Chapter 997: Ouyang Xuan

Mo Hua sized up the youth before him.

Taller than him.

Broader than him.

Held his chin higher than him.

His features more dashing than Mo Hua's.

The air between his brows even more arrogant than Mo Hua's.

Mo Hua nodded and greeted him: "I'm Mo Hua."

Ouyang Xuan, clad entirely in a golden Daoist robe, glanced at Mo Hua with a touch of cold indifference and said flatly, "Ouyang Xuan."

His attitude wasn't exactly warm.

It might be because he looked at Mo Hua and saw someone short, shallow in cultivation, weak in spiritual power, and so didn't take Mo Hua seriously.

Or it might be that he simply didn't take anyone seriously.

It wasn't aimed at Mo Hua alone.

The Grand Void Sect Master, seeing the two had finished their greetings, nodded and said:

"From now on you are teammates in the Sword Debate. You should work together with one heart—for the sake of the sect, and for your own sake—to fight for a future."

Mo Hua nodded. "Sect Master, don't worry."

Ouyang Xuan, however, said nothing.

The Grand Void Sect Master didn't mind. He smiled and nodded at Mo Hua, then turned and left.

After the Sect Master left, Mo Hua turned his head and looked at Ouyang Xuan again.

He was certain he had never seen this disciple of the Tai'a Sect before.

He hadn't seen him in the grand array class either—this person wasn't one of his "junior brothers."

"Then where did he spring from?"

Mo Hua was a little puzzled.

Still, he didn't press further. At a first meeting, it wouldn't be proper to pry into someone else's background or privacy.

But from now on, they were teammates in the Sword Debate.

Participating in the Sword Debate, mutual understanding between teammates was very important.

To ease the atmosphere and build goodwill, Mo Hua began trying to draw Ouyang Xuan into conversation.

Things like "Nice weather today," "Do you like chicken drumsticks?" "How did you get so tall?"—that sort of talk.

But this Ouyang Xuan wore an indifferent expression, looking as though he couldn't be bothered to respond.

Mo Hua had asked for a rebuff, so he couldn't be bothered with him either.

It was out of respect for his own Sect Master, and for the Tai'a Sect Master, that he had taken the trouble to talk to Ouyang Xuan and try to bring him along.

If others give you a foot of respect, you give them ten feet in return.

But if others don't respect him, he won't give them any pleasant looks either.

Besides, Mo Hua himself was very busy.

Seeing Ouyang Xuan still wearing that arrogant, difficult expression,

Mo Hua gave a cold snort in his heart, tossed him aside, and began arranging his "junior brothers" for drills…

……

Between the outer and inner mountains of the Grand Void Sect, there was a large stretch of forest.

This stretch of forest was sealed off by arrays on all sides, cutting off sight and sound. Within, the terrain was rugged and the topography complex.

This was the Grand Void Sect's training ground.

It was a venue specially opened up for the Sword Debate Tournament, used for disciples to spar and drill.

Mo Hua hadn't planned to take the Sword Debate seriously before, so he had hardly ever come to this training ground.

But now he was serious.

Moreover, he wanted to win together with his junior brothers, so this training ground had to be put to full use.

Based on the mountain terrain and the disciples' groupings, Mo Hua arranged his junior brothers into teams of five and, following a set plan, had them begin coordinating tactics and sparring across this vast training ground.

The training ground was large and counted as an important sect site, with dedicated elders in charge of it.

Strictly speaking, Mo Hua didn't have the authority to freely allocate and use it.

But after he brazenly occupied the training ground like this, no one came to stop him.

The Sect Master turned a blind eye.

The elder in charge of drills could only tacitly accept it.

There was no helping it—any elder in the Grand Void Sect today who had even a shred of seniority, background, or sense of judgment knew perfectly well what status Mo Hua held.

Don't be fooled by the fact that he was still just an outer disciple; sometimes the words he spoke carried more weight than those of a true transmission elder.

Thus, within the training ground, where mountains and ridges ran in all directions and the terrain was tangled,

the Grand Void Sect's disciples—whether strong or weak, whether "heaven's favored prodigies" or "bottom-rung disciples"—all began, according to Mo Hua's plan, to drill in an organized, tactical, array-supported manner, step by precise step.

Among these disciples, the vast majority were from Grand Void Mountain.

Disciples from Tai'a Mountain and Chongxu Mountain were few.

The three sects had not been merged for long, and Mo Hua's reputation had not yet reached the disciples of the other two mountains.

Day to day, everyone got along well enough, and disciples from Tai'a and Chongxu would also call Mo Hua "Senior Brother Mo."

But for a major event like the Sword Debate, they were unlikely to take orders from Mo Hua.

