Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2231 - 1036: Traitor (3)

During the Sword Discussion, he never clashed with Mo Hua and held no grudge against him.

Thus, his perspective stayed fairly neutral.

He sought to eliminate Mo Hua not out of personal hatred.

Instead, Mo Hua's sly and bizarre 'survival' techniques represented a huge lurking threat.

On this Asura Battlefield, without forethought and striking Mo Hua down soon, he could indeed 'survive' all the way to the finish.

That outcome would be totally preposterous.

As a leading Heavenly Pride Disciple from the Eight Great Gates, Ye Qingfeng's remarks were quickly adopted by the Eight Gates' members.

His strength also allowed him to bargain with the Heavenly Pride Disciples of the Four Great Sects.

So, his statements gained 'widespread agreement.'

'Kill Mo Hua first!'

'At least, locate the Taixu Gate folks first...'

'Agreed.'

...

The Heavenly Pride Disciples of various sects scattered, intersecting like a 'net,' scouring the whole Asura Battlefield, every blade of grass, every mound, every ravine.

Divine Sense swept across repeatedly.

Their eyes pierced with eerie accuracy.

They even deployed the Hidden Spiritual Artifact.

Yet oddly, no trace of Mo Hua appeared.

Nor did they spot any sign of the Taixu Gate.

Everyone muttered curses inside as the hunt went on.

Worry started building in everyone's minds.

The deadlock also fueled impatience among the group.

'Where in blazes is Mo Hua concealed?'

'Like a specter...'

'Blast it, how much longer will this drag on?'

...

Besides, this Asura Battlefield decided personal destinies and sect benefits. Inevitably, some grew restless during the impasse.

They definitely aimed to slay Mo Hua.

However, if Mo Hua couldn't be slain, things shifted.

They remembered this was a sword discussion where disciples from other sects were foes.

They wouldn't derail the sect's major strategies just for one 'Mo Hua.'

The so-called Tu Mo 'alliance' was merely a 'loose promise,' and nobody treated it as binding.

Particularly when sect gains were at stake.

Slowly, doubts crept in for some.

Balancing Mo Hua against sect priorities, they knew which mattered more.

Among the Four Sects, Eight Gates, and Twelve Streams, not all despised Mo Hua intensely.

Furthermore, hidden among them were 'insiders' backed by Mo Hua.

In the Sever Gold Sect group.

Song Jian addressed the leading Sever Gold Sect disciple, 'Song Kui, let's commence the killings.'

Song Kui froze in surprise.

He stood as the mightiest disciple of this round from the Sever Gold Sect, serving as leader. Yet Song Jian's strong lineage and his standout performance at the Sword Discussion Conference had won elder approval.

So, he couldn't brush off Song Jian's view.

Except...

Start killing?

Target whom?

Song Kui pieced together Song Jian's intent and furrowed his brow, 'This...doesn't feel right.'

Song Jian replied, 'This Asura Battlefield demands ruthlessness and cunning in dire times.'

'But Mo Hua...'

'With so many eager to end Mo Hua, missing one Sever Gold Sect changes nothing.'

Song Kui remained unsure.

Song Jian added, 'Remember, our Sever Gold Sect ranks at the bottom of the Eight Gates now.'

'Higher sects won't yield their spots.'

'Slaying Mo Hua and implicating Taixu Gate won't alter our position.'

'Our true rivals are the sects just one or two ranks above.'

'We must crush them to rise...'

'Rise first, then eye Taixu Gate, then deal with Mo Hua. Without rising, it's all for naught...'

Song Kui, ever pragmatic, saw a fierce glint in his eyes and agreed with a nod:

'Fine, let's kill!'

Song Kui charged ahead, Song Jian gripping his Spirit Sword, as they guided the Sever Gold Sect disciples in a stealthy probe for Mo Hua's location.

Soon enough, they crossed paths with the Purple Mist Sect.

Song Kui approached for casual talk.

As Purple Mist Sect lowered their guard, Song Jian abruptly unsheathed his sword, beaming golden radiance, and struck a Purple Mist Sect disciple.

The rest of the Sever Gold Sect disciples piled on the assault.

Purple Mist Sect disciples, taken aback, saw two fall to the surprise attack, three gravely wounded, and seven or eight with minor hurts.

