At that moment, Jian Yu Zhūnzhǔ was drifting through the clouds, unable to track the flying ship. She let out a helpless sigh.
When the ship lifted off, Jian Lu had clearly noticed her. He'd turned toward where she was hiding and offered her a knowing, cryptic smile.
Then the clouds thickened, layer upon layer, until the ship was completely obscured from sight.
Onboard, Cotton Candy had just been roughed up by Jian Dan before being ordered to resume her surveillance.
A message suddenly came through Jian Dan's communication jade slip: "Junior Sister Jian Lu, we'll meet at Cloud Sea Sect. —Jian Yu."
Reading the message, Jian Dan felt even more certain. Jian Yu had received the same mission. The two of them had simply been assigned different roles—one in the light, one in the shadows. It was a long-standing tradition of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
Originally, Jian Dan had assumed she'd be partnered with someone at the Unity stage at the very least. She hadn't expected them to assign Jian Yu.
But after a moment's thought, the arrangement made sense. It was the sect's subtle way of compensating the lineage of Tiandu Peak.
Jian Wan had lost to her—and even her life-bound sword had been damaged. Her disciple had also gotten into trouble. Assigning Jian Wan's Junior Sister to this task was a way of maintaining balance.
As long as Jian Yu didn't make trouble, Jian Dan couldn't be bothered. She'd been planning to ignore her entirely anyway. But before she could act, Cotton Candy took matters into her own hands and cleanly ditched Jian Yu.
That worked just fine. Jian Dan had no intention of taking a longer route. She was planning to cut straight through Heifeng Ravine.
Heifeng Ravine was home to a rare spiritual plant—the Qingyu Black Lantern.
These plants only grew in the unique environment of Heifeng Ravine. Their branches were like polished green jade, but their blooms were black and the size of a palm, shaped like lanterns.
Only Qingyu Black Lanterns over a thousand years old could produce a Feng-Stilling Pearl.
Because Heifeng Ravine was constantly swept by fierce black winds, only a Feng-Stilling Pearl could guarantee safe passage through.
Jian Dan had another reason for bringing everyone this way. Heifeng Ravine was infamous for its bandits. Ruthless ones—and powerful too.
They often ambushed passing cultivators, then vanished into Heifeng Ravine. Thanks to their Feng-Stilling Pearls, they could retreat unharmed. By the time their victims returned with reinforcements, the bandits were long gone.
Most didn't even bother leaving survivors. No tracks, no witnesses. So few people ever learned the truth.
In her past life, Jian Dan had witnessed one such group abduct two female cultivators. The two were dragged into Heifeng Ravine and never seen again.
At the time, Jian Dan had just left Danzong and barely reached the Divine Transformation stage. She hadn't stood a chance against the bandit leader. All she could do was hide and grit her teeth.
In this life, she planned to use her sect's strength to eliminate this cancer once and for all—and give her team some early combat experience while they were at it.
Under Cotton Candy's concealment, the ship glided over three days to reach Heifeng Ravine, slipping in without alerting anyone inside.
Jian Dan sent a voice transmission to the cultivators participating in the trial:
"We're taking a shortcut through Heifeng Ravine. The place is crawling with vicious cultivators. Show me what you're made of."
"Yes, Zhūnzhǔ."
The cultivators aboard glanced at each other. None could quite grasp what their leader intended.
"Change into plain clothes. Don't give yourselves away. I need three Golden Core stage cultivators to come with me."
The top three contestants at the Golden Core stage stepped forward without hesitation, each in late-stage Golden Core, already dressed in plain robes.
"Yue Liang, let's go. Time to scout ahead."
Jian Dan and Yue Liang stepped out onto the ship's upper deck. She'd already suppressed her cultivation to late Foundation Establishment.
Holding Yue Liang in her arms, she flew ahead on her sword at a leisurely pace. The three Golden Core cultivators followed behind, posing as guards.
