Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2181 Chapter 1021: Battle of Offense and Defense

"Absurd..."

A voice broke in hesitantly, "How did he manage to get that formation in there?"

"The Sword Discussion Conference enforces strict rules, with every item entering the arena inspected personally by the elders. Cheating in any way is absolutely forbidden."

"Could Taixu Gate... have paid off the Mount of Tao elders?"

"Does Taixu Gate even have that kind of power?"

Beyond the combat zone, the Mount of Tao elders stirred with far greater unrest than the onlookers.

Typically, elders at the Mount of Tao were advanced in years, held high positions, enjoyed esteemed status, and upheld justice impartially.

Such a role offered both honor and ease.

At first, they had been seated, sipping tea while casually observing the Sword

Discussion Conference.

The emergence of the High-Rank Formation caught several elders off guard, causing them to shatter their teacups in shock.

"This can't be right!"

"It's finished; how on earth did this young one sneak a High-Rank Formation in? The forebears' regulations are shattered..."

"Who was responsible for his inspection?"

"Utterly foolish..."

One elder jutted out his chin defiantly and declared, "Stop the rumors. I inspected him thoroughly upon entry—there was no High-Rank Formation."

"So from where did this formation originate?"

"Hurry, look into it..."

Thus, footage from the Sword Discussion Conference's start was reversed, frame by frame, to uncover precisely what Mo Hua had accomplished.

This reversal aimed to dispel doubts, guarantee equity, and prevent hidden tampering.

The reversed footage was accessible to the cultivators watching from outside as well.

A compact projection screen appeared on the Fang Tian Hua Ying, displaying Mo Hua's every move from his arrival.

All had ceased following the live Sword Discussion, staring intently with wide eyes at Mo Hua's "replay."

The footage sped through rapidly and halted at the prime "suspicious"

instant.

Mo Hua crouched in a secluded spot, facing away from the audience, furtively tinkering with something.

"Switch the view now," commanded a Mount of Tao elder.

The angle adjusted, exposing Mo Hua's expression.

His hand movements became plainly apparent.

The Mount of Tao group froze in stunned silence for a beat.

Chaos then exploded throughout.

Right then, they discerned exactly what Mo Hua had been furtively up to in that corner squat...

True enough, he was "handling" formations.

Yet not assembling them.

He was sketching formations!

During the Sword Discussion Conference, in the midst of genius clashes, he

himself inscribed a formation right there!

Carrying Second Grade High-Level Formations is prohibited at the Sword Discussion Conference.

Thus, he crafted one personally, inscribing a high-level formation live!

The crowd fell mute briefly, at a loss for words.

After that quiet pause, a voice puzzled, "Wait... if he inscribed a Second Grade

High-Level Formation, what supplied the formation media?"

Another caught on, "He broke it down from formations he'd carried in beforehand."

"What about his Formation Pen then?"

"Spiritual artifacts are permitted in the Sword Discussion; he skipped weapons entirely, carrying only a Formation Pen."

"A Formation Pen serves as a Formation Master's tool..."

"And Spiritual Ink? How did he obtain the ink?"

"No idea..."

A person shook his head, leaving most cultivators thoroughly confused.

However, participants in past Sword Discussions, well-versed in the

guidelines, clarified:

"Disciples in the Sword Discussion may carry certain 'miscellaneous items,'

including Spiritual Ink among them."

"Hold on..." one expressed confusion, "Why classify Spiritual Ink as miscellaneous? How could Spiritual Ink be mere odds and ends? Who devised these rules—do they lack basic sense?"

"The Mount of Tao ancestor established these rules..."

The earlier cultivator smacked his own cheek: "Apologies, I overstepped. The ancestor was correct... Spiritual Ink truly belongs in miscellaneous

items."

A voice recapped, "So... this youth Mo Hua disassembled the formation media, carried his Formation Pen, and utilized Spiritual Ink from the miscellaneous items to inscribe a Second Grade High-Level Formation, then set it upon the city gate?"

"Is pulling this off even possible?"

"Does this make any sense?"

"What sort of mind does this kid possess, twisting the rules to this degree?"

