As they walked up the long staircase of clouds and water, Jian Dan asked Wu Siyuan beside her,
"Who's that vase-like female cultivator?"
Wu Siyuan went speechless for a moment. The term Zhūnzhǔ used was apt: all looks, no substance.
"Zhūnzhǔ, she's Yu Yaoyao from the Cloud Sea Sect. She's in the mid stage of Divine Transformation. Just broke through, but her cultivation still seems unstable."
Jian Dan nodded. The Yu surname was a prominent one in Cloud Sea Sect. It looked like the other party had her eye on Han Pengfei. But after what happened with Xu Meixia, the once dazzling young master had probably developed some trauma around these things.
As the match ended, the water mirrors surrounding the side peak of Yunhai Peak slowly dissipated one by one.
In her cave dwelling, Yun Yun Zhēnzūn was waiting for Han Pengfei's return.
Yun Yun Zhēnzūn had accepted a sect-protection duty, which meant she would remain focused on guarding the sect for the next five hundred years. Conveniently, her cultivation had also reached a bottleneck. And since her most cherished junior, Han Pengfei, had already reached a life-and-death tribulation, she decided to take up the task herself.
When Hai Yue brought Han Pengfei into the cave dwelling, Yun Yun already had her beautiful eyes open. She looked to Hai Yue and asked,
"Did anything seem off?"
"Reporting to Zhēnzūn, the Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ had no ill intent. She was genuinely giving guidance to Junior Brother on his swordsmanship."
Han Pengfei stepped forward, having already composed himself, and respectfully bowed.
"Aunt Ancestor, you don't need to worry. Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ is an old acquaintance. Her guidance today has benefited me greatly."
Hai Yue added from the side,
"Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ specifically instructed that Junior Brother shouldn't use pills to recover his spiritual power. She told him to circulate his cultivation art and absorb spiritual energy naturally, saying the experience would bring him insight. She also told me to protect the area while he cultivated."
Yun Yun Zhēnzūn nodded, then said to Han Pengfei,
"Go to my training chamber. The spiritual energy there should be enough for you to recover."
"Thank you, Aunt Ancestor."
Han Pengfei did not refuse the offer and went straight to the side room, leaving Hai Yue to report.
Once he entered and began circulating his cultivation technique, Yun Yun cast a protective barrier over the room. Only then did she turn to Hai Yue and ask,
"Did Jian Lu seem to have any... other intentions?"
Hai Yue understood the subtext and quickly replied,
"Jian Lu simply saw Junior Brother as a younger generation and was giving him sincere guidance. Her eyes held no romantic feelings whatsoever. But Yu Yaoyao..."
A rare trace of satisfaction showed on Yun Yun Zhēnzūn's usually composed face. She had seen the entire match through the water mirror earlier.
Han Pengfei's swordsmanship had indeed improved. Though there were still rough edges that would need polishing through time and practice, there was no denying the impact of having a skilled teacher.
"Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ seemed pleased with his progress. Before leaving, she even gifted him something to refine into the Wushuang Sword, allowing him to enhance the grade of his life-bound weapon."
"Good. I understand. Jian Lu of the Heavenly Sword Sect has always aimed for amicable relations. As for the Yu family Ancestor, he is deep and shrewd, but that Yu Yaoyao... her actions lack propriety."
The rest of her sentence trailed off, but Hai Yue understood well enough. It was clear Yun Yun Zhēnzūn did not like Yu Yaoyao.
"Master Ancestor, is there anything else you'd like me to do?"
"For the time being, don't let Yu Yaoyao disturb Pengfei's cultivation."
"Understood."
After Hai Yue left, Yun Yun Zhēnzūn sensed the rapid gathering of spiritual energy in the training chamber and smiled. It seemed Pengfei really was on the verge of a breakthrough.
Meanwhile, Jian Dan had already returned to her temporary cave on Yunyin Peak. Yue Liang was wagging her fluffy tail and complaining,
"That female cultivator named Yu Yaoyao seemed to have an issue with you. The way she looked at you was off. I really wanted to beat her up, but Senior Brother Wu said we can't provoke others in public. It would be bad for your reputation, so I held back."
