When Qi Hua went to the outer peak to deliver the invitation to Yin Yang Gate, the gate's team leaders, Yu Ze and his wife Yu Shu, holding the invitation from Jian Lu Zūnshàng, were also speculating about the purpose of the summons.
Yu Shu was petite and charming, speaking in a soft, gentle voice: "Yu Ze, do you think Heavenly Sword Sect has invited us this time because of the spatial node issue?"
Yu Ze, tall and imposing, reached out, pulling Yu Shu into his embrace. He stroked her smooth hair and said in a deep voice: "Shu'er, you are right. I saw that Jian Lu Zūnshàng sent invitations to all the other sects as well. It should be related to this matter."
Yu Shu rested obediently in her daolü's embrace and continued: "I noticed that those attending the succession ceremony are all cultivators who have risen prominently in their sects over the past century, and their cultivation is not low."
"Hehe! Shu'er, are you feeling a bit jealous? Our cultivation is not low either, why should we envy others?"
Yu Shu smiled, poked him in the chest, and raised her head: "Am I such a narrow-minded person? What I meant is that other sects each have one or two leading cultivators, all young, while our Yin Yang Gate has not produced any significant new cultivators in the past hundred years. That seems a little unfair."
Yu Ze held her slender fingers and nodded: "Shu'er is always careful. Now that we are back at the sect, we should mention this to our Master."
As they were talking, their attendants reported outside the residence: "Yu Ze Zūnzhǔ, Jian Lu Zūnshàng's subordinates have arrived to deliver the invitation."
Yu Ze and Yu Shu exchanged a glance. Yu Ze spoke immediately: "Please send them in!"
Qi Hua saw the two Yin Yang Gate Zūnzhǔs and bowed: "Qi Hua pays respects to the two Zūnzhǔs. Here is our Zūnshàng's invitation. Please come to Tianyue Peak for tea."
Yu Shu glanced at Qi Hua, noting her attire and peak cultivation at early Divine Transformation, her eyes briefly flickering before she smiled and accepted the invitation, passing it to Yu Ze.
"We apologize for our rudeness. We should have first visited Jian Lu Zūnshàng instead of having Zūnshàng personally send the invitation."
Yu Ze examined the invitation. On the back was the Heavenly Sword Sect insignia, and on the front, a fully bloomed magnolia. The signature simply read "Jian Lu."
Following Yu Shu's words, Yu Ze added: "May we ask, whether there is something specific Zūnshàng wish to inquire about so we can prepare?"
Qi Hua immediately understood they were probing for information. She replied candidly: "You two need not worry. Zūnshàng only wishes to ask about your sect's elimination of the blood sacs, nothing else."
"In that case, we will prepare and come immediately."
"Good. I will report back to Zūnshàng right away."
Qi Hua bowed and exited the residence, taking the teleportation light to depart Yin Yang Gate.
Yu Ze and Yu Shu glanced at each other, tidied their appearances, gave instructions to their attendants, and then headed together to Tianyue Peak.
By the time they arrived at the foot of the peak, Qi Hua had been waiting for a while and guided them directly to the banyan tree in front of Jian Dan's residence.
"Yu Ze and Yu Shu of Yin Yang Gate pay respects to Jian Lu Zūnshàng."
Yu Shu wore a red robe and Yu Ze a black robe. They both bowed to Jian Dan.
Jian Dan smiled: "You are truly a perfect pair. I was presumptuous in inviting you directly. Please, sit."
Yun Shu stepped forward to bow. Once the two were seated, she poured spirit tea and retreated to a distance.
"Please try my newly acquired Yunfeng Maojian. It is refreshing."
Yu Shu and Yu Ze seated themselves, lifting the celadon jade cups and tasting the tea. Yu Shu spoke first: "Anything recommended by Zūnshàng is naturally excellent. This tea is rich in spiritual energy and sweet on the palate. I like it very much."
Jian Dan glanced at Yun Shu, who understood and turned to leave.
Once casual talk concluded, Jian Dan addressed the main point: "You probably already know. I invited you both to ask about your sect's elimination of the blood sacs."
Yu Ze responded: "Jian Lu Zūnshàng, the blood sacs were discovered by a newly advanced Divine Transformation female cultivator in our sect. She was carrying out a sect inspection on Yin Yang Mountain. After that, we gathered all nearby cultivators to eliminate the blood sacs."
"Did you two go personally?" Jian Dan asked, sipping her tea lightly.
Yu Shu shook her head: "We did not. We only received the report."
Jian Dan felt more confident. She took out two jade slips. Qi Hua stepped forward, accepted them, and handed them to the two across the table.
Yu Ze and Yu Shu were surprised but accepted them nonetheless.
"Take a look. These are the records of Heavenly Sword Sect eliminating blood sacs in the Ziyu and Chonglin mountain ranges."
While the two examined the jade slips, Jian Dan leisurely sipped her tea and sent a voice transmission to Liu Chuan.
"Chuan, any unusual movements these days?"
"Nothing major. Just a few sect scouts running around. I am keeping an eye on them. No need to worry."
"Good. It's busy these days. Thank you for your effort."
"I know. You are being long-winded again. Who are you trying to trap this time?" Liu Chuan asked lazily.
"You'll see soon," Jian Dan teased.
The two finished reading the jade slips and exchanged glances. Jian Dan withdrew her distant gaze and smiled: "Did you notice anything?"
Yu Ze furrowed his brows, considering carefully before speaking: "The cultivators Heavenly Sword Sect used to eliminate the blood sacs were all strong. Are you implying that Yin Yang Gate's elimination of the blood sacs might be fake?"
Jian Dan smiled and turned her gaze to Yu Shu. Yu Shu had been contemplating quietly but lifted her head as if sensing Jian Dan's attention: "Zūnshàng may mean that the cultivators who dealt with the blood sacs were problematic."
"Attentive as always," Jian Dan said, tacitly agreeing with Yu Ze.
"I have no doubt about Yin Yang Gate's strength, but Du Yanran's cultivation is truly unimpressive," Jian Dan added.
Although this embarrassed the two slightly, they did not show it before their Zūnshàng.
Jian Dan put down her cup and addressed them: "I do not usually interfere in other sects' affairs. Heavenly Sword Sect has no custom of doing so. But Du Yanran reached out to one of my capable subordinates. I investigated and did find some issues."
Jian Dan handed a second jade slip to Qi Hua, who delivered it to the two.
Yu Shu read the contents first. Her expression stiffened for a moment before she passed it to Yu Ze.
Jian Dan continued: "Heavenly Sword Sect twice deployed Divine Soul and even Void Refinement cultivators to eliminate the blood sacs. Especially when Buddhist sect cultivators fought them, I was present. The counterattack of evil cultivators is not something a newly advanced Divine Transformation cultivator can handle."
Yu Ze and Yu Shu understood immediately. Although they had not participated directly, Jian Lu Zūnshàng's reminder made the problem apparent.
"If you can follow my advice, return to your sect to recheck the blood sacs. After staging a performance, the opponents will likely continue hiding on Yin Yang Mountain."
Although their expressions remained unchanged, they tacitly agreed with Jian Dan's suggestion. This was not difficult; they could investigate privately and see if the situation matched Jian Lu Zūnshàng's account.
"As for Du Yanran, that will require your own investigation. A fox always reveals its tail eventually."