The Jian family in the lower realm had, by the end, dwindled down to single-line inheritance. In order to leave the lower realm, Jian Dan's mother had even abandoned the man she loved, all for the sake of giving birth to a child whose bloodline might one day escape.
Jian Dan could easily imagine how strong this obsession had been. For the Jian family, leaving the lower realm had already become a fixation. Her mother, Jian Rou, seemed to have known some deeper truth. That was why she endured an unhappy marriage, left behind the scheming capital, and even distanced herself from the Jian clan.
She wanted Jian Dan to grow up in a relatively clean environment, free from the crushing expectations of the family. It was only because of this that, in her previous life, Jian Dan suffered setbacks when she finally went to her father.
Although she could not resist fate in the end and was forced to embark on the path of cultivation, without her mother or family by her side, she had no guidance. She could only feel her way forward blindly. That was why she had shared her cultivation opportunity with Du Yanran and, unknowingly, buried a seed of calamity for herself.
In this life, Jian Dan had been reborn with her memories, or perhaps she had merely awakened from a long dream. Even after waking, the truth remained the same: her mother had left before her, yet she had plotted tirelessly for her daughter's sake. Still, she never once told Jian Dan what burden the Jian family carried.
At first, Jian Dan had believed it was merely the Jian clan's obsession with entering the cultivation world. But now, she sensed there was another reason. Otherwise, the Jian clan of the cultivation realm would not have sought her out again and again.
Leaning against her bed of eternal cold ice, Jian Dan closed her eyes in deep thought.
The Jian clan numbered around twenty thousand, including both cultivators and mortals. This was what she had seen in their territory. And not every Jian cultivator was born with the chaotic spirit root.
At the very least, the two Zhēnzūn she had seen, Ming Yong and Ming Di, clearly did not possess it. From the fluctuations of their spiritual power alone, she had already determined that.
Yet they were still obsessed with their Primordial Chaos Art. The reason Jian Dan could so easily open the entrance to the Jian territory was precisely because she had used chaotic spiritual power to form the Wheel of Fate.
Back then, she had not even been sure if it would work. She was only trying her luck, guided by something unseen.
The result was that she had indeed entered the clan's territory, confirming her as a true-blood descendant. From then on, every verbal probe and test was merely a game of tug-of-war. Both sides sought something from the other.
Jian Dan understood this well. Since the Jian clan could not explain matters to her now, she would ascend to the upper realm and search for the answer herself. She refused to remain passive.
If not for the looming war two hundred years later, Jian Dan felt she might have already stormed the Jian clan's territory and turned everything upside down. Only her years of cultivation and tempering had taught her restraint.
Meanwhile, far from Jian Dan, Yue Liang had returned to Medicine Peak. After reporting to the Ancestor and Xing Xing, she first shared her good news: she had finally aided her Zūnshàng in eradicating the raccoon clan's hidden enemy.
"Yue Liang, you've worked hard. This time, you carried the hopes of the entire clan when you fought alone," the Raccoon Beast Ancestor said, stroking her head with emotion.
"This time, it was Zūnshàng who bore the greatest burden," Yue Liang said earnestly. "When I returned to the sect, the very first thing I did was bring word back to the clan. Also, regarding our return to the beast clans, Zūnshàng personally spoke with the Lang XIao patriarch, who attended the succession ceremony."
"What did they say, Yue Liang?" the Ancestor asked.
Yue Liang sat on a stone bench and recounted everything about Jian Dan's meeting with the Lang Xiao patriarch in detail. At the end, she added, "Zūnshàng said that returning to the beast clan is no small matter. She asked me to come back and consult with Ancestor and the clan. She has already paved the way. The choice is ours to make."
"Mmm. Jian Lu Zūnshàng is indeed thorough. She fears that if we return rashly, we may face rejection or bullying. After all, our clan has been apart from the beast territories for nearly a thousand years," the Ancestor said, stroking the whitening hairs of his beard as he looked at Yue Liang and Xing Xing.
Yue Liang twitched her furry ears and added, "Ancestor, in truth, Zūnshàng hopes we will return, because she said that two hundred years from now, when the insects invade, the Heavenly Sword Sect will be the battlefield. She does not want us caught in the crossfire."
Xing Xing, unable to hold back, immediately said, "But even if we return to the beast territories, won't we still have to resist the insect invasion?"
"Yes, but we would also have the chance for our younger generation to awaken the unique talent skills of our clan," Yue Liang countered.
"This…" Xing Xing faltered, unable to argue, though he muttered softly, "But they might not awaken anything."
The Raccoon Beast Ancestor listened to the two youngsters argue, smiling without interrupting. Xing Xing was already the new clan leader. Though his cultivation was not as high as Yue Liang's, he was fulfilling his duties, planning for the clan's future.
As for Yue Liang, though her initial contract with Jian Lu Zūnshàng had been anything but pleasant, Zūnshàng had never once mistreated her. On the contrary, she had shown great care. The armband Yue Liang wore, given during her last return to the clan, was proof enough.
With such outstanding juniors, how could the raccoon clan not rise again?
"Ancestor, what is your decision?" the two asked at last, turning their eyes to him.
"My view is this. Since Zūnshàng has already paved the way, I will take some of the expectant clansfolk to the beast territories and see if they can awaken our clan's innate talents," the Ancestor said.
Xingxing looked troubled, about to speak, but the Ancestor cut him off. "Xingxing, you will remain at the Heavenly Sword Sect, holding the fort. When I have secured our footing among the beast clans, I will summon you. We must also use these two hundred years to train the younger generation well."
"If we receive the beast clan's favor, then we must fight when the time comes. That is only right. The pity is that time is so short."
The Ancestor sighed. Beast cultivators advanced slowly, that was an unchangeable truth. Yue Liang was the exception only because of her equal-contract with a human cultivator. That contract had lifted her forward, which was why she now stood where she did.
"Ancestor, we understand. We will work hard," both juniors replied in unison.
Yue Liang flicked her fluffy tail, then said softly, "Ancestor, when the war comes, I must fight beside Zūnshàng. The clan…"
"Do not worry. Both in sentiment and in reason, you must fight with Zūnshàng. The clan still has me and Xing Xing. You need not bear that burden," the Ancestor said, knowing her heart. If she were forced to leave Zūnshàng's side then, she would only suffer guilt. Better to relieve her now.
"Good. I will inform Zūnshàng. The clan can begin preparing," Yue Liang said.
Thus, the decision was made. The raccoon clan would return to the beast clans. Yue Liang remained in the clan for three more days, helping Xing Xing explain matters, pack resources, and busy herself with preparations.
Meanwhile, Qing Rui Zhēnzūn had broken through the trapping formation Jian Dan left behind and returned to the Loose Cultivator Alliance. The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became. He ordered one of his disciples, "Summon Elder Qian. I must question him."
The disciple was surprised but obeyed.
Qian Wanguan, along with Dao Ren, had only recently returned from the Heavenly Sword Sect. He was still regretting having missed the great battle against the evil cultivators. Even though he and Dao Ren had rushed as fast as they could, they only managed to sweep up scraps.
Back in the Loose Cultivator Alliance, the master-disciple pair had been studying the battle records in a jade slip when Qing Rui Zhēnzūn's disciple came to summon them.
Touching his smooth chin with a grin, Qian Wanguan dismissed the messenger and then turned to Dao Ren. "Qing Rui Zhēnzūn never looked highly on me. Why would he suddenly summon me now?"
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