The Purple Mist Sect's leading Heavenly Pride raged and swore:

'Sever Gold Sect, what treachery is this?'

Song Jian smirked, 'It's a sword discussion, what else?'

Wielding his sword, he spearheaded his comrades into combat against the Purple Mist Sect.

Purple Mist Sect suffered two more losses.

But as one of the Eight Gates, Purple Mist Sect swiftly regrouped and fought back against Sever Gold Sect.

Tension escalated.

Realizing the odds weren't in their favor, Song Jian avoided drawn-out battle, pulled back swiftly, and commanded:

'Fall back!'

Sever Gold Sect disciples withdrew alongside him.

Purple Mist Sect disciples seethed with fury, but after Sever Gold Sect's ambush claimed their numbers, they hesitated to chase, merely glaring as Sever Gold Sect departed.

Beyond the battlefield.

Purple Mist Sect elders denounced Sever Gold Sect's baseness.

Meanwhile, Sever Gold Sect elders nodded in satisfaction, commending:

'I didn't err in judging Song Jian; he truly possesses resolve...'

'Unswayed by rage, clear-headed, mindful of priorities, adept at grasping chances, and brutal in strikes, efficient without hesitation—he's invaluable!'

'Such thinking outweighs even Spiritual Root.'

'Sever Gold Sect is blessed to claim him!'

...

At the same time, within the sword discussion arena.

Sever Gold Sect's raid on Purple Mist Sect sparked a commotion and caught other sects' notice.

Qin Cangliu from Gui Water Sect observed the events, brow creased in thought.

Just then, a Gui Water Sect disciple approached and murmured:

'Brother Qin, with Sever Gold Sect starting kills, maybe we ought to...'

He sliced the air horizontally in a cutting motion.

Qin Cangliu eyed this unremarkable-looking disciple and remembered his identity:

Wang Chen.

This Wang Chen possessed middling aptitude, yet his ties and influence inside Gui Water Sect were solid.

Gui Water Sect had faced a big upheaval from the Rouge Boat affair.

Leveraging Taoist Court links, Wang Chen dispensed favors, steadily carving a niche in Gui Water Sect and earning respect.

With that standing, Wang Chen assembled a squad and qualified for the Earth-tier sword discussion.

Truth be told, Earth-tier proved tough; Wang Chen's group secured scant victories, and without the Asura Battlefield, he wouldn't have entered the scene.

Qin Cangliu held little regard for Wang Chen.

But he wasn't daft enough to cross him.

As the proverb states, Yama is approachable, but imps prove trickier.

Wang Chen embodied that vexing 'imp.'

Well-linked, with concealed alliances.

You can never tell who these low-key figures quietly associate with.

Offending them often leads to pitfalls and mishaps.

Still, he wouldn't blindly heed Wang Chen's suggestions.

Qin Cangliu mulled quietly.

Wang Chen's gaze shifted as he said: 'Brother Qin, Mo Hua is a despicable sort who merits death...but in this setup, our Gui Water Sect fares no better than Sever Gold Sect.'

'Should Sever Gold Sect climb, Gui Water Sect drops to last.'

'If we delay acting, even slaying Mo Hua yields no gain for Gui Water Sect.'

'Furthermore...'

Wang Chen indicated skyward, murmured: 'This sword discussion draws elite observers, particularly Taoist Court dignitaries and officials.'

'Word has it Mo Hua links to the Taoist Court's Gu Family and even an inspector there.'

'In a sword discussion, if Brother Qin slays Mo Hua outright, the high-ups won't care.'

'But if pursuing Mo Hua's death stalls the event, dropping Gui Water Sect to the Eight Gates' bottom, I'm afraid...'

Wang Chen trailed off.

Qin Cangliu grasped the implications fully.

Qin Cangliu reflected briefly, eyes icy, then eyed Wang Chen: 'What's your aim?'

Wang Chen clasped his hands, deferentially stating: 'Esteemed Qin, self-awareness matters; lacking top talent, I focus on building ties and friendships.'

'I speak up to offer goodwill and get to know you.'

'Plus, as Gui Water Sect brethren, we rise or fall together; of course, I think of the sect.'

Qin Cangliu's stare pierced as he regarded Wang Chen.

Wang Chen maintained a modest grin, composure steady.

Qin Cangliu gave a slight nod: 'Good, we'll start killing as well...'