Chapter Eighteen: An Unexpected Night Attack

The contest ended that day, and I took advantage of the rules to play a trick on Hui Ping. Having witnessed Shan He forcing Bai Hao into marriage before, I knew Hui Ping was neither steady nor cunning. Back then, he had tried to attack me in a fit of rage, only to be stopped by the immortals, leaving him seething with anger. Now, fate had brought us together again; I provoked him using his old grudge, and as expected, he lost his composure and revealed his weaknesses. It was a bargain I couldn't resist.

The fourteen victors were each assigned to separate guest rooms, told they must remain alone and forbidden from communicating privately. The next day would see the six strongest chosen.

Ever since Bai Xi had dragged me to the Jade Purity Realm, forcing me to read and practice swordsmanship, I had been swept from one ordeal to the next with no time to reflect. Now, lying in my room, I could finally relax and soak in the atmosphere of the Jade Purity Realm.

A faint, sweet fragrance lingered in the air—so pure, so familiar... After three thousand years, for the first time, I smelled something that felt like home, and a sense of belonging washed over me.

I sprawled on the bed, rolling about, greedily drawing in the air. A thought sprouted unbidden: If I could really stay here, perhaps it would be a good thing...

But then another worry surfaced: How would I handle the unpredictable Bai Xi? How would I explain my attendance at the apprenticeship trial to Bai Hao? I had told him I was merely a witness, just here for the spectacle... Where had he gone? Today’s illusion had seemed so real. How could I warn him to be wary of Bai Xi? If I failed the trial tomorrow and Bai Xi turned ruthless, what would become of me?

Lost in these thoughts, drowsiness crept over me, only to be shattered by the sharp cry of a celestial crane. I shot upright at once, instantly recognizing the alarm call of the avian tribes.

Outside, the clash of weapons rang out fiercely—shouts, cries, and the chaos of battle erupted in the air.

“All disciples, flee! The Jade Purity Realm is under attack!” a celestial lord outside shouted, his words ending abruptly in a scream.

The heavenly sanctuary, the most sacred place, was being ambushed. I rushed out into the moonlit courtyard, where several celestial lords lay scattered, their bodies covered in wounds, their fates uncertain.

Under the moon, a dozen masked figures in black stood with celestial swords in hand, each blade dripping with fresh blood.

The chosen disciples poured out of their rooms.

“Go, all of you! I’ll hold them off!” Bai Ze, the attendant of Lord Yunxiao, stood before a palace, bloody but defiant, sword in hand.

“None of you will escape!” barked one of the black-clad assailants, directing his companions to attack the disciples. Each disciple drew a weapon or artifact, clashing with the attackers.

Dongfang Mo, wielding his wolf-tooth mace, fought while urgently asking Bai Ze, “Where is Lord Yunxiao?”

“The lord was ambushed and is healing! You must flee!” Bai Ze, though wounded, fought with all his might.

At the news that Lord Yunxiao was injured, the disciples were stricken with shock—two of them fled in terror, pursued at once by two black-clad men.

I summoned my Blood Pact Sword, using the Free Spirit Sword technique Bai Hao had taught me to block an attacker’s blows. Glancing around, I saw no sign of Bai Hao, and anxiety gnawed at me. Even if he was only responsible for security outside the Jade Purity Realm, he should have returned by now—could he have already fallen?

Not far off, Bai Ze took another sword wound and was near collapse. I switched to the Falling Blossom Sword style that Bai Xi had taught me, using its deceptive movements to merge with the Free Spirit footwork, leaping to Bai Ze’s side and driving away his assailant.

“Heal yourself—I’ll hold them off!” I gathered my strength, and my Blood Pact Sword flared with crimson fire, as if ablaze.

Bai Ze seized the chance to treat the wound on his arm.

“Where is Bai Hao?” I demanded.

“Huh?” Bai Ze stared at me, stunned.

“Is Bai Hao hurt? Where is he?” I pressed.

“Yes... inside the palace behind me...” Bai Ze replied.

My heart lurched—Bai Hao was wounded... He must have been protecting Lord Yunxiao. Fear for his safety consumed me. I shouted, “Those skilled in medicine, get inside and help him!”

Two disciples rushed in, pursued by two attackers. I intercepted one with my Blood Pact Sword, and Kunpeng leaped to fight by my side.

“Do you know how to set up the Immortal Severing Formation?” I asked Kunpeng. I recalled that the Formation Book Chunfeng had shown me said it required at least eight immortals. Apart from the two who had fled and the two inside aiding the wounded, the ten remaining disciples were scattered, being picked off one by one. If we united and formed the array, we might be able to hold out a while longer.

“I do!” Kunpeng answered.

“Gather eight others and form the Immortal Severing Formation to protect Bai Ze. If you know the Immortal Execution Formation, and can find their weakness, switch to that. I’m going in!” I whispered to Kunpeng.

“Understood!” Kunpeng began organizing the remaining disciples into formation.

I darted into the palace that Bai Ze was guarding. A black-clad attacker pursued me, but Dongfang Mo swooped in, blocking him with his mace and casting a barrier to fend off the attack, then followed me inside.

Blood was everywhere in the courtyard, and the two disciples skilled in medicine lay sprawled across the floor. My heart sank—they had been ambushed here, which meant the attackers had already infiltrated.

