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The defensive barrier wasn’t going to hold, even with her supporting Mei Chen. She squeezed the other girl’s hand and decided they had to retreat. "Everyone off the wall—now!"

The remaining guards screamed as blood spears tore through their ranks up and down the length of the wall. Bodies tumbled from the battlements, leaving crimson trails against the stone. Zhang Huo and the Li brothers sprinted toward the stairs.

Mei Chen maintained a protective frost barrier around their retreat. It was the only thing protecting them so…

Xiulan picked up Mei Chen and slung her over her shoulder, eliciting a startled yelp. Their qi connection wavered but it managed to hold while they worked on two different things at once.

Metal screeched against stone as the enemy cultivators breached the gate. Their boots thundered across the wall-walk, claiming Blackmere’s defenses. Xiulan jumped off the wall, Severing Light in her free hand humming with accumulated spiritual energy.

"Miss Lin!" Liu Bao emerged from an alley, leading a contingent of city guards. His armor bore fresh dents and scorches.

A hail of arrows whizzed overhead. Mei Chen’s frost shield expanded, catching the projectiles with crystalline chimes. The ice grew thicker as more volleys peppered their position.

"Form up!" Wu Yan charged into view, her fire sword blazing with crimson energy. "Push them back!"

Liu Bao raised his sword. "For Blackmere!"

The mortal army inside the city walls surged forward. Hundreds of crossbow bolts filled the air and the city’s siege engines unleashed their fury. Stone and metal projectiles arced toward the gate.

Two enemy cultivators disappeared in explosions of gore and masonry and the gate collapsed as trebuchet shots demolished it’s support.

Lord Chao’s remaining forces responded with devastating spiritual attacks. Waves of elemental energy obliterated the mortal soldiers despite scattered defensive talismans flaring to life. Bodies flew apart as qi-enhanced explosions ripped through their formations.

Liu Bao vanished in a blast that painted the cobblestones red. Xiulan clenched her jaw until pain shot through her temples.

Enemy cultivators swarmed over the gate’s rubble like ants from a broken hill. Xiulan counted at least fifteen more emerging through the dust and debris.

She shifted Mei Chen’s weight against her shoulder. The frost shield flickered as Mei Chen strained to maintain protection while being carried.

Stand here. Fight. Die gloriously defending the city.

The thought tasted like ash in her mouth. All those lorebook stories from Phoenix Kingdom Chronicles flooded back—tales of heroic last stands, of noble sacrifices that saved kingdoms and earned eternal glory.

A bitter laugh escaped her throat. She’d charged into this defense thinking victory awaited, imagining accolades and revenge served cold to House Chao. Dreaming of everyone praising the brave defenders who’d held the line.

Had all of it had been to serve her stupid pride and arrogance?

Xiulan watched another wave of soldiers dissolve under a barrage of spiritual attacks. The screams of the dying echoed off blood-stained walls. The stench of burnt flesh and spilled viscera filled her nose.

This wasn’t about honor or heroism. She’d fought to protect what belonged to her—her family, her friend, her future. The fantasy of righteous victory crumbled like the city walls.

How disgustingly naive.

Xiulan stared at the carnage. The blood-soaked streets mocked her.

She’d pulled everyone into this nightmare and got them killed—Ming Lihua, Wei Kang, the loyal soldiers who still fought. Yang Mei lost her leg defending a position Xiulan had assigned. The bloody banquet where she had pushed forward a massacre in her rage—all dead by her own hands.

She could have fled. Avoided playing the court games. Ren Chun’s accusatory words rang in her head—her black karma demanded payment in spades.

The truth stabbed deeper than any blade. She had not wanted any of this. All she wanted was to save Mei Chen. To protect what remained of her family.

She should have grabbed Mother, Zhang Wei, and Mei Chen, then vanished to the kingdom’s furthest reaches where their enemies couldn’t follow before things had slid down a path she couldn’t break free from.

But no. Her arrogance whispered they could overcome anything. Now the consequences of that hubris lay scattered across Blackmere’s streets.

Zhang Huo’s fingers dug into her shoulder. He shook her roughly. "Miss Lin! Your orders?"

The Li brothers exchanged a critical glance with Zhang Huo. Their faces hardened as they watched her freeze beneath the weight of her failures.

"It looks like I showed up just in time."

Xiulan’s head snapped toward the familiar voice. A robed figure leapt from the rooftop, landing gracefully beside their group. Relief flooded through her chest at the sight of Feng Yu.

