Immortality Through Array Formations (The Quest for Immortality)

Chapter 666 – Corrupting Influence

"They… they're all dead?"

Yi Li asked quietly.

He was a spirit cultivator, and during the earlier ambush, he was forced to clash with the black-robed cultivators—only to be knocked out after a single exchange.

Now that he had just regained consciousness, his head was still spinning, and he couldn't quite grasp what was going on.

Mo Hua nodded, "All dead!"

"But…" Situ Jian hesitated, "There's still a lot of them left. Can we even win in a head-on fight?"

From their earlier encounter, they roughly estimated that the enemy had over twenty people.

Even with some of them dead, at least a dozen or so remained—and who knew if they had more reinforcements?

Plus, among those dozen black-robed figures, one appeared to be at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

Outnumbered, and outmatched in cultivation… not ideal.

Mo Hua thought for a moment and said cautiously, "Direct combat would be difficult, so we need to come up with a plan—something thorough."

"A… plan…"

The three of them nodded hesitantly.

They didn't have much experience with "scheming," and honestly didn't even know where to begin.

"No rush," Mo Hua said calmly. "First, we need to locate the rest of the traffickers, figure out their strength and numbers, then act accordingly."

"We can't just let them continue abducting cultivators and slip away without a trace, right?"

"True enough…"

The trio nodded.

"It's just…" Yang Qianjun sighed. "We've been running for so long, we don't even know where the rest of them went…"

"Where did you first run into those black-robed cultivators?" Mo Hua asked.

"In a valley to the east," Yang Qianjun replied.

"Then let's start there, see if we can find any clues," Mo Hua said.

Yang Qianjun paused, then nodded.

At this point, what else could they do?

Once everyone finished meditating and recovering their injuries and spiritual power, the group set out.

Six people walked along the mountain path heading east. After about half an hour, they arrived at a valley.

Mo Hua released his spiritual sense, frowning slightly.

The valley was completely deserted.

They searched around.

On the soil, crushed rocks, and sparse grass, there were faint carriage tracks, scattered footprints, and impressions left by crates placed on the ground.

Aside from that, no other clues.

It looked like a group had briefly stopped here—then split into two.

One group had chased after Cheng Mo's party.

The other had taken the kidnapped cultivators and left.

Cheng Mo and the others exchanged looks and sighed.

"They're gone…"

"No idea where they went…"

Mo Hua's pupils darkened, and within his gaze, faint karmic threads began to emerge—trails of cause and effect flowing into view.

After a moment, Mo Hua pointed toward a mountain path on the left.

"They went this way."

Everyone froze.

Cheng Mo asked, "How do you know?"

"I guessed!"

Mo Hua declared shamelessly.

Then, in a carefree tone:

"Let's go."

He took the lead down the left-hand path.

Hao Xuan immediately followed.

The others glanced at each other, still confused, but instinctively followed behind Mo Hua.

The left path led into a forest, then another valley, then a stream…

Along the way, there were no tracks, no signs of movement—nothing to indicate people had passed through.

Yet Mo Hua didn't hesitate, walking with focused eyes and firm steps.

As if he had personally seen the route those black-robed men had taken.

Cheng Mo found it very strange.

But in the absence of any clues or direction, all they could do was follow.

After another incense stick's worth of time, Mo Hua's eyes suddenly lit up. He stopped, turned, and pressed his hand down signaling:

"Get down."

They all crouched and crept forward, using rocks and grass for cover. Peeking over a ridge, they spotted it—

A ruin.

The building had collapsed walls, scattered ores, muddy iron molds and a broken furnace.

It looked like an abandoned weapon forge.

It was quite large, and though partially hidden by crumbling walls, its broken main gate still stood.

At first glance, the place seemed deserted.

But if you looked closely, you'd spot two dark figures in the shadows of the gate—

Guards. Black-robed.

Cheng Mo's heart jumped.

"We found them!"

He turned to Mo Hua, stunned:

"You actually guessed right?!"

Mo Hua responded modestly,

"Just lucky."

