The fierce exchange of blows had already alarmed nearby cultivators. Since they were close to the Heavenly Sword Sect's territory, a pair of patrol teams stationed within the sect's domain quickly sensed something was wrong and moved toward the disturbance at once.
Jian Dan was finally fighting without restraint. She unleashed all five of her sword techniques one after another, going head-to-head with two Unity Stage cultivators, managing to fight them to a draw.
The two men were taken aback. This female cultivator was a sword cultivator, no wonder her tone was so audacious.
During the clash, Jian Dan also noticed that while her opponents were both at the mid-Unity Stage, their offensive strength and destructive power were actually weaker than hers despite her being at early Unity Stage. Though her battle strength was formidable, she was facing two enemies at once, which was more taxing than she had anticipated.
The pair soon realized that attacking separately would not work. Within her domain, they held no advantage at all, so they switched to coordinated attacks. Sword light intertwined with mace shadows, spiraling together as they struck at Jian Dan.
"Mò Xī, open the Sword Domain!"
Jian Dan flung out Mò Xī Jiàn No. 2 with a flick of her hand, intercepting their assault. She gripped Mò Xī Jiàn tightly with both hands and slashed, instantly spreading her Sword Domain.
The two Unity Stage cultivators watched in shock as their attack was shattered by her life-bound sword. They immediately formed a second wave of attacks. The combined sword light and mace shadows slammed into Jian Dan's newly expanded domain.
This time, the sword spirit of Mò Xī Jiàn did not falter. It greedily devoured the vast spiritual energy within Jian Dan's body, unleashing overwhelming sword force that shattered the incoming attack and spread her Sword Domain beneath her opponents' feet.
The pair staggered back two steps under the force of her strike, finally realizing that the sword in Jian Dan's hand was extraordinary. They exchanged a glance, their eyes gleaming with desire for Mò Xī Jiàn.
At that moment, Mò Xī Jiàn No. 2 returned to Jian Dan's grasp. She held her swords with both hands, her lips curling into a chilling smile.
"If you want my life-bound sword, you'll have to prove you're worthy."
"Heavenly Sword Nine Strikes!"
Jian Dan brought her blade down. Though it seemed like a single strike, it carried the weight of nine swords layered together, crashing straight at her opponents' vital points.
They tried to retreat but were bound by her Sword Domain. After only a single step, they were pulled back to their original position, forced to endure the full brunt of the Heavenly Sword Nine Strikes.
Sparks flew as sword met sword, sword met mace. The pair's internal energy churned chaotically. Jian Dan seized the opening and unleashed "Ten Thousand Swords as One." In an instant, Mò Xī Jiàn No. 2 split into countless phantom blades, raining attacks upon her foes.
While Jian Dan's battle blazed fiercely, the Heavenly Demon Palace cultivators were in no less peril. The enormous eagle attacking them had already lost a great number of feathers under their combined onslaught, yet it still circled tenaciously, swooping down at them with relentless aggression.
"Senior Sister, this eagle isn't right. It knows it can't beat us, but it keeps attacking."
"I noticed long ago. Haven't you realized? It's been leading us away from the flying vessel."
"Hehe, so everyone's figured it out. Then why play along? Pluck all its feathers and let's see if it can still fly!"
The seventh-rank eagle clearly understood Mo Su's words. It screeched sharply and flapped its massive wings. Feathers shot out, transforming into golden arrows that blanketed the sky, raining down on the four cultivators.
Mo Su met the attack with his frigid dagger, the Cold Moon Blade. "Frozen Needles Barrage!" he roared, sending a volley of icy projectiles into the storm of arrows.
Mo Yi relied on brute strength as always, his massive axe shadows cleaving through the golden rain.
Mo Qi, wielding twin sabers, executed "Twin Moons Dance." Countless arcs of blade light shimmered in the air, striking back at the onslaught.
With the support of his new life-bound sword, Jian Feng's attacks were no weaker than theirs. He repeatedly unleashed "Heavenly Sword Nine Strikes," patching every gap in their defense.
