"Jia?"


    Zhao Tain muttered in surprise, looking at Li Jia who was dashing towards him.


    Hurriedly reaching Zhao Tian, Li Jia jumped into his arms as her hand shot up around his neck.


    "Tian!"


    Li Jia clung to him tightly, her breathing ragged from the frantic flight across the battlefield.@@@@


    She buried her face into his shoulder, fingers clutching the fabric of his robes like she never wanted to let go. "Tian!"


    Zhao Tian was about to respond, but his eyes narrowed.


    WHOOSH! A figure shot toward them... an evil cultivator in disguise, using the chaos to strike at him while he was distracted.


    The man’s blade glinted under the dim crimson sky, aimed straight for Zhao Tian’s back.


    VRMMMM!


    A pulse of spatial energy erupted from Zhao Tian’s body, and the cultivator’s body twisted unnaturally.


    His limbs bent at sickening angles, and his body crumpled as if squeezed by an invisible force.


    A horrible, wet CRACK echoed, and in the next instant, his flesh was reduced to pulped remains that scattered into the wind.


    His eyes squinted in thought ’My understanding of space energy... again evolved from the battle.’


    But he had no time to dwell on that.


    "Tian," Li Jia whispered, pulling back slightly and her eyes filled with concern. "Let’s leave... please. Let’s go now."


    Zhao Tian sighed, reaching up to gently tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. "Jia, the entire sect is under attack,"


    "I can’t leave now. Here everyone’s fighting..."


    Li Jia’s eyes trembled. "What about you?!" she blurted out, panic lacing her voice.


    "What if something happens to you? What if you—"


    Zhao Tian cupped her cheek, silencing her with a reassuring gaze. "Nothing will happen."


    "Go back to the artifact. If things turn dire, I’ll return too. But right now, I need you to be safe."


    She bit her lower lip, torn between staying by his side and following his request.


    Her heart told her to refuse and wanted to fight beside him, but the rational part of her knew she would only be a distraction in this chaotic battle.


    After a moment of silence, she gave a heavy nod. "Tian... promise me," she whispered, her fingers brushing against his.


    "Promise me you’ll come back."


    Zhao Tian smiled, his eyes filled with warmth even in the middle of the carnage. "I promise."


    Li Jia exhaled shakily, then surged forward, wrapping her arms around his neck once more.


    She pressed a desperate kiss against his lips as if trying to pour all of her emotions into that single moment.


    Then, reluctantly, she pulled away.


    Her eyes lingered on his for a moment longer before she turned, her figure weaving through the battlefield as she flew toward the edge of the sect’s territory.


    Before she could finish, Yan Zijin’s knee slammed into her stomach.


    THOOOOM!


    Selena’s body rocketed downward, slamming into the ground below like a meteor.


    Dust and debris exploded outward as a massive crater formed from the impact.


    Yan Zijin landed gracefully, her cold gaze peering down into the dust-filled crater.


    But she wasn’t arrogant enough to believe it was over.


    Read exclusive adventures at novelhall.Co?m


    DRIP... DRIP...


    From within the crater, pools of blood began to rise.


    A moment later, Selena emerged and her body was trembling, but her eyes still had the rage.


    "You... really piss me off," she whispered, wiping the blood from her lips.


    Yan Zijin cracked her knuckles "The fight is taking longer than I expected. I should kill you soon and go for the next..."


    Selena’s gaze quivered "...Hah. You really think you’re winning this?"


    Yan Zijin’s eyes narrowed in confusion. Hm?


    Selena took a slow step back and the blood mist around her began to retreat, swirling around her body in a protective cocoon.


    Yan Zijin raised an eyebrow...Selena wasn’t preparing for another attack. She was... retreating?


    Selena clicked her tongue. "Seems like our time here is up."


    Yan Zijin lunged forward, but—


    SHOOM!


    Selena’s body exploded into a surge of blood mist, vanishing completely before Yan Zijin’s attack could land.


    Yan Zijin came to a stop, standing amidst the battlefield, and she let out a deep breath, calming the energy in her body.


    Selena had escaped.


    But the battle wasn’t over yet.


    Yan Zijin turned her gaze toward the Jade Eclipse Sect, where Ji Shuang was still fighting the Vampire Elders, and where Zhao Tian was cutting through the hidden evil disciples.


    She rolled her shoulders "I will clear the remaining pests then."


    ...


    As the battle surged on, Ji Shuang slaughtered all of the Elder Council.


    Suddenly the sky rumbled, and a new arc descended down from the swirling red portals in the sky.


    Ji Shuang turned her gaze to the sky and muttered "Rudamanth Di Gardia..."


    --------------------------------------------


    I hope you guys liked this chapter!