The black turquoise robe with gold trim—the same one they’d purchased from Ming—draped elegantly around her martial sister’s frame. Golden pins secured her sandy hair beneath an ornate headdress that caught the light of nearby fires. The red sash at her waist bore battle scars, yet silver threads wove through the singed fabric turning them into badges of honor. Her saber hung ready at her hip, and those striking amber eyes blazed with determination.

"Why such a devastated look?" Feng Yu stepped forward. "Feng Yu has joined the fray!"

Enemy projectiles pinged against Mei Chen’s frost shield in rapid succession. Screams and explosions continued to echo through the streets. But Xiulan barely registered the chaos. Her focus remained fixed on Feng Yu’s presence, drinking in the sight of her friend like a lifeline thrown into drowning waters.

She came back. She actually came back.

Zhang Huo stepped forward. "Who exactly are you?"

Feng Yu raised an elegant eyebrow. "Did I stutter? I’m Feng Yu!" She spread her arms wide, gold-trimmed sleeves catching the firelight. "Remember that name—I’m here to save my martial sister and this city!"

"How can one girl stop that—" Zhang Huo gestured toward the breach where enemy cultivators poured through.

"Did you bring reinforcements?" Xiulan cut him off. "House Min’s support?"

"Ah..." Feng Yu scratched her cheek. "Those nobles drowned everything in endless debates and politics. I grew tired of their glacial pace and ran ahead."

The spark of hope in Xiulan’s chest sputtered and died. Despite Feng Yu’s impressive cultivation, they faced an overwhelming force. "We’ve already lost. We need to—"

"Did you hit your head?" Feng Yu stepped closer, amber eyes blazing. "Mei Chen still breathes! Yes, the walls suffered damage, but this night isn’t lost!"

Xiulan’s shoulders slumped. "Ming Lihua died defending the gate. We’re outnumbered by at least twenty more cultivators, and we’ve lost four defenders already." She gripped Severing Light tighter. "Another dozen went after Ren Chun and the manor."

"That monkey?" Feng Yu snorted. "He’ll carve through them like paper. Your family remains safe." She patted Xiulan’s shoulder. "I’m sorry for Ming and the others, maybe they were just injured and we can rescue them later."

Feng Yu looked out at the forming enemy cultivators at the gate. "We must act now to save Blackmere."

A bitter laugh escaped Xiulan’s throat. "Ha! But how?"

Xiulan watched as Feng Yu reached into her robe pocket.

"Remember our adventure at the lake?" Feng Yu revealed a translucent white egg that pulsed with spiritual energy. "Since you helped me claim this treasure, you deserve to see what it truly is."

Xiulan’s breath caught. She had suspected something like this, when Master Yan had presented Feng Yu with a prismatic beast orb, but seeing it…

It was the ancient dawn serpent’s egg! It pulsed with intense spiritual energy.

Feng Yu produced the prismatic beast orb in her other hand. Crimson flames erupted from her palm, engulfing the orb in scarlet light. She pressed the flaming orb against the egg’s surface. The crystalline shell absorbed the sphere, transforming from white to a deep reddish gold. The egg trembled and rocked in her grip.

Golden light burst through spreading cracks. Shell fragments scattered as a miniature serpentine form emerged—a replica of the ancient dawn serpent they’d faced, but small enough to coil around Feng Yu’s arm.

The ancient serpent hadn’t unleashed its full power to destroy them because it recognized its own offspring was in Feng Yu’s possession.

The baby fire serpent drifted upward into the air, trailing wisps of golden flame. Feng Yu reached out and cradled it close to her face. Their eyes locked. She opened her mouth, releasing a stream of spiritual energy that the serpent eagerly absorbed.

Feng Yu lifted the creature skyward. It shot into rapid circles, filling the air with excited hisses and sparks.

"I name you Liuhuo!" Feng Yu’s declaration rang with pride. "Flowing Fire!"

The crystalline barrier around them flickered as Mei Chen sagged against Xiulan’s shoulder. Sweat beaded on her pale forehead from maintaining the protective shield. The qi flow from their connection was still normal, but maintaining the defensive technique was mentally draining and… spirits had mental drain, too?

"We don’t have time for this!" Xiulan adjusted her grip on Severing Light while supporting Mei Chen’s weight.

