Inquiries About Longevity Chapter 1022: Heavenly Sword Slash - Novel Cool

Chapter 1022: Heavenly Sword Slash

Chapter 1022: Heavenly Sword Slash

The title "First in Dao Discourse" echoed in the hearts of most of the cultivators watching from the outer arena, weighing heavily on their minds.

Even though this was the Sword Discussion Congress, the title of "champion" was not to be taken lightly, even in the context of array formations.

On the high platform of the Ouyang family, Yu'er's entire demeanor brightened when she saw Mo Hua's array formation withstand the formidable sword qi from the Tian Jian Sect. Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Wenren Wan, Zhang Lan, and the others also perked up.

The disciples of the Tai Xu Sect were all visibly invigorated.

The elders from Tai E Mountain, Chong Xu Mountain, and Tai Xu Mountain, who were observing the match, slowly straightened their backs, their eyes fixed intently on the Fang Tian Huaying formation.

Could there be a turning point?

The Earth Rank Sword Discussion was incredibly challenging, and the Tai Xu Sect had suffered one defeat after another.

From top to bottom, the sect desperately yearned for a victory.

Now, with a glimmer of hope, every Tai Xu Sect cultivator's heart raced, a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

But some knew deep down that victory wouldn't be easy.

After all, their opponent was the Tian Jian Sect.

Though the situation was dire, the Tian Jian Sect would never sit idly by. Otherwise, they wouldn't deserve their reputation as one of the Four Great Sects.

Many cultivators in the audience understood this.

Sure enough, from the Tian Jian Sect's side of the Fang Tian Huaying formation, a figure stepped forward.

He was tall and slender, with a cold and stern expression, exuding an extraordinary aura.

Many in the crowd murmured his name:

"Xiao Ruohan."

The top figure in the Tian Jian Sect was Xiao Wuchen.

Xiao Wuchen's talent was astounding, and his sword skills were unparalleled, even within the Tian Jian Sect, where he stood out head and shoulders above the rest.

However, the Tian Jian Sect had a deep and rich history, and it wasn't just Xiao Wuchen who was exceptional.

Below Xiao Wuchen, there were many other sword prodigies.

Xiao Ruohan was one of the strongest among these prodigies, second only to Xiao Wuchen.

Though he couldn't match Xiao Wuchen, he still outshone the geniuses of the other four sects and eight schools.

He was also a prodigy on par with Linghuxiao.

This Sword Discussion team was led by Xiao Ruohan.

As a top prodigy, he had to rise to the challenge in times of crisis and turn the tide.

Only by doing so could he live up to the title of "prodigy" and earn the admiration of thousands.

Moreover, his true target was Xiao Wuchen.

The Tai Xu Sect team he faced had been effortlessly defeated by Xiao Wuchen, making them mere underlings.

Now, he was expected to lose to Xiao Wuchen's "underlings."

Xiao Ruohan could not accept this.

He had to win.

Not only did he have to win, but he had to win decisively and eliminate Mo Hua.

He could not afford to lose to a team that Xiao Wuchen had defeated.

Moreover, he had to succeed where Xiao Wuchen had failed.

Only by doing so could he catch up to Xiao Wuchen, gain the recognition of the sect elders, and earn the praise of the thousands of cultivators gathered for the Sword Discussion.

Mo Hua, the "First in Dao Discourse", was both a stumbling block and a stepping stone for him.

Therefore, he had to break through this barrier.

Even the slightest chance could not be overlooked.

In the Sword Discussion Congress, the difference between victory and defeat often lay in a single moment. If you fought with all your might, you might win.

If you didn't, you would surely lose!

Xiao Ruohan also gradually calmed down.

He realized that in his moment of urgency, he might have been intimidated by Mo Hua.

Mo Hua's array formations were indeed powerful, but he shouldn't overestimate him.

Drawing two high-rank arrays in such a short time was already astonishing.

High-rank arrays consumed a great deal of divine perception and took a long time to complete.

Even as the "First in Dao Discourse", Mo Hua couldn't be strong enough to draw three second-rank, nineteen-pattern high-rank arrays in such a short time.

All he needed to do was launch a strong attack, break through the array once more, and then charge in to slay Mo Hua and destroy the city.

