"Wei Xueru thanks Zūnshàng for granting me a new life. In this lifetime, I have no way to repay such grace, but I swear to follow Zūnshàng's lead always."
Jian Dan smiled at the sight of the young girl kneeling before her, speaking so solemnly like a little adult. She raised a hand and helped Wei Xueru to her feet.
"So young, yet you already know what 'following the lead' means. You must have studied well. Your cultivation has already reached the first layer of Qi Refining—a solid start after long preparation. Go back and consolidate it, then train steadily. Do not rush into Foundation Establishment."
"Yes, Xue Ru understands."
Jian Dan had always liked well-behaved children. With a casual wave, she sent a message talisman to Wei Zhengrong, telling him to come to Tianyue Peak once his business was done.
Upon receiving Zūnshàng's message, Wei Zhengrong hurried to Tianyue Peak at his fastest speed. He took a deep breath to steady himself before stepping into the peak's summit residence, announced by Ting Feng.
The first thing he saw was Xue Ru sitting by a jade table, nibbling on pastries. Instinctively, he swept her with his spiritual sense and discovered that she had already drawn Qi into her body and reached the first layer of Qi Refining.
The heavy weight in his heart finally lifted. He quickly stepped forward and bowed. "Zheng Rong thanks Zūnshàng for your timely aid."
Jian Dan, seated in her rocking chair, waved her fan lightly. "Xue Ru has already given thanks. You need not be so formal."
"Big Brother!"
The moment Xue Ru spotted him, she leapt down from her stone stool, casting aside her ladylike manner. She rushed into Wei Zhengrong's arms and happily boasted, "I can cultivate now! I'm already at the first layer of Qi Refining. Zūnshàng said I'm already a little cultivator."
That bright smile and clear, happy voice—Wei Zhengrong hadn't seen or heard them in far too long.
"Then congratulations, Xue Ru. Your brother is truly happy for you. Look—do you know what this is?"
His eyes were warm as he brushed his storage ring, producing a small, exquisite pouch. Though it was the most basic kind, its craftsmanship was fine and it was clearly valuable.
"A storage pouch!"
Xue Ru gasped, carefully receiving the palm-sized pouch embroidered with two lifelike golden koi. She loved it instantly, stroking it again and again.
"Xue Ru, bind it to yourself. Your brother needs to report some matters to Zūnshàng."
"Yes. I won't disturb Zūnshàng and Big Brother while you talk."
The girl gave a polite bow and went off to recognize the pouch as her own.
Jian Dan, still in her rocking chair, lazily waved her round fan. "Xue Ru is fine now, but there's still some residual Solid Spirit Powder in her body. She'll need to cultivate to expel it naturally."
"Zheng Rong understands. I will keep her on track."
"Her talent is exceptional. Even before cultivating, she could stir the power of wind. She is truly favored by the heavens. If your Wei Clan cannot give her the space she deserves, send her to the Heavenly Sword Sect so she can leave the family completely."
"Zūnshàng, this…"
He was tempted, but Xue Ru was still so young, and he had no approval from their elders. He couldn't make the decision alone.
"No rush. I'm not telling you to send her now. After the sect's succession ceremony, I plan to raise the matter. The Heavenly Sword Sect will be recruiting disciples then. If you decide by that time, you can send her in."
"Yes, Zūnshàng. Thank you for your thoughtfulness toward Xue Ru."
"She's a gifted child. I simply don't wish to see her wasted."
"Are you planning to take her home today?"
"Zūnshàng, I brought Xue Ru out of the clan without telling the others exactly where we were going, only saying I'd take her to relax. Now that she can cultivate, I want to return and explain to the elders in person. I hope she can remain here a few more days before I take her back."
"Tsk, tsk! You've thrown the pot cleanly enough. But since you're a male cultivator, you're bound to be less attentive. Let her stay a few more days here. My residence could use a bit of liveliness."
"Many thanks, Zūnshàng."
To Wei Xueru, her days in Jian Lu Zūnshàng's cave residence were the happiest of her life. No one forced her to practice ladylike etiquette, no one looked at her with pity, and her siblings couldn't bully her here.
She had three fine spiritual meals a day, tailored to her constitution. For three days straight, she soaked in medicinal baths, leaving her body lighter and filled with energy.
Though Jian Lu Zūnshàng was busy, she still made time every day—sometimes morning, sometimes evening—to see Xue Ru, offering little tips on cultivation and teaching her to connect with wind spiritual power.
On the fourth day, Wei Zhengrong took half a day off to bring Xue Ru back to the clan. Jian Dan didn't ask about what followed, but three months later, when the sect recruited new disciples, Wei Xueru was among them.
With her matter settled, Wei Zhengrong returned to his duties in the Law Enforcement Hall. Lately, the reports he received had grown unusual. All the major sects seemed to be moving quietly, though without clear objectives.
Finding this suspicious, he compiled their movements and brought them to Jian Lu Zūnshàng.
These days Jian Dan was relatively free—handling official duties only half the day, then returning to her residence to enjoy the flowers and scenery, and sending a message talisman to Senior Brother Jian Li each day.
"Zūnshàng, these are reports from the past ten days. The Daoist sects are making moves, but their targets aren't clear. I cannot judge the purpose. Please review them."
Jian Dan took the jade slip and examined it carefully:
The Purple Sky Sect, after purging the blood sacs, ordered a large batch of pills from the Alchemy Sect. After that, the Zixing Pavilion began internal selections.The Cloud Sea Sect, because of a map to a great cultivator's relic estate, reinforced their sea defenses and mobilized cultivators to purchase all kinds of sea beast cores, yet didn't stop others from exploring the relic—rather, they made it easier.
The four sects of pill, talisman, formation, and weaponry had all started gathering various materials in private—spiritual plants, blank formation plates, forging materials—covering a wide and disorganized range.
The Buddhist Sect and the Yin Yang Gate had, surprisingly, both begun recruiting disciples from the mortal realm.
After reading the reports, Jian Dan sat in silence for a long while before speaking. "I will handle this. The Cloud Sea Sect reports I asked you to compile—are they ready?"
"Reporting to Zūnshàng, they will be ready tomorrow."
"Go on, then."
Once Wei Zhengrong left, Jian Dan immediately went to see Tian Yun Zhēnzūn—only to find not just him, but also Tian Zhen Zhēnzūn, the Mahayana cultivator who had given her Cotton Candy and concealed his cultivation.
"Jian Lu greets the two Zhēnzūn."
The two were playing chess, the board a battlefield of shifting clouds and fierce struggle.
Tian Yun looked up, unsurprised at her arrival. "What's so urgent?"
Jian Dan exhaled slowly before speaking. "Zhēnzūn, the Daoist sects have all been moving in secret recently. I suspect…"
She paused, glancing at them both.
"What do you suspect?" Tian Yun asked.
"They are preparing for war."
"And why would they prepare for war?"
"It should be because something is wrong with the spatial node."
She stared at Tian Yun Zhēnzūn, hoping for denial, but his eyes were as calm as still water. He only smiled faintly and asked, "What do you wish to ask me?"
Gritting her teeth, she asked, "Has the Heavenly Sword Sect's spatial node… encountered problems? If…"
Before she could finish, Tian Yun Zhēnzūn gave her only three words:
"Two hundred years."