When several sects initially heard that the hidden realm of Qingfeng Nunnery had opened, they sent their elite disciples through the teleportation array directly to Qingfeng Nunnery. Unexpectedly, after entering, they encountered all sorts of dangerous situations. At that time, Zhang Sui and Zhou Kuang happened to be traveling together with Xu Lan’er.

At the time, seeing that her cultivation was not high and that she was a woman, they didn’t pay her much attention.

Unexpectedly, not long after traveling together, Xu Lan’er insisted on going out alone, and in no time brought back a wave of pursuers.

As the saying goes, when fellow cultivators are in trouble, one should lend a helping hand. They couldn’t very well stand by and watch her die, so they all helped Xu Lan’er resist those pursuing her.

Unexpectedly, while they were fighting over there, Xu Lan’er took the opportunity to escape, going alone to retrieve some magical artifact from within the hidden realm, and even angered the fierce beast within the hidden realm.

If not for the heavy casualties on all sides, leaving only the four of them in the end, Zhang Sui and Zhou Kuang would have already turned against this duplicitous woman.

Now seeing this familiar scene, Zhou Kuang’s face immediately darkened with anger.

Don’t let his rough appearance fool you—when it came time to act, he would not hold back!

He directly extended his right hand, and the axe beneath his feet immediately floated up, gripped in Zhou Kuang’s hand. Seeing Xu Lan’er flying over, he unhesitatingly chopped out with his axe!

Swoosh!

A dark purple axe shadow swept past Xu Lan’er’s delicate face!

Xu Lan’er let out an “Ah!” scream, startled, narrowly dodging to the side and hovering not far away. Her hand touched her cheek as she looked at Zhou Kuang in shock: “What are you doing?”

“What am I doing?”

Zhou Kuang gave a cold laugh, showing her no face at all, spitting: “What I’m doing is none of your damn business!”

Jian Chou never expected such a miraculous scene would unfold.

Although she had already seen that these people were only superficially united, she never imagined that these four would turn against each other at this crucial moment.

Looking at Nie Xiaowan, she laughed.

She quietly said to Jian Chou, “This woman played schemes in the hidden realm. Senior Brother Zhang and Senior Brother Zhou have long been disgusted with her, but previously, outside the hidden realm with Shanren present, everyone being Central Domain cultivators, they didn’t dare tear off the mask in front of Yashan, so they endured it.”

Jian Chou nodded, understanding.

So now they could no longer endure it.

Over there, the four pursuers who arrived later were all dressed in azure Daoist robes, treading on identical flying swords, directly surrounding them.

The leader had his left eye covered, only his right eye open. A man, but his features were extremely feminine, and when he spoke, his voice was thin and sharp, like a needle.

“A year ago, you injured my left eye and escaped; I never expected that in all the vastness of Shijiu Zhou, we four brothers would encounter you again. Hmph, if you’re willing to gouge out your own eyes, today we’ll spare you!”

The cold voice carried over, making people shiver with fear.

Hearing this, Jian Chou frowned tightly.

She glanced at Xu Lan’er, who at this moment was breathing heavily, her expression clearly showing extreme panic.

She had no time to bother with Zhou Kuang’s wild words from earlier, only saying to that man, “In the past, it was you who wanted to steal my magical artifact and harm my life. Injuring one of your eyes was letting you off easy. Today, fellow cultivators from Fengmo Sword Sect, Wuwang Studio, Chongxiao Sect, and even Yashan are present—let everyone judge what’s right!”

“Yashan?!”

That man’s eye suddenly narrowed, his face showing terror.

However, when he swept his gaze over Jian Chou and the other four behind, he immediately laughed lightly: “So you’re trying to scare me. The crownless Yashan, dominating the Central Domain—if there were truly disciples of Yashan here, it’s not someone as sinister and cunning as you who could associate with them. I only ask you: gouge, or not gouge!”

