In the grand hall of the Law Enforcement Hall, Jian Wu Zhēnjūn was reporting the situation to Jian Jun Zhūnzhǔ.
"According to your instruction, I approved Shan Yunzu's request. Yu Zhēnjūn later replied that she exchanged her standard vessel for a beginner warship."
"It seems this disciple of ours has a sharp sense for danger."
"After she left, Yu Zhēnjūn sent a sword transmission back to her clan, urging them to raise the cultivation of their promising disciples. He didn't elaborate on any other matters, so I let it pass."
"Hm. At least he knows restraint."
Jian Wu Zhēnjūn hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "But why did you have her pass this kind of message along? The situation is still unclear. Spreading information like this, could it not bring harm to our sect?"
"You needn't worry. Even if others become aware, they will still pretend to be ignorant. Feigning ignorance does not mean they are truly clueless. Behind the scenes, they will make preparations. That is better than being caught unprepared when something truly happens."
"I understand. But why are you paying such close attention to this woman who entered the sect as a rogue cultivator?"
"When something happens once, it might be chance. When it happens twice, it's no longer a coincidence. We cultivators fight against fate itself, and thus, we must pay heed to signs from it."
"That's enough. Don't think too much. Our duty is to protect Tianjian Sect. Tian Yun Zhēnzūn's hundred-year tribulation is already halfway through. We cannot afford to let our guard down."
"Understood."
Meanwhile, on the final day of the journey aboard the flying vessel, Jian Dan invited Tao Chengfeng into her private chamber. After organizing her thoughts, she explained her decision to upgrade the vessel.
Tao Zhēnrén was clearly surprised, though his stern face didn't show much. Since the day of the selection, he had found Shan Yunzu to be someone who didn't follow conventional logic. Still, her every action had a clear goal, even if it was not always easy for others to understand.
He turned serious and hesitated before asking, "Did Shan Zhēnrén receive some kind of intel?"
"No," Jian Dan replied plainly.
"Then why make such a change?"
"A woman's intuition," she said.
"…"
Tao Chengfeng had no response to that. Still, he followed her lead, familiarizing himself with the structure of the warship and sharing control access with her.
That day, the flying vessel finally descended outside the largest city in the central region—Yunling City.
By Jian Dan's usual philosophy of 'less is more,' they should have gone straight into the Lingyun Mountain Range to await the secret realm's opening. But this time, Tao Chengfeng disagreed. He insisted everyone take the opportunity to rest, restock supplies, and gather again at the city gate to set out together a day early.
Jian Dan could only agree. But before releasing the disciples into the city, she gave stern instructions:
"Travel in groups. Look out for each other. Don't flaunt your wealth. Understood?"
"Understood!" the disciples responded in unison, though their eager eyes betrayed their excitement. Jian Dan waved them off, too lazy to scold them further.
In groups of two or three, the disciples of Tianjian Sect made their way into the city, blending into the bustling crowd.
Jian Dan and Tao Chengfeng also entered Yunling City after verifying their identities at the gate.
True to its name as the largest city in the central region, Yunling City was grand and expansive, built on a north-south axis with thoroughfares branching in all directions. The City Lord's Mansion stood at its center.
To the east lived the city's four major cultivation families. The west was home mostly to rogue cultivators and some mortal relatives of cultivators, making it the largest open market area—what Jian Dan thought of as the "street stall district." The north housed the main commercial avenue, filled with proper shops and the largest auction house in the region, as well as an underground black market. The south was where the major sects had set up their contact points, along with teahouses, inns, and restaurants. Tianjian Sect had even opened a "Sword Pavilion" that specialized in selling spirit swords.
"Does Tao Zhēnrén have anything else to restock?" Jian Dan asked.
"I'm mostly prepared."
"Then let's visit the street market. Who knows, we might find a hidden gem."
Tao Zhēnrén agreed readily, beginning his experience as an involuntary shopping companion.
Despite her current lower cultivation, Jian Dan had once been at the Divine Transformation stage and still had sharp eyes. While browsing, she spotted a block of secret silver stone mistakenly wrapped in common iron essence and sold as regular ore. She bought it without hesitation for her Silver Armored Beetle.
Next, she found a high-grade storage collar that had likely been meant for children. The space-stone at its center was missing, turning it into nothing more than a pretty golden choker. Most ignored it, but Jian Dan saw its potential and haggled it down to five low-grade spirit stones.
As a female cultivator, she wasn't immune to the charm of pretty accessories. She came across a silver-belled bracelet that caught her eye. The stall owner refused to part with it for less than one mid-grade spirit stone. Jian Dan was about to negotiate when Tao Chengfeng interrupted:
"This is a broken defensive artifact. Completely useless. Why waste spirit stones? If you want something nice, go to the 'Wanwuge' in the north market. Your spirit stones would be better spent there."
The stall owner scowled, clearly annoyed that this man was ruining a potential sale.
Jian Dan nodded and turned to leave. Alarmed, the seller quickly called out, "You look like a sincere buyer. I'll be honest. One thousand low-grade spirit stones, final price. The bracelet no longer has its original function, but the materials are rare. If dismantled, they're still usable."
As he rambled on, a Tianjian Sect disciple in the Foundation Establishment stage suddenly appeared in front of Jian Dan and Tao Chengfeng.
"Tao Zhēnrén, Shan Zhēnrén, our disciples had a conflict with the disciples from Yunhai Sect."
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Yunhai Sect is the Cloud Sea Sect