Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2231 - 1036: Traitor (3)

During the whole Sword Discussion, he never clashed with Mo Hua and harbored no grudge toward him.

Thus, his perspective remained fairly impartial.

His desire to eliminate Mo Hua stemmed not from any private grudge.

Instead, it arose from Mo Hua's sly and bizarre 'survival' abilities posing a significant threat.

On this Asura Battlefield, failing to eliminate Mo Hua preemptively could allow him to truly 'endure' right up to the finale.

Such an outcome would be completely absurd.

Being a premier Heavenly Pride Disciple among the Eight Great Gates, Ye Qingfeng's statements were readily embraced by his fellow Eight Gates members.

His strength granted him the authority to bargain with the Heavenly Pride Disciples from the Four Great Sects.

As a result, his opinions gained 'universal consensus.'

'Eliminate Mo Hua first!'

'At the very least, locate the Taixu Gate folks initially...'

'Agreed.'

…

The Heavenly Pride Disciples of various sects scattered, intersecting like a 'sifting net,' scouring the full expanse of the Asura Battlefield, from every blade of grass to each mound and gorge.

Divine Sense swept across repeatedly.

Their eyes pierced with remarkable sharpness.

They deployed even the Concealed Spiritual Artifacts.

Yet oddly, no trace of Mo Hua appeared before them.

Neither did any indication of the Taixu Gate surface.

All inwardly swore as they pressed on with the hunt.

Worry started to swell within the group's minds.

This deadlock was fueling growing frustration among them.

'Where on earth is Mo Hua concealed?'

'Slippery as a phantom...'

'Blast it, how much longer will this drag on?'

…

Besides, this Asura Battlefield decides personal destinies and sect benefits alike. Inevitably, certain individuals grew restless during the impasse.

Undoubtedly, they wished to slay Mo Hua.

However, should slaying Mo Hua prove impossible, matters shifted.

They recalled this being a sword discussion, where disciples from other sects counted as foes.

For a single 'Mo Hua,' they couldn't afford to sabotage their sect's overarching strategy.

The purported Tu Mo 'alliance' merely served as a 'loose agreement,' one few regarded with gravity.

Particularly when genuine sect gains were at stake.

Slowly, doubts crept into some minds.

Balancing Mo Hua against sect advantages, they recognized the priority.

Not all in the Four Sects, Eight Gates, and Twelve Streams despised Mo Hua intensely.

Furthermore, hidden in this assembly lurked 'insiders' backed by Mo Hua.

Amid the Sever Gold Sect lineup.

Song Jian addressed the head Sever Gold Sect disciple, 'Song Kui, time to commence the slaughter.'

Song Kui froze in surprise.

As the mightiest disciple in his batch from the Sever Gold Sect and their commander, yet Song Jian's noble origins and stellar performance at the Sword Discussion Conference had garnered elder approval.

Hence, he couldn't brush off Song Jian's view.

Save for...

Commence slaughter?

Slay who?

Song Kui pieced together Song Jian's intent and scowled, 'This...doesn't feel appropriate.'

Song Jian replied, 'On the Asura Battlefield, during pivotal times, ruthlessness and lack of scruples are essential.'

'Yet Mo Hua...'

'With so many eager to end Mo Hua, missing one Sever Gold Sect changes nothing.'

Song Kui remained undecided.

Song Jian continued, 'Recall, our Sever Gold Sect lingers at the Eight Gates' nadir.'

'Higher sects won't yield their spots to us.'

'Slaying Mo Hua and implicating Taixu Gate won't alter our position.'

'True rivals are those sects just one or two ranks above.'

'We must crush them to ascend...'

'Ascend first, then eye Taixu Gate, then contemplate Mo Hua's death. Without rising, all is futile...'

Practical by nature, Song Kui's eyes gleamed fiercely at these words, and he agreed:

'Fine, let's kill!'

Leading the charge, Song Kui advanced while Song Jian gripped his Spirit Sword; together, they guided the Sever Gold Sect disciples in a stealthy pursuit of Mo Hua's location.

Shortly thereafter, en route, they bumped into the Purple Mist Sect.

Song Kui approached and traded greetings.

As the Purple Mist Sect let down their guard, Song Jian abruptly unsheathed his sword, radiating golden brilliance, striking at a Purple Mist Sect disciple.

His Sever Gold Sect comrades swiftly piled on the assault.

The Purple Mist Sect followers, unprepared, suffered two fatalities in the surprise attack, three grave wounds, and seven or eight minor injuries.

