Who is it!?

After being ambushed, Mo Shan remained vigilant.

He vaguely suspected among the Qian family's hired cultivators was one skilled in stealth, launching surprise attacks from the shadows. Therefore, he became more cautious with his moves, trying not to leave any openings.

At the same time, he kept an eye on the battlefield, hoping to find traces of this cultivator.

However, despite Mo Shan's keen observation, his spiritual awareness was not strong enough to penetrate the stealth technique.

Just then, he saw a fireball spell!

With just one glance, he recognized it as the fireball spell used by his son, Mo Hua.

After the fireball spell flew out, it exploded from a seemingly empty gap, revealing a short figure in black robes.

"Mo Hua's spiritual awareness can detect this cultivator skilled in stealth!"

Mo Shan's spirituals lifted. He continued battling the Qian family cultivators while keeping an eye on the fireball spell.

Sure enough, every time the fireball spell flew, the black-robed cultivator's ambush would be interrupted, briefly exposing him.

Mo Shan silently watched, waiting for the black-robed cultivator to reveal a vulnerability.

Just a moment ago, the black-robed cultivator suddenly lost focus, his spiritual energy in disarray, revealing his form.

Mo Shan seized the opportunity, grabbing his shoulder and violently throwing the black-robed cultivator to the ground.

The black-robed cultivator excelled in stealthy ambushes and vicious attacks, but his physical body wasn't resilient. After this throw, his bones cracked, blood spilling from his mouth, and fear gripped his heart.

For a cultivator proficient in stealth, being exposed meant imminent danger, especially on such a chaotic battlefield.

Enduring intense pain, the black-robed cultivator attempted to activate his stealth technique again.

Taking advantage of this, Elder Yu Chengyi swiftly approached, delivering a powerful kick to his abdomen.

The black-robed cultivator felt his organs shifting, curling up in pain, and was flung far away, landing amidst a group of demon hunters.

The demon hunters, long holding back their anger, now brandished their blades towards the black-robed cultivator.

By the time the Qian family cultivators arrived and managed to rescue the black-robed cultivator, his body was covered in wounds, barely clinging to life.

Elder Yu watched with satisfaction, laughing heartily.

Without this stealthy cultivator, the Qian family would gradually be worn down.

Elder Yu couldn't help but glance at Mo Hua again.

He thought to himself, "Mo Hua, this child, handles the fireball spell with extraordinary skill—fast and accurate. Perhaps in the future, he could truly become an exceptional spiritual cultivator."

Currently, he's still young, at a low cultivation realm with not particularly strong spiritual power. Thus, his fireball spell is only used cunningly to disrupt the battlefield.

But once his cultivation advances, the power of his fireball spell will increase. Suddenly aiming at your heart or Qi sea...

And you wouldn't even know where he is.

Elder Yu empathized with this thought, finding it quite troublesome.

Meanwhile, Qian Zhongxuan was seething with anger.

Another fireball spell!

He had been enjoying the spectacle, watching the black-robed cultivator toy with the demon hunters, seeing them fall one by one. In his mind's eye, he could almost picture Elder Yu Changlin's frustrated and helpless expression.

In the blink of an eye, the one frustrated and helpless became himself!

Qian Zhongxuan's gaze turned cold, his spiritual awareness instantly released. He wanted to see who was using the fireball spell!

Just as his spiritual awareness was about to scan towards Mo Hua, Elder Yu suddenly appeared, standing in front of Mo Hua.

Qian Zhongxuan felt his spiritual awareness blocked, and upon closer inspection, it was Elder Yu Changlin's old face again!

Elder Yu looked at him with a smile that was not quite a smile. Qian Zhongxuan felt uneasy and immediately gritted his teeth, "Withdraw!"

Qian Zhongxuan had become quite adept at shouting "withdraw."

Seeing Qian Zhongxuan retreat without probing with his spiritual awareness, Elder Yu hugged Mo Hua and leaped into the mine.

"In the future, you must be more careful. Don't take unnecessary risks. If you can avoid using force, do so," Elder Yu cautioned.

He was afraid that if Mo Hua acted, the Qian family might catch on, especially that old miser Qian Zhongxuan, who was likely to shamelessly target Mo Hua.

"Mm-hmm," Mo Hua nodded his little head, saying fiercely in his innocent voice, "If I act, it's either their life or mine!"

Elder Yu couldn't help but chuckle at this. "Who taught you that?"

"My dad did!"

Elder Yu nodded approvingly. "Well said! The cultivation world is dangerous—either refrain from action altogether, or if you act, go all out. Your father taught you well!"

With his father praised, Mo Hua nodded proudly.

The black-robed cultivator was disabled, Qian Zhongxuan called for retreat, and the Qian family cultivators slunk away in disappointment. However, during their retreat, they were ambushed by demon hunters, losing many men.

Now Qian Zhongxuan was completely helpless. He had spent a fortune, lost many men, and it seemed like the spiritual mine was out of reach.

Within the family, he could no longer hold his head high.

Qian Zhongxuan was filled with deep hatred! He hated Elder Yu Changlin, the negligent hired cultivators, and the incompetence of his subordinates.

But what he cared most about was who was helping the demon hunters set up formations and secretly casting spells?

Which formation master would stoop so low as to help these poor demon hunters set up formations?

And which cultivator would use such a low-powered yet cunning and bizarre fireball spell?

If not for these formations and fireball spells, he would have captured the spiritual mine long ago.

Qian Zhongxuan pondered endlessly, venting his anger on Qian Zhuang to relieve his frustration.

If it weren't for his incompetence, he wouldn't have been stuck in this mess!

Originally, he had discussed with the family head to seize the spiritual mine and potentially gain an extra share of spiritual stones. Now, even if he could get two additional shares, it wouldn't make up for his losses.

The more Qian Zhongxuan thought, the angrier he became.

Qian Zhuang asked quietly, "Elder, what do we do next?"

He wanted to divert Qian Zhongxuan's attention so he wouldn't keep blaming him.

Qian Zhongxuan frowned, still undecided, when cries of agony came from outside the camp.

They were from the injured Qian family cultivators and the hired cultivators.

Qian Zhongxuan sighed, waved his sleeve helplessly, and said, "First, let's save our people."

Outside the camp, wounded lay everywhere, crying out in pain.

The black-robed cultivator also received treatment.

Qian family alchemists fed him pills, applied herbs, and slowly cleansed his body of residual spiritual energy, trimming his burnt hair.

The black-robed cultivator's condition gradually stabilized. After a long while, he slowly regained consciousness.

The pain all over his body left his mind blank. Gradually, he began to recall the events of the day.

Various memories of cultivators flashed through his mind—those who pushed him, kicked him, or slashed at him with chaotic blades.

And of course, the cultivator who used the fireball spell!

The black-robed cultivator couldn't help but feel a surge of hatred.

He had been cruising through the Second Grade Heishan State for over a hundred years, rarely making mistakes. Yet now, he was ambushed by a fireball spell for no apparent reason!

That basic fireball spell, that mid-level Qi refining stage fireball spell!

Ambushed by a fireball spell!

A veteran of a hundred years, ambushed by a fireball spell!

It was simply humiliating!

Filled with anger and confusion, the black-robed cultivator couldn't understand how he was ambushed, how his stealth technique was exposed, who was using the fireball spell, and how they managed to hit him so accurately every time.

Unable to figure it out, the black-robed cultivator felt a knot in his chest, and in frustration, he spat out a mouthful of blood and roared in indignation:

"Who the hell used the fireball spell?!"

After speaking, overwhelmed by anger, his wounds reopened, his vision darkened, and he passed out again.

(End of the Chapter)