The cultivators from the Tang clan and those who had just echoed their complaints were stunned. They stared blankly for a moment before realizing that the four team leaders were gone. That could only mean one thing—keep moving forward, or they were on their own.
The cultivators from Mo Ying Peak had already split into three teams, each following their own assigned path. They were long used to Jian Dan's decisive manner. As for the one who had just stirred up trouble, his words had clearly been meant to target Mo Yue. Now that things had backfired, they would see how he handled the mess he made.
Gong Yi, leading Mo Ying Peak's forces, felt nothing but disdain. He had no interest in walking beside such troublemakers. And now, with an easy excuse at hand, he wasted no time. Checking the hour, he turned to the Mo Ying Peak cultivators and said,
"Everyone done adjusting your breath? If so, we move out."
The cultivators nodded and quickly regrouped. With a wave of his hand, Gong Yi led them forward.
Other peaks had received messages beforehand, so this development came as no surprise. They already knew how to make choices that benefited them, and without hesitation, they followed Gong Yi's team forward in an orderly formation.
The Tang clan lost the first round completely. Their instigating cultivator didn't even get a glance from the others before being abandoned.
Left with no choice, the Tang cultivators grit their teeth and followed. In a place like this, no one could predict what dangers lay ahead. Without a high-ranking cultivator's protection, falling behind the main force was as good as courting death.
Gong Yi remained at the front, guiding the path according to the markers Mo Yue had left earlier. As they moved, he discreetly transmitted a message to the leaders of every group—excluding the Tang clan.
"Daoyou, Mo Yue Zhūnzhǔ had us shorten the rest periods after entering the valley for two reasons. First, to help everyone adapt to the environment faster. Second, this pressure will force your meridians to expand, giving you a chance to push past your limits. It's a painful step, but it lays the foundation for deeper advancement later."
He added, "The orders were clear. For the first three hundred li, we push ourselves. After that, we'll ease the pace slightly. And as you all know, the four Zhūnzhǔ and Zūnzhě are heading to the frontlines. Delays on our part could cost us valuable opportunities."
"We understand. You don't need to explain further," one leader responded. "They have their responsibilities. We have ours."
Privately, each squad had already reached the same conclusion. With mutual understanding, their movements grew more fluid. The Tang clan, however, had clearly miscalculated. Struggling to keep up, they lacked the time to properly refine the demonic qi. Compared to the other teams, their breakthroughs were far less efficient.
Meanwhile, Jian Dan and the other three had left the stragglers far behind, traveling at blistering speed. Their movements blurred into shadows of light. If not for the instability of the subspace and the risk of insect sensing the ripples, they would have torn through space straight to the battlefield.
—
Middle Segment, Gourd's Mouth - Ming Valley
Shēngsǐ Kuángjūn was growing increasingly irritable. In less than half a month, the three sects—Demonic Sound Sect, Nine Fiends Hall, and Life and Death Pavilion—had all lost ground under pressure from the insect.
These insectoids seemed endless. They attacked in coordinated waves, mixing armored beetles with great scythe mantises and flying centipedes. Just as the cultivators began to adapt to one pattern, the enemy introduced colossal beetles, catching them off guard once more.
The three sects split their forces into three fronts, doing their utmost to prevent the insect from breaching the middle sector. They could not lose any more ground. Losing territory was already disgraceful enough—if they allowed the Heavenly Demon Palace's foothold to fall, they would become the laughingstock of the cultivation world.
The battles over the past two days had been brutal. With pride on the line, every sect had poured in their strongest techniques, barely managing to hold the line.
On the battlefield, Demonic Sound Sect cultivators played battle melodies to boost morale. Nine Fiends Hall unleashed refined killing aura to burn away insect larvae. Life and Death Pavilion focused on besieging the massive armored beetles.
Jian Dan's group arrived just in time to witness this chaotic scene. Without needing to speak, the four exchanged glances and split up to reinforce each front.
Her Mó Yuè Zhǎn had already begun to tremble. With a flick of her wrist, the blade fragmented into thousands of slashes, instantly wiping out waves of lesser bugs.
Mo Su's Cold Moon Dagger cut two arcs through the air, sealing the insect's advance. As the blades cleaved through the mist, icy needles followed, targeting the swarming flying centipedes.
Mo Yi, wielding a mountain-splitting axe, brought it down hard, splitting one of the giant beetles in half. He then leapt onto the back of another. Sensing danger, the beast flapped its wings wildly, trying to throw him off.
Mo Qi, a flash of crimson lightning, spun like a top with twin blades, carving a path through the swarm of mantises. Wherever she passed, mangled limbs were all that remained.
Their arrival instantly eased the pressure on the defending cultivators, who quickly regrouped and launched a counteroffensive. The deadlock was finally broken.
Shēngsǐ Kuángjūn beheaded the last flying centipede, reabsorbed the life-death dual qi, and rushed toward the group.
Jian Dan's black robe billowed as she stepped forward without ceremony.
"Where are the Ming Beasts?" she demanded.
The leading cultivators of the three sects gathered near, all caught off guard by the question. They exchanged awkward glances before looking toward Shēngsǐ Kuángjūn.
"Greetings, Mo Yue Zhūnzhǔ. The fault lies with us. A gap opened in the front line during the last wave. We had no choice but to split our forces. Some remained with the Ming Beasts to stall the attack, while the rest of us cleaned up the stragglers here," Shēngsǐ Kuángjūn explained, clearly uncomfortable.
He had not expected that in just half a month, Mo Yue had already stepped into Void Refinement. With that kind of cultivation speed, when would he ever catch up?
Jian Dan's expression darkened.
"You're the elite of your respective sects, and this is the standard of defense you present?" Her voice was sharp. "I never expected you to push forward, but handing over the territory my Heavenly Demon Palace fought for? That, I cannot accept."
"Zhūnzhǔ, that's too harsh," a Divine Soul cultivator from Nine Fiends Hall argued. "We've been fighting nonstop!"
"How long have you been fighting? Half a month? A month?" Jian Dan narrowed her eyes. "It took us twenty years to drive the insect into the latter half of Ming Valley. Who are you to refute me?"
Mo Qi immediately sensed danger. That look in Jian Dan's eyes was a prelude to violence. She flashed to her side, but it was too late. Jian Dan flung her sleeve, and the Divine Soul cultivator was slapped to the ground, unable to rise.
The whole battlefield fell into a heavy silence.
"I'm sparing your life today," Jian Dan said coldly, "but wipe that indifferent look off your face. Do you even understand what it would mean if we lost Ming Valley?"
Her killing intent surged, engulfing the crowd. Mo Su, Mo Qi, and Mo Yi stepped forward behind her, their expressions equally grim.
"The entire Lingyun Continent knows. We, the Demon Path, guard the first gate. If we fall, and the Insect breach into the cultivation world, we will be condemned as sinners. If you let this continue, you can forget about ascending ever again."
"Hmph. If I were the Heavenly Dao, I'd strike you down where you stand," Mo Yi muttered icily.
Jian Dan continued, "You're disorganized, uncoordinated, fighting alone like headless flies. If you want to die, go ahead, but don't drag the Heavenly Demon Palace down with you."
With that, she withdrew her killing aura and incinerated the insect corpses around her. She turned, leading the other three deeper into the heart of Ming Valley.