Jian Dan didn't even flinch. Her shadowy fists tore through another wave of bladed mantis beasts. As she fought, her voice rang out.
"Mó Yuè Zhǎn, full form!"
The spirit of Mó Yuè Zhǎn responded immediately. The countless crescent blades scattered through the air rushed back together, merging into a single curved blade that occupied the entire space. Just like before, it unleashed a devastating spin the moment the black beetle prepared to strike, slicing it cleanly in half.
"Master, that one was strong. Its shell was hard. I need to rest for a while."
With that mental transmission, Mó Yuè Zhǎn retreated back into Jian Dan's dantian. Jian Dan let out a sigh. So much for a flashy entrance.
The battle here had ended early thanks to her intervention. The remaining dark beasts gave sharp cries and retreated deeper into the valley. This time, Jian Dan did not follow.
Her recent battle had compressed and refined the demonic energy in her body. She wasn't in a state to push further.
Since Mó Yuè Zhǎn had entered its resting phase, Jian Dan was especially cautious. She deployed a high-grade defensive formation disk issued by her sect, summoned a meditation cushion, and sat down to circulate the Heavenly Demon Art, compressing the untempered demonic energy from her recent breakthrough.
After a full meridian cycle, the energy within her dantian grew even more concentrated. A third of her expanded dantian was now filled with dark energy. At its center, the Yin-Yang Taiji diagram turned slowly.
Above it, the Mò Xī Sword and Mó Yuè ZhǍn floated silently on opposite halves. Each absorbed spiritual and demonic energy independently, focusing on recovery and increasing their power.
Much of the condensed energy she had just refined was quickly drawn away by the two gluttons. Jian Dan was at a loss. Neither of her weapons ever gave anything back.
She didn't dare enter full meditation, keeping part of her senses extended outward. When the cycle finished, she noted that the demonic energy had slightly diminished, but wasn't continuing to drop. With that, she closed the technique and exited the formation.
"Mó Yuè Zhǎn, how are you feeling? We're moving forward."
She contacted the spirit mentally.
"I'm fine. The demonic energy ahead is even denser. That's great for me, but it might be tough on you."
"As long as you're fine. Let's go."
Knowing her master wouldn't be swayed once her mind was made up, Mó Yuè Zhǎn said no more. With a spin, it carried her deeper into the ravine.
Meanwhile, Mó Qi and her group followed the crescent trail Jian Dan had left behind, accelerating as much as possible.
The teams left behind by the Divine Transformation cultivators advanced more slowly. Among them, some were content, others uneasy.
Tang Jian was among the happy ones. He was glad for the slower pace, hoping the forward team would clear out most of the dark beasts. That would mean less danger for his own group.
The anxious cultivators worried that things were going too smoothly. They hadn't encountered a single beast.
Some speculated that the vanguard had eliminated all threats, while others feared the opposite—that they would end up facing a swarm all at once.
"There's no use worrying," said Mó Hàng, an experienced Divine Transformation cultivator. "We should focus on adjusting to the valley's environment and use this rare chance to improve our cultivation. Better that than being helpless when a real fight comes."
Mó Qi's team was having a similar conversation.
"Do you think Mó Yuè is just lucky, or is she really that strong?" Mó Yi asked while walking.
"Both. She has strength, and luck seems to favor her," Mó Su replied simply, as always.
"Senior Sister, there are corpses up ahead!" Mó Yi's alert snapped the group to attention. Indeed, the bones of a large beast lay scattered across the ground.
"Look here. That's Mó Yuè's mark."
A faint crescent sigil was carved into a snow-white bone, along with two small characters: Safe.
They exchanged glances, then nodded in silent agreement. With renewed confidence, they continued forward.
Elsewhere, Jian Dan had ventured another ten li under the guidance of Mó Yuè Zhǎn.
Sounds of battle echoed ahead. Jian Dan extended her spiritual sense and discovered an all-too-familiar sight.
A swarm of black beetle larvae were entangled with a pack of raptor beasts. Several beasts had been overcome, their minds twisted, now attacking their own kind.
Jian Dan launched herself into the fray atop Mó Yuè Zhǎn.
"Crescent Bloom."
The weapon exploded into a storm of tiny crescent blades, cutting a swath through the beetle swarm.
The raptor beasts, seeing this small newcomer suddenly eviscerating their enemies, rallied and turned on their corrupted brethren.
Two massive beasts clawed at each other with savage force, determined to bring the other down. Black blood splattered, crystallizing into obsidian shards the moment it hit the ground.
So that's where those black crystals came from, Jian Dan thought.
She kept her focus on the beetle larvae, letting the beasts handle their own. As an outsider, it would be inappropriate to interfere directly.
Mó Yuè Zhǎn performed beautifully. Each spinning crescent eradicated a beetle. Within moments, a wide area had been cleared.
The remaining beasts stood stunned for a moment, then surged forward to grapple with their corrupted kin.
Jian Dan stood atop her blade, expressionless, watching the raptors tear into one another.
It was raw, primal power. In just a few rounds, many of the beasts were bleeding heavily, deep wounds exposing bone.
Then, the free raptors pounced as one, subduing their former allies. At that moment, a beetle burst from one of the fallen's skull, wings vibrating, launching toward the nearest beast.
Jian Dan's eyes flashed. With a flick of her wrist, a crescent blade shot forth, slicing the parasite in half before it could reach its target. Its twitching wings hit the dirt seconds later.
Thanks to her quick strikes, very few of the beetles managed to reattach to new hosts. The battle ended swiftly.
The raptor leader stepped forward, powerful limbs carrying it to her side. It opened its foreclaws and offered a scale.
Jian Dan remained alert as it approached, noting the black sheen of the scale. She extended her left hand, wrapped in demonic energy, and accepted the gift.
Then, the raptor raised its head. Its golden beast-eyes met hers.
"Human, you are cautious," it said in clear cultivator tongue. "And you are the first to arrive after we sent the signal."