Free Web NovelChapter 176: Chapter 176: Decisive
"So you’re Wei Wuju?"
A sword pellet materialized in Mo Tianshu’s hand as he looked at his opponent, whose aura was faint.
Wei Wuju nodded, gasping for breath.
"That is I."
"I truly don’t understand. We are strangers, so why do you bear such killing intent toward me?"
"Hah." Mo Tianshu scoffed.
"You rose from nothing to a high position. You even managed to steal a forbidden Secret Technique from the Douchen Sect and escape with your life."
"I do admire your unyielding spirit and your undying heart for the Dao."
His voice, however, was laced with impatience.
"But since you’re an outcast, why are you getting involved with the Douchen Sect’s business in the Fire Cave Dynasty?"
"You know full well the relationship between the Fire Cave Dynasty and the Xuandao Sect. This is a death wish!"
With that, the sword pellet erupted in a boundless light, flowing like quicksilver and splashing into a thousand radiant droplets.
A sharp pain shot through Bai Mo’s eyes. He then heard a THUD as a corner of the coffin on Zhao Jingyu’s back was sliced off, smacking him on the head.
They exchanged a look of horror.
Then, the strands of Bai Mo’s Divine Thought that he had spread out began to flicker and die out one after another.
A painful, itching sensation coursed through his mind, and Bai Mo’s scalp went numb.
"Retreat!"
Even Wuyin and Qi Yang, who had followed Mo Tianshu for days, had never seen such an assault.
They immediately followed Bai Mo, pushing through the soldiers to retreat.
POP!
With the sound of a silver vase shattering, the light scattered, blooming like a thousand flowering trees.
The onlooking soldiers couldn’t dodge in time. A web of cuts suddenly appeared on their armor.
They had been at war for days but had never seen a technique like this.
"Fall back! Everyone fall back!"
"The Cultivator from the Upper Sect fights without restraint!"
A soldier roared at the top of his lungs.
The crowd erupted into chaos and scrambled to retreat.
Zhao Jingyu shoved several people aside. With a few dull THUDS, his coffin was sliced open in several more places, revealing the desiccated corpse within.
"Hmph!"
’A rabble army is just a rabble army. A hastily thrown-together troupe with no discipline at all!’
His body glowed, barely withstanding several alarming cuts, when he saw Bai Mo stumbling ahead of him.
Though Bai Mo looked flustered and disheveled, he hadn’t been hit even once.
Zhao Jingyu was amazed.
"Junior Brother Bai, wait for me!"
Amidst the chaos, the figure in the center of the pit charged straight at Mo Tianshu.
In an instant, Wei Wuju was consumed by the silver light.
His attack did not create the slightest ripple.
After a few breaths, the silver light began to fade.
Bai Mo looked back, braving the now-diminished glare.
A body swayed and then collapsed. Wei Wuju’s body had been shredded by the silver light before he could even get within thirty feet of Mo Tianshu.
"Immortal Wei is dead!!"
"Immortal Wei, the man who stood against that dog of an emperor, is dead!"
A soldier screamed hoarsely.
The rebels immediately began to wail. A commotion erupted as some started banging their weapons against their armor, creating a clangor of metal.
POOF!
Before their emotions could rise to a peak, Bai Mo took out a Five Obstacles Pill and threw it.
A foul, acrid wind billowed out. Those closest were immediately blinded, their eyes stinging with pain.
Others screamed as the acrid air filled their throats, choking them until tears and snot streamed down their faces.
The few Cultivators from the Douchen Sect hadn’t retreated from the edge of the pit. Now covered in wounds, they were rushing toward Wei Wuju’s corpse.
Caught off guard by the foul wind, they were thrown into a panic.
Mo Tianshu noticed the black and red smoke as well. With a slight frown, his figure flickered, and he vanished.
By the time Wei Wuju’s body was retrieved and the smoke had been carried away by the wind, the rebel soldiers were just starting to recover their senses.
"Where is Immortal Wei’s body!?"
"Where are the army’s generals? Why is no one here!?"
Someone shouted.
"The heavens are jealous of the gifted!"
The rebel soldiers were filled with resentment, and some even vowed to avenge Wei Wuju.
"The Cultivators who killed Immortal Wei are gone!"
