In the spots without the Expose Shadow Formation, Foundation Builders blocked the way, holding a compass-like Spiritual Artifact.
Mo Hua was not familiar with such a Spiritual Artifact.
But he guessed it was probably used to detect Hidden cultivators.
Eight Foundation Builders, more than ten Expose Shadow Formations, six sets of detection Spiritual Artifacts...
Mo Hua, reading the situation, refrained from using the Concealment Technique.
The street remained lively, with the surrounding cultivators oblivious to everything.
Mo Hua gritted his teeth and continued walking forward.
After a while, he saw Lu Chengyun not far ahead, sitting at a roadside tea stall, dressed in fine clothes.
Lu Chengyun was calmly drinking tea, with two Elders standing behind him, both of whom were at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Mo Hua brazenly pretended not to see him and walked forward on his own.
Even as he passed by Lu Chengyun, he didn't so much as glance at him.
Lu Chengyun put down his tea cup and said somewhat helplessly, "Young Gentleman."
Mo Hua continued to pretend he hadn't heard.
Lu Chengyun had no choice but to shake his head, and the two Foundation Builders behind him blocked Mo Hua's path and politely said:
"Young Gentleman, the Family Head requests your presence."
Mo Hua was startled, "Family Head?"
He turned around, pretending to have just noticed Lu Chengyun, and expressed surprise:
"Lu Family Head, what brings you here? Weren't you having tea with Elder Su?"
The acting was somewhat clumsy.
Lu Chengyun didn't quite know what to say.
Mo Hua must have noticed him a long time ago. That was why he had taken such long detours, forcing him to circle around several times and set up several Expose Shadow Formations.
Lu Chengyun didn't make an issue of it but instead chuckled:
"Young Gentleman, you don't want to see me?"
Mo Hua feigned confusion, "Why would the Lu Family Head think that?"
"You're avoiding me."
"How could that be? Didn't we just meet?"
"Just now..."
"Oh, just now I suddenly remembered I had forgotten to buy some things, so I took a different route to go shopping."
Mo Hua's hands were empty, but he lied without even blushing.
Lu Chengyun gave up.
This young gentleman was very shrewd and a bit of a cheeky rascal.
Continuing this back and forth with him here, he probably wouldn't get a single serious word until evening.
Lu Chengyun decided to be straightforward:
"I'd like to ask the Young Gentleman to do me a favor."
Mo Hua tactfully said, "The Lu Family is vast, and you, Family Head, have considerable cultivation. I'm just a minor cultivator, I'm afraid I can't be of much help to you."
Lu Chengyun shook his head, "This favor cannot be done without the Young Gentleman's help."
Mo Hua knew he couldn't dodge any longer, so he said:
"Alright, what favor would you like me to help with?"
Lu Chengyun's gaze turned cold as he calmly said:
"I'd like the Young Gentleman to help me with Corpse Refinement!"
Mo Hua blinked, "Refine stone?"
He nodded immediately, "Sure, what kind of stones are there on the mountain that you need my help with using a Formation to refine?"
Lu Chengyun was taken aback.
He really hadn't expected that Mo Hua, despite his young age, could be so impudent.
Lu Chengyun sighed, "Not refine stone, refine corpses."
"Refine what?"
"Corpses."
"Corpses?" Mo Hua continued to feign ignorance, "What corpses? I don't know what you're talking about."
Lu Chengyun said, "You're being too modest, Young Gentleman. You stole an Iron Corpse, dismantled it to study the Formation, how could you not know what a corpse is?"
Mo Hua inwardly panicked, realizing Lu Chengyun knew everything.
He likely couldn't bluster his way through anymore.
Mo Hua could only say, "I only learn proper Formations, I don't know how to refine corpses."
"No matter," Lu Chengyun chuckled, "It's easy to learn. With the Young Gentleman's talent, you'll get it in no time."
Mo Hua felt helpless.
It seems having too much talent can be a nuisance too.
No wonder they say a person dreads fame as a pig dreads fattening; once you're known, you become a target.
Mo Hua pondered for a moment, then puzzled, "But if it's an Iron Corpse, you, Family Head, can refine it yourself. You shouldn't need my help."
Lu Chengyun fell silent for a moment, his graceful demeanor suddenly twisted into a sinister smile, revealing a row of white teeth, his eyes gleamed with chilling ambition:
"Not an Iron Corpse..."
"It's a corpse that stands above the Iron Corpse... a stronger Zombie!"