The Purple-Rank Secret Realm was the first that Jian Dan explored after entering the cultivation world. It was there that she refined the Obsidian Bracelet she still used to this day.
The energy within the black stone she used for the bracelet had been absorbed by her during the mining process, and following the trajectory of her body-tempering technique, it transformed into a unique internal force.
Because she had been in a lifeless land devoid of spiritual energy, she couldn't draw on spiritual power. However, this strange energy she referred to as special inner force yielded benefits for both her and Han Pengfei. They each acquired a mysterious artifact of unknown grade and managed to escape the lifeless zone unscathed.
After returning to the cultivation world, the special inner force she had cultivated seemed to go dormant, settling deep within her and never resurfacing.
Now, to find the same energy present in the Demonic Abyss came as a genuine surprise. Since she could not leave for now, Jian Dan focused on advancing her strength, devoting herself to cultivating her body-tempering method. She absorbed more and more demonic energy into her dantian, and her demonic core steadily grew stronger.
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Zixiao Peak, Inner Mountains of the Zixiao Sect
Xiao Yong Zhōngzhǔ was leading Yue Liang on a tour across all ten peaks of the inner sect. Whenever Yue Liang discovered something noteworthy, she would sweep her soft, furry tail across the zhōngzhǔ's wrist to alert him.
Xiao Yong Zhōngzhǔ never got angry in the moment. He would simply continue strolling with Yue Liang in his arms, but soon after, he would quietly vanish from everyone's sight. Of course, there were some targets Yue Liang couldn't identify—usually those whose cultivation surpassed hers, typically at the Divine Soul stage or higher.
In such cases, Yue Liang would start putting on airs, borrowing the zhōngzhǔ's authority. She would leap onto the person in question, circling them and sniffing them up and down. Then, with a flick of her tail full of disdain, she would leave them baffled and exasperated. But with the Void Refinement Zhōngzhǔ present, no one dared to retaliate against her.
Before long, word spread throughout the Zixiao Sect: Xiao Yong Zhōngzhǔ had taken in a spirit pet and doted on it immensely. Whenever he wasn't cultivating, he was seen carrying his beloved pet around while receiving gifts. The more perceptive disciples could already sense a storm brewing beneath the surface.
One day, Xiao Yong Zhōngzhǔ brought Yue Liang to the rear mountains to admire the blooming of the Purple Ephemeral Flowers—a famed sight of the sect, where the entire mountainside becomes a sea of violet blossoms.
These flowers only bloom at midnight during a full moon, and when the hour strikes, they all bloom at once, transforming the rear mountains into a stunning violet sea.
The Purple Ephemeral Flowers emit a light fragrance. It was said that bathing in their scent could make it linger on the body for ten years, which made this fragrance a signature trait among female disciples of the Purple Sky Sect.
After Yue Liang overheard this from one such female disciple, she made a small request to the zhōngzhǔ. It was a trivial matter, so he agreed right away.
With a quarter-hour left until midnight, they arrived at the rear mountain. As a male cultivator, Xiao Yong Zhōngzhǔ had no desire to soak in any floral scent, so he waited beneath an ancient ten-thousand-year-old tree at the entrance, sipping spiritual wine while Yue Liang went ahead to bathe in the flower sea.
As expected, the moment the clock struck midnight, every Purple Ephemeral Flower blossomed in unison, all seemingly directed toward Yue Liang. The fragrance instantly filled the rear mountains. A few other female disciples had also come to absorb the scent, though none dared to venture too close to Yue Liang.
Her glossy black eyes narrowed in contentment, her tail wagging rapidly. She decided to discuss with Xiao Yong Zhōngzhǔ whether some flowers could be transplanted. She wanted to gift them to Shan Zhēnjūn. With that thought, she began bounding through the sea of flowers, darting from east to west, utterly delighted.
Xiao Yong Zhōngzhǔ didn't rush her. He quietly drank his wine, his gaze soft as he watched her frolic.