The crowd fell silent for a moment before erupting in a wave of fury.
"Avenge Immortal Wei!"
"..."
By now, Bai Mo and his companions were far away.
It was the first time Wuyin and Qi Yang had encountered Bai Mo’s Five Obstacles Pill. Having failed to defend against it properly, their eyes were injured and still streaming with tears.
Zhao Jingyu pointed out, "Junior Sister Wu, you were too flustered."
"When faced with a sneak attack like Junior Brother Bai’s, the first thing you should do is protect your eyes. If possible, cover your ears as well."
He had just seen soldiers clutching their bleeding ears, crumpled on the ground in agony.
Wuyin blinked, letting her tears wash over her eyes in an attempt to rinse away the gritty sensation.
She took a deep breath and said:
"I’m not dying. Thank you for your concern, Brother Zhao."
Looking back now, they were far from the soldiers, so the group slowed their pace.
Qi Yang approached Bai Mo, but just as he was about to say something, he saw Mo Tianshu swooping in from the distance.
"Let’s go. Cultivators are closing in."
The five of them felt a jolt of alarm and followed without daring to delay.
Mo Tianshu moved ahead of them. Before long, Bai Mo’s group heard a few short, sharp CLANGS from up the path.
When they reached the area, they saw several bodies lying on the ground. They were dressed in commoner’s clothes, their origins unidentifiable.
Qi Yang casually patted one down.
They were clean. It was hard to tell if they had been poor to begin with or if Mo Tianshu had already helped himself.
Over the next ten miles or so, they were ambushed three times. Mo Tianshu dealt with them all.
By Zhao Jingyu’s estimation, all of these Cultivators were at the seventh level of cultivation or higher.
The group was shocked.
"This is a coordinated ambush targeting Brother Mo," Wan Shenxiu analyzed.
"They didn’t dare approach when Brother Mo arrived, afraid he would detect their auras. Once the duel began, they planned to close in and surround him."
"It makes sense. Brother Mo is so bloodthirsty and has offended countless people; it’s no surprise he’s being targeted."
The others agreed.
’No wonder Brother Mo went straight for the kill. The situation didn’t allow for any delay.’
The group took a roundabout path. By the time they returned to Moyun Peak, Mo Tianshu was completely unharmed, aside from some disheveled clothes.
Bai Mo clicked his tongue in amazement. He then heard Mo Tianshu ask nonchalantly:
"What did you think of our little outing?"
Bai Mo gave a bitter smile.
"Brother Mo, you are truly powerful. But in the future, could you please give us a heads-up before doing something like that?"
"That way, we can be better prepared."
Mo Tianshu was dismissive.
"I was just teaching you a lesson."
"When you’re on sect business, traveling in small groups, your enemies will know you’re from a major sect. They won’t underestimate you."
"To play it safe, they’ll call their friends and allies. It’s common for them to suddenly gather a large force to ambush you."
A shiver went through the group as they listened.
Zhao Jingyu’s eyes darted, and he let out a chuckle.
"I heard that disciples of your caliber, Brother Mo, are assigned a Guardian by the sect..."
"He died," Mo Tianshu said flatly.
"Huh?"
"The old bastard’s cultivation went awry a few years back. Kicked the bucket."
Mo Tianshu’s expression was unreadable.
"I still have to go to his grave to pay respects every year."
The group looked at each other in dismay.
Wan Shenxiu whispered, "It seems our sect’s disciples are only ever assigned one Guardian. Once they’re gone, that’s it."
Zhao Jingyu gave an awkward laugh.
"My condolences, Brother Mo..."
’He truly lives up to his reputation as a big shot in the outer sect,’ they thought. ’Even without a Guardian’s protection, he treats life-threatening danger as a matter of course.’
Mo Tianshu looked at Bai Mo.
"Junior Brother, that trick of yours just now looked a lot like the sect’s Spirit-Breaking Smoke."
"That stuff is expensive. Are you that wealthy?"
Bai Mo was stunned and quickly explained:
"It wasn’t what you’re thinking of, Brother Mo. It was the Five Obstacles Pill I told you about."
Mo Tianshu was a bit surprised.
"They’re that similar? I wouldn’t have thought."
"But if you use it well, that pill is an excellent tool. Make good use of it..."
