Jian Dan lowered the spiritual restrictions around the cave abode, the shimmering barriers of light fading into the stone walls and leaving only Xueru and Shou Chan inside with her. She roughly recounted the harrowing experiences that Jian Feng and Jian Chong had faced during their recent travels, then focused her explanation on the grim details of Jia Yushu's current physical condition.
After she finished speaking, the cave abode fell into a heavy silence that lasted for nearly a quarter of an hour. Xueru's expression changed noticeably as the weight of the information settled on her. When she recalled the small red pill that one of those female cultivators had flicked toward her body during the ambush, it took her a long while to calm her breathing and steady her mind.
What remained in her heart was pure relief. Fortunately, her Wind and Cloud Art was powerful enough to deflect such traps. Fortunately, her Wind Spirit had protected her from the hidden threat. Fortunately, Senior Jade had acted decisively to eliminate the danger. Fortunately, Shou Chan had been there as well to provide support.
After hearing her Master's detailed explanation, she finally understood the full extent of the danger she had escaped. It was precisely because of Shou Chan's natal spirit insect that those malicious things, even after being ground into a fine powder, hadn't been able to burrow into her body and destroy her foundation.
Thinking of this, Xueru once again bowed respectfully to Shou Chan, her silk robes rustling with the movement.
"Thank you, Shou Chan Daoyou. You helped me escape a deadly calamity this time. Xueru is endlessly grateful for your assistance."
Because she had been attacked earlier by those female cultivators who used similar disguises, Xueru had been somewhat guarded toward Shou Chan before this revelation.
"Xueru doesn't need to be so polite. It was just a fortunate coincidence," Shou Chan said while cupping her hands.
Then she turned back to Jian Dan and asked carefully, "What does Zhēnzūn want me to do in this matter?"
"Once that foreign insect finishes dissolving the remaining spirit roots, I will protect Yushu's dantian so it don't get a chance to fuse into his foundation. You just need to release your natal gu into the other party's dantian and have it eat that invasive insect. After that, you can safely recall your spirit beast."
Jian Dan didn't conceal any part of her plan and explained the difficult task clearly.
"Before you came, I planned to control that insect that destroys spirit roots and extract it directly with my own power, but my spiritual power is too domineering for such delicate work. It might accidentally damage Yushu's fragile meridians."
She added another sentence to clarify her reasoning. In truth, even without Shou Chan's help, she could still handle the situation. It would just take far more effort and concentration. Since she could save energy and eliminate the spirit-root-destroying thing in one go using the gu, there was no need to handle the problem twice.
Shou Chan clearly understood the unspoken meaning behind the explanation. After a brief moment of quiet thought, she said, "Zhēnzūn, please allow me to communicate with my natal spirit insect first to ensure it's prepared."
"Alright, that's no problem at all."
"Thank you, Zhēnzūn. We have talked for quite a while now, but I still don't know Zhēnzūn's formal title."
Shou Chan asked politely while cupping her hands in a respectful salute.
"I thought Xueru already told you," Jian Dan replied.
Xueru only chuckled at the oversight.
"My Dao title is Tian Lu. Before advancing to the Mahayana stage, I used the Dao title Jian Lu. Both Shou Feng and Shou Min from your Beast Taming Sect know me well."
"Greetings, Tian Lu Zhēnzūn."
"Mhm. How is the research on the blood insect those two exchanged from me going back at your sect?"
Jian Dan asked the question casually, as if it were a minor curiosity. Shou Chan's forehead immediately sprouted three invisible black lines of stress. She hesitated for a long while, her eyes darting slightly, before finally answering.
"That blood insect has already been destroyed."
"Oh? Did you get the necessary research results first, then destroy it?" Jian Dan asked.
"That… no. Senior Sister Shou Min accidentally triggered the cage array plate during an inspection once. The array plate and the spatial cage judged that the blood insect was escaping its confinement, so both activated at the same time and directly shredded it. Not even a trace of the creature was left."
