The title Peerless Young Master followed Han Pengfei as he rose from a low-stage cultivator to the upper ranks. Even many years later, he would still remember the hall where that bold and ruthless yet beautiful woman had spoken those words to him. What he didn't know was that this woman who had teased him that day would be the one to save him from a puppet's fate—and the one who resolved the crisis festering within Cloud Sea Sect.
Jian Dan and Tao Chengfeng left the main hall and were soon stopped outside their courtyard by Jian Ning Zhēnjūn. The two immediately saluted.
"Greetings, Jian Ning Zhēnjūn."
"No need for formalities. I was ordered by the Zhūnzhǔ to retrieve the warship you temporarily used."
Jian Dan knew it wasn't just about the warship, so she took out the storage pouch she had carefully safeguarded and handed it over with both hands. At the same time, she decided to try her luck and fight for some compensation.
"Zhēnjūn, in order to destroy that black-armored insect monster, I ended up putting in everything I had."
Jian Ning Zhēnjūn smiled gently, still warm and graceful as ever.
"Zhūnzhǔ has already spoken. The two of you performed outstandingly in leading your team and eliminating the invading creature. Upon returning to the sect, you may both enter the Advancement Hall for cultivation. If either of you break through to the Nascent Soul stage, you'll be granted direct entry into the inner sect."
Both Jian Dan and Tao Chengfeng lit up with joy. The so-called Advancement Hall was built atop a spiritual vein. As long as one's foundation was solid and state of mind prepared, cultivation breakthroughs there were almost guaranteed.
With a wave of her hand, Jian Ning Zhēnjūn dropped two storage rings before them.
"This is your reward for rooting out the threat. You may use it to restock anything you need."
"Many thanks, Zhēnjūn."
Jian Dan happily accepted her storage ring. She had wanted to replace hers for a while but lacked a proper opportunity. Now she had one handed to her on a silver platter.
Before leaving, Jian Ning still gave them a few words of caution. Many high-ranking cultivators had recently arrived in Yunling City. They were not to stir up more trouble. What happened with Xu Meixia must not happen again. Both Jian Dan and Tao Chengfeng obediently bowed and agreed.
After Jian Ning Zhēnjūn left, Jian Dan immediately marked the ring with her spiritual imprint. A quick scan with her divine sense revealed piles of spirit stones inside: ten thousand low-grade, one hundred mid-grade, and ten high-grade stones.
Zhūnzhǔ was truly generous. All of Jian Dan's losses had been made up for, with extra to spare. She was more than satisfied and decided to stay out of trouble and cultivate quietly in her courtyard for the next few days.
Meanwhile, back in the discussion hall, after the others had left, the remaining Zhēnjūn and Zhūnzhǔ began to examine the issue more closely. Especially Shou Feng Zhēnjūn of the Beastmaster Sect, whose sect specialized in nurturing beasts. Even he admitted he had never encountered a parasite like this before.
"Fellow cultivators, as you all know, our Beastmaster Sect is the foremost in spiritual beast research on Lingyun Continent. This time, by sheer luck, the Heavenly Sword Sect's young cultivators managed to capture two of these insects. On behalf of my sect, I humbly request one to be handed over for study by our Yu Yan Zhēnzhūn. Perhaps we can uncover the origins of this species."
Jian Jun Zhūnzhǔ didn't say a word. He simply waved his folding fan, and the insect he had trapped within a spatial cage vanished. His meaning was clear.
No one objected. After all, the creature had been baited and captured by his disciple. Its fate was her decision to make.
Shou Feng Zhēnjūn turned hopefully to Peng Wang Zhūnzhǔ instead.
Peng Wang looked at the insect still struggling within his heavy water technique and snorted. He glanced at Shou Feng with a mocking smile.
"It's not that I'm unwilling to hand this thing over to the Beastmaster Sect. But as you can see, it's currently restrained by my technique. Once removed, could you control it?"
"That..."
Shou Feng Zhēnjūn hesitated. After all, he was only at the late Nascent Soul stage, while both Zhūnzhǔ were at Void Refinement and nearly ready to break into the Unity stage. The gap between them was enormous. He realized his request might have been inappropriate.
"It was presumptuous of me. Then—"
"We'll speak of it later," Peng Wang Zhūnzhǔ said firmly, cutting off the topic. Silence fell over the hall. The remaining cultivators, each with their own thoughts, had nothing further to add. Since the situation was now clear, they began to excuse themselves and left one by one.
Soon, only the cultivators of the Heavenly Sword Sect remained, along with Peng Wang Zhūnzhǔ and Peng Xilai.
"That brat from the Beastmaster Sect really has a big mouth. Even their sect head wouldn't dare ask me like that."
"Grandfather, there's no need to fuss over the younger generation. But for now..."
Peng Xilai looked at the black insect still struggling within the technique and frowned.
"What do you think, Jian Jun?" Peng Wang asked, turning to Jian Jun Zhūnzhǔ.
"This isn't the first time we've seen these creatures. The last time something happened in the Purple-ranked secret realm, Elder Yin handled it. Now they've appeared again. I don't believe it's a coincidence."
Jian Jun Zhūnzhǔ was direct, her words striking at the core of the issue.
"At the same time, I received word from the sect. Several weak points in the spatial barrier across the continent have come under attack. Thanks to the Mahayana-level Zhēnzhūn stationed there, the barrier held—for now. But you know as well as I do, defense is harder than offense."
Peng Wang had already been informed of the earlier parts by his grandson, but upon hearing the last part, his expression grew grave.
"You're saying something is attacking the spatial barrier of Lingyun Continent?"