When he finished speaking, the cultivators from the Tool Sect, Yin-Yang Gate, and Purple Sky Sect all cupped their hands in thanks. The tense atmosphere eased a little.
"After we entered this place, we gathered Hou San and the Bai Sisters into our team. One reason was to gather intel, the other was to find a way to rescue you all."
The Bai Sisters and Hou San also stepped forward and saluted so everyone could get acquainted.
"That Black Whip Eel... was it you who lured it over?" a male cultivator from Purple Sky Sect asked hesitantly.
"Yeah, it was Junior Sister Jian Lu's idea," Jian Mao admitted without hiding it. Since it was their contribution, everyone deserved to know.
"That young master and lady of the Tan Song Clan refused to let anyone leave. They even tried to keep me and Senior Sister behind, planning to brand us with the Tan Song clan seal and use us as furnaces to stockpile energy." Jian Dan spoke bluntly.
Everyone's faces darkened. The female cultivators especially didn't bother concealing their disgust.
"At first we thought if we lowered our stance and offered resources, it'd be enough. As long as you could get out, it'd be worth it. But the Tan Song Clan was too arrogant. So I lured the Black Whip Eel straight into their territory, threw their whole place into chaos, and bought you all a chance to escape.
As for collateral damage, I couldn't control everything. But the Bai Sisters spread that white smoke before we left, which confused the field and made the eels ignore cultivators. After that, it was up to their own skill to survive." Jian Dan didn't hold back and laid it all out.
"My junior sister only did it to get us out of there. As for the Tan Song Clan, that's not our concern anymore. We fulfilled our agreement with them and crippled the Yu Tao Clan, but they broke their word and tried to profit alone. They deserve the consequences," Jian Jun said coldly, her refined face flashing with ridicule. She had no sympathy for the Tan Song Clan.
Right now, on the Tan Song estate, the largest Black Whip Eel was clashing against seven immortals. Sword light and black whips danced wildly, their shockwaves flattening almost the entire compound.
More eels kept rushing in, diving under the Tan Song estate to search for whatever had lured them here.
One eel, the first to arrive, grabbed a pouch of Wood Spring Powder and tried to leave. But the others smelled the prize like cats scenting blood, and swarmed it, sparking a brawl. The Tan Song estate instantly became the battlefield's center.
The largest eel fought the immortals while suppressing the smaller ones so they couldn't steal its spoils. It was busy to the point of madness, and the unlucky Tan Song Clan was caught in the middle, their estate turning into rubble.
Tan Songyu and Tan Songjia were dragged out of the battle zone under the protection of their Tianxian elders, finally getting a moment to breathe. The two stared at the shattered ruins of their estate with expressions so dark it looked like water might drip out. Their teeth ground with fury.
Tan Songjia swept her divine sense across the courtyard where Jian Jun had been imprisoned, but it was already rubble, no sign of cultivators from the Lingyun Continent left.
"Big Sis, don't underestimate them. They definitely used this chance to escape."
Tan Songyu also scanned the cells where the other two female cultivators had been locked. Not a shadow remained. Clearly, they'd seized the opportunity too.
"That's a little too convenient, isn't it?" Tan Songyu said grimly.
Tan Songjia knew why she asked and muttered, "Jun Qingfeng couldn't have pulled tricks under our noses. Her injuries aren't fake."
"So you think it was those two female cultivators?"
"I'm not sure."
"Then we just catch them and find out!"
"Elder, please order the clan disciples to withdraw first. Let those things fight it out. As long as we've secured our resources, there's no point throwing lives away here."
She bowed respectfully to the elder hovering in the air.
The elder frowned at the chaos below, then released a signal into the sky. All Tan Song clan disciples scattered through the estate immediately began retreating from the ruins.
With the aftermath arranged, Tan Songjia and Tan Songyu led a squad of nine in pursuit of Jian Jun's group.
Ironically, because the Tan Song estate had become the main battlefield and drew all the hatred, other cultivators in the inner circle suddenly had the chance to flee. Especially with that white fog spreading across nearly half the area—those who realized its effect quickly used it as cover to escape the disaster zone.
Of course, there were always opportunists who looted. Some dug through collapsed shops for buried treasures. A few sharp ones took what they could quickly and slipped away toward the middle or even outer circles.
As for the Lingyun Continent cultivators, their reunited group had grown much larger. After adjusting briefly, they left the wetlands in haste.
Jian Jun, Jian Mao, Jian Dan, Xiao Yung, and Xiao Yong moved at the front, discussing their next move.
"Where do we head next?" someone asked.
"First, we leave the inner circle. Once the Tan Song Clan finishes dealing with the Black Whip Eels, they'll free up hands to track us down," Jian Jun said firmly.
"Senior Sister, you're certain?"
"I'm certain. They suffered a loss this time, they'll definitely suspect the two of you."
Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, then quickened their pace, determined to at least reach the middle circle.
"Careful, our old friends are here!"