Chapter 996: Sword Points to Four Sects

Disciples reside outside, in the remote mountain forest. Ancient trees tower to the sky, branches and leaves lush and dense. Mo Hua stands under the ancient tree. This towering ancient tree happens to be the one he uses for practicing divine sense into sword. Hundreds of disciples gather together, surrounding Mo Hua. This is Cheng Mo, following Mo Hua's orders, summoning the junior brothers from Tai Xu Sect.

These disciples, of course, are not all. In the last year of sect cultivation, most disciples are very busy, all having their own things to do. Some are in closed-door cultivation, some are out hunting demons, some are honing Dao methods, some are continuing to do bounties, and some are studying formations, talismans, alchemy, weapon refining, and other Dao arts. Mo Hua's temporary summons were able to call so many disciples, which is already considered not bad. And among these people, the vast majority are disciples of the Tai Xu Mountain lineage, with only a small number from the Tai A Mountain and Chong Xu Mountain lineages.

Tai Xu Mountain's disciples, being of the same sect and origin as Mo Hua, have gotten along for a long time, with deep friendships, and are more convinced by Mo Hua, this "little senior brother." As long as Mo Hua calls out, most Tai Xu disciples, if they have time, will immediately run over. The Tai A and Chong Xu lineages just merged into Tai Xu Sect not long ago, and the disciples from these two mountains have a much more distant attitude towards Mo Hua. Of course, Mo Hua doesn't care either. For now, these disciples are temporarily enough.

In the small woods, hundreds of disciples either stand or sit, densely packed in a circle, all silently watching Mo Hua. "Little senior brother, you called us over, is something the matter?" someone asked. The gazes of the other people were also more or less filled with some doubts.

Mo Hua directly asked: "Will you all participate in the Sword Discussion Assembly?"

Some disciples nodded, some shook their heads.

Mo Hua asked them: "Why not go?"

All around was silent for a moment, then someone said: "Little senior brother, my cultivation foundation is a bit shallow, and the number of heavenly cycles for spiritual power is low…"

"I'm not skilled in fighting methods…"

"My Dao methods are not good."

"I don't know who to team with…"

"The Sword Discussion Assembly is a big event, also a grand event, so many people are watching, I… I'm a bit nervous…"

"Yes, if my own strength isn't good, I just won't go up to lose face."

"Losing in front of so many people, if I lose very ugly, it will instead smear the sect's face, and we also feel uneasy…"

Disciples discussed variously. In the end, they were either not confident, not skilled in fighting with people, or simply didn't want to lose face for the sect. After all, within the entire sect, disciples are numerous, each with different aptitudes and various dispositions. Not everyone has the ability and disposition for killing and fighting.

Mo Hua paused for a bit, then said: "You should know the winning system of the Sword Discussion Assembly, right?"

"As long as you can win one round, even if it's only at the very beginning, winning an insignificant round, it will also accumulate a win point for the sect."

Disciples nodded. They still knew this system.

But… "One win point… really too… insignificant…" A disciple whispered.

Mo Hua, however, shook his head, "Do not refuse to act because it seems small."

"Seemingly only one win point, but it's like gathering grains of sand into a tower. As long as you accumulate enough, it will lay the foundation for the final winning momentum."

"This is not about one win point; it's about the contribution you've made to the sect."

Mo Hua's gaze was bright and sharp: "We are all members of Tai Xu Sect, sharing honor and disgrace with the sect."

"If Tai Xu Sect wants to prosper, if it wants to be strong, it cannot be without the effort of every disciple."

"When you participate in the Sword Discussion Assembly, you are not just fighting for yourself, but more for the honor and interests of the sect."

"Even if you lose, you will still be glorious in defeat."

"Others may mock you, but the sect's ancestors, the sect master, and all the elders will recognize your efforts, recognize the blood and sweat you've shed for the sect."

"And if you win, even if you only win one round, only win one point, you will have made a real contribution to the victory of Tai Xu Sect."

"Without accumulating small steps, there's no way to reach a thousand miles."

"Victory is never achieved in one go, but like this, through bit by bit accumulation…"

"Tai Xu Sect is not the Tai Xu Sect of one or two heaven's pride sons, but the Tai Xu Sect of all disciples!"

"The strength of Tai Xu Sect cannot be without every disciple."

Mo Hua's tone was sincere, going straight to the heart. Upon hearing this, all the disciples' hearts were stirred. They weren't unwilling to go to the Sword Discussion; they just felt that their efforts, in the face of the Sword Discussion grand event where heaven's pride were as numerous as clouds, were truly insignificant, thus giving rise to a desire to retreat. Mo Hua also understood this in his heart. Generally, ordinary disciples were "fodder," and their participation or non-participation indeed had no big impact. The sect also didn't force disciples to participate; it all depended on their voluntary choice.

