Exposed and humiliated, Han Quande’s face turned livid. Seeing the two seemingly ready to strike, he was filled with trepidation. The cave was too cramped for a proper battle, so he decisively leaned back and flew out of the cave. He shouted loudly, "Junior brothers, join me in battle! Kill these two and claim the reward. The family head will undoubtedly bestow great honors upon us!"
Two voices answered him from outside. As Zhang Yan and Han Ji stepped out of the cave, they saw three figures standing in midair. On the left stood a man wielding a Wind and Thunder Fork, with faint flashes of crackling lightning on its surface. On the right was a man holding a heavy Gold-Edged Wooden Bowl, which also appeared to be anything but ordinary.
As for Han Quande, he had unfurled a long sash resembling rosy clouds, shimmering brilliantly like clustered stars.
The three of them had repeatedly escaped the pursuit of Blood Essence Sect disciples, thanks to the Dharma Treasures in their possession. Though they had refrained from using these earlier against Han Ji, the name of the True Disciple Zhang Yan was too intimidating now, and so, their treasures flared into display.
When Han Ji saw this, his face changed dramatically. "Brother Zhang, be careful! Those are the Wind and Thunder Fork, the Cloud Filling Bowl, and the Purple Star River Moon Net!"
He then glared at Han Quande, shouting, "Han Quande, so it’s true that there’s someone powerful instructing you from behind. Otherwise, where did you get the Purple Star River Moon Net?"
Han Quande laughed loudly again, replying, "Han Ji, did you just realize this today? Let me tell you the truth. That late mother of yours who managed to steal the cultivation technique only did so because Madam deliberately allowed it. After you mastered the technique, it was also Madam who secretly ensured the information reached the family head, resulting in his order to have her beaten to death."
Upon hearing this, Han Ji’s eyes turned bloodshot and his anger surged to the point of losing control. He was ready to charge forward recklessly when a firm hand pressed down on his shoulder. Turning back, he saw Zhang Yan giving him a slight shake of the head and saying, "Brother Han, step aside for now. Let me handle this."
Han Ji immediately calmed himself. After a moment’s hesitation, he clenched his teeth and said, "Brother Zhang, I understand your intention. My Mysterious Skill is weak, and I wouldn’t be of much help—I cannot hold you back. I, Han Ji, am a man of principle, and if I go back on my word, may I face divine retribution, my Divine Soul utterly destroyed!"
With that, he bowed deeply to Zhang Yan, turned around, and flew off without looking back.
"Hmm? Trying to escape?" Han Quande frowned deeply and waved his hand. "Junior Brother Fu, stop him—don’t let him get away!"
The cultivator holding the Wind and Thunder Fork responded and moved to intercept. However, before he could act, a small blue streak of light shot into the air, aiming directly at him. He snorted coldly and swept the fork, instantly conjuring a black wind filled with faint blasts of Green Thunder.
The sword ball appeared to be caught by the black wind, but unexpectedly, the blue light abruptly elongated, transforming from a tiny light into a three-foot-long Mang Suo in an instant. Its speed doubled as well. Before the black wind could close in, the blue streak pierced straight through his neck, then smoothly wrapped around, severing his head as easily as slicing tofu.
The headless corpse fell from midair into the rising black wind, which crackled with explosive sounds. His vestment robe and Protective Jade Pendant were both destroyed, and in a mere blink, the wind consumed the body completely, leaving no trace of flesh or bone.
The Wind and Thunder Fork, now without a cultivator to control it, dropped from the sky with a "clunk," falling to the ground below.
In just a single move, Zhang Yan had dispatched one enemy. The remaining two cultivators were struck with terror.
"Junior Brother, stay alert! Zhang Yan has already condensed the Xuan Guang Seed—he can manipulate the sword ball freely!"
Han Quande’s face was grim, cold sweat dripping down his back. If that sword ball had been targeted at him earlier, he might already have been cut down. He realized that if Zhang Yan had focused solely on escaping with the sword ball, he wouldn’t have been able to do anything to stop him.
Noticing the lack of response from his companion, Han Quande turned his head and shouted urgently, "What are you waiting for? Release the Yan Jue Sand!"
The other cultivator snapped back to his senses and hastily opened a small box he was holding, raising it high above his head. With a swift motion, he tipped the box forward, unleashing a torrent of red sand resembling tidal waves. The sand tumbled forward in rolling clouds, threatening Zhang Yan.
Zhang Yan leapt upward to evade, but the sand seemed endowed with spiritual nature, following him tightly into the air while emitting a deafening roar like crashing waves.
Han Quande’s face twisted into a malicious smile. He abandoned chasing Zhang Yan directly, instead dragging his Purple Star River Moon Net through the sky. Wherever he passed, the net left a vibrant trail of colorful clouds, more than three feet wide.
Circling multiple times around the battlefield, the net eventually formed a complete enclosure—an otherworldly realm adorned with starlit clouds and resplendent smoke, enveloping everything in sight, above and below.
Standing above, Han Quande looked down triumphantly from his elevated position. With a flick of his hand, he unfurled another streak of misty smoke and laughed loudly, "Zhang Yan, with your sword ball, you could have turned to light and escaped, making you untouchable. But now, with these clouds surrounding all directions, it’s a true Heavenly Net—where will you run now?"
Zhang Yan raised his head, surveying his surroundings, which were completely enshrouded in glowing smoke. He noticed that the cultivator wielding Yan Jue Sand had already moved above him, sealing his sole exit.
As the scarlet sand clouds poured downward to engulf him, Zhang Yan smirked coldly. He retrieved a grayish token from his sleeve and cast it into the Void. He recited a mantra and bellowed, "Grow!"
The token instantly expanded into a four-foot-wide turtle shell-like object, engraved with cloud patterns, seal script, mountain landscapes, and swirling fish and worms. Its dome faced upwards, while its hollow underside descended. Positioned squarely over Zhang Yan’s head, it emitted radiant light that enveloped him completely. The incoming sand clouds, upon touching this shield, were deflected away like rushing waters meeting unyielding river stones.
Zhang Yan stepped forward, pushing through the surrounding mist with ease. He sneered and said, "With just the likes of you... do you truly think you can stop me?"
...(Unfinished. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes or monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)