Hou San and the Bai sisters settled temporarily on Tianyue Peak under Lü Se's guidance. Now that they were finally somewhere safe, the three immediately started studying jade slips to get a proper grasp of the Lingyun Continent.
Inside the sect's main hall, Jian Jun and Jian Mao took turns describing what happened in that fallen corner of the Immortal Realm. Jian Dan added a few details when needed. Standing beside Jian Li, Wei Zhengrong held a jade slip and recorded everything nonstop as the group spoke.
Jin Liuli and Qi Hua watched the sect's senior cultivators with admiration. They couldn't help imagining how they would've handled things if they'd been the ones facing those dangers.
Of course, some things were far too sensitive to reveal. Jian Dan's opened Purple Palace, Jian Jun's three years of confinement, and the resources she'd snatched from the black whip electric eel were all glossed over.
Even so, by the time they finished recounting everything, an hour and a half had already passed.
"Thank the heavens Senior Brother came when he did, or I might've really had to risk it all to carve out a path for everyone."
Jian Jun's final remark stirred everyone's emotions, especially the three who'd been trapped in the Tan Song family with him.
Jian Dan lowered her gaze and sighed inwardly. The cultivators from the Lingyun Continent had once followed Senior Sister Jian Jun's plan to escape, teaming up with the Tan Song family to start that uprising. But once they got their hands on the star map, the Lingyun Continent wasn't included. People would blame Senior Sister Jian Jun for that. That was probably why, after everything fell apart and retaliation came, only a few stayed by his side.
Fortunately, she'd accepted the outcome. Even under those circumstances, she managed to stall Tan Songjia long enough to keep herself and the rest alive. Her mental strength was unquestionable.
"Senior Sister, you already did more than enough. What, were you supposed to throw away your cultivation and your life too? When we found you, your meridians and dantian were almost collapsing."
She was the only one who could say that. No one else knew.
Sword on his back, Jian Li's expression tensed as he asked quickly, "How is Senior Sister now?"
"It's a blessing in disguise. Her injuries are healed and her cultivation's loosened a bit. If she goes into seclusion, she'll probably gain something from it. And that's all thanks to Junior Sister Jian Lu for giving me those high grade pills."
Jian Jun cupped her hands toward her with a smile.
"It's what I should've done."
Once everything was reported, Hall Master Jian Li and Sect Master Jian Chong told everyone to return to their own cave residences to rest. They'd arrange for the century's worth of sect offerings to be delivered and reminded them they could contact the sect or the Law Enforcement Hall for anything they needed.
Back on familiar ground, everyone relaxed. After exchanging farewells, they left the hall one by one.
Jian Dan was about to leave too. One foot had barely stepped past the doorway when Jian Li called her back.
"Junior Sister, Tian Yun Zhēnzūn wants you to visit the forbidden grounds behind the sect once you've rested."
"Hm? Is it urgent? I can go right now."
She hadn't even returned to her cave residence yet. Seeing the Zhēnzūn first wouldn't take long.
But Jian Li showed a complicated expression. After thinking for a moment, he said, "You should really wait until you've rested before meeting Zhēnzūn."
Jian Dan's sharp instincts immediately sensed trouble. She forced a smile and asked, "Senior Brother, did something happen? I've been gone for so long, I haven't even had a chance to make mistakes."
Hearing the usually quick witted junior sister sound uncertain for once, Jian Li's mouth twitched upward. He cleared his throat before answering, "After you left, Mo Yan Zhēnzūn from the Heavenly Demon Palace suddenly visited. Not long after, Tian Yun Zhēnzūn summoned me."
Jian Dan's expression collapsed instantly. She was done for. Her cover was blown.
Her step toward the forbidden grounds turned into a full retreat. Clutching her chest dramatically, she said, "Senior Brother, the truth is... I'm injured. I'll go see Zhēnzūn after I recover. Please help explain things for me."
Before he could respond, Cotton Candy wrapped around her and whisked her out of sight in an instant.
Jian Jun covered her mouth, laughing softly. She patted Jian Li's shoulder and said, "She's not lying. She stayed behind to cover us and got hit by thunder burst bombs. She almost didn't make it back. She really is injured, but back in the beast tribe, she had to deal with the Nine Tails, so she had to suppress the injuries first."
"I know. This reaction is exactly what I expected from Jian Lu."
"Oh? She's afraid of Tian Yun Zhēnzūn? What did she do?"
"Jian Lu's bold yet careful. This started after you left the sect. She used another identity to infiltrate the Heavenly Demon Palace."
They walked while maintaining a sound barrier, heading toward the mountain where the Law Enforcement Hall was located.
Cotton Candy transported Jian Dan straight to her own cave residence on Tianyue Peak. The moment she appeared, Lü Se rushed over with his four attendants, faces bright with relief as they bowed.
"Greetings, Zūnshàng Jian Lu. We've been waiting for your return."
Of everyone in the entire sect, the people of Tianyue Peak had been the most anxious. Other disciples had soul lamps to confirm safety, but their Zūnshàng left for a special mission without leaving even one behind and then disappeared for so long. Thankfully her spirit beasts had returned to guard the peak, stopping rumors before they spread too far.
"Get up. I'm back safely, aren't I? You all worked hard."
Jian Dan knew Lü Se had something to report. Since she wasn't about to start healing immediately, she sat beneath the banyan tree. The familiar layout and the soft rustling of leaves eased her mood.
Yun Juan and Yun Shu placed spirit tea, spirit fruits, and a plate of white jade cakes made from spirit rice before her, then stood respectfully to the side.