Chapter 749: Raising the Stakes (An extra chapter dedicated to the Alliance Leader, grinning from ea
Chapter 749: Raising the Stakes (An extra chapter dedicated to the Alliance Leader, grinning from ear to ear!)
On the way back, Mo Hua coincidentally traveled alongside Ling Hu Xiao.
Tai A Men, located within Tai A Mountain, Chung Xu Men on Chung Xu Peak, and Tai Xu Men on Tai Xu Mountain—these three peaks shared a common lineage and were situated in close proximity.
Both Mo Hua and Ling Hu Xiao were heading back to their respective sects, their paths naturally aligning.
Ling Hu Xiao remained icy cold, neither smiling nor speaking, but he would occasionally glance at Mo Hua.
Noticing his gaze, Mo Hua turned his head, a puzzled expression on his face as he asked, "What's the matter?"
With a serious tone, Ling Hu Xiao replied, "You promised to have a match with me."
Mo Hua was taken aback, "When was this?"
A hint of anger flashed across Ling Hu Xiao's face as he frowned, "Just now, in the mountains! Are you going back on your word?"
Mo Hua recalled the incident and shook his head, "I said I'd discuss it when I have time..."
"When will you have the time?" Ling Hu Xiao inquired.
Mo Hua sighed.
He had merely made a casual remark.
Who would be so bored as to actually want to fight him...
"By the way," Mo Hua said, intending to divert the topic to prevent Ling Hu Xiao from obsessing over it, "The Demon Beast that was snatched from you by Duan Jin Men—don't you want to take it back?"
"That's my own business," Ling Hu Xiao replied.
"Then, if they keep taking your kills, won't you miss out on merit points?" Mo Hua asked further.
Ling Hu Xiao fell silent. Then, his expression turned slightly cold, his eyes gleaming with sharp sword intent, his entire being exuding a formidable aura:
"When my sword technique reaches perfection, none of them will be able to withstand a single strike from me. I will settle this score then."
Mo Hua nodded slightly.
That was the kind of attitude expected of a genius.
"But your sword technique isn't perfect yet, is it?" Mo Hua continued.
Ling Hu Xiao hesitated once more.
Indeed, his sword technique was not yet complete, and he couldn't exactly go on a "rampage" at this stage, leaving him unable to refute Mo Hua's statement.
Mo Hua pondered for a moment before starting to "gently guide" Ling Hu Xiao:
"Whether it's a spiritual sword you need, or heavenly treasures and rare resources, or even secret techniques and sword art inheritances from your sect... you'll need merit points, won't you?"
"I believe you don't have an abundance of merit points..." Mo Hua added.
Ling Hu Xiao had been about to say that his sword technique was powerful enough to slay demons and earn him a substantial amount of merit points.
But then he recalled how Mo Hua had casually given him over a thousand merit points without batting an eye.
He suspected that Mo Hua's "wealth" might be as unfathomable as his strength.
With that thought, Ling Hu Xiao couldn't bring himself to voice his initial response.
Mo Hua continued, his tone measured and steady:
"If you can't earn merit points because Duan Jin Men keeps taking your kills, then your cultivation of Sword Heart and Sword Dao will be slower, and the day when your sword technique reaches perfection will be further away..."
"...and you won't be able to salvage your reputation."
"The less merit points you earn, the slower your sword cultivation will be, and the longer you'll be subjected to provocations and humiliation from Duan Jin Men..."
"...creating a vicious cycle."
"By the time your sword technique reaches perfection and you want to teach Duan Jin Men's disciples a lesson," Mo Hua went on, "they might have already graduated and be living it up somewhere."
"If you never get the chance to encounter them again..."
Mo Hua sighed, "In this lifetime, you may never get to exact your 'revenge' or swallow your pride."
Ling Hu Xiao was struck by Mo Hua's words and paused, finding them to be quite reasonable.
Given the current situation, what Mo Hua said was highly likely to be true.
If he didn't take action now, he might have to swallow this humiliation for the rest of his life.
Perceiving Ling Hu Xiao's reaction, Mo Hua continued, "Therefore, a gentleman does not hold a grudge overnight. If there is an opportunity for revenge, it should be seized as soon as possible, lest the moment passes and the chance is lost forever."
