After crossing the grassland, Yu Linhai immediately sensed the presence of a formation. To him, it wasn't that difficult, just a concealment and barrier array.
He landed right after, dropping into a gorge twenty meters wide. With his divine sense aiding him, he detected the barrier formation at the bottom and entered ahead of the others. But the moment he stepped inside, he froze. What lay before him was the fallen body of a Demon Immortal.
Jian Dan arrived next with Xiao Yue at her side. She hovered above the barrier formation, frowning. This array was more intricate than those in the Cultivation Realm, offering both protection and resistance. She wasn't confident she could unravel it, so she chose brute force.
Gripping the Mò Xī Jiàn, she infused just a thread of Xianyuan energy, then swung down in a vertical slash. A white blade of light tore into the barrier. With a sharp crack, the array plate shattered. Jian Dan landed gracefully under Yu Linhai's stunned gaze.
The moment her feet touched the ground, she sheathed both Mò Xī Swords, then swept her eyes over Yu Linhai.
He instinctively stepped back. Realizing it looked weak, he tried to move forward again. Xiao Yue bared his fangs at him, then trotted after Jian Dan, stubby legs carrying him toward the cross-legged Demon Immortal skeleton.
Jian Dan felt the heavy surge of demonic qi pulling her in. The Mó Yuè Zhǎn dangling from her ear glimmered repeatedly, as if warning her, until she soothed it with a touch of will.
With the array broken, everyone else clinging to the cliff wall could finally see what was below. They leapt down one after another. Within the span of a quarter-hour, everyone had gathered at the gorge floor.
Jian Mao and Jian Jing immediately positioned themselves five steps from Yu Linhai, encircling him to restrict his movement.
Yu Linhai started to regret rushing ahead. If he'd known there was a Demon Immortal's corpse down here, he wouldn't have been the first to enter.
The others were just as shaken. They were used to seeing pristine white immortal bones, but this was their first time facing something like this. Even Lady Di held back, unwilling to take a step closer.
The skeleton loomed three meters tall, sitting cross-legged against the cliff wall. Black armor inlaid with golden trim covered the bones entirely. In its skull's hollow sockets, pale blue flames burned, staring down like eyes at the intruders.
Beside it rested a massive demonic blade and a shield etched with black totems. A storage bracelet clung to one bony wrist.
Jian Dan's gaze flickered as she cupped her hands from afar and bowed. "Respected Demon Immortal, forgive us for disturbing your rest. We were driven here by the swarm of blue fireflies and stumbled into this place by mistake."
The others stayed tense, holding their breath, waiting for a response.
But the corpse remained motionless, no sign of life at all.
"Senior, if you still have any unfulfilled wish, perhaps we can help you achieve it."
Her voice echoed across the valley, but nothing replied.
Jian Dan clasped her hands behind her back, then gestured subtly. Jian Mao and the others retreated several steps, regrouping in caution.
Lady Di and Bei Ze mirrored them, pulling their squads back until only Yu Linhai and Jian Lu stood at the front.
A deep voice suddenly rolled through the gorge. "Little girl, it's too late for your people to retreat now."
The skull moved. The flames in its eyes flared brighter as it looked straight at Jian Dan and Yu Linhai.
Everyone's hearts clenched. They finally understood the real danger came from the skeleton itself.
Jian Dan forced herself to stay calm. She still had trump cards unplayed. Though her chest tightened, she bowed again. "Senior, if you fell here, then you must've been one of the vanguard against the insect race. Tell us what you need from us."
The skull let out a rough laugh. "Hah! You're calm, little girl. What I want is your flesh. Will you give it to me?"
"We're Dao cultivators, and you're a demon cultivator, that—"
"Dao and demon are just different paths. To me, it makes no difference."
"Then… Senior, whose body do you want?" Jian Dan asked steadily.
The skull turned toward Yu Linhai. His face drained.
The choice didn't surprise Jian Dan. She'd expected it. The Demon Immortal would only choose between her and Yu Linhai. Both of them had bodies strong enough to meet his standards. Yu Linhai was already an immortal, even if only a Dixian, so he could bear the soul of a Demon Immortal. Jian Dan, while barely qualifying, was just a lower realm cultivator, hardly the first choice.
So when the skull chose, she simply stepped aside, raising her hand in a gesture of invitation.
Yu Linhai erupted in fury. How dare a lower realm cultivator use him as a bargaining chip? But survival instinct overpowered his shame, and he blurted, "She's more suitable than me!"
Jian Dan only glanced at him in silence. The Heavenly Sword Sect disciples bristled in outrage. That bastard actually dared to throw their Junior Sister to the wolves.
But the Demon Immortal wasn't fooled. He clearly saw the dense golden light of karmic merit surrounding Jian Dan. That was something only cultivators who'd saved an entire minor world could possess. The others around her also carried traces of merit.
That proved they'd all been recognized by the Heavenly Dao itself. If he dared seize Jian Dan's body, that karmic light alone would wipe out half his soul.
In the next breath, the flames in the skull's eyes shot out like twin streams, streaking straight for Yu Linhai.
Yu Linhai didn't just sit and wait. He gripped his silver longsword and unleashed a storm of sword-light, sealing himself in a cocoon of blades, clashing head-on with the twin flames.
The rest scrambled back against the cliff wall, clustering together again. Xiao Yue nestled in Jian Dan's arms, his blue eyes wide, watching the clash of demon soul and immortal.
"Junior Sister, have they decided the winner yet?"
Jian Mao and Jian Jing edged up to Jian Dan's sides, whispering.
"We'll wait and see who wins before making our move."
"Junior Sister, are you confident?"
"As long as you protect yourselves, I'll handle the rest."
Her words carried into everyone's ears. They exchanged subtle nods and tightened their formation, ready to respond.
Sure enough, Yu Linhai didn't last long. Just as he managed to slice apart one flame, the other coiled around him. His sword fell to the ground as his body froze in mid-strike.
Everyone knew what that meant. The real battle had moved into the Primordial Soul.
Jian Dan stroked Xiao Yue's head, narrowing her eyes. To be honest, she hoped the Demon Immortal won. She'd already crossed Yu Linhai, and letting him survive would only bring endless trouble. If he knew the path out of this shattered fragment of the Immortal Realm, then he definitely had backing behind him. That made him even more dangerous.
While she pondered, Yu Linhai suddenly flared with a burst of blinding white light. One of the flames flickered, on the verge of extinction. He spun toward the others, his sword materializing in his grip once more, and lunged at them with reckless force.
"Tch! Trying to drag us down with you!"
Jian Dan had been ready. Instead of a sword, she held a slender green willow branch. With a twist of her wrist, it whipped forward like a serpent, slicing apart his desperate sword-light and snapping against his body.
"Ahhh!"