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Chapter 995: Ouyang Xuan
Chapter 995: Ouyang Xuan
Mo Hua surveyed the youth before him.
Taller than himself.
More robust than himself.
His head held higher than his own.
His features were more handsome and valiant than his own.
Even the spirit between his brows was more unyielding than his own.
Mo Hua nodded and greeted, "My name is Mo Hua."
Ouyang Xuan, dressed in a golden-yellow Dao robe, glanced at Mo Hua with a hint of coldness and said indifferently, "Ouyang Xuan."
His attitude wasn't exactly friendly.
Perhaps it was because Mo Hua wasn't tall, his cultivation wasn't profound, and his spiritual power wasn't strong, so Ouyang Xuan didn't take Mo Hua seriously.
Or perhaps, he didn't take anyone seriously.
It wasn't just Mo Hua he was singling out.
The Tai Xu Sect Leader nodded after they exchanged greetings, "From now on, you two will be teammates for the Swordsman Competition. You should work together, not only for the sake of the sect but also for your own future."
Mo Hua nodded, "Sect Leader, rest assured."
But Ouyang Xuan remained silent.
The Tai Xu Sect Leader didn't mind. He smiled and nodded at Mo Hua, then turned and left.
After the Sect Leader left, Mo Hua turned his head and looked at Ouyang Xuan again.
He could confirm that he had never met this disciple from Tai A Gate before.
He hadn't seen him in the major array classes either; this person wasn't his "Little Senior Brother."
"Then where did he come from?"
Mo Hua was a bit puzzled.
However, he didn't ask further. It was their first meeting, and it wasn't appropriate for him to inquire about the other's background and privacy.
But from now on, they would be teammates for the Swordsman Competition.
In the competition, mutual understanding was crucial.
To ease the atmosphere and build a good relationship, Mo Hua started to chat with Ouyang Xuan.
He said things like, "The weather is nice today," "Do you like chicken legs?" and "How did you grow so tall?"
But Ouyang Xuan remained indifferent, giving off a nonchalant air.
Mo Hua felt he was making a fool of himself, so he stopped trying.
He only approached Ouyang Xuan out of respect for his own Sect Leader and the Tai A Sect Leader. He wanted to include Ouyang Xuan in their activities.
If someone respects you, you should return the favor tenfold.
But if they don't respect you, you don't owe them any courtesy.
Moreover, Mo Hua himself was quite busy.
Seeing that Ouyang Xuan still had a proud and unapproachable look on his face, Mo Hua coldly hummed in his heart and left him alone. He began arranging training sessions for his "Little Senior Brothers"...
...
Outside the Tai Xu Gate, between the outer and inner mountains, there was a vast forest.
This forest was surrounded by arrays, sealing off sight and sound. The mountains within were rugged, and the terrain was complex.
This was the Tai Xu Gate's training ground.
It was specially developed for the Swordsman Competition Congress, providing a venue for disciples to spar and practice.
Mo Hua hadn't planned to participate seriously in the competition, so he rarely visited this training ground.
But now, he was taking it seriously.
Moreover, he wanted to lead his junior brothers to victory, so he had to make full use of this training ground.
Based on the terrain, Mo Hua arranged his junior brothers into teams of five and began practicing in this vast training ground, following a predetermined plan to coordinate tactics and spar with each other.
The training ground was quite large and considered a vital area of the sect, with a dedicated elder in charge.
Technically, Mo Hua didn't have the authority to allocate and utilize it at will.
However, after he blatantly occupied the training ground, no one stopped him.
The Sect Leader turned a blind eye.
The elder in charge of the training could only tacitly accept it.
There was no other way; most of the elders within the Tai Xu Gate, with some experience, background, or insight, knew who Mo Hua was.
Despite being an outer sect disciple, his words sometimes carried more weight than those of a true-transmission elder.
Thus, in the vast training ground with its intricate terrain, the Tai Xu Gate's disciples, regardless of their strength or status, whether they were "Celestial Geniuses" or "Lowly Disciples," began to practice according to Mo Hua's plan, with organization, tactics, and array support, following his instructions precisely.
Most of these disciples were from Tai Xu Mountain.
There were few disciples from Tai A Mountain and Chong Xu Mountain.
The three sects had only recently merged, and Mo Hua's influence hadn't yet reached the disciples of the other two mountains.
Usually, they got along well, and the disciples from Tai A and Chong Xu Mountains would call Mo Hua "Little Senior Brother."
But for a significant event like the Swordsman Competition, it was unlikely that they would follow Mo Hua's orders.
