Pure Spirit pressed a hand to her forehead, then regained her composure. "Let's begin."
Xu Zhiqiu raised the Dragon's Roar Sword and made a light slash through the air. A fissure instantly opened in what had been ordinary empty space, forming a ring of purple light tinged with white.
Xu Zhiqiu withdrew her sword and was about to step inside when Naraku caught her hand.
Naraku cast a cold, sidelong glance at Pure Spirit. "You go in first."
"All right." Pure Spirit nodded and stepped through.
Only after she had passed all the way inside did Naraku lead Xu Zhiqiu through.
Kanna followed behind, holding her mirror.
Xu Zhiqiu and Naraku passed straight from one world into another. Clouds and mist swirled around them, mountains rose in the distance, and skeletal birds flew past. Looking up ahead, she saw an enormous demon skeleton-and the light of a Shikon Jewel Shard.
Naraku unfurled a Barrier, enclosing the three of them.
"The Shikon Jewel Shard is over there," Xu Zhiqiu said, staring at the demon's grave.
Sitting astride a skeletal vulture, Pure Spirit turned to look at those behind her. "Hurry and follow me."
Just as they were about to arrive, glittering blades shot toward them like a shower of rain.
"Ah!" The skeletal vulture beneath Pure Spirit was pierced by the sharp blades, and she plummeted straight down. Reacting quickly, she used a mountaintop to spring upward and landed on another skeletal vulture. Gripping its neck, she flew back up.
Xu Zhiqiu had been about to lend a hand, but seeing her come back up, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The attacks finally stopped. They reached the grave without further trouble and looked toward the place where the Shikon Jewel Shard lay hidden.
"You aren't dead, are you? You thieves,