After receiving a firm response from Jian Lu Zūnzhǔ, Jian Dan retrieved the command token of her War Hall and issued an emergency summon. In a flash, Jian Xu, Wu Siyuan, Jian Gui, and Jian Peng arrived, and the five of them headed straight for the Fu family estate in Tianxu City.
As they flew through the sky in a streak of light, Jian Dan briefly explained their mission. Only Jian Xu chuckled and said with a teasing smile, "This is a risky move. If you can't flush out that big fish, you're the one who's going to pay for it."
"Well, we won't know unless we try, will we?"
Wu Siyuan had accompanied Jian Dan throughout the sect tournament and knew she never acted without reason. If they were targeting the Fu family, there had to be a serious problem.
Jian Gui and Jian Peng were well aware of Jian Dan's usual style. Besides, this time they had received an official summons from the War Hall. Naturally, they had no objections and simply followed her lead.
Perched on Jian Dan's shoulder, Yue Liang wore an unusually serious expression. The Zūnzhǔ had instructed her to use her innate ability the moment they entered the Fu estate, scanning every member of the family to see if any were hosts to parasitic soul fragments. If she found any, Jian Dan would personally wipe them out.
Their flight landed precisely at the gate of the Fu family estate. The guards on duty were sharp. The moment they saw five people arrive with an aggressive aura, one of them immediately crushed a warning talisman in his hand.
Jian Dan sneered coldly and unfolded her spatial domain. In an instant, magnolia blossoms bloomed into existence, engulfing the entire Fu estate in radiant white petals.
She tossed a jade slip to Jian Peng and ordered, "The Fu family's shops in Tianxu City. Go. Detain everyone. If anyone resists, kill them."
While Jian Dan was making her move, Jian Sheng was already carrying out the next part of the plan. He reported back to the Fu family Zūnshàng on Jian Dan's behalf. With a Zhēnzūn personally keeping the Zūnshàng in check, Jian Sheng finally let out a sigh of relief. If the Fu family Ancestor had returned home in time, Jian Lu Zūnzhǔ might have faced serious trouble.
With the Zhēnzūn delaying their return, Jian Sheng bowed and excused himself from the grand hall. Pretending to head for Tianxu City to find Jian Lu, he instead sent urgent messages to all Heavenly Sword Sect outposts. Every Fu family enterprise was to be investigated, every Fu disciple brought in. Any resistance was to be met with lethal force.
Jian Peng moved out, following the coordinates in the jade slip to apprehend targets at the listed shops. Meanwhile, Jian Dan and her three companions walked straight into the Fu estate as if it were their own.
"Who dares intrude upon the Fu family?"
A thunderous voice exploded in their ears. Jian Dan rubbed hers, then replied in a soft, almost teasing tone, "Isn't it obvious? We're here to stir up trouble."
Her flippant attitude made the three behind her twitch at the corners of their mouths.
"Insolent brat. Name yourself. The Fu family does not kill nameless dogs."
"Tianyue Peak's Jian Lu. Weren't you looking for me?"
Jian Dan spoke calmly as she walked forward.
Yue Liang stood on Jian Dan's shoulder, her eyes darkening from their usual light brown to a deep, almost pitch-black hue. Through Jian Dan's spiritual sense, Yue Liang scanned each member of the Fu family that arrived.
Several Void Refinement level cultivators from the Fu family frowned. Their Ancestor had just left for the Heavenly Sword Sect to deal with Jian Lu, and now she had come knocking on their front door. Had something gone wrong?
"Send a message to the Ancestor," ordered the Fu family head.
"I tried. It won't go through," came a panicked reply.
"Why the panic? There's only a handful of them. Are we really afraid? If it comes to a fight, who knows who'll win?"
With that, the Fu family head led a group of high-ranking cultivators forward to confront Jian Dan and her companions.
Both sides finally met in front of the Fu family's main hall. Jian Dan's Mahayana-level spiritual sense had already swept through the estate. A hundred meters beneath the main building, something was definitely off.