Zhang Huo lowered his bow and pointed at the tiny serpent. "How will that save us? It’s barely bigger than a garden snake!"

"Have some respect!" Feng Yu planted her hands on her hips. "This is the offspring of an ancient beast. Its cultivation already surpasses all of ours combined!"

A squeak of pain erupted from Feng Yu as Liuhuo’s tiny fangs sank into her finger. She shook her hand frantically.

"I know you just woke up!" Feng Yu glared at the serpentine creature. "But can’t you stop the enemy and save the city? I need to impress my martial sister and be a hero!"

Liuhuo twisted in the air and exhaled a perfect smoke ring directly into Feng Yu’s face. She coughed and waved it away.

"This is insane, even for cultivators!" Li Jan backed away. His brother grabbed his shoulder.

The air shimmered around Liuhuo as his form began to expand. Xiulan’s jaw dropped as the creature’s body stretched longer and wider as he rose, filling more of the sky. Golden scales gleamed red in the city’s fires as Liuhuo grew to massive proportions.

Xiulan craned her neck back, watching the serpentine form block out the clouds.

"Oh..." Zhang Huo whispered.

Waves of radiant qi poured off Liuhuo’s enormous body as it reached a quarter of its parent’s size. The serpent’s coils stretched across the city skyline, its scales deflecting siege projectiles meant to strike the city’s buildings.

Feng Yu’s laughter echoed through the streets, tinged with manic glee.

Most of the enemy redirected their attacks, abandoning their assault on what was left of the defenders. Arrows, spiritual weapons, and siege ammunition arced toward Liuhuo’s floating form in a desperate barrage.

Feng Yu stepped forward with fluid grace, her saber ringing as it cleared her scabbard. "The counter attack starts now!"

She brushed past Mei Chen with a confident stride. "Little sister, you can rest now!"

Her palm thrust outward. The frost shield dissolved into superheated steam that rolled outward in a scorching wave. Enemy projectiles vaporized mid-flight—qi orbs dispersed into harmless sparks, metal darts sublimated into gas. The thermal blast slammed into the barrage with devastating force.

Xiulan surveyed what remained of Blackmere’s defenders. Blood stained the cobblestones where Liu Bao had fallen. The remnants of the city guard huddled behind broken barricades. Ming Lihua’s sacrifice at the gate left an ache in her chest.

A tense breath escaped her lips. The realization struck hard—she definitely wasn’t the protagonist of this story.

"We follow Feng Yu’s lead!" Xiulan adjusted her grip on Severing Light.

Zhang Huo released a deep laugh. "I’d be embarrassed not to now!"

Above the city, Liuhuo’s massive form gathered spiritual energy into a colossal sphere of fire. Golden flames rained down on the enemy siege camp like divine retribution. The impacts shook the ground beneath their feet.

Xiulan reached for Mei Chen’s hand. "We should go."

Mei Chen puffed out a breath. "I’m okay."

Xiulan took a step forward, but Mei Chen remained rooted. The tug on her arm forced Xiulan to stop.

"What’s wrong?" Xiulan turned back.

Mei Chen’s pale blue eyes studied her face. "Didn’t you want to run away?" She pointed down the empty street leading away from the battle. "We should go that way."

Ice spread through Xiulan’s veins. The weight of Severing Light dragged at her arm as her muscles locked up. Of course Mei Chen had sensed it—all the doubt, the self-loathing, the desperate urge to flee. Their spiritual connection left nowhere to hide such things.

The sounds of battle faded into a distant buzz. Feng Yu’s dramatic entrance played through her mind again. The way everyone’s spirits lifted at her arrival. The hope that bloomed in their eyes.

And here stood Xiulan, ready to charge back into the fight just because victory seemed possible again. Ready to play at being a hero now that reinforcements had arrived. The same pattern, the same delusions that got so many killed already.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

The truth settled like lead in her stomach. She wasn’t brave or noble or righteous. Just a scared young woman, desperately pretending to be something more.

She was afraid of so many things, but most of all, she was now afraid of what Mei thought of her now that she had seen her spirit break.

Mei Chen wrapped her arms around Xiulan’s waist, pressing close. "No matter where you go, I’ll follow, and I’ll never regret it or blame you, because that’s my choice."

The simple declaration pierced through Xiulan’s doubts. She wrapped one arm around Mei Chen’s shoulders while Severing Light remained ready in her other hand.

