Chapter 23：The sword changes ownership

The Yin-Yang Diagram advanced slowly, effortlessly shattering the dozen or so Five Elements barriers that stood before Tian Fan, leaving only a few weak remnants. As the last barrier crumbled, the Diagram threatened to strike the group. Sun Yueying quickly retrieved a jade pendant from her bosom, casting a reluctant glance at it before resolutely hurling it toward the approaching Diagram.

Just as the Yin-Yang Diagram was about to collide with Tian Fan, a piece of jadeite flew in, colliding with the Diagram. To everyone's astonishment, the pale blue pendant did not shatter upon impact; instead, it emanated a faint azure light, fiercely countering the Diagram's assault.

Feeling the pendant's resistance, the Diagram suddenly radiated a chilling, terrifying aura. The black and white brilliance of the Diagram surged wildly, yet it still could not penetrate the azure light emitted by the jade. Gradually, under the influence of the pendant's glow, the Yin-Yang Diagram began to fade and dissipate.

"Crack..."

Simultaneously, the blue pendant produced a sharp sound as a crack appeared, sending a jolt of pain through Sun Yueying's heart.

"What? What is that? A jade pendant? It actually blocked my Yin-Yang Diagram!?"

Staring incredulously at the pendant in the sky, Yin Shitian wore a look of astonishment as he summoned the Yin-Yang Sword back to his hand.

"Junior Sister, that's the only relic left by your mother; quickly retrieve it!"

Upon recognizing the object in the air, Li Yunyang shouted urgently. During their years at Tai Fu Sect, he and Sun Yueying had grown very close, and he understood the pendant's significance. Sun Yueying had always cherished it, keeping it close to her heart. To her, it was more precious than life itself.

"Do you still wish to take it back? Ha! A worthless piece of jade, shatter for me!"

Yin Shitian roared, unleashing three beams of sword light with the Yin-Yang Sword.

"Don't!"

Sun Yueying burst into tears, frantic. This was the only thing her mother had left her. With her mother gone from this world, the pendant served as a cherished memory, a token that made her feel as if her mother was always by her side. The thought of it shattering was more painful than death! Even though she had prepared herself for its potential destruction when she had thrown it to save Tian Fan and Li Yunyang, at this moment, she couldn't help but want to protect it.

She charged forward with her Ziqing Sword drawn, but a hand seized her, deftly taking the sword from her grasp.

With the Azure Light Sword in his left hand and the Ziqing Sword in his right, Tian Fan radiated golden brilliance, his hair billowing dramatically as if caught in a tempest. At that moment, he resembled a battle deity, the golden light turning his hair to a radiant hue, the silver light of the Azure Sword gleaming like the moon, and the golden glow of the Ziqing Sword burning like fire. He crossed the two swords before him and swung them forcefully toward the threat.

Hearing Li Yunyang's words, he could no longer remain calm. Having never seen his mother, he had never experienced maternal love. In the cold palace, surrounded by frigid glances—even from his father—his heart ached with loneliness. Countless times he had fantasized about his mother's face, often dreaming of nestling in her warm embrace, only to awaken to the harsh reality of a fleeting dream!

"That is the only relic left by your mother," Li Yunyang's voice echoed hauntingly in Tian Fan's mind.

"I must protect this jade pendant!"

With a determined thought, he surged forward, the silver and gold sword lights forming a cross as they clashed with the incoming three beams of Yin-Yang sword light. Without hesitation, Tian Fan leaped toward the jade in the air, transferring the Azure Light Sword to his right hand. Grasping both swords firmly, he reached out with his left hand and seized the jade pendant.

At that moment, another beam of sword light sliced through the mist. The earlier cross of gold and silver sword lights shattered two beams of Yin-Yang energy, but the third beam still overwhelmed them, dispersing into the air. As the dark energy approached at an alarming speed, Tian Fan found himself suspended in the air, forced to cross the two swords defensively across his chest in a final act of resistance.

*Pang...*

The black energy struck the two swords, and Tian Fan coughed up blood, hurtling backward and crashing to the ground, where the swords fell from his hands and landed nearby.

"Xiao Fan!"

"Xiao Fan!"

Li Yunyang and Sun Yueying rushed over, with Li Yunyang helping Tian Fan to his feet.

"Are you okay? Please tell me you're alright, Xiao Fan!?"

Concerned, Li Yunyang inquired as he supported Tian Fan.

"I'm fine,"

Tian Fan replied with a faint smile, then opened his clenched left hand to reveal the jade pendant lying peacefully within. Sun Yueying trembled as she accepted the pendant, pressing it tightly against her chest, her voice choked with emotion.

"Thank you, thank you, Tian Fan."

Seeing her reaction, Li Yunyang breathed a sigh of relief; they had managed to save the pendant. Otherwise, he would have been at a loss for how to console Sun Yueying. Tian Fan, too, smiled faintly, feeling a sense of joy.

"Hmph, you have quite the resilience! But your luck ends here!"

Yin Shitian, clutching the Yin-Yang Sword, wore a grim expression as he sneered at Tian Fan.

"At least I have a longer life than you!"

Before Tian Fan could respond, Li Yunyang interjected coolly.

Yin Shitian glared at them, the light of the Yin-Yang Sword flaring ominously as he prepared to attack, but suddenly, two screams pierced the air.

"Ah!" "Ah!"

Li Ming and the third elder cried out as they flew backward, bloodied and battered, bones undoubtedly broken in several places.

"Heh heh!"

The old zombie's eerie laughter echoed, surrounded by scattered fragments of broken golden nets. While everyone was focused on the battle between Yin Shitian and Tian Fan, it had silently refined the peculiar golden nets within its body, expelling them at the cost of some of its own soul.

Once the golden nets were ejected, it casually struck the two unfortunate souls standing before it with a punch each.

"Ke ke, you all take your time with the fight; I shall take my leave now. Just wait for my retribution!"

With a grotesque shriek, the old zombie turned and dashed toward the cave entrance. Ridiculous! Tian Fan's terrifying strength left it feeling intimidated; it was no match for him. As for Yin Shitian, with his Yin-Yang Sword in hand, he could effortlessly cleave through the old zombie's undead body.

"You think you can escape after destroying my treasure? Come back! Once a servant for a day, a servant for life!"

Yin Shitian's cold voice rang out as he leaped into the air, slicing the sword toward the fleeing zombie king.

Sensing the sword light imbued with Yin-Yang energy behind him, the old zombie dared not show any negligence, concentrating its blood energy into its right fist and striking upward. The collision of two powers resonated explosively in the air.

Meanwhile, a faint smile returned to Tian Fan's lips, reminiscent of a cunning fox reveling in its schemes. His eyes shimmered with an ethereal glow as his mental energy surged silently, piercing through and directly striking Yin Shitian's unguarded mind.

"Ugh!"

Suspended in mid-air, Yin Shitian emitted a piercing scream, gripped by sudden, silent anguish. He clutched his hair desperately, collapsing to the ground, writhing as if in agony. The Yin-Yang Sword slipped from his grasp, soaring away.

In an instant, Tian Fan lunged forward, seizing the Yin-Yang Sword. His eyes blazed with golden intensity as he descended rapidly, erasing the mark of Yin Shitian from the sword.