Bai Jue departed with the two companions in tow. The Nine-Tailed Beast King waved a hand, sending the butterfly beast and the jade-faced spider out of the hall.
Jian Dan remained silent until Nine-Tails lowered a barrier. Only then did she lift her gaze with a smile. "Beast Lord, do you have instructions for me?"
"Do you know about the spatial nodes on Lingyun Continent?"
Nine-Tails narrowed her fox-like eyes and asked in an almost lazy tone.
"Yes. They are each guarded by different sects, though I do not know the exact locations."
Jian Dan paused briefly before continuing. "However, the last time I led a team to Cloud Sea Sect for the grand competition, an evil cultivator took the chance to stir up trouble. That confirmed for me that Cloud Sea Sect's spatial node is inside the 'Yunhai' itself. There should be two Mahayana Zhēnzūn guarding it."
A flicker of violet flashed in Nine-Tails' eyes. She cast Jian Dan a sidelong look, her voice curling into her ears like silk. "Tsk tsk. That little brain of yours turns fast. No wonder the Heavenly Sword Sect sent you to sway me."
"Beast Lord overpraises me. I merely happened to stumble on the matter, which led to the guess."
"You've been chasing after that evil cultivator so doggedly… surely it's not only because he caused trouble on Heavenly Sword Sect territory?"
"Yes. Beast Lord is perceptive."
Jian Dan clasped her hands in salute.
"Then let me hear the full story."
"Yes."
Jian Dan retrieved a jade slip from her storage ring and presented it.
Nine-Tails turned her hand over, and the jade slip was already in her palm. A sweep of divine sense took in its contents before she glanced back at Jian Dan.
"Beast Lord, this is what the Heavenly Sword Sect's Enforcement Hall has inferred from gathered intelligence. The evil cultivator's alliance with the insect race is only the beginning."
Nine-Tails closed her eyes to digest both the jade slip's contents and Jian Dan's words. When she opened her fox-like eyes again, her voice was calm. "The foreign insect race can break through Lingyun Continent's boundary."
"Yes. The Battle of Ming Valley proved it. Invasion by the insect race is only a matter of time."
"You are determined to root out the evil cultivator, even if it forces him to join with the insect race, so that before the boundary breaks, he will already be eliminated."
"Yes. At the very least, it could win us more time."
"Does it matter? There will be a battle either way."
"It matters. To fight with preparation is far better than scrambling in haste. With time, we can train more high-level combatants. The few sects alone are far from enough. When the war comes, I hope every cultivator under heaven will be ready to fight."
Jian Dan's gaze was steady as she spoke.
"Hahaha! Well said! Every cultivator under heaven ready for battle! It's a pity my beast clan advances too slowly. Even with more time, we may not produce many high-level beast cultivators."
Though Nine-Tails laughed, the helplessness in her eyes did not escape Jian Dan's notice.
"What Beast Lord says is true. I have a suggestion that may be of some use."
"Speak."
"Coordinate with human cultivators. The Heavenly Sword Sect could send people to assist your clan in repelling the enemy."
"My beast clan has its pride. That may not be proper."
Inwardly, Jian Dan rolled her eyes. "At a time like this, pride still mattered?" Outwardly, she only feigned thought, then said, "Then use the time we have to cultivate more high-level beast cultivators. Bai Jue could travel with me to the Heavenly Sword Sect this time."
This time, Nine-Tails did not object. Every new high-level beast cultivator was another safeguard for her people. She nodded. "I understand. I will agree to what you have proposed. Once the general area is confirmed, I will personally verify the evil cultivator's location."
"My thanks, Beast Lord."
Jian Dan rose and bowed deeply. With the Beast Lord's aid secured, the plan to eliminate the evil cultivator had taken another step forward.
"No need for courtesy. We are merely taking what we each need."
Nine-Tails waved her hand for Jian Dan to sit again before adding, "You seem to have fate with my beast clan. Yingge's cultivation is thanks to you. But your own cultivation speed has been rather alarming."
