The Quest for Immortality Chapter 2267: Assimilation (part 2)

In that instant as the two groups clashed eyes, Qin Cangliu instinctively braced for a "fight to the death".

Under normal circumstances, that would have been the reality.

Yet Mo Hua held back from striking.

Qin Cangliu swiftly spotted something off.

Within the assembly ahead, disciples from Taixu Gate mingled with those from various other sects...

"Sever Gold Sect?!"

Qin Cangliu’s pupils shrank in shock.

Amid the over thirty Taixu Gate members, he discovered more than a dozen Sever Gold Sect disciples!

Like a mouse curled up in a cat’s embrace?!

With fury etched on his face, he demanded of Song Jian: "Has your Sever Gold Sect joined Taixu Gate?"

Song Jian found himself in no position to reply freely, especially while "under the thumb" of others, so he glanced at Mo Hua’s face.

Song Jian turned to Mo Hua.

Mo Hua addressed Qin Cangliu: "Sword discussion is sword discussion. For the sect’s gain, a clear winner must emerge. But trapped in this Evil Formation full of perils, we righteous Dao sect disciples ought to shelve old feuds, unite, and seek an escape."

Mo Hua spoke with remarkable persuasiveness.

Qin Cangliu remained skeptical.

Born to a Taoist Court aristocratic clan where elders enforced the law, he grew up amid such influences, fostering a rather阴沉 temperament; others called him profound and calculating.

Qin Cangliu admitted his own schemes ran deep.

But this pale-faced Mo Hua, with crimson lips and sparkling eyes, hid far greater cunning than his own.

Appearances deceived, and Mo Hua embodied that perfectly.

Qin Cangliu furrowed his brow deeply, staying quiet.

When gentle words failed, Mo Hua turned sharp, warning of "your weak formation leaving you blind here", "missing the peril staring you down", "lingering spells doom", "a truly agonizing end"...

Each phrase hammered anxiety into Qin Cangliu’s chest.

He sensed Mo Hua’s warnings rang true.

Still, his wary disposition blocked hasty choices.

The core fear was Mo Hua’s treachery—he worried this "black-hearted" schemer might exploit his Gui Water Sect comrades as cannon fodder.

They’d perish cluelessly if so.

The Sword Discussion Conference proved it; countless exploded under Mo Hua’s arrays without a clue.

Mo Hua’s reputation in such exploits was "infamous".

Lessons from before demanded caution.

Yet Qin Cangliu also grasped that Formation Leader Mo Hua possessed bottomless array mastery. Trailing him offered their faint shot at life.

As Qin Cangliu wavered indecisively, Wang Chen stepped up, urging mildly:

"Taixu Gate isn’t alone with Mo Hua; Sever Gold Sect follows too. Harming us would drag them in as well."

"Plus, Taixu Gate holds the upper hand now—if we provoke Mo Hua and they strike, we stand no chance..."

Qin Cangliu scowled.

Grasping his worries, Wang Chen continued, "Wise ones adapt to the moment. If you can’t speak, allow me to bargain with Young Master Mo."

Qin Cangliu showed mild astonishment and nodded slowly.

Wang Chen advanced, positioned before Mo Hua, acted as if unacquainted, and haggled fiercely for Gui Water Sect "privileges".

Though Mo Hua carried an arrogant air, he consented with a nod.

Wang Chen bowed deferentially to Mo Hua, returned, and passed on Mo Hua’s "guarantees" to Qin Cangliu:

He vowed no deceit against Gui Water Sect.

Vowed no intentional sacrificing of Gui Water Sect disciples.

Vowed no initiating attacks on Gui Water Sect disciples.

Vowed no array strikes aimed at Gui Water Sect disciples.

...

"Young Master Qin, let’s accept temporarily and play it by ear," Wang Chen suggested.

Qin Cangliu appeared taken aback.

He’d long viewed Wang Chen as a slippery rogue with dubious ethics, yet seeing him boldly confront this "little fiend" Mo Hua for Gui Water Sect’s sake shifted his opinion.

Qin Cangliu felt newfound respect for Wang Chen and nodded, declaring:

"Fine."

Thus, Gui Water Sect got "absorbed" by Mo Hua for the moment.

Mo Hua restated the three-way pact, supplied a Divine Formation for their safeguard, while Gui Water Sect contributed formation media and Spiritual Ink.

Mo Hua’s group swelled further.

They pressed on, aiding stray Heavenly Pride Disciples en route, inviting joins from the willing.

Most sect disciples, even after Mo Hua’s rescues, balked at or feared sticking with their dread "archfoe".

But Sever Gold Sect and Gui Water Sect disciples, led by figures like Song Jian and Qin Cangliu, always opted to "yield" to Mo Hua upon meeting their own.

Capture the ringleader to control the pack—that’s the principle.

By first bending elite Heavenly Prides, the rest fell in line.

Mo Hua nodded, validating his hunches and deepening his understanding.

Onward they went, exiting the barren woods into a Blood Swamp, clashing with Vajra Sect’s Shi Tiangang.

The Blood Swamp brimmed with crimson water and meaty muck.

Yet this liquid bled red, the sludge pulsed with flesh, stinking of decay, birthing swarms of Evil Spirits.

Overhead in the Blood Swamp, countless leech-like horrors swarmed like a crimson downpour, blanketing the sky and sending chills down spines.

Vajra Sect met misfortune, dropping close to the Blood Swamp.

Blind to the Evil Spirits, their reckless wandering let most disciples suffer Sea of Consciousness invasions unnoticed.