Inside the domain, the two Unity Stage cultivators shattered the surrounding sword light, then joined forces to attack Jian Dan. Unless they could defeat this female cultivator, escape was impossible.
Standing within her own Sword Domain, Jian Dan hardly needed to divert spiritual energy for movement. Her body flowed like a specter, flitting around the two men, her sword slashing ceaselessly, giving them no chance to retaliate.
The two Unity cultivators seethed inwardly. What kind of monster was this woman? She showed no signs of exhaustion, held her own against them both, and her cultivation was even half a level lower than theirs. The humiliation stung.
Jian Dan paid their thoughts no mind. Her gaze was fixed only on the arc of their sword swings and mace strikes. She anticipated their angles of attack, countering with precise sword shadows while launching fierce counterattacks of her own.
"Girl, withdraw your domain! Quickly!"
Liu Chuan's anxious voice transmission echoed in her ears. Jian Dan didn't hesitate. She leapt back, sweeping her hand to retract the magnolia-shaped Sword Domain in an instant.
The cultivators watching from outside were stunned. The battle hadn't yet been decided, so why had Jian Lu Zhēnzūn suddenly withdrawn her domain?
Jian Feng reacted first. From his knowledge of Jian Lu Zhēnzūn, she wouldn't retract her domain without reason. Something was wrong.
"Everyone, retreat immediately!" At his command, the spectators instinctively obeyed, quickly withdrawing a hundred li from the battlefield.
Zhan Tao frowned. "Does Zūnshàng need assistance? I'll send for reinforcements!"
They couldn't help much against high-stage opponents, but they didn't want to be liabilities either.
"Wait. If Zūnshàng needs help, she'll ask."
Jian Feng's voice was steady with confidence. The words had barely left his mouth when a colossal fist descended from the sky, smashing toward Jian Dan and her two opponents.
The attacker had clearly intended to break Jian Dan's spatial domain, but her quick reaction forced him to switch tactics, turning his strike into a massive grab aimed at the three below. As she withdrew her domain, Jian Dan sensed the oppressive might of a Mahayana expert pressing down from above. She saw the abrupt change in the enemy's move clearly.
"Cotton Candy! Get us out of its range!"
"Yes, Master!"
The cloud spirit immediately released a veil of white mist, wrapping around Jian Dan and her companions before flashing them out of reach.
The enormous hand seized only the two Unity cultivators, then retreated into the clouds. Jian Dan's brows furrowed. The attack had been a rescue.
Suddenly, the clouds churned violently. A second colossal black hand shot out, this time striking directly at her.
"Good timing!"
Jian Dan didn't dodge. She fused her twin swords into one, gripping the hilt with both hands. The yin-yang Taiji diagram in her dantian spun wildly, sending a torrent of chaotic spiritual energy surging into Mò Xī Jiàn.
"Primordial Chaos, Shatter the Heavens!"
A colossal gray sword shadow cleaved upward to meet the giant palm. The two forces collided with an earth-shaking roar. The sword shadow shattered, but the massive palm also disintegrated. The shockwave tore open a temporary vacuum in the sky.
Jian Dan was knocked backward by the Mahayana-level force.
Cotton Candy flashed forward, wrapping around her, shielding her from the aftershocks. Xiao Yin's armor was partially eroded, her robes torn in several places, yet they tenaciously guarded her dantian and heart meridians.
Though her strike had been overwhelming, Jian Dan's spiritual energy remained. Her blood churned violently under the impact, but by the time she steadied herself, the oppressive aura of the Mahayana cultivator had already vanished.
She stayed alert. Who knew if her opponent would strike again? She drew out a small porcelain vial and downed its contents—a dose of supreme Spirit Spring water she'd prepared in her spatial storage for emergencies like this.
"Liu Chuan, have they retreated?" She sent a quick voice transmission to Liu Chuan, knowing his warning had spared her from grievous injury.
"They're gone. Lucky for you, they didn't want to risk losing those Unity cultivators, so they took them and left. You're not hurt, are you?" Despite his usual sharp tongue, Liu Chuan was dependable when it counted.
"I'm fine. Just a bit drained. If you hadn't warned me in time, I would've been seriously injured."
As her aura stabilized, Jian Dan issued brisk orders. "Cotton Candy, take me to regroup with them!"
"Yes, Master!"
"Xiao Yin, return and recover."
At her command, the swarm of silver-armored insects surged back into her pendant. It was their first time taking such heavy damage. Jian Dan's heart softened. She added more supreme Spirit Spring water into the pendant, allowing them to heal.
In the distance, both the Heavenly Demon Palace and Heavenly Sword Sect cultivators had witnessed the clash. Even from afar, they'd felt the crushing pressure of a Mahayana aura. The thought of being at the center of that battle made their hearts race.
Mo Su acted immediately, flashing to Jian Feng's side. His slender fingers flipped over, producing a black jade talisman—a Mahayana-level attack talisman bestowed by his Ancestor, a trump card for moments of peril.
Mo Yi and Mo Qi exchanged uneasy glances. Jian Feng's expression stiffened briefly, but he quickly returned to his calm demeanor. "Relax. Zūnshàng can handle this."
At that moment, Cotton Candy brought Jian Dan back to them.
She had already changed out of her torn robes during teleportation. Now, clad in the moon-white robe of a Heavenly Sword Sect Zūnshàng, embroidered with subtle patterns, Jian Dan exuded a sharp, cold aura. As the mist dispersed, she stepped forward, commanding attention.
"Greetings, Jian Lu Zhēnzūn!"
The Heavenly Sword Sect disciples saluted in unison, their faces alight with pride. Their Zūnshàng had faced a Mahayana attack head-on and emerged unscathed, a feat that brought them immense honor, especially in front of the Heavenly Demon Palace cultivators.
Jian Dan smiled faintly and turned her gaze to the patrol leader. "You were patrolling nearby?"
"Yes, Zūnshàng. We were patrolling the mountains around Yaoguang City when we sensed combat and rushed over."
She nodded at his cultivation, then instructed, "I came here responding to the Heavenly Demon Palace's distress signal. Now that the matter is settled, resume your patrols. Sweep this mountain range thoroughly."
"Understood!" Zhan Tao signaled his men, leading them down into the mountains to carry out her orders.
Mo Su finally approached with Mo Yi and Mo Qi, cupping his fists. "Greetings, Jian Lu Zūnshàng! Thank you for intervening so swiftly!"
"You're welcome. Jian Feng was worried about you and came to me. Fortunately, I wasn't in seclusion." Jian Dan's smile lingered as she teased them lightly.
Jian Feng stood silently behind her, perfectly composed, like a well-trained subordinate.
"How many ambushes have you faced? What was their goal?" She cut to the heart of the matter.
"Two waves. Each stronger than the last. Last time, a Void Refinement cultivator led the attack. I used an attack talisman to annihilate their squad, but one escaped. This time, they sent Unity cultivators. We were forced to request Jian Feng's aid."
Mo Su paused, then added grimly, "Their target is Bi Shu."