“Let me ask myself honestly: Biluohuanquan, as the most prominent stronghold of the demon clans in the cultivation world, has certainly shouldered its fair share of false accusations over the centuries.
But to have someone blatantly slander us right in front of the current Demon Lord of Biluohuanquan and her second-in-command? Well, that’s definitely a first.”
Shan Can’s expression twisted strangely as her lips twitched. She couldn’t help but glance back at Wanshao. As expected, she saw that the Demon Lord’s face had gone from green to white. She was clearly fuming, barely able to contain her anger, yet had no way to jump up and lash out. She was holding it in so hard, it seemed like steam might start pouring from her head at any moment.
After all, with Tianwaitian now under siege by a horde of demons who claimed to hail from Biluohuanquan, if their real identities as actual infiltrators from Biluohuanquan were exposed, they wouldn’t be able to talk their way out of it.
That being said, Shan Can wasn’t about to let this go without a fight. The fake Shan Can’s recent show of power was nothing more than a way to suggest that she had already seized control of Tianwaitian’s morning bell. But ironically, this act also revealed her location.
Shan Can immediately considered making her way to the bell to catch her opponent off guard. However, as she instinctively tried to channel her spiritual energy, she felt an obstruction around her body. Her expression darkened instantly.
“Hey, Pei Chen!”
Furrowing her brow, she pushed through the crowd, striding over to the acting sect leader of Tianwaitian, who was busy issuing commands to the disciples. She interrupted him directly.
“The barrier that’s supposed to stop demons from entering is utterly useless, but the barrier that prevents cultivators from using their spiritual energy outside the arena? That’s rock solid—” Shan Can’s voice grew increasingly incredulous as she glanced around at the disciples of Tianwaitian. “And now you’re sending these disciples, who can’t even control their flying swords, to patrol the mountain? What good will that do?”
“I’m not sending them to patrol,” the usually composed acting sect leader of Tianwaitian, Pei Chen, had turned a bit pale. After hesitating for a moment, he gritted his teeth and explained, “The spiritual energy barrier hasn’t been lifted. The reason you can use your powers on the arena is that the platform is made from spiritual stones. I’m sending the disciples to gather more stones, hoping to hold out for a little while longer until help arrives from the inner mountain.”
“To be honest with all of you,” his voice trembled slightly as he continued, “I’ve already sent out messages for help. The elders who are out searching for Shan Can have not returned, but I have heard back from the senior masters residing within the inner mountain of Tianwaitian. However, the demon assault is not limited to this area; Tianwaitian has been breached on all fronts. Our elders… may not be able to come immediately.”
“The focal point of the spiritual energy barrier is right beneath the morning bell.” Pei Chen’s voice grew heavier. “But with the demonic aura so intense, there’s no way we, who can’t use our spiritual energy, can defeat them head-on. I urge you all not to act recklessly. The demons from Biluohuanquan are not after us. All we need to do is hold out until the senior masters from the inner mountain break through the barrier and come to our aid.”
As soon as his words fell, the cultivators exchanged anxious glances. Fear and unease were written all over their faces, and the distant roars of beasts only amplified their sense of helplessness.
The people gathered here were all from the younger generation of sects. While some were undeniably talented, they lacked the experience needed for a situation like this. And now, without the ability to use their spiritual energy, they all felt utterly powerless.
Pei Chen, being a highly respected figure within Tianwaitian, was more than capable. Despite being the acting sect leader, in the absence of the actual sect leader, who had been in seclusion for about thirty years, calling him the de facto leader wouldn’t be an exaggeration. Hearing from him how dire the situation was made the young cultivators even more nervous. One by one, they hurried toward the arena, where they could still use their spiritual energy, their faces full of urgency.
As soon as the first person headed for the arena, others followed. Some were panicked, while others hesitated. Before long, the platform was packed with people.
Chuming frowned, putting away the jade scroll in his hand before walking toward the platform. He raised his voice to reassure the group, saying he had already made contact with Qingyu. Only a handful of people remained standing on the ground below.
“‘Not after us?'”
Shan Can exhaled softly after listening quietly to Pei Chen’s explanation, speaking in a low voice.
“The great Kunyao Lord can’t sense that the demonic energy is aimed directly at us?”
