"Return to the clan grounds immediately. Get the immortal artifact back first, we'll speak later."
The Jian clan's ancestor tore open space and led the nine Jian cultivators away from the battlefield. In the distance, two figures briefly appeared before vanishing just as quickly.
Tianmo Palace, Main Hall
"Palace Master, the Tang clan's ancestor was sealed inside the Desert Sands Map?"
Palace Master Mo Lie had been examining a jade slip. Hearing the report from the shadow guard, he raised his head and asked, "Are you saying Tang Yi was taken?"
"Yes."
"Then that confirms it. The scroll belongs to the Jian clan?"
"When the two Zhēnzūn fought, the space was locked. I couldn't observe closely, only from a distance. But the Jian clan's Mahayana Zhēnzūn was indeed among the ten-person group."
"No wonder Mo Yue used the tactic of 'drawing disaster eastward.'"
"Palace Master, should we inform the Tang clan about their ancestor?"
"Reveal only what's necessary. Leave Mo Yue's involvement out of it."
"Understood."
At the same time, Jian Dan received a report from Little Silver Armor. It was still hiding within the scroll and now planned to infiltrate the Jian clan's ancestral land.
Jian Dan sighed. "Its courage was growing bolder by the day." Still, she let it go but reminded the silver-armored mother bug to prioritize survival and avoid detection.
She leaned back under a peach blossom tree, sipping her peach blossom wine while pondering the situation with the Jian clan.
Their visit was likely prompted by the white jade box she left behind, the one bearing the clan emblem. They had waited this long to confirm her identity, which probably meant they had already investigated her thoroughly.
Her current identity as a demon cultivator was real. Her name was real. But her background was not. Still, she wasn't worried about them finding out. The identity granted to her by the Heavenly Sword Sect was legitimate.
Because of her past life, she didn't care much about returning to her family. The Jian clan was supposedly a hidden clan, but in truth, they were just avoiding the world. In her view, it was nothing more than shirking responsibility.
Given the current state of the Lingyun Continent, living in seclusion was no longer feasible. Every sect, every cultivator family, every individual cultivator had a duty to shoulder.
The Heavenly Dao nurtured all living beings on this continent. Now, it was time for cultivators, as the Dao's favored children, to give back.
The upcoming battle in Ming Valley, led by the Demon Palace, was only the beginning.
Jian Dan saw it clearly. From the moment she arrived in the Lingyun Continent, everything she had done was aligned with the Heavenly Dao. In turn, the Heavenly Dao had responded generously. The rocket-like pace of her cultivation was proof of that.
Through their probing, Jian Dan could also tell that the Jian clan had not inherited the true legacy—meaning, they did not possess the magnolia immortal artifact or the Primordial Chaos Art that she held.
If the Jian clan on the Lingyun Continent had inherited the true legacy, then any five-spirit-root cultivator would be practicing the ancient Primordial Chaos Art. Yet Jian Dan felt none of its familiar energy from Jian Shangxi, Jian Fen, or even their Mahayana ancestor.
This showed that the one in a hurry was not her, but the Jian clan.
So, she used the Desert Sands Map to redirect their attention. Compared to an uncertain bloodline, a confirmed immortal artifact was a much more enticing prize.
Judging by the outcome, it worked. Jian Dan smiled as she lifted her wine cup and drank another sip, clearly in good spirits.
"Zhūnzhǔ, Mo Qi, Mo Su, and Mo Yi have come to visit."
A servant standing before her reported in a hushed tone. It was rare for Zhūnzhǔ to be in such a good mood today.
"Please, let them in quickly."
"Yes."
"Mo Yue Zhūnzhǔ, I just returned from my clan, and I hear you've made quite a stir again!"
Before Mo Yi even entered, his voice reached the courtyard.
"Who spread that nonsense? That's quite the exaggeration."
"Who else? The black-robed guards' first-hand report."
Clearly, the three had heard something. Jian Dan didn't bother explaining. After they sat down, she got straight to the point.
"I was urgently summoned by Palace Master I'm guessing it's the same for you three?"
"Yes. I returned to the Fei clan and reported to the ancestor. I also informed the elders of our current situation so they could prepare."
Mo Qi was frank about her recent activities. Mo Su and Mo Yi both nodded. They had done the same.
"There's a change in Ming Valley. I suspect the other sects are failing to hold the territory our Heavenly Demon Palace seized."
Mo Yi voiced his guess, and Jian Dan agreed. They had pushed the frontlines with blood and sacrifice, especially the four of them, always leading the charge. Every one of them bore wounds.
Thanks to their recent breakthroughs, they had recovered seventy or eighty percent of their injuries. But some deeper damage still required time to heal. Unfortunately, time was a luxury they didn't have.
"I returned two days earlier than you and have already made all the preparations. This time, I plan to request the offensive talismans crafted by the palace's Zhēnzūn. All of them."
Jian Dan's words brought all three to a sudden pause. They stared at her.
"Mo Yue Zhūnzhǔ, are you planning to flatten all of Ming Valley?"
"Do you understand how destructive attacks from Mahayana cultivators can be?"
"Who offended you this time? Planning to mix business and personal matters again?"
Their questions came in quick succession, smooth and direct. Jian Dan couldn't help but laugh.
"Can you not make me sound like some kind of tyrant?"
She took another sip of peach blossom wine, then explained.
"When we pulled back last time, I already knew the other sects wouldn't hold out long. But we needed to recuperate. If we hadn't pulled out, we would've been crippled.
But we also can't stay in a stalemate forever. Besides, the Ming Beasts once said their Ming Ancestor was holding off the most powerful of the insect race. I have a bold guess—the insect the Ming Ancestor is fighting might be the one capable of tearing through space itself."
"You're saying the Ming Valley rift was opened by the insect race, but because of the Ming Ancestor, the two sides are deadlocked. One wants to break through, the other wants to push it out. And the insects are entering through the space caught between that tug-of-war."
"Exactly. I fear they'll send wave after wave of insects. You've heard the saying—many ants can bite an elephant to death. If the Ming Ancestor starts losing ground, the spatial rift will widen, and more insects will get in."
"I agree with Mo Yue. The Ming Ancestor ordering the beasts to assist us in killing the bugs already says everything."
Mo Su furrowed his brows and set down his wine cup.
"Right. So this time, we need to break through and get a clear understanding of what's happening inside. And fast. If we lack power, we'll have to borrow strength from our ancestors."
"I agree."
"So do I."
"And me."
"Good. No time to waste. Let's prepare separately. You all have clans, so go beg your ancestors. I'll go straight to Palace Master Mo Lie."
"Heh. I bet Palace Master Mo Lie will get another headache when he sees you."
They joked for a bit. No one dragged their feet. They all left to plead with their family ancestors.
This time, Jian Dan brought Gong Yi and four personal attendants. It was a formal visit to see Palace Master Mo Lie.
At that moment, Palace Master Mo Lie was reviewing battle reports from Ming Valley. His frown deepened with each one. The news wasn't good. He was just about to summon Mo Zhang Zhūnzhǔ for a consultation when a guard arrived to report.
"Reporting to Palace Master—Mo Yue Zhūnzhǔ requests an audience."