Still, for now, having the disciples of the Grand Void Mountain line was enough.

In the training ground, blades and sword-light flashed and clashed for a time, the spectacle quite grand.

Mo Hua stood to the side "supervising," occasionally offering reminders, pointing out shortcomings, and giving suggestions for improvement.

The disciples' coordination grew increasingly in sync.

Their use of tactics also began to take proper shape.

Mo Hua felt a little more at ease, and only then did he begin training his own team.

The sect's vast pool of disciples was the foundation of the Sword Debate, the countless "possibilities" and "hopes" of victory.

But on top of that foundation, he himself had to work hard too.

He had to pursue both at once, prepare with both hands.

A small corner of the training ground.

Mo Hua gathered all the members of his squad together.

It was pretty much as he had anticipated beforehand.

Himself, Linghu Xiao, Cheng Mo, Sister Situ, plus one Ouyang Xuan—five people in total.

Linghu Xiao stood together with Mo Hua.

He had long imagined that one day, once his sword cultivation bore fruit, he could go to the Sword Debate Tournament with Mo Hua and cut a swathe through the competition together.

Now it could be considered a wish fulfilled.

Cheng Mo and Sister Situ were also very happy.

They had known Mo Hua for a long time, shared a deep bond, and trusted him absolutely.

No matter what, as long as they followed this "Little Senior Brother" Mo Hua, they felt completely at ease.

The most out-of-place was Ouyang Xuan.

He stood off to one side alone, face cold, gaze sharp; though only a body's width apart, he seemed separated by a cliff, the very picture of "not fitting in."

Mo Hua didn't really mind his "aloofness."

Between people, there were naturally contradictions.

Having met only a few times, it was naturally impossible to "fit in."

Mo Hua didn't demand that Ouyang Xuan "fit in," only that he carry out the Sword Debate tactics according to Mo Hua's plan, executing them properly.

Mo Hua squatted on the ground, drew a few lines and a few stick figures in the sand with a branch.

Then he began explaining to everyone the basic tactical positions, formations, overall layout, variations, objectives, and so on.

Though these were very basic, they were crucial.

The tide of a Sword Debate battle changed in an instant; sometimes there was no time at all to give orders, and everything depended on the tacit understanding between one another.

And in the most critical of moments, the more solid the basic tactics, the more timely the response.

Every advanced tactical variation was derived from the most basic coordination.

After Mo Hua finished speaking, he looked at Ouyang Xuan.

Ouyang Xuan's expression was indifferent; he still said nothing.

Mo Hua didn't know whether he'd understood or not, so he said, "Let's practice it once and see."

Then everyone, following the tactical positioning he had planned earlier, ran through it several times.

Cheng Mo was the "meat shield," also handling a bit of offense.

Sister Situ provided support, easing the pressure on Cheng Mo.

Linghu Xiao was the main attacker; his sword art had the greatest power, but needed a little time to prepare, and couldn't be disturbed—he required others to cover him.

Therefore Linghu Xiao's position was at the very back.

Mo Hua stood beside him to provide support, observing the situation, coordinating the overall picture, and adapting on the fly.

And Ouyang Xuan…

Mo Hua swept his divine sense over him a few times and had largely discerned his strength.

Ouyang Xuan's cultivation was extremely deep, sword qi overflowing around him—clearly also a sword cultivator, and with excellent aptitude and profound attainments in the Sword Dao.

His Sword Dao was a notch below Xiaoxiao's Sword Heart Clarity, but his cultivation was deeper than Xiaoxiao's.

The Sect Leader wasn't wrong—this Ouyang Xuan could indeed be considered a "top-tier prodigy."

Though not the flawless, all-rounded kind of prodigy, he was still very strong.

Therefore, Mo Hua had him serve as a "lone wolf"—depending on the situation, he could fight solo or provide support and coordination.

If he performed well, he could, by his own strength, play a major role.

If he performed poorly, it wouldn't affect the overall situation either.

The group drilled together like this for a while.

At first it was fine—Ouyang Xuan's comprehension was extremely high, he grasped tactics very quickly, and combined with his strength, his coordination was quite good.

But after a few rounds, Ouyang Xuan grew impatient.

Sometimes he stood still like a "stone," sometimes he went his own way like a "show-off," sometimes he shifted positions however he pleased.

Cheng Mo started making mistakes one after another too. Cheng Mo's temper had never been good to begin with, so he flew into a rage on the spot and demanded:

"What do you mean?"

Ouyang Xuan's face was cold. "What?"

Cheng Mo snarled, "We're practicing tactical formations. If you're not standing in your own position, why are you running around?"

"What formation?" Ouyang Xuan sneered. "Back and forth, it's just these few positions—one glance and it's seen through. What's there to practice?"

