Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2179 Chapter 1021: Siege Defense Battle

The following day, the confrontation between Taixu Gate and Heavenly Sword Sect kicked off in the Earth Character Bureau.

Beyond the Mount of Tao, crowds still gathered in vast numbers, yet far fewer cultivators turned up to observe the fight this time around.

It felt boring to them.

Taixu Gate's top squad had suffered back-to-back defeats in the Earth Character Bureau's sword duels, showing lackluster results with hardly any standout moments.

Expectations had faded for most onlookers.

Moreover, this particular sword duel demanded defense against the premier sword cultivation sect, the Heavenly Sword Sect.

The Heavenly Sword Sect carried forward the legacy of the ancient Heavenly Sword Technique.

This Heavenly Sword Technique ranked among the elite sword arts across the Qian Learning State Boundary, boasting a truly fearsome might.

With the Heavenly Sword Sect launching attacks and unleashing their sword qi to ravage foes, across the whole Qian Learning State Boundary, not even the defensive powerhouses like the Longding Sect from the Four Great Sects or the Vajra Sect from the Eight Great Gates could hold firm.

The Taixu Gate stood no chance in comparison.

No elite body cultivator graced the ranks of Taixu Gate.

On top of that, there was the fragile Mo Hua, easy to shatter.

For most cultivators, this sword duel offered slim odds of victory and little thrill to behold.

Taixu Gate faced layer upon layer of disadvantages, sealing their defeat.

Of course, a few in the crowd still harbored hopes.

But those hopes centered on the Heavenly Sword Sect exploiting Mo Hua's weaknesses to slay him with one swift sword strike in this duel.

Such a desire burned simply and fiercely.

"Just want to see Mo Hua meet his end once."

From the Xuan Character Bureau onward—no, even from the Yellow Character Bureau's opening preliminaries—this fixation had rooted deep in many viewers' minds.

They craved nothing more, pulled solely by this relentless urge, drawn by that single spark, to witness Mo Hua's sword duels.

Mo Hua, that troublesome kid, had stirred up endless trouble, driving everyone to fury.

Without him dying at least once, true calm eluded their hearts.

Atop the Shangguan Family's elevated platform.

Yu'er dipped his head now and then, only lifting it with hesitation to steal glances at the projected scenes.

He dreaded the sight.

During the Xuan Character Bureau's sword duel, Brother Mo had those 'big fools' prancing to his whims, and Yu'er found it endlessly amusing.

Yet in the Earth Character Bureau's clashes, Brother Mo faced defeat after defeat.

One loss proved tough to stomach; he truly wished to avoid more. Still, as it involved Brother Mo, skipping it felt unbearable.

What if victory came this time?

Missing that would sting with regret.

Yu'er furrowed his brow, gripping his robe's edge tightly, his young features twisted in effort as he compelled himself to eye the screen's display.

Apart from Yu'er, Mo Hua's circle of 'family and friends'—including Wenren Wan, Gu Changhuai, Zhang Lan, Murong Caiyun, and Hua Qianqian—kept a steadier demeanor.

Early setbacks tugged at their hearts, but with mounting losses, acceptance set in.

Winning and losing came hand in hand on the battlefield.

Though they yearned for Mo Hua's triumph, they knew mortal strength had bounds, and certain feats lay beyond reach.

This was the Qianxue Debate, teeming with endless geniuses after all.

Mo Hua's progress to this stage already shone brightly.

So they attended just to cheer him on.

Besides, the duel’s dynamics appeared clear enough in their thoughts, leaving them braced with tempered hopes.

Events soon validated the bulk of these predictions.

From the outset, Taixu Gate fell back steadily.

This pitted defense against assault, mirroring 'siege battles' and 'defensive stands' in Dao cultivation warfare simulations.

The Heavenly Sword Sect assumed the attackers' role, as Taixu Gate held the line.

Naturally, the setup stayed 'streamlined.'

After all, sword duels featured just five fighters, far from the massive Dao cultivation wars that mobilized thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands in epic clashes—serving merely as a basic 'model' for disciples to test and hone skills through these duels.

No genuine 'city' existed.

Within the sword duel field, a 'fortress' rose, split into outer and inner zones by barriers, and at the inner zone's heart stood a 'City Lord' effigy.

Assailants aimed to storm the outer zone, breach into the inner, and ultimately topple the City Lord statue.

Defenders fought to shield it.

The siege carried a strict time constraint.

In four hours, breaching the stronghold meant victory for attackers; holding it secured the win for defenders.

And Taixu Gate needed to withstand two hours of the Heavenly Sword Sect's relentless sword qi barrage.

Far from straightforward.

Defending the outer zone boiled down to securing the 'city gates.'

Two gates marked the outer zone, each demanding guards.

One gate guarded the inner zone.

Thus, forces spread thin proved deadly for a squad like Taixu Gate, short on full strength.

Mo Hua remained the crux.

This duel laid bare Mo Hua's flaws as a 'Spiritual Cultivator.'

Even prior to the duel’s start, observers had noted it:

"In such a battle, Mo Hua proves utterly worthless."

"I can't fathom any role he might fill..."

"Siege warfare demands head-on clashes, no space for tricks..."

"His hiding skills, no matter how sharp, get overlooked by foes."

"His footwork, however swift, only aids flight, but defending a fortress leaves nowhere to flee."

"Basic Five Elements Spells won't stand against Heavenly Sword Sect's sword qi."

"That frail build of his, stepping up to block? One sword ends it..."

"Pointless entirely; best he huddles in the inner zone from the jump and lets teammates buy time..."

"Outcome hinges nowhere near him anyway..."

One voice sneered in disdain.

As the sword duel commenced, the screen's visions revealed the truth. Spectators saw Mo Hua follow their words exactly, ignoring all else, darting straight to crouch behind the inner wall, facing away from the fray, furtively tinkering with something unclear, his actions carrying a 'sneaky' air...