Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2131 Chapter 1005: Decapitation Match (Part 3)

Yet in the following moment, his expression twisted dramatically.

Flames erupted in a blaze, winds churned violently, the Gui Water Sect disciple's blade quivered uncontrollably, agony pulsing through his fingers, compelling his form to stumble back two paces.

"This spell... is it possibly the Fireball Technique?"

He struggled to accept the notion.

Visually, it appeared unchanged, merely a shade deeper, yet its might vastly outstripped the standard Fireball Technique.

Without enduring it firsthand, its true force remained unfelt.

"Truly... as Formation Leader, he possesses real skill..."

The Gui Water Sect disciple pondered quietly to himself.

Still, the Fireball Technique remained merely that—a Fireball Technique.

They had finally grasped this chance; slaying Mo Hua would claim victory.

Even against a mere rabbit, a lion unleashes its full might.

Right now, total commitment was essential, leaving no room for the slightest error.

Determination hardened in the Gui Water Sect disciple's eyes as he repeated his move, dissolving into vapor, aiming to leverage the "Water Shadow Step" for stealth to plunge straight into the woods and drag Mo Hua out.

However, the instant he activated Water Shadow Step and his figure morphed into fog, a fireball—as if guided by sight—struck him squarely.

The Dao Discussion Jade flickered dimly.

Scorching heat and explosive torment wracked his body.

The Gui Water Sect disciple reeled back multiple steps, shock slowly creeping across his features:

"How... how did the Fireball Technique still land on me?"

"What's happening here?"

"I performed the refined 'Water Shadow Step' perfectly, with watery illusions to confuse and mist to veil vision—how did he strike true?"

Confusion gripped the Gui Water Sect disciple.

Within the dense woods, Mo Hua smirked inwardly with chill disdain:

"Daring to use Water Shadow Step against me? It's like a child grandson bowing to his forebear—utterly amusing..."

His finger extended once more, unleashing another Fireball Technique that hurtled forward with a roar.

The Gui Water Sect disciple braced his defenses rigidly, only to be shoved back several feet anew, the Dao Discussion Jade's "health" waning a bit further.

Irritation and a hint of alarm stirred within him.

"It has to be just luck!"

"I've honed Water Shadow Step for more than ten years, invested endless toil—how could anyone pierce it so effortlessly?"

"I refuse to accept this!"

He pressed on with Water Shadow Step, edging toward the woods, only to get predictably hammered by yet another precise Fireball Technique.

This Fireball Technique struck with speed, precision, and ferocity, as though it bore eyes homing in on him.

No matter how he maxed out Water Shadow Step, evasion from this fateful Fireball Technique proved impossible.

A surge of near-vomiting frustration boiled in the Gui Water Sect disciple.

"Curse it! How dull must one be to refine the Fireball Technique to such a level?!"

Deep regret gnawed at him meanwhile.

Water Shadow Step advanced, Fireball Technique repelled—after a few exchanges, the window to charge the woods and "decapitate" Mo Hua had slipped away.

Cheng Mo, Ouyang Xuan, and Situ Jian drew nearer.

Soon, the clash reignited fiercely among all.

Taixu Gate held at four against five.

But this round differed subtly, for from the woods, fireballs sporadically launched, hitting Gui Water Sect disciples with unerring accuracy.

Not just swift, but potent enough to demand divided focus for defense, keeping them wary and draining their spirit.

Sudden pressure weighed on the Gui Water Sect disciples.

And bolstered by Mo Hua's Fireball Technique, Taixu Gate's lineup adapted.

Cheng Mo anchored the forefront, swinging his dual Mountain Splitting Axes with bold prowess.

Situ Jian pivoted to protective stance, shielding Linghu Xiao upfront, wielding Li Fire Sword to parry foes, granting Linghu Xiao moments to amass Chongxu Sword Qi.

With the forward guard stabilized, Linghu Xiao unleashed assaults, Sword Qi reaping havoc.

Ouyang Xuan served as the spearhead, pinning down adversaries.

Mo Hua burrowed in the woods, deploying Fireball Technique for aid, oversight, and command of the fray.

