"Zūnshàng, we just received word from the Intelligence Hall. Evil cultivators have been spotted in the mortal realm under Heavenly Sword Sect's jurisdiction—more than one location, in fact."
Wei Zhengrong's expression darkened. This was a failure on the part of the Intelligence Hall. They had neglected oversight of the mortal realm, allowing evil cultivators to cause trouble unchecked.
Jian Dan looked unsurprised. When she had first received Fa Hua's message, she had already guessed this would be the outcome. She took the jade slip, scanned through it briefly, and then handed it directly to Wu Siyuan.
"Si Yuan, it doesn't look good. Go ahead of the others. If there's a blood sac in the mortal realm, a large force of cultivators might spook him and give him the chance to slip away."
"Understood. I'll set out immediately."
Wu Siyuan knew Jian Dan's temper—her orders were to be obeyed without delay. He began preparing to depart at once.
"Zheng Rong, give Wu Siyuan the information we have on the blood sac."
Wei Zhengrong quickly produced another jade slip and respectfully handed it to Wu Siyuan.
Without wasting a heartbeat, Wu Siyuan took it and left the Enforcement Hall's grand hall, heading straight for the mortal realm.
After a brief silence, Jian Dan spoke again.
"Zheng Rong, issue a notice in Heavenly Sword Sect's name, informing the realm of this evil cultivator incursion into the mortal realm."
"Yes, Zūnshàng."
"Jian Wu, go to the Operations Hall and check whether the teams taking this mission are fully assembled. If they are, send them out immediately. When Tracking Hall sends us more precise intel, assign each team to guard a specific mortal city."
"Understood. I'll hurry them along."
"They really are everywhere," Jin Liuli said with hatred in her voice.
Operations Hall
Following orders, Jian Wu arrived at the Operations Hall, where he found Yu Yuanhai running about in a rush.
In recent days, the Operations Halls of the Inner Nine Peaks had been unusually busy due to new missions from the Law Enforcement Hall. This particular mission had a minimum cultivation requirement, which meant the disciples of the Outer Nine Peaks didn't yet qualify.
Even so, the Outer Nine Peaks' Affairs Halls were also bustling. The latest announcement posted on the White Jade Wall stated that two Foundation Establishment trial spaces had opened. Those with enough contribution points and the necessary cultivation could attempt them.
Outer sect cultivators who had enough points exchanged them for keys and entered the trial spaces to hone their combat skills. Those without enough points scrambled to take on sect missions, eager to earn enough to qualify.
According to the Martial Uncles, the trial spaces were normally only opened once every hundred years. This early opening had stirred their competitive spirit, and everyone was rushing to complete tasks.
Spotting Yu Yuanhai, Jian Wu asked, "Manager Yu, have the ten teams been assembled?"
"So it's Senior Brother Jian Wu—my respects."
After saluting, Yu Yuanhai answered, "Still short by two teams. We should have them by tomorrow. Plenty of cultivators are taking the mission, but forming proper teams takes time."
"Good. That means we can set out a day earlier."
"Yes, that shouldn't be a problem."
Yu Yuanhai then asked, "Has it been confirmed that something happened in the mortal realm?"
"Yes. Evil cultivator activity has been spotted, so they need to get there quickly."
That wasn't a secret, so Jian Wu saw no need to hide it.
Yu Yuanhai frowned. "The sect succession ceremony is right around the corner, and now we have this kind of trouble..."
Jian Wu understood what Yu Yuanhai was leaving unsaid. They didn't yet know about the space nodes being attacked, and he couldn't say more, so he replied evenly, "Better to discover it now than not at all. If we let this poison fester in the mortal realm, removing it later would cause far more damage."
Yu Yuanhai nodded in agreement. "Once the ten teams are ready, I'll have them gather at the Heavenly Sword Peak Operations Hall in advance. You can make the arrangements then."
"Alright."
Jian Wu returned to the Law Enforcement Hall to report to Jian Dan.
Law Enforcement Hall
Sitting at the Chief's seat, Jian Dan thought for a moment, then sent a flying sword message to Mo Zhang, the Chief of Heavenly Demon Palace.
"Mo Zhang Daoyou, evil cultivators have been sighted in mortal cities under Heavenly Sword Sect's jurisdiction. Our sect has already taken action. Does your sect have the same problem in your territory? Also, be on guard for any blood sac fleeing to the mortal realm."
The flying sword sped toward Heavenly Demon Palace.
When Jian Wu returned, he reported on the team assembly situation.
"Good. The sooner the better. Tomorrow, you and Zheng Rong go divide the ten teams and have Tracking Hall members work with them."
"Understood."
With the urgent matters handled, Jian Dan tossed the jade slip onto her desk, let her spiritual power circulate to ease her fatigue, then took out a message talisman to send a note to Jian Li.
"Senior Brother, when will you come out of seclusion? In the past few days, the mortal realm has been troubled again—it seems the evil cultivators have shifted their ground to prey on mortals..."
Across the cultivation world, the major sects soon received warning messages from Heavenly Sword Sect and the Buddhist Sect.
One after another, sects and cultivation clans turned their attention to the mortal realm. They had thought closing the portals between realms would grant peace to the mortals. Now, hearing of evil cultivators there again, they were left scratching their heads. Like pressing down one gourd only to have another pop up.
That night, Jian Dan returned to Tianyue Peak under the starlight, disturbing no one as she entered her cave dwelling.
After setting up a barrier, she waved her hand and brought out the purification bottle containing Liu Chuan. Slender willow branches emerged from the bottle and quickly grew, filling every corner of the cave in moments.
Jian Dan didn't mind. She reached out and touched them, noting that the branches were tougher than before, the leaves a deeper, jade-like green, and the wood aura they carried richer than ever.
Finally, something to be pleased about—at least the thousands of contribution points she'd spent hadn't gone to waste. Liu Chuan's strength had recovered further.
Liu Chuan only wanted to show off, but seeing Jian Dan neither surprised nor hesitant—touching him without restraint—he felt his leaves darken in exasperation.
"Woman, have some restraint. Who touches without asking?"
"Tsk, tsk. I have to check if my points were well spent."
Jian Dan answered with a bright smile.
Unable to win, Liu Chuan retracted all the branches back into the bottle, transforming once more into a single willow leaf that floated to her wrist and settled there.
"So? Have you recovered to seventy percent of your strength?"
Reclining on her ten-thousand-year cold jade bed, Jian Dan chatted idly with him instead of cultivating.
"Better than that. Thanks to the spatial boost, I'm at eighty percent. I can handle Unity cultivators without issue, and if it's a Mahayana opponent, I can still assist you in battle."
Liu Chuan's confidence was absolute.
Jian Dan smiled in satisfaction and told him about recent events.
"Five days from now, the visiting sects and cultivators will begin to arrive. You'll need to keep watch over Tianyue Peak."
"Mm. No problem."