Xu Lan’er gritted her teeth in hatred.

Zhou Kuang and Zhang Sui had already automatically moved closer to Nie Xiaowan and Jian Chou’s side, crossing their arms to directly watch the show from the sidelines.

Nie Xiaowan, being young, smiled sweetly and easily suggested, “It seems Senior Sister Xu’s old enemies have come seeking you, even injuring someone’s eye. Everything under heaven has cause and effect—you should gouge them out early and preserve your life!”

Though these words were sarcastic, they weren’t without reason.

There is cause and effect, karma, and retribution.

For cultivators, losing both eyes would just be a matter of losing face.

Just looking at these four people’s cultivation levels, they were all roughly at mid-Foundation Establishment or above. How could one Xu Lan’er resist them?

Jian Chou had quickly analyzed the situation’s origins, taking another careful look at that feminine man before looking toward Xu Lan’er.

What would she do?

On the boundless sea surface, giant waves struck, beating against the nearby reefs.

Snow-white spray flew up with thunderous sound.

Xu Lan’er’s emotions also rose and fell with the waves.

She was extremely wary of the man before her, and also hated that the four who had traveled with her earlier wouldn’t stand on her side at all. Her tried-and-true methods suddenly failed, leaving her now to fight alone!

An indescribable, tragic anger made her eyes red.

Nie Xiaowan, small in stature, stood beside Jian Chou, with Zhang Sui and Zhou Kuang flanking them.

The position where the four of them stood happened to block her escape route…

Nie Xiaowan did this on purpose!

Xu Lan’er looked back toward the direction she came from—the four led by the feminine man had already sealed off that route as well.

Above was the vast azure sky; below was the boundless sea.

But there wasn’t a single path she could use to escape.

Her fingers clenched tighter and tighter. Xu Lan’er knew it was time to stake everything on one throw.

She slowly calmed her heart, actually revealing a charming smile, looking at Nie Xiaowan with an almost seductive gaze: “Junior Sister Xiaowan is right. It seems it’s time for me to make a decision.”

Nie Xiaowan watched her warily.

But Xu Lan’er did nothing—she directly reached out and caught her water-blue longsword, turning sideways toward that feminine man: “If I remember correctly, you’re a disciple of Wuyi Sect, Tao Zhang.”

“Your memory is good.”

Tao Zhang curved his lips in a smile. Even with one eye missing, this smile had a breathtaking beauty that was more feminine than a woman’s.

“Since you still remember my name, you should also remember how you took advantage of my severe injuries to strike thirteen consecutive sword blows, grievously wounding me and gouging out one of my eyes. Now, have you decided—will you return me a pair of eyes?”

“We cultivators can bend and stretch. As Junior Sister Xiaowan said, returning you a pair of eyes so you’ll spare me—why not?”

Xu Lan’er continued smiling. She had already raised her sword, as if about to point the tip at herself.

Nie Xiaowan hadn’t expected her to have such courage, making this decision so quickly that she was somewhat caught off guard.

But at the same time, Jian Chou frowned.

Something was wrong.

Xu Lan’er wasn’t this kind of person.

Ahead, Tao Zhang stood suspended in air, robes fluttering, watching Xu Lan’er.

Xu Lan’er raised her sword, and instantly, a burst of sword light bloomed over the sea surface. The surrounding seawater was forced back by the blazing sword light, surging outward in all directions, receding a section around Xu Lan’er as the center.

With a light shout, Xu Lan’er’s face showed resolve, and that sword seemed about to stab into her eyes.

However, at that very moment.

The hand seal in her hands instantly changed, and the brilliant blue longsword suddenly changed direction, flashing like lightning straight toward Nie Xiaowan!

Nie Xiaowan stood in the very center of the four, with the low-cultivation Jian Chou beside her. In this short time, she simply couldn’t react—she had just become aware when the sword light was already before her eyes.