However, the disciples from Tai Xu Mountain's lineage were sufficient for now.
In the training ground, the clashing of swords and the flashing of blades created a grand spectacle.
Mo Hua stood by the side, supervising the training, offering timely reminders, pointing out shortcomings, and suggesting improvements.
The disciples' coordination improved, and their tactics became more refined.
Mo Hua felt slightly relieved and began training his own team.
The vast number of disciples in the sect formed the foundation for the Swordsman Competition, representing countless possibilities and hopes for victory.
But on top of that, he also had to work hard himself.
He had to take a two-pronged approach and make double preparations.
In a small corner of the training ground, Mo Hua gathered his team members.
It was as he had expected.
Himself, Linghu Xiao, Cheng Mo, Sitou Jian, and Ouyang Xuan—a total of five people.
Linghu Xiao stood beside Mo Hua.
He had long dreamed of the day when his sword cultivation would reach a high level, and he could accompany Mo Hua to the Swordsman Competition Congress, conquering all before them.
His wish had come true.
Cheng Mo and Sitou Jian were also delighted.
They had known Mo Hua for a long time and had a deep bond with her core. They trusted Mo Hua completely.
Whatever the matter, as long as they followed Mo Hua, their "Little Senior Brother," they felt at ease.
The most incompatible one was Ouyang Xuan.
He stood alone, his face cold, his gaze sharp. Despite being just one position away, he seemed separated by a cliff, emphasizing his "disengagement."
Mo Hua didn't mind this "distance."
Conflicts between people were inevitable.
Having only met a few times, it was natural that they wouldn't be "cohesive."
Mo Hua didn't expect Ouyang Xuan to be "cohesive" either; he only required him to execute the swordplay tactics according to his own objectives.
Mo Hua squatted on the ground and drew a few lines and small figures in the sand with a stick.
Then, he began explaining the basic tactical positions, formations, strategies, variations, and objectives to the group.
These were fundamental, yet crucial.
The swordplay battle situation could change in the blink of an eye, and sometimes there wouldn't be enough time for commands, relying solely on mutual understanding.
At the most critical moments, the more solid the basic tactics, the more timely the response.
All advanced tactical variations originated from the most basic teamwork.
After Mo Hua finished speaking, he looked at Ouyang Xuan.
Ouyang Xuan's expression was indifferent, and he still didn't say anything.
Mo Hua wasn't sure if he understood, so he said, "Let's practice and see."
The group then practiced the tactical positioning he had planned out several times.
Cheng Mo was the "meat shield," with a bit of offensive capability.
Sitong Jian assisted in the offense, relieving some pressure from Cheng Mo.
Linghu Xiao was the main attacker, his sword techniques were the most powerful, but they required some preparation time and couldn't be interrupted, needing others to cover for him.
Therefore, Linghu Xiao's position was at the back.
Mo Hua stood by his side, coordinating and observing the situation, managing the overall strategy, and adapting to changes.
As for Ouyang Xuan...
Mo Hua scanned him with his spiritual sense several times, and he had a good grasp of his abilities.
Ouyang Xuan's cultivation was profound, with sword qi emanating from his body, clearly a sword cultivator with excellent talent and deep sword comprehension.
His sword skills were slightly inferior to the clear-hearted Xiao Xiao, but his cultivation surpassed hers.
The Sect Leader was right; this Ouyang Xuan was indeed a "top-tier genius."
Although he wasn't the perfect "pentagon" genius, he was still very powerful.
Therefore, Mo Hua assigned him as a "lone fighter," capable of solo combat or providing support as needed.
If he performed well, he could make a significant impact on his own.
If he didn't perform well, it wouldn't affect the overall situation much.
The group practiced together for a while.
At first, it was fine; Ouyang Xuan had an extremely high level of understanding and quickly grasped the tactics, and with his strength and good coordination, he performed well.
However, after a few practices, Ouyang Xuan became impatient.
Sometimes he would stand still like a "stone," or act independently like a "show-off," or change positions according to his own whims.
This caused Cheng Mo to make frequent mistakes.
Cheng Mo had a bad temper, and he immediately became angry, asking, "What's your problem?"
Ouyang Xuan's face was cold, "What's wrong?"
Cheng Mo angrily said, "We're practicing tactics and formations. Why are you running around instead of staying in your position?"
"What tactics?" Ouyang Xuan sneered, "It's just these few positions, moving back and forth. I saw through it at a glance. What's there to practice?"
He gave Cheng Mo a sharp look, "Such a low-level tactic, and you want to practice it so many times. Your talent is truly dull. I really don't know why the Sect Leader insists on putting me in a team with you, a mediocre talent..."