But now the situation was different. After the three sects merged, the number of low-level disciples in Tai Xu Sect was now more than three times what it was before. And they also now had Mo Hua, this "little senior brother."

"But, little senior brother…" A disciple whispered, "I want to go, but my strength is really too weak…"

"Moreover, I also don't know how to fight with others…"

"Yes, I also haven't practiced…"

"If I really go up, I probably still won't win a single round…"

Mo Hua, however, waved his hand, "It doesn't matter. You haven't discussed sword before, but haven't you hunted demons before?"

Everyone was stunned.

Mo Hua continued: "If you really don't know how to fight, how to win, just treat the Sword Discussion as 'hunting demons'."

"You're not going to discuss sword, but to hunt five 'human-shaped demon beasts'."

Upon hearing this, many disciples indeed no longer felt nervous. They hadn't discussed sword before, but they were all familiar with hunting demons. Especially after Mo Hua made "hunting demons" procedural, even if they weren't skilled in fighting methods or not like killing disciples, as long as they followed the steps, they could still kill one or two demon beasts from Refining Demon Mountain and pluck some fur to exchange for merits.

"But…" A disciple said, "Sword Discussion and hunting demons are still not the same, right…"

Demon beasts are thick-skinned and fleshy, strong, but their habits are fixed. Cultivators are different, flexible and changeable, with more thoughts. One is against beasts, one is against people; these two types of killing thinking are completely different.

Mo Hua said with confidence: "Rest assured, I've considered everything. At that time, you just follow what I say and do, unify your formation, equip yourselves with formations, adapt your spiritual tools, and firm up your tactics."

"Just treat yourselves as Dao soldiers. Don't fear, keep your mind without distractions, and just execute commands. Winning is good; losing doesn't matter either. This is Sword Discussion; you won't die."

After Mo Hua's guidance, the eyes of all the people involuntarily brightened up. Seeing their fighting spirit, Mo Hua's tone became a bit excited and he said: "All the disciples within the boundary of Qian Xue State have only one Sword Discussion opportunity in this life. I don't believe that you truly want to give up this opportunity in your hearts."

"Since you don't want to give up, then go fight once."

"There are numerous famous sects within the boundary of Qian Xue State, and indeed there are heaven's pride as numerous as clouds, and countless experts."

"But even the heaven's pride with good aptitude, high cultivation, and strong strength are just people, nobler than you."

"Under the Way of Heaven, all beings are like straw dogs."

"Since all are straw dogs, who is nobler than whom?"

"The Great Dao is long, and cultivators in this life face numerous difficulties and dangers."

"You cannot lose the sharp intent to advance, and even more so, you cannot lose the courage to draw your sword against the strong."

"Moreover, this is Sword Discussion; losing is not a loss, winning is a blood earn!"

"Even if you encounter the heaven's pride of the four great sects, you should try every way to bite off a piece of meat from them!"

These words were resounding. Disciples were impassioned for a time. Some people in their hearts sprouted grand ambitions, their eyes even a little red.

Mo Hua waited for their emotions to calm down a bit, then said in a low voice: "And the most important point…"

He looked at everyone and slowly said: "In this Sword Discussion, we will inevitably suffer 'encirclement' from the four great sects, and even other sects. The process will necessarily be very difficult, but, everyone don't forget… this is the Sword Discussion for sect reform!"

"In other words, this Sword Discussion can decide the ranking of the sects!"

"Suppose, we can really win over the four great sects, then our Tai Xu Sect will be the four great sects from now on!"

Mo Hua's gaze was calm as he swept across the entire field, saying each word slowly: "You think… when we entered the sect, we were still disciples of the eight great gates. But when we graduate, we will become the heaven's pride of the top four great sects in the boundary of Qian Xue State!"

All the disciples were stunned. Disciples of the Qian Xue four great sects!! They hadn't thought about this question before. It wasn't that they couldn't think; it was that they fundamentally didn't dare to think in that direction. What kind of sects were the four great sects? How could the threshold of the four great gates be so easy to step into? Where in the world could there be such good things?

But now, after Mo Hua said this, the "ambition" hidden in their hearts actually spread and grew endlessly like grass blown by the spring wind.

Mo Hua's tone was a bit sharp: "To say something unpleasant, with our aptitudes, we are actually all not qualified to join the four great sects…"

"Since we cannot join the four great sects…"

Mo Hua's tone was clear and steady, and for a time his gaze was brilliant, splendid like stars, "Then let's rely on our own efforts to make our sect one of the four great sects!"

This sentence, like the morning bell and evening drum, shocked the heart. The surrounding Tai Xu Sect disciples felt a blockage in their chests, followed by endless fighting intent, like a raging fire, bursting from their chests. Rely on our own efforts to make the sect one of the four great sects!