“…”
Pei Chen pressed his lips together, studying Shan Can carefully before glancing at Yunduan, who stood silently by her side, sword in hand. He sighed, lowering his head in shame, and spoke in a voice low enough that the others on the platform couldn’t hear.
“…I beg your pardon, fellow Daoist. I had to say that to avoid causing a panic.”
“The demons can use their powers freely, unaffected by the spiritual energy barrier, while we cultivators have trapped ourselves…” Pei Chen shook his head with a bitter smile. “If I had said they were after us, I’m afraid some people would… lose their composure.”
“But rest assured, it is no lie that the senior masters from the inner mountain are on their way to rescue us.”
Pei Chen, now looking slightly more relaxed, added in a gentle tone, “I, Pei Chen, will do everything in my power to protect this place. All of you here are incredibly talented, and you—Yushan Lord and Yunzhong Lord especially—”
“Now’s the time to think about them?” Shan Can abruptly interrupted his speech, causing Pei Chen to pause. But Shan Can didn’t even glance at him as she turned toward Yunduan, who had remained silent all this time. She gestured toward the platform.
“You left the arena? We haven’t finished our match. Get back up there.”
Ever since Shan Can had eaten Yunduan’s sweet cake, all the politeness she once pretended to have had vanished. Pei Chen was momentarily stunned, surprised that someone would speak to Yunzhong Lord in such a casual tone. That was—
“If you’re not going up, why should I?”
As a sparring partner, Yunzhong Lord’s reply was technically correct…
But it seemed to carry another meaning as well.
Pei Chen’s heart skipped a beat as he looked toward Yunduan. She remained as composed and elegant as ever, her brow slightly furrowed, but her gaze remained fixed on Shan Can.
Shan Can, feeling increasingly anxious, had no time to deal with Yunduan right now. After all—
“Roar—!”
The deafening roar of the demon beasts shook the heavens, and only then did the crowd realize that the platform was completely surrounded. Demon beasts emerged from the gardens, the trees, even the rooftops of the nearby towers, each grotesque and fierce in appearance, eyeing the clustered cultivators like prey on a dinner plate.
Then, with a unified roar, they charged towards the platform.
How many of them were there?
Shan Can spun around, slashing down a bird demon. Before she could even shake the blood from her sword, she used the momentum to drive it diagonally into the chest of another demon beast.
She had already lost count of how many she had killed. Most of the demons seemed to be of relatively low cultivation, unable to even take human form, and individually they weren’t much of a threat.
But the sheer number of them was overwhelming. The cultivators had to stay on high alert, as a moment’s distraction could give the demons an opening.
Pei Chen led the Tianwaitian disciples, guarding the path between the platform and the inner mountain, while Chu Ming and the Qingyu disciples formed a barrier at the platform’s perimeter to fend off the beasts. Though the cultivators on the platform were frantic, they managed to hold their ground. Any injured were quickly escorted to the center of the platform, where healers could tend to them.
Shan Can stood at the entrance leading from the outer gates to the platform, facing the fiercest wave of the demon tide. Despite being unable to draw upon much spiritual power, her sword strikes were swift and precise, single-handedly relieving a significant portion of the burden on the cultivators defending the platform.
And by her side, even in the midst of battling the horde, the person’s movements remained so graceful and striking that it was impossible to look away. The sword’s movements were sharp and clear like the chill of freshly fallen snow. It was Yunduan—Yunduan.
Damn it.
Shan Can gritted her teeth, pushing down her unease as she stepped two paces closer to Yunduan, observing her closely without making a sound. Only then did she let out a small sigh of relief.
Thankfully, Yunduan was still dressed in pure white, not a single drop of blood staining her clothes. It seemed she was holding her own just fine.
Shan Can had chosen not to step onto the platform because it was overcrowded with hundreds of cultivators, leaving little room to move. Her fighting style was more free-spirited, unrestrained, and being on that platform would have felt too restrictive.
Perhaps Yunduan had the same thoughts, which was why she left the platform. But…
…But if Shan Can were being honest, she wanted Yunduan to stay on the platform. Ideally, she’d be surrounded by so many cultivators that no demon beast could get anywhere near her.
But Yunduan, as if determined, stood right beside her, refusing to return to the platform no matter what.
