One of the elders explained the method they were about to use to Logan Li. When Logan heard it, he exclaimed, "Will that really work?"
"Yes. This task is yours—just make sure no one else notices," the elder instructed.
"How long will it last?" Logan thought for a moment, then asked.
"It can only last one hour. If you haven’t shaken them off by then, the outcome is simple—you’ll die when it explodes," the elder explained to Logan.
"Alright, I’ll go." Logan gritted his teeth. Even if he couldn’t get away after an hour, he wouldn’t have much to complain about dying.
"Here." Several elders produced mirror-like shards and placed them in front of Logan Li. The shards were joined together.
They finally formed a complete mirror.
"The Rebound Mirror—a miraculous artifact that can be assembled or taken apart. Each use lasts at most one hour. Afterward, it needs a hundred years to recharge. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, don’t waste it," one elder advised Logan.
"Then why didn’t you give it to her earlier?" Logan suddenly thought of something—why hadn’t they given it to Janelle Jiang before?
"It’s useless. If she wanted it, we would’ve handed it over long ago. But she always refused to let us use it—she says it’s a precious treasure, and there might be a time it’s truly needed," the elder said helplessly.
So it turned out Janelle Jiang had always refused to let them use it. Logan Li understood now—but he was different. He was determined to use this method to save her.
After quickly briefing the others, Logan left for Baina City.
Logan Li was only at the Nascent Soul stage, but he was familiar with the continent’s layout—especially Central Province and Baina City. That’s why the elders chose him for the task.
But his speed was ultimately slower than Janelle Jiang’s.
By now, Janelle was already standing outside the city gate, surrounded by crowds of Blue-Armor Legion soldiers. She shouted at them, "Get your Blue Clan Patriarch out here—I’m here to trade for those two hundred people."
The Blue-Armor Legion soldiers had no idea what those two hundred people meant. They looked at each other in confusion.
"State your identity!" Terry Blue stepped out from the crowd to take charge.
"Shadowhand Guild. Acting Guildmaster." Janelle Jiang replied, word by word.
Shadowhand Guild? Those three words made the Blue-Armor Legion soldiers’ eyes light up. Hearing ‘Acting Guildmaster’ afterward only deepened their disbelief—was this really the highest leader of Shadowhand Guild?
Terry Blue was shocked too. Just then, the Blue Clan Patriarch and Benson Blue came out from the castle to the city gate.
"You’re really the highest leader of Shadowhand Guild?" Benson Blue asked suspiciously.
The Blue Clan Patriarch was also curious—was this woman really Shadowhand Guild’s top leader?
Not just the patriarch—everyone around began to calm down and seriously consider whether this woman was truly Shadowhand’s highest leader.
"That’s right. I wonder if your Blue Clan keeps its promises," Janelle Jiang said.
"Of course. Our Blue Clan always keeps its word. But how can you prove you’re really Shadowhand Guild’s highest leader?" Benson Blue was clearly skeptical about her identity.
"Proof? Just let them out—you’ll see for yourself," Janelle replied calmly.
"Oh? Fine, I’d like to see how they address you." Benson Blue sneered, then took out a ring and, to everyone’s surprise, released two hundred wounded people.
"You—!" Seeing the two hundred injured captives, Janelle Jiang was furious. The others were shocked, finally witnessing the Blue Clan’s storage treasure.
"Acting Guildmaster!" One person looked at Janelle Jiang with difficulty and called out.
The others who weren’t unconscious gradually woke up and looked toward their highest leader.
Hearing the captives truly address Janelle Jiang as Acting Guildmaster, Benson Blue relaxed. "Trading two hundred people for Shadowhand Guild’s highest leader is worth it."
"Let them go. Otherwise, I’ll kill myself right now and you won’t be able to do anything with me." Janelle looked at the captives. She knew she couldn’t take them with her, so she wanted to give them time to escape.
"Let them go, then. Do you think we’d trick you?" Benson Blue scoffed, watching the captives struggle to stand. The stronger ones helped carry the unconscious.
"Go, hurry!" Janelle urged the captives.
The captives were deeply moved and wanted to stay, but Janelle’s command forced them to leave reluctantly. As they departed, they glared at the Blue Clan as if they were mortal enemies.
Seeing their angry looks as they left, Benson Blue snorted coldly.
After a tense standoff, the Blue Clan Patriarch spoke: "Now that we’ve released them, you can come with us, right?"
"Fine, I’ll go!" Janelle was already locked onto by two Spirit-Wandering experts. She knew escape was impossible, but she had no regrets and snorted coldly.
At that moment, Logan Li rushed in.
The moment Logan Li entered, Benson Blue and the Blue Clan Patriarch locked onto him. Seeing he was only Nascent Soul stage and not a threat, Benson Blue sneered, "I didn’t expect Shadowhand Guild to be so loyal."
"Why are you here?" Janelle had come alone to rescue her people. Seeing Logan Li appear, she was shocked.
