Since the decision was already made, everyone moved fast. They sorted through their belongings, then handed most of the resources they'd traded for to Jian Dan.
She didn't refuse. After a quick division, she placed the items into several empty storage rings. For Senior Sister Jian Jing, she deliberately used a violet-pink storage bangle. Once everything was ready, she called each person over. Every man got a storage ring, while Senior Sister Jian Jing received the bangle. Only then did she explain,
"These are what we got from Mao Wu, along with the trades we made with other squads these past few days. Since I can still use divine sense, I divided everything up. Each of you should carry a share. We can't put everything in just one person's hands."
"Junior Sister, you're worried that once we enter the inner region, we'll get separated, right? Or maybe…"
Senior Brother Jian Mao was sharp. The moment Jian Dan spoke, he caught her meaning.
"Yes. At first I thought I still had some advantage. But after that whole mess with Fu Hu today, who knows what the inner region will be like? This is just a precaution. Even if something happens, at least everyone will have resources on hand. We can't risk fighting for nothing." Her calm smile carried quiet determination.
Everyone understood her concern. None objected, carefully putting away their assigned storage rings.
"Junior Sister, that storage bangle looks extraordinary. Why didn't you keep it for yourself?"
"Don't worry, Senior Sister, I kept a storage clasp for myself. It looks nice enough. As for the others, I haven't erased the divine sense marks yet, so they'll need a few more days."
By saying this, Jian Dan made it clear that there were still storage rings not yet refined. Since everyone was from the same sect, no one doubted her.
Kuang Dao also received a storage ring. He didn't say much, just cupped his hands in thanks before putting it away. In his heart, he had no complaints. Jian Lu Zūnshàng had been fair. He even felt grateful his own master had the foresight to send him to follow the Heavenly Sword Sect. Otherwise, how could he have gained so much? Just being alive here was a blessing. He only had to look at the Purple Sky Sect's miserable state to know.
Far away, Qian Wanguan sneezed. Muttering under his breath, he pulled out Kuang Dao's soul lamp from his storage ring. When he saw the soul flame burning steady and strong, relief washed over him. After carefully putting it back, he drank a mouthful of spirit wine. He didn't know what Kuang Dao was going through right now, but at least his's soul lamps remained firm. That was enough to settle his nerves. He'd wait patiently for his good disciple to carve out a path to the heavens.
When it came to dividing resources, Jian Dan avoided both the Purple Sky Sect and Su Chui. After all, they hadn't contributed to the gains, only consumed resources. She couldn't hand them a share, so she didn't bother explaining, simply leaving them out.
Meanwhile, Hou San drifted back to Lady Di's side, finding excuses to chat. She didn't care, but Bei Ze's eyes flashed as he suddenly asked, "Hou San, did you hear Boss Mao say something?"
"Ah, Brother Ze, I only overheard. Boss Mao and the others are already preparing. They said they'll leave the trading market tomorrow and head for the inner region."
"Oh? Is there a reason?"
"This, I actually know. You remember that Su the artifact refiner who joined a few days ago, right? Turns out they got news about his teammates. They're planning to head inside and meet up. But…" Hou San hesitated.
"But what? Don't stop halfway. Isn't this exactly why they asked you to leak a bit of information to us?" Bei Ze's eyes gleamed as he smiled.
Hou San's heart jumped, but he kept his expression steady, speaking openly. "Brother Ze jests. I wasn't sure how to say it, afraid you'd be displeased. Boss Mao only told us out of good will. His teammates were apparently captured by immortals in the inner region, their lives uncertain. If conflict breaks out, he'll have to step in.
But we, who joined halfway, shouldn't risk our lives for strangers. So he told us to think it over and give him an answer tomorrow."
After listening, Lady Di and Bei Ze exchanged a look. This time, Lady Di asked, "Hou San, you've always been shrewd. What do you plan to do?"
"Honestly, I thought following someone powerful like this was perfect. When they returned to their continent, I could tag along. I'm just a loose cultivator. Cultivation's the same anywhere, but with their backing, I'd have resources and maybe a chance to ascend.
But I just found out their continent's been invaded by the insect race. They came here to look for a way to fight back."
Bei Ze frowned. "If that's true, why did the Bai sisters join them? Wouldn't they be cutting off their own path to ascension?"
"I know that one. Fairy Lu personally invited them. The Bai sisters are poison cultivators. They were shunned on their original continent, but where Fairy Lu comes from, poison cultivators aren't rejected. So they're taking the gamble."
"So aside from war, does their continent have no ascendants?" Bei Ze pressed. His cultivation was already at Mahayana. If he went there, with the resources he'd gathered here, he might just ascend.
"None. Their continent hasn't had a successful ascendant in thousands of years. It's not that no one reached the threshold. Plenty of Mahayana cultivators tried, but all fell to tribulation lightning."
Jian Dan had told Hou San this later, stressing that it was fact, not a story she'd made up to drive Lady Di's squad away. She wanted him to consider it carefully.
So Hou San was torn. Even if he survived the war, what use was a place where no one could ascend? Cultivators pursued eternal life and ascension to the Immortal Realm. Without that, what was the point?
"Hou San, if Fairy Lu said this, she clearly wanted you to think it through. Are you going or staying?" Lady Di saw his knitted brow and knew it had to be true. Otherwise, he wouldn't struggle like this.
"I really don't know what to do."
"Then we'll discuss it with the others."
Lady Di and Bei Ze told their squadmates everything and asked for their opinions.
In the end, most felt it was better to leave. Following Boss Mao's squad would only increase risk without matching returns. More importantly, they feared going back with him and ending up as cannon fodder.
Lady Di and Bei Ze personally leaned toward staying, using his squad to return to the Cultivation Continent, then deciding later. But since the majority disagreed, they let it go.
What they didn't realize was that some opportunities, once missed, are gone forever.
Hou San, on the other hand, didn't drag his feet. He valued the Heavenly Sword Sect's character, clenched his teeth, and bet everything, staking his life. In the end, he won big, laying down a path to the heavens.
Once both sides made their decisions, Lady Di gave their answer. Jian Mao wasn't angry. Their alliance had always been temporary. He even handed them two blank storage rings left from their stall.
"We're leaving early tomorrow morning. But this Bing Si stall was bought with spirit stones. You should use it to trade for more resources and find a squad that suits you better."