Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 1962 - 950: Tomb Exploration (Part 3)

The impact wasn't limited to Mr. Hui; others were caught in the crossfire as well.

The violent deluge of fire surged forth, striking everyone in its path.

A protective coating of stone and soil solidified around Shi Tou’s frame, while Hao Zi evaded the flames with an unsettling, spectral agility. Meanwhile, the men in black resorted to various techniques to shield themselves from the unrelenting heat.

This was a Third Grade fire rain, a force of formidable power.

Having sensed the danger early, Mo Hua realized he lacked the strength to face it head-on, so he ducked behind the two towering black-robed cultivators for cover.

Like twin peaks, the two cultivators in black robes stood resolute and unmoving amidst the fiery downpour.

Mo Hua finally peered out from his hiding spot once the rain of fire ceased and the thick smoke began to drift away.

At the entrance of the corridor, Mr. Hui and the others who had been caught by the fire appeared somewhat disheveled.

Even the four black-robed cultivators showed signs of the struggle, their garments marked by scorched patches.

As Mr. Hui deactivated his earth shield, he exhaled deeply; it was evident that enduring the fire rain had been a grueling ordeal.

However, his expression held no trace of terror, only a sense of triumph. "Since there are tomb mechanisms, we must be on the right path."

Turning to the group, Mr. Hui commanded, "Everyone stay alert. We continue forward."

The party resumed their trek into the depths.

Their progress was repeatedly hindered by a lethal array of traps: toxic vapors, sinking sands, falling boulders, watery miasmas, and blade formations.

These tomb mechanisms were diverse and manifested with extreme malice—treacherous, cunning, and difficult to anticipate.

Yet, Mr. Hui and his companions were seasoned professionals.

To these tomb robbers, such mechanisms were as common as a daily meal.

By maintaining a high level of caution, they managed to navigate the dangers, though many moments were filled with genuine dread.

After a period of travel through various traps, Mr. Hui stopped, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"This is strange. The tiles beneath us seem perfectly normal. How are these mechanisms being set off?"

While Mr. Hui was baffled, Mo Hua understood the truth.

The traps in this passage were synchronized with the Earth Formation, triggered by the "sense" of the formation itself whenever someone crossed its path.

This was not mere mechanical engineering; it involved a sophisticated application of Earth Formations that surpassed standard tomb-building techniques.

It was only natural that Mr. Hui remained in the dark.

With his knowledge of the formation, Mo Hua could have easily neutralized these traps.

Nevertheless, Mo Hua remained silent and took no action.

A Formation Master must master the art of discretion.

If he were the only one who grasped the secrets of the formations, then he alone would dictate what was true or false, right or wrong.

His intent alone would decide whether to kill, mislead, or plunder.

This was a lesson recently imparted to him by Mr. Pi.

Having survived the Cultivation World for many years, Mr. Pi possessed a wealth of practical wisdom.

Mo Hua found himself agreeing more and more with those words.

Furthermore, Mo Hua was genuinely intrigued to see what other mechanisms the tomb held; observing these lethal traps now would serve as mental preparation should he face them alone in the future.

Consequently, the group continued to trigger traps as they delved deeper into the subterranean passage.

Despite walking for a considerable time, the end of the corridor remained out of sight.

As they descended further, the path grew tighter and began to branch into numerous forks. Before they knew it, they had lost their sense of direction entirely.

Mr. Hui came to a halt, his voice grim.

"Something is wrong... this isn't the right way either..."

"What's the plan then?" Hao Zi inquired.

"Should we turn back?"

Surveying the area with a frown, the gentleman in black robes replied, "With so many splits in the path, how could we even find our way back?"

The group wavered for a moment before their gazes simultaneously landed on Mo Hua.

In this assembly, Mo Hua was the sole Formation Master.

At that moment, Mo Hua truly grasped why Mr. Pi always insisted on having "one Formation Master" during every tomb expedition.

Cultivators rely on their Cultivation as their root, but that is often where it ends.

For the majority of cultivators, a high level of Cultivation merely represents raw power and the capacity for destruction.

Yet, there are countless obstacles that sheer strength cannot overcome.

Formation Masters occupy a different realm.

The art of Formation Visualization reflects the Heavenly Dao, touching upon all existence.

Through their mastery of formations and enlightenment regarding the myriad truths of the world, they can unravel mysteries that baffle ordinary cultivators.