"Nothing escapes the Beast Lord's eyes. My rapid progress has been bought with my life on the line. It feels as if an invisible hand is constantly pushing me forward."
Jian Dan spread her hands in helplessness.
"Hehe. Everything has its pattern. Whenever chaos brews, Lingyun Continent produces a wave of talented cultivators."
"So that's how it is. Indeed, in the past century many outstanding disciples have emerged."
"You should know—you are the foremost among them, your name spoken alongside Mo Yue of the Heavenly Demon Palace."
Jian Dan's lips curved into a faint smile. They were both her, after all. And that Heavenly Demon Palace vest had already slipped.
Once their business was settled, Jian Dan decided not to waste time. She would set out for the sect tomorrow. Before she left, Nine-Tails ordered Bai Jue to accompany her.
The next morning, Mo Ran and Jade watched their master depart, then turned back only to be promptly sent into the "Ten Thousand Beasts Hall."
Before they entered, Nine-Tails called them over for a final word. "Jian Lu has paid dearly to let you cultivate among the beast clan. Do not waste your master's efforts."
"Yes. We will not fail our master or the Beast Lord."
With that, the two stepped into the great hall. As the doors closed, Nine-Tails flickered away, reappearing in the heart of the beast clan's territory.
"Ancestor Xuanwu, did you hear what that girl said?"
For once, Nine-Tails stood with head lowered in obedience before a vast, inky-black turtle shell a hundred meters tall, floating quietly at the center of a deep pool.
It was nearly a quarter hour before the Xuanwu Ancestor raised its head from the water. The splash echoed alongside an aged voice. "That girl's fate was once obscured by something. Now, as her cultivation grows, the dark energy pressing her down can no longer suppress her. Her fate is finally revealing itself. She should be the variable Old Yin spoke of in Lingyun Continent's destiny."
Nine-Tails narrowed her fox eyes. "Ancestor Xuanwu means… we can work with her?"
"Mm. Do as you see fit. Do not delay the beast clan's development. You and I cannot hold on for long. You must find an heir quickly."
"Yes. Nine-Tails understands. Bai Jue has already gone with Jian Lu to the Heavenly Sword Sect. This trip should bear fruit."
"Good."
Heavenly Sword Sect, Mountain Gate
On the return journey, they rode the swifter Dragonbone Flying Boat. When it emerged, Bai Jue's eyes widened in surprise.
Once aboard, the vessel rose into the sky. At the first brush of wind and cloud, it became a white dragon, carrying the Heavenly Sword Sect party through the sea of clouds. A ten-day journey was cut to eight, bringing them home early.
A dragon's roar faded as the boat descended, returning to its original form. The gate guards, seeing the return of Zhēnshàng Jian Lu, quickly stepped forward.
"Greetings, Zhēnshàng Jian Lu!"
"Mm. No need for ceremony. Go on with your duties."
Jian Dan smiled and nodded, leading the group through the gate. Along the way, greetings followed them at every turn.
Once inside the sect, the Heavenly Sword team parted ways, returning to the War Hall.
Midway, Jian Dan sent a message talisman. Within moments, Lü Se arrived with Ting Feng.
"Greetings, Zhēnshàng."
"Lü Se, take Bai Jue to Tianyue Peak. He is my guest—see that he is well treated."
"Yes, Zhēnshàng."
Jian Dan turned to Bai Jue with a smile. "Bai Jue, you'll have to bear with Tianyue Peak for two days. Once I've handled my affairs, I'll take you to the Advancement Hall."
"Very well. Please, do not trouble yourself on my account."
Finally, Jian Dan returned to the Enforcement Hall with Jin Liuli and Wei Zhengrong. At the great hall's entrance, Jian Wu and Qi Hua were already waiting, smiles lighting their faces as they came forward to greet her.
= ==
"the dark energy" they talked about is her intertwined fate with Du Yanran. Now that Du Yanran can't suppress her, of course her original fate is appear.