"Big Sister, looks like you were already on guard against this Jun Qingfeng." Tan Songyu raised his brows as he spoke.
"Mind your own business, just move."
The two stood atop a flying immortal artifact, chasing along the trail of crimson incense smoke.
The only reason they managed to track so quickly was thanks to the black-whip electric eels that had gone berserk in the inner circle. After wrecking the place, the first eel that got a prize realized that, no matter how strong it was, it couldn't keep fighting while surrounded. So it immediately shook off its kind, split into ten groups, and burrowed into the ground to escape.
The rest of the eels refused to give up and each chased one group underground, leaving the inner circle behind. Along the way, they even grabbed a few unlucky cultivators who were still hanging around as snacks before disappearing. Within half a day, not a single eel remained in the inner circle.
Only then did Tan Songjia, Tan Songyu, and a few immortals finally show themselves. When they saw the ruins, their eyes practically burned with rage.
Someone dug up a bit of the powder left behind and after a quick test, realized it was Wood Spring Bloom. Their expressions turned uglier.
"Which bastard wasted something as precious as Wood Spring Bloom just to lure out black-whip electric eels? And now the whole inner circle's destroyed?"
Some immortals even started suspecting conspiracies, eyeing each other with caution.
Only Tan Songjia and Tan Songyu exchanged a look, both having the same guess, but they didn't dare speak up in front of the elders. If they even hinted at it, the two of them would probably get whipped by the divine whip for punishment.
After assigning men to track the Lingyun Continent group, they quickly wrapped up their tasks and used the excuse of "chasing the black-whip electric eels to recover Wood Spring Bloom" to follow along this direction.
Meanwhile, Jian Jun led ten cultivators cautiously into the cavern. Every stone, every blade of grass, even the moss on the stone walls looked identical to the cave they entered from outside.
That only made everyone more alert. They spread out, combing every inch of stone and wall. Nobody believed a place hidden so carefully could really be empty, so they were extra meticulous.
After half an hour, every rock had been overturned, yet they found nothing. Everyone's eyes turned to the moss-covered wall, the same wall they'd passed through to get here.
Hou San hesitated, then stepped forward. "Everyone, let me scout ahead."
"No need. Go call Junior Sister Jian Lu and the others over first."
"Got it."
Moments later, Jian Dan and the rest of the ones who stayed behind arrived. Once they saw the scene, they too smiled wryly.
Nobody needed to say anything. Everyone's eyes landed on the moss-covered wall.
"Come on, let's go in and take a look."
This time Jian Dan didn't hold back. She took the lead, since if there really was danger, only she had a chance of holding it off.
Bending low, she stepped through the wall, and at once a crushing pressure bore down on her. The Mò Xī Jiàn instantly appeared in her hand as her eyes locked on the source.
It came from a skeleton, pure white like jade. The corpse still wore white robes and silver armor, sitting cross-legged in the middle of an octagonal pavilion.
Jian Jun followed right after. She felt the pressure too, and her folding fan vanished, replaced by her life-bound sword. She stood to Jian Dan's right.
Jian Mao was next, taking the left side. As more cultivators from the Heavenly Sword Sect entered, they instinctively formed a battle array.
"Those behind, don't come in yet! Otherwise, you'll all get trapped too!"
Kuang Dao only stuck his head inside before the pressure almost crushed him. He pulled back immediately and warned the others. Everyone outside grew tense, especially Hou San. After all, he was the one who led the way. If something went wrong, he'd be the first scapegoat.
"Relax. With the Zūnshàng here, we'll hold the line. Just stay put." For once, Kuang Dao tried to comfort the group.
Inside, nobody from the Heavenly Sword Sect dared act rashly. Then, suddenly, a sigh echoed. Every hair on their bodies stood on end.
Jian Dan's eyes never left the skeleton.
Before their eyes, the white bones shifted and flowed, resolving into the form of a cross-legged man. He was arrestingly handsome, his finely-wrought features possessing a sharp, defined edge. Enough to rival Jian Jun's own famed beauty and androgynous perfection. His eyes shone with a stellar light, and his voice bypassed their ears to speak directly into their consciousness.
"I've waited so long, and the ones who come are just lower-realm cultivators?"
Nobody dared answer. His gaze landed on Jian Dan. He let out a soft "hmm" before saying,"You'll barely do."
Jian Dan almost rolled her eyes. Barely do? What kind of backhanded compliment was that? Still, her face stayed calm. She sheathed the Mò Xī Jiàn, clasped her hands in salute, and said politely, "Senior, this junior entered by mistake. I thought it was a chance, but I disturbed your peace. We'll leave right away."
She gestured behind her, signaling the others to retreat.
"Don't rush off. I've got something for you to do!"
Jian Dan stopped, but still urged her brothers to move back.
Of course, none of the senior brothers and sisters were willing to leave her alone to face the unknown. They all stayed where they were, ignoring her gestures.
Jian Dan sighed inwardly. She saluted again toward the pavilion and asked, "Senior, what are your orders?"
A streak of light shot out. Jian Dan raised her hand and caught it, a jade slip sealed with a powerful mark.