Chapter 1037: The Battle Begins
Chapter 1037: The Battle Begins
The Trident Water Sect struck first, targeting the Lingxiao Sect. As the two sides approached, the Trident Water Sect launched a surprise attack using their devious Water Trident Sword Technique, taking several lives from the Lingxiao Sect.
This despicable act enraged the Lingxiao Sect, leading to a fierce battle between the two.
Seeing the tide turning against them, the Trident Water Sect retreated.
Following this, the Duanshen Sect and the Trident Water Sect successively targeted the other eight major clans, dealing significant blows to many sects.
The fragile balance was shattered, and this initial conflict, like a spark, ignited the flames of the Asura War.
Everyone couldn't help but curse:
"Damn it, Duanshen Sect, you lack martial virtue."
"Trident Water Sect, you are despicable!"
However, the situation forced them to start targeting neighboring sects as well.
If everyone else was killing, and you didn't, you would surely fall behind.
This was the Sword Summit, where falling behind meant your sect would fall behind.
A lagging sect affected the future and development of thousands of fellow cultivators.
The situation began to spiral out of control.
There were constant ambushes and fatalities.
Far-sighted cultivators grew anxious.
Not killing Mo Hua and letting him continue to "hide" or delay, preparing thoroughly, would have disastrous consequences.
But once the war began, it spread rapidly.
Everyone was busy plotting and fighting, vying for any advantage for their own sect.
No one cared about the so-called "greater good."
These "insightful" disciples, seeing this, could only lament and curse:
"Young fools, you are not worth strategizing with!"
"Short-sighted and greedy, you have fallen for Mo Hua's schemes..."
Despite this, the chaos continued unabated.
Thus, under the condition that Mo Hua remained hidden, the Asura War completed its second purge.
The majority of the Twelve Major Sects were eliminated.
On the surface, the Twelve Major Sects held equal status with the eight major clans.
However, the Twelve Major Sects were more specialized in cultivation, which meant they lacked comprehensive combat strength.
Therefore, in the Sword Summit, where real battles took place, the Twelve Major Sects were at a disadvantage.
Their true battlefield was the competition in alchemy, artifacts, talismans, and arrays after the Sword Summit.
The ranks of the eight major clans were further streamlined.
Those who lacked strength were eliminated in the mutual ambushes and conflicts.
Even among the Four Great Sects, a few disciples were forced to withdraw.
Now, only those with deep cultivation, sharp senses, or exceptional skills remained—the core disciples of each sect.
Killing these people would require significant effort.
Moreover, after some "traitors" fanned the flames and plotted, the Four Great Sects and the Eight Major Clans became wary of each other, living in constant fear.
No one dared to act rashly.
The situation was filled with hidden currents, but the overt conflicts seemed to ease.
As time passed, the fog in the Asura War gradually dissipated, revealing the mountains and terrain clearly.
A flare suddenly streaked across the sky.
This was the agreed-upon signal.
Everyone's heart raced.
"Found it!"
"Mo Hua, the rogue!"
The disciples of the Four Great Sects and the Eight Major Clans exchanged glances. Despite their recent fierce battles, they now acted as if nothing had happened and shouted in unison:
"Mo Hua must die!"
The oath of the Ink Slaughter Alliance spread among everyone:
"Eliminate the ink to uphold the way; Mo Hua must die!"
The hatred for Mo Hua united the previously divided sects and factions.
The disciples of the Four Great Sects and the Eight Major Clans ceased their conflicts, burying their grudges deep in their hearts. They then used their techniques to create streams of spiritual light, rushing toward the location of the flare.
The Asura War was filled with dense streams of light converging on a single point.
It had a grand and imposing atmosphere, as if the heroes of the Four Great Sects and the Eight Major Clans had gathered to exterminate the arch-villain Mo Hua.
When everyone reached the location of the flare, they saw a steep cliff face, towering thousands of feet high, with dense forests on either side and an eerie emptiness.
Two groups of Myriad Array Sect disciples were nearby.
One of the Myriad Array Sect disciples pointed at the cliff face and said:
"There are traces of an array here."
"The outer layer is an Illusion Array, and the inner layer is an Invisibility Array. Both are rare, high-level second-grade arrays."
The Myriad Array Sect was one of the Twelve Major Sects, specializing in array techniques.
Their array techniques were unique and distinct.
The disciples of the Myriad Array Sect had significant expertise in arrays.
These array traces were detected only after the fog dissipated, thanks to their partial array perception and a bit of luck.
These arrays were highly sophisticated.
In the entire Sword Summit, only Mo Hua had such skill and means.
"Good work."
Qin Cangliu nodded, then drew his sword and killed the speaking Myriad Array Sect disciple.
The other disciples of the eight major clans also sprang into action, slaying the remaining Myriad Array Sect disciples.