His gaze swept sharply over Cheng Mo. "Such low-level tactics, and you still need to practice them so many times—your aptitude is truly dull. I really don't know why the Sect Leader insists on putting me on the same team as a mediocre talent like you…"

His words carried a hidden barb, and as he spoke, his sidelong glance was fixed on Mo Hua.

This time Cheng Mo was truly furious.

His face went completely cold. Gripping two great axes, he growled, "What—you want a fight?"

"Fighting?" Ouyang Xuan sneered. "You're not even worthy."

Seeing Ouyang Xuan's insolent expression, Cheng Mo nearly raised his axe and swung it down—but he held himself back.

Cheng Mo only seemed reckless; he wasn't truly a fool.

The sect's rules forbid disciples from brawling; if he swung that axe, he'd break the rules and face punishment.

Besides, Cheng Mo knew deep down this was Young Master Xiao's team, and only Young Master Xiao had the final say.

If Young Master Xiao had ordered him to chop Ouyang Xuan, even if it broke the rules, he wouldn't have hesitated—he'd have swung the axe without a second thought.

But now Young Master Xiao hadn't spoken. Though angry, Cheng Mo dared not act rashly.

Linghu Xiao and Sister Situ, standing nearby, also glared with ill intent.

Mo Hua, by contrast, remained calm, his eyes thoughtful.

Normally, even if Ouyang Xuan had the worst temper and the most offensive attitude, he wouldn't have paid him any mind.

But now was different.

This was the Sword Debate team—its success concerned Grand Void Gate's interests and the Master's karmic ties.

He needed a "obedient" teammate, one who would follow his orders without question and execute tactics with absolute loyalty.

He didn't need a "genius" who appeared strong in talent and power but harbored ulterior motives and would disrupt everything.

The Sword Debate was imminent; time was precious.

Mo Hua didn't want to waste more time on Ouyang Xuan.

Sometimes, you had to strike hard.

Mo Hua glanced at Ouyang Xuan and said calmly, "Come with me."

After speaking, Mo Hua turned and walked toward a nearby grove of trees.

Ouyang Xuan frowned, his expression slightly irritated. He disliked being ordered around like this.

But seeing Mo Hua grow farther away, Ouyang Xuan paused, then sneered, "I'd like to see what you can do to me."

Then he stepped forward and followed Mo Hua.

The two vanished into the grove.

The trees were dense; no figures could be seen.

Linghu Xiao, Cheng Mo, and Sister Situ exchanged glances.

"Young Master… what's he going to do?"

"Could he be thinking of… beating up Ouyang Xuan?"

"Can he even win?"

"Hard to say… seems difficult. To be honest, Ouyang Xuan is still quite strong…"

"The main problem is Young Master is a 'glass cannon'—his margin for error is too low…"

"Should we go help? I'm worried Young Master will get hurt…"

…

As the three discussed, a terrifying aura suddenly erupted from the grove—then vanished in an instant. The trees showed no sign of disturbance, yet the air grew deep and lifeless, making their souls tremble.

Linghu Xiao and the other two jolted inwardly, their words cutting off as they all turned toward the grove.

Moments later, the trees swayed, and figures emerged—Mo Hua led Ouyang Xuan out.

Mo Hua's expression was unchanged.

Ouyang Xuan, however, was deathly pale, his body trembling slightly, as if he'd seen a ghost—still shaken and terrified.

Walking before the group, Mo Hua's face lit up with a warm smile:

"We had a heart-to-heart talk. Ouyang has realized his earlier words were inappropriate. This matter is settled."

"We are all disciples of Grand Void Gate. We must unite, strive together for our sect's honor, and aim for a high ranking in the Sword Debate…"

His words were as soothing as spring breeze.

Linghu Xiao, Cheng Mo, and Sister Situ looked at each other with strange expressions.

Ouyang Xuan was even paler, unable to utter a single word.

Mo Hua glanced at the group and smiled:

"Good. Then it's settled."

The group resumed refining their tactics for the Sword Debate.

From then on, Ouyang Xuan was truly "well-behaved."

So well-behaved, in fact, that it bordered on "dazed."

Whatever Mo Hua said, he obeyed without deviation.

Shock still lingered on his face—he hadn't yet recovered from the nightmare in the grove.

Yet thanks to this, all subsequent drills proceeded with extraordinary smoothness.

…

Tai'e Sect.

The Tai'e Sect Master was discussing the Sword Debate with a middle-aged elder when he suddenly frowned.

"What's wrong?" the middle-aged elder asked.

The Tai'e Sect Master looked uneasy. "Do you think Xuan-er might be in trouble…?"

