Jian Dan's reply left Qian Wanguan laughing for quite a while. Just a few short sentences, yet they revealed much.
Jian Lu Zūnshàng had admitted she understood music, and that she had merely trapped Qing Rui Zhēnzūn without striking a killing blow, only withdrawing afterward.
Yet she also wrote that cultivating a Mahayana Zhēnzūn was no easy feat for the Loose Cultivator Alliance, and that such a figure should display their strength on the battlefield, not be harmed over a sword even she herself could not use.
This was, in a roundabout way, an admission that she could injure Qing Rui Zhēnzūn, only that she chose not to.
"Dao Ren, did you see? This is the skill of Jian Lu Zūnshàng. How beautifully phrased! You should learn from this."
"Yes, Master. This disciple will remember."
"I heard you went to the Heavenly Sword Sect this time and spent all your spirit stones on the arena matches. Did you gain anything from it?"
Qian Wanguan waved his folding fan, the kind he used mostly for appearances, and asked.
Dao Ren's dark face broke into a smile, eyes shining, not the least distressed over the lost spirit stones.
"Master, this time I gained greatly. I plan to take on a few more missions, then go into seclusion to attempt breaking through to the Divine Soul stage."
Qian Wanguan's smile widened further. "Do you have confidence?"
"There should be no problem!" Dao Ren answered firmly, then explained, "In my duels with the sword cultivators of the Heavenly Sword Sect, I found similarities between blade and sword arts. That insight gave me new understanding, so my chances have grown."
"Good! Then spend this period consolidating yourself. Prepare thoroughly before you go into seclusion."
"Yes, Master."
The next day, Qian Wanguan sent his men to visit Qing Rui Zhēnzūn, carrying only a single message: "Jian Lu Zūnshàng understands music."
After that, he went off in high spirits to handle Loose Cultivator Alliance affairs.
Heavenly Sword Sect, Tianming Peak
After leaving the Law Enforcement Hall, Qi Hua flew directly to Tianming Peak, presented her sword token, and made her way straight to Jian Feng's cave dwelling.
Ever since the day the "Everlasting Heart Knot" manifested, Jian Feng had been restless. He wanted to send word to Mo Su, but when they had left in haste, they had never exchanged message talismans or jade slips.
"Zūnzhě, Qi Hua from the Law Enforcement Hall requests an audience," reported his attendant.
"Please, let her in."
Qi Hua entered the sparsely decorated cave dwelling, where a silver-haired Jian Feng greeted her.
"Junior Sister, you've come to find me? Did Zūnshàng send you?" Jian Feng asked first.
Qi Hua frowned slightly at the sight of his silver hair, then, without circling around, handed him a black transmission jade slip.
"This is from Zūnshàng, personally brought back to the sect. She instructed me to deliver it today."
Jian Feng paused, then received the slip bearing the Heavenly Demon Palace's insignia. Upon reading it, he finally understood why his "Everlasting Heart Knot" had reacted days before, and secretly sighed in relief.
Confirming that the other party was unharmed, Jian Feng simply inscribed two words on the slip: "Understood," and sent it back.
On the other side, Mo Su finally received a reply on the third day. Learning Jian Feng was well, the weight in his heart eased at last.
Mo Yi, at his side, had already noticed how Mo Su had been staring constantly at a single jade slip these past days. Seeing his relieved expression, Mo Yi's grin turned sly. He decided that as soon as he left Moyan Peak, he would go find Senior Sister Mo Qi and gossip about it.
"Martial Uncle Jian Feng, now you can rest easy?"
Hearing Qi Hua's form of address, Jian Feng's stern features froze briefly. Then he retrieved a jade bottle and handed it to her.
"Please convey my thanks to Zūnshàng for her care. This is what I promised her—please deliver it to her for me."
Qi Hua glanced at the sealed white jade bottle, stowed it into her storage bracelet, and asked:
"Zūnshàng also told me to check on your cultivation. Is your realm stable? She likely means to assign you to Law Enforcement Hall missions."
"My cultivation is solid. Recently I've been preparing to reforge my life-bound sword. Once I raise its grade, I'll be ready for assignments."
"Good. I'll report to Zūnshàng."
