The instant Mo Ran landed, his form shifted back to its true self—a black serpent over a hundred meters long, gliding across the clearing. He coiled into a spiral like a giant incense coil just in time to take the first bolt of lightning, as thick as a bucket, head-on.
The deafening rumble of thunder drew the attention of the beast cultivators in the White Crane clan grounds. They exchanged puzzled glances. Who could be undergoing tribulation here? No one in the clan was due for it.
From the surrounding beast territories, other clans turned their gazes toward the White Crane lands, curious to see who was braving the Heavenly Tribulation. Jian Dan had already hidden herself away earlier, not wanting anyone to notice her presence.
As bolt after bolt of violet lightning fell, each one thicker than the last, Mo Ran began to writhe, his broad belly scraping hard against the earth.
His black scales were already split open and bleeding, half of them shattered away. Every time he moved, more scales rained down.
Even watching from the side made Jian Dan ache in sympathy. Mo Ran was almost entirely enveloped by the violet lightning, blasted from head to tail until his flesh split open and bled. Yet with each strike, his form began to change.
From his neck, where black scales had been blasted away, white patterns emerged. Fresh scales grew in, shimmering like silk in the lightning's forge, a rainbow sheen dancing across their surface. Most striking of all, four bloody holes split open beneath his belly—slowly, four clawed limbs pushed their way out.
Jian Dan's sharp eyes caught every detail. Relief loosened her chest. Mo Ran had succeeded in transforming into a flood dragon.
He bore the final strike of the tribulation. When the glare of lightning finally faded, Mo Ran lay motionless on the ground, but his aura grew stronger by the moment.
Then came the spirit rain. Mo Ran absorbed it eagerly, his scales gaining a deeper luster as strength returned to her limbs. Slowly, she crawled toward Jian Dan on her newly grown legs.
Jian Dan swept her sleeve, drawing Mo Ran back into her spatial realm. She nodded once to Bai Jue, then vanished from the tribulation site, returning to her temporary cave dwelling.
Inside the space, Mo Ran went straight to his favorite place—the spirit fruit grove—and began quietly absorbing spiritual energy to heal his wounds.
Sweeping her divine sense over Mo Ran and finding no major issues, Jian Dan sent her a voice transmission. "Mo Ran, recover quickly. I want to discuss something with the Nine-Tailed Beast King. If possible, I'll send you and Jade to train at the 'Ten Thousand Beasts Hall.' Be ready."
"Yes, Master. I will recover as soon as possible."
Just then, Jin Liuli outside triggered her cave's protective array. Jian Dan waved her hand to open it.
"Zūnzhàng, the Nine-Tailed Beast King requests your presence."
Jian Dan arched a brow. So she'd been found out about helping Mo Ran through tribulation. Rising from her couch, she asked, "Did you ask what it was about?"
"They said an intruder entered the beast clan's territory—apparently following us here."
"Oh? I don't recall leaving any tails."
"Indeed, Zūnzhàng. We only crossed paths with the Heavenly Demon Palace's flying vessel once."
"Let's see for ourselves."
With her two companions, Jian Dan headed to the Nine-Tail's lair.
Inside, she saw several people restrained, a flicker of cold light passing through her eyes before she stepped forward to bow. "Greetings to the Nine-Tailed Beast King."
The Nine-Tail lounged lazily on a soft couch, watching a troupe of butterfly spirits dance while a jade-faced spider played the zither.
"They claim they followed you here. Do you know them?"
A playful gleam lit the fox's eyes as she tilted her chin toward the three captives below.
Jian Dan spared them a glance—Jian Shangxi, Jian Yue, and Jian Fen—then let out a cold snort. "I've met them once. We are not close."
"Oh? But they say they are of your clan."
Jian Dan took a casual seat. Behind her, Jin Liuli and Wei Zhengrong studied the captives with growing curiosity. Indeed, on closer inspection, their features did resemble Jian Dan's in certain ways.
"Whether we share an ancestor, I wouldn't know. But that hardly makes us kin."
The youngest, Jian Fen, panicked when she saw Jian Dan not moving to defend them. She spoke quickly, "Beast Lord, please don't misunderstand. We are juniors of the Jian clan. We only reunited with Jian Lu Zūnzhàng not long ago."
"The hidden Jian family?"
The Nine-Tail arched a brow at Jian Dan, who shrugged. "My name is Shan Yunzu. I entered the cultivation world from the mortal realm, later joining the Heavenly Sword Sect. I have nothing to do with their Jian clan."
"Heh… they sent these juniors after you because you have something they want."
"Beast Lord is perceptive. But I have no wish to give it to them."
"Ah! So decisive. I like that."
She turned to her subordinates. "Throw them out of beast territory."
Then, to the three captives, "This time, I'm letting you go for the sake of your clan's Ancestor. Otherwise, you'd never step out alive."
"Beast Lord—"
"Zūnzhàng—"
Jian Yue and Jian Fen tried to speak again, but the Nine-Tail waved her hand, giving them no chance. Her people dragged them away.
Jian Dan made no move to intervene. The Jian clan was persistent—were they hoping these three could sway her, or merely testing whether she would be swayed by blood ties?
The Nine-Tail watched Jian Dan's unchanged expression and felt bored. "They are of the same origin as you."
Jian Dan was unsurprised. A ninth-rank Beast Lord like the Nine-Tail had her ways.
"I know. But I have no wish to be entangled with them."
"Why? They could be an asset."
"I don't need such an asset. Their goals and mine are nothing alike. Why force an alliance?"
"Haha! You're amusing."
The Nine-Tail laughed aloud, then leaned forward. "You could simply bring them under your banner. Take charge. With enough strength, you could replace their Patriarch."
Jian Dan paused mid-sip of tea. It was an idea. She thought on it, then shook her head. "I dislike trouble. I'm not one to take on such burdens."
"That's even easier. Just go and kill their Ancestor. They won't bother you again."
This, Jian Dan found agreeable. She beckoned to Wei Zhengrong. "Zheng Rong, pass them a message. Tell them I'll come to the Jian clan when I have time, and they'd best stop following me."
"Yes, Zūnzhàng."
Wei Zhengrong left to catch up with the departing captives.
Seeing Jian Dan actually take her advice, the Nine-Tail's fox eyes narrowed with mischief, brimming with the desire to stir chaos. Bai Jue, entering just then, twitched his lips at the sight.
Jian Dan turned to Jin Liuli. "I have a private matter to discuss with the Beast Lord. Wait outside with Zheng Rong."
"Yes, Zūnzhàng."
Once Bai Jue had also taken a seat, Jian Dan smiled at the Nine-Tail. "Beast Lord, I have two spirit pets I wish to leave here in beast territory for training. Would that be possible?"
"One of them is the one who faced tribulation today, correct?"
Jian Dan nodded. She knew there was no hiding it from the Nine-Tail and saw no need to try.
"Oh my! Training here would require using beast clan resources, and that—"
The Nine-Tail's eyes gleamed with mercenary delight. Jian Dan chuckled, not bothering with pretense. With a sweep of her sleeve, she filled the cave with wine jars.
Over a hundred large and small jars appeared on the floor, immediately catching the Nine-Tail's interest. She reached out and plucked one to her side.