Jian Dan, whose Divine Sense was nearing the Divine Transformation stage, immediately recognized the true form of the approaching ochre-colored cloud. Nearly a thousand giant mantises, each over two meters tall and entirely earth-toned, were marching directly toward them.
Jian Dan wanted to curse. Was this a literal insect nest she had stirred up?
Complaints were pointless. Staying alive was what mattered now. This was not the time to hold back. Mó Yuè Zhǎn surged forward, spinning like a crescent blade and diving into the swarm. In a single pass, dozens of mantises were sliced cleanly in half.
But the power fueling the strike came at a cost. Jian Dan's internal reserves of magic began to drain rapidly. She hadn't even reached the front line yet.
"Mó Yuè, take it easy. This is going to be a war of attrition!"
The blade responded to her call, shrinking to forty centimeters and circling around her, assisting in combat while conserving energy.
Jian Dan reached into her Black Gold Ring, pulling out two wine gourds. She tossed one to Mo Su and took a swig from the other, replenishing the spiritual power lost to Mó Yuè Zhǎn's earlier strike.
"Excellent stuff. Many thanks, Jian Zhēnjūn. Let's get started!"
The moment he finished speaking, they both charged into the swarm.
"Mó Yuè, Dance!"
"Frost Break!"
Their weapons glinted with lethal energy as they slashed into the enemy. Jian Dan's Obsidian Bracelet shimmered, infusing her left fist with swirling demonic qi. She punched out, the phantom image of a massive fist crashing into a mantis's head, crushing it instantly. The headless body staggered forward for several more meters before collapsing.
Another mantis swept its scythe-like forelimbs at her from behind. Mó Yuè Zhǎn, guarding her flank, retaliated with ruthless precision. The blade arced upward, severing both limbs in a single stroke, then spun midair to split the creature down the middle.
Jian Dan sidestepped and appeared beside Mo Su Zhēnjūn. Her fist collided with another incoming mantis blade, stopping it cold. In her left hand, the Mò Xī Sword had already appeared. With a swift reverse draw, she cleaved through the enemy's neck.
Mo Su Zhēnjūn gave her a curt nod before raising his weapon and diving back into the fray.
They were like twin whirlwinds tearing through the swarm, never pausing. Whenever they were exhausted, they drank a sip of spirit wine, accelerating their techniques, drawing in more demonic qi, and gradually solidifying their cultivation. Their foundation at the late Nascent Soul stage grew stronger with every breath.
For three full days and nights, they fought side by side without rest. When the final insect fell, the scene shifted and they were returned to the seventh stair.
Mo Su Zhēnjūn took out a high-grade Rejuvenation Pill and sat down to recover.
Jian Dan, being both a dual-path cultivator of the Dao and demon, and possessing a refined physical body, was in better shape than Mo Su. Though fatigued, she hadn't yet reached her limits. She chose not to consume any pills. Instead, she recalled both Mó Yuè Zhǎn and Mò Xī Sword into her dantian, then took out a high-grade spirit stone and began absorbing its essence to restore her energy.
Meanwhile, the area above Devil Abyss was covered in clouds that had doubled in size. However, no lightning tribulation had fallen. Those clouds had been there for nearly twenty years. At first, humans, demons, and beasts alike came to observe, but over time, it became routine.
Only Ma Rong of the Heavenly Demon Palace still came regularly to check. He was certain this tribulation cloud was tied to Mo Su Zhēnjūn and dared not relax his vigilance.
Elsewhere, Yue Liang, who had been loaned to the Purple Sky Sect to assist with internal troubles, had already been brought back to the Heavenly Sword Sect more than a decade ago by Tao Chengfeng Zhēnjūn, shortly after he left seclusion.
When Yue Liang activated the life-saving jade token given by Jian Dan's master, Jian Dan's former senior, Jian Li, had immediately sensed it. He was well acquainted with this female cultivator named Shan Yunzu and doubted she would activate her trump card so easily. So he summoned Jian Wu to investigate.
