Well, that settled it. Without Jian Dan saying another word, everyone already understood.
Jian Dan could only feel helpless. She had not said anything, yet a violet thunderbolt came as a warning. So bullying the honest one was easy now?
She rolled her eyes at the sky, then spread her hands toward Senior Brother Jian Li and Sect Master Jian Chong, indicating her deduction was likely correct. After that, she called to Ting Feng in the distance, "Have Yun Juan and Yun Shu bring some tea and refreshments."
Ting Feng answered at once and hurried off to arrange it. That violet thunder just now had rattled him, and he still had not fully recovered.
It was also Jian Chong's first time experiencing a violet-thunder warning. He remained dazed for a moment, then lowered his eyes in brief thought and understood. What Jian Lu Zūnshàng had said should be the truth. This was Heaven giving a disguised warning, a kind of self-rescue.
Wei Zhengrong and Qi Hua once again looked at Jian Lu Zūnshàng with open admiration. She had guessed it right even now.
What to do next became simple. Since everyone's hearts were clear, what mattered was action.
"Senior Brother, the event has not yet happened. That means we still have a chance to avert it. At the very least, we've gained the initiative," Jian Dan said.
"I understand what you mean, Junior Sister. Ever since you took over the Law Enforcement Hall, you've been doing exactly this. I know it well," Jian Li replied.
Jian Chong also came to his senses. Thinking it through carefully, ever since he had been chosen as Sect Master, every arrangement and proposal from Jian Lu Zūnshàng had served to raise the sect's overall combat strength.
Moreover, any information Heavenly Sword Sect acquired about the insect horde and evil cultivators had been shared freely with every sect on Lingyun Continent, guiding all sects and cultivators to prepare for war in disguise.
"The time frame is set now," Jian Dan said. "What remains is up to us. Words are useless. Only overwhelming cultivation is the ultimate truth."
"Jian Chong understands. Thank you for the guidance, Zūnshàng." Jian Chong cupped his fists to take his leave. He returned ahead of the others to the main hall of Heavenly Sword Peak. There was much to deploy and arrange.
Jian Li was even more direct. With a wave to the three behind him, he sent them back to the Law Enforcement Hall and stayed behind himself, clearly wishing to speak privately with Jian Dan.
Once the three had gone, Yun Juan and Yun Shu set out the tea and pastries, then withdrew, leaving the space to Jian Dan and Jian Li.
"Junior Sister, you already have a plan, don't you?" Jian Li asked without preamble.
Jian Dan understood at once. She lifted her round fan with a small smile. "In two hundred years, I intend to assault Mahayana. When war breaks out, I plan to follow the Zhēnzūn to the outer side of Lingyun Continent's spatial barrier and hunt the intelligent insects."
Jian Li was not surprised. His junior sister had a steady compass and solid strength. Her cultivation speed was about to catch up to his.
"I know. One more Mahayana Zhēnzūn will be another boon to the war effort. Just don't force yourself too far."
"Rest easy, Senior Brother. I won't do anything I'm not confident in. When the time comes, we all must work together. I alone cannot overturn the result shown in the prophecy."
"Good. We will strive together."
Meanwhile, Yu Jiajia and her shadow guard returned to Tianshou Peak. The moment she arrived, Yu Jia Jia dashed off to see her family's Ancestor.
"Ancestor, I met Jian Lu Zūnshàng today!" The little dumpling, Yu Jiajia, threw herself happily into the arms of a gentle and refined Mahayana Zhēnzūn.
"Oh? You're this happy. Did you get something good?" Yu Zhēnzūn asked. He doted on this great-great-granddaughter. The little girl had fine aptitude, a quick mind, a sweet tongue, and she cultivated diligently. No wonder he favored her a bit more.
At his question, Yu Jiajia lowered her head and pulled out the violet jade talisman Jian Dan had given her, slipping it from her neck to present to her Ancestor.
"This is a life-saving talisman bestowed by Zūnshàng. She refined it only recently."
Yu Zhēnzūn took it and swept it with his divine sense. His gaze brightened at once as he discovered a clue.
The divine-sense fluctuation sealed within the talisman was clearly Mahayana great-perfection, on par with his own. It also held a sword strike sealed inside.
It was effectively a double insurance. If divine-sense suppression could not shield the talisman's bearer, the sealed sword strike could be unleashed. Even if it failed to kill, it would grievously wound the enemy. That was very much Jian Lu's style.
"Ancestor, is there something wrong with the talisman?" Yu Jiajiaasked anxiously. She wanted to keep it.
"What are you in a hurry for? Once Ancestor has finished checking it, I will give it back. Do you think I would keep your belongings?" Yu Zhēnzūn laughed, teasing his junior.
Yu Jiajia pouted and muttered under her breath, "If you want to keep it, just say so. On the way back I already had Uncle Yu examine it. There's no problem."
The Yu family's Ancestor flicked her lightly on the forehead. "I know. You had excellent luck today. This talisman contains a divine-sense suppression and a sword-style attack. Carry it with you. It can save your life in a critical moment."
Yu Jiajiarubbed her forehead, took the violet jade talisman back, hung it around her neck again, patted her chest, and then began recounting everything about meeting Jian Lu Zūnshàng.
As for the violet warning thunder over Tianyue Peak earlier, Yu Zhēnzūn had sensed it as well. He smiled meaningfully. It seemed this Jian Lu truly had some ability.
The next morning, Yu Zongfan and Mao Dou dressed neatly and came to pay respects to their master.
"Mao Dou (Yu Zongfan) greets Master!"
Looking at the two young boys, Jian Dan nodded in satisfaction before speaking. "I originally planned to return in five days, but some things happened on the way, so I was delayed three days. Has your cultivation gone smoothly?"
"Thank you for thinking of us, Master. After your conditioning, my junior brother and I both show signs of breaking through the late-stage peak of Qi Refinement," Mao Dou answered. As the senior disciple, he stepped forward. Though a little nervous, he replied earnestly.
After the marrow-washing and tendon-cleansing, the red birthmark on the left side of Mao Dou's face had nearly faded from sight. At eighteen, the youth already showed promising bearing, the honest and warm type.
Yu Zongfan, trained by his clan, was sharp with a composed, noble air. Their personalities differed, but it did not hinder their rapport. The fact that Mao Dou was his senior brother did not bother Yu Zongfan in the least.
Mao Dou had once awkwardly spoken to Yu Zongfan, saying he felt Zongfan should be senior disciple instead of him, a latecomer from the outer gate who seemed to have taken advantage.
"Senior Brother Dou, you're overthinking it," Yu Zongfan had said. "You're older than me, your cultivation is higher, and you trained alone at the outer gate yet are more driven than I, a clan-raised disciple. Don't belittle yourself. Besides, when Master accepts disciples, who are we to question it?"
Those few sentences had dispelled Mao Dou's worries, and the two had only grown more in sync.
Back to the present, Mao Dou finished answering and cupped his fists again. "Master, during cultivation we discovered a jade talisman in our dantian. Is it something you bestowed?"
"When did you discover it?" Jian Dan asked.
"The day you left. My junior brother and I were unsure if it was problematic and didn't dare touch it with divine sense. These past days we only trained the body and practiced the sword, avoiding running our arts."
"Good. Cautious enough."
Jian Dan approved of their approach, then said, "I crafted those life-saving talismans specifically for you two. They're already bound to your qi. If you face a sudden mortal attack, the talisman will automatically defend. You can also trigger it with your divine sense. Inside are one divine-sense suppression from your master and one of my strongest sword forms."
Yu Zongfan and Mao Dou's eyes lit up at once.
"But, your master has one condition," Jian Dan added.