Chapter 1008: Myriad Methods
Chapter 1008: Myriad Methods
The elders of the Gui Shui Gate were in an uproar:
"Is he a descendant of the Shui Yu Gate?"
"Or did he obtain the legacy of the Shui Yu Gate?"
"Moreover, his Shui Lao Shu has manifested four layers of water prisons, and his spellcasting skills are not to be underestimated. It's definitely not an ordinary legacy..."
"Indeed," one of the elders of the Gui Shui Gate nodded.
Another elder with keen insight added, "Don't be fooled by this young man. He is cunning, and when he unleashed his power just now, his essence flowed extremely fast with almost no hindrance. It was effortless, indicating that he has mastered this technique to an extraordinary level. It's not just four layers; even six or seven layers are possible..."
"Water prison technique above six layers..."
"Even the direct disciples of the Shui Yu Gate back then would have found it challenging to achieve such a level..."
"This young man must have a deep connection with the Shui Yu Gate!"
An elder with a hooked nose, a face full of wrinkles, and a high position within the Gui Shui Gate, spoke in a hoarse voice:
"Investigate and find out this young man's connection with the Shui Yu Gate. Search his body to see if he is hiding..."
He paused, not finishing his sentence, and instead said, "See if he is hiding... other legacies of the Shui Yu Gate."
"Yes."
A direct disciple accepted the order and was about to leave when he was called back by the elder, who whispered, "Investigate discreetly, and don't alert the Tai Xu Gate."
The Tai Xu Gate was no longer what it used to be, and this Mo Hua was a direct disciple of the Tai Xu Gate's ancestor.
"Understood..."
The direct disciple left to carry out the order.
The other elders of the Gui Shui Gate continued their discussion.
Among them, Qin Cang Liu, the highly regarded Tianjiao of the Gui Shui Gate, had been defeated by Mo Hua's Fireball Spell, leaving him with a grudge.
These elders began to pay attention to Mo Hua.
Unexpectedly, this attention led to the uncovering of the Shui Lao Shu, the Shui Yu Gate, and the cause-and-effect stories from the past, leaving the higher-ups of the Gui Shui Gate in a state of emotional turmoil.
There was no good cause-and-effect relationship between the Gui Shui Gate and the Shui Yu Gate.
Although the Gui Shui Gate had changed its name, the past grudges still remained.
Mo Hua was well aware of this.
Using the Shui Lao Shu would undoubtedly invite suspicion.
However, he wasn't afraid.
The second-grade Shui Lao Shu was indeed something he had found in the Tai Xu Gate's Dao text.
It was a technique obtained by an Elder Yuhua of the Yi family during his travels, where he had received it as a gift and recorded it.
With a clear origin and no secrets, there was nothing to fear from an investigation.
However, Mo Hua later obtained the legacy of the Shui Yu Gate through a stroke of luck and had interacted with the elders of the Shui Yu Gate, further refining his Shui Lao Shu.
These were secrets that needed to be kept confidential.
But unless he revealed them himself, no one would likely know about them.
The sect would certainly protect him.
He also had connections within the Dao Ting Si.
Even Xia Jian Cha from the Dao Ting had once collaborated with him.
If the Gui Shui Gate were to investigate, they would hit a wall everywhere.
Therefore, the Shui Lao Shu was a card that could be "leaked," albeit with some risk, but not too high.
Unlike other more dangerous Dao Fa, revealing it might result in an invitation to tea from the Dao Ting Si, or even a prison sentence...
...
The Swordsman Competition Congress came to an end.
Afterward, Mo Hua, relying on his Shui Lao Shu, won two more Xuan Zi Lunjian matches.
And he won with ease.
With Mo Hua in control and Ling Hu Xiao on the offensive, the others played a supporting role.
Once the Shui Lao Shu was used to control, Ling Hu Xiao unleashed his Chong Xu Jian Qi, and it was basically a one-hit KO.
There was no other way; the powerful control of the Shui Lao Shu combined with the aggressive Chong Xu Jian Zhen Jue was simply too strong.
