Generally speaking, there are two methods for cultivators to deal with formations: one is to break the formation, and the other is to dismantle the formation.

Breaking the formation is when cultivators rely on their cultivation or martial arts to forcefully destroy the formation’s key points (zhenyan), medium (zhenmei), core (zhenshu), or patterns (zhenwen).

Dismantling the formation, on the other hand, can only be done by formation masters (zhenshi), and it is a technique used by a small number of formation masters with extensive experience and high attainments. It involves using the mutual generation and inhibition (shengke) between formation patterns, the opening and closing of the formation core’s structure, or the positive and negative flow of spiritual power (lingli) in the key points to remove the formation. This is dismantling the formation.

Currently, Mo Hua only knows one method of dismantling formations, which is through the mutual generation and inhibition of formation patterns.

Just now, Mo Hua used his spiritual sense (shenshi) to observe for a long time and, through the stone wall (shibi), roughly confirmed the formation painted inside. The formation inside the stone wall should be mainly a Five Elements Earth and Stone Formation (Wuxing Tushi Zhen), mixed with other scattered small formations.

As far as the criminal cultivators (zuixiu) are concerned, this formation is already considered not bad. But in Mo Hua’s eyes, it’s simply not quite good enough to look at.

Mo Hua took out his brush and ink from his storage bag (chuwudai) and began to paint formation patterns on the stone wall.

Actually, when using the mutual generation and inhibition of formation patterns to dismantle a formation, there are two situations: one is dismantling from the inside, and the other is dismantling from the outside.

When dismantling from the inside, one can see the formation patterns, and the patterns painted for dismantling are also on the same side as the formation medium. Mo Hua’s daily practice, painting and dismantling himself, actually belongs to dismantling from the inside. Relatively speaking, this is a bit easier.

When dismantling from the outside, through the formation medium, one cannot see the formation patterns. One needs to guess the type of formation based on one’s formation experience and understanding, and perceive the position of the formation patterns with spiritual sense, and then paint the corresponding counteracting formation patterns in the same position to make the patterns cancel each other out and invalidate the formation.

The current situation belongs to dismantling from the outside. Mo Hua had not tried dismantling a formation this way before.

Fortunately, the formation painted on the stone wall is not considered difficult. With Mo Hua’s formation experience and spiritual sense strength, he can perceive the specific position of the formation patterns. The next step is simply to paint the counteracting formation patterns, which is very simple.

However, in the time it takes to drink two cups of tea (liang zhan cha), Mo Hua had already finished painting the dismantling formation patterns on the stone wall. These patterns are similar in structure to the formation, but the brushstrokes are special, containing the principle of mutual generation and inhibition. They look like the reverse of the formation in a mirror, strange and profound.

Zhang Lan watched, clicking his tongue in amazement. As Mo Hua made his last stroke, the dismantling was complete. The formation patterns on the stone wall flashed with light, and spiritual power seeped inside. Then, the earth and stone rustled, like dry tree bark or falling tree texture. The entire stone wall also gradually cracked, revealing a dry and gray-brown color after being wind-dried.

Zhang Lan was secretly shocked in his heart: “He actually succeeded…”

Moreover, looking at Mo Hua’s relaxed appearance, it was obviously not a guess, but he truly had a deep foundation in dismantling formations, otherwise it would have been impossible to dismantle the formation in one go.

Zhang Lan sighed, realizing that he still underestimated Mo Hua’s talent in formations. Now, it could no longer be considered just formation talent, but real, solid formation attainment (zaoyi). If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that a young cultivator in his early teens had already learned to dismantle formations. Zhang Lan was quite emotional in his heart.

The formation on the stone wall was dismantled, and its protection was gone. Now, someone needed to break through the wall. Mo Hua looked at Zhang Lan, and Zhang Lan said silently: “I am not a body cultivator (tixiu).”

Mo Hua looked at him with a bit of disdain, then called out to Mo Shan: “Dad.” Mo Shan, who was further away, heard the call and came over, asking, “What happened?”

Mo Hua pointed his finger at the stone wall, “Dad, we need to break through this.” Mo Shan nodded, activated the power of his flesh body with spiritual power, and struck with one fist. The stone wall was shattered to pieces. Waiting for the dust to settle, the appearance inside was revealed.

