"Of course I remember, you've always wanted to take a look inside."
"That place is still a forbidden zone of the Purple Sky Sect. It's normal for them to hide some secrets. They won't throw in another batch of people just to vanish again. If that happens, they won't be able to explain it to the rest of the Daoist sects. It's better for them to send their own disciples, and if they manage to bring something back, everyone'll be happy."
"And if they don't bring anything back?"
"That's the worst outcome, which is why they still haven't replied to our Heavenly Sword Sect."
Jian Dan frowned. Honestly, she wasn't optimistic about their plan.
"The space rift's inside Purple Sky Sect's territory. We can't interfere too forcefully, so all we can do now is wait."
Jian Li summed it up neatly.
"Then we'll wait. I don't think it'll take too long."
"Hall Master, the trail's gone cold. Should we keep digging?" Wei Zhengrong asked carefully.
"What do you think, Junior Sister?" Jian Li wanted Jian Dan's opinion.
"Since it's already cut off, then pause it. You chased too hard, and because you were about to find something, they went that far to destroy the clues."
Wei Zhengrong's eyes lit up. That meant the enemy might still be lurking within Purple Sky Sect's territory.
"Senior Brother should remember, my Yue Liang once carried out a mission in Purple Sky Sect."
Jian Dan steered the topic to Yue Liang.
"I remember. Xiao Die came over to ask you to take Yue Liang and investigate Purple Sky Sect for hidden threats. After Yue Liang completed the mission, Jian Gui went to fetch her back. She even caught a big fish and wrecked Purple Sky Sect's Violet Magnolia Sea."
"I remember that too. Yue Liang had only just advanced to the fourth rank at that time. With her lack of strength, some mistakes were inevitable."
Jian Li arched a brow, catching Jian Dan's hint. Purple Sky Sect might have beast puppets or insect lackeys hiding within.
"Since we had the Golden Buzzing Sphere, there shouldn't be any black beetles attached. As for the new blood insects, that I can't say for sure."
Jian Dan nodded, then smiled.
"I heard Bi Shu Xiaoyou from the Heavenly Demon Palace is now in the Life and Death Pavilion. Shouldn't it be our Daoist sect's turn soon?"
"We'll have to wait."
Jian Li sipped his spirit tea and glanced at her.
"If Purple Sky Sect's smart, they'll make a move sooner, otherwise they'll just fall behind."
"That's hard. Their sect's inner politics are far too tangled. They're nothing like our Heavenly Sword Sect. Besides, during your time as acting head, you already screened through them several times."
Jian Li's words were a sideways compliment.
"Thank you for the praise, Senior Brother."
Jian Dan accepted it without modesty. Once she'd said her piece, she decided it was time to leave. She'd already been out for fifteen days, it was about time she showed her face again.
"Senior Brother, I'll be away for a while. Please keep an eye on my three disciples. Yue Liang has already returned with her squad. I'll tell her to remain at Tianyue Peak, and you can assign tasks to her directly if needed."
"Of course, you don't have to worry."
Jian Li agreed.
Jian Dan cast one last glance at the Dreamlike Illusory Rubik's Cube Realm, smiled faintly, then ripped open space and vanished from the Heavenly Sword Sect.
When they'd first returned, they came on a flying vessel and even slowed their speed. This time, Jian Dan needed only three days.
Cotton Candy carried her straight back to Moyan Peak's cave abode without disturbing the cultivators on the mountain. The Zhēnzūn at the back of the peak merely opened his eyes for a moment before shutting them again, returning to meditation.
Jian Dan changed back into her Mo Yue attire, shifting into her demon cultivator identity. She redid her makeup, while Cotton Candy turned into a red Manjushahua and clung to her hairpin.
"Whew."
She let out a quiet breath, recited the Tranquil Heart Scripture to steady her mind, then began circulating the Heavenly Demon Art.
Meanwhile, Yue Liang had already returned to Tianyue Peak, unaware Jian Dan had briefly come back. Otherwise, she would've never let her leave alone.
When Yue Liang arrived, Lǚ Se happened to be on duty, while the four attendants had gone into the Rubik's Cube Realm trial.
"Senior Yue Liang, you're back."
"Mm. The Zūnshàng has a mission and won't be back for now."
"Yes, Zūnshàng left instructions before leaving."
Yue Liang nodded and said, "I'll head to Medicine Peak to see my brother. You handle your duties, no need to bother with me."
"Understood. Call me if you need anything."
Yue Liang swished her fluffy tail, flashed away, and left Tianyue Peak.
She met with her brother Xing Xing, and the two raccoon beasts exchanged updates on their clan.
"The Ancestor has already settled the clan members and started making connections with nearby demon cultivators. This time, the Nine-Tailed Demon Lord even picked two of our clan members to represent the demon race at the Heavenly Demon Palace's succession ceremony."
Xing Xing's eyes shone, and his tail wagged harder.
"So that means the demon race has accepted us back."
"Yeah, for now at least."
"Then when you were in the demon clan's territory, did the newborns' innate skills awaken?"
That was the biggest concern for them both.
When Yue Liang heard that, she scratched her ear awkwardly. "It's still too early to tell. They need to live among the beast race for a while before it shows."
Xing Xing looked a little disappointed but quickly straightened and asked again.
"Did the Ancestor give any other orders?"
"The Ancestor said the rest of our clan should move back to demon territory as soon as we're ready."
"Isn't that a little rushed?"
"The Ancestor feels we've been split for too long. With one foot in the Heavenly Sword Sect and one in the beast race, we'll eventually face criticism."
"What are you saying?"
Xing Xing blinked at her.
"If war breaks out with the insects, do we help the Heavenly Sword Sect, or the beast race? Don't tell me both."
"We're demon beasts, of course we side with the beast race. But just you staying with Jian Lu Zūnshàng and helping the sect resist is already worth more than our whole clan combined."
Xing Xing was blunt. After all, Yue Liang was now the strongest in their clan.
"If that's the case, then it won't be right for us to keep using Medicine Peak's resources."
"I get it. I'll start preparing the others."
"Good. Since Zūnshàng's away on a mission and left me at Tianyue Peak, I can escort everyone to the beast race."
Hearing that, Xing Xing finally relaxed. He'd never left the Heavenly Sword Sect since birth, so knowing his sister would be with them brought him peace.
After settling the matter, the two split up to make preparations.
Beast Race Territory
Bai Jue led the beast race back home. As soon as their flying vessel landed, everyone scattered to show off in their own territories.
Only the two raccoon beasts bowed respectfully to Bai Jue, gave their thanks, then returned to their own clan lands. They still carried resources Yue Liang had exchanged for them.
Bai Jue went straight to meet the Nine-Tailed Demon Lord.
The Nine-Tailed Fox looked at Bai Jue, already in the eighth rank, and nearly laughed out loud. Finally, she could throw off her burdens.
Bai Jue caught the gleam in her eye and the upward curl of her lips. He knew exactly what the fox was thinking.
"Demon Lord, even if you want to dump everything on me, you'll have to wait until I've chosen a clan leader for the White Crane."
"Tch, that's easy. Just have them fight it out. Why bother making it complicated?"
The Nine-Tailed Fox fluttered her violet eyes and grinned, already dreaming about her future plans.
Bai Jue rubbed her forehead. Talking to an excited Nine-Tailed Fox now was pointless. Whatever she said would go in one ear and out the other. He simply handed her a storage ring and went back to the White Crane clan grounds.