"You've done well on this mission. The rescue of the Operations Hall was quick. Go and claim your task reward."
Jian Dan smiled as she addressed her direct subordinates.
"Thank you for the praise, Hall Master."
The captain of Tianyue Squad stepped forward, clasped his hands in salute, and continued,"Reporting to Hall Master, after returning to the sect I met Captain Tianjian. He said all the other captains had gone through your test, except me, since I was away on a mission. So I've brought my whole squad to take the test."
Hearing this, light shimmered in Jian Dan's eyes, and a faint smile touched her lips.
There were hardly ever people volunteering for the Shangguan test. They were clearly here because they had learned the other captains advanced a small realm after taking her test, and they were eager to gain the same benefit.
"So, it seems you're feeling rather urgent about this. Are you all prepared?"
"Yes, we're ready. We wouldn't dare waste your precious time, Zūnshàng."
Tianyue's captain knew her schedule was packed. He had even asked Jian Feng to help him find a gap in her free time so they could slip into the queue.
"Very well. Since you're ready, we'll begin the test."
As Jian Dan spoke, blue light flickered rapidly in her eyes. In an instant, the nine of them were drawn into the trial illusion. She repeated the same instructions as before. This time, however, the participants were all squad members, so their overall strength was slightly weaker than the previous batch of captains.
Tianyue's captain was at the mid-stage of Void Refinement, while the rest ranged from early to late Divine Soul. Still, Jian Dan did not lower the difficulty. She put them through the same one-stage-per-realm test to see who could last to the end.
In the grand hall, the nine of them stood motionless like they were in deep meditation, eyes closing slowly. Jian Dan waved her hand, moving them to a side hall and setting up a protective barrier. Then she told Jian Feng, "Keep watch. Once they wake, let them return to the War Hall on their own."
"Yes, Zūnshàng."
Jian Dan worked diligently for another half day. By sunset, she had handled most of the hall affairs that had piled up during her time away from the sect.
"Jian Feng, I won't be coming to the Law Enforcement Hall tomorrow morning. If there's something urgent, find me at Tianyue Peak."
After that, Jian Dan stepped onto Cotton Candy and returned to Tianyue Peak.
Lü Se and Ting Feng were on duty. When they saw their Zūnshàng return, they immediately came to greet her.
She waved them off, telling them to go about their own tasks. She didn't need anything here.
Cotton Candy turned back into a small cloud and floated onto her hair bun.
Lately, Cotton Candy had rarely left her side. As he put it, he was about to level up, and it was better to stay near his master. Jian Dan was also looking forward to seeing what he would look like after his upgrade.
In front of her cave dwelling, under the banyan tree, Jian Dan set down a soft couch, prepared a pot of peach blossom wine and a small plate of snacks. She gazed at the bright moon hanging in the sky, her mind still turning over recent events.
Including the news from Purple Sky Sect, five of the evil cultivators' blood sacs had already been destroyed across the continent. She wondered how much longer the enemy could hold out.
Her plan was to eliminate all the blood sacs first, then deal with the evil cultivators themselves. If they stayed hidden, relying on the blood sacs to prolong the fight until the spatial nodes were breached, the continent would face both internal and external threats.
Her guess was close to the truth. At this moment, the walls of the Lingyun Continent's space were crawling with countless types of insects. They used their mandibles to gnaw at the barrier, but with little effect; the wall was sturdy.
However, several intelligent insect breeds had scouted the barrier and found spatial nodes. They were now directing giant mantis-like insects and massive black beetles to attack these points. Each strike caused a brief flash of light at the node before it faded again.
The Mahayana Zhēnzūn guarding the nodes could sense something. Although the nodes looked unchanged, a heaviness settled in their hearts. They formed seals and sent out the first warning message.
Tian Yun Zhēnzūn received the alert immediately. His handsome face darkened with worry. What was bound to happen had arrived. He passed the message to Tian Shou, Tian Zhen, and Tian Hong Zhēnzūn. The three arrived at his cave dwelling without delay.
"Senior Brother, how long can we hold?" Tian Shou Zhēnzūn asked first.
"No more than two hundred years," Tian Yun replied gravely.
"So soon?"
"This is just the time we of the Heavenly Sword Sect can maintain our defense."
Tian Yun sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion and motioned for them to sit.
"Tian Jun Zhēnzūn said the spatial barrier is not easy to break. With our Heavenly Sword Sect's space seals, we've caused them some trouble, allowing us to hold this long. As for the other sects, I cannot say."
"Then we must plan early and prepare our deployments," Tian Shou urged.
Tian Yun nodded slowly. "During the sect's succession ceremony, we should open talks with the other sects. If we've received a warning, they have as well."
"Not long ago you wanted us to go out and wipe out the evil cultivators. Now these insects are causing trouble," Tian Shou frowned. If the evil cultivators broke into another sect's spatial node at a time like this, it would be disastrous. The Heavenly Sword Sect could guard its own gates, but others might not be able to.
"That's why Jian Lu has been relentless about the evil cultivator problem. She went out this time to persuade the Nine-tailed Beast King to help locate Hai Yan's hiding place."
"Hm. At least that's some progress."
"Jian Lu is sharp-minded. She foresaw this possibility early on. Once she discovered the evil cultivators, she began deploying people to set up the net. I think she's close to closing it."
At that, Tian Yun's expression eased.
"Good. We should support the juniors when the time comes."
"Of course."
Tian Hong Zhēnzūn, who had been silent until now, asked, "Do Tian Jun Zhēnzūn and Tian Sa Zhēnzūn need our support where they are stationed?"
Tianyun shook his head. "They haven't asked for aid, only that we prepare for battle."
The other three exchanged looks and nodded, already knowing what needed to be done.
"The warning should be reported to the Sect Master and the Law Enforcement Hall."
"No rush. Jian Chong is the new Sect Master, and Jian Lu is acting head of the Law Enforcement Hall. Both are extremely busy. They'll learn of it before the succession ceremony."
"Fair enough. Better to be prepared. Still, I suspect Jian Lu will come speak with you soon. She controls both the Intelligence Hall and the War Hall. Almost all information passes through her hands. If other sects make a move, she'll notice and figure it out."
Tian Shou smiled at Tian Yun as he said this.
"If she comes asking, I'll tell her the truth. She already knows in her heart; it's only a matter of timing."
At the same time, Purple Sky Sect, the Cloud Sea Sect, the Beast Taming Sect, the Yin Yang Gate, and the beast clans all received the same warning. Just like the Heavenly Sword Sect, their leaders held small meetings to arrange their next steps.
Jian Dan had yet to hear this headache-inducing news, so she enjoyed a peaceful night's rest.
The next morning, under the banyan tree, she took out a transmission talisman to send her Senior Brother Jian Li a message. She hadn't contacted him while away from the sect, so she decided to make up for it now.
Just after she sent it, Ting Feng came to report, "Wei Zhengrong is here with a young girl to see you."