At the Heavenly Sword Sect's Law Enforcement Hall, Yu Yuanhai found himself blocked by the scruffy-faced man from earlier. His brow furrowed slightly as he spoke.
"That broken sword you sold me, it really was only worth two mid-grade spirit stones."
"Bah! That's dirty business, Boss. My buddy told me that sword was worth at least a hundred mid-grade stones. If you'd shorted me one or two, I wouldn't have made a fuss, but this? You better make it right. Either cough up the difference or give the sword back. One way or another, I expect a fair deal."
Passersby paused to listen. It was the usual scene—someone unhappy after a transaction, stirring up trouble to pressure the shopkeeper into paying more. Some merchants, wanting to avoid a scene, might give in just to smooth things over.
But Yu Yuanhai was not one of them.
"If you think I'm going to hand over more spirit stones, forget it. That sword isn't worth whatever fantasy price your friend fed you. If you're unhappy, take your sword back. I'll refund your two stones."
"Fine! Let's go get it right now. Don't think I don't know what you're up to—you probably already picked it clean!"
Without waiting for a reply, the man grabbed Yu Yuanhai's sleeve and started pulling him back toward the shop. The crowd, seeing the entertainment was over, quickly dispersed.
But just as they reached a corner, the scruffy man suddenly teleported, yanking Yu Yuanhai into a narrow alley. In the blink of an eye, the man shoved him into a formation that had been set up in advance. The alley fell completely silent.
"Who are you?" Yu Yuanhai asked, forcing himself to stay calm. He needed to understand what this man was after.
"You're not worthy of that answer."
A crushing pressure descended. Divine Soul level. Yu Yuanhai dropped to one knee, blood spilling from his lips. His attacker didn't hold back—his inner organs were shattered in an instant. A clawed hand reached down, aiming for Yu Yuanhai's head.
With clenched teeth, Yu Yuanhai activated a life-saving talisman given by his clan's elder. The burst of Divine Soul-level power knocked the hand aside, sparing him—for now.
Seizing the moment, he pulled out a teleportation talisman. "Escape first, think later."
But just as the talisman activated, a fist shadow shattered it on impact.
Yu Yuanhai gritted his teeth. As a Nascent Soul cultivator, and a Law Enforcement cultivator at that, he knew the situation was dire. His only hope was to stall the enemy.
He summoned "Ward," a top-grade defensive spirit treasure unique to the Law Enforcement Hall. A sword-shaped aura encased him like a barrier.
The next attack came instantly.
Boom.
The sword-shaped light wavered.
Boom.
The barrier flickered again, already destabilizing.
Ignoring his broken organs, Yu Yuanhai shoved a Small Restoration Pill into his mouth, then summoned his natal spirit sword. He would fight if he had to.
His defensive treasure shattered. He didn't hesitate. With blood in his throat and fire in his veins, he slashed nine times in quick succession—"Nine Forms of the Heavenly Sword," one strike flowing into the next, targeting the claw that reached for him.
"Tch. Parlor tricks." The attacker snorted in disdain. His fists shattered the sword shadows one by one. The difference between Nascent Soul and Divine Soul was clear.
Now finished gauging his opponent, Hua Chunshan made his move. A massive hand formed from spiritual qi shot toward Yu Yuanhai's head.
Yu Yuanhai's eyes burned with fury.
At that moment, Jian Dan arrived, guided by Liu Chuan. Through the formation, she saw exactly what was happening.
"Liu Chuan!"
Liu Chuan transformed into a whip as thick as an arm and lashed out at the formation node. With a sharp crack, the barrier broke.
He retreated into Jian Dan's wrist, voice lazy and drained. "That took everything out of me. Don't ask me for anything else today."
"Understood." Jian Dan responded just as Mó Yuè Zhǎn spun in her hand, shattering the spiritual qi hand reaching for Yu Yuanhai.
The sudden clash drew attention from nearby cultivators.
Hua Chunshan responded by releasing his Divine Soul pressure. Dozens of nearby cultivators crumpled instantly.
Jian Dan waved a sleeve, sweeping bystanders out of harm's way.
With a thought, Mó Yuè Zhǎn split into countless smaller blades, swarming Hua Chunshan. She wasn't trying to kill, only stall.
She stepped beside the stunned Yu Yuanhai and grabbed his arm. Without a word, she began teleporting away from the city, dragging him with her across a hundred-li stretch in moments.
Hua Chunshan stared at the fleeing pair, dumbfounded. A demon cultivator saving a Heavenly Sword Sect disciple?
This again?
Just like in the Tian Mo. And again, it was the same woman.
He couldn't act last time—it was her territory. But now? He wouldn't let her go. She had ruined his plans too many times.
He gave chase.
Moments later, three figures arrived where Jian Dan had disappeared. It was clear she was luring someone away.
Mo Qi's face darkened with killing intent.
"Mo Su, notify Zunzhě. Tell him to help Jian Dan."
"Mo Yi, inform the sect cultivators stationed nearby. Say there's a target to test themselves on. Get the formation ready. We end this here."
"Yes, Senior Sister."
The two obeyed instantly, vanishing alongside her in the same direction.
Jian Dan, flying at full speed, was growing exhausted. She missed Cotton Candy terribly. Dragging an injured man, staying ahead of her pursuer, and keeping him on the hook—none of it was easy.
A deep voice reached her ears.
"Lead him into the southwestern kan position. I left an opening there."
Mo Zhang Zunzhě.
Jian Dan's eyes lit up. She sped up at once, veering southwest. As a parting gift, she hurled a top-grade Exploding Talisman over her shoulder. It wouldn't kill, but it'd surely annoy him.
Hua Chunshan accelerated in turn. A massive fist shadow followed, crashing toward Jian Dan's back.
She turned mid-air, let go of Yu Yuanhai, and summoned a black fist through her Obsidian Bracelet. It collided with the incoming punch.
She was knocked flying, but held firm. Hua Chunshan's eyes narrowed. "A body cultivator too?"
"A woman in the early stages of Divine Transformation had taken my punch head-on and lived?
This one couldn't be allowed to escape."
He teleported, closing the distance. A claw reached for her dantian.
Jian Dan smiled. As the attack neared, a thick willow vine wrapped around Hua Chunshan's wrist. With a tug, both of them vanished into a hidden formation.
Yu Yuanhai stood frozen outside, utterly speechless.
"You're lucky. Get out of here."
A flash of red swept past. Mo Qi appeared, offering only a glance and a word. With a flick of her hand, she helped him escape.
As he fled, he looked back one last time.
Three figures—three Divine Transformation demon cultivators—disappeared into the same place where Jian Dan had vanished.