Jian Dan laughed and rubbed her head. No wonder Yue Liang, who usually chattered non-stop, had been so quiet during and after the match. Turns out Wu Siyuan had kept her in check.
Wu Siyuan remained silent, his gaze calm and measured, offering no explanation.
"I know you're looking out for me. But Siyuan was right. That's her issue, not mine. People like that aren't worth our time."
"Got it, Zhūnzhǔ. I'll continue patrolling the mountain then."
Now that she had Jian Dan's reassurance, Yue Liang perked right up and returned to her duties.
"Go on. Be careful."
"Yue Liang understands."
Before the words fully left her mouth, Yue Liang was already gone.
"Yue Liang really is devoted to you, a great help indeed," Wu Siyuan said.
"I know. She's usually well-behaved, but she's also very sensitive. I'm guessing Yu Yaoyao gave me a hostile look, which upset her. But you don't need to worry."
"Understood."
"The grand tournament begins tomorrow. How are the sect disciples preparing?"
"Rest assured, Zhūnzhǔ. Everyone is full of excitement and ready to prove themselves."
"Let everyone know, the matches are for mutual learning, to gain experience and improve. Don't let them do anything underhanded or petty. Our Heavenly Sword Sect cannot afford that disgrace."
"Yes, Zhūnzhǔ. I'll spread the word at once."
"Go. I'll call you if I need anything."
With that, peace returned to Jian Dan's temporary cave.
From the pendant on her chest, a silver-armored mother insect slowly crawled out. Its antennae touched together and sent a message to her.
It was the little silver-armored one she had planted beside Jian Yu, sending word.
Jian Yu had been acting strangely. Before she insisted on escorting Lu Xuanyuan back to Zixia Peak, she had received a transmission talisman and met with a cultivator from the Purple Sky Sect.
That person had promised that if she returned Lu Xuanyuan, they would take care of Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ.
Jian Yu had hesitated for a while, but after hearing that something had happened to the Fu family, she finally agreed. In the end, the operation failed.
That person now knew Lu Xuanyuan had returned to Zixiao Peak, and that Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ had captured two people. All day, they'd been in a foul mood, restless and anxious.
Jian Dan quietly received the message, instructing the insect to remain hidden and not blow its cover. Then she began to reflect. Was this really just about the Fu family, or was there more behind it?
With the tournament so close, Jian Dan didn't want to confront Jian Yu directly just yet. She ordered the silver insect to continue its surveillance. She wanted to see exactly what tricks they were planning.
The next day, the grand tournament officially began.
Representatives and participants from all major sects gathered outside the main hall of Yunhai Peak, in a massive plaza. The Sect Master of Cloud Sea Sect gave a rousing pre-match speech, then declared the tournament open.
Most of the contestants were in the Golden Core stage, so the initial matches followed an elimination format. Contestants were divided across nine arenas. The first round would narrow each arena to just ten contestants. Anyone knocked off the platform would be eliminated.
The Zhūnzhǔs leading the ten major sects were seated in a row at the front of the plaza. Once the Yunhai Sect Master gave the signal to start, some who weren't interested in watching the Golden Core rounds began to leave.
Jian Dan, however, stayed.
Over the years, she had often been away on missions for the sect and had missed all previous internal competitions. Staying this time felt like catching up.
Qian Wanguan also remained, seated to her left. He leaned over and said,
"Jian Lu Daoyou, you were incredible. I saw the image crystal of you teaming up with Jian Li Zhūnzhǔ. Truly admirable!"
His compliment was genuine. Not many cultivators could fight across realms.
"Qian Daoyou flatters me. I was just cooperating with Senior Brother Jian Li. Has word of the Dingfeng Pearl spread? Is the Loose Cultivator Alliance handling things well?"
She asked casually.
"Thanks to your early warning, we're managing fine. The alliance has no major problems. A few greedy ones still haven't returned their Wind-Fixing Pearls, but it's nothing that affects the overall situation."
Qian Wanguan sounded confident.