"Junior Sister Jian Lu, these vengeful souls must not be released. If they escape, Tianshu City will fall into chaos."
Jian Xu frowned as he spoke to Jian Dan. The souls that had been captured through the cruel methods of evil cultivators were steeped in resentment. This malevolent aura only made them more violent and uncontrollable.
Jian Dan sheathed the Mò Xī Jiàn and turned to Jian Xu.
"Senior Brother, I have a way to suppress them temporarily, but there are too many. I'll need to recover at least fifty percent of my spiritual energy. It'll take some time."
"Understood. I'll protect you while you recover."
"Thank you, Senior Brother."
Wu Siyuan and Jian Gui each took a pill to recover their strength, restoring about thirty to forty percent of their spiritual power. They then stood at both flanks, forming a triangle around Jian Dan to shield her.
With a wave of her hand, Jian Dan buried herself in a pile of top-grade spirit stones and began her meditation.
The energy within the spirit stones spun into swirls as it surged into her body. In just a short while, a cocoon of spiritual power enveloped her completely. After replacing the spirit stones five times, she finally managed to restore half of her cultivation.
"Hurry, woman! These vengeful souls have already started to corrode your spatial domain. I can't hold on much longer."
Liu Chuan's voice echoed in her mind. Jian Dan's eyes snapped open.
Sure enough, some of the souls had begun gnawing at the domain boundaries. Liu Chuan's branches and leaves, which formed part of the space, were withering under the corruption, weakening the domain's overall strength.
Meanwhile, several souls had already surrounded the head of the Fu Clan, viciously biting at him. Due to the side effects of a pill, his cultivation had plummeted, leaving him defenseless. He could only wail and convulse in agony as they gnawed at his Primordial Soul.
Jian Dan remained unscathed thanks to the protection of the three cultivators around her, but even they were reaching their limits.
Without hesitation, Jian Dan swept her hand across her storage bangle. A zither-style ancient sword appeared in her hands. She laid it across her knees and plucked six strings in a single sweep. A resounding zheng rang out, infused with her spiritual energy. The sound rippled across the domain, freezing every vengeful soul in place.
Taking a deep breath, Jian Dan pressed her left hand firmly against the strings and began to play.
At first, the notes rang out like the clash of iron and steel, thundering into the souls and rattling their violent essence. Then came the wailing tones, sorrowful and haunting, as if mourning kin were weeping through the strings. The air turned heavy with grief. Even the most hostile souls began to soften, as though faint traces of their former selves had returned.
The melody shifted again, growing clear and gentle, like sunlight piercing through morning mist. It became a prayer from the living to the dead, a plea for peace. The final notes stretched long and pure, echoing through the space until the last reverberation faded.
Every soul hung motionless in the air, the riot quelled. Jian Dan, however, was pale as paper. Sweat trickled down her brow. Her spiritual power had been completely drained.
Clenching her jaw, she began contracting the domain, drawing the now-still souls toward her, gathering them together like lost children being called home.
In Tianshu City, the magnolia flowers that had bloomed for five days gradually faded, their petals shrinking until they revealed Jian Dan and her companions. Though all four looked battered and bruised, none were in danger of death.
Jian Li was the first to approach.
"Jian Lu, Jian Xu, are you two alright?"
Too exhausted to speak, Jian Dan lifted the nearly-blooming magnolia-shaped domain in her hand.
"Please, Zhēnzūn, seal the vengeful souls."
From the moment Jian Dan began playing her melody, Tian Yun Zhēnzūn had already understood her intent.
He had returned to the sect midway and borrowed the Soul-Sealing Vessel. Now, standing beside Jian Dan, he guided the spirits from the magnolia domain into the vessel. Once sealed, he placed the item into his storage ring.
"You've all fulfilled your mission well. Jian Li will take over the rest. You may return to the sect."
"Thank you, Zhēnzūn, for safeguarding us. Without your protection, we would not have had the confidence to face such a powerful evil cultivator."
Jian Dan and Jian Xu bowed first, followed by the other three, paying their respects to Tian Yun Zhēnzūn.
"Heh. The younger generation truly is remarkable. Well done."
