Jade Clarity Edict

The sword light was sharp and extremely fast, clearly premeditated. It aimed to seize the treasure by force while Li Su was still recovering from his recent battle, his aura not yet stable!

Li Su was furious. He rapidly tapped his bamboo branches, sending out several Star Spirit Bamboo Leaf Blades. They struck the side of the sword light after it was already in motion, deflecting its trajectory!

Clang, clang, clang!

The sword light and bamboo leaf blades collided, emitting the sound of metal striking metal before both dissipated.

A figure appeared. It was a young cultivator dressed in luxurious brocade robes, with an arrogant expression. His cultivation was also at the late Earth Immortal stage. He held a shimmering flying sword and looked coldly at Li Su, surprise and greed flickering in his eyes.

Behind him followed two guards with formidable auras, both at the peak Earth Immortal stage.

"What is the meaning of this?" Li Su's spiritual sense turned icy as he locked onto the brocade-robed cultivator. The opponent was clearly a human cultivator, yet he was engaging in such opportunistic thievery.

"Meaning?" The brocade-robed cultivator sneered, pointing his sword at the dark yellow stone. "Heavenly treasures are obtained by those with fate. I have taken a liking to this item. If you know what's good for you, obediently get out of the way, otherwise..." The threat in his words was self-evident.

Some nearby cultivators noticed the commotion but mostly dared not interfere.

Someone whispered, "That's someone from Yingzhou Island..." "Yingzhou Island's Young Master Zhao Sheng? That guy always acts recklessly, relying on his island master's favor..." "That bamboo spirit is going to be unlucky..."

Yingzhou Island? Li Su noted the name, but giving up the item that resonated with the Bedrock Rune was absolutely impossible!

"I discovered this item after killing the demon ape, so it rightfully belongs to me." Li Su's tone was resolute. The Star Swirl Body Protection on his bamboo body glowed again, his aura locking onto Zhao Sheng and his guards.

Zhao Sheng's face darkened. "You don't know what's good for you! A mere bamboo spirit dares to fight me for something? Ah Da, Ah Er, take him down! Dead or alive!"

The two peak Earth Immortal guards behind him immediately responded. One summoned a black banner, shaking it to release streams of foul black light that coiled towards Li Su. The other, wielding twin hooks, approached like a phantom, aiming directly for the vital points of Li Su's bamboo body!

The two cooperated seamlessly, their methods ruthless and far superior to the simple-minded demon ape from before!

Li Su dared not be careless. Star Swirl Body Protection resisted the corrosive black light, while his bamboo branches shot out bamboo leaf blades and Soul-Devouring Dark Light to counter the hook-wielding guard. Simultaneously, his bamboo roots quietly began setting up a formation beneath his feet.

However, the opponents' cultivation was a notch higher, and they were two against one. Li Su was immediately at a disadvantage. The Star Swirl Body Protection flickered violently, and shallow marks were left on his bamboo body by the twin hooks.

Zhiwei, watching from the side, was extremely anxious but couldn't intervene at all.

Seeing this, Zhao Sheng's face showed a smug expression. He once again urged his sword light, sweeping towards the dark yellow stone.

At this critical moment!

"Stop!"

A clear, cold female voice descended from the sky!

Immediately after, a pure and righteous Jade Clarity Celestial Light fell like a silken banner, precisely striking Zhao Sheng's sword light and pushing it aside!

A graceful figure descended, standing between Li Su and Zhao Sheng.

She was a female cultivator dressed in a moon-white daoist robe, carrying an ancient sword on her back, with a face of unparalleled beauty. Her aura was pure and powerful; she was actually an early Celestial Immortal! On the cuffs of her daoist robe was embroidered a small "Jade Clarity" rune.

"Jade Clarity Sect business! Who dares to be so presumptuous, snatching treasures and bullying our sect's honored guest?!" The female cultivator's gaze was like lightning as she swept towards Zhao Sheng, her voice carrying undeniable authority.

"Ju... Jade Clarity Sect?" Zhao Sheng's face instantly changed. His arrogant demeanor vanished, and he quickly retracted his flying sword, cupping his hands and smiling apologetically. "So it's a fairy from the Jade Clarity Sect. It's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding! I am Zhao Sheng from Yingzhou Island. I didn't know this bamboo friend was an honored guest of the Jade Clarity Sect. I apologize for my offense, and I hope the fairy will forgive me."

