Chapter 1032: One Sword

At Taixu Gate, just as Moyan returned to the disciple dormitories, an elder from Taixu Mountain personally came to his door and presented him with an array diagram.

It was the "Taixu Opening Mountain Sword Array Diagram."

Moyan was overjoyed and couldn't help but marvel at the Taixu Sect Leader, who truly lived up to his title. He acted decisively and generously, giving away valuable items without hesitation and even having them delivered to his door.

Moyan solemnly received the diagram and sincerely bowed in thanks:

"Thank you very much, Elder! And thank you to the Sect Leader!"

The Taixu Elder smiled and nodded, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then took his leave.

After the elder left, Moyan closed the door, burned incense, washed his hands, and then eagerly opened the Taixu Sword Array Diagram.

As soon as the sword array entered his sight, he was greeted by ancient and simple sword patterns, and a wave of vast and majestic heavy sword momentum rushed towards him.

Moyan's gaze swept over it, taking in all the sword patterns, and he became even happier.

It was a second-grade nineteen-pattern sword array.

Aside from absolute arrays, this was almost the most high-quality sword array among the second-grade ones.

The Taixu Sect Leader was even more generous than he had imagined.

Moyan had actually obtained a set of Taixu Gate's Opening Mountain Sword Array very early on.

It was the one he had 'blackmailed' from Jian Gu.

Jian Gu had once been a disciple of Taixu Gate, but later he had mistakenly entered the depths of Lianmo Mountain, was captured by demonic cultivators, and taken to Wanmo Valley, where he was forced to become an evil sword master, helping demons cultivate evil swords every day.

His inheritance included a part of Taixu Gate's sword casting techniques, including Taixu Gate's sword array.

Moyan had already learned the Opening Mountain Sword Array.

After all, this matter could not be hidden forever.

The reason he had asked the Taixu Sect Leader for the Taixu Mountain sword array was actually to clear a "proper path."

Moyan now possessed several sets of sword arrays, but basically none of them could be openly used.

Especially Taixu Mountain's sword array.

The rules regarding sect inheritance were very strict.

If he didn't inform them beforehand and it was exposed, it would definitely cause big trouble.

After all, learning without reporting was stealing inheritance.

Even if the three sects had merged, this matter was still highly inappropriate.

Putting himself in others' shoes, even if the Taixu Sect Leader didn't say anything, he would definitely be very dissatisfied in his heart and would hold a grudge.

Therefore, now that there was an opportunity, it was better to use the sword discussion opportunity to 'borrow' a Taixu Sword Array from the Taixu Sect Leader.

This would clear the proper path.

This way, if he used the Taixu Sword Array to display great power later, the Taixu Sect Leader would not only not blame him, but might even praise him for learning it well.

Human relationships are an art.

Many times, people do things based on their reputation.

And now, the set of sword array given by the Taixu Sect Leader was even higher in grade than the one he had obtained from Jian Gu.

Not only was the structure complete and the array patterns rigorous, but the sword qi between the patterns was also full.

Even the number of array patterns was four more.

This was an unexpected delight.

This set of sword array could be used openly and publicly.

The most valuable part was that his Zhanshen Sword had already fused with the Five Elements Sword Array.

Now that he had learned the more advanced Taixu Sword Array, the power of his Zhanshen Sword could be further refined.

It could be said to be a triple gain.

After that, Moyan spent a little time learning this more orthodox and profound Taixu Sword Array.

This was because he had the foundation from the sword array given by Jian Gu.

When integrating the Taixu Sword Array into the Zhanshen Sword, Moyan also had a deep understanding of the related sword dao laws.

Therefore, he learned very quickly.

In just two hours, he had a thorough grasp of it.

Afterward, he practiced on the Dao Stele more than ten times, felt there were no problems, and then exited the sea of consciousness. From his storage bag, he carefully selected an 'open source' spirit sword and meticulously drew the second-grade nineteen-pattern Taixu Opening Mountain Sword Array onto it.

After drawing, he sealed the sword body.

