The sword in Jian Dan's hand swung swiftly, cutting down every blue firefly that blocked the path, sending their charred bodies tumbling back into the grass.
"Xiao Yue, faster!"
The wolf obeyed immediately, picking up even more speed.
But the tall grass around them rustled as more fireflies stirred. The glowing insects had sensed the group's presence. Their wings vibrated in unison as they rushed toward the cultivators.
"Defend yourselves!"
Jian Mao's sharp command rang out. Everyone tightened their grips on their swords. Behind them, Lady Di, following Bei Ze's signal, ordered her squad to quicken their pace.
By the time they'd crossed two-thirds of the grassland, nearly a hundred fireflies had swarmed them. Constantly alert, the two squads struck them down one after another. Jian Dan and the Heavenly Sword Sect squad killed the most, taking the brunt of the fight at the front.
Still, even with the Heavenly Sword Sect taking most of the pressure, Lady Di's squad wasn't spared. One fingernail-sized firefly darted through a gap and slipped into a cultivator's ear at the very back.
Within five breaths, his steps faltered. A scream tore from his throat as he collapsed into the grass, clutching his head and rolling wildly. His skull ignited from within, glowing like molten iron. He thrashed until his strength failed. Then, starting from his head, his body turned to ash. The surrounding grass, flattened under his flailing, burned to a crisp. That was the reason for the barren patches across this plain.
Everyone heard his dying scream, but no one stopped. To stop meant becoming the next victim.
The firefly that had devoured him burst free from the ashes, glowing brighter as it chased the squad ahead.
With a sharp crack, it was sliced in two midair. A throwing knife, hurled by Ze Zhēnzūn, had found its mark. He hadn't expected to retrieve it—he just wanted to avenge his fallen comrade.
The death spurred everyone forward. Within half a quarter-hour, the grassland's edge came into sight.
Riding Xiao Yue, Jian Dan broke through the tall grass first. She flicked her wrist, sending out the Thousand Threads of Return. The threads snared Hou San and dragged him out of the squad.
He didn't resist, though his eyes darted nervously from side to side. For a moment, hesitation clouded his face.
"Can't find the way?" Jian Dan's voice was sharp. She'd already sensed the swarm circling back.
"Fairy Lu, something's changed here. Both directions look the same. I… I can't tell which one's right."
Sweat streamed down Hou San's forehead. A single wrong choice meant certain death for them all.
While keeping half an eye on the remaining cultivators charging toward her, Jian Dan extended her divine sense into the two paths Hou San had indicated. Sure enough, one of them blocked her senses.
"This way!"
She pointed without hesitation. Jian Mao led the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples through first, with Yu Linhai right behind. Kuang Dao grabbed Hou San and shoved him toward Xiaoyue before following. One by one, they disappeared into the formation.
Then the sky darkened. An overwhelming swarm of fireflies surged across the plain. After a brief pause, the mass dove at the survivors still running through the grass.
"Hurry!"
Lady Di's squad could hear the terrible buzz, a droning that drilled into their ears like a death knell. A single firefly made little sound, but tens of thousands together sounded like the ringing of doom.
Lady Di and Bei Ze forced their squad forward, grim-faced. When they reached Jian Dan, they saw her and Xiao Yue holding the line. Relief flickered across their faces. Jian Dan only gave them a curt nod before pointing the way.
Lady Di pulled five cultivators along and vanished into the formation. Bei Ze stayed behind to guide the rest.
Still, another female cultivator was caught and burned alive. Just ahead of her, another disciple strained to reach safety, his face flushing with desperate effort.
Bei Ze's rope lashed out, coiling around the man's waist and yanking him clear. He broke free of the swarm—only for a quail-egg-sized firefly, clearly a leader, to dart inside him.
Within three breaths, the man was gone, reduced to ash.
Bei Ze ground his teeth and yanked his rope back, then barked, "Move!" He rushed into the formation, the three survivors clinging close behind.
Now only Jian Dan remained outside. She slashed her sword in a broad arc, smacking the leading firefly back into its swarm, then tapped Xiaoyue's side. They leapt into the formation together.
The firefly spun in circles, regaining its balance. Enraged, it buzzed after the intruders.
It didn't notice that only the largest fireflies followed, while the rest of the swarm circled outside, confused and hesitant. After some time, they too surged forward, finding the same path their leader had taken.
Xiao Yue plunged downward through gray mist, carrying Jian Dan into a void with no visible bottom.
She released her divine sense immediately, then let out a small laugh. Everyone else was clinging to the cliff face, battered by fierce winds that sent them swaying like leaves. Still, the Heavenly Sword Sect members, even Kuang Dao, held their positions firmly.
"Xiao Yue, shrink down! We're falling too fast!"
As she spoke, she threw out her second Mò Xī Jiàn, stabbing it into the cliff wall. She gripped the hilt, slowing her descent. Xiaoyue shrank into a wolf cub and clung to her shoulder, wobbling until he steadied himself.
Only then did Jian Dan spread her divine sense again. The gray fog blocked her view below, but across the chasm she could faintly see a black cliff wall dotted with strange bulges. The cultivators clinging there clearly couldn't see her side.
Everyone clung like geckos, breathing evenly. Hou San hung the worst, still dangling by the collar in Kuang Dao's grip, unable to find footing.
"Everyone alright?" Jian Dan called.
"We're fine!" voices echoed back.
Jian Dan pulled a low-grade spirit stone from her storage pendant and tossed it down. Fifteen breaths later, the sharp crack of its explosion reached them. The distance proved manageable.
"Xiao Yue, hold on. We're heading down."
"Got it!"
With a flick of her finger, the Thousand Threads of Return hooked onto the embedded Mò Xī Jiàn. She dove downward, Xiao Yue clinging tight.
"I'll scout ahead first. You follow slowly."
The others had heard the stone's detonation too. Even without spiritual power, their hearing was sharp. They judged the distance in silence, then began their cautious descent.
Far below, Yu Linhai was already standing at the valley floor. A towering skeleton loomed before him, radiating thick waves of black demonic qi. He stared at it with a wary frown, too cautious to step closer.