Ming Yue stood ready as the red-clothed vengeful spirit lunged at her.
This was a moment of life and death, and she knew she couldn't defeat the spirit.
But she wouldn't just sit and wait to die, so she gritted her teeth and decided to fight with all her might.
Even if she were devoured by the spirit, she'd take a few of its teeth with her.
"All disciples, heed my command!
Form the Dou Zhuan Xing Yi formation to repel the enemy!!"
Just then, Tian Jian, standing beside her, roared.
The disciples of Jin Wu Palace moved swiftly, taking their positions.
Their spiritual powers connected, and a golden chain enveloped them.
This was Jin Wu Palace's unique Dou Zhuan Xing Yi formation, which could be formed by varying numbers of people.
It allowed everyone's cultivation to be concentrated into one point to jointly fight the enemy.
It was their last resort when facing a formidable foe.
Normally, this formation was presided over by Ji Shiyou.
But seeing that their senior disciple hadn't given the order and the situation was urgent, Tian Jian couldn't hold back.
He directly commanded his fellow disciples to form the array, intending to block the vengeful spirit first.
The golden chain suddenly appeared, catching the lunging vengeful spirit off guard and repelling it.
However, it wasn't harmed, and with a cackling cry, it lunged again.
"Senior disciple, don't just stand there, preside over the formation!"
Seeing the vengeful spirit charging again, this time with preparation.
Its aura exploded with power, far greater than before.
Tian Jian shouted at Ming Yue. The eye of the Dou Zhuan Xing Yi formation was the 'Dou' position, which was always presided over by Ji Shiyou. Others occupied the 'Xing' positions.
The formation would then change shape and attack according to the 'Dou' position's movements.
If Ji Shiyou didn't enter the formation, it could only defend passively, unable to attack, and would be on the receiving end of blows.
Seeing their senior disciple hesitate to enter the formation, Tian Jian shouted anxiously, reminding Ming Yue.
Ming Yue also wanted to enter the formation and use its power to fight the vengeful spirit.
But she wasn't Ji Shiyou and had no idea where the 'Dou' position was.
Nor did she understand the formation's changes. She couldn't integrate into the Dou Zhuan Xing Yi formation.
While she hesitated, the vengeful spirit had already shattered the golden chain.
Tian Jian and the others were hit by the impact, sent flying, and lay on the ground, listless.
"You've been naughty, so I'll tie you up."
The red-clothed vengeful spirit cackled and bound Tian Jian and the others with ropes made of black mist.
It then lunged at Ming Yue again, determined.
It intended to make Ming Yue its first meal, to devour her first.
"I'll fight!"
Feeling guilty that her presence had led to the formation's destruction, Ming Yue bit her lip.
She stomped her foot.
Holding the Ying Yue sword, she prepared to fight the red-clothed vengeful spirit to the death.
Just then, she felt the Ying Yue sword in her hand fly out of her grasp.
"Is today my unlucky day? Is everything going wrong?
Perhaps I should just run.
It shouldn't count as disloyal, right? I'm not really their senior disciple anyway.
I don't know them well, no need to die together."
Looking at her empty right hand, Ming Yue pouted.
She thought sadly, this was too difficult, she needed to leave.
As she was about to use her earth遁 technique to escape the hall, she was stunned by the scene before her.
"Senior disciple is mighty!"
"I was wondering why Senior disciple didn't enter the formation earlier.
So he didn't need the formation to deal with this damned vengeful spirit."
...
In the hall, cheers erupted, all from the disciples of Jin Wu Palace.
Tian Jian's cheers were among them.
When the Dou Zhuan Xing Yi formation was broken and they were bound by the black mist, he had been blaming Ji Shiyou. But seeing the current scene.
He realized he had overstepped his bounds. Their senior disciple alone could handle the vengeful spirit.
That's why he had delayed giving the order to form the array; he hadn't grasped the situation.
By giving the order rashly, he had wasted time.
Otherwise, their senior disciple would have already dealt with the vengeful spirit.
Tian Jian thought this because he saw.
The flying Ying Yue sword was engaged in a fierce battle with the red-clothed vengeful spirit in mid-air.
And it was clearly gaining the upper hand.