Three days later, Jian Wu returned with a complicated expression that Jian Li couldn't ignore.
"Just say it."
"It was Shan Yunzu's spiritual beast, Yue Liang. She was ambushed by Chang Ping Zhūnzǔ at the Purple Sky Sect's main peak. That's when the jade token was triggered."
"She values her spirit beast that much? Was it injured?"
"No. On the contrary, Chang Ping Zhūnzǔ was wounded and had to be stopped by Zi Qing Zhēnzūn."
"Hmph. That temper is just like her master's. Arrange for Yue Liang to be brought back. I don't want her becoming a target. If her master returns and finds fault with us, that would be troublesome."
"Yes, Master. I'll see to it right away."
"Any word from Jian Jun Zhūnzǔ recently?"
"He only replied with four words: 'No issues for now.'"
"Understood. Have the new disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall begin intense training. The Pill Dao Tournament will begin in five years. Make sure everything is properly arranged and start assigning tasks."
"Yes. I'll start the rollout to speed up their progress."
"Once this is settled, you should go into seclusion and attempt to break through to the Divine Transformation stage."
"This..." Jian Wu was visibly surprised. His master had never forced him to advance before.
"What's the matter?" Jian Li's tone softened slightly as he looked at his disciple.
"No, it's just a bit sudden. I had planned to consolidate a bit longer before attempting a breakthrough."
"You always hesitate when you shouldn't. I'm telling you this because I believe your strength is ready. Don't worry, you will reach Divine Transformation."
"Thank you, Master. Once I finish these arrangements, I will enter seclusion. Shall I send someone to assist you in the Law Enforcement Hall?"
"Has Jian Sheng's arm fully recovered? Bring him and Jian Ning to assist me."
"Yes." Jian Wu left, energized, to carry out his master's instructions.
Tao Chengfeng had just emerged from seclusion when he received his task from the Law Enforcement Hall. He was to retrieve Yue Liang from the Purple Sky Sect. Shan Yunzu had already left seclusion four years earlier, successfully reaching the Nascent Soul stage, and was now out on a solo mission.
Yue Liang had actually been forcibly borrowed by Xiao Die Zhēnrén of the Purple Sky Sect. When Tao Chengfeng received the order, his usual calm expression flickered with suspicion.
He knew Shan Zhēnjūn well. She deeply cherished her spiritual beast. She had always prioritized Yue Liang's advancement, even converting her own contribution points into Beast Spirit Pills rather than spending them on her own cultivation.
That had led to a widespread misconception. Jian Dan rarely used pills, relying mostly on spirit energy to cultivate. She had never redeemed advancement pills like Golden Core Pills or Nascent Formation Pills—only a few healing pills. To conceal the use of spirit spring water to treat Yue Liang's old wounds, she had openly and frequently redeemed high-grade Beast Spirit Pills. This had made her seem especially indulgent toward her spirit beast. Which, in truth, she was.
The fact that she allowed Yue Liang to be borrowed by Purple Sky Sect seemed far too suspicious. Tao Chengfeng accepted the mission, switched to his Law Enforcement identity badge at Tianzhen Peak, and left the Heavenly Sword Sect.
By the time he arrived at Purple Sky Sect, Yue Liang had already spent considerable time cultivating alongside Lu Xuanyuan at the main peak.
Lately, Yue Liang had been sluggish and unwilling to leave the cave. Young Lu assumed the spirit beast was injured and excitedly took her to see his ancestor, only to be told Yue Liang was on the verge of advancement.
Lu Xuanyuan was thrilled and wanted her to remain at Zixiao Peak for her breakthrough. However, Xiao Yong Zhūnzǔ only smiled in silence.
===
[Notes]
About Jian Jun gender, it was hard to pin point as the author often use more gender neutral for them. Sometimes even the author put feminine description or masculine description. In the first they appear the author use masculine pronouns, and then gender neutral pronouns, and then feminine pronouns. I am right now try to stick to masculine pronouns. But if it changed in future, that's the reason why.