Returning home at night, Mo Hua practiced the Concealment Array and the Reverse Spirit Array on the Dao Stele in his Sea of Consciousness throughout the night.
He was already familiar with the Concealment Array and was just reviewing it. The Reverse Spirit Array was extremely difficult; a complete array required ten patterns of spiritual awareness, which Mo Hua couldn't yet draw, using it merely for practice and honing his spiritual awareness.
The next day, he got up early and followed his usual routine of cultivating for an hour. After a quick breakfast, he set off for Dahei Mountain. Crossing the outer mountain and reaching the inner mountain, he arrived at the edge of the cliff.
The cliff was a sheer drop of thousands of feet, shrouded in mist and unfathomably deep. Mo Hua sat cross-legged at the cliff's edge, closed his eyes, and extended his spiritual awareness downwards.
This time, having anticipated what he might find, his purpose was clearer and his perception more focused. After a while, Mo Hua opened his eyes, a look of confusion in them. There was still nothing.
He speculated that these criminal cultivators might have hidden themselves using a Concealment Array, most likely at the bottom of this cliff. Yet, the cliff was so steep and deep that his spiritual awareness could not detect any signs of life or special aura.
This was perplexing. If they weren't at the bottom of the cliff, could they be on the opposite side?
Mo Hua looked across to the other side. The opposite side was a deep mountain, thick with clouds and mist, and the air was filled with a dangerous miasma. The mist obscured the view, making it unlikely that anyone would use an array to hide there.
"If not below the cliff, nor opposite it, could they be between the cliffs?" Mo Hua murmured, directing his spiritual awareness to explore between the cliffs.
Shocked, Mo Hua closed his eyes again, calmed his mind, and focused his spiritual awareness to its fullest, striving to filter out the interference of the miasma and perceive as clearly as possible.
Gradually, Mo Hua discovered a path leading to the opposite cliff. When he realized what this path was, he was astounded. It was not a mountain path but an inclined peak!
The peak was slender and solid, leaning from the opposite side and forming a natural stone bridge between the two cliffs. A formation master had placed a Concealment Array on the peak, hiding its presence and using the natural miasma between the cliffs to obscure spiritual perception.
This peak had thus become a highly concealed and unknown secret path suspended above a deep chasm, connecting the two cliffs.
Using the natural elements as the array medium and the mountain miasma as a cover, it left no trace, completely unnoticed. Mo Hua was amazed.
He thought to himself, "This formation master is a true expert!"
Although Mo Hua had just learned the Concealment Array, this formation master had placed this concealing array on the mountain peak long ago, demonstrating a higher level of skill.
Since mastering the art of arrays, apart from the mysterious Mr. Zhuang, this was the first time Mo Hua encountered a formation master with greater skill than his own. He was curious about this formation master's identity. Who would create such a formation for criminal cultivators, hiding their tracks? Could they also be a criminal cultivator?
Mo Hua felt a bit of regret. Having just learned arrays, it was unfortunate to see them used for aiding criminals in murder and robbery.
What should he do next?
Mo Hua frowned. Since he had discovered the traces of these criminal cultivators, he naturally needed to investigate further. But it was impossible for him to take such a risk alone. No one knew how many criminal cultivators there were, their cultivation levels, or their malicious intentions. Hiding deep in the mountains, who knew what they were plotting?
Mo Hua planned to return and inform Elder Yu, and also report to the Dao Court. With the help of the Demon Hunters and the Dao Court, they could capture these criminal cultivators in one fell swoop.
Having made up his mind, Mo Hua turned to leave but then stopped, frowning. This seemed unwise. Returning to call for help would surely alert the criminals, giving them time to prepare. They might have many men, and if they used the terrain to ambush the Dao Court and the Demon Hunters, many could die.
Mo Hua had deep ties with both the Dao Court and the Demon Hunters. This was something he didn't want to see. Moreover, not knowing the exact situation, making a rash move would reduce their chances of success.
If the criminals managed to escape, eradicating them later would be impossible. Furthermore, everything was just Mo Hua's speculation. Although there was a high probability, he couldn't be sure without seeing it himself. What if the cliff didn't hide criminals but a reclusive master like Mr. Zhuang or a high-ranking formation master with a solitary temperament?
Gathering a group of cultivators would undoubtedly create enmity.
Mo Hua was torn. After much thought, it seemed the best approach was for him to take the risk alone...
His spiritual awareness was strong, allowing him to detect danger early. He had the Passing Water Step technique, which made him swift, and most importantly, he could conceal himself. He was the only cultivator in Tongxian City who could do so.
Using the Concealment Technique and the Concealment Array, his stealth was even better than usual, and even a Foundation Building cultivator might not notice him. If the person on the other side was a master, they likely wouldn't hold a grudge against a small cultivator like him. If they were indeed criminals, he could investigate without alerting them.
Knowing one's enemy ensured victory. Once he had gathered enough information, he could devise a strategy.
Mo Hua nodded to himself. Taking a bit of risk to save the Demon Hunters or the Dao Court members was worth it. Moreover, he only needed to sneak a look and then return quietly. The criminals might not even notice him. After all, his Concealment Technique and Array were not learned in vain.
Mo Hua decided to first use the Concealment Technique to sneak over, investigate, and then return.
This way, he wouldn't alert the enemy and wouldn't take excessive risks. He gathered some stones and a branch, then opened his storage bag, took out a bottle of spirit ink, and poured it over the cliff edge.
The golden spirit ink splashed down and was soon blocked, spreading out in mid-air to form a visible ink mark.
"There is indeed a path."
Mo Hua nodded, then tossed a few stones down to confirm they also landed in mid-air and didn't fall into the abyss, feeling reassured. He activated the Concealment Array, then the Concealment Technique, and using the Passing Water Step, he lightly jumped off the cliff into the mist.
A moment later, he felt a slight tingle in his feet and landed on the invisible stone path. The ink he had poured and the stones he had thrown were at his feet. Mo Hua let out a sigh of relief. Even knowing there was a path, jumping off a cliff was still nerve-wracking.
He glanced down, feeling his limbs go weak and his face turn pale. Below the cliff was a bottomless abyss, a fall that would mean certain death. At this moment, it felt as if he were standing in mid-air, above the deep chasm.
Mo Hua took a deep breath, telling himself, "Don't look down, don't look down..."
Gathering his courage, he took cautious steps forward, testing the path with the branch. Between the misty cliffs, a concealed path led by a hidden cultivator walked silently towards the other side.
For the past two or three hundred years, Demon Hunters hadn't discovered this hidden path, and at this moment, the criminals hadn't noticed the hidden Mo Hua.