The Quest for Immortality Chapter 2234: Ink Manipulation

The Five Brothers of Taia Mountain consisted of Ouyang Fu, Lu, Shou, Xi, and Cai.

While they were once obscure figures in Taia Mountain, the tactical guidance, specialized spiritual artifacts, and intricate formation setups provided by Mo Hua transformed them into the formidable 'Cleaver Squad'. Driven by unwavering resolve, they quickly emerged as prominent contenders in the Sword Discussion Conference.

Mo Hua had not only imparted the legacy of the Three Mountains to refine their cultivation and swordsmanship but also outfitted them with superior armor and massive swords.

With these enhancements, the five brothers resembled tigers empowered by wings.

They harbored immense gratitude toward Mo Hua.

The kindness shown by their Junior Brother remained fresh in their minds.

Had it not been for the opportunities provided by Junior Brother Mo Hua—equipping them with pristine spiritual artifacts, implementing clever formations and strategies, and instilling a sense of purpose—they never could have displayed such prowess, nor earned the recognition of their Sect.

Now, seated directly behind them was their Junior Brother.

The elite disciples of the Four Sects and Seven Gates were intent on breaching their defense line to strike down that very youth.

Such a prospect was entirely unthinkable.

Incensed, the five brothers of Taia grew bloodshot, their lethal intent flaring with newfound intensity.

"Whosoever dares to lay a hand on Junior Brother shall face death!"

In that moment, their hearts beat as one.

In any other circumstance, they might have engaged these powerful attackers in a game of evasion.

However, this was a narrow gorge, turning the confrontation into a siege. To break the line, enemies were forced to step directly into the lethal reach of their massive blades.

The giant swords were like the guillotines of a purgatory, sharp and relentless, reaping lives with every swing.

The spectators watching from beyond the arena were stunned.

Even the disciples of the Four Sects and Seven Gates began to furrow their brows in concern.

Only now did it dawn on them that Taixu Gate was not defined by Mo Hua alone; his companions were forces to be reckoned with in their own right.

While dealing with them one-on-one was feasible, the current arrangement, where they clustered around Mo Hua to receive his synchronized coordination, proved far more taxing.

"Keep pressing forward!" one fighter roared through gritted teeth.

"Body cultivators in the front, the others surge through the opening!"

A group of disciples from the Vajra Sect stepped forward, their muscles hardened like metallic stone. Backed by other body cultivators, they raised defensive shields to intercept the cleaver-like blades of the Taia brothers.

The heavy swords struck their vajra-hardened bodies, carving deep furrows into their skin. Against the reinforced shields, the impacts resulted in significant cracks.

The raw lethality of the five blades was unsettling to witness.

Even so, the momentum of the giant swords was momentarily arrested.

Taking advantage of the brief reprieve, the other disciples rushed toward the valley.

But the moment they broke through, they were met by a brilliant, sapphire-colored sword qi, as sharp and cold as a waning moon.

This wave of energy was devastating, instantly harvesting the lives of those who entered the valley, including the Vajra Sect disciples, leaving them with no chance to recover.

The sword qi easily bypassed their protective vajra manifestations.

The five brothers of Taia followed with wild, sweeping hacks, clearing their paths.

The entrance was effectively purged.

Three disciples from the Sever Gold Sect attempted to fill the breach, but they were swiftly eliminated by the Taia brothers and the supplemental sword qi of Linghu Xiao.

Terrified by the destructive capacity of the Taixu Gate defenders, the remaining disciples hesitated, eventually deciding to pull back.

As they withdrew, Hao Xuan and the others, acting under Mo Hua’s precise instructions, moved to restore the defensive formations at the valley’s mouth.

The shattered formation was quickly repaired.

Once more, the cold, rhythmic hum of the formation light flickered to life at the entrance.

"Curses."

"Every effort has been wasted..."

The disciples from the Four Sects and Seven Gates muttered in frustration.

Regardless, Taixu Gate had successfully repelled the initial onslaught.

Outside the fray, Qin Cangliu’s gaze drifted shiftily as he addressed the gatherers: "How shall we proceed?"

In truth, he had formulated a strategy, but he chose to keep it to himself.

There were far too many influential individuals present. While his lineage was distinguished—tied to the Taoist State with ancestors serving the Taoist Court for generations—the people surrounding him possessed reputations of equal caliber.

The top talents of Qianxue all secretly relied on powerful ancestral backing.

It was not his place to lead.

The elites of the Four Sects and Seven Gates likewise maintained a calculated silence.

Ye Qingfeng of the Daluo Sect pondered the situation before stepping forward. Certain truths, in this scenario, required a voice like his.

Among the Eight Great Gates, the Daluo Sect reigned supreme behind Taixu Gate, and Ye Qingfeng was widely considered the most dangerous among the 'Qianxue Four Talents'.

Shen Linsu, Xiao Wuchen, Ao Zhan, and Duanmu Qing stood aloof, burdened with the task of securing victory for their respective factions. They maintained a delicate balance, leaving them unable to intervene recklessly.

Indeed, as members of the Four Great Sects, they were pleased to see the Seven Great Gates clashing violently with Taixu Gate.

Once Taixu Gate fell, the true conflict—the Asura War—would ignite among the four of them.

But for now, Taixu Gate was a prerequisite obstacle.

With Mo Hua’s tactical advantage, boosted by his formations and the sheer lethality of Linghu Xiao and the Taia brothers, Taixu Gate’s power was undeniably the greatest among the Eight Great Gates.

The Four Great Sects might look down upon Taixu Gate, but for the other Seven, this 'formidable enemy' had to be removed through collective sacrifice.

This duty fell to him, and unpleasant truths had to be voiced. Ye Qingfeng stated, "Our foremost issue is the formation constructed by Mo Hua."

"With that barrier obstructing our path, Taixu Gate remains unchallenged. Even if we succeed in a temporary breach, we are inevitably cut down by Linghu Xiao."

"And once we yield, Mo Hua merely resumes the formation."

"However..." Ye Qingfeng’s eyes hardened. "There is only one high-rank Formation Master currently within the Taixu Gate camp: Mo Hua. He alone holds the ability to weave such complex barriers."