Qian Hong

The black-robed cultivator was infuriated to the point of coughing up blood, while Mo Hua, who used the fireball spell, appeared calm.

Over the next few days, Qian family cultivators ceased their attacks, while Mo Hua spent each day drawing formations, wandering around, admiring the spiritual mine and the scenery, and calculating how many days the meat in his storage bag would last.

One day, Mo Hua noticed Elder Yu looking serious and couldn't help but ask, "Elder Yu, is the Qian family making any moves again?"

"Not at the moment, but that old tortoise should be coming," Elder Yu replied.

"Old tortoise?"

"Qian Hong."

"Oh, the Qian family head?" Mo Hua's expression turned serious. "Is Qian Hong formidable?"

Elder Yu sneered, "About the same as Qian Zhongxuan."

"Then how did he become the family head?"

Elder Yu chuckled lightly, "There's a lot of trickery involved in these matters. In the cultivation world, families and sects are full of shit. To rise to power, it's often not about cultivation and ability. Knowing how to boast, manipulate, deceive, and flatter is far more useful than being diligent."

Elder Yu smirked, "Most of those pretending to be someone are probably just bags of hot air."

Mo Hua widened his understanding and asked again, "Is Qian Hong one of those bags of hot air?"

"Not quite."

"Does he manipulate people?"

Elder Yu nodded, "Indeed, Qian Hong is very cunning. After Qian Zhongxuan's big loss this time, he's likely coming to pick up the pieces."

"Picking up the pieces?" Mo Hua was puzzled. "Do they even pick up their own family's pieces?"

Elder Yu chuckled, "The Qian family is large and supports many people. They're all related by blood or acquaintance, yet because of this, they also aren't really family."

Mo Hua scratched his head, "Is the Qian family really that scheming?"

Elder Yu raised an eyebrow, "When I call them wolves in human skin, it's not an unfounded accusation. The Qian family doesn't just treat outsiders this way; they treat their own kin the same. If there's meat to be had, they'll eat it, no matter whose flesh it is."

Mo Hua was taken aback and asked, "So what should we do?"

Elder Yu stroked his chin, "We should think of a way to escape."

"Escape?" Mo Hua's eyes lit up. "Is the spiritual mine mined out?"

Elder Yu shook his head, "It's far from being mined out."

Mo Hua felt somewhat regretful, "Isn't that a bit of a waste then?"

Elder Yu laughed, "When we eat meat, we have to leave some soup for the Qian family."

Night fell, the mountain wind howled, and a group of cultivators arrived at the Qian family camp, led by none other than the Qian family head, Qian Hong.

Qian Zhongxuan stood outside the camp in the cold wind with Qian family cultivators, respectfully welcoming their family head, Qian Hong.

Qian Hong, now middle-aged with half-white hair, had a handsome face but an aura of arrogance, sharp eyes scanning like a hawk.

Qian Zhongxuan bowed, "Welcome, Family Head."

The other Qian family cultivators also bowed respectfully.

Qian Hong nodded in acknowledgment and followed Qian Zhongxuan into the camp.

Once seated and with no one else around, Qian Hong asked, "How's the situation?"

Qian Zhongxuan explained briefly.

Qian Hong sighed, "Qian Elder, you've been too hasty. They were trapped inside and couldn't escape. You should have taken your time with it. Otherwise, we wouldn't have suffered such huge losses."

Qian Zhongxuan felt quite embarrassed but had nothing to say.

Whether attacking, defending, besieging, or trapping, if he failed, there would always be excuses for blame.

Indeed, he had lost. He had spent a lot of spiritual stones, lost many men, and lost all face.

At this moment, Qian Zhongxuan had no strength to argue and could only grit his teeth and say, "Your words are true, Family Head!"

Qian Hong glanced at Qian Zhongxuan and said slowly, "However, Qian Elder, you have also worked hard this time. The clan will remember the elder's efforts. Let me handle the aftermath. Don't worry about it anymore."

Qian Zhongxuan couldn't help but curse inwardly.

What does "remember my efforts" mean? Does it mean I have no merit at all?

Qian Zhongxuan said, "Family Head is busy with affairs. How can I trouble Family Head with the matter of the spiritual mine? Just give me some more manpower, and I will definitely take down the spiritual mine!"

