The others couldn't sit still. They split into pairs, changed their outfits, and headed out to gather information.
Jian Dan, however, pulled Senior Sister Jian Jing along and went to chat with Madam Mao, the owner of this place. Since Madam Mao was a local with deep roots here, she'd definitely know more than outsiders like them.
"Madam Mao, how's business been these past few days?"
Jian Dan walked up with a warm smile.
Madam Mao had been feeling bored. When she saw the generous guests who had rented out the entire "Guyu Pavilion" earlier, her face lit up instantly.
"Thanks to you honored guests, business has been good. Plenty of people from the outer perimeter have poured in, so my place is nearly full."
"Then may Madam Mao's shop be this lively every day."
"Ah, speaking of which, it's really thanks to that Black Whip Eel. Who knows what happened, but it went wild in the middle perimeter and slaughtered countless teams there. Some couldn't hold on, so naturally, they fled into the inner perimeter."
Madam Mao lazily waved her perfumed fan, unconcerned.
"But I heard from Hou San that immortals intervened. Didn't they wipe out that Black Whip Eel?"
"They did strike, but that creature splits. Killing it once doesn't count as extermination. Some parts still escaped."
"And the immortals here just let it go?" Jian Jing asked, puzzled.
"Hah, those lofty immortals don't care as long as the beasts don't invade the inner perimeter." A flash of mockery crossed Madam Mao's eyes. "Enough about this unlucky business. Where're you two from?"
"We came from the Tianzi Continent. We entered here while exploring a secret realm," Jian Dan answered smoothly, not stumbling at all.
"That's the first time I've heard of that continent. How long are you planning to stay? From your builds, you don't look like body refiners." Madam Mao probed for more details, her gaze sweeping over their slim figures.
"We sisters are just lucky to have our senior brothers. They're the body refiners."
"Mm, that makes sense. Otherwise, it'd be impossible to protect you. Let alone female cultivators like you, even male cultivators with decent talent get snatched up by those immortals."
"What? They're immortals. They've seen everything. Don't tell me they still force men and women? For what? Dual cultivation? Furnace vessels? There's a line between mortal and immortal, isn't there?" Jian Jing's eyes gleamed with gossip, a spark of fire flickering in her gaze.
Madam Mao perked up instantly. Finally, someone wanted to trade juicy rumors. She leaned in and began to speak freely.
"The Yu Tao family's immortals are tyrants. They bully cultivators from outer continents at will. Eventually, other cultivators joined forces and struck back, leaving them heavily injured. Their immortals aren't united either, they fight among themselves. In the end, the Tan Song family rose to power and became the real masters of the inner perimeter."
Jian Dan listened quietly. When Madam Mao mentioned the Tan Song family, she immediately gave Jian Jing a subtle look. Jian Jing understood instantly.
"We've actually heard of the Tan Song family. Someone even recommended them to me, said they're fair in business. Isn't their shop called Muqing Store?"
"There is such a shop, near the edge of the inner perimeter. As for whether they're fair, well, that depends on who you ask." Her words trailed off with a deliberately vague tone.
Jian Dan curved her lips into a smile. She pulled out a storage pendant filled with broken weapons and damaged formation disks, the kind their group didn't care about, and slid it toward Madam Mao.
"Madam Mao, we're new here and don't know the rules. Please guide us so we don't get cheated out of the value of what we risked our lives to find."
Madam Mao flicked the pendant with her fan, glanced inside, and smirked in satisfaction before continuing. "If you want to trade, let Hou San go. Your captain and the two of you should stay away."
"Why?"
"The Tan Song immortals like to pick out outstanding cultivators from outer continents. They'll use both soft and hard tactics to make them stay as backup forces for their clan."
"What do you mean, soft and hard tactics?"
"Soft means they'll tempt you with benefits, promising you a direct escape from mortality and a chance to ascend straight to the Immortal Realm. Hard means intimidation and brute force."
"That's a disgrace to an immortal's dignity!"
"Exactly! I also heard that cultivators from Lingyun Continent who once helped them are still detained. Their leader, Jun Qingfeng, caught the eye of the Tan Song family's eldest daughter."
Both Jian Jing and Jian Dan burned with anger.
Jian Dan touched the star-moon bodhi bracelet on her wrist, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes. Jian Jing lowered her gaze, her face dark.
"Then according to Madam Mao, our senior brothers can't show up. They're all body refiners with decent talent. If they get noticed, we sisters won't even have them to rely on."
"You've given me benefits, so I'll remind you. Just be cautious."
"Thank you. We'll definitely warn our senior brothers."
They returned to the Guyu Pavilion. The moment the barrier fell back into place, both women's faces sank, murderous intent flickering between them. The Bai sisters, who had just finished preparing their poisonous plants, noticed immediately.
"Fairy Lu, Fairy Jing, what's wrong? Do you need us to act?" Bai Shuang asked, her voice cool.
"No rush. We'll wait until our senior brothers return."
Later, everyone regrouped and shared their findings. Shockingly, their reports matched Madam Mao's story almost exactly. None of the others found any trace of Jian Jun.
It turned out that staying put had actually brought them Jian Jun's news. Jian Mao had no choice but to admit it was sheer luck.
"What do you all think?" he asked after sharing everything.
"We still have to trade. Otherwise, it won't add up. The problem is how to contact Jian Jun," Jian Xu frowned.
"I say we go straight to them, no beating around the bush, and watch how they react," Jian Jing said bluntly.
"I agree with Senior Sister's idea. But not all of us should go, only me and Senior Sister," Jian Dan added.
"That's too dangerous."
"No, it isn't. They don't know how many of us are here. If only the two of us show up, they won't take us too seriously. You all can stay hidden outside and respond if needed."
"But we don't even know Jian Jun's exact situation. What if we lose you too?" Jian Mao hesitated.
"Senior Brother, don't worry. If we see our senior sister, we'll adapt. If the Tan Song family tries to trap us, I have ways to make their lives hell. We'll create chaos and seize the chance to escape with everyone." Her calm words carried a killing intent everyone could hear.
"Alright, then tell us your plan," Jian Mao said.
"Tomorrow, please scout out the inner perimeter routes. Map out a full retreat path. Senior Brother Jian Xu, prepare everything for trade. Only trade for immortal stones. If not, body refining potions will do.
The day after tomorrow, Hou San, Senior Sister, and I will head to Muqing Store. The rest of you be ready to pull out at any moment. The Bai sisters will cover the retreat."
No one objected. They all went to prepare.
Jian Dan, however, began weighing every detail. She needed the plan to save Jian Jun, escape the Tan Song family, and get everyone out alive.
"Chuan, can your piece of 'Wood of Spring Awakening' lure all the Black Whip Eels?" she asked.
"Woman, you'd use that treasure just to bait them? That's a waste! Better to give it to me! Once I absorb it, I'll reach peak state!" Liu Chuan almost jumped in protest.
"Relax, I'll leave some for you. But if we want to escape, we'll have to stir up chaos in the inner perimeter. Just tell me, can it lure them all?"
"Yes! Every single one!"