Turns out Xiao Yue didn't understand a word of what everyone was talking about. After munching down the Purple Heart Fruit, it wandered off on its own.
It pawed at the pool with its tiny claws, but not even a single fish was inside. So it trotted off on short legs toward the row of blue-brick, green-tiled houses behind.
Past the octagonal pavilion, three houses stood ahead. A small stone bridge led to them. They looked old-fashioned, with red lacquered pillars, gray brick walls, and green-tiled roofs. Red lanterns hung beneath the eaves, and the doors were tightly shut. Through the lattice windows, it was impossible to see inside.
Xiao Yue barked once, then padded back and forth in front of the houses. When Jian Dan came over, it lifted its left front paw.
She bent down for a closer look. The soft pad had a cut, and part of a claw was chipped off.
"How could you be so careless? You must've gotten the worst of it, huh?"
Though she said it lightly, Jian Dan felt her heart sink. Xiao Yue had already reached fifth rank, and beasts were known for their tough bodies in the cultivation world.
What's more, Xiao Yue had endured five bolts of lightning from its Transformation Tribulation head-on. Every bone and even every strand of fur had been tempered. If something could wound its body, then these three houses definitely weren't ordinary.
Everyone else turned to study the houses carefully. They looked plain enough, yet they'd hurt Jian Lu's spirit beast. A moment ago, they'd all been adjusting their states, then analyzing the surroundings, so they hadn't had the chance to investigate.
Jian Dan swept her divine sense over the area and said, "There's a formation here. Looks like an illusion formation wrapped around a small killing formation."
The group exchanged glances. None of them specialized in formations, and without formation masters, they only knew the basics. Worse, their divine sense couldn't be used freely here, so nobody knew where to start.
"Junior Sister, what do you think?" Jian Jing asked eagerly.
"One brute force strike beats ten clever tricks. If we can't undo it, then we'll smash it open." Jian Jun spoke bluntly, snapping her fan shut.
"Xiao Yue tested it just now, which is why it got hurt. The injury isn't serious though, so this formation probably can't hold out long. We can give it a try."
"After we came inside, these houses didn't feel all that threatening anymore," Hou San added.
"I'll test it first."
Kuang Dao stepped forward. With a swing, his broad-backed saber struck—but it hit an invisible barrier and rebounded. A slash of blade-light shot straight back at him.
He twisted aside, dodging the counterattack. Behind him, Jian Xu and Jian Jing joined forces to shatter the retaliating blade-light.
The sudden change put everyone on edge, and Kuang Dao frowned.
"The attack bounced back at twice the force I used against it," Jian Xu and Jian Jing said together.
"This formation's interesting." Jian Jun tapped her fan with a smile.
"Let us try."
Xiao Yong and Xiao Rong stepped up. As Dao partners, their teamwork was flawless. Both summoned their long swords, exchanged a glance, and unleashed twin sword strikes.
This time, remembering Kuang Dao's mistake, they held back and didn't use their full strength. When the sword-light rebounded, they moved together to intercept it.
The purple sword-light forced them back two steps before it fizzled out. Their eyes lit up.
"I only used thirty percent of my strength. By the earlier test, it should've doubled to sixty percent. But that counterattack wasn't even close to that strong," Xiao Yong noted.
"Every strike drains the formation, so its power's weakening," Xiao Rong added.
"Then let's grind it down."
No one disagreed. They had time, the place was hidden, and everyone wanted to see what lay inside. So they lined up and started whittling away at the formation.
"Ah, if only we were stronger. We wouldn't have to bother with this nonsense," Jian Dan sighed.
"Junior Sister, be content. This is an Immortal Realm formation, not some lowly array from the lower worlds. Meeting it when it's already running out of power is good luck for us," Jian Jing said with a grin.
"You're right, Senior Sister. I'm the one being ungrateful." Jian Dan admitted without hesitation.
As they chatted, Hou San struck again, and that blow became the final straw.
With a sharp crack like shattering glass, the three houses rippled, shook a few times, then vanished. In their place appeared a cave, identical to the one they'd entered earlier.
"Let's check it out."
Everyone's eyes turned to Jian Jun.
"We'll split into two teams. One goes in, the other stays out. If anything happens, there must be backup ready to help."
Nobody objected. Ten people entered, the rest remained.
Jian Jun led the team. The Bai sisters went along, ready to deal with poison if needed. Hou San's quick wits earned him a spot too. Purple Sky Sect sent two, Heavenly Sword Sect two, Yin Yang Gate two, and Artifact Sect one, plus Kuang Dao, making eleven in total.
Jian Dan and the others didn't push to join. They stayed behind, waiting calmly for news.
Meanwhile, Tan Songjia and Tan Songyu arrived at the battlefield. After examining the traces, they confirmed there'd been a fight, but couldn't determine yet if the attackers were from Lingyun Continent.
Tan Songjia pulled out a gold-sand copper incense burner from her storage bracelet. She opened a white porcelain bottle, let a drop of blood fall in, sealed the lid, and formed a hand seal.
Moments later, a blood-red incense thread spiraled upward. After circling a few times, it floated off in a straight line—toward the direction Jian Dan's group had gone.