Just like that, an 'Opening Mountain Sword' was completed.

Moyan touched the Opening Mountain Sword and muttered to himself:

"The Great Luo Gate's Flying Sky Sword Control genius, who is called one of the two great sword dao prodigies of the Eight Great Gates along with Miaomiao—"

"How is this possible?"

"What level, what pattern is this Ye Zhiyuan, to be named alongside Miaomiao?"

Tomorrow, he would beat down his 'value' with one sword.

The first sword dao prodigy of the Eight Great Gates could only be his junior brother, Miaomiao.

The next day, the sword discussion assembly began.

Outside the Lun Dao Mountain, the spectator stands were still a sea of people.

The level of attention for this sword discussion was almost the highest in the history of the Earth-level sword discussion.

Not only was there the infuriating Moyan.

There were the two great sword dao prodigies of the Eight Great Gates.

There were the two superior sword methods, Great Luo Flying Sky Sword Control and Chong Xu Jiejian Zhenjue.

There was also the contention for the first position among the Eight Great Gates.

This was inevitably a cruel, fierce, bloody, and lengthy battle, where the disciples of both sides had to fight until they were exhausted, fighting to the death.

There was simply no reason not to watch this kind of sword discussion match.

Everyone was craning their necks in anticipation.

And in the crowd, a fair-faced, scholarly cultivator was eloquently discussing with others, pointing out the way between his words, and chatting happily about the anecdotes of each sect.

Those who often came to watch the sword discussion all knew this person's name:

Bai Xiaosheng.

Bai Xiaosheng was just chatting to his heart's content when he suddenly found someone pulling his sleeve. He turned his head and saw a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy with a clear and handsome face, a little book boy, and was immediately a little disappointed.

The little book boy reached out and pointed to the side.

Bai Xiaosheng reluctantly cupped his hands to everyone and said, "Gentlemen, please wait a moment, I'll be right back."

After finishing, he followed the little book boy to the side and asked, "Why did you come?"

The little book boy's voice was clear: "Grandfather, if you don't go upstairs again, the old ancestors will be angry."

"Not going." Bai Xiaosheng sneered, "What's the point of going upstairs? Looking down from a high vantage point, everyone under the sky is like ants, and you can't even see their faces clearly, what's there to see? Not going, not going—."

"Grandfather, you've come again—" The little book boy frowned with worry.

Bai Xiaosheng said, "You don't understand, this is a sword discussion assembly, you just need to blend into the crowd, watch with everyone, cheer together, curse together, that's what makes it meaningful."

"This is called the hundred schools of thought, observing the common people's state, you will understand later."

The little book boy said, "I don't know about the path of the hundred schools or the common people's state, I only know that the old ancestor said you have no sitting posture when sitting and no standing posture when standing, and if you don't learn to have a proper posture again, they will break your posture—"

Bai Xiaosheng glared: "How dare you talk to your grandfather like that?"

The little book boy was a little aggrieved, "It wasn't me who said it, the old ancestors said it. They asked me to personally relay it to you as a warning."

Bai Xiaosheng waved his hand, "Don't mind them, they are all cold and heartless, without any human warmth, staying with them is disgusting."

"Grandfather, be careful with your words, the old ancestors might know."

"Know what?" Bai Xiaosheng sneered, but his words were harsh, and his momentum eventually weakened a little.

The little book boy said again, "Then—if you don't see the old ancestors, you should at least go visit the uncle-ancestor. He is now the sect leader—" Bai Xiaosheng shook his head, "Not going, not seeing him."

"Really not going? The uncle-ancestor might be a good person—"

"Not going."

The little book boy said curiously, "Do you not want to go see him, or do you not want to call him 'maternal great-uncle'?"

Bai Xiaosheng's face darkened, and he pulled and tugged at the little book boy's mouth, "Sooner or later, I'm going to sew up your little mouth."

The little book boy made a few muffled sounds.

Bai Xiaosheng then let him go.