Beyond their embrace, golden flames rained from the sky as Liuhuo’s massive form twisted through the clouds and he let out an angry hiss. The battle raged on without them.

Each explosion reminded her of her choices.

Rallying Blackmere to fight. The recruitment of cultivators. The refusal to surrender. She’d set these events in motion through pride, arrogance and anger. If retreat had been her plan, she should have yielded the city immediately—and saved countless lives lost in this senseless siege.

Cold sweat trickled down her spine as another blast shook the ground. Her legs trembled with the urge to flee. Raw terror clawed at her chest, threatening to overwhelm her resolve.

The admission burned like acid in her thoughts. She was afraid. Terrified of death, of failure, of watching more people die for her choices.

"I can’t run away." Xiulan tightened her grip on Severing Light. "I chose to defend the city. That responsibility falls to us now."

Mei Chen’s whisper brushed against her collar. "Yes miss."

They turned and sprinted after Feng Yu’s charging form.

Enemy cultivators lined the ruined gate and walls ahead. Spiritual attacks erupted from their position—arrows wreathed in qi, bolts of pure energy, and waves of deadly force. They split their fire between Liuhuo and Xiulan’s charging group.

Feng Yu raised her palm skyward. A sphere of crimson flame coalesced above her head and then shoved it forward. The incoming barrage dissipated against its surface in harmless sparks. She gestured while still sprinting, launching the fiery orb toward the wall.

"Forward!" Feng Yu’s battle cry echoed across the battlefield.

Xiulan gripped Severing Light tighter as she followed in Feng Yu’s wake. The Li brothers flanked her left while Zhang Huo covered their right with precise arrow shots.

Movement caught Xiulan’s eye. Wu Yan emerged from a pile of broken stone, her sword trailing ribbons of fire as she raised it high. The blade’s crimson glow cast dancing shadows across her determined expression.

"Show those bastards who isn’t dead!" Wu Yan’s shout carried across the ruins.

An answering roar rose from the rubble around them. Soldiers emerged from their hiding spots throughout the city—some bloodied, others grimy, but all bearing weapons with fierce determination. They raised crossbows toward the walls. The few siege engines still intact swung into position.

The sound of hundreds of crossbows releasing filled the air as the army launched their counter-attack. Xiulan watched the deadly rain arc toward the enemy position while Liuhuo’s golden flames continued to fall outside the city from above.

The enemy cultivators arranged themselves into a twelve-pointed star formation on the rubble of the gatehouse. Spiritual energy blazed between each point, flowing like liquid light toward the center where the spirit beast summoner stood. The qi coalesced into a massive blue tiger that rivaled Liuhuo in size. Its ethereal form rippled with concentrated spiritual power as it launched skyward to engage the serpent.

The impact of their collision sent shockwaves across Blackmere. Azure and gold qi clashed in brilliant explosions overhead while Liuhuo’s serpentine form twisted to avoid the tiger’s claws.

Cultivators on the walls broke to intercept Feng Yu’s charge. An earth cultivator slammed his palms into the ground. Stone walls erupted around Feng Yu, forming a prison of solid rock.

"Too slow!" Feng Yu’s qi superheated the stone cage. The rocks glowed cherry-red before liquefying into magma. She spun in place, sending the molten projectiles hurtling back at her attacker.

The deadly dance continued until a water cultivator stepped forward alongside his metal-wielding companion. Their combined qi manifested in a combined attack.

Feng Yu slashed her saber, releasing a wave of scorching heat—but the water cultivator’s technique coated the metallic eruption in a protective shell. The chill pushed back Feng Yu’s flames while focusing the water into a concentrated beam.

The enhanced attack surged down the avenue straight toward their group. The combined spiritual energy crackled with lethal intent as it closed the distance.

Feng Yu slammed her saber into the cobblestones. Fire qi erupted outward in a protective wall against the incoming water beam. The flames flickered and wavered, pushed back by the relentless aqueous assault. The stress became clear on Feng Yu’s forehead.

Li Ren and Li Jan stepped forward in perfect synchronization. Their hands wove intricate patterns as emerald wood qi poured from their palms into Feng Yu’s failing flames.

The fire surged dramatically into a beam of it’s own, transforming from orange to vibrant green where the energies merged. The ground crumbled and erupted where the two qi beams collided and struggled to push each other back.