The Myriad Array Sect was one of the Twelve Major Sects.
The reason the Myriad Array Sect disciples had survived until now was that they were array masters who could help find the traces of Mo Hua, the True Dao Demon.
Now that Mo Hua’s trail has been found, the disciples of the Myriad Array Sect are no longer useful.
As for breaking the array—
The disciples of the Myriad Array Sect, though array masters by trade, clearly cannot be compared to the prodigy Mo Hua.
They cannot decipher Mo Hua’s array formations.
Unable to break the array, the only option is to launch a frontal assault.
Thus, these disciples of the Myriad Array Sect are of no further use.
The disciples of the Myriad Array Sect, who were array masters, were deeply engrossed in their research, their minds simple and pure, basking in the achievement of finding Mo Hua’s trail. In an instant, they were met with the butcher’s knife, each one of them slain.
This enraged the elders of the Myriad Array Sect watching from the sidelines, who cursed loudly:
"The Four Great Sects and Eight Major Clans are all scoundrels!"
"Damn it, you’re killing the horse after the ride!"
"How dare you treat the Myriad Array Sect like a horse…"
"To treat array masters with such disrespect is to court retribution!"
But they could only vent their anger, powerless to do anything more.
And so, the Myriad Array Sect was eliminated.
Everyone in the arena was well aware of the list for the Asura Sword Summit.
Which sects had which disciples participating, who had been killed, and who had been eliminated—all the sects kept a mental tally.
After all, the ranking at the Sword Summit was determined by the "list of survivors."
To kill, one must kill thoroughly.
To ensure that no disciple is overlooked.
There can be no room for carelessness.
After two rounds of purges and the elimination of the Myriad Array Sect, the remaining participants in this Asura War were all disciples of the Four Great Sects and Eight Major Clans.
At this moment, the surviving disciples of the Four Great Sects and Seven Major Clans gathered before the mountain wall, separated by the array, facing off against Mo Hua and the Taixu Sect.
The arena of the Asura War was vast, and Mo Hua’s array formations were well-concealed, making them difficult to detect.
But once discovered, the principles behind the array were not hard to discern.
"An outer illusion array, combined with the fog of the Asura War, to deceive the eyes…"
"Inside the illusion array, an invisibility array to hide one’s aura…"
"Truly, Mo Hua is adept at these underhanded tricks."
Someone sneered, "We fight to the death out here, while the Taixu Sect hides here, waiting to reap the benefits."
"No need for idle talk, let’s destroy the Taixu Sect and then kill Mo Hua…"
"Destroy the Taixu Sect, kill Mo Hua…"
Everyone clamored, but no one made a move.
Though they denounced and mocked Mo Hua, no one dared to take him lightly.
Especially those who had loudly proclaimed their resolve, but were already haunted by the shadow of Mo Hua’s previous tricks.
Mo Hua had set up the array in front of them.
Even just the illusion and invisibility arrays were enough to make them wary.
A frontal assault risked falling into Mo Hua’s trap.
Moreover, they had just been ambushing and betraying each other. Though they had temporarily "allied" due to Mo Hua, they did not trust each other completely.
They feared that while attacking Mo Hua, they might be stabbed in the back by their "allies."
The atmosphere remained tense, with no progress.
Finally, it was the leaders of the Four Great Sects, Ao Zheng and Shen Cangfeng, who stepped forward.
Shen Cangfeng had met his end in battle against Mo Hua, failing to land a single strike.
Ao Zheng had been intimidated by Mo Hua into a state of confusion.
Both were determined to kill Mo Hua at all costs.
"We have three rules."
"Before we destroy the Taixu Sect and kill Mo Hua, no one shall betray or attack their allies."
"Any sect that breaks this agreement and betrays the alliance will be attacked by all the other sects, and destroyed first."
"Once the Taixu Sect is destroyed and Mo Hua is killed, this agreement will be null and void."
"Then, we will continue the Sword Summit and decide the winner."
This agreement was a powerful deterrent.
But it also provided a sense of security.
"Very well."
"It’s acceptable…"
"Let’s unite and kill Mo Hua first!"
The crowd was filled with fervor.
Song Jian, however, felt a tinge of regret.
In this situation, with everyone united, he could no longer orchestrate any covert moves.
As for Mo Hua, he could only hope for the best.
Song Jian drew his sword, blending in with the crowd, his face equally angry:
"Mo Hua must die, let’s kill Mo Hua first!"
All present were the Tianjiao of their respective sects, each with extraordinary cultivation and strength. With a common goal, their actions became much more decisive.
Ao Zheng’s punch shattered the stone wall.
Shen Cangfeng’s sword cleaved through the mountain rock.
Besides the four Tianjiao, including Shen Linshu, other top disciples from various sects also joined in, destroying half of the stone wall.
With the stone wall destroyed, the array’s foundation was lost.
