Chapter 1038: Traitor

Wenren Wan also didn’t know why she suddenly thought of these things.

Clearly, this was at the Sword Discussion Assembly.

The sky was blue and the sun was bright, and there were crowds of people everywhere.

The Shangguan family and the Wenren family, along with a host of high-cultivation elders, were all there.

Why did she have this ominous and miserable nightmare?

She didn't know, she just tightly hugged her precious child, not letting anyone snatch him away...

And in the midst of the clamor, the Shura War finally began.

On the Painting of Fang Tian, colorful shadows danced, and then mountains and rivers condensed to form a giant painting scroll.

This was a large area of complex mountain ranges.

This was also the final venue for the Shura War.

The Four Sects, Eight Gates, and Twelve Schools, plus the minority Qianxue Hundred Gates, a total of over a hundred teams, would fight to the death in this vast and dangerous Shura battlefield.

They would decide not only victory and defeat, but also "life and death."

In front of the vast and magnificent Painting of Fang Tian, all the watching cultivators held their breath and concentrated, silently watching the battle situation, witnessing this battle that was sufficient to determine the fate of most sects.

Inside the Sword Discussion arena.

Mo Hua led the disciples of the Tai Xu Sect and stepped onto the Shura battlefield. Looking up, the entire venue was bigger, wider, and more complex.

Mountains and rivers stretched endlessly, vast and boundless, with intricate terrain and covered in clouds and mist.

Forests, mountain peaks, slopes, canyons, swamps, ancient woods, poisonous grass fields, miasma, ruins... etc., all hid in the mountain mist, complex and difficult to distinguish, virtual and real difficult to grasp.

And far away, Suspended Heaven Peak was faintly visible.

Suspended Heaven Peak was the venue for the Heavenly Character Sword Discussion.

The Shura War was the promotion war for the Heavenly Character.

The two venues were adjacent. In the past, only after passing the trial of the Shura War would one be qualified to step onto Suspended Heaven Peak.

And now, what Mo Hua was about to experience was a severe "Shura War."

"Little Senior Brother..." Situ Jian said in a low voice, "Everything is ready."

"Okay."

Mo Hua turned his head back and looked at Situ Jian, and behind him were Linghu Xiao, Ouyang Xuan, Cheng Mo, Yang Qianjun, Hao Xuan, the five Ouyang brothers...

And so on, face after face of familiar and kind fellow disciples.

He saw their solemn expressions and firm, unwavering gazes of trust.

Mo Hua nodded, "Act according to the plan."

"Follow me..."

Mo Hua released his divine sense, penetrated the terrain, then found a direction and walked into the mountain forest.

The disciples of the Tai Xu Sect all silently followed behind him.

A group of people gradually disappeared into the thick fog.

At the same time, the leading heavenly pride disciples of each sect, looking at the large expanse of mist before their eyes, successively issued orders:

"Go, don't worry about other sects, find the Tai Xu Sect first!"

"Don't worry about other people either, find Mo Hua first!"

"Once found, release fireworks to transmit the message."

"We'll surround and kill them."

"Exterminate the Tai Xu Sect first!"

"Mo Hua must die!"

"Yes!"

In the vast Shura battlefield, among the misty mountain shapes.

The disciples of each sect successively shuttled between mountain forests, small streams, and swamps, releasing their divine sense to search for the Tai Xu Sect, especially the figure of Mo Hua of the Tai Xu Sect.

There was a tacit understanding between them.

Kill Mo Hua, exterminate Tai Xu.

Of course, this "tacit understanding" did not include all sects.

In the vast Shura battlefield, there were still sporadic small battles erupting, with sect disciples "killing" each other.

Apart from the Tai Xu Sect and Mo Hua.

In the border of Qianxue State, there was no lack of old grievances between other sects.

Enemies meet with particularly red eyes. They didn't care about the Tai Xu Sect or Mo Hua. As soon as they met, they drew their knives and started killing.

But the overall situation was still extremely unfavorable to Mo Hua.

Most cultivators, especially those holding the "Tu Mo Order" and irreconcilably hostile to Mo Hua, still upheld the "alliance."

They scattered respectively, like a fishing net, spreading all over the Sword Discussion venue, searching for traces of Mo Hua in the mist.

But they searched again and again, and unexpectedly did not see a shadow of Mo Hua.

Not even the disciples of the Tai Xu Sect were seen.

It was as if they had just disappeared.

