Jian Dan smiled and nodded. Yue Liang, understanding the situation, leapt down from the jade table and transformed into the form of a little girl. She cupped her hands toward Lang Xiao and spoke crisply,
"Yue Liang greets Clan Chief Lang Xiao."
The fierce-looking face of Lang Xiao softened slightly, showing a rare smile. He nodded to Yue Liang before speaking.
"I have long heard of Yue Liang. But as clan chief, I could never leave our ancestral land. Only today do I finally have the fortune to meet you."
Once the formal greetings were exchanged, Jian Dan finally spoke.
"The raccoon beast tribe has only this branch left within my Heavenly Sword Sect. I wonder, do the beast clans have a place for them?"
Lang Xiao answered with a low voice.
"This matter had already been mentioned by the Beast Lord before. According to the Beast Lord, the raccoon beast tribe suffered such heavy losses partly due to the chaos within our beast clans at the time. But it is not as though the beast clans did nothing."
His words made both Yue Liang and Jian Dan raise their brows. The identical movement made the corner of Lang Xiao's lips twitch slightly.
"The raccoon beast tribe has always been a special existence within the beast clans. Against us, their killing power is limited. But against human cultivators, their ability to strike at the sea of consciousness and Primordial Soul is an immense advantage. If a human cultivator gains their recognition, they would become a powerful ally."
Jian Dan's eyes flickered as she asked,
"So what you mean is, human cultivators were also involved in this matter?"
"Zūnshàng is perceptive. Indeed, that was one of the reasons. At that time, the struggle for the Beast King's throne had already reached its peak, and with no Beast Lord to preside over the situation, the hidden hand in the shadows found its chance to strike."
Jian Dan slowly waved her round fan and asked calmly,
"Other than evil cultivators, who else was behind the schemes?"
"The Nine-tailed Beast Lord could not say for certain, only that there seemed to be faint traces of the Kong family involved."
Jian Dan's gaze sharpened. So the Kong family was tangled in this as well. Whether openly or in secret, it seemed that they had been working against the Heavenly Sword Sect. This was something she would need to investigate thoroughly.
After the matter with Feng Nianyue, the Hua family had all but vanished from the cultivation world. The Kong family, after pushing out Kong Qiankun as a scapegoat, had been keeping themselves low-profile.
Truth be told, Jian Dan had suspected them even back then. The Kong family was not as innocent as they appeared. But at the time her voice carried little weight, and the Kong family reacted swiftly, shifting all blame onto Kong Qiankun.
Kong Qiankun had insisted it was his own failure to handle his admirer properly that had caused the disaster, and he never implicated his clan.
Back then, Jian Jun Zūnzhǔ had ordered the Law Enforcement Hall to issue a black mission decree against Kong Qiankun. On one side, it was a move to destroy the Hua family. On the other, it was also a probe against the Kong family. But the Kong family handled matters so flawlessly that no fault could be found. Jian Jun had then set the matter aside. Who would have thought their shadow would resurface here?
Seeing Jian Dan's serious attention, Lang Xiao continued.
"At the time, Nine-tail had not yet become Beast Lord, but she secretly contacted a powerful Heavenly Sword Sect cultivator who had ties with the raccoon beast tribe. Thanks to that, this current branch was preserved. But publicly, the Nine-tailed Beast Lord never acted."
Jian Dan glanced at Yue Liang. Lang Xiao's account matched what the raccoon beast Ancestor had told her. Only now it seemed there had also been secret aid from Nine-tail, which came as a surprise.
"I understand. Thank you for informing me. Regarding the raccoon beasts' return to the beast clans, has the Beast Lord given instructions?"
Jian Dan did not dwell further on the Kong family issue. She already had a direction, and she would uncover the truth sooner or later. If she ever confirmed that the Kong family had colluded with evil cultivators, then their fate would be no different from the Hua family's.
"The Beast Lord instructed me before coming here. The raccoon tribe's territory has been preserved and remains open for their return at any time. That the Beast Lord has kept this in mind will make the raccoon tribe's return far easier."
