Here is the English translation for Chapter 151, formatted with clean syntax, polished grammar, and an engaging narrative style tailored for Western fantasy readers, maintaining proper character consistency (including Barsha as a female squad leader):

151. Greed and Power

The pursuit of absolute power has forever driven the conflicts of mortals. Power grants a sovereign their crown, commanding fear and reverence across the realm. In the martial world, strength is paramount—the ultimate ambition for which every cultivator strives, even at the cost of their very life.

From antiquity to the present era, the struggle for dominance remains constant so long as breath lingers in human lungs. In a world governed by survival of the fittest, the unyielding desire to subjugate others reveals the innate, deeply rooted flaw of mortal nature: insatiable greed.

Observing the scene unfolding before him, Aji recognized the danger instantly. Whenever a celestial artifact manifested, radiating unbridled energy, it blinded the hearts of men, twisting their judgment. Even the most honorable grandmasters could succumb to darkness when enticed by the promise of divine power. It was the precise tragedy Aji had feared.

Sure enough, the eyes of the martial artists gathered from various academies turned vacant, completely entranced by the radiant spectacle of the Moon Flower. The celestial artifact emitted a massive, surging aura field, weaving subtle illusions that preyed upon the subconscious minds of those nearby. Like all celestial artifacts, its ambient resonance tested the mental fortitude of those in its presence—and those with weak resolve were swiftly consumed by hallucinated grandeur.

Silence fell over the coastal plain, yet it was a deceptive calm. Each cultivator stood frozen, privately calculating a strategy to claim the prize. The artifact's subtle mental corruption eroded their rationality, fueling delusional ambitions.

The disciples of independent academies began envisioning a future where their school possessed a celestial artifact, imagining their sect elevated to the pinnacle of the martial hierarchy.

With the Moon Flower's divine energy absorbed into their cores, they believed they could rival Lord Demon Shura himself, ascending as supreme rulers of the world to command absolute obedience from all under heaven. The illusion took root, seizing upon the dormant greed inherent within human nature.

Moments after the brief lull, several orthodox cultivators discarded all pretense of morality. Surging forward, they shot toward the bluff where the glowing artifact hovered, intent on claiming the Moon Flower for themselves.

They belonged to a recognized school, their matching robes distinguishing their lineage. They had clearly sought the celestial artifact from the outset to elevate their academy's standing. They reasoned that once the artifact was secured and integrated into their core parameters, no opponent would dare challenge their authority.

In a realm governed by strength, the powerful were venerated while the weak were discarded. Such was the law of the world, and even righteous cultivators were not immune. Driven by ambition, they rationalized their actions as necessary.

As the first group soared toward the Moon Flower, rival sects reacted immediately, deploying high-speed movement techniques to overtake them. The sight triggered a chain reaction among the remaining factions, igniting a desperate race toward the bluff.

At first, none dared open fire directly on their peers, reluctant to expose their greed and tarnish their academies' righteous reputations before the crowd. Hesitant to strike first, they relied strictly on velocity, determined to reach the celestial artifact before their competitors.

Yet as the trailing martial artists realized they were falling behind, they channeled their internal cores to maximize their speed. Soon, virtually every independent cultivator, academy delegate, and rogue master launched forward in a frantic, uncoordinated rush toward the single point of radiant light.

Illusions of absolute authority, unyielding strength, and global renown clouded their judgment. The desire to claim the Moon Flower consumed their minds, uniting them under a single, selfish directive. Though they had initially refrained from open bloodshed, the delicate balance quickly collapsed.

As they drew closer to the incandescent glow radiating from the Moon Flower, the artifact's ambient illusion intensified, tightening its grip on their souls. The intoxicating promise of absolute power blinded them to reason.

Then...

BLAAAAAM! BOOOOOOM!

A cultivator unleashed an aggressive aura blast, knocking aside the warrior flying ahead of him. The victim plummeted toward the earth, sparking an immediate retaliation. The subtle boundary gave way to open violence as defensive barriers flared and offensive techniques collided, igniting a chaotic melee mid-air.