Ling Hu Xiao fell silent, deep in thought. After a moment, he furrowed his brows and asked, "Why are you telling me all this?"
Mo Hua sighed, "Our encounter can be considered fate. Moreover, our three sects share a common lineage, our ancestors were once one family. We should help each other and not distinguish between us."
Ling Hu Xiao was somewhat skeptical, but his intuition told him that Mo Hua wasn't trying to deceive or trick him.
It seemed that Mo Hua was genuinely giving him this advice for his own good.
"How do you plan to help me?" Ling Hu Xiao asked hesitantly.
Mo Hua smiled brightly, his face radiant with sunshine:
"You can hunt demons on our Tai Xu Men's mountain peak. Duan Jin Men is afraid of us and won't dare to cross the boundary or steal your kills."
Ling Hu Xiao was taken aback, a slight frown creasing his brow.
Afraid of Tai Xu Men...
He had joined the sect later than most and tended to keep to himself, focusing solely on his sword technique and paying little attention to other matters. Thus, he was unaware of the conflict between Tai Xu Men and Duan Jin Men.
However, based on his impressions, Tai Xu Men didn't seem much stronger than Duan Jin Men.
And Duan Jin Men had always been unscrupulous and resorted to any means necessary. How had they come to fear Tai Xu Men? Ling Hu Xiao was perplexed.
"Moreover..." Mo Hua seized the opportunity while Ling Hu Xiao was deep in thought, "...you can also team up with disciples from our Tai Xu Men to hunt demons. That way, you'll earn merit points faster."
Mo Hua had made a rough estimation. With Ling Hu Xiao's powerful sword aura, all he needed was a partner to scout for demon beasts, set traps, and arrange formations.
After the formations exploded, Ling Hu Xiao could easily finish off the injured demon beasts with a single sword strike.
And if one strike wasn't enough, he could always deliver a second one.
However, Ling Hu Xiao seemed averse to the idea.
"I don't team up with others," he stated.
"Why not?" Mo Hua asked.
Ling Hu Xiao tilted his head slightly, his voice cold as he replied, "I want to push my sword technique to the extreme, and the path of the sword cultivator is a solitary one..."
Mo Hua was left speechless for a moment. After a while, he took a deep breath and said in exasperation, "Why are you so fixated on this notion?"
"What does reaching the extreme of sword technique have to do with whether or not you're solitary?"
"If your sword technique is strong, you can choose to be solitary if you want; if your sword technique is weak, what's the point of being solitary? You'll just end up getting struck down by someone else's sword, and no one will even bother to collect your corpse..."
"The key is to cultivate your sword technique!"
"Cultivating your sword technique requires spending merit points."
"The priority right now is to earn as many merit points as possible, as quickly as you can, and then concentrate your resources to rapidly improve your sword cultivation..."
"If someone is willing to help you earn merit points, and you refuse, are you an idiot?"
...
Mo Hua spoke clearly and rapidly, his words flowing smoothly.
Ling Hu Xiao was left dumbfounded by Mo Hua's barrage of words.
He wasn't truly antisocial; it was just that his exceptional talent had made him the target of jealousy and led to him being isolated.
As a result, he had become reclusive over time.
He also avoided interacting with others.
If he continued like this until he reached the Golden Core or even the Nascent Soul stage, he might very well become an incredibly powerful but eccentric and socially inept sword cultivator, lacking in understanding of human relationships.
However, things seemed to be changing now.
Mo Hua's words echoed in Ling Hu Xiao's mind, and after a long period of contemplation, he silently nodded:
"Alright..."
Mo Hua was surprised, as he had expected to need more persuasion.
But since Ling Hu Xiao had agreed, it was a good thing.
Mo Hua patted Ling Hu Xiao's shoulder in a friendly manner, his gesture natural and his demeanor warm.
Ling Hu Xiao's body stiffened slightly, but he didn't refuse the gesture.
Mo Hua painted a rosy picture for Ling Hu Xiao.
Of course, what he said was true.
Ling Hu Xiao nodded slightly, acknowledging the suggestion.
At the crossroads, the two parted ways and returned to their respective sects.
Upon returning to his sect, Ling Hu Xiao found himself deep in thought for several days, his mind often drifting to Mo Hua's words and actions.