"They sent me," Logan answered.
"How foolish of them. Do they really think your arrival will change anything?" Janelle sighed helplessly.
Benson Blue and the Blue Clan Patriarch listened and smiled broadly.
"Here." Logan handed the mirror to Janelle. When she saw it, she was shocked. "They actually gave this to you?"
"They don’t want you to die," Logan replied simply.
Overhearing their conversation, Benson Blue sensed the mirror was extraordinary and tried to snatch it. But Janelle was faster—she knew even if she was captured, she couldn’t let the mirror fall into enemy hands, so she activated it immediately.
Boom! As Benson Blue rushed forward, he felt like he hit something and was bounced back.
The Blue Clan Patriarch and others were shocked. A transparent film had formed around Janelle and Logan. Even Benson Blue, a Spirit-Wandering expert, was knocked back—how terrifying.
Benson Blue and the Blue Clan Patriarch attacked repeatedly, but they couldn’t break through.
"Hurry, go!" Logan Li sent a voice transmission.
"Mm." Janelle knew the artifact was already used, so there was no point in arguing. She quickly led Logan Li away.
The two of them soared into the sky.
"Trying to escape?" Benson Blue saw they’d used a powerful artifact. Even so, he wouldn’t let them go. He flew up to intercept, but couldn’t break through the barrier.
Benson Blue chased after the protective bubble around Janelle and Logan. Meanwhile, the Blue-Armor Legion, under the patriarch’s orders, retreated back into the city.
The Blue Clan Patriarch returned to the castle and watched until Benson Blue and the others left his sight.
"Shadowhand Guild has no Spirit-Wandering experts, so he should be able to capture them." The Blue Clan Patriarch recognized the artifact and didn’t pursue, leaving Benson Blue to handle it while he stayed in the city to manage affairs.
Benson Blue recognized the artifact as well and followed them, sneering, "Go ahead and fly. Once an hour passes, you won’t have anything left to protect you."
Seeing Benson Blue recognize the artifact, Logan Li’s face darkened. Janelle was helpless—they felt like prey watched by a Spirit-Wandering expert, doomed to be caught once their defenses failed.
"What do we do now?" Logan Li sent an urgent voice transmission.
"There’s nothing we can do. Shadowhand Guild doesn’t have anyone strong enough to fight him," Janelle said helplessly.
"Should we try the Free Alliance?" Logan Li pondered for a moment before suggesting.
"The Free Alliance? It’s too far. We’d never reach it in an hour before he catches us," Janelle shook her head.
One hour—that means racing against time. Logan knew his cultivation was far below Janelle’s; he’d only slow her down. He gritted his teeth: "You go. I’ll stop here."
"What are you planning?" Janelle was shocked.
"Only if I leave will you be able to fly faster and have a chance to reach the Free Alliance outpost. At least there’s hope," Logan explained.
"No way. No matter what, I won’t leave you behind alone," Janelle retorted.
But Logan had made up his mind. He quickly left Janelle’s protection and flew off alone.
"No!" Janelle was controlling the mirror’s range, but Logan, acting on his own will, had already exited her protection. She was shocked.
Logan smiled at Janelle. "Shadowhand Guild needs you. I hope you can bring the guild back soon."
Benson Blue, a Spirit-Wandering expert, naturally noticed Logan’s actions. With nothing else to do, he sneered, "Go die."
He threw a punch—one Spirit-Wandering expert against a Nascent Soul cultivator. The outcome was obvious.
Logan Li’s body was destroyed on the spot, his Nascent Soul knocked unconscious.
In that instant, Janelle caught his Nascent Soul and looked at the unconscious Logan Li. Her eyes grew wet. "Rest well. Shadowhand Guild will wake you up someday."
Then she glared fiercely at Benson Blue.
Benson Blue just smiled. "Isn’t this better? Now you have one less burden!"
"You’re the real burden! Blue Clan, listen well—no matter how powerful, how ruthless, Shadowhand Guild will fight you to the end!" Janelle shouted.
"Hahaha, is this still the Shadowhand Guild of old? Not even a single Spirit-Wandering expert left. Even as Acting Guildmaster, you’re nothing but a prisoner in my hands. Soon, Shadowhand Guild will be nothing but scattered sand." Benson Blue mocked, completely unafraid of Janelle.
"Just because we fail today doesn’t mean we’ll fail forever. And remember, Evan Yang has many friends—not just Shadowhand Guild. Someday, Blue Clan will face even more!" Janelle shouted defiantly.
"Wake up! What time is it now? Even Evan Yang’s friends are just ants—not worth fearing." Benson Blue laughed, completely unimpressed by her threats.
"Ants? Then just you wait." Janelle shot him a furious glare, then turned and flew away at top speed.
Janelle pushed the Phantom Step Art to its limit—even Benson Blue, a Spirit-Wandering expert, could barely keep up. He was stunned: "Damn, isn’t she only Soul-Forming? How can she fly this fast?"