Chapter Forty-Nine: The Great Battle in the Eastern City of Linqing Prefecture

A faint buzzing filled the air as the blue-robed talisman soldier slumped to the ground. A shimmering layer of azure light slowly passed over the soldier’s body, who struggled a few times, but when the light faded, he lay still at last.

Meng Lu took several cautious steps back, gazing in puzzlement at the motionless talisman soldier. He could not fathom why this blue-clad figure had suddenly ceased to move. Yet, adhering to his principle of leaving no loose ends, Meng Lu crossed his hands in front of his chest, his fingers forming a sword gesture, and once more summoned the Coldglint Sword that the talisman soldier had dropped.

“Moon’s motion stirs the stars,” Meng Lu intoned softly, reciting the second form of the Cold Shadow Sword Technique. Fingers aligned, he pointed sharply upward—

The Coldglint Sword, suspended in midair, trembled violently. In an instant, dazzling radiance bathed the gates of Mount Hua. Then, from the blade, countless miniature swords—each one a mirror of the Coldglint—rained down in a tumultuous cascade, striking directly at the fallen talisman soldier.

A sharp rasping—like hail pelting after a storm—echoed incessantly before Meng Lu, as blade after blade tore through cloth. Yet the blue-robed talisman soldier did not stir.

“Who goes there, daring to trespass upon Mount Hua?”

As Meng Lu focused all his efforts on the downed talisman soldier, a thunderous shout rang out. At once, Meng Lu sensed a chilling murderous intent enveloping him. He turned to see two youths—one tall, one stout, their faces a study in contrast, one cheerful, one ugly—standing within the formation, their sharp gazes fixed upon him.

...

Eastern District, outside the city gates of Linqing Prefecture

Zisu’s purple robe was drenched red with blood; beads of sweat studded her snow-pale, frosted face. The Violet Condensation Sword hovered above her, casting waves of violet light that held off the attacks of several white-robed opponents.

Duo’er’s purple robe was torn in many places as she lay limp on the ground. Around her, the disciples of the Violet Robe Sect sprawled defeated. Ding Ning, bracing herself with one hand, struggled desperately to rise, but her injuries were too severe; each attempt ended in failure. The two girls were surrounded by the bodies of their fallen sect sisters, scattered in disarray.

After retrieving the Bone-Altering Pill from the Curio Pavilion, the disciples of the Violet Robe Sect had politely declined Xu Shi’s invitation, setting out at once to return to their mountain stronghold by night. Yet, no sooner had they passed through the eastern gate than disciples of the Tianshan Sect blocked their way, showing no restraint.

Lu Xiya struck without hesitation, swiftly slaying the Violet Robe Sect’s mid-grade flying spirit beast, the crane, upon which they depended for long journeys. The aftermath of her attack swept through the disciples, felling seven of the ten on the spot. The fortunate survivors, Duo’er and Ding Ning, were left powerless, while only Zisu—thanks to her sixth-level Qi Refinement—was able to endure the blow and single-handedly withstand the assault from the four elite disciples of Tianshan.

“Cursed Tianshan dogs!” Ding Ning’s repeated struggles proved futile. Frustrated, she could only glare fiercely at the Tianshan disciples besieging her senior sister, hurling sharp words at them.

“Little wench, your mouth won’t be so bold soon. Once I’ve dealt with that slut Zisu, I’ll take care of you. Don’t be impatient—ha ha ha…” one of the Tianshan disciples laughed lewdly as they closed in on Zisu.

“If Sixth Brother finishes with her, then leave that one to me. Let’s all have some fun, brothers.” The disciple beside the previous speaker eyed Zisu hungrily.

Ding Ning’s fury flared at these words. Helpless to move, she could only pin her hopes on her senior sister, praying she could hold off these Tianshan villains.

A sharp hiss sounded as the sword-light from the Violet Condensation Sword sliced through the garment of the disciple who had spoken, a clear sign of Zisu’s anger as she singled him out.

“Wretch!” Sixth Brother roared with indignation. Here he was, a sixth-level Qi Refiner, leading three fourth-level experts against a single sixth-level female cultivator, and not only had they failed to subdue her, but several of their own had been injured. If word of this reached Tianshan, where would he hide his shame?

...

A deep hum resonated as the Coldglint Sword above Sixth Brother’s head flared with icy brilliance, its movements almost doubling in speed, forcing Zisu to focus all her strength against his onslaught, unable to spare a thought for the others.

A sharp, tearing sound—under Sixth Brother’s frenzied assault, Zisu’s Violet Condensation Sword faltered for a heartbeat. The Coldglint Sword sliced open her robe, revealing exquisite skin as white as snow. Blood immediately gushed from the wound, dyeing her body crimson.

“Senior Sister!” Duo’er cried out in terror at the sight of Zisu bleeding, her voice thick with dread at her senior’s injury.

Another sword struck as Zisu, weakened by her wounds, stumbled. A Tianshan disciple took the chance to stab her again.

“Hmph! Stubborn girl, you’ll get what’s coming to you soon!” Sixth Brother grinned smugly, baring his teeth in delight at Zisu’s plight.

...

