The Purple Orchid Pavilion had been surrounded by the forbidden army mobilized by Ji Wuye, yet Han Fei and Zi Nu were nowhere among them. Wei Zhuang was entangled with the Hundred Birds, leaving only Zhang Liang and Nong Yu in the pavilion.
At that moment, Zhang Liang and Nong Yu had noticed the death of the rainbow butterflies and realized someone had tipped off Ji Wuye by opening the door.
In the adjacent private chamber, Zhang Liang and Nong Yu faced the Gen Master of the Eight Linglong head-on.
"Shizun, isn't it just one person? Why are there eight shadows?" Xue Nu asked in surprise. The two were perched on the rafters, watching the three below.
"Steps without shadow, shadow inseparable from form—one heart, different bodies; one body, eight facets. That's the Eight Linglong," Li Hai Mo explained. This was the true nature of the Eight Linglong.
Meanwhile, Zhang Liang began revealing the Eight Linglong's identities. They were tasked with hunting down Lord Chang'an Cheng Jiao. The main assassins were General Bi, Xun Bee, and Li Wu—but Li Wu fell for Cheng Jiao during the mission, slaying General Bi in the process. She herself was killed by Xun Bee. Fearing exposure of Cheng Jiao's trail, Xun Bee slew the tracker Kan Rat, then the young girl Dui Li who hid him. Xun Bee was already dead—twinned in mind and body with Qian Sha. Kun Po was Qian Sha's mother, her soul lingering post-death to guard her son. After slaying Cheng Jiao, he joined their ranks. Thus: one body, eight facets—exquisitely multifaceted.
But in truth, Qian Sha was dead too. Assassinating Lord Chang'an Cheng Jiao was no small affair; Luo Net wouldn't dispatch mere kill-rank assassins. A heaven-rank overseer ensured success—and cleanup via silencing. So Qian Sha perished as well.
Wei Zhuang rushed back, aiming to stop Zhang Liang from unleashing the Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn lurking within the Eight Linglong via the mirror. Alas, he failed.
"Time for the fight!" Li Hai Mo told Xue Nu.
Sure enough, the eight shadows dispersed, revealing a gaunt, scar-riddled Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn before the trio. One black sword, one white—doubtful blades, yet their aura surged immense and overwhelming.
The pavilion's grand doors swung open. Blood Marquis Bai Yifei, in crimson robes over white lining, gripped a red and a white longsword, confronting the four.
"One Tian Ren He Yi, one half-step Tian Ren. Wei Zhuang and the others are in deep trouble!" Xue Nu said.
"You go first!" Wei Zhuang urged Zhang Liang and Nong Yu.
At that instant, Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn and Blood Marquis Bai Yifei struck together—but a blaze erupted, halting Bai Yifei. It was Flame Spirit Ji, ostensibly en route to Qin's envoy quarters under guard.
Flame Spirit Ji engaged Bai Yifei, while Wei Zhuang clashed with Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn—a total rout.
"Is Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn that terrifying? Feels like he hasn't even unleashed his full power, yet Wei Zhuang's already struggling to parry?" Xue Nu asked.
"More experts incoming!" Li Hai Mo noted.
The Hundred Poisons King and Corpse Driver arrived, aiming to free Flame Spirit Ji from Bai Yifei's icy grip—only to freeze in his chill aura. The Hundred Poisons King took a fatal strike. Then Tian Ze shattered the wooden wall, charging into Bai Yifei.
Wei Zhuang, after taunting Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn, drew out the assassin's true Tian Ren He Yi might. Swords united, a single stroke disarmed him—Shark's Tooth flying—as the roof cleaved, dumping him into the hall below, powerless to counter.
"So remember: face someone stronger—don't provoke. Or you'll really die!" Li Hai Mo told Xue Nu, eyeing the felled Wei Zhuang.
Xue Nu nodded gravely. Wei Zhuang brought this on himself. Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn outclassed him; earlier exchanges were mere play. But the taunts pushed too far—boom, full eruption, instant kill.
Wei Zhuang down, Tian Ze and crew blanked. Weren't we teaming up? That was too quick—embarrassingly so?
Wu Shuang Gui, banking on his bronze hide and iron bones, charged Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn—fate mirroring Wei Zhuang's: one strike pierced his defenses, felling him gravely wounded.
As Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn moved for Wei Zhuang's kill-shot, a white-robed figure appeared atop the roof—none other than Wei Zhuang's sworn brother, Ge Nie. But Ge Nie played smarter: Hundred-Step Flying Sword demolished the hall's four load-bearing pillars from the jump. He scooped Wei Zhuang and bolted.
