Chapter 159 Trust

Master Gu Meng wore a solemn expression, for with her vast knowledge and experience, she recognized at a glance that this was the Peerless Spirit Skill, the Grand Jade Spiral Technique, originating from the supreme senior of the Cloud Sky Sect, True Man Yun. This young man's cultivation was fiercely powerful to an astonishing degree; even True Man Yun back in the day could hardly have unleashed such immense might as Mo Bai did today.

The Grand Jade Spiral Technique came roaring through the air like a falling star straight toward Master Gu Meng. With a flick of her single hand, the mysterious purple flower expanded vastly, its petals instantly growing huge and unfurling to form the shape of a giant umbrella, directly blocking the onslaught of the Grand Jade Spiral Technique.

Mo Bai also silently praised inwardly. Master Gu Meng truly lived up to her reputation as the current sect master of the Yi Flower Sect. Her mastery of spirit skills was endlessly versatile, unexpectedly adapting the Yi Flower Decisive Technique—which was usually employed for offense—into a defensive maneuver, and executing it with such consummate skill. Master Gu Meng let out a delicate cry, and the purple petals began to spin rapidly, possessing the breathtaking beauty of scattering blossoms amidst a continuous hissing sound that ground away the spiritual energy of the Grand Jade Spiral Technique.

Abruptly channeling boundless spiritual energy into his hands, Mo Bai caused the Grand Jade Spiral Technique to swell violently. In the end, two giant swords erupted and spun outward from within the spherical core like a pair of razor-sharp blades, continuously sweeping across Master Gu Meng's purple petals. In an instant, the tide of battle was once again reversed by Mo Bai. The rapid shifts in their combat within moments demonstrated just how supreme their spiritual cultivation methods truly were.

Seeing Mo Bai adapt with such effortless ease, Master Gu Meng felt a chill strike her heart. With a swift movement of her hand, the purple flower flipped over, and its stamen instantly rose up in unison, spraying outward toward Mo Bai like a violent storm. Those purple stamens, as large as cannonballs, came howling through the air carrying immense force. Although a few were beaten down by the spinning giant swords of Mo Bai's Grand Jade Spiral Technique, even more slipped through the net and flew directly toward him.

What a formidable Master Gu Meng, possessing such meticulous scheming. It turned out her ultimate trump card was this pollen attack. Yet this time, she had miscalculated her target. Even though this batch of pollen was dozens of times greater than the previous one, how could Mo Bai easily fall into the trap? The Four-Phase Golden Bell suddenly merged together in mid-air, forming a massive bronze bell. With a resounding chime, all the pollen instantly vanished into fine dust.

Master Gu Meng gasped aloud, yet Mo Bai's attack was far from over. With a single wave of his hand, he actually summoned a second Grand Jade Spiral Technique. What level of spiritual power could possibly sustain such a technique? Master Gu Meng was struck with horror as the Grand Jade Spiral Technique swept back and forth through the Four-Phase Golden Bell, and then shot toward her like a cannonball.

A thunderous explosion echoed in the sky. Not only was Master Gu Meng's purple Yi Flower shattered, but even Mo Bai's original Grand Jade Spiral Technique was blasted into nothingness by this subsequent wave.

After a haze of gunpowder smoke cleared away, Mo Bai was panting slightly. As the mist dispersed, the figure of Master Gu Meng slowly came into view, though her Daoist robes were in utter disarray and her complexion was extremely pale. In her hands, she cupped a crystal-clear Yi Flower. The flower appeared almost transparent, yet it was outlined by a formless silhouette sustained by the spiritual energy radiating from it.

Mo Bai's heart stirred. The transparent Yi Flower, symbolizing the supreme supremacy of the Yi Flower Sect, had finally appeared. When facing Mo Bai, the sect master of the Yi Flower Sect had ultimately unleashed this flower, though this time it served purely for defense, neutralizing Mo Bai's most lethal blow.

"Young man, you have exhausted your full strength, haven't you? But I have only just unleashed my ultimate technique," Master Gu Meng said, gasping for breath.

"Senior, if you speak to me in this state, it truly proves this is your final trump card. But what about me? I am doing quite well," Mo Bai said with a slight smile as he looked at the Yi Flower.

"Young man, if you can still defeat me under the shadow of my Colorless Yi Flower, then indeed I will no longer have the capability to detain you. Let us settle this once and for all," Master Gu Meng knew the most critical moment had arrived.

Master Gu Meng felt her vision suddenly blur, and Mo Bai's voice seemed to ring directly in her ears, while the Mo Bai standing before her eyes began to dissolve and blur like mist.

A hand pressed against Master Gu Meng's back at an unknown moment, and Mo Bai's slow voice echoed: "True Man, if I were to exert even a sliver of force, I suppose not even a Great Luo Golden Immortal could save you, let alone this mortal Yi Flower."

Cold sweat covered Master Gu Meng's face, her expression dazed. Once upon a time, she had also pressed her own hand against Mo Bai's back, only to be rescued by that silver-haired lass. Now the roles were reversed, and who could possibly save her? "What... what spirit skill is this?" Master Gu Meng asked, summoning her final courage, as she wished to die with clarity.