Moreover, this was Mo Hua's Shui Lao Shu.
His divine perception was unbelievably powerful, and his spells were executed with unparalleled swiftness and precision. Once he unleashed his spells, almost no one could escape.
With Mo Hua's Shui Lao Shu in control, Ling Hu Xiao felt like he was chopping down wooden stakes.
A sword genius with a penchant for killing, being able to chop down wooden stakes in a Swordsman Competition Congress, his lethality was unimaginable.
The opponents in these two matches also tried to find a way to counter Mo Hua's Shui Lao Shu.
But the Shui Lao Shu was not the same as the Fireball Spell.
The Fireball Spell was an ordinary spell, but Mo Hua family used it skillfully, interrupting, scorching, seeking, and replenishing flame damage.
It had a little bit of everything.
But to put it another way, having a little bit of everything also meant that nothing stood out.
The Shui Lao Shu was different; it was a niche spell, extremely tricky, and caused no direct damage. Its core was control, coupled with a suffocating feeling of drowning, making it extremely unpleasant.
Using the Jin Shen Fu to counteract the control of the Shui Lao Shu was pointless.
Because the Shui Lao Shu was not an advanced spell, it consumed little essence and required almost no recovery time, making it readily available.
Activating the Jin Shen Fu could grant immunity to the Shui Lao Shu.
But with a slight delay, once the Jin Shen Fu disappeared, Mo Hua could control with the Shui Lao Shu, and Ling Hu Xiao could strike with the Chong Xu Jian Qi, basically sending their opponents away with a single sword.
The seamless control of spells, combined with the explosive sword energy, gave the entire team an invincible feeling. They could take down anyone with a single prison and sword, and if that wasn't enough, they could repeat the process.
Almost no one could withstand three rounds.
All the cultivators watching were left in awe.
Those who had previously mocked Mo Hua as the "Tai Zi Ye" of the Tai Xu Gate, the "Er Shi Zu" of the Three Mountains, and the shame of the Swordsman Competition Congress, claiming that he only knew the Fireball Spell and picking up heads, shouting that the ancestor of the Tai Xu Gate was senile, the sect leader was incompetent, and the sect was doomed, all fell silent.
Only a few cultivators continued to criticize Mo Hua.
Their criticisms changed from him only knowing the Fireball Spell to, "He only knows one Fireball Spell and one Shui Lao Shu, right?"
"With just these two tricks, he won't get far."
What they said wasn't wrong; he indeed wouldn't get far.
The combination of Shui Lao Shu and Chong Xu Jian Jue was indeed powerful.
This collaboration fully utilized Mo Hua's spell control and Ling Hu Xiao's killing prowess as a sword genius, making them seem incredibly strong.
But this was the Qian Xue Lunjian.
Their opponents were the Tianjiao of various sects.
Behind these Tianjiao were sects with thousands of years of history, profound foundations, abundant talents, and extensive Dao texts.
The process was too complicated and tedious, with so many teams from a single sect, and the changes were too frequent. It was simply too much trouble.
However, when focusing on a single team, or even a single individual, it was impossible to not find a solution.
And so, in the next Swordsman Competition, Mo Hua was sanctioned once again.
His opponent for this round was none other than the prestigious Qian Dao Sect, one of the Four Great Sects.
It wasn't their top-tier Tianjiao, but rather a second-tier team with slightly above-average skills.
The advancement rate for the Xuan Character Competition was usually around one in ten for ordinary sects.
Tai Xu Gate had a slightly higher rate.
The Four Great Sects, of course, had an even higher success rate.
Aside from the true top-tier Tianjiao, there were still many first and second-tier teams from the Four Great Sects in the Xuan Character League.
Even the second-tier teams from the Four Great Sects were much stronger than ordinary teams.
And this Qian Dao Sect team had the misfortune of facing Mo Hua.
They wore a rare second-grade spiritual equipment, the Water-Fire Robe, which was a treasure from the sect's vault. It provided immunity to most fire damage and reduced the effects of water control spells by a certain degree.
