Deep underground, in a pitch-black cavern, Hai Yan's scarlet eyes fixed on the beast clan's territory. He longed to rush out and annihilate the Nine-Tails, yet he dared not.
Instead, he could only curse inwardly. "That old hag Nine-Tails still isn't dead! Ruining my plans like this!"
Because of the beasts' keen sense of smell, Hai Yan had spent considerable effort just to feed himself and, more importantly, to infiltrate the clan's forbidden grounds. Smuggling the blood sac into their territory had cost him the most meticulous planning.
The blood sac had been hidden with utmost care, almost at the heart of the beast clan's lands. Yet now, his efforts were ruined. Another thick, reddish-brown vein beneath him had snapped, and Hai Yan ground his teeth in fury. Was the heavens themselves set on destroying him?
Still, he could not ignore Nine-Tails' words. That old hag was dangerous.
Once, when he had come to the beast clan's lands to steal "Fox Tail Grass," she had caught him in the act. She had chased him until he had no escape above or below, nearly making him her meal.
His master had appeared just in time, seized him, compensated Nine-Tails for the stolen herb, and saved his life—only to lock him away in the underwater prison.
That was why he treated the beast clan with such caution. But in the end, his plan still failed. Hai Yan shut his eyes in frustration. Everything had been going smoothly… When had it all started going wrong?
Beast Clan
After speaking, the Nine-Tails Demon King flashed back to the surface and ordered the Earth Dragon Ancestor, "Dig deeper again. Make sure nothing slipped through."
"Yes, Beast Lord."
The Earth Dragon Ancestor obeyed, leading his kin to resume overturning the ground. The damage caused earlier by the two great beasts was already being rapidly repaired by the smaller ones.
When Bai Jue landed, he addressed the Nine-Tails Demon King. "Beast Lord, if you truly can find his lair, why not join forces with the Dao and Demon sects to eliminate the threat completely?"
Nine-Tails rolled her eyes with a teasing grace, waved her hand, and sent her voice directly into his mind. "I don't know where his lair is. How long has it been since I last left our territory? Where would I even start? I just wanted to scare him, so he stops reaching so far."
Bai Jue covered his face. The Beast Lord really dared to say anything. He could guarantee her words would be in the Dao and Demon sects' ears before long.
"Relax. The time isn't right yet. When it is, I'll act."
Nine-Tails gave Bai Jue a sidelong glance, left him to handle the aftermath, and sauntered back to her cavern.
Almost at the same time, both the Dao and Demon sects received word of the blood sac in the beast clan's territory—along with Nine-Tails' threat.
Heavenly Sword Sect
Wei Zhengrong hurried into the Law Enforcement Hall, carrying a jade slip, and found Jian Lu Zūnshàng speaking with Jin Liuli.
This was Jin Liuli's first time in the Law Enforcement Hall's grand hall. After passing the selection, she had been courted by both the Punishment Hall and the General Affairs Hall for her skill in pharmacology.
She had chosen the Punishment Hall. In her view, prying information from enemies was not only satisfying but meaningful.
Now, having been summoned by the Zūnshàng, she felt another chance to prove herself had arrived.
"Punishment Hall's Jin Liuli greets Jian Lu Zūnshàng."
"Good. Already in the Divine Transformation stage, and your foundation seems solid."
Jian Dan took one look at her cultivation and smiled.
"Yes. Anyone with a weak cultivation wouldn't dare face the Zūnshàng."
Jin Liuli's manner remained straightforward and bold.
"Zūnshàng, this is the latest intelligence from the Information Division—regarding the beast clan."
Wei Zhengrong seized the pause in their conversation to present the jade slip, then glanced at Jin Liuli with a nod.
The two were old friends. Jin Liuli returned the gesture with a polite clasp of her fists. Jian Dan read the jade slip, then addressed her.
"Go fetch Jian Po. Tell her I have something to discuss."
"Yes, Zūnshàng."
"Where's Jian Wu?"
At the question, Wei Zhengrong rubbed his nose and smiled. "Reporting to Zūnshàng, Jian Wu Jūnshàng went to watch Seniors Jian Chun and Jian Xu spar."
"So that's why I haven't seen him all morning."
Jian Dan tossed the jade slip back onto the desk. "Has the sparring ended?"
"It should be over by now."
Before they could continue, dark clouds suddenly gathered over the Heavenly Sword Sect. Thunder rumbled, rolling toward the main peak of Heavenly Sword Peak.
Jian Dan sighed. "Go check. Is Jian Chun attempting the Void Refinement lightning tribulation?"
"Yes, I'll investigate right away."
Wei Zhengrong had barely left when Jian Po entered the hall, smiling. "Zūnshàng, you called for me?"
"Sit. These are the two most recent intelligence reports—one from my pursuit of an evil cultivator at Mount Putuo, the other from the beast clan. And this—" Jian Dan produced a map she had obtained from a Fu family cultivator "—is a map to a great power's legacy estate."
Jian Po read the messages, then studied the map. Her eyes gleamed in sudden understanding."Zūnshàng, you suspect that the evil cultivator is hiding near Cloud Sea Sect. This map either marks his hiding place or is a trap. Either way, they're connected."
Jian Dan smiled. Speaking with someone sharp was always pleasant. "This is only my preliminary guess. It still needs confirmation. But I don't want Heavenly Sword Sect to take the lead on this."
Jian Po turned the jade slip in her hands and looked up. "So you want to release the map… or give it directly to Cloud Sea Sect as a favor?"
Jian Dan's lips curved into a faint smile as she leaned back in her chair. "I'm leaning toward giving it to Cloud Sea Sect. The evil cultivator escaped from their underwater prison—it's their responsibility. If we just release the map publicly, it could cause unnecessary disputes."
"Zūnshàng, you truly are kind. If the map is released, those capable will naturally go explore. Whether it's fortune or disaster depends on their luck—perhaps it could even be a great opportunity."
Jian Dan nodded. Cultivators fought against the heavens; every choice carried its price. "You're right. Then let's do both. I'll have someone leak the map and also send a copy to Cloud Sea Sect."
With that decided, Jian Dan asked another question. "During our previous investigation of the inner and outer nine peaks, we identified some suspicious cultivators. They're at Heaven's Punishment Peak now. See if you can get anything out of them."
"Yes, Zūnshàng. Shall I bring them directly to the Punishment Hall?"
Jian Dan shook her head. "I know the Punishment Hall has its own interrogation chambers, but with the evil cultivators suffering repeated setbacks, I worry they might lash out in desperation. It's safer to question them on Heaven's Punishment Peak."
"Understood."
After wrapping up business, the two chatted idly until Wei Zhengrong returned. He bowed to them both. "Reporting to Zūnshàng, Sect Master Jian Chun has passed the tribulation and advanced to the Void Refinement stage."
"That is indeed good news. Heavenly Sword Sect gains another high-level cultivator."
Jian Dan's smile vanished at Wei Zhengrong's next words. "Sect Master Jian Chun says he will go consolidate his cultivation and asks that Zūnshàng select a new sect master quickly so he can step down."