The two guards also immediately stopped fighting and retreated behind Zhao Sheng, lowering their heads in silence, clearly extremely wary of the Jade Clarity Sect. The Jade Clarity Sect was one of the leaders of the Xuanmen, with unfathomable strength, far beyond what an overseas immortal island could provoke.

The female cultivator glanced at him coldly. "Since it's a misunderstanding, take your people and leave immediately."

"Yes, yes, yes, we'll leave now, we'll leave now." Zhao Sheng repeatedly agreed, giving Li Su a fierce glare as if to remember his appearance. Then, he and his guards left dejectedly and quickly.

Only then did the female cultivator turn to face Li Su, her gaze holding a hint of curiosity and scrutiny. "Are you Daoist Mo Xing? I was ordered by Uncle-Master Yu Hengzi to come and meet you. Uncle-Master calculated that you would arrive at the Wall of Sighs soon and might encounter trouble, so he specifically sent me to assist you."

Li Su was stunned. Yu Hengzi? The one from the Jade Clarity Retreat? He could actually calculate his itinerary? And he specifically sent someone to pick him up? This was quite a favor. He restrained his aura and bowed his bamboo body slightly. "Thank you, fellow cultivator, for your assistance. Thank you, Daoist Yu Heng, for your concern. May I ask for your name, fairy?"

"My name is Yun Yao." The female cultivator's tone softened slightly. "Daoist Mo Xing, as Uncle-Master said, is indeed extraordinary. I just saw you, a late Earth Immortal, fighting a Celestial Immortal demon ape alone and defeating it with a formation. You even nearly repelled two peak guards from Yingzhou Island. It's truly astonishing."

"Daoist Yun Yao flatters me; it was merely luck." Li Su replied humbly, while his bamboo roots coiled and collected the dark yellow stone. The moment it entered his hand, he felt an incredibly heavy, tenacious, and ancient Dao rhythm surge into his body, resonating strongly with the fragment of the Bedrock Rune deep within his primordial spirit. It even made the fragment grow slightly stronger and more solid! It truly was a good item! Its specific uses would require further exploration later.

Yun Yao glanced at the stone, not seeming to notice anything particularly special about it. She merely said, "This is not a place to talk. The beast tide could erupt again at any moment. Since Daoist Mo Xing intends to go to Kunlun, why not accompany me to our Jade Clarity Sect's camp behind the defense line to rest for a while? I can also inform you of the recent situation."

Li Su needed to understand the situation ahead, so he nodded in agreement. "That would be excellent. Thank you, Daoist Yun Yao." He beckoned Zhiwei and followed Yun Yao, flying towards the rear of the defense line.

Along the way, Yun Yao informed Li Su that the recent beast tides had been unusually frequent and fierce, as if some power was pushing them from behind. Many rare high-level ferocious beasts had even appeared, putting immense pressure on the defenses.

Kunlun Mountain had ordered all sects to send more disciples to reinforce them. Furthermore, as the Witch Clan's old shaman had said, some mysterious "shadows" with strange auras had appeared outside the defense line, seemingly spying on something, which was unsettling.

"My master speculates that this beast tide might not be ordinary and could be related to some ancient secrets."

Yun Yao's expression was solemn. "For a fellow Daoist to head to Kunlun at this time, the journey will likely be more perilous than usual."

Li Su listened silently. While his heart felt heavy, his resolve only grew stronger. No matter what lay ahead, he had to go to Kunlun.

Soon, they arrived at a camp belonging to the Jade Clarity Sect, located behind the defense line. The camp was heavily guarded, enveloped by formations. Many Jade Clarity disciples were resting, healing, and exchanging supplies here.

Yun Yao arranged a quiet tent for Li Su and Zhiwei to rest and brought them some pills for healing and restoring spiritual energy.

"Please rest for now, fellow Daoist. Tomorrow, I can arrange a patrol team to escort you through the most chaotic areas," Yun Yao said.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist Yun Yao," Li Su thanked her again.

After Yun Yao left, Li Su set up a seclusion barrier and took out the dark yellow stone to study it carefully.

Meanwhile, Zhiwei curiously observed the orderly Jade Clarity Sect camp outside the tent, her eyes filled with longing for the orthodox Xuanmen.

Just as Li Su was studying the stone, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the tent, as if some important figure had arrived at the camp.