Boxed In

The maiden's scarlet hair, red eyes, make-up and boldly revealing clothing accentuated her bewitching voice and demeanour, winning Ximen Buxing's enthusiastic stamp of approval.

Tone indifferent, Lie Shang questioned, "Does Secular World Sect intend to involve themselves in this mess?"

Secular World Sect's disciples dressed revealingly compared to Jade Sect and approached cultivation differently. Their sect names were accurate depictions of their character, except for Tian Ran. The sects were polar opposites, yet they surprisingly formed an alliance.

The enchanting maiden's name was Zi Luo, another invited guest. She specialised in seducing her targets. Word on the streets was she once slew a Body Severing Realm adept using just her eyes. Regardless of how lucky she was, her skill couldn't be discredited.

Ximen Buxing ambled toward Zi Luo, twirling his hand with one hand. "Riding a beast is lame. How about riding me somewhere secluded?"

Zi Luo smiled. "Since I have to choose between two beasts, I would prefer the dragon vine."

"Ugh, my heart needs you to treat it." Ximen Buxing continued forward and extended his hand to Zi Luo.

"Let's go," Lie Shang told Mu Yu, knowing Ximen Buxing was more than skilled enough to stall Zi Luo.

"Miss, have you heard about my upbringing?"

Detecting an incoming slash from a sword soon after they started moving, Lie Shang summoned Sky Sorcher to deflect the slash. Following up, he used a hand command to slash sword qi, forcing the assailant to reveal themselves. He sardonically asked, "You don't like life?"

Swinging Sky Scorcher again, Lie Shang blasted a heat breaker at Liu Feng. Liu Feng made a break for it but was clearly not going to make it. Suddenly, Meng Xin intervened, deflecting Lie Shang's attack with her jade flute.

"You may be strong, but you're no match for us."

Joining Meng Xin were the famous Profound Wood Sect's Zu Anze and Rakshasa Manor's Duan Musi.

"How's your Dustfallen Swordplay?" Lie Shang asked.

"Not too shabby," Mu Yu answered.

"Remember: Dustfallen Swordplay is the most technical and most powerful swordplay."

Lie Shang clutched Sky Scorcher and looked over to Meng Xin and her allies. He powered up, rustling the trio. With a single vertical slash, he generated a myriad of slashes as a single swing. The red blast sundered the earth. The heat wave violently blasted. Meng Xin and her allies took off as fast as they could go, but one of the youth's was too slow. Mu Yu was in awe.

"Stay alert. I'll catch up to you. Now go," instructed Lie Shang, propelling himself over to Meng Xin's group to engage in all-out war.

"To the woods!"

The dragon vine possessed might and speed on par to Primordial Infant Realm cultivators, true; however, the others outnumbered it, and it was in a weakened state. It swung its tail and blasted to keep its pursuers away, but another dozen of enemies cut it off from the front. A sword blast at the dragon vine's tail sent it reeling in circles.

"I don't care about the dragon vine. I just want the celestial fiend fruit," said a pale-faced male, armed with a red flag.

"Sorry, but I'm pretty much done digesting it already. You might find it in one of the loos I used," responded Mu Yu, grabbing onto the dragon vine's horn.

"Haha, you expect me to believe such an outlandish claim?"

"What, you kick fruit around instead of eating it?"

"Tanrui, just off him and take it. I bet it's in his Cosmic Sleeve," asserted another youth, jumping right in.

Knowing he was up against Ghost Gate's Gui Tanrui, Mu Yu commanded, "Dragon Vine, Xiaoshuai, close your eyes."

Mu Yu threw a vial of Light Shaft, gambling it would work the way he hoped since he had no idea how to use it correctly. He shut his eyes right before the vial exploded and shone a blinding light.

"My eyes!"

"Stop him!"

The duo was unable to see where Mu Yu went. Mu Yu opened his eyes once he presumed he was out of the light's range. Although white patterns inhibited his vision as a result of being caught in the light, he forged forward. Before he could reach the woods, unfortunately, another person stopped him.

"Who are you?" Mu Yu desperately blinked and wiped his eyes to restore his vision.

The youth dressed in navy and wielded an orange sword. He enveloped his body in his sword qi. He proudly declared, "Sword Purification Manor's Man Jian."

"If I'm correct, Yuan Jian is part of your sect." Mu Yu furtively signalled for the dragon vine to move away.

"… Senior Brother Yuan Jian is renowned throughout the world. If you know who he is, I suggest you hand over the dragon vine and celestial fiend fruit."

"I'm just discovering you're all equally foolish. I can't blame him for dying a silly death," slighted Mu Yu, trying to catch Man Jian with a vial while the latter was thrown off his rhythm.

Man Jian sniggered and split the vial in two. Two green streaks of mist transformed into green snakes and launched at Mu Mu u. Vengeful Snake derived its name from the snake specifies of the same name's venom. It transformed from a mist back to its snake form upon encountering a human and would viciously attack until one party was finished. One vengeful snake could rival a Primordial Infant Realm cultivator. To maximise its venom, the poison creator had to torture it until it died vengefully.

"You have a few tricks up your sleeve," sarcastically praised another foe.

Mu Yu grabbed a few vials. "And who are you?"

"Purifying Sword Valley's Kuai Jian," answered Kuai Jian, exuding a cold vibe.

"Everyone in the sect has 'sword' for a character in the name, huh? I see naming originality isn't one of your sect's strong suits."