Jian Dan wasn't just putting on an act, she was genuinely curious about what it'd be like if the two of them fought side by side.
The guards stationed at the arena caught sight of her iconic robe and immediately bowed.
"Greetings, Mo Yue Zūnshàng!"
"Open up an arena. Mo Su wants to spar with me for a few rounds," Jian Dan said with a smile.
"Yes, Zūnshàng, please this way!"
The guard quickly led her toward the largest arena at the center.
As they passed the smaller arenas, the demon cultivators who'd been watching other duels lit up with excitement. Nobody cared about the matches in front of them anymore. They all turned, swarming toward the main arena while sending out messages left and right. Messaging talismans filled the air like flying sparks.
Jian Dan didn't care about the fuss. She stepped onto the main arena, her sleeve flicking as she tossed Mo Su and Jian Feng to the opposite side.
The guard, sharp-eyed, activated the defensive barrier. After hesitating for a moment, he cranked the setting straight to maximum.
The arena, two hundred square meters across, was built from dark stone. When the formation lines lit up, a transparent dome rose into place, sealing everything inside.
Mo Su and Jian Feng exchanged helpless looks. Mo Yue Zūnshàng really did whatever she wanted.
"Alright, enough staring. Make your move!"
Mo Su summoned his poisonous dagger, the Cold Moon Blade. He knew Mo Yue wouldn't have dragged him up here unless she planned to vent her anger. If she didn't, she'd lose face.
Jian Feng drew his Morning Maple Sword. The instant Mo Su slashed forward, he followed with the Heavenly Sword's Nine Forms.
A frosty white blade aura surged first, followed by fiery red sword energy, one after another, charging at Jian Dan.
She didn't even bother to draw Mó Yuè Zhǎn. Instead, she leapt forward, her fist wrapped in thick demonic qi. A massive black fist-shadow exploded out, shattering Mo Su's dagger aura. Nine more punches followed, breaking every form of Jian Feng's Heavenly Sword technique.
The spectators could see clearly that Mo Yue Zūnshàng had suppressed her cultivation to early Void Refinement, and she hadn't even unleashed her life-bound weapon. Her attacks weren't anywhere near full strength.
More and more cultivators rushed over, including those who'd heard the news from afar. This was the first time Mo Yue Zūnshàng had stepped into the arena since her disappearance, and the person she was "teaching a lesson" to was the next Palace Master. Everyone wanted to watch.
Mo Yi and Mo Qi had planned to meet Mo Yue later, since she'd arranged to catch up with Jian Feng today. They didn't want to intrude, maybe just step in if Mo Su sent for help. But instead of waiting for Mo Su's talisman, news came that Mo Yue Zūnshàng had dragged both Mo Su and Jian Feng into the arena.
"Come on, Senior Sister, we'll miss the show if we're late!" Mo Yi, grinning from ear to ear, grabbed Mo Qi and rushed toward the main arena.
Mo Qi, dark lines across her face, followed reluctantly. She'd also gotten word from her attendants and was worried, but she couldn't stop her brother.
While riding his escape light, Mo Yi rummaged through his storage ring. Mo Qi rolled her eyes. "They're not stupid enough to set up bets against Mo Yue. Save yourself the trouble."
"Who said I'm betting? I'm looking for a Recording Jade! Mo Su doesn't embarrass himself often, I've gotta capture this!" He pulled out a top-grade Recording Jade with excitement.
Mo Qi almost dropped out of the sky. She gave him a long look. Yep, that was her blood-related brother, no mistake.
They arrived just in time. The three inside the arena were still clashing. Mo Yi immediately tossed out the Recording Jade before he and Mo Qi focused on the fight.
The crowd below was so dense that there was no space to land, so the two siblings floated above.
After breaking their assault, Jian Dan moved gracefully into her counterattack. She dispelled the demonic qi from her fists and started throwing punches directly at Mo Su.
Mo Su pulled back his Cold Moon Blade to defend. He blocked most of it, but still took a few solid blows. Each "bang, bang, bang" was a meaty impact that made Jian Feng wince just from hearing it. He had no choice but to rush forward and take part of the pressure.
Jian Dan's brows arched as she shifted her assault onto Jian Feng. Her fists aimed straight at his vital points. Jian Feng kept his composure, dodging at the last second and retaliating with quick sword strikes.
Mo Su noticed most of her attacks were landing on Jian Feng. His brows furrowed as he darted back in, throwing his strength into countering.
Their rhythm built up. The flow of yin and yang surged as their power intertwined, pushing each other higher.
Jian Feng's mid-Divine Soul strength rose to mid-Void Refinement in effect, while Mo Su, borrowing Jian Feng's pure yang power, struck with late-Void Refinement force. Their realms didn't rise, but their combined offense did.
Against Jian Dan's suppressed cultivation, they managed to fight her to a standstill. Her goal was achieved.
At the end, she suddenly blinked forward, appearing just an arm's length away. Mo Su's heart sank. "Shit, not good!"
But it was too late. With a single boom, he was blasted off his feet.
Jian Feng barely managed to catch him midair.
"Tsk tsk, Mo Yue didn't hold back!" Mo Yi chuckled, arms folded as he floated in the sky.
"Serves him right for stealing her sweetheart," Mo Qi muttered.
Once Jian Feng steadied Mo Su, Jian Dan's smile was full of satisfaction. Jian Feng gave a crooked grin too, which made Mo Su's heart skip despite the bruises. He instinctively touched the spot where she'd landed her hits.
Down below, everyone could see it clearly. Mo Su Zūnzhǔ now had a panda eye. A one-eyed panda eye.
Mo Su gritted his teeth, trying to circulate his demonic qi to heal. But Jian Dan's voice rang out.
"You're not allowed to heal it with qi. Not until the day before the succession ceremony. If you do it once, I'll beat you again!" She declared overbearingly, then waved her hand. The guard dropped the barrier, and she vanished in a puff of blue smoke back to her cave.
Mo Yi instantly stored the Recording Jade, then he and Mo Qi descended to check on Mo Su.
With the main act gone, the crowd lost interest in the bruised future Palace Master and quickly dispersed.
"Mo Su, you alright?" Mo Yi asked, clearly just here to gawk.
"I'll live! Enjoy the show?" Mo Su snapped, half his face swollen.
"Come on, Mo Yue got her payback. You've only got some bruises. Be glad she didn't get serious, or the three of us together wouldn't stand a chance."
"I know. Enough, let's head back to my cave." Mo Su didn't want any more eyes on him.
When the current Palace Master, Mo Lie, heard his disciple had been beaten, he wanted to retaliate. But with his weaker cultivation, he couldn't, so he went straight to complain to Mo Yan Zhēnzūn.
Mo Yan only smiled faintly. "It's fine. Mo Yue and Mo Su fought together in the past, their bond isn't fake. This was just guidance, nothing more. And you, instead of crying here, once you hand over the Palace Master's seat, go shut yourself away and improve your cultivation!"
Mo Lie, scolded, could only sulk silently.
"Handle what I told you quickly," Mo Yan added. "I'll have Mo Yue start with the Black Robe Guards. Once they're sorted, we'll spread order to the other peaks."
"Yes, Master, I'll see to it."
After Mo Lie left, Mo Yan Zhēnzūn leaned back beneath the bloodthirsty demon vine, murmuring to himself."That Mo Yue really does think things through. Neat and tidy, beginning to end."