Under a barrage of swords, if Mo Hua's hands were even a fraction slower, or if the discussion jade shattered even a moment later, he would surely die.

"Go all out, kill!"

Xiao Ruohan's eyes were cold, and without hesitation, he crushed the Golden Body Talisman and raised his sword high into the sky.

The Golden Body Talisman protected him.

Spiritual energy surged around him like a river, and sword qi raged like a storm.

All his spiritual energy converged within him.

All his sword qi focused into a single strike.

His sword glowed with a blinding light, like falling stars, dazzling and terrifying, radiating a chilling aura of slaughter.

The crowd erupted in shock, exclaiming:

"Heavenly Sword Slash!"

"One of the most advanced killing moves in the Heavenly Sword Technique..."

"Xiao Ruohan has even mastered one of the Nine Heavenly Sword Styles... Truly remarkable..."

Everyone shook their heads in amazement, "The Tian Jian Sect is truly the Tian Jian Sect, living up to its reputation as the premier sword sect of Qian Xue Prefecture."

"Among our disciples, there's actually such a sword prodigy besides Xiao Wuchen."

"Xiao Ruohan is only slightly inferior to Xiao Wuchen, but that doesn't mean he isn't strong. He's still a top-tier sword talent..."

"This move, 'Heavenly Sword Slash,' he hasn't used it yet, has he?"

"Indeed, in previous Sword Discussions, no opponent has forced him to use this killing move."

"It's going to be a good show..."

"This Tai Xu Sect's performance in this Sword Discussion is getting unpredictable..."

Seeing Xiao Ruohan's astonishing sword move, everyone in the Tai Xu Sect, including Yu'er, Wenren Wan, and Zhang Lan, felt a shiver run down their spines. Their hearts, which had been at ease, now tightened with tension.

Inside the Sword Discussion Arena.

The moment Xiao Ruohan raised his sword to gather his strength, Mo Hua immediately shouted:

"Interrupt his killing move!"

Ling Hu Xiao's sword qi was the first to strike.

Then came Situ Jian's Fires of Departure Sword.

Cheng Mo, wielding a large axe, roared and charged at Xiao Ruohan without hesitation.

Ou Yang Xuan also activated his movement technique, and the Tai E Sword flashed with a cold light, heading straight for Xiao Ruohan's heart.

Mo Hua, quick on the draw, threw several fireballs.

However, his fireballs were repelled by the Golden Body Talisman, failing to interrupt Xiao Ruohan's sword move and only causing a slight burn.

Ling Hu Xiao and Situ Jian's sword qi were blocked by two Tian Jian Sect disciples, each with a single sword.

Cheng Mo and Ou Yang Xuan were also engaged by two other Tian Jian Sect disciples and couldn't get close to Xiao Ruohan.

Mo Hua then said, "Ling Hu Xiao, chop him quickly!"

Ling Hu Xiao understood immediately. He activated the Golden Body Talisman, raised his Chong Xu Sword, and channeled all his spiritual energy to form the Moonlit Water Chong Xu Sword Qi—a beautiful and sharp force that matched Xiao Ruohan's in terrifying power.

Both were using superior sword techniques.

Both were top-tier sword talents.

They faced each other, their power equally matched.

The Tian Jian Sect disciples, realizing the situation was dire, immediately redirected their attack towards Ling Hu Xiao.

Situ Jian drove his Fires of Departure Sword forward.

After several rounds of intense sword clashes, the Fires of Departure Sword's lineage proved inferior to the Heavenly Sword Technique. Situ Jian struggled to hold his ground and couldn't withstand the pressure.

Cheng Mo and Ou Yang Xuan had to turn back to support Ling Hu Xiao.

The scene became chaotic once again.

Sword qi and spells clashed.

The disciples from both sides engaged in a fierce battle.

While they were locked in a life-or-death struggle, Xiao Ruohan's sword move had finished gathering power. Without hesitation, he slashed his sword, and a vast sword light, like a falling comet, executed the 'Heavenly Sword Slash' towards the city gate.

Ou Yang Xuan, protecting Ling Hu Xiao, couldn't break free.

Cheng Mo and Situ Jian, seeing the situation, gritted their teeth and charged at the sword light, willing to risk their lives to block it.

