"Zūnshàng, according to Meng Zhonglun, that so-called great cultivator's legacy estate is very likely a trap."
On Qi Hua's valiant face, her brows knitted slightly. This result was within her expectations.
At the moment, Jian Dan was still studying the sea chart spread before her, comparing it carefully to the map of the legacy estate. Only after that did she take out a jade slip, record both pieces of information into it, and place it neatly on the desk in front of her.
"From what we know, there's a seventy percent chance that it is indeed a trap. I also suspect this place is where that evil cultivator is hiding."
"Zūnshàng, a team from our Heavenly Sword Sect has already gone to investigate that legacy estate."
Qi Hua quickly reported. Previously, Zūnshàng had said there was no need to stop them—only to spread a warning so they would not drop their guard.
"How many people? What cultivation levels?"
"Ten in total. The lowest is at the Golden Core stage, the highest at Divine Transformation. They left seven days ago, so they should be at the site by now."
Once she finished, Qi Hua immediately asked, "Zūnshàng, shall I have them recalled?"
Jian Dan only shook her head slightly. "This is part of their trial. We cannot interfere."
The hall fell silent. Just then, Wei Zhengrong entered, sensing the heavy mood. He glanced at Jin Liuli for answers, but she only shook her head faintly.
"Zūnshàng, this is intelligence I received from the Hua family."
He presented a delicate twin-lotus jade slip. Jian Dan accepted it, then instructed Wei Zhengrong,"Notify the Operations Hall disciples stationed near the legacy estate. Tell them it's most likely an evil cultivator's trap. They are to observe from the outskirts only, make no move that would alert the target, and report immediately if there's any change."
"Yes, I understand."
Wei Zhengrong hesitated, then asked, "Zūnshàng, should we stop other cultivators from entering?"
But no answer came for a long moment. When he looked up, he saw Zūnshàng seated high above, her gaze distant, her face expressionless as if she had not heard. He was about to repeat himself when a soft sigh broke the silence.
"If we stop them, before the truth comes out the world will think Heavenly Sword Sect is using its status to bully others, trying to monopolize the legacy's resources. Cloud Sea Sect would be the first to object. If we block entry entirely, no one steps into the trap—but will the evil cultivator sense something is wrong and slip away? You all know how much effort I've spent to wipe them out completely."
She paused, then looked at the three people below. "If it were you, how would you handle it?"
The three exchanged looks and fell into deep thought.
Only Qi Hua seemed to grasp something. She stepped forward and cupped her hands. "Zūnshàng, between two evils, we must choose the lesser. We can only take the course that benefits us most right now."
Jian Dan nodded slightly. "Well said. We can't control disciples from other sects, but we must watch over our own. Tell Operations Hall to intercept only our sect's investigation team."
"Yes, Zūnshàng. I'll issue the order immediately."
Jian Dan then picked up the jade slip containing information on Du Yanran. It recorded her every troublesome deed from the moment Jian Dan entered the spatial rift until now.
From entering the Chengli Secret Realm with Hua Xi and Hua Lei of the Hua family, scheming to take advantage of Jian Feng, to being hunted and driven from the secret realm… then rescued by a small leader from Tianya Haijiao, only to kill him later, drawing Tianya Haijiao's wrath. She fled in hiding, leaked half a map to incite a clash between the Heavenly Demon Palace and Tianya Haijiao, costing them many skilled fighters—then Tianya Haijiao resumed their pursuit.
Reading this, Jian Dan's mood lightened. Du Yanran had taken one wrong step and now her rhythm was completely disrupted.
After that, Du Yanran hid in Tianyue City, rented a cave dwelling, forcibly advanced her cultivation to early Divine Transformation, and returned to Yin Yang Gate. A mysterious cultivator guarded her during this time.
By then, her so-called master Bao Chunlai had vanished from the sect. Du Yanran returned with the air of a victim who had endured hardships and risen again. With a new identity jade token, she claimed the sect's offerings, then accepted a mission to inspect the territory under Yin Yang Gate's jurisdiction, leading a team to the Jade Peak Range.
There, by "coincidence," they discovered a blood sac. After a battle, they destroyed it and earned merit for the sect—a dramatic first achievement for her return.
Jian Dan gave a mocking smile. With only early Divine Transformation cultivation, leading a Yin Yang Gate team to destroy a blood sac? It wasn't that she looked down on Yin Yang Gate—it was that she truly looked down on Du Yanran.
In the Ziyu Mountains and Chonglin Mountains, Heavenly Sword Sect had mobilized high-ranking warriors from the War Hall, not to mention fending off counterattacks from hidden evil cultivators. At Putuo Mountain, even a mighty Buddhist cultivator had personally taken the field. The idea that evil cultivators would spare Du Yanran special treatment was laughable.
She told Wei Zhengrong, "Keep watching this Du Yanran from Yin Yang Gate. I suspect this blood sac destruction is not as it seems. I'm worried—"
"Yes, Zūnshàng. I will keep close track of this 'Fairy Yanran.'"
After Wei Zhengrong left, Jian Dan weighed the jade slip in her hand, then split the Hua family's intelligence into two portions and recorded them onto two blank jade slips, storing them away in her bracelet. This was another little gift she had prepared for Du Yanran.
"Zūnshàng, two War Hall squads have returned today to report."
"Understood. Let them rest for now and remain on standby. Once the last Tianzhen squad returns, I will assign tasks to all of them together."
"Yes."
The guard departed.
Jian Feng and Yue Liang had already completed their joint mission with the Tianzhen squad, surveying both Tianxuan City and its surrounding mountains. The mission went smoothly—likely because Tianxuan was close to Tianshu City and near the sect itself—so no signs of evil cultivators were found.
Jian Feng finally relaxed. Their partnership had been a complete success. Man and beast traveled easily now, already on the road home.
But in the mortal realm, war was everywhere.
Evil cultivators had infiltrated, stirring conflicts between nations for their own cultivation needs. The slaughtered innocents' souls and flesh became their resources.
Heavenly Sword Sect dispatched cultivators to the mortal realm, working with the Tracking Hall. In swift, coordinated strikes, they swept clean every mortal territory under the sect's control, rooting out all hidden evil cultivators and executing them on the spot.
When word returned, Jian Dan nodded in satisfaction and asked Liu Li, "And the recruitment of disciples from the mortal realm—is it going well?"
"Reporting to Zūnshàng, recruitment went smoothly. We selected many promising talents."
"Make sure children without spiritual roots are also cared for. We share some responsibility for driving evil cultivators into the mortal world."
"Yes, Zūnshàng."
When her work was finally finished, Jian Dan managed to return to Tianyue Peak. As her escape light landed, Lü Se came forward to greet her.
"Zūnshàng, you've returned."
"Mm. How have things been here at Tianyue Peak these past few days?"
"Reporting to Zūnshàng, with Hall Master Meng's help, I've arranged everything here on the peak. You can take a look whenever you have time. If anything seems unsuitable, we can adjust immediately."