The little book boy rubbed his cheek, mumbled a few words unhappily, "Not going then not going—"

"Then I'll go report back to the old ancestors, say you're busy—repairing the path of the hundred schools, enlightening the common people's state—"

Bai Xiaosheng nodded with pleasure.

The little book boy turned and walked a few steps, then couldn't help but turn back to remind:

"Grandfather, remember to speak less, criticize fewer people, especially don't say bad things about the uncle-ancestor's sect, be careful of disaster from your mouth, and don't offend people you shouldn't—"

Bai Xiaosheng was impatient, "Alright, alright, I know what I'm doing. If you keep nagging, I'll sew up your mouth."

The little book boy then reluctantly walked away, muttering to himself. After walking a few steps, his figure blurred and he disappeared directly, unnoticed by anyone from beginning to end.

After the little book boy left, Bai Xiaosheng felt like he had shaken off a small burden and eagerly plunged back into the crowd.

When he was away from the crowd, his demeanor was good, and he was a quite scholarly youth.

But as soon as he blended into the crowd, he immediately became worldly again, like an idle wanderer, completely merging with everyone, chatting animatedly with a group of Foundation Building cultivators:

"I still stand by that statement, Taixu Gate is not good."

"Their sect leader, I won't comment, but the elders below, especially the disciples, are not proper, fundamentally not having the appearance of a big sect gate."

"The sword dao inheritance has also declined, their current sword methods are not presentable."

"And that Moyan—"

"An array master, relying on array methods to get by in the sword discussion assembly, what kind of appearance is that?"

"Today's battle, Great Luo Gate will let him know what true sword methods are and what true sword discussion is."

"Great Luo Gate's inheritance is not simple, tracing back to the 'Great Luo Sword Sect,' this Great Luo Sword Sect has ancient origins and a formidable inheritance."

"Especially the Great Luo Flying Sky Sword Control Decrees, the weight of these two words 'flying sky' is something you all don't understand."

"I know some inside stories, but I can't say—"

Bai Xiaosheng said with certainty, "Therefore, I predict that Taixu Gate will lose today."

"And that Moyan will definitely die today—"

"Don't believe it? Just wait and see—"

In the crowd, people watching the fun were discussing among themselves.

On the other side, Zhang Lan, Wenren Wan, Gu Changhuai, Yu'er, Murong Caiyun, Hua Qianqian, and others quietly watched Fang Tian Huaying, their hearts heavy.

All of them were paying attention to this sword discussion.

They were also silently concerned about Moyan, who was participating in the sword discussion.

And above the crowd, in the sword-watching building.

The 'distinguished guests' who came to watch the battle were also quite a few more than in the past.

In a room covered with brocade, magnificent and dignified.

A dignified and beautiful Hundred Flowers Valley Master, dressed in splendid hundred-flower clothes, sat at the table, gazing out the window towards Fang Tian Huaying.

On Fang Tian Huaying, a handsome youth was preparing for the battle.

The Hundred Flowers Valley Master's brows furrowed slightly.

He always felt a bit of a resemblance—

He had the same world-changing talent in array methods, and between his eyebrows, there was a hint of otherworldly divine charm.

He was also full of controversy and made people jealous.

Not a few people loved him, but more hated him.

But upon closer inspection, they were all different.

His spiritual root was indeed too poor, and he hadn't cultivated sword methods.

Although his array methods were good, his path was different.

His temperament was too amiable and likable, intimate like siblings with his fellow disciples, favored by a group of elders, and even doted on by the old ancestors.

It was true that he was hated, but not because of his 'talent,' but because of occasional mischievousness.

All of these were different from that person who was like an immortal sword, with a fully exposed sharp edge, unstained by dust—

The Hundred Flowers Valley Master thought and thought, his thoughts melancholy, and he was a little absent-minded.

Just then, a woman laughed lightly and said, "Younger sister, what are you thinking about?"

The Hundred Flowers Valley Master turned back, smiled slightly, "Thinking about some past events."

A woman with skin like congealed fat, dignified eyebrows and eyes, and an inherently aloof air, wearing golden clothes, gently held the Hundred Flowers Valley Master's arm and pretended to be angry:

"You are indeed hard-hearted, you don't even remember to go to Dao State to see your elder sister."