Not only these disciples, at this moment, some Tai Xu Sect elders eavesdropping from afar were also all dumbfounded. Their hearts were also thumping. Mo Hua's words were also applicable to them, these elders. To say something unpleasant, they, these elders, were also not qualified to enter the four great sects. Some couldn't step over the threshold of the four great sects because their family background, background, cultivation, or ability wasn't enough. Some were tied to Tai Xu Sect by their families, so generations could only be elders of Tai Xu Sect. Even if their cultivation was higher, as long as they had a bit of shame, they absolutely could not betray their families and turn to join the four great sects. In this life, they were all destined to have no connection with the title of "four great sects elders."

But Mo Hua was right. Suppose Tai Xu Sect becomes one of the four great sects… Then they, these elders who were originally ranked among the eight great gates, could directly upgrade on the spot and transform into elders of the four great sects! This might truly be something so good that even the green smoke from the ancestors' graves couldn't catch up to it!

Tai Xu Sect's crowd of elders all looked at each other, showing incredible expressions. Even further up in the pavilion, the Tai Xu Sect Master also lost in thought for a moment. He was actually also eavesdropping. After all, Mo Hua had suddenly gathered so many disciples together, not only were the elders uneasy, but he, this sect master, also had to watch to avoid any incidents. Therefore, he also heard every word of Mo Hua's.

The Tai Xu Sect Master was stunned for a moment, and sighed in his heart: Mo Hua, this child, he doesn't know how he grew such a mouth, so eloquent, his tongue blooming like lotus flowers; even he, this Feathered Ascension Realm sect master, was made to feel a bit of boiling blood by him. After all, if Tai Xu Sect were to become one of the four great sects, he, this Tai Xu Sect Master, might just become the sect master of one of the four great sects. This was truly caught off guard, a step to heaven.

Of course, in his heart he was also clear that Mo Hua's words were just said nicely; actually doing them would be anything but easy. If the positions of the four great sects were really so easy to snatch, would they still be the four great sects? Mo Hua, this child, was just drawing big pies for his fellow sect members… The Tai Xu Sect Master shook his head.

But, looking at the young and hopeful faces one by one in the mountain woods, the Tai Xu Sect Master still felt quite touched in his heart. In this Sword Discussion, no matter what the results were, these disciples might all become seeds of Tai Xu Sect. One day in the future, scattered across the nine provinces, they would grow into a large piece of lush forest.

He turned his head again and looked towards Mo Hua. Mo Hua stood under the big tree. His slender figure was shaded by branches and leaves, but his breath faintly merged with the towering ancient tree behind him as one. In a trance, Mo Hua seemed like that towering tree reaching the sky, shading the entire mountain woods, covering the entire Tai Xu Mountain.

"Tree…" The Tai Xu Sect Master's pupils shrank. That night, the long night was like day, the divine tree towering, like thousands of trees and flowers, shading the scene of Tai Xu, floated in his mind again. The Tai Xu Sect Master was startled in his heart, looking at Mo Hua somewhat incredibly. After looking for a while, he rubbed his forehead, murmuring: "These days I'm thinking too much, always easily having wild thoughts. What is all this and what…" Mo Hua only stood under the big tree for a bit; what relation could that have with the vaguely seen anomaly of the divine tree that day… The Tai Xu Sect Master shook his head.

And in the woods, Mo Hua looked at the crowd with high fighting spirit, nodded with satisfaction, and finally said: "The tactics are all arranged by me; you just follow what I say and do."

"There are numerous heaven's pride in the boundary of Qian Xue State. It's not necessary to stand out, make a name, and take first place; that is victory."

"What we need to do is do our best. Even if we only win one round, that is still a win."

"As long as you win one round, even if it's the most insignificant victory, it will lay the foundation for the final winning situation of Tai Xu Sect."

"The more you win, the more Tai Xu Sect will continuously climb towards the positions of the four great sects."

"This is not just for you, but even more so for the sect!"

"From this moment on, we will start preparing. Three months later, our sword will point to Discussion Mountain, vying for the four great sects!"

After Mo Hua finished speaking, the crowd was boiling. The junior brothers of Tai Xu Sect all had fire spitting from their eyes, fighting intent boiling, shouting: "Yes, little senior brother!" Hundreds of people were high-spirited, their chests surging, their voices shaking the forest.

The watching crowd of elders, besides being stunned, also felt incredible. Mo Hua's prestige among the disciples, and this kind of appeal, were something that this group of Tai Xu Sect elders somewhat "could not reach."

Besides his heart being in turmoil, the Tai Xu Sect Master looked at Mo Hua with a thoughtful gaze.

After that, Mo Hua began to plan intensively. Nice words can be said by anyone; the key is how to do it. The first is the team forming problem. The Sword Discussion Assembly is a five-person system with no substitutes. If there is a shortage of people or missing members, they can only go four against five. This is also a warning to the disciples. Real cultivation world fighting is all cruel, not truly "fair," and no one will wait for you to prepare. If you can't even guarantee a "full team," then failing the Sword Discussion is also deserved.

