The Six Rivers and Four Islands were interconnected like branches from the same root. When Wan Zhang fled to the Second River, Jinyang River, the disturbances over at Bai Zhuo River had already been noticed here. Consequently, many disciples came forward to greet him. At the forefront was a cultivator clad in a Daoist robe, with a leisurely scarf atop his head. His expression was grim, and his demeanor calm and imposing.
This man was Dai Xin, the master of Jinyang River and a member of the Guangtong Dai Clan. He was also a True Disciple who had once been instructed by Luo Yuanhua, a Sword Immortal of the Mingcang Sect, and had mastered an excellent level of swordsmanship.
Wan Zhang arrived in disarray. As he looked up, he saw a dazzling blue tunneling light chasing closely behind him. Without delay, Dai Xin stepped forward, swept his robe sleeves, and shielded Wan Zhang behind him. At the same time, he raised his hand, summoning a sword ball that glimmered with golden light. The sword ball leapt out from above his head and hovered restlessly by his side as he bellowed, "Who dares harm a disciple of the Six Rivers and Four Islands?"
Zhang Yan, who was flying with the Star Sword Ball merged with him, saw someone blocking his path. Ignoring who the man was, he simply urged his Xuan Guang forward. A sword ball split off and slashed straight toward the obstruction.
Seeing that the intruder attacked without so much as a word, and even used a sword ball, Dai Xin’s anger surged into sardonic laughter. "You dare to wield a sword in front of me?"
He had abandoned his original Dharma Treasure and devoted himself to the Sword Dao for over twenty years. Though Luo Yuanhua had not imparted superior swordsmanship to him, Dai Xin had cultivated the Splitting Light Separation Method through the True Origin Sword Scripture. Now his single sword ball could split into three beams of sword light.
Relying on this Dharma technique, he had overshadowed his peers and often prided himself on his swordsmanship.
Now, seeing Zhang Yan also using a sword, he secretly cursed, "Ignorant fool!" Then, pointing with two fingers, the sword ball at his side shot forward. Mid-flight, the ball gave a slight tremor and split into another sword ball. The two beams of sword light advanced side by side, killing intent locked on Zhang Yan.
Dai Xin, assuming the demeanor of an expert, thought that splitting his sword light would certainly terrify this unknown junior. To his shock, Zhang Yan, far from panicking, let out a cold laugh. His sword ball neither clashed nor avoided but instead accelerated. As it closed in, the sword light suddenly scattered, and five sword balls burst forth, slashing through the air and the clouds like bolts of lightning.
At this, Dai Xin’s face instantly darkened. Yet, being more experienced than Sun Xian, he quickly reacted. Pressing his fingers downward, he exerted his full strength and split two more sword shadows from his sword ball, sending them to resist Zhang Yan’s attack alongside the previous two. At the same time, he condensed most of the Xuan Guang in his chest into a thread-thin Sword Qi. With a rub of his lips, he blew out a streak of white light, which struck with a sharp "clang," barely deflecting the last sword ball.
Though Dai Xin had exerted himself to the utmost, almost to the point of spitting blood, he was nearly driven to despair when he saw the five sword balls, now blocked, make no further moves. Instead, each one leapt faintly, splitting into five beams of sword light yet again.
"Ten swords from one Qi?"
Dai Xin’s face turned pale with horror. No longer caring about maintaining his composure, he yelled in a hoarse voice, "Which Sword Immortal is before me? This Dai Xin is of Luo Master’s lineage..."
Zhang Yan ignored him entirely. Without halting his sword light in the slightest, it pierced through Dai Xin’s chest, arms, and legs in five clean strikes, opening five bloodied holes. With a scream, Dai Xin plummeted from the clouds. Fortunately, his clan members were nearby and caught him midair, saving him from falling to his death.
Wan Zhang, who had barely caught his breath, jumped in shock at the scene. He had always seen Dai Xin act the part of a lofty expert and had thought he would surely be able to stop Zhang Yan. But now, seeing Dai Xin fare even worse than Sun Xian, being defeated in mere moments, Wan Zhang dared not linger any longer. Cloaked in aura from his Xuan Guang, he fled immediately.
Having utterly vanquished Dai Xin, Zhang Yan wasted no time on the others. He too propelled his tunneling light forward, chasing swiftly. The red and blue streaks of light disappeared into the horizon in the blink of an eye.
Not long after the two had left, a resplendent silver tunneling light came flying over from the direction of Bai Zhuo River. It landed at a cool pavilion above Jinyang River, revealing the figure of a woman.
The woman was strikingly beautiful, with a graceful figure. She wore a goose-yellow ruqun with narrow sleeves and a spiraled bun. This was Junior Sister Huang, who had been conversing with Sun Xian in the Cave Mansion. Gazing intently, she saw the people in front of Jinyang River looking utterly disheartened, as if they had just survived a calamity. She grabbed a passing disciple and asked, "My name is Huang Wan Ying, a cultivator from Langya Cave Heaven. Where is your River Master?"
The disciple, recognizing her as a disciple of True Master Qin, dared not refuse her. Crying miserably, he replied, "Our River Master was pierced through the stomach and limbs by an unknown savage’s sword and is now gravely wounded and unable to recover. If he succumbs to his injuries, we do not know who will look after us in the future."
Huang Wan Ying furrowed her delicate brows. These family members of the Six Rivers and Four Islands’ cultivators often relied on their powerful backing to act unruly and arrogant. Now that their River Master was injured, they behaved as though they had lost their father or mother. She couldn’t help but feel a hint of disdain for them.