"Three."
Jian Dan hovered midair, expression calm as ever, and with a flick of her wrist, the flying vessel vanished. Beside her, Qian Wanguan startled, his gaze falling to the three massive black-armored insects below, their membranous wings trembling as they prepared to leave Heifeng Ravine.
"Liu Chuan, are there more? When I killed that broodmother, she never called for backup, not even at the very end. That's not normal."
"You got it right. There's one more, a big one. Might need you to deal with it personally."
"Is it awake?"
"Not yet. I'd say these three were just here to buy it time."
"Alright, understood. Don't startle it. Let the disciples warm up with the smaller ones first."
"Copy that."
Deep underground, Liu Chuan extended his reach, isolating the massive insect from the rest.
"Disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect, hear my command. Today is your day to temper your blades. These three are giant black-armored insects. Leave none of them alive in Heifeng Ravine!"
"Yes, Zhūnzhǔ!"
A hundred sword cultivators from the Heavenly Sword Sect moved into formation, splitting into three groups to surround the black-armored insects. The remaining team swept through Heifeng Ravine, eliminating any cultivators already parasitized.
Swords, each a cultivator's lifebound weapon, rose into the air as the disciples began sharpening their skills against the armored beasts.
Divine Transformation stage cultivators focused on tearing the insects' wings, grounding them. Divine Soul cultivators kept a sharp eye on the abdomen, ready to intercept any brewing attacks. Nascent Soul cultivators leapt onto the insects' backs to damage their protective shells. Golden Core cultivators targeted the six legs, hacking at their mobility.
In moments, the black-armored insects were engulfed in a net of swordlight.
"Fellow cultivators of the Heavenly Sword Sect, should this situation be reported?" Qian Wanguan asked, eyeing the intense battle below. There was no room for him to interfere, so he turned to Jian Dan instead.
"Heavenly Sword Sect, Tianyue Peak, Jian Lu."
Jian Dan calmly stated her identity, then turned to Qian Wanguan with a serene gaze.
"Qian Daoyou, you wish to report this to the Loose Cultivator Alliance? And report what, exactly?"
Her tone was light, almost casual, but Qian Wanguan's mind turned several somersaults.
"Jian Lu Daoyou, you misunderstand. I'm not trying to steal credit from the Heavenly Sword Sect. I just think it's important to inform others and raise awareness."
"Fair enough. Do as you see fit."
Down below, one black-armored insect was preparing to unleash an attack from its abdomen when Wu Siyuan slashed it open with a single strike. The insect exploded in a blast that spread across half of Heifeng Ravine, catching two nearby groups in the shockwave.
The Heavenly Sword Sect cultivators responded swiftly. Divine Transformation cultivators pulled the Golden Core ones to safety, Nascent Soul cultivators covered the retreat, and Divine Soul cultivators restrained the remaining two giant insects, keeping them locked in place.
"Your sect truly lives up to its reputation as the leader of the Dao path. Such strength. I don't see any suspense left in this battle," Qian Wanguan said, quick to offer praise.
He had seen enough to guess the situation: Jian Dan had likely taken a shortcut, stumbled across these black-armored insects, and seized the opportunity to both eliminate them and hone her disciples' combat experience.
"You flatter me, Qian Daoyou. Resisting the insect threat is the duty of every cultivator in Lingyun Continent."
With that airy reply, Jian Dan effortlessly brushed off the lofty compliment, making her stance clear. Eliminating the insect horde was not the sole responsibility of the Heavenly Sword Sect, and others should stop relying on them to always take the lead.
Qian Wanguan understood the subtext immediately. He chuckled awkwardly and nodded.
The force of the earlier explosion had dissipated, leaving the remaining two insects grounded, heads pointed toward one another.
As the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples began to reposition, both insects had already finished brewing their attacks, shifting their bodies to face the cultivators.
"Formation!" Wu Siyuan's command rang out.
The hundred cultivators quickly formed a massive web-like array in midair, centered around the Divine Soul cultivators, with Divine Transformation in the second circle, Nascent Soul in the third, and Golden Core on the outermost ring.
