In a certain sense, it was even weaker.
It was just that there were more people.
Mo Hua frowned.
Thinking it through, the situation of the Sword Discussion at Taixu Gate is truly not optimistic at all.
No wonder the Sect Leader has started losing hair.
"No, it seems it’s not just not optimistic..."
Mo Hua recalled that back then, Tai’a Sect was the "beam" that stood out, bearing the brunt and taking on the firepower of the Four Great Sects.
Rushing Void Sect served as a buffer in the middle, also taking on some of the pressure.
Taixu Gate ranked at the end, suffering the least pressure.
But now, Taixu Gate "absorbed" Tai’a Sect and Rushing Void Sect, effectively drawing all the "firepower" onto itself.
All the pressure converged on them alone, enduring the "siege" from the Four Great Sects.
The situation is severely outrageous.
Mo Hua felt a headache on behalf of the Sect Leader.
"I wonder how much hair the Sect Leader will have left after the Sword Discussion Conference..." .
Mo Hua began to feel sorry for the Sect Leader’s hair.
Seeing Cheng Mo still looking worried, Mo Hua then comforted him: "Do your best, don’t stress."
Cheng Mo smiled wryly, "Junior Brother, I understand all the reasoning, but this pressure isn’t something that disappears just because you say so."
How could he not be nervous about such a major event as the Sword Discussion?
Mo Hua then asked, "Do you want to be the Leader in the Sword Discussion?"
"Everybody wants to be the Leader," Cheng Mo said helplessly, "but I don’t have the capability. I’d be satisfied with getting a decent rank."
"What can you do with a decent rank?"
"There’s a lot you could do," Cheng Mo’s eyes lit up, as if injected with energy, speaking passionately:
"First of all, a high rank would mean the Sect rewards a large amount of Merit Points, perfect for trading for resources and legacies, or joining the Inner Gate..."
"Even if I don’t join the Inner Gate, getting a rank, returning home in glory would feel prestigious too."
"This is the Sword Discussion ranking of the Qianxue State Boundary, the family patriarch would surely look favorably upon me."
"Even if it’s just for boasting, every claim I make would carry weight, everyone would lag behind you..."
Mo Hua was somewhat confused: "Is it really that incredible?"
Cheng Mo nodded: "Of course."
"But..." Mo Hua frowned, "I got the Formation Leader title, and it honestly feels just okay, not that grandiose..."
Cheng Mo felt a lump in his chest, a little not wanting to talk to Mo Hua.
The other disciples were also stunned.
The Junior Brother was great at everything, except sometimes his words were exasperating.
But after Mo Hua’s words, the crowd unconsciously felt less nervous.
Mo Hua asked others: "Do you also want to win the Sword Discussion to show off to your families?"
"Naturally, if a young person doesn’t show off, it’s wasted youth."
"Of course, it’s not just for showing off; there are many advantages..."
The atmosphere lightened a bit, and the disciples began to chatter more:
"I want to bring glory to my family, getting a high rank would make my parents proud. My dad often says his greatest success in life was having me as his son..."
"Mainly, I want to earn some Merit Points; my Cultivation Technique is really resource-intensive..."
"My parents say if I rank well in the Sword Discussion, with a good reputation, they’ll arrange a good marriage for me when I return."
"Do your parents have the difficulty reversed? Do you not know how hard the Sword Discussion is? Finding a marriage match isn’t that challenging."
"That’s because you haven’t tried, if you had, you’d know..."
...
There were also those who, despite coming from prestigious families, had rough upbringings:
"My dad’s a gambler, my mom remarried, I can’t rely on anyone but myself, I have to fight for my own future!"
Someone nearby agreed: "That’s right, I also want to fight, to carve out a place for myself in the Qian Learning State Boundary. If I fail..."
He looked unwilling, "I’d have to go back, follow my parents’ plans, marry someone suitable, and inherit the position of Family Head..."
A bunch of people were left speechless...
"Thanks, we’re no longer friends," said the earlier disciple.
"Come on, a small family, only fourth-grade, what are you mad about?"
"We are no longer friends, don’t talk to me..."
...
As they talked, the atmosphere gradually harmonized. Everyone’s mood lightened a lot, and the pressure eased a bit.
Cheng Mo glanced at Mo Hua and whispered:
"Junior Brother, are you also participating in the Sword Discussion Conference?"
Mo Hua contemplated, "I think I probably will."
"Junior Brother, do you also want to achieve a rank and return to show off?" Cheng Mo asked.
"This..." Mo Hua fell into deep thought.
"What nonsense, Junior Brother isn’t as superficial as you," Situ Jian said dissatisfied.
"How’s it superficial?" Cheng Mo retorted, "To not return in glory is like wearing embroidery at night, it’s human nature, how is that superficial?"
"Exactly." One disciple agreed.
"That’s true, but Junior Brother surely has deeper reasons..."
"Probably wants to enter the Inner Gate through the Sword Discussion Conference, to become an Elder in the future."
"What nonsense, with Junior Brother’s status, does he need to talk about entering the Inner Gate?"
"Then is it to earn Merit Points?"
"Do you know how many Merit Points Junior Brother currently has?"
"How many?"
"So many that even Junior Brother himself doesn’t know exactly how many Merit Points he has..."
"I heard the patriarch has sealed Junior Brother’s Taixu Token Merit display, to prevent our generation of disciples from seeing it and damaging our Taoist Heart..."
"It can’t be that exaggerated..."
"Then Junior Brother, participates in the Sword Discussion, also to get a good rank for a future ideal Dao Companion."
"Nonsense! Junior Brother’s Dao Companion needs searching for?" One disciple said solemnly, "Honestly, I have a sister, Top-Grade Spiritual Root, young and beautiful, the perfect age..."
Before he could finish, someone nearby shouted: "Lu Zhenming! I asked you before to introduce your sister to me, and you said she was too young, so you wouldn’t agree?!"