The morning fog clung to Jade Sword Mountain like a shroud. Dew glistened on spirit-grass, and Sword Qi shimmered faintly across the courtyard where cracks and scorch marks from yesterday's clash still remained. But the temporary quiet was deceptive. A storm of spiritual pressure churned on the horizon—the unmistakable, suffocating sensation of a large-scale demonic force approaching.
Zhou Yu stood at the peak of the mountain, robes billowing quietly in the cold wind. Ling sat beside him, silver eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. Below, disciples moved with urgency, repairing damaged formation nodes and reinforcing structures. The sect was tense, but steady. Their fear had turned into focus.
Liang Chen stood just below Zhou Yu, hands clasped around his sword hilt. His Bronze Sword Core pulsed rhythmically, stronger and more refined after the intense training of the past days. He could feel the flow of the sect's formations as clearly as his own heartbeat.
Feng Lian's frost aura drifted across the mountain path, her presence poised and commanding. Han Xiang adjusted array plates with trembling hands but determined eyes. Su Mei worked tirelessly, checking medicinal supplies and ensuring wounded disciples were stabilized.
The Scarlet Moon's main force would be here soon.
Zhou Yu closed his eyes momentarily, then opened them, gaze razor-sharp.
"They will arrive within one incense stick's time," he said quietly.
Liang Chen swallowed hard. "Master… how many?"
Zhou Yu's voice was calm, but the air tightened around his words.
"At least one hundred demonic cultivators. Two Crimson Core commanders. And…"His brow furrowed. "Something else. A presence shrouded. Concealed. Dangerous."
Ling growled deep in his throat.
Feng Lian's eyes narrowed, frost swirling around her fingers. "A concealed presence? Their elite? Or worse… a demon beast commander?"
"We will know shortly," Zhou Yu said. "Prepare yourselves."
A heavy, rhythmic tremor shook the ground. Disciples stiffened as the forest canopy parted and figures began emerging—dozens, then scores, then hundreds.
Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect cultivators marched in columns, crimson moon emblems glowing on their robes. Their steps synchronized, their aura oppressive. Some carried talismans that dripped with blood essence; others wielded curved demonic blades. Their Qi was thick, tainted, vibrating with malice.
Liang Chen clenched his jaw. His Bronze Core shuddered at the sight.
Among the first ranks were the same Crimson Core cultivators who had scouted the previous day—but now reinforcements surrounded them. At their head walked a tall man with crimson armor etched with demonic sigils. His sword, black and jagged, emanated bloodlust.
"Scarlet Moon Executor… Wu Shen," Feng Lian murmured, recognizing him instantly. "A Crimson Core peak. One step from Silver Core…"
Liang Chen's breath hitched. To fight someone like that—
Zhou Yu remained still. "Do not measure him with your current cultivation. In time, you will surpass men like him."
Behind Wu Shen, shadowed figures moved—silent, masked, bearing eerie blood-colored talismans that fluttered without wind.
Han Xiang's voice cracked. "M–Master… those masks… those are—"
"Yes."
Zhou Yu's expression hardened.
"The Ghost-Moon Assassins."
A collective shiver ran through the disciples. The Ghost-Moon Assassins were infamous for killing entire sects silently, leaving no survivors. That they were present… meant this was not a raid.
It was extermination.
Zhou Yu raised his hand. Sword Qi rippled across the entire sect. Every disciple straightened immediately, fear overridden by instinct. Their master's will steadied them.
"Listen well."
His voice was soft but carried like thunder.
"Today, the Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect seeks to erase our sect from the continent."
He paused, letting the words settle.
"But we are the Heavenly Sword Sect. Our sword does not crumble. It cuts."
Sword Qi flashed across the sky like silver lightning in response.
"Han Xiang—activate the Grand Perimeter Array. Begin rotation sequence."
Han Xiang bowed shakily. "Y-yes, Master!"
"Feng Lian—lead perimeter disciples. Freeze their flanks. Control their movement."
Feng Lian nodded. "Understood."
"Su Mei—prepare emergency healing formation. Some disciples will fall today."
She bowed deeply. "Yes, Master. I will save as many as I can."
Finally, his gaze fell on Liang Chen.
"You will stand with me."
Liang Chen froze. "I—Master… with you?"
Zhou Yu nodded once.
"Your Third Stance, integrated with three formations, will be our spear. Today, you will test it not against scouts… but against an army."
Liang Chen's heart hammered, but resolve burned beneath the fear.
"Yes, Master. I will not falter."
Ling growled approvingly.
Wu Shen raised his jagged sword.
"Zhou Yu!"
His voice echoed across the mountain like a roar.
