The Jia family cultivator didn't back down. Her twin daggers danced in her hands, cutting through the surging force of Jian Dan's punches. The two clashed again, launching into another intense exchange of blows.
Meanwhile, the middle-aged Nascent Soul cultivator, Jia She, piloted the flying vessel, taking advantage of the red mist unleashed by his family's Zhūnshàng to escape toward Tianxiang City, the nearest human cultivator settlement near Huancheng. Though it was a small city, it housed a teleportation array to Tianji City, a major hub. From there, they could easily board larger airships or take other routes to vanish without a trace.
But after half an hour of flight, the vessel still hadn't escaped the cover of the red mist. Something was clearly wrong. Zhūnshàng's mist was only meant to obscure them briefly, not linger around the entire ship.
Sensing something off, Jia She and another cultivator launched an attack into the sky. But the strike vanished without a sound, and three breaths later, it rebounded along the same path. Jia She reacted instantly, hiding behind his companion. The poor man took the brunt of the hit and collapsed with grievous injuries, while Jia She emerged unharmed.
Jian Dan, as the one who had established the boundary, observed it all with perfect clarity. Sacrificing one of their own without hesitation. No wonder the rest of the crew began to distance themselves from Jia She, wary and guarded. The air aboard the vessel turned heavy and cold, and the ship came to a halt.
Back near the golden carriage, Miao Yunrong and her attendants were now fully alert. The lead guard, a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, had earlier spoken up to smooth things over for his young mistress.
"Miao-shu, do you think the Jūnshàng will return?"
"Hard to say. But when we left with Jian Jūnshàng, I noticed something... They exchanged a look."
"So... should we stay put or..."
"My advice is to wait. Jian Jūnshàng is unpredictable. If we leave on our own and things go wrong, she'll have every reason to turn her back on us."
"But those two are fighting with Divine Transformation powers. If the fight spreads..."
"I doubt it. I sensed that she cast a boundary earlier. That alone shows she's confident, strong, and not inferior to Mo Su Jūnshàng."
"Then..."
Before Miao Yunrong could finish, the carriage suddenly shook. Her guard reacted instantly, leaping outside to confront an approaching Nascent Soul cultivator. Several Golden Core enemies began circling the carriage.
Miao Yunrong wasn't the kind to cower. She summoned her Flame Whip and charged out. Though she was just a Golden Core cultivator, she had reached peak stage. She might not be able to handle a Divine Transformation or Nascent Soul opponent, but she could certainly hold her own against other Golden Core enemies. Her guards followed, weapons drawn, rallying around her.
"Seal your breath, activate your protective shields! Don't inhale the red mist, it's Hehuan Fragrance!" Miao-shu shouted, pulling his opponent farther away to avoid harming their own.
The others quickly activated barriers. Miao Yunrong triggered the defense charm at her waist, then cracked her whip, driving back her attacker. Spells burst and clashed through the misty air as battle erupted around them.
Miao Yunrong fought well. Though she had always been protected, she was no slouch. Her experience was lacking, but her cultivation was solid. At first, her movements were clumsy, but with time, she grew more confident. Eventually, her Flame Whip trapped her opponent in a spiral of fire.
Just as she began to feel pleased with herself, a cold glint flashed from behind—a throwing dart aimed straight at her back.
"Palace Mistress, watch out!"
Her guards tried to break away and rush to her aid, but it was too late.
A metallic clang rang out. The dart was intercepted in mid-air, split cleanly in two by Mó Yuè Zhǎn. The blade arced through the sky, then with a single stroke, shattered the Golden Core of the ambusher. The cultivator withered instantly, turning into a withered husk that fell from the sky.
Miao Yunrong stood frozen atop her sword. Mó Yuè Zhǎn circled her once, then disappeared back into the red mist.
Only now did she exhale in relief. That blade's pressure had frozen her in place. She hadn't dared to even glance at it closely. She patted her cheeks, took a breath, then charged back into the fray.
Now that they knew the blade was protecting them, morale soared. Their enemies, however, hesitated. With Mó Yuè Zhǎn lurking unseen, they became cautious and defensive, the tide of battle beginning to turn.
Elsewhere in the sealed boundary, the two Divine Transformation Jūnshàng had exchanged over a thousand blows. One moment they were in the air, the next, clashing on the ground. Chaotic currents tore through the barrier, mixing demonic energy and spiritual power in a violent storm, with neither gaining the upper hand.
The red mist began to thin as Jian Dan's punches scattered it. Her strikes were growing sharper, more controlled. Each punch helped refine her meridians. She hadn't truly practiced since entering the Bone Tempering stage of theIce-Skin Jade-Bone Demon Body Art, and this was the perfect opportunity.
The Jia family's cultivator was also enraged now. This female demon cultivator was too strong. Her punches were precise and ruthless. She hadn't even drawn her primary magic weapon. If she had, he knew he would lose without a chance.
In desperation, he pulled a black orb from his storage ring, the size of an egg. With a twist of his fingers, he broke the seal and hurled it at Jian Dan.
The moment the orb appeared, Jian Dan's danger sense flared. Her eye mole flashed, and a silver-armored insect hidden within her robes spread over her body. Its plating turned black, forming a hard carapace.
"Reckless fool," Jian Dan spat.
She dodged instantly, hands forming a seal. The barrier began to collapse inward. Mó Yuè Zhǎn shot out from behind her, slashing across the air and forcing the opponent back, then returned to her dantian. Jian Dan stepped back and exited the barrier.
By now, dawn was breaking.
The collapsing boundary expelled Miao Yunrong, the enemy forces, and the flying vessel. Jian Dan hovered above, layering seals over the barrier to contain the blast of the Divine Transformation thunder orb. If it detonated, the damage would spread for hundreds of miles.
A loud explosion rang out. Jian Dan's face went pale, her divine sense shaken. Her sea of consciousness trembled briefly. She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, then raised her hand.
Mó Yuè Zhǎn flew once in a clean arc, shattering the opponent's dantian. The Divine Transformation cultivator's Yuányīng burst free, immediately igniting itself to flee.