A single command from a Xianwang had every immortal inside the inner perimeter scrambling. At first, they'd just been watching the show from the sidelines, but now they couldn't stay out of it any longer.
Meanwhile, Jian Dan had played the role of an aloof immortal master, given the Tan Song siblings a beating, vented her anger, and tossed them a jade slip. That was enough to fulfill the immortal's command in her eyes. Everything else had nothing to do with her anymore.
"Xiao Yue, once we leave the middle perimeter, we've got to start looking for the path home. We can't stay here any longer."
"Mm! Mo Yue, didn't I tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"Because my bloodline advanced, I've already sensed the path back." Xiao Yue's voice carried clear pride.
Jian Dan, who'd been worrying about how to find the way back and how to scrounge up more resources, froze for a moment. Then her heart leapt with joy and she quickly pressed, "You're sure?"
"Of course."
"Where is it? Can you pinpoint the exact spot? Do we have enough time to reach it?" She fired off three questions in a row.
"Mo Yue, don't get impatient. It's in the outer perimeter, at Mao Wu's territory, right around that Greenfield Lake. Do you remember?"
"I do. Inside that lake?"
"Exactly. But I'll need to get closer before I can confirm the timing. Right now we're still too far away."
He answered each question with care.
"Good! I'll mark this down as a contribution for you. Once we return, we'll set aside part of our gains for you too!" Jian Dan agreed generously. She was sure no one would object. After all, clutching onto resources meant nothing if they couldn't go home, and if they stayed too long, these immortals would probably snatch everything from them. Jian Dan never had a good impression of them anyway.
"Heh, thanks, Mo Yue!" Xiao Yue was beaming, clearly proud of himself. This trip had been worth it.
"Xiao Yue, better call me Jian Lu for now. We can't blow our cover yet." Jian Dan gave him a squinty smile, secretly pleased.
"Eh? Someone left a mark?" Liu Chuan suddenly spoke up.
"What do you mean? Did they mark me?" Jian Dan's smile vanished, replaced by a deep frown.
"That's impossible. With you around, who'd dare slip something onto me?" Xiao Yue shook his head.
"Of course not. I'm talking about the ground. Someone left markings along the path Jian Mao's group retreated on."
Liu Chuan saw how much trust she placed in him, so he patiently explained.
"Xiao Yue, stop here!"
He obeyed at once. "What's wrong?"
"Easy, just give me a moment."
Jian Dan spread her divine sense. With Liu Chuan's hint, she spotted a small, ordinary stone with three faint scratches on it, two horizontal and one vertical. Without a careful look, it would've been impossible to notice.
Pulling her divine sense back, she swept it behind them and found another identical mark carved at the root of a dead tree.
"Tch, looks like a bug slipped in after all." Jian Dan's expression turned cold. Once she was sure someone was deliberately leaving signs, she waved Xiao Yue forward again.
"Chuan, we've gotta drag this person out. I'm not bringing a hidden insect back to Lingyun Continent. Can you narrow it down?"
"Easily. But I'll warn you, this person may already be reborn in a new skin."
"You mean he's an immortal now?"
"Not quite. He hasn't undergone ascension thunder tribulation. He's just reached Dixian."
"If you don't act, can I take him down?"
"You can. It'll just take some effort."
"Alright, got it." Jian Dan had already made up her mind. She then turned to Xiao Yue.
"You sensed the path back, but don't tell anyone else yet. I've got other plans."
"Xiao Yue understands."
Following Liu Chuan's directions, Xiao Yue quickened his pace, chasing after Jian Mao's group.
Led by Hou San, Jian Mao and the others had already pulled away from their previous spot. But the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples' faces were still grim.
They'd never been forced into such a humiliating situation, abandoning their own junior sister to face the Tan Song immortals alone. Even though they trusted that Jian Lu wouldn't stay behind unless she had absolute confidence, worry gnawed at their hearts.
"Hou San, slow down a little. Wait for Jian Lu." Jian Jun called out from behind.
"Everyone, we've got to move quickly! We need to get out of their divine sense range. Otherwise, we'll only be Fairy Lu's weakness. Hou San was ordered to get you to safety, and that's exactly what I'll do!" He didn't slow for even a step as he explained.
That shut everyone up. They pushed their speed to the limit, rushing for a full hour before finally stopping in a dilapidated spiritual plant garden.
"Rest here for a bit. If Fairy Lu can get rid of the enemy, then from here on we'll be outside the complete control of the inner perimeter's immortals. We'll be able to wait for her." Hou San bowed and explained.
The group quickly swept the surroundings. Once they confirmed there was no danger, they sat down and whispered to each other, eyes often flicking back to the path they'd come from, hoping for a familiar figure to appear.
"Junior Sister, don't worry. Jian Lu can handle it."
"Senior Brother, but what's her trump card?"
"Her Purple Palace has already opened."
Those five short words eased half of Jian Jun's worry. The rest wouldn't settle until Jian Lu returned safe and sound.
At the same time, Jian Dan, flying at full speed, found her way blocked. The man in front wasn't shy at all. His eyes were locked on Xiao Yue like a wolf staring at prey, almost drooling.
"You and your spirit beast joining our squad was your fortune. Don't be stupid enough to refuse."