"Your time is over. Hand over the Sword Spirit fragments, and your sect may yet crawl away with its lives."
Zhou Yu stepped forward, utterly calm.
"You talk too much."
Sword Qi erupted behind him like a tidal wave.
Wu Shen snarled. "Kill them all! Leave no one alive!"
The Scarlet Moon army surged.
The mountain shook.
And the battle exploded.
Liang Chen took a deep breath and activated the Third Stance.
Sword Qi surged through him like lightning. His Core pulsed violently, but he forced control, reaching out toward the three primary formation arrays.
His consciousness expanded—he felt every node, every plate, every blade of grass within the arrays' reach.
Zhou Yu's voice echoed in his mind.
Sword. Formation. World. Unite them.
Liang Chen exhaled.
"Third Stance—Tri-Array Integration!"
The courtyard trembled.
Arcs of silver Sword Qi shot into the sky, weaving through formation nodes, amplifying into a massive lattice of energy that blanketed the entire mountain face.
Scarlet Moon cultivators charging uphill slammed into the lattice—and were sliced apart as if by invisible blades.
Dozens fell instantly, their bodies dropping like broken puppets.
Feng Lian followed the lattice with a wave of frost. Ice spikes erupted along the flanks, freezing demonic cultivators where they stood. Her Frozen Dew Sword glimmered with killing intent.
Ling attacked from the shadows, tearing throats and shattering talismans with ruthless efficiency.
But the Scarlet Moon army did not falter.
Dark talismans ignited. Demonic Qi surged.
Dozens more charged forward.
And the Ghost-Moon Assassins slipped through the shadows, aiming for weak points in the formation.
Liang Chen gasped as the pressure surged.
The formation shook under repeated impacts.
Too many!
The Third Stance strained. He felt cracks in the lattice. If he lost control now, the entire formation could collapse.
Zhou Yu's voice cut through the chaos.
"Liang Chen! Focus. Narrow your flow. Do not fight their strength—turn it."
Liang Chen gritted his teeth, adjusting the flow. Instead of meeting the enemy head-on, he redirected their attacks back into the formation.
Energy rebounded. The lattice sharpened.
A wave of Sword Qi shot downward, slicing through charging enemies.
But then—
Three Ghost-Moon Assassins slipped past the outer lattice and appeared behind Liang Chen like phantoms.
Feng Lian shouted, "Liang Chen, behind you!"
Liang Chen turned too slowly.
The assassins struck—
—only for a blur of silver fur to intercept them.
Ling crashed into the assassins, fangs clamping around one's throat while his claw tore through another's mask. The third assassin staggered back, shocked.
Zhou Yu appeared behind him.
"No one touches my disciple."
His sword flicked.
The assassin was cut in half.
Wu Shen stepped forward, crimson armor glowing with demonic energy.
"Enough. Zhou Yu—fight me!"
Zhou Yu stepped down the mountain path, sword in hand.
"Very well."
The air cracked.
Zhou Yu vanished—then reappeared before Wu Shen, blade glinting like the first ray of dawn.
Wu Shen roared, demonic Qi erupting.
They clashed.
The shockwave shook the entire mountain.
Liang Chen stumbled from the force, barely maintaining the formations.
He watched in awe as Zhou Yu and Wu Shen exchanged blows faster than the eye could follow. Sword Qi and demonic energy collided, tearing the ground apart, shattering stones, ripping through the air.
Zhou Yu's movements were elegant, sharp, and devastating. Each swing held the force of a collapsing star.
Wu Shen's demonic aura surged, blood-colored light erupting around him. His black jagged sword met Zhou Yu's blade in a clash that sent shockwaves across the battlefield.
"YOU CANNOT WIN, ZHOU YU!" Wu Shen bellowed.
Zhou Yu smiled faintly. "I haven't begun."
As the main battle raged, Ling suddenly snarled, fur bristling.
A chill fell across the battlefield.
Zhou Yu's expression sharpened—instantly serious.
"So… you finally show yourself."
Dark mist swirled behind the Scarlet Moon army. A cloaked figure emerged, wearing a mask shaped like a crescent moon dripping with blood.
The disciples felt their knees weaken under the pressure.
Liang Chen's breath caught.
"Master… that aura… it's—"
"Yes."
Zhou Yu's voice hardened.
"Silver Core realm."
Feng Lian's frost cracked. Han Xiang stumbled. Su Mei froze mid-motion.
A Silver Core demonic cultivator.
A true commander.
Not someone the sect could face lightly.
The masked figure raised a crimson talisman.
"Zhou Yu… your resurrection ends today."
The talisman ignited—
—and the entire battlefield erupted with demonic Qi.