Inside her personal cultivation chamber aboard the ship, Jian Dan seized every moment to recover. Using the complete form of Mó Yuè Zhǎn had been a deliberate gamble. She had aimed to kill with a single strike, for Hua Chunshan was like a venomous serpent lurking in the shadows. No one could predict when he might strike.
Jian Dan had every reason to believe that Hua Chunshan already knew it was Shan Yunzu who had crippled his junior, Hua Zhēnrén, destroying his Golden Core. That meant her other identity was exposed and now in danger. Even with her abilities, a head-on confrontation against someone at the Divine Soul stage held no guarantee of success. Someone like Hua Chunshan would never be without hidden cards.
So, when she received the message from Liu Chuan, a vague but bold plan began to take shape.
She had confirmed with Liu Chuan, again and again, that the man was indeed Hua Chunshan. At the time, Liu Chuan had said with certainty:
"As a spiritual plant, I am highly sensitive to the aura of human cultivators. Back when I helped you investigate the foreign black-armored beetle in Huanle City, my roots had spread across every corner of the city. I left marks in all of them. This time, it was within the city again. The aura was unmistakable."
That was all Jian Dan needed to set her plan into motion. She decided to use the Heavenly Demon Palace's traveling forces to her advantage. She was certain that even if Mo Zhang Zhūnzhe didn't intervene directly, he would at least maintain order, allowing her the chance to act.
Sure enough, when Jian Dan left with killing intent surging around her, Mo Qi and the others followed immediately. When she tore open the formation, Hua Chunshan struck without hesitation, his attack spilling over and endangering nearby cultivators. Jian Dan responded by quickly moving the innocents away.
His disregard for collateral damage left a bitter taste even in the mouths of Mo Qi and the others. This so-called Dao cultivator, reckless and indifferent to life, was clearly no virtuous figure. Without hesitation, they stood firmly on Jian Dan's side.
This led to their flawless cooperation. In the end, they lured Hua Chunshan into the Heavenly Demon Palace's resting area. Mó Yuè Zhǎn struck true—one clean kill. Not only had she eliminated a threat, she had firmly established her prestige among the Heavenly Demon Palace's ranks. Hearing of her strength was one thing, witnessing it was another.
Just look at how the other Divine Transformation and Nascent Soul cultivators looked at her when she reboarded the flying vessel. Their gazes had changed. At least for now, no one would dare provoke her again.
Only strength could guarantee one's footing in this world.
This time, the damage she sustained was worse than expected. Unleashing Mó Yuè Zhǎn's full power had pushed the limits of her early Divine Transformation cultivation. Knowing she would soon venture into the Ming Valley, Jian Dan, for the first time, reached for the pills stored within her spatial chamber.
The Huiling Pill, true to its name, rapidly replenished spiritual power. It was a Tier Nine Heaven-grade pill, potent enough to aid even Mahayana cultivators in recovery. She had only three stored.
This time, she took one without hesitation. As soon as it touched her tongue, it melted into a warm stream, flowing down her throat and into her core. The warmth spread through her organs, then through her meridians, reaching every part of her body. The cracked and parched meridians were quickly moistened and restored to their elastic state.
Inside her dantian, the slumbering miniature Jian Dan stirred and opened her eyes. The Yin-Yang Taiji disc appeared on its own and began devouring the incoming spiritual power, transforming it bit by bit. Jian Dan's internal spiritual and demonic qi began to replenish steadily.
Things were going smoothly for Jian Dan, but chaos erupted within the Hua Clan.
The soul lantern of their patriarch had extinguished.
This was their greatest pillar of strength.
The current clan head, a descendant of Hua Chunshan's younger brother, was thrown into panic. Back when Hua Zhēnrén had become entangled with Kong Qiankun, he had already disapproved of their vague relationship. Who would've thought that such a trivial matter of affection would ultimately tear the family apart? If he still harbored any illusions then, now they were completely shattered.
"Clan Head, the Kong Clan's contact left the guest hall immediately after learning of the patriarch's fall from one of our disciples. We've lost track of them."
"What?"
The words struck Hua Wendao like a thunderbolt. This was no trivial matter. Without a Divine Soul stage protector, their clan would look like a fat piece of meat in the eyes of the Kong Clan.
"Gather the clan immediately. Use the safeguards the patriarch left behind. We must leave this place at once!"
Seeing the look on their clan head's face, the juniors understood that disaster had arrived. They nodded and scrambled to carry out the evacuation.
Less than an hour later, the Hua Clan's estate stood empty. When the Kong Clan arrived, they found nothing but silence.
From that day forward, the Hua Clan began its decline, vanishing from the cultivation world. Their former splendor was gone without a trace. Jian Dan had severed yet another claw of Du Yanran's.
News of Hua Chunshan's death reached Jian Li Zhūnzhǔ the very next day. Upon confirming it, Jian Ning and Jian Sheng secluded themselves for closed-door cultivation. For the time being, the cultivation world returned to a surface-level calm.
But the rumors of the alien insect race's invasion of Lingyun Continent began to spread little by little. Jian Dan's bold declaration during her confrontation had already begun to circulate:
"Cultivators of Lingyun are no weaklings. We will destroy every last one of you and drive you off this land."
Her words inspired countless loyal supporters.
After five days of travel, the Heavenly Demon Palace's cultivators finally reached the edge of the Bamboo Sea. It was time for the final adjustments. In just one more day, they would enter.
When Mo Zhang brought the flying vessel to a halt at the Bamboo Sea's entrance, a purple silhouette slowly emerged. A wave of power belonging to a Ninth-Rank great beast swept over the obsidian-black ship.
Mo Zhang's brows lifted slightly. He instantly appeared outside the vessel.
"Mo Zhang of the Heavenly Demon Palace greets Senior Nine-Tails. Forgive us for disturbing you."
The seductive purple fox eyes of Nine-Tails shimmered like spring water as they gazed at Mo Zhang. Her sultry voice flowed straight into his ears.
"Xiao Mo Zhang, so you're the one leading this group? What took you so long? Aren't you afraid your dear Mó Xuan can't hold out much longer?"
The Divine Transformation and Nascent Soul cultivators aboard the vessel all seemed to fall under her spell, their eyes lighting up as they stared at the great beast in the sky.
"Ahem."
Mo Zhang's light cough brought everyone back to their senses.
"Please pardon us, Senior. The disciples of the Heavenly Demon Palace are still in training. We are here to temper ourselves."
"I won't interfere with your demon sect's mission, so I won't be joining the excitement. But keep your people in check. If anyone steps into our beast clan territory without an invitation…" she smiled, licking her lips slowly, "I'll eat them."
A ripple of discomfort passed through the disciples behind him. The hairs on their necks rose.
"Hahaha! Look at your scared little faces. I'm only joking. I don't eat people—but I do kill them!"
"Yes, we shall strictly follow your guidance, Zhēnzūn."
The chorus of unified voices pleased Nine-Tails. At that moment, Bai Jue Zhūnzhǔ also revealed himself, still dressed in his pristine white robes, feather fan in hand. He gave Mo Zhang a small nod, then turned his gaze toward the last person to step off the ship—Jian Dan.
That familiar feeling of being watched made Jian Dan lift her head instantly, her eyes locking with Bai Jue Zhūnzhǔ's.