The "Thunderous Downpour" of Heavenly Punishment continued for nearly half an hour, engulfing Hai Yan entirely within a sea of violet lightning.
At the instant the thunder descended, Tian Zhuo Zhēnzūn withdrew his spatial barrier, leaving Hai Yan fully exposed beneath the judgment of the heavens.
Yun Yun Zhēnzūn lifted her hand, pressing downward. The seawater that had been surging upward into the sky redirected itself, flowing around the lightning's range. It cascaded back into the trench, filling the rift, and in moments rejoined the boundless ocean.
As the waters fell, Yun Yun's "Frozen Flame" descended precisely onto the dilapidated "mother sac" lodged in the trench. Without its master's support, the "mother sac" turned to ash within three breaths.
It was proof that the old foxes were always the most ruthless, leaving no chance for future trouble.
After unleashing her strongest strike, Jian Dan's spiritual power was utterly depleted. Fortunately, Cotton Candy caught her in time, carrying her in a flash of movement back to Tian Zhuo Zhēnzūn's side. Jian Xu instantly stood behind her, guarding her like a wall.
"Well done."
Tian Zhuo Zhēnzūn praised.
"Many thanks for Zhēnzūn's praise."
Jian Dan quickly turned and thanked Senior Brother Jian Xu for his protection as well.
She did not dare lower her guard. From her storage bangle, she drew out a vial of Spirit Spring Water and gulped half of it down. The gentle power coursed through her organs and meridians, quickly easing the dryness of her channels.
The lightning had not yet ended. Yue Liang poked her little head out from behind Jian Dan's neck.
"Zūnshàng, I want to destroy the scattered soul threads!"
"Go, but be careful."
Jian Dan never once stopped Yue Liang from avenging her raccoon-beast clan. Yue Liang gave a formal bow to Tian Zhuo Zhēnzūn, then leapt forward, enlarging into her beast form. With a sharp cry, she transformed into a two-meter-tall raccoon beast and began darting through the thunder sea. Her small claws snatched at the black soul threads one after another, tearing them apart.
By now the barrier had been removed. On the ocean's surface, cultivators had gathered so densely they nearly covered half the sea. The sea beasts, however, fled far into the distance, fearful that their flesh and inner cores might become fodder for so many powerful humans.
All eyes turned toward Yue Liang, watching her movements. From her actions, it became clear: this spirit beast was hunting down the soul threads of the evil cultivator, torn loose by the thunder.
Yun Yun's eyes flashed with meaning as he gazed at Yue Liang. This was the very spirit beast that Yu Yaoyao, blinded by jealousy, had once sought to throw into the "Yunhai." That scheme had backfired, costing her everything.
Seeing Yue Liang brave the lightning as she methodically destroyed the soul threads, Yun Yun knew that Yu Yaoyao's so-called trap was nothing but a joke. To Jian Dan and her beast, it was not even worth retaliation, yet Yu Yaoyao had thrown away her own future.
Jian Dan knew Yue Liang was now making her formal debut in the cultivation world. His uniqueness would draw attention, so she kept her divine sense fixed upon him at all times. Meanwhile, she clasped supreme-grade spirit stones in both hands, rapidly replenishing her spiritual power as the Yin-Yang Taiji Disk within her body spun at full speed.
When the "Thunderous Downpour" finally ended, the dark clouds scattered, leaving the sky clear and azure. Nothing remained where Hai Yan had stood.
In a flicker, Yue Liang returned to Jian Dan's side, shrinking back to his small form and curling once more at her neck.
Then the heavens split with multicolored clouds. Beams of golden light descended, bathing all who had fought in the battle. Their faces took on a sacred solemnity.
"Amitabha. This is the Golden Light of Merit bestowed by the Heavenly Dao. Everyone, absorb it quickly."
Jue Song intoned a Buddha's name to remind them.
