The instant the giant hand appeared, every Divine Transformation cultivator at the edge of the battlefield flashed into the air, ready to meet it head on.
Hao Yan Zūnzhě's phoenix eyes grew cold. She said icily, "Shameless. The same trick again."
Hao Hui already held his natal treasure, the Sunbow, drawing it to full as he said, "Hmph. Do they think our Weiyu Realm is a place to come and go as they please? This time we sever that hand."
High ranks from all five regions shared a silent resolve. No matter what, the upper realm evil cultivators would pay a price.
But none moved faster than Yunxi's group of four, standing directly beneath the giant palm. Yunxi's Thunder Shines of the Nine Heavens surged through the Seven Stars Soul-Shattering Staff and speared into the sky. As violet thunder smashed the palm, the staff hammered the center of its vast hand.
The shockwave from the collision spread outward at once. The observing Divine Transformation cultivators reacted instantly, combining to raise barriers so the backlash would not roll into the other four regions. They barely held the devastating aftershock.
At the same time, the Hong Energy Shield began to flicker, its power nearly spent. Fortunately, when Yunxi entrusted the guard to the Snow Wolf King and his mate, she had left a spare crate of energy blocks. As the shield dimmed, Xue Li raked open the crate and swapped in fresh blocks, stabilizing the barrier so that Yunxi's clash with the upper realm foe would not flatten the entire Central Region.
That single strike consumed two thirds of Yunxi's spiritual power and forced the giant hand to withdraw. But Yunxi was not satisfied. That had been only a probing exchange, at best a draw, and the Weiyu Realm had borne the greater strain.
A gleam flashed in her eyes. She said to Han Lian, Yun Chen Fózǐ, and Xun Kun, "Send me up."
"Amitabha. Do not chase a cornered foe," Yun Chen urged.
"Ran Xi, what are you doing? He has already pulled back," Han Lian said.
"Ran Xi, do not forget you are still injured," Xun Kun reminded.
All three opposed her pursuit, but Yunxi insisted, "We must hurt them this time. Otherwise they will repeat the trick and the next battlefield might be another region."
Xun Kun's voice sank. "Are you certain?"
"Fifty percent."
Han Lian's grip tightened on her sword. "Half a chance is enough. At worst we fall back and rebuild."
"Amitabha. Yun Chen will not leave a friend behind."
Even as they spoke, the four streaked upward after the palm that had retreated into the clouds.
Those below, straining to maintain the barrier, saw four beams, purple, gold, black, and ice-blue, lance into the clouds after the colossal hand. Hearts leaped into throats.
In the next breath the Seven Stars Soul-Shattering Staff swelled again. Five attributes wound around the shaft, thunder, metal, darkness, ice, and wind, and struck like a bolt at the very center of the palm. The sky flared in five colors, and a muffled groan followed as the giant hand vanished for good.
When the four rays dispersed, the figures of Yunxi, Han Lian, Yun Chen Fózǐ, and Xun Kun stood suspended in the air. Their dharma form rose behind them. From that moment, the righteous and evil struggle in the Weiyu Realm turned. The battle swung completely.
Each of the four gripped spirit stones or demon stones to replenish what they had burned, but they gathered briefly.
Han Lian said, "Ran Xi, we wounded that evil cultivator. They will not reach down again soon."
Yunxi said, "They will not dare. I drove a filament of soul thunder absorbed by the Seven Stars Soul-Shattering Staff into his palm. Let him savor a spirit being lashed by thunder day after day."
Xun Kun's mouth quirked. "No wonder you said you had a chance."
"Amitabha. The one who tried to seize Long Ya last time used that very hand and nearly destroyed Ran Xi. Consider both old and new debts paid," Yun Chen said.
Yunxi nodded. "Yun Chen Fózǐ speaks truly. I swallow many things, but never a loss."
The other three smiled faintly and let the topic pass. Yunxi's face hardened. "Our return turned the tide, but the evil cultivators trapped inside the shield will not sit and wait. We must wipe them out entirely.
Afterward, we likely need to confer with the Weiyu Realm's leaders about the evil god. Some matters must move to the front of the slate."
Xun Kun turned to her. "Ran Xi, do you have a plan?"
At that, both Yun Chen and Han Lian looked to Yunxi.
Yunxi answered bluntly, "No. If I think longer I will start yanking my hair. I plan to throw this to the other Ancestors. The Weiyu Realm does not consist of just four high ranks."
Yun Chen coughed lightly. "At present, the Weiyu Realm does in fact have only the four of us at Out-of-Body."
Han Lian's mouth twitched. "That does not count. Our cultivation is suppressed."
For a heartbeat Xun Kun felt his comrades could be unreliable too. He closed with, "Let us return to our own sects. When matters here are concluded, we will decide the next steps."
"Agreed."
The three answered without hesitation. In a flash, they streaked toward their respective sects. The Snow Wolf King and Bai Feng remained to hold the ruins of Huaxian Gate.
Yunxi, scarlet-robed, flashed into Haoran Sect's territory and at once drew every disciple's eye. Those she had pulled from the battlefield bowed together. "Greetings, Ran Xi Zūnzhě."
Yunxi smiled slightly. "Dispense with formality. Continue your healing."
She flashed again and appeared before the sect's mobile law-house, meeting Hao Yan, Hao Hui, and Hao Qing as they returned to base.
"Ran Xi, you are back," Hao Yan Zūnzhě said, phoenix eyes curved with a smile.
Hao Hui and Hao Qing did not speak, but relief was plain on their faces.
"Thank you for your concern, seniors. I have returned safely." Yunxi smiled and cupped her hands. After a few words of greeting, the four entered the law-house and raised its isolation array.
Haoran Sect's disciples grew visibly more excited. Their own Ran Xi Zūnzhě had appeared and reversed the entire war. When they walked out now, others would look at them with new respect. The feeling of borrowed glory was sweet indeed.
Seated nearby, Sheng Yuhong did not join the chatter. At the sight of Ran Xi, he understood with crystal clarity that he could no longer catch that figure ahead. Between them yawned a chasm that could not be crossed, not only in cultivation, but in scope and vision.
He sighed and closed his eyes again, casting off stray thoughts and sinking into meditation.
Not far away, Zhao Jinmu also kept to himself, though a small smile rested on his face. After taking the medicine Ran Xi had given him, his cultivation had advanced smoothly to Nascent Soul.
To gain battle experience, he had volunteered for the front. In a duel with a Nascent Soul evil cultivator he had nearly been gravely wounded, when Ran Xi Zūnzhě, racing back, whisked him from the field.