However, this move from the Nine Heavenly Sword Styles was incredibly powerful.

The sword light surged forward, instantly slaying Cheng Mo and Situ Jian, and then continued its path, striking the city gate, which was protected by a high-rank metal and stone array.

At the same time, seeing Cheng Mo and Situ Jian risk their lives, Ling Hu Xiao felt a surge of anger. His eyes turned cold, and he no longer held back, unleashing his Chong Xu Sword Qi, as cold and sharp as moonlight, towards Xiao Ruohan.

Xiao Ruohan's sword move was still in progress, and he had no way to avoid it.

Two other Tian Jian Sect disciples stepped forward, channeling their sword qi to forcefully intercept Ling Hu Xiao's Chong Xu killing move.

However, Ling Hu Xiao's sword move was no less formidable.

One Tian Jian Sect disciple was killed by the sword qi.

The other was severely injured.

The remaining sword qi cut towards Xiao Ruohan.

Both top-tier sword talents, each driving their superior sword techniques, managed to strike their targets despite the numerous obstacles.

Then the sword qi exploded violently.

Two deafening booms echoed, the earth shook, and smoke and dust filled the air.

In the smoke, the dazzling sword light intertwined, creating a brilliant spectacle.

Above Fang Tian Huaying, the air was thick with smoke, and the ground was cracked, with the intermittent glow of the sword qi clashes.

Everyone held their breath, tense with anticipation.

They were desperate to know the outcome.

Was the city gate broken?

Was Xiao Ruohan dead?

Who would be the winner between the Tian Jian Sect and the Tai Xu Sect?

As the smoke gradually dissipated and the sword light faded, the results of the clash of superior dao arts became clear above Fang Tian Huaying.

The city gate was broken.

Xiao Ruohan was still alive.

Xiao Ruohan had endured a Chong Xu killing move from Ling Hu Xiao.

However, the Chong Xu killing move had been largely neutralized by the Tian Jian Sect disciples.

The remaining sword qi, weakened, was not enough to kill him.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ruohan's Nine Heavenly Sword Styles, after slaying Cheng Mo and Situ Jian, had struck the city gate with full force.

Cheng Mo and Situ Jian's cultivation levels were slightly inferior to those of the Tian Jian Sect disciples, so they could only block part of Xiao Ruohan's sword qi despite their best efforts.

This was one reason.

Another reason was that the city gate was simply too large and immobile, making it a perfect "target" to fully absorb Xiao Ruohan's powerful strike.

Not a single thread of Sword Qi was wasted.

This was also a disadvantage for the defending side in a siege battle.

In a typical Sword Discussion, if you couldn't win, you could always retreat.

But in a siege battle, with such a large city gate standing there, there was no way to escape or dodge.

Even with the support of a high-rank array, the city gate was still breached by Xiao Ruohan's incredibly powerful strike.

The Metal and Stone Array shattered.

A large crack appeared on the inner city gate.

"The city gate is breached!"

Cultivators in the audience exclaimed in amazement:

"One person, one sword, a Heavenly Sword Slash!"

"Just this one strike, it killed two people, broke an array, and opened the city gate!"

"The might of this strike is so formidable; it truly befits one of the Four Great Sects' Sword Dao geniuses!"

"In dire straits, he turned the tide with his own strength; this is what a Sword Discussion genius should be like!"

"After this battle, Xiao Ruohan will surely become famous. Everyone will know that Tian Jian Sect has another Xiao Ruohan besides Xiao Wuchen..."

"The Four Great Sects truly are the cradle of geniuses; it makes our sects envious..."

...

The audience was lavish with their praise and comments.

Inside the arena, Mo Hua sighed.

He looked at the massive Sword Qi gap on the city wall, feeling somewhat helpless:

"Truly worthy of a Sword Discussion genius, these geniuses are one more formidable than the last, and I can't afford to be careless..."

"Or lazy."

"Winning a round is really difficult..."

If he had only drawn two arrays, it would have been over.

Mo Hua, as before, reached out and slapped the city wall.

The wall glowed once more.

Just as the Tian Jian Sect disciples, who had just adjusted their breath, were about to celebrate the breached city gate, a light slowly rose.

This light was no longer golden but earthy.

