The representatives from the various sects had not anticipated that the arrival of Jian Lu Zūnshàng would bring such explosive news.
Jian Dan noticed that the Daoist cultivators were not particularly surprised, indicating that the high-level cultivators who came had, to some extent, already received some information.
In contrast, the cultivators from the Demon Gate only showed a flash of astonishment before beginning to exchange messages among themselves. The ones being questioned most intensely were Mo Su and Mo Yi of the Heavenly Demon Palace.
"As far as I know, the spatial nodes protected by the Daoist sects have already been attacked by the insect tribe. Our Heavenly Sword Sect can hold for two hundred years. How about your sects?"
Yu Tu Zūnzhě of Cloud Sea Sect swept a glance over the assembly and replied directly:
"Cloud Sea Sect can also hold for two hundred years."
Xiao Yong and Xiao Hua of Purple Sky Sect exchanged glances, and Xiao Yong responded:
"Purple Sky Sect can also maintain this defense for the same duration!"
The other sects gradually expressed their positions, all able to hold for two hundred years. Only Qian Wanguan of the Loose Cultivators Alliance seemed at a loss, but he said nothing, waving his folding fan and listening intently.
"This gathering is not only to confirm the time the insect tribe has left us but also to inform you about the matter of the evil cultivators."
Yu Ze of Yin Yang Gate spoke:
"Are you referring to the one controlling the blood sacs behind the scenes?"
"Yes."
At this moment, Mo Su asked:
"Zūnshàng, recently the Heavenly Sword Sect has circulated several messages. Each sect has checked their territories and indeed eliminated some blood sacs. Yet recently, they have been forced to cooperate with the insect tribe. Several major sects have suffered damage, and the conflict has even reached the Mortal Realm."
Mo Su's deep, magnetic voice echoed through the hall, and the attendees had all received related news.
"Indeed, the cultivators we sent to the Mortal Realm have not returned yet. A few days ago, we received word that a blood sac had been destroyed in the imperial capital of Tianqing Kingdom, under Heavenly Sword Sect's jurisdiction."
After Jian Dan's report, the people in the hall exchanged glances. The five sects of the Demon Gate remained silent. Jian Dan sat at the head, observing everyone's expressions, and spoke calmly:
"All of you attending the succession ceremony today surely have your own purposes. The Heavenly Sword Sect merely provides an opportunity for information exchange."
Jian Dan paused briefly:
"All of you have cultivated to this level and are intelligent. Jian Lu does not speak in riddles. The reason Heavenly Sword Sect spares no effort in tracking down this evil cultivator is to prevent being caught off guard in the future war with the insect tribe."
"Zūnzhě, the evil cultivators cooperating with the insect tribe are only creating chaos and causing destruction. At present, we can still manage them. We should not let them tie our hands," said Dan Lian Zūnzhě, leader of the Dan Sect's team.
Jian Dan rolled his eyes internally but kept his expression unchanged and smiled:
"If that were true, Heavenly Sword Sect would not have expended so much manpower and resources to pursue the evil cultivators. You may ask Cloud Sea Sect and the beast tribe what the true purpose of the evil cultivators is. Those self-destructions and acts of sabotage are merely distractions. As you said, they are still within tolerable limits."
"If we relax vigilance or shift our attention there, that is when they will strike. The cultivation world is vast. There are many cultivators who betray their soul for selfish purposes."
Dan Lian Zūnzhě heard Jian Dan's words and turned his gaze to the leaders of Cloud Sea Sect and the beast tribe.
Before this, Lang Xiao had received instructions from the Nine-Tailed Beast Lord. Knowing it was his turn to speak, he stood and bowed to the sect leaders present.
Lang Xiao, standing two meters tall, bore a scar across his face, exuding an aura of being unapproachable. Without using spiritual power, his loud voice reached everyone in the hall:
"Thanks to the warning from Heavenly Sword Sect, the beast tribe discovered a hidden blood sac in our territory. Its route passed through a spatial node under our supervision! The Nine-Tailed Beast Lord was furious, and the Earth Dragon clan of the beast tribe is still investigating underground."
Lang Xiao sat down after speaking, pouring a cup of spirit tea and moistening his throat.
The Buddhist Sect's representative, from the "Liao" generation, was present because Liao Chen and Liao Kong were still in the Mortal Realm recruiting disciples. Liao Fan, representing the sect, intoned a Buddhist chant:
"Amitabha! Destroying evil cultivators is part of our practice. The Buddhist Sect will not decline!"
Jian Dan nodded slightly, then glanced at Yu Tu Zūnzhě and Han Pengfei behind him.
Han Pengfei wanted to speak but was signaled to stop by a look from Yu Tu Zūnshàng.
Yu Tu Zūnshàng then spoke:
"What Jian Lu Zūnshàng mentioned concerns the attack our Cloud Sea Sect suffered last time. It was mainly due to a traitor within the sect and the disorder caused by our sect competition. That is how they succeeded. Your sect also had a cultivator disappear, did it not?"
Yu Tu deflected the focus lightly.
Everyone in the hall sensed tension but remained silent. Both were Unity Zūnshàng; this would be an interesting exchange.
Jian Dan smirked internally but maintained a friendly exterior. Hearing Yu Tu Zūnshàng's words did not anger him, and he replied with calm politeness:
"You are correct, Zūnshàng. Such misfortune is regrettable, and family matters should not be spread outside. However, since it has come up, I must mention one thing."
Yu Tu raised an eyebrow, sensing an implication, yet was caught off guard by Jian Dan's straightforward follow-up:
"The Jian Yu who disappeared from your sect is a member of the Fu family, a subsidiary clan under Heavenly Sword Sect. She went missing within Yunhai. Upon returning, we investigated the Fu family and discovered their connection with the evil cultivators. Following the principle of 'better to kill by mistake than let them escape,' I ordered the Law Enforcement Hall to eliminate the entire Fu family."
A hush fell over the hall. Han Pengfei drew a sharp breath; Cloud Sea Sect had only received vague reports at the time.
After the sect competition, a great battle occurred in Tianshu City, involving the long-established Fu family. Yet the truth had turned out this way.
Jian Dan glanced at his fingers and continued:
"Yu Tu Zūnshàng, I vaguely recall that your sect's Yu Yaoyao also appeared in Yunhai. Were you able to discover anything?"
Yu Tu frowned, realizing this scrutiny now fell upon him. Han Pengfei could no longer remain silent and stepped forward to explain:
"Senior Sister Yu Yaoyao was thrown into Yunhai by the evil cultivators. She suffered from spatial turbulence, lost her cultivation, and has become mortal."
"Oh! Is that so?"
Jian Dan then looked at Han Pengfei, smiling as he responded.
Those present had already understood clearly. Cloud Sea Sect's Yunhai had been approached, and possibly infiltrated, by the evil cultivators into its spatial node.
Xiao Yong and Xiao Hua of Purple Sky Sect exchanged knowing smiles. It seemed that in this round, Jian Lu of Heavenly Sword Sect had decisively won, and still held undisclosed cards.
"Zūnshàng, based on your analysis, this evil cultivator cooperating with the insect tribe may attempt to destroy the spatial nodes from within Lingyun Continent?"
"Yes!"
Shou Yong Zūnshàng of the Beast Taming Sect spoke:
"As far as I know, those guarding the spatial nodes are all Mahayana Zhēnzūn, so being breached from within seems unlikely."
Seated nearby, Jian Chong whispered to Jian Dan about this cultivator's status.
"Yes! You are correct. Those guarding the nodes are among the top in Lingyun Continent. Yet from all my tracking of this evil cultivator, he is also at Mahayana Great Perfection!"