With the cultivators of the Heavenly Demon Palace joining the fray, no new cases of parasitism occurred among the defenders. The pressure across the battlefield eased significantly.
Seeing that the tide had stabilized, Jian Dan, Mo Su, and Mo Yi no longer remained in the rear to guard the formation. Each drew their weapons and charged into the heart of the battlefield.
Jian Dan's Mó Yuè Zhǎn surged with fury. After sweeping through the annoying black carapace bugs, it returned to her side like a loyal hound.
As Jian Dan stepped into the central battle zone, Mó Yuè Zhǎn split into two. One stayed near her, ready to counter at a moment's notice. The other darted across the field, each spinning arc decapitating a blade mantis beast with chilling precision.
At the same time, Jian Dan activated the Ice-Skin Jade-Bone Demon Body Art and danced across the battlefield with Shadowstep. With each strike, she shattered rows of mantis beasts.
Soon, the blade mantis beasts began avoiding her altogether.
One of the massive black carapace bugs flapped its wings and let out a sharp "ji ji" screech. In an instant, everything around Jian Dan fell into an eerie vacuum.
"Mo Yue, tone it down, will you? Can't you see even the bugs are running scared of you?" Mo Yi shouted, though his hands didn't stop moving. His mountain-splitting axe cleaved through another giant insect's armor with brutal ease.
Chunks of flesh flew as the black carapace bug shrieked and collapsed. The squad from the Heavenly Demon Palace wasted no time in dispatching it for good.
Using the corpse as a springboard, Mo Yi leapt onto a flying centipede overhead.
This centipede was nearly fifty meters long. Every writhing appendage launched white orbs of energy down toward the cultivators below.
The Black Robe Guard intercepted it midair, coordinating with the Life and Death Pavilion's cultivators in a joint attack.
Mo Yi landed atop the creature's head. He raised his axe again. With a roar, he brought it down. The flying centipede shrieked in agony, its long body writhing to throw him off.
"You be careful too, Mo Yi. Don't let it toss you off like a ragdoll," Jian Dan called back casually.
"Focus on the battlefield," Mo Su warned sharply.
Jian Dan scanned the scene with her divine sense. The blade mantis beasts, previously scattered by the assault, were regrouping. The black carapace bugs had begun deliberately drawing the Divine Transformation cultivators toward them.
'So they're starting to use tactics now.'
Behind the front line of black carapace bugs, others had already begun to vibrate their wings, preparing to unleash a powerful wave attack.
"Hmph. Trying to lure us in and then swarm us? Not unless I let you."
"Heavenly Demon Palace cultivators, heed my command. Break formation. Punch through to the outer perimeter. Join forces with other sect cultivators and wipe out the mantis beasts completely."
Her voice echoed above the battlefield. The Heavenly Demon Palace responded immediately, dissolving their formation and forcing their way out of the mantis swarm.
"Divine Transformation cultivators, circle behind the black carapace bugs and block their retreat. Let them choke on their own schemes."
The ten squad leaders from the Heavenly Demon Palace instantly stepped onto formations. One blink later, they vanished from sight—reappearing behind the clustered black carapace bugs.
Each swiftly slapped a sealing talisman on a bug's rear, made a quick hand seal, and retreated just before the explosions erupted.
Booms resounded one after another. The black carapace bugs, caught mid-charge by their own brewing energy waves, exploded into powder. With a wave of her hand, Jian Dan summoned silver-armored insects to dismantle their remains. Flesh vanished in an instant, while the carapaces were sorted and preserved.
Realizing their ambush had failed, the black carapace bugs' leader screeched in panic, trying to recall the remaining swarm. But the cultivators would never allow that.
"All cultivators present, hear me. Form triangle formations in threes. Nine groups make a unit. Rotate and strike. However many bugs came today, none leave alive."
"Yes, Zūnzhě!"
The Heavenly Demon Palace moved first. Every three nearby cultivators immediately formed up. Twenty-seven people surged forward like a coiling steel whip, lashing into the swarm.
Mo Su saw that some of the other sects were still frozen. He quickly began arranging nearby cultivators into groups, calling out:
"Mo Yi, Mo Yue, help get them into formation."
Without hesitation, the two moved. They gathered scattered cultivators, flicking their fingers to guide each into position.
"Senior brothers, shall we go meet the biggest one?"
"Let's do it."
Mo Yi had been itching to take on that one, but couldn't tackle it alone. The moment Mo Yue suggested it, she had his full support.
"Be careful. That one isn't just any black carapace bug. I think it inherited something," Mo Su warned, his tone grim.
Jian Dan secretly messaged Liu Chuan.
"Chuan, what's going on with this one?"
"Ugh, even without wind, it reeks three li away. Now this... this is a real insect. Much nastier than the dumb ones."
"Senior brothers, we have to take this one down."
"Oh? Why's that?"
"Chuan says it's the strongest in the swarm."
"Then of course we're taking it out. Let's go!"
The three had fought together for years, their coordination flawless. Mo Yi's mountain-splitting axe tore through the swarm, a path opening in the thick wall of insects.
Before the bugs could close the gap, the trio teleported with Step Within a Foot, instantly drawing close to their target.
Sensing the oncoming threat, the lead black carapace bug screamed, calling nearby bugs away from their fights to form a protective shield.
"Clinging to life, huh?"
"Speed it up, don't let it get away."
Mó Yuè Zhǎn flew ahead, suppressing the enemy. Shadowy afterimages trailed the trio. Everywhere they passed, broken limbs and shattered shells remained.
Within mere seconds, they closed in on the leader.
The giant bug let out a piercing shriek. The sonic blast shook the air. Caught off guard, blood trickled from their ears, eyes, and mouths.
Jian Dan didn't stop to wipe her face. Mó Yuè Zhǎn split into six blades, each targeting one of the bug's legs.
"Cut!"
As her voice fell, the six blades shot toward the joints. Mo Su's poison dagger, Cold Moon Edge, followed, freezing each joint solid.
Before the ice could shatter, Mó Yuè Zhǎn struck home. All six legs were severed at once.
"So you want to play dirty, huh?"
Mo Yi wiped the blood from his face. Sparks flared from his twin axes.
"Heaven-Sundering Slash!"
The massive axe shadow crashed down onto the bug's belly. With no legs left to shield itself, the insect took a clean cross-shaped wound to the abdomen.
The shrieks came louder and faster.
This time, the trio were prepared. They sealed their five senses, extending only their divine senses to avoid the sonic damage.
"Liu Chuan!"
Jian Dan called out. Liu Chuan shot from her wrist, diving straight into the gash Mo Yi had carved.
"Tough shell, damn it!"
He grumbled but didn't slow down, wreaking havoc inside the bug's guts.
Meanwhile, Mo Su struck at its wings. Each time one froze, he shattered it before it could break free.
Bit by bit, the membrane wings were shredded. With attacks coming from above and below, the black carapace bug was helpless. Its injuries deepened, and in its frenzy, it flipped over.
Now its belly faced the sky and its wings slammed downward, trying to crush Mo Su in a desperate, suicidal attack.