The Geng Mountain Earth Array.

This was a high-rank array of the second rank with nineteen patterns, combining the Eight Trigrams' Geng Mountain and the Five Elements' Earth and Wood.

It was somewhat different from the Metal and Stone Array.

The Metal and Stone Array focused solely on defense, making the city "impregnable."

The Geng Mountain Earth Array, while slightly less defensive, had the added ability to "repair the city wall."

Mo Hua had anticipated that the city wall would be damaged at this point, so he had prepared in advance, using the array to repair the gate.

Thus, as the light spread.

Earth-gray array patterns quickly covered the entire gate.

The array patterns converted spiritual energy into the earth and stone power of the Eight Trigrams, rapidly repairing the city wall.

The Sword Qi gap on the city gate, which Xiao Ruohan and the Tian Jian Sect disciples had struggled to create with all their might, was sealed in the blink of an eye.

The city gate was instantly restored to its original state.

The audience fell silent.

The earth and stone of the Geng Mountain Array sealed the gap in the city gate.

It seemed to silence the spectators.

It also seemed to crush the hearts of the Tian Jian Sect disciples.

Now, they truly felt "hopeless."

Not just them, but the audience was also silent.

The spectators felt despair on behalf of the Tian Jian Sect disciples.

In a five-on-five siege battle, you defend with a high-rank array.

One array, they could handle.

Two arrays, they could still manage.

But this was the third array, and it felt a bit shameless.

How were they supposed to fight?

How could they possibly win?

Even if you went back eight hundred years, no team had ever needed to break through three second-rank, nineteen-pattern, top-tier high-rank arrays just to win a Sword Discussion.

"This is cheating!"

"This is disgraceful!"

"This is a Sword Discussion, not an Array Discussion! Tai Xu Sect's victory is unjust!"

But regardless, the situation was almost undisputed.

Tian Jian Sect had four people left.

Tai Xu Sect had three people left.

Tian Jian Sect had the advantage.

But facing this city gate, now almost "impeccably" repaired and reinforced by a high-rank array, even if Tai Xu Sect had no one left, they would never be able to break through it again.

There was no more opportunity.

Moreover, time was running out.

The Tian Jian Sect disciples felt utterly dejected and powerless, and in the end, they only symbolically swung a few more swords.

The Sword Qi striking the city gate was like a drop of water in the ocean, vanishing without a trace.

They felt a deep sense of frustration and shortness of breath.

Then, a moment later, the discussion bell rang.

The Sword Discussion was over.

Tian Jian Sect lost, and Tai Xu Sect won.

...

"Victory!"

Outside the Sword Discussion Arena.

Yu'er was overjoyed, clapping her hands and cheering, "Brother Mo won!"

Wenren Wan smiled warmly at Yu'er, "He won!"

The hearts of everyone in Tai Xu Sect, from the disciples to the elders, finally relaxed.

Smiles appeared on their faces.

The Tai Xu Sect disciples shouted, "Little Senior Brother is wise and valiant!"

This was the first victory for Tai Xu Sect in the Earth Rank Sword Discussion.

It was almost entirely due to Mo Hua's array-drawing skills.

On Tai E Mountain and Chong Xu Mountain, some elders who had previously harbored some prejudice against Mo Hua began to reflect on themselves.

Had they not been friendly enough to Mo Hua?

Had their smiles not been warm enough?

The tone, shouldn't it be a bit more amiable?

On the Feng Family’s viewing stand.

Zhang Lan slowly let out a sigh of relief, marveling inwardly.

This kid Mo Hua, he’s still as surprising as ever.

In a situation where victory seemed impossible, he managed to turn things around...

“Truly worthy of being Mo Hua...”

In front of Zhang Lan, Zhang Dazhanglao’s pupils narrowed, almost in disbelief.

“Just at the Zhu Ji Hou Qi stage, and he can draw three second-rank, nineteen-line high-rank arrays in such a short time?”

“This is... the Qianxue Zhen Dao Champion?”

“And this Zhen Dao Kui Shou is also proficient in invisibility and agility techniques...”

“A... virtually unkillable array master?”

“This young man... is bound to achieve great things.”

