Fan Ji'an had been waiting for an opportunity to assert his authority. This time, he had both the reason and the advantage, so he struck without the slightest hesitation.
Jian Dan had mentally prepared to take a hit from this Nascent Soul cultivator, then find a way to eliminate him afterward.
Just then, a streak of purple sword light—barely an inch wide—cut through Fan Ji'an's palm strike from an oblique angle, shattering it instantly. In the shadows near the City Lord's Manor gate, only a pair of black boots could be seen. The murderous pressure radiating from the figure kept everyone at bay. No one dared approach, let alone look closely. The man had no intention of showing himself. He simply said in a low voice:
"Go in."
"Many thanks, Senior!"
Jian Dan was barely holding the black insect that had begun trying to escape. Her spiritual energy was nearly exhausted, her face pale. Now was not the time for pride. She cried out at the top of her lungs:
"Zhūnzhǔ, help!"
Cotton Candy took the four of them with a flash of light, teleporting them directly to the Heavenly Sword Sect's temporary courtyard. Inside the main hall, several leading figures from both the Daoist and demonic factions were in a serious discussion. At the head sat Jian Jun and Peng Wang. When the four burst in, the hall fell silent.
Hai Yue Zhēnjūn's sharp eyes immediately spotted her two disciples. One of them had already lost consciousness, and Han Pengfei looked visibly shaken.
"Pengfei, what happened?"
No one had time to answer.
"Zhūnzhǔ, I can't hold it much longer."
Jian Dan had opened her left hand, releasing the weakened Verdant Flame that had been restraining the black insect.
Jian Jun Zhūnzhǔ had been waiting. After receiving the message from Jian Li, she had already split her focus in anticipation. She showed no surprise at the sudden arrival. The moment she saw Jian Dan's open palm, she acted without hesitation. With a flick of her white folding fan, a spatial prison materialized, trapping the insect inside.
As soon as she released the insect, Jian Dan severed the spiritual energy thread tethered to Xu Meixia. She stepped swiftly using her shadow-following footwork and pulled Tao Chengfeng and Han Pengfei away from Xu Meixia's side.
It all happened in a blink. Fortunately, everyone present was an experienced master cultivator. Seeing Jian Dan distance herself from the unconscious Xu Meixia, they instantly sensed something was wrong.
Mo Yi Zhūnzhě of the Heavenly Demon Palace let his demonic aura surge around him, ready to strike. Just then, Xu Meixia's body crumbled into dust. From her head emerged a black insect, slightly larger than the first one. As soon as it escaped, it shot toward the highest cultivation presence in the room—Peng Wang Zhūnzhǔ.
Peng Wang Zhūnzhǔ slammed his palm on the armrest, which immediately disintegrated.
"What? You think this old man is an easy target?"
A stream of water flowed from his palm, enveloping the incoming insect. The creature flailed its six legs and beat its wings, trying to break through, but no matter where it moved, the watery orb followed and trapped it again.
Eventually, Peng Wang recalled the water sphere into his hand. The light-blue sphere turned deep blue, firmly sealing the insect. It still refused to give up, its six legs twitching in vain.
Jian Dan, breathless, bent down and gently picked up Cotton Candy, who had reverted to palm-size. She stroked its fur. In her spiritual sea, the little one's sweet childlike voice spoke up:
"Master, did Cotton Candy do a good job this time?"
"You did amazing. You helped me hand the bad guy over to the Zhūnzhǔ right on time."
"I'm glad. Cotton Candy is a little tired. I'm going to nap. Master, call me if you need anything, okay?"
"All right. Rest well. Only with enough energy can you help me next time."
"Mhm!"
Relieved that the little beast was only exhausted, Jian Dan exhaled softly and carefully pinned Cotton Candy back onto her hair bun. She didn't dare send it into her storage space in front of Jian Jun Zhūnzhǔ.
The room had finally settled, and now everyone turned to look at the remaining three.
Of them, Han Pengfei had not suffered any real injuries, but his face was the palest. After bowing respectfully to the senior cultivators, he turned to Hai Yue Zhēnjūn and spoke first:
"Hai Yue Zhēnjūn, I ask that you immediately restrain all Cloud Sea Sect disciples who accompanied us here."
Hai Yue Zhēnjūn's expression darkened instantly. What he said next made it worse.
"Please inform the sect to isolate and examine every disciple who's been in contact with Xu Meixia. They might already be under the control of those insects."
"That can't be. Xu Meixia was a Jīndān Zhēnrén. She didn't enter the Chilang secret realm," pointed out Shòu Feng Zhēnjūn of the Beast Taming Sect.
The implication was clear—this insect hadn't come from the secret realm.
So how did it end up in Xu Meixia's body? And for how long had it been there?
Tao Chengfeng stepped forward and handed the recording stone to Jian Ning Zhēnrén beside Jian Jun Zhūnzhǔ. Jian Jun gestured for it to be played.
Jian Ning infused spiritual energy into it, and the stone projected the entire sequence of events—from the beginning to the moment Tao Chengfeng retrieved the stone.
Everyone now understood the gravity of the situation. A chill crept through the room. Hai Yue Zhēnjūn didn't hesitate. She immediately sent a sword message back to the sect. Other sect leaders followed, activating their message talismans one after another. Neither Jian Jun nor Peng Wang tried to stop them.
Hai Yue Zhēnjūn looked at Han Pengfei again but couldn't find the words to speak. Jian Dan swallowed a recovery pill. Feeling slightly better, she stepped forward and bowed to the senior cultivators, then said directly to Hai Yue Zhēnjūn:
"Zhēnjūn need not worry. Han Pengfei was not infected by the insect."
At these words, both Hai Yue Zhēnjūn and Han Pengfei visibly relaxed. But then someone asked the most pressing question:
"How do you know that?"