Leaving the eye of the storm, the force of the tempest was still intense as Jian Dan moved outward. But the farther she went, the more the wind blades began to weaken.
By now, Jian Dan had grasped the pattern—the farther she was from the storm's core, the weaker the cutting winds became.
This time, she didn't hold back. She summoned Jade and personally oversaw her transformation.
Jade was battered to her limits, but she grit her teeth and endured. Her fourth-rank cultivation had already started to loosen. Once they returned, she could go into seclusion and break through to the fifth rank.
Jade quickly discovered the benefits of the wind blades. Even as her scales began to peel away, she pushed herself to adjust, gradually adapting to the pain.
Once she had adjusted to the blades' intensity, Jade began rolling and twisting in the sea, initiating her first molting evolution.
She let the wind blades in the sea scrape against her body. A crack first appeared at her snout, and then her skin began peeling from the head down.
This was the first time Jian Dan had seen a snake shed its skin. Mo Ran had molted once before, but that had happened inside the spatial artifact, while Jian Dan was away.
Jade thrashed through the waves as the skin peeled away. When it reached the tail, a flick of her body sent the old skin flying.
This was the molt of a fourth-rank spirit beast—Jian Dan stored it immediately.
But then, half of Jade's body vanished. Her tail slapped the surface of the sea, then it too disappeared.
Jian Dan immediately followed, only to be swallowed by a massive whirlpool. The Storm Sea returned to its usual, violent rhythm.
The moment she was pulled into the vortex, Jian Dan reached out to Jade through their contract:
"Jade, are you alright?"
"Don't worry, Master. I'm fine. I was caught in the vortex too. I don't know where I'll end up, but I'll hide and wait for your call once I escape."
"Alright. Find a safe place to cultivate. Take care of yourself."
This trip had been a major trial for Jade. She had matured significantly and no longer panicked when faced with danger. Jian Dan could rest easy leaving her on her own for now.
When Jian Dan opened her eyes again, she found herself floating on the surface of the sea. Fish and shrimp circled around her. The water was as calm as a mirror, perfectly reflecting her form.
She spread out her divine sense, then opened her eyes again, this time with a glimmer of delight. This was the mortal realm's Tianrong Kingdom—she had returned to the Lingyun Continent.
A fishing boat slowly paddled toward her.
Zhang San had been blown off course by a sudden sea breeze and drifted into these unfamiliar waters. It was his first time coming this far out. From a distance, he thought he saw someone floating on the sea, so he began rowing toward the figure.
Jian Dan had noticed the boat long ago but was busy confirming her location, so she didn't respond right away.
Before the boat arrived, she sat upright on the water's surface and transformed into an elderly woman.
Zhang San jolted in shock, eyes going wide. A beat later, he dropped to his knees on the deck.
"Lowly one Zhang San greets the immortal!"
"Rise. Meeting me today is fate. What is your wish?"
"Immortal, I was blown off course and don't know this area. Please, help me return to shore."
"That's not difficult. I'll send you back now."
Zhang San felt a breeze swirl around him. His vision blurred with mist. When he opened his eyes again, he and the boat were already docked on shore.
"Aiya! I really met a celestial being! Thank you, immortal! Thank you!"
While Zhang San was busy offering thanks, Jian Dan had already reconnected with Jade.
Jade had been resting under a large tree. As soon as she heard Jian Dan's call, she bounced back onto her master's wrist.
This time, Jian Dan used the Shrinking Earth into Inches technique and arrived directly at the barrier between the mortal world and the cultivation realm.
Due to the last insect invasion, the barrier had been reinforced. No one could pass through casually. Jian Dan pressed a stream of spiritual energy into the boundary.
Ripples spread across the barrier's surface. A moment later, a water mirror shimmered into view, and a Nascent Soul cultivator appeared on the other side.
"Who goes there, knocking on the barrier?"
The man wore the robes of Cloud Sea Sect. Through the water mirror, he saw Jian Dan dressed in the attire of the Heavenly Sword Sect, with a sword token at her waist marking her identity.
"Shan Yunzu of Heavenly Sword Sect. I ask that fellow Daoist open the barrier and allow me to pass."
"This..."
The Cloud Sea Sect cultivator had never seen Jian Dan before. Her cultivation clearly far surpassed his, yet he still made a formal inquiry.
"Senior of Heavenly Sword Sect, may I ask why you were delayed in the mortal world? The realms are currently sealed off."
