"Chief Mo Zhang, you're giving me too much credit. With the Black Robe Guards under your command, what would you ever need me to meddle in? I'm only here to do what I'm good at, just to boost their combat strength, that's all."
Jian Dan spoke with a lazy smile. She wasn't here to fight over power or titles, so she made her stance clear. If it weren't for her cover nearly slipping, she wouldn't have bothered coming back at all. Life in the Heavenly Sword Sect had been just as carefree.
"I know. Zhēnzūn sent you here for a reason. With your current cultivation, you could've entered the Forbidden Grounds long ago. You don't need to concern yourself with this kind of thing."
Mo Zhang was generous enough. From what he knew of Mo Yue, she never cared for these matters anyway. If she did, she wouldn't have so easily given up Demon Shadow Peak. What mattered to her was cultivation, battle strength, and the chance of ascending to the upper realms.
"Tell me about it. I just got back, and Zhēnzūn already dumped a task on me."
Jian Dan shook her head helplessly. Mo Zhang chuckled, took another sip of tea, then began explaining about the Black Robe Guards.
"Since the Heavenly Demon Palace was founded, the Black Robe Guards have been around. They're like the Law Enforcement Hall in the Heavenly Sword Sect, supporting the sect's operations, overseeing the peaks, and gathering intel from across the Lingyun Continent.
The Guards are split into six divisions: the Intelligence Division handles information, the Shadow Division deals with protection and assassination, the Spirit Division manages resources, the Punishment Division runs interrogations, the Tracker Division handles pursuit, and the Heaven Division is the combat squads. All six divisions operate under the Chief of the Guards."
After hearing this, Jian Dan found the structure quite similar to the Law Enforcement Hall, which gave her more confidence.
"In that case, I'll just be in charge of raising the Heaven Division's battle power," she said with a smile.
"Haha, don't slack off. The Heaven Division is the core, but you can't ignore the others either."
"Alright, I'll check the Heaven Division first."
"The Heaven Division is split into three squads: Tian, Mo, and Gong. Each squad has three teams, nine members each. Right now there are eighty-one members in total, ranging from Divine Transformation to Void Refinement. The squads that fought in the Ming Valley War advanced quickly. The Gong Squad you once led is doing well. Mo Su arranged for them to wait in your cave dwelling, ready for your orders."
"Good. I'll start with these eighty-one. I need to see their strength before I make any adjustments."
"Fine, it's all up to you. Whenever you want to start, I'll summon them."
"With the succession ceremony coming up, they probably have patrol and guard duties these next few days."
Jian Dan smiled knowingly. She'd only come today to sound Mo Zhang out and share her initial thoughts.
"Alright then. I'll reserve the open space at the peak of the Guards' mountain for your use. Train them however you like. If you need them gathered, just send Gong Yi with your identity token."
"That makes things a lot easier. I won't need to trouble you, Chief."
Once they reached an agreement, Jian Dan casually asked, "Was the first Chief of the Black Robe Guards a woman?"
"Hm? How did you know that? Did you read the Guard records?"
"The records wouldn't be in the Scripture Hall. I just guessed. Looking at the mountain's layout, it feels like it suits a woman's taste more."
Jian Dan pressed her lips into a smile as she explained. Mo Zhang's reaction proved she'd guessed right.
"So that's what gave it away. The Black Robe Guards haven't changed much since their founding. The first Chief was Mo Dai, but she's long since ascended."
They chatted a while longer about Mo Dai. Then Jian Dan rose to leave, leaving behind a box of Bodhi Tranquil-Heart Tea, which Mo Zhang accepted with a laugh.
Back at Moyan Peak, Jian Dan went straight to Chun Yu.
"For the day after tomorrow's ceremony, do I need to wear the sect's formal robe, or can I choose my own? Is there some rule?"
"Zūnshàng doesn't need to wear the sect's uniform robe. Whatever you like is fine. But since it's a major sect event, most wear black robes. What you're wearing now is enough to show respect."
"Good. Make sure I'm properly dressed up for the day after tomorrow."