Shi Tiangang, the Great Senior Brother of the Vajra Sect, who suffered from the hidden technique and became a "big fool," immediately cursed darkly:

"Coming this set again?"

"Hiding again?"

Beside Shi Tiangang, Qin Cangliu, the sword dao genius of the Gui Shui Sect, thought for a moment and shook his head:

"That's not right, it's fine if he hides alone, but it's impossible for all the disciples of the Tai Xu Sect to learn hidden techniques?"

"Hidden techniques may not be that easy to learn."

"Moreover, even if you learn it, it's very difficult to cultivate it to perfection and not be detected."

"Hidden spiritual tools?"

"The hidden effect of hidden spiritual tools is not that good, at least it can't hide from your and my divine sense."

"Is it... a hidden array?"

A hidden array is a high-level array of Second Grade and nineteen patterns, and it's a very niche technique, very difficult to learn. Basically, very few array masters go to learn that kind.

In past Sword Discussion Assemblies, a hidden array has never appeared.

But on Mo Hua's body, there was this possibility.

At this time, the mist had not yet dissipated. The vast Sword Discussion field had dangerous and complex terrain. If Mo Hua really set up a hidden array and the entire Tai Xu Sect "hid" in a corner, it would be truly difficult to discover.

"Group hiding..."

"This damn Mo Hua, his ghost ideas are truly numerous."

"Simply shameless..."

"What do we do now?"

"If we can't find Mo Hua, we just don't move?"

"This is a Sword Discussion Assembly, with so many sect masters and elders watching. If we just drag on like this, it's a bit too embarrassing."

"According to the agreement, clear the field once first..."

"Clear the field while looking for Mo Hua."

"Good."

"Okay."

Thus, everyone began the first "clear the field."

The so-called clear the field was based on the rankings of the Four Sects, Eight Gates, and Twelve Schools, conducting a preliminary "screening."

The Shura War was said to be a melee, but it was not a chaotic battle without rules.

This kind of "melee" also had "rules" and was divided into "classes."

The weak ones were killed off first.

The sects ranked lower exited first.

This was also the conventional fighting method that the Shura War "old-timers" had.

And this clearing of the field followed the principle of "one sword."

Each major sect, led by their heavenly pride, would "scan the map" respectively. When they encountered weak disciples from weak sects ranked lower, they would unleash "one sword."

And only one sword.

If the opponent received this one sword, they would be qualified to stay and continue to participate.

If they didn't receive it, they would immediately exit.

Like this, the weak ones were cleared out.

It also avoided the early life-and-death slaughter between the strong, thereby preventing the weak from picking up leaks opportunistically, and other such "blunders" from happening.

To a certain extent, this also consolidated the respective sects' rankings.

Clearing the field according to the established ranking would prevent the Sword Discussion's ranking from appearing too much deviation.

A crowd of sects, including the strongest Four Great Sects, all tacitly agreed to this rule.

This was a very important part of the sects' Sword Discussion.

Even the Four Great Sects would not presumptuously do things that broke the rules to avoid causing unnecessary variables.

Therefore, the Shura War initially showed bloodiness and began the first round of simple "massacre."

Between mountain forests, on small streams, in swamps.

Blade lights frequently appeared, spells were frequently cast, and there were also exchanges of fists and feet.

But they all just touched and withdrew, probing the bottom.

When encountering the weak, they decisively took their lives.

When encountering the strong, they stopped at a point, and both sides ceased fighting.

Soon, all the last-stream sects in the entire Shura War, and the disciples whose strength was unbearable, were all cleaned up once.

But there were also some whose strength was not actually weak, but were implicated because of certain people.

Some disciples who learned hidden techniques wanted to borrow hidden means to hide a bit.

To hold on for a while longer, to get a higher rank, and get a few more points was also good.

This still had some use in the past.

But it was useless now.

Because Mo Hua was too skilled at hiding.

So each major sect, in order to execute Mo Hua, all extremely valued methods like "hiding."

To restrain Mo Hua's hiding, they also prepared a large amount of targeted means.

Mo Hua blocked his own path to death.

These people then had no path.

Some hidden disciples, whose hidden techniques were good and whose hidden spiritual tools were also fine, were far from being as clever as Mo Hua.

They simply couldn't "hide" for long and were seen through their traces and killed with one sword.

Moreover, hidden techniques were very hated.

Because the heavenly pride of some sects had been "played" by Mo Hua's hidden technique and felt deeply ashamed, they simply couldn't stand others hiding in front of them.

