The Heavenly Nether Sect?
Their identity wasn't fully clear at first, but their actions were brutally domineering, showing zero respect for the Plum Blossom Sword Sect.
When the disciples heard that name, many froze.
Wu Yao peeked out from her cabin.
Seeing the blue-haired youth standing arrogantly, aura fierce and overwhelming, she instinctively retreated.
If he wanted to pass, let him pass.
Why invite disaster over something trivial?
But of course—
There were always fools.
Or people who believed they could handle anything.
Zhu Xiao leapt onto the bow of the ship, voice cold.
"So what if you're from the Heavenly Nether Sect? You destroyed our warship—give an explanation!"
"Otherwise, you're not passing today!"
He raised his arm and shouted, "Plum Blossom Sword Sect disciples—where are you?!"
This should've been the Young Sect Master's job.
But the Young Sect Master was dead.
So Zhu Xiao, as the commander's son, believed he could take the stage.
Among these disciples, he had the hardest background now.
And with his father nearby…
Why fear anyone?
Wu Yao cursed silently.
Idiot.
Couldn't he see how terrifying that man was?
With Zhu Xiao's strength, he wasn't even enough to fill the gap between teeth.
The blue-haired youth looked over with amused interest.
Someone dared challenge him?
The Plum Blossom Sword Sect actually had someone with guts?
Boom!
A sword qi sweep erupted.
The ship Zhu Xiao stood on was blown apart instantly, disciples splashing into the water.
Zhu Xiao himself was grabbed by the throat and lifted into the air.
Dangling.
Helpless.
"You want to challenge me?"
"Are you qualified?"
The youth's lips curled in disdain.
Weak—yet loud.
"Release Senior Brother Zhu!""If you've got guts, come down and fight one-on-one!"
Some shouted.
Some even attacked.
Boom!
Zhu Xiao crushed a jade talisman.
A burst of light flared, scorching the blue-haired youth's palm.
He loosened his grip.
Zhu Xiao seized the moment and retreated.
"Plum Blossom Sword Sect disciples—form up!"
The disciples began assembling a formation they were all required to learn.
A defensive array against external enemies.
The more people, the stronger its power.
The Plum Blossom Falling Anvil Formation.
Once formed, each "petal" of sword qi carried crushing force—like an anvil falling from the sky.
Under Zhu Xiao's call, many disciples charged out eagerly.
Wu Yao didn't want to fight.
But as a disciple, if she didn't participate now, she could be reported later.
And Zhu Xiao would use it as leverage again.
So she moved.
Whoosh!
Wu Yao and several other strong Star River Realm disciples joined in.
Anyone who cultivated in the Thousand Slaughter Riverlands had real strength.
The blue-haired youth swept his gaze around, contemptuous.
"Interesting. So you're not afraid to die."
"Remember this name."
"The one killing you…"
"The Heavenly Nether Sect—Nalan Jing."
Nalan Jing.
Wu Yao's heart sank.
A notorious madman.
A rabid dog.
Once he latched onto you, he didn't let go.
And with the Heavenly Nether Sect behind him…
Few dared offend him.
Zhu Xiao also flinched.
If he'd known it was Nalan Jing, he would've let him pass.
But now it was too late.
He was already riding the tiger—he couldn't climb down.
Face mattered.
He refused to be looked down upon.
"Damn it… brothers, kill him!"
He charged, teeth clenched.
But Nalan Jing's strength was monstrous.
The formation of a dozen Star River disciples was nothing before a Moon Wheel cultivator.
Bang!
Wu Yao's scarlet staff trembled violently as she was forced back.
A blood hole opened on her shoulder.
Blood stained her cheek.
Nalan Jing's weapon was a hooked iron halberd.
The barb had punched that hole through her shoulder.
"You're actually somewhat threatening," Nalan Jing said with amusement.
Wu Yao steadied herself. She didn't want to be his enemy.
But she had no choice.
Then—
Zhu Xiao scrambled up from the wreckage, coughing, clutching his chest.
"Wu Yao, hold him off! I'm going to find my father!"
He fled toward Thousand Luo Mountain.
Leaving injured disciples behind.
Leaving the mess he caused behind.
Wu Yao wasn't surprised.
She had long seen his nature.
Nalan Jing laughed.
"Your senior brother ran."
Wu Yao inhaled slowly, forcing herself calm.
"Our combat elders will arrive soon."
"There are seventeen Moon Wheel experts."
"Can you withstand that?"
"If you leave now, we won't stop you."
"Stop me?" Nalan Jing sneered. "Do you have the ability?"
"Maybe not," Wu Yao said, eyes fierce, "but I can still make things unpleasant for you."
That savage edge wasn't learned in sect halls.
She had survived the streets.
She lived by fist and ruthlessness.
Even as a woman, once she turned ruthless—
The consequences were never clean.
Nalan Jing's smile deepened, gaze heating.
"I like your temperament."
"I'll give you two choices."
"Follow me… or die."
Clack.
Wu Yao pressed a mechanism on her staff.
The scarlet staff split and reassembled.
A bowstring snapped into place.
The ends curved—
The Scarlet Savage Bow.
When Nalan Jing saw the dense, intricate patterns carved into it, his face shifted.
"An Ancient-Method Divine Weapon?!"
"I didn't expect you to have something like this."
Greed flashed in his eyes.
Every Ancient-Method Divine Weapon carried terrifying power.
Obtaining one could boost strength dramatically.
Wu Yao drew the bow and aimed.
A blinding light gathered.
Her mystic energy poured into the bow nonstop.
Humm—
Nalan Jing's body tightened.
He could feel it—
The bow had locked onto him completely.
But he didn't dodge.
"Let me feel how strong an Ancient-Method Divine Weapon really is."
He roared, condensing a bark-like armor of mystic energy before him.
Wu Yao gathered everything.
"Hah!"
A light arrow shot out.
Boom!
It pierced straight through the bark armor—
And through Nalan Jing's body.
The half-conscious, injured disciples stared in shock.
Did he… die?
That arrow was too terrifying.
But Wu Yao's expression didn't relax at all.
She knew—
It hadn't fully hit.
Because what she shot was only…
A clone.
A voice sounded behind everyone.
"Not bad."
"This weapon can heavily injure me."
"I like it."
"I'm taking it."
Nalan Jing stood there, unharmed.
Blue hair, cold eyes.
Alive.
Wu Yao cursed silently.
Careless.
She tried to draw another arrow, but her mystic energy was already nearly exhausted.
She could only raise the bow, bluffing, trying to force hesitation.
Nalan Jing's eyes turned icy.
Killing intent locked onto her.
Just as he was about to strike—
Two figures emerged from the forest.
"Didn't expect it to be this close," Lin Ye said lazily.
"If I'd known, I wouldn't have taken the long route."
Luo Gui sighed. "Back then there were too many Plum Blossom Sword Sect people. We had no choice."
Lin Ye glanced at the battlefield.
Cratered ground.
Corpses.
Injured disciples.
"Oh? Fighting?"
"Carry on. We'll pass by."
He and Luo Gui moved to detour around them—basic courtesy when someone else was "handling business."
Wu Yao froze.
Those two…
The ones tied to the Young Sect Master's death.
They were leaving?
But Nalan Jing suddenly frowned.
A bottle at his waist lit up.
His gaze snapped onto Lin Ye and Luo Gui.
"Stop."