Above them, Liuhuo’s massive form wrestled with the spiritual tiger. The serpent’s fangs sought purchase on the beast’s ethereal neck while spectral claws raked golden scales. Spheres of flame erupted from Liuhuo’s body, raining down toward the twelve-point cultivator formation. The attacks splashed harmlessly against a dome of interwoven blue qi that protected the array.

The competing beams—wood-enhanced fire versus pressurized water—carved deeper trenches into the avenue. Stone melted and vaporized where the energies clashed. The air crackled with conflicting spiritual pressure.

"I can help!" Mei Chen tugged at Xiulan’s sleeve. "Throw me!"

Xiulan blinked in confusion. "What?"

Before she could protest further, Mei Chen leapt onto her shoulders with supernatural grace. Xiulan instinctively grabbed her friend’s ankles and launched her skyward, following the momentum of Mei Chen’s jump.

Frost radiated from Mei Chen’s airborne form as ethereal blue threads erupted from her palms. The qi manifestations twisted through the air like living silk, hundreds of delicate strands weaving an intricate pattern. A wave of arctic cold washed over Xiulan, crystallizing her breath into white puffs.

The threads plunged into the enemy’s water beam. Ice spread through the liquid attack in an instant, splitting it apart and transforming the concentrated stream into thousands of razor-sharp shards. The frozen projectiles curved away, redirecting toward the twelve-point formation with lethal precision.

Feng Yu’s emerald-tinged flames punched through the gap Mei Chen created. The combined spiritual attack obliterated the metal and water cultivators before they could react.

Feng Yu pulled her saber out of the cobblestone and swept it in an upward arc, directing the remaining flame beam toward the dome of blue qi protecting the beast summoner’s array. The fire surged skyward, and the combined ice shards and flame impacted the barrier with devastating force.

The remaining siege engines creaked as crews loaded fresh ammunition. Stone projectiles launched in coordinated volleys, adding to the assault on the weakening dome. Spiritual energy crackled across its surface as the protective barrier began to fail. Random gaps appeared in the shield’s matrix, allowing missiles to penetrate and strike at the cultivators maintaining the formation.

Feng Yu’s saber flashed in the morning light. "To me! Break their formation!"

A bone-rattling hiss shook the city. Xiulan stumbled as the ground trembled beneath her feet. Above, Liuhuo’s massive golden form wrapped around the spiritual tiger. His fangs clamped onto the beast’s ethereal throat. The serpent’s coils constricted, crushing the tiger’s form as they plummeted toward the earth.

The impact demolished half the city wall. Stone and mortar exploded outward in a devastating wave. Dust clouds billowed skyward against the lightening sky while the two massive creatures rolled through the rubble in their death struggle.

Movement caught Xiulan’s eye—Mei Chen plummeted from above. Xiulan lunged forward and caught her friend before she hit the ground. The impact drove her to one knee.

"Mei Chen!"

Blue light pulsed from the previous wound in Mei Chen’s chest. Cracks spread across her torso like spiderwebs in glass. Each labored breath caused the fractures to spread further.

Tears streamed down Mei Chen’s face. "It hurts."

Xiulan pulled out the object repair talisman Ming had given her. The paper crinkled between her fingers as she remembered Ming’s warning—the talisman wouldn’t work while Mei Chen remained bound to her physical form. She stared at the useless slip of paper while Mei Chen’s breathing grew more ragged.

"Come back out!" Xiulan brushed Mei Chen’s cold cheek.

"Yes, Miss." Mei Chen’s eyes dulled. Her jaw slackened and a luminous blue orb drifted from her parted lips. The spirit darted upward and settled onto Xiulan’s forehead with a cool tingle.

Xiulan pulled out the repair talisman and pressed it against Mei Chen’s fractured chest. The paper crumbled to ash as spiritual energy knitted the cracks together—though jagged seams remained visible beneath the torn robes.

Through the settling dust, two soldiers stumbled past, their faces blackened with soot. Xiulan gestured toward them. "You two! Come here!"

They snapped to attention and hustled over, boots crunching on scattered debris.

"I have a critical mission. Take this body to the Treasure Pavilion and ensure it remains undamaged. This is absolutely vital."

The soldiers exchanged uncertain glances but lifted Mei Chen’s limp form between them. Their footsteps faded as they carried her toward safety.

I can apologize to Master Qingfeng later.

Mei Chen swirled around Xiulan’s head with urgent intensity. We are falling behind!

Xiulan adjusted her grip on Severing Light and sprinted after her allies.