The middle-aged elder was slightly stout, with a fair complexion, and always smiled before speaking. He replied, "What trouble could Young Master Xuan possibly be in?"

"About the Sword Debate."

"From Taixu Mountain?"

"Yes," the Tai'e Sect Master nodded, frowning. "I forced Xuan into their team. If things turn sour, it won't look good."

The middle-aged elder thought for a moment, then nodded:

"Young Master Xuan's status is special, and he was raised by the Old Ancestor from childhood, with lessons personally taught by the True Transmission elders. It's only natural that his temperament is a bit unsociable. To tell the truth, it would probably be impossible for him not to cause some trouble…"

The Tai'a Sect Master frowned and sighed, "I have no choice either…"

"This child… his seniority is far too high. He's even of the 'same generation' as I, the Sect Master. Truly, I can't hit him, and I can't scold him either."

"The relationships involved here, I haven't even dared to speak of outside."

"Otherwise, given his status, it would be even more impossible for him to mingle with the other disciples of the sect."

"From the top of the sect down to the elders, no one dares to manage him, which is how his arrogant and untamed temperament was fostered."

"But now, I've sent him over to Grand Void Mountain, to team up with the other disciples for the Sword Discussion…"

The Tai'a Sect Master's brow furrowed tighter and tighter. "What I fear is, in an extreme situation, if a fight breaks out and he hurts disciples from Grand Void Mountain, it would damage the harmony of the three branches."

Moreover, given his seniority, even if Ouyang Xuan injured disciples from Grand Void Mountain, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to truly punish him.

Being this Sect Master was truly not easy.

The middle-aged elder thought for a moment, then said slowly:

"How about we just forget it? Just draw some disciples from the Tai'a Mountain branch to accompany Young Master Xuan to the Sword Discussion. Consider it 'playing' with him. Everyone knows each other inside out, so it won't end up too unsightly…"

"What kind of propriety is that?" the Tai'a Sect Master said sternly. "If we keep indulging him like this, without giving him some tempering, he'll truly become a 'nouveau riche heir.'"

"Once he forms his Core in the future, if he's still so full of himself, he's bound to suffer a great loss. Without striving for progress, a person is ruined, and all his excellent aptitude would be wasted in vain."

The middle-aged elder shook his head and said:

"Then we can only temper him slowly like this. If Young Master Xuan really causes some incident, Tai'a will step in and offer an apology…"

The Tai'a Sect Master thought for a moment, and could only nod. "It can only be this way…"

"Hopefully, in due time, Xuan'er and those few disciples from Grand Void Mountain will be able to get along…"

Of course, he was also clear that even if they could get along, this was by no means something that could be achieved in a day.

Given Xuan'er's "unruly and untamed" temperament, with no one in his eyes, it was simply impossible for him to behave. Who knew how much trouble he would stir up…

This kind of matter could only be taken one step at a time.

The Tai'a Sect Master let out a sigh.

But two days later, he still couldn't set his mind at rest after all.

After much deliberation, the Tai'a Sect Master still activated his escape art, left Tai'a Mountain, arrived at the gates of Grand Void Mountain, entered the drill grounds, wanting to see how his Tai'a Sect's "nouveau riche heir" was getting along with the others, hoping he hadn't truly become overbearing and caused trouble.

But just as he entered the drill grounds, the Tai'a Sect Master ran into the Grand Void Sect Master.

Both were somewhat surprised.

But considering the Sword Discussion conference had major implications, naturally requiring more attention, neither of them found it surprising.

"Please," the Grand Void Sect Master said.

"Much obliged."

A page boy set out seats and served tea.

Amid the curling fragrance of tea, the two Sect Masters sat drinking tea in the pavilion.

On the drill grounds, disciples were practicing advances, retreats, attacks, and various tactical changes.

Their formations were methodical, their movements uniform.

The Tai'a Sect Master had originally come for Ouyang Xuan, but seeing the scene before him, he couldn't help but become somewhat lost in thought, murmuring:

"This is… a Dao Soldier formation?"

The Grand Void Sect Master said, "It doesn't deserve the name. It's just the disciples practicing with a bit more order."

The Tai'a Sect Master examined it closely and nodded slightly.

Indeed, it couldn't be called a Dao Soldier formation.

A Dao Soldier formation's array would be more orderly, and its discipline far stricter.

Strict enforcement of orders, not allowing a single mistake.

Relatively speaking, the disciples on the drill grounds were still quite immature, and their formation changes were very clumsy.

Moreover, from what could be seen now, they were still only practicing basic tactical formations, without matching spirit tools and arrays, so there was no way to compare with a "Dao Soldier formation."

But even so, it was already quite remarkable.

This was the embryonic form of a "Heavenly Prodigy Dao Soldier formation"…

(End of this chapter)