Jian Dan paused when she heard Jian Li's words, but still accepted the invitation slip and read it carefully.
"The Sect Master wants the two Zūnshàngs to draft a list of names, so preparations can be made ahead of time," Wei Zhengrong explained before leaving the side hall.
Jian Li immediately activated the restriction barrier before speaking.
"I'd originally wanted you to stay in the sect to hold the fort, but looks like you'll have to leave this time whether you like it or not."
Jian Dan rubbed her temples. From the looks of it, she'd need to put on her disguise again and make a trip to the Heavenly Demon Palace.
"Senior brother, if that's the case, then I'll take this assignment as a covert guardian. What do you think?"
"You mean to go secretly, return as Mo Yue, and watch over the disciples taking this mission?"
"That's right. The Heavenly Demon Palace's succession ceremony will definitely include an invitation for the Beast Taming Sect. That way I can take care of both matters at once. I'll personally deliver the blood insect, while the negotiations can be left to Meng Congjian. How does that sound?"
"Hmm, that's a sound plan. But if you go back as Mo Yue, how will you return to the Heavenly Sword Sect?"
"Yeah, that part's a little tricky. Let me think on it."
"Hah! Now you're calling it tricky? That's what happens when you don't clean up your own tracks."
It wasn't often Jian Li saw his junior sister frown, so he seized the chance to tease her.
"I wasn't thinking that far back then. Careless, careless!"
After a bit of laughter, Jian Li's expression grew serious again.
"You still have to go to the Heavenly Demon Palace. After all, the Dreamlike Illusory Rubik's Cube Realm you crafted came from your participation in the Battle of the Ming Valley. The sword hanging above our heads is already falling, and we need every ally we can pull in. The Heavenly Demon Palace can't be left out. It's better if you go tighten that bolt yourself."
"I understand, senior brother. I already made my stance clear with Mo Yan Zhēnzūn , so I might as well be upfront. As for Mo Su, I'll share bits of what I've gone through these past few years, just enough to point them in the right direction."
"Good. Handle it as you see fit, so long as it doesn't harm the Heavenly Sword Sect."
"Alright, I'll remember that."
With that, the two finalized Jian Dan's trip to the Heavenly Demon Palace.
"Then it's settled. I'll reserve the blue mission order in advance, and go settle my three disciples first," Jian Dan said.
"Go on then," Jian Li waved his hand and lifted the barrier, sending her out of the hall.
When Jian Dan returned to Tianyue Peak, Qi Hong was already waiting.
Lü Se stood respectfully at the side, while Yun Juan and Yun Shu had long since set out tea and snacks. The air was tense and silent.
Her arrival broke that uneasy stillness.
"Zūnshàng, Qi Hong Zūnshàng said he'd made an appointment to visit you. He's been waiting for a while. We didn't go out to greet him properly, so please forgive us," Lü Se said as he bowed.
Jian Dan instantly understood what he meant.
The translation was clear: This Qi Hong Zūnshàng claims he arranged a meeting with you, but you never sent us any message. He clearly came here on his own, then refused to leave when he didn't find you. We could only follow the rules of hospitality and wait for you to handle him.
"You've worked hard. Go on, you've got things to do," Jian Dan said with a smile, waving him off. Then she calmly sat down in the main seat.
Yun Shu stepped forward to pour her a cup of tea, then withdrew to a distance so as not to disturb them.
"Jian Lu Daoyou, the scenery here's nice, and your people are very courteous," Qi Hong said. His phoenix eyes lifted slightly, giving his sharp face an unapproachable air.
"Qi Hong Daoyou flatters me. The scenery here can't compare to the Artifact Sect, at best it's just passable. These people are old hands of the Heavenly Sword Sect, and they've followed me for some time," Jian Dan replied smoothly, sipping her peach blossom tea.
Ever since he'd left the Rubik's Cube Realm, Qi Hong had been unsettled. It was the first time in countless years he'd felt this way. Too impatient to wait for Jian Chong's answer, he came straight to Tianyue Peak hoping Jian Lu could give him one instead. Jian Chong hadn't stopped him.
But after only a few words, he found her calm patience infuriating. She sat there, composed and elegant, sipping tea like none of this mattered. Forced to match her, Qi Hong reined in his agitation and took a sip of tea himself.
"Jian Lu Daoyou's tea is good," he finally said.
"Thank you. It's just peach blossom tea I enjoy. Since no one knew an honored guest was coming, they prepared what I like best," she said with a pleasant smile, following his topic but never asking why he'd come.
Qi Hong realized that when it came to composure, he might really lose to this Jian Lu. He set his cup down and spoke plainly.
"Jian Lu Daoyou, your spiritual treasure is already infinitely close to a true immortal artifact. If not for your cultivation level holding you back, it would've already been one. It's the most stunning trial artifact I've ever seen."
"Qi Hong Daoyou exaggerates. My skill's crude, I wouldn't dare show off in front of a master," Jian Dan said lightly. She set her cup down and turned her head to meet his gaze. "Qi Hong Daoyou, you've gone in circles long enough. What do you actually want to know?"
Qi Hong was caught off guard by her directness, and for a moment he hesitated. His phoenix eyes flickered with uncertainty, which Jian Dan caught at once.
"Qi Hong Daoyou, while I did craft the Rubik's Cube Realm, I can't control every detail within it. Do you believe that?" she asked.
His eyes shot up to hers.
"You were drawn by the Realm's 'Artifact Tribulation,' and you noticed something unusual about it. The rest, I don't need to say. You know better than I do. So why push for a definite answer?"
"You mean, everything I suspect is true," Qi Hong said slowly.
"You already know in your heart. You just came here to confirm it. But I can't give you a clear answer, since it wasn't entirely my doing," Jian Dan replied with an easy shrug.
Qi Hong's mind spun. He understood her implication—Heaven itself had intervened in altering the Rubik's Cube Realm. Even its creator couldn't fully control it. That meant the trials he'd faced inside weren't just trials, but warnings… or perhaps rehearsals of what was to come.
"Thank you for the reminder, Jian Lu Daoyou," he said seriously, before shifting the subject toward his passion.
"Jian Lu Daoyou, your refinement technique, where does it come from? It looks familiar."
"Oh, that? I stumbled across it in a ruin during my travels. Since I'm a sword cultivator, I never delved too deeply into it. I passed the inheritance to the sect in exchange for contribution points," she answered casually.
Qi Hong blinked, clearly surprised. "You just gave such a precious inheritance to the sect?"
He couldn't fathom it. Normally, anyone who got hold of such a treasure would guard it jealously, or only pass it to disciples or descendants. At the very least, they'd leverage it for huge resources. To hand it over so freely made no sense to him.
"The so-called inheritance only means something if someone can carry it forward. A good inheritance needs to be spread, polished, and built upon by each generation, until it grows closer to perfection," Jian Dan said with a smile.
"I'm a sword cultivator. I don't have the passion or curiosity for refining. So why should I cling to it? Better to give it to someone with talent and love for the craft, someone who can pass it on properly."