Chapter 2123: Chapter 1003: Making a Move (2) Ouyang Xuan, who was usually taciturn, said a lengthy piece. Mo Hua couldn’t help but fall into deep thought. Sect and aristocratic family fusion... On the surface, it appears to be mutually beneficial. But fundamentally, isn’t it just a dual "monopoly" of Tao cultivation heritage and Tao cultivation resources? In the end, the sects and families join forces to grow big and strong, completing the ultimate monopoly. Who is the one to suffer at the end of this? Mo Hua pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked at Ouyang Xuan, "How do you know all of this?" Ouyang Xuan snorted coldly, showing disdain, but still answered Mo Hua’s question honestly: "I overheard it when the Elder was chatting with the Sect Leader." "Oh..." Mo Hua nodded. For Ouyang Xuan to eavesdrop on conversations between the Elder and the Sect Leader, it indicates that his identity might be higher than previously expected. "Are there restrictions on the sword discussion’s runes?" Mo Hua asked Situ Jian. Situ Jian nodded, "After all, in a sword discussion, like formations, if runes can be used liberally, it greatly disrupts the balance." Especially some "rich guys", who don’t care about money and throwing runes around, which no one can bear. "However, it’s only limited by grade and quantity, not type." Situ Jian continued, "The Spirit Talisman Sect should specially refine some rare top-grade runes for the sword discussion." "Hmm." Mo Hua nodded slowly, "It’s fine, let’s just start sparring and see what happens." "Junior Brother..." After a moment of silence, Situ Jian asked, "Are we... still using the previous tactics?" That basic strategy is too crude. Having used it for so many rounds, others have surely come up with countermeasures. If we keep relying on it, we may not win anymore. Mo Hua smiled, "It’s alright, let’s use it once more." He glanced at Situ Jian, Cheng Mo, Linghu Xiao, and Ouyang Xuan, speaking with deep significance: "This is ’weight training’ for you all, to let you practice through competition and improve your synergy." "After all, if I were to take actions, the battlefield wouldn’t be the same as it is now..." Cheng Mo, Situ Jian, and Linghu Xiao froze, then their eyes lit up, nodding vigorously: "Yes, Junior Brother." Ouyang Xuan remained silent, but a deep apprehension flickered in his gaze, one might even call it... Fear. ... In the sword discussion arena, mountains crisscross. Mo Hua and the others entered. Outside the arena, after a blur about the landscape, the figures of Mo Hua and his companions appeared, prompting numerous discussions. Mostly unfavorable remarks. Criticisms like "Taixu Gate is finished," "The Elder is ignorant, the Sect Leader is mediocre, Elders fawning to power," "Disciples dare to be angry but remain silent." Besides these, sympathy voices like "Feeling sorry for Linghu Xiao," "Feeling sorry for Ouyang Xuan," "Feeling sorry for the silly big guy," "Feeling sorry for the guy carrying the sword"... And also, voices of disdain like, "How is this shameless Mo Hua still here," "I wonder how much longer he can linger," "Taixu Gate’s disgrace," "Useless waste"... It’s all old talk. While the criticisms surged like tides outside the arena, within, the battle commenced. This remains a five-person free-for-all. The match format hasn’t changed, and Mo Hua was too lazy to alter tactics, instead using the most basic fighting style, allowing Linghu Xiao and the others to duel by skill to cultivate some instinctive synergy. The battlefield isn’t too large, Mo Hua’s Divine Sense is too strong, he could basically scan and know where the opponents were. But he didn’t speak to remind them. Because it wasn’t yet time for him to employ some "insidious tactics." The two sides met properly. Mo Hua’s five members, the "silly big guy" Cheng Mo stood in the front, the others split apart in combat, forming the most basic formation. On the opposite side within the Spirit Talisman Sect, standing foremost was a formidable young man. The same self-assured and arrogant youth who previously spoke harshly to Linghu Xiao. The Wu family’s Wu Ming from the aristocratic family in Kun State. Wu Ming wore a splendid armor, his arms encased in flashy, fire-red arm guards, extravagant and imposing, clearly expensive to behold. The armor was custom-made. The arm guards were the nascent artifact of his natal Spiritual Artifact, forged with heavy funding. Apart from Wu Ming, the other four in the Spirit Talisman Sect similarly donned elaborate armor, emitting a glow of "money’s no issue." Even though the Spirit Talisman Sect is merely one among the Twelve Sects, those who entered are either wealthy or noble. All of Wu Ming’s companions are top-tier direct lineage young masters. Just a glance from Mo Hua revealed that their equipment was all custom-made at high prices for the Sword Discussion Conference. Its quality surpassing custom Spiritual Artifacts from the Gushan Refining Workshop by two or three levels. But the cost is at least ten times higher. Still they are "consumables." These are probably only things aristocratic families in Kun State would spend Spirit Stones creating. Mo Hua watched in amazement. Normally, when opponents meet, a fight ensues without idle chatter or redundancy. But this time is different; before the battle, Wu Ming seemed to have words to say. The Spirit Talisman Sect did not make the first move. Mo Hua didn’t command everyone to act either, wanting to hear what he had to say. Wu Ming stretched a radiant arm guard, flamboyantly pointing at Linghu Xiao, and sneered: "Linghu Xiao, today, you will surely fall by my hand!" "I will prove to Miss Lu that you, the so-called Sword Dao Genius, are just a coward, a failure, and not worth her glancing at..." The first half, he said with vigor, filled with momentum. The latter half became somewhat abstract. Mo Hua couldn’t help but turn to Linghu Xiao, "Who is Miss Lu?" He originally thought this was a battle of prodigies, but didn’t expect it to involve tabloid news. Linghu Xiao seemed bewildered too, clueless about what nonsense Wu Ming was babbling.