"How could there be no record? Did they not leave information in the jade toad at the city gate?"
Lan Yi looked troubled. "The cultivators at the gate would not let me inspect it."
"Give them more spirit stones."
"I did. It was useless."
Kong Xingkun frowned. Seeing his Young Master's expression, Lan Yi hurried to add, "Young Master, I think those three female cultivators have a background. With your status, it should not be this hard to check. So perhaps..."
"No need to remind me. I saw cultivators from Nine Fiends Hall meet them. They are being watched, yet no one dares to act."
"Then what is Young Master's plan?"
"I only wanted a concubine or two, not trouble. We will watch first." Kong Xingkun was no fool. He would not invite disaster for a few women.
Every word exchanged between Kong Xingkun and Lan Yi was clearly heard by Jian Dan. The restriction around their private room was meaningless before her Mahayana great perfection Primordial Soul.
Jian Dan snorted inwardly and ordered Jian Po, "Jian Po, take my sword token to the city guards. Tell them that without my permission, Kong Xingkun's group is not to leave Tianquan City. I will deal with Liuli's matter first, then I will deal with them."
Jian Po accepted Jian Dan's sword token and could not help asking, "Zūnshàng, what are they plotting?"
"He wants to take the three of us as concubines." Jian Dan's tone was mocking.
Jian Po's peach blossom eyes sharpened at once. Even Jian Jing let out a cold laugh.
"Such nerve." Jian Jing's voice was ice.
"Zūnshàng, shall I eliminate him directly?" Jian Po was straightforward.
"His people have been probing our background. Today it was that one called Lan Yi who asked around."
Jian Po immediately understood Jian Dan's meaning. "The backgrounds of two Zūnshàngs are not something a mere Nascent Soul can pry into. I know what to do."
"Good. Keep the noise small."
Jian Po nodded, first tidying the two Zūnshàngs' rooms and setting everything in order, then returning to her own.
Shopkeeper Wan had good sense. When arranging the courtyard, Feixian Pavilion was set with three independent rooms, side by side, private yet convenient for meeting at any time.
The garden was delicately laid out. A small bridge over running water, spirit plants rising and falling in clever patterns by orientation. The spiritual aura was fairly rich. It could not compare to the inner peaks of Heavenly Sword Sect, but it was worth the spirit stones.
When traveling, Jian Dan rarely cultivated. It was a habit. She took out the half-finished formation disk for an illusion array that she had been studying.
Senior Sister Jian Jing had suggested refining a treasure directly. The reminder had inspired Jian Dan, and she was already designing it. Her preliminary idea was a cube, made of twenty-six small spaces, connected by a three-dimensional cross at the center.
The twenty-six small spaces would be trial grounds, divided into three difficulty tiers for each of the nine cultivation realms, early, middle, and late. Pass one test to enter the next. If you are killed in combat, you drop one tier. Fail three times and the cube ejects you.
Jian Dan drew the schematics first, then considered materials. With the Ancestor's legacy "Refining," she had a clear advantage here.
Before sunrise, Jian Po slipped out of the courtyard and returned after the time of one incense stick.
At daybreak, Jian Dan left her room. Jian Po stepped forward to report, "Zūnshàng, that Lan Yi has been dealt with. They will discover it soon."
"Good. Keep track of their movements. Do not let them grow wary and slip away."
"Be at ease, Zūnshàng. I have already briefed the city guards of Tianquan City."
Jian Dan nodded and turned to visit Jian Jing. She shared her refining concept. Jian Jing was intrigued, finding the design fresh and clever. They discussed materials in detail.
Then Jian Jing produced the black stones they had purchased in the southern market yesterday. With a casual squeeze she crushed the outer layer of patina, revealing the pure, pitch-black stone beneath.
She set it on her palm and scorched it with fire. In moments the black stone melted into a black liquid, impurities separating under the flame.
Jian Dan sensed the faint, special energy dispersing into the air. It was not absorbed by Senior Sister Jian Jing, and Jian Jing did not seem to notice its presence.
Seeing the two Zūnshàngs exchanging insights on refining, Jian Po did not interrupt and waited quietly in the courtyard.
Jian Jing stored the refined black liquid separately and took out another piece to continue. At that moment, the courtyard restriction rippled.
Jian Po waved a hand to open it and admitted Jin Liuli, whose expression was less than pleasant.
"Liuli, did it not go well?" Jian Po's peach blossom eyes lifted as she asked.
"I spent a great deal of words to persuade the Patriarch. He asks that the two Zūnshàngs come to the Jin residence at once."
Jin Liuli rubbed her brow and followed Jian Po into Jian Jing Zūnshàng's room.
"Since he has agreed, we will see the Patriarch first." Jian Jing put away the materials and addressed them.
Jian Po's beautiful eyes turned slightly as she said to the two Zūnshàngs, "Zūnshàngs, we should not simply walk over. That would not fit our image as eminent seniors."
"What do you suggest?" Jian Dan understood what Jian Po meant and smiled.
"Do the Zūnshàngs have any high-grade conveyance treasures?"
Jian Dan thought of the golden chariot she used in Heavenly Demon Palace, but that could not be used here. It would reveal another identity.
Jian Jing thought for a moment and shook her head. "Let us keep it simple. Appearing directly is faster and shows strength."
Jian Dan lowered her head with a soft laugh. This was indeed the style of Heavenly Sword Sect sword cultivators, cutting through pretense.
Jian Po's lips twitched. She looked to Jian Dan, but Jian Dan had already risen and said to Jian Po and Jin Liuli,
"Senior Sister is right. The direct way is best."
Jian Jing found this junior sister perfectly in tune with her.
The four stepped into the courtyard. Jian Jing flicked her sleeve, and they vanished. They reappeared in the study of the Jin Family Head.
The Patriarch started, then looked up and saw Jin Liuli. He immediately barked, "Liuli, how dare you intrude into the study?"
"Enough. Do not practice your voice here. If not for Liuli's plea, you would never see us in your lifetime." Jian Dan disliked people who could not read a room. Since Liuli had already explained the situation, why put on airs now? Was this a move to put her guests in their place and force them to retreat?
Her way had always been simple. If others respect me a foot, I return a yard. To a Family Head who showed no respect, she would not be polite.
Jian Dan released her Mahayana pressure for a breath and withdrew it. The Jin Patriarch froze where he stood, sweat beading on his brow, unable to speak.
Jin Liuli was angry as well. She had acted for her aunt, but had also considered the clan's interests. The Patriarch clearly disliked her interference and only grudgingly agreed to meet the people she found.
Now she was sure he never intended to use their help. To scold her in front of guests was to make them lose face, hoping they would retreat on their own.
"Senior, please quell your anger. It is Jin's failure in teaching his descendant."