Jian Fen, who had been leading the way all this time, clearly felt it. Just a moment ago, that overwhelming sweep of divine sense had almost pinned her in place. Though it had been released and withdrawn instantly, it still made her hair stand on end. She dared not speak further, only wishing to deliver the guests into the Clan Leader's hall as quickly as possible.
Those who had rushed back earlier to report were already waiting respectfully outside the doors after delivering the message.
Meanwhile, Jian Dan's divine sense had already alarmed the Mahayana Zhēnzūn of the Jian clan. Jian Mingdi dispersed his protective barrier, frowning as he saw a clansman rushing straight toward his cave dwelling.
"Ancestor, Jian Lu of the Heavenly Sword Sect has come!"
Jian Mingdi froze for a moment before recalling who this person was. Last time, when the clan had deliberately visited the Heavenly Sword Sect, they had failed to bring her back to acknowledge her heritage. Why had she suddenly come of her own accord now?
"Who brought her into our clan grounds?"
"No one, Ancestor. She found her way in herself."
The messenger lowered his head and spoke softly.
Jian Mingdi's gaze flickered. Clearly, the visitor had not come with good intentions. With a wave, he dismissed the messenger and in the next instant, vanished from his cave dwelling.
When he reappeared, he was already within the Clan Leader's hall. Jian Shangxi and Jian Yue, seated within, looked restless and uneasy. Seeing their Ancestor arrive, both instantly relaxed, hurried forward, and bowed deeply. "Greetings, Ancestor!"
"Rise."
Jian Mingdi waved a hand, then asked in a grave tone:
"Did you leave a trail during your last excursion, allowing her to find this place?"
Both Jian Shangxi and Jian Yue turned pale. Just as they opened their mouths to explain, Jian Fen arrived with Jian Dan and the other nine Heavenly Sword Sect cultivators.
The Jian clan's Clan Leader Hall resembled more of a council chamber than a mere hall. Built entirely of millennia-old cedarwood, it stretched three hundred square meters. On the wall directly opposite the great doors hung a massive character: "Dao." At the center stood a chair, upon which sat a Mahayana Zhēnzūn.
Jian Dan's group entered and, upon seeing the figure seated at the head, clasped their fists in unison. "Greetings, Zhēnzūn!"
"You have traveled far, please be seated."
Jian Mingdi smiled, gesturing with one hand. Jian Shangxi, Jian Yue, and Jian Fen immediately brought spirit tea, arranged the settings, and then stood quietly behind their Ancestor.
Jian Mao and the others surveyed the hall once, then sat down in orderly fashion, saying nothing more. The negotiations were Jian Lu's domain; they were only here as a show of strength.
"Jian Lu Xiaoyou, have you come to acknowledge your heritage and return to the clan?"
Jian Mingdi was the first to speak.
Jian Dan glanced at the Zhēnzūn of the Jian clan. The man wore a plain cyan robe, his hair tied simply into a knot. His face was pale yet gentle, his features steady and proper. Compared to the Mahayana cultivator who had visited the Heavenly Sword Sect before, this one radiated far greater authority.
Jian Dan knew all too well. The more such a man smiled kindly, the more dangerous he was. A "smiling tiger" without doubt.
"Zhēnzūn jests. It seems we do not share the same ancestors."
Her reply was straightforward.
"How could that be? If you were not of my Jian clan's bloodline, how could you open our clan's barrier and find this place?"
"Has Zhēnzūn forgotten? A Jian clansman once visited the Heavenly Sword Sect and even followed me to the beast clan's territory."
Jian Dan replied openly. The implication was clear: since they had already come knocking at her door, was it really difficult for her to arrange some means of tracking and confirming their location?
The three behind Jian Mingdi shifted slightly. They realized they had been careless. Jian Lu Zūnshàng's stance toward the Jian clan had always been unclear. They had been unable to persuade her, and they certainly could not defeat her.
Jian Mingdi, however, only chuckled without anger. If she could find the place, it was her ability. None could blame her. Moreover, he knew clearly that Jian Lu was the true direct bloodline of the Jian clan.
"Jian Lu, your arrival may be abrupt, but you must have some purpose. Speak it plainly. If I can provide you a satisfactory answer, then perhaps you will consider the Jian clan's request."
Jian Dan turned her gaze to the Zhēnzūn, revealing her purpose directly.
"What do you wish to know?" Leaning back casually against his chair, Jian Mingdi asked.
"Why has the Jian clan's inheritance become incomplete in this era?"
At her sharp question, both Jian Shangxi and Jian Yue instinctively missed a breath.
Jian Mingdi gave Jian Dan a deep look, pondering how to respond. Jian Dan added, "Zhēnzūn, as a senior of great power, I trust you will not fob me off with lies."
The atmosphere thickened once again.
"This is no true secret. When our Ancestors migrated from the lower realm to Lingyun Continent, some clansmen were stranded below. As such, certain inheritances meant to be brought into this world were lost."
Jian Dan arched her brow. "Stranded? That should not be. One would never allow the most important inheritances to remain behind. Nor would you willingly abandon your kin. Which means it was either an accident… or someone engineered it so they were left behind."
Her words carried both accusation and contemplation, each syllable pressing heavier against the hall's air.
"If it was an accident, you could speak plainly. But my parents chose to remain in the mortal world rather than return here to acknowledge ancestry. That means our branch was abandoned by design, does it not, Zhēnzūn?"
Jian Mingdi's eyes flickered several times before finally lowering. He knew: if today's answer failed to satisfy her, the chance to ever draw her close again would vanish.
He had even considered trying to detain her. But with the Heavenly Sword Sect behind her, and nine Unity-realm elites at her side—clearly seasoned battle generals—unless he could kill in a single strike, sword cultivators' retaliation would be savage.
They stood in his Jian clan's territory, yet it was he who was constrained.
Jian Dan only curved her lips into a smile, waiting patiently. She knew well the calculation in his mind: whether to reveal the truth or to make a move.
At that same moment, Xiao Yin sensed its master's aura. Overjoyed, it leapt with excitement and raced swiftly toward the great hall.
"Alas! This is indeed the Jian clan's shame. Since you insist on uncovering it, I shall tell you."
After long deliberation, Jian Mingdi chose the safer path. Nothing outweighed the completeness of their inheritance.
"Your father's line was a branch of the Jian clan. We are the main bloodline. When we left the lower realm, the branch's Ancestor went mad, destroying the teleportation array and severing the path. That is why your line never made it to Lingyun Continent. As for how your father's branch later arrived here, I do not know."
He avoided the heart of the matter, glossing over the details, then deflected the question back at Jian Dan.
"Fate leaves no road forever closed. My father's forebears found another teleportation array deep within a desert, which led them here. Though on the other side, it connected to the mortal realm only."
Jian Dan's words mixed truth with falsehood, making it impossible to separate one from the other. Both sides continued probing cautiously.
"So that was it. Then why did you not enter the cultivation world or return to the clan to train?"
"I lack neither resources nor inheritance. I can cultivate anywhere. Besides, my surname is Shan, not Jian."
Her words struck Jian Mingdi speechless.
She spoke with such confidence that even her fellow sect members could not help but smirk.
"Jian Lu Xiaoyou, then what is it that you truly intend?"