"This goes beyond a loophole—it's outright cheating, right?"

"Deploying a high-level formation during the Sword Discussion Conference—how can others stand a chance? If that's not cheating, then what counts as such?"

"That's not for us to judge."

"At minimum, it appears to follow the rules outwardly."

"We'll debate it afterward; for the moment, observe the Sword Discussion... even though

the high-level formation holds great might, it confronts five Heavenly Sword Sect geniuses—victory remains in doubt?"

"Don't bend the rules with a high-level formation, only to suffer defeat ultimately—that would bring shame..." one mocked.

Others disagreed, "You're belittling the high-level formation excessively. As a high-level one crafted by Mo Hua, it must be an elite nineteen-pattern array. Do you see it as child's play?"

While the group debated fervently.

Within the Sword Discussion field, the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples

likewise detected an anomaly.

"A High-Rank Formation?"

The towering chief among the Heavenly Sword Sect geniuses creased his brow, then growled lowly, "Even if it's a High-Rank Formation, so be it? Today, we'll test if your formation endures more or if our Heavenly Sword Sect's Sword Qi cuts deeper?"

"Kill!"

The remaining four echoed together, "Kill!!"

These five wasted no time, unleashing full force without restraint, channeling spiritual power to its peak and releasing their complete Sword Qi.

Even fiercer bursts of Sky Star Sword Qi slammed into the city gate.

Despite the High-Rank Formation's reinforcement, faint fissures appeared on the city gate, it trembled, and debris trickled free.

Mo Hua, however, stayed composed and unruffled.

Linghu Xiao and his companions simply adhered to Mo Hua's directives, venturing out now and then to disrupt the foes.

Previously, blocking the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples while safeguarding the

city gate had been their duty.

Now, the High-Rank Formation shielding the city gate endured the Heavenly Sword Sect assaults, letting them just pester sporadically and easing the strain on the gate.

This proved far simpler.

In the midst of the two sides' fierce clashes, successive Sky Star Sword Qi

impacted the city gate, only to be devoured by the High-Rank Gold Stone Formation.

Although the High-Rank Gold Stone Formation's barriers were robust, they couldn't endure indefinitely against the unyielding onslaught from the Four Great Sects'

geniuses.

Under the ceaseless Sword Qi barrage from the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples, the formation's fissures widened steadily.

The city gate appeared ready to crumble.

Witnessing the formation near breakage, the Heavenly Sword Sect

disciples surged with morale, "Hasten, strike as one, shatter the

formation, and storm the city gate!"

"Yes!"

They combined their strength, roused their Sword Qi anew, and pressed the assault on the city gate. Truly, diligence from heaven receives no denial.

Following repeated Sword Qi barrages, the city gate's radiance faded, and

the formation lines fractured.

The High-Rank Gold Stone Formation had truly been pierced by the Heavenly

Sword Sect disciples.

Elation filled the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples.

Onlookers nodded approvingly and acclaimed:

"Worthy of the Heavenly Sword Sect's geniuses—a high-level formation

poses them little challenge..."

Yet right as the city gate's formation waned, on the cusp of

vanishing, Mo Hua steadily extended his hand and struck the barrier.

Suddenly, a dazzling glow burst forth.

A fresh High-Rank Gold Stone Formation ignited.

The gate, which had wobbled precariously moments before, regained its "unbreakable" fortitude through the formation's might.

Those in the crowd who had moments ago lauded the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples now felt a tightness in their throats.

The elation that had briefly ignited within the Heavenly Sword Sect

geniuses snuffed out in an instant.

Gazing upon the "city gate" gleaming in golden hues, their expressions drained of color,

and bitterness filled their mouths.

A single high-level formation hadn't halted them, true.

But two?

Is it merely two?

No telling how many more high-level formations Mo Hua concealed.

How many tiers of high-level Gold Stone Formations had he layered onto

this city gate?

Now, a trace of hopelessness crept into the hearts of the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples.

In that exact instant, they recalled Mo Hua's true role distinctly: Qianxue... Formation Leader.