Jian Dan had already felt something off, but hearing Jian Jun say it made her certain. If the two sides met again, there'd be no more pretense, just outright hostility.
"Let's find a place to rest. When the sky here turns gloomy, that's when it's most dangerous."
"I know."
Kuang Dao and Wu Siyuan followed Hou San, scouting around until they found a massive hollowed-out tree that would've taken ten people linking arms to encircle.
The crown was already cut away, leaving only the lower trunk. The roots were still firmly anchored in the ground, and a half-man-tall opening yawned in the side, just big enough to crawl through.
The Bai sisters entered first, scattering some medicinal powder. Bai Xia explained with a smile, "This'll drive off poisonous insects and beasts, and it can mask our presence."
Only then did everyone file inside. The faint scent of fresh grass lingered. The sisters had already tidied it up, and though cramped, it was enough to shelter the group.
They thanked the sisters before settling down, each pulling out a meditation mat to sit cross-legged on the ground.
Wu Siyuan stayed outside with Kuang Dao and two Purple Sky Sect disciples to keep watch.
At the same time, the Tan Song siblings reached the cave the group had rested in earlier. The thin line of red incense smoke vanished into the stone wall, dispersing completely. The two exchanged a glance, spread out their divine sense, and found nothing. Their subordinates searched as well, reporting back soon after:
"Young Master, the area's been cleaned. There's nothing left."
Tan Songyu waved his hand, telling them to search again, then turned to Tan Songjia.
"Big Sister, can you still track them?"
Her expression was cold as ice. She stayed silent for a while before answering flatly, "The blood I used belonged to Jun Qingfeng from when she was first injured. There wasn't much. Every drop spent is one less."
"My dear sister, don't tell me you left no backup plan at all!"
"Wait for my people to return. Search this cave first, this is where they stayed."
She sounded completely certain.
Since their divine sense couldn't pick up anything, the siblings checked themselves. After pounding on the walls for a while, they really did find a hidden entrance. Sending subordinates inside, they discovered only an empty waterside pavilion.
After circling through and finding nothing, they withdrew.
Just then, one of Tan Songjia's men rushed over, reporting that a mark had been found five li away.
Tan Songyu immediately recognized his sister's handiwork. Without wasting words, he motioned forward, and their group continued tracking in the direction Jian Dan and the others had left.
Meanwhile, while everyone else was resting, Xiao Yue grew restless inside the spirit beast pouch. Jian Dan had no choice but to release him. He paced the hollow tree in agitation, circling her for a long while before dashing outside.
His unusual behavior didn't escape her notice. Jian Dan focused her divine sense, watching closely.
Once outside, Xiao Yue tilted his head toward the dark sky. Suddenly his body shuddered and expanded into his full wolf form, standing as tall as a grown man. He threw back his head and howled.
The wolf cries started short but soon stretched into long, drawn-out notes. As the sound carried, the crescent mark on his forehead shone brighter, glowing with a smooth, radiant sheen.
The noise startled everyone. They rushed out of the hollow tree, alarmed by Xiao Yue's abnormal state.
Jian Dan was the first to flash outside, followed by Jian Feng and Jian Jun. The others all fixed their gazes on Xiao Yue, anxious, because this little beast was the key to their return.
"Junior Sister, what's wrong with Xiao Yue?"
"I don't know. Let's wait and see. This is the first time he's acted like this." She answered Senior Brother Jian Feng without once pulling her divine sense away.
Jian Jun shook her folding fan with a trace of surprise on her face as she explained, "He's a Howl Moon Wolf with pure blood. This howl is a Moonwolf Howl."
Everyone turned their eyes on Xiao Yue.
Driven purely by instinct, Xiao Yue howled again and again, leaping higher with each jump until he perched on the tallest treetop. His cries spread across the sky. The gray clouds churned, then slowly parted.
A curved moon emerged above his head. Gentle moonlight cascaded down, drenching him. His gray-white fur shimmered with silver light, and the dull gray streaks gradually turned pure white.
"He's awakening the ancestral bloodline!" Jian Chun gasped. Everyone heard him clearly.
Jian Dan finally understood why the little wolf had stubbornly followed her. This place was his opportunity. Bloodline reversion meant his lineage was evolving closer to his ancestors, a chance so rare it was nearly impossible to find. No wonder he'd been able to cultivate here. Once they returned, breaking into Sixth Rank would be no problem for him.
Xiao Yue kept howling. Jian Jun's face grew serious as she ordered the group, "Stay sharp. With such a big commotion, greedy eyes will be drawn here. Until Xiao Yue completes his bloodline awakening, we can't interrupt him, or the backlash will be fatal. And he only gets one chance."
The cultivators immediately split into pairs, spreading out to guard every direction. Only Jian Dan and Jian Jun remained closest to Xiao Yue.
"Senior Brother, the continent's rising speed has increased. Without it, Xiao Yue wouldn't have enough power to complete the awakening."