Since escaping the Demon Abyss, Jian Dan and Mo Su had carefully avoided their most sensitive shared memories, pretending ignorance of each other's secrets.
They understood that the trial dimension had been carved out by a powerful cultivator to block the Heavenly Dao. That meant the heavenly oath Jian Dan had uttered in that space meant nothing. Yet neither spoke a word of it.
After Mo Su had survived the Divine Transformation tribulation, he realized he could not force Jian Dan's allegiance. So he cleverly invited her to the Heavenly Demon Palace using Mó Yuè Zhǎn. Once they arrived, he'd deal with any hidden risks on his own—he was too proud to rely on another.
Jian Dan recognized his invitation as an act of distrust. And she never fully trusted him either. Secrets stay secret only as long as they are shared with no one. Once two people know, a third will follow. That was why she accepted his proposal to return together.
They both sought leverage—each preparing a trap.
Jian Dan had stayed in Huancheng City to avoid trouble. But with Miao Yunrong's invitation and Mo Su disguised as an attendant, the moment felt ripe. She had waited for a common enemy to prompt cooperation between Mo Su and herself—a natural reflex born of their trial-space bond. Thanks to her Dream-Eye and early-stage Divine Soul awareness, she was ready.
Mo Su felt a brief disorientation, then stood and regarded Jian Dan with curiosity. His divine sense swept across the three Nascent Souls, finding nothing strange.
Jian Dan handed him a vial: "I found this in that Madam Feng's bracelet. It seems pure enough. Decide if it's effective or not."
She flicked her fingers and dismantled the golden barrier, restoring the jade pavilion. The gesture was pulled from her soul extraction.
Mo Su confirmed its authenticity and placed the pill into the flushed-faced Miao Yunrong's mouth. Moments later she woke, followed by her attendants, who knelt before Mo Su, fear etched on their faces.
Miao Yunrong looked startled, lips trembling. She glanced at Jian Dan and stammered: "Senior Brother, I didn't know what was happening. I just came to watch."
Mo Su shook her head, deadpan: "Ever since you went after Jian Daoist, I followed. Say no more—say too much and more mistakes are made. Reflect on this after we return."
That silenced Miao Yunrong. Jian Dan smiled sweetly: "You should be grateful you are the Little Palace Mistress of the Heavenly Demon Palace. You had some wit to seek my protection. Do not expect such luck every time."
"Do you know what that female cultivator planned?" Jian Dan asked.
Miao Yunrong shook her head. The truth was shocking: "Tsk tsk. That needy Nascent Soul woman wanted your body. She planned to possess you, and use me as her spirit vessel to collect more spirit stones."
"Ah?" Miao Yunrong gasped.
Jian Dan continued: "Think about it. She takes over you—claims your body, your status. She might even pair with your Senior Brother later. And you wouldn't even get a chance to reincarnate."
"No, that won't happen. My Senior Brother would sense it," Miao Yunrong replied.
"He would, naturally. But where will you be at that time?" Jian Dan quipped.
"Alright, Jian Daoist. Don't scare her so. I'm sure she'll learn her lesson."
Mo Su intervened, but Jian Dan's words had already hit the mark—Miao Yunrong looked pale and shaken.
"Were you afraid she would control you?" Jian Dan pressed.
Miao Yunrong, defiant, said: "Of course! That's why I had to rely on you to protect me—and why she got me with the drug. You killed her instead."
At that, Mo Su gave Jian Dan a respectful nod of thanks.
The three Nascent Souls—Shan Chuan from the Loose Cultivators, Ren Kuang from Yin-Yang Sect, and Yuan Jinsheng from Fate Pavilion—stepped forward.
They spoke in unison: "We are indebted to Jūnshàng for saving us."
Soon after, Mo Su grabbed Yuan Jinsheng. Caught by magic sense, he could only gasp: "Jūnshàng, what are you doing?"
Mo Su didn't answer. In a burst of demonic qi he struck Yuan's dantian, withdrew his Nascent Soul, and drained it. Yuan paused briefly, bowed deeply, and dissipated into nothing.
Miao Yunrong gripped her whip, her five attendants forming a guard around her.
Jian Dan told Mo Su: "Before the barrier drops completely, let's act swiftly."
Mo Su cast a demon qi prison. He captured the king beetle that had burst from a Nascent Soul's forehead.
Together, they passed through the pavilion's gates. Jian Dan waved and sealed the entire jade tower within her spatial artifact. It was not a top-tier artifact—but it was elegant and contained a teleport escape array. A valuable prize indeed.
The pavilion's front gates remained closed. Inside it was wild chaos.
Earlier, Jian Dan had flicked the Golden Core swordsman out. His aura formed a protective barrier that felled the swarming king beetles—beetles that sought to parasitize him.
The remaining Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators, realizing resistance was futile, fled in terror using their teleport charms. But Jian Dan's Mó Yuè Zhǎn needed no command. It flared, and the dozen or so cultivators collapsed mid-flight. Their bodies, along with their Nascent Souls, were absorbed by the beetles.
Mo Su expanded the demon qi prison. He absorbed all the beetles into his control.
Jian Dan opened her miasmic umbrella. Holding it aloft, she shielded Miao Yunrong and the others as petals rained down.
"Stay put," she instructed.
She kicked off and leapt upward. Her fist, cloaked in swirling demonic qi, struck a point in the air above.