On the way to the Enforcement Hall's main chamber, Jin Liu Li smiled as she spoke to Jian Dan about the past few days at the Hall:
"Zūnshàng, you don't know, Jian Li Zūnshàng hasn't left the Law Enforcement Hall's main chamber for the past three days."
Jian Dan smiled lightly and said,
"Senior Brother Jian Li just returned, he will definitely need some time to get familiar with the progress of all the previous affairs. This is worth mentioning."
"Zūnshàng, you don't know."
Liu Li lowered her voice slightly before continuing,
"All the affairs you handled are progressing normally, with almost daily developments. Senior Brother Jian Li was only reviewing routine Hall matters. His decision-making speed is a bit slow, so it took him quite a lot of time."
After hearing this, Jian Dan immediately understood. It was probably because each sub-Hall had grown accustomed to her usual pace of handling affairs, and they reported according to that rhythm. Jian Li simply had not adapted yet.
"So, you could help a little more. Did you ask me to come just for this?"
"Zūnshàng, you wrong me. I wouldn't dare. It was Senior Brother Jian Li who invited you over to discuss something."
"Fine! I'll trust you this once."
Law Enforcement Hall Main Chamber
"Senior Brother, what urgent matter brings you to summon me?"
Jian Dan entered the chamber with a serene smile, addressing Jian Li, who was seated at the Chief's position.
Jian Li still held a jade slip in his hand, while Wei Zhengrong beside him quietly reported something. Upon seeing Jian Dan, they immediately stopped.
"Zheng Rong pays respects to Zūnshàng!"
"Junior Sister, I didn't intend to trouble you with this, but to be safe, I still need to ask."
Jian Li gestured for Jian Dan to sit.
"Senior Brother, please go ahead."
Jian Dan, without any burden, relaxed as she gently swayed her round fan, radiating the calm assurance that she had time and would provide a satisfactory answer.
Seeing this, Jian Li did not hesitate and got straight to the point:
"For the newly appeared insectoid hybrids, do you intend to use poison against them?"
"Yes. These 'blood insects' are formed from the fusion of foreign insectoid creatures and native evil cultivators' blood sacs. They have only appeared recently and have likely not reached perfect fusion yet, so poison might be an effective method."
Jian Li listened carefully and nodded at his Junior Sister's analysis. After all, new phenomena require a period of development before evolving into more perfect and well-adapted forms in the cultivation world.
"In terms of poison, the Jin family excels. That is why I instructed Liu Li to summon her aunt to Tianjian Sect. Once here, I will persuade her to develop a poison specifically designed to counter these 'blood insects.'"
Jian Li understood, though he still felt slightly uneasy about using poison.
"Senior Brother, our opponents will spare no means. To invade the cultivation world, they have already started fusion under our noses. Why limit ourselves to certain methods? To me, eliminating the invaders is the ultimate goal."
"Junior Sister is right. I admit I am being too rigid."
"Then, once Liu Li has summoned her aunt, you will take the lead. Is that feasible?"
"Good."
Jian Dan agreed immediately. After all, this plan was hers. Its success was uncertain, so it could only be considered an attempt.
With a gentle smile, Jian Dan continued, "Senior Brother, do you have any other questions?"
"The mineral veins in the Chonglin Mountains. The top-grade, high-grade, and mid-grade spirit stones have basically been mined. What remains are low-grade stones. I plan to withdraw the high-level mineral-protection cultivators."
"Then let Senior Brother decide."
"The reply from Purple Sky Sect has not arrived yet. Do you still insist on inspecting that spatial rift?"
The topic shifted quickly, but Jian Dan responded without hesitation, nodding.
"Junior Sister, your efficiency in handling Hall affairs surpasses mine. These past few days, I've been a bit flustered."
Jian Li placed a jade slip back on the desk, complaining softly.
"Senior Brother mocks me. Surely it is because you just emerged from seclusion and haven't fully adjusted. In a few days, everything will flow naturally."
Jian Dan smoothed her tone carefully. She could not allow him to have any excuse to pull her back to assist. If that happened, she might even challenge him to a duel. Perhaps her own advancement would proceed more smoothly.
"Junior Sister, when do you plan to enter seclusion for advancement?"
"Once I have conditioned my two disciples' bodies, I will enter seclusion."
"What about the War Hall?"
"Simultaneously. I am preparing a special training session for them."
Hearing this, Jian Li's interest was piqued. He asked, "Will you personally participate?"
"Yes. For the seven team leaders, I will intervene directly. The other team members will enter the trial illusion."
"I heard yesterday that your illusion is very realistic, with great practical value. Have you considered turning it into a formation array for use in the Law Enforcement Hall?"
Jian Li suggested this. Strengthening the sect's combat power was what he valued most.
Jian Dan then understood. Jian Li had taken quite a detour, but this was his actual focus.
"I have no objections. Regarding the formation array's design, please allow me a few days to study it."
"Then Junior Sister, I owe you thanks."
"Senior Brother is too polite."
Yin-Yang Mountains
Du Yanran wore another's face as she moved through Yin-Yang Gate, then accepted a team assignment and traveled with her eight-person group into the Yin-Yang Mountains.
A few Nascent Soul cultivators in the squad were discussing the recent battle against evil cultivators in the outer seas of Cloud Sea Sect.
Du Yanran kept a low profile, listening silently. When the name "Yin Zhengchuan" surfaced, she fell slightly behind in reaction.
"Junior Sister, stay close. Don't fall behind. We have entered the inner mountain region."
"Yes. Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother."
Du Yanran lowered her gaze, replied, and caught up with the group while inquiring discreetly about Yin Zhengchuan.
"Senior Brother, the Yin Zhengchuan you mentioned—is he a Cloud Sea Sect cultivator? If he is already confirmed as an evil cultivator, why not eliminate him directly?"
"Did Junior Sister think Jian Lu Zūnshàng of Tianjian Sect did not intervene? He was just blocked by Cloud Sea Sect's higher-level cultivators."
Du Yanran pressed on, "Would Tianjian Sect's cultivators give up? They must want to eradicate him completely, right?"
"Jian Lu Zūnshàng of Tianjian Sect has a sense of grace. Even being blocked, she did not lose her temper. She simply explained the relationships of power. In the end, Cloud Sea Sect's Yun Yun Zhēnzūn detained her."
Du Yanran's heart brightened. "How were things handled afterward? That Yin Daoyou?"
"That, we do not know. All we know from Cloud Sea Sect is that Yin Zhengchuan was reported dead, his Dao ended."
"Dead…"
Du Yanran murmured under her breath.
In her previous life, Yin Zhengchuan had been her greatest supporter and loyal companion, ultimately helping her eliminate Jian Dan and ascend alongside her.
But in this life, she had never met Yin Zhengchuan, and yet he perished. Anger flared in Du Yanran's heart. She knew one wrong step led to a cascade of mistakes. All the way, an invisible hand had been severing her resources and escape routes with ease.
What she did not know was that Jian Dan had already acted, removing most of the evil spirits from Yin Zhengchuan. Although he was alive, he would forever live in his clan's land in constant terror of being replaced by evil spirits. This was Jian Dan's punishment.
Meanwhile, Hua Xi and Hua Le were rapidly approaching Du Yanran's group. The big hand was slowly stretching toward them.