Ahead, Feng Yu’s form blazed with amber qi as she slammed through the array’s barrier. The impact sent ripples of golden light cascading across the dome’s surface.

At the same time, the massive ethereal tiger dissolved into motes of light as the twelve-point formation broke apart. Cultivators spread out in a deadly pattern, their weapons gleaming in the morning sun.

A swordsman darted forward, blade whistling through the air at Feng Yu. She pivoted smoothly, her saber meeting his sword in a shower of sparks. The clash of steel rang out as they exchanged lightning-fast strikes.

The Li brothers moved in perfect sync, intercepting two spearmen who charged toward Feng Yu’s flanks. Steel clashed against steel as they locked weapons.

"Rain of Fire!" Zhang Huo’s voice boomed across the battlefield. A dozen arrows erupted from his bow, each trailing streams of crimson qi. The remaining nine cultivators scattered, their half-formed techniques disrupted as they dodged the burning projectiles.

The protective dome above shattered with a thunderous crack. Crystalline shards rained down as they dissolved. Xiulan channeled qi into her legs and leaped. The wind whipped past as she arced through the air, Severing Light extended. Her feet touched down on the broken gate’s highest point, giving her a perfect view of the unfolding battle below.

The ground bucked beneath Xiulan’s feet. She shifted her stance wider, redistributing her weight as Liuhuo rose up with another thunderous hiss. The massive serpent’s golden scales caught the morning light as he launched skyward, his sinuous form casting a shadow over the enemy camp.

Panicked shouts erupted. Soldiers abandoned their posts, dropping weapons and shields as they fled. Siege engines stood forgotten, their wooden frames creaking in the morning breeze. The orderly military camp dissolved into chaos.

Two cultivators abandoned the enemy formation and darted away from the city walls—they apparently decided their contract wasn’t worth it any longer. Their qi signatures faded into the distance.

Xiulan drew a steadying breath. "We need to join the fight too, Mei Chen."

Yes, Miss! Mei Chen’s eager thought resonated through their connection. Cool energy flowed down Xiulan’s head and arm as Mei Chen’s essence merged with Severing Light. The weapon’s surface frosted over with delicate patterns.

Xiulan retrieved her final six iron darts, purchased what felt like ages ago at the Treasure Pavilion. She channeled yang qi into the metal, heating them until they glowed. The opposing energies created perfect balance—yin flooding Severing Light thanks to Mei Chen while yang suffused the darts.

Below, the enemy cultivators’ star formation began to break apart. Xiulan bent her knees and launched herself into the air.

She landed in a three-point stance at the formation’s heart. Seven cultivators pivoted toward her, their weapons gleaming with deadly intent. The morning sun cast shadows across their faces as they registered her presence.

She exploded into motion, sprinting left toward a burly cultivator. A yang-infused dart blazed golden as it left her fingers. The cultivator twisted aside, but Xiulan brought Severing Light down in an overhead strike. The weapon’s tip pierced the earth. Lightning erupted in a devastating circle, the discharge catching her target square in the chest. He flew backward, robes smoking.

All the elements flared behind her—earth, fire, water, metal, and wood energies converged in an uncoordinated barrage. Xiulan spun, sweeping Severing Light in a wide arc. Mei Chen’s essence flowed through the weapon, manifesting as a wall of crystalline fog. The freezing yin energy collided with the incoming techniques, negating them in a spectacular clash that exploded upward.

Xiulan maintained her momentum, pivoting into another swing that forced her opponents to guard themselves with qi barriers or special techniques. Her remaining yang darts sailed through the air in rapid succession, their golden light cutting through the mist. The cultivators raised their hands in unison, combining their qi to blast Mei Chen’s ice fog skyward.

The battlefield cleared for a perfect moment. Xiulan swung Severing Light in an overhead strike, slamming the blade into the ground again. Lightning arced horizontally from the impact point, splitting into a dozen deadly branches. The electricity found six targets, their bodies convulsing as the power surged through them. Only two remained standing.

The survivors charged forward—one wielding a curved sword that hummed with metal qi, the other gripping a steel-tipped spear wreathed in earth. Both had managed a defense against the electricity.

Amber light flashed as Feng Yu appeared beside Xiulan, her saber already swinging toward the spearman. The spearman shifted his stance to meet her charge.

