Chapter 165 Qian Hong (Four Updates) _1
The black-clothed cultivator was so infuriated that he coughed up blood, while Mo Hua, using the Fireball Technique, looked leisurely and unruffled.
In the following days, as Qian Family cultivators didn’t press their attack, Mo Hua spent his days drawing formations, strolling around to look at the spiritual mines and admire the mountain scenery, calculating how many more days the meat in his storage bag would last him.
One day, Mo Hua saw Elder Yu looking solemn and couldn’t help but ask curiously,
“Elder Yu, is the Qian Family making a move again?”
“Not for the time being, but that old turtle Qian Hong should be arriving soon.”
“Oh, the head of the Qian Family?” Mo Hua’s expression grew somewhat somber, “Is Qian Hong very formidable?”
Elder Yu said dismissively, “About the same as Qian Zhongxuan.”
“Then how did he become the family head?”
Elder Yu chuckled lightly, “There’s a lot of scheming involved there. In the Cultivation World, both within clans and sects, there are many who occupy positions they don’t deserve. To climb the ranks, it doesn’t necessarily depend on cultivation or capability. Being able to boast, scheme, deceive, and flatter is often more useful than diligently doing your job.”
Elder Yu scoffed again, “Those people who look respectable, most of them are probably good for nothing.”
Mo Hua was enlightened and asked further, “So, is Qian Hong a good-for-nothing?”
“Then he’s a schemer?”
Elder Yu nodded, “Indeed, Qian Hong is very cunning. This time Qian Zhongxuan took a heavy loss, and it’s time for him to step in and take advantage.”
“Take advantage?” Mo Hua was taken aback, “They even take advantage of their own family’s misfortunes?”
Elder Yu chuckled, “The Qian Family is so large, supporting so many people. Strictly speaking, they’re all family because of blood ties and connections. But because they are family, at the same time, they aren’t really family.”
Mo Hua scratched his head, “Is the Qian Family’s infighting that intense?”
Elder Yu raised an eyebrow and said, “When I call the Qian Family treacherous, it’s not for no reason. They’re ruthless to outsiders and their own kin alike. They’ll eat meat whenever there’s meat, and it doesn’t matter who it’s been bitten off from.”
Mo Hua clicked his tongue, asking, “Then what should we do?”
Elder Yu stroked his chin, “It’s about time to consider making an escape.”
“Escape?” Mo Hua’s eyes lit up, “Is the spiritual mine depleted?”
Elder Yu shook his head, “We can’t deplete it.”
Mo Hua felt a bit regretful, “Isn’t that a bit wasteful…”
Elder Yu laughed, “We’ve had our fill of the meat; we have to leave some soup for the Qian Family.”
As night fell and mountain winds howled, a group of cultivators once again approached the Qian Family camp, led by none other than the Qian Family head, Qian Hong.
Qian Zhongxuan stood in the cold wind outside the camp with Qian Family cultivators, respectfully welcoming the Qian Family head, Qian Hong.
Qian Hong was middle-aged with half-white hair, handsome features, but an arrogant demeanor, and his sharp gaze swept around as keenly as an eagle.
Qian Zhongxuan greeted him with cupped hands, “Welcome, Family Head.”
The nearby Qian Family cultivators all bowed to pay their respects.
Qian Hong nodded in acknowledgment and followed Qian Zhongxuan into the camp.
Once seated with no one else around, Qian Hong asked, “How’s the battle going?”
Qian Zhongxuan briefly reported.
Qian Hong sighed, “Elder Qian, you were a bit too hurried. They were trapped inside and couldn’t escape. You should have taken your time initially; then you wouldn’t have suffered such heavy losses.”
Qian Zhongxuan was quite ashamed and frustrated but had nothing to say.
Whether he attacked, defended, besieged, or trapped, if he failed, there would always be an excuse to place blame.
He indeed had lost, spent a lot of spirit stones, lost many subordinates, and his face was completely gone.
Now powerless to retort, Qian Zhongxuan could only grit his teeth and say, “What the Family Head said is very true!”
Qian Hong glanced at Qian Zhongxuan and slowly said,
“However, Elder Qian, you’ve worked hard this time. The clan remembers your toil. I’ll take care of what’s to come, so you don’t need to trouble yourself further.”
Qian Zhongxuan couldn’t help but curse inwardly.
What does he mean by remembering my toil? Does he mean to say I have no merit at all?
Qian Zhongxuan said, “The Family Head is busy with numerous affairs, and regarding the matter of the Spiritual mines, how could we trouble the Family Head? Just give me some more hands, and I will definitely secure the Spiritual mines!”
