Jian Dan and Yue Liang raised their heads at the same time, looking toward the hurriedly approaching Wei Zhengrong. As he spoke, Wei Zhengrong handed over a jade slip.
Jian Dan frowned. She had calculated in every way possible, yet the matter was still exposed. Taking the jade slip, she asked, "How is the escaped cultivator now?"
"Zūnshàng, rest assured, the people from the Operations Hall have already rescued him. I only worry this may have alerted the evil cultivator."
"I reckon he has already been alarmed."
Jian Dan quickly swept her divine sense over the jade slip, then immediately ordered Wei Zhengrong, "Zheng Rong, notify all the sect leaders remaining in the Heavenly Sword Sect at once. Tell them the evil cultivator's hiding place has been exposed, and that he is already on guard. We must depart immediately."
"Zūnshàng, should I tell them the exact location?"
"Send them the charted coordinates. Unless I am mistaken, the Cloud Sea Sect already knows of this."
Wei Zhengrong accepted the order and hurried off to notify the sect envoys.
Jian Dan directly sent out a transmission talisman to Senior Brother Jian Xu: "Senior Brother, the evil cultivator's lair has been exposed. Please join me in eradicating him! I will await you at the Law Enforcement Hall."
After sending the talisman, Jian Dan turned at once, heading to the restricted grounds in the back mountain to meet with Tian Yun Zhēnzūn.
"Zhēnzūn, the matter of the evil cultivator has changed. His lair has been identified by our Heavenly Sword Sect disciples. We must move at once. I fear if he senses anything, he will flee immediately."
"Give me the location." Tian Yun wasted no time, directly asking for the exact position.
Jian Dan, long prepared, handed over the jade slip.
"I will have Junior Brother Tian Zhuo depart first. Prepare yourself and set out as soon as you are ready. I know you have been laying out your plans against this evil cultivator for a long time. I hope this time he can be destroyed in one strike. I will permit you to mobilize the 'Heaven's Punishment' squad to assist you in slaying him."
This was the first time Jian Dan had heard of such a squad. Among the seven teams under her War Hall, there was none called Heaven's Punishment. She had been to Heaven's Punishment Peak before, but never knew of this arrangement.
"The Heaven's Punishment squad consists of nine late Unity cultivators. They were formed under the Law Enforcement Hall solely to root out internal threats. They can only be mobilized with the Hall Master's token. They are not under your War Hall."
Jian Dan immediately understood. It was a specialized force, serving as both an internal watchdog of the Law Enforcement Hall and an execution squad against high-level hostile cultivators.
"Yes. Jian Lu understands. I will immediately issue the order to the Heaven's Punishment squad."
Hearing Tian Yun Zhēnzūn's words steadied Jian Dan's heart. Her confidence grew. She turned and left the restricted grounds.
Tian Yun directly sent word to Tian Zhuo, then calmly awaited his arrival.
"Senior Brother, you called me so urgently. Do you have orders?"
Tian Yun tossed the jade slip to him and said, "This is the location Jian Lu confirmed. Our sect's cultivators who entered to investigate already alarmed the target. Jian Lu fears he may run, so she has already gathered the Heaven's Punishment squad to depart."
Tian Zhuo studied the jade slip, then said, "Rest assured, Senior Brother. With me here, he will not escape. I will not wait for their reinforcements. I will go ahead first."
Tian Zhuo Zhēnzūn had waited a long time for such a chance. How could he not be thrilled? He immediately tore open the void and stepped inside. Within moments, he had already reached the sea region marked in the jade slip.
When Jian Dan returned to the Law Enforcement Hall, Jian Xu was already waiting.
"Junior Sister, when do we set out?"
Jian Xu wore white robes patterned with faint restrictive lines, the attire of a Zūnshàng. His expression was grave. Even against this Mahayana evil cultivator, he had little certainty.
"Senior Brother, Tian Yun Zhēnzūn has already made arrangements. Tian Zhuo Zhēnzūn has gone ahead. Our Law Enforcement Hall has mobilized the Heaven's Punishment squad. With you and me, we should have enough certainty."
