"It has been a long time. How have you been lately?" Jian Dan walked leisurely toward the main seat and sat down, her smile warm as she addressed the Captain of the Heavenly Sword Squad.
"Thanks to Hall Master's blessing, the Heavenly Sword Squad has been doing well. But it has been too long since we last acted, and I fear our swords are starting to rust."
Every member of the Heavenly Sword Squad had passed Jian Dan's "One Stage, One Realm" test, and their cultivation levels had all improved slightly.
The Captain himself had reached the late stage of Void Refinement, and the eight other members were all at or above the Divine Soul stage. Having tasted the benefits of Jian Dan's training before, the Captain was naturally eager to enter the trial realm of Hall Master Jian Lu again.
"Few missions only mean that our sect is stable and at peace," Jian Dan said softly.
"Yes, Hall Master is absolutely right. May I ask, since Hall Master came to the War Hall today without notifying the other brothers, what instructions do you have for us?"
"I have already arranged with Meng Congjian for use of the largest arena on Law Enforcement Peak. Gather all nine squad captains today. We will have a warm-up match on the arena. What do you say?"
Jian Dan's tone was calm, but her words lit a fire in the Captain's eyes.
"Yes, Hall Master. I will summon them immediately!" His face broke into a wide grin, nearly splitting to his ears. With a wave of his hands, he sent out eight flying sword messages, then turned and gestured respectfully for Jian Dan to lead the way.
Jian Dan rose from her seat with a faint smile, following the Captain toward the grand arena at Law Enforcement Peak.
"You're all so impatient. Are your hands truly itching for a fight?" she teased.
"Haha! To tell the truth, Hall Master, both the Heavenly Sword and Tianyue Squads have entered the trial realm and advanced their cultivation. The other squads are green with envy, so they've all been waiting eagerly for your summons!"
The Captain was easygoing and sociable, giving a full report of the recent developments as they walked. Jian Dan listened attentively, nodding from time to time, occasionally asking a question or two. She quickly gathered a clear picture of the War Hall's status, which matched closely with what she had learned from jade slips: no major discrepancies existed in its rules or conduct.
The nine squads of the War Hall corresponded to the nine inner peaks, each made up of high-level combatants carefully selected through rigorous screening. Though service in the War Hall came with many missions, it was dangerous work. Even so, for sword cultivators, it was one of the best paths for growth.
Members could complete sect tasks, sharpen their combat power, and earn sect contribution points all at once. For any sword cultivator at Divine Transformation or above, joining the War Hall of the Law Enforcement Hall was a prestigious and worthwhile goal.
Jian Dan knew well that her own position as Hall Master had been earned through countless battles. Without power exceeding her subordinates, she would never be able to command this hall of battle fanatics.
By the time they reached the largest arena, the eight other captains had already gathered. They stood together chatting cheerfully but turned as soon as Jian Dan and the Captain arrived, approaching with bright smiles.
"Greetings, Hall Master!"
"It has been too long since we last met," Jian Dan greeted them lightly. "I summoned you on short notice. I hope I did not disturb you."
"Disturb us? Hardly! When the Hall Master invites us, we rush to come. If we're late, someone else might snatch the benefits," said the Captain of the Tianyue Squad with a laugh.
"I see. So your hands really are itching for a fight."
Jian Dan's eyes curved into a faint smile as she turned to the guards stationed at the arena.
"I've already reserved this arena with Hall Master Meng. Open it. We'll be using it now."
The guards had guessed the arena would be needed when they saw the squad captains gathering. Sure enough, the order came.
Jian Dan flashed her Hall Master's token, and the guard immediately activated the formation. With a respectful bow, he asked, "Hall Master, what level of defensive barrier should I raise?"
Jian Dan swept her gaze over the eager faces of the captains and signaled for a high-level barrier. She ascended the arena steps first, stepping onto the vast platform.
Once she was in place, she gestured to the nine captains. "Come on up."
The nine men exchanged glances, excitement flashing in their eyes. With a light push off the ground, they landed on the arena in unison.
The guard sighed, shaking his head as he lowered the high-tier barrier. Then he pulled out a jade slip to inform the Operations Hall of the situation.
"You are all Void Refinement experts, each with considerable strength. Today, give it your all and face me together. Let's see if any of you can force me to draw my life-bound sword."
As her words fell, Jian Dan brought her fists together, activating her long-unused Obsidian Bracelet. She struck out with a powerful punch, sending a shadowy fist projection hurtling toward the nine men.
The nine captains were all battle-hardened. At the moment Jian Dan moved, they each drew their life-bound swords and counterattacked. Sword light and fist shadows collided with explosive force, and the resulting shockwaves rippled outward, slamming into the protective barrier, which absorbed the brunt of the first attack.
The arena guard could only stare, mouth agape. This was the War Hall's reputation in action: they wasted not even a single breath before exchanging blows.
Then he glanced at the rapidly draining spirit stones powering the barrier and winced in pain.
When the nine finally shattered Jian Dan's first punch, she smiled faintly.
"That was just a warm-up. Now, be careful."
Her second strike came from both fists, filling the arena with violet fist shadows. The nine men's expressions hardened as they poured all their strength into breaking through.
Sword light and fist shadows clashed and intertwined. Some blades were shattered by the sheer force of Jian Dan's attacks, while others held their ground in tense stalemates. In some spots, several sword beams converged on a single fist projection, grinding it down until it dissipated.
Inside the arena, the battle was fierce, and outside, more cultivators began to gather, drawn by the spectacle. High-ranking figures such as Tian Yun Zhēnzūn, Tian Hong Zhēnzūn, and Tian Shou Zhēnzūn watched through water mirrors, eager to see the outcome of this one-versus-nine match.
Meng Congjian arrived shortly after, his gaze darting first to the spirit stones that powered the barrier. He sighed deeply, resigned to the loss. The consumption was too heavy to bear watching. He turned his attention back to the battle instead.
After that exchange, the nine squad captains had learned their lesson. Realizing they had no chance fighting separately, they quickly formed a Nine Palaces Assault Formation.
Jian Dan's eyes lit with satisfaction.
They understood that none of them could withstand her power alone. Working together was their only chance.
Massive sword shadows of every element condensed within the barrier: crimson fire swords, earthy brown blades of stone, verdant green wooden sword shadows, rippling blue water domains, and gleaming golden swords sharp enough to rend the heavens.
"Excellent!"
Jian Dan was genuinely impressed. This was the War Hall's famed combined assault technique, a battle array specifically designed for squads to fight opponents far stronger than themselves.
Today, Jian Dan finally got to experience its might firsthand. The combined attack was equivalent to the strength of a late-stage Unity expert. If all nine captains had been at late Void Refinement, the array's power could have even reached early Mahayana.
This was why sword cultivators were so feared for challenging higher realms. As the combined sword formation erupted, the barrier flickered under the strain. Meng Congjian wasted no time, waving his hand to raise it to the highest level.
A deafening boom echoed as the arena trembled under the clash of powers.