Chapter 253: Encirclement

Mo Hua finished drawing the formation, not alerting the rogue cultivators. Borrowing the cover of a clump of grass, he quietly retreated.

"I've drawn a good formation, leaving only one gap. We'll pass through there tomorrow."

Mo Hua pointed out the formation's gap for Zhang Lan to see.

Zhang Lan nodded, "Hard work."

Lu Hui said, "Zhang Dian Si, is Young Master Kong Sheng in the mountain valley?"

Zhang Lan shook his head, "I've been watching all afternoon, and I haven't seen Young Master Kong."

Mo Hua had just used his divine sense to probe as well. Inside were all rogue cultivators, not a single other cultivator. Let alone Kong Sheng, it's likely he's truly dead and gone.

Lu Hui's expression gradually became solemn.

If Kong Sheng was really dead, how would he explain himself to the Kong family?

Zhang Lan ignored him and selected several cultivators to take turns on guard. The others rested in their clothes, closed their eyes to conserve energy, waiting for dawn to act.

The noise inside the mountain cave continued for a while, then gradually quieted down. Occasionally, faint snoring sounds could be heard.

The sky gradually brightened. These rogue cultivators were still lying around haphazardly. The several rogue cultivators standing guard near the mountain valley entrance were also dozing off.

This place was secluded, and they had lived here for so long without being discovered, so they were inevitably negligent.

Zhang Lan drew his knife and exchanged glances with the people behind him. He said in a low voice, "Let's go!"

The group entered the mountain valley through the gap in the Ground Fire Formation. When they saw rogue cultivators, they directly covered their mouths and noses and slit their throats with knives.

After killing several, they were suddenly discovered. A rogue cultivator shouted, "Who's there? How dare you!"

With that, a noisy clamor arose, and a chaotic battle began.

Mo Hua did not enter the mountain valley. In this situation, his participation in the battle wouldn't make much difference, so he temporarily watched from outside.

Before long, some rogue cultivators were defeated and fled in panic towards the mountain valley entrance, stepping onto the Ground Fire Formation at the valley entrance.

With a flash of fire, these scattered cultivators were blasted away by the Ground Fire Formation, falling to the ground in a miserable state.

Lu Hui, who saw this scene from not far away, his eyelids twitched slightly.

The power of this Ground Fire Formation was much stronger than he had imagined.

What level of formation master was that young cultivator exactly?

At the same time, the battle inside the mountain valley gradually reached a stalemate.

These rogue cultivators were all tough nuts to crack, and dealing with them was quite tricky. Fortunately, they had just woken up after being drunk, their minds hazy, so overall, the situation was still favorable to the Dao Ting Si.

Zhang Lan relied on his movement technique, advancing and retreating freely among the rogue cultivators. At the same time, he condensed sword energy in his hand and attacked the several Spirit Cultivators among the rogue cultivators.

Suddenly, his gaze shifted, and he discovered the bald Dharma Master who was about to escape. He shouted, "Bald Dharma Master! Don't let him run!"

Mo Shan and Ji Qing Bai went up together to battle the bald Dharma Master, and Lu Hui also stepped forward.

Zhang Lan also wanted to go and support, but he couldn't free himself for the time being. He had to first deal with the several Spirit Cultivators among the rogue cultivators, otherwise the cultivators under him would be easy targets for those several Spirit Cultivators.

The bald Dharma Master had deep cultivation, but he was still unable to fight three against one, and gradually fell into a disadvantage.

Ji Qing Bai saw through the bald Dharma Master's weakness. With a concealed Wood Knife technique, he struck. On the knife was a surging light green spiritual force.

The bald Dharma Master was too late to dodge. Just as he was about to be hit by this knife, Lu Hui, who was beside him, suddenly turned his sword edge and stabbed directly at the back of Ji Qing Bai's neck.

"Be careful!" Mo Shan shouted.

Ji Qing Bai wanted to pull back his knife to block, but it was already too late.

Mo Shan, who was just battling the bald Dharma Master, saw the situation and slanted a knife over, forcefully blocking Lu Hui's sword. However, his arm was also shaken numb, his Qi and blood surged, his figure paused, and he involuntarily exposed a flaw.

The bald Dharma Master, who was just battling Mo Shan, saw the situation, a fierce light flashed in his eyes. A light white wind blade entwined on his knife, and he directly struck towards Mo Shan.

The bald Dharma Master had a rare wind-attribute spirit root, so his movement technique was extremely fast, and his knife strikes were also extremely fast.

Mo Shan forcefully blocked Lu Hui's sword, but his breath was not adjusted, and he could not dodge this knife.

Ji Qing Bai then turned and held his knife horizontally, standing in front of Mo Shan, blocking this knife from the bald Dharma Master for Mo Shan. He received the shock of its spiritual force and spat out blood.

The bald Dharma Master seized the gap. His body was like a swift wind, and he escaped directly from the three people's pincer attack.

Lu Hui ignored the bald Dharma Master and still wanted to strike at Ji Qing Bai. Zhang Lan condensed a water sword technique and chopped directly in front of him.

"Lu Dian Si, what are you doing?" Zhang Lan said coldly.

Lu Hui's expression was composed, "Naturally, I want to kill the bald Dharma Master, but unfortunately, I let him escape."

"Is that so?" Zhang Lan's expression was not good.

"Otherwise, what?" Lu Hui smiled sinisterly.