Cheng Mo nodded in a daze.

Situ Jian and Yang Qianjun rolled their eyes at him.

He said he guessed, and you really believed him?

Not a single clue on the way here, no wrong turns… there was no way that was just "luck."

But since Mo Hua insisted he'd guessed, they tactfully didn't question it further.

"So, what now?" Situ Jian asked.

"Do we sneak in first and scout them out?"

"Use stealth?"

They all knew Mo Hua had learned stealth arts, and even had a rare concealment spirit tool: the Waterveil Jade.

"No need," Mo Hua shook his head.

"There are sixteen people inside. One is mid-Foundation Establishment, the rest are early stage."

Everyone was stunned.

Cheng Mo asked, "How do you know that?"

Mo Hua said casually,

"I scanned with my spiritual sense."

Cheng Mo frowned,

"How come I didn't see anything?"

(This chapter isn't over yet—click next page for more exciting action!)

Mo Hua replied,

"Because I'm an array cultivator—my spiritual sense is just a tiny bit stronger."

Then he took out a sheet of paper and began sketching a layout of the entire abandoned forge.

With simple stick figures, he marked each black-robed cultivator's position.

"Two guards at the gate, another big guy behind a pillar after the corridor…"

The group stared at him with complicated expressions.

Is your spiritual sense only a tiny bit stronger…?

Mo Hua continued:

"Inside, there's a main hall. Three early Foundation cultivators patrol the area. They're a bit stronger than the rest."

"The mid-stage Foundation cultivator is sitting inside the hall."

"In one corner of the hall, there are boxes and sacks. Most likely where the kidnapped cultivators are being held…"

He described the forge's structure and personnel layout with surgical precision.

Cheng Mo gripped his axes, eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

He hated the traffickers for abducting people—and for chasing him.

So he declared:

"I'll charge in and kill them all!"

Mo Hua gave him a "bruh, seriously?" face.

Cheng Mo froze.

"Weren't we going to fight…?"

Mo Hua scoffed,

"Fight your head, you walnut!"

He raised his finger and lectured sternly:

"Plans before action. Without plans, you fail. Everything must be calculated."

"Even if we're going to fight, we do it smart. Follow strategy, not brute force."

Cheng Mo scratched his head,

"So what's the plan?"

Mo Hua drew a route on the map:

"Stay hidden, leave no trace, don't alert anyone."

"Start with the two guards at the gate. Kill them silently, one by one."

"After the gate, there's a corridor, then the eaves… pick them off one at a time, then finally deal with the mid-stage leader."

"This method is safest, least risky, and uses the least spiritual power."

Everyone stared at Mo Hua, seeing him in a whole new light.

"So… we go now?" Cheng Mo asked in a low voice.

Mo Hua shook his head.

"I'm not done yet."

Cheng Mo blinked.

"There's more?"

Mo Hua pulled out the Thousand-Jin Rod and asked Hao Xuan:

"You know how to club someone unconscious?"

Hao Xuan shook his head honestly,

"No…"

"I'll teach you!" Mo Hua said, patiently explaining:

"You're quick, quiet, perfect for sneak attacks."

"This rod has the Thousand-Jin Array inscribed on it."

"You just need to get close quietly, activate the array, then WHACK!"

…

Mo Hua finished teaching and asked Hao Xuan,

"Got it?"

Hao Xuan nodded blankly.

"Got it..."

Mo Hua patted him on the shoulder.

"No worries. First time's awkward, second time's smooth—you'll get used to it..."

Hao Xuan looked dazed.

Mo Hua turned to Situ Jian.

"Situ, you should coat your sword with some poison too."

Situ Jian blinked in confusion.

"I don't have any..."

"No problem, I brought some."

Mo Hua pulled out a few small bottles from his storage pouch, looking slightly regretful.

"Poison's not easy to come by. Especially the strong stuff—regulated by the Dao Court and banned by the sect. So we'll have to settle for some mild paralyzing poison..."

Then he turned to Yang Qianjun:

"Brother Yang, your spear needs some too."