Jian Dan was the first to react. With prior experience, she lifted Yue Liang and rose into the air, allowing the golden light to wash into both her body and his. Even the Mò Xī Jiàn basked in its glow.
In but a moment, the light faded, leaving the combatants greatly restored.
Empowered by the merit's blessing, Jian Dan's state was once again at its peak. Yue Liang stretched in comfort, rubbing his fluffy face against Jian Dan before raising one tiny paw to point toward the sea.
Mò Xī Jiàn flew from her hand, piercing the waters where Yue Liang had indicated. None of the onlookers departed. Seeing the Heavenly Sword Sect's Jian Lu make a move, they all watched intently.
A heartbeat later, Mò Xī Jiàn surged up from the depths, lifting an immense wave. Along with it emerged the blood-colored blade—and a crystalline coffin.
The blade hovered like a guardian, standing above the coffin, barring Mò Xī Jiàn from approaching.
At a gesture, Mò Xī Jiàn returned to Jian Dan's grasp, then sank into her dantian. It floated upon the Yin-Yang Taiji Disk, nestled on the Yin side opposite the Mó Yuè Zhǎn. The two blades exchanged greetings through sword-spirits while Mò Xī Jiàn began refining the absorbed merit light.
Studying the blade and the crystalline coffin, Jian Dan smiled faintly as Mò Xī Jiàn's spirit whispered to her.
"The evil weapon guards not for itself, but for its next master—or perhaps its original one."
Behind Yun Yun Zhēnzūn stood Zūnshàng Yu Tu and Han Pengfei. They had approached only after Tian Zhuo Zhēnzūn withdrew his barrier. All three frowned at Jian Dan's words.
Yu Tu unleashed a streak of sword light, striking the coffin. Instantly, the blood-colored blade intercepted, blades clashing with a burst of sparks. The aftershock churned the ocean, until Yun Yun lifted a hand to still the waves.
Yu Tu frowned deeply. At the point of impact, a crack had formed along his sword's edge. And this was when the blade had not even been fully wielded by its master. His own attack had been a probe, not full force. If it had been, the consequences would be dire.
Only then did the outer spectators realize why the Heavenly Sword Sect's Jian Lu had fought so desperately to intercept all of the blade's strikes.
Only divine weapons could resist one another. Ordinary blades would be destroyed outright.
"Jian Lu Xiaoyou, can you hold this evil weapon at bay?"
Yun Yun asked aloud. This evil cultivator had come from his Cloud Sea Sect, a fact known by all the Mahayana Zhēnzūn present. The outer onlookers, however, were unaware. Thus, matters of eradication naturally fell upon the Cloud Sea Sect.
"I can."
The moment Jian Dan's voice fell, the blade's spirit seemed to sense the cultivators' unity. It immediately wrapped around the crystalline coffin and attempted to flee.
None moved to stop it. After all, they had already witnessed the blade's might.
But Jian Dan remained calm. Han Pengfei, anxious, blurted out: "Zūnshàng—"
In that instant, another spirit sword surged from the sea, striking the blood-colored blade and forcing it back.
Jian Dan stepped forward, raising her hand. Mò Xī Jiàn returned to her palm, and in her other hand appeared the twin blade she had previously sent forth—Mò Xī Jiàn's second incarnation.
With casual grace, she twirled both swords into a flower, smiling at the weapon before her.
"I know well. No one in this world can destroy you. But bound by the Heavenly Dao of this realm, you cannot escape by clinging to a mortal cultivator. It is impossible."
The blood-colored blade quivered, red light rippling along its body as though it were gathering strength.
"Do not waste the effort. Without a master to sustain you, how long can you last? Do you truly believe you can escape from the eyes of every Zhēnzūn of Lingyun Continent?"
As Jian Dan barred its way, the surrounding cultivators tightened their encirclement, subtly locking the blade in place.
Its tremors grew stronger, but suddenly ceased. From its hilt, the spirit of the blade began to emerge.