Especially Shi Tiangang.

When he saw someone hiding in front of him, he got angry.

"Who couldn't you learn from, you had to learn from Mo Hua?"

In the Shura War, he specifically hunted and killed hidden cultivators.

Besides that, disciples with good movement techniques also suffered because of Mo Hua.

Feng Zichen, the heavenly pride of the Xiaoyao Sect, ever since that day when he turned a sword flower into a snow flower, and his wrist was almost broken from exhaustion, still couldn't scratch a piece of Mo Hua's clothing after, he simply couldn't stand others displaying movement techniques in front of him.

In the Shura War, if the disciples of some weaker sects were honest and confronted him with one sword, Feng Zichen still wouldn't do anything.

But if you escaped in front of Feng Zichen's face, and even used movement techniques to run.

It would instantly hit his sore spot.

He wouldn't do anything else, he would chase you to the ends of the earth, and he would kill you.

As for the fireball technique, there's no need to mention it.

Nowadays, the fireball technique has already become a conventional "forbidden technique" in the Sword Discussion Assembly.

Except for Mo Hua, all disciples are strictly forbidden to use it.

Especially in the Shura War.

If anyone is momentarily careless and throws a fireball, they will instantly become the target of everyone and be hacked to death by a group of red-eyed cultivators with random swords.

While chopping, they still cursed:

"Let you use the fireball technique!"

"Only you are capable?"

"I hate the fireball technique the most in my life!"

In the first clearing of the field, Mo Hua did not appear.

But again, it was as if his shadow was everywhere.

Like this, after this kind of quick killing and "screening," after one hour, the first "cleaning" ended.

Those who were not strong enough, and those who were similar to Mo Hua, were all eliminated.

Almost all the disciples of the Qianxue Hundred Gates were wiped out.

Quite a few last-stream disciples of the Twelve Schools were eliminated.

The Eight Great Gates eliminated zero stars, several people.

The Four Great Sects remained unchanged.

This time, they faced another problem:

Continue to find Mo Hua?

Or continue to compete like this?

The leading heavenly pride of each sect was silently calculating in their hearts.

Ye Qingfeng of the Da Luo Sect spoke up:

"I suggest that each sect first cease fire, and spare no effort to kill Mo Hua first."

"After Mo Hua dies, we can mutually discuss victory and defeat again."

"Don't forget, this Mo Hua is an extremely great hidden danger."

"His cultivation may not be worth mentioning, but he is skilled in hidden techniques and his movement technique is peerless. In such a large venue, he is like a fish in water. If we don't gather everyone's strength and kill him first, once we let him 'hold on' to the end, we fundamentally have no way to deal with him."

The Da Luo Sect, one sect with two heavenly prides.

One was Ye Zhiyuan, who cultivated the Da Luo Flying Heaven Imperial Sword Art, but was killed by Mo Hua with one sword, falling from a height of a thousand zhang. He was once the number one imperial sword genius in Qianxue — Ye Zhiyuan.

The other one was Ye Qingfeng, who cultivated the Da Luo Return to One Sword Art.

Ye Qingfeng was tall and slender, with an outstanding appearance and deep cultivation. However, because he cultivated the Return to One Sword Art, his aura was restrained and did not attract attention.

But knowledgeable people all knew that Ye Qingfeng's cultivation was actually extremely strong, almost the number one person below the Four Heavenly Prides.

Moreover, he and Ye Zhiyuan were the same, both were highly anticipated by the Da Luo Sect, and were also "seed" level heavenly prides on whom the Da Luo ancestor had planted a life longevity symbol.

Up until now in the Sword Discussion, he had not fought with Mo Hua and had no personal grudge against Mo Hua.

Therefore, his attitude was still relatively objective.

Not because of personal grudge, wanting to kill Mo Hua.

But because Mo Hua's whole body of tricky and strange "life-preserving" skills was an absolute hidden danger.

In this kind of Shura War, if they didn't plan early and kill Mo Hua in advance, it was uncertain if he truly could "hold on" to the end.

That would be truly too absurd.

As the top heavenly pride of the Eight Great Gates, Ye Qingfeng's words were easily accepted by the people of the Eight Great Gates.

And his strength was not bad, and he also had the qualifications to negotiate with the heavenly pride of the Four Great Sects.

Therefore, his speech was considered to have gained "public recognition."

"Kill Mo Hua first!"

