Jian Dan showed no courtesy. She swept the Jin Patriarch from the main seat and said to Jian Jing,"Senior Sister, please take the seat of honor."
Jian Jing did not spare the fallen Patriarch a glance. She stepped forward and sat at the head.
The commotion drew the Jin clan's Ancestor, who entered the study to see the Patriarch struggling to rise and Jin Liuli with tightly pressed lips, her expression poor.
The white-robed female cultivator seated above displayed only late Golden Core on the surface. The two standing beside her also appeared to be late Golden Core. But Ancestor Jin knew full well that the Mahayana might that had just flooded from the study belonged to one of these three. Clearly, they were suppressing their cultivation.
From the moment Jin Liuli heard the Ancestor's voice to his arrival took no more than five breaths. She stepped forward and bowed. "Jin Liuli pays respects to Ancestor."
Ancestor Jin wore a dark green robe, his features refined, a faint pill fragrance clinging to him. His cultivation was mid Unity. He nodded. This junior had some promise.
Seeing his pillar arrive, the Patriarch hurried to salute, but a single glance from Ancestor Jin made him lower his head and stand silently to the side.
"Are the three of you Liuli's sect-mates? How should this old man address you?"
Ancestor Jin sat smoothly in a lower seat and asked with courtesy.
"Jian Jing."
"Jian Lu."
"Jian Po."
They gave their dao names in turn. Ancestor Jin returned the salute, mind racing as he searched his memory for news of these three women.
"Ancestor Jin, we came at Jin Liuli's invitation to resolve your clan's difficulty. But it seems the Patriarch does not welcome us." Jian Po's voice, sweet and enchanting, set the stance first. They were invited, not intruders.
Jian Dan smiled. "This is not entirely the Patriarch's fault. Our displayed cultivation is lower than his, so naturally he doubts our ability."
"My mistake," Jian Po said lightly. "Shall we raise our cultivation a bit?"
Her peach blossom eyes blinked innocently toward the two Zūnshàngs.
Maintaining her aloof poise, Jian Jing nodded and lifted her aura to early Unity, then gave Jian Dan a look that said, this should suffice.
Jian Dan nodded and raised her cultivation to late Void Refinement. Jian Po elevated to early Divine Transformation.
In a few breaths, the three changed from low-level to high-level cultivators.
Behind Ancestor Jin, the Patriarch did not dare lift his head now. He had thought Jin Liuli could not invite any true seniors. Yet she had, three of them. For how he had just spoken to Jin Liuli, merely being swept to the floor had been generous. Cold sweat broke across his back.
Ancestor Jin understood even more clearly that they were still holding back. This little play was slapping the Patriarch's face.
He was angry as well. That fool had offended three high-level cultivators of Heavenly Sword Sect. What good could that do the Jin clan? He had never favored this man as Patriarch. He preferred Jin Liuli's aunt, Jin Ai.
But the clan had rejected her, claiming that since she cultivated through poison, she could not inherit the clan's alchemy legacy. Jin Ai had no desire for the position either. Thus the present Patriarch.
"It is my failure in guidance that slighted you three. Please allow Jin to offer an apology."
Ancestor Jin rose to bow, but Jian Jing lifted a hand to stop him. "No matter. Let us speak of business."
A gentle stream of spiritual power eased him back into his seat, confirming the obvious. Their cultivation surpassed his.
With the bearing of a true senior, Jian Jing gestured for Jian Dan to continue. Jian Dan understood and turned to Ancestor Jin.
"Heavenly Sword Sect's Enforcement Hall wishes to recruit Jin Ai to study poisonous dao. However, I hear the Patriarch has already sold her for a handsome price. That simplifies matters. We will purge the poison from Young Master Yao and keep the pact between your two families unchanged. In return, Jin Ai will sever ties with the Jin clan completely."
"Impossible."
The Patriarch's head snapped up, his face twisting as he vetoed at once.
"Silence. Is this a place for you to speak?" Ancestor Jin was angry now. Did he take the Ancestor for air?
A cool blue light flickered across Jian Dan's eyes as she asked faintly, "Why impossible?"
The Patriarch ground his teeth. "I finally drove her out to bury her forever. How could I allow her to live at ease in Heavenly Sword Sect?"
His words made the long-silent Jin Liuli stare at him in disbelief. Ancestor Jin's brows knit.
"Did she wrong you?" Jian Dan arched a brow, voice still mild.
"She dared contest the Patriarch position with me. Unforgivable. A poison woman, what right has she to compete?"
"But you are the Patriarch already," Jin Liuli said, her voice trembling.
"Only because she yielded did I become Patriarch. That is my shame."
At his hoarse roar, Jin Liuli took a step back.
Ancestor Jin flicked his sleeve, knocking the Patriarch unconscious.
Blue light flashed again in Jian Dan's eyes, then vanished.
As if nothing awkward had occurred, Jian Dan continued to Ancestor Jin, "Jin Daoyou, what do you think of our proposal?"
Ancestor Jin knew he had no room to refuse today. Had the Patriarch not been rude first, perhaps there would have been leeway. But when the man bared the malice in his heart, even Ancestor Jin felt no urge to shield him.
"The clan is at fault. I, Jin, have ruled poorly and taught without discipline. I have made a laughingstock of us."
His expression was heavy, but he still said, "So long as Jin Ai is willing, I will not stand in the way."
"Good. Jin Daoyou is decisive. We will return to Xianlai Inn. Leave the remaining arrangements to Jin Liuli. Fix a time to visit the Yao residence and come for us."
Jian Dan settled it with a word, then instructed Jin Liuli, "Liuli, explain everything to your aunt clearly. Some chances do not come twice."
"Yes, I understand."
Seeing Jian Dan had tied off the matter, Jian Jing stepped down from the main seat. With a nod to Ancestor Jin, she left the study with Jian Dan and Jian Po.
After the three departed, Ancestor Jin turned to Jin Liuli. "Liuli, tell me all the details from beginning to end."
"Yes, Ancestor."
Ignoring the unconscious Patriarch on the floor, Jin Liuli used the time of one incense stick to explain everything clearly. She also relayed the news that a new type of "blood insect" had entered the cultivation world.
"Ancestor, according to Jian Po Zūnzhě's probe, one new 'blood insect' has already infiltrated into a family cultivator in Tianquan City. Heavenly Sword Sect will order a sweep soon. Because of me, they allowed me to warn our clan first."
Ancestor Jin listened carefully, then asked, "Did you inform the Patriarch?"
"I did, but he did not seem to care. So I invited the Zūnshàngs today to raise it again and push him to make arrangements early."
"Good. I understand. Go see Jin Ai and tell her I have agreed."