"This is…?"
"Because you presented the Primordial Chaos Art to the sect, and it's a top-tier technique, you're entitled to take one top-tier technique in return."
Jian Dan's mouth twitched. She really wanted to ask Zhēnzūn if, in case Xue Ru failed to claim The Wind and Cloud Codex, those contribution points would be refunded. In the end, she decided it was better not to ask. She was certain Xue Ru would succeed.
"Many thanks for the clarification, Zhēnzūn. In that case, I'll bring Xue Ru tomorrow and let her claim the technique herself."
"Good. I'll be waiting."
Jian Dan bowed and left the Scripture Pavilion. On her way, she stopped by the Operations Hall to exchange for several purple jade talismans. She still needed to refine them further into protective charms.
Since she'd advanced to late Unity, her sword arts had grown stronger again. She could adjust the purple jade charms for her two senior disciples.
"Zūnshàng Jian Lu!" Yu Yuanhai called out.
"Manager Yu, what is it?"
"If you have any extra life-saving charms, you can hand them to the Operations Hall and let us handle them for you."
"Oh? How would that work?" Jian Dan was intrigued.
"We can convert them into sect points, or exchange them directly for rare materials you want, whichever suits you."
"Sounds like the market for life-saving charms is hot."
"It is. The Operations Hall and Steward Hall can't meet demand. Not every disciple has a Master's protection."
"I understand. I happen to have four ready. I'll exchange all four with you today." She waved, passing over the charms she'd prepared earlier. Yu Yuanhai's eyes lit up. Jian Lu Zūnshàng was generous, handing him four at once.
He stepped forward, accepted them with both hands, deducted points from her purple jade sword token, then asked carefully, "Forgive my boldness, Zūnshàng, but which one has the strongest defense?"
Jian Dan smiled, already guessing his intention. She pointed to one charm. "This one. It seals an earth-element sword form. Offense and defense as one."
"Thank you for the guidance, Zūnshàng." As soon as Jian Dan left, Yu Yuanhai rushed to redeem that particular charm and sent it back to his clan.
Because of that charm from Jian Dan, the Yu Clan held their ground in the first battle against the insect horde, preserving their line and most of their members. Their courage only grew in the battles that followed, and their outstanding juniors broke through one after another. The clan entered a prosperous rise.
Tianyue Peak
"Call Xue Ru over."
"Yes, Zūnshàng."
Moments later, Xue Ru arrived, dressed in a pink robe.
"Greetings, Master."
"Sit."
Xue Ru sat obediently. Jian Dan organized her words, then said, "Xue Ru, you're at the eleventh level of Qi Refining. You'll form your Foundation soon. I've found a technique for you, but you have to claim it yourself."
Xue Ru's eyes brightened. She answered with firm resolve, "Master, where is the technique? I'll bring it back."
In the beginning, she'd worried a lot. Her clan had tried to use a cultivation method to force her return, but her Master blocked them head-on. Hearing now that her technique was settled, her respect for Jian Dan climbed another step.
Her Master had gone to such trouble to find a perfect technique for her. No matter the price, she would claim it.
"It isn't far. In the Scripture Pavilion, on the top floor."
Seeing her student so fired up, Jian Dan smiled and explained.
Xue Ru wasn't a novice anymore. She knew exactly what a top-floor technique meant. Because she understood, she respected her Master all the more.
Drawing a deep breath, Xue Ru rose and bowed. "I won't let Master's efforts go to waste."
"Good. Tomorrow I'll send you in. All you need to do is circulate your cultivation, absorb and refine wind spiritual power, and the technique will find you. Remember that?"
"Thank you for the guidance, Master. I'll remember."
"Excellent. Get yourself into peak condition. I'll wait for good news tomorrow."
"Yes."
Xue Ru happily returned to the east peak to adjust her state.
"Lü Se."
"I'm here."
"Once Mao Dou and Zong Fan have stabilized their realms, have them come see me together."
"Yes, Zūnshàng."
After Lü Se withdrew, Yue Liang hopped down from the banyan tree and landed in Jian Dan's arms.
"Zūnshàng, can't you rest a little? Yue Liang thinks you're even busier than when you worked at the Law Enforcement Hall." Yue Liang flicked her tail and made a soft complaint.
"I can't help it. In the Law Enforcement Hall, people flocked around me. I only had to give orders. Now I have to do everything myself."
Jian Dan spread her hands, then stroked Yue Liang's fur. "You've reached the seventh rank. Go to the Operations Hall and find Manager Yu. Exchange your sect sword token for a new one."
Yue Liang patted the white jade token hanging at her neck with a tiny paw, nodded, and vanished from Heavenly Yue Peak in a flash.
With time to spare, Jian Dan returned to her cave abode, set the wards, and entered her inner space. There, she reworked the purple jade talismans she'd collected and refined them into life-saving charms.
Nine charms in total, each gleaming with a violet sheen, were arranged on the first-floor display shelves of the bamboo loft within her spatial domain. Her divine sense swept the entire Purple Mansion Space. Nothing changed. It seemed she'd have to reach Mahayana before the space evolved again.
Meanwhile, Yue Liang appeared at the Tianjian Peak's Operations Hall. She flipped once in the air, landed, and transformed into an eight-year-old girl in a yellow dress. Hands clasped behind her back, she took tiny square steps into the main hall.
There weren't many people inside, but the moment she appeared, eyes turned her way. Yu Yuanhai wasn't on duty today. Lang Yu was at the desk.
Yue Liang stepped up to the counter. Her head barely reached over the tabletop, so she floated up a little, revealing her upper body, and handed over her white jade sword token.
"Please, Manager. I've advanced to the seventh rank. By Jian Lu Zūnshàng's order, I'm here to replace my identity token."
Her clear, childlike voice carried through the hall. Several cultivators who'd been pretending to mind their own business heard it perfectly and sucked in a cold breath. Seventh rank was equivalent to a human cultivator's Void Refinement stage. Incredible. Even Zūnshàng's spirit pet was seventh rank.
Lang Yu was astonished, though he kept a calm face. He processed the change swiftly. This time, Yue Liang's token was switched to a purple jade token to match her mistress.
Yue Liang inspected it, nodded in satisfaction, hung it at her waist, gave Lang Yu a courteous little gesture, then turned and left, still taking those tiny square steps.
The cultivators watched, green with envy. When would they ever have a spirit pet that strong?
Back on Tianyue Peak, Yue Liang found her mistress busy and didn't disturb her. She curled up in her usual banyan perch, closed her eyes, and began cultivating, absorbing the essence of moonlight.
At dawn the next day, Jian Dan stepped out of her space and lifted the cave's wards. Morning had broken. A new day had begun.
Xue Ru had finished preparing and came to greet her Master. She was in perfect condition.
"Good. Let's go."
With a flick of her hand, Jian Dan took Xue Ru aboard her escape light. Yue Liang didn't need a summons. She hopped from the banyan and settled on Jian Dan's shoulder as they flew toward the Scripture Pavilion of Tianyue Peak.