He assumed their senior disciple was using sword control techniques to suppress the vengeful spirit.
Thus, he felt guilty for having wrongly blamed their senior disciple earlier.
Only Ming Yue knew that the Ying Yue sword's state.
Was likely being controlled by Ji Shiyou from the shadows. She couldn't help but curse inwardly.
Ji Shiyou, that scoundrel, didn't even tell her he was here beforehand.
He had made her so scared and anxious for so long.
In reality, Ming Yue had wronged Ji Shiyou. His decision to act now was out of necessity.
After he had fled the previous night, he hadn't gone far.
He intended to monitor from the shadows to see if Jun Shuxue had any unusual behavior.
However, Jun Shuxue showed no abnormal actions during the day.
He followed her all the way to the dilapidated temple.
Hiding on the rooftop, he, like Tian Jian and the others, was also knocked unconscious by the scent emitted by the vengeful spirit. If Ming Yue hadn't released the pear blossom scent, he would have likely slept until dawn and wouldn't have been able to help.
Because he was hidden on the rooftop, quite far away.
By the time he smelled the pear blossom scent and woke from his stupor.
The red-clothed vengeful spirit had already broken the Dou Zhuan Xing Yi formation and bound Tian Jian and the others.
It was lunging at Ming Yue, who held the Ying Yue sword. He immediately used his sword control technique.
He controlled the Ying Yue sword to fly out and engage the vengeful spirit.
The Ying Yue sword was already a renowned divine weapon in the Moonflower Realm.
With the addition of Ji Shiyou's sword control technique, it quickly suppressed the vengeful spirit.
Seeing the unfavorable situation, the red-clothed vengeful spirit attempted to flee.
But Ji Shiyou wouldn't let it go. Sitting on the rooftop, his hand movements changed.
The Ying Yue sword flickered, splitting into two, then four.
It instantly transformed into thousands upon thousands of sword shadows, a rain of swords.
They densely surrounded the red-clothed vengeful spirit, all sword tips pointed at it.
"Qian Kun Wu Ji, Wan Jian Tu Ling!"
Ji Shiyou on the rooftop, through the gaps in the broken tiles.
Seeing the Ying Yue sword trapping the vengeful spirit, he chanted a spell.
In the hall, sword light erupted. Thousands upon thousands of identical Ying Yue swords.
Emitting dazzling sword light, they all shot towards the vengeful spirit's red clothing.
The intense light made everyone unable to open their eyes. When they could see again.
They saw the sword rain disappear, leaving only a single Ying Yue sword.
Firmly pinning a fiery red dress to the ground.
And that dress, as if alive.
Struggled beneath the sword, trying to escape.
"Senior disciple is mighty!"
The vengeful spirit was suppressed, and the black mist in the hall dissipated.
Tian Jian and the others regained their freedom. The fellow disciples ran over, surrounding Ming Yue and cheering.
"Senior disciple!
Quickly deal with this vengeful spirit.
Lest there be further complications."
Tian Jian, seeing the vengeful spirit still struggling, excitedly reminded Ming Yue.
Ming Yue's expression was somewhat embarrassed. She didn't know how!
"Where is Junior disciple Jun? Now that the vengeful spirit is subdued.
Junior disciple Jun should appear. Why isn't she here?
Hurry and search everywhere, see where she is, if she's injured?"
Ming Yue didn't know how to collect or destroy the vengeful spirit, so she changed the subject.
She shifted everyone's attention to Jun Shuxue.
Upon hearing this, they immediately left the hall.
Searching for Jun Shuxue everywhere, leaving only Ming Yue in the hall.
She walked around the Ying Yue sword with her hands behind her back.
She observed the struggling red dress again.
It was embroidered with auspicious dragons and phoenixes, signifying a hundred years of harmony. It looked like a wedding dress.
She still didn't know where to start, nor did she dare to pull out the Ying Yue sword.
"Come out quickly and collect it."
"I know you're here, stop hiding!"
Ming Yue feared that if she acted rashly without understanding, she might release the vengeful spirit.
So she shouted into the air, hoping Ji Shiyou would appear and resolve it.
However, after she called out several times, Ji Shiyou still didn't show himself.