Jian Dan was patiently trying to persuade Xiao Yue.
"I've got a sudden mission and can't return to the sect just yet. So this time, you'll go back with the Tian Squad. Wait for me at Moyan Peak, I'll ask Yunrong to play with you, and Hu Yi will keep you company too."
Xiao Yue clung to her, teary-eyed, refusing to let go.
"No, I want to stay with Mo Yue."
"But my mission's dangerous, and your cultivation's too low!"
With no other choice, Jian Dan spoke plainly.
Hearing that, Xiao Yue's head drooped in disappointment. He was only at the fifth rank and couldn't help his Zūnshàng, but he still tried to argue in a small voice.
"Xiao Yue follows the Beast God's command to stay by Mo Yue's side."
Every word reached Jian Dan's ears. She arched her brows, rubbed his furry head, and asked,
"When exactly did the Beast God give you that order? I didn't see the Beast God appear."
"Uh… maybe when I advanced? I didn't actually see the Beast God either."
Xiao Yue sounded uncertain.
Jian Dan's hand paused slightly as she stroked him. After thinking it over, she continued smoothing his fur and finally said,
"Xiao Yue, if you insist on following me, it's not impossible. But my mission's too dangerous, and your cultivation's too low. You might have to stay inside the spirit beast pouch for a while. Can you endure that?"
She wasn't hiding the truth. She had to enter the spatial rift. With Xiao Yue's current level, it'd be too risky. Beast bodies were tough, but the tearing force inside a rift was nothing to underestimate.
Xiao Yue perked up when he realized she'd softened, but the idea of staying in the spirit beast pouch clearly bothered him. That was his embarrassing history.
"Think it over carefully. I won't force you."
He scratched his ear, thought about it, and finally decided that staying by Mo Yue's side mattered more.
"I'll listen to Mo Yue. I'll stay in the pouch for a while."
He made sure to stress for a while, not forever.
"Alright, I get it. Once we're somewhere safe, I'll let you out." Jian Dan smiled, rubbed his head again, and sent him off to play.
"You're planning to bring Xiao Yue into the spatial rift?" Liu Chuan's voice sounded in her mind.
"Yeah. During his advancement, he seemed to receive some kind of hint."
She answered through sound transmission as well.
"Fine. But when the time comes, how will you explain your identity? You'd better think that through."
"Things always work out somehow!" Jian Dan replied bluntly.
On the third day after Zi Qing Zhēnzūn's group set out, they caught a blood insect. This one had only recently possessed its host, so it hadn't gained full control yet. Bi Shu noticed it immediately and told Captain Tian Yi at once.
Captain Tian Yi, already instructed by Mo Yue Zūnshàng, immediately reported to Zi Qing Zhēnzūn, then led his people to hide.
With a wave of her sleeve, Zi Qing Zhēnzūn conjured a spatial prison that bound the female cultivator without anyone noticing, then whisked her away.
Sensing something wrong, the blood insect inside the host began draining her essence, sprouting blood-red tendrils that corroded the prison. It was the first time Zi Qing Zhēnzūn had seen such a creature, and disgust flared instantly. To watch a Divine Transformation cultivator turned into ashes in moments, nothing more than fodder, showed just how terrifying it was.
Without the slightest hesitation, she unleashed "Spatial Execution," twisting the blood insect to pieces, then tossed a ball of spiritual flame to completely burn it out of existence.
Hidden nearby, Bi Shu finally exhaled in relief and said to Captain Tian Yi,
"Zūnshàng, Zi Qing Zhēnzūn struck fast. The blood insect didn't even get the chance to send a warning."
"That's good. At least it won't alert the others hiding in Purple Sky Sect's territory. I'll inform Zhēnzūn. For now, stay sharp and keep watching."
"Yes."
Since the ambush on Guest Peak, Bi Shu's resolve had only grown stronger. That Mahayana talisman was clearly aimed at her. If not for Mo Yue Zūnshàng's preparations, she'd have been nothing but dust. Even ants cling to life. Now that she'd become a cultivator with a chance to ascend, why should she care about her half-insect heritage? They wanted her dead, so she was determined to live all the more.
Jian Dan didn't realize it, but the simple gesture of giving Bi Shu a willow leaf had strengthened her loyalty to humans. By accident, Jian Dan had severed another one of the insect clan's hidden tendrils.
When Zi Qing Zhēnzūn received word from the Heavenly Demon Palace cultivators, she understood at once. There had to be more than one blood insect lurking inside Purple Sky Sect. Her expression darkened, but she nodded.
At the same time, she recorded the capture in a memory jade and prepared to hand it over to Qi Hui, Ancestor of the Qi family, whose clan member had just perished.
The Qi family was a major household under Purple Sky Sect, well-known for refining artifacts. Most of their work was mid or low-grade, with the occasional high-grade treasure, but their tools were powerful and fairly priced, making them popular. That was why the blood insect had targeted a Qi family woman.
When Ancestor Qi Hui sensed his favorite descendant's death, he instantly knew something was wrong. He broke a restriction to check her soul lamp at the hall, only to be intercepted by Zi Qing Zhēnzūn.
"Greetings, Zi Qing Zhēnzūn."
Though suspicion churned in his heart, he bowed respectfully.
"Take a look at this jade slip and you'll understand. Keep her death hidden, and quietly investigate those around her. You might find something. Remember, everything must be done in secret. If you stir the grass and scare the snake, both your Qi family and Purple Sky Sect will suffer." She handed him a memory jade and a jade slip.
Ancestor Qi Hui felt his heart sink, but he forced himself to bow before retreating into the family's ancestral hall. There, he collected the extinguished soul lamp into his sleeve.
The cultivator guarding the hall rushed forward.
"Ancestor, Qi Shan's lamp went out suddenly. I was just about to notify the patriarch."
"No need. Don't spread word of her death. If anyone asks, say I took her lamp myself. Say nothing else." Ancestor Qi Hui ordered gravely.
"Yes, Ancestor!"
When the guard looked up again, the old man had vanished.
The guard wiped sweat from his brow, adjusted his breathing to keep his face calm, then sealed the hall and sat quietly in the pavilion as if nothing had happened. Inside, though, he sighed. Another major storm was brewing.
Back in his cave, Ancestor Qi Hui finally studied the jade slip and memory jade. When he finished, his expression twisted in fury.
"These damned insects dared to set their sights on my Qi family, and even killed my most beloved Shan'er! Unforgivable!"
Once the rage subsided, he forced himself to think. The jade slip made it clear the blood insects were selectively possessing hosts, which meant they had human collaborators. That was why Zi Qing Zhēnzūn had come herself, and why she told him to keep Shan'er's death a secret.
Now all he could do was stay still and watch. Whoever had aided the insects would eventually show themselves.
In Ancestor Qi Hui's eyes, a storm was gathering. "Whoever dared bring calamity to his Qi family… would pay the price."