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Bai Qianshuang trudged through ankle-deep weeds, the thin veil of her bamboo hat pressed against her cheeks by the wind, the icy touch keeping her alert.

The twisted branches of trees along the path stretched toward the sky like withered ghostly claws, while the occasional howls of nocturnal demonic beasts echoed through the desolate valley, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

"We’re here, this must be the place," Bai Qianshuang murmured as she spotted the abandoned mine shaft deep in the valley.

The entrance, about ten meters wide, was half-hidden by thorny bushes as tall as a person.

She paused, releasing her spiritual sense to probe the interior before stepping inside.

"Nothing… no traces of the Jade Void Sect’s techniques," Bai Qianshuang mused.

If remnants of the Jade Void Sect had truly been here, they would have inevitably used their signature cultivation methods and combat techniques.

Unless—

Her footsteps halted abruptly. Just as she was about to retreat, a sharp whoosh cut through the air behind her!

Instinctively, she tapped her toes against the ground, her body drifting three feet to the left like a willow catkin, while her free hand slashed out a streak of sword energy!

Clang!

The sword energy collided with something metallic, shattering into a shower of icy fragments.

The ambusher leaped out from behind a boulder, clad in a faded black robe reminiscent of the Jade Void Sect’s old uniform.

His face was masked, revealing only a pair of sharp, sinister eyes. "Quick reflexes," he sneered, "but today, you’ve crossed paths with the Jade Void Sect. Your life ends here!"

Bai Qianshuang tightened her grip on her spiritual sword, its blade gleaming coldly. Her voice was frosty. "You… are not from the Jade Void Sect."

"What nonsense! I am a disciple of the Jade Void Sect!"

Bai Qianshuang’s tone remained indifferent. "The Jade Void Sect had few male disciples, and I’ve met every one of them. Your spiritual energy, your techniques, even your attire—none of it matches theirs."

A flicker of sorrow passed through her eyes, too faint to be noticed.

To think… someone would dare exploit the Jade Void Sect’s name for their own deeds.

The man’s eyes darted nervously before he yanked off his mask, revealing a brutish face.

"Fine, since you’ve seen through us, no point pretending!" he spat. "We just borrowed the Jade Void Sect’s name to take what we wanted. Who are you to interfere?"

"Borrowed their name?" Bai Qianshuang’s spiritual energy erupted violently, pulverizing the gravel beneath her feet.

"The disciples and elders of the Jade Void Sect died defending their sect! How dare you tarnish their honor with your crimes!" Rare fury laced her voice as she clenched her sword.

At that moment, over a dozen more black-robed cultivators surged from the depths of the mine.

But when they sensed Bai Qianshuang’s aura, their expressions twisted in shock.

Wait…

What realm is this woman in?!

"Boss, stop wasting time!" A bearded cultivator roared, swinging his blade. "We outnumber her—just cut her down!"

Bai Qianshuang’s sword flashed. A terrifying force obliterated the two frontmost attackers.

Her movements were fluid, two more slashes following—each one instantly killing its target.

"What?!"

The remaining cultivators gaped in horror.

"P-please, spare us, Great One!"

"Immortal Lady, we were wrong!" Even their sole Nascent Soul realm cultivator had been annihilated without a chance to fight back.

Bai Qianshuang’s voice was glacial.

"You… are unforgivable. None of you will leave alive."

Just as she was about to finish off the last of the imposters, rapid footsteps and shouts echoed from afar:

"Qingyun Sect, hunting down demonic sect remnants! Combat ahead—surround them!"

Bai Qianshuang froze. The Qingyun Sect had caught up to her?

With a cold glance at the trembling man before her, she ended him with a single stroke.

No witnesses.

But as she turned to flee, Qingyun Sect cultivators had already blocked the mine entrance.

Leading them was a Spirit Transformation realm expert, a Qingyun Sect token hanging at his waist, his aura locking onto Bai Qianshuang.

Then—two, three, four!

Four Spirit Transformation realm cultivators!

All Qingyun Sect elders!

"Qingyun Seal! Who are you, daring to kill our Young Master Zi? The Qingyun Sect demands answers!"

The leader flicked his wrist, and over a dozen disciples behind him drew their swords. A storm of cyan sword energy rained toward Bai Qianshuang, shredding the valley walls in its wake!

"Qingyun Sword Formation!"

Bai Qianshuang remained silent, parrying with her sword.

The clash of energies sent shockwaves through the air.

Yet two stray slashes grazed her arm, tearing her white sleeve and drawing blood.

The searing pain disrupted her spiritual energy flow.

"The Jade Void Sect’s techniques?" The Qingyun elder narrowed his eyes. "You… you’re from the Jade Void Sect?!"

At that moment, Bai Qianshuang’s hat slipped, revealing her ethereal beauty under the moonlight.

"The Demon Sect’s Holy Maiden, Bai Qianshuang?!" One elder gasped in recognition.

"It’s really you! Hah! Fate smiles upon us—we’ve searched far and wide, only to find you here!"

Though puzzled by her Spirit Transformation realm strength, they cared little—with four elders present, capturing her was a foregone conclusion.

"…" Bai Qianshuang coolly met their gazes, retrieving a pill from her storage ring and swallowing it.

Instantly, her wounds knitted together at visible speed.

This was a gift from Ye Chuan—swift, side-effect-free recovery.

The Qingyun Sect disciples redoubled their efforts.

"Maintain the formation!"

The Qingyun Sword Formation whirred back to life, its vast momentum poised to obliterate Bai Qianshuang.

Expressionless, she took a deep breath and formed a hand seal.

As her spiritual energy surged, radiant light enveloped her, expanding into a towering golden lotus a hundred meters high!

Its brilliance lit up the night, each pulse of energy distorting the surrounding space.

"Azure Lotus Incarnation!"

Lotus and sword formation clashed, their auras equally terrifying as the full might of Spirit Transformation realm power was unleashed.

This time, Bai Qianshuang held nothing back. Even outnumbered, she would slaughter these hypocrites to the last.