Since it's five against five, team matching is very important. Previous team matching, besides the top disciples, mostly followed the principle of "autonomous voluntary." Disciples with equivalent cultivation and deep friendships would form a team with each other. This had advantages and disadvantages. The good thing was that they were more tacit with each other; the bad thing was that their cultivation systems were not complementary enough and could not play stronger combat power.

Mo Hua simply disrupted the team matching of the majority of disciples and rematched them once. He took strength as the standard and the disciples' friendships as a reference. At the same time, most importantly, he made the disciples' team matching more complementary, so that they could create wonders in combat, and then matched corresponding formations and spiritual tools to play a "one plus one is greater than two" effect… Some disciples also understood these things, but they couldn't do them themselves. Some couldn't put down human feelings and couldn't leave their good friends; some had poor interpersonal skills and couldn't find other teammates; some disciples were also confused about their own abilities and fundamentally didn't know who to team with. Their cultivation had always been individual, lacking overall planning. Therefore, they couldn't do this kind of unified team matching themselves.

Similarly, the elders of Tai Xu Sect couldn't actually do this either. Because they were elders, there was an identity gap with the disciples, and they lacked real and sincere understanding of the majority of disciples. Without understanding the situation, they also couldn't match teams well. If they forced matching, either the teams wouldn't fit, or resentment would be generated between the disciples. And their time and energy were also limited, with most of their attention focused on those heaven's pride sons. Therefore, this kind of large-scale overall planning, with the sect disciples as one, could only be done by Mo Hua. He was the little senior brother, living and cultivating with his fellow sect disciples every day, very close and familiar, and his words were effective, his prestige also high.

Before, the disciples used the tactics he set for hunting demons. When the disciples did bounties, many strategies were also from his planning. These things Mo Hua had done before were now bit by bit laying the foundation for Tai Xu Sect's Sword Discussion. And Mo Hua's team matching for the disciples also combined with actual combat and had many considerations.

First, there must be one front row, with a shield as a magic treasure, or an earth system body cultivator, thick-skinned and fleshy, used to attract firepower. Next, there must be one to two vanguards. Sword cultivators and body cultivators are both fine, balanced in attack and defense, skilled in charging. Then, there must be one spiritual cultivator, or a sword cultivator who cultivates sword qi, responsible for casting Dao methods for long-range killing. Finally, supplement with one functional cultivator. This disciple must have a certain specialty, or be skilled in scouting, or skilled in ambushing, or skilled in control type spells, etc. Only then is a complete team. They can advance or retreat, attack or defend, and also cope with most situations. Of course, this is for disciples with generally good strength who can form teams.

And some disciples who were not skilled in killing, whose cultivation was not strong enough, whose interpersonal relationships were narrow, or whose own abilities were not outstanding, could only "muddle through" a bit and try their luck. Mo Hua then matched some "weird" teams. For example, a "run fast" team. All five people were skilled in body methods. If they couldn't win, they would run. They would draw if possible, and with good luck, they could win one round. There was also a "cannot be beaten" team. These were all body cultivators who, except for being thick-skinned and fleshy, had no other characteristics; their purpose was to "consume" with others.

Mo Hua also matched some "mediocre knife" teams. The three sects, Tai A, Chong Xu, and Tai Xu, all cultivated swords. Even within the entire Qian Xue State boundary, the majority of disciples also cultivated swords. Otherwise, the Qian Xue fighting grand competition wouldn't be called the "Sword Discussion" Assembly. But this way, there were too many sword cultivators, personnel were redundant, and team matching couldn't achieve balance. And among these sword cultivators, many were still "reckless men" like Cheng Mo. Besides being sword cultivators, they had no other specialties, were not good at positioning, were unwilling to use their brains, and were also very reckless. Tactics were useless for them. They couldn't even execute slightly complex tactics. Mo Hua could only put them together and form "mediocre knife" teams, then tell them: "During the Sword Discussion, don't think too much. Look at winning or losing lightly. See people and just chop, chop to whatever state you can reach…"

This sentence was vulgar and easy to understand, simple and feasible, and very passionate. A group of sword cultivator reckless men all shouted: "Little senior brother is brilliant!"

Besides, there were also some teams with strange formations, mainly aimed at "unexpectedness," winning one round was one round. As long as they won one round, that was victory.

Teams were largely fixed, and Mo Hua adjusted a few according to the disciples' wishes, confirmed that there were no major problems, and then began formal drills. And at this time, the Tai Xu Sect Master also brought a youth with his head held high and chest out to Mo Hua and introduced him, saying: "Mo Hua, this is the heaven's pride disciple of the Tai A Mountain lineage in this session, Ouyang Xuan, whom I told you about previously."