He recalled their first encounter, the subtle murderous intent, and the enigmatic oppressive feeling, along with Mo Hua's graceful movements and magical abilities that flowed like water.
He remembered the fierce golden sword aura on the dead Demon Wood Eagle, as well as the tiny fragments of the sword blade that had penetrated its flesh.
And then there was Mo Hua's sunny smile, free of malice, and his genuine and composed demeanor.
All these contrasting and somewhat dissonant images intertwined in Ling Hu Xiao's mind.
He firmly etched this name into his memory:
"Mo Hua..."
...
As for Mo Hua, he completely forgot about Ling Hu Xiao after returning to his sect.
He was simply too busy with cultivation, classes, studying array formations, and considering pill refining and sword forging, leaving him with little time for anything else.
Occasionally, when he was researching sword formations, he would think of Ling Hu Xiao's sword aura, which was indeed the strongest he had ever seen among Foundation Establishment cultivators.
It far surpassed the Golden Severing Sword Manual of Duan Jin Men by more than a notch.
Of course, with his current cultivation level, despite possessing a powerful sword aura, he might not be able to fully control it with ease.
Moreover, limited by his spiritual power, he might not be able to unleash his full potential with consecutive sword strikes.
In actual combat, he would still be relatively easy to target.
Even so, his strength was remarkable.
If utilized properly, within the Foundation Establishment realm, especially among mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, he would be able to dominate and conquer.
There was also the Chongxu Sword Aura...
Mo Hua was curious. The Chongxu Sword Aura had made the Chongxu Sect famous, but what was the source of its power?
Could this sword aura be amplified or simulated through sword formations?
If it could be replicated through sword formations, and he could derive the Chongxu Sword Aura, would his sword-wielding prowess rise to an even higher level?
"I'll have to study this carefully when I have the chance."
"It wouldn't be appropriate to blatantly copy the Chongxu Sword Aura, but I don't see a problem with studying and researching it..."
Mo Hua thought to himself.
...
At that moment, within the Tai Xu Sect, Elder Xu, who had been away for several days, had just returned. He summoned an elder with a rustic face and said slowly, "I want to use the Tai Xu Heavenly Machine Lock to seal some karma. For this matter, I need the approval of Elder Murong."
"However, he often goes into seclusion, and I don't want to disturb him without good reason."
"Please inform your clan about this. If your Elder comes out of seclusion, let him know, or if there's a definite time, I can go over in advance."
The elder was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.
The use of the Tai Xu Heavenly Machine Lock indicated that it was an extremely important matter.
He dared not ask further questions and simply bowed, "Yes, I will convey your message."
Elder Xu nodded slightly.
Not long after the elder left, Xun Ziyu arrived to provide a routine report on Mo Hua's activities, so that the Elder would not think that he had been slacking off.
Xun Ziyu greeted Elder Xu and proceeded to inform him of Mo Hua's recent activities on Refining Demon Mountain.
He told him about Mo Hua's sword practice, demon hunting, and his new acquaintances from Tai A Men, the Ouyang family, particularly Ouyang Mu, as well as his encounter with the sword genius from Chongxu Sect.
Elder Xu was slightly surprised.
Mo Hua's actions always seemed to catch him off guard...
"I understand. Continue to keep a close eye on him," Elder Xu instructed.
"Yes," Xun Ziyu agreed.
Elder Xu lowered his head, deep in contemplation.
Xun Ziyu hesitated several times, wanting to say something but stopping himself.
Elder Xu glanced up, his gaze calm, and asked, "Do you have something to say?"
Xun Ziyu pondered for a moment before furrowing his brows and asking, "Elder, there's something I don't understand... Who is the driving force behind the sect's reformation?"
Elder Xu's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Xun Ziyu, not answering the question directly but instead asking, "What do you think?"
"On the surface, it seems to be the initiative of the Four Great Sects," Xun Ziyu replied slowly, his expression solemn. "But the more I think about it, the stranger it seems..."
Elder Xu raised an eyebrow, his gaze calm as he looked at Xun Ziyu, and asked, "What's strange about it?"