The clash of power was deafening. Golden sword light, icy blue saber shadows, brown axe arcs, and crimson sword force filled the sky, staining the clouds with their radiance.
Far from the battle, their flying vessel was suddenly snatched by an enormous yellow claw descending from the heavens. The Black Robe Guards reacted swiftly, abandoning the vessel and launching an immediate counterattack on the other massive claw that descended.
"Captain, they're luring the Zūnzhǔ away to strike at us!" Mo Jiu shouted.
"Zūnzhǔ can't come to us right now. Attack with everything you've got! Don't let Bi Shu be taken!" Mo Yi barked orders as he slashed with his sword, rallying his men. Waves of demonic qi surged from all directions, bombarding the monstrous claw gripping their vessel.
But their foe wasn't looking for a fight. Having seized the vessel, it swiftly retracted its claws into the clouds. A piercing screech followed, as if signaling to its companions that the mission was accomplished.
The besieged eagle was on the brink of collapse. If not for its aerial advantage, the four cultivators would have already brought it down.
The bird cried out in response, flapped its wings, and shot skyward, slipping out of their encirclement. It regrouped with its ally, let out another sharp cry—apparently signaling the two Unity Stage cultivators that their objective was complete—and both vanished into the sky.
A hint of confusion flickered across Jian Feng's handsome face. He turned to Mo Su.
"We're not chasing them?"
"No need. They didn't take anything."
Mo Su explained, beckoning to the Black Robe Guards. Everyone's gaze shifted to the magnolia-shaped spatial domain blooming in the sky.
"Jian Lu Zhēnzūn's spatial domain is remarkably similar to Mo Yue's spatial barrier."
Mo Qi's voice was soft but thoughtful as she studied the massive domain. She had been in seclusion during the earlier incident involving Jian Lu Zhēnzūn, so all she knew was what Mo Yi had recounted. This was her first time seeing Jian Lu Zhēnzūn in action.
Just then, the group spotted a squad of nine cultivators led by a Void Refinement expert rushing toward them.
The newcomers were on high alert. Upon spotting the Black Robe Guards, they quickly formed an attack formation while approaching, ready to strike at the first sign of danger.
A sweep of Jian Feng's spiritual sense confirmed that they were from the Heavenly Sword Sect. He flickered forward to greet them.
Mo Su stayed put, gesturing to Mo Yi. "Mo Yi, did you notice their formation?"
"I did. Once they close in, their battle array merges offense and defense. Their response time is impressive." Mo Yi, now late Divine Soul Stage and a veteran of the Nether Valley battle, had honed a razor-sharp battle instinct.
"Learn from them!"
Zhan Tao led the squad. He had been patrolling the mountains outside Yaoguang City when he detected unusual spiritual fluctuations and correctly deduced that a battle was taking place.
Not long after, the appearance of a magnolia-shaped domain confirmed his suspicions—it was the mark of Jian Lu Zhēnzūn. Zhan Tao immediately rallied his team and rushed over.
"Greetings, Zūnzhǔ. I am a disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall. Jian Lu Zhēnzūn is currently engaging Unity Stage assailants from the Heavenly Demon Palace."
Jian Feng hovered in midair, cupped his fists, and concisely explained the situation to the squad. He also presented his Law Enforcement Hall badge.
Once Zhan Tao verified the badge, he signaled for his men to relax their formation.
Led by Jian Feng, the squad soon joined forces with the Heavenly Demon Palace cultivators. After exchanging polite greetings, they turned their attention to the intense battle between Jian Dan and her two Unity Stage opponents.
The eagle's cry still echoed faintly as the pair of Unity Stage enemies grew anxious. Their mission to intercept the Heavenly Demon Palace's vessel had succeeded, yet now they were trapped by this female sword cultivator. Their attacks became even more frenzied.
Jian Dan's eyes glimmered with five-colored light as she coldly snorted. She swung Mò Xī Jiàn, unleashing a fresh round of attacks. Five elemental sword lights surged upward from the ground, sweeping through her domain as they assaulted the two Unity Stage cultivators trapped within.