Yang Qianjun nodded with mixed emotions.

"Yi Li, can you use Drowning and Throat-Sealing Techniques? Use water-type spiritual power to seal the enemy's throat—keeps them from shouting when you kill them."

"And Cheng Mo, bite this tree root while you're fighting. That way, when you swing your axe, you won't end up shouting instinctively..."

"Aim for the forehead. One clean swing—done."

...

Cheng Mo finally couldn't hold it in. His eyelid twitched as he muttered,

"Mo Hua... did you used to be a bandit or something? Y'know... robbing and killing?"

Mo Hua rolled his eyes at him, then said righteously:

"Don't spout nonsense! I'm a fine, law-abiding disciple of the Great Void Sect!"

Situ Jian and the others all looked skeptical.

To stop them from overthinking it, Mo Hua declared:

"Let's move!"

The others nodded too.

At this point, taking out the black-robed traffickers and rescuing the kidnapped cultivators was top priority.

If their methods were a little dirty... so be it.

It wasn't their fault—they'd just been led astray by their dear little senior brother…

In front of the abandoned forge—

Two black-robed guards still lurked in the shadows near the entrance.

If anyone approached carelessly, they'd surely be spotted—and the traffickers alerted.

Mo Hua's group of six crept closer, step by silent step.

When the two black-robed guards had their backs turned, Hao Xuan made the first move.

Wearing the Waterveil Jade, and using wind-based footwork, he moved like a whisper—silent and swift—until he was behind one of the guards.

Then, raising the Thousand-Jin Rod, he SLAMMED it down onto the back of the man's head.

The black-robed cultivator staggered, stars dancing before his eyes, his footing unsteady.

Before he could recover, Situ Jian's flame-coated, poisoned sword pierced straight through his heart meridian.

The paralyzing toxin numbed his meridians instantly, rendering him immobile.

The second black-robed man noticed something was wrong and began turning around—only for Mo Hua to hit him with Water Prison Technique, locking his movements.

Yang Qianjun, who had been holding back his energy, unleashed a spear strike that shot straight through the man's chest.

The man opened his mouth to cry out, but Yi Li quickly executed a Drowning Throat-Seal Technique, sealing his vocal cords with water-based spiritual energy—silencing him instantly.

Though obscure, this technique was still known in Yi Li's family, a prestigious spell-casting clan. He wasn't a master, but good enough for this task.

The group followed up as needed—extra stabs, finishing spells—whatever was required.

Just like that, the two gatekeepers were taken out—cleanly, efficiently, and in total silence.

It felt almost... easy.

The others were a bit stunned.

Mo Hua nodded slightly.

"Keep going..."

Next target: the huge black-robed man in the corridor.

He was clearly a body cultivator—massive frame, strong blood aura.

Mo Hua handed the Waterveil Jade to Cheng Mo.

Cheng Mo followed Mo Hua's earlier instructions, clenching a tree branch between his teeth like a thief, creeping up behind the big guy.

But Cheng Mo wasn't exactly skilled in concealment, and his spiritual sense wasn't strong either. When he got within four steps, the man noticed.

The burly man's eyes widened in rage.

"Who's there—"

"Yi Li!" Mo Hua shouted.

Yi Li reacted instantly.

Drowning Throat-Seal Technique!

A wave of water-type spiritual energy sealed the big guy's throat—his unfinished shout swallowed in silence.

At the same time, Mo Hua cast Water Prison and immobilized the target.

Cheng Mo jumped into action, blood energy surging, dual axes raised, empowered by the Mountain-Cleaving Force.

By habit, he wanted to yell a battle cry—

But with a branch clamped in his mouth, he couldn't shout a word.

Like a warhorse with a bit in its mouth, Cheng Mo redirected all that frustration into his attack—bringing both axes crashing down.

The twin blades landed hard, carving deep, bloody gashes across the man's back—exposing bone.

Situ Jian followed with a sword strike. Yang Qianjun thrust with his spear.

Together, they completely overpowered the burly body cultivator.

