Ironwood Sect's defeat (Part 1)

The battlefield was soaked in blood. The once-proud disciples of the Ironwood Sect now lay in heaps, their lifeless eyes staring at the darkening sky. Cries of agony and clashing steel echoed across the land as the remaining Ironwood disciples struggled to resist—but it was a hopeless endeavor.

The seven elite bandits cut through them like executioners.

Amidst the carnage, three figures remained standing.

Zhou Men. Bai Mei. Xuo Hei.

The strongest disciples of the Ironwood Sect. They had fought their way through countless battles, their strength honed through blood and hardship. But now, facing the Void Immortal Sect's First Direct Disciple, Ling Hua, they felt an unfamiliar sensation creeping into their bones.

Fear.

Ling Hua stood before them, a silent executioner awaiting her next victims. Her Ironleaf Sword, still slick with fresh blood, glowed faintly under the setting sun. Strands of her long dark hair fluttered in the breeze, and her robes—once pristine—were now tainted red.

Her cold gaze locked onto them.

No words. No taunts.

Just a promise of death.

Bai Mei swallowed hard, gripping her Twin Serpent Daggers. "We have no choice."

Zhou Men clenched his massive fists, his muscles coiling like steel cables. "If we want to live, we fight."

Xuo Hei twirled his Black Ironwood Spear, his voice grim. "All out."

Then—they attacked.

Bai Mei moved first.

Her Venomous Bloom technique erupted, releasing a thick cloud of purple mist that spread like a deathly haze. The poison was strong enough to numb the limbs of Foundation Establishment cultivators in mere moments.

Ling Hua's expression didn't change.

With a flick of her wrist, her sword carved through the mist, dispersing some—but not enough. She could already feel the poison clinging to her skin, seeping into her bloodstream.

Then came Xuo Hei.

His Earthsplitter Thrust shot forward, his spear a black blur aiming straight for her heart.

Ling Hua twisted her body at the last moment—but Zhou Men was already there.

His Colossal Strike came down like a meteor. A single punch from him could shatter boulders.

BOOM!

The ground behind her exploded as she barely dodged, dust and debris scattering into the air.

The three attacked in perfect sync.

Bai Mei's daggers flashed like twin vipers. Xuo Hei's spear created a relentless whirlwind of thrusts. Zhou Men cut off her escape routes, his massive frame moving with surprising speed.

Ling Hua was forced on the defensive.

She weaved through their strikes, her movements fluid as moonlight. But—

A sharp pain bloomed in her side.

Bai Mei's dagger had grazed her.

The poison seeped in.

For the first time, Ling Hua frowned. Her limbs felt slightly heavier.

This is troublesome.

These three were stronger than she had anticipated. Unlike the other disciples, they fought with discipline and coordination.

But that didn't matter.

She was Ling Hua.

And she would kill them.

Her grip on her sword tightened.

Then—she attacked.

Her feet barely touched the ground as she closed the distance between her and Bai Mei in an instant.

Bai Mei's instincts screamed. She twisted her body—but Ling Hua was already there.

SHING!

A clean slash.

Bai Mei's left arm flew into the air.

Her scream tore through the battlefield, her remaining dagger slipping from her trembling fingers.

Ling Hua didn't hesitate.

She thrust forward—piercing Bai Mei's heart.

The poison user gasped, blood bubbling from her lips. Her body slumped.

One down.

Xuo Hei's roar of fury shook the battlefield. His Tyrant's Spear Domain erupted—his spear spinning like a storm, creating a web of death around him.

Ling Hua stepped in without fear.

Left. Right. Forward.

Her body weaved through the spear strikes, a flickering blur too fast for him to land a clean hit.

Then—she found her opening.

A single, precise thrust—straight through Xuo Hei's throat.

His eyes widened. He choked, blood gurgling from his mouth.

His spear slipped from his hands.

His body fell.

Two down.

Now, only Zhou Men remained.

The towering man stood his ground, his massive fists clenched, veins bulging. He activated his strongest technique—

Mountain Holds the Sky.

His muscles expanded. His body turned into living iron.

Ling Hua's eyes narrowed.

She slashed—but her sword barely left a scratch.

Zhou Men grinned, his voice a deep rumble. "You can't cut through me."

Then he attacked.

His fists crashed down like meteors, forcing Ling Hua back with every step. She dodged, but his sheer durability made him a nightmare to fight.

But she wasn't worried.

She just needed to keep cutting.

A shallow cut.

Slash.

Another.

Zhou Men gritted his teeth. His indestructible body was slowly being chipped away.

A realization dawned on him.

She was testing his limits.

His heart pounded. She's baiting me into thinking I'm untouchable.

Then—

She moved with deadly precision.

Before he could react, cold steel pierced the back of his neck.

His body went rigid.

His "unbreakable" defense meant nothing if she targeted a weak spot.

He collapsed to his knees, blood pooling beneath him.

Ling Hua exhaled, then swung once more.

Zhou Men's head rolled onto the blood-soaked ground.

The strongest disciples of the Ironwood Sect were dead.

Across the battlefield, Lin Shaoyang, Li Heng, Xu Kang, and Zhao Mei had also finished their battles. Their opponents lay groaning at their feet, defeated but not yet dead.

The Seven Elite Bandits continued their rampage, cutting down the last remnants of the Ironwood Sect.

The fight was nearly over.

But then—

Two figures stepped forward.

Qin Shan. Deng Kai.

The Ironwood Sect's final pillars.

Qin Shan cracked his knuckles, his massive form radiating sheer physical power. "We can't win… but I can at least take a few of you down with me."

Deng Kai's sharp gaze flickered to their surroundings. "We'll fight to the end."

Yan Ruyue chuckled from the side, twirling her Crimson Veil Fan. "How noble. Too bad nobility won't save you."

Deng Kai scowled. "Shut up, woman."

Tie Shan cracked his neck. "I'll take the big guy."

Jiang Feng smirked. "Then I'll deal with the slippery one."

Yan Ruyue merely smiled, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

The final battle began.