"I wonder if the True Man has ever heard of the 'Twin Phoenixes Soar'?" Mo Bai said softly.

"Ph... Twin Phoenixes Soar? Does such a technique truly exist in this world?" Master Gu Meng murmured in a daze.

"Otherwise, who do you think that person standing before you moments ago was, and why would I suddenly appear behind you?" Mo Bai said with a smile. As it turned out, everything had been a buildup designed to pave the way for the Twin Phoenixes Soar technique. From the initial clash to the bursting explosion in the middle, every action was solely meant to misdirect Master Gu Meng, setting up this most fatal strike from behind.

With a desolate expression, Master Gu Meng said, "I have lost. The Yi Flower Sect has lost. Everything is over."

Mo Bai replied indifferently, "Senior, though my words may sound long-winded, I must say: you are mistaken. You have not lost, nor has the Yi Flower Sect. On the contrary, it will undergo an even more wonderful transformation because of today's events."

Startled, Master Gu Meng asked, "Mo Bai, what do you intend to do?" She felt as though the Mo Bai standing behind her possessed boundless strength, causing a sense of dread to rise within her.

"I will do nothing of the sort. I will simply fulfill my promise—my promise to Senior. If Master Rotten Branch could place his trust in me, why can't you, True Man?" Mo Bai said with absolute firmness.

"Trust? Do I still have the qualification to be trusted?" Master Gu Meng muttered, uncertain of how to respond. Because Mo Bai had given her a chance, yet she had completely failed to grasp it. When Mo Bai discovered she had attempted to assassinate him, he had once spoken these very words to her. Yet due to her own selfishness, she had ignored them, leading directly to today's predicament. Now completely devoid of any capability to resist, what other qualifications did she possess? Especially trust—would Mo Bai ever trust her?

"Naturally. The dignified sect master of the Yi Flower Sect naturally holds a position that commands people's trust. I believe that if I remove my hand from your back today, you will never place your hand on my back ever again in the future," Mo Bai said with a serene smile.

A flush rose to Master Gu Meng's face, making the dark red plum blossom mark on her cheek appear even deeper crimson, yet she remained utterly silent.

Mo Bai knew that someone of Master Gu Meng's status would never lower her head to confess guilt aloud, so he smiled calmly and said, "This junior has one more matter requiring Senior's assistance. Since Senior cannot help my brother Xiaohua open his spiritual portals, I wonder if, given Senior's standing in the Exquisite Continent, you might introduce some familiar friends to help him out." This was Mo Bai's way of offering Master Gu Meng a graceful way out.

Before Master Gu Meng could reply, the heavy doors of the Exquisite Flower Hall creaked open, and several figures with hurried expressions rushed in through the entrance.

Master Gu Meng felt the pressure behind her lift slightly. The next moment, Mo Bai had already appeared before her, speaking in a resounding voice, "Many thanks to the True Man for your guidance. This junior will surely bring my brother Xiaohua to follow the True Man's instructions, and I hope we shall gain much from it."

The expressions of those who had just rushed in softened slightly. They had all been anxiously waiting outside the Exquisite Flower Hall moments before. Although unaware of the exact situation, they knew something extraordinary must have occurred today within the sect, as even the morning classes—which had continued uninterrupted for years—were canceled. Some high-ranking disciples had taken the risk of speculating, and upon seeing Mo Bai enter the Exquisite Flower Hall, they had been utterly shocked, never imagining that today's events were connected to this man. Shortly afterward, waves of roaring tremors had echoed from within the hall, yet no one had dared to knock on the doors.

Red Wood Woman, Yu Zhi, Yu Qiu, and others stood silently waiting before the entrance of the Exquisite Flower Hall until the recent arrival of Xiao Xue and the Little Demoness Nalan Xin'er. With the tacit permission granted by True Man Gu Yu and True Man Gu Yun, they had taken the courage to push open the hall doors, just in time to catch Mo Bai's closing remarks.

"This junior has truly experienced the True Man's supreme techniques, and I am deeply grateful for your unreserved guidance, which has benefited me immensely." Mo Bai showed an unexpected and profound respect toward Master Gu Meng.

"Mo, Big Brother! Are you alright?" cried the Little Demoness Nalan Xin'er as she leaped in front of Mo Bai, inspecting him up and down. Only after confirming he was completely unharmed did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Taking advantage of this opening, Yu Zhi had already alertly draped a new Daoist robe over Master Gu Meng's shoulders. Standing behind her, Yu Zhi discreetly channeled a stream of spiritual energy into Master Gu Meng. Feeling her master's spiritual energy merge with her own, Yu Zhi finally felt a measure of relief, as her clever mind had already discerned that her master had not gained the upper hand.

Seeing the reborn Little Demoness, Mo Bai knew she had taken the Seven-Leaf Lotus and fully recovered. All credit for this belonged to Yu Yinxin, and of course, to Xiao Xue. Mo Bai gently touched the Little Demoness's forehead and said, "Of course I'm fine, and look at you jumping around lively as ever." He then raised his head and cast a look of deep gratitude toward Xiao Xue.

At that moment, Xiao Xue was also gazing at him. Seeing the joy radiating from his face, her heart finally settled completely into peace.