His words were somewhat veiled, and as he spoke, he glanced at Mo Hua.
This time, Cheng Mo was genuinely furious.
His face turned cold, and holding two large axes, he said in a coarse voice, "What, do you want to fight?"
"Fight?" Ouyang Xuan scoffed, "Do you think you're qualified?"
Seeing Ouyang Xuan's provoking attitude, Cheng Mo almost raised his axe to strike, but in the end, he managed to restrain himself.
Cheng Mo might seem rash, but he wasn't a fool.
The sect rules prohibited disciples from fighting, and if he swung his axe, he would violate the rules and face punishment.
Moreover, Cheng Mo was well aware that this was the Little Senior Brother's team, and only his word mattered.
If the Little Senior Brother ordered him to strike Ouyang Xuan, even if it meant breaking the rules, he would do it without hesitation.
But since the Little Senior Brother hadn't spoken, he couldn't act rashly, even though he was angry.
Linghu Xiao and Sitong Jian, standing nearby, also glared at Ouyang Xuan.
On the other hand, Mo Hua remained calm, deep in thought.
Usually, even if Ouyang Xuan had a bad temper and attitude, he wouldn't pay much attention.
But now, it was different.
This was the swordplay team, related to the interests of Tai Xu Gate and the Sect Leader's cause and effect.
He needed a "compliant" teammate who would follow his wishes to the letter and execute the tactics resolutely.
He didn't need a "genius" with seemingly strong talent and strength but who had other intentions and would cause trouble.
With the swordplay competition approaching, time was precious.
Mo Hua didn't want to waste too much time on Ouyang Xuan.
Sometimes, one had to be ruthless.
Mo Hua glanced at Ouyang Xuan and said calmly, "Follow me."
After saying this, Mo Hua turned and walked towards a nearby grove.
Ouyang Xuan frowned, slightly annoyed. He didn't like being treated like this.
But as he watched Mo Hua walk away, Ouyang Xuan thought for a moment and then coldly laughed, "Let's see what you can do to me."
He then followed Mo Hua into the grove.
The two of them disappeared into the dense foliage, out of sight.
Linghu Xiao, Cheng Mo, and Sitong Jian looked at each other, unsure of what was happening.
"Little Senior Brother... what is he going to do?"
"Is he planning to beat up Ouyang Xuan?"
"Can he beat him?"
"It might be difficult... to be honest, this Ouyang Xuan is quite strong..."
"The main issue is that Little Senior Brother is 'fragile,' with a low tolerance for mistakes..."
"Should we go and help? I'm worried about Little Senior Brother..."
...
As the three were discussing, a terrifying aura suddenly burst from the grove, and then it vanished. The trees remained unchanged, but the forest seemed deeper and more silent, causing their souls to tremble.
Linghu Xiao and his two companions felt their hearts skip a beat, their words abruptly halting as they turned their heads towards the small grove.
After a moment, a figure appeared through the swaying trees, and Mo Hua emerged with Ouyang Xuan.
Mo Hua's expression remained calm.
Ouyang Xuan, however, was as pale as a ghost, his body slightly trembling as if he had seen a spirit, his soul unsettled.
As they approached the group, Mo Hua's face lit up with a warm smile, "We had a heart-to-heart talk, and Ouyang realized that his earlier words were inappropriate. Let's put this matter behind us."
"We are all disciples of Tai Xu Gate, and we should work together for the honor of our sect and strive for a good ranking in the Swordsman Competition Congress..."
His words were like a refreshing spring breeze to the listeners.
Linghu Xiao and the other two exchanged peculiar glances.
Ouyang Xuan's face turned even paler, unable to utter a single word.
Mo Hua glanced at the group and said with a smile, "Good, then let's decide on this happily."
After that, the group continued to prepare for the Swordsman Competition Congress, refining their tactics.
This time, Ouyang Xuan truly became "well-behaved."
In fact, he was a bit too "well-behaved"—it was more like he was in a daze.
Whatever Mo Hua said, Ouyang Xuan followed to the letter.
His face still bore the remnants of shock, as if he hadn't fully recovered from the nightmare in the small grove.
However, due to this, the subsequent training went exceptionally smoothly.
...
Tai A Gate.
The Tai A Gate Leader was discussing the Swordsman Competition Congress with a middle-aged elder, but suddenly, his brows furrowed.
"What's wrong?" the middle-aged elder asked.
The Tai A Gate Leader seemed uneasy, "Do you think Xuan'er will be alright...?"