Zhang Lan coldly snorted, "Don't let me see you playing dirty tricks again, otherwise I'll really kill you."

Lu Hui did not retreat at all, "Zhang Dian Si wants to slander me?"

Zhang Lan no longer paid attention to him, but chased after the bald Dharma Master.

A sinister light flashed and passed through Lu Hui's eyes.

Among this group of people, the only one who made him fearful was Zhang Lan, but it was just fear.

Although Zhang Lan's family background was higher than his, everyone was a Dian Si of the Dao Ting Si, and the Dao Ting Si they belonged to were also different. He didn't necessarily have to care too much about Zhang Lan's attitude.

His original intention for coming this time was to rescue Young Master Kong and do the Kong family a big favor.

But now it seems that Young Master Kong was probably very unlucky.

Since that was the case, killing Ji Qing Bai would make it easier for him to report back to Qing Xuan City.

Ji Qing Bai's father and son had formed a grudge with the Kong family. After escaping to Tong Xian City, if they could still live safely and unharmed, how would the Kong family deter other scattered cultivators in Qing Xuan City?

If other scattered cultivators all imitated this, the Kong family would be difficult to convince the public.

Lu Hui's daily food, drink, entertainment, and cultivation spirit stones were all provided by the Kong family. The interests of the Kong family were his Lu Hui's interests. Sooner or later, he had to make a move on the Ji family father and son.

If the Ji family father and son were in Qing Xuan City, he himself had countless ways to get them into prison. At that time, killing the chicken to warn the monkeys would also be much easier.

Now that they weren't going back and had the Hunter Demon Masters covering them, they could only be executed on the spot, as long as it was done somewhat covertly.

Ji Qing Bai was just an ordinary scattered cultivator.

He could "accidentally" mistakenly kill Ji Qing Bai. After going back, he would receive a punishment, a not-too-painful disciplinary action, and the matter would be over.

And he was a Dian Si of the Dao Ting Si.

He didn't believe that anyone would dare to openly lay hands on him. Whether it was Zhang Lan or these Hunter Demon Masters, once they made a move on him, they would all be held accountable by the Dao Ting Si.

"It's a pity it didn't succeed just now, but there's still plenty of time, there will always be an opportunity."

Killing Ji Qing Bai could do the Kong family a favor, and killing the bald Dharma Master could establish a great merit. It could be said to be killing two birds with one stone.

Just now, the assassination of Ji Qing Bai failed, which must have made him vigilant. There might not be an opportunity in a short time. Now, the bald Dharma Master must not be allowed to run.

A subtle light flickered in Lu Hui's eyes, and he also chased after the bald Dharma Master.

Ji Qing Bai also wanted to chase after him, but was blocked by Mo Shan, "Ji big brother, Lu Hui wants to kill you."

Ji Qing Bai said angrily, "I'll kill him first, otherwise I'll drag you all down."

"He is a Dian Si of the Dao Ting Si. If you kill him, the trouble will be even bigger."

"But..."

Mo Shan said in a deep voice, "First, deal with these rogue cultivators, then talk about it."

Ji Qing Bai hesitated for a moment, sighed, and only nodded.

The rogue cultivators' host was drunk and dizzy and was attacked unprepared, gradually falling into a disadvantage.

They fell one by one, leaving only the one-eyed cultivator struggling bitterly, but he couldn't hold on for long either.

The one-eyed cultivator's movement technique was not good, and his last escape was also just good luck. Now that he was trapped in the mountain valley, it was basically impossible for him to escape.

And the bald Dharma Master, relying on the Wind Escape technique, his figure like the wind, had already escaped to the valley entrance. Naturally, he also saw the Ground Fire Formation set up at the valley entrance.

The bald Dharma Master spat and cursed, "Where the hell did this formation come from? Blocking this old man's way!"

But he didn't dare to rush through. His thoughts raced, and suddenly his gaze turned cold. He grabbed a rogue cultivator and directly threw him towards the valley entrance.

That rogue cultivator was suddenly defenseless and was thrown out by the bald Dharma Master. He was then severely injured by the Ground Fire Formation and fell to the ground, his life and death unknown.

The bald Dharma Master began to throw other rogue cultivators, using them to detonate the Ground Fire Formation.

These rogue cultivators, when there were benefits, they called each other brothers. Now that there were no benefits, they naturally showed no affection.

The Ground Fire Formation set up by Mo Hua was powered by spirit stones.

These spirit stones were obtained from Zhang Lan. Although not few were used, the total was limited. After several explosions, the spirit stones were also consumed.

And ordinary mountain stones were not considered high-grade formation materials. The Ground Fire Formation patterns painted on them would gradually be damaged after several explosions.

So very quickly, a gap appeared in the Ground Fire Formation.

At the same time, Zhang Lan and Lu Hui all chased to the valley entrance.

The bald Dharma Master saw the situation, his expression urgent. He no longer hesitated and directly displayed his movement technique, escaping towards the outside of the valley.

Mo Hua hid in the grass clump outside, his right hand slightly lifted, and his spiritual force began to operate rapidly.

As long as he displayed the Water Prison Technique, he could keep the bald Dharma Master.

But he thought for a moment, his gaze flashed, and he gently put his hand down again, watching the bald Dharma Master escape from the middle of the Ground Fire Formation, leaving a trail of afterimages as he fled towards the distance.