Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2093 Chapter 994: Sword Pointed at the Four Sects

In the quiet woods beyond the Disciple's Residence.

Towering ancient trees reach skyward, their branches thick and verdant.

Mo Hua positions himself beneath the ancient tree.

This very tall ancient tree serves exactly as the spot where he practices forging his Divine Thought into a sword.

Hundreds of disciples assemble close by, encircling Mo Hua.

This assembly follows Mo Hua's summons and Cheng Mo's arrangements, drawing in many Junior Brothers from the Taixu Gate.

These disciples represent only a portion of the total.

As the final year of Sect cultivation unfolds, most disciples stay occupied with their personal pursuits.

Some enter seclusion for cultivation, others venture out to hunt Monsters, some refine their Taoist Skills, a few persist with bounty missions, and yet more delve into Formations, Runes, Alchemy, Artifact Refining, along with various other paths of Tao Cultivation.

For Mo Hua to rally so many disciples with such brief notice, it stands as a remarkable feat.

Within this group, the bulk hail from Taixu Mountain, joined by just a handful from Tai'a Mountain and Mount Chongxu.

Disciples of Taixu Mountain, bound by the same roots as Mo Hua and having shared many days together, hold a strong connection and greater faith in their "Junior Brother" Mo Hua.

Whenever Mo Hua issues a call, nearly all Taixu disciples with free time rush to respond without delay.

The branches of Tai'a and Chongxu merged into Taixu Gate only recently, leaving their disciples far more reserved in their approach to Mo Hua.

Mo Hua, however, remains unconcerned.

At present, this number of disciples proves sufficient.

In the compact woodland, hundreds of disciples either stand or settle down, forming a tight ring, all quietly observing Mo Hua.

"Junior Brother, you've summoned us—what do you require?" one voice inquired.

The looks from the others revealed different levels of bewilderment.

Mo Hua cut straight to the point:

"Will every one of you join the Sword Discussion Conference?"

A few disciples nodded in agreement, while others shook their heads.

Mo Hua pressed them: "Why skip it?"

Silence hung in the air for a beat, before one replied:

"Junior Brother, my cultivation base feels a tad weak, and my Spiritual Power Circulation count stays low..."

"I'm no expert in combat techniques..."

"My Taoist Skill lacks real power."

"I have no idea who to pair up with..."

"The Sword Discussion Conference looms as a massive affair, a splendid spectacle, with crowds everywhere watching—I... get a little jittery just thinking about it..."

"Yeah, my abilities fall short; I'd prefer not to step up and embarrass myself."

"Dropping a match in view of all those eyes, especially if it turns out ugly, would shame the entire sect..."

The disciples voiced a range of excuses, all boiling down to shaky confidence, reluctance for strife, or dread of tarnishing the sect's name.

In truth, the sect brims with countless disciples, each varying in talent and temperament.

Not all possess the knack or spirit for combat.

Mo Hua held back briefly, then declared:

"You all grasp the rules of the Sword Discussion Conference, correct?"

"Securing even a single win, right from the outset, no matter how minor, still adds one victory point to the sect's tally."

The disciples nodded along.

They understood this regulation well.

Still...

"One victory point... feels awfully... trivial..." a disciple muttered under his breath.

But Mo Hua shook his head, "Never dismiss the value of minor acts of good."

"What appears as merely one victory point, when gathered up, builds the groundwork for ultimate success."

"This goes beyond a lone point—it's the dedication you offer to the sect."

Mo Hua's eyes gleamed with resolve:

"We all belong to Taixu Gate, united in its glory and its setbacks."

"For Taixu Gate to flourish and grow mighty, it demands the input from each disciple."

"Joining the Sword Discussion Conference means battling not only for yourself, but for the prestige and gains of the sect."

"Even defeat carries a measure of pride."

"Mockery might come from outsiders, yet the sect's ancestors, the sect leader, and every elder will acknowledge your striving and the toil you devote to the sect."

"And should you claim a win, be it one bout or a single point, it forms a genuine boost to Taixu Gate's triumph."

"No great journey starts without tiny steps; a thousand miles demand them."

"True victory builds slowly, piece by piece..."

"Taixu Gate isn't the domain of one or two prodigies alone—it's the Taixu Gate forged by all its disciples!"

"The might of Taixu Gate rests upon every single disciple."

Mo Hua's words rang with genuine warmth, striking deep into their cores.

The disciples, upon hearing this, sensed a stir in their spirits.

They harbored no true refusal toward the Sword Discussion Conference; rather, amid the vast gathering of shining talents, their own contributions seemed dwarfed, sapping their drive.

Mo Hua saw this clearly.

In typical times, rank-and-file disciples act as mere "cannon fodder," and their presence or absence in the fray changes little.

The sect imposes no mandates for disciples to join, placing the choice wholly in their hands.

Conditions have shifted now, though.

Following the Three Sects Unification, Taixu Gate boasts over three times as many foundational disciples.

And they count Mo Hua among them as their "Junior Brother."

"But, Junior Brother..." a disciple murmured softly, "I wish to join, yet I'm truly too feeble..."

"Besides, I lack skill in clashing with foes..."

"That's right, I haven't trained much at all..."

"If I actually go on stage, I doubt I'd snag even one victory..."

Mo Hua gestured dismissively, "No worries—if you've never sparred with swords, surely you've hunted Monster Beasts before?"

The group paused in surprise.

Mo Hua went on, "If battling or prevailing feels foreign, simply view the Sword Discussion as 'Monster Hunting.'"

"You're not there to debate swords; instead, you're tracking down five 'human-like Monster Beasts.'"

This shift in viewpoint eased the tension for many disciples right away.

Sword debates might elude them, but Monster Hunting felt like familiar territory.

Particularly since Mo Hua refined the 'Monster Hunting' methods, even those weaker in fights and averse to fierce clashes could adhere to the guidelines, slaying one or two Monster Beasts on Refining Demon Mountain to harvest hides and pelts for trading in Merit Points.