This is a very large mountain cave (shandong), very dark inside, and very dry. The cave is filled with spiritual stones (lingshi) and various miscellaneous spiritual artifacts (lingqi). In the corner, there are quite a few bottles and jars, mostly pills (danyao), and some good wine. Mo Hua looked a bit shocked, and then felt a bit unpleasant in his heart. The more cultivation resources (xiudao wuzi) there are here, the more cultivators were robbed, and the more people died at the hands of this group of criminal cultivators.

Zhang Lan’s expression was solemn, and he sighed, saying, “No wonder no matter how we interrogated those criminal cultivators, they were all tight-lipped. If this cave is discovered, this group of criminal cultivators, even if they didn’t commit a capital crime before, now they are undoubtedly doomed to die.”

A whole cave of stolen goods, just how many people did they rob and kill… “How should we handle these things?” Mo Hua asked.

Zhang Lan pondered for a moment and said, “Let’s categorize them and register them in a book.” Then he explained, “There are quite a few missing caravans (shangdui) and cultivators whose whereabouts are unknown. The things inside here can be used to identify identities and know which caravans were robbed by this group of criminal cultivators, and which cultivators were killed by them.”

“The families of quite a few missing cultivators are still waiting for them to return. Whether they are alive or dead, at least they need an explanation.” Speaking of this, Zhang Lan couldn’t help but sigh. Cultivation is perilous. If one’s cultivation is insufficient, once they encounter danger, their life and death are hard to predict.

Mo Hua nodded when he heard the words. Zhang Lan looked at Mo Hua and said again, “Look at what you want, you can take it first. You have made a great contribution this time, and the Dao Ting Si will definitely reward you heavily. Taking something is also proper.”

Mo Hua thought for a bit, but still shook his head, “Forget it, most of these things belong to innocent people who died unjustly. Let’s take them back and register them first. If we can identify their identities, it will also be an explanation to their families.” Zhang Lan looked at Mo Hua and nodded approvingly.

Mo Hua looked at the cave again, and suddenly felt a bit strange: “It seems that the things from the caravan where Kong Sheng was located are not here.” “Aren’t those pills mine?”

The caravan that Kong Sheng followed was doing the pill business. Zhang Lan said something, and then his heart skipped a beat, and he said, “Not right.” He walked to the corner, picked up several bottles of pills, opened the lids and smelled them, and his brows furrowed involuntarily: “These are all old pills (chennian dan yao). The smell of the pills is very faint. They were not recently robbed.”

Since they were doing the pill business, it is impossible to sell old pills. Even if they used inferior substitutes, that could only be a small part. Most of the pills would be those produced within the past half a year. Pills that are newly produced have a very strong scent, while old pills will gradually fade in fragrance. The pills in this cave are all old pills with a faint taste. This then explains that this group of criminal cultivators has not robbed a caravan selling pills recently.

“Impossible…” Zhang Lan said doubtfully, “Could these pills all have been eaten by them?” Zhang Lan thought for a bit, and then denied it himself: “There are twenty to thirty of them. Even if they eat pills as meals, they wouldn’t be able to finish them within this short period.”

Mo Shan heard the words and pondered slightly: “Before we came, there was no smell of blood in this valley (shangu).” This just means that this group of criminal cultivators would not bring people into the valley to kill them. Also, according to Guang Tou Tuo’s own words, when they kill and rob, they generally kill people on the spot and then rob the goods. When the caravan where Kong Sheng was located was robbed, there were not many blood traces at the site. They were all left from fighting, and there were no signs of slaughter. If they were eaten by demon beasts (yaoshou), the site would be even more bloody.

For a moment, all three felt heavy with doubt. According to reason, Guang Tou Tuo should have robbed the caravan, stolen the pills, and then killed the cultivators of the caravan on the spot. Kong Sheng should have also died with the business. But now, it seems that Guang Tou Tuo and these people did not rob that caravan, and naturally, they did not kill Kong Sheng.

Then, where did this caravan go? And is that Kong Sheng dead or alive?

Recovered from yang, although good, my spirit is a bit low. I can only update twice a day, and incidentally, I will stock up on some manuscripts and add more when I’m feeling better. This book will always be written, everyone can rest assured. Classical immortal heroes (xiuxian zhuan) originally require endurance. The current results are enough for me to persevere. Finally, thank you all for your support and encouragement, and I wish everyone health and happiness.