Chapter 1046: Trap
“What’s wrong, Martial Brother Xiaoma?” Qingyi stopped and asked.
Ye Mo hadn’t been with them long, but he possessed considerable knowledge. Whenever a problem arose, Martial Brother Xiaoma invariably proved insightful.
Even Qinghan and Qingyue looked at Ye Mo in confusion. Season Wheat was highly valued by nascent soul state cultivators, yet they trusted Ye Mo, believing he wouldn't claim it for himself.
Ye Mo signaled Qingyi to step back, then pointed at the Season Wheat. “Scan it with your spirit sense. The earth nearby appears disturbed and hastily covered with grass. This indicates someone recently removed a spirit herb beside the Season Wheat.”
The nuns understood immediately. The absence of the adjacent spirit herb rendered the remaining Season Wheat pointless; the strongest cultivator present was hollow spirit state, and Season Wheat was valuable to them—no one would leave it behind.
This realization filled the female cultivators with admiration. Which nascent soul state cultivator would meticulously examine the earth surrounding the Season Wheat upon discovery?
“And if I’m not mistaken,” Ye Mo continued, “the removed herb was another Season Wheat. If this person could take one, why leave the second?”
Xia Youshan quickly asked, “Martial Brother Xiaoma, how do you know the other herb was Season Wheat?”
Ye Mo smiled. “Most pill masters know Season Wheat grows in pairs; a single plant cannot survive alone.”
Ye Mo inwardly scoffed at the trap’s architect. He hadn't mentioned that many in the cultivation realm misunderstood Season Wheat. They knew it was used in hollow meridian pills, but rarely that it comprised two distinct herbs: Season and Wheat. Both could concoct hollow meridian pills, but together, they produced Season Wheat pills.
Season Wheat pills could repair cultivators' dantians. Dan tian repair pills were exceedingly rare, typically requiring level nine or ten spirit herbs. Yet, the level seven Season Wheat could also accomplish this. This wasn't merely mending a broken dantian; the Season Wheat pill could truly repair a cultivator's dantian. A few such pills would be immensely valuable.
“Martial Brother Xiaoma, are you a pill master?” Xia Youshan asked admiringly.
Ye Mo replied awkwardly, “I’m not.” He silently added, ‘I’m a pill king!’
Xia Youshan seemed slightly disappointed.
“Martial Brother Xiaoma, do you mean someone set a trap? But everything seems normal,” Qingyi questioned.
“There is a problem,” Qinghan agreed, frowning.
Ye Mo nodded. “You’re right. Someone set a trap. Wait, I’ll show you.”
Ye Mo casually produced several formation flags, deploying a trap formation around the Season Wheat, revealing three nascent soul state cultivators. If Qingyi and the others attempted to retrieve the herb, they would be ensnared. One was a nascent soul state level five, the other two, level three. An ambush would leave Qingyi and her companions vulnerable.
Qinghan’s face hardened. Their sect was peaceful, but not tolerant of ambushes.
Ye Mo knew this was a level three trap formation; the stealth formation disk he’d just broken was level six. Otherwise, Qinghan would have detected it.
“So, you understand formations! You even found a level six stealth formation disk quickly. Impressive,” the nascent soul state level five sneered.
Ye Mo sneered back. Tricking a level five formation master with a mere level six disk? Even uninformed nascent soul state cultivators would see through it with careful observation.
Seeing the ambush party, Qinghan’s anger flared. Without hesitation, she launched her flying sword.
Ye Mo was speechless. He’d expected Qinghan, as leader, to be more measured, but she was the most impulsive.
Though unsure of their exact strengths, Ye Mo sensed the nascent soul state level five far surpassed Qinghan. The level three cultivators were beyond Qingyue's capabilities.
Ye Mo was in a difficult position. Alone, he would eliminate them swiftly, but such ease would arouse suspicion.
Qinghan’s flying sword unleashed three intense sword rays aimed at the level five cultivator. Two blocked escape while the third targeted his dantian.
The red sword spirit artifact deflected the attack, a ten-meter-long blade of fire erupting, far surpassing Qinghan's sword rays. An intense heat enveloped Qinghan, hindering her movement. She had no time to deploy defenses and could only raise a cultivation essence barrier.
The sword fire pierced the barrier, wounding Qinghan who spat blood. Ye Mo noticed Qingyue’s inaction, sighing at their inexperience. Even if weaker, Qinghan shouldn’t have been injured so quickly. He realized Clear Dream Mosque likely sent them on this mission as a trial by fire. Exceptional talent wasn't always sufficient; experience mattered.
Ye Mo wouldn't watch Qinghan be killed. He launched his own flying sword, clashing with the sword fire, dissipating it and confronting the nascent soul state level five.