Lan Yan's eyes darkened as she understood their intentions. She tossed the artifacts from her bag, fending off the disciples before her.
However, there were too many of them. For every group that fell, another emerged. They, too, sensed Lan Yan's weak cultivation, pouring all their spiritual energy into their sword hilts and aiming them at her.
Lan Yan could only deploy her formation, suspending dozens of swords in mid-air. The sound of blades piercing flesh came from behind her. She spun around abruptly, a short sword embedded in her lower back, held by Lin Qian.
A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes before she spat blood from her lips, her strength failing. She retracted her hands.
Lin Qian's sword-holding hand trembled as he cried out, "Senior Sister, I'm sorry. I didn't want to do this. But why didn't you turn back! If you had just killed Jun Yelan, you could have gone back."
He didn't understand, never understanding his Senior Sister's heart.
Lan Yan clutched her waist, her face growing paler. She stared at Lin Qian. From the moment she had broken Jun Yelan's formation, she knew this day would come, but she never regretted it.
"Lin Qian, I told you, this is my choice."
Seeing the determination in Lan Yan's eyes, Lin Qian shook his head violently, his sword falling again.
Lan Yan felt dizzy, her body about to collapse. She gripped her palm desperately. She couldn't fall; it would distract Jun Yelan, and both of them would die here. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Jun Yelan, who had previously placed a formation on Lan Yan, felt a sharp pain in his own waist at that moment and knew Lan Yan was in trouble. He turned to leave but was struck in the shoulder by a blade from a Spiritual Mountain sect leader. He let out a cold snort and moved away.
He flew to Lan Yan's side, grabbed her shoulders, and channeled energy from his palm.
Lan Yan grasped Jun Yelan's wrist and shook her head, "Don't heal me, it's a waste of your spiritual energy. I'm fine, I'll recover with some rest."
She forced a smile, letting Jun Yelan help her sit down and begin meditating.
Jun Yelan's eyes trembled as he looked at the weakened Lan Yan. Fierce rage then erupted in his gaze. His red eyes fixed on the disciples before him, and he commanded all the swords on the ground to fly towards them.
"How dare you hurt her!" he roared, shaking the entire abyss. Rocks tumbled down from the surrounding mountains, crashing onto the disciples.
The disciples fled forward in terror, crying out, "Master, save us!"
Seeing this, the Spiritual Mountain sect leader stepped forward and directly confronted Jun Yelan. A sword appeared in his hand, striking towards Jun Yelan's brow. "As expected of a demonic beast; it cannot be allowed to exist in this world!"
"Even helping you means it deserves to die!"
"You are not in a position to say that." Jun Yelan's wings unfurled completely, suspending him in mid-air like a god of death. He held artifacts in both hands, slashing at the Spiritual Mountain sect leader.
The sect leader's sword was instantly knocked away, and he himself plummeted downward. He landed on the ground in a disheveled state, then scrambled up only to be struck down again.
Anger flared in his eyes. He hadn't expected Jun Yelan to have been hiding his strength; this was his true power. "Junior Brother, quickly, form the array."
The Daoist Master Feng Qing also detested demonic beasts, but he wouldn't let his Senior Brother die. He had always believed that a demonic beast had enticed his junior disciple years ago, leading to a tragedy.
The current Lan Yan was no different. He transferred all his hatred to Jun Yelan, unleashing his full power.
Jun Yelan blocked the attacks, gradually sensing something was wrong. These attacks were affecting him! He looked at Daoist Master Feng Qing, realizing Lan Yan's master was not to be underestimated; this man was constantly weakening his abilities.
He had to descend from the air, stopping by Lan Yan's side, shielding her with his wings. A bloody taste rose in his throat, and he swallowed it back with force.
Daoist Master Feng Qing witnessed this but refused to believe a demonic beast possessed true affection, thinking he was merely using Lan Yan to escape. He gathered even more power and struck at Jun Yelan.
This time, Lan Yan, lying on the ground, opened her eyes and blocked the attack. She stood beside Jun Yelan, both bearing bloody wounds, their eyes filled with resolve.
She clasped Jun Yelan's cold hand, imparting warmth. "Now, it's my turn to protect you." She produced a feather from a firebird, which transformed into a fiery circle, sufficient to block Daoist Master Feng Qing's assault.
Fortunately, she had plucked all the firebird's feathers in her anger last time, and now they served their purpose.
Daoist Master Feng Qing, familiar with formations, naturally understood Lan Yan's actions. "So, you were planning all this from that time. Lan Yan, you've truly abandoned everything for this demonic beast."
"Master, you have your convictions, and I have mine. Junior Uncle chose his love back then, and today I make the same choice." Lan Yan seized the opportunity to let Jun Yelan recover, as the firebird could hold them off for a while.
Daoist Master Feng Qing paused. When he had entered the mortal world for cultivation years ago, he had encountered a woman. He later discovered she was a demonic beast and personally killed her, thereafter hating deceptive demonic beasts even more.
"Lan Yan, this demonic beast has deceived you with its appearance; it will harm you one day."
Lan Yan replied, "Master, he truly hasn't deceived me, nor will he harm me. What you see with your eyes isn't always the truth; you must look with your heart. These are the principles you taught me."
She increasingly felt that many demonic beasts had a difficult life. Their possessions were coveted, and their sincere affections were trampled upon, simply because they were demonic beasts.
Daoist Master Feng Qing's pupils widened in shock. He himself had forgotten those words, yet Lan Yan remembered them. He said, "Your master cannot persuade you anymore. You must take care of yourself from now on."
"Thank you, Master." Lan Yan knelt and said, "I know I have wronged you, Master, and I am willing to be expelled from the sect and never return." This was the path she had chosen.
A hint of sadness appeared in Daoist Master Feng Qing's eyes. He nodded in agreement. Even if Lan Yan hadn't said it, he wouldn't have been able to keep her.
Thus, Lan Yan kowtowed three times to Daoist Master Feng Qing, fulfilling their master-disciple bond. She then stood up, her head still unsteady.
Jun Yelan, who was beside her, supported her. He had recovered significantly and could now lead Lan Yan out. "Yan'er, are you alright?" He felt heartache for everything Lan Yan had done for him, unsure how to repay her.
Lan Yan smiled, "I feel much more at ease now." She took Jun Yelan's hand and said, "Jun Yelan, we will be alright."
Jun Yelan nodded. No matter what, he had to bring Lan Yan away.
The cultivators before them were already heavily wounded, unable to withstand the assault of the two.
However, at this moment, a group of people arrived from behind, led by the Demon King and his demonic beasts, all staring at Jun Yelan.
The two groups encircled Jun Yelan and Lan Yan, leaving them no escape.
The Demon King had been watching the spectacle, waiting for this very moment to ensure Jun Yelan disappeared completely from the Six Realms, posing no further threat to him.
At this juncture, Lan Yan and Jun Yelan looked at each other, neither confident they could survive this ordeal.