To the west of Ling Marsh lies the endless Yanran Mountain Range.

It spans across both Feng’an and Qiyuan.

The Yanran Mountain Range is magnificent and vast, a common area for the surrounding Sects. It contains countless Spiritual Plants and Spirit Medicines, as well as many Demon Beasts and Spirit Beasts.

Among the nearby independent Sects, apart from the Ziyang Sect where Ke Huai is, there is also the Xuanmiao sect. Both Sects have a Golden Core Realm Cultivator overseeing them.

Disciples from various Sects usually hunt Demon Beasts or gather Spirit Medicines and spiritual items in the mountain range to complete Sect tasks and commissions.

However, apart from the large Cave Abyss Sect, the smaller Sects have their own conflicts and friction. It’s unlikely for Cultivators to meet peacefully.

"The Disciples of the Xuanmiao sect are even more peculiar; they harbor deep animosity towards our Cave Abyss Sect Disciples."

Under Xiawei Peak in the Yanran Mountain Range.

A simple-looking young man walked through the forest with another male and female Cave Abyss Sect Disciple.

The simple young man earnestly explained the situation of the Yanran Mountain Range to them.

"Senior Sister said that when we come out to collect medicinal herbs, we must be careful of Cultivators from other sects, especially the Xuanmiao sect."

"The ancestors of the Xuanmiao sect were Disciples of a large sect in another country. Later, for some reason, they were expelled from their Sect and came here to establish the Xuanmiao sect."

"Hmm." The other male Cultivator nodded and took over, "I’ve heard about that too."

"The Xuanmiao sect prides itself on being the orthodox Dao sect, believing that other Sects practice inferior, unorthodox Dao."

"Every Disciple in their sect is arrogant and incompetent. They haven’t inherited the Dao tradition and integrity of a prestigious sect; instead, their bad habit of looking down on others has grown worse with each generation."

"Back then, although the eastern part of Ling Marsh was unclaimed territory, the Xuanmiao sect had long coveted it."

"It just so happened that our Sect Master arrived there, intending to establish a Sect."

"The Elders of several Sects joined forces and attacked. Our Sect Master, fighting alone against many, used a single sword to eliminate a Golden Core Realm Cultivator, and the Xuanmiao sect almost faced annihilation because of it."

"This grudge has lasted for over three hundred years..."

Unexpectedly, the young girl among the three chuckled, revealing two small, sharp canine teeth.

"Don’t be afraid, I’ll protect you all!"

This was no joke; among the three, only this young girl had a Qi Refining third-layer Realm, while the two male Cultivators were only at Qi Refining second-layer.

If they were to truly spar, the two men combined might not even be able to defeat this thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl.

The purpose of their trip was a low-grade spiritual herb called Spirit Cloud Grass. According to the map in the simple young man’s hand, there was a lot of it on Xiawei Peak.

They walked and stopped, chatting along the way, and soon ascended Xiawei Peak.

"Wow..."

All three were stunned by the magnificent scenery of the glowing clouds.

The mountain range in front of Xiawei Peak was surrounded by dense forests, with lower terrain and close proximity to Ling Marsh, making the air very humid and filled with mist.

At this moment, the new rain had just stopped, and the rising sun appeared.

The clouds glowed with vibrant colors, like a fairyland. The name Xiawei Peak (Glowing Cloud Peak) came precisely from this.

The three were immersed in this beautiful scenery, completely unaware that a Shadow Cat Demon was hidden in the dense forest behind them, having already targeted them as prey.

"Woo..." A low growl came from behind. The three turned around and realized they were surrounded by two wolves and one cat—three Yao Beasts—at the edge of the cliff.

"Oh no! Mist Shadow Wolves and Shadow Cat Demon!"

The simple young man exclaimed, instinctively shielding the young girl behind him.

Truth be told, Mist Shadow Wolves and Shadow Cat Demon are not particularly powerful Demon Beasts. The three they faced were all early First-Tier.