"The purpose of the sect's reformation is to change the current situation, to break the old and establish the new," Xun Ziyu explained, his brows furrowed. "But the Four Great Sects are already at the top. They are the pinnacle sects in Qian Xue State. What do they want to change?"
"In the best-case scenario, they will remain as the Four Great Sects."
"But what if something unexpected happens? What if they lose their position and fall out of the Four Great Sects? Wouldn't that make them a laughingstock?"
"Such an important matter, they wouldn't be so careless, nor would they treat it so lightly."
"So, there must be some deeper meaning to this..."
Xun Ziyu's voice was filled with uncertainty.
Elder Xu was slightly surprised, silently observing Xun Ziyu for a moment before asking in a hoarse voice, "What do you think?"
Xun Ziyu smiled bitterly, "That's why I'm asking you, Elder... I can't quite figure it out."
"Say what's on your mind," Elder Xu said gently, "You don't have to hold back."
Xun Ziyu thought for a moment before continuing, "In my opinion, it seems like the Four Great Sects want to... reshuffle all the sects?"
Elder Xu's eyebrows twitched slightly.
Encouraged by the Elder's lack of reprimand, Xun Ziyu continued, "During these days, I also took the opportunity to ask some of my old friends from various families and sects, discreetly inquiring about this matter."
"Based on the information I've gathered..."
"It seems that the Four Great Sects intend to reshuffle all the sects in Qian Xue State, from the top down, including the Eight Great Gates, the Twelve Streams, the Hundred Gates of Qian Xue, and even the smaller sects under the Hundred Gates..."
"Those who obey will prosper, and those who disobey will perish."
"The sects that refuse to follow their orders will be removed from their prominent positions, and obedient sects will take their place..."
"By doing so, they will establish a true sect power structure in Qian Xue State, with the Four Great Sects at the top."
"The Four Great Sects will become the hegemons, the undisputed leaders."
"The remaining Eight Great Gates, the Twelve Streams, and all the sects in Qian Xue State will become their vassals, subject to their commands, unable to defy them."
Xun Ziyu sighed, "In this world, most powers tend to monopolize and form oligarchies, acting arbitrarily. It's inevitable."
"But this also raises two questions..."
Xun Ziyu's expression was perplexed, "First, how can the Four Great Sects be certain that they won't fail in this sect reformation or the upcoming Dao Discussion Conference, causing them to lose their position as one of the Four Great Sects?
"It seems that Tai A Men and Chong Xu Men are completely unaware of this, not only do they not oppose the reformation, but they are actively promoting it."
"They are probably also thinking about using this opportunity to further their own agendas and ascend to the ranks of the Four Great Sects."
Xun Ziyu's face was filled with worry.
Elder Xun gave a slight nod, his gaze upon Xun Ziyu carrying a hint of approval. It was good that he was learning to think for himself, which would save Elder Xun some effort.
"You've guessed correctly, but not entirely," Elder Xun said. "The Four Great Sects undoubtedly aspire to become the hegemons, the undisputed leaders, with a thousand sects following their commands. But behind this, there are likely deeper and more terrifying secrets, driven by darker ambitions."
Elder Xun's eyes held a profound gaze as he sighed, "But these are not things I can discuss with you."
"As for Tai A Men and Chong Xu Men, even if they are unaware of these secrets and the true extent of the consequences, they should have a good idea of the Four Great Sects' schemes."
Xun Ziyu frowned, "Then, are they..."
Elder Xun shook his head, "When someone goes fishing, the fish takes the bait willingly. Only at the very end will you know if it was the fisherman who reeled in the fish, or if the fish swallowed the hook and broke the line, dragging the fisherman into the water."
"For the Four Great Sects, this is a game."
"If they succeed, they will have the power to rule over an entire state, with a thousand sects following their commands."
"But for Tai A Men and Chong Xu Men, this is also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"If they seize this chance and ride the wave, they can soar to the top and become one of the true 'elite' sects."
"Everyone is taking a gamble."
"But..." Xun Ziyu furrowed his brows, "Is it too reckless to bet the future of their sects? I can't shake the feeling that this move is somewhat..."
Xun Ziyu fell silent for a moment before uttering the two words:
"Foolish..."
Elder Xun smiled faintly, "Don't view it from an outsider's perspective. The so-called clarity of an onlooker is often illusory."