As soon as they entered Heifeng Ravine's boundaries, Jian Dan's crisp voice rang out:
"So this is Heifeng Ravine? The place with those Feng-Stilling Pearls I want?"
"Yes, miss!"
The three behind her were quick to respond. Noting that she had hidden her cultivation, they instantly caught on—Zhūnzhǔ was up to something. Naturally, they played along.
"Which of you is familiar with the are—"
Before she could finish, a mocking voice cut her off:
"Well, well. What do you think this place is? You think you can just stroll in?"
A man dressed in a gaudy fuchsia robe appeared in front of her, looking flamboyant and androgynous. He was at early Nascent Soul stage. Behind him stood a mismatched group of Golden Core cultivators, all glaring menacingly.
Still stroking Yue Liang, Jian Dan casually spoke:
"What kind of half-man, half-creature just crawled out of the gutter?"
The man instantly teleported in front of her, hand reaching for her throat.
But Yue Liang had been warned. She grabbed Jian Dan and blinked them out of reach just in time.
"You scared me! What do you think you're doing?"
Jian Dan patted her chest dramatically, feigning fright. Her exaggerated reaction made even the three "guards" wince with secondhand embarrassment.
"Hmph. You stupid woman. You think you can escape from Heisan?"
He waved a binding rope—an Immortal Binding Rope—trapping all four of them at once.
Jian Dan silently signaled for them not to resist. They let themselves be dragged deeper into Heifeng Ravine.
"Help! Do you even know who I am? How dare you grab me…"
Her shrill protests echoed as the group vanished into the heart of the mountain pass.
Back on the ship, the rest of the cultivators followed Jian Dan's previous instructions. Led by Divine Soul stage cultivators, with support from Divine Transformation stage and lower-ranked teams, they split into ten groups.
Carefully, they followed the marks Jian Dan had left behind, quietly advancing into Heifeng Ravine.
Meanwhile, thanks to their "capture," Jian Dan and the others were escorted straight into the bandits' hideout.
"Hei Laoda! Look what I caught today! Enough fun for all three of us! Unlike those few last time…"
Heisan swaggered into the cavern, proudly dragging them along. As he spoke, he made a throat-slitting gesture.
Hei Laoda, seated on a black stone throne, opened his eyes and looked over Jian Dan.
She kept up her act, eyes wide with defiance as she was pulled into the dark, oppressive den.
"Who are you people? Let me go! Do you know who my patriarch is?"
Hei Laoda was a thickset man with a face full of jowls and sagging eyelids. The aura of decay clung to him—his lifespan was nearly spent. He was in the late Divine Soul stage.
A flicker of greed crossed his eyes. This female cultivator's level might be low, but her looks were excellent.
Heisan, eager to please, pointed at the three male cultivators.
"Laoda, I caught these ones too. Mind if I keep one? It's been ages since I tasted something new."
As he spoke, his gaze swept over the three men. They said nothing, their fury barely contained.
But Jian Dan's voice rang clearly in their minds:
"Go with him. I've already tampered with the Immortal Binding Rope. Once you're in his territory, the rest is up to you."
"Should we leave survivors?"
Bian Qikang, the top Golden Core stage contestant, asked quietly.
"No need. Their bloodstained hands have already sealed their fate."
"Yes, Zhūnzhǔ."
Hei Laoda waved dismissively.
"Leave the woman. Take the other three."
"Thanks, Laoda!"
Heisan gleefully dragged them away. The three played along, struggling and shouting:
"Let us go, you freak! What do you want with our young lady?!"
Their shouts echoed down the tunnel until a barrier sealed the entrance.
Jian Dan pretended to tremble slightly in fear, but her voice stayed bold:
"You'd better release me. I carry my ancestor's soul imprint. You won't be able to hurt me!"
Hei Laoda chuckled.
"Hurt you? Why would I? I've been looking for a new vessel. This one's starting to rot. And now, here you are—perfect timing!"