Chapter 156: Absolute Kill

Amidst a secluded and dense thicket, Master Gu Meng finally removed her veil. With a voice trembling with agitation, she said, "Mobai, regardless of whether what you know is mere speculation or based on actual evidence, I will not leave you a chance today. I cannot afford to take the risk, nor can I risk my own identity and the entire Yihua Sect. I cannot afford to lose. Mobai, please do not blame me for being ruthless."

Mobai nodded calmly. "I understand your approach, Master. There is no doubt about it, and it is only human nature. After all, if the world were to discover that the leader of the Yihua Sect is actually an illegitimate child with an unmentionable background, how massive a storm would that provoke? No one could control the consequences. The Yihua Sect has only just survived the ordeal of Returning Sea City; it simply cannot withstand any more turbulent winds and waves."

"Mobai, please forgive my selfishness." At this moment, Master Gu Meng had no other options left. She wanted to gamble—to gamble on Mobai's character and trust that he had not told anyone else about this matter—yet she did not dare to make that gamble, for she could not afford to lose.

Power, emotion, reputation, and the rise and fall of the sect—all these heavy burdens weighed upon Master Gu Meng until she could barely breathe. A trace of murderous intent finally flashed in her eyes, though it was overshadowed by a profound sense of helplessness. The Yihua flower reappeared, yet this time, how terrifying that purple blossom was to her enemies. The purple flower was summoned by Master Gu Meng with effortless ease.

With a loud cry that sounded almost torn from her throat, revealing the deep internal conflict within her heart, Master Gu Meng knew that since matters had reached this juncture, she had to strike, and she had to strike to kill. A sword formed from spiritual energy took shape in her hand. Illuminated by the purple Yihua flower, it instantly split into three massive spiritual swords. With a flick of her wrist, Master Gu Meng sent the spiritual swords hurtling toward Mobai from three different directions.

Mobai recognized this technique as the Three-Flower Sword, which Huang Waner had once displayed on the Spirit Emerge Stage. Yet now, executed by Master Gu Meng, this ordinary sword technique had abruptly transformed into a fatal, ultimate move. Mobai knew this was merely Master Gu Meng's probe to test his ability to control the Holy Emperor Imperial Dragon Array. Against this onslaught, he had to muster his full strength, projecting a false impression to Master Gu Meng in order to bide his time for a better opportunity.

Master Gu Meng's brows furrowed slightly. With a single hand, she formed hand seals once more, and the spinning Three-Flower Swords did not vanish; instead, they abruptly converged in mid-air, merging into a single, colossal purple greatsword. Accompanied by a mournful cry, the purple greatsword shuddered in the air, shedding dozens of small purple flower buds. With their calyxes still tightly closed, these buds resembled sharp, pointed cannonballs as they rained down upon Mobai with a metallic clatter.

Mobai gazed coldly at the incoming blossoms. Concentrating his internal energy in both hands, he muttered, "Seemingly spikes, yet actually explosive." Before Mobai could finish speaking, the flowers indeed detonated violently upon striking the Holy Emperor Imperial Dragon Array. A continuous sequence of roars echoed as smoke and dust instantly filled the air.

Yet Mobai's expression remained completely unchanged. Not only did the Holy Emperor Imperial Dragon Array show no signs of weakening, but it actually grew even more dazzling. Suddenly, however, a strange phenomenon occurred: after a brief flash, several small flowers had mysteriously bloomed at some unknown moment. They rested securely against the surface of the Holy Emperor Imperial Dragon Array, contracting and expanding abruptly. The Holy Emperor Imperial Dragon Array seemed to suffer an immense shock, trembling violently as a result.

Inside the barrier, Mobai's heart skipped a beat. So that seemingly ferocious tempest of an attack earlier was merely a feint! They had used it simply to pave the way for these energy-absorbing little flowers. Master Gu Meng was truly formidable; realizing how formidable the defense of the Holy Emperor Imperial Dragon Array was, she had instantly abandoned her frontal assault and switched to a technique designed to drain spiritual energy.

True to form, the moment all the flowers bloomed, Master Gu Meng swiftly executed a series of intricate hand gestures with one hand. The large purple Yihua flower in the sky began to spin rapidly, and the small flowers clinging to the Holy Emperor Imperial Dragon Array commenced their rhythmic work. With just a few fluttering motions, the Holy Emperor Imperial Dragon Array appeared utterly drained, beginning to totter and sway precariously. Could the most powerful defensive spiritual array in this world truly be broken in this manner?

If Mobai's spiritual energy had been fully replenished, he could have utilized this opening to recharge the array's power or unleashed a direct burst of energy to shatter the clinging flowers. However, given Mobai's current condition, executing such an overbearing and lethal counterattack was simply too difficult. Naturally, Master Gu Meng perceived this critical weakness of his.

The pale yellow Qi surrounding the Holy Emperor Imperial Dragon Array grew increasingly thin, while the little flowers, as if insatiable for nourishment, continued to flutter up and down. Summoning his remaining meager spiritual energy, Mobai operated the Four-Phase Golden Bell. A resounding chime echoed out, and a portion of the small flowers were instantly blown away. However, this good fortune was short-lived. Wielding her sword in one hand, Master Gu Meng crashed directly into the Four-Phase Golden Bell with the force of a thunderbolt. A deafening roar shattered the air, and Mobai was blasted backward several paces by the sheer impact, a mouthful of fresh blood spilling from his lips.

Refusing to let up while she had the advantage, Master Gu Meng soared forward, launching a thunderous strike straight at Mobai, whose Holy Emperor Imperial Dragon Array was on the verge of shattering.

Looking battered and disheveled, Mobai suddenly let out a booming shout: "Well timed!" A flash of red light erupted from the scar across his left eyebrow. With a miserable shriek, Master Gu Meng was sent flying backward several meters, a gaping hole punctured through her left arm by an unknown force. This sudden turn of events left Master Gu Meng utterly pale with shock. What kind of terrifying technique was that, exerting such immense pressure upon her? Had she not reacted with lightning speed and used her purple flower to shift her position slightly, that strike would undoubtedly have pierced straight through her heart.

With a heavy thud, Mobai collapsed onto the ground. Glaring at Master Gu Meng, who was clutching her left arm and slowly pulling herself up, he could only say with helpless resignation, "Such is fate." In truth, his wounds had already begun the slow process of healing, but his vital essence had been excessively depleted.

"Young man, you are far too full of surprises. Given your cultivation, perhaps in another decade, all of us old fogies would be completely obsolete. It is only a pity that you will never get that chance," Master Gu Meng said with a tinge of regret. Ignoring the throbbing pain in her left shoulder, she flicked her wrist and exhaled a stream of spiritual energy. "Since that girl Yuqiu used the Closed-Door Palm technique to injure the Nalan family's daughter, I can only use this same technique to commemorate you." Reversing her palm, she struck out directly toward Mobai.