"At least, find the people of the Tai Xu Sect first..."

"It's decided."

The heavenly pride disciples of each sect separated again, interlacing with each other, like a "sieve," searching every blade of grass, every tree, every mountain, every valley in the entire Shura battlefield.

Divine senses crisscrossed back and forth.

Gazes penetrated autumn hair.

Spying hidden spiritual tools were also used.

But the ghost was that they still didn't see Mo Hua's figure.

Nor did they find traces of the Tai Xu Sect.

Everyone cursed darkly while continuing to search.

Impatient emotions began to breed in everyone's hearts.

The stalemate situation also made everyone impatient.

"Where exactly is this damn Mo Hua hiding?"

"Like a ghost..."

"How long do we have to search for this?"

Furthermore, this was the Shura War, a battle that would determine one's personal future and the interests of their sect. In such a stalemate, some people were naturally unwilling.

Although they wanted to kill Mo Hua.

But once they couldn't kill Mo Hua, the situation was different again.

They didn't forget that this was the Sword Discussion. All the disciples of other sects were enemies.

They could not possibly mess up the sect's grand plan purely because of one "Mo Hua."

The so-called Tu Mo "alliance" was actually just a "verbal constraint," no one would truly take it to heart.

Especially when it involved the true interests of the sect.

Gradually, some people started to have different thoughts.

They could still distinguish clearly between the importance of Mo Hua and the interests of the sect.

And among the Four Sects, Eight Gates, and Twelve Schools, not everyone hated Mo Hua that much.

Not to mention, among this group of people, there were still "traitors" supported by Mo Hua.

In the Duan Jin Sect's queue.

Song Jian then said to the leading disciple of the Duan Jin Sect: "Song Kui, let's start killing."

Song Kui was stunned.

He was the strongest disciple of the Duan Jin Sect in this session and the leader, but Song Jian had a good background and had also greatly shone in the Sword Discussion Assembly, receiving considerable appreciation from the elders.

Therefore, he did not dare to ignore Song Jian's opinion.

Just...

Start killing?

Kill who?

Song Kui gradually understood Song Jian's meaning and frowned: "This... is not good, is it?"

Song Jian said: "This is the Shura War, a crucial moment, we must be cold and ruthless, break faith and justice."

"That Mo Hua..."

"So many people want to kill Mo Hua, the Duan Jin Sect is not lacking."

Song Kui still hesitated.

Song Jian then said: "Don't forget, our Duan Jin Sect is now the bottom of the Eight Great Gates."

"The sects in front of us will not possibly yield their positions to us."

"Even if we kill Mo Hua and drag the Tai Xu Sect into the water, it still can't change our situation."

"Our true opponents are the sects ranked one or two positions ahead of us."

"Step on them, and we can climb up..."

"Climb up first, then consider targeting the Tai Xu Sect, consider killing Mo Hua. If we can't climb up, everything is empty talk..."

Song Kui was also a utilitarian. Hearing these words, his eyes flashed with sharp light, and he nodded:

"Good, kill!"

Song Kui took the lead, and Song Jian then gripped his spiritual sword. The two of them led the disciples of the Duan Jin Sect, making no sound, and continued to search for Mo Hua's whereabouts.

In a moment, they encountered the Zi Xia Sect along the way.

Song Kui went up and exchanged a few words of greetings.

Taking advantage of the Zi Xia Sect's carelessness, Song Jian suddenly drew his sword. The sword contained golden light and slashed towards a disciple of the Zi Xia Sect.

The rest of the Duan Jin Sect disciples also followed him and attacked together.

The Zi Xia Sect disciples were caught off guard. Immediately, due to the sneak attack, two people died, three were seriously injured, and another seven or eight people received minor injuries.

The leading heavenly pride of the Zi Xia Sect was furious and cursed:

"Duan Jin Sect, what are you doing?"

Song Jian smiled coldly, "Sword Discussion, what else can we do?"

He held his sword, took the lead, and again led his fellow disciples to fight with the Zi Xia Sect.

The Zi Xia Sect again suffered two more dead or injured.

But the Zi Xia Sect was not unworthy of being one of the Eight Great Gates. Very quickly, they stabilized their formation and fought with the Duan Jin Sect.

The situation was a bit of a stalemate.

Song Jian saw that he couldn't get any advantage and didn't linger in the battle. Seeing a good opportunity, he withdrew and said:

"Withdraw!"

