The disciple was blasted away by a burst of spell power, crashing to the ground and coughing blood nonstop. He looked up in terror, only to see two Canglan Sect disciples lunging toward him.
Cold light flashed. He rallied and struck back, but was knocked flying again.
He wasn't the only one. The others were all being forced into dangerous positions. Only Yue Lin's situation was slightly better.
Pained cries rang out in broken intervals. In just a few minutes, all the disciples of Guhan Sect had fallen to the ground. Each was injured, their bodies covered in wounds, their condition grim.
Yue Lin's heart sank. He fought back while trying to rescue the others, but Song Lantian pressed forward step by step. Seizing the moment when Yue Lin was distracted, she thrust her sword toward his heart.
The strike was so powerful that the air cracked with explosive sounds, spirals of force rippling outward at blinding speed.
A wet sound split the air.
The blade pierced flesh.
Yue Lin twisted aside at the last second, and the sword tip grazed past his heart.
Song Lantian laughed aloud, then drove her sword forward with all her strength, punching clean through his body.
Nearly half the blade jutted out from his back.
Yue Lin unleashed a burst of spiritual force, blasting the sword out of his body, but the effort made him cough up several more mouthfuls of blood. His face turned ashen.
Kneeling on one knee, his gaze only grew more vicious. He lunged again toward Song Lantian.
This time, more than a dozen cultivators rushed in to join the attack.
Gritting his teeth, Yue Lin fought back, but facing one against ten was already difficult. With Song Lantian, who was equal to him in strength, among them, victory was impossible.
At last, Yue Lin too fell.
All five of Guhan Sect's disciples lay on the ground, glaring hatefully at the Canglan Sect crowd.
"What? Still not convinced?"
Song Lantian smirked as she walked up to Yue Lin and slapped him hard across the face.
"You really think you're something? At the last Gathering of Heroes, I only lost to you because I didn't bother to fight seriously. Now, you should know who's stronger."
She had never forgotten how Yue Lin knocked her off the battle stage back then, then had the gall to offer a false apology, as if using her as a stepping stone. Now that revenge was within reach, she would not let him go.
The slap left a vivid red mark on Yue Lin's face. He glared at her, then suddenly spat at her feet.
"You're nothing but a petty coward living off your family's shadow."
Song Lantian had always relied on her privileged background to throw her weight around. The disciples with her were all her lackeys—none of them worth respect. If he had to die, so be it. But he regretted that the other disciples were caught up in this disaster for no reason. If he had known this would happen, he would never have sent the summons for them.
His eyes hardened. In the next moment, he sent a voice transmission to his companions. "This is between me and Song Lantian. It shouldn't involve you. In a moment, I'll threaten them by self-detonating. Use that chance to escape.
If you have the chance, avenge me in the future. If not, at least get out of here alive so that their crimes can be made public." He feared they would insist on staying, so his tone was stern.
"Once you're out, report everything to Elder Liu."
Only then would they leave without guilt.
The disciples' eyes reddened, but none refused. They all knew Canglan Sect's people meant to kill. Anyone who could escape would be lucky.
Song Lantian, basking in her followers' praise, gave a cold laugh.
"Yue Lin, you've only yourself to blame…"
She signaled with her eyes, and her people surged toward him.
Yue Lin's eyes were steady, unafraid.
Just as he was about to self-detonate, a flicker of light flashed past.
A thunderous boom shook the air. Song Lantian was hurled backward, every rib in her body shattering.
Before anyone could react, Song Wanníng stepped forward. A ring of light burst from her, and the Canglan Sect disciples felt their minds go blank. An instant later, a colossal force slammed into them.
Bodies flew. Some crashed to the ground unconscious.
In the blink of an eye, only four Canglan Sect disciples were still standing.
"You… you…"
They recognized Song Wanníng and stiffened in fear. Even if it was a sneak attack, taking down so many people at once meant her strength far exceeded theirs.
Song Lantian also recognized her. She raised a trembling hand to point, her cheek twitching with pain and fury.
"Fine… fine…"
She had never imagined Guhan Sect would ambush them. Rage turned her vision black.
"You Guhan Sect… actually resort to sneak attacks, fine…"
She still hadn't realized the danger she was in, maintaining an arrogant posture as she prepared to lecture Song Wanníng.
But Song Wanníng simply stood in front of Yue Lin and the others, her sword humming with a cold, killing intent.
"You gang up on the few, and you dare complain about others attacking?"
Her lips curved in a mocking half-smile as she looked at Song Lantian.
She had chosen to join Guhan Sect, which meant she intended to rise within it. It would benefit her and, in the future, bring opportunities for the Song family disciples as well. Raising her status was crucial—and this was a perfect chance.
A glint flashed in her eyes. She turned to Yue Lin.
"How do you want to handle this?"
The four simple words placed the decision in his hands.
Snapping out of his shock, Yue Lin's gaze toward her shifted.
He had not expected Song Wanníng to come to their aid.
"Leave none alive. I'll kill them!"
He didn't want to drag her into danger, but he would remember this debt. Song Lantian was a prized disciple of Canglan Sect, with powerful backing. Even if it could be hidden, he didn't want Song Wanníng caught up in it.
"Good."
She gave him a satisfied look. At least he knew his place. If he had tried to play tricks on her, she wouldn't have hesitated to remove a fellow sect member.
She turned back to the Canglan Sect disciples.
"You heard him. Leave none alive."
Song Wanníng smiled, and in the next moment her sword swept out.
The four remaining opponents, though many, were no match for her. With Xiao Jin aiding her, they were all down in just a few moves.
The battle had turned too quickly for anyone to grasp.
The Guhan Sect disciples felt as if they were dreaming.
"You… you… if you dare kill me, my parents… they'll never spare you!"