In an instant, former allies turned on one another. Though these academies frequently engaged in formal sparring tournaments hosted by the martial alliance to display their talents, the current clash bore no resemblance to sport. Divine power hovered just out of reach, and the artifact would belong to whoever seized it first.

What began as localized strikes to clear a path soon escalated into an all-out battle. Those struck by stray blasts refused to yield, stabilizing their footing mid-air before charging back into the fray toward the Moon Flower.

The skirmish turned deadly as cultivators deployed high-yield martial techniques to ground their competitors. Driven by unbridled greed, the crowd engaged in a multi-directional clash where restraint vanished entirely.

Fierce duels erupted across every quadrant of the coastal plain. Factions aligned strictly with their own sect members, treating every external cultivator as an enemy. Blade collided with steel, and high-density aura blasts detonated continuously across the sky.

Watching the chaos unfold, the military defense force—sworn to safeguard the martial realm—felt a deep sense of shame. Commander Yarko immediately issued a strict order to all military units, commanding them to resist the allure of the Moon Flower and focus entirely on subduing the riot.

Mobilizing swiftly, regular military combatants swept into the chaotic fray from multiple vectors, attempting to separate the clashing cultivators. They announced that the Moon Flower would be secured directly by the central high council of the martial alliance, to be safeguarded for the collective peace and stability of all five continents.

Dispatching units across the field, the defense forces attempted to disarm the brawling factions, stepping in to treat the wounded and move incapacitated cultivators to safety away from the crossfire.

Yet their efforts met with fierce resistance. The maddened cultivators, completely under the sway of the artifact's illusion, ignored the military's calls for restraint.

Deluded by the Moon Flower's corruption, the independent sects viewed the military's intervention with intense suspicion, convinced that defense command was attempting to quell the crowd simply to hoard the celestial artifact for themselves.

Paranoid and untrusting of any authority outside their own academies, they believed every faction was conspiring to claim the artifact.

To the corrupted minds of the cultivators, the military defense force was no different. Had central command not hoarded the Heart Dragon artifact in isolation for decades under the guise of public safety? They resolved not to let history repeat itself.

With the celestial prize within their reach, they assumed the military task force was equally susceptible to the temptation of divine power, seeking to solidify their political dominance over the five continents.

Turning their weapons upon the military task forces, the cultivators openly defied the statutory laws established by the continental advisors and alliance leadership, completely blinded by the pursuit of strength.

The regular defense units suddenly found themselves targeted by the very people they had sworn to protect. Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Commander Yarko recognized that he had to intervene personally; as the supreme commander of military defense, his authority was respected throughout the realm.

Stepping onto the field alongside Master Gonan, Commander Yarko raised his spellsword high into the air, discharging a pillar of radiant aura that pierced the clouds. The intense energy pulse momentarily disrupted the crowd's focus, drawing all eyes toward the military commander.

"Cease this senseless violence!" Yarko's voice boomed across the plain, amplified by his internal core. "Regain your senses! The righteous sects must stand united—the dark army's invasion is upon us!"

Yarko's voice echoed clearly in the ears of every cultivator present. For decades, Commander Yarko had executed his duties with absolute fairness, leading a defense force that handled disputes across all five continents.

Whenever minor academies suffered injustice or coercion at the hands of larger, corrupt sects, Yarko's task forces had intervened to deliver impartial justice.

From suppressing rogue cartels and bandit guilds to resolving regional crises beyond the scope of local academies, military command had earned a spotless reputation. Yarko hoped his standing and proven integrity would prevail, bringing an immediate end to the madness.

Under normal circumstances, the martial artists would have heeded Yarko's words, remembering the countless times defense command had come to their aid.

Yet the artifact's subtle corruption proved too strong, closing their hearts to reason. Overwhelmed by greed and the desire for prestige, they refused to stand down.

Turning back toward the bluff, the crowd resumed their desperate charge toward the Moon Flower, driven to claim the artifact at all costs.

SWOOOSH!

Enraged by their blind defiance, Commander Yarko swept his spellsword through the air, unleashing a high-density arc of sword energy that carved a glowing line across the terrain, blocking their path to the Moon Flower.