Hearing her words, Jian Xu felt steadier. The two walked shoulder to shoulder out of the hall. Behind them, Qi Hua and Jin Liuli tried to follow, but Jian Dan waved them back.
"You two will remain here with Wei Zhengrong to guard the Law Enforcement Hall."
Qi Hua and Jin Liuli exchanged helpless looks. They knew their own cultivation was insufficient. If they went, they would only burden their Zūnshàng. Better to stay and await news.
As Jian Dan and Jian Xu stepped out, nine Unity Zūnshàng were already assembled at the gates.
The nine looked toward them, and Jian Dan stepped forward, saluting:
"Jian Lu greets all Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters. This sudden matter has troubled you to act."
"Junior Sister, why so polite? We rarely get a chance to go out. Better to seize the opportunity, stretch our hands, and rid Lingyun Continent of this blight. Why not?"
One spirited female cultivator answered with a bright smile.
"In that case, should we not depart? Tian Zhuo Zhēnzūn is already ahead of us."
"Who would have thought Junior Sister is so impatient? Then let us depart at once."
Another Unity cultivator chuckled.
Jian Dan saluted once more, then directly ripped open the void. She entered first, followed by Jian Xu, then the nine members of the Heaven's Punishment squad.
Not long after they left, Han Pengfei arrived. Before he could speak, Qi Hua stepped forward,"Zūnshàng has already departed with others toward the outer seas near the Cloud Sea Sect, where the great cultivator's ancient abode lies, to intercept the evil cultivator."
Han Pengfei nodded, clasped his hands, and went to find Yu Tu Zūnshàng. The day he returned, Han Pengfei had sent a message to his great-aunt. With her approval, he had revealed the truth about the evil cultivator to Yu Tu Zūnshàng.
From then, Yu Tu Zūnshàng's attitude shifted. He finally understood why Jian Lu Zūnshàng had rebuked him so bluntly. She had already shown him face by not exposing that the evil cultivator was a Cloud Sea Sect traitor.
Meanwhile, at the Heavenly Demon Palace, Mo Yi had spent days with the Black Robe Guards at the arenas. Upon receiving Wei Zhengrong's message, he immediately went to Tianming Peak to find Mo Suo.
Mo Suo and Jian Feng were in seclusion, refining a strange flame. The "Golden Crystal Mud" Jian Xu had provided was rare treasure. Mo Suo had even taken out a black carapace from an insect he killed in the Underworld Valley war.
He was persuading Jian Feng to merge the black carapace into his life-bonded sword, to increase its strength and add offensive properties.
Jian Feng, reluctant to accept gifts without merit, was refusing when Mo Yi arrived.
After explaining the urgency, Mo Suo asked, "Has the 'Heaven' squad of the Black Robe Guards already departed?"
"When I sent the message, they were already on their way."
"Send them the exact location of the evil cultivator's lair. We will set out as well, to rendezvous there. Jian Lu Zūnshàng has likely already gone ahead."
"Yes, Jian Lu Zūnshàng departed before us. By now, she should be there already."
"Good. Then let us depart at once."
After their exchange, Mo Suo said farewell to Jian Feng and left Tianming Peak under his gaze.
Jian Feng felt a pang of frustration. His cultivation was still too weak. In such battles, he had no chance to take part.
Meanwhile, cultivators of the other sects also began moving out, heading toward the site.
Jian Dan sped through the void, those behind her closely following. The members of the Heaven's Punishment squad exchanged glances. They had gained new respect for this acting Hall Master.
Her speed in the void was no slower than theirs, even though they were Unity cultivators close to breaking into Mahayana. Clearly, Jian Lu possessed true strength. As for Jian Xu, his reputation as a formidable expert even back in Void Refinement was already well known.
Spotting the marked location, Jian Dan tore open the void and emerged above the sea.
"Jian Lu, you are quick to arrive!"