The moment Hao Qing and Hao Hui heard the deafening explosion, both immediately sensed trouble. Judging by the direction, it had come from where Huaxian Gate's Xian Yao and Xian Feng had gone to investigate. Releasing their divine sense, they turned into streaks of light and sped toward the source.
Ming Hong and Ming Xian were only a step behind. In a flash, all four arrived at the scene, only to see Lin Lang and Zhu Ye of Kunmo Sect already locked in combat with a black-robed evil cultivator. The surrounding ten-mile radius had become their battlefield.
Xian Feng's robes were soaked in blood, and his red eyes burned with determination as he fought a corrupted fifth-rank red fox. Meanwhile, Xian Yao hung limply from a treetop, unconscious, her body suspended at an unnatural angle.
The arrival of Ming Hong's group clearly distracted the Divine Transformation evil cultivator. Zhu Ye's nine-ringed saber sliced his arm, drawing a spray of blood, while Lin Lang shook her soul bell, sending ripples that disrupted the enemy's sea of consciousness. Their goal was clear: capture this cultivator alive. His status among the evil cultivators had to be high, and he might know where the Shanhe Scroll was hidden.
Ming Hong exchanged a glance with Ming Xian and then called out, "Hao Qing Daoyou, Hao Hui Daoyou, one of you help Xian Feng, and the other tend to Xian Yao's injuries. Ming Xian and I will deploy a sword domain to trap this one. We cannot let this fight engulf the entire Qinghua Mountain Range."
He wasn't exaggerating. A clash between five Divine Transformation experts could easily flatten the entire mountain range. This was why cultivators of this level rarely engaged in combat freely; even sparring required a designated battlefield to avoid collateral damage.
Hao Qing and Hao Hui nodded, disappearing instantly. Hao Hui went to assist Xian Feng. With his light spiritual root, he naturally restrained evil cultivators. His arrival immediately eased Xian Feng's pressure.
Hao Hui's calm voice cut through the chaos. "Xian Feng, strike its eyes and belly. I will purge its evil energy. End this quickly, before we draw more enemies."
"Understood!" Xian Feng gritted his teeth.
He pointed with both hands, and his flying sword turned into a streak of light aimed directly at the fox's eyes. At the same time, Hao Hui's light-element techniques descended, scattering the gray energy clinging to the fox's body. Its crimson eyes flickered briefly.
The next moment, the fox snarled, its eyes glowing blood-red again. Five tails lashed out, stretching longer, striking toward both Hao Hui and Xian Feng.
Hao Hui's sharp gaze spotted one tail that was gray instead of red. That tail had manifested from evil corruption, which meant the beast's true cultivation was lower than fifth rank. In a flash, platinum threads of spiritual power coiled into ropes and wrapped around the gray tail.
A piercing scream tore from the fox's mouth as the light-element spell burned its evil tail. The pain left it vulnerable, and Xian Feng's sword pierced its belly. Only its thick fur saved it from being skewered through.
Xian Feng recalled his natal sword, already preparing his next strike. His blade shot forward again, this time aimed directly at the creature's eyes.
With a twist of his wrist, Hao Hui ripped the corrupted tail from the fox's body, crippling its strength. The evil energy within it scattered; it could no longer manifest new tails.
Clarity briefly returned to the fox's gaze. It collapsed onto the ground, whimpering in pain. Xian Feng's sword plunged through its skull, ending the corrupted beast's life—and erasing any chance of learning the Shanhe Scroll's whereabouts from it.
As the battle ended, Xian Feng ignored his own wounds, swallowing a healing pill before darting toward Xian Yao.
Hao Qing had already lowered her from the tree and was taking her pulse, but his expression was grim.
"Hao Qing Daoyou, how is Junior Sister Xian Yao? I have a Vitality Pill. Should I give it to her?"
Hao Qing shook his head. "Not yet. She's infected with evil energy. If you give her the pill now, it will only strengthen the corruption."
Xian Feng steadied his mind and pressed urgently, "Then what should we do?"
"Don't panic. Let Hao Hui purge the corruption first, then administer medicine."
Hao Hui approached, wasting no time. He wove a complex array of light-element sigils in midair, sending them one by one into Xian Yao's body. After inserting six light-formed arrays, he finally stopped.
"The purification arrays will drive out the evil energy. But the energy won't give up easily. It will battle my light power inside her body.
You must guard her heart meridian, dantian, and sea of consciousness. Do not let the corruption take root there. If it does, removing it later will come at a heavy price. Hao Qing and I will shield you."
"I understand!" Xian Feng replied solemnly.
He clasped a top-grade spirit stone in one hand and held Xian Yao's wrist with the other, channeling spiritual power refined through Huaxian Gate's techniques into her meridians to help purge the corruption.
While Hao Qing and Hao Hui guarded them, they also observed the battle in the distance. The evil cultivator was now fully trapped within Ming Hong and Ming Xian's sword domain, desperately resisting.
Hao Hui sent a quiet voice transmission to Hao Qing. "Ming Hong is as ruthless as ever. He clearly doesn't want to take that one alive. He'd rather skewer him outright.
Aside from Ming Jia Zūnzhě, Mingjian Gate sword cultivators are all like this. They favor decisive strikes over scheming. But given the growing threat of these evil cultivators, capturing one alive would help us track their plans."
Hao Qing could understand the stance of the Kunmo Sect elders. No one wanted evil cultivators gaining power on their territory.
"Xian Yao and Xian Feng were clearly ambushed. With their strength, defeating a single corrupted red fox wouldn't be difficult otherwise.
At least she's alive. Better injured than dead. This will be a painful lesson, though. If the corruption isn't purged completely, it could harm her cultivation permanently."
Hao Hui nodded. "She's lucky I'm a light-element cultivator. Without that, she'd certainly have lasting damage."
Their conversation was cut short by a sharp cry of pain. Behind them, Xian Yao regained consciousness. With Xian Feng's support, she sat cross-legged and began actively using the light-element arrays within her to force out the corruption.
Relieved, Xian Feng released a long breath. If something had happened to her, how could he face Hua Teng Zūnzhě back at the sect? Seeing her stabilize, he cast a cleansing spell over himself and offered thanks to Hao Qing and Hao Hui.
But the two men suddenly stood, erecting a defensive barrier that enclosed all four of them. The next moment, an explosion rocked the battlefield nearby.
"That evil cultivator chose to self-destruct!"