Discovered

Afterwards, whenever Da Hu's trio had free time, Mo Hua would accompany them into the mountains, using trap formations to hunt and kill demon beasts.

Everyone would split the spirit stones from the kills, and Mo Hua would also harvest demon blood.

Despite their joy, Da Hu and the others were also a bit worried. Da Hu addressed Mo Hua, "By only attacking wounded demon beasts and avoiding direct confrontations, are we weakening our techniques?"

Mo Hua replied, "This is called 'using battles to nurture battles.' We hunt and kill demon beasts first to earn spirit stones and improve our cultivation. When your cultivation improves, we can consider direct confrontations then."

Mo Hua looked at them and continued, "We are still young. Fighting demon beasts head-on puts us at a disadvantage. If we don't find a way, we'll only be throwing our lives away."

Da Hu's trio nodded repeatedly.

In this way, following Mo Hua's designed methods, the trio became more familiar and synchronized in their demon hunting. They no longer panicked in the face of demon beasts as they had before.

However, after killing several demon beasts like this, an unexpected incident occurred.

One day, they surrounded and fought a Fire-Maned Hound, about the height of an adult, with fiery eyes and a long tongue.

After several rounds, despite being severely wounded by Shuang Hu, the Fire-Maned Hound found an opening, swiftly escaped from Da Hu's trio.

This Fire-Maned Hound was a mid-tier pinnacle first-grade demon beast, on the verge of advancing to the late-stage first-grade, so the injuries caused by the Earth Fire Formation weren't as severe as with other demon beasts.

The Fire-Maned Hound fled ten meters away, its eyes glowing red, staring fixedly at Da Hu's trio, as if committing their faces to memory before turning to leave.

Halfway through, it sniffed and suddenly detected Mo Hua hiding behind a nearby rocky cliff.

At the fifth level of Qi Refinement, Mo Hua's cultivation was not high, and his qi and blood were weak.

The Fire-Maned Hound's eyes glowed brightly red, its two fangs exposed at the corners of its mouth, emitting a foul stench and dripping saliva. It turned and charged straight at Mo Hua.

Da Hu exclaimed urgently, "Mo Hua, run!"

Mo Hua hesitated for a moment.

The Fire-Maned Hound had already circled behind him. With a gaping maw, it lunged directly at him.

In the Fire-Maned Hound's eyes gleamed a cruel and excited look, but after snapping its jaws shut, there was neither the sweet taste of fresh blood nor the satisfying taste of flesh.

It had bitten into empty air.

By now, Mo Hua had already moved a meter away, looking somewhat nervous but not panicked.

The Fire-Maned Hound looked puzzled, unable to comprehend how this young cultivator had evaded it.

Da Hu's trio shouted loudly, rushing over from a distance.

The Fire-Maned Hound sneered, leaping higher and faster towards Mo Hua.

Closing the gap in an instant, its sharp claws tore towards Mo Hua's heart. In its eyes, this young cultivator was as good as dead.

However, Mo Hua unexpectedly drifted back a step, his posture light and composed, effortlessly dodging the claw.

The Fire-Maned Hound paused for a moment, while Mo Hua took advantage of the moment to retreat further away, his expression calm with a hint of mockery.

This hint of mockery enraged the Fire-Maned Hound. Its eyes flashed red, and its entire body turned red, igniting into flames.

When enraged, the Fire-Maned Hound's entire body would burst into flames.

"Not good!"

Da Hu's trio, halfway to the scene, were shocked.

In its fury, the Fire-Maned Hound, ablaze, charged directly at Mo Hua with even greater speed and the burning demonic power.

This flame was formed from the demonic power of the demon beast and could corrode a cultivator's physical body, burn away their spiritual power, and even destroy their meridians. Once inside, it was difficult to eradicate.

Mo Hua's expression grew serious. He pushed his consciousness to the limit, sensing the trajectory of the Fire-Maned Hound, while also stimulating his spiritual power to perform the Drifting Water Step.

Every step the Fire-Maned Hound took, Mo Hua retreated a step.

Every time the Fire-Maned Hound attacked, Mo Hua always managed to evade at the last moment, his figure like flowing water, elusive and unpredictable.

After several rounds of attacks, Mo Hua looked dangerous but remained unharmed.

