Gong Yi returned to the airship and reported Jin Liuli's message to Mo Yi. Mo Yi asked directly,
"Did you find out who lent us a hand?"
"Reporting to Zūnzhǔ, it was Jian Lu Zūnshàng from the Heavenly Sword Sect's Law Enforcement Hall."
"So it was her. A pity I did not get to meet her in person."
Mo Yi sounded genuinely regretful. Then his gaze shifted to the late Nascent Soul stage female cultivator trembling in the corner.
"Bi Shu, fortune was on your side. If not for that benefactor, we would all have been buried with you."
As he spoke, Mo Yi folded his arms and strolled closer, his words digging like small knives into her chest.
"You saw it yourself. Your fellow clansmen were not here to rescue you, but to silence you. They knew exactly how strong our Heavenly Demon Palace's people were, so they sent someone an entire realm higher to chase us down."
Bi Shu's face was ashen, her proud Young Miss aura nowhere to be found.
She felt her good days were over. Because of her, the Bi family had been attacked by puppet cultivators arranged by the insect clan. Only thanks to the Heavenly Demon Palace's intervention had they survived that crisis. Yet before they could breathe, the other side sent high-level cultivators to hunt her and the Palace's people down. She was already half-crippled, but now both sides wanted her life.
"As long as you are alive, you still have the right to sigh. Save the rest for when we return to the Heavenly Demon Palace."
Mo Yi turned to Gong Yi.
"No delays. We head back to the Palace immediately. Chief Mo Zhang is still waiting for our report."
"Yes, Zūnzhǔ."
Moments later, the Heavenly Demon Palace's airship vanished into the skies.
Five days later, Wei Zhengrong brought his flying vessel down near the border of the beast clan's territory.
"Another ten li and we will reach the barrier to the beast clan's lands. Do not wander off. Stay close to me."
"Yes, Zūnshàng."
Once the flying vessel was stored away, the group began trekking on foot through the dense forest toward the beast clan's domain.
Jian Dan moved at a steady pace. From within her sea of consciousness came Mo Ran's voice.
"Master, I am about to face my sixth-tier tribulation. If all goes as expected, I will transform into a flood dragon."
"You have an impeccable sense of timing. I am headed to the beast clan's territory right now. I will find a way to let you undergo your tribulation there."
"Thank you, Master. I only reached out because I felt the environment here is more suited for my breakthrough."
"It is fine. In fact, one of my reasons for coming here is to have you undergo your tribulation, and to leave you and Jade here to cultivate for a time."
They continued exchanging thoughts in her sea of consciousness, discussing the plan for Mo Ran and Jade to train in the beast clan's lands.
Half an hour later, the group emerged from the forest into an open grassland. Though the air seemed empty, Jian Dan's spiritual sense already picked out the faint shimmer of a barrier.
From her storage ring, Jian Dan took out a name plaque left to her by Bai Jue Zūnzhǔ of the White Crane clan.
"Liu Li, take this plaque and tap the barrier. Tell them Jian Lu of the Heavenly Sword Sect seeks an audience with Patriarch Bai Jue."
"Yes, Zūnshàng."
Jin Liuli accepted the plaque, walked up to the barrier, and flicked a thread of spiritual power at it. The energy rippled across the surface like a droplet falling into a lake, spreading out in concentric circles until the disturbance vanished into the distance.
Five breaths later, a great hawk burst from the barrier and barked,
"Who dares cause trouble in the beast clan's territory?"
Jin Liuli lifted her eyes, noting the fifth-tier aura, and bowed politely. She sent the name plaque forward with a touch of spiritual power, explaining their purpose.
Upon seeing the plaque, the hawk's demeanor shifted instantly. It cast a quick glance over Jin Liuli and the group waiting behind her, its gaze lingering especially on Jian Dan and the Heavenly Sword captain, sensing a dangerous presence.
"Please wait here. I will inform the Patriarch."
Without waiting for a reply, it darted back into the barrier.
Jin Liuli shrugged and returned to Jian Dan's side to wait.
The hawk, Cang Yu, shot straight toward the Bai Honghe clan's territory, shouting at the top of his booming voice,
"Patriarch Bai Jue, something urgent! Someone is here asking for you by name!"
"Patriarch Bai Jue, something urgent!"
"Patriarch Bai Jue!"
By the time Cang Yu finished his flight, half the beast clan knew something had "happened" to Bai Jue.
Bai Jue rubbed his temples at the throbbing vein on his forehead. Seeing Cang Yu standing there like a wronged wife, he did not even know where to begin scolding.
The visitors had politely presented a name plaque to request an audience, yet Cang Yu's shouting made it sound as though they had come to declare war.
With the restraint befitting his rank, Bai Jue let out a slow breath instead of cursing.
"Lead the way. I will greet an old friend from the Heavenly Sword Sect."
"Yes, Zūnzhǔ."
This time Cang Yu held his tongue and obediently led the way. Bai Jue left his own residence and, in moments, arrived at the barrier.
A glance behind him revealed a mixed collection of beast youths—white foxes, moon-howling wolves, peacocks, long-armed apes, spider maidens—nearly half the beast clan's young generation. All of them stared at him expectantly. Bai Jue shot Cang Yu a sharp glare.
Cang Yu gave a sheepish grin and edged backward.
Bai Jue turned, touching a point on the barrier. The spot began to spin, spreading into a halo that slowly expanded until it formed a circular gate.
As the barrier opened, Jian Dan saw Bai Jue standing at the forefront, with a dense crowd of young beast cultivators behind him. Her eyes curved with a smile as she stepped forward.
"Patriarch Bai Jue, it has been a long time. Forgive my sudden visit. I hope I am not disturbing you."
Bai Jue's eyes passed over the twelve high-ranking cultivators opposite him, lingering on Jian Dan at the front.
"Friends of the Heavenly Sword Sect are always welcome in the beast clan. Please, come inside."
Jian Dan nodded with a smile and led her people in. The barrier closed behind them without a trace.
As they walked, Jian Dan spoke of her purpose.
"Patriarch Bai Jue, this time I have come to request an audience with the Nine-Tailed Beast King. I would be grateful for your introduction."
Bai Jue nodded readily. With such a display of force, she clearly had more important business than visiting him.
"There is also a personal matter in which I hope to seek the beast clan's aid, but I can explain after meeting the Beast King."
"Very well."
"Is Yingge well? Might I see him while I am here?"
At the mention of Yingge, Bai Jue's expression softened slightly.
"Yingge has been training diligently. He is now at the fifth tier, and the Beast King has sent him into a secret realm for tempering. He has yet to return."
"A pity. It seems I will not see him this time," Jian Dan said with genuine regret.
"But knowing that his cultivation goes well is enough. Do not push him too hard. I had planned to bring him back to the Heavenly Sword Sect last time, but I fell into a spatial rift and lost the opportunity."
Bai Jue gave her a knowing glance. She had spoken delicately, but he understood she was referring to the Battle of the Ming Valley and her disappearance into the rift.
"Yingge is fortunate to have you thinking of him."
The two walked and talked, trailed by a growing group of curious young beasts. By the time they reached the Nine-Tailed Beast King's palace, a sea of onlookers had gathered behind them.
===
I suddenly felt so stupid for the past two days. You know that feeling when your brain just lags behind, but your body feels… somewhat fine?
Because of the last cosmic event, I started feeling suspicious. And yes, when I checked, a lunar eclipse was happening again—or more precisely, a total lunar eclipse on September 8. I was left completely speechless =_=. My Yin constitution really feels the effects of these things.
At least this time it's not as bad as a while ago, when multiple cosmic events happened simultaneously over a long period. That was rough…