Then Qi Hua, unable to hold back her curiosity, began circling questions about his silver hair and his ties with the Heavenly Demon Palace's Mo Su. Jian Feng, unused to conversation, especially with female cultivators, found himself at a loss.
Because of his physique, he had always kept his distance from women. Qi Hua was one of the very few with whom he could converse at all.
Bold and forthright by nature, Qi Hua had always thought highly of this Junior Brother. Though her years in the Law Enforcement Hall had made her steadier, her love for gossip hadn't vanished. Not wanting to rely on rumors, she preferred asking the person directly.
Having satisfied her curiosity, Qi Hua returned to the Law Enforcement Hall, leaving Jian Feng's face tinged faintly pink.
Law Enforcement Hall
"Zūnshàng, the jade slip has been delivered. This is what Jian Feng asked me to give you."
Qi Hua respectfully presented the jade bottle. Jian Dan's divine sense swept over it and instantly understood what it held.
It was the "True Dragon Blood Essence" Jian Feng had promised Mo Yue, a chance gained in the Chengli Secret Realm. This was repayment for Mo Yue gifting him the "Meteoric Iron from Beyond the Heavens."
Jian Dan smiled faintly and accepted the gift with a wave of her sleeve. She truly needed this.
With it, she could advance her "Ice Jade Demon Body Art" to the late Bone Tempering stage during her next breakthrough. The combination with the True Dragon Blood Essence would greatly strengthen her foundation.
That way, when she ventured into the spatial rift in search of Hall Master Jian Jun, her odds would be far higher.
For now, she needed to handle the backlog of affairs in the Law Enforcement Hall before considering further matters.
"Sigh! Even advancing a realm requires picking an auspicious day!" Jian Dan said helplessly. She then habitually pulled out another message talisman to send her daily report:
"Senior Brother Jian Li, when will you come out of seclusion? I have not sent messages these past few days because I was away on sect missions."
The three subordinates standing below all twitched at the corners of their mouths. Their Zūnshàng was truly persistent. They wondered if Jian Li Zūnshàng's ears burned from being mentioned so often.
The following morning, as the sun rose in the east, Jian Dan left the Law Enforcement Hall and flew back to her cave dwelling.
As her light descended, Lü Se stepped forward and saluted.
"Zūnshàng, yesterday the Lan Xiao Clan's patriarch came, saying he would visit today. Do you have time to receive him?"
Jian Dan guessed his intent and nodded. "Today I will not go to the Law Enforcement Hall. Invite the Patriarch Lan Xiao to meet me."
"Yes. He left a message talisman. Shall I send word now, or wait until you've rested?"
"Send it now. He has waited long enough and must be anxious to return to his clan grounds. We should not waste his time."
"As expected of Zūnshàng's thoughtful consideration. I will send word at once."
After Lü Se sent the message, he accompanied Jian Dan beneath the banyan tree in front of her cave. Yun Juan and Yun Shu set out spirit fruit and tea before withdrawing quietly.
"Zūnshàng, the message I carried back to the clan has been delivered by my uncle Lü Mingyi. The Ancestor instructed me to thank you for your care. The Lü Clan will always stand at Zūnshàng's side, following your command."
This was a formal pledge of loyalty. Lü Se's words were weighty and solemn.
"Good. I will remember this. You serve as my chief steward, bearing my mark now. You and your clan must work even harder to earn more for yourselves."
"Yes, I understand Zūnshàng's intention," Lü Se replied with gravity.
He thought back to when he first met her, when he had only been in the Qi Refining stage. A mere century later, he was already a Divine Transformation cultivator.
People in his clan all said he was lucky, but Lü Se always believed his greatest fortune was meeting Zūnshàng. As long as he remained in the Heavenly Sword Sect, he would always have her protection.
The morning breeze carried warmth as Jian Dan half-closed her eyes, savoring a rare moment of tranquility beneath the rising sun.
Lü Se stood silently nearby until a tall figure appeared in the distance. He stepped forward and quietly announced:
"Zūnshàng, the Patriarch Lan Xiao has arrived."
Jian Dan opened her bright eyes and smiled. "Please, invite him in."