"Qian Elder!" Qian Hong frowned, "I trust in Elder's abilities and am willing to hand this matter over to Elder, but if I do so, I won't be able to explain to the clan."

Qian Hong's expression became serious, tinged with some pain. "After all, the previous losses were too severe!"

Qian Zhongxuan silently cursed in his heart.

Hypocritical. Why didn't you do anything earlier? Wasn't it because you wanted to wait for me and Yu Changlin to fight it out, lose all our capital, and then come to pick up the pieces as the family head?

Then, the credit would be yours, the spiritual mine would be yours, and the prestige too.

What a cunning plan!

Qian Zhongxuan also blamed himself for being careless and unable to resist the temptation of spiritual stones, agreeing to Qian Hong's request and taking over this matter.

He hadn't expected Yu Changlin to have so many tricks up his sleeve, and they were all methods he had never seen before. He had really suffered a big loss!

Qian Hong picked up a teacup, took a sip, and said lightly, "Qian Elder, do you have any dissatisfaction?"

Qian Zhongxuan was full of dissatisfaction, but he knew he had no right to be dissatisfied anymore. He could only bow and grit his teeth, saying, "I will follow the Family Head's orders!"

"Hmm." Qian Hong's eyes narrowed slightly, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth. After a moment, Qian Hong's attitude softened, and he asked again, "I wonder why Qian Elder failed this time?"

Qian Zhongxuan hesitated for a moment and said, "There was a formation master among the demon hunters!"

Qian Hong looked slightly surprised, "Was it a first-rank one?"

"Even if not a first-rank, it wasn't far off..." Qian Zhongxuan said.

Qian Hong shook his head, "I asked Master Qian. The formation used by that formation master, the Earth Fire Formation, only contained seven formation patterns..."

"This..."

Qian Hong looked at Qian Zhongxuan with a hint of mockery, "Seven formation patterns, just crossing the threshold of an ordinary formation master. In Elder's eyes, is that similar to a first-rank formation master? Elder is not a formation master, but shouldn't make such a mistake!"

Two formation patterns might not seem like much to an ordinary formation master, but it was a huge difference.

Qian Zhongxuan felt ashamed and angry, unable to refute for a while.

Qian Hong continued, "Are there any other reasons?"

Qian Zhongxuan gritted his teeth and said, "There was also a spiritual cultivator proficient in spells..."

"One?" Qian Hong's eyes showed a hint of ridicule.

Qian Zhongxuan stammered, "I'm not sure... there may be more than one..."

"Are they of high cultivation level?"

Qian Zhongxuan remained silent for a while before slowly saying, "Probably not beyond the Qi Refining stage..."

Qian Hong couldn't help but laugh lightly, shaking his head. "Qian Elder, Qian Elder, a formation master who can only draw seven formation patterns, and one or several spiritual cultivators who are not even beyond the Qi Refining stage..."

Qian Hong sighed and looked at Qian Zhongxuan with a mocking gaze. "Just because of these, you suffered such heavy losses? How can I speak up for you in the clan? Who would believe your reasons?"

Qian Zhongxuan's face flushed red, his fingers turning white as he clenched them.

Seeing that it was almost enough, Qian Hong's tone softened, "Forget it, forget it. Since things have come to this, it's useless to say more. Leave the rest to me. Elder, you don't need to worry anymore."

Qian Zhongxuan's face turned red and then pale. He bowed and asked, "I wonder what the Family Head plans to do?"

Qian Hong appeared to be in control, taking another sip of tea before saying slowly, "As I said, there's no need to rush. I have my own methods."

Qian Zhongxuan suppressed his dissatisfaction and said respectfully, "Then I will rely entirely on the Family Head!"

Qian Zhongxuan was respectful in words but sneered in his heart.

In terms of ability, he and Qian Hong were evenly matched, but Qian Hong was just thicker-skinned and more scheming.

He, Qian Zhongxuan, couldn't do anything about these demon hunters, so he didn't believe that Qian Hong, this opportunist, could have any good tricks.

That formation master and the spiritual cultivator might seem inconspicuous, but when encountered, they proved to be quite troublesome.

A look of disdain flashed in Qian Zhongxuan's eyes as he waited to see what tricks Qian Hong had up his sleeve.

(End of the Chapter)