As Shou Chan spoke, her face drooped with disappointment. The Beast Taming Sect had paid a huge price in resources to keep that blood insect alive and healthy. Because of that single mistake, their Master was so furious that Shou Min was sent to face the wall in solitary punishment for a long period.
Jian Dan, however, smiled in quiet satisfaction. Back at the Heavenly Demon Palace, because Shou Min had secretly tampered with the Xiao Yue spirit beast bag, Jian Dan had judged her character to be flawed. She had directly used her Dream Beast Eye to plant a subtle mental suggestion in the woman's mind. When the blood insect showed any signs of escaping its spatial cage and array plate, the array would activate immediately and shred it to pieces.
She really wasn't fond of those lunatics in the Beast Taming Sect who obsessed over researching dangerous spirit beasts without regard for the consequences. If they ended up creating an even more terrifying blood insect through their experiments, who would cry for the victims then?
They hadn't even faced the insect race head-on yet, and the rear was already on fire with internal threats. That wasn't how successful battles were fought. So she had acted first and cut off the blood insect's future entirely. Now that she saw the result of her plan, she was quite satisfied and didn't ask any further questions. Instead, she gave instructions to Xueru.
"You take Shou Chan Xiaoyou to your cave abode on the eastern peak to rest for a while, then come back here to find me."
Jian Dan was giving Shou Chan time to communicate with her natal spirit gu and to contact her sect to confirm certain matters about their cooperation. Xueru was sharp and immediately understood her Master's intent. She smiled brightly at Shou Chan.
"Shou Chan Daoyou, please follow me."
After the two women left the hall, Jade went to find her own brother, Mo Ran. Now that both of them could take human form, they could freely come and go on the slopes of Tianyue Peak. Jian Dan never restricted their movements within the sect.
Meanwhile, Jian Feng and Jian Chong heard that their Junior Sister had returned and immediately rushed to their Master's cave abode, only to find the main hall empty for a moment.
"Jian Chong, is your new cave abode already set up?" Jian Feng asked.
"With Senior Brother's help and Manager Lu Se's assistance, plus all those good things Master bestowed upon me, it's already arranged. The mountain peak I chose is right next to Senior Brother's. It will be convenient for us to spar with each other in the future."
Jian Chong replied with a wide smile.
"Xueru is back too. Over the next few days, the two of you should help her pick a mountain peak so she can establish herself independently as well."
"Don't worry, Master. We have already reserved two mountain peaks next to the ones we chose for ourselves. She can pick whichever one she likes when the time comes," Jian Feng said with a grin.
"Good. I'm at ease when you handle these things."
After bringing Shou Chan to the eastern peak and ensuring she was comfortable, Wei Xueru hurried back to her Master's cave abode. She had seen the bright escape lights of her two Senior Brothers as they flew toward the peak earlier.
"Master, Shou Chan's arrangements are all settled."
After reporting her task, Xueru cupped her hands toward the two men in greeting.
"Xueru greets Senior Brother Jian Feng and Senior Brother Jian Chong."
"Heh, we have been waiting for you to return," Jian Feng said.
Hearing that, Xueru immediately turned toward her Master.
"Xueru asks Master to bestow a Dao title."
"You're a wind spirit root. As your Master, I bestow you the Dao title Jian Miao. May you be ethereal as the wind, with your heart moving as you will."
"Jian Miao thanks Master!"
Wei Xueru bowed respectfully to the floor and accepted her new Dao title with a serious expression. From this day on, Jian Dan's three disciples all had Dao titles and opened their own peaks to stand independently.
===
剑渺 (Jiàn Miǎo)
渺 means vast, distant, faint, or elusive. It is often used to describe things that are hard to grasp, like mist, the horizon, or drifting clouds.
剑渺 suggests a sword that is intangible and unbound, present yet difficult to seize. It reflects movement without fixation, intention without rigidity. This fits a wind spirit root extremely well, emphasizing speed, change, and adaptability rather than solidity or endurance.
Jian Miao represents a sword path that follows instinct and flow, striking when the heart moves, retreating like wind when it must. Jian Miao embodies freedom, lightness, and unpredictability, forming a clear contrast in dao temperament while remaining within the same sword lineage.