Chapter 120 Monster Hunting_1
Big Black Mountain is dark and deep, its boundaries unknown.
The older generation of Monster Hunters from Tongxian City usually divide Big Black Mountain into three sections: the Outer Mountain, the Inner Mountain, and the Deep Mountain.
The Outer Mountain of Big Black Mountain is where most Monster Hunters hunt Monster Beasts; the area has few poisons, lighter miasma, and although the terrain is treacherous, it’s not exceedingly dangerous.
The Monster Beasts in the Outer Mountain are mostly at the middle phase of the first grade, with the occasional late phase first grade Monster Beast appearing, but not often.
The Inner Mountain of Big Black Mountain, on the other hand, is extraordinarily perilous, riddled with poisonous creatures, thick miasma, and fog that confounds the mind.
The Monster Beasts in the Inner Mountain are mainly at the late phase of the first grade, and occasionally there might even be a second grade Monster Beast.
If a Cultivator at the Qi Refinement Realm encountered a second grade Monster Beast and couldn’t avoid it in advance, it would almost certainly be a life-and-death situation. Therefore, not many Monster Hunters could enter the Inner Mountain.
As for the Deep Mountain of Big Black Mountain, it is an absolute forbidden zone, off-limits to all Cultivators.
Mo Hua had never heard of a Monster Hunter daring to enter the Deep Mountain of Big Black Mountain, and Mo Shan had also told Mo Hua that entering the Deep Mountain meant certain death.
Being of low status, Mo Hua was well aware of his limitations.
He wouldn’t even glance at a forbidden zone like the Deep Mountain.
He wouldn’t step foot into a perilous place like the Inner Mountain either.
Only the Outer Mountain, and specifically the outermost edge of the Outer Mountain, was the activity range Mo Hua had in mind for himself.
Mo Hua and the three Da’hu entered Big Black Mountain, stopping at the edge of the Outer Mountain.
The woods were dense all around, the mountain paths rugged, and the deep mountains hidden by mystery, occasionally emitting eerie and strange sounds.
The air was filled with a light miasma, mixed with the mountain’s fresh breeze and an indistinct bloody smell that was uncomfortable to smell.
Occasionally, there was also a faint Monster Qi lingering in the seclusion of the mountain corners.
This was just the edge of the Outer Mountain, and Mo Hua already felt an inexplicable oppression.
If this were the Inner Mountain or the Deep Mountain, Mo Hua didn’t dare imagine it.
“What do we do next?” Shuanghu whispered.
All three turned their gaze to Mo Hua.
“Leave it to me,” Mo Hua said.
Mo Hua had already planned everything.
First, he determined the route the Monster Beasts took out of their lair by examining the footprints on the ground, the hair rubbed off on the trees, the bloodstains on the stones, and the faint Monster Qi left in the air.
At a narrow fissure in the mountains, a spot they had to pass through, Mo Hua set a trap.
Inside the trap was a Wood Binding Formation, which could trap a middle phase first grade Monster Beast, but not for long—only about ten breaths.
Around the trap, there were five sets of Earth Fire Formation, each embedded with a Spirit Stone.
Mo Hua covered the traps with rubble, placed some Bloody Herbs on top, and splashed some blood water over them.
The Bloody Herbs were gathered by favor through Aunt Jiang, and the blood water was the residue from Monster meat cooked in eateries.
Once everything was ready, Mo Hua, with the three Da’hu, hid behind some boulders.
“Is this really going to work?” Xiaohu asked.
“Let’s give it a try,” Mo Hua said with an attitude of experimentation.
This plan had been rehearsed many times in his mind, considering the trap, the Bloody Herbs, the blood water, and every subsequent detail—it should be foolproof.
Monster Hunting is dangerous; there can be no negligence.
Moreover, this was Mo Hua’s first time participating in the hunting of Monster Beasts, so he prepared very thoroughly.
The group waited behind the boulders.
From the rising morning sun with its spreading mist to high noon when the mountain fog had all but dissipated, there was still no sign of any Monster Beast.
“Maybe no Monster Beast will come,” Xiaohu started to get restless.
“Hush,” Mo Hua placed his finger to his lips and whispered, “Laying traps requires carefulness and patience, just as Uncle Chu said. We cannot rush.”
The three found this reasonable and nodded in agreement.
Another two hours passed, and amidst the rustling of the trees, a Monster Beast finally showed itself.
With crimson fur, sharp teeth and claws, dripping saliva, it was a Split Claw Wolf Demon!
Its strength was probably around the middle phase of the first grade.
Just right for Mo Hua.
Mo Hua’s spirit lifted, and the three Da’hu were also on full alert.
The Split Claw Wolf Demon was not easy to deal with; they had suffered losses many times before.
As Split Claw walked, it glanced from side to side, its eyes filled with ferocity, extremely alert, occasionally scraping the trees and at times licking its dark red claws.
While walking, Split Claw soon arrived in front of the trap.
Enticed by the scent of Bloody Herbs and the rotten smell of blood, its eyes revealed greed, but it remained cautious, circling the trap a few times before ultimately stepping inside.