"Most onlookers who consider themselves clear-sighted will end up being more foolish than the players once they enter the game."
"Tai A Men is taking a gamble, Chong Xu Men is taking a gamble, do you think our Tai Xu Men doesn't want to take this chance?"
"If we had the resources, we would have already made our move."
"Moreover, according to common perception, success and failure are often judged in hindsight."
"If Tai A Men and Chong Xu Men win this bet, they will be praised for their foresight and strategic planning."
"But if they lose, they will be criticized for their greed and overreaching."
"However, at this point, the dust has not yet settled, and the outcome is uncertain. How can you determine if their actions are truly 'strategic' or 'overreaching'?"
"How can you be sure that they will definitely lose?"
"What if they win?"
Elder Xun's eyes shone with an intense light, piercing through Xun Ziyu.
Xun Ziyu was taken aback, his words caught in his throat by Elder Xun's question.
Only then did he realize that considering problems from a detached perspective could lead to a false sense of clarity.
When faced with the task of actually solving these problems, the fog of uncertainty and the complexity of cause and effect made decision-making incredibly difficult.
Xun Ziyu sighed deeply, at a loss for words.
After a moment, he asked softly, "Then, Elder, what about our Tai Xu Men..."
Elder Xun replied, "Our Tai Xu Men has a weak foundation. It's best to stay out of the fray, observe the changes, and act accordingly."
Xun Ziyu's heart stirred with emotion.
As expected of the Elder, his words made perfect sense, but upon further reflection, they seemed to mean nothing at all.
Elder Xun fell silent for a moment, then sighed, "Tai A Men wants to ride the wave, while Chong Xu Men aims to maintain stability amidst the changes. On the surface, they seem much stronger than us."
"But in reality, we are all in the same boat, and none of us are truly better off than the others."
"This sect reformation may seem tumultuous on the surface, but beneath it, a tide of blood is surging..."
"Our Tai Xu Men is struggling to protect ourselves, and they can only rely on their own fortunes. Whether they win or lose this gamble depends on their own karma..."
...
Xun Ziyu's brows were knit together, his heart heavy with concern.
The level of considerations required at the Elder's stage was far beyond what they, as sect elders, could comprehend.
Elder Xun's expression remained calm, but his heart carried a weighty burden.
Although they were all supposed to fend for themselves, Tai Xu, Tai A, and Chong Xu shared a common lineage, and in the eyes of elders with longevity like him, they were like flesh and blood.
With the approaching storm, he did not wish to see any of the three sects encounter misfortune.
However, the matter was too significant for him to make such decisions alone...
Elder Xun's heart was filled with worries, and when he raised his head, he saw that Xun Ziyu was also deep in thought with a troubled expression. He shook his head slightly and said,
"Don't worry about all that. Just remember what I told you, take care of Mo Hua, and don't concern yourself with the rest."
Xun Ziyu reluctantly bowed and said, "Yes."
Elder Xun nodded slightly, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "You mentioned that Mo Hua has made connections with the disciples of Tai A Men and Chong Xu Men, is that right?"
"Yes." Xun Ziyu nodded, "His relationships with them are quite good."
"The sword genius from Chong Xu Men and Mo Hua became acquainted through a conflict, and although it was their first meeting, they had a lengthy conversation."
"As for Tai A Men, Ouyang Mu from the Ouyang family has an even better relationship with Mo Hua. He helps Mo Hua forge swords and calls him 'Senior Brother' every time they meet..."
"Senior Brother?" Elder Xun paused.
"Senior Brother," Xun Ziyu confirmed.
Elder Xun nodded.
That child, Mo Hua, had good relationships, even causing the disciple from the Ouyang family of Tai A Men to call him 'Senior Brother'...
Elder Xun fell into deep thought for a moment, then suddenly, a bold idea flashed through his mind.
This idea was so daring that even Elder Xun himself couldn't help but draw in a cold breath.
He calmed his mind and pondered for a moment, his thoughts surging like waves, and he muttered to himself,
"It seems that our Tai Xu Men might not be without 'resources' after all..."
"What if we... place a bigger bet?"
Elder Xun's eyes shone with a startling light, which gradually softened into a deep and mysterious gaze.
(End of Chapter)
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