The silver-armored mother insect dormant in Jian Dan's chest received Xiao Yin's message. Through the contract, it passed the information directly to Jian Dan.
Jian Dan's eyes shifted slightly, and she smiled as she spoke. Yet what she said was not the answer the Zhēnzūn of the Jian clan had been hoping for.
"Zhēnzūn, since we share the same ancestral source, I came here today to deliver a warning: the spatial node of Lingyun Continent has been attacked. In two hundred years, it will be breached. The insect race will invade, and a great war will erupt."
Hearing Jian Dan's words, Jian Mingdi slowly straightened from his formerly relaxed posture.
Recently, apart from the return of Jian Shangxi and the others, the clan had not dispatched anyone outside. The latest news they had received was about the Heavenly Sword Sect's succession ceremony. The Jian clan had not even been invited.
Jian Dan, watching his reaction, knew at once that the Jian clan's information network had not caught this critical development. She shook her head lightly and said to the Zhēnzūn:
"Zhēnzūn, in my view, your Jian clan's reclusive seclusion is nothing but a form of evasion."
Jian Mingdi's expression stiffened. A trace of displeasure flickered in his eyes at Jian Dan's words, though his cultivation tempered his response, preventing an outburst.
"Zhēnzūn, how long has it been since you left the clan grounds? Do you know that beyond your borders, the spiritual energy of the continent is steadily rising? Secret realms and training grounds are birthing spiritual treasures one after another."
At this, Jian Mingdi began to take her words seriously. Such a matter could not be fabricated. Jian Shangxi and the others behind him exchanged puzzled looks, not understanding.
Jian Dan glanced at them and explained kindly,
"Your cultivation is not yet sufficient. That is why you cannot sense it. In another hundred years, you too will feel it."
The three of them looked stricken, as though struck in the heart, and could only remain quietly behind their Zhēnzūn.
Jian Dan smiled faintly, her gaze flicking briefly to the great character "Dao" inscribed behind the hall, before lapsing into silence.
Half a moment later, a figure suddenly appeared in the grand hall. With it came the crushing pressure of a Mahayana cultivator. Jian Dan raised her eyes, lifted her hand, and casually dispersed the wave of coercion that had pressed down on her and the Heavenly Sword Sect squad.
At the same time, taking advantage of that wave of power, Jian Dan pulled Xiao Yin—who had slipped into the hall like dust—back into her sleeve, and sent him into the pendant to rejoin the silver-armored mother insect.
The mother insect, seeing this little one that had roamed outside for over a decade, flew into a rage. Its antennae lashed out, flipping Xiao Yin over and giving him a fierce thrashing before finally listening to his report.
Xiao Yin was aggrieved. He had risked his life exploring the Jian clan's grounds in secret. After being scolded, he obediently recounted his experiences and was soon taken away by his siblings to share everything he had learned.
"Elder Brother!"
Jian Mingdi stood up in shock, while the three behind him also revealed surprise. They quickly bowed with deep respect.
"Ancestor!"
The one who had appeared was Jian Mingyong, the eldest of the Jian clan, both in generation and cultivation, having reached late Mahayana. His emergence from seclusion had been triggered by Jian Dan's earlier divine sense, and he had come to investigate.
Discovering that it was a direct-line descendant who had arrived, he felt uneasy. Though she had shown no hostility, he had secretly watched her.
The matter Jian Dan raised about the rise in spiritual energy made him suspicious. He left the clan grounds to investigate, only to find it exactly as she said. The continent's spiritual qi was indeed thickening. He knew full well what such a change meant.
Thus, Jian Mingyong appeared personally in the clan hall. He intended to meet this direct descendant himself.
After both sides exchanged greetings again, Jian Mingyong Zhēnzūn seated himself at the head.
He wore pristine white robes, every detail immaculate. A jade coronet bound his white hair, carved with the Jian clan's sigil, the "Wheel of Fate." His bearing was refined, his features somewhat resembling the clan's first patriarch.
Jian Dan confirmed he was the one in authority and thus remained silent, waiting for him to speak.
Jian Mingyong sipped tea before finally saying slowly:
"You may call this old man Mingyong Ancestor."
Jian Dan only smiled. She neither refused nor accepted, quietly waiting.
"What you, Jian Lu Xiaoyou, said about the increase of spiritual qi is true. That is why you came to remind us, so our Jian clan can prepare early."
"Yes."
"Good. At least you still think of your bloodline."
"Ming Yong Zhēnzūn, I came here for two reasons. First, to warn you. Second, to seek alliance. When the insect race invades, I hope the Jian clan will fight alongside us."
"Only that?"
"Only that."
"As allies of the Heavenly Sword Sect, the Jian clan will resist the insects. But what benefit will you gain?"
"Only if we destroy every last invading insect and return peace to Lingyun Continent will the ascension channels reopen. What I seek is nothing less than ascension itself."
Jian Mingyong studied Jian Dan's cultivation. He said nothing aloud, but in his heart he nodded in recognition.
She stood already at the peak of early Unity, ready to break through at any time. At her current pace, within a mere eight hundred to a thousand years, she would surely surpass the bottleneck and ascend.
And throughout all of this, she had never once mentioned rejoining the Jian clan. Her gaze had long been set on the higher realms.
Jian Mingyong coughed softly, about to ask about her cultivation method, when Jian Dan moved first. She produced a jade slip of the highest grade, capable of storing vast amounts of information securely.
Her eyes narrowed. The jade slip floated up from her palm. With her divine sense she inscribed the "Wheel of Fate," then sealed it with chaotic spiritual power. The once-lustrous slip dulled, but continued to rotate slowly above her hand.
The entire hall watched in curiosity. When the seal was complete, Jian Dan sent the jade slip drifting toward Ming Yong and Ming Di.
"This is the cultivation method I practice, the Primordial Chaos Art. You claim it belongs to the Jian clan. Very well, I gift it back to you. Only those of chaotic spiritual root, who share my bloodline and cultivate this very art, can break the seal."
The two Zhēnzūn frowned, but behind them Jian Shangxi and the others could not hide their joy. With a complete technique, they now had the hope of ascension.
Having finished, Jian Dan brushed her sleeve lightly and bowed to the two at the head.
"Jian Lu has intruded long enough. Might I borrow your clan's teleportation array? We must return to the Heavenly Sword Sect."
Ming Di and Ming Yong exchanged glances. In the end, Ming Yong said to Jian Shangxi:
"Shang Xi, escort our honored guests of the Heavenly Sword Sect to the clan's teleportation array."
"Yes, Ancestor. Esteemed guests, please follow me."
Jian Dan and her fellow disciples rose, saluted the two Zhēnzūn, and departed.
The two elders watched their figures vanish before speaking.
"Elder Brother, are you truly not going to keep her?"
Ming Yong Zhēnzūn drew the sealed jade slip into his hand. He studied the seal for a long time, then sighed.
"She is indeed the direct-line heir. Her inheritance is complete. Did you not sense the fluctuation of her power? We may well need to rely on her in the future. It would be unwise to force her hand."
Ming Di's smile faded. He pressed further:
"Why? With our combined strength, why could we not keep her?"
Ming Yong looked at his younger brother with helplessness, wondering where his usual shrewdness had gone.
"Did you see the pendant at her brow? Within it lies a sealed power that could annihilate our entire clan grounds."