Chapter 160: Has Shen Mo Fled the Battle?
As soon as the cultivators saw Demon Armor's appearance, the crowd erupted in discussion.
"Demon Armor is only a guest elder of the Heavenly Water Sect, right? For Zhang Mo to get him involved, what kind of precious treasure did she offer?"
"Demon Armor is incredibly powerful and doesn't take a clear stance. Normally, he wouldn't participate in such life-and-death battles. I can't believe... sigh, in the end, he's driven by profit."
"Demon Armor is too strong. As long as he doesn't face Murong Yue, neither Shen Mo nor Song Chaofeng stands a chance against him."
"Heh, your information is outdated. Do you know about Lu Ren, the second elder of Thunder Fire Sect? A few months ago, he stole demonic arts and killed fellow elders before escaping. He was later killed by Demon Armor with a single punch!"
"What?! I heard that Lu Ren had already set one foot into the peak of the Core Formation stage. For Demon Armor to kill him with just one punch? That's outrageous!"
"Judging from this, Demon Armor's cultivation level is at least at the peak of the Core Formation stage, or possibly even beyond. Otherwise, he couldn't have taken out Lu Ren so effortlessly."
The cultivators were not only shocked by Demon Armor's appearance but also by his impressive feats.
Some cultivators who had come from the northern part of Xuanjing Prefecture had only heard of Demon Armor in passing and were unaware of his formidable reputation. Hearing the discussions around them, they, too, were astonished.
With a figure like this participating in the life-and-death duel, what chance does Qingxuan Sect have?
Zhang Mo noticed the displeased look on Murong Yue's face and immediately gave a smug smile.
"Where are the Qingxuan Sect participants? Not all here yet? Could it be they fled at the last moment?" She glanced behind Murong Yue, seeing only Song Chaofeng but not Shen Mo.
Logically, Shen Mo's strength was at least second within Qingxuan Sect, so he would surely be part of the life-and-death duel.
Murong Yue took a deep breath, "Shen'er will be here soon. There's no rush."
At that moment, a figure rushed to her side—it was Elder Li.
Elder Li wore a troubled expression as she whispered, "The young master is missing. I've searched the entire jujube courtyard and scoured the mountain, but I couldn't find him."
Murong Yue's heart trembled, "What?"
She pulled Elder Li aside in haste.
Zhang Mo watched this scene with a playful glint in her eyes.
"What's going on? Where is Shen'er?" Murong Yue asked again.
Elder Li shook her head helplessly, "He disappeared... or maybe..."
She didn't dare finish the sentence.
Murong Yue muttered to herself, "He left..."
Elder Li quickly added, "No, the young master isn't like that. I think he may have encountered some unexpected situation. Maybe he's cultivating somewhere, unaware of the passage of time."
Murong Yue took several deep breaths, "You're right."
"We cultivators are often so focused on our path that we forget about time. It's not his fault."
Elder Li sighed softly before asking, "Who will replace the young master?"
Murong Yue thought for a moment, "Let's wait. If Shen'er hasn't arrived by the time it's his turn to fight, let Wei Xiongtie go up. He has shown his willingness to fight for the sect and even approached me before, asking to replace Shen'er's spot. I refused him then."
"Understood."
After speaking, she chuckled, "Actually, I feel a bit relieved."
Elder Li was puzzled, "Why relieved?"
Murong Yue sighed in resignation, "If Shen'er can't participate in this life-and-death duel, at least he will stay alive."
"As his master, how can I stand by and watch him die here?"
"What master can bear the pain of seeing their disciple die before their eyes?"
Elder Li's expression darkened, "Indeed..."
Moments later, both the Heavenly Water Sect and Qingxuan Sect's three participants hovered in mid-air above Tiger Head Mountain.
When the cultivators saw the lineup of Qingxuan Sect, they were taken aback.
"What's going on? Where is Qingxuan Sect's young master, Shen Mo?"