Beside her, there were also two slightly younger women dressed in splendid clothes, with noble faces, who nodded in agreement:

"Exactly, exactly."

"We've been separated for decades, and Sister Hua hasn't sent a single letter, clearly not putting us sisters in her heart."

The Hundred Flowers Valley Master said helplessly, "Sect affairs are too busy."

"Deceiving people."

"A mere Hundred Flowers Valley, how could it require Sister Hua to be so laborious?"

"Exactly."

"To say, just give up and seek a leisurely life—"

"Alright, alright," the golden-clothed woman said earlier, "You live a leisurely life, don't bother Sister Hua."

After saying that, she held the Hundred Flowers Valley Master's hand, which was as white as jade, and said softly:

"I know you have a thorn in your heart, and I know you are busy every day, but you still need to go back to Dao State once when you have time."

"Even if you don't see us sisters, greet the old matriarch."

"The old matriarch dotes on you the most and often misses you, don't let her old heart be cold—"

The Hundred Flowers Valley Master's face showed guilt, and he nodded slightly.

The golden-clothed woman then showed a satisfied smile.

In the territory of Qian Xue State, there were numerous families, and the blood relationships within were complex and messy.

They were intertwined like the roots of ancient trees, complicated and chaotic.

To outsiders, the branches and leaves obscured everything.

No one knew who was linked by marriage to whom.

Who had hidden relatives with whom.

And who shared an old ancestor with whom.

And in the sword-watching room below this one, on the lower two floors.

Were the sect leaders of the four major sects.

Below that were the sect leaders of the Eight Great Gates, and even the gate masters of the other twelve minor sects.

The sect leaders of Taixu, Taiyi, and Chong Xu mountains were still gathered in the old room drinking tea.

The room was very quiet, and the atmosphere was very stifling.

None of the three sect leaders spoke.

Before watching the sword discussion, they were still a little nervous.

But this one, the sword discussion event that would determine the first position of the Eight Great Gates, was simply a torment.

And very heartbreaking.

The one with a slightly better mindset was the Taixu Sect Leader.

He opened his mouth and said, "I had a chat with Moyan."

As soon as he said this, the Taiyi Sect Leader was immediately displeased, "Before the sword discussion, don't interfere with the disciples."

"I gave him the Taixu Sword Array," the Taixu Sect Leader said.

The Taiyi Sect Leader didn't say anything then.

Giving things didn't count as interfering.

However, he was also a little strange, "You can really bear it—"

This was a sword array.

The Taixu Sect Leader said, "Moyan said that with this set of sword array, this sword discussion can be slightly 'simpler'."

"How important this sword discussion is, I won't say more."

"As long as it can help a little, even if it can only make the sword discussion a little 'simpler', that's also good."

The Taiyi Sect Leader and the Chong Xu Sect Leader both nodded, indicating agreement.

"You should have said earlier, I would have also sent him a copy of my Chong Xu Mountain's sword array."

"Your Chong Xu Mountain's sword array is not good. If you talk about sword casting, mine at Taiyi is still better. You should send him sword decrees instead—"

"Sending sword decrees is also useless, Moyan doesn't learn sword methods—"

"Taixu Mountain doesn't value sword methods inheritance either—."

The Taiyi Sect Leader was displeased and corrected him, "It's not that we don't value it, it's that our Taixu Mountain's sword methods emphasize sword intent, which is something that can be comprehended after reaching the Golden Core stage—"

"Once comprehended, the power is incredible."

"Isn't that pointless?"

"This is a Foundation Building sword discussion, what's the point of mentioning Golden Core matters?"

"Furthermore, the sword intent methods preserved by Taixu Mountain are also not as good as they used to be, what can you even bring out now—"

"The old ancestor is thinking of ways."

"What ways can he have?"

"This... I can't say yet."

"Alright then, when you have time, let us experience it and broaden our horizons—"

The three of them chatted and chatted, and soon they were all silent again.