Additionally, each of the five Qian Dao Sect members carried high-grade Huo Rong Dao Armor Talismans.
The Water-Fire Robe and the Huo Rong Dao Armor Talismans complemented each other, further reducing the time they were affected by the water prison technique due to the mutual cancellation of water and fire.
This was the depth of the great sects.
The Water-Fire Robe, combined with the Huo Rong Dao Armor Talismans, formed a powerful combination.
These rare spiritual equipment and talismans enhanced each other.
Whether Mo Hua used the Fireball or the Water Prison technique, he couldn't make a decisive move in the Swordsman Competition.
The Qian Dao Sect's strategy was clear and straightforward.
Among the Tai Xu Gate's five members, the strongest and most feared was undoubtedly Ling Hu Xiao.
They couldn't allow Ling Hu Xiao the freedom to unleash his Sword Unbinding True Secret.
Otherwise, aside from the truly top-tier Tianjiao, ordinary teams, even those from the Four Great Sects, wouldn't be able to withstand his sword's killing intent.
Therefore, everyone and every tactic first considered Ling Hu Xiao.
They had to put enough pressure on Ling Hu Xiao.
As for the other methods, like spiritual equipment and talismans, they were all used to counter Mo Hua, neutralizing his spells.
With his water and fire spells rendered useless, Mo Hua was completely disabled.
The Qian Dao Sect now had a significant advantage, essentially fighting four against five.
The Qian Dao Sect was different from ordinary second-rate sects; their disciples were all elites, and even the second-rate disciples had excellent magic origins and high cultivation levels, making their overall strength formidable.
Their five-on-four advantage was something even Ling Hu Xiao might not be able to withstand.
This was their strategy.
In truth, these Qian Dao Sect disciples genuinely wanted to defeat Mo Hua.
Mo Hua and the Qian Dao Sect had a long-standing grudge.
Everyone in the Qian Dao Sect disliked Mo Hua.
Especially during the previous Tournament of Formation, Mo Hua, with his mid-Zhu Ji cultivation, had suppressed the Qian Dao Sect's senior brother and claimed the title of First in Formation Way, openly humiliating the Qian Dao Sect.
All the Qian Dao Sect disciples had lost face.
If they followed their initial impulse, they would have rushed forward without hesitation and slaughtered Mo Hua.
But this was the Swordsman Competition, not a personal duel.
Winning was the most important thing.
It concerned the sect's interests, personal honor, and future cultivation path.
They couldn't afford to be reckless and disregard the situation just to vent their anger at Mo Hua.
Ling Hu Xiao was the key to the Swordsman Competition.
They had to distinguish between the major and minor kings.
As long as they found a way to eliminate Ling Hu Xiao, even with Mo Hua's spell control, they could still defeat him.
They still had a chance to kill Mo Hua with their chaotic sword attacks.
The Qian Dao Sect's grudge could still be avenged.
And so, when the Swordsman Competition began, everything unfolded just as the Qian Dao Sect disciples had anticipated.
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Mo Hua's Fireball was useless.
The Water Prison technique could only be of limited use.
His divine perception was too strong, and his precise locking-on ability allowed him to trap the Qian Dao Sect disciples with the Water Prison technique.
However, the control effect was largely negated by the precious Water-Fire Robe.
Combined with the Huo Rong Dao Armor Talismans, the Water Prison technique was instantly evaporated upon contact, leaving only a negligible amount of time.
In the end, the "control" aspect of the Water Prison technique was reduced to a mere "interrupt" effect.
Mo Hua stood on the sidelines, looking like a useless "waste."
The Qian Dao Sect disciples smirked inwardly and then completely ignored Mo Hua, intensifying their assault and surrounding Ling Hu Xiao's four companions.
Ling Hu Xiao was besieged, his sword techniques hindered, and he couldn't display his full potential.
The situation for Tai Xu Gate naturally deteriorated.
With this turn of events, the previously silent spectators had something to say:
"I told you, relying solely on Fireball and Water Prison techniques won't get you far. Look, now that they've targeted you, you're in trouble again."
