"What's got you coming to see me today?"
Jian Dan set down the jade slip in her hand and motioned for Jian Feng to sit, smiling as she spoke.
His once silver hair had turned gray, the ends already shading into black. The aura around him was steadier than ever, his cultivation at the peak of early Divine Soul, ready to break through at any moment. His entire bearing had grown more refined, calm and grounded, making people naturally feel at ease around him.
"Zūnshàng, about the Heavenly Demon Palace's succession ceremony, I was wondering if I'll be allowed to attend."
"Mo Su reached out to you?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't he send you a personal invitation?"
"He said he'd deliver it together with the sect's invitation, but I refused."
His tone was a bit stiff.
Jian Dan chuckled without restraint, making Jian Feng shift slightly in discomfort before he quickly sat straight again, waiting for her to continue.
"Mo Su obviously wants you there for such an important occasion. Go find Jian Li and take a travel mission under his team. I'll let him know in advance."
"I thought Zūnshàng would also be going to the Heavenly Demon Palace this time."
"Of course I'll go, but I've accepted a covert mission. I won't be traveling with you all."
"I spoke out of turn."
He cupped his hands in apology. A Zūnshàng's movements weren't for him to question, but luckily she didn't mind.
"Have you gone into the Dreamlike Illusory Rubik's Cube Realm yet?"
Her eyes curved as she smiled at him.
"Not yet. I was planning to go after the succession ceremony."
"Then when you go, bring Mo Su along. Both of you can enter the Rubik's Cube Realm together."
Jian Feng hesitated, then asked outright, "Why's that?"
"There's something I want to confirm. Once you two come out, just tell me what you went through in the trial. Mo Su's getting a bargain out of this, you know. Entry into the Rubik's Cube Realm costs plenty of sect contribution points. Qi Hong even traded a superior spiritual vein for it."
"I understand. I'll let him know. If—"
"Don't worry, he'll come."
She cut him off without hesitation.
He nodded, rose, and respectfully took his leave.
Jian Dan twirled the red lotus fan in her hand, thoughtful. Would those two end up experiencing the same events as in her past life? She found herself oddly looking forward to it.
Soon after, she sent a transmission talisman to Jian Li, instructing him to assign Jian Feng to the team attending the Heavenly Demon Palace's succession ceremony.
The Lingyun Continent was lively again. With the change of palace lord, the Heavenly Demon Palace had sent invitations to every major sect. Even powerful clans were included. Sects farther away had already set out.
In the following days, Jian Dan kept to her routine, spending two hours a day nurturing the Rubik's Cube Realm. She didn't summon the artifact spirit, nor did she indulge it. After injecting half her chaotic spiritual power, she cut the connection clean.
Xiao Meng, the artifact spirit, absorbed the pure chaotic power while struggling with indecision. He didn't know which choice would benefit him most. That woman never urged him again, and so he stayed hidden. But his hesitation cost him. He didn't realize until too late that by holding back, he was letting his chance to truly exist in this world slip through his fingers. Jian Dan wasn't someone who'd tolerate sand in her eyes.
Meanwhile, Wei Zhengrong had been running himself ragged. When he finally found time to visit his sister Wei Xueru, he discovered she was preparing to break through to Foundation Establishment.
"Xueru, if you're aiming for Foundation Establishment, have you found a proper cultivation art?"
"Don't worry, big brother. Zūnshàng let me choose one from the top floor of the Scripture Pavilion. It matches my spiritual root perfectly and can be cultivated all the way to Mahayana. It's no worse than our clan's."
She bowed respectfully, then pulled her brother into her stone chamber, smiling brightly.
The moment Wei Zhengrong heard "Scripture Pavilion, top floor, Mahayana," he knew the hardest part was over. He let out a long breath, a heavy weight lifted, and teased her with a grin.
"You've never even seen the clan's wind-element cultivation art, so how do you know yours is better?"
"Would my master ever give me something inferior?" Her young face was filled with pride. Reverence for her master and confidence in her new cultivation art shone from her eyes. She brewed spiritual tea for him and carefully recounted how she'd obtained the technique.
"In that case, I can rest easy. This art really is stronger than the clan's." He had to admit, it was as if the technique had been tailored for her. No second copy existed in all of Lingyun Continent. Jian Lu Zūnshàng had truly put thought into training her.
"Xueru, I'll find a chance to tell our parents about this. Don't send them a message yourself. If someone in the clan intercepts it, they might cause trouble for you."
"Don't worry, big brother. The art's sealed in my sea of consciousness. No one can steal it. Besides, I cultivate under master's supervision at Tianyue Peak. I rarely leave. I'm only at Qi Refining, so the tasks I take are all within the sect. At most, people gossip. No one dares go further, and I've got two senior brothers protecting me too."
"Good, but never lose your sense of caution."
"I'll remember. I've grown up, you don't need to worry so much."
Just then, a transmission talisman flew into her stone room.
"Xueru, come to my cave residence."
It was her master's voice.
"Don't keep Zūnshàng waiting. Get ready and head over. I'll go first."
This time, Mao Dou, Zong Fan, and Xueru had all been summoned.
Wei Zhengrong arrived first and reported the latest findings.
"Zūnshàng, according to your orders, I had the Messaging Hall investigate the site of Du Yanran's fall. Some still refused to give up, searching for her life-space, but nothing unusual was found.
"As for the Pill Sect, they recruited one hundred and ninety-eight disciples. Among them, fifty-four have fire spiritual roots or dual fire-wood roots. They've just started cultivating, so nothing unusual shows yet."
He handed over a jade slip.
Jian Dan scanned it with her divine sense, found nothing unusual, and returned it to him.
"Aside from the Pill Sect, have any other sects been recruiting nearby?"
"A few smaller ones took advantage of the occasion to take in disciples."
"Heh, clever of her. She knew I'd focus on the Pill Sect, so she went the other way for once."
Jian Dan muttered. She knew Du Yanran well, and Du Yanran knew her.
"Keep monitoring those fifty-four. Also check the smaller sects that recruited at the same time. Don't let her slip past."
"Yes, understood. I'll see to it."
With business finished, Wei Zhengrong gave a deep bow before speaking solemnly.
"Thank you, Zūnshàng, for finding Xueru such a cultivation art. It'll let her advance smoothly."
"She's my disciple. Of course I'll put effort into raising her. As for the art, just make sure her parents know. Don't let the clan meddle in her cultivation."
"Yes, I understand."
He gave another respectful salute before leaving Tianyue Peak.
"Disciple Mao Dou (Zong Fan, Xueru) greets master!"
The three lined up, bowing low.
"Get up and find a seat."
Jian Dan waved her crimson lotus fan lightly.
They each pulled out a meditation cushion from their storage bags, sat cross-legged, and looked to her expectantly.