The master and her disciple sat together and talked for a while longer in the quiet reception room as the light outside began to fade. Jian Feng took the chance to ask about the specific problems he usually ran into during his daily cultivation, presenting them one by one, and Jian Dan answered each question with great patience, her voice steady and clear.
Between the questions and the detailed answers, half a day slipped by unnoticed. Jian Feng still felt unsatisfied and hungry for more knowledge, but seeing that it was getting late and the shadows were lengthening across the jade floor, he finally stopped his inquiries.
"Jian Feng, don't rush it. I have been gone for a hundred years, so you all must have piled up quite a few questions during that time. During the period I'm holding my ceremony, I won't be entering any long term seclusion. If you have got anything you don't understand, you can come find me at the main peak anytime," Jian Dan said this with a gentle smile.
"Heh, this disciple got too eager," he admitted.
Jian Feng scratched his head a little awkwardly, smiling honestly at her, then he respectfully saw his master off as she left the mountain residence.
After returning to the cave residence, riding the mental momentum from what had just been explained to him, he went straight into the cultivation room and immersed himself in practice without a moment's pause.
On the second day, Lü Se finally notified Lang Yu from the Operations Hall to come and meet Zhēnzūn at the pavilion.
"Lang Yu from the Operations Hall greets Tian Lu Zhēnzūn."
Lang Yu wore the Operations Hall's standard purple robe, the rich fabric catching the light and making him look refined and elegant as he stood there. After finishing the formal greeting, he explained his purpose for the visit.
"Tian Lu Zhēnzūn, now that you have advanced to the Mahayana stage, you can go cultivate in the forbidden area at the back mountain. The spiritual energy there's the richest in the entire sect territory, and you can choose your own cave residence there to suit your needs."
"Do I need to vacate the cave residence at Tianyue Peak right now?" Jian Dan raised an eyebrow as she asked the question.
"That's not urgent. You can wait until after the Mahayana ceremony before entering the back mountain forbidden area. As for your ceremonial robes, we'll deliver them before the ceremony begins. I came this time to ask whether Zhēnzūn has any other instructions for the staff."
Hearing this, Lü Se felt a bit worried in his heart. If Zhēnzūn entered the back mountain forbidden area to cultivate, could he still follow along to serve her?
"If I don't want to go to the back mountain and want to stay at Tianyue Peak instead, isn't that allowed by the sect rules?"
"There's no precedent for that, but I can go back and check the records," Lang Yu froze for a moment before answering.
After all, cultivators who reached the late Mahayana stage were basically the sect's supreme elders. Entering the back mountain forbidden area was standard practice for those of such high standing. That place buried the Heavenly Sword Sect's largest and most potent spirit vein, and cultivators of the same level could spar and exchange insights there, which helped both cultivation progress and the comprehension of complex laws.
Usually, those who requested not to enter the back mountain were only at early Mahayana and still had much to gain from the outside world. Tian Lu Zhēnzūn, however, was solidly at late Mahayana, so this request surprised Lang Yu.
Jian Dan smiled slightly and explained her reasoning.
"I have already entered late Mahayana. Over the next hundred years, my cultivation won't see any obvious growth through simple meditation, and my breakthroughs aren't purely based on accumulating spiritual power anymore.
I still have three disciples to consider. In the remaining time, which is less than a hundred years, I plan to spend more effort properly nurturing them. Entering the back mountain forbidden area would bring many inconveniences to their training.
Also, my Battle Hall Chief position still doesn't have a successor, and that requires time to select properly. All things considered, staying at Tianyue Peak is more convenient for everyone."
"Lang Yu understands. This matter will follow Zhēnzūn's wishes. You don't need to worry about the logistics."
Lü Se finally let out a long breath of relief, a bright smile appearing on his face. He politely saw Lang Yu off down the mountain path, then returned to her side.
"Zhēnzūn, won't going to the back mountain forbidden area affect your cultivation advancement much?" That's what he cared about most.
"I already said it earlier. The impact is not big," she replied.
Jian Dan understood his concern. He had followed her for a long time, so she explained the situation gently to him.
With the reassurance in hand, Lü Se stopped asking questions and went off cheerfully to get busy with the daily chores.
The next day, Jian Dan went to the Battle Hall. She met everyone from the seven squads who weren't currently in seclusion and told them her plan for the future.
"I have already advanced to Mahayana, so it's not convenient for me to continue holding the position of Battle Hall Chief. You'll recommend three candidates to me. After passing my test, one of them will take over the position permanently."
The crowd looked left and right at each other after hearing this news. They had been hoping Zhēnzūn would give them some pointers on their own cultivation. Instead, she jumped straight into the matter of her succession.
Seeing their confused expressions, Jian Dan had no choice but to repeat herself and even set a strict deadline.
"I don't care whether you duel it out or draw lots to decide. After my Mahayana ceremony ends, you must hand me the names of three candidates. Is that clear?"
"Yes, understood," they shouted in unison.
Only then did Jian Dan dismiss them and leisurely return to the quiet of Tianyue Peak.
For the next half month, she finally had some real downtime. Every day, she drank tea, admired the spirit flowers in the garden, read through various jade slips, and guided Jian Feng's cultivation while answering his questions. Occasionally, she went to the Battle Hall to point out flaws in their combat techniques and check on how their candidate selection was progressing.
On the tenth day after Jian Dan left Jianchi Peak, Yue Liang also left the mountain. After returning the jade key to the attendants, Yue Liang flickered in a flash of light and returned to Tianyue Peak.
"Zhēnzūn, I'm going to break through!" Yue Liang's voice brimmed with joy, with a hint of smugness mixed in.
"Looks like you gained a lot this time in the pool."
Jian Dan hugged the creature and slowly walked into the cave residence as she spoke.
"Mm. The sword qi in that sword pool was really fierce and sharp. It tempered my physical body well. This time, I should be able to break through to the late seventh tier."
"No rush. Steady and solid is better for your foundation. Can you come out before my ceremony begins?"
"That's hard to say. I'll try my best. Yue Liang doesn't want to miss Zhēnzūn's Mahayana ceremony," the creature wagged its tail, eyes curved into happy crescents.
"Good."
From that point on, Yue Liang also entered seclusion to begin the process.
Wei Zhengrong took the time to come to Tianyue Peak again and reported the latest news to Jian Dan.
"Du Yunfei tried refining pills two levels above her current cultivation and didn't control the volatile energy properly. The furnace exploded and injured her dantian severely. Her cultivation has started falling and has already dropped to the Nascent Soul stage."
"I know. Don't give her any chance to turn things around. Let her cultivation keep falling. Make sure she can't find or refine any pills to repair her dantian," she commanded.
"Understood."
"Zhēnzūn, Xue Ru will arrive at the sect in three days' time."
"Alright, I know."
After Wei Zhengrong left the peak, Jian Dan carried on with her routine as usual. She didn't end up seeing Wei Xue Ru yet, but instead welcomed Yu Zongfan and his group, including Jia Yushu, who had been hit by a hidden move during their travels.
They rushed back to the sect in great haste, and Yu Zongfan headed straight for Jian Dan's cave residence upon arrival.
All four of them looked awful, their faces pale and tired. If Yu Zongfan hadn't received news that his master was about to hold a Mahayana ceremony, he would've panicked as well. After receiving Lü Se's message, he had made a decisive call and gathered everyone to return immediately.
Problems they couldn't solve, their Ancestor and their master definitely could.