She barely managed to form a hand seal, and the giant battle disc beneath her feet immediately spun out!

But it was completely too late!

Too fast!

This sword strike from Xu Lan’er came too fast, too dangerous!

Even Zhang Sui and Zhou Kuang, standing somewhat farther away, hadn’t reacted yet.

“Junior Sister Xiaowan!”

The overwhelming sword light instantly engulfed everything, about to swallow Nie Xiaowan.

She clenched her teeth, her small face deathly pale, panic filling her heart.

Just like this?

Her first time venturing out for training would end so dismally?

She hadn’t yet participated in the Left Three Thousand Minor Assembly, hadn’t yet become famous throughout Shijiu Zhou, hadn’t yet become the most formidable immortal…

A series of chaotic thoughts flashed through her mind, and Nie Xiaowan suddenly realized—she didn’t want it to end like this!

The blue sword light drew closer and closer!

Nie Xiaowan’s eyes brimmed with tears as she raised her weak protective light barrier, preparing to fight Xu Lan’er to mutual destruction.

But unexpectedly, at that instant, a point of emerald light suddenly appeared in her peripheral vision.

Nie Xiaowan was stunned.

Zhang Sui and Zhou Kuang, who were rushing over in haste, were also stunned, and even Tao Zhang in the distance hadn’t expected this, letting out a surprised “Eh.”

This sequence of events seemed extremely long, but lasted only a finger-snap.

In just a moment, that translucent emerald light suddenly blazed up, as if ignited, sweeping across and occupying everyone’s field of vision!

Behind the overwhelming emerald radiance, Jian Chou’s figure holding the Nine-Section Bamboo became blurred and indistinct.

At this moment, her heart pounded like thunder, and the hand gripping the Nine-Section Bamboo trembled uncontrollably.

Spiritual energy continuously poured madly from her body into the Nine-Section Bamboo—she felt like she was about to be drained dry!

In her urgency earlier, she had directly swung the Nine-Section Bamboo toward Xu Lan’er’s sword light, but unexpectedly, by accident, she had injected spiritual power into it, and once started, she could no longer stop.

The Nine-Section Bamboo blazed with brilliant light, its originally mottled marks instantly washed away by the radiance, becoming as crystalline as jade!

Vaguely, everyone saw bamboo leaves manifested from those radiances in the emerald light, leaf by leaf, leaf by leaf…

The sword light finally arrived!

Jian Chou hesitated no longer, gripping the Nine-Section Bamboo tightly and fiercely swinging it forward!

Boom!

The overwhelming emerald light violently collided with the sword light!

A tremendous wave of air spread outward, centered on the collision point. All the seawater rose skyward, stirring up waves dozens of zhang high in complete turmoil!

Xu Lan’er was greatly alarmed. The instant the sword light struck that emerald radiance, her soul nearly left her body in terror.

“Pft!”

She spat out a mouthful of heart’s blood, as if struck by some heavy blow, and with a thunderous crash was smashed into the deep sea!

“Splash!”

Water splashed up, staining an area red.

The blue light scattered.

The emerald light scattered.

The sky-filling phantoms also scattered with them.

Jian Chou held the Nine-Section Bamboo, seemingly standing calmly beside Nie Xiaowan, but in reality, her limbs were powerless, her head spinning, nearly about to collapse.

Beside her, Nie Xiaowan had blood trickling from her lips, her small face flushed red, her blood and qi churning.

Forcing a smile, Nie Xiaowan wanted to say something, but unexpectedly, as soon as she opened her mouth, she spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood.

“Junior Sister Xiaowan!”

Zhang Sui and Zhou Kuang had also been affected by the collision, their blood and qi unbalanced, but they could still barely hover in the air. Seeing Nie Xiaowan coughing up blood, they were immediately alarmed.

Without Nie Xiaowan’s control, that ancient silver disc instantly returned to its original form, returning to her wrist.

She and Jian Chou both fell toward the sea surface!