"Tai Xu Gate's team composition is problematic."
"It's not Tai Xu Gate's fault; the Qian Dao Sect is just too strong."
"Yes, the Qian Dao Sect is indeed worthy of being one of the Four Great Sects. Even their second-tier team can defeat Tai Xu Gate's Tianjiao without any resistance."
Gossip filled the air outside the competition field.
Inside, the situation remained stalemated for a while.
Ling Hu Xiao was still heavily restrained, and Ou Yang Xuan and the others couldn't unleash their full strength, making the situation increasingly dire.
Mo Hua sighed softly.
This was the Swordsman Competition.
With so many eyes watching, most techniques could only be used unexpectedly once or twice to gain a temporary advantage.
Once a technique was exposed, it would surely be sanctioned within a few rounds.
The Fireball and Water Prison techniques had been restricted.
Mo Hua had no choice but to reveal more of his skills.
He stopped holding back and began to utilize his vast repertoire of low-grade spells.
These spells were diverse, and their origins varied.
Most of them were acquired from capturing criminal cultivators during bounty hunts.
When Mo Hua first entered Qian Xue Prefecture and joined Tai Xu Gate, he followed his senior brother and sister in bounty hunting, capturing numerous criminal cultivators.
A large portion of these criminals were renegade disciples from various sects in Qian Xue Prefecture.
They carried with them a vast collection of their sect's heritage, especially a wide array of low-grade spell manuals, ranging from the bizarre to the mundane. Most of these were obtained through Mo Hua's relentless interrogation and confiscation.
In addition to these, there was also the Tai Xu Gate's Dao text collection.
And through various other means, they occasionally acquired smaller spell manuals.
Altogether, there were hundreds of different types.
These spells were all of a lower caliber, and as long as one's magic origin was compatible, learning them was not difficult.
Mo Hua's divine perception was strong, and his comprehension was high. With just a glance or two at the spell diagrams, he could use them with remarkable proficiency.
This came naturally to him.
The more he learned and used, the deeper his understanding of spells became, and the more exquisite his mastery.
Unfortunately, these low-level spells had rarely been of use to Mo Hua before.
Since the early stages of his Foundation Establishment, his opponents had been cultivators of the caliber of Huo Fo Tu and Shui Yan Luo.
Later, in his encounters with Xiao Zhenhai, the elders of Mo Zong, the leader of Mo Zong, and Xuan Gongzi, they were all Golden Core cultivators.
Even with exceptional mastery of second-grade low-level spells, it would be of no use against them.
But now, things were different.
This was the Swordsman Competition Congress, and his opponents were all fellow disciples from various sects, with cultivation levels similar to his. His proficiency in myriad methods could finally showcase its true power.
Thus, the five disciples from Qian Dao Zong became the first to receive Mo Hua's 'spell baptism' in the Swordsman Competition.
Mo Hua focused his spirit and mind, and with a loose grip, his essence flowed with his divine perception, casting spells from his fingertips, attacking the disciples of Qian Dao Zong.
A continuous stream of spells followed, one after another.
Golden Blade Technique, Wood Binding Technique, Water Arrow Technique, Fire Luminance Technique, Earth Prison Technique, Flowing Sand Technique, Earth Burial Technique, Wood Poison Technique, Golden Resonance Technique...
The five elements circulated, and the spells seemed endless.
Mo Hua effortlessly unleashed a myriad of spells.
Although their power was slightly diminished, Mo Hua's swift divine perception and vast repertoire of spells made his attacks both fast and precise, leaving his opponents unable to anticipate his next move.
It was a spectacle that left onlookers dazzled and overwhelmed.
This was the result of combining the teachings of Kui Lao's 'All spells, only the swift cannot be broken' with Elder Yi's 'Circulation of the Five Elements, Mastery of Myriad Methods', creating a fusion of these two spell philosophies.
Mo Hua stood in place, his fingers tapping out a rhythm, casting one five-element spell after another. He was like a human 'spell machine gun', overwhelming the disciples of Qian Dao Zong with an endless barrage of spells, leaving them unable to keep up and in disarray.
