However, as time went on, Qian Hong began to sense that something was amiss.
He felt that Yu Changlin’s cursing lacked its previous satisfaction and seemed deliberate, as if trying to hide something.
Qian Hong was on alert, but also dared not act rashly. He merely dispatched a small group of people to probe the mine’s entrance under the cover of night.
This group of Qian Family Cultivators had just arrived at the mine’s entrance when they were ambushed by the Monster Hunters.
Mo Shan, Yu Chengyi, and a few other Qi Refining Ninth Level Monster Hunters were not inside the mine but had been lying in wait outside, ready to pounce on any probing Qian Family Cultivators.
Clad in iron armor and wielding large sabers, and with Spiritual Power surging, the Qian Family Cultivators didn’t stand a chance and fled in disarray.
Qian Hong, however, was relieved, thinking to himself,
“Yu Changlin, that old rogue, as expected, his sealing of the cave was a feint, and the ambush was real. Lucky for me, I anticipated this and only sent a few Cultivators to scout. Otherwise, I would have suffered a major setback!”
The ambushers, including Mo Shan and others, returned to the Spiritual mines through the entrance in the middle of the mountain.
This ambush was a one-time tactic, but it was primarily meant as a distraction, and one time was sufficient for its purpose.
Qian Hong’s hesitance bought time for everyone to seal the cave and allowed Mo Hua to draw Formation Patterns without much interference.
As time dragged on, Qian Zhongxuan felt something was not right. He approached Qian Hong and said,
“It seems like Yu Changlin wants to seal off the entrance.”
Qian Hong replied indifferently, “I know.”
Qian Zhongxuan frowned. “Are we just going to let him seal it?”
Qian Hong looked unconcerned, “The sealing of the entrance is a ruse, the ambush is the reality.”
“But what if they really seal off the entrance? What do we do then?” Qian Zhongxuan asked.
Qian Hong said, “It’s mere earth and stone. If they seal the entrance, breaking through it will be easy!”
“What if they dig another mine tunnel and escape?” Qian Zhongxuan pressed on.
“They won’t get away,” Qian Hong sneered. “We’ve been dealing with Yu Changlin for more than a day or two. We can guess all the tactics he might employ without even thinking. He’ll either defend the entrance or dig another tunnel to flee.”
“If we can break through the entrance, it will be like catching turtles in a jar. If we find the tunnel, we can ambush them halfway. Then, the Spiritual mines they’ve painstakingly mined will all belong to us.”
Qian Hong’s eyes were cold, and he sneered mockingly, “We’ll kill them, take the Spirit Stones as our own, and without lifting a finger, we gain doubly.”
Qian Zhongxuan said out loud, “The Family Head is wise.”
But inwardly, he cursed, truly a dog can’t change its habit of eating shit, always looking for a bargain in everything.
Would that old curmudgeon Yu Changlin let you take advantage of him so easily?
And the Formation Master among the Monster Hunters hasn’t made a move yet.
In a situation like this where Cultivators are at odds, Formations can be very problematic, and he had suffered from it before.
Qian Zhongxuan knew the stakes, yet he kept silent!
He was actually looking forward to seeing whether Qian Hong’s bargain hunting this time would bring him benefits or setbacks.
His own foundation had been depleted anyway, and his position in the Clan was gone, so he was delighted to watch from the sidelines.
If there’s misfortune to be had, let everyone suffer together; no one would get away scot-free!
Qian Zhongxuan thought bitterly.