Da Hu's trio watched with pounding hearts and jaws dropped in awe.

What kind of footwork was this...

Regaining their senses, the three immediately rushed towards Mo Hua.

The Fire-Maned Hound failed in its attacks several times. Seeing Da Hu's trio approaching, it intensified its demonic power, flames surging on its body.

It stared at Mo Hua with fierce determination.

Mo Hua instantly realized—it was ready to fight to the death.

As long as it killed him, consumed his flesh and blood to replenish itself, it could continue to engage with Da Hu and the others, or at worst, make a calculated retreat.

Mo Hua's gaze sharpened, conjuring a fireball between his fingers.

The distance was enough for Mo Hua to use the Fireball Technique, though he didn't know how effective it would be against the demon beast.

But before Mo Hua could release the Fireball Technique, a blade descended from the sky, piercing the Fire-Maned Hound directly, pinning it to the ground.

The Fire-Maned Hound struggled briefly. As the flames on its body gradually dissipated, it breathed its last, its eyes still holding a lingering fierceness.

Mo Hua was surprised. Looking up, he saw Mo Shan standing alone on a distant rocky cliff, his face calm as water.

Mo Hua's heart sank.

This was bad. His secret mountain excursions had been discovered by his father.

Mo Hua hadn't told his parents, fearing their worry and knowing they wouldn't approve of him entering the Great Black Mountain.

Despite its dangers, the Great Black Mountain couldn't be avoided forever.

With thorough preparation, caution, and care, the Great Black Mountain wasn't an impossible risk.

Mo Hua knew his parents would eventually find out, but he hadn't expected it to happen so soon.

His plans for demon hunting in the Great Black Mountain had only just begun...

Mo Hua sighed, finally understanding the feeling of "starting a venture only to meet an untimely end."

Mo Shan didn't say anything, but his expression was visibly grim.

Mo Hua felt uneasy, and even Da Hu's trio dared not speak.

After dealing with the Fire-Maned Hound, Mo Shan instructed Da Hu's trio to go home first.

"Uncle Mo, it's not Mo Hua's fault, it's us..." Shuang Hu said weakly.

"It's okay. You guys go home first," Mo Shan said softly.

Knowing one's child is better than anyone else.

Although Mo Hua was young, he was intelligent and had his own opinions.

While Da Hu's trio were older, Mo Hua usually took charge when they played together. When it came to venturing into the mountains to hunt demons, Mo Hua must have convinced them.

Mo Shan sighed. He wanted to reprimand Mo Hua, but wasn't sure how to do it.

Father and son returned home, quietly eating their meal.

Mo Shan's expression remained unchanged, saying nothing. Mo Hua ate obediently, keeping his eyes down.

Liu Ruhua glanced at Mo Shan in puzzlement, then curiously at Mo Hua.

After dinner, just as Mo Shan was about to say something, Liu Ruhua interjected, "Hua'er, go back to your room and study."

Mo Shan was momentarily stunned.

Mo Hua felt relieved and gratefully glanced at his mother before slipping back to his room.

Only then did Liu Ruhua ask, "What happened?"

Mo Shan sighed and recounted the encounter with Mo Hua in the Great Black Mountain.

Liu Ruhua was shocked. "Hua'er is so daring!"

"Yes, the Great Black Mountain is so dangerous. If something were to happen..."

Mo Shan frowned, his expression showing some lingering fear.

"What do you plan to do?" Liu Ruhua asked after a moment.

Mo Shan thought for a while before saying firmly, "I took a brief look from afar. Hua'er didn't go to the Great Black Mountain out of curiosity or recklessness. He must have had a definite plan. Moreover, his approach to demon hunting was well thought out—setting traps, formations, and letting Da Hu's trio handle the rest—all clearly well-planned and cautious, more so than some veteran demon hunters..."

"But in a place like the Great Black Mountain, it's always better to be safe than sorry. No one knows what dangers lie ahead..."

Mo Shan spoke with determination. "I won't blame him this time, but he absolutely cannot go to the Great Black Mountain again!"

Liu Ruhua sighed, holding Mo Shan's hand gently. She whispered, "You should know, as parents, we can't accompany Hua'er for his whole life."

(End of the chapter)