Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2171 Chapter 1018: Tai'a Five Brothers (Part 3)

"This situation is turning really tricky..."

In a secluded corner of the Sect's grand hall.

The Daoist Law Elders had assembled, their faces all etched with frustration.

Having spent numerous restless nights carefully examining the shadow traces, they had at last pierced through that youth's disguise and believed they had everything in hand, certain that the boy was bound to fall...

Yet out of nowhere, he unveiled a strange evasion skill.

Back then, a bunch of Daoist Law Elders observed from the sidelines, eyes bulging in shock, barely holding down their urge to vomit blood.

"That cursed boy, he's a master at keeping secrets!"

"He clearly wields an outstanding evasion skill, but he held back through so many bouts, toying with foes like a cat batting at mice, dragging them into a playful chase..."

"This guy's the slyest and most devious I've encountered in all my years."

"With that kind of subtle and enduring style, he rivals even the seasoned veterans..."

"Subtle and enduring? He's simply wicked at heart! Born with malice, he delights in messing with people, completely without mercy..."

"The youth of today lack any code of martial honor..."

A cluster of Elders, deprived of sleep for endless nights, now brimmed with outrage, joining voices to denounce Mo Hua.

"Enough," one voice cut in with irritation at last, "let's return to the matter at hand..."

"After all, we are Elders from a mighty Great Sect, figures of importance. Gossiping about a junior disciple behind his back like this—what does that make us look like?"

Silence enveloped the hall.

Still, the Elders' faces remained clouded with annoyance.

"Have you uncovered the source of that boy's evasion skill?" one inquired.

"We have, but it's intricate, blending hints from various elite evasion skills..."

"So which elite evasion skills precisely?"

"As I mentioned, it mixes elements from a wide array..."

"I can't fathom how that boy honed such a devious intellect, fusing so many skills into one, but pinpointing a single lineage is truly challenging..."

"Isn't that just repeating the obvious?"

"Fine, what's the use of debating this further? His evasion skill is so refined that even knowing its roots, how would you counter it? Who could you dispatch to handle it?"

"Deploy the Spirit-binding Lock..."

"Do you think it can restrain him?"

"Then attempt binding incantations..."

"Is your incantation quicker than his moves?"

"Array formations..."

"Brandishing a broadsword before Grandmaster Guan? Have you overlooked his background?"

A heavy oppression weighed on everyone's hearts.

The hall grew quiet once more for a spell.

In essence, evasion skills represent a form of Dao cultivation "hard strength." When they ascend to an outrageous degree of potency, countering them proves far from simple.

And every tactic aimed at countering evasion skills happens to be right in Mo Hua's wheelhouse.

Lesser gimmicks are utterly pointless.

Moreover, Mo Hua's sharp and formidable Divine Sense alone forms an impossible barrier.

After another pause of quiet in the hall, a senior Elder spoke measuredly:

"There's simply no method to neutralize his evasion skill..."

That remark appeared to seal the issue.

"Up to now, it's undeniable that with his Five Elements Spells and this slippery evasion skill alone, Mo Hua qualifies as a genuine sword discussion 'Heavenly Pride'!"

"Linghu Xiao from Taixu Gate, paired with this Mo Hua, indeed creates a duo of 'Heavenly Pride'."

The hall erupted in murmurs.

The assembly argued heatedly, clearly divided in views, yet none could muster a solid counterargument.

The senior Elder cleared his throat softly, restoring quiet to the hall, then went on: "That said, there's no cause for alarm."

"Mo Hua's strengths and flaws are both plain to see."

"His prime asset is his abilities, covering magical assaults, control, binding, endurance, and flight, positioning him as a versatile 'support' cultivator."

"His chief flaw, though, is that he's essentially only a support."

"To a great degree, he depends on his allies, particularly that Linghu Xiao."

"When his allies shine, he shines."

"On the flip side, isolated from allies, his abilities hold little value."

"The core problem is his lack of 'solo' capability to take down foes."

"Without ally support, he can't eliminate anyone."

"His beginner-level Five Elements Spells are indeed masterful, packing solid force."

"But that's within the Xuan Character Bureau, facing mere ordinary Heavenly Pride from lesser sects where he can make waves."

"Furthermore, his frail spiritual power can't endure a true large-scale, drawn-out spiritual clash."

The senior Elder shook his head, "This is the Heavenly Pride Sword Discussion—lacking the power to slay foes on his own, just grabbing a few kills via spells will leave him as a 'burden' in the end."

"The deeper it progresses, the more irrelevant he'll become..."

"If that boy caps at this level, no matter how superb his evasion skill, he won't advance far."

"In the Earth Character Sword Discussion, you can't triumph on evasion skills alone."

"Truth be told, we won't need to wait long—the opening Earth Character Sword Discussion tomorrow ought to expose the reality..."

The senior Elder concluded gravely, easing his eyes shut to meditate.

His assessment dissected Mo Hua thoroughly.

It also sharply exposed the gaps in Mo Hua's Daoist arts.

Support remains merely support.

Support by itself can't claim victories.

Only with robust allies does he thrive; without them, he's powerless. The group nodded in agreement, especially recalling yesterday's Dao Discussion Heaven Instrument that forecasted the Sword Discussion pairings, and considering Mo Hua's team's foes in the debut Earth Character Sword Discussion, their eyes all sharpened faintly.

"This initial Earth Character Sword Discussion will deliver a crushing strike!"

***

The following day, after an elaborate and ritualistic Sword Discussion rite.

The Earth Character Sword Discussion commenced formally.

And in the opening bout, Mo Hua prepared to take the field.

His rival hailed from the Heavenly Sword Sect, one of the Four Great Sects, heir to the Heavenly Sword's Sword Dao.

And he wasn't some run-of-the-mill Heavenly Pride.

He stood as this generation's premier disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, the mightiest among myriad Sword Dao talents, the foremost figure of this Heavenly Sword era.

Xiao Wuchen.

This matchup was, without question, the most electrifying and fierce confrontation since the Sword Discussion Conference's launch, in the eyes of all.

The Earth Character Bureau kicked off with such a grand display.

Consequently, the already thronged Mount of Tao swelled even denser with crowds.

All craved a glimpse of the Heavenly Sword Sect's top prodigy's prowess.

Similarly, they yearned to see the showdown between Taixu Gate and the Heavenly Sword Sect.

This was indeed the center of universal attention.

Beyond the arena, Great Elder Zhang, Zhang Lan, Wenren Wan, Yu Er, Gu Changhuai, along with numerous noble cultivators and sect disciples acquainted with Mo Hua, fellow Daoists and kin, observed the contest quietly, offering silent prayers for Mo Hua's success.

For Mo Hua, this foe ranked as a supreme challenge.

They anticipated Mo Hua's showing, yet anxiety and concern dominated their thoughts.

Amid this charged and uneasy air, the inaugural Earth Character Sword Discussion unfolded.

The Debating Bell tolled, and the combatants engaged.

Silhouettes clashed, Sword Qi and spells erupted wildly.

And in mere instants, Taixu Gate suffered defeat. Xiao Wuchen of the Heavenly Sword Sect, at Foundation Establishment's pinnacle, unmatched in Sword Dao, commanded four Heavenly Pride disciples from the Heavenly Sword Sect, and through a single exchange, almost obliterated Mo Hua and his four Taixu Gate comrades.