Because they were already near the west market, it took Jian Dan and Tao Chengfeng less than a quarter of an hour to reach the commotion at the street stalls.
From a distance, Jian Dan spotted two familiar faces and slowed her pace. She wanted to see how the Tianjian Sect disciples would handle the situation.
The round-faced female cultivator standing in front of the stall was Shui Linglong, an outer-sect disciple from Jianzong Peak. Jian Dan remembered her from a lecture, where she had asked a question. The young man standing protectively behind her was Dou Zhiyuan from Tianyang Peak, an inner-sect disciple and the first to answer her in class. Behind them stood over ten Tianjian Sect disciples, all looking tense.
Other sect disciples who had been shopping nearby were gradually approaching. When they spotted Shan Zhēnrén and Tao Zhēnrén, they slowed down and hung back. On the opposing side stood disciples of Yunhai Sect, led by none other than Xu Meixia, a cultivator in the Golden Core stage, with Han Pengfei standing behind her, visibly impatient.
Jian Dan summoned the Foundation Establishment disciple who had delivered the report. "You're Zhang Zhang of Jianyu Peak?"
"Yes, I am."
"Explain the situation."
"Yes." Zhang Zhang bowed and quickly laid out the events.
It was a simple matter. Dou Zhiyuan had found a stone he liked at a rogue cultivator's stall and had already agreed on a price with the vendor. Just as he was about to pay, Xu Meixia happened to pass by. Using her status as a Golden Core cultivator, she demanded the stone for herself.
Dou Zhiyuan had refused to back down, and the argument escalated. Shui Linglong happened to pass by and immediately stepped in to support her fellow sect member. The conflict quickly drew more disciples from both sects, and the crowd began to grow.
Seeing that the opposing side had a Golden Core cultivator, Zhang Zhang had worried that his fellow disciples would be at a disadvantage. So he had immediately gone to seek reinforcements. Luckily, both Shan Zhēnrén and Tao Zhēnrén were nearby in the west market.
"Not bad. You reacted well," Jian Dan said. "Now, go notify the other sect disciples. Tell them to regroup at the city gate immediately. I'll bring these two with me. There's no point arguing over numbers. Tell everyone to withdraw naturally and without fuss."
Zhang Zhang accepted the command and left. Jian Dan then turned to Tao Chengfeng. "Tao Zhēnrén, the two leading Yunhai disciples are old acquaintances of mine. I'll go greet them. Could I trouble you to meet our disciples at the gate? I'll join you shortly."
"Understood. Just don't let things get too ugly."
He glanced at her briefly, then turned and left with a portion of the disciples following behind.
At the stall, the confrontation was still ongoing. Neither side had noticed that Tianjian Sect's disciples were quietly withdrawing from the market.
"Well, if it isn't Daoist Xu," Jian Dan said leisurely. "How many years has it been? I see you've now learned how to bully juniors. Isn't that unbecoming of Yunhai Sect?"
The moment Xu Meixia heard the voice, she knew who it was. Turning around, she saw Jian Dan strolling toward her in a moon-white formal robe, the uniform of a Golden Core cultivator from Tianjian Sect. Her posture was relaxed, her tone calm.
Xu Meixia's pupils shrank slightly. Not only had Shan Yunzu advanced to the Golden Core stage, she had already reached mid-stage and was clearly on the cusp of the late stage.
Han Pengfei, standing behind her, was also stunned. He had been diligently cultivating and was only at peak Foundation Establishment, yet Jian Dan had already surpassed him.
Xu Meixia, still dressed in her signature pink robes that made her look sweet and innocent, now appeared a bit cheap next to Jian Dan. Her expression shifted. She smugly touched the storage ring on her finger. The item was already in her possession. Even if Shan Yunzu tried to cause trouble, there were City Patrol cultivators around. If a fight broke out, the one who attacked would be expelled from the city.
Jian Dan found her smug expression irritating. She gently patted Yue Liang in her arms. Before the onlookers could process what was happening, they saw the arrogant Golden Core cultivator from Yunhai Sect suddenly clutch her head and collapse to the ground, her face pale as death.
Jian Dan hadn't moved from her spot five steps away. She was still casually stroking her raccoon beast as if nothing had happened.
"You trying to frame me for attacking you?" she asked coldly, not even bothering to step forward.
"Shan Zhēnrén, this is a misunderstanding. Martial Aunt was simply experiencing a moment of spiritual imbalance. I'll take her back to rest," Han Pengfei quickly explained.
He waved at the Yunhai disciples, who hurried forward to help Xu Meixia to her feet. She had truly suffered this time. Her storage ring had been forcibly severed from her spiritual sense. She could only glare at Jian Dan with venom in her eyes before being escorted away.
Jian Dan gave Han Pengfei a faint look, then turned to Dou Zhiyuan and Shui Linglong. "Let's go."
Shui Linglong's wide eyes were filled with admiration. She and the other disciples immediately came to Jian Dan's side, offered polite bows, and quietly followed her out of the west market.
Before leaving Yunling City, Jian Dan glanced briefly at a point high in the air, then walked away without pause, leading the remaining dozen disciples out.
High above, a Nascent Soul cultivator from the city's patrol squad had been observing the situation the whole time. He sighed inwardly. As expected of a disciple from a major sect, this woman acted decisively and ruthlessly.
While everyone's attention had been focused on her, the raccoon beast in her arms had swiftly swiped Xu Meixia's storage ring. The spiritual imprint on it had been erased in a flash. Her divine sense must far surpass that of the Yunhai Golden Core cultivator. Once the contents were examined, the ring had even been returned to its original place. The whole thing had taken less than four seconds.