Chapter One: The Pursuit

He had no time to say anything before the two protectors of Ao Pan warned, "They’re coming!"

From the woods on the path ahead, five figures raced forth, disregarding their outnumbered foes and scattering to encircle them.

One of them, a woman appearing to be twenty-six or twenty-seven, frowned and commanded coldly, "The Flying Immortal Sect is apprehending someone. Those not involved, leave at once!"

Bu Jingxian stepped back between the Moon Worship Sisters, and whispered instructions, "Just hold your ground. Each of you should keep one occupied; they are surely not your match."

The shadow of Wang Jue's formidable power still lingered in Moon Worship’s heart, leaving her devoid of confidence in her own martial arts. Now faced with the unparalleled might of the Ten Sovereigns Divine Skills, she felt even more vulnerable. Yet, the situation left her no choice but to brace herself and agree.

The members of the Sunset Glow Sect were all somewhat shaken. Everyone knew the terrifying reputation of the Flying Immortal Sect's Ten Sovereigns, but they had already resolved to put aside thoughts of life and death, silently steeling themselves for a desperate fight.

"Hmph! Does the Flying Immortal Sect think it can act so domineering outside the borders of Zheng?" someone challenged.

"A mere insignificant sect dares to obstruct the Flying Immortal Sect's business. Ignorant of life and death! Since that's so, no more words—attack!" With that, the senior female disciple of the Flying Immortal Sect moved in, followed closely by the other four.

The four surged forward, unleashing palm strikes as overwhelming as crashing waves.

A sudden gale arose, sending dust and shredded leaves swirling through the air. Dozens of cold flashes shot through the whirling leaves, instantly injuring over thirty members of the Sunset Glow Sect.

"Hidden weapons!" cried one, wincing in pain and warning others to be wary.

Bu Jingxian quickly altered his strategy, abandoning the original plan for a combined attack and charging directly toward where July stood.

All around him, pain blossomed—he guessed he’d been struck by a second volley of hidden weapons. Yet their force was insufficient to seriously harm him; even those that pierced his Dragon Scale Armor barely scratched the skin.

He threw a punch, the force scattering the leaves wildly.

He glimpsed the one releasing the hidden weapons—a woman whose face bore wounds.

As his fist approached, she retreated like the wind, easily evading its threat. Her agility was astonishing.

At that moment, the young woman guarding Ao Pan moved past him.

"I'll handle her!" she declared, and in a flash confronted the retreating woman.

Bu Jingxian knew his own footwork was lacking and would be hard pressed against such an agile opponent, so he turned his attention to the Flying Immortal disciple giving orders, who was engaged by Ao Pan’s young male protector.

Ao Pan’s guard was quick-witted; seeing Bu Jingxian approach, he unleashed killing moves with full force—not to kill, but to keep the opponent from escaping.

Bu Jingxian seized his chance, unleashing his swift energy and charging forward. The Flying Immortal disciple, aware of his approach, had readied a countermeasure, but hadn’t anticipated his sudden acceleration. She hurriedly channeled her power to create a gap and tried to retreat, but failed to defend in time, though she managed to convert her internal energy into physical strength.

Bu Jingxian’s punch landed squarely on her shoulder.

The impact forced her back two steps, depleting four hundred points of stamina.

Before she could stabilize herself, Bu Jingxian and Ao Pan’s guard closed in for a joint attack. The woman, preferring to suffer double injuries rather than yield, fiercely forced her power to reverse her retreat. Seeing this, Bu Jingxian feared she had already grasped the secret of invoking spiritual power. He quickly switched from punches to finger strikes, sealing three of her acupoints in succession, then swept his arm to stop Ao Pan’s guard’s sword from piercing her.

Those capable of invoking spiritual power could, even when stabbed through the heart and at death’s door, use immense spiritual force to repel fatal attacks and simultaneously unleash that power to kill surrounding foes, restoring themselves to full strength.

