"The Nine-Nine Convergence Blood Transformation Array!" Bai Rong suddenly turned ferocious. Her position was indeed the array's core. In her hand, she held a palm-sized silver handle, intricately carved – the array core rod, needed to activate the formation.
An eerie blood mist slowly rose from all directions and formed a barrier around the peak of Mount Danxue.
"Run!"
The woman who had seen through the trap shouted in terror. She and the other seven women scattered, attempting to flee, but their bodies slammed against the blood-red barrier. They couldn't break through. Bruised and battered, they fell to the ground.
"Let us out!"
"Isn't the Brahma Sound Pure Land a paradise for women? Why are you trying to kill us?"
"Liars! The Pure Land is full of liars!"
Trapped within the array, the eight women knew they couldn't escape. They looked at Bai Rong, whose expression had turned sinister, and at Han Yue, whose strength far surpassed their own. Despair and fear were all that remained.
"Sister Han Yue, make your move! I'm your sister now!"
Bai Rong's body was submerged in the spring. The spring water, visible to the naked eye, gradually turned blood-red into a gruesome sight.
"I… I can't…" Han Yue instinctively stepped back.
Killing?
As a sword cultivator, she was no stranger to it.
But Han Yue had always believed she only killed those who deserved to die. Even when Yao Guang had ordered her to assassinate Fan Li, it was because she had heard of Fan Li's reputation as a traitor and had believed she was acting for the good of the nation.
But these eight women before her, their character, talent, and beauty were all exceptional. They had been carefully selected and brought to the Pure Land as Sage Ruler candidates. Now, she was being asked to take their lives.
Sage Ruler candidates, becoming nourishment for the new Sage Ruler?
"Impossible."
"Elder Sister wouldn't do such a thing."
"I don't believe it…"
Han Yue's mind was in a state of confusion, but Bai Rong urged her once more.
"Sister, if you don't act soon, the array won't have any nourishment. I'll be devoured by the formation! Are you planning to bring my corpse back to Elder Sister Yao Guang?!"
Han Yue was startled. She looked at the spring water in the array's core and noticed a faint black mist emanating from it. Bai Rong, submerged in the water, trembled uncontrollably in pain.
"Zhu Xian!"
Han Yue shouted. Her spiritual energy swiftly coalesced into ethereal swords. The Four Swords of Zhu Xian – Immortal Execution, Slaughter, Extinction, and Trapping – floated around her, radiating a boundless killing intent. Even the imposing aura of the Nine-Nine Convergence Blood Transformation Array was instantly suppressed.
The eight women, seeing this, felt even more despair. The woman who had first seen through the trap, fell to the ground.
"Sage Ruler Han Yue! I have no grudge against you. I yearned to join the Pure Land. I never imagined this would be my fate."
"I swear by Heaven that I will never reveal what happened today."
"Please, Senior, we've worked so hard to cultivate. Spare our lives!"
The other seven women, seeing this, also knelt before Han Yue, begging for mercy. They wept openly.
The Four Swords of Zhu Xian locked onto the eight women, but Han Yue couldn't bring herself to attack!
Suddenly, the unexpected occurred!
Bai Rong, ignored by the others, seemed to have merged with the Nine-Nine Convergence Blood Transformation Array. The blood-red spring water, as if an extension of her body, under her control, coalesced into eight long spears. The spear tips aimed at the backs of the eight women.
Whoosh!
Whoosh, whoosh!
The sound of air being pierced!
The eight women, preoccupied with weeping and pleading for mercy, focused all their attention on Han Yue's terrifying swords. They were guarding against the Four Swords of Zhu Xian. They hadn't even considered Bai Rong, who was behind them.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Muffled sounds were made as water spears pierced flesh.
Four women, including the one who had seen through the trap, were instantly killed by Bai Rong's sneak attack!
The remaining four, at the last moment, managed to dodge, and was pierced but not fatally wounded.
Han Yue was stunned. Four women, incredibly beautiful and talented, future powerhouses, had been killed right before her eyes by Bai Rong's surprise attack?
Her body trembled slightly, and she looked at Bai Rong with undisguised disgust.
At that moment, Bai Rong also looked at Han Yue. Their eyes met, but Bai Rong seemed completely oblivious to Han Yue's emotions.
She smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Sister, for distracting them. It allowed me to strike."
"What?!"
Han Yue was shocked. She wanted to explain that she hadn't intended to help Bai Rong. In fact, she had considered breaking the formation and freeing the eight innocent women.
Bai Rong turned to attack the remaining four women.
The blood from the wounds of the four dead women quickly stained the ground crimson.
Han Yue's face contorted in pain. She was about to intervene, but four of the springs' blood-red waters like giant arms, "grabbed" the four corpses and dragged them into the water.
"Ah~~~~~~~~~~!"
Bai Rong let out a strange, almost ecstatic moan, and her aura surged!
The four injured women, fighting against her, had initially held their ground. But Bai Rong's sudden increase in strength, coupled with their wounds, left them at a disadvantage.
Within moments, three more women were killed and dragged into the springs!
"You…"
"You all…"
The last surviving woman, like Han Yue, was a sword cultivator. Her cultivation was only at the ninth rank, Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul realm, the weakest among them. But she had displayed incredible resilience and fighting spirit.
This woman's performance reminded Han Yue of her younger self.
Similarly alone, similarly relying solely on her sword, she fought with unwavering determination and dignity!
'She's already glimpsed the true path.' Han Yue couldn't help but praise her inwardly.
This woman was a pure sword cultivator, in both talent and character. If she survived, her future achievements might even surpass Han Yue's own!
"You…"
Han Yue took a step towards her. She couldn't help but feel a kinship, a desire to save her.
But the swordswoman misinterpreted her intentions. She assumed Han Yue was finally going to attack.
She looked at Han Yue with complex emotions; admiration, expectation, even love. But ultimately, all those emotions turned into deep disappointment and pain!
"I'll fight you to the death." The swordswoman spoke in a flat tone, but her words were resolute.
Han Yue was stunned for a moment, then understood her intentions.
"No, I wanted to…"
Before Han Yue could finish, the woman, sword in hand, lunged towards her!
Her sword was incredibly fast!
Like a silver lightning bolt!
But even faster were the four swords protecting Han Yue.
Thud!
Without even needing Han Yue's command, the Four Swords of Zhu Xian activated and instantly pierced the swordswoman's body!
Her corpse, too, was slowly dragged away by the blood-red spring water.
Han Yue was stunned. An unknown amount of time passed before Bai Rong dressed once more and stood beside her.
"Sister, would you like to know her name?"
Han Yue nodded instinctively.
"No one knows her true name. She called herself 'Chasing Moon.' Legend has it that Chasing Moon admired you the most, Sister Han Yue~!"