The atmosphere at the banquet on the top floor of Heavenly Wings Pavilion was tense yet strangely peculiar.
The item in Shi Song’s hand was eye-catching, with decent craftsmanship and design, but it lacked any trace of refinement or spiritual imbuement. Its dim glow paled in comparison to the “Heart-Connected Rhino Ring,” making it laughably inferior. Trying to exchange it for the ring was an obvious joke. Yet, seeing Shi Song’s serious demeanor, it was clear he wasn’t joking.
Zhou Youde’s expression darkened. Fearing Xie Yan was understandable—after all, Xie Yan had the Rifting Earth Sect backing him. But now, even Shi Song dared to humiliate him? Did they all truly think the people of Heart’s Desire Pavilion were easy to bully?
Just then, someone let out a sneering chuckle. “Could it be that he’s squandered too much, and the Thousand Spirit Gate has been drained dry?”
The speaker was Dong Yan, the sect master of the Immortal Sword Sect. He was a thin man with a plain face, narrow eyes that were often squinted as if he never got enough sleep. Most of the time, he was inconspicuous, but whenever he spoke, his words were sharp and venomous.
The Immortal Sword Sect was one of the five major forces in Cliff City. However, calling it a “major force” was a bit of a stretch, as the sect only had thirteen members, including Dong Yan himself. Yet, all thirteen were at the Divine Connectivity stage or higher, and they were highly skilled sword cultivators capable of slaying enemies from a hundred paces away. In pure combat strength, they rivaled the elite forces of any major power. Most importantly, they were fiercely united, following Dong Yan’s lead with absolute loyalty. In battle, they advanced and retreated as one, earning the nickname “The Thirteen Hawks”—a force no one could afford to underestimate.
Of course, no matter how powerful they were, their numbers were still too few, and they were outsiders in Cliff City, having only been there for about thirty years. They lacked territorial influence and instead operated under the protection of the Sun Light Sect, similar to guest elders but with greater autonomy.
Within the banquet hall, the five major forces of Cliff City had clear divisions. The Sun Light Sect and the Immortal Sword Sect were aligned, while the Thousand Spirit Gate and the Pure Water Altar formed another alliance. The Mysterious Yin Sect, as usual, remained neutral, merely observing.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ziyue and the other outsiders had been completely forgotten. Seeing the tension escalating to the brink of conflict, even a fool could tell that things were about to take a turn for the worse.
Shi Song turned to Dong Yan, unfazed by the taunt. Instead, he sneered proudly, “This White Bone Flute was forged from the remains of demons, monstrous birds, and fierce beasts slain by the united efforts of my Thousand Spirit Gate since the chaos in Sky Rift Valley began. My sect, isolated outside the city, has faced relentless attacks from these creatures. In one assault alone, seventy-five Divine Connectivity-level beasts and four Core Refinement demons attacked simultaneously. We held the line with blood and sweat until Immortal Xie Yan and others arrived to assist. This flute, made from the spoils of that battle—do you mean to tell me it’s not worthy of being exchanged for a mere magical artifact?”
Dong Yan’s already narrow eyes squinted even further, his gaze turning as sharp and icy as a blade.
Suppressing his displeasure, Zhou Youde forced a smile. “Master Shi, forgive me for being blunt, but this flute is a hard-won relic, stained with the blood of your disciples. It would be unwise to part with it so lightly.”
Though tactfully worded, his meaning was clear. Shi Song chuckled upon hearing it. “Stained with blood… Manager Zhou, well said.”
Lifting the White Bone Flute to his lips, he played an ancient and mournful tune. The sound that emerged was eerie, akin to the wailing of thousands of ghosts, piercing through the ears of everyone present. Just as the hall full of guests frowned in discomfort, another flash of firelight flickered outside. This time, it lasted much longer, flaring on and off without pause.
Jin Huan finally noticed the disturbance and furrowed his brows, motioning for Kuang Yanqi to investigate. Kuang Yanqi moved around the banquet table, while at the same time, the three long scars on Shi Song’s aged face twitched. He stared at Jin Huan and spoke in a low voice,
“There is something I need to verify with you, City Lord Jin.”