With that, he vanished before their eyes.
"I've arranged for others to finish the cleanup. Let me escort you back to the sect first."
Jian Li's voice, calm as ever, carried authority and assurance.
Jian Dan and Jian Xu had taken the brunt of the battle. What they needed most now was rest. Jian Li could tell just from looking at their depleted auras.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Jian Li. We'll trouble your flying light for one ride."
Jian Dan didn't stand on ceremony. They were all at their limit. Letting down their guard now would be a fatal mistake.
Jian Li nodded and said no more. He took the four most exhausted cultivators back to the Heavenly Sword Sect, leaving Jian Feng behind to manage the aftermath of the Fu Clan.
Once the four Zūnzhǔs departed, the Heavenly Sword Sect cultivators immediately sealed off the ruins of the Fu Clan and began a thorough search, leaving not even a scrap of evidence unchecked.
Those captured from the Fu Clan's businesses had already been transferred to the Law Enforcement Hall's Punishment Division for a second round of interrogation.
By the time the flying light landed before the mountain gate, the four had tidied themselves up somewhat. At least they didn't look quite so ragged.
"I'll report to the Task Hall to complete the mission. You three can return to your peaks and rest."
As she spoke, Jian Dan tossed each of them a white jade bottle.
"These contain the 'Undying Elixir' I refined from hunting black-armored insects. Use it to repair damaged meridians and enhance your physical defenses."
The three brightened. That was a precious treasure. It seemed the hall master was quite satisfied with the mission results. Without hesitation, they accepted the bottles with thanks and returned to their respective peaks.
"Zūnzhǔ, Yue Liang has passed out."
Cotton Candy sent a voice transmission to Jian Dan. In truth, Yue Liang had fainted the moment the evil cultivator died, but she had insisted that Cotton Candy not tell the Zūnzhǔ, fearing it would distract her during combat.
"I know."
Jian Dan had expected it. Yue Liang had pushed herself to the limit and was bound to suffer injuries. She had left Cotton Candy by her side precisely for protection. Now that they were back, it was time to treat her.
"Cotton Candy, take us to Medicine Peak."
Jian Dan scooped up the now-miniature Yue Liang. Wrapped in a swirl of mist, they appeared atop Medicine Peak.
The guards recognized the killing aura surrounding Jian Lu Zūnzhǔ, cradling her gravely injured spirit beast. They immediately bowed.
"Greetings, Jian Lu Zūnzhǔ!"
"No need for formality. I need to visit the Raccoon Beast Clan's territory to treat my spirit pet."
"Yes, Zūnzhǔ."
No one dared block her. They cleared the path without delay.
Cotton Candy guided Jian Dan straight to the Raccoon Beast Clan. Xingxing and the old Ancestor sensed her arrival and rushed out to meet her. Upon seeing Yue Liang unconscious in Jian Dan's arms, their expressions changed drastically.
"Zūnzhǔ, Yue Liang..." the elder asked, voice tense.
Xing Xing abandoned all courtesy, flashing to Jian Dan's side. His small paw trembled as it reached toward Yue Liang, afraid he might feel only cold stillness.
"Yue Liang is alive. Her energy is depleted and she's badly wounded by the evil cultivator. I brought her back so she can heal safely here."
Hearing this, both the elder and Xingxing let out a sigh of relief.
Following Jian Dan into a bamboo house, she immediately produced a jade basin and poured golden Undying Elixir into it. Only then did she gently lay Yue Liang into the basin.
"This elixir will heal her. Stand guard. Once she awakens, make sure she absorbs and refines all of it."
"Yes. Thank you for your protection, Zūnzhǔ."
As the golden liquid flowed across her body, Yue Liang's wounds began to close before their eyes. Xing Xing finally relaxed, bowing deeply to Jian Dan in gratitude.
Such a rare and precious elixir, yet Jian Dan used it on Yue Liang without hesitation. Her love and care were evident.
"Yue Liang was incredibly brave. She helped me slay a Unity stage evil cultivator. After fighting for five days straight, she collapsed from exhaustion and injury. There is more to this matter, and it concerns your clan. Once Yue Liang recovers, you can ask her for the details."