"Zhēnzūn, this is the ceremonial robe you will need to wear on the day of your grand ceremony, and this is the token for entering the forbidden grounds in the back mountain."
Lang Yu stood respectfully as he presented a storage pouch along with a palm-sized purple-black jade token. The jade felt cold and substantial, its surface polished to a high sheen. The front of the token was intricately carved with the mountain gate of the Heavenly Sword Sect, while the back depicted the rugged peaks of the back mountain forbidden grounds. Jade stepped forward with a beaming smile and took the items from his hands.
"Thanks for making the trip. Next time, you can just have Lü Se go pick it up. You're usually busy enough as it is."
Jian Dan swept her divine sense through the storage pouch to inspect the contents. Inside was an extremely intricate Zhēnzūn robe, its fabric shimmering with a deep, ethereal light. Just looking at the complex runes and protective formation patterns woven into the silk made it obvious that no amount of spirit stones could buy something of this quality.
"Thank you for your concern, Zhēnzūn. I came today for two matters. One was to deliver the ceremonial robe. The other was regarding whether Zhēnzūn would enter the back mountain forbidden grounds. The sect elders discussed it and felt that what you said was reasonable.
So the token for the back mountain forbidden grounds is still issued to you, and you can still choose your own place for seclusion. After all, the forbidden grounds have high-grade spirit veins and abundant spiritual energy, which is more convenient for your cultivation.
Of course, there's no requirement that you must enter the back mountain forbidden grounds. The cave abode at Tianyue Peak will remain at your disposal. Does Zhēnzūn feel this arrangement is acceptable?"
"Mm, that's good. It suits me well. Help me thank the elders for their consideration."
As Jian Dan spoke, she cupped her hands toward the direction of the back mountain forbidden grounds to show her respect for the senior members of the sect.
"Yes. Lang Yu will be sure to pass on your words to them."
With his task complete, the man took his leave and hurried away down the mountain path. The Affairs Hall really was busy, especially with the Mahayana Grand Ceremony of Tian Lu Zhēnzūn just two days away. There were still many arrangements that needed to be confirmed again. Fortunately, Zhēnzūn was straightforward and decisive, so he didn't lose much time in his visit.
Once he left, Jade walked up to her master with a wide grin.
"Master, aren't you going to try on that robe?"
"What is there to try? I will wear it on the day of the ceremony and let you look at it then."
Jian Dan laughed. She knew the spirit pet was just curious and trying to coax her into trying it on early.
"Hehe, Jade is just a little curious to see how you look in it."
The girl laughed as she said it, her eyes bright with mischief.
"Have you seen Mo Ran?"
"Yes, I did. Big Brother is really strict with me now. I have barely been back, and he already wants me to go into seclusion!"
"So you ran over here to hide and slack off?"
Jian Dan took a slow sip of the spirit tea Jade handed over, the steam rising in a thin curl, and glanced at her.
"I wouldn't dare. Yun Juan and Yun Shu aren't around, and there's no one by your side to even brew tea. I came to let you put me to work for a few days so I could stay close."
"Enough. You're already at the sixth rank. I won't force you, but I hope you remember what happened back then when that Buddhist cultivator of Salvation took you. Cultivation is like rowing upstream. If you don't advance, you retreat. If you don't improve while everyone else moves forward, then you're falling behind. When the day comes that I ascend to the Immortal Realm, do you really want to stay in the lower realm because your cultivation is too low?"
Jian Dan had never placed strict demands on her spirit pets. The ones she took in were all due to chance encounters. Yue Liang was bound by an equal contract. Liu Chuan was only a temporary partner. Only Mo Ran and Jade were brought up from the lower realm by her own hand. Back then, the two of them were just ordinary snakes. To reach where they were now was both their good fortune and Jian Dan's mercy.
Because of that, she paid them extra attention. Mo Ran was steady and composed, but Jade was lively and impulsive, so she needed more frequent reminders to stay focused.
"Yes, Master. Jade understands."
The girl lowered her head obediently and answered, her voice small.
At that moment, Mo Ran happened to enter the cave abode. He had only heard the latter half of the conversation, but he knew it was all for his sister's sake. He stepped forward, bowed to the woman in the seat, and spoke.
"Master's teaching is right. Jade just returned to the sect these past two days and has been a bit lax. I will talk to her."
"That is fine, just don't push her too hard and make her rebel against cultivation."
"Thank you for the reminder, Master. Mo Ran will keep it measured."
Knowing that Mo Ran handled things steadily, Jian Dan didn't say more. She tapped Jade on the head with her round fan and gave her a gentle nudge.
"There's nothing for you to do here. Go have a good talk with your big brother."
Jade nodded. She kept turning her head back as Mo Ran dragged her away toward the entrance, taking one step and giving three looks back. It made Jian Dan want to laugh. Anyone who didn't know better would think it was a life and death farewell. She shook her head and followed their progress with her divine sense, curious to see how Mo Ran would handle his sister's attitude.
This time, Mo Ran dragged Jade straight to the Tianyue Peak arena where other disciples were training. Without saying much, he simply raised his fists and sparred with her. Aside from avoiding her face, he didn't hold back anywhere else as he struck out with speed.
The cultivators watching from below the arena clicked their tongues at the sight. This male cultivator was ruthless, with not a trace of tenderness toward his companion. Every punch landed solidly, and just hearing those dull thuds against flesh made people feel pain in sympathy.
After Jade was beaten into something resembling a salted fish, lying exhausted on the stone floor, Mo Ran grabbed her arm and hauled her back to their living quarters. Only then did he start lecturing her.
"I have noticed that ever since you and Xueru came back, you have gotten a bit carried away. You think Master has advanced to Zhēnzūn and we have got a solid backer now, don't you?"
Jade was aching all over from the sparring match. She glanced at her big brother's stern face and remained silent. She didn't answer, but that was basically what she had been thinking.
"What am I supposed to say to you? It's precisely because of that that we need to work even harder to raise our cultivation. When human cultivators form contracts, spirit pets are supposed to advance and retreat with their masters, fighting alongside them in every battle. But look at us. Ever since we contracted with Master, have you or I ever gone into battle for her even once?
Instead, it's Master who has spent so much on us. She sent us to the beast clans for training, let us enter the Hall of Ten Thousand Beasts to obtain ancient inheritances, and she has prepared everything we need for our daily cultivation. Spirit fruits, spirit plants, we can take whatever we want from her stores. Even so, I'm only at the seventh rank, and you're only at the sixth.
Our cultivation is so far behind Master's. How are we supposed to help her when she faces real danger? If a stronger beast appears and wants to contract with Master, I wouldn't even be able to say a word to stop it. If we had any sense, we should step aside on our own so we don't block her path."
"But…"
"Shut up and listen. I know what you're going to say. It's because we share origins from the same place that Master has been so considerate and indulgent toward us. But that's not a reason for us to stop striving to be better.
Master already said it herself. She is definitely going to ascend to the Immortal Realm. If our cultivation is too low, we will just drag her down or be left behind entirely. Do you really have the face to let Master take us with her then, knowing we're useless?"
This was the most Mo Ran had ever said since the two of them hatched from their eggs. Jade could hear the deep disappointment in his words. Combined with what Jian Dan had said earlier in the cave, she finally realized the gravity of her own problem. Her face went pale as the reality sank in.
"Then, Master won't abandon me, right?"