"Slut! You again! How dare you ruin my plans!"
A surge of black mist shot toward Jian Dan, aiming to knock her down from the sky.
Yun Yun Zhēnzūn instantly understood the enemy's goal. She immediately stopped activating the sect's grand formation and cast her divine sense across the entire barrier.
Cold light flashed in Yun Yun's eyes as she swiftly formed a hand seal. "Break."
Her voice landed like a blade. All the faulty formation disks that had been planted earlier shattered one after another. The sect's barrier flickered briefly before completely collapsing.
"Hmph! And who exactly are you calling a slut?"
Jian Dan replied, her tone sharp, though her body remained taut with focus. The Mò Xī Jiàn had long since gathered momentum. From the pendant hanging at her chest, a swarm of Xiao Yin burst forth like a tidal wave, swiftly spreading across her robes like living armor.
Last time she faced a Unity cultivator, Jian Dan hadn't used the Xiao Yin, fearing they might be damaged. She had relied solely on her Mirror of Heartguard and gone in headfirst.
But today, summoned by the Zūnzhǔ herself, the Xiao Yin were clearly eager for battle. They swarmed into position with precision, ready to strike.
"Flames of Heaven!"
Jian Dan slashed out with a flame-infused sword strike, channeling her unique fire. It collided head-on with the opponent's black energy orb.
The moment she landed the first strike, Jian Dan twisted her body, revealing the sword realm behind her. Jian Xu, already poised for battle, didn't miss a beat.
"Light Slash!"
A sword of radiant light surged forward, its holy glow fusing with Jian Dan's flame blade. The combined force not only shattered the black orb, but also purified the lingering resentment it contained.
Meanwhile, the two Zūnzhǔ of the Heavenly Sword Sect had already engaged the enemies behind the scenes. Only then did the other eight sects finally break through the "Azure Blood Dragon Array," sending their disciples aboard flying vessels.
High above Cloud Sea Sect, Yun Yun Zhēnzūn revealed herself. With a flick of her finger, she shattered a hidden spot in the sky, forcing out a tall man in black robes. His face was obscured behind a veil, only a pair of blood-red eyes exposed.
The moment their eyes met, both attacked.
The man's black mist orb collided with Yun Yun's water sphere midair.
The aftermath was devastating for those below. Two Zhēnzūn clashing in open combat sent waves of destruction rippling through the battlefield. Sect disciples scrambled to avoid the fallout.
From the sea below, waves of ferocious sea beasts emerged. All of them were at least fourth rank. They surged toward the floating peaks, tearing apart weaker disciples. Some of Cloud Sea Sect's cultivators were devoured alive on the spot.
A new group of black-clad evil cultivators leapt from the ocean depths. They targeted the outer peaks, killing anyone they encountered. Chaos descended upon Cloud Sea Sect.
The leaders of the remaining sects quickly realized this was a premeditated attack. They couldn't stand by. After securing their own disciples, they moved to regroup near Jian Dan's position.
As the leading Dao sect, Heavenly Sword Sect naturally became the battlefield's temporary command hub. Not only did it have two Zūnzhǔ present, but both were formidable.
Jian Dan swept the field with her divine sense. She noticed that the nine inner peaks of Cloud Sea Sect were already shielded by a separate defensive dome. From within, disciplined teams of elite disciples were emerging to battle the intruders.
High above, Yun Yun's "Tidal Blue Sea" technique dragged the enemy upward, taking the clash even higher into the sky. She was clearly trying to protect the sect from collateral damage.
"Hehehe! Yun Yun, do you really think you alone can save Cloud Sea Sect?"
"Hmph. You'll die here, pest. No need to trouble anyone else."
The two figures moved faster and faster, blurring into streaks of light. Their battle shifted away from the main grounds, relieving much of the pressure on the disciples below.
Jian Dan took in the situation, then calmly spoke:
"Fellow cultivators. This is a coordinated attack by evil cultivators. They seem well-acquainted with Cloud Sea Sect. But we've only stayed on the outer peaks and don't understand the terrain inside. It would be reckless to charge in blindly.
