The Quest for Immortality Chapter 2242: The Sinister Formation Master (part 2)

Stationed one hundred sixty zhang away, Ye Zhiyuan pulled back, focused his mind, and channeled his technique to command the flying sword.

This Daluo Flying Sword, a weapon specially crafted for him, spanned three chi and seven inches; its ancient, weathered surface was etched with cloud patterns, and it darted through the atmosphere with a frigid gleam that promised death.

Known as a genius in the art of Sword Control, Ye Zhiyuan had committed himself to rigorous training following his humiliating defeat at the hands of Mo Hua.

Indeed, hatred acts as the most potent catalyst.

Today, Ye Zhiyuan’s Daluo Flying Sword showed marked improvement compared to his previous efforts.

Moving with greater velocity, precision, and sharpness, the blade transformed into a streak of light, vanishing into the clouds at the horizon as it streaked toward Mo Hua.

Although the Tai’a Five Brothers ultimately managed to intercept the strike, the flying sword arrived within ten zhang of its target.

The residual energy from the resulting Sword Qi explosion tore into the earth and disrupted the local mana flow, startling Mo Hua and forcing a momentary lapse in his Divine Sense, which brought his Formation Painting to a halt.

Qin Cangliu had analyzed the situation correctly.

Divine Sense Control Ink, essentially the act of Drawing Ground into Formation, demands absolute, unwavering focus.

While the sword strike did not take Mo Hua’s life, it effectively neutralized his Formation Painting.

Deprived of the aid of Mo Hua’s erratic formations, Shi Tiangang and the others experienced a sudden sense of relief.

Even though the Taixu Gate disciples were emboldened by their Five Elements Source Armor, they found they could hold their ground in a drawn-out struggle, provided they were free from Mo Hua’s insidious and unpredictable formations.

At last, Mo Hua’s formation had been checked, leaving the elite talents of the Four Sects and Seven Gates revitalized.

"Advance!"

Ye Zhiyuan continued his barrage, launching flying swords at Mo Hua from his protected distance.

Disturbed, Mo Hua was unable to channel his Divine Sense to Control Ink or solidify his formations.

The Tai’a Five Brothers were preoccupied with protecting Mo Hua, and thus kept at bay.

While Hao Xuan and the others possessed solid movement techniques, their limited cultivation prevented them from piercing the defensive line of the Four Sects and Seven Gates to reach Ye Zhiyuan.

Linghu Xiao remained locked in combat with Shi Tiangang and several Vajra Sect disciples, while the assaults led by Yang Qianjun failed to breakthrough in time to eliminate Ye Zhiyuan.

The momentum had shifted.

With the Taixu Gate’s formation forcibly disrupted, their situation deteriorated instantly.

Observing from the rear with a frigid expression, Mo Hua spoke under his breath. "Interrupting my Formation Painting, are you?"

He drew a Spirit Sword, linked his Divine Sense with the Sword Array, and flicked his fingers; a beam of golden light erupted, piercing the sky as it raced toward Ye Zhiyuan.

It was a clash of Sword Control against Sword Control.

The blade flew with unnatural speed and accuracy. Ye Zhiyuan felt a sudden chill, his senses sharpening immediately. He remembered his previous defeat, where he had been caught off guard by a Formation Master who could also Control a Sword; this time, he would not be so careless.

Ye Zhiyuan retreated without hesitation, covering thirty to forty zhang in a flash. This distance was well beyond the typical range of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Furthermore, knowing that Mo Hua’s unconventional "Sword Control" culminated in an explosion, he ensured he was safely out of the blast radius. For added security, two Vajra Sect cultivators stepped in front of him with elevated shields.

Mo Hua’s blade collided with the shields and detonated instantly. The Sword Array reached critical overload and shattered, unleashing sharp Sword Qi and jagged metal fragments that tore through the air, stirring up a massive cloud of dust. Though the Vajra Sect disciples were enveloped by the blast and suffered severe lacerations despite their Golden Shields, they succeeded in absorbing the blow for Ye Zhiyuan, leaving him completely unscathed.

Standing thirty to forty zhang away from the lingering smoke, Ye Zhiyuan exhaled, the fear of Mo Hua waning in his mind. "Mo Hua’s Sword Control is ultimately nothing special. As long as I am prepared, he cannot take my life."

But as this thought crossed his mind, his relief proved premature. Emerging from the smoke, a plain Tai’a Sword appeared. It crackled with no Sword Qi or flashy technique, yet it carried an aura of terrifying murder.

Ye Zhiyuan’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief.

Two hundred zhang!

How could Mo Hua’s Spirit Sword reach him from such an impossible distance? Had he been hiding his true strength all along? Could he really command a sword from two hundred zhang away?

Paralyzed by fear, Ye Zhiyuan tried to retreat, but it was already far too late. He had braced for a strike at one hundred sixty zhang, but a strike at two hundred zhang was beyond his comprehension. Additionally, Mo Hua’s first strike had tied up the Vajra Sect guardians, and the smoke had effectively blinded everyone. This second strike was faster, reached further, and arrived in total concealment. There was no one to shield him, and the chaotic, explosive Sword Qi had completely muddled his perception. This was a trap from which there was no escape.

The Tai’a Sword overloaded and shattered, sending shards of concentrated, lethal Sword Qi slicing through the area. Just as it had happened before, Ye Zhiyuan fell dead.

Once again, he had been slain by a single strike from Mo Hua, and with his demise, the situation rapidly spiraled out of control for his side. With no one left to threaten Mo Hua or obstruct his art, the violet-black Spiritual Ink began to slither across the valley like serpents, and formations manifested like lethal totems. Shi Tiangang and Qin Cangliu felt a deep, chilling dread, but it was too late to salvage the battle. As the light of the Five Elements Source Armor began to flicker, Mo Hua infused his Divine Sense into the battlefield, pushing the artifacts to their absolute limit. A divine, overwhelming power descended upon the Taixu Gate disciples, sealing the fate of the Four Sects and Seven Gates.