Shan Can’s sword flashed as she drove back a group of demon beasts, moving to stand by Yunduan’s side.
“Yunzhong Lord, do me a favor.”
Even as she continued her relentless strikes, killing a few more demon beasts in the blink of an eye, her tone was light and casual when speaking to Yunduan.
“You know, that junior sister of mine—you’ve seen her before.”
“She’s on the platform now, I… I’m just not comfortable with it.”
As Shang Can spoke, she stole a glance at Yunduan’s cool, otherworldly profile, hesitating before asking, “Yun Zhongjun, could you… go to the platform and check on her for me?”
This was, of course, an excuse she’d racked her brain to come up with amidst the chaos.
She was referring to Wan Shao. As a flower demon, Wan Shao wasn’t bound by the spiritual barrier, but precisely because of this, she had to blend in on the platform, pretending to be reliant on spiritual power so as not to reveal her use of demon energy.
Flower demons weren’t adept at combat. Although Wan Shao’s abilities weren’t enough to clear out the demon beasts invading Tianwaitian, she was still far stronger than most cultivators. If Yunduan went up to the platform, Wan Shao could help keep an eye on her, which was much better than Yunduan staying on the frontlines like this.
Shang Can figured that she and Yunduan had some degree of friendship in Tianwaitian. Yunduan was the type who appeared cold but was warm inside, responding better to soft requests than hard demands. If directly asking her to go on the platform didn’t work, then coming up with a reasonable excuse should, right?
Her mental calculations were working furiously, and she added with a little more weight, “I’ll even owe you a favor.”
But despite her effort, no immediate response came.
As if she hadn’t even heard, Yunduan’s sword, Wuyou, continued to flow like water. Though without spiritual energy, it still cut through iron like it was nothing. Her face was expressionless, her swordsmanship graceful and agile, clearing all the demons within three feet of them. Only then did she finally turn to Shang Can.
“Since you’re so worried about your junior sister,” Yunduan’s brows furrowed slightly, her lips pressed into a thin line, her gaze briefly landing on Shang Can before quickly shifting away, “why don’t you go check on her yourself?”
Shang Can thought to herself, I’ve already been keeping an eye on her, it’s just that my junior sister doesn’t know it.
Even disregarding the sudden stiff tone, Yunduan’s cold demeanor had reached the point where even passersby could sense it. Shang Can cursed inwardly—Yunduan clearly didn’t like Wan Shao. And wait—did Yunduan just call her Gong Shang? This might be the first time Yunduan had ever addressed her by that name.
Before Shang Can had time to mull it over, Yunduan had already returned to her usual calm state, as if the earlier odd behavior had been Shang Can’s imagination. With her typical placid demeanor, Yunduan glanced into the distance and said quietly, “This isn’t working. We still need to open the spiritual barrier.”
With the conversation turning serious, Shang Can slashed down a demon beast in front of her and looked toward where Yunduan was staring. All she could see was a mass of black, the endless waves of demon beasts stretching as far as the eye could see. The sight was jaw-dropping.
If not for the fact that the demons disappeared on their own shortly after being killed, the ground beneath them would have been thickly piled with demon corpses by now.
Pei Chen had said they only needed to hold on for a short while. It had already been at least an hour, and some of the cultivators on the platform were showing signs of exhaustion. Yet still, no reinforcements had arrived…
“I’ll go open it.”
Shang Can spoke in a low voice. Just as she was about to turn and leave, Yunduan blocked her path with a calm but firm voice, “We’ll go together.”
Damn it. Every time Yunduan made this face, ever since they were children, it meant she’d already made up her mind. No matter what Shang Can said now, she wouldn’t listen.
Shang Can, despite her deep reluctance, knew Yunduan too well to argue. Instead, a wave of misplaced nostalgia washed over her.
With the dire situation not allowing her to hesitate any longer, Shang Can gripped her sword tightly, as if trying to suppress her unease, and muttered, “If you can refrain from attacking recklessly and stay behind me the whole time, then fine, we’ll go together.”
The words had barely left her mouth when Yunduan nodded without hesitation, “Alright.”
Her swift agreement left Shang Can unsure whether to feel reassured or worried.
She closed her eyes for a moment, pushing away her distractions, then called out to Chu Ming, “Lord Yushan, hold the line! We’ll be right back!”