Her probing was noticed. A hidden presence quickly withdrew upon contact. But what she had sensed made her even more certain: the spiritual signature reeked of blood, shadows, and malice.
More Fu family members gathered by the minute, all armed with spiritual swords, waiting only for the order to attack.
Jian Dan's eyes glinted with disdain. She sent a mental transmission to the others, revealing what she had found. Jian Xu promised he would find a way to force the enemy below ground to reveal themselves.
"Zūnzhǔ, Yue Liang has identified a host possessed by a soul fragment," Yue Liang reported, turning her tiny head toward a man beside the Fu family head.
"Good. I'll kill those first. You focus on purging the fragments. Work with me closely."
"Understood, Zūnzhǔ. Yue Liang won't let you down."
She readied herself, golden light shimmering on her tiny paws.
Jian Dan floated into the air, gazing down over the entire Fu estate. Her voice rang out clearly, amplified by spiritual power to echo across every corner.
"Fu family of Tianxu City. Fu Jianyu conspired with evil cultivators, using the ancient formation 'Azure Dragon Blood Array' to entrap and murder her fellow disciples. The entire Fu family will now return with me to the Heavenly Sword Sect for investigation by the Law Enforcement Hall. Anyone who resists will be killed on the spot."
"Silence! How dare you slander us? What evidence do you have? Fu Jianyu is on Tiandu Peak. She hasn't returned in years. What proof do you have that our Fu family is involved with evil cultivators?"
The Fu family head barked back, eyes blazing.
"Did you mishear me? I said Fu Jianyu conspired with evil cultivators. I didn't say your entire family did. I merely asked you all to come back for questioning. Why the outrage?"
"Hmph! If you want to accuse us, you'll always find a reason! Let the Heavenly Sword Sect investigate. We aren't afraid."
"Heh. No need to shout your innocence so loud. I believe there are innocent people in the Fu family. I'm just certain you and the one next to you aren't among them."
Without warning, a sword light flashed.
It struck the man beside the Fu family head dead on. Yue Liang followed instantly, five streaks of golden light slicing through the air. A scream echoed as black smoke rose from the man's corpse. He had been killed in one clean strike from Jian Dan.
At the same moment, Jian Xu Zūnzhǔ's radiant sword fell from the sky, a colossal blade shadow blanketing the entire Fu estate. It landed precisely where Jian Dan had earlier sensed something buried deep underground.
With a thunderous boom, the Fu family's main hall was obliterated, reduced to dust under the swirling sword aura. A massive fissure split the ground, plunging down over a hundred meters.
The Fu family head hadn't expected Jian Lu to be so aggressive. She struck without hesitation, killing his kin in a flash. And that scream… the sound of something sinister dying had chilled him to the bone. Heart pounding, he raised his sword and charged forward.
"Still hiding like a rat underground? Not coming out for a peek? Your beloved Ancestor isn't here to protect you today. I smelled your stench the moment I walked in."
Jian Dan's taunt echoed as she darted through the battlefield. Guided by Yue Liang, she swiftly eliminated every cultivator hosting a soul fragment. Yue Liang matched her movements seamlessly, striking in perfect tandem until each parasitic presence was eradicated.
Wu Siyuan held the line alone, cutting down every Fu cultivator who dared attack them. If the Fu family made a move, his orders were clear: eliminate without mercy.
Jian Gui, having fought in several recent battles, reacted quickly. His Windborne Sword flashed out, blocking a formation being attempted by surrounding Fu cultivators.
Then came Jian Xu Zūnzhǔ's second strike: Xuan Light Cleave.
A sword slash so massive it split the entire Fu estate in half. From the newly torn ground below, black smoke erupted in waves.
Each plume of darkness latched onto nearby Fu cultivators. Their eyes turned pitch black before they launched themselves at Jian Dan's group, exploding mid-air.
More and more possessed Fu cultivators hurled themselves skyward, detonating one after another. In the thunder of self-destruction, the Fu estate crumbled into ruins.