"Yes."
Xiao Yue piped up, whining softly, "Mo Yue, can I go with you to watch the ceremony?"
"Of course. You came here to broaden your horizons, didn't you? How could you miss the succession ceremony?"
Jian Dan chuckled and rubbed the little wolf's ears, settling the matter. Chun Yu and Xia Hé exchanged glances but stayed quiet. It seemed this cub had really won Zūnshàng's favor.
"Zūnshàng, while you were away, the beast clan sent something. They said you'd reserved it earlier."
Gong Yi stepped forward respectfully and handed over a wooden box.
Jian Dan swept it with her divine sense, raised a brow, then took it. A spider was carved into the lid. Once she lifted the restriction, inside lay a bundle of snow-white spider silk, flawless and glowing faintly. It was clearly top-grade.
"This is indeed what I ordered from Spiderwoman."
She shut the lid with a smile. Gong Yi, reassured it was something she'd ordered, quietly withdrew.
Day of the Succession Ceremony
Jian Dan opened her eyes from meditation and had Chunyu and Xiahé dress her up. Once she was ready, she picked up the still-sleeping Xiao Yue and headed for the Heavenly Demon Palace on the main peak.
As her light descended, a guard announced loudly, "Mo Yue Zūnshàng has arrived!"
The words instantly drew every gaze.
Jian Dan wore her signature Manjushahua robe. Her hair was styled into a soaring bun, adorned with ruby hairpins, earrings, and a necklace, forming a full high-grade spiritual treasure set. It highlighted her pale, alluring face perfectly.
Carrying Xiao Yue, she stepped into the grand hall. Her aura was completely restrained, but that only made her presence more intimidating.
Cultivators from the Demon Gate, Dao Gate, and the great clans, all here for the ceremony, cautiously studied Mo Yue Zūnshàng, whispering among themselves.
Mo Lie beamed and guided Jian Dan to the honored seat of the ceremony.
She swept her gaze across the hall. On one side sat the nine great Dao sects. Jian Xu and Meng Congjian from the Heavenly Sword Sect were already seated, with Jian Feng behind them. The Cloud Sea Sect sent Hai Yue and an unfamiliar man. The Purple Sky Sect disciples she didn't know at all, which made her frown slightly.
Even the Buddhist Sect had sent someone, none other than Fahua, who was staring at her in puzzlement. Jian Dan could only smile and nod. He pressed his palms together, returning the greeting.
From the beast clan, Bai Jue sat at the head, with Cang Yu peering around with sharp hawk eyes, and Spiderwoman beside him. When her gaze swept over, Spiderwoman immediately offered a distant salute, and Jian Dan smiled back with a nod.
On the Demon Gate's side, she only recognized Hao Meng from the Nine Fiends Hall. When her eyes landed on him, he shrank his neck and quickly offered a bow. Jian Dan merely gave a casual nod.
Hao Meng had been rewarded for discovering traces of blood insects. With that merit, he obtained a Mo Yan Pill, broke through to Void Refinement in seclusion, and earned the right to attend the Heavenly Demon Palace's succession ceremony.
Soon after, Mo Yi and Mo Qi entered the hall in formal black robes and stood quietly behind Jian Dan.
After scanning the hall, she leaned toward Mo Yi and whispered, "Where's Bi Shu now?"
Mo Yi, knowing she'd read the jade slip and understood Bi Shu's uniqueness, whispered back, "She's been borrowed by the Life and Death Gate. She won't return for a while."
Before they could say more, the officiating cultivator's voice boomed through the hall:
"The succession ceremony begins now!"
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The Heaven division was divided into 3:
天字小队 (Tiān zì xiǎo duì) - The "Heaven" (Tian) squad.
魔字小队 (Mó zì xiǎo duì) - The "Demon" (Mo) squad.
宫字小队 (Gōng zì xiǎo duì) - The "Palace" (Gong) squad.
I think it was really similar with Heavenly Sword Sect's that have "Tian" (Heaven) and "Jian" (Sword) squad.