Mo Zhang listened to Jian Dan's words and silently praised her. No wonder someone as formidable as Jian Lu could hold the position of acting Hall Master.
"Jian Lu Daoyou's proposal aligns with the Heavenly Demon Palace's own stance. The problem is, while our two sects can work together on this, the rest of the sects…"
"My Heavenly Sword Sect's succession ceremony is a perfect opportunity. The attendees will be the leading voices from every sect. If we maneuver carefully then, it will be hard for anyone to stay uninvolved—this concerns the entire Lingyun Continent."
"Jian Lu Daoyou speaks with reason. My Heavenly Demon Palace is determined to uproot this malignant growth. We survived the brutal war at the Ming Valley. There's no way we'll retreat now."
"Jian Lu admires such resolve. If every sect on the Lingyun Continent shared this determination, the insect race could already be wiped out."
"Now that the evil cultivators and the insect race have joined forces, we must find a way to break their alliance before they wreak more havoc."
Mo Zhang set his cup down, poured himself another, and continued.
"That's simple. Eliminate that particular evil cultivator, and their alliance will crumble naturally."
"Hahaha! Jian Lu Daoyou, we think alike. The challenge now is finding a way to drag him out into the open."
Jian Dan nodded with a faint smile. "Yes, but forcing him to reveal himself will be difficult. Has the Heavenly Demon Palace obtained any useful leads?"
"Indeed. I've already seen the Shadow Jade recording from the battle at Mount Putuo of the Buddhist Sect. The tribulation lightning that destroyed the evil cultivator's clone was Violent Torrent Lightning, a type of Heavenly Punishment. It means the target is already locked by the Heavenly Dao and thus cannot act in person."
"Exactly. That's why he uses clones and split souls to roam the Lingyun Continent. Since he's marked by the Heavenly Dao, he will hide deeply and won't be easy to uncover."
"I've sent Mo Yi to Huanle City to meet a certain acquaintance. Perhaps we can track the evil cultivator through the insect race."
At that, Jian Dan's eyes flickered with realization. No wonder she hadn't seen Mo Yi in the two days she'd been here. With his lively personality, he wouldn't have missed a chance to meet the Heavenly Sword Sect's delegation unless he was on a mission.
"In that case, I'll await your good news."
Mo Zhang nodded, ready to draw more words from Jian Lu, when a transmission talisman flew to him. He caught it, listened to the message, and froze for a moment. His gaze shifted toward Jian Dan.
"Jian Lu Daoyou, our Mo Yan Zhēnzūn wishes to meet you."
Jian Dan blinked, lowering her eyes to the reflection in her wine cup before speaking politely."Chief Mo Zhang, may I know what Mo Yan Zhēnzūn wishes to discuss with me?"
"I do not know."
Even Mo Zhang was surprised, but he rose and gestured for her to follow.
Jian Dan stood as well, trailing after Mo Zhang toward the Heavenly Demon Palace's forbidden rear mountain.
Jin Liuli and Wei Zhengrong exchanged a glance. Jin Liuli quickly sent a message to the Heavenly Sword squad captain through her black jade token.
The four Heavenly Sword Squad members who had participated in yesterday's spar frowned, but since the Hall Master gave no order, they made no move, simply following close behind.
Before the rear mountain's barrier, Mo Zhang glanced at Jian Dan's entourage, then at her, signaling with his eyes. Jian Dan understood. She waved to her people. "This is a forbidden area. You cannot enter. Wait here. I will pay my respects to Mo Yan Zhēnzūn."
Seeing their stern faces, Jian Dan smiled lightly. "No need to worry."
Then she followed Mo Zhang through the barrier and disappeared from sight. Less than half a quarter-hour later, the rest of the Heavenly Sword Squad arrived at the barrier under Mo Suo's lead, joining Jin Liuli's group.
Meanwhile, Mo Zhang brought Jian Dan to Mo Yan Zhēnzūn's secluded cultivation site.