Chu Ming, immediately understanding her intent, hesitated for a brief moment before nodding resolutely. “Don’t push yourself too hard!”
If only someone could say that to Yunduan—morning, noon, and night. Better yet, with a loudspeaker in her ear until she finally listened, Shang Can grumbled inwardly.
She shot Yunduan a glance and the two of them quickly retreated.
Now that they’d decided on their next move, Shang Can no longer bothered to engage the demon beasts, focusing instead on protecting Yunduan as they retreated toward the platform, planning to make their way toward the Chenzhong.
The moment they stepped onto the crowded platform, a small commotion stirred.
“It’s Yun Zhongjun!”
“Thank goodness Yun Zhongjun is here…”
“Is Yun Zhongjun hurt? I can heal you!”
What a waste of words. Instead of asking such things, they should spend that time realizing how much trouble they’ve caused and training harder to lessen Yun Zhongjun’s burden.
Shang Can’s face unconsciously darkened. She wasn’t irritated about being ignored but felt strangely dissatisfied for some reason.
Hurt? If Yunduan were injured, that would be catastrophic. Shang Can had been watching her closely the whole time, and Yunduan was clearly—
“…Hiss—”
The person who had been silently following her suddenly let out a soft hiss of pain. Shang Can froze, quickly stopping in her tracks.
Turning around, she saw Yunduan’s ethereal face slightly frown, her left hand hesitantly pressed to her waist.
Shang Can watched in disbelief as a dark red stain slowly spread across Yunduan’s pristine white robe, like a small blood-red flower blooming on an otherwise spotless garment.
Her mind went blank. Without thinking, she tore off the pouch at her waist, fumbling inside it for a moment before losing patience. Clenching her trembling jaw, she tossed the pouch aside and ripped off her own sleeve, hastily wrapping it around Yunduan’s waist as a makeshift bandage, pulling her close.
Yunduan was injured.
Yunduan wasn’t supposed to… couldn’t get hurt.
Not here. Not now.
Practically holding Yunduan in her arms, Shang Can forcefully pushed through the crowd. Yunduan didn’t resist, and Shang Can, doing her best to suppress her growing panic, recited healing spells in her mind, finally feeling the wound beneath her hands slowly start to heal.
But it was too little, too late.
The blood had already stained the once-immaculate white robe, and the surrounding cultivators, still unaware of what had just happened, began to notice the strangely sweet fragrance that emanated from Yunduan’s blood. Soon, it was accompanied by an overwhelming surge of spiritual energy.
Everyone froze in shock. The demon beasts, however, reacted instantly.
They all turned toward Yunduan, rushing forward with a renewed, frenzied vigor. The beasts, caring little for trampling their own in their haste, bared their fangs and drooled, their eyes burning with human-like greed and hunger, fixed solely on Yunduan.
“…An Immaculate Immortal Body…”
From within the stunned crowd, someone spoke in a trembling voice, filled with disbelief.
The cultivators finally came to their senses, their eyes filled with mixed emotions as they all turned to stare at Yunduan. Shang Can, her shoulders tense, positioned herself protectively in front of Yunduan. Her hand instinctively went to the hilt of her sword as she listened to the hushed murmurs spreading through the crowd, her expression growing darker by the second.
“The legendary physique, blessed by the heavens… It’s said that even their blood and flesh are infused with spiritual energy, consuming it can greatly enhance one’s cultivation… A peerless gift, beloved by the heavens’ own spiritual energy…”
“Yun Zhongjun is… an Immaculate Immortal Body?”
Demon beasts ahead, cultivators behind, the spiritual barrier still in place—there was nowhere to run.
The timing and place for this revelation couldn’t have been worse.
Shang Can bit down hard on her tongue, using the pain to push away the creeping sense of helplessness.
Fine.
That familiar sweet scent lingered at her nose, a fragrance unlike normal blood. But in the end, it was just blood—thick, iron-scented, and clinging to the throat when swallowed.
Yunduan’s warmth was within reach, but Shang Can felt as though her heart was slowly sinking to the icy depths of a lake, forced to confront the terrible memories buried beneath its surface.
Beloved by heaven’s spiritual energy—what nonsense.
To Shang Can, it was nothing more than a bitter irony.
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