The disciples of the Duan Jin Sect then followed him and withdrew together.

The disciples of the Zi Xia Sect were furious and impatient, but they had been sneak attacked by the Duan Jin Sect, lost people, and did not dare to chase, only staring blankly as the Duan Jin Sect left.

Outside the arena.

The elders of the Zi Xia Sect greatly cursed the Duan Jin Sect for being shameless.

But the elders of the Duan Jin Sect happily nodded and praised:

"I didn't misjudge this Song Jian, he truly has some decisive points..."

"Not blinded by hatred, his mind is calm, he knows the bigger picture, is good at grasping opportunities, and acts ruthlessly and decisively, not dragging his feet. He can be greatly used!"

"This kind of heart nature is more important than spiritual roots."

"The Duan Jin Sect is fortunate to have this child!"

And inside the Sword Discussion arena.

The Duan Jin Sect's sneak attack on the Zi Xia Sect caused quite a stir, and naturally, it was also seen by other sects.

Qin Cangliu of the Gui Shui Sect looked at everything in front of him, frowned, and fell into contemplation.

At this time, a disciple of the Gui Shui Sect walked up and said in a low voice:

"Brother Qin, the Duan Jin Sect has started killing, why don't we also..."

He horizontally gestured with his palm, making a chopping motion.

Qin Cangliu looked at this seemingly ordinary disciple and thought of his name:

Wang Chen.

Wang Chen's talent was actually average, but he had a wide circle of friends in the Gui Shui Sect and good connections.

It seemed that last time, the Gui Shui Sect had a major reshuffle because of the Rouge Boat incident.

This Wang Chen relied on his connections with the Dao Court Department, sold quite a few favors, gradually gained a firm foothold within the Gui Shui Sect, and made a name for himself.

And relying on this face, Wang Chen formed a team and also got into the Earth Character Sword Discussion.

Of course, the Earth Character stage was difficult to fight. Wang Chen's team didn't win many games. If it weren't for the Shura War, he wouldn't have had a chance to show off.

Qin Cangliu didn't think highly of someone like Wang Chen.

But he was not a fool, and it was not worth offending Wang Chen.

As the saying goes, the King of Hell is easy to see, but the little ghosts are hard to deal with.

Wang Chen was just this kind of hard-to-deal-with "little ghost."

He had a wide circle of friends, many connections, and hidden relationships.

You fundamentally wouldn't know who this seemingly humble little figure was secretly pulling strings with behind his back.

Once you offend them, it's very easy to be tripped up and have bad things happen.

But Wang Chen's words, he would not lightly believe.

Qin Cangliu contemplated, not speaking.

Wang Chen's gaze flickered slightly, and then he said: "Brother Qin, this child Mo Hua is not a pity to die... But in the current situation, our Gui Shui Sect is not much better than the Duan Jin Sect."

"If the Duan Jin Sect goes up, then our Gui Shui Sect might be at the bottom."

"If we don't think of a way early, even if we truly kill Mo Hua, our Gui Shui Sect won't gain any benefits."

"Moreover..."

Wang Chen pointed upwards with his finger and said in a low voice: "This Sword Discussion may have many noble people watching, especially the Dao Court, and the people of the Dao Court Department."

"I inquired from a small rumor that this child Mo Hua has some connections with the Gu family of the Dao Court Department, and even with the supervising adult who came from the Dao Court."

"This is a Sword Discussion, Brother Qin. If you truly can kill Mo Hua, that would still be fine, those big figures won't say anything either."

"But if because of killing Mo Hua, you delay the war opportunity, and make the Gui Shui Sect the bottom of the Eight Great Gates, perhaps..."

Wang Chen didn't finish.

But Qin Cangliu naturally understood the consequences.

Qin Cangliu contemplated for a moment, then his gaze became cold, and he looked at Wang Chen: "What are your intentions?"

Wang Chen bowed his hands and lowered his eyebrows, saying: "Brother Qin, it is precious for a person to know oneself. My talent is not good, so I can only make more friends and connections, and be kinder to people."

"I say this, also just want to sell you a favor and make a familiar face."

"Moreover, you and I are both disciples of the Gui Shui Sect. We prosper together, and we fall together. I naturally must consider for our Gui Shui Sect."

Qin Cangliu looked sharply at Wang Chen.

Wang Chen had a humble smile on his face, and his gaze was frank.

Qin Cangliu nodded slightly: "Okay, we'll also start killing..."