"I came across a fortunate opportunity and entered secluded cultivation for nearly a century. I only just emerged from a secret realm and was sent out at random. I ended up in the mortal world and must trouble you to open the barrier."
"May I have your full name, Senior?"
"Shan Yunzu of Tianyue Peak, Heavenly Sword Sect."
"Please wait a moment. I'll open the barrier."
In truth, the cultivator turned to verify her identity.
Naturally, his petty tricks didn't escape Jian Dan's perception. She raised a brow and waited with a faint smile.
Just as the Cloud Sea Sect cultivator was about to send a message for verification, Han Pengfei arrived to take over the barrier shift.
It had been a hundred years since he last saw Jian Dan. Now, Han Pengfei had reached the mid-stage of Divine Transformation.
After their encounter in the Purple-Ranked Secret Realm, his cultivation had advanced rapidly, aided by the guidance of Yun Yun Zhenzūn. He had become one of the most promising among the current generation. The nickname "Peerless Young Master" had been popularized thanks to Jian Dan.
When he heard the name "Shan Yunzu," his first thought was—could it be the same person he knew?
Looking through the water mirror, he confirmed it. He turned to the Nascent Soul cultivator beside him.
"This is indeed a fellow Daoist of the Heavenly Sword Sect. I know her personally. Open the barrier."
"But… this breaks protocol..."
Han Pengfei sighed at his sectmate's rigid mindset.
"This barrier wouldn't stop her even if she wanted to force her way through."
"Looks like Peerless Young Master still understands me best."
Jian Dan hadn't expected the first familiar face she'd meet upon returning to Lingyun Continent to be Han Pengfei.
The barrier before him parted like a curtain of water. Jian Dan stepped through with ease.
"Han Daoyou, it has been many years. Your cultivation has improved greatly."
The Nascent Soul cultivator behind Han Pengfei was stunned by the oppressive aura Jian Dan gave off. He stayed silent, retreating behind Han Pengfei.
"Shan Daoyou is still the same—unchanged in appearance, but your cultivation is now unfathomable."
"I had some fortunate encounters and spent the years in secluded cultivation. I only recently emerged and happened to be sent into the mortal realm."
"I see. A lot has changed in the cultivation realm over the past century. Once you return to your sect, someone will surely bring you up to speed."
"Thank you for the reminder, Peerless Young Master. I must hurry back, so I won't linger. Here is my message talisman."
"Very well. Let's stay in touch."
Han Pengfei accepted her talisman and gave his in return before they formally parted ways.
Jian Dan tore open the void and used the fastest means to return to the Heavenly Sword Sect.
Han Pengfei, watching her vanish, couldn't even muster envy. After a century apart, her cultivation had clearly surpassed his. Based on his estimate, she was at least in the early stage of Void Refinement.
"That Shan Zhūnzhǔ is incredibly low-profile but immensely powerful. If you meet her again, be sure to show proper respect. She dislikes discourtesy."
Han Pengfei gave a few final pointers to the Nascent Soul cultivator.
"Yes, Jūnshàng. I will remember."
Heavenly Sword Sect
As Jian Dan stepped out from the torn space and landed before the sect gates, the disciples on guard immediately raised their guard.
But when they saw her Heavenly Sword Sect robe and the sword token at her waist, their expressions eased.
Jian Dan looked up at the familiar mountain gate. There were no golden chariots or flying beasts this time. Her return was quiet.
One of the guards hesitated, unsure how to ask for identification, but Jian Dan had already handed over her sword token.
"I am Shan Yunzu of Tianyue Peak."
===
The author gave Pengfei the title Jūnshàng (君上). If I remember correctly, the male cultivator from the Yin Yang Gate who sheltered Du Yanran also had this title, right? So perhaps Jūnshàng isn't exclusive to demon cultivators.
That said, I do recall that some characters were given the title Zhēnshèng (真圣), and so far, all of them have been Dao cultivators. Up to this point, I haven't seen any demon cultivators use the Zhēnshèng title for the Divine Transformation Stage.
Because of that, I'm still unsure about the rules behind using Jūnshàng. What's your take on it? How do you interpret the use of Jūnshàng? It doesn't seem exclusive to demon cultivators, unlike Zhēnshèng, which so far appears to be used only by Dao cultivators.
Is it possible that Jūnshàng is also used only for Dao male cultivators? But that seems unlikely too, since Pengfei and Bai are male and use it, yet we also saw male Dao cultivators using Zhēnshèng earlier in the story. So it probably isn't a "masculine version" of Zhēnshèng for Dao cultivators either.
Any thoughts?