Jin Huan’s gaze remained cold and indifferent.
Shi Song continued, unfazed, “The Thousand Spirit Gate is isolated outside the city, and I can accept frequent demon attacks in the wake of the Sky Rift Valley’s upheaval. But what I can’t understand is why, on the seventh day of the first lunar month, four Core Refinement demons attacked at the same time, along with an innumerable horde of beasts. Beforehand, there wasn’t the slightest warning… If Immortal Xie Yan and the others hadn’t arrived when they did, my sect would have been annihilated. Even so, we still lost over forty percent of our disciples. In light of all this, City Lord Jin—do you have anything to say?”
Their gazes clashed in midair, but Jin Huan merely furrowed his brows. Not because of Shi Song’s accusations, but because of a sudden, inexplicable sense of unease rising within him.
Outside, Kuang Yanqi had reached the Cloud Bamboo Garden and was now overlooking the city. Jin Huan, possessing keen eyesight, saw the young man’s body tense up abruptly before he spun around in shock.
Before he could even cry out, a cold gleam flashed—blood sprayed into the air!
Jin Huan had already sensed danger, but he had never expected the attack to come from so close!
Too close! The flickering blade seemed to merge seamlessly with the banquet hall’s candlelight, and the strike was utterly silent. By the time Jin Huan fully realized what was happening, it was already too late. A sharp blade had pierced deep into his left side, sinking half a foot into his flesh!
A thunderous roar erupted as dazzling golden flames burst outward from Jin Huan, incinerating everything within five feet into ashes. The blade lodged in his body was ejected by the force, spinning through the air in a spiral of blood mist. Yet, despite the immense power crushing it, the weapon hummed as it straightened in midair, completely unscathed.
Just like its owner, with one decisive strike he succeeded. His figure, as ephemeral as smoke and mist, drifted outward and easily dodged the impact of the blazing flames. Then, extending his hand, the bloodstained sharp blade fell into her pristine white palm.
Wiping away some of the blood spatter from the white blade, Immortal Chi Yin’s usually aloof and languid expression cleared in an instant as she cooed, “If you’re going to attack, then attack—what’s with all the nonsense?”
In her words, a loud crash rang out as the rooftop of Heavenly Wings Pavilion exploded—Jin Huan had made his decision and fled. Meanwhile, below him, a low, bellowing “moo” sounded as a streak of dark golden radiance soared upward. In a flash, it pierced through the protective True Qi Flame encasing Jin Huan, striking him squarely on the shoulder and back.
Jin Huan let out another agonized roar as flames burst all over him, finally repelling that dark golden radiance. But amidst the nearly uncontrollable roar of the fire, the entire rooftop was blasted away, and the cold wind from outside rushed in fiercely.
As the dark golden radiance fell back, its form revealed itself to be that of a Vajra.
This was unleashed by the Monk Yixin.
“Go!”
It was Dong Yan who screamed. The moment Jin Huan was attacked, Dong Yan had reacted immediately. However, the closest person to him was Shi Song, and in an instant their sword light and Yin fire clashed, shattering the tables before them into fragments. Meanwhile, having been both pierced by a sword and struck with a pole, Jin Huan fled outside Heavenly Wings Pavilion. Not daring to linger, Dong Yan wielded his sword and soared after him—the shout was the signal.
Shi Song, seemingly concerned about Yu Ci behind him, did not pursue.
Hearing the cry from above, Jin Huan, already airborne, also intended to join forces with Dong Yan, and his movement momentarily faltered. But at that moment a chill ran through him as he looked up to see Lu Mingyue—who had, at some point, already flown above his head—laughing strangely. He resembled a bat swooping obliquely across the night sky.
Just then, Dong Yan’s sword light surged forward, and the two top sword cultivators of Cliff City instantly crossed paths. At the very center of their convergence was Jin Huan.
The second wave of blood mist exploded with a bang.
In that instant, countless wounds were torn across Jin Huan’s body, each one lacerated by sword energy that severed meridians and cut through his veins. This sword energy came from both Lu Mingyue and Dong Yan!
