Everything was ready, and Mo Hua began his demon hunt.
Of course, he didn't need to take action himself.
Although he had already reached the seventh level of Qi Refining, and the power of his Fireball Technique had increased significantly, he was still not strong enough to deal with a late-stage First Grade demon beast directly.
At most, he could provide some support and clean up the aftermath.
The demon hunters did not lack his small spells' power either.
Yu Chengyi, Mo Shan, and six other late-stage Qi Refining demon hunters formed a team, taking Mo Hua with them. The nine of them started hunting a late-stage First Grade Red-Eyed Sheep Demon.
Yu Chengyi and Mo Shan had hunted demons in the inner mountains for many years, and their experience was far richer than Mo Hua's. Their planning before the hunt was also more thorough, considering almost everything.
Mo Hua only needed to listen attentively and learn.
Learning the habits of demon beasts, the methods of hunting demons, and the precautions to take.
Previously, only mid-stage Qi Refining demon hunters used the Seven-Pattern Earth Fire Array to hunt mid-stage First Grade demon beasts.
Now, Mo Hua could draw First Grade arrays, which were powerful enough to injure late-stage First Grade demon beasts. Therefore, late-stage Qi Refining demon hunters could also try to hunt late-stage First Grade demon beasts with the help of a First Grade Earth Fire Array.
Hunting demons with the help of arrays was both safe and efficient.
After discussing everything, Yu Chengyi asked Mo Hua, "Is there anything else to note?"
Since the array was drawn by Mo Hua, he needed to ask for Mo Hua's opinion.
Mo Hua thought for a moment and felt that everyone had considered everything thoroughly. He couldn't think of anything to add, so he said, "No problem."
"Good." Yu Chengyi nodded, "Then we set off tomorrow and act according to the plan."
The demon hunters spent the night at the camp in the inner mountains. The next day, at dawn, with the mountains shrouded in mist and the grass and trees covered in dew, they set off.
Yu Chengyi and a few experienced demon hunters scouted ahead, searching for traces of the Red-Eyed Sheep Demon.
Mo Shan was also experienced, but Mo Hua's safety was more important, so he had to stay by Mo Hua's side.
Before long, a demon hunter found the sheep demon's hoofprints, the remnants of its meal, and blood-stained white wool.
Everyone became alert and fully focused.
Yu Chengyi and a few demon hunters released their spiritual senses, starting to search for the sheep demon's figure.
Before they could find it, Mo Hua had already taken out a map and marked the location for them: "Behind the mountain path, there's a small stream here; it's drinking water there."
Yu Chengyi and the others exchanged glances, secretly shocked.
This distance was much further than the limit of their spiritual senses.
Was Mo Hua's spiritual sense that much stronger than theirs?
Yu Chengyi leaped to the mountaintop, using the rocks for cover, and looked down. Sure enough, he saw the Red-Eyed Sheep Demon drinking water by the stream after its meal.
Yu Chengyi made no sound and leaped down from the mountaintop. He told the others, "It's drinking water. Once it's done, it'll probably return to the woods. We'll take a detour and ambush it ahead."
The demon hunters nodded, then chose a path around to the spot where the sheep demon would enter the woods, setting up traps.
Mo Hua took out an iron compass with a complex array drawn on it.
Seeing this, Yu Chengyi couldn't help but ask, "What's this compass for?"
"I've drawn the Earth Fire Array on it," Mo Hua replied.
"How is this different from drawing it on paper?" Yu Chengyi asked.
"Using paper as an array medium, the Earth Fire Array can only be used once. After it explodes, the array paper is destroyed, and the array is gone," Mo Hua explained. "This compass was specially refined by Master Chen. It contains some fine iron, making it much more durable. Drawing the Earth Fire Array on it allows it to be used multiple times."
Yu Chengyi's eyes lit up as he listened, "Is there any special usage for it?"
"Just use it as before."
Yu Chengyi nodded, "Good!"
Everyone set up the traps and placed the array compass. They also put several spirit stones on the array, then erased their traces, sprinkled blood and the juice of Blood Grass, and hid behind the rocks.
Soon, the Red-Eyed Sheep Demon appeared at the entrance.
This sheep demon was full of blood energy, still had blood at the corner of its mouth, and was extremely vigilant.
It stared at the traps for a long time, clearly tempted by the Blood Grass, but still restrained itself, pacing back and forth without moving forward.
After a while, the sheep demon began to retreat, gradually walking away.
Mo Hua was surprised and whispered to Mo Shan, "Dad, is this demon beast really so cautious?"
"A late-stage First Grade demon beast has a long lifespan, rich experience, and is more cunning."
"So, if it runs, should we chase it?"
Mo Shan shook his head, "No, we'll wait here."
Mo Hua was slightly stunned, then his eyes lit up, "Will it come back?"
"Exactly." Mo Shan also whispered, keeping his eyes on the entrance, "It's also testing us. It will return shortly."
Sure enough, after a while, the Red-Eyed Sheep Demon returned.
If they had chased it earlier, the sheep demon would have noticed, and the traps would have been wasted.
Mo Hua silently marveled at how even a demon beast in the inner mountains could be so cunning, realizing he still had much to learn.
The Red-Eyed Sheep Demon finally couldn't resist the temptation of the Blood Grass. While keeping an eye on its surroundings, it moved towards the traps.
Demon beasts had a sense similar to spiritual sense but generally not as strong as cultivators. They relied on special vision, keen smell, hearing, and sensitivity to auras and blood.
The team consisted of experienced demon hunters who knew how to conceal their auras, preventing the demon beast from detecting them.
So, as the Red-Eyed Sheep Demon looked around, it saw nothing and finally stepped into the trap, lowering its head to lick the blood on the ground, tasting the Blood Grass's scent.
Yu Chengyi stood up, drew his bow, and shot an arrow. The arrow flew through the air, carrying spiritual power, and struck the spirit stone on the array.
The spirit stone turned to powder, its spiritual energy seeping into the Earth Fire Array compass below.
The sheep demon sensed something was wrong and heard the arrow's sound, trying to escape, but it was too late.
The trap held the sheep demon for a moment. Then the compass's fiery red array patterns flashed, and the First Grade Earth Fire Array activated. The explosion of fiery spiritual power was deafening.
As the explosion's aftermath cleared, the Red-Eyed Sheep Demon was severely injured.
To be safe, Mo Hua had set up three First Grade Earth Fire Arrays. The combined power of three explosions was extraordinary.
Without a word, the demon hunters charged forward, spreading out to surround the injured sheep demon.
Eight people formed two circles, with four inside fighting the demon beast and four outside providing support, preventing the demon from escaping.
After a while, the circles switched, using a rotation strategy to slowly wear down the heavily injured demon.
Their actions were decisive, coordinated, and ruthless.
In less than half an hour, the severely injured Red-Eyed Sheep Demon fell.