When Hai Yan revealed his demonic blade, the one who reacted most violently was none other than Jian Dan's life-bound sword, Mò Xī Jiàn.
"I never expected this fellow to have fallen into this world as well! Master, that blade is also an ancient weapon, equal in rank to me. Ordinary swords cannot clash against it. If you do not want the life-bound treasures of two Zhēnzūn to be damaged, you had better take the field yourself!"
Hearing Mò Xī Jiàn's voice inside her mind, Jian Dan felt black lines forming on her forehead. This sword spirit was always quiet, and the one time he chose to speak, it was to dig her a pit.
Even so, Jian Dan would never let the life-bound treasures of the Heavenly Sword Sect's Zhēnzūn be damaged. She immediately spoke up while also transmitting to Mò Xī Jiàn:
"Are you certain you can hold it off? I don't want to step up, only to end up being slapped in the face instead."
"Relax. At critical moments, I never drop the chain!"
"Hah, I think you've been itching for a fight all along. Using this as an excuse."
In a flash, Jian Dan teleported to stand in front of the two Zhēnzūn. Mò Xī Jiàn let out a resonant sword cry, swinging left and right at once, colliding with the scarlet blade shadow.
The violent impact forced both Jian Dan and Hai Yan back several steps.
The blood-red miaodao across from them gave off a long, echoing hum, meeting Mò Xī Jiàn's song head-on.
For a moment, the clashing resonance between blade and sword silenced the battlefield. Tian Zhuo and Mo Yao flanked Jian Dan, standing ready to coordinate with her.
Hai Yan's mood, however, was foul. His original plan had been simple: rely on this ancient demonic weapon, destroy their life-bound treasures first, then finish the battle.
Things had gone smoothly at first. Yun Yun's life-bound treasure had already been corrupted, unable to function.
He had deliberately withdrawn, even allowing several attacks to strike his body, shrinking his form so the enemy believed they were gaining the upper hand, then revealed his blood-colored miaodao at the last moment.
But once again, this female cultivator ruined his plan. It was her sword shadow that had struck his blood sac, preventing it from regenerating. Worse, she had exposed its location. With so many "coincidences" centering around this one person, there was no way it was coincidence at all.
As the blood energy around him surged, Hai Yan raised his blade at Jian Dan.
"A mere Unity cultivator dares to block me? Do not think that just because you wield an ancient weapon you can resist all my attacks!"
With a single sentence, he exposed Jian Dan's possession of an ancient weapon, trying to sow discord among their alliance.
Jian Dan only sneered. "Hah! What need is there for such petty schemes? My sword was gained openly from the Sword Tomb of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Yours is an ancient demonic blade, and every one of its past wielders met miserable ends, their bodies and souls alike sacrificed to it."
The surrounding experts held their attacks, listening closely as the two laid bare each other's secrets.
Jian Dan was never one to hide. She had cultivated this far; if she still feared wolves before and tigers behind, what was the point of cultivation? Since she dared to stand here, she would not shrink away. She pressed the advantage further:
"Do you see the runes on that blade? Each one is carved with a soul. When it bears all eighty-one runes, that is when the weapon takes form. That is the final purpose of this demonic blade."
She smiled faintly. "Allow me to congratulate you in advance on becoming the eightieth rune."
For a moment, Hai Yan was speechless. Inside the barrier, the expressions of the others shifted. They had all heard of weapons attaining spirit form, but never one this sinister.
Seeing her words take effect, Jian Dan arched a brow and drove the knife in deeper. "Do not deny it. The moment you gripped that blade, you should have known this would be the end."
Hai Yan shook his head. He would not be led around by his enemy's words. His rasping voice dripped with malice. "And your sword, is it not also an ancient weapon? Do you think its purpose differs so greatly from mine?"
Jian Dan tightened her grip on Mò Xī Jiàn, her smile dazzling but her voice firm. "So what if their purposes are the same? My sword spirit is clever. He follows me, an outstanding master. I will take him to ascend through the Immortal Realm, the God Realm, even the Saint Realm. When I become a Saint, why would my life-bound sword not have a body?"
"Now that is something I enjoy hearing. Say more of such things!"
The sword body of Mò Xī Jiàn shimmered with light, his voice ringing in her mind.
"Enough! We cannot afford to lose momentum before a evil cultivator!"
The gathered Mahayana Zhēnzūn could not help but chuckle. Those who had heard of Jian Lu of the Heavenly Sword Sect knew that this one was no braggart.
Reaching a tacit understanding with Mò Xī Jiàn, Jian Dan charged again. The sword's domain clashed directly with the demonic blade. Hai Yan struck back in kind. Once more, blade and sword collided, forcing both apart with explosive power.
"Radiance of Merit!"
Hai Yan spat the words.
Everyone saw it clearly: the sword shadows of Jian Lu carried golden light of merit, which burned against the demonic blade. The outer ward of the blood-red weapon blackened, releasing a foul miasma.
"You!"
Hai Yan's voice was filled with venom. This female cultivator was the very one who had destroyed his external avatar. That familiar light of merit was the last sensation he had felt from it.
Jian Dan curved her lips in a smile. "Yes. It was me."
Using the rebound force, she returned to Tian Zhuo's side and transmitted:
"Zhēnzūn, I will restrain his evil blade. Please attack and suppress his blood energies."
Tian Zhuo Zhēnzūn nodded. He knew how quickly the tide could shift in battle. An opening created by Jian Lu could not be wasted.
In truth, Jian Dan's heart was bleeding. The golden light of merit she had painstakingly accumulated was being poured out without restraint. This evil blade was stronger than she had imagined. To increase her damage, she had infused her sword strikes with merit. It worked, but the cost made her liver ache.
Her feet tapped lightly as she flashed forward into the second round of combat. "Primordial Chaos!"
With a single swing, she cleaved toward the towering blood giant.
Hai Yan was forced into defense. The enemy had uncovered his ancient demonic weapon, and worse, she could restrain it. If he did not block, her strike would shatter his blood shield.
Tian Zhuo Zhēnzūn signaled the others. Immediately, a rain of fierce attacks descended, sealing Hai Yan's every escape route.
The "Heaven's Punishment" squad's formation carried the might of Mahayana strikes, and they joined Tian Zhuo Zhēnzūn in suppressing the evil cultivator. Meanwhile, the black-cloaked "Heaven" squad, led by Mo Yao Zhēnzūn, pressed their assault against his defenses.
Jian Dan's expression was calm as she gripped Mò Xī Jiàn. Her eyes saw only the blood-colored miaodao. Chaotic power surged endlessly through her, pouring into her sword.
She struck again and again: slashing, parrying, blocking, piercing. Blade and sword clashed without end, neither able to claim victory. Yet Hai Yan's protective blood barrier was growing thinner by the moment.
Finally, Jian Dan and Mò Xī Jiàn, perfectly in tune, steadied themselves in midair. Channeling all of her chaotic power, she infused her sword with the light of merit and swung down with all her might.
"Primordial Chaos, Open!"
Sword and master became one. Drawing on the Law of Creation itself, Jian Dan unleashed the force of chaos splitting heaven and earth, cutting straight toward Hai Yan.
Hai Yan's eyes widened in shock. He had only time to raise his miaodao in defense.
Too late.
The evil blade was struck flying, embedding itself deep into the seabed below.
Hai Yan's blood shield split apart, revealing his true form. At that instant, thunder rumbled overhead and violet lightning descended to smite him.