Han Pengfei's handsome face was solemn, his tone unflinching as he voiced his opinion.
"Pengfei, you are overstepping."
Yun Yun Zhēnzūn frowned when she saw Han Pengfei openly siding with Jian Lu. Though dissatisfied, she did not wish to say more in front of the Yin family Ancestor and only gave a mild rebuke.
Han Pengfei knew that he dared to speak only because of his aunt's status. At once, he bowed to the Yin family Ancestor in apology.
"It was rude of me. I beg Zhēnzūn's forgiveness."
The Yin family Ancestor merely smiled before speaking. "Since this boy Pengfei insists Jian Lu has some ability, let us wait until tomorrow when we can speak face to face."
He knew well that if this matter was not handled carefully, the Yin family would bear the accusation of sheltering an evil cultivator. To untie the knot, one must find the one who tied it. Until they met Jian Lu, the Yin family would wait to decide.
The next day, just after Jian Dan ended her meditation, the wards of her cave dwelling stirred. With a wave, she opened the restriction, revealing Han Pengfei standing tall and waiting respectfully outside.
"Zūnshàng."
"No need for courtesy."
Jian Dan lifted her hand dismissively. Yue Liang leapt naturally onto her shoulder as she stepped out, nodding to Han Pengfei before directly summoning her light and flying toward the main peak of Yunhai Peak.
"Zūnshàng…"
Han Pengfei hesitated, only managing to call out to her without finishing his words.
"You need not trouble yourself. I am not some solitary wanderer. So long as matters do not go too far, for your sake I will not topple Yunhai Peak."
The words made Han Pengfei's face pale. What he feared most was exactly that Jian Dan might lose patience and truly overturn Yunhai Peak.
"Relax. It is only talk. I would not actually do it."
Even as she spoke, her light landed before the grand hall of Yunhai Peak. The guards saluted respectfully. Han Pengfei then led her toward the main hall.
The Yunhai Peak audience hall was built of blue crystal stone, carrying the aura of a palace beneath the sea. Four carved dragon pillars supported its majesty, and the square before the hall brimmed with aquatic spiritual plants and flowers swaying in shimmering water spheres, an odd yet beautiful sight.
When Jian Dan entered, she saw Yun Yun Zhēnzūn seated at the head. To Yun Yun Zhēnzūn's right sat a middle-aged man she did not recognize, behind whom stood Yin Shu and Yin Zhengchuan. To her left sat the master of Cloud Sea Sect.
Han Pengfei completed his task, saluted, and returned to Yun Yun's side.
"Jian Lu pays respect to Yun Yun Zhēnzūn, Yin family Zhēnzūn."
Yun Yun Zhēnzūn nodded, gesturing for her to sit.
Jian Dan took her seat silently, waiting for the other side to speak first.
For a while, the hall was quiet, until the Yin family Ancestor finally opened his mouth.
"Jian Lu Xiaoyou, after Chuan'er returned yesterday, Yun Yun Zhēnzūn and I examined his body. We found no trace of evil qi. His Primordial Soul is intact, without any foreign spirit within."
Jian Dan did not answer the doubt directly, instead smiling faintly.
"Zhēnzūn, will you permit me to examine Yin Xiaoyou's Primordial Soul myself?"
The Yin family Ancestor hesitated. He feared that if she inspected, she might seize the chance to kill his descendant outright, leaving him no way to salvage the matter.
Of course, Jian Dan had asked deliberately. As she spoke, her eyes swept from head to toe across Yin Zhengchuan.
In her previous life, he had become a favored companion of Du Yanran, so naturally his looks had some merit. His features alone were ordinary, but when put together, they carried a refined, scholarly air. He seemed gentle, with no sharpness in his brows or gaze.
But Yin Zhengchuan's face was far from calm. He could feel Jian Lu Zūnshàng's undisguised malice. Unconsciously, he shrank back behind his Ancestor.
Everyone saw his small gesture, though none voiced it aloud.
"Did Jian Lu Xiaoyou not claim yesterday that Chuan'er's soul had fused with that of the evil cultivator? Why would you need to check again?"
The Ancestor's meaning was clear: you were so certain yesterday, why re-examine today?
"Yes. It has indeed fused. What I seek to know is whether the other soul has begun to awaken."
The calm words silenced the hall once more.
"Jian Lu Xiaoyou means Chuan'er must die, to sever the evil cultivator's path completely."
"That is correct."
"But you have no proof."
Jian Dan was not surprised. With two Mahayana Zhēnzūn probing together and finding nothing, of course they were confident.
She had no intention of persuading them. She cupped her hands lightly toward the two at the head.
"If that is the case, then let it be handled as you two deem fit."
Yin Zhēnzūn and Yun Yun Zhēnzūn exchanged glances, uncertain of her meaning. After a cough, Yin Zhēnzūn spoke again, cautiously probing.
"In that case, you must send word across the continent that Chuan'er has not been possessed by an evil cultivator."
"Very well."
The swiftness of Jian Dan's agreement shocked everyone. Even Yun Yun glanced at her, while Yin Zhēnzūn frowned more deeply.
"Do you have other demands?"
No one spoke.
Jian Dan rose, clearly uninterested in continuing.
"Jian Lu, what is the meaning of this? Are you playing with us? Why then did you speak so yesterday before everyone? Do you mean to trap my Yin family, or to slander Cloud Sea Sect?"
The Ancestor's voice grew sharp, his Mahayana aura spilling forth.
Jian Dan lifted her eyes, blocking the pressure as if brushing dust aside. Her tone remained even.
"Yin Zhēnzūn, why such anger? There is no need to imagine me so malicious. I have no enmity with your Yin family, with Cloud Sea Sect, or with Yin Zhengchuan himself. Why would I wish discord between Daoist sects?
Yesterday, Yun Yun Zhēnzūn overturned that stretch of sea. Did you see a single cultivator alive? Every puppet was destroyed. Why then was it only your Yin family's disciple who survived, the sole exception?
Hai Yan was once equal in renown to our Tian Yun Zhēnzūn. Even if he turned to the evil path, would he truly be weaker than before? He fell only because five Zhēnzūn combined forces. Why then did he not fight to mutual destruction?
Why did the evil artifact take Yin Zhengchuan away at all costs, even sealing itself to sink into the depths?"
With each question, the hall grew heavier, until silence itself became suffocating.
Jian Dan's faint smile returned.
"You all know the truth in your hearts. You are simply gambling on the slim chance. If you dare to wager, why trouble me? Gamble then. The boy is here within Cloud Sea Sect. The evil artifact rests outside. What remains is only a matter of time."
Yin Zhengchuan's face turned paler with each word. Though Jian Dan's voice was gentle, every syllable was a blade cutting into him, silently proclaiming his death sentence.
"Ancestor…"
He spoke, but no words could follow. He knew his Ancestor shielded him because he was a direct bloodline, the last heir.
Yet to burden his Ancestor with such karma for his sake, he could not bear it. Gritting his teeth, he stepped forward and bowed to Jian Dan.
"Jian Lu Zūnshàng, is there any way to suppress the evil soul? If I can pass down my bloodline, I will end my own life."
Jian Dan studied him for a moment, then smiled.
"If the remaining third of the evil soul within you is severed, it can be suppressed. But your Primordial Soul will be wounded. Whether you awaken, or ever cultivate again, is unknown."
She cupped her hands to those present.
"I will await the summons of the Zhēnzūn."