Jian Dan hovered on the wind, her entire aura shifting. Energy surged as a crescent moon rose behind her, and ancient demon qi awakened along the Mó Yuè Zhǎn.
Mo Xuan Zhēnzūn's gaze sharpened. He knew Mo Yue meant to channel the blade's hidden strength and quickly commanded the other Zhenzūns:
"Stand back—we will be the protectors!"
When Jian Dan reopened her eyes, they glowed red with cold resolve and endless killing intent. Her lips parted slightly:
"Annihilate."
A torrent of demon qi poured into Mó Yuè Zhǎn. The blade swelled to nearly the same size as the insect leg, glowing bright red as it carved through the air.
At its base, the insect limb began to dissolve and fracture. A blood-curdling shriek echoed, then the giant leg snapped off and dissipated as it fell. Jian Dan, her qi drained, collapsed from the sky.
"Seal the space!" someone shouted.
Six Zhenzūns sprang into action, standing guard by the entrance to the Nether Valley. Mo Yan Zhēnzūn produced spatial sealing talismans that flew upward like a dense net. Ancient runes formed across it, closing the rift opened by the fallen limb.
Next came Yin Huang of Demonic Sound Gate. One of his talismans enlarged the net further. The Chi Xue Shuangzi fired powerful beads into it, strengthening the spatial seal instantly. Shēngsǐ Èr Jūn placed a fist-sized chaos stone in the breach—an unexpected key.
The chaos stone fused into the rift, closing it at visible speed. Still, tiny cracks formed under tugging forces. The six Zhenzūns poured even more energy into stabilizing it.
Suddenly, a gust ripped from one crack, pulling Jian Dan toward it.
Mo Qi spotted it first and cried out, calling her companions to rescue Jian Dan—and her blade.
Jian Dan's internal demon energy had been depleted, leaving her powerless. But her Yin-Yang Taiji disk converted her spiritual qi into demon qi, filling her meridians.
Being dragged toward the rift, she communicated through spiritual perception to Mó Yuè Zhǎn:
"Pick the safe crack, and we'll go in. Now's our chance."
"It's over already. Do you even have strength left to resist?"
"I still have the protective artifact Mo Yan Zhēnzūn gave me. It'll hold!"
The weapon spirit of Mó Yuè Zhǎn rolled its eyes, then flashed back to Jian Dan's dantian. "Let's rest later, okay?"
Pushed closer by the rift's tug, Jian Dan flung an attack talisman of Void Refinement into the flow and exploded it. The backlash released her, enabling a swift somersault into a nearby, narrow spatial rift.
"Mo Yue!"
Mo Qi's scream alerted the Zhenzūns just as the chaos stone finished its fusion. The last crack sealed, the sky regained its blue calm as if nothing had happened.
The earth's tremors ended—Ming Valley had fully detached from Lingyun Continent.
Mo Xuan Zhēnzūn broadcast the success: celebrations erupted across the cultivation world as Lingyun was saved.
Mo Xuan Zhēnzūn then appeared before Mo Su:
"What happened with Mo Yue?"
"No problem. That was insect backlash. Mo Yue left a message for us."
Indeed, as Jian Dan entered the crack, she left a note via her message orb:
"Rest assured, I, Mo Yue, am not so easily dead. I'll drift outside for a while longer—return date uncertain. Do not worry."
Seeing this, their hearts eased. Mo Xuan Zhēnzūn nodded, never doubting the strength of Heavenly Demon Palace's Zhūnzhǔ—especially with legendary demon weapons and protective talismans.
"Return to our sect."
"Yes, sir."
Mo Qi, Mo Su, and Mo Yi led their teams through the six-Zhenzūn space boundary. No sooner had they stepped out than storm clouds rolled in overhead, thunder booming—three tribulation clouds had formed above them.
"Zhenzūn!"
All three exhaled—a Void Refinement Thunder Tribulation. Mo Yue's warning was spot on.
Mo Xuan Zhēnzūn smiled, noticing smaller thunderclouds drifting in the distance. Many were undergoing tribulation—this was a time of cultivation and advancement.
"Heh. Seems our millennia-long watch has finally paid off."
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'll take the lead. Until we meet again!"
"Until next time!"
The six Zhenzūns vanished with their sect disciples.
Jian Li of Heavenly Sword Sect had watched Jian Dan disappear into the crack, seeing that she was safe. He no longer worried and led his own contingent back.
That battle had left a deep impression. Mo Yue Zhūnzhǔ and her bonded weapon had risen to legendary fame in Lingyun.
Over the next year, tribulations surged across demon sects—thunderstorms never ceased. The Ming Valley battle had forged a new generation of elite warriors who now formed the backbone of future wars.
What became of Jian Dan inside the rift?
She was torn by spatial forces, but quickly used her protective talisman and red gem-form artifacts—a pair of earrings and a hairpin—to hold out until the talisman shattered. The artifact's defenses gave her a moment to breathe, though they drained her newly converted qi again.
At last, within the spatial tunnel she saw a pinpoint of light. Summoning all her strength, she dashed toward it.
Snap!
She fell in a vertical drop—into a lotus-filled lake.
Jian Dan landed safely and sighed with relief before sending Mo Ran away into the rift to recover. Then she drifted into a deep slumber.
Her black robe protected her like a cocoon. Silver-armored spirits monitored her, drifting with her into the depths.
When a boatman came later to check, he found only a damaged lotus leaf on the lake's surface—nothing more. He glided around to double-check before returning to his hut, careful not to disturb the sacred grounds.
This lake grew the finest lotuses, destined as imperial tribute—it could not be toyed with.
Jian Dan slept beneath the water for ten years. Though unconscious, her presence bound the lake's qi in blessing.
As a Void Refinement-level Zhūnzhǔ, her breath carried cosmic rhythms. After decades of battle, her aura was fierce yet balanced, warding off insect invasions. Her deeds earned merit; to Buddhist cultivators, she was a walking golden talisman.
In those ten years the lotus lake flourished more than ever. From the second year onward, the flowers bloomed through all four seasons—pure and glowing with golden radiance, fit for the emperor.
One day, the imperial temple abbot visited and discovered Jian Dan. He dared not disturb her. Her aura surpassed his, and her aura bore merit. He petitioned the emperor to place the lake under temple safeguarding.
Jian Dan remained asleep, unaware of the legends blooming outside her dream world.