Many years later, only when Jian Lu Zūnshàng accepted Mao Dou as his disciple did Yu Zongfan finally realize his own master had set him up from the start.
Still, Zong Fan always felt grateful toward Zūnshàng. His master had thought everything through for his sake, even finding him a senior brother he could entrust his back to.
In high spirits, Yu Zongfan returned to the outer peak with Bai Bai, only to run into Mao Dou coming back. This time, Zong Fan took the initiative to strike up a conversation and even asked Senior Brother Dou for advice on taking sect missions.
One talk led to another, and the two gradually grew familiar. Even though Mao Dou knew the other was Jian Lu Zūnshàng's registered disciple, he never tried to curry favor. He simply focused on cultivating, occasionally teaming up with Zong Fan to train in the sect's designated mountain ranges.
Once, while gathering spirit herbs in the back mountain, they were attacked by a guardian second-rank spirit beast. Working together, they turned the tables beautifully, securing the herbs and escaping the beast's pursuit.
That day, they both discovered the other was cultivating the body. They exchanged body-tempering insights, and when Zong Fan learned Mao Dou bought all his body-refining herbs by trading in spirit rice he grew himself, he felt a wave of guilt. He truly had been living in comfort without realizing it.
The lessons in the Tongzi's hall continued. Jian Dan always had something to teach that couldn't be found in jade slips or books, and the little radishes there wholeheartedly acknowledged her.
Some minor families within the sect caught wind and tried to slip their younger generations into the children's hall, but Jian Dan politely refused, citing her duties in the Law Enforcement Hall.
She wasn't joking. Jian Dan was already so busy she barely touched the ground each day. How could she spare the energy to take on more children? She shut that door from the very beginning.
After staying in the Law Enforcement Hall for another five days to clear the backlog of matters from her time away, Jian Dan finally returned to her own cave dwelling on Tianyue Peak.
This time, only Ting Feng came out to greet her, bowing respectfully.
"Greetings, Zūnshàng."
"Mm, no need for formality. While I was away, did anything happen?"
"Reporting to Zūnshàng, nothing major occurred. A few cultivators sent visiting cards, but since you were not in the sect, I explained and declined on your behalf."
"Good, that was the right call."
"In addition, Yun Juan, Yun Shu, and Wang Yu have followed your instructions and gone to form their Yuányīng. Steward Lü Se remains in seclusion to stabilize his cultivation and has yet to emerge."
"I see. Forming the Yuányīng is the first step toward becoming a high-level cultivator. It is crucial and must not be rushed. Keep watch over the cave in the meantime."
"Yes, I will follow Zūnshàng's orders."
Following Yun Shu's usual arrangements, Ting Feng served prepared tea and snacks before withdrawing.
Jian Dan returned inside, intending to rest a while before checking her inner space. Ever since her magnolia space had merged with her Purple Mansion, she had rarely entered it.
Especially that day when, right after the fusion, a bolt of violet lightning shot straight into her sea of consciousness, binding her outward-expanding divine sense.
Jian Dan could feel that, if not for that bolt, her divine sense might have reached the level of an Earth Immortal or higher, far beyond this realm's limits. That was why Heaven's Dao had sent the violet lightning—to seal part of her divine sense.
In truth, she was grateful for the seal. Her physical cultivation had yet to reach the immortal stage. Excessively powerful divine sense would only damage her body. She believed that once she ascended to the upper realm, the seal would naturally break.
She didn't enter the space physically, only swept through with her divine sense. Aside from richer spiritual energy, nothing had changed—the place now resembled a small world.
Jade and Mo Ran were both cultivating in the bamboo house. Jian Dan sensed that Mo Ran's aura was growing much stronger, approaching the sixth rank, with signs of transforming into a flood dragon.
Beside him, Jade's aura was also consolidating rapidly, showing signs of advancing to the fifth rank.
Jian Dan knew she had another task ahead. Mo Ran's transformation into a flood dragon absolutely could not take place inside the Heavenly Sword Sect. She would need to send him to the beast race's territory and ask Senior Nine-Tails for help.
While there, she could also check on Yingge. Bai Jue doted on his younger brother to the extreme, almost wanting to keep Yingge in his pocket. She wondered if he would even let Yingge leave.
Beast Race Territory
The Earth Dragon clan, under orders from the Nine-Tails Beast Lord, had mobilized their entire tribe to turn over vast stretches of land—though in truth, they were searching for a blood sac.
News of blood sacs discovered in both the Buddhist Putuo Mountain and the Heavenly Demon Palace's Chimei Mountain Range quickly reached the beast race.
The moment Bai Jue received word, he went to see the Nine-Tails Beast Lord. Hearing Bai Jue's report, the Nine-Tails' violet eyes deepened, her tone lazy yet sharp.
"Urge the Earth Dragons to move faster. Don't let that thing get away. If it does, it'll tarnish my name for centuries."
"Yes."
"How is Yingge's cultivation?"
"Yingge trains diligently. He has already grown his fifth tail feather."
A rare smile flickered across Bai Jue's face as he answered respectfully.
"Good. I'll open a back door for your Yingge and send him into the Ten Thousand Beasts Hall. He needs tempering. Otherwise, the moment he leaves the beast race territory and your protection, he'll be someone else's meal. His bloodline is still far too tempting."
Though reluctant, Bai Jue agreed completely. Without strength, how could one protect oneself? Between a few words, the two great beasts had already set Yingge's next trial in stone.
"Beast Lord! Beast Lord! We found something!"
A young member of the Earth Dragon clan came charging into the Nine-Tails' cave, only to freeze mid-step at the sight of Bai Jue Zūnzhǔ. Trembling, he bowed hastily.
"Greetings, Beast Lord. Greetings, Bai Jue Zūnzhǔ."
"Stop wasting time. What did you find, and where?"
"Beast Lord, today I was digging and accidentally went a zhang deep. In the middle area where we usually collect herbs, underground, I found a spherical object reeking of blood. I've already told my clan's Ancestor, who's watching it now. He told me to rush here and report."
"Hmph. So that's where it's hiding. Come, Bai Jue, let's have a look."
Two blurs of violet and white vanished from the cave in an instant.
"Wait for me!" the young Earth Dragon cried, bouncing after them.
The Nine-Tails appeared on site and waved a hand. The beasts still gathering herbs scattered from the area she marked.
Bai Jue hovered in midair. Receiving the Earth Dragon Ancestor's transmission, he immediately shifted into his true form—a white crane that expanded to enormous size. With talons like hooked blades, he tore a deep pit into the ground.
The Earth Dragon Ancestor felt Bai Jue's attack and emerged from underground.
"Beast Lord, it's moving—heading for our clan's forbidden grounds!"
A flicker of disdain passed through the Nine-Tails' violet eyes. So it even dared to approach their forbidden grounds? She called out sharply.
"Bai Jue!"
Understanding instantly, Bai Jue beat his wings and cut off the intruder's path. With both claws, he dug out an enormous pit and flicked a huge blood-red sphere into the open.
The Nine-Tails didn't even move her feet. Her fingers curled into claws, raking five violet marks across the sphere. The outer membrane split instantly. Before the foul blood inside could spill, she summoned foxfire that wrapped it in violet flame, burning it to nothing.
When the fire died, the blood sac was gone as if it had never existed.
The Nine-Tails pressed off the ground and soared above the beast race territory, her face twisted with contempt as she shouted.
"Hai Yan! You stinking insect! Dare to stretch your claws into your grandmother's lands again, and I'll lead a raid on your lair myself! I can smell your stench from ten thousand li away!"