The atmosphere became heavy again for a while.

The Taiyi Sect Leader suddenly slapped his head, "Where's the tea? Weren't we drinking tea?"

The Chong Xu Sect Leader frowned: "No mood to drink."

"Drink a little."

"The sword discussion is about to start."

The Taiyi Sect Leader sighed: "This sword discussion, we have to fight, and if we don't fight to the death, we won't be able to determine a winner."

"Great Luo Gate is also not easy to deal with."

"And that Ye Zhiyuan, and that, Great Luo Flying Sky Sword Control—"

As soon as he said this, everyone felt a headache.

"Drink some tea to calm the heart."

The Taiyi Elder took out exquisite tea-making tools, good spring water, and green tea leaves, and began to boil tea.

But the three people's minds were still on the competition field.

And at this moment, everyone's gaze was also focused on Fang Tian Huaying, anticipating this battle, the sword discussion match that would determine the first position of the Eight Great Gates.

Until the end, no one knew how long this sword discussion match would actually last.

No one knew what kind of slaughter would be experienced during the sword discussion match.

Even fewer people knew where the outcome would go—

Soon, the sound of the Lun Dao bell rang.

The sword discussion began.

The disciples of both sides entered the field.

This was a decapitation match, where the 'leader' of the enemy needed to be beheaded.

Great Luo Gate's 'leader' was Ye Zhiyuan, who had the highest cultivation and the strongest sword dao.

Taixu Gate's 'leader' was different from the past; they chose Ling Hu Miao.

Clearly, Taixu Gate also knew that this time's sword discussion was different from ordinary ones, so they didn't dare to take the slightest risk and didn't dare to let the Moyan, who could be 'broken' with a touch and 'killed' with a sword, be this 'leader' again.

Ye Zhiyuan sneered.

"Do you think I won't kill you just because you're not the leader?"

In this sword discussion, he not only wanted to win and behead Ling Hu Miao, but more importantly, he wanted to kill that Moyan.

Killing Moyan could make him the 'alliance leader'.

For him, this 'alliance leader' position might not be inferior to being first among the Eight Great Gates at all.

He was arrogant and looked down on others, but he wasn't a fool.

What an 'organization' that included the prodigies and disciples of the Eight Great Gates, the twelve minor sects, and even some of the four major sects, actually meant, and how important it was, didn't require much thought to figure out.

Before, there might have never been anyone with such 'cohesion' who could gather such a large range of prodigies and form an alliance.

The alliance leader of such a prodigy 'alliance', even if only in name and without much real power, would also be absolutely extraordinary.

Moreover, this was just an opportunity.

This alliance, established with the purpose of 'killing Moyan', was also very loose in structure.

But as long as he became the alliance leader, he could gradually, imperceptibly, change the nature of this alliance and make it serve him.

As for Moyan?

Who cared about him?

He was just a 'hate-attracting' chess piece, just a 'crowd-gathering' signboard.

Those prodigies of the four sects and eight gates were completely blinded by hate and would regard 'killing Moyan' as a big deal.

People who are controlled by hate won't have great capacity.

Therefore, this alliance leader could only be him.

And only he, who didn't put Moyan in his eyes, but could still kill Moyan, had this 'capacity'.

Ye Zhiyuan touched his hand, his mind connected to the Great Luo Sword, his gaze sharp, and he said coldly:

"According to the plan, kill!"

"Yes!"

The disciples of Great Luo Gate urged their body methods forward, like sharp swords, quickly approaching the five people from Taixu Gate.

Soon, both sides met.

Slaughter was imminent.

The four disciples of Great Luo Gate formed an encircling formation and collectively charged towards Ling Hu Miao.

Ye Zhiyuan then stood firm in the distance, controlling the Great Luo Sword, silently operating the sword control decrees, and urging the Flying Sky Sword, making a posture to chop Ling Hu Miao.

The biggest advantage of Sword Control Decrees was distance.

Next was speed.

Then, power.

