"Senior, may I take a look at the treasure you've exchanged?"
The Divine Transformation stage cultivator cupped his hands to Jian Dan. Jian Dan opened the brocade box she held, revealing a palm-sized, egg-shaped turquoise pearl—the Ten-Thousand-Year Wind-Fixing Pearl. The cultivator's eyes lit up at the sight.
He then respectfully presented the sealed "Frostflame" in both hands.
"Senior, this item is equal in value to the one you hold. I'm willing to trade."
With a flick of her sleeve, Jian Dan took the sealed flame into her storage bracelet and left the Wind-Fixing Pearl behind. Then she stepped off the auction platform.
After that, more cultivators went up one after another. Jian Xu exchanged for a piece of rare ore, while Xiao Yong traded for a pair of Soul-Locking Twin Charms.
"Xiao Yong Daoyou, are you giving those to your beloved?"
Jian Dan teased with a half-smile. Yue Liang, nestled in her arms, widened her round eyes and stared at Xiao Yong, clearly curious and eager for gossip.
Xiao Yong didn't deny it. He laughed and replied, "For my cousin."
"Ohhh—"
Yue Liang let out a long, teasing "oh," only to be pressed down by Jian Dan. Even daring to joke with a Zūnzhǔ like that—truly bold.
"Yue Liang's just curious, Xiao Yong Daoyou, don't take it to heart."
"No harm done," Xiao Yong responded with ease.
"If Xiao Yong Daoyou is truly interested, you might visit the Hua family's shop. They specialize in a particular spell seal that can be implanted in both parties. No matter how far apart they are, the two can sense each other's presence."
"Oh! But if only one side plants the seal, then it becomes a tracking mark."
"Exactly."
A moment later, Jian Dan set Yue Liang on the round table and walked up to the platform again. From her storage bracelet, she took out the carapace of a black-armored insect.
"Fellow cultivators, this is the shell of a black-armored insect I hunted in Heifeng Ravine. It can be refined into artifacts to greatly enhance their durability and defensive strength. It even boosts the strength of one's attacks."
"What item are you hoping to exchange for?"
"I have a broken bow without a string. I'm looking for something suitable to serve as the bowstring."
The Zūnzhǔ from the Artifact Sect stood up the moment he heard this. He walked up to the stage and handed Jian Dan a jade box. Inside was a white tendon-like material.
"This is dragon sinew, left over from when I refined a long whip. It should be enough to serve as your bowstring."
Jian Dan swept her divine sense over the item. After confirming it was genuine, the two exchanged items.
The trading conference could be considered a success. Out of the fifty high-level cultivators, the majority managed to exchange for something they needed. Those who didn't find a satisfactory trade still exchanged transmission talismans and invitation tokens, so they could contact each other in the future if something valuable came up.
Jian Dan also exchanged tokens with a few Zūnzhǔs she had a good rapport with, agreeing to explore any secret realms or ancient ruins together in the future.
Jian Dan, along with the Artifact Sect's Zūnzhǔ and Jian Xu, were walking and chatting about refining techniques using the black insect carapace. Just as they approached the Cloud Sea Staircase, they encountered Han Pengfei, who had clearly been waiting for some time.
"Greetings, Zūnzhǔs."
"Young Master Wushuang, do you have business with us?"
Xiao Yong Zūnzhǔ asked with a smile. Han Pengfei glanced at Jian Dan before speaking.
"I have something to discuss with Jian Lu Zūnzhǔ."
"It must be something important if you're waiting here personally. In that case, we'll take our leave. Until next time."
Xiao Yong and the Artifact Sect's Zūnzhǔ cupped their hands to Jian Dan and Jian Xu, then turned and left for their own peaks.
"I'll go ahead. Catch up with me later."
Jian Xu, smiling, picked up Yue Liang and ascended the Cloud Sea Staircase. Yue Liang twisted her little head around, clearly wanting to stay, but Jian Xu carried her off.
Jian Dan shook her head with a small smile, then turned to Han Pengfei.
"You may speak, Young Master Wushuang."
