Inside a private room facing the street on the second floor of the Xianlai Inn, Jian Dan was recounting to Senior Sister Jian Jing her experiences in the Purple-rank Secret Realm. She explained the origin of those black stones and also mentioned the "Obsidian Bracelet" she had refined.
Jian Jing and Jian Po listened intently. Neither of them had entered the Purple-rank Secret Realm at the time and had only heard of the events afterward.
"From what you said, Junior Sister, it sounds like the Purple-rank Secret Realm was attacked by insect races."
"Yes. At first I wasn't sure, but when the black-armored insects appeared, that confirmed it."
"That must have been dangerous."
Jian Po parted her cherry lips and added softly.
"It truly was. Fortunately, it was the highest-level Purple-rank Secret Realm that was attacked. The realm's self-protection activated, ejecting us all and forcefully sealing the space. That was the only reason the insect race didn't take the chance to invade."
A moment of silence fell. All three knew that the two-hundred-year deadline hung over them like a raised sword, slowly descending. When it struck, war would begin.
"Enough of this." Jian Jing waved her hand, ending the heavy topic.
"Cultivation is defying the heavens. Since Lingyun Continent faces this tribulation, we will face it head-on." Her voice was steady and resolute. She turned to the two of them, her gaze firm.
"Jian Lu, you are the fastest-progressing female cultivator I've ever seen. In two hundred years, you must push yourself. If you can reach Mahayana, we will have one more formidable force.
As for you, Jian Po, you are the future head of the Discipline Hall. You must at least reach Void Refinement, or your Master will not pass the position to you."
"Yes, I will follow Senior Sister's command!"
Jian Dan responded with a smile. This was her goal already.
"Yes, Zūnshàng. I will not disappoint you or Master."
"Senior Brother Jian Mao and I have decided. Everyone in the 'Heaven's Judgment' squad will strive to break through to Mahayana. Every increase in strength counts."
Jian Jing spoke plainly, making no attempt to hide this from Jian Dan. After all, Jian Dan was the head of the Battle Hall. In times to come, they would all be mobilized under sect orders.
"Good! Then let's hope for a smooth breakthrough for us all!" Jian Dan raised her teacup with a hearty laugh.
Jian Jing and Jian Po followed suit, lifting their cups. The three women drank the fragrant spirit tea together, then continued chatting about cultivation anecdotes.
But the noise from below interrupted their conversation.
From their window-side room, they glanced down to see a group of ten surrounding a young male cultivator, wary of his escape and pressing him for answers.
The ten were no weaklings. The strongest was at late Divine Soul, and the weakest was late Nascent Soul. The besieged man was only at early Divine Transformation, unable to break free of their encirclement.
"Why are the city guards not intervening?"
Jian Po was surprised. Cities under Heavenly Sword Sect's jurisdiction did not tolerate such displays of power.
Jian Dan, however, had already guessed the reason. She said to the two, "They simply don't understand the rules here."
In the distance, a squad of city guards had been alerted and was rushing over.
Jian Dan rose, moved to the window, and called to the leader among the ten below. "Hao Meng!"
Hao Meng looked up immediately at the voice, spotting a female cultivator at the second-floor window of the Xianlai Inn. His lips twitched when he recognized her. He had just walked into trouble.
He quickly put on a respectful smile and prepared to bow, but Jian Dan waved him off and ordered,
"Bring your people upstairs."
Hao Meng also noticed the approaching city guards. He gestured to his men and led them swiftly into the inn.
Shopkeeper Wan had already heard the voice of the female cultivator upstairs. Seeing the group enter, he dared not delay and led them to the second floor.
The captured male cultivator struggled harder, but with his dantian sealed by Hao Meng, he was as powerless as a mortal.
Hao Meng, ever cautious, left four men at the door before bringing the prisoner and the rest into Jian Dan's private room.
"Nine Fiends Hall's Hao Meng greets Jian Lu Zhēnzūn!"
"Mm."
Jian Dan acknowledged him coolly, sweeping her gaze over the captured man before speaking.
"Explain."
Once inside, Hao Meng regretted things slightly. There were no weaklings beside Jian Lu Zhēnzūn. These three could subdue him and his men easily.
But he had done nothing wrong this time. In fact, this was a small victory: he had finally captured the one who framed him.
So Hao Meng steadied himself and began explaining. However, his guards outside were already clashing verbally with the city guards. Even through the barrier, their voices carried in.
"Jian Po, go dismiss the city guards."
"Yes, Zunshan."
At Jian Jing's word, Jian Po lifted the restriction and stepped outside to settle the dispute.
Meanwhile, Kong Xingkun, who had been tailing them, entered the inn with his subordinates.
Jian Po merely flashed her Heavenly Sword Sect token at the guards and said quietly,
"Zūnzūn will handle this. Go about your duties and keep this quiet."
"Yes, understood."
Realizing a high-ranking cultivator from the Heavenly Sword Sect was involved, the city guards withdrew promptly, crossing paths with Kong Xingkun's group on the stairs.
Kong Xingkun, noticing their retreat, grew more curious about the three female cultivators and cast a probing glance toward their private room.
All he saw was Jian Po's back as she returned inside, and the four guards at the door glaring at him like they would pluck out his eyes if he stared too long.
He was shrewd enough to understand. If even the guards were Nascent Soul and Divine Transformation, their mistress was no weaker than himself. He couldn't yet determine the relationship between these three and this group of men. For now, he would wait for his subordinates to gather more information before making a move.
He turned to Shopkeeper Wan. "Shopkeeper, I want a window-side private room and some fine pastries."
"Yes, Senior. Please follow me. You're lucky, this is the last window-side room today."
Kong Xingkun led his men into another room, and the Nine Fiends Hall members finally relaxed their vigilance.
Inside Jian Dan's room, Hao Meng explained their reason for being here.
"Zūnzūn, I led Nine Fiends Hall disciples, tracking a trail all the way here. We finally cornered him. To extract more information, we refrained from killing him outright, which is why he's alive." Hao Meng glared fiercely at the prisoner. If not for the need to keep him alive, this man would have been ashes long ago.
Jian Dan chuckled. She believed Hao Meng. Back at the Chimei Mountain Range, he had already been attacking her spatial domain.
For him and his disciples to appear there at that time was a remarkable coincidence. That location was remote, barren, and devoid of valuable spiritual treasures. High-tier beasts didn't even claim it, which was likely why the Heavenly Demon Palace's searches had missed it.
"If what you say is true, this man must know something important."
"Yes, otherwise he wouldn't be fleeing." Hao Meng's answer was crisp.
"In that case, leave the interrogation to specialists."