The middle-aged elder was slightly plump, with a fair complexion, and always carried a hint of a smile. He replied, "What could possibly happen to Young Master Xuan?"
"It's about the Swordsman Competition Congress."
"Regarding Tai Xu Mountain?"
"Yes," the Tai A Gate Leader nodded, his brows furrowed, "I forced Xuan'er to go there, but if things don't go well, it might not be a good idea."
The middle-aged elder pondered for a moment and nodded, "Young Master Xuan has a special status, and he has been raised in front of the Lao Zu since he was young. His lessons are personally taught by the true-transmission elder, so it's no wonder he has a somewhat eccentric personality. To be honest, if he doesn't stir up some trouble, it's unlikely he'll ever change..."
The Tai A Gate Leader furrowed his brows and sighed, "I had no choice..."
"This child... his status is too high. He's on equal terms with me, the Gate Leader. I can't even scold or punish him."
"I haven't dared to speak about this to anyone."
"With his status, it's even more impossible for him to get along with fellow disciples."
"None of the elders in the sect, from top to bottom, dare to discipline him, which is why he has become so willful."
"But now, I've sent him to Tai Xu Mountain to team up with other disciples for the Swordsman Competition Congress..."
The Tai A Gate Leader's brows furrowed even more tightly, "I'm afraid that in an extreme situation, if a fight breaks out and a Tai Xu Mountain disciple gets injured, it will damage the harmony between the three tribes."
Moreover, due to his status, even if Ouyang Xuan injured a Tai Xu Mountain disciple, it would be inappropriate for him to punish Xuan'er.
Being the Gate Leader was not an easy task.
The middle-aged elder pondered for a moment and then said slowly, "Why not forget about it? We can select some disciples from the Tai A Mountain branch to accompany Young Master Xuan to the Swordsman Competition Congress. Let's treat it as a game, and since they know each other, it won't cause too much trouble..."
"What kind of discipline is this?" The Tai A Gate Leader said sternly, "If we continue to indulge him like this without giving him any challenges, he will truly become a second-generation successor."
"After he forms his Jindan, if he still remains so arrogant, he will surely suffer greatly. Without self-improvement, his potential will be wasted, along with his excellent natural talent."
The middle-aged elder shook his head, "In that case, we can only slowly guide him. If Young Master Xuan causes any trouble, Tai A Gate will have to step in and apologize..."
The Tai A Gate Leader pondered for a moment and could only nod, "There's no other choice..."
"I hope that with time, Xuan'er and those Tai Xu Mountain disciples will get along..."
Of course, he was also aware that even if they got along, it wouldn't happen overnight.
With Xuan'er's willful and untamed personality, he looked down on everyone and was unlikely to behave. Who knew how much trouble he would cause...
There was nothing to do but take things one step at a time.
The Tai A Gate Leader sighed.
But two days later, he still couldn't put his mind at ease.
After much hesitation, the Tai A Gate Leader activated his escape technique, leaving Tai A Mountain and arriving at Tai Xu Mountain Gate. He entered the training ground, wanting to see how his Tai A Gate's "second-generation successor" was doing and whether he was truly arrogant and causing trouble.
However, as soon as he entered the training ground, the Tai A Gate Leader encountered the Tai Xu Gate Leader.
Both were a bit surprised.
But considering the importance of the Swordsman Competition Congress, it was natural for them to pay close attention, and neither found it odd.
"Please," the Tai Xu Gate Leader said.
"Thank you."
A young attendant set up seats and served tea.
Amidst the fragrant tea, the two Gate Leaders sat on the pavilion, sipping their tea.
On the training ground, disciples were practicing offensive and defensive maneuvers and various tactical variations.
The formation was precise and well-executed.
The Tai A Gate Leader had come for Ouyang Xuan, but upon witnessing this scene, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe, muttering, "Are these... Dao troops?"
The Tai Xu Gate Leader replied, "Not quite, it's just that the disciples are practicing with more discipline."
The Tai A Gate Leader took a closer look and nodded slightly.
Indeed, they couldn't be considered Dao troops.
Dao troops' formations were even more precise, and their rules were stricter.
Orders were followed without question, leaving no room for error.
In comparison, the disciples on the training ground were still inexperienced, and their formation changes were somewhat clumsy.
Moreover, it seemed that they were only practicing basic tactical formations, without the accompanying spiritual equipment and battle formations, making it impossible to compare with "Dao troops."
Even so, it was already quite an achievement.
This was the embryonic form of the "Celestial Geniuses Dao troops"...
(End of Chapter)
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