“Elder Qian!” Qian Hong frowned and said, “I trust in the Elder’s abilities and am willing to entrust this matter to the Elder, but by doing so, I would not be able to justify this to the clan.”
Qian Hong’s expression was grave and carried a hint of heartache as he said, “After all, the losses we suffered previously were too severe!”
In his heart, Qian Zhongxuan silently spat out a curse.
Such pretense, what took you so long? Isn’t it just to wait for him and Yu Changlin to fight to the bitter end, losing their capital, so that he, as the Family Head, could come and reap the benefits?
By then, the credit would be his, the Spiritual mines his, and the prestige his as well.
Such a crafty plan indeed!
Qian Zhongxuan also hated himself for being careless and couldn’t resist the temptation of the Spirit Stones, agreeing to Qian Hong and taking on this task.
He also didn’t expect that Yu Changlin would have so many tricks up his sleeve, all of which were techniques he had never seen before—his loss was indeed great!
Qian Hong picked up the teacup, took a sip of tea, and said indifferently, “Elder Qian, is there something you’re dissatisfied with?”
Qian Zhongxuan was filled with dissatisfaction, but he knew he no longer had the right to be dissatisfied. He could only clasp his fists and say through gritted teeth:
“I shall follow the Family Head’s commands!”
“Hmm.” Qian Hong slightly lowered his eyelids, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. After a moment, Qian Hong changed his tone and asked again:
“May I know why the Elder failed this time?”
Qian Zhongxuan hesitated for a moment before saying, “Among the Monster Hunters, there was a Formation Master!”
Qian Hong showed a hint of surprise, “Is there a first-rank one?”
“Even if not first-rank, it’s not far off…” Qian Zhongxuan replied.
Qian Hong shook his head, “I’ve asked Master Qian, and the Formation used by that Formation Master, the Earth Fire Formation, contains only seven Formation Patterns…”
Qian Hong looked at Qian Zhongxuan with a smile that was not quite a smile, “Seven Formation Patterns, just crossing the threshold of an average Formation Master. In the Elder’s eyes, does this amount to almost a first-rank Formation Master? Although the Elder is not a Formation Master, he shouldn’t have made such a grave mistake!”
For an average Formation Master, two Formation Patterns represent two colossal thresholds. It’s not that the difference is small; it’s very big indeed.
Qian Zhongxuan, feeling both shame and anger, was momentarily unable to refute.
Qian Hong then asked, “Is there any other reason?”
Suppressing his anger, Qian Zhongxuan replied, “There was also a Spiritual Cultivator who was skilled in spells…”
Qian Hong’s eyes revealed a mocking light, “One?”
Qian Zhongxuan muttered, “I’m not sure… there might be more than one…”
“Are their cultivation levels very high?”
Qian Zhongxuan fell silent for a while before slowly saying, “They should not be at the late stage of Qi Refinement…”
Qian Hong couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking his head, “Elder Qian, oh Elder Qian, a Formation Master who can only draw seven Formation Patterns, one—or, as you say, a few—Spiritual Cultivators who are not at the late stage of Qi Refinement…”
Qian Hong sighed and said with a mocking glance, “Just because of these, you have suffered heavy losses? How should I speak for you in the clan? Who would believe such reasons if they were said out loud?”
Qian Zhongxuan’s face turned red, and his fingers clenched white.
Seeing it was about enough, Qian Hong spoke in a more soothing tone:
“Enough, enough. What’s done is done, and it’s useless to say more. Leave the following matters to me; you needn’t trouble yourself any further, Elder.”
Qian Zhongxuan’s face alternated between red and white as he clasped his fists and asked:
“May I know what the Family Head is planning?”
With an air of having everything under control, Qian Hong sipped his tea before slowly saying, “As I’ve said, there’s no need to rush. I have my ways.”
Qian Zhongxuan suppressed the dissatisfaction in his heart and respectfully said, “Then I will rely on the Family Head!”
Qian Zhongxuan was respectful with his words, but his heart sneered coldly.
In terms of ability, he and Qian Hong were evenly matched; it’s just that he wasn’t as shameless and scheming as the other.
If he, Qian Zhongxuan, couldn’t handle those Monster Hunters, he didn’t believe that Qian Hong, who only knew how to take advantage, would have any good strategies.
The Formation Master and that Spiritual Cultivator might not seem much at first glance, but once you truly faced them, you’d realize how troublesome they could be.
A look of contempt flickered in Qian Zhongxuan’s eyes as he waited to see Qian Hong’s spectacle unfold.