silently thought. If the Qian Family doesn’t attack, the Monster Hunters can concentrate all their efforts on the spiritual mines exploitation. But Elder Yu knew that the Qian Family wouldn’t just let things go. A few nights later, the Qian Family indeed came again. This time they had reinforcements, several strong-bodied cultivators with Earth Spirit Roots, fully armed and clad in iron armor. This was the solution Qian Zhuang had pondered and contemplated to break the stalemate. Since the Earth Fire Formation was not too powerful, he thought to recruit some thick-skinned, tough-bodied Body Cultivators with Earth Spirit Roots, clad in iron armor, that could simply trample down the Earth Fire Formation. Without the Earth Fire Formation, the path ahead would be wide open. Therefore, he pulled strings and used his connections to plea, transfer, or borrow some Earth Spirit Root cultivators who had cultivated Earth Series techniques and had strong physical bodies. He had almost exhausted his savings, either purchasing or borrowing several sets of iron armor forged from fine steel, along with a few fire-resistant spiritual artifacts. Tonight, he was determined to break the Earth Fire Formation! The situation unfolded exactly as he had anticipated. The Earth-series cultivators, dressed in iron armor and carrying fire-resistant spiritual artifacts, directly crossed over the Earth Fire Formation with seven layers of formation patterns, setting off bursts of explosive flames. The mountains were filled with the sounds of explosions and saturated with light from the flames. The explosive fire elemental spiritual power assaulted the iron armor, but most of its force was neutralized, some of the fiery energy was dissolved by the fire-resistant spiritual artifacts, and any residual strength that affected the iron-clad Earth-series cultivators caused little harm. After a few back-and-forths like this, the cultivators with an Earth spirit root clad in iron armor had trampled down the Earth Fire Formation throughout the mountains. The iron armor too sustained some damage, with one set even breaking apart. Qian Zhuang felt the pain of the loss acutely, but these sacrifices were worthwhile! He had finally broken through the Earth Fire Formation! Qian Zhuang raised his eyebrows and let out a breath, filled with pride and vigor. Leading the Qian Family cultivators, he had at last crossed the mountain waist that was covered in Earth Fire Formations, which had frustrated him time and again and left a psychological shadow in his heart! And the Qian Family cultivators had arrived at the entrance of the mines, officially confronting the Monster Hunters. Then, Qian Zhuang suddenly realized that he seemed to have forgotten a critical issue: Their original tactic seemed to be based on a surprise attack… Now, groups of Monster Hunters clad in rattan armor stood ready, even leisurely awaiting them, having watched them struggle from afar for quite some time. And after being ravaged by the Earth Fire Formation, they had finally come face to face with the Monster Hunters. But… could this be called a surprise attack? The Monster Hunters’ eyes carried a mocking gleam, as if they were looking at fools. A flicker of anger crossed Qian Zhuang’s face, but a chill settled in his heart. What to do next, he suddenly had no idea… Fight? It seemed unlikely they could win. Escape? Then what exactly had they come here for? And why had they gone through all the trouble to cross the Earth Fire Formation? As Qian Zhuang was drowning in self-doubt, Yu Chengyi had already drawn his sword. Immediately, the blades of the other Monster Hunters unsheathed in response. The night was pitch black, and the Monster Hunters’ swords glinted with white light. “Kill!” Yu Chengyi roared with rage, and the Monster Hunters behind him charged with great momentum towards the Qian Family cultivators. Thus, the Qian Family cultivators, who had gone through great lengths to cross the Earth Fire Formation, were embarrassingly forced to retreat in less than a moment. Qian Hong managed to escape back to the camp with great difficulty, summarizing the situation with a dirt-covered face. The death and injury of the disciples were inevitable, and a few sets of iron armor had been seized. There was no helping it; the primary target of the Monster Hunters was the iron armor, with the cultivators themselves being secondary. Monster Hunters, accustomed to hunting monster beasts year-round, exhibited well-coordinated movements and adept skills. A few of them working together could take down a Qian Family cultivator in iron armor in just a few exchanges. Then, swiftly, they stripped and stole away the armor. For the Monster Hunters, even skinning a monster beast was no challenge, to say nothing of removing worn iron armor. Qian Zhuang felt a heartbreaking pain, while also finding the situation absurd. If it weren’t for the disorientation caused by the Earth Fire Formation, focusing only on breaking through the formation, he wouldn’t have forgotten their original intent. Turning a stealth attack into an open assault. He had even allowed the enemy to be prepared and caught them off guard. Qian Zhuang was filled with hatred. Who the hell was it that designed this damn Earth Fire Formation?!