The silver-armored insect hanging from Jian Dan's pendant burst out in a flash, instantly spreading across her robes like living armor. Jian Xu, Wu Siyuan, and Jian Gui all activated their defensive treasures while brandishing their swords, cutting down the reckless cultivators charging forward to self-detonate.
"Hmph! Still won't come out?" Jian Dan's eyes darkened. She turned to the others.
"Anyone charging in to self-detonate, send them straight back down into the rift that Jian Xu Zūnzhǔ carved into the ground. Even if they explode, make sure they blast him out. Don't let the target slip away."
Jian Dan flashed forward. The Obsidian Bracelet glowed, and she teleported beside a Nascent Soul cultivator, slamming them underground in a single strike. She reappeared beside another, doing the same without pause.
The display was so clean and fast that the other two immediately followed suit, except for Jian Xu Zūnzhǔ, who continued to unleash his Xuan Light Slash toward the same point underground.
The fissure now ran at least a hundred meters deep, but the target was still intact within a defensive formation. Only by breaking that array could they force him out.
Chaos reigned within the Fu Clan. When they saw black smoke erupting from underground and forcing cultivators to self-detonate, they scattered from the crack. The more powerful ones managed to hold off the smoke, but the weaker cultivators were reduced to walking bombs.
Jian Dan's spatial domain remained wide open, catching the attention of nearly every cultivator in Tianshu City. Patrol squads from the Heavenly Sword Sect began converging on the Fu Clan estate.
Following the instructions in his jade slip, Jian Ku took down every cultivator stationed in several storefronts, sealing their spiritual power and handing them over to the patrolling disciples. One shop resisted when they realized the situation had turned, so Jian Ku slaughtered them all and sealed off the entire building before turning them over as well.
Once Jian Ku revealed his Law Enforcement Hall token, the patrol disciples took over cleanup without hesitation.
Word of the chaos in Tianshu City reached both the Sect Master and the Law Enforcement Hall almost immediately.
Jian Chun, the Sect Master, asked, "Is this the Lw Enforcement Hall carrying out a sect mission?"
A nearby attendant replied truthfully, "It's Jian Lu Zūnzhǔ. She went to the Fu Clan."
"Oh? Didn't the Fu Clan's Ancestor go to confront Jian Lu Zūnzhǔ at the Law Enforcement Hall? Then why—"
"I'm not sure, Sect Master."
"Go ask the Law Enforcement Hall. Don't tell me they're about to flatten all of Tianshu City. They are sword cultivators. Do they forget that?"
The attendant nodded, wiped nonexistent sweat from his brow, and went to inquire.
Meanwhile, in the grand hall of the Law Enforcement Hall, the air felt thick with tension, almost like ice forming.
High above sat Tian Yun Zhēnzūn, glancing down at the jade slip in his hand as he spoke to Jian Li, who stood with a bowed head beside him.
"Jian Li, I see your cultivation has improved since you returned from Yunling City. You're almost ready to break through to late stage."
"Yes, Zhēnzūn. I gained some insight after a battle with a Unity-stage cultivator from the Jia Clan. Things have been chaotic since I got back to the sect, so I've been suppressing the breakthrough, waiting for the right time."
"You're too cautious. Jian Lu left the sect at late stage, and came back having perfected the realm. She didn't waste a moment."
"I am dull-witted, Zhēnzūn."
"You could always ask her for guidance. You're peers."
"Yes. Thank you for your advice."
"After this matter is settled, I'll approve your request for seclusion. Take time to improve. You can't always be the one getting overshadowed."
Sitting below was Fu Heng. Hearing Zhēnzūn's words, he felt as though the floor beneath him was made of needles.
"Fu Heng," Tian Yun Zhēnzūn continued, "You're aware of the situation with the Jia Clan in Yunling City, aren't you?"
"Yes, Zhēnzūn. The Jia Clan has truly overstepped. Fortunately, we received the sect's warning in time. Our Fu Clan happened to possess a Wind-Fixing Pearl, a gift from the Jia Clan when they tried to forge an alliance with us. It had been sitting unused in our treasury. Thankfully."
