Chapter 1053: The Leader

Mo Hua's influence was too great; he commanded thirty disciples of the Grand Void Gate.

The prodigies of the Gui Water Sect, Duan Jin Sect, and Jin Gang Sect also seemed under his command.

There was no way they could defeat him in battle.

And this withered forest blood swamp was filled with sinister anomalies; even if they ran, they had no idea where to go.

Unable to fight and unable to escape, Feng Zichen had no choice but to join.

Along the way, Feng Zichen observed closely and found that the disciples of the Gui Water Sect, Duan Jin Sect, and Jin Gang Sect showed no signs of being brainwashed or turned into puppets by Mo Hua the "demon"; only then did he exhale in relief.

As for why they would ally with Mo Hua, their "greatest enemy," Feng Zichen could not understand, nor did he dare ask.

Mo Hua was simply too terrifying.

The scenes of the Blood War were still fresh in Feng Zichen's memory.

He used spiritual insight to command ink, drawing arrays upon the ground—array techniques as sinister as demonic arts, leading the Grand Void Gate to slaughter the prodigies of his seven sects.

He then used strange arrays to self-explode, killing the prodigies of the Sida Sect.

Afterwards, he employed some terrifying Dao art to slay five of Shen Lin's top disciples from the Gan Academy, even shattering their Lifespan Talismans.

Five Void-Channeling Dharma Phantoms emerged simultaneously, standing against the Five-Star Dao Debate Mountain Array, shaking heaven and earth.

And yet, Mo Hua survived.

With the current situation, resisting Mo Hua was impossible; Feng Zichen could only bury his old grudges deep in his heart and obediently follow behind Mo Hua.

The group continued forward and soon encountered a group of disciples from Ling Xiao Sect.

Ling Xiao Sect had no deep grudge against Mo Hua, and they understood the wisdom of adapting to circumstances; seeing Mo Hua's overwhelming momentum, they could only "follow the good path" and submit to him.

Next came Zi Xia Sect.

Zi Xia Sect was more troublesome.

Because within Zi Xia Sect was Lu Zhenlong, the sect's most beautiful woman, whose beauty could captivate an entire city.

Ordinary people might assess the situation, but women would not—especially beautiful, pampered women.

Mo Hua had blasted her face with a fireball; Lu Zhenlong would remember it for life and would never, under any circumstances, ally with Mo Hua.

And all the Zi Xia Sect disciples followed Lu Zhenlong's lead.

It wasn't that they were blinded by lust and blindly flattered her.

It was because Lu Zhenlong was the legitimate daughter of the Lu family, a powerful clan of Kunzhou—wealth meant power.

The wealthy Lu family had donated vast quantities of spirit stones and spirit artifacts to Zi Xia Sect.

Meanwhile, many talented disciples from humble backgrounds, though possessing excellent aptitude, were supported by Lu Zhenlong; once they reached Golden Core, they would return to Kunzhou to serve the Lu family.

The talented disciples gained the Lu family's backing, and the Lu family secured many cultivation prodigies for themselves—a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Thus, Lu Zhenlong held an extraordinary status within Zi Xia Sect.

Lu Zhenlong had excellent elemental roots, but because of her privileged upbringing, she had been spoiled since childhood and never trained hard; thus, her actual strength was mediocre.

Yet despite this, thanks to her lineage and the resources she could provide, she remained a "core" disciple of Zi Xia Sect—the true center of attention, surrounded by adoring stars.

At this moment, upon seeing Mo Hua, Lu Zhenlong—protected by Zi Xia Sect disciples—flushed with anger, extended her fair white finger, and pointed at Mo Hua in fury:

"Whoever kills Mo Hua, whoever kills Mo Hua, I'll have my father fund and support them until Liu Yuhua!"

The seventeen Zi Xia Sect disciples beside her immediately looked troubled.

They weren't afraid she'd break her word.

This Lu family's Young Lady, though spoiled and capricious, always kept her promises—she said she'd pay, and she paid.

No matter how rare or expensive the spiritual treasure, once promised, she never hesitated.

To date, she had already spent countless fortunes within Zi Xia Sect; that was precisely why she could gather such loyalty.

The idea of the Lu family funding someone until Liu Yuhua sounded absurd.

After all, achieving Liu Yuhua was as difficult as climbing to heaven—it couldn't be done merely by consuming spirit stones and rare treasures.

But with the Lu family supplying spirit stones and artifacts, it would still be half the effort and remove many barriers.

Every Zi Xia Sect disciple present was tempted.

"But… killing Mo Hua…"

They glanced at Mo Hua.

To kill Mo Hua, the first obstacle was the eighteen iron-clad, bronze-forged Jin Gang giants.