Rushing into the great hall, I saw, beneath a pillar, an injured celestial lord struggling to rise. His hair was pinned with a golden ornament, his robe a pale blue, his features handsome... It was Bai Hao!

Dongfang Mo and I rushed forward to help.

“Don’t move!” Suddenly, a harsh shout rang out, and a flash of sword light. A masked attacker emerged from behind the pillar, sword leveled at Bai Hao.

I froze where I stood, but Dongfang Mo lunged forward with his mace.

“Stay back!” The attacker’s sword pressed to Bai Hao’s chest.

Dongfang Mo hastily withdrew his weapon, the force of his own retracted power sending him stumbling backward.

Blood soaked Bai Hao’s robes. He looked at me silently, his face as pale as frost.

Recalling Bai Xi’s threats, I dared not meet his eyes. I couldn’t afford to show I cared about Bai Hao, lest the attacker seize upon it.

“You two will fight. The winner lives, along with him!” declared the attacker.

He meant to force us into killing each other by using Bai Hao as leverage!

“Where is the lord?” Dongfang Mo demanded.

“He’s being dealt with. You should worry about your own lives first.” The attacker sneered.

“Yu Fei, go! Leave Kunlun...” Even with his life hanging by a thread, Bai Hao urged me to flee.

“Silence!” The attacker barked at Bai Hao.

“Give it up,” Bai Hao said, wounded yet utterly unafraid.

“You’re in no position to choose! If you won’t fight, I will!” The attacker pressed his sword deeper into Bai Hao’s chest.

“No need to fight—I concede!” Dongfang Mo declared.

“Concede, and you must end your own life,” the attacker replied.

“If I do, you must let the other two go,” Dongfang Mo said.

Seeing Dongfang Mo about to comply, I glanced at Bai Hao—he was too badly hurt to protect himself or escape. If things continued like this, none of us would survive; even if I escaped, he would die in their hands. There was only one way out—to sacrifice one.

I steeled myself, coldly saying, “Dongfang Mo, since he’s been captured and gravely wounded, you might as well release him from his suffering early, lest he endanger the rest of us.”

With that, I split my Blood Pact Sword into a dozen flying blades, hurling them at the attacker.

Caught off guard, the attacker frantically raised his sword to defend against the barrage. But one blade, detached from the rest, flew straight at Bai Hao.

Powerless to defend himself, Bai Hao took the blade to his chest. I saw him struck by my sword and collapse to the ground. Agony seared through my heart; blood surged to my throat.

“You!” The attacker was stunned by my action.

I grabbed Dongfang Mo and turned to flee. “Come with me!”

“Yu Fei! Are you mad?” Dongfang Mo stopped short.

“If he doesn’t die, we both will! Hurry, don’t stay and fight!” I urged.

“Despicable! Shameless!” Dongfang Mo shook off my hand and shoved me toward the attacker.

I thrust my sword into the ground, barely managing to stand, but stumbled and fell. My heart roared with pain, but I forced it down.

The attacker leaped past me, lunging at Dongfang Mo.

Dongfang Mo fought with his mace, but having been wounded by Bai Xi earlier and exhausted by the trials, his strength was fading. In just a few exchanges, he was clearly losing ground.

“Foolish Dongfang Mo! How can you survive if you insist on fighting?” I cursed inwardly.

I glanced at Bai Hao’s fallen body. In desperation, a plan formed in my mind. Gathering my strength, I sprang up and shouted to the attacker, “Chief! Take care of Dongfang Mo. I’ll go deal with those fools outside!” With that, I flew out of the hall.

Dongfang Mo’s eyes blazed with anger, and he chased after me. The attacker followed as well.

Outside, the other black-clad attackers were now trapped within the Immortal Severing Formation set by Kunpeng, Shi Jun, and the other disciples.

“Stop Yu Fei! She’s with them!” Dongfang Mo shouted.

Shi Jun directed the sword formation to block me. I stepped back, only to find myself backing into the arms of the attacker.

He seized my arms, leaned close, and whispered in my ear, “Little Crow, you’re quite the delight.”

A heady scent filled my nose—it was him! The attacker was Bai Xi! Was he trying to seize power in the Jade Purity Realm?

Bai Xi smiled, straightened up, and proclaimed, “That’s right, Yu Fei is mine. Dongfang Mo, you’re far too dense!”

“Little Crow, stand aside and watch. Let me show you how I deal with these fools.” Bai Xi pushed me out of the way. With a casual wave, he shattered the formation. The disciples were thrown to the ground, with only Kunpeng and Shi Jun managing to continue their assault.

What should I do? Bai Xi was terrifyingly powerful... Panic gripped me, and dizziness washed over me. I leaned on my sword for support.

The Blood Pact Sword was formidable, but my powers were too weak. I’d been pushing myself just to wield it, and after striking Bai Hao with it, the pain in my heart was unbearable—I could not fight any longer.

Suddenly, a sharp pain—a cold weapon pressed to my chest.

Dongfang Mo stood before me, wolf-tooth mace in hand, cursing, “Traitor! Shameless turncoat!”

“It’s not true, you don’t—” I could barely speak.

“Die!” Dongfang Mo roared, striking with all his might.