The Fu Clan Ancestor was quick to explain and distance himself.
Outside, Jian Sheng had already heard that Jian Lu was engaged in a full-scale battle in Tianshu City. That alone was proof something was very wrong with the Fu Clan. He entered the hall with a jade slip, handed it to Jian Li, and gave a subtle nod.
Jian Li understood immediately and offered the jade slip to Tian Yun Zhēnzūn.
Zhēnzūn scanned it with his divine sense and chuckled.
"That Jian Lu really is impatient. She's already at the Fu Clan."
The Fu Clan Ancestor's eyelids twitched violently. He stood up to take his leave, unsure what Jian Lu was doing at his home, though he didn't dare think too hard about it.
"Zhēnzūn, if Jian Lu is at the Fu Clan, it must be about Jian Yu. I'd best return immediately."
"Good. Wherever you are, just be sure to explain everything clearly."
Tian Yun Zhēnzūn tore open space within the grand hall and said to those present, "Let's go."
Jian Li, Jian Sheng, and Jian Ning followed. The Fu Clan Ancestor had no choice but to steel himself and go with them.
As they emerged from the spatial tear, the Fu Clan estate was nearly leveled. Jian Dan and Jian Xu had broken through the underground defenses and forced the hidden cultivators into the open.
With waves of demonic energy tearing through Jian Dan's domain, the evil cultivators instantly locked onto her presence.
Jian Dan and Jian Xu floated midair. Wu Siyuan and Jian Gui remained stone-faced as they cut down Fu Clan cultivators who had fallen under control.
Seeing this, the Fu Clan Ancestor realized it was over. The Fu Clan was finished.
"Fu Heng," said Tian Yun Zhēnzūn coldly, "When we return to the Law Enforcement Hall, you will explain everything to me in detail. I had no idea there was a Unity-stage demon cultivator hiding right under my nose."
His voice clung to Fu Heng like a curse. Fu Heng wanted to protest, but the moment they exited the spatial tear, he realized he was already within Zhēnzūn's domain. Any attempt to resist would result in instant obliteration.
"…Yes," he said weakly.
Below, the true battle was just beginning. Yue Liang stood perched on Jian Dan's shoulder, its black eyes flickering constantly before sending her a spiritual message.
"Zūnzhǔ, this one is stronger than the demon cultivator we encountered in Tianyue City. I don't know how many souls he's trapped in his body. His entire Primordial Soul has turned a sickly purple-black."
"Got it. Let's tear through his skin first."
"Understood. Be careful, Zūnzhǔ. He might try to attach part of his soul to you. With me here, you're safe, but the others need to be cautious."
"No problem."
She called out, "Senior Brother, Siyuan, Jian Gui—catch!"
Jian Dan swiped her storage bangle, and three golden prayer bead bracelets glowing with Buddhist light landed on each of their wrists. The surrounding black mist immediately recoiled.
"Buddhist cultivators…" came a voice like coarse sand grinding against bone.
Jian Dan grinned. "I learned a thing or two."
She drew the Mò Xī Jiàn and slashed out with Flames of Heaven. Jian Xu followed with Golden Severance. Wu Siyuan unleashed Spring Rain upon Blossoms, his blade flowing with vibrant spiritual energy. Jian Gui followed up with Nine Strikes of the Heavenly Sword.
The evil cultivator floating midair suddenly unfurled a black, triangular banner. Thick black mist spiraled from it, and the wails of countless trapped souls pierced everyone's eardrums.
"The Banner of Ten Thousand Souls," Tian Yun Zhēnzūn growled, recognizing the artifact at once. He pulled Fu Heng toward him and placed one hand over his head to begin a soul search.
The instant the banner appeared, every strand of fur on Yue Liang's body stood on end. For the first time, it sent a desperate message:
"Zūnzhǔ! We have to kill him. That soul banner was made from raccoon beast hides—like mine—with innate spiritual abilities!"