“Little monk, tell me—how can there be such shameless creatures in this world?” Jiang Yan’s voice carried from within the eastern gate of Linqing Prefecture.

The battling Tianshan disciples turned to see a young acolyte, hands pressed together, wearing a gentle smile, walk out through the gate. Not far behind, a youth in blue robes followed, looking exasperated as he addressed the young monk.

Arriving outside the city, Jiang Yan and the acolyte took in the scene: Zisu locked in desperate combat with the Tianshan disciples, but no sign of Lu Xiya, the top expert of Tianshan. Jiang Yan hesitated to reveal himself; unlike the acolyte, who seemed to regard all Qi Refinement cultivators with disdain, Jiang Yan, head of his own sect, was far more cautious.

When Zisu was wounded and her blood stained the violet robes, the acolyte’s eyes lit up—he moved in a blur, stepping ahead of Jiang Yan. With no sign of Lu Xiya, Jiang Yan had no choice but to follow.

Seeing the Violet Robe Sect disciples strewn across the ground, and the four Tianshan disciples besieging Zisu, Jiang Yan regarded them with contempt. Grown men bullying a lone female cultivator—it was disgraceful, hence his earlier remark.

“The world of Tianyue is not so vast,” the acolyte corrected Jiang Yan with a perplexed look.

“Tianshan business. Outsiders, get lost!” Several Tianshan disciples on the periphery of the battle advanced menacingly toward Jiang Yan and the acolyte.

Jiang Yan’s mind stirred. Four Greenwood Arrows materialized before him, as they had in his first encounter with the Tianshan disciples—formless, invisible arrows radiating a deadly chill, aimed at the advancing foes.

The acolyte seemed to sense the arrows and glanced curiously at them, his brow slightly furrowing. “Strange arrows,” he murmured.

By the time the acolyte turned back, the Tianshan disciples were already upon him, the foremost reaching out to shove him aside. “Bald brat, get—”

“Amitabha,” the acolyte murmured, intoning the Buddha’s name as he lightly flicked his sleeve forward.

A chorus of screams erupted as the disciples in front of the acolyte were flung away like severed kites, soaring through the air.

“Amitabha, may mercy be upon them,” the acolyte intoned again, bowing his head.

Jiang Yan stared in astonishment. He had clearly seen each Tianshan disciple spew blood as they were hurled away.

“A Foundation Establishment cultivator,” a chilling thought formed in Jiang Yan’s mind. This young acolyte, no older than himself, could very well be a master at the Foundation Establishment stage.

“You Tianshan disciples! How dare you kill with impunity in Linqing Prefecture? Release that heroine at once!” The acolyte, who had just murmured prayers of contrition, now transformed into an angry deity, roaring at the Tianshan disciples attacking Zisu.

Suddenly, three sharp whooshes cut through the air—Jiang Yan had seized the moment, launching his Greenwood Arrows at the three Tianshan disciples besieging Zisu.

After witnessing the acolyte’s display, Jiang Yan’s mind was made up: though Lu Xiya, the hidden expert, was a peak Qi Refiner, this mysterious acolyte was likely Foundation Establishment, or at the very least a peak Qi Refiner himself. If he could leverage the acolyte’s strength to eliminate one of Tianshan’s top men, Jiang Yan would gladly seize the opportunity.

“Swift!” Jiang Yan commanded, fingers forming a sword gesture as he pointed forward. The three Greenwood Arrows shot forth in a line at the trio of fourth-level Tianshan disciples.

A scream rang out beside Sixth Brother. One disciple seemed to have taken a heavy blow to the chest, flying backward as though struck by an unseen fist. The cry reignited hope in Zisu’s heart and caught the attention of Lu Xiya, who was perched quietly, aloof on a distant branch.

A second scream followed. Another disciple beside Sixth Brother was pierced through, blood spraying as he was flung backward like a marionette with cut strings.

“Ambush!” Sixth Brother barked, immediately slashing with two sword-formed fingers. The Coldglint Sword blazed with icy light, forming a bright barrier before him.

With a metallic clang, the third Tianshan disciple attempted to recall his flying sword for defense, but Jiang Yan’s Greenwood Arrow had already struck, knocking the sword skyward before it could shield him.

“Detonate,” Jiang Yan commanded without hesitation, unleashing the Greenwood Arrow’s deadly power.

A dull boom resounded. The Tianshan disciple, his sword sent flying, had no time to react before a pale green light flashed before his eyes, and a tremendous force slammed into his chest, hurling him backward in a graceful arc.

A chorus of clashing metal rang out across the battlefield. The brilliant barrier before Sixth Brother vanished, the Coldglint Sword falling to the ground. Sixth Brother, stunned, clutched the broken half of his sword to his chest, his gaze flickering over Zisu’s tear-streaked face before he staggered back, still clutching his wound.

In that final moment, Zisu had struck without hesitation, all her humiliation and rage channeled into her sword. The Violet Condensation Sword blazed with dazzling violet light, plunging into the barrier before Sixth Brother. Though the sword shattered, so too did his defense, and Zisu, without pause, drove the broken blade into his chest.

“Vile knaves, how dare you!” A furious roar erupted from the distant treetops...