The Purple Mist Sect's leading Heavenly Pride erupted in rage, berating:

'Sever Gold Sect, what's this treachery?'

Song Jian smirked, 'A sword discussion, naturally—what else?'

Wielding his blade, he spearheaded his sectmates into combat against the Purple Mist Sect contingent.

Two additional Purple Mist Sect members fell.

Nevertheless, the Purple Mist Sect, true to its Eight Gates status, rapidly regrouped and countered the Sever Gold Sect fiercely.

Tension escalated rapidly.

Realizing the odds turned against them, Song Jian avoided a drawn-out skirmish, withdrew swiftly, and commanded:

'Fall back!'

His Sever Gold Sect allies pulled out alongside him.

Fuming with resentment, the Purple Mist Sect disciples refrained from chase after their ambush losses to Sever Gold Sect, merely observing as their foes departed.

Beyond the battlefield.

Purple Mist Sect elders lambasted the Sever Gold Sect's despicableness.

In contrast, Sever Gold Sect elders approved with nods, commending:

'Song Jian hasn't let me down; he truly possesses resolve...'

'Unswayed by enmity, composed in thought, mindful of the broader scheme, adept at grabbing chances, merciless in strikes, efficient and crisp without hesitation—he's invaluable!'

'Such an outlook surpasses even a superior Spiritual Root.'

'Sever Gold Sect's luck shines with him!'

…

At the same time, within the sword discussion arena.

The Sever Gold Sect's strike on Purple Mist Sect stirred considerable uproar, inevitably pulling eyes from other sects.

Observing the events, Gui Water Sect's Qin Cangliu furrowed his brow in contemplation.

Just then, a Gui Water Sect disciple approached and murmured:

'Brother Qin, with Sever Gold Sect initiating kills, maybe it's time for us to...'

He sliced the air horizontally with his hand.

Qin Cangliu eyed the unremarkable disciple and remembered his identity:

Wang Chen.

This Wang Chen boasted middling aptitude but excelled in alliances and ties inside Gui Water Sect.

Evidently, the Rouge Boat affair prompted a thorough overhaul in Gui Water Sect.

Leveraging Taoist Court links, Wang Chen dispensed kindnesses, steadily carving out a place in Gui Water Sect and earning respect.

Buoyed by this standing, Wang Chen assembled a squad and secured entry into the Earth-tier sword discussion.

Certainly, the Earth-tier proved arduous; Wang Chen's group claimed scant victories, and absent the Asura Battlefield, he wouldn't have shone.

Qin Cangliu held little regard for Wang Chen.

Still, he avoided antagonizing him carelessly.

As the proverb states, confronting Yama proves simpler than handling pesky imps.

Wang Chen embodied that vexing 'imp.'

Interlinked with influential circles, concealing bonds.

One can never gauge fully the covert associates of such ostensibly minor figures.

Crossing them invites mishaps and derailments easily.

Yet Qin Cangliu refused to swallow Wang Chen's suggestions blindly.

He mulled over silently.

Wang Chen's gaze shifted as he added: 'Brother Qin, Mo Hua's a despicable sort, fit for death...yet in this predicament, Gui Water Sect fares scarcely better than Sever Gold Sect.'

'Should Sever Gold Sect advance, Gui Water Sect tumbles to the bottom.'

'Lacking a prompt plan, slaying Mo Hua yields no gain for Gui Water Sect.'

'Furthermore...'

Wang Chen indicated skyward, murmuring: 'This sword discussion draws elite observers, notably from the Taoist Court and its officials.'

'Word has it Mo Hua links to the Taoist Court's Gu Family and even its overseer.'

'Within a sword discussion, should Brother Qin genuinely dispatch Mo Hua, the powerhouses won't object.'

'However, should pursuing Mo Hua's death prolong things and drop Gui Water Sect to Eight Gates' depths, then...'

Wang Chen fell quiet.

Qin Cangliu, of course, grasped the implications.

After brief reflection, Qin Cangliu's eyes chilled; he eyed Wang Chen: 'What's your aim?'

Wang Chen bowed, modestly stating: 'Esteemed Qin, self-awareness matters; lacking exceptional gifts, I focus on forging bonds and camaraderie.'

'I share this to build favor and get to know you.'

'Plus, as Gui Water Sect fellows, our fortunes intertwine; I naturally prioritize the sect.'

Qin Cangliu pierced Wang Chen with a keen stare.

Wang Chen maintained a modest grin, composure steady.

Qin Cangliu nodded faintly: 'Fine, we'll commence the killing as well...'