The eighteen Jin Gang prodigies stood before Mo Hua like an impenetrable wall.

And among these eighteen Jin Gang warriors was their senior brother, Shi Tiangang.

Not to mention killing Mo Hua—could they even break through this "Jin Gang Iron Wall" and reach Mo Hua? That was already a question.

Around Mo Hua also stood disciples of the Duan Jin Sect, Gui Water Sect, Xiao Yao Sect, and Grand Void Gate.

And among them all, the most terrifying was Mo Hua himself…

The Zi Xia Sect disciples felt despair.

The Young Lady could ignore reason—they couldn't.

So one of them whispered to Lu Zhenlong:

"Young Lady, Mo Hua is too vicious. We are no match for him. Let's retreat first and plan further…"

Lu Zhenlong's face was filled with rage.

But though spoiled, she wasn't truly foolish.

She knew these Zi Xia Sect disciples were no match for Mo Hua the "monster," and they wouldn't truly throw themselves against a wall to fight him to the death.

Her outburst earlier had been an instinctive reaction.

Now that she had calmed down, Lu Zhenlong clearly understood the situation—but she remained furious.

Especially toward the disciples of the Jin Gang Sect, Xiao Yao Sect, Duan Jin Sect, and Gui Water Sect.

Where is the Tumo Alliance you promised?

Where is the mission to eliminate "Mo" and uphold the Dao you promised?

Where is the promise that Mo Hua must die?

How did you suddenly become his ally?

Indeed, a man's word is a deceitful ghost…

I wasted so much effort thinking of sending them spirit stones to fund their fight against Mo Hua.

Lu Zhenlong's fair face turned icy; she glared at Mo Hua, then let out a cold snort, "Let's go!"

"Wait." Mo Hua called out to stop them.

Lu Zhenlong turned back, gazing coldly at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua said, "Don't blame me for not warning you—you won't survive if you leave."

Lu Zhenlong sneered, "Whether we live or die is none of your concern."

Mo Hua shook his head and sighed softly, "You're thinking too simply—it's not that easy to just die."

Lu Zhenlong frowned, "What do you mean?"

Mo Hua said, "Have you seen the scenes along the way?"

Lu Zhenlong's face paled slightly, and she nodded faintly.

Mo Hua sighed, "Stay too long in this great array, and a person's mind will be corrupted by evil thoughts, slowly losing sanity, eroding humanity bit by bit, until they turn on each other, greedy and bloodthirsty, becoming neither human nor ghost…"

"You are no exception."

Mo Hua's expression was mournful, yet a strange smile curled at his lips, "Your ten or so Zixia Sect disciples still seem fine now, but soon, one by one, you'll fall under demonic influence and begin killing each other."

"By the end, humanity will vanish, and you'll become demons."

"Demons eat people."

"Your flesh will be gnawed away, bite by bite, by your own sectmates…"

"You'll be disemboweled, your intestines spilling across the ground…"

"Your internal organs will be torn out and devoured clean…"

"Your face will be ripped off, covered in bite marks, bloody, pulped, hideous…"

Mo Hua's small mouth was as venomous as poison—each word made Lu Zhenlong's face whiten further.

Finally, Lu Zhenlong's lovely face turned deathly pale; she screamed in terror, covering her ears:

"Enough! Stop talking!"

Mo Hua still had a torrent of bloody, cruel words unspoken; seeing Lu Zhenlong break down so quickly, he paused with a hint of disappointment and asked her:

"Do you want to come with us?"

Lu Zhenlong's face was ashen; she covered her ears and said nothing.

Mo Hua added, "Within the Arena of Swords, we are all enemies. But outside the Arena, the Eight Great Sects ought to stand as one."

"We're searching for an exit—if you wish to join, bring your Zixia Sect disciples with us."

"If you don't want to join, fine—it's your own death, and your Zixia Sect disciples' deaths."

"But the manner of your death… might be a little more gruesome. Prepare your mind for it…"

With that, Mo Hua led the group away.

After walking a while, they indeed noticed Lu Zhenlong, leading her Zixia Sect disciples, slowly following behind.

This Lu Zhenlong—her mouth said no, but her body was very honest.

Mo Hua nodded slightly.

Though he had a small grudge against Lu Zhenlong, he wouldn't let her die.

Moreover, Lu Zhenlong was the legitimate daughter of the Lu family, a powerful clan of Kunzhou.

And the vast Cangzaidi Sect lies in Kunzhou.

The First-Rank Eleven-Stripe Earth Supreme Array is the Cangzaidi Sect's inheritance.

The grave robber named "Mr. Pi," whom I killed in the Solitary Mountain Tomb, also carried Cangzaidi Sect array techniques.