The illusion array was broken.
The invisibility array began to fail.
As the stone and light shifted, the illusion shattered, and the invisibility revealed an entrance to a valley.
The entrance was narrow, like a crack in the sky.
The stone walls on both sides towered high, allowing only one person to pass through.
Above the entrance, a dense array of second-rank high-level formations covered the area, stretching as far as the eye could see.
Everyone who saw it changed color:
"This Mo Hua really knows how to pick a place..."
"He actually set up so many formations."
"Is this a Sword Summit, or a Formation Summit..."
Shen Cangfeng said, "Each sect should send a team, with physical cultivators in the front, sword cultivators in the middle, and magic cultivators at the back, taking turns to break through the formations."
"Once the formations are broken, we will all charge in together."
"Agreed!"
Shen Cangfeng led the charge, stepping forward with his sword ready, and began to slash at the formations above the narrow pass.
Then, the four great sects and seven major clans also joined in...
The sound of explosions filled the air.
...
Outside the arena, the spectators who had been observing the entire situation through the Heavenly Reflection breathed a sigh of relief.
"Finally found him."
"I thought his illusion and invisibility formations would hold out a bit longer."
"Bad luck..."
"The Myriad Array Sect is not to be underestimated."
"Now, this Asura War has turned into a defensive battle."
"The four great sects, along with seven of the eight major clans, are launching a joint attack. This is too much."
"Mo Hua's formations won't last long, and the Taixu Sect won't be able to hold out."
"Once the valley falls, the Taixu Sect will likely face a massacre..."
"Truly tragic..."
...
Within the Taixu Sect, including Zhang Lan and all the cultivators concerned about Mo Hua and the Taixu Sect, a heavy weight pressed down on their hearts, making it hard to breathe.
In the Sword Viewing Pavilion, the patriarchs of the Three Mountains stared intently at the Heavenly Reflection, not even drinking a sip of tea.
In the Sword Summit Arena.
The formations set up by Mo Hua were being broken one by one.
The disciples of the four great sects and seven major clans were gradually advancing into the narrow pass.
Inside the narrow pass.
The disciples of the Taixu Sect were on high alert.
Mo Hua's expression was serious as he pondered the situation.
The current situation was still within his plan.
The biggest disadvantage for the Taixu Sect in this Asura War was their small numbers.
Therefore, every possible method must be used to eliminate some "miscellaneous troops."
In a true melee, these "miscellaneous troops" would pose a significant threat to the Taixu Sect, which was already at a numerical disadvantage.
Thus, avoid battles when possible, and stir up conflicts among the sects to let them "cleanse" themselves based on their own interests.
Of course, such tactics were not a long-term solution.
The Taixu Sect could not hide forever.
The final battle was inevitable.
The Taixu Sect would face the full force of the four great sects and eight major clans, all the Tianjiao disciples.
No sect could survive such an overwhelming assault.
And the Taixu Sect would become the first of the eight major clans to be sacrificed in this Asura War.
Amidst the tense and solemn atmosphere.
Mo Hua said nothing but closed his eyes to meditate, focusing on his mind and spirit.
He had already expended a lot of divine perception while drawing the formations, so he needed to seize this opportunity to recover.
Divine perception was the key to formations.
And divine perception was also the only hope for survival.
...
Outside, the explosions continued, sword qi, spells, and blood energy surged.
After some time, under the combined efforts of the Tianjiao disciples from the four great sects and seven major clans, the formations outside the narrow pass were finally broken.
Sect disciples began to approach the entrance of the narrow pass.
The pressure on the defensive formations increased, and they were on the brink of collapse.
Finally, a sword qi flashed, and the formation at the entrance cracked.
The defense of the narrow pass was completely breached.
The disciples of the various sects saw this and their expressions brightened.
"Charge!"
"Kill!"
A disciple from the Daluomen Sect led the charge, breaking through the narrow pass and entering the valley where the Taixu Sect was hiding.
But as soon as he entered the valley, his feet hadn't even steadied when five massive swords came crashing down on him. The overwhelming force instantly depleted his Discussion Jade's health.
A blue light flashed, and the disciple from the Daluomen Sect was gone.
The disciples from the other sects were stunned, and then they saw five towering figures emerge from the valley entrance.
These five men were tall and muscular, their blood energy thick and their armor heavy. They wielded massive swords, their eyes fierce and their faces stern, resembling five mountain gods carved from the same mold.
Their bodies, like small mountains, blocked the entrance.
Their massive swords, like guillotines, were cold and ruthless. Anyone who dared to enter would face a barrage of slashing blades.
In the time it took to swing their massive swords, a disciple from the Duanshen Sect, a disciple from the Lingxiao Gate, and another from the Daluomen Sect were brutally cut down.
The five men at the pass held the fort, making it impossible for anyone to pass.
(End of Chapter)
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