Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 221 - 221 220 Turbulence in the Divine City 4

221: Chapter 220: Turbulence in the Divine City 4 221: Chapter 220: Turbulence in the Divine City 4 The sun rose in the east, and the hour had arrived.

A sound of a Cloud Plate tearing through the sky signaled the official start of the Southwest Forum on Dao; there were no benefits from flattery here, only the glint of swords and blades.

Uncle Li’s eyes blazed as he roared, “Where is Ouyelei from Qingtang?”

A towering man from the Quanzhen disciples stepped forward, “Your disciple is here.”

Uncle Li imparted the decree, “You will defend the first formation of the sword flag!

Do you have the confidence?”

Ouyelei laughed heartily, “If the man stands, the flag remains; if the flag falls, the man perishes!”

He took great strides and leaped out of the pavilion, floating above the lake waters, heading straight for the sword flag; at the same time, cultivators from all sects began to rush out, and for a moment, thirteen figures dashed over the waves atop the lake, each the first defender of their respective formation.

Those below the Tongxuan Realm could not part waters or overturn rivers, but running across the water’s surface was still possible.

Although each had different strategies, the first formation was generally filled with formidable Daoist individuals, as being defeated in the very first formation was too undignified; they all sought a victorious start.

Take Ouyelei of the Quanzhen Sect for example—he was the number one expert in Qingtang State and was well-known among the low-rank disciples in the whole Shan Country.

He had once challenged ten bouts alone atop Jade Capital without a single defeat; although there were exaggerations, and the true masters did not participate, his outstanding ability was undeniable, or else Uncle Li would not have pulled him out to lead the first formation.

Hou Niao identified a problem: although they could vaguely see the flags from where they were, the battles beneath the flags were completely invisible due to the distance.

This was a feature of the Southwest Forum on Dao, preserving the privacy of the cultivators to the utmost.

There could be no scenario where two fought on stage while hundreds watched from below, analyzing and devising countless ruthless moves to counter.

This was especially crucial for cultivators at lower levels, whose abilities and tactics were limited.

One session of being observed could strip them of all their secrets; only when a cultivator’s Realm advanced and their methods diversified would they no longer fear being watched.

Participants from thirteen countries, including those observing, were confined to Lake Heart Island, and only the combatants were allowed to leave.

It was a very fair fighting environment; of course, there were still concerns.

With seven or eight Golden Core Great Cultivators present, their Divine Sense covered everything, leaving no detail unperceived.

Fighting blind was a hallmark of the Southwest Forum on Dao.

Including Zhu Jiuling, the eight Golden Core Great Cultivators from the various sects had already gathered high above, so there was no hope of them secretly transmitting messages.

Only some Upper Cultivators from the Tongtian Realm were vaguely directing their people.

Their Divine Sense reached its limit at about ten miles, barely making out vague shapes, yet not grasping the full picture.

Emphasizing close-quarters combat and rejecting any interference, a true test of strength, provided the best stage for those top-notch experts.

They didn’t have to worry about being overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of their adversaries.

That was why the Wu Sect chose Lake Heart Island as the venue for the forum of Dao at Anhe Palace—it allowed the true inheritors of the Daoist Sect’s disciples to fully showcase their strengths.

Step by step, flawless in execution, you knew they were plotting, but there was nothing you could do about it, for their schemes were all done in broad daylight.

You could take advantage if you had top-notch experts as well, but do you have any?

How many?

Quickly, the thirteen disciples from various sects each took their places at their flags, ready to go.

At that moment, the second sound of the Cloud Plate resounded in the sky, signaling that the sects could begin their assault to seize the flags; the third sound of the Cloud Plate would be the end signal, but no one knew how long that would take.

Lake Heart Island fell silent.

Who would attack first?

A hasty move might lead to lasting animosity, so even decisive Quanzhen Sword Cultivators hesitated.

It seemed as if everyone was waiting for someone else to make the first move, to then gain the upper hand with a counterattack?

