Jian Dan raised her brows slightly, then asked respectfully,
"Zhēnzūn, are you saying you want Mo Yue to be the villain here?"
"That's not it. I know in the Heavenly Sword Sect, you're the Chief of the Law Enforcement Hall, and you've trained quite a few people. The Heavenly Demon Palace also needs to be reorganized and streamlined. I want you to work with Mo Zang to readjust the Palace's combat strength."
"This…"
Jian Dan hesitated. After all, this meant stepping into the very core of the sect. For someone like her with dual identities, wasn't the other party trusting her a little too much?
"It's precisely because I know your background that I'm not worried you'll do something reckless. I'm guessing Tian Yun and the others don't know Mo Yue's real identity, do they?"
Mo Yan Zhēnzūn had struck right at the heart of it.
"I haven't revealed it. Whether the other Zhēnzūn know or not, I can't say for sure," Jian Dan replied vaguely. After all, if he could sense it, there was no reason the Heavenly Sword Sect's Zhēnzūn wouldn't have noticed.
"Now you've finally learned to be cautious, but it's a bit late."
Mo Yan's eyes held a trace of amusement. Behind him, the bloodthirsty demon vine twitched slightly, echoing its master's words.
Jian Dan clenched her teeth but could only accept it. When she looked up again, her expression had already returned to normal.
"However Zhēnzūn commands me, that's what I'll do."
"Good. I'll notify Mo Zang. You go help him reorganize the Black Robe Guards first. After that, work through the sect's various peaks. Last time, when Mo Su returned, the Mo Gate captured a blood insect. I don't want the Heavenly Demon Palace to harbor any hidden dangers."
Mo Yan Zhēnzūn paused, then continued,
"According to the news I've received, the Heavenly Sword Sect has already been thoroughly searched inside and out several times to eliminate all risks. I want the Heavenly Demon Palace to be the same. As Palace Master, Mo Lie prioritizes the sect's interests and maintaining balance among all sides. That's why Mo Su's succession is a perfect opportunity."
"Yes. Mo Yue understands and will assist Mo Su in reorganizing the Palace's affairs."
Jian Dan had no choice but to accept the task.
"Some time ago, the Heavenly Sword Sect produced a pseudo-immortal artifact. Was that your handiwork?"
Mo Yan toyed with a white jade chess piece as he smiled at her.
"Mo Yue doesn't have that kind of ability. I only lent a hand."
As she answered, Jian Dan lifted a finger toward the sky. Her meaning was obvious.
Mo Yan hadn't expected that. In the Heavenly Demon Palace, Mo Yue had never once shown any talent for refining artifacts.
"Then…"
He hesitated and didn't finish. He knew Mo Yue would understand.
Jian Dan shook her head apologetically.
"Mo Yue is incapable of reproducing it."
What a joke. That Dreamlike Illusory Rubik's Cube Realm had cost her plenty of personal treasures. She wasn't about to waste more on something like that.
"If Zhēnzūn's interested, you can try the Heavenly Sword Sect's trial realm. Not long ago, Tian Hong Zhēnzūn entered and gained quite a bit. But it consumes spirit stones like crazy, even draining an entire supreme-grade spiritual vein."
"Haha, so now you're trying to do business with me?"
"I wouldn't dare. When I refined the realm, Jian Lu's cultivation was only at early Unity, so it wasn't perfect. After the tribulation lightning, it matured into a complete Mahayana-level trial realm. But sustaining it requires enormous power."
Jian Dan reported truthfully. Matters like this couldn't be hidden from Mahayana Zhēnzūn.
"Alright, I understand. I'll consider it further. I only called you here to talk today. The rest, you decide with Mo Zang and Mo Su."
"Yes."
"I'll also return the Gong Squad to your command. Use them as you see fit."
"Thank you, Zhēnzūn."
"Call me Shizǔ. You've been my disciple's disciple from the very beginning."
"Yes, Shizǔ."
