After dropping a proverbial bomb in the council hall, Jian Dan left feeling quite refreshed. Matters that concerned the entire fate of the Lingyun Continent were best left to the higher-ups. As a mere Golden Core cultivator, she had already done all she could. The rest would depend on fate.
When she returned to her quarters, she spotted Tao Chengfeng waiting at the door and quickly approached him.
"Tao Zhēnrén, is something the matter?"
"I just received a transmission from Yun Rong Zhēnrén of the Pill Sect. He said there's going to be a small gathering tomorrow outside the city. A casual exchange meet, where everyone can trade cultivation resources."
"Oh, that sounds like a good idea. Which sects are participating?"
"Yun Rong is quite tactful. He didn't invite any outsiders. Everyone invited is a fellow Jīndān Zhēnrén who joined forces in the last battle. I reckon we'll also be exchanging information, especially you. After all, you're the one who made it out of that insect's jaws alive."
Jian Dan raised an eyebrow and immediately understood. This gathering had another purpose beneath the surface. She nodded to show she understood, and the two parted ways to prepare for the next day's exchange, leaving the matter unspoken.
At the same time, Jian Jun Zunzhu and Jian Li Zunzhu were piecing together all the information they had managed to gather. Jian Wu and Jian Ning had already secured the armored beetle for further study once they returned to their sect, handing it over to a skilled artifact refiner.
"Forgive my bluntness," Jian Ning Zhēnjūn said, unusually taking the initiative to speak first, "but Shan Yunzu might not be entirely correct. Still, she's given us a crucial signal. It never hurts to prepare ahead of time."
As a sword cultivator and a woman, Jian Ning trusted a female cultivator's intuition.
"Indeed. Better to believe than dismiss. Being prepared is the only way to avoid disaster. Our Heavenly Sword Sect should make preparations early," agreed Jian Wu Zhēnjūn.
The two Zunzhu exchanged a glance and smiled. Jian Jun Zunzhu spoke first.
"I never said we wouldn't act. We just need to take things one step at a time. Before facing external threats, we must first ensure stability within. We need to root out anyone in our sect who may have already been parasitized by the black beetle."
"Jian Ning, send the recording from the memory stone back to the sect's Discipline Hall. Have them conduct a thorough inspection of all disciples who returned from the Purple-Rank secret realm. Pay special attention to those whose cultivation suddenly surged without any clear opportunity."
"Ahem, just store the part where Shan Yunzu lured the enemy separately."
"Yes, Zunzhu."
"Jian Wu, screen all cultivators who escaped from the secret realm. Check for any signs they might have been parasitized."
"Yes, Zunzhu."
The two accepted their orders and quickly left the hall.
"I suspect the news will spread quickly within the next day or two. Especially in Cloud Sea Sect. Some changes are bound to happen. Fortunately, we caught it early. If not, the consequences would be unimaginable."
"Mm, your judgment has always been sharp. I didn't expect you to discover a promising successor this time," Jian Li Zunzhu said with rare lightness.
Jian Jun Zunzhu didn't deny it, only smiled and replied, "The burden is heavy. Someone has to help carry it. When we return, it's time for those two to raise their cultivation."
The next day, the Golden Core cultivators gathered in a private room on the second floor of a teahouse in the southern district. The southern district was mostly occupied by the stationed forces of various sects, so news traveled fast.
Jian Dan and Tao Chengfeng arrived discreetly and entered the room, where Liao Kong and Liao Chen were already seated along with Yan Su Zhēnrén. After exchanging greetings, Liao Kong broke the silence.
"Shan Zhēnrén, your bravery deserves our gratitude. We owe you a favor."
"Liao Kong Zhēnrén, you flatter me. I only did it to survive. In fact, I was the one who dragged everyone onto that warship, so I had to ensure no harm came to anyone. Otherwise, I wouldn't be worthy of the trust you all placed in me."
"What warship?" Yan Su asked lazily, unusually speaking up.
"Ah, it's simple. After accepting the mission, I felt restless, like the Heavens were sending me a warning. So I threw away all pride and borrowed a warship from my sect."
Jian Dan sighed dramatically as she spoke, even shaking her head in mock distress.
"Amitabha, may the Buddha bless you. Through you, we were delivered from peril," said Xiao Zhēnrén Liao Chen with a look of admiration as he clasped his hands together.
"Shan Zhēnrén's virtue is immense. That's why you received a heavenly warning. My cultivation must be lacking, or else I too could have helped more. Our Buddhist Sect also suffered some losses this time."
He recited another Buddha's name with sincere grief.
Jian Dan resisted the urge to twitch her lips. How was she supposed to respond to that? So she kept playing along.
"Surely the Buddha heard your heart. That's why you were sent into the world to train alongside your senior brother. Don't let your master down."
Xiao Zhēnrén Liao Chen looked sheepish as he glanced toward his senior brother.
"Actually… I came with my senior brother without telling Master."
"Liao Chen?" Liao Kong sounded surprised. "Didn't you say Master gave permission?"
"Senior brother, I was wrong. I grew up in the Buddhist Sect, and Master always said I could descend the mountain only when my cultivation was sufficient. Now that I've reached the Golden Core stage, I thought I'd met the requirement, so I followed you down."
"Haha, maybe your master just wanted you far from the mortal world, so your Buddha nature wouldn't be eroded by worldly desires," Yan Su Zhēnrén said, laughing openly and pointing out the heart of the matter without reservation.
Jian Dan only shook her head slightly in disagreement, and the conversation stopped there as more people entered the room. Yun Rong Zhēnrén from the Pill Sect, Pan Fenglei from Purple Sky Sect, Su Chui from the Artifact Sect, Ge Zhen from the Formation Sect, Xi Li from the Beast Taming Sect, and Fan Le from the Demon Sound Gate all arrived in succession. The room quickly filled.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Jian Dan didn't waste words. She stood at the front, raised her hand, and a row of jade slips floated before her.
"Let's not speak in riddles. I know why you invited me. These are memory slips that recorded the entire battle from a few days ago. If you want to view them, offer something you believe is of equal value. I don't care what it is."