While they squared off, the swordsman lunged at Xiulan. His curved blade wove intricate patterns through the air and each strike flowed seamlessly into the next. It forced her to backpedal. His technique far surpassed her own, but Severing Light’s reach kept him at bay.

But it wasn’t the type of fight she was good at. Playing his game was a losing tactic.

Steel rang against steel as Feng Yu hammered the spearman with brutal overhead strikes. Her saber blazed downward with crushing force, driving him to one knee. The impact shattered his weapon and sent him sprawling backward.

The swordsman paused as he gauged his companion’s impending death. Feng Yu’s saber flashed once, cleanly removing the spearman’s head from his shoulders. The distraction was what Xiulan wanted.

She raised Severing Light high, channeling qi into a devastating slash. Crystalline shards extended from the blade as Mei Chen’s essence amplified the strike’s reach. The swordsman dove aside, rolling to his feet. Metal shards erupted from his sleeve toward Xiulan.

The projectiles met a wall of ice needles mid-flight. Both shattered on impact, the fragments tinkling against stone. Ice grew from the dust and traveled across the ground, snaring the swordsman’s boot. He stumbled, losing his perfect stance.

Xiulan darted forward, driving Severing Light straight for his torso. His sword swept up to block, but frost spread instantly across the steel as the weapon’s collided. The ice crawled down his arm as he tried to wrench free. Within seconds, a crystalline coffin encased him completely.

The ice exploded inward, razor-sharp spikes piercing through flesh and bone. Blood misted the air before freezing solid.

Cool energy flowed up Severing Light as Mei Chen’s essence retreated, settling against Xiulan’s shoulder with a familiar tingle.

Moans echoed across the battlefield from the electrified cultivators. The acrid scent of ozone mixed with scorched cloth and flesh. Xiulan scanned the area. More than just two enemy cultivators had fled during the chaos, but ten of the thirteen that had formed the array were dead.

In the distance, Liuhuo’s massive form rolled through the enemy formations. Golden fire bombs rained from his body, exploding against siege equipment and scattering soldiers. Each detonation sent another wave of troops fleeing in terror. There was hardly anything left other than destroyed terrain.

Blackmere soldiers poured over the broken walls, boots crunching on debris as they searched for the dead. The Li brothers dragged stunned cultivators to a central point, binding them with thick vines. Zhang Huo followed behind, reinforcing the restraints with shimmering golden qi restraints.

Xiulan blinked at the scene. Had they actually—

We did it! We won! Mei Chen’s excited thoughts bubbled through their connection.

"We really did it!" Feng Yu slapped Xiulan’s shoulder with a bright laugh.

Yes! Mei Chen’s spiritual essence pulsed with joy.

Feng Yu leaned closer to the glowing blue orb hovering near Xiulan’s shoulder. "Mei... Chen?"

The spirit darted forward, landing on Feng Yu’s forehead. Yes! Hello Miss Feng!

Feng Yu’s eyes crossed as she tried to focus on the luminous sphere. "Is this... normal?"

Mei Chen swirled playfully through Feng Yu’s sandy brown hair before bouncing back to settle against Xiulan’s neck with the familiar cool tingle.

"Mei Chen’s body sustained damage." Xiulan brushed frost from her sleeve and then reached up and took Mei Chen into her palm. "You can maintain this spirit form temporarily, but you need to return and anchor yourself soon or risk weakening."

Yes, Miss. I understand. The blue orb pulsed softly.

"Honestly, I’ve never seen anything quite like—" Feng Yu stopped mid-sentence as a deep grinding sound rumbled through the rubble beneath their feet. Broken stones shifted and clattered. Xiulan stepped to maintain her balance, boots crunching on pulverized stone.

"Lord Chao escaped." Xiulan squinted at the distant tree line where qi signatures flickered and faded.

"Ha!" Feng Yu twirled her saber. "Let him run. We can hunt him down now!"

The ground trembled again. Liuhuo’s massive golden form slithered toward them. The serpent halted outside the destroyed gate and lowered his head. His massive jaws parted, releasing an avalanche of broken bodies and crushed horses that crashed to the ground in a grotesque heap.

Xiulan’s breath caught. Atop the mangled pile, a black-robed figure—the Whispering Shadows assassin—thrashed weakly. Beside him, Lord Chao struggled to free himself, his once-pristine robes now stained with dirt and blood as he fought to extract his legs from the gruesome tangle of bodies.

"Well!" Feng Yu grinned. "Looks like it will be easy!"