The cold wind at midnight sent shivers down the spines of the disciples from the cultivation sects. One by one, they polished their magic artifacts, preparing for the great battle that lay ahead.
On the other side, the disciples of the cultivation families were no different, each one standing ready.
Ever since the people from the cultivation families, sects, and the Demonic Cult emerged from the Taiyi Divine Sect's secret realm, they had been subjected to constant encirclement and suppression by the people of Sakura Island. The disciples of the sects and families, in particular, harbored a burning rage, eager to unleash it tonight and reclaim what was theirs in a decisive battle against the Sakura Island forces.
As the moon hung high in the sky, Ye Bufan, Ye Qingyi, Ye Qingcheng, and others stood by, ready to join the main force in breaking through the enemy lines.
Just past midnight, Bai Zizhen took a deep breath. With a single command, all the disciples followed his orders and prepared to break through towards the east.
Song Mingqin and Qu Fei, leading their respective sides of the formation, took up positions. Bai Zizhen led the charge at the forefront, while Ye Bufan, Ye Qingyi, Ye Qingcheng, Xun Er, and Ling Er covered the rear.
Meanwhile, the members of the cultivation families also set out.
After marching eastward for about three kilometers, Bai Zizhen raised his hand, signaling everyone to halt.
Directly ahead lay a base of the Sakura Island forces. The outermost layer consisted of their scouts, who were rotated every ten minutes.
"Prepare!" Bai Zizhen instructed the disciples behind him.
Song Mingqin and Qu Fei moved simultaneously from both sides of the formation, swiftly eliminating the patrolling enemy soldiers. The group then began to advance slowly into the heart of the Sakura Island eastern camp.
"Attack!" With Bai Zizhen's fierce shout, all the disciples of the cultivation sects sprang into action.
Flying swords, knives, and spears rained down from the sky, piercing into the tents.
"Hmm?"
Soon, Ye Bufan noticed something amiss. The number of Sakura Island personnel was surprisingly low, and some of the camps were even empty. It was clear that the enemy had been prepared.
"They're here," Ye Qingyi warned. Ye Bufan sensed a large force approaching from behind.
"Behind us!" Ye Bufan yelled, sending his residual sword and Vermilion Bird Sword flying into the woods.
"Clang!" Both of Ye Bufan's swords were sent flying back. He caught them and, in the next moment, five figures surged from behind him. Simultaneously, nearly two to three hundred Sakura Island cultivators emerged from the woods.
The five figures who charged forward were Bai Zizhen, Song Mingqin, Qu Fei, Yan Se, and Yan Yuzhu, the Palace Lord of the Guangming Palace.
As the Sakura Island cultivators appeared, the five immediately unsheathed their weapons and swept through the lower-level cultivators, causing them to fall in droves.
"Baga!" the leading Sakura Island cultivator roared. He had been confident of victory, expecting to encircle and annihilate these cultivators. However, to his surprise, the enemy had counterattacked the moment they appeared, leaving the cultivators, who had believed themselves poised for victory, defenseless and dead.
"Who goes there?" Bai Zizhen bellowed.
"Ryūgen Hitori," the leading Sakura Island cultivator replied without preamble, stating his name before charging forward to clash with Bai Zizhen. A dazzling shower of sparks erupted as they collided in mid-air.
"Tonight, you will all die here," Ryūgen Hitori declared, radiating a palpable killing intent.
"That remains to be seen," Bai Zizhen replied with a confident smile. A burst of fire erupted behind the Sakura Island cultivator, followed by a cacophony of shouts.
"Hmm?" Ryūgen Hitori’s spiritual sense swept downwards. "Insidious! You are truly insidious, resorting to sneak attacks!"
Ryūgen Hitori roared, drawing his katana and bringing it down with full force upon Bai Zizhen.
"Heh? The one who launched a sneak attack is accusing us of a sneak attack? Have you no shame?" Bai Zizhen retorted. "This is the 'dumpling stuffing' we prepared specifically for you."
Ryūgen Hitori's sword strike was incredibly powerful. Bai Zizhen had not expected such a desperate and overbearing attack, seemingly without any reservation.
Bai Zizhen quickly conjured his horsetail whisk, blocking in front of him.
"Crack—"
Ryūgen Hitori's katana was clearly a high-grade artifact, superior to Bai Zizhen's horsetail whisk. The whisk instantly shattered into pieces, and Bai Zizhen was sent flying backward.
"Useless," Ryūgen Hitori stated confidently. "With this strike, you'll either die or be half-dead."
"Whoosh—"
Before he could celebrate, Ryūgen Hitori sensed something was wrong. Suddenly, the air around him was filled with flying sword qi, and the sound of flying swords whizzed past his ears.
"Who is it?" Ryūgen Hitori cried out. Turning his head, he found that Bai Zizhen had vanished. In Bai Zizhen's original position stood a young man.
The young man smiled faintly at Ryūgen Hitori. His eyes suddenly turned a hollow black, and behind him, a deep, colossal eye appeared. With just a glance, Ryūgen Hitori was ensnared.
"Mental power technique!" Ryūgen Hitori quickly realized and forcibly roused himself using his spiritual energy.
The young man before him was Ye Bufan. Ryūgen Hitori's reaction was remarkably swift, which even impressed Ye Bufan.
As he appeared beside Ryūgen Hitori, the latter, relying on his honed senses, slashed horizontally at Ye Bufan.
"What a ferocious attack," Ye Bufan breathed, taking a deep breath. "This muscle memory is terrifying, and every move appears to be a full-powered strike."
"Two Sleeves of Green Snakes," Ye Bufan shouted. His hands became swords, and the sword qi transformed into two green serpents, their mouths agape, lunging towards Ryūgen Hitori.
Blade met sword, and Ye Bufan's Two Sleeves of Green Snakes were instantly severed by Ryūgen Hitori's strike.
However, in the next second, within the sword domain space, the severed green serpents reformed into sharp sword qi, coalescing into a colossal sword that clashed with Ryūgen Hitori once more.
With every strike from Ryūgen Hitori, Ye Bufan found his attacks seemingly posing no threat to him.
Ye Bufan's expression grew increasingly solemn. Was his sword domain so vulnerable against a Nascent Soul Middle-stage cultivator, merely one stage higher than him?
"Impossible!" Ye Bufan's aura suddenly intensified.
"Within my sword domain, I am the master! How can I allow you to run rampant!" All the sword qi struck Ye Bufan.
"Kill!"
With a fierce roar, Ye Bufan plunged towards Ryūgen Hitori.