"Zūnzhǔ, I'm afraid there may be changes during your return to the sect. I'd like to invite Yun Yun Zhēnzhū—"
"No need."
Jian Dan cut him off without hesitation.
"Thank you, Young Master Wushuang, but my senior brother and I have our own plans. We've already contacted the Heavenly Sword Sect's Law Enforcement Hall, so there's no need to worry."
Faced with her clear refusal, Han Pengfei found himself at a loss for words.
"Han Pengfei, the Lingyun Continent is merely your starting point. Beyond it lies the Immortal Realm, the God Realm, and even higher realms. Don't confine yourself here."
Those words, offered without preamble, made Han Pengfei realize she had always known what was in his heart. And now, with a clean refusal, she was telling him it was time to shift his focus elsewhere.
"I understand. Thank you for the guidance, Zūnzhǔ."
He bowed deeply, then turned and left the Cloud Sea Staircase.
Jian Dan stepped onto the staircase and caught up with Jian Xu. Yue Liang, in a flash, leapt back onto her shoulder.
"Zūnzhǔ, something happened?"
"You're just itching for gossip."
Jian Dan tapped Yue Liang's little forehead, then turned to Jian Xu.
"Han Pengfei wanted to ask Yun Yun Zhēnzhū to escort us back to the sect. I refused."
"That's fine. We're well prepared."
The two continued chatting as they returned to Yunyin Peak.
The next day, sect ships began departing from Cloud Sea Sect one after another. The Heavenly Sword Sect's ship was the last to leave, sailing swiftly toward its home direction.
Only once they'd completely exited Cloud Sea Sect's territory did Jian Dan summon all the Heavenly Sword Sect cultivators onto the deck.
"I'm sure you've all guessed by now. The Golden Core disciples were assigned another task by Jian Xu Zūnzhǔ and have already left ahead of us."
The cultivators below remained silent, listening intently.
"Now that we've left Cloud Sea Sect's range, it's hard to say what might happen on the road back. If nothing occurs, that's best. But if that evil cultivator dares try anything, we must be ready to fight."
"Understood, Zūnzhǔ!" the chorus of voices replied with force.
"No need to worry too much. If we can't win, we'll at least have a chance to escape."
At that, Jian Dan summoned Cotton Candy. With a gentle flutter, Cotton Candy left her hair and instantly surrounded the entire ship in a thick cloud cover, blocking any spiritual sense probes.
High above, hidden within even higher cloud layers, Yun Yun watched in confusion. She had no idea what the Heavenly Sword Sect was planning.
Once Cotton Candy completed the disguise, Jian Dan formed a series of hand seals, transforming the ship into a war vessel.
As each seal activated, the ship expanded and rose, changing from an ordinary flying ship into a three-tiered high-grade warship. Its sides and hull were quickly fitted with spiritual cannons, all primed for action.
On the topmost deck, four Divine Sense-guided Spirit Cannons were installed, each engraved with intricate arrays to amplify their destructive power.
When the ship stopped vibrating and fully revealed its true form, the Heavenly Sword Sect cultivators finally looked around in wonder. It was their first time aboard such a warship—all thanks to Jian Lu Zūnzhǔ.
With a wave of her hand, Jian Dan sent sixty storage rings flying into the hands of the crew.
"Divine Soul cultivators, head to the top deck. Each of you gets one attack station. After placing spirit stones inside, your attacks will be amplified tenfold. Get familiar with them. The rest of you, each take charge of a spiritual cannon. The high-grade spirit stones in your rings are your ammo. Don't be stingy with them. I'll activate the ship's defenses. Be ready for battle at any time."
"Yes, Zūnzhǔ!"
After answering, everyone dispersed in high spirits. These battle-hardened types had just found an exciting new way to fight.
Jian Gui held his storage ring and sighed deeply. Beside him, Jian Peng asked:
"Something wrong with your ring?"
"No. Just remembering when I was still at the Golden Core stage. Back then, we received a mission from Zūnzhǔ and led a team into the Chilang Secret Realm. She did the same thing—replaced a regular ship with a low-grade warship. That's the only reason we managed to turn the tide when the realm collapsed."