One to hold, one to shield, one to strike, one to lead the charge.

Plus Mo Hua in "support."

Thus, Taixu Gate's setup started to solidify.

Before the woods, figures clashed in shadows, Sword Qi billowed, fireballs streaked, forging a scene of raw intensity.

Facing Gui Water Sect squarely, they yielded no territory.

And the most vexing element was Mo Hua's Fireball Technique.

In combat, any Gui Water Sect disciple exposing weakness faced inevitable Fireball Technique impact.

Any bold aggressor met certain Fireball Technique obstruction.

Any trying Water Escape endured Fireball Technique barrage.

Any wounded drew another hit, worsening the harm.

Encompassing restraint, ally aid, disruption, scouting, and bonus strikes all in one.

Mo Hua wielded his Fireball Technique with expert finesse.

Particularly since he lurked unseen in the woods, never emerging, merely "joining" via Fireball Technique, which infused an enigmatic aura that pressed heavily on the Gui Water Sect group.

That said, this was Gui Water Sect's sensation.

Observers beyond savored a wholly distinct view.

Gui Water Sect disciples missed sight of Mo Hua, deeming it eerie, but watchers beheld it plainly.

On the vast Fang Tian canvas overhead, Mo Hua's form appeared vivid and clear.

He hunkered in the small woods, fingers darting nimbly, hurling fireballs outward.

It seemed almost like a game.

In the canvas's aerial perspective, relying solely on sight, the velocity, force, exactness, and the stifling oppression from Fireball Technique eluded capture.

They deemed it somewhat "absurd."

This was Qian Learning State Boundary's Sword Discussion Conference, uniting Nine State geniuses from myriad clans, drawing elites from Four Sects, Eight Gates, and Twelve Streams—a majestic arena of sword clashes and contests.

In such splendor, when had a basic Qi Refinement incantation like Fireball Technique ever starred?

Even more outrageous: fearing a Fireball Technique?

"That Gui Water Sect disciple, master of Water Shadow Step, nearly at the woods' edge—rushing in to fell Mo Hua ought to clinch the win?"

"Retreated after two Fireball Technique blasts?"

"What's to dread from a simple Fireball Technique?"

"Precisely—the rest of Gui Water Sect's disciples seem inept too, battling endlessly, all tagged by Fireball Technique, none dodging."

"How does one even sidestep it?"

"This Fireball Technique drags down the Sword Discussion Conference's prestige..."

"Couldn't agree more..."

Common disciples and cultivators, lacking direct trial, chattered animatedly.

However, select elite disciples, sect elders, and clan heads furrowed brows.

Drawing on vast expertise and deep spell insight.

Though Fang Tian's canvas warped the view, they discerned underlying arts.

It wasn't Gui Water Sect disciples' failing, but this Fireball Technique's genuine exceptionalism...

...

The sword discourse pressed on amid the fray.

Aided by the superb Fireball Technique, Taixu Gate edged toward dominance.

Qin Cangliu's brow creased.

He recognized well that breaching the woods to eliminate Mo Hua, the "core," seemed improbable here.

If that held, a direct onslaught remained the path.

Vanquishing Linghu Xiao, "slaying" fellow Taixu Gate members, then breaching the woods to dispatch the vile, Fireball Technique-savvy Mo Hua.

In this bind, outcomes hinged on the prodigies' displays.

Turning the tide, flipping fortunes beyond mortal feats—that defined aristocratic families' genuine "children of destiny."

Lacking the power to shatter stalemates disqualified one as prodigy.

Dazzling aqueous glow, akin to a roaring ocean, gathered on Qin Cangliu's blade, igniting sword aura with breathtaking potency.

His stare, ruthless and frosty, fixed unyieldingly on Linghu Xiao.

Linghu Xiao stayed composed, yet battle fervor blazed in his gaze, Sword Qi flaring about him.

Their eyes met, sword aura slicing like knives through emptiness.

All observing cultivators tensed, then gleamed with eager expectation.

They sensed the imminent clash embodied Qianxue Debate's heart—the authentic "prodigy showdown"...