The "Mo Jin Talisman" on his person was an emblem of the Cangzaidi Sect's covert branch.

And the ancient, ten-thousand-year-old contemplation map—the "Emperor Heaven, Empress Earth Map"—is hidden within the Cangzaidi Sect, their supreme treasure.

This contemplation map, named "Emperor Heaven, Empress Earth," was deemed unacceptable by the Dao Court, so it was split in two. The "Emperor Heaven Map" was seized by the Dao Court; only the other half, the "Empress Earth Map," remains in the Cangzaidi Sect.

Even so, the "Empress Earth Map" remains a pivotal, indispensable treasure of the Cangzaidi Sect, proving its extraordinary nature.

Mo Hua always felt he had many unresolved ties to the Cangzaidi Sect.

At the very least, he truly wanted to see the "Empress Earth Map" with his own eyes.

But in Kunzhou, he knew no one.

Saving Lu Zhenlong now, if only by chance, is a way to build some goodwill.

When I eventually go to Kunzhou, this Lu family's Young Lady, Lu Zhenlong, will at least be a "familiar face."

Those who follow the Dao gain aid; those who stray lose it. The more familiar faces you have, the easier things become.

"I just wonder… whether this woman will hold a grudge and never forget my offenses…"

Mo Hua muttered to himself.

But it was merely a casual act—he didn't dwell on it much.

With Lu Zhenlong of the Zixia Sect now brought in, and the three rules established, the group grew even stronger.

Thus, apart from the Daluo Sect, nearly all the prodigies of the Eight Great Sects had now been gathered under Mo Hua's wing.

Not long after, Mo Hua, following the threads of karmic connection, found the Daluo Sect's prodigy.

The "former" Daluo Sect's first sword-controlling genius, Ye Zhiyuan.

Ye Zhiyuan was the one most harmed by Mo Hua.

At this moment, seeing Mo Hua, it was truly enemies meeting, eyes blazing with hatred.

But he did not act rashly; instead, he looked at the other seven prodigies under Mo Hua's command, his heart filled with both shock and fury.

"These traitors!"

One by one, they shouted slogans loud enough to shake the heavens, swearing to kill Mo Hua—yet in the next instant, all of them had joined Mo Hua.

It was utterly ridiculous.

They had the audacity to call themselves Qianxue prodigies.

Ye Zhiyuan despised them in his heart.

But when Mo Hua asked him, "Will you die here, or come with me?" Ye Zhiyuan fell silent.

He wrestled with himself for a long time, then made a painful decision:

A true man knows when to bend and when to stand firm.

To break rather than bend is not true heroism.

Only one who can kneel beside a ferocious tiger is a true hero.

First, preserve my life, use Mo Hua's power to escape this peril, then, when I grow stronger, I will avenge myself upon Mo Hua.

"It's not that Mo Hua is forcing me to obey him—it's that I'm using Mo Hua to achieve my own goals!"

With this thought, Ye Zhiyuan's mind opened wide, and he joined Mo Hua.

Thus, Mo Hua had fully "unified" the Eight Gates.

And after the Eight Gates came the Sida Sect.

Mo Hua led the disciples of the Eight Gates through the Evil Dao Array, unchecked, continuously absorbing scattered disciples from various sects, while rescuing those who had been corrupted but still could be saved.

Those whose Dao hearts were too weak, whose corruption had spread too far, and who could no longer be saved, had to be killed with regret.

Along the way, Mo Hua also gathered scattered disciples of the Twelve Streams.

With the Eight Gates united, the Twelve Streams naturally understood the wind's direction—they would be only too glad to follow Mo Hua.

Thus, the number of prodigies gathering around Mo Hua grew ever larger.

And when they met the Sida Sect disciples, Mo Hua's side already numbered over two hundred, a vast, dark, overwhelming mass.

Among the Sida Sect, Xiao Ruohan, Ao Zheng, and Shen Cangfeng, merely by looking, felt their scalps tighten.

Since becoming trapped in the Evil Array, they too had sensed something was wrong, and began gathering their own forces, uniting the Sida Sect disciples into one group.

Yet every disciple who had entered the Sida Sect was of exceptional talent and proud, defiant nature.

Shen Cangfeng and the others were not like Shen Lin—prodigies burdened with bloodline power. Though strong, they were not so overwhelmingly superior as to command true obedience.

Thus, to date, they had gathered only fifty or so Sida Sect prodigies.

Even if these fifty prodigies were powerful, they paled beside Mo Hua's two hundred-plus.

Not to mention, the other side had Mo Hua himself.

In the Asura Sword Duel, these fifty-plus Sida Sect prodigies had been wiped out en masse by Mo Hua.

Just Mo Hua alone was enough to make them wary.