However, at the same Realm, Demon Beasts possess physical attributes far superior to human Cultivators, naturally giving them an advantage in combat.

What’s more... there were three of them.

"Ah Yu! Run!"

Unexpectedly, under the pressure of death, the young girl’s thoughts were exceptionally clear, and her actions were without hesitation.

Three streams of water simultaneously condensed from the ground, coiling around the ankles of the three Demon Beasts.

With the minimal expenditure, she created the most trouble for her opponents.

The simple young man was not idle either. A white talisman in his hand was activated, flying into the sky and blooming into white light.

This was a distress signal. If any benevolent fellow Disciples saw it, they would rush to the location for rescue.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The powerful impact and inertia caused the water streams to break instantly, but such resilient force made the Yao Beasts’ forward movement abruptly halt.

The young girl did not consume too much Origin Qi.

"Run!"

The three attempted to scatter and flee.

But the space on the summit platform of Xiawei Peak was simply too small. All three Demon Beasts were agile, and with a few leaps, they once again surrounded the three.

So fast!

Their hearts sank, and they each began to form hand seals for their magic arts.

The wolf demons easily dodged the wind blades, and with a swipe of their sharp claws, they extinguished the incoming fireballs.

"This..."

The two wolf demons charged together, engaging the three in battle.

Another young male Cultivator shouted, "Yuerong, try to stall for time! Don’t fight to the death. Ah Yu has already sent a distress signal; fellow Disciples will come to support us!"

"..."

Although he said that, the three also knew in their hearts that the probability of someone coming to rescue them by following the distress signal was very low.

A sense of despair rose in the hearts of the three.

"Chirp—"

A chilling sound, carrying the unique stench of a demon, came from Yang Yuerong’s ear.

!?

The coldness and the scent of death traveled from her numb hands, all the way to the back of her head.

Her survival instinct made her instinctively turn her head.

But... there was nothing there.

"Chirp..."

The chilling sound still came from behind.

Yang Yuerong’s heart plummeted into an abyss.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a sharp claw, gleaming with a pitch-black luster, effortlessly tearing through her protective spiritual energy at a ghostly speed, striking towards her neck.

"Yuerong!!!"

Hum—

Just then, several incomparably sharp Sword Qi suddenly appeared on the scene.

Hiss.

A humming reverberated, and a Sword Qi easily severed the extended claw of the Shadow Cat Demon.

Then, the entire forelimb belonging to the Shadow Cat Demon was severed with a snap. The cut surface was perfectly clean, and it even seemed like it wouldn’t be too painful.

Pfft... Crimson, warm Demon Beast blood gushed out, splashing in front of the three stunned individuals.

"Haa—"

The Shadow Cat Demon lay on the ground, howling in pain.

Immediately after, the three Demon Beasts were slowly lifted into mid-air by an inexplicable force.

More than ten streaks of white sword light, trailing afterimages, rapidly rotated around them.

Hiss.

At a certain moment, a sword shadow pierced through the chest of a wolf demon.

Then it vanished instantly.

The second... the third... the three Demon Beasts were thus continuously pierced by several sword shadows in mid-air.

The remaining several white sword shadows, suspended and rotating, spun faster and faster, and at a certain moment, they shot up into the sky.

In the cloudy sky, several sword shadows merged into one, plummeting towards the three still struggling Demon Beasts.

Boom!!!

A violent Sword Qi erupted on Xiawei Peak, and the air currents, carrying the mist from the clouds, rolled and spread outwards in a circular fashion.

The three couldn’t help but avert their gaze, avoiding the dust.

"..."

A moment later, the dust settled.

The three looked up at the cliff... only to see several white sword lights trailing afterimages, circling and converging in the air, finally condensing onto a Flying Sword, hovering in front of a young male Cultivator.

The Cloud Piercing Sword descended, it was Song Yan.