The first wave of the insects' attack was met head-on. The blast hurtled toward Wu Siyuan, who absorbed the brunt of it and channeled it through the formation, distributing the force among the other ninety-nine disciples.
The strength of the impact each disciple received was proportionate to their cultivation level. The outermost ring absorbed the least.
Once the blow was fully absorbed, they each shed a portion of the energy and funneled the rest back along the original path into Wu Siyuan's sword. He struck decisively.
A massive sword shadow surged forth, slicing one black-armored insect clean in half. The shockwave from the strike clipped the second insect, severing a third of its body.
"Scatter!"
Wu Siyuan's order came swiftly. Divine Soul, Divine Transformation, and Nascent Soul cultivators pulled back while the Golden Core cultivators rushed in, swords raised, to finish the wounded creature.
Jian Dan nodded in approval. Their battlefield instincts were solid.
The remains of the insect were quickly ground down by forty Golden Core cultivators.
"Clear the battlefield."
At Jian Dan's order, the hundred disciples moved swiftly. Any useful parts from the black-armored insects were harvested, and the rest was incinerated.
Jian Dan summoned the flying vessel again and called down, "Board!"
Flashes of swordlight zipped through the sky as every disciple reboarded the vessel in moments.
Still standing in the air, Jian Dan sent a voice transmission to Liu Chuan.
"Wake it up."
As the message was delivered, the most wind-concentrated area of Heifeng Ravine erupted. Countless willow branches burst from the ground, flipping over an entire section of earth to reveal the black carapace below.
Jian Dan tossed a Verdant Flame fireball down. The flame spread rapidly over the shell.
A sharp, shrill screech pierced the air.
A black-armored insect twice the size of the others surged out from underground.
Jian Dan raised her lifebound sword, Mò Xī Jiàn. The Nine Forms of the Heavenly Sword began to unfold. Each strike flowed seamlessly into the next, nine sword moves merging into one.
The final slash carved from the creature's head to its tail. It never had a chance to spread its wings. Split in two by Mò Xī Jiàn, it crashed heavily to the ground.
Heifeng Ravine's chaotic wind swept across its corpse, sending up sparks and carrying away its white flesh.
"All hail the Zhūnzhǔ!"
The disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect looked up at Jian Dan with awe in their eyes.
The Nine Forms of the Heavenly Sword, executed to perfection by Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ, was a breathtaking sight.
"Wu Siyuan, once the wind settles, retrieve the remains. We'll cross Heifeng Ravine from here."
"Yes, Zhūnzhǔ."
Jian Dan turned to Qian Wanguan, who had remained silent throughout the fight. Smiling, she extended an invitation.
"Qian Daoyou, looks like you're also heading through Heifeng Ravine. We can travel together if you like."
Snapping out of his daze, Qian Wanguan quickly smiled in return.
"Appreciate the offer, Zhūnzhǔ. But the group I'm leading is full of schemers. I'll go back and arrange things before rejoining you. I'll take my leave for now!"
"Very well. See you at Cloud Sea Sect, then."
Jian Dan maintained her pleasant smile as she watched Qian Wanguan retreat with impressive speed. Still, her thoughts turned.
Qian Wanguan was no small figure in the Loose Cultivator Alliance. He loved spirit stones and rare materials more than anything. Once he set his sights on something, he'd go to any length to get it.
But he was smart enough to know whom he could or couldn't cross. Against those with overwhelming strength, he never dared play games.
In her previous life, Qian Wanguan had once stolen a fortuitous opportunity from Du Yanran and escaped unscathed. Even Jian Dan had to admit she admired his cunning.
That's why she struck personally—not just because only she could deal with the massive insect, but also to establish authority in front of her disciples and prevent future trouble.
And to send a message to the Loose Cultivator Alliance, especially to Qian Wanguan: don't mess with the Heavenly Sword Sect.
"Zhūnzhǔ, the Black Wind has subsided!"