Chapter 0704: United Against the Enemy

"Elder Linglong, if you dislike the Dao Lord Rune Soul, then give it to me!"

Qin Yun truly desired it. Obtaining the Dao Lord Rune Soul would allow him to effortlessly carve Dao Runes once his cultivation advanced.

Jian Linglong chuckled, "You want my Dao Lord Rune Soul? Do you know how to extract it? Even if you could, you'd have to trade me one of yours! I'd gladly accept either your Flamefury Rune Soul or Beast King Rune Soul!"

The moment she mentioned taking his Rune Souls, Qin Yun's enthusiasm waned.

Noticing his expression, Jian Linglong snorted, "You punk, possessing two Rune Souls is practically defying fate itself... I've lived for centuries, yet never stumbled upon such luck!"

"Elder Linglong, how many years have you lived?" Qin Yun asked curiously.

"Don’t you dare ask my age!" Jian Linglong snarled.

Qin Yun pursed his lips and resumed carving the Dragon Totem.

While carving, he subtly unveiled concealed patterns, utterly captivating Jian Linglong as she committed the totemic markings to memory.

...

On Sword Immortal Villa's plaza, the massive black sphere that had suddenly descended was indeed a flying artifact. The black-clad figures emerging from it hailed from the Demon Desolate Profound Domain.

The Totem Pavilion and other Demon Desolate sects were overjoyed.

Hundreds strong, the Demon Desolate's forces continued pouring forth from the black sphere. The malevolent energy radiating from them turned young disciples pale with fear.

Jian Shitian's icy gaze swept over the intruders, his voice laced with fury and authority: "This is outright invasion! Offer a sincere apology, and we'll let this pass. Otherwise, none of you will leave alive!"

The fiends from the Demon Desolate Profound Domain were clearly formidable—their mere presence made the demonic sects gloat with anticipation.

"Sword Immortal Pavilion, the Jian Family—a den of heaven-defying sword cultivators! You rebels should've been wiped out ages ago. Why do you still draw breath?" A golden-haired elder in black robes scoffed.

"We sword cultivators merely defy the heavens! When celestial decree demands our extinction, we resist!" Jian Shitian barked a laugh. "What's truly baffling is how filth like you, drowning in atrocities, still breathes!"

"Legend claims sword cultivators overpower peers by severalfold. Today, I'll test that boast!"

The golden-haired elder's pallid face darkened, then flushed crimson. With a shudder, a wave of crimson energy burst from his body.

"Have you demons lost the will to live?" Jian Shitian roared, drawing his lifebound sword.

Simultaneously, the urgent clang of warning bells echoed through Sword Immortal Villa.

Several powerful half-Immortal auras surged forth from within.

White-robed elders rode clouds like celestial envoys, descending with swords gleaming.

These sage-like figures alighted gracefully before Jian Shitian, their presence making other faction leaders gape—these were beings toeing the line of true Immortality.

"As expected of Sword Immortal Pavilion—such formidable strength!" Bao Changshou gasped.

"Fiends from the Demon Profound Domain, having invaded Sword City and trespassed here, won't leave breathing!" Jian Shitian thundered. "Leave none of these vermin standing—not even Totem Pavilion's Tu Tiandi!"

"Immortal Armament City stands with Sword Immortal Pavilion!" Bao Changshou declared.

"Moon Demon Isle pledges its blades!" Elder Yunyao announced.

"The Demon Immortal GrottoHeaven won't stand idly by either!" the quasi-immortal from Demon Immortal GrottoHeaven declared.

The demi-immortals from Medicine Immortal Valley and Canghuo Mountain had no intention of joining the fight and kept their distance.

Other clans, apart from the Jian Clan, also retreated far away.

"You're not very united, are you?" the golden-haired elder laughed. "We're here to take this island—let's see how you stop us!"

"Yezhou King, as ruler of Linghuang Aoxingzhou and recipient of Immortal Essence, will you just stand by?" Jian Shitian said coldly. "If you don't act, that Immortal Essence will be forfeit!"

Gritting his teeth, Yezhou King stepped forward with his men. He knew well—without Jian Shitian and Bao Changshou's support, he'd never have become king.

For Immortal Essence, he could temporarily set aside past grudges with Immortal Blade City.

Muzhou King said coldly, "This is Aoxingzhou's business—I won't interfere."

Jian Shitian sneered, "Without Immortal Essence, why would I want your help?"

