"Your Broodmother can only keep migrating. Once the living continents in your region, or rather your star domain, are completely consumed, she is forced to break through the spatial barrier to reach another continent.
This endless cycle of invasion, let me guess, each time you breach a new world, there's a cost. Perhaps some of your kin die off due to incompatibility with the new environment. And those that survive, who continue evolving, end up without inheritance, without ancestral memory, and slowly lose their fighting power."
Inside Bi Shu's sea of consciousness, the black beetle's wing membrane trembled violently. It understood that what the Mo Yue Jūnshàng of this cultivation continent said might very well be the truth.
"Do you know why?"
"Why?"
Bi Shu asked the same question as the black beetle within her.
"Because this is the Heavenly Dao's punishment upon your kind. And your extinction is not far off."
"No. Our Broodmother sent us into this continent."
"But your Broodmother couldn't come herself. Do you know why?"
Jian Dan's sharp gaze pierced through Bi Shu, as if speaking directly to the Broodmother.
"Because she is weakening. And the spatial barrier of our Lingyun Continent is stronger than you imagine.
The cultivators of Lingyun Continent are no weaklings. We will wipe you out, one by one, and drive your kind from this land.
I look forward to meeting your Broodmother one day. That is why I want you to live. To witness everything I have just said. Remain on this continent until your host perishes, or until I, Mo Yue, ascend."
The killing intent Jian Dan released in that instant made everyone in the room feel it. Bi Shu, and even the beetle in her consciousness, visibly shriveled.
"Enough. Your attendants are worried sick. Take them and go back. Stay quiet. Live low, live cautiously." With that, Jian Dan waved her hand to lift the restriction on the room and tossed Bi Shu a communication jade slip.
"I'll contact you. Don't you dare disappear."
"Yes." Bi Shu bowed deeply as if receiving a pardon, opened the door, and ran right into her waiting steward. The steward, seeing his young mistress unharmed, was about to peer inside when Bi Shu quickly shut the door and gave him a signal. Without delay, they left the teahouse.
"Miss, what happened?"
"Don't ask. I kicked an iron wall."
Bi Shu looked defeated, dragging her feet all the way home. She needed time to digest everything Mo Yue Jūnshàng had said.
Back in the private room, the others sat in silence. Mo Yi, for once, shed his usual carefree demeanor. Even Mo Qi's elegant face carried a rare trace of murderous intent.
Mo Su rubbed his fingers together, then finally spoke.
"Junior Sister Mo Yue, if your guess is right, then the most crucial detail you left out is this: the strongest survivors from each breach through a spatial barrier must become increasingly powerful. Like the black beetle that broke through the Chilong Secret Realm."
"She didn't say it, not because she didn't know," Mo Yi said, picking up where Mo Su left off, "but because she needed to suppress that insect."
Jian Dan nodded, then turned to Mo Su.
"Senior Brother Mo Su, do you remember the swarm we faced in the Demon Abyss trial realm?"
Mo Su nodded.
"You think those were part of the invasion?"
"Likely only a fraction."
Mo Yi and Mo Qi exchanged glances, then turned their attention to Jian Dan and Mo Su.
Jian Dan smiled and briefly recounted how she and Mo Su met and what happened in the trial space.
"If your accounts are accurate," Mo Qi said, her tone serious, "then perhaps a war with the insect race has already begun in a space we know nothing about."
As the head of her peak and a favored heir of the Fei family, Mo Qi was sensitive to outside affairs. Her guess earned unanimous agreement.
Seeing everyone ready to accept this theory, Jian Dan threw out her second bombshell.
"I suspect the chaos in the Ming Valley is linked to the foreign black beetles."
"You mean their Broodmother breached that independent space?"
Mo Yi reacted the fastest.
"Yes."
"Or perhaps she intends to use that space to let her kin enter Lingyun Continent through a weak point guarded by our sect."
Mo Qi picked up the thread of logic.
"That's exactly what I think. Which is why our mission is crucial."
Mo Su said nothing this time, only glanced at Jian Dan.
"Junior Sister, are you throwing us into the fire?"
Mo Yi accused her with a half-joking tone.
"Senior Brothers, Senior Sister, I didn't force you. You all volunteered."
Her meaning was clear. "Don't use me as your scapegoat."
"You're always full of tricks. Aren't you afraid?"
Mo Qi asked with a teasing smile.
"Afraid? If it really comes down to it, there won't be time to be afraid. You'll only have one thought—kill the enemy and survive."
This time, even Mo Yi nodded seriously.
"You had real presence when you scared that little bug earlier."
"When two foes meet on a narrow path, the brave one wins. Even if you're weaker, you can't let your spirit lose."
She gave them a playful wink.
"Besides, this is just our worst-case scenario. What if it's not true?"
"Fifty-fifty chance."
Mo Su finally spoke again, echoing everyone's thoughts.
Jian Dan's eyes sparkled. An idea formed.
"Alright, let's not jump to conclusions. What must come will come. I'm alone, with nothing holding me back. If I can fight, I will. If I fall, so be it. But I will never retreat."
Her words seemed to strike a chord. Mo Su was first to speak again.
"Junior Sister, I want to inform Master of our suspicions. Do you agree?"
"Of course. But if I'm wrong, don't pin it all on me."
She made sure to cover herself in advance. The trip to Ming Valley would prove everything soon enough.
Mo Su nodded, pulled out a flying sword, and inscribed the message on it before sending it away. Mo Yi and Mo Qi did the same.
Jian Dan casually poured tea for everyone and sipped a cup herself.
"Junior Sister Mo Yue, we all hope our theory is wrong. But just in case, we need to replenish our supplies before we head out."
Jian Dan didn't argue. She nodded, then smiled brightly.
"Let's go to the Hua family's auction house. They owe me a favor. Might as well let them pay it back."