All personnel selected for the second expedition had gathered in the main hall atop Tianmo Peak. Though silent in voice, divine sense communication passed privately among them. Jian Dan and the others were the last to arrive.
The moment the cultivators saw Mo Yue entering at the head of the group, a visible sigh of relief passed through the crowd. They immediately bowed in greeting.
Jian Dan responded with a calm smile and a nod, then walked to the front of the hall. The four of them stood in a straight line. Just as they settled into place, Palace Master Mo Lie appeared at the main seat and waved his hand, sending four jade boxes flying toward the group.
With a sweep of their sleeves, each of the four received the jade box and stored it directly into their storage rings.
"These were bestowed by the Zhēnzhūn specifically for the Ming Valley operation. Each of you has been given four. Use them with great caution."
"Yes. We thank the Zhēnzhūn for the reward. We vow to complete this mission."
"Good. I won't say more. I wish all of you a triumphant return and the continued rise of our Heavenly Demon Palace's prestige."
"A triumphant return. Glory to the Heavenly Demon Palace!"
After offering a respectful bow, Jian Dan and the others activated their sleeve-world technique, drawing their own personnel into their sleeves.
Jian Dan bid farewell to Mo Lie, then tore open the fabric of space, leading the group directly toward Ming Valley.
Familiar spatial restrictions shimmered in the air. Jian Dan, barehanded, ripped through space again. From within the void, they stepped out at the entrance to the valley.
"Mo Xuan, your brats are here... huh? Why does this one look so familiar?"
A man's voice rang out as Mo Xuan Zhēnzhūn materialized beside them.
"Mm. Have all your cultivations stabilized?"
His divine sense swept over the four, then lingered on Jian Dan, drawing back suddenly with a frown.
"Mo Yue, what happened to you?"
The four released their squads from their sleeves. Upon hearing the question, Jian Dan stepped forward to explain.
"Zhēnzhūn, please don't be angry. I was undergoing tribulation on my peak when I was ambushed by Ma Wen, who tried to use me as a substitute for his own tribulation. Fortunately, I survived and even advanced a realm because of it."
"Someone from the Ma clan? Did you settle the account?"
"Please rest assured, Zhēnzhūn. Ma Wen had just taken over a junior's body. His soul was unstable, and I killed him on the spot. Not even his soul escaped."
"Hmph. At least you acted decisively. But to be ambushed on your own peak... reflect on that."
"Yes, Zhēnzhūn. Your lesson is well taken. I've already conducted a full sweep of Mo Ying Peak."
Mo Xuan waved his hand, indicating he understood.
The group entered the familiar pavilion once more. Mo Xuan sat at the head and addressed the four.
"When you returned to the sect for your tribulations, I hadn't planned to send you back into Ming Valley. But some of the ground you fought so hard for has been lost. We old relics can't enter the valley ourselves, so we had to call back those most familiar with the terrain."
"We follow the Zhēnzhūn's orders."
"Mo Yue, Mo Lie mentioned you plan to push forward aggressively this time?"
"Yes, Zhēnzhūn. Prolonged stalemates do us no good."
"Mm. What's your plan?"
"Zhēnzhūn, we plan to bring the third wave of Heavenly Demon Palace cultivators into the valley. Once inside, we'll separate from the others and assist the allied demonic sects in reclaiming the lost ground. Once the battlefield stabilizes, the four of us will serve as the spearhead and drive a direct assault."
"Mo Yue's idea is to use the attack talismans granted by the Zhēnzhūn to forcibly break through and charge deep into the Gourd Mouth zone."
"However, we also discussed the option of a stealth infiltration to minimize losses."
"So, we've prepared for both. If sneaking in fails, we'll force our way through."
One after another, the others elaborated on the strategy.
"I understand. You four are veterans of the battlefield, capable of adapting as needed. Proceed as planned."
Mo Xuan made the final decision, then handed each of them a jade talisman.
"I refined these defensive talismans while guarding the valley entrance. Each can withstand a strike from a Mahayana Zhēnzhūn. Wear them at all times."
"Thank you for the reward, Zhēnzhūn."
"Let me say one more thing. You are the future of the Heavenly Demon Palace. Your safety comes before all else."
"Yes!"
The four responded in unison.
With all instructions given, each of them led their teams through the boundary formation.
No sooner had they entered than several cultivators experienced breakthroughs in their cultivation due to the influx of demonic qi, including Gong Yi.
Mo Su immediately ordered everyone to sit and meditate, adjusting to the new environment.
The four regrouped.
"They're too slow. Some are dragging us down."
Mo Yi, as always, spoke his mind.
"This time, I agree with Mo Yi."
Mo Qi nodded in support.
"It's to be expected. They need time to adapt. My suggestion is we guide them through the adaptation zone, then break away and speed up once we reach the true Ming Valley."
Mo Su's calculated plan earned unanimous approval.
"Mo Yue, you'd better be careful. The Tang family's cultivators are watching your every move."
Mo Yi's gossiping nature resurfaced.
"I know. I'm not that petty. Besides, the Palace Master already made it clear—they survive based on their own strength. I don't need to worry about them."
"Pfft! No wonder the Tang family suddenly became so quiet. So it was the Palace Master's order."
Mo Yi crossed his arms, smirking.
"You haven't heard? One of their Zhēnzhūn disappeared without a trace."
Of course, only Mo Yi could dig up such a rumor.
Jian Dan smiled mysteriously.
"You mean Tang Yi? He got swallowed by his own family's immortal artifact."
"Mo Yue, you're better informed than me for once. What happened? Spill it!"
"It's simple. The Tang family came after me for no reason..."
With just a few words, Jian Dan summed up the key events.
Mo Yi gave her a big thumbs-up.
"Mo Yue, you're brilliant. You baited the Tang family into fighting another clan, vented your anger, and stayed clean in the process."
"Just lucky."
"You and your fake modesty."
Their conversation took place within a sound barrier, so no one else could hear. Still, seeing the leaders relaxed and laughing eased the others' tension, allowing them to adjust more quickly.
An hour later, over a hundred cultivators followed Jian Dan and the others deeper into the true Ming Valley.
The scenery looked identical to how it had during their first visit.
"From now on, we rest every hundred li. Understood?"
"Yes, Zhūnzhǔ!"
"Good. Nine per team. Split up quickly. We move out."
At Mo Yi's command, the cultivators of Heavenly Demon Palace snapped into action, forming teams and advancing.
After advancing another hundred li, the four leaders began adjusting their states for an early departure.
They reattached their communication orbs and tested them to confirm they were operational.
"Once we're ready, we move again."
Mo Su gave the signal. This time, the break lasted fifteen minutes less than before.
The group reassembled and pressed forward another hundred li.
At the next rest stop, just as Mo Su was about to call for another advance, a cultivator from the Tang family stepped out in protest.
"Zūnzhě, we're advancing too fast. Many of us haven't adjusted to the environment or refined the demonic qi. This pace damages our meridians. Please give us more time."
The speaker was a Divine Transformation cultivator from the Tang family. Though he addressed Mo Su, his eyes never left Jian Dan.
He suspected Mo Yue was retaliating through rapid marches to exhaust their forces. Under the guise of protecting everyone's meridians, he aimed to slow them down.
Several Tang family cultivators and their affiliated clans supported him. The rest of the Heavenly Demon Palace cultivators frowned but said nothing. In their eyes, the four leaders must have good reasons. They wouldn't push the pace without cause.
"If that's the case, then you go at your own pace. We'll move on ahead."
Jian Dan stepped forward and responded directly. In the next instant, the four of them turned and vanished from sight.