Since her separation from her master, Yue Liang had only been upset in the early days. Lately, she and the zhōngzhǔ had been getting along well. She was well-mannered, never overstepped, and only did what her master had instructed.
Together, they had uncovered several major threats, including several cultivator families under the Purple Sky Sect who had returned alive from the Purple-Rank Secret Realm.
To survive such a place was already remarkable, and the treasures and cultivation they had gained were envied by many. Yet the sudden appearance of the black-armored beetles from a foreign domain turned these survivors into figures of suspicion. It was nothing short of ill fate.
Suddenly, Xiao Yong Zhōngzhǔ put down his wine gourd and stepped into the flower sea.
At that moment, Yue Liang, who was in the middle of the sea, felt all her fur bristle. She slapped the storage collar around her neck, summoning the defensive jade charm that Jian Dan had given her before parting. Her tiny paw activated it, and instantly, purple light flared around her. A Void Refinement stage pressure surged outward like a wave.
Above her head, a massive purple sword materialized, crackling with lightning. It slashed toward the person who had attempted to ambush her.
On the summit of Purple Sky Peak, Zi Qing Zhēnzūn abruptly opened her eyes. With a single swipe of her hand, she vanished from her seclusion cave.
The rear mountains of the Purple Sky Sect were split in half by the terrifying sword energy sealed by Jian Li Zhēnzūn. The entire sea of flowers was destroyed. Disciples in the area were caught in the aftermath. Those closest were instantly killed. If not for Xiao Yong Zhōngzhǔ's timely intervention, even the ones further out might have been reduced to dust by the sword aura.
Yue Liang had transformed into her true form, about as tall as a grown person. She let out a long cry and, as her enemy reeled from the sword strike, she teleported to within five meters and slashed down with her claws.
She remembered what Shan Zhēnjūn had taught her—strike first, or suffer later. If overpowered, use external tools. Most importantly, take them out while they're down. How dare they ambush her?
Yue Liang poured every bit of her strength into the attack. With her innate talent and the jade charm's power, she tore a strand from the opponent's powerful divine soul. The enemy grunted in pain.
It was a clear case of "like master, like spirit pet." Because of her decisiveness, Yue Liang had managed to seriously injure a Void Refinement zhōngzhǔ, and even damaged their soul.
"Little friend, spare them."
A crisp female voice interrupted Yue Liang's next strike.
She knew instantly that she couldn't defeat this woman, and with a flash, she retreated to Xiao Yong Zhōngzhǔ's side for protection.
"Greetings to Zi Qing Zhēnzūn. I apologize for the trouble, this is my fault," said Xiao Yong respectfully.
"This isn't your fault. Who would have expected such a dangerous figure to slip through our net?"
Zi Qing Zhēnzūn looked down at the pale-faced Chang Ping Zhōngzhǔ and formed a five-pointed star with her hand. It transformed into a spatial cage and locked her inside.
Yue Liang had shrunk back down to the size of a forearm, standing upright on Xiao Yong's shoulder. She raised her tiny paws in salute and said in a soft voice,
"Yue Liang greets Zi QIng Zhēnzūn. Thank you for your help."
Xiao Yong's nose twitched. He had thought he and this little creature got along well, yet she had never spoken aloud in front of him—not once. She had always used divine sense transmissions.
"Heh, clever little one. But you did destroy the entire rear mountain," Zi Qing said dryly.
Yue Liang knew it wasn't her fault, but with a zhēnzūn saying so, she couldn't argue. Shan Zhēnjūn had told her before: when under someone else's roof, you sometimes have to bow your head. Taking a loss for now doesn't mean losing forever.
Her shiny black eyes turned, and she patted her collar. A pile of mid-grade spirit stones tumbled to the ground.
"This was given to me by my master for emergencies. I offer it as compensation. If this isn't enough, my master instructed me to hand over my identity token and let someone go to the Heavenly Sword Sect. Someone will come to redeem me."
As she spoke, the white jade sword-shaped pendant hanging from her neck floated toward Zi Qing Zhēnzūn.