The cheerful voice belonged to Master Jue Song. After everyone exchanged greetings, Jian Dan smiled warmly and said,
"Greetings, Master Jue Song. If the juniors really want to join the Buddhist Sect, I won't stop them. Cultivation is cultivation, no matter where it is done, it's all on the same Path to Ascension."
"Ha! Jian Lu Daoyou's words please me greatly, but if their elders hear, they might want to have a serious talk with you."
Jian Dan smiled quietly and followed Master Jue Song through the Mahavira Hall.
After the casual chat, Fa Hua led the way, taking the young cultivators and their attendants to the temporary meditation rooms.
The kids politely bade farewell to Zūnshàng and Master Jue Zhan, then curiously examined the surroundings along the way. This place was completely different from the Heavenly Sword Sect's mountain gate. Since Zūnshàng had said to broaden their horizons, they naturally looked around carefully.
Jian Lu instructed Qi Hua beside him, "Qi Hua, go with Qi Kang to check on our injured juniors and see if they need anything. Report back to me later."
"Yes, Zūnshàng."
"Thanks for your concern, Zūnshàng. I'll take Martial Uncle Qi with me."
The two of them, along with Senior Brother Liao Kong, turned toward another meditation room, while Master Jue Song led Jian Dan, Jian Wu, and Liao Chen to the back mountain of the Buddhist Sect.
Cloud Sea Sect
Since that day when he checked the situation and only caught a glimpse of Jian Lu Zūnzhàng's back, Han Pengfei had been uneasy. Unexpectedly, on the fourth day, he received a flying sword message from Jian Lu Zūnzhàng.
Han Pengfei was overjoyed. Taking the message, he frowned as he read it. Then he left his cave to meet Yun Yun Zhēnzūn.
"Zhēnzūn, this is the flying sword message I just received from Jian Lu Zūnzhàng. Please have a look."
Yun Yun Zhēnzūntook the message and scanned it with her divine sense. Her face remained calm as she returned the message to Han Pengfei.
"Jian Lu is truly sharp!"
Yun Yun Zhēnzūn sighed and then looked at the confused Han Pengfei.
"She merely used your hand to remind me that the evil cultivator is hiding within Cloud Sea Sect's territory. She also marked the direction of his retreat to help me trace and uncover his hiding place."
"Ancestor, you mean that evil cultivator is concealed inside Cloud Sea Sect?"
Han Pengfei's surprise was clear. He knew that last time Cloud Sea Sect was attacked, it was caused by this evil cultivator who targeted the sect's forbidden land, 'Yunhai.' He also knew this cultivator had some connection to the sect, but he could not understand how the enemy dared to hide within their domain.
Yun Yun Zhēnzūn took out a jade slip and handed it to Han Pengfei.
"This is a flying sword message from Tian Yun Zhēnzūn of Heavenly Sword Sect. It inquired about the evil cultivator. Take a look."
Han Pengfei took the jade slip and skimmed through it quickly. His brows knitted tightly as he deliberated, then said,
"Zhēnzūn, if the worst-case scenario mentioned here really happens, Cloud Sea Sect will be culpable. We might even become the scapegoats for the entire continent."
"Yes. Luckily, you reacted quickly. I also received another warning flying sword from Heavenly Sword Sect recently. They have already sent people to investigate the sect's jurisdiction."
"Ancestor, did Heavenly Sword Sect deduce all this just from the previous tournament battle with the evil cultivator?"
Han Pengfei was still doubtful. If anything was discovered, the sect's elders should have been the first to find out.
"I know what you are thinking. The sect elders have indeed noticed something but have not disclosed it publicly. They are investigating secretly. Heavenly Sword Sect's ability to discover this comes from their sharp and clear-headed participants in the tournament."
"You mean Jian Lu Zūnzhàng?"
"Yes. And that Jian Xu who came later is also very insightful. Jian Lu led the charge while Jian Xu supported fully from behind. Also, they sent me messages repeatedly to repay the favor from when I escorted them to the tournament."
Han Pengfei finally nodded and said to Yun Yun Zhēnzūn,
"Ancestor, can we follow the direction marked by Heavenly Sword Sect to investigate?"
"Yes. We need to take a two-pronged approach: find the hidden dangers and track the evil cultivator's hiding place simultaneously. Recently, news about the Buddhist Sect's Putuo Mountain incident has spread, and earlier the Loose Cultivator alliance discovered the blood pool cave. There must be other hidden places not yet uncovered."
"Yes, Pengfei understands. Please allow me to join the team to investigate the evil cultivator's hiding place."
Han Pengfei cupped his hands respectfully.
"Go ahead. I won't stop you. You also need more experience."
Han Pengfei happily accepted the task and left Yun Yun Zhēnzūn cave.
Meanwhile, Jian Guo (Cao Chenfeng) led Bai Bai and the Heavenly Sword Sect's "War" hall task team, mostly traveling along the way. After leaving the teleportation hall, they boarded a large flying ship and sometimes piloted flying boats through certain sections.
Bai Bai usually hid inside Jian Guo's sleeve, living comfortably. From time to time, Bai Bai got fresh spirit fruits to eat. Occasionally entering the city, Jian Guo would buy snacks for Bai Bai.
Bai Bai knew that Jian Lu Zūnzhàng specially assigned Jian Guo to carry him. Although Jian Guo's expression was cold and words few, he treated Bai Bai well. Bai Bai repaid this kindness by alerting Jian Guo to treasures found. Thanks to Bai Bai's reminders, Jian Guo missed some treasures fewer times than expected.
Because Jian Guo was a sword cultivator, Bai Bai paid extra attention to sword forging materials. He found a rare forging material called "Gold Crystal Mud" wrapped inside an ordinary meteorite stone, sold as a raw ore.
With Bai Bai's tip, Jian Guo bought it for just ten low-grade spirit stones.
When Jian Guo broke open the raw ore, the "Gold Crystal Mud" flowed out, making his eyes shine. This material was extremely rare and coveted by forging masters.
The "Gold Crystal Mud" looked like white jelly with tiny golden specks inside. When fused into a magic weapon, its basic effect was to improve the weapon's flexibility. The most impressive trait was that it could repair damage and breaks on its own.
In other words, without the owner nurturing it, the weapon could heal itself according to the damage. Small breaks would repair quickly; larger damages would heal within a limited time.
This was essentially insurance for the owner's magic weapon. Damage to the weapon meant injury to the owner. "Gold Crystal Mud" acted as a shield taking damage for the owner and could self-repair. Its preciousness was obvious.
Only then did Jian Guo understand why Jian Lu Zūnzhàng entrusted this little golden mouse to him with such seriousness. It was a mobile treasure detector. Naturally, Bai Bai was hidden carefully, just in case they met higher-ranked cultivators.
Because of discovering the "Gold Crystal Mud," Jian Guo rewarded Bai Bai with a small pot of spirit wine. Bai Bai had long desired it. After drinking, his aura fluctuated, and he began refining the spiritual energy inside the wine.
Jian Guo finally smiled and swept Bai Bai back into his sleeve. Carrying Bai Bai cultivating in a drunken dream, he passed through most of the Dao Gate's territory and arrived at the border with the Demon Sect.
Along the way, the "War" hall team did not just rush forward. Every city with a Heavenly Sword Sect storefront was checked. They collected earnings and left new selling materials, patrolling as they went. Following the map, they arrived at the border.