Tian Ze and allies sensed the shift. Wu Shuang Gui broke through with Zhang Liang and Nong Yu; Tian Ze, Corpse Driver, and Flame Spirit Ji soared skyward. Bai Yifei, eyeing Flame Spirit Ji with clear interest, pursued—but the Hundred Poisons King, on his last breath, latched his leg for a self-destruct blast.
"Show's over—our turn!" Li Hai Mo said.
With Xue Nu, he tailed Ge Nie's group, fleeing Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn's pursuit.
"Draw Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn outskirts!" Li Hai Mo transmitted to Ge Nie. Hearing it, Ge Nie ditched Ghost Valley array plans—barreling straight out-city, assassin in tow.
"Senior!" Ge Nie exhaled at Li Hai Mo's sight. Behind, Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn eyed him and Xue Nu warily, holding back.
"This grudge is ours—must you meddle?" Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn demanded. Vengeance drove him; his feud with Ge Nie and Wei Zhuang ran deep.
"You go—Xue Nu, keep distance too." Li Hai Mo said. Inevitable blood; Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn no fresh Tian Ren—likely edging Lao Ai in might.
"Thanks, Senior!" Ge Nie hauled Wei Zhuang off without pause. Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn ignored them, swords ready—wary gaze on Li Hai Mo.
"Daoist—why butt into our affairs?" Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn pressed.
Li Hai Mo met his stare. Can't say: Luo Net's no fit—you join me in Hunan instead.
"You have a son," Li Hai Mo said abruptly.
Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn, mid-strike, froze—eyes locking on Li Hai Mo, tense yet pleading. "You know—tell me where! Quick!"
"Then tell me: alive or dead? Living man... or sword spirit?" Li Hai Mo countered.
From later anime lore, Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn's life-death blurred—blades shattered, reforged. In Qin Moon, no trace of him. Heaven-rank elites like Masked Sun, Jing Lei, Six Slaves appeared—but this superior to Masked Sun? Vanished, swords too. Li Hai Mo guessed: blades broke, no reforge. The reforging scene? Vengeance-fueled illusion—Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn unbroken, remade in myth.
"I..." Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn faltered. Dead or alive? For his son, he must live.
"Dead or alive—you're gone, yet persist. A son awaits—and Luo Net's molding him too," Li Hai Mo revealed.
Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn jolted. Son in Luo Net? No—can't let him become that!
"Tell me where—I'll trade anything!"
"I must kill you—for you to live. Understand?" Li Hai Mo said.
Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn nodded, erupting in sky-piercing sword qi.
"This is..." Xin Zheng's Hundred Schools sensed the razor aura, rushing outskirts—Han Fei and crew, Blood Marquis Bai Yifei, Ji Wuye included.
"Xue Nu—link with Xiao Meng!" Li Hai Mo urged.
Xue Nu dashed to converge. "Shishu, Shizun's fighting Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn—says he must die!"
Xiao Meng frowned, passing the sealed Dong Jun to Xue Nu. "Watch her—I'll back your Shizun."
Dong Jun sighed inwardly. Truly powerless—no rights. Tossed like baggage. But she complied, trailing Xue Nu toward the fray—only to hit Blood Marquis Bai Yifei en route.
Facing Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn's towering sword intent, Li Hai Mo unleashed his own: an ethereal transcendence blanketing the field.
"Daoist!" Oncomers pegged the counter-aura clashing the sword qi.
Why no Ling Xu? Fame too loud—any fool knew it as his. Li Hai Mo opted for Dao arts against Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn.
Dual blades blurred swift, crimson killing qi trailing. Li Hai Mo matched: Dao Nine Seals colliding one after another. Dao runes and sword qi scattered. Hundred-meter radius: death zone—no approach.
Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn's swords crossed downward—blood-red cruciform qi slashing out. Li Hai Mo pinched War Seal: golden greatsword cleaving the crimson cross. Both recoiled, then charged—golden runes versus blood qi ravaging the earth.
"Why hasn't Xiao Meng arrived?" Li Hai Mo muttered. Holding back now?
"The end!" Li Hai Mo sighed, voice echoing wide.
Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn grasped—unleashing his pinnacle.
Heaven darkened crimson; blades crossed, ripping massive cruciform qi at Li Hai Mo.
"Overturning Heaven Seal!" Li Hai Mo's hands wove swift—Dao runes swarming. Vast palm plummeted from above, finger smashing the blood qi.
Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn's swords flew; Li Hai Mo loomed before him, sword-finger at his brow. Hundred-meter circle: flattened waste.
Li Hai Mo retracted—fingertip bloodied. Hands tucked in sleeves, feigning calm as Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn toppled.
Xiao Meng—where? No strength left. Who knew Hēi Bái Xuán Jiǎn wasn't bluff? Reserves held for show—but realism demanded grit.
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