A hundred-plus Yuányīng Zhēnzhūn had extended their divine senses, surrounding the arena to witness the clash of two high-level cultivators. This was live combat training—an invaluable lesson for them.
Within the spatial barrier, punches flew faster and movements blurred until both fighters became afterimages. Nascent Soul disciples struggled to track the strikes; only Divine Transformation and Divine Soul cultivators could still follow the moves.
As Jian Dan attacked, the circulation route forged by her Ice Jade Demon Body Technique began drawing in ambient spiritual energy. It further awakened the half-drop of pheasant-bird blood essence tucked in her bloodline.
Yes, blood essence. Jian Dan had taken only three drops of blood from Yingge, out of compassion. But one drop contained half a drop of Yingge's pure blood essence, thanks to his bone-melting abilities, leaving her with rare refinement power.
Now, that hidden blood essence surged. In battle it amplified her strength, refining her arm bones and pushing her attack power to a whole new level.
Far away in the Flame Pool of the Bai Honghe clan territory, Yingge sensed this. Though unconscious, he felt his bloodline igniting. In a dreamlike state he saw Shan Yunzu in danger, fighting a man. He could not stay idle.
Yingge's instinct took over. He unconsciously accelerated the refinement of his own bloodline and cheered mentally, "You've got this! I'm lending you my strength."
Unaware, Jian Dan and Yingge's bloodlines resonated. Yingge's essence blended with her qi, forging a resonance. One plus one became greater than two.
Within the barrier, Jian Dan felt her power steadily climb—the familiar sensation washing over her. She could not help but smile.
Thanks to Yingge, her phoenix-phantom fists became sharper, their crushing force increased by ten-thousand jin. Hua family elder Hua Chunshan, who earlier held advantage, now fought to keep pace. As a Divine Soul cultivator, he sensed each of her attacks compounded with fire-element power—his opposing water-element strength hindered him.
A crystalline phoenix cry rang out. A full phoenix phantom burst from her fist, striking Hua Chunshan and sending him crashing downward. The barrier's ground cracked under the blow.
He spat blood, his body ignited by raging flame—an unfamiliar and lethal fire. It carried Yingge's soul-fire, the Phoenix Flame. Hua Chunshan reeled in shock.
"Mó Yuè Zhǎn!!"
In that moment, Jian Dan and the spirit of Mó Yuè Zhǎn were in silent communion. The spirit sensed her intent: she struck with fire but refused to kill. It absorbed her demonic energy like a sponge.
In her dantian, the little Jian Dan-shaped spirit did not hesitate. She summoned the Yin-Yang Tai Chi Disk overhead, feeding it with constant spiritual energy. The transformed demonic energy surged into Mó Yuè Zhǎn.
Mó Yuè Zhǎn manifested in its complete moon-arc form—taller than heaven itself, glowing with cold steel light and rolling demonic qi. Its silent slash froze the scene.
Three breaths were enough. Jian Dan's demonic and spiritual qi emptied, her blood vessels screamed in pain, and the tiny avatar in her dantian slumped as the Tai Chi Disk spun furiously to absorb extraneous spiritual energy.
Once the fatal strike landed, Mó Yuè Zhǎn automatically retracted to miniature form, returned to her dantian, slowly returning to quiescent energy intake.
Hua Chunshan's expression froze in shock. His body split—his Yuányīng dissipated and perished.
A deep silence followed. The power of Mó Yuè Zhǎn's full form had crushed everyone's senses. Even Mo Zhang Zūnzhě took a step back.
Jian Dan didn't end the barrier. She reached and retrieved all Hua Chunshan's storage items. Then she sat cross-legged as spirit stones floated around, drawing energy to close her depletion.
A quarter-hour passed. Channels refilled, her face regained color. Half-finished spirit stones turned gray and were reabsorbed into her ring.
Jian Dan performed a hand-seal and closed the spatial barrier, now resting in her palm. Though still pale, she no longer looked weak.
"Mó Yuè Zhǎn and I thank Zūnzhě for holding the formation, and we appreciate everyone's support. This is the spoils. Zūnzhě, please distribute."
She presented an antique storage ring in midair using air-treading technique.
Rarely did Mo Zhang Zūnzhě smile—but he did now. He accepted the ring and addressed his sect.
"Today was a drill for your skills. Though we didn't get to fight, observe this session in detail. Understand it thoroughly."
"Yes!" A hundred demon cultivators responded in unison.
"Board the ship. We depart."
With that, Mo Zhang Zūnzhě vanished. Jian Dan sensed the exposure from Mó Yuè Zhǎn's full form and knew they needed to move. She boarded the vessel.
Mo Qi appeared beside her mid-air, smiling with admiration. "Impressive. Your Mó Yuè Zhǎn is ruthless. I can see you pushed yourself."
"A bit," Jian Dan admitted.
"Use the journey to recover," Mo Qi advised.
Jian Dan nodded and, with Mo Qi's help, boarded. Demon Palace cultivators stepped aside, their eyes filled with awe. They traveled unobstructed back to their training quarters.
Back at the Bai Honghe clan's Flame Pool, Yingge flapped his wings joyfully as his bloodline refined faster in the flames.
Detecting the ripple, Patriarch Bai Jue dropped his nine-tailed beast idol and appeared beside the pool, astonished.
"Tsk tsk," he said, smiling. "Your little one has more talent than you."
The nine-tailed beast flicked its tails in agreement.
Bai Jue's expression shifted from joy to deep concern. The nine-tailed shook its head.
"It's not about control. Talent is granted with purpose. Worrying won't help. Yingge's power comes with responsibility. He must take the next step himself."
"I know," Bai Jue replied softly. "Sometimes I selfishly wish he never cultivated, just live peacefully. But I will protect him."
"You are not him. You do not know what he desires."