Mo Hua stealthily followed up with a fireball spell—for peace of mind.

That made three out of sixteen traffickers down.

Just then, Hao Xuan remembered something and turned to Mo Hua.

"Should we leave one alive? To check their identities?"

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then shook his head slightly.

"No need…"

"We're outnumbered for now. If we go easy, things could get messy. No loose ends. Once we have the upper hand, then we'll consider taking captives."

Situ Jian and the others all nodded in agreement.

After that, the group followed the same method—using the layout of the abandoned forge, coordinating their attacks, and taking out the black-robed cultivators one by one.

Before they realized it, only four of the original sixteen were left.

These last four were all near the main hall—three outside (all early Foundation Establishment), and one inside (mid Foundation Establishment). The kidnapped cultivators were also being held inside.

Mo Hua originally wanted to draw a formation and blow all four up in one shot.

But with hostages inside, brute force was off the table.

The group rested for a bit, took some pills, meditated to recover spiritual power, and began preparing for the final—and toughest—battle.

Kill the last four black-robed men, and rescue the kidnapped cultivators.

They had six on their side, versus four enemies—numerically superior.

But one of the enemies was mid-Foundation Establishment.

They didn't know his origins—or what tricks he might have up his sleeve.

Even a lion uses full strength to hunt a rabbit.

Mo Hua's original plan was the safe route: take out the three guards outside first, then gang up on the mid-stage leader inside.

But... there were hostages.

If a fight broke out and those black-robed traffickers snapped—they might slaughter the captives. That would be a disaster.

"I'll sneak in and take a look…"

Mo Hua whispered.

He planned to slip inside unnoticed and hit the mid-stage black-robed leader with a Falling Meteor Technique—swift and lethal.

Simple. Clean. Done.

At the same time, he had arranged for the other five to work together to take out the three early-stage guards outside.

Kill two quickly, then gang up on the last one.

That way, whether or not Mo Hua succeeded inside, the battlefield outside would already be cleared.

Situ Jian looked worried.

"Mo Hua, going in alone—aren't you taking too much of a risk?"

"Don't worry." Mo Hua said breezily. "My concealment technique is good. Just going in to check things out."

He thought for a moment, then added:

"Once I'm inside, if you don't hear any movement—don't act yet."

"But the moment there's even the slightest noise—you go. Take out those three outside immediately."

"Got it!"

Cheng Mo and the others nodded.

The plan made, Mo Hua began to fade from sight in front of them, vanishing completely—without leaving a single trace.

No physical body.

No spiritual energy.

Not even a shred of divine sense.

Everyone was stunned.

"He really just… disappeared."

"What the heck is that concealment technique?"

The group exchanged wide-eyed glances, still in disbelief.

—

Meanwhile, Mo Hua, fully hidden, slipped past the three patrolling guards outside the main hall and tiptoed into the building.

The hall was drafty and dilapidated, full of holes and decay.

In one corner were several bags and boxes—where the kidnapped cultivators were stashed.

The black-robed leader stood alone in the center of the room.

Mo Hua narrowed his eyes. Something felt off.

The black-robed man was kneeling, posture devout, as if in worship. He muttered under his breath, but his words were garbled—rambling nonsense.

It was creepy. Like he wasn't fully… human anymore.

"Whatever. Let's just send him off first."

Mo Hua crept forward silently, closing in behind the kneeling figure.

Just then, a bloody red shadow appeared around the black-robed man's body.

The shadow was partly transparent, partly solid—its body bathed in blood-red mist, with a long neck, horns on its head, and a grotesque, demonic face.

Like some kind of… evil spirit or corrupted fiend.

The moment it manifested, the shadow turned its head—its blood-red eyes locking straight onto the supposedly hidden Mo Hua.

Mo Hua's pupils contracted instantly.

At that same moment, the kneeling black-robed leader shuddered violently, then suddenly turned around—staring right at the "empty space" where Mo Hua stood.

And in a sharp, chilling voice, he shouted:

"Who's there?!"

(End of chapter)