“I need to find an opportunity to meet him.” Zhang Dazhanglao frowned:

“But I’m afraid he’s too talented and too high in status to bother with an elder from a fourth-rank family from another region...”

“I wonder if there’s anyone with wide connections who could introduce us...”

...

Outside the Lunjian Arena, most of the cultivators were still in a state of silence.

Then, sighs began to echo one by one.

“Tai Xu Sect actually... won?”

The turn of events caught everyone off guard.

A Lunjian competition that seemed like a sure thing, with no one expecting any surprises, took a dramatic turn. After a series of twists and turns, Tai Xu Sect, which was supposed to lose without a doubt, actually... won?

It was almost unbelievable.

“It’s mainly because of those arrays, they were too unfair...”

“Three consecutive second-rank, nineteen-line high-rank arrays... I’ve never seen such a cheaty ‘Lunjian’ before.”

“Relying on the power of arrays, can this still be called ‘Lunjian’?”

“Whether it counts or not, the winner is the better one.”

“If you have the skills, why don’t you draw a high-rank array on the spot?”

“Straw-grasping...”

“How is this straw-grasping?”

“These days, it’s all about comprehensive development. An array master who can’t do Lunjian isn’t a good magic cultivator...”

“But no matter what, this kid’s skills are pretty infuriating—whether it’s spells, invisibility, agility, or arrays.”

“As the saying goes, one’s writing reflects one’s character, and perhaps spells and arrays are the same.”

“Tian Jian Sect lost too unfairly this time...”

“Seeing those arrays appear repeatedly on the city gate, I felt bad for Xiao Ruohan.”

...

Xiao Ruohan indeed felt a deep sense of frustration.

This was the first time in the Sword Discussion Congress that he encountered high-rank arrays, and not just one, but three in a row.

If not for this, he would never have lost.

In this sense, he could be considered the first “victim” of Mo Hua’s array-based Lunjian.

At that moment, his heart felt like that unbreakable city gate.

When he saw Mo Hua in the back area, his eyes fixed on him, as if trying to etch Mo Hua’s appearance into his memory forever.

But being the Tianjiao of Tian Jian Sect, his nature was proud, and he didn’t utter any threats. He just gave Mo Hua a long look and left.

Mo Hua, a bit puzzled, muttered:

“Why do they all like staring at me?”

“Do I look that good?”

Seeing Mo Hua’s cluelessness, Situ Jian couldn’t help but sigh in exasperation.

He had a feeling that after this battle, the list of “Sword Discussion Rivals” for his little senior brother would likely start to spread to the “Four Great Sects”...

...

Generally, disciples of the Four Great Sects were prouder and didn’t mix with those from the Eight Major Sects.

But clearly, their hatred for a certain person had broken down this barrier.

As night fell, within the Kill Mo Order.

An anonymous cultivator quietly joined the alliance.

His name was “Loneliness at the Peak.”

But with more and more cultivators joining, no one paid much attention to him at first.

In the Kill Mo Order, everyone was heatedly discussing Mo Hua’s “crimes”:

“His spells are devious, fine. His invisibility is devious, fine. His agility is devious, fine...”

“But he actually exploited a loophole by drawing arrays on the spot during the Sword Discussion Congress!”

“And they were high-rank arrays!”

“Despicable and shameless!”

“And the way he used the arrays was even more devious. Clearly, it was to toy with others, releasing them one by one to make people experience despair, then give them a glimmer of hope, only to dash that hope and bring even deeper despair...”

“Just thinking about it makes my head spin...”

“He’s a terrible person...”

“Even the ways of the demonic path aren’t this dark.”

“Too despicable...”

“Utterly revolting...”

After lurking for a long time, “Loneliness at the Peak” quietly added: “Agreed.”

Wu Ming Zhi Bei: “I’ll still say it, whoever can publicly execute Mo Hua at the Sword Discussion Congress, I’ll recognize them as my big brother!”

Da Sha Zi: “Sure.”

First Fairy of Purple Mist: “Tell me if you need spirit stones.”

I and Fireball are Mortal Enemies: “Mo Hua must die!”

A group of people followed, chanting: “Mo Hua must die!”

Loneliness at the Peak remained silent for a moment, then joined in: “Mo Hua must die...”

(End of Chapter)

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