Such enemies were said to possess several lives; killing them in a short time was nearly impossible. Sealing their acupoints was a more effective method.

Ao Pan’s guard didn’t understand, and Bu Jingxian had no time or words to explain.

"Help the others!" Bu Jingxian ordered. Hearing this, Ao Pan’s guard didn’t argue, but turned and lunged at the Flying Immortal disciple battling the retreating Sunset Glow members.

Using the same tactics, Ao Pan’s guard applied pressure first; Bu Jingxian struck from just beyond the opponent’s expected reaction range with a burst of energy. When their stance faltered under the heavy blow, he sealed their acupoints.

After subduing three Flying Immortal disciples, the remaining one, seeing herself overwhelmed, cried out, "Sister, run! Go call the Martial Sovereign—" Her voice was abruptly cut off, as Ao Pan’s guard sealed her acupoints.

"Under no circumstances must we kill anyone!" Bu Jingxian instructed urgently. Some thought he feared offending the Flying Immortal Sect and dismissed him inwardly, though none voiced their disagreement. In truth, he worried about causing disaster, and couldn’t be sure if all four of these experts were versed in the secrets of spiritual power. Their current ease came from surprise tactics; if any opponent managed to invoke spiritual energy and break free, a simple resolution would be impossible.

Though Zheng Feixian likely wouldn’t reveal such secrets to disciples of this status, those possessing spiritual power who had faced peril often discovered its mysteries; after surviving several near-death experiences, careful and bold individuals might well learn how to invoke it.

Bu Jingxian noticed that the wounded woman’s agility was extraordinary. Despite the situation, she refused to flee, leaping to a branch to evade pursuit, then swooping down in an attempt to free her companions’ sealed acupoints. But before she could get close, she was driven back by Moon Worship, Star Worship, and the Sunset Glow members. Ao Pan’s guard arrived in time to attack her from behind.

Still refusing to surrender, she soared upward, shifting midair, aiming again to free another companion, but Bu Jingxian intercepted her and Ao Pan’s guard followed. This time, they used a joint sword technique, sealing off her routes above and to either side with sword energy. Forced to stay put, she spun and flicked her sleeve, sending three hidden weapons flying.

Bu Jingxian raised his arm to block them; Ao Pan’s guard used his left hand to lift his sword sheath in defense, his right hand maintaining his sword stance.

When July pressed her palm against the blade, Bu Jingxian struck her back with a burst of energy. Although her internal strength was less than Ao Pan’s guards, she managed to halt the sword’s momentum, but was herself injured.

Seeing all five Flying Immortal disciples subdued, Bu Jingxian let out a hidden sigh of relief.

"No need for further complications; let’s leave quickly."

Ao Pan and his two guards didn’t wish to linger either, turning to depart.

Moon Worship and Star Worship hesitated. Only then did Bu Jingxian notice that six or seven Sunset Glow members had been killed by the Ten Sovereigns palm, with a further thirteen or fourteen suffering severe internal injuries, and many more wounded by hidden weapons.

As he pondered what to say, a Sunset Glow man, enraged, stabbed his sword into the back of a sealed Flying Immortal disciple. Fortunately, the blade missed vital organs, deflected by her internal energy, and didn’t prove fatal.

The man, having missed, yanked the sword out forcefully.

Bu Jingxian called out, "Stop!"

But the man ignored him, shouting angrily, "Why fear the Flying Immortal Sect? Why shouldn’t we kill them!"

He struck again, and as the sword entered two inches, Bu Jingxian grabbed the blade.

He was about to explain when suddenly a cry burst out behind him.

The sobbing scream was so piercing it seemed to shatter eardrums, stunning even the Sunset Glow disciple intent on killing.

Bu Jingxian saw the wounded woman’s demeanor shift abruptly—her face contorted with inexplicable sorrow, tears streaming down in an instant. Somehow, the acupoints that had been sealed were now released.