Though Demon Mystic Domain had many demons, few reached Martial King or Martial Emperor realm—only their demi-immortals posed real threat.

Jian Shitian nodded at Sword Immortal Hall's venerable elders. Suddenly, sinister energy surged from the ground.

Every demi-immortal and Martial Emperor present—except Sword Immortal Hall's—stared in shock. The formation had sealed their power, dropping all to Martial King realm!

"Don't panic," Jian Shitian said solemnly. "This is Sword City's warding formation—it suppresses Martial Emperors and demi-immortals to Martial King realm. Leave the city, and your strength returns."

Everyone grasped the formation's brilliance immediately.

Among equals, sword cultivators were unmatched in combat. Now even Martial King sword cultivators could defeat Demon Mystic Domain's demi-immortals!

Sword Immortal Hall's formation provided ultimate defense—dragging even powerful invaders down to Martial King level. For immortal sects, Martial Kings were most numerous. Now Sword Immortal Hall could fully exploit sword cultivators' advantage!

...

Qin Yun was working on his dragon totem when the bell tolled. Jian Linglong's expression shifted. When the formation activated, she tensed visibly.

"Elder Linglong, what's happening?" Qin Yun asked.

"Full-scale assault! This formation hasn't activated in decades. Its activation means overwhelming forces attack!" Her voice turned grave. "Normally all Martial Kings and Emperors would defend, but my situation's special—I'm exempt."

"What formation?" Qin Yun asked.

"One suppressing demi-immortals and Martial Emperors to Martial King realm," she explained. "I'm a Martial Emperor, but my power's been suppressed."

"It drags enemies down so our Martial King sword cultivators can defeat them." She smiled. "Relax—we've got this."

"Not certain. I've taken down cultivators above my level," Qin Yun chuckled. "Don't get cocky."

"Focus on your totem. We've got it under control!"

Jian Linglong gazed at the dragon totem on the arm and added, "This tower took me years to build. Even if this floating island crumbles, my tower can still take flight!"

"The tower's riddled with traps and mechanisms. Even a half-immortal would be half-dead from the ordeal!"

"Impressive!" Qin Yun praised, recalling the terrifying Sword Burial Pool.

Inside the tower's eerie silence, though no outside sounds penetrated, Qin Yun sensed something amiss—a fierce, unsettling energy beyond the walls.

He remained relatively calm. After all, this was the Sword Immortal Pavilion's turf. Unless they were true immortals, breaching it would be near impossible.

Ling Yuner said, "Xiao Yun, you must get this woman on your side. Her Dao Lord Rune Soul is crucial—it could greatly aid you!"

"Really? Why does she despise me so?" Qin Yun asked.

"Because she's narrow-minded! The totems you carve now are merely Xuan Totems. When they evolve into Dao Totems, they won't come so easily." Ling Yuner leaned closer. "That's why you need her!"

"Need her? How?"

With Mo Mo, the spirit priestess, Qin Yun knew his totems would eventually evolve. But carving complex Dao Totems would test his limits—their precision would inevitably suffer.

The Dao Lord Rune Soul could perfect that precision.

"How? Make her yours!" Ling Yuner winked. "Have her devoted to you. When the time's right, she'll gift you that Rune Soul!"

Qin Yun scowled. "No. There's got to be another way."

"What way? She's as hard-to-get as Jian Ruyan! Show her some affection, and she'll melt. Even Fairy Bingxing has a thing for you! Trust your charm!"

Ling Yuner snapped, her tone dripping with exasperation.

"I just need to find Yuemei! Her mirror captures Rune Souls. I could extract and refine them—I succeeded before with the Hong Lan Martial Soul!"

The thought excited Qin Yun, though he grumbled about Xiao Yuemei's elusiveness.

"You idiot, if you'd listen, those girls would be wrapped around your finger!" Ling Yuner sighed. "Truly, you can't polish a turd!"

Ignoring her, Qin Yun focused on carving the dragon totem.

Over an hour later, the Sword Immortal Pavilion's bell tolled again—louder now, and nonstop.

"Trouble. Stay put—I'll investigate!" Jian Linglong's face fell. With a quick warning, she vanished.

Qin Yun's stomach knotted. *Is the Sword Immortal Pavilion really failing... on their home turf?*

Ling Yuner's voice turned grave. "Xiao Yun, this can't be good. Prepare for battle."