Chapter 417: My Sword is No Less Sharp

The battle outside the Burning Purity Holy Land was perilous.

The situation inside was no less dangerous.

Even with the combined forces of the True Martial Holy Land, Lingxi Valley, Sword Pavilion, and Alchemy Sect, they still struggled against the elite disciples of Burning Purity Holy Land.

The Burning Purity Holy Land alone had twelve Void Fusion Realm monks.

The Void Fusion Realm experts on Sword Pavilion's side mainly came from the True Martial Holy Land's elders, but after the persecutions by Burning Purity and Yaochi, only nine remained. Excluding Zhang Mengchu who had rear guard duties, capable fighters like Li Ziping had to face two or even three opponents simultaneously.

There were even more enemies at the Unity and Deity Transformation Realms.

This truly demonstrated a holy land's foundation. Without the assistance of True Martial Holy Land's disciples, Sword Pavilion, Alchemy Sect, and Lingxi Valley combined would only face slaughter.

As the leaders clashed with leaders and soldiers fought soldiers before the Burning Purity's Buddha Hall,

The rescue operation for Yun Suxin and other sect disciples proceeded simultaneously.

Though Yun Baiyu desperately wanted to save his daughter, the frontline battle needed his strength more, so this crucial task ultimately fell to Li Qingran and Sword Pavilion's core disciples.

"Is this really the Burning Purity Holy Land's prison?" Xu An whispered while hiding behind a Buddha statue, scanning their surroundings.

One had to admit, Burning Purity's surface-level aesthetics were impeccable.

Before them stretched a massive lotus pond, with a gilded Buddha statue standing at its center.

Had they not extracted the information from a captured Burning Purity disciple, who could imagine this picturesque scene concealed the holy land's prison beneath? The prison lay under the lotus pond, and with no guards in sight—likely all deployed to reinforce the main hall—this was their perfect chance!

Rescue the captives quickly, and even if they couldn't defeat Burning Purity, they could retreat safely.

This would also slightly relieve the pressure on their elders at the frontline.

"Qingran, Senior Sister Yue, you two stay outside. Leave Yun Suxin's rescue to us!" Xu An exchanged meaningful glances with Zhen He and Duan Feng.

No danger outside didn't mean no danger inside.

As men, they couldn't let Yue Qianchi and Li Qingran take risks—they should charge ahead first.

"Bullshit!" Yue Qianchi's face darkened as she cursed in a hushed tone: "You three think you're tough? Any single one of you can beat me? Oh wait, I've reached Nascent Soul—the three of you combined couldn't handle one hand of mine!"

"Qingran stays outside. I'll lead you three! Don't make me rescue your sorry asses when you get trapped inside!"

The three men cowered under Yue Qianchi's scolding, not daring to utter another word.

"Senior Sister, there might be dangers in the prison. Let me go with you."

Li Qingran understood their protective intentions, warmth filling her heart at her sectmates' care.

But precisely because they cared for her, she should face the dangers alongside them.

"Qingran, you're our safety net." Yue Qianchi placed a hand on Li Qingran's shoulder, speaking earnestly: "Prisons usually only have a few jailers, but once we rescue them, Burning Purity disciples might come. Then we'll need you guarding outside!"

After consideration, Li Qingran nodded. Indeed, Burning Purity's prison surely had alarms—rescued prisoners might draw reinforcements.

Staying outside would let her better support Yue Qianchi's team.

With a solemn expression, she declared:

"Senior Sister, senior brothers, leave the outside to me! I guarantee no problems!"

Yue Qianchi flashed an 'OK' gesture—a mannerism picked up during her time on Earth Star with Zhao Ying's group.

...

Following the intel from their captive, Yue Qianchi's group activated the prison switch at the central golden Buddha statue.

As the prison entrance opened, the entire lotus pond's water drained away instantly.

The golden statue shifted aside, revealing a downward teleportation array.

Simultaneously, the receding water exposed numerous vajra Buddha statues in various poses across the pond.

"Hiss... these statues feel off." Xu An frowned at the stone figures.

Why would display statues be submerged? And why fully emerge only when the prison opens? Suspicious!

Yet the statues showed no movement.

"Stop being paranoid." Yue Qianchi kicked Xu An's rear: "Get down there!"

With a yelp, Xu An tumbled into the teleportation array.

Yue Qianchi turned to the other two: "You two—jump or get kicked?"

"We'll go ourselves!" Zhen He nodded solemnly.

"Same!" Duan Feng hurriedly agreed.

...

Shortly after the trio descended,

Li Qingran suddenly felt hostile gazes upon her.

Scanning the area revealed no Burning Purity disciples.

"Who hides in shadows? Show yourself!"

Drawing her Su Xian Sword, Li Qingran pointed its tip around challengingly.

CRACK—!

Stone grinding echoed from the lotus pond.

Turning, Li Qingran's scalp prickled—

Hundreds of vajra statues had turned their heads toward her, hollow eyes fixed on her position, the grinding coming from their moving stone heads.

"Senior Brother Xu An, your mouth really is blessed..."

Li Qingran smiled bitterly.

This sight revealed what she'd face—of course Burning Purity's prison had guards. Escapers surviving the prison only to face an army of animated statues would surely despair.

CRACK, CRACK—!

With continuous grinding,

The statues rose from the pond one after another.

Though silent, a single thunderous Sanskrit syllable boomed over the pond.

The statues leaped onto the pond's surface, encircling Li Qingran with deceptively slow movements—within two breaths, she was completely surrounded.

"So these are my opponents..."

Li Qingran narrowed her eyes.

Their strength ranged between Golden Core and Nascent Soul—

A difficult fight, but as constructs, they lacked human adaptability. With her master's sword techniques, buying time seemed feasible.

Just as this thought formed, a shrill voice cackled above:

"Kekeke, who dares? A mere Golden Core late-stage girl trespassing in our holy prison?"

Looking up, Li Qingran spotted a withered nun atop the tallest statue—

Her face grotesque, eyes gouged out, limbless torso stuffed into a clay pot, only a wrinkled head protruding.

Noticing Li Qingran's fair features, the nun's expression lit up with twisted delight.

"What exquisite skin! This old nun planned to play with you before dealing with those four rats below..."

"But I've changed my mind! I'll skin you alive now! Kekekeke!"

The nun spun gleefully atop her statue, clearly relishing some vile fantasy.

So the statues had a controller—

This complicated matters...

Yet Li Qingran stood fearless. She only needed to stall until reinforcements arrived from the main battle.

"I am Li Qingran of Sword Pavilion! Harm my seniors? You'll have to go through me first!"

Chin raised defiantly, sword resting against her back, her sharp gaze locked onto the nun.

Three feet of gleaming steel angled toward the sky, crimson tassel fluttering in the wind.

"Though a woman—my sword is no less sharp!!!"