The watching cultivators, including the elders of Qian Dao Zong, fell silent.
Even the spectators who had been talking fell quiet.
But among the crowd, Wen Ren Wan, Yu'er, Mangu cai yun, Hua Qianqian, and the other Tai Xu Gate disciples, including the sect's elders, watched with hearts pounding.
Especially Elder Yi, whose expression was filled with excitement.
As a Dao Fa elder, he had dedicated his life to the study of spells.
The idea of 'Circulation of the Five Elements, Mastery of Myriad Methods' had always been a dream in his mind.
Mo Hua was the first disciple to bring this concept of 'Circulation of the Five Elements' into reality.
Moreover, this was happening at the Swordsman Competition Congress, and his opponents were from Qian Dao Zong.
Using basic five-element spells, he was suppressing the talented disciples of the four great sects, proving the power of this spell school, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.
But after the initial excitement, Elder Yi felt a sense of regret:
"Mo Hua's magic origin is too weak, and his essence is too low..."
Even with low-level five-element spells, the rapid circulation still consumed a significant amount of energy.
Mo Hua couldn't maintain this state of spellcasting for long.
His Qi Sea and essence couldn't support such extravagance.
Otherwise, with his swift, grand, and vast control over the five elements, with each element supporting and restraining the others, without any weaknesses in his 'spell chain', he could have easily suppressed the five disciples of Qian Dao Zong to death.
"What a pity..."
Elder Yi sighed again.
However, nothing is ever perfect.
Even though Mo Hua's 'Circulation of the Five Elements, Mastery of Myriad Methods' had its flaws in foundation, it was still sufficient to handle the current situation.
Moreover, this was a Swordsman Competition, and Mo Hua was not alone.
By temporarily suppressing the disciples of Qian Dao Zong with his five-element spells, Ling Hu Xiao could catch his breath and fight back.
With the additional support of Ou Yang Xuan, Cheng Mo, and Si Tu Jian, Qian Dao Zong's disciples soon found themselves at a disadvantage.
The battle quickly turned against Qian Dao Zong's disciples. After Mo Hua's Fire Luminance Technique scorched the eye of a Qian Dao Zong disciple, he followed up with a Mud Sand Technique to trap the disciple's foot, a Water Arrow Technique to dissolve his fire talisman, and a Golden Blade Technique to tear a small opening in his body...
The tide of battle had completely shifted.
These were low-level spells with weak effects.
But in a battle between experts, where life hangs by a thread, these minor changes accumulated and were enough to turn the tide.
Si Tu's Lifu Sword pierced the chest of the Qian Dao Zong disciple through the opening created by Mo Hua.
Cheng Mo's axe and Ou Yang Xuan's sword struck together, and Ling Hu Xiao's sword energy swept through, shattering the Lunjian Jade of the Qian Dao Zong disciple, instantly killing him.
With one death, Qian Dao Zong was left with four disciples, and the situation quickly deteriorated.
With one less opponent, Ling Hu Xiao's sword energy was no longer restrained, and no one could stop him.
After another hundred rounds of fierce fighting, the remaining four disciples of Qian Dao Zong were 'slain' one by one by the combined efforts of the five Tai Xu Gate disciples.
Tai Xu Gate emerged victorious in this round.
On the vast spectator stands, silence fell.
The elders of Qian Dao Zong wore grim expressions.
The elders of the other sects also looked solemn.
At this moment, they finally realized the true 'position' of Mo Hua, the leader of the Formation Way, in the Swordsman Competition Congress.
They had all misjudged him.
This leader of the Qian Study Formation Way, in the context of the Swordsman Competition Congress, was not just a Formation Master, but an extraordinary magic cultivator with impressive spell mastery, not to be underestimated.
He was a cultivator who couldn't cultivate high-level Dao Fa but was proficient in various low-level spells, embodying the essence of 'Mastery of Myriad Methods'—a true 'Spell Master'.
(End of Chapter)
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