What Mo Xuan wanted was only the final result. He sought to push Gu Lan to his limits, forcing him to fully reveal the power of the Great Path. Only then would he be able to fully control it. If that wasn't the case, he would have acted long ago and wouldn't have waited until now.
This time, Mo Xuan acted with prudence. Instead of charging forward, he took a cautious step back, instantly retreating thousands of feet away. He understood well that he stood no chance against Gu Lan. Charging in would be futile. It was better to employ a different approach. As long as he could control Gu Lan, he was confident that he could kill him.