Deng Vs Mo Part 2

"For this particular match. I'd like to use a specific array." Xianliang began as he walked to the center point between the two groups.

"This array is something that I commonly use when our Deng Sect competes with the various sects. This array is a protective array that would guarantee the protection of each individual cultivator. When our contestants need not worry about their opposition's safety, they can unleash their true prowess; I believe that this will be more beneficial for both parties."

As Xianliang had reached the center point, he cast the array on himself; a semi-transparent talisman manifested itself above his head.

"Now, I will demonstrate the efficacy of this array." He said as he manifested his sword and stabbed it right through his stomach.

Usually, this would have been a fatal injury, and yet for Xianliang, there was neither pain nor blood.

All that had occurred was that the talisman above his head vanished as well as the fact that he was teleported a short distance away, bringing him outside of the makeshift arena.

"This array should keep each of our members safe, and when they receive a fatal injury, it will protect them and move them out of the ring."

Xue Jian nodded in approval. "It seems like you have come prepared."

"Naturally," Xianliang replied, "since we often challenge other sects, it's only reasonable that I prepare such an array at all times."

After he had received approval from Xue Jian, the Deng Sect successor cast the array.

Small talismans appeared above the head of each of the eight contestants, a small dome of energy additionally covered the arena.

This was a barrier that would keep the contestants within a confined area and keep any ranged attacks from harming any of the spectators.

Once the array had finished initializing, each of the two groups assumed their respective battle formations. For the Deng Sect, they all stood in a straight horizontal line.

It seemed like their strategy was going to be an all-out offensive.

On the other hand, for the Mo Sect Gao Liang and Xiuying, both stood in the front with Lihua standing behind them and Zhongming standing even further behind.

This, as opposed to the Deng Sect's formation, was much more defensive.

Once both sides had settled into their chosen formations, Xianliang asked, "Is everyone on each side ready?"

Each of the eight cultivators in the protective array nodded their heads, indicating that they were ready for battle.

Xianliang then steadily raised his right hand before swiftly bringing it down, "Start," he barked as he did so.

As soon as Xianliang gave the signal, Chen Jing, who Zhongming had assumed was the leader amongst the Deng Sect Nascent Soul cultivators, drew his blade and merely slashed his weapon through the space before him.

Normally, Chen Jing would never use this ability when the Deng Sect had participated in these competitions against the other smaller sects. Generally, this type of one-hit kill attack would defeat the purpose of these competitions in the first place.

However, against the Mo Sect, Chen Jing knew that if they had wished to win, they would have to use everything at their disposal.

While seemingly harmless and straightforward, this attack was empowered by the Dao of principles, and in principle, it was an unavoidable, undodgeable, unalterable, instantaneous attack that ignored locality.

Of course, this attack could not ignore the Domain of Locality, and thus this attack was not an infinite range attack while under its influence.

But instead, this attack could affect any number of people within a specific range no matter where or how the attack was unleashed.

If everything had gone as expected, each opposing team member would instantaneously receive a fatal attack.

The outcome was a bit disappointing to Chen Jing, yet unsurprising; the attack did not seem to do anything at all, their opponents still stood there as if nothing had happened.

Unfortunately for the Deng Sect, Xiuying had managed a perfect counter. Although the attack itself was in principal unalterable, Chen Jing was not a Soul Integration cultivator. Thus unlike that time with Xue Jian, she could use her Dao of Information to overwrite and remove all of the principles regarding the attack.

In the end, Chen Jing's simple sword swing remained a simple sword swing.

Upon seeing that nothing had happened, Chen Jing opened his mouth and spoke. "Indeed, the reputation of the Mo Sect is well deserved."

As Chen Jing praised his opposition, each of his teammates also drew their swords swiftly, and in no time at all, they quickly leaped towards their opponents.

In retaliation, both Gao Liang and Xiuying advanced. Their goal was to intercept the Deng Sect and to stop them in their tracks.

And yet, when the two groups should have clashed, the Deng Sect cultivators merely ignored the two vanguards of the Mo Sect. And not even just ignoring the two, they phased through both of them; it was as if the two groups were on separate planes of existence and could not interact with one another.

Xiuying had analyzed why this was happening; it seemed that each one of them was applying layer after layer of principles. Upon closer inspection, she realized that each layer was merely different variations of the same principle, 'Interaction is only valid between me and a specific object or person.'

Having many layers of this principle seemed contradictory, yet they managed each layer in such a way that the sum of all the objects or people they had added were all targets of interaction.

Try as Xiuying might, she could only remove each layer as quickly as they were able to add layers; she simply couldn't remove the layers quick enough.

Once Chen Jing's attack failed, the Deng Sect fighters knew that the opponents had the depth of comprehension to deal with anything they could dish out. Thus, instead of using complex abilities that were slow to cast, they chose to spam a myriad of simple principles. This adaption, from the look of things, was definitely paying off.

From the sideline's both Xue Jian and Hualing were impressed with the Deng Sect cultivator's quick thinking; they had truly deserved their reputation as one of the Three Pillars of Ming.

Once the Deng Sect cultivators had approached Lihua, it was unsurprising that they also merely phased through her as well. At this point, their objective was painfully obvious; they wanted to eliminate the weakest link as fast as possible, making this match a four versus three.

Gao Liang, Xiuying, and Lihua tried to chase after the Deng Sect members hoping to intercept them. Yet, it was an exercise in futility.

These cultivators were not some nobodies; they were some of the most talented cultivators of the Deng Sect, thus in terms of physical attributes such as speed, Gao Liang, Xiuying, and Lihua, were not necessarily superior to them.

As Chen Jing closed in on his target, Zhongming kept his eyes closed as he focused his mind.

For a Core Formation cultivator who still had a physical human body, his eyes were of no use against Nascent Soul cultivators who were by nature conceptual beings. As the particles of light bounced off of their physical forms, any Nascent Soul cultivator could easily close the distance way before the particles of light could reach the observer's retina.

As a Core Formation cultivator, Zhongming could only rely on his third eye, located in the center of his forehead. Using it, Zhongming could see the truth of the world rather than the illusory light-based projection that his physical eyes could perceive.