Jian Dan smiled and swept her hand over her storage bracelet. A transparent white jade vial and a storage pouch appeared, which she pushed toward Lang Xiao.
"Clan Chief Lang Xiao has worked hard to bring such good news. This is my token of gratitude. The Purple Heart Fruit can safely raise one's cultivation by a stage, and this drop of 'Undying Liquid' will help improve bloodlines, suitable for your younger generations."
The fierce face of Lang Xiao finally broke into a smile. The gifts from Jian Lu Zūnshàng were precisely what his young cubs could use. Once he returned, he would present them to the Nine-tailed Zūnzhǔ. If no problem was found, then Xiao Yue would soon make use of them.
"Lang Xiao thanks Zūnshàng for her generous thought. I will accept with gratitude."
"With you accepting, Clan Chief, I can rest assured when I ask that you look after the raccoon tribe more in the future."
"Of course, of course."
As the saying goes, one's hands soften after accepting gifts. Since Lang Xiao had received such benefits, he would naturally take extra care of the raccoon tribe.
Yue Liang, ever clever, bowed with a bright smile.
"Many thanks, Clan Chief Lang Xiao. Once the raccoon tribe returns to the beast clans, we will surely visit your clan to express our thanks."
With that, the matter was essentially settled. After a few more polite exchanges, Lang Xiao departed with his men, bearing both gifts and goodwill, returning to his temporary cave dwelling.
Yue Liang leapt back into her original form, nestling in Jian Dan's arms. As Jian Dan stroked her fur, Yue Liang even let out a few content hums.
"Yue Liang, once you return, tell your Ancestor in detail what has been discussed. My opinion is that there is no need for your entire tribe to return at once. Let those willing go ahead first to test the waters. The Heavenly Sword Sect can serve as your clan's fallback."
Yue Liang nodded her furry head, showing she understood.
"Zūnshàng, you are paving a retreat for us?"
Jian Dan's hand paused briefly on Yue Liang before she smiled.
"So Yue Liang has already realized."
"Yes! I overheard Clan Chief Lang Xiao and his subordinates speaking. In another two hundred years, this sect's territory will become a battlefield."
"That is right. A difficult stage lies ahead. I want your clan to return to the beast lands, whether for rest or awakening of talents. It will only benefit you."
"But the beast clans will have their own war to fight. Once my raccoon tribe returns, we will be drawn into it as well."
"You think quickly, little one. That is true. But if the battlefield is in the beast lands, then the advantage still lies with your clan."
Yue Liang wriggled unhappily in Jian Dan's arms before muttering.
"When the great war comes, I must stay by your side. You cannot drive me away."
"Of course. Yue Liang is my contracted partner. You naturally stand with me. Why would I ever send you away?"
Hearing that promise, Yue Liang's tail wagged happily, curling once more around Jian Dan's wrist.
"If we succeed in destroying the evil cultivators this time, you must use the remaining time to raise your cultivation further."
Jian Dan never went soft when assigning tasks.
"Zūnshàng, are you still dissatisfied with how quickly I have advanced?"
Yue Liang tilted her head up, trying to argue for herself.
Jian Dan gently tapped her forehead and sighed.
"I do not wish to rush you either. But if you do not advance quickly, how will you face the coming war? And if we prevail, the next step will be ascension. Do you plan to ascend with me before you have even reached the ninth stage?"
At those words, Yue Liang shot upright, speaking with determination.
"Yue Liang will work hard! I will not be a burden to Zūnshàng. When the time comes, I will ascend together with you!"
"Good. That's the spirit."
At that moment, Wei Zhengrong arrived hurriedly at Tianyue Peak. Without waiting for a servant to announce him, he entered Jian Dan's cave dwelling with Wang Yue.
"Zūnshàng, word from the Operations Hall: one of our Divine Soul cultivators who entered the great cultivator's ancient mansion has escaped and sent out a distress signal."