Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2176 Chapter 1020: Ao Zhan (Part 2)

A fearsome Dragon Roar to terrify the foe, then a mighty Dragon Punch unleashed.

This strike was practically a death sentence, but it connected with empty space instead.

Ao Zhan drew back his fist deliberately, straightened his posture, and gazed at the fractured earth from his blow, his icy expression slowly twisting into a scowl.

"...Didn't manage to roar him down?"

How could that possibly happen...

At the same time, beyond the Taoist Field.

As the onlookers watched Mo Hua smash his Dao Discussion Jade once more and flee, a wave of jeers erupted from the spectators:

"Shameless, he ran away again!"

"Backing off right before the fight, total coward!"

"Spineless, completely shameless!"

A few voices carried sighs of disappointment:

"Such a shame, Ao Zhan's punch was just slightly off... if it had been quicker, he would've crushed Mo Hua into pieces..."

"If he hadn't roared, Mo Hua might've been done for."

"What do you mean 'roared'? You don't know anything—that's the Dragon Roar Skill from Longding Sect."

"It's a supreme technique and Taoist skill of Longding Sect, incredibly profound and tough to master..."

"Regular disciples train in the Tiger Roar, but only elite ones can grasp the Dragon Roar!"

"In combat, they deploy the Tiger Roar or Dragon Roar sounds to daunt the enemy."

"Once the opponent is roared into submission, a firm Dragon Ding Punch would leave them barely alive, or dead on the spot."

"Ao Zhan didn't unleash this Taoist skill in earlier sword discussions. Pulling it out against Mo Hua now shows he's giving the kid some respect."

"He likely figured that sneaky brat Mo Hua would bolt when things got rough, so he aimed to pin him with the Dragon Roar Skill before finishing him with a punch."

"Too bad, it was still a tad too sluggish..."

"That cursed kid Mo Hua is sly like a ghost..."

"Even ghosts aren't as cunning as him..."

While the crowd buzzed with talk outside the field, within it, Ao Zhan—frustrated at missing his kill on Mo Hua—glared with frosty rage, lashed out with a punch to release his fury, demolishing a wide swath of trees and boulders, then spun around and issued a chilling command:

"Kill the Monster Beasts."

"Yes!"

The remaining four Longding Sect prodigies answered together.

Soon, all five combined their efforts, relying solely on raw power, engaging in over a dozen fierce clashes, and butchered a Second Grade High-Rank Bear Demon by hacking off its limbs, ripping open its torso, and

brutally ripping out its inner core.

With that, the sword discussion concluded, and Longding Sect claimed victory.

Mo Hua and his team suffered yet another defeat.

Zhang Lan, Wenren Wan, Gu Changhuai, Murong Caiyun, and the other cultivators quietly watching and worried for Mo Hua stayed mute, their faces showing clear discouragement.

Yu Er pressed her lips tight, her young face tinged with sorrow.

***

Next came the sword discussions for other sects.

Within the Mount of Tao arena.

After their loss, Mo Hua and the group, including Linghu Xiao and a handful of others, gathered their storage bags and readied to head back to the sect.

Cheng Mo and Situ Jian appeared downcast, uttering no words.

Ouyang Xuan's visage was even darker, laced with reluctance.

Linghu Xiao wore a frosty look as well.

Though his usual bearing was aloof, this occasion carried extra bewilderment, shadowiness, and solemnity, as if a dark fog of gloom hung over him.

"Xiaoxiao." Mo Hua addressed him.

Linghu Xiao jolted, lifted his gaze to meet Mo Hua's.

Mo Hua let out a sigh, speaking with some regret, "We lost this round too."

Linghu Xiao nodded, remaining quiet.

His defeat had been utter and complete.

Against Xiao Wuchen and Ao Zhan, he'd scarcely mounted any resistance, suppressed relentlessly throughout and ultimately struck down by hand.

The greater the prodigy, the fiercer their pride, and the harder they bear defeat.

Particularly in this scenario, getting slain in a direct duel by fellow prodigies at the Qianxue Sword Debate Conference, with everyone watching...

Linghu Xiao endured deep torment and suffering within.

Even though Mo Hua had assured him earlier that real power emerges from setbacks.

Yet the turmoil and hurt inside threatened to consume his entire sense of pride and faith in the Sword Dao.

Linghu Xiao paused in silence, then murmured softly:

"Junior Brother, I..."

Mo Hua grasped his feelings, extended a hand to clap his shoulder, and said:

"Don't overthink it. No matter the foe's might or the peril of the moment, concentrate on just one matter, only one..."

Mo Hua hesitated briefly, his eyes sharp and luminous:

"...Trust in your sword, pour everything into it, execute your Sword Dao completely,

and simply release the Sword Qi...

"Whether this blow triumphs, fails, fells the opponent, or brings you down,

let it go from your mind."

"The clearer the heart, the mightier the blade."

"Worrying will only weaken your sword."

When it came to Sword Qi training and Swordsmanship basics, Mo Hua couldn't match Linghu Xiao.

Yet in grasping and wielding Sword Intent, few peers across the realm could outdo Mo Hua, who had absorbed the Taixu Divine Thought into Sword True Jue and fused the

Godslaying Sword Forms.

Linghu Xiao froze, his mind churning through ideas, slowly gaining clarity, his eyes steadily lighting up.

"Yes, Junior Brother."

Linghu Xiao inclined his head, showing a spark of unyielding determination.

Like steel hammered in the forge, the harder the trials, the stronger it emerges.

Mo Hua gave a nod.

To accomplish grand feats, to pursue the Great Dao, at times "resilience" matters more

than raw talent.

No matter the gift's brilliance, if it shatters at the first blow, it's worthless.

Only through resilience does one press on without breaking.

Once their storage bags were secured, they made their way back to the sect.

At Taixu Gate, they drilled formations a little longer, analyzed rivals, and as darkness settled, dispersed to their paths.

Linghu Xiao, from Mount Chongxu, had to go back to Mount

Chongxu.

Ouyang Xuan, of Taia Mountain, also headed to Taia

Mountain.

Cheng Mo and Situ Jian, just like Mo Hua, remained at Taixu Mountain.