In times of crisis, the burden of leadership falls upon the one with the knowledge.

Mo Hua let out a soft sigh and, making a show of effort, produced Mr. Pi’s Compass to track the flow of the formation's energy.

After a brief calculation, Mo Hua gestured to the left. "That way."

Left with no other options, the group followed Mo Hua’s lead without question.

As they moved, the diverging paths began to merge once more. They encountered several traps they had already triggered, confirming they were returning to familiar ground.

Mr. Hui exhaled in relief, his gaze toward Mo Hua becoming even more intense and eager.

Mo Hua continued to navigate using the formation's pulse as they pressed on.

Just as they were nearing the exit of a fork, Mo Hua’s face suddenly paled, and he came to a dead stop.

"What's the matter?" Mr. Hui asked urgently.

Mo Hua’s expression was grim. "Something is coming..."

Mr. Hui froze, the realization hitting him instantly.

"Corpse creatures!"

Fear gripped the hearts of everyone present, and they immediately shifted into defensive stances.

Mo Hua stepped back quietly, positioning himself at the rear of the group.

In the blink of an eye, a head emerged silently from the shadows of the dark fork.

The head was hideously malformed, its facial features a blurred mess, featuring a mouth that split into three distinct segments like the maw of a giant worm.

As it opened its three-part jaw, it revealed pulsating rows of fleshy teeth, looking like a sickening, dark-red carnivorous bloom.

The sight made Mr. Hui’s stomach churn.

The memory of having his face torn by such a creature flashed through his mind—a sensation of pure disgust he never wished to relive.

Mr. Hui unsheathed his blade, prepared to strike the monster down.

But his swing faltered mid-air. His eyes widened, and the color drained from his face.

It wasn't just a single "carnivorous flower" waiting for them.

It was a swarm.

Vivid red gums and jagged white fangs began to bloom one by one in the gloom. A single look revealed at least twenty of them.

The group's morale shattered instantly.

"Fall back!" Mr. Hui screamed.

The moment his voice rang out, the grotesque, stinking corpse creatures launched themselves at the group, their bloodthirsty maws aiming for their throats.

Mr. Hui managed to sever the limb of one attacker with a quick slash.

Shi Tou threw a heavy punch, sending a leaping creature tumbling backward.

The others joined the fray, using blades, spears, and spells to beat back the swarming monsters.

However, unless these creatures were completely destroyed, the lingering evil aura within them drove them to keep attacking relentlessly.

The group was forced into a fighting retreat, pushed back into the labyrinthine forks of the path.

In the pitch blackness, it was impossible to tell how many more of these creatures were surging forward like a rising tide.

Decaying flesh, dark blood, severed parts, flashes of steel, and bursts of magical light collided in a scene of absolute chaos.

Mo Hua stayed low, weaving through the crowd and using the Golden Core cultivators as human shields against the "corpse tide."

But the narrow passages and the sheer volume of monsters eventually split the group apart.

After using his movement technique to slip past several attacks and a Fireball Technique to incinerate a few more, Mo Hua turned around to find himself completely alone.

"Oh no... I've been separated?"

Mo Hua felt a jolt of panic. This was the worst possible time to be isolated; without his Golden Core "shields," he was vulnerable.

"I have to find the others," Mo Hua told himself firmly.

Fortunately, the separation was fresh. The scent of battle and the lingering auras of his companions were still faint in the air.

Following these traces while avoiding traps and stray monsters, Mo Hua eventually spotted a figure up ahead.

It was the thief known as "Rat."

Rat was currently engaged with several corpse creatures. His weapon of choice was a specialized shovel, designed for both digging through earth and cutting through flesh.

After a brief, intense struggle, Rat finished off the last of his attackers.

As the immediate area grew quiet, Rat noticed Mo Hua and asked, "Where did the rest go?"

Mo Hua shook his head. "We need to find a way to regroup with the others."

"Right," Rat agreed with a nod.

The two of them began to navigate the forks together, searching for any sign of their party.

But as they walked, a sudden chill ran down Mo Hua's spine. He instinctively leaped to the side, narrowly dodging a large, rough hand that had reached for him.

Mo Hua cried out, "What are you doing?"

The one who had tried to grab him was Rat.

Rat’s face was now shadowed and grim, his forehead marked with a faint blue tint. His narrow eyes were locked onto Mo Hua as he reached out again, his voice a raspy croak:

"Hand it over to me."