Flying swords from a distance were incredibly fast, and the sword qi was extremely strong, capable of taking an enemy's life in the blink of an eye.

Among all the disciples in the entire Qian Xue sect gates, some had stronger sword qi than him, but no disciple could compare to him in sword control.

So, he was the first 'sword control' genius in Qian Xue.

This was a gift from heaven.

It was innate sword dao talent.

Naturally, he had to make good use of it.

Ye Zhiyuan stood firm in the distance, urged the Great Luo Flying Sky Sword Control Decrees, pretended to want to kill Ling Hu Miao, but his divine sense covertly captured Moyan's figure.

Soon, he found Moyan.

Moyan, like him, also stood foolishly in the distance, not moving.

Ye Zhiyuan secretly laughed in his heart and ridiculed:

"Fool, I'm standing still for sword control. You're standing still waiting to die?"

Sword control killing, life and death on a thread.

War opportunities were often fleeting.

Since Moyan provided an opportunity and had a flaw, Ye Zhiyuan naturally wouldn't let it go.

His sword was very far, very fast, and very strong.

He pretended to kill Ling Hu Miao, then suddenly and unexpectedly, a sword flew out to kill Moyan.

Moyan would be caught off guard, no matter what he hid or what body methods he used, he wouldn't have time, and he would undoubtedly die!

Ye Zhiyuan controlled his sword, his gaze fixed on Ling Hu Miao, but his divine sense was quietly locked onto Moyan.

His sword had not yet struck.

Then the next instant, he discovered that something seemed to be flying over from a distance first.

Ye Zhiyuan was stunned.

What was that—flying towards me?

This thing flying over was also very far, very fast, and still flashed a hint of dangerous light.

Ye Zhiyuan's eyes didn't recognize it.

But his subconscious in his heart shocked him and detected:

Is it a sword?!

This motherf*cker, someone's flying sword is coming to kill me?!

"Save me!"

Ye Zhiyuan only managed to shout this one sound.

He had kept a distance and chosen a safe position, just focusing on sword control. At this time, he was most afraid of being sneak attacked.

The other several Great Luo Gate disciples also detected the anomaly and blocked in front of him one step earlier than Ye Zhiyuan.

They wanted to block this flying sword for Ye Zhiyuan.

But this flying sword was too fast, they were caught off guard and simply couldn't block it.

Not only them, but everyone else also didn't expect that a sword would suddenly fly out from the Taixu Gate camp.

This flying sword passed through the interception of the four Great Luo Gate disciples, then quickly and accurately hit Ye Zhiyuan's chest.

But it was blocked by his dao robe...

Ye Zhiyuan was scared out of his wits.

But there was no sword qi on the sword, and it couldn't even pierce his dao robe.

Ye Zhiyuan let out a breath and couldn't help but secretly scold:

"What the hell is this? Does this even count as a flying sword? There's no sword qi at all? How is it supposed to kill me?"

The next instant, the spirit sword suddenly trembled, and a series of sword patterns lit up.

The sword array within the spirit sword absorbed spirit stones, operated on its own, and instantly generated extremely sharp Opening Mountain Sword Qi.

The sword qi accumulated more and more, becoming stronger and stronger, even exceeding the spirit sword's own load.

To the extent that cracks began to appear on the sword body.

Then, in Ye Zhiyuan's incomprehensible and extremely shocked gaze, the spirit sword directly—exploded.

The exploding sword qi intertwined, creating a boom.

The sharp and thick Opening Mountain Sword Qi, with the sword array as its core, formed a sword qi vortex, instantly sweeping in all directions.

It was as if several giant swords were strangling in the air.

The surrounding mountains, rocks, forests, everything was strangled to pieces.

Before everyone could react to what had happened.

The sound of the Lun Dao Mountain bell rang.

The sword discussion was over.

It ended the match with just one sword.

On Lun Dao Mountain, there was dead silence.

Everyone was too shocked to speak.

Then, with a 'boom', the crowd erupted into extreme human noise, a boiling clamor, as if a volcano had erupted, the entire Lun Dao Mountain exploded...