The prison chamber was heavily sealed, layers of formations humming with suppression energy. At the center, a figure knelt in chains—Jian Yun.
His once-proud demeanor was gone. His silver hair was disheveled, his eyes vacant, as if his spirit had been hollowed out. The corruption of Nian Shi's power clung to him like a dark mist, twisting his aura into something unrecognizable.
Yun Lintian stepped forward, his frown deepening. "His spirit is too deeply tainted. Even with my current power, purifying him won't be easy."
Hongyue crossed her arms. "I tried using the Moon God's power to suppress the corruption, but it's stubborn. It's like his very essence has been rewritten."
Yun Lintian reached out, pressing a finger to Jian Yun's forehead. A pulse of divine energy surged into him, probing the depths of his spirit.
The corruption recoiled, then lashed back—a vicious, sentient force.
Yun Lintian pulled back, his eyes narrowing. "This isn't just Nian Shi's influence. There's something else… something older."
Before he could ponder further, a sharp hum resonated in the air.
The God Slaying Sword, still sheathed within Yun Lintian's soul, suddenly shot out on its own, hovering before Jian Yun.
Linlin and Qingqing gasped. "Big Brother Yun, your sword—!"
The blade glowed with an eerie light, its edge trembling as if resonating with Jian Yun's presence.
Yun Lintian watched closely. The God Slaying Sword had once been Jian Yun's vessel. Even now, there was a connection between them.
Then, without warning, the sword moved.
It slashed downward—not at Jian Yun, but at the chains binding him. The divine metal shattered instantly.
Hongyue tensed. "What the hell is it doing?!"
Yun Lintian held up a hand, signaling her to wait.
The God Slaying Sword floated before Jian Yun, its tip pressing against his chest. A pulse of chaotic energy—Creation and Destruction intertwined—flowed from the blade into Jian Yun's body.
Jian Yun's vacant eyes suddenly flickered.
A gasp tore from his throat as his body convulsed. The dark mist of corruption writhed violently, as if fighting against the invading power.
A sound like shattering glass echoed in the chamber.
The corruption split.
A sliver of clarity returned to Jian Yun's gaze. His lips trembled, and a single word escaped, weak but unmistakable.
Yun Lintian's breath caught.
The God Slaying Sword had done what he couldn't—it had reached the remnants of Jian Yun's true spirit buried beneath the corruption.
But the battle wasn't over.
The dark mist recoiled, then surged back with renewed fury, trying to reclaim its hold. The God Slaying Sword pulsed again, but this time, its light dimmed—as if it had expended too much energy.
Yun Lintian acted instantly.
His hand clamped down on Jian Yun's shoulder, his divine energy flooding into him. "Hold on!"
The eight divine authorities within him roared to life. The God of Light's radiance clashed with the corruption, while the God of Darkness devoured its lingering traces. The God of Life's vitality reinforced Jian Yun's crumbling spirit, and the God of War's indomitable will shielded him from further erosion.
Jian Yun screamed as the two forces warred inside him.
A shockwave blasted outward, sending Hongyue and the others stumbling back.
When the dust settled, Jian Yun collapsed forward, his breathing ragged but steady. The corruption had been purged.
Silence filled the chamber.
Then, slowly, Jian Yun lifted his head. His silver eyes, though weary, were clear.
"…Yun Lintian." His voice was hoarse, but there was recognition in it. "You… saved me."
Yun Lintian exhaled, withdrawing his energy. "No. The God Slaying Sword did."
Jian Yun's gaze shifted to the hovering blade, his expression pained. "Even after everything… it still remembers me."
Hongyue stepped forward, her crimson eyes wary. "Can we trust him? Nian Shi's influence might still linger."
Jian Yun remained silent.
Hongyue's crimson eyes flashed with suspicion as she raised her hand, crimson moon energy gathering at her fingertips. "We should seal him again—just in case."
Yun Lintian lifted a hand, stopping her. "Wait." His mismatched eyes locked onto Jian Yun. "Senior, do you remember what happened after you left me in the Ancient Battlefield?"
Jian Yun's face twisted with pain as he struggled to recall. His fingers dug into his temples. "Yao Xi... she was the one who found me. She brought me to Fan Shen." His voice grew hoarse. "Fan Shen used his power to suppress my will. After that... everything went dark. I only remember corruption. A voice whispering in my mind—Nian Shi's voice."
Yun Lintian's expression darkened. "Yao Xi..."
He had sent Yao Xi back in time to reunite with Yun Tian, but before that, she had clearly been working against him. It made sense—she had been consumed by vengeance for centuries.
Shaking off the thought, Yun Lintian pressed further. "Senior, do you know why Nian Shi's forces were so active in the Ancient Battlefield? The Chaos Knights, the creatures of chaos—as if they were searching for something."
Jian Yun's silver eyes flickered with recognition. He took a shaky breath. "The Ancient Battlefield... it wasn't just a battleground. In the Primordial Era, it was a training ground for gods. Countless divinities perished there, and their essences... their legacies... they were absorbed by the land itself."
Hongyue's brows furrowed. "Absorbed?"
Jian Yun nodded weakly. "The core of the Ancient Battlefield—it's like a forge of divine energy. Over millions of years, it has accumulated the power of fallen gods. If Nian Shi is after something there... it must be the core."
Linlin, still perched on Yun Lintian's shoulder, flicked her tail. "What can he do with it?"
Jian Yun's expression turned grim. "If he refines it, he could forge a Primordial-level artifact—something that rivals the God Slaying Sword. Or worse... he could use it to elevate his cultivation beyond its current limits."
A heavy silence fell over the chamber.
Yun Lintian's frown deepened. If Nian Shi got his hands on such power, the balance would shift irreversibly.
"Do you know where the core is hidden, Senior?"
Jian Yun shook his head. "I don't know."
Hongyue frowned as she spoke. "Judging from their movement, the core has probably fallen into Nian Shi's hand by now."
Yun Lintian nodded slowly. "Well, let's check it out again."