In that brief moment, the Violet Mang Blade in Jin Ping'er's hand had already thrust toward the Incense Valley disciple.
The disciple saw it coming and poured all his spiritual power into his magic treasure, trying to block the strike. But Jin Ping'er, with her wealth of combat experience, suddenly flashed him a toothy smile. Her figure flickered before his eyes, and she appeared behind him, plunging in her blade. She also kicked him, sending him flying straight toward the Nine Yang Ruler thrusting at him in Li Xun's hand.
Seeing this, Li Xun turned his wrist, leveled the Nine Yang Ruler, and caught the man with his other hand. But his palm came away covered in blood.
"Wicked woman! You'll die a horrible death!" Li Xun saw that his junior brother's back was drenched in blood. He was already dead.
Jin Ping'er ignored him. She twisted away again, appeared beside Wild Dog Daoist, and grabbed him, intending to take him with her.
Just then, a sharp sound split the air. A figure came crashing down between the two groups, interrupting what they were about to do.
"Xiaofan!" Lu Xueqi cried out when she recognized the person lying on the ground.
Earlier, Zhang Xiaofan had meant to help Jin Ping'er and Wild Dog Daoist hold off the Righteous Path pursuers behind them. But when he saw who had come as reinforcements, he immediately tried to leave. It was already too late.
"Ghost King Sect's Vice Sect Leader, Zhang Xiaofan!" The old man at the head of the group was lean and gaunt, dressed in a plain gray robe. He was Shangguan Ce, whom Zhang Xiaofan had encountered at the Profound Fire Altar. Shangguan Ce had been stationed at the altar and rarely left it. But now that the Nine-Tailed Sky