Hou Niao, amidst a crowd of sword cultivators, sighed in his heart; he was a bit disappointed by these three uncles from the Quanzhen Sect.

They didn’t demonstrate the presence expected of a leader from the Demon Sect and were the first to take action, aiming to snatch the Wu Sect’s banner!

Was this decision really that hard to make?

In his intuition, if it were Yu Zhengxing or Li Chuping, they definitely wouldn’t be so hesitant.

This was the difference between the central and local forces; those from the center thought too much and lost the most important quality of a sword cultivator: to take action first and reason afterwards.

The Quanzhen Sect definitely couldn’t match the Daoist Sect in terms of heritage, and now they were losing this sharp edge…

The first to seize a banner was, unsurprisingly, the Wu Sect, and their target was also as expected by everyone, the Anhe Daoist Sect.

This was the main issue that needed to be resolved in this Southwest doctrinal debate, the key point.

A Wu Sect disciple, with an amputated arm, walked gracefully across the lake surface without touching it, as if flying.

This earned the admiration of the crowd; but it wasn’t true flight—it was a cultivator utilizing spiritual pressure to compress the water surface to generate lift, allowing them to glide about a foot above the water.

This required great mastery of spiritual power, exactly the kind of method the Daoist Sect loved to play with.

“The Anhe Daoist Sect is in danger!”

Luo Linwang was anxious.

From the escape skill demonstrated by this Wu Sect Daoist, he could tell that the Daoist’s command of spiritual power was far superior to that of an ordinary Bridge Connection cultivator, and for low-rank cultivators, the application of spiritual power was almost the definitive factor that distinguished better from worse.

The first battle was a must-win, that was the strategy of the Wu Sect.

Everyone knew it, but the question was, how do you stop them?

The Quanzhen Sect couldn’t stop them either, unless they seized the banner before the Wu Sect and lay in wait.

But what concerned Hou Niao wasn’t this.

“Senior brother, that technique of gliding over the water’s surface, do you know it?”

Luo Linwang shook his head, “No!

I don’t have time to practice such flashy but impractical things.”

Hou Niao gave a dry laugh and said, “Not that, I mean, do you know that common technique of running over the water’s surface?”

Luo Linwang somewhat understood, “Of course, who among these hundreds of disciples from various sects doesn’t?

It’s just basic training, right?

Even if we can’t repel water, stepping on it isn’t hard, right?

Hou junior brother, are you going to tell me you don’t even know the most basic Water Stepping Skill?

You were the one who flooded Suqiu back then.”

Hou Niao felt very embarrassed and said in a low voice, “No one told me to learn these things, you know?

I did flood Suqiu, but that was diving, not stepping on water; if I were to dive all the way there in front of everyone here, that wouldn’t be appropriate, would it?”

Luo Linwang was speechless.

This was the negative consequence of cultivating alone without a mentor’s guidance—there might not be an issue in the most important aspects, but cultivation is a very comprehensive endeavor.

There are countless details that require attention.

Otherwise, what do you think all these cultivators spend their days doing?

“Of course, it’s not appropriate!

The rules of the doctrinal debate require every participant to maintain their presence at all times and not to disappear or launch surprise attacks.

Since you can’t step on water or glide over it, I’m afraid you’ll have to swim…”

Seeing the look of schadenfreude on Luo Linwang’s face, Hou Niao was extremely frustrated.

He had neglected these aspects; who knew the debate environment would directly target his weakness?

He truly didn’t have time; after Bridge Connection at the Anhe bridgehead, he went straight to eye refinement, and after that, returned to Miao Gao for assignments.

There had hardly been any time at his own disposal, and the little time he had was all spent on Sword Consciousness.

Upon first joining Bridge Connection, there was so much to consider and countless aspects to learn, how could he possibly practice an entirely supplementary skill like Water Stepping?

The embarrassment was imminent.