A gentle force lifted Jian Dan and the others, revealing the figure of Mo Xuan Zhēnzūn standing before them.
Mo Xuan Zhēnzūn was tall, nearly one point nine meters, with fair skin and a clean-shaven face. His smiling eyes held a distant gleam, youthful and carefree, as if he were still a young man. His long, black hair was tied into a topknot secured by a black jade crown. At the corners of his lips, a smug smile lingered, making it hard to believe that this man was already a Mahayana-level Zhēnzūn, one of the top powers on the Lingyun Continent.
"Zhēnzūn, this jade slip was entrusted to us by the Palace Master to give to you before we entered the Ming Valley," Mo Su said respectfully, offering it with both hands.
Mo Xuan simply beckoned, and the jade slip flew into his palm. A sweep of his divine sense was enough to read its contents. He frowned briefly, then relaxed and tossed the slip into the air.
"You all are quite bold, thinking to go in alone," he remarked, eyes landing on them.
"Zhēnzūn sees clearly. This is the method we judged would incur the least loss," Mo Su replied with utmost respect.
"And what if none of the four of you return?"
"Then we'll find a way to send the message back. No matter what, we won't waste our efforts."
"Senior Brother, we haven't even gone in yet. Why speak as if we'll fail? We'll go and return safely, so Zhēnzūn doesn't need to worry," Mo Qi cut in. She couldn't stand the oppressive mood any longer and voiced her thoughts.
"Hmm? You're from the Fei family?"
"Yes. Fei Qiwen greets Zhēnzūn. My ancestor even mentioned wanting to go fishing with you someday!"
"Hah, I've nearly died of boredom here. Whether we make it back or not will depend on how this mission goes."
"We will carry out our mission to the best of our ability and live up to your expectations," Mo Su promised.
"Enough. Tell me your preliminary plan, and while we wait, the others should be arriving soon."
"Yes, Zhēnzūn."
With a wave of his hand, a bamboo pavilion rose beside them. After entering and taking their seats, they carefully explained their plan.
While they spoke, other Void Refinement cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Palace arrived one after another with their squads. Soon, the open space was filled, yet it didn't feel crowded. Everyone stood respectfully to the side, waiting for orders. The last to arrive was Tang Jian's team.
Realizing his group was the last, Tang Jian's face darkened slightly, though he didn't lash out. Everyone else was behaving, after all.
Once all were present, Mo Chang Zūnzhě appeared outside the pavilion, flanked by nine black-robed guards, each one at the Void Refinement stage.
"Mo Chang greets Zhēnzūn."
"No need for ceremony," Mo Xuan said with a casual wave. "Mo Su has already briefed me on your overall plan. I won't interfere, but before you act, you must spend at least three days adjusting to the environment inside."
"Please guide us, Zhēnzūn," the group replied in unison.
"Several Zhēnzūn of the Demon Sect and I created two layers of barrier. The first lies just beyond that waterfall cave. Pass through it, and for ten kilometers you will be in the adjustment zone. After that is the inner barrier, which marks the true entrance to the Ming Valley."
He gestured toward the waterfall nearby.
"Once everyone is ready, pass through the first barrier. Those ten kilometers are your adaptation zone. If you cannot proceed, stop. Do not force yourselves. Adjust first, then continue."
"Yes, Zhēnzūn."
"Remind them: if they cannot withstand the pure demonic energy permeating the body, they will not survive inside the Ming Valley."
"Understood. I'll go make the arrangements," Mo Chang said.
Jian Dan and her companions exchanged a glance, then bowed together. "Zhēnzūn, we would like to go ahead and attempt it."
"Go on," Mo Xuan replied, crossing one leg over the other and waving them off indifferently.
As usual, Mo Su took the lead. One by one, the four passed through the curtain of water and vanished from sight.
The moment Jian Dan entered, she was struck by how pure the demonic energy was. Almost entirely free of impurities, it could be directly guided into the dantian.
The others must have thought the same. Without saying a word, they each laid down a cushion and sat cross-legged, beginning to absorb and refine the demonic energy.
At that moment, the spirit of the Mó Yuè Zhǎn, Jian Dan's soul-bound weapon, spoke to her like a cat catching the scent of fish.
"Master, let me out. This demonic energy can repair my dark engravings. With enough time and qi, I may return to peak condition."
There was no reason to refuse. The stronger her weapon, the greater her chances of survival.
A flash of silver light erupted, and the Mó Yuè Zhǎn hovered in midair, expanding to fifty centimeters in length. It spun slowly, drawing in demonic energy with visible force.
At first, the absorption was steady. Then it escalated to a frenzied devouring. Distant energy was pulled toward it, forming a visible vortex around the blade.
Jian Dan stared in disbelief. It was absorbing faster than the supply could replenish.
Mo Su, Mo Yi, and Mo Qi had been calmly cultivating, but less than a quarter-hour later, they noticed the demonic energy thinning. They opened their eyes to find the culprit: the Mó Yuè Zhǎn had drained almost all the demonic energy in a ten-kilometer radius.
Even Jian Dan had barely absorbed anything. She gave an awkward smile and said, "Apologies, everyone. Uh… the last battle against a Divine Soul cultivator left Mó Yuè Zhǎn a bit overdrawn. It's... replenishing now…"
She trailed off, unsure how to continue. Meanwhile, Mó Yuè Zhǎn finished its feast, leaving the adaptation zone utterly drained of demonic energy.
"Master, that was just an appetizer. Not bad. Do this ten more times and I'll be roaring back to glory," the blade spirit declared smugly, even mimicking a post-meal toothpick gesture before vanishing back into Jian Dan's dantian.
Jian Dan looked away, exasperated. "You're a female weapon spirit, for heaven's sake. What's with all this ridiculous bravado?" Now she had to face three people, six eyes, all silently judging her.
"Maybe we should head out for now and wait until the energy recovers?"
In perfect sync, the other three rolled their eyes at her, then packed up their cushions and exited the barrier.
Just as they emerged, they ran into a group of Void Refinement cultivators entering from the other side.
"The energy inside is a bit unstable right now. Maybe wait a bit before going in," Jian Dan advised politely.
But Tang Jian stepped forward with a pompous air.
"We're here to adapt. If it's unstable, then that's all the more reason to go. No need to worry, Junior Sister."
Without waiting for a reply, he led his team straight through the waterfall.
Jian Dan shrugged. If they wouldn't listen, it wasn't her problem. She turned and approached Mo Chang Zūnzhě.
"Zūnzhě, my Mó Yuè Zhǎn got a little... excited and absorbed all the energy in the adaptation zone. It's currently empty. Should we…"
"All of it?" Mo Chang blinked at her.
"Yes," she admitted.
"Heh. No wonder it's called an ancient demonic weapon. You four, take your squads and move out now."