Mo Yan Zhēnzūn sat cross-legged beneath a bloodthirsty demon vine, eyes resting on the two approaching figures.
It was Jian Dan's first time seeing Mo Yan Zhēnzūn in person. Even when she had been in the Heavenly Demon Palace under the name Mo Yue, she had never formally met this nominal grandmaster.
Mo Yan Zhēnzūn wore a plain black battle robe, his long black hair tied loosely behind him. Aside from a single storage ring, he bore no ornament.
His face was sharp and angular, his eyes cold and penetrating. Even a casual glance from him carried immense pressure.
Jian Dan smoothed her robe and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Mo Yan Zhēnzūn."
Mo Yan Zhēnzūn nodded, then said to Mo Zhang, "Go about your duties."
Mo Zhang glanced at Jian Dan, bowed, and silently withdrew beyond the barrier.
Mo Yan Zhēnzūn regarded the woman before him and spoke evenly. "Should I call you Mo Yue… or Jian Lu?"
The words told Jian Dan her cover had been blown. She bowed again, voice steady. "Both Mo Yue and Jian Lu are me. Because of the special nature of my cultivation, I did not intend to deceive Zhēnzūn. I ask for your forgiveness."
"You're straightforward."
"It is impossible to hide from Zhēnzūn's eyes. I leave myself to your judgment."
"You have done nothing to harm the Heavenly Demon Palace. On the contrary, you have charged at the front lines. Your merits outweigh the concealment of your identity. That alone is no reason to punish you."
"Many thanks for Zhēnzūn's leniency."
"I know your status in the Heavenly Sword Sect is not low, but Mo Yue cannot vanish from the Heavenly Demon Palace. Do you understand?"
"Yes. Whenever the Heavenly Demon Palace has need, I will return as Mo Yue."
"Good. Remember your words. You may go."
"Yes. This junior takes her leave."
She bowed once more before stepping out of the barrier.
Mo Zhang was still waiting outside, clearly curious but unsure how to ask. He simply led her out.
Once they emerged, the Heavenly Sword Sect members immediately surrounded her. Seeing that their Zūnshàng was unharmed, they relaxed.
"Zūnshàng!"
"It is nothing. Zhēnzūn merely had questions."
Back at the guest hall, Jian Dan dismissed everyone, then sat cross-legged on her cushion, pondering why Mo Yan Zhēnzūn had sought her out—and how her cover had been blown.
She was certain she had not leaked a trace of demonic aura. Her cultivation shift had been flawless.
"This time, I'm the reason your identity was exposed."
Liu Chuan's voice sounded in her ear.
"What do you mean?" she asked with a raised brow.
"You haven't acted since arriving here. Why would anyone pay attention to you otherwise?"
"Did you notice the bloodthirsty demon vine behind Mo Yan Zhēnzūn?"
Jian Dan frowned. "You provoked it."
It was a statement, not a question.
Liu Chuan resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Since this identity reveal was his fault, he explained patiently.
"We are both spirit plants. We can sense each other. Back on Mo Ying Peak, I destroyed a demon cultivator who had been possessed by black-armored insects. That vine must have sensed my aura then, so when we came back to the Heavenly Demon Palace, it recognized me."
"I see."
Jian Dan rubbed her brow. In hindsight, Mo Yan Zhēnzūn had probably been bluffing. Because of his status, she had admitted the truth without challenging him.
Still, now that her identity was out in the open before a Zhēnzūn, future actions in the Heavenly Demon Palace would be easier. Mo Yue's identity, it seemed, was worth keeping.
The only reason Mo Yan Zhēnzūn could let her go so easily was because, as Mo Yue, she had never done anything against the Heavenly Demon Palace—she had neither spied on their secrets nor built a private power base. On the contrary, she had helped Palace Master Mo Lie reclaim control over Mo Ying Peak, and during the Ming Valley war she had fought at the vanguard. With such merits, there was no reason to punish her.