Immortality Through Array Formations

These hundred or so Merit Points aren't a small sum either. It's still alright for myself since I have Formations to make up for it, but Cheng Mo and the others have made a wasted trip.

With many Sect Disciples and few tasks, Merit Points are precious.

Cheng Mo and the others lack experience, and it's not easy for them to earn these hundred or so Merit Points.

As their Junior Brother, I can't let my "Junior Brothers" suffer a loss.

Moreover, we finally caught the Crossing River Dragon, only to have it snatched away by the Sever Gold Sect who bullied us with their power. If this gets out, it would surely damage the reputation of the Taixu Gate, making people think the Taixu Gate is afraid of the Sever Gold Sect.

Personal glory and disgrace are minor; the face of the Sect is a major concern.

For the face of the Sect, we absolutely must take back what was lost!

Mo Hua nodded solemnly.

Cheng Mo and the others were stunned at first, then their eyes lit up, the previous disappointment swept away, and their spirits lifted.

But after thinking it over, they still felt somewhat uneasy.

"Mo Hua... We can't beat them, can we..."

"Yeah, there are seven or eight of them on the other side, all at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage..."

"Don't worry," Mo Hua said, "I've just stealthily observed; they've split into two groups. One followed that 'Golden Straw Bag' and swaggered off, while the other group, with only two people, is escorting the Crossing River Dragon towards the Taoist Court."

Cheng Mo and the others showed joy.

Mo Hua pondered:

"Two at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, but their Cultivation isn't profound, relatively weak within the same Realm. From the look of them, full of hot air, they're used to 'bullying others with their power.' They probably don't have much real combat experience, so they should be easy to handle..."

Afterward, Mo Hua whispered the plan:

"I'll sneak up ahead and set up a Formation to catch them off guard, then we all attack together..."

"Don't be too ruthless; we can't kill anyone and cause trouble for the Sect or ourselves..."

"After all, we adhere to principles. It's just 'tit for tat.' They snatch ours, we snatch back, not that we have a vendit against them to drive them to their doom."

"So, restrain your blows, just beat them half to death..."

Mo Hua said with an amiable face.

Cheng Mo and the others: "..."

After Mo Hua finished, he stood up to leave, but then he seemed to remember something, and said to Cheng Mo and the others:

"Get some black cloth to cover your faces."

Cheng Mo was bewildered, "Cover our faces? To hide from them?"

Situ Jian was also puzzled, "Even with covered faces, they would surely guess it was us who did it, right?"

After all, there had just been a conflict between the two sides; now going to snatch people.

Few of the Sever Gold Sect's people, unless fools, would suspect it was them.

Mo Hua said earnestly: "It's a matter of 'courtesy,' a necessary gesture of face-saving."

"We cover our faces, at least showing them respect."

"If we don't cover our faces and openly snatch, it implies we don't consider them worthy of attention, and that's rude."

"Moreover, I'm also doing this for their benefit..."

"Think about it, two Foundation Establishment Middle Phase disciples knowing they were openly robbed by a group at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, how sad they must feel in their hearts..."

Mo Hua sighed, appearing considerate of others.

Hao Xuan had an epiphany and nodded, "Junior Brother, you have a really good heart!"

Cheng Mo and the others were at a loss for words.

Is Hao Xuan misunderstanding the term "good-hearted"...

Anyway, the plan was set and they began their journey.

The Sever Gold Sect's Mr. Jin and others had indeed split into two groups.

Among them, two were escorting the seemingly "on their last breath" Crossing River Dragon along a small path by the forest towards the nearby Taoist Court.

Mo Hua quickly caught up with these two, then gave Cheng Mo and the others a look.

They nodded in understanding.

Afterward, Mo Hua alone used the Minor Five Elements Stealth Skill to get ahead of these two Sever Gold Sect Disciples and set up a Second Grade Earth Fire Formation at a distance of one li ahead on the road.

He didn't set up a Formation with too much killing power, lest he take the lives of these two Sever Gold Sect Disciples, thus creating karma and trouble for himself and Cheng Mo's group.

Sever Gold Sect Disciples, though bad, probably aren't evil enough to deserve death.

Remembering his status as an "ordinary" Formation Master, Mo Hua began methodically burying the Array Plate, laying traps, and covering tracks.

After a while, as expected, the two Sever Gold Sect Disciples escorting the Crossing River Dragon approached from afar.

Mo Hua hid to the side and listened as the footsteps drew closer; at the same time, there were the two's grumbling voices:

"...We always get stuck with the hard jobs..."

"Damn it..."

"Just be content you're not ordered to do 'dirtier' work, that's good enough..."

"True..."

"I wonder when we'll also get to be on the 'boat'..."

The other person said in a lower tone sarcastically, "What's your background? From which family? Should we of such status even dream about that boat?"

"Damn, it's tantalizing..."

"Don't be rash."

"I know, I'm just envious. Damn, that kind of item, even enjoying it once in a lifetime, would mean dying without regrets..."

"Stop dreaming..."

...

Mo Hua frowned.

On the "boat"?

What boat?

He pondered for a while, and suddenly the three words spoken by the Fish Cultivator surfaced in his mind: Rouge Boat.

"What is this Rouge Boat for, and what's the relationship with Mr. Jin... or rather, with these Sever Gold Sect Disciples?"

Mo Hua's eyes revealed contemplation.

At this moment, the two Disciples escorting the Crossing River Dragon had already reached the trap that Mo Hua had set.

By now, the sky was dark.

The two were preoccupied with their conversation and unaware that the seemingly solid road had been laced with a Formation ahead of time.

As the two Sever Gold Sect Disciples walked on, they suddenly stepped on something. The ground turned red; a "boom" rang out as the explosion went off.