Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2179 Chapter 1021: Siege Defense Battle

The following day, the clash between Taixu Gate and Heavenly Sword Sect kicked off in the Earth Character Bureau.

Beyond the Mount of Tao, crowds still thronged the area, yet the number of cultivators coming to spectate had clearly dwindled compared to earlier.

The fights struck them as tedious.

Taixu Gate's top squad had suffered back-to-back defeats in the Earth Character Bureau's sword duels, showing lackluster results with hardly any standout moments.

Expectations had faded for many onlookers.

Moreover, this particular sword duel demanded defense against the premier sword cultivation sect, the Heavenly Sword Sect.

The Heavenly Sword Sect carried forward the legacy of the ancient Heavenly Sword Technique.

This Heavenly Sword Technique ranked among the elite sword arts across the Qian Learning State Boundary, boasting a fearsomely potent might.

With the Heavenly Sword Sect launching attacks and unleashing their sword qi to ravage, in the whole Qian Learning State Boundary, even giants like the Longding Sect from the Four Great Sects or the Vajra Sect among the Eight Great Gates—both renowned for body refinement and sturdy defenses—would struggle to hold firm.

The unassuming Taixu Gate stood no chance.

Taixu Gate lacked any elite body cultivators.

On top of that, there was the 'fragile' Mo Hua who shattered at the slightest touch.

For most cultivators, this sword duel offered slim odds of victory and little thrill to behold.

Taixu Gate faced layer upon layer of disadvantages, sealing their defeat.

Of course, a few in the crowd clung to hopes.

But those hopes centered on the Heavenly Sword Sect exploiting Mo Hua's weakness to slay him with one swift sword strike in this duel.

Such a desire was brutally direct.

"Just to see Mo Hua meet his end once."

From the Xuan Character Bureau onward—no, even back in the Yellow Character Bureau's opening preliminaries—this fixation had rooted itself deeply in countless spectators' minds.

They craved nothing more, propelled solely by this fixation and tempted by that faint possibility, drawn to view Mo Hua's sword duels.

Inevitably, this kid Mo Hua had piled up offenses, riling everyone to no end.

Without perishing at least once, folks couldn't find any solace in their hearts.

Aloft on the Shangguan Family's platform.

Yu Er kept his head lowered now and then, only lifting it with reluctance to steal glances at the projected scenes.

He dreaded the sight.

During the Xuan Character Bureau's sword duel, Brother Mo had those 'fools' prancing to his whims, and Yu Er relished every bit.

Yet in the Earth Character Bureau's sword duels, Brother Mo faced defeat after defeat.

Enduring one loss pained him; he truly wished to avoid more. Still, as it was Brother Mo's bout, he couldn't resist peeking.

What if triumph came?

Missing that would be such a shame.

Yu Er knit his brows, gripping his robe's edge, his young features twisted in effort as he compelled himself to eye the screen's display.

Apart from Yu Er, Mo Hua's circle of 'kin and allies'—including Wenren Wan, Gu Changhuai, Zhang Lan, Murong Caiyun, and Hua Qianqian—maintained a steadier demeanor.

Early setbacks tugged at their hearts, but with defeats piling up, they'd grown numb to it.

Wins and losses were soldier's fare.

Though they yearned for Mo Hua's success, they knew mortal strength had bounds, and certain feats lay beyond reach.

This was the Qianxue Debate, teeming with myriad geniuses after all.

Mo Hua's progress to this stage already shone brightly.

Thus, they showed up just to cheer him on.

Besides, they grasped the duel’s dynamics in their minds, braced for the outcome without lofty dreams.

And events soon validated the bulk of those predictions.

From the outset, Taixu Gate yielded ground steadily.

This pitted defense against assault, mimicking 'siege battles' and 'defensive stands' from Tao cultivation conflicts.

The Heavenly Sword Sect took the aggressors' side, while Taixu Gate held the fort.

Of course, the setup remained 'streamlined.'

After all, sword duels featured just five fighters, far from the vast Tao cultivation wars mobilizing thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands in epic clashes—serving merely as a basic 'model' for disciples to spar and hone skills through these duels.

No genuine 'city' existed.

Within the sword duel field, a 'stronghold' rose, split into outer and inner zones by barriers, and at the inner zone's heart stood a 'City Lord' effigy.

Assailants aimed to breach the outer zone, storm the inner one, and ultimately topple the City Lord effigy.

Defenders had to shield it.

The siege carried a strict timer.

In four hours, a breached stronghold meant victory for attackers; holding it granted defenders the win.

And Taixu Gate needed to withstand two hours of the Heavenly Sword Sect's sword qi barrage.

That proved no easy feat.

Defending the outer zone boiled down to securing the 'gates.'

The outer zone boasted two gates needing watchers.

The inner zone had a single gate to protect.

Hence, forces spread thin, a deadly blow for a squad like Taixu Gate with its 'flawed' roster.

The crux rested on Mo Hua.

This bout laid bare Mo Hua's flaws as a 'Spiritual Cultivator.'

Even prior to the sword duel's start, sharp eyes had noted it:

"In a duel like this, Mo Hua's utterly pointless."

"I can't picture any role for him anyway..."

"Siege battles demand head-on clashes with zero tricks..."

"No matter his stealth skills, foes will just brush him off."

"No matter his agility, he can only flee, but defending a stronghold leaves nowhere to run."

"His basic Five Elements Spells won't stand up to Heavenly Sword Sect's sword qi."

"That frail body of his, even attempting a block, ends in one sword chop..."

"Worthless overall; best he hunkers in the inner zone from the get-go and lets teammates buy time..."

"The result won't hinge on him regardless..."

One voice sneered.

As the sword duel ignited, the screen's feed revealed that Mo Hua truly followed their words, ignoring all else to huddle behind the inner zone's barrier, facing away from the fray, furtively tinkering with something obscure, appearing rather 'suspicious'...