Not to mention, now Mo Hua was surrounded by a full two hundred men.

Shen Cangfeng and his group all wore grim, icy expressions, their hearts chilled, watching Mo Hua with tense eyes.

"Mo Hua, do you intend to attack?" Ao Zheng's gaze was sharp.

Mo Hua shook his head. "No fight."

Hearing this, the entire group of Sida Sect prodigies exhaled in relief, their tension dissolving.

The pressure Mo Hua exerted on them was simply too great.

Xiao Ruohan said calmly, "Then let us each go our own way, no interference between us."

But Mo Hua shook his head again. "No."

Xiao Ruohan and the others tensed. "Then what do you mean?"

Mo Hua said directly: "We can join forces."

Xiao Ruohan and the others froze, then Ao Zheng sneered: "Join forces? You mean you want us to obey you, to serve at your command…"

Mo Hua nodded. "If you think of it that way, fine."

Ao Zheng flew into rage. "Delusional!"

Shen Cangfeng also sneered. "Mo Hua, your array skills are indeed remarkable, and your abilities are profound and unfathomable—but do you truly believe that alone is enough to make the disciples of the Sida Sect obey you? How absurd."

Xiao Ruohan's eyes flashed with sharpness. "You are of the Eight Gates; we are of the Sida Sect. Do you really think it's your place to command us?"

Mo Hua sighed faintly and shook his head. "I don't want to command you—but this is the Evil Dao Array. We're all trapped here, tied together on the same rope."

"If I ignore you now, and later you succumb to corruption, go mad, suffer qi deviation, you'll threaten me—and I'll still have to kill you."

"Not only will I kill you—you'll kill each other too…"

Mo Hua looked at the bloodstains on Shen Cangfeng's robes and said coldly: "You've already felt the taste of killing your own sectmates."

At these words, Shen Cangfeng and the others all turned pale with grief, their eyes filled with unbearable pain.

Not long ago, in this strange Luoshan, they had watched their own sectmates suddenly go insane, suffer qi deviation.

After fierce battles, though reluctant, they had been forced to kill these corrupted comrades.

Mo Hua had anticipated this.

Sida Sect disciples came from more privileged backgrounds, possessed greater talent, and carried heavier ambitions—yet their Dao hearts were often weaker.

Normally, it was fine—but in this array saturated with evil thoughts, once a Dao heart weakened, evil desires would seize the chance, dragging them step by step into qi deviation.

Even Shen Cangfeng, Ao Zheng, and Xiao Ruohan themselves were not in good condition.

If left unattended, they would soon fall completely, going mad and becoming the claws or sacrifices of the demonic god.

But the higher the prodigy, the stronger their pride.

Even though they knew following Mo Hua might be the best choice, their intense pride still prevented Ao Zeng and the others from aligning with Mo Hua.

"Whether we live or die is our business—no need for you to worry. If you think we'll submit to you, it's impossible."

Ao Zeng sneered.

"Good," Mo Hua nodded and asked them, "Have you all been seeded with Life-Longing Talismans?"

Ao Zeng and the others frowned. "What do you mean?"

"If you've been seeded with Life-Longing Talismans, it's fine; if you haven't…" Mo Hua's gaze turned icy, "I fear that if I act, you'll all die."

"The Life-Longing Talismans tied to your lives must shatter anyway."

His words were cold and calm, yet utterly tyrannical.

Ao Zeng and the others burned with rage, but when they met Mo Hua's gaze, boundless fear surged within them.

Because Mo Hua truly had the power to do it.

Just recently, he had shattered five Life-Longing Talismans—those of the five strongest prodigies from the Sida Sect and the Daluo Gate.

Fear brought calm.

Ao Zeng and the others all grew calm.

They realized Mo Hua was not joking—if they didn't follow his will, they truly might be erased.

Shen Cangfeng sighed and asked Mo Hua:

"Can you really… lead us out?"

Mo Hua's expression was serene:

"Don't forget—I'm the Head of the Array Dao. With my array expertise, not just you few, even Shen Linshu and Xiao Wuchen would have to obey me."

Head of the Array Dao…

In the previous Sword Debate, he had been directly blown to death by this Head of the Array Dao.

He had been blown to death twice…

Shen Cangfeng, with a solemn expression, nodded. "Fine, I'll follow you."

Once Shen Cangfeng spoke, the others ceased their resistance.

Xiao Ruohan and Ao Zeng also nodded in reluctant agreement, their expressions wary.

Mo Hua nodded in satisfaction.

Thus, the Four Great Academies of Qianxue, the Eight Gates, and the dozen minor sects were all "unified" under him.

He was now the true "leader" of the Si Sect, Eight Gates, and Twelve Streams.

(End of Chapter)