"It's fine. I'm the one who should feel aggrieved if anyone does, and I don't. You don't need to say anything more, I've already made up my mind."
Jian Dan spoke with a calm smile.
"I'll report it to Tian Yun Zhēnzūn and pass your decision along."
"All right. I understand. Anything else?"
She lifted her teacup and took a slow sip, then looked up again.
Jian Li glanced at Jian Jun. She tapped her folding fan lightly, smiled, and finally said,
"Senior Sister Tian Lu managed the Law Enforcement Hall perfectly during this period. Not only did she handle every matter flawlessly, she even prepared ahead of time and adjusted the Sect's defensive structure. There wasn't a single oversight."
Jian Dan listened intently and flipped her hand to take out her round fan, gently waving it.
"The mobile patrol squads Senior Sister arranged have been incredibly effective. The moment you appeared in the Chonglin Mountain Range yesterday, we received the report that same day. So these patrol units will continue."
Jian Jun paused briefly before continuing.
"The only issue is the Dreamlike Illusory Rubik's Cube Realm. Its energy consumption is far too high."
Jian Dan's fan stilled. She asked immediately,
"What happened?"
"I heard from Jian Li that you personally forged that Artifact Realm and it even endured thunder tribulation. It's rather extraordinary. When you were here, you were the one who nourished it. After you left, we had to use five-element spiritual veins. The consumption's been terrible. In a hundred years, twenty top-grade spiritual veins are already gone. And that's not counting high-level cultivators who brought their own spiritual veins to train there."
"Twenty top-grade spiritual veins? Are that many cultivators entering it?"
Her brows drew tightly together.
"Not many. To save resources, we've reduced the number of people permitted each day again and again."
Jian Jun said honestly. Only Senior Sister Tian Lu knew the true cause more clearly than anyone.
"So the Artifact Spirit's gotten a little greedy."
Jian Dan narrowed her eyes. Jian Li's eyebrow twitched. That tone meant killing intent.
"Senior Sister Tian Lu, what do you mean?"
"The Artifact Spirit was formed after enduring thunder tribulation, but it hadn't awakened. Before I went to Purple Sky Sect, I used my own five-element spiritual power to nourish it and successfully awakened it. Its name is Xiao Meng. I told him clearly that if he joined the war against the insect clan, then once the battle ended, he'd be free to choose whether he wanted to stay with the Sect or leave. If he refused to fight, then after the war, he must remain in the Sect for one thousand years and serve. I also gave him a deadline for his answer. By the time I left, he still hadn't responded."
Jian Jun opened her fan with a soft snap and smiled. "Senior Sister said it clearly enough. Looks like Xiao Meng had other ideas and started hoarding the five-element spiritual power. Rather arrogant.
Because Senior Sister wasn't here, we endured it. Now that you're back, the Artifact Spirit seems to've noticed. His consumption suddenly dropped a lot."
Jian Li continued. "One year ago, Jian Po took the Bai Sisters and Hou San to train inside. Hou San got kicked straight out of the realm and broke through to Divine Soul. He's working in the Intelligence Division now. He's determined not to embarrass you.
The Bai Sisters also improved their battle power after the trial. They learned more about the insect clan and joined the Operations Hall with Jin Ai, specializing in creating poisons to kill them. They're impressive. They tweaked one herb and boosted the toxicity of Jin Ai's previous poison by an entire tier, but it's harmless to cultivators. Jin Ai considers them close friends now.
Because of his achievements, Jin Ai exchanged for the Qianji Poison Herb and broke through to Divine Soul. He's completely immersed in poison-crafting and loves every second of it."
Jian Li finally paused to take a drink of tea.
"Good. Use people as they should be used. Handle it as you see fit. As for that Artifact Spirit, give him a few days. Find an excuse and clear everyone out of the Dreamlike Illusory Rubik's Cube Realm. I'll kill him myself."
Jian Dan spoke lightly, but both Jian Li and Jian Jun felt their hearts jolt. They knew exactly where that Artifact Spirit came from.
"This…"
Jian Li hesitated.
"He's only an Artifact Spirit. If he won't serve us and dares to gorge himself on the Sect's resources while acting like the entire place owes him, he deserves to die. You clear the people. I'll take care of the rest."
Her words fell like a hammer striking stone, leaving no room for discussion.
"Will the realm drop in grade?"
That was Jian Jun's only concern. Killing the Artifact Spirit meant nothing if the realm was damaged.
"I'll do my best to keep it from dropping."
That answer was enough. Jian Li exhaled and continued,
"Senior Sister Tian Lu, about your position as Hall Master of the War Hall…"
"Who's taking it?"
Jian Dan asked instantly. She'd been waiting forever to throw that token away.
"Ahem. Tian Yun Zhēnzūn said you're responsible for choosing and training the next Hall Master. Once your successor is ready, you can step down."
Jian Jun announced solemnly, though the curve of her lips betrayed her amusement.
"All right, I know."
Internally, Jian Dan rolled her eyes. Of course no one would let her relax. She started mentally listing possible candidates.
"Senior Sister, I'll enter seclusion soon. While I'm gone, I'll have to trouble you to watch over the Law Enforcement Hall a bit longer."
"No problem. But why're you delaying? Your spiritual power's already leaking. If you suppress it any longer, it'll hurt you."
She put down her tea and frowned. Everyone who returned had already gone into seclusion except Jian Jun. At first, it was because of the Hall. But now even suppression was failing, yet she still hadn't gone.
"It's because of something that happened. Tan Songjia tampered with my sea of consciousness."