Unexpectedly, Jin Huan made not even a sound; yet his eyes were already glowing red, illuminated by the blaze of blood and flames.
He caught sight of the Dan Cliff across from the new city, where flames soared skyward and countless silhouettes leapt erratically in the fiery light, a chaotic dance.
The more he saw, the more silent he became.
In the next moment, rosy clouds spread across the night sky, their light illuminating half the heavens. At the center of this spectacle was a round pearl, initially only a couple of inches in diameter, but as the rosy glow expanded, it rapidly swelled to the size of a fist. It spun swiftly in the void, inhaling and exhaling red flames with a sizzling sound.
“Myriad Rays Draping Cloud Pearl!”
Both Lu Mingyue and Dong Yan were extremely wary of this pearl; upon seeing it, they no longer cared to amplify its effect and began to retreat. However, while Jin Huan could tolerate Lu Mingyue, he absolutely could not tolerate Dong Yan. His crimson eyes tracked Dong Yan’s movements as the latter had already formed hand seals to trigger the treasured pearl’s power.
With a sharp “swish,” the rosy light deflected—as if drawing in a folded fan or like a lashing whip—chasing after Dong Yan’s sword light. Just as it neared, it suddenly expanded again, reforming into a horizontal arc of rosy brilliance spanning the sky. Within that arc, hundreds of streaks of rosy light shot out like needles, instantly engulfing Dong Yan.
“Ah!”
Dong Yan cried out in pain, but he was formidable. In the critical moment, his sword light twisted and, with sheer will, he broke free from the barrage of rosy needles. Still, his body had already been pierced by many of them; the searing fire poison shattered his sword energy barrier and seeped in, causing sparks to fly from his nose and mouth:
“Fight on!”
Dong Yan was truly in a panic—and his shout actually had an effect.
Amidst boisterous laughter, Shi Song, who had been playing along earlier, soared upward. Simultaneously, a huge snake-like shadow—as thick as a bucket and over ten zhang long—pounced from the dark recesses of the cliff wall. Its gaping snake mouth lunged forward to bite Jin Huan.
*****
The upheaval on the upper floor came so suddenly that, just as the high-temperature blood mist began to spread through the building, the rooftop of Heavenly Wings Pavilion was blasted away. Burning beams shattered into thousands of fragments, mingling with bricks and stones as they scattered down the cliff like a meteor shower of fire.
Down below, the once constant calls from the corridors and courtyards on either side fell abruptly silent, only to be replaced by a ripple of commotion. A few daring souls craned their necks and looked upward, catching sight of Jin Huan enveloped in fierce flames as he soared into the sky, while the fierce sword energy of Dong Yan and Lu Mingyue—like venom-spitting snakes—wove in and out of his body, trailing swirling blood mist.
Then, when Jin Huan waved his hand and the rosy light surged forth, unleashing the “Myriad Rays Draping Cloud Pearl,” half the sky over Cliff City was bathed in its glow. The ensuing shockwave swept over the cliff, sending instantaneously charred rubble flying in all directions and causing the entire Heavenly Wings Pavilion to tremble.
At that moment, everyone fell silent.
Once the massive impact subsided, chaos was inevitable.
The cultivators and ordinary people upstairs still did not understand what had happened, but the more uncertainty there was, the more they feared the unpredictable consequences. It wasn’t clear who first broke the silence with a cry, and soon, screams filled the air.
On the side corridors and bridges, countless people scrambled in panic, desperate to escape the perilous high tower. And among the ordinary folks on the first, second, and third floors—hundreds of cultivators, martial artists, and the like—it was only a matter of time before a few unscrupulous individuals tried to take advantage of the chaos.
“Why panic!”
A deep, resonant shout—amplified by a special technique—reverberated throughout Heavenly Wings Pavilion.
With his hands clasped behind him, Yu Ci descended the stairs from the top floor and spoke calmly, “With Rifting Earth Sect present, no matter how Cliff City’s heavens may change, they are still firmly held within the grasp of Rifting Earth Sect. Is there any objection?”