"I remember Shen Mo is quite strong! He once killed the Blood River Sect's leader, Feng Lieshan. He should at least be stronger than Wei Xiongtie, right?"
"I don't get it. Qingxuan Sect's decision drastically reduces their chances of victory."
The cultivators started debating, unable to understand Qingxuan Sect's arrangements.
Meanwhile, the elders of Qingxuan Sect also frowned.
Xiao Fan let out a surprised sound, "Where is Shen Mo? Logically, he should be the one fighting."
Zhao Ting, Zhao Rou, and Luo Shengnan exchanged uncertain glances.
"Could he have run away? Did you see Elder Li earlier? She rushed to the sect master and whispered something only they could hear."
A voice suddenly came from the side.
The disciples of Qingxuan Sect looked over and saw that it was Liu Yunxuan.
Luo Shengnan heard his words and immediately glared at him coldly. "What are you saying? You are not allowed to insult Shen Mo's reputation!"
Zhao Rou also widened her eyes. "Who gave you the right to speak such baseless nonsense?"
Liu Yunxuan sneered and fell silent, but his words had already had an effect.
Many of the elders and disciples of Qingxuan Sect began to harbor similar doubts in their hearts.
Elder Li's anxious arrival just now had been witnessed by many.
After her conversation with Sect Master Murong Yue, the participant changed from Shen Mo to Wei Xiongtie.
In terms of strength, Shen Mo was undoubtedly superior to Wei Xiongtie. This fact was not only acknowledged within Qingxuan Sect but also by many other sects.
If there was nothing wrong here, it would indeed be strange.
Why would they change the participant at the last minute if there was no problem?
This matter concerned the fate of Qingxuan Sect and all its cultivators. At such a critical moment, even the slightest suspicion could quickly amplify, eventually leading to overwhelming anxiety.
The discussions among Qingxuan Sect did not go unnoticed by members of other sects around them.
Some keen observers, noting the expressions of Murong Yue, Elder Li, and Wei Xiongtie, began to piece together what might have happened.
For a while, rumors of Shen Mo fleeing before the battle spread like wildfire.
Even Zhang Mo and Long Tao, hovering in midair, overheard these comments.
Zhang Mo sneered, "Murong Yue, it seems your disciple is not that remarkable."
"In a moment of crisis, he abandoned his sect and fled on his own!"
Long Tao laughed heartily, adding, "A sect divided and disheartened, with even its young master running away—does such a sect still deserve to exist?"
"Why don't you, Sect Master Murong, declare right here that the entire Qingxuan Sect will merge into our Heavenly Water Sect?"
Murong Yue's expression remained calm. "Shen'er did not flee. He is not that kind of person."
"Why he hasn't appeared, I do not know, nor do I wish to know."
"As his master, I would rather not see him die right in front of me than have him participate in a life-and-death duel."
Zhang Mo's heart stirred, and she suddenly thought of her deceased disciple, Yin Xuege.
Weren't she and Yin Xuege also master and disciple?
Her face immediately darkened, and she snorted, "I can't be bothered with any more nonsense. Let's draw lots!"
As she spoke, she tossed a bamboo tube into the air. After a brief shake, a bamboo stick fell out.
With a casual wave, Zhang Mo caught it and saw the words "Long Tao" engraved on it.
"The first match of the life-and-death duel: Long Tao from Heavenly Water Sect," she announced calmly.
Murong Yue also threw a bamboo tube into the air, which contained three bamboo sticks as well.
After several shakes, one stick emerged.
The name inscribed on it was Song Chaofeng.
This was part of an ancient agreement for life-and-death duels between sects in Xuanjing Prefecture.
It was designed to prevent situations where a lower-ranked combatant would be swapped out for a stronger one.
By using a draw to decide who would participate, everything was left to the hands of fate.
Swoosh, swoosh.
Everyone else left, leaving the vast peak of Tiger Head Mountain to Song Chaofeng and Long Tao.
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