"I suggest we, the nine major sects, focus on eliminating the sea beasts threatening the floating peaks. Let Cloud Sea Sect handle the evil cultivators themselves."
"Jian Lu Daoyou, is that truly appropriate?" the Zūnzhǔ from Alchemy Sect asked.
"It's more than appropriate. It's wise." Qian Wanguan interrupted before Jian Dan could answer.
"We don't know if there are other traps deeper inside. Cloud Sea Sect clearly has additional defenses in place. Didn't you see the inner peaks already sealed off? If we rush in now, even with good intentions, it'll look like we're looting in the chaos. What then?
We're better off staying outside. Focus on the sea beasts. That way, we can assist each other and provide backup at any time. Second, we'll be taking part in the defense, relieving pressure on Yunhai Sect. Third, when we slay high-tier sea beasts, their cores and parts are ours. Justified war spoils."
Jian Dan smiled and gave him a thumbs up.
"Qian Zūnzhǔ makes excellent sense. Anyone else have objections?"
No one spoke. The sects quickly divided the outer peaks. Each sect took nine. The stronger groups paired with the weaker ones, maximizing their combat efficiency.
Once agreed, the eight sects and the Loose Cultivator Alliance moved swiftly.
Jian Dan and Jian Xu took positions—one at the prow, one at the stern of their flying vessel. Jian Dan addressed the disciples, her tone calm but commanding.
"You've trained for years. Now the real test begins. Hunt the sea beasts. Hone your sword techniques and sharpen your minds. Any questions?"
"None!"
"Then move out!"
On her command, the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples moved in ten formations, just like in their prior drills at Heifeng Pass. Each team was led by a Divine Soul stage captain. One mobile squad, led by Jian Gui and Jian Hong, remained behind to support wherever needed.
Jian Xu rubbed his chin and looked at her.
"That was quick. You drilled them before?"
Jian Dan nodded with a smile. She had to admit—even she was impressed with her foresight.
"Before we came, I made a stop at Heifeng Ravine."
"Oh?" Jian Xu grinned. "Saving spirit stones, were you?"
Jian Dan gave him a side-eye.
"Senior Brother, don't call it out like that. I took a shortcut, sure. But I stumbled onto an insect nest and ended up dragging these little treasures into a fight."
"Heh. So that's how it is. I wouldn't call that bad luck though. It's their fortune. They've had a real drill already. Compared to those black-armored bugs, these sea beasts will be easy."
Their eyes were still scanning the field. Divine sense stretched wide, ready for any change in the situation.
Overhead, black mist spheres rained down occasionally. The slower ones smashed directly into smaller floating peaks, shattering them before anyone could react.
The ones that survived descent were swiftly intercepted by Yunhai's high-level cultivators. Jian Dan and Jian Xu watched over the nine peaks under their protection, alternating to block attacks, ensuring one of them always remained on the vessel.
The Zūnzhǔ from Alchemy Sect, whose strength didn't compare to the Heavenly Sword Sect's duo, simply summoned her Crimson Flame Cauldron to hover overhead. Every incoming attack was caught inside, purified by the cauldron's flame, and then launched back at other enemies.
The entire battlefield lit up with flashes of power. Fighting raged for half a day before things began to stabilize.
Cloud Sea Sect's cultivators had slaughtered most of the evil intruders that reached the floating peaks. With the help of the major sects, the sea beasts were pushed back into the ocean.
"The sect barrier has been repaired and reactivated. All cultivators, return to the floating peaks."
It was Han Pengfei's voice. Most likely, Yun Yun Zhēnzūn had tasked him with this.
Above Cloud Sea Sect, a sea-blue dome of protection slowly sealed shut once more.
"That should be the end of it... right?"
Someone from one of the sects murmured.
But before the words even faded, a black blade shadow slammed into the barrier overhead.