"I concealed my identity, sought for a long time with no news; just when I was about to leave, I noticed something strange about the mine. Thinking the traitor might be causing trouble, I rented a room near the mine, intending to investigate."
"One night, I heard some noise, went out quietly, and after some trouble, discovered several cultivators transporting coffins near the mine..."
"I was very cautious, but never expected there to be Foundation Building cultivators among them."
"Was it that Zhang Quan?" asked Mo Hua.
"Hmm," Instructor Yan nodded, then said with some embarrassment, "I focused solely on studying formations, so my Taoist skills aren’t polished. I was no match for them, had no hope of escape, and thus fell into their hands."
"Zhang Quan searched through my storage bag, saw that I was a formation master, and made me work for them."
"I didn’t want to help a tyrant, but with deep hatred for my sect to avenge, I had no choice but to..."
Instructor Yan’s face showed shame, "... to compromise and survive, I joined this Corpse Stronghold and started drawing formations for them."
Mo Hua asked, "Then have you seen the Spirit Pivot Formation Chart on Zhang Quan’s body?"
Instructor Yan said helplessly, "I haven’t seen it..."
"I suspect that the zombies he refined were marked with Spirit Pivot Formations, but Zhang Quan never let me draw formations for the zombies, nor allowed me to come into contact with those walking corpses..."
Mo Hua said, "Is he afraid of exposing some secret?"
Instructor Yan nodded, "Very likely."
Mo Hua rested his little chin in his hand, contemplating for a while.
This Zhang Quan harbored plenty of secrets; I must find a way to uncover them.
The Spirit Pivot Formation Chart is crucial; I must find a way to obtain it.
This Corpse Walking Stronghold, with its killing and corpse refining, must also be dealt with.
Mo Hua planned what he needs to do next, and then said,
"Instructor Yan, stay a few more days. In a few days, I’ll get you out of here."
Instructor Yan was astonished, "How are you going to do that?"
This place is the Corpse Walking Stronghold, with bandits, corpse cultivators, walking corpses and Iron Corpses, and Foundation Establishment phase Zhang Quan may return at any moment.
"Don’t worry," Mo Hua assured.
He wanted to take Instructor Yan out of there right then.
The Corpse Walking Stronghold was, after all, no good place.
But he had sneaked in while invisible, and didn’t yet possess the strength to strike down all his enemies, even with the protection of his junior brothers and sisters. During a fight, he couldn’t ensure Instructor Yan’s safety.
It was better to take the long view, to prepare thoroughly before acting.
With the identity of a formation master, those corpse cultivators probably wouldn’t make things difficult for Instructor Yan.
Having decided on his plan, Mo Hua remembered something else and said with earnest concern to Instructor Yan,
"Instructor, the Minor Hidden Spirit Sect is gone; you shouldn’t be fixated on revenge. Think more of yourself, live well, find a partner, and start a family..."
"What you just said..." Instructor Yan frowned, "Why does it sound so familiar to me?"
Mo Hua said crisply, "Manager Mo asked me to tell you this."
Instructor Yan’s expression was complex as his mind added another tally against Manager Mo.
It wasn’t enough for him to nag; he had to get Mo Hua to do it too.
Later on, he would settle accounts with him slowly.
After Mo Hua gave more instructions, he took his leave, "Instructor Yan, I’m going back now. I’ll come find you again in a few days."
Mo Hua’s tone was light and casual, leaving Instructor Yan feeling bewildered.
It was as if this place wasn’t the Corpse Walking Stronghold, but an inn in South Yue City, where Mo Hua would come visit again in a few days...
And then, in front of Instructor Yan, Mo Hua disappeared from sight.
Instructor Yan’s pupils contracted.
Although he had anticipated it, knowing that Mo Hua had a way to stay hidden, he was still taken aback.
Mo Hua had arrived without his notice, and left without a trace.
This method of concealment was remarkably clever.
Who taught him?
Mr. Zhuang perhaps...
Instructor Yan stood quietly for a moment, then suddenly startled as he recalled a question:
What did Mo Hua want with the Spirit Pivot Formation Chart?
Mo Hua always had many questions, continuously asking them when at Tongxian Gate.
As an instructor, Instructor Yan habitually answered them for Mo Hua.
So whatever Mo Hua asked, he answered.
But now, he suddenly realized.
Why had Mo Hua gone to such lengths to find this formation chart?
An unbelievable thought suddenly crossed his mind.
That child Mo Hua wasn’t really planning to learn it, was he?
Impossible...
A first-grade twelve-pattern, requiring divine sense...
Instructor Yan froze.
He realized that Mo Hua had entered the room completely undetected by his divine sense, and had left noiselessly.
Moreover, his presence was obscure and unfathomable.
This was a sign of powerful divine sense.
Could it be...
Instructor Yan looked at the empty room, towards the place where Mo Hua just disappeared, and felt a sudden tremor in his heart.
"The Spirit Pivot Formation..."
Instructor Yan murmured, a flicker of hope glowing in his eyes.
He, too, wanted to see if anyone could truly master this first-grade twelve-pattern Spirit Pivot Formation Method, the ultimate technique of the Minor Hidden Spirit Sect, that for hundreds of years, no one had managed to comprehend!