Fortunately, Zhang Sui was fast enough, diving down to catch both of them, then narrowly landing on a nearby reef.

Zhou Kuang followed after: “Are they alright?”

Zhang Sui shook his head: “Don’t know yet.”

Jian Chou supported herself with Zhang Sui’s hand, barely able to stand steady, and hurriedly checked on Nie Xiaowan: “Xiaowan, Xiaowan?”

Nie Xiaowan had already closed her eyes and lost consciousness, her body stained with blood, her face deathly pale, completely unaware.

Jian Chou felt her heart fill with panic, no longer knowing what she should do.

She suddenly remembered Xu Lan’er, who had struck earlier, and whirled around to look toward the surface.

The earlier tumultuous waves had gradually calmed.

Tao Zhang stood on his sword, skimming close to the sea surface in a circle, finding not the slightest trace. That remaining right eye immediately emitted cold air, his entire person becoming sinister and chilling.

“Excellent skill—severely wounded, yet still able to escape!”

Escaped?

Hearing this, Jian Chou’s heart sank deeply.

Earlier, Xu Lan’er’s attack on Nie Xiaowan was mostly because she was beside Nie Xiaowan. Even though Nie Xiaowan was at mid-Foundation Establishment, protecting someone of low cultivation would certainly be difficult.

As long as Nie Xiaowan made a move to resist, Xu Lan’er could directly break open a gap and escape in their direction.

But unexpectedly, at the crucial moment, Jian Chou still had the Nine-Section Bamboo left by Fudao Shanren.

Only…

Though Xu Lan’er hadn’t succeeded and had escaped in another way, now Nie Xiaowan had fallen unconscious.

Jian Chou’s heart was in complete chaos. She reached out to hold Nie Xiaowan’s unconscious hand, asking Zhang Sui and Zhou Kuang in bewilderment: “How is she?”

“Jianzhu Sect’s Lanyuan Strike is famously high in attack power and extremely destructive. This friend of yours, even with you blocking for her, was still affected. She responded hastily without proper defense—I’m afraid the situation is dire.”

A cool voice rang out from mid-air.

In her panic, Jian Chou looked up to see only Tao Zhang in his azure Daoist robes standing on his flying sword.

Tao Zhang’s exposed eye stared unblinkingly at Jian Chou: “Xu Lan’er spoke nothing but lies, yet unexpectedly she told one truth. You are a Central Domain Enforcement Elder, disciple of Fudao Shanren, from Yashan?”

Jian Chou didn’t know about the others, but she was indeed from Yashan, a disciple of Fudao Shanren.

She didn’t know what else the other party wanted to do, nor why he asked this question. She could only grip the Nine-Section Bamboo tightly with her powerless hand, forcing herself to stand and shield the severely injured Nie Xiaowan behind her.

Neither directly acknowledging nor denying.

Jian Chou’s voice was unexpectedly calm and cold: “Xu Lan’er has escaped. Your enemy has now severely injured our friend—we have a common enemy. Do you want to strike us down?”

As her words fell, the Nine-Section Bamboo emanated a misty emerald light, with faint bamboo leaf patterns flickering in the radiance.

Jian Chou’s eyes never wavered, staring intently at Tao Zhang.

Tao Zhang’s gaze swept past her unwavering fingers, as if guessing whether Jian Chou still had the strength for one more strike.

The situation was tense, ready to explode.

“Heh…”

Suddenly, a light laugh—Jian Chou immediately became alert.

But what followed was loud laughter.

“Hahaha, from Yashan, haha…”

Tao Zhang stood with hands behind his back, no longer sparing Jian Chou even a glance, simply departing with long strides.

“Yashan, Yashan…”

In that long laughter was an indescribable vastness and vicissitude.

Jian Chou listened to that gradually distant and fading voice, mixed with the sound of waves, feeling somewhat melancholy.

“Yashan…”