When Jian Dan returned to Mo Yan Peak, she lifted the restriction and sat cross-legged on the ten-thousand-year cold jade bed. Closing her eyes, she began meditating, going over everything that had happened today and reflecting on her conversation with Mo Yan.
Mo Yan Zhēnzūn's faction had always stood firm in the Heavenly Demon Palace. In her past life, even during the great war with the insect race, they'd held out until the bitter end. Truly, the older the ginger, the spicier.
Mo Yan had noticed the Palace was growing complacent. Too many cultivators were resting on their past achievements. He immediately realized the danger.
Mo Yue, an outsider to the Heavenly Demon Palace, was the perfect way to break that complacency.
Looking back, when Mo Yue took over Mo Ying Peak, she'd indirectly ousted the Ma Clan from the Palace and caused the arrogant Tang Clan to lose a Zhēnzūn. Not to mention how she charged ahead during the Battle of the Ming Valley, making decisive moves at critical moments. She'd already earned great merit for the Palace.
Now she'd returned, still alone, tied to no faction. Her loyalty was solely to the Heavenly Demon Palace. With her strength, prestige, and ability, she was the best candidate for this responsibility.
Mo Yan had even played the Shizǔ card, officially recognizing Mo Yue as a grand-disciple. It was his way of giving her backing.
Jian Dan couldn't help but admire the methods of demon cultivators. They spotted problems and struck without hesitation. It didn't matter if it was black or white, as long as they seized the key point and handled it cleanly.
"Hu…"
She exhaled a long breath. It looked like she wouldn't be returning to the Heavenly Sword Sect anytime soon. She'd have to wait until she met Jian Feng to discuss it.
After a whole night of thought, Jian Dan had already straightened out her plans. She now had a clear idea of how to proceed with reorganizing the Heavenly Demon Palace.
When she lifted the restriction again, four unfamiliar attendants stood waiting, along with the Gong Squad. Everyone bowed in unison.
"Greetings, Mo Yue Zūnshàng!"
Jian Dan lifted a hand slightly, nodding to Gong Yi. After all, he was one of her old subordinates.
Gong Yi's cultivation had already reached late Divine Soul. The other eight members were all at Divine Transformation, ranging from early to late stage. All nine wore brand-new black robes, standing tall and full of energy.
"Good. You're in high spirits. You'll be busy with me for a while. Here's my greeting gift."
She waved her hand, tossing out nine Thousand-Eye Bodhi prayer beads. She'd stockpiled plenty of these back on the Western Continent just for gift-giving.
The highest quality ones she'd kept for herself. These weren't top-tier, but they were still rare protective Buddhist artifacts.
The nine members of the squad caught them at once, bowed in thanks, and tactfully withdrew.
The four attendants, however, didn't react to the generosity. They stepped forward respectfully to introduce themselves.
Mo Su had arranged two men and two women: Chun Yu, Xia He, Qiu Feng, and Dong Yi. The four lined up neatly to greet their new master.
All of them were at the Nascent Soul stage, clearly veterans of Mo Yan Peak. Steady and reliable, exactly the kind of people Jian Dan needed.
"You don't need to stay here all the time. There's nothing urgent. Just take turns on duty. If I need you, I'll summon you."
"Yes, Mo Yue Zūnshàng."
Just then, the jade slip in her sleeve pouch trembled. Jian Dan's divine sense swept over it. The message was from Meng Congjian.
"Hall Master Jian Lu, people from the Beast Taming Sect have arrived. They've sent someone to request we hand over the blood insect immediately."
After all, the blood insect was in Jian Dan's hands, and Meng Congjian was only responsible for negotiations. The final decision lay with Jian Lu Zhēnshàng, so he contacted her at once.
"Don't rush. Talk to them first. The blood insect will be handed over after the grand ceremony. We're here to attend the Heavenly Demon Palace's celebration. We need to show proper courtesy, otherwise people will say we don't understand etiquette."
"Understood. I'll handle it, and I'll contact you if there's any news!"