NOVEL WEB Chapter 243: Readying the Blade
"He's bitter about being humiliated and came here to save face, hoping to squeeze into our group by playing the weak card," Mo Su said in a low voice.
"He knows full well Jian Dan doesn't like him, yet he still sticks close to us?" Mo Yi scoffed.
"Senior Sister, a man like him, one who's skilled at pretending and values his own life, always prepares himself a way out."
"The glow is starting. Everyone, get ready."
In the distance, the evening glow began to surge like the tide, layer upon layer rippling as if to envelop the entire mountain peak.
Everyone activated their techniques, collecting the surging light into the storage tools they had brought.
Jian Dan held a glass vial containing a portion of the glow she had just captured. The vibrant glow inside still shifted restlessly, as if it were alive, trying to find a way to escape the vial.
She waved her hand and stowed the vial into her spatial storage, then sent a mental message to Cotton Candy.
"Cotton Candy, here's a portion of glow I caught. See if you can refine it. Whether or not you can exit the space, it's all up to you."
"Cotton Candy understands," came the sweet childish reply. A puff of white cloud appeared and gently caught the vial, opening the lid.
As the glow flowed out, Cotton Candy quickly spread itself out and wrapped around it. Colored light began to seep through the cloud as the refining process began.
Seeing that Cotton Candy was making progress, Jian Dan nodded and turned her attention elsewhere. She checked on Mo Ran and Jade.
Both serpents were in the middle of their advancement. Coiled up, their heads swayed rhythmically while ambient spiritual energy seeped steadily into their bodies.
Everything seemed fine.
Jian Dan used her spiritual sense to plant a thousand-year-old peach tree seed in front of the bamboo hut, giving the little dwelling an even more elegant charm.
With everything settled, Jian Dan sat cross-legged inside the cultivation room of Mo Ying Peak and laid out several spiritual treasures sent from Tian Mo Peak.
The first item was a suit of armor, thin enough to be worn close to the skin, and compatible with the Heartguard Mirror she had purchased. It could very well save her life in a critical moment.
The second was a small red mountain—an actual mobile dwelling she could use while training outdoors. Its defenses, when activated, could hold off attacks for a while.
The third was a palm-sized mirror. Delicate and compact, its function would only become apparent after refining.
Jian Dan entered closed-door cultivation for five days to refine each item. She donned the armor beneath her Manjushahua-patterned black robes. It clung to her like a second skin, offering seamless protection.
The Heartguard Mirror was embedded at her back. After all, she could usually guard her front in time.
The mobile peak, once refined, expanded to full size—nearly matching Mo Su's in scale. The name plaque atop the peak was still blank.
After a moment's thought, Jian Dan inscribed three characters on it: "Serene Abode." As she finished the last stroke, light shimmered across the plaque, binding the mountain to her alone.
The palm mirror revealed its purpose after refining. Though seemingly underwhelming, it was called Zhé Yǐng. It allowed the wielder to mimic the appearance, build, and aura of anyone reflected in its surface. The higher the user's cultivation, the longer the disguise would last.
Jian Dan tucked the mirror into her obsidian ring. Everything essential was now ready.
She summoned her attendants and handed over a pile of beast pelts, instructing them to go to Mo Qi Peak and have thicker, warm robes made, as well as clothes better suited for agile movement.
As for food, Jian Dan had long stopped relying on it due to her fasting cultivation technique. Still, she had stocked up on spirit wines for energy recovery and decided to prepare more, just in case.
She wasn't picky about food, but she did have one specialty—rice balls. Simple and delicious, in her opinion.
She brought out different types of spirit rice from storage. After half-steaming them, she finely chopped beast meat and stir-fried it until nearly cooked, then wrapped the meat inside the rice, shaping it into balls and steaming them to completion.
She made them for several days, using up her stock of high, mid, and low-grade spiritual rice. Both meat and vegetarian versions were prepared. If she ended up in a barren zone again, at least she wouldn't go hungry.
Once done, Jian Dan sat down and activated the Heavenly Demon Art. Demonic energy swirled around her and surged into her body, flowing through her meridians before converging in her dantian where her Yuányīng resided.
The Yin-Yang Taiji Diagram in her body purified the demonic energy, which then flowed back out to temper her meridians, gradually widening them.
Thanks to her dual path cultivation in Dao and Demon paths, her meridians were a third wider than most cultivators at the same level. This allowed her to contain more energy and last longer in combat.
Since entering the Divine Transformation stage, her two Yuányīng had merged into one. Whether surrounded by spiritual or demonic energy, she could absorb both freely. The Taiji Diagram let her convert one into the other at will.
After completing one full cycle and unblocking a fine vein in her arm, Jian Dan ended her session. With the palace master's departure notice approaching, she couldn't afford to immerse herself too deeply in cultivation.
Her divine sense scanned the storage space. Cotton Candy was still refining the glow, with about a third of it now absorbed. The glow painted its cloud body with streaks of color like a blank canvas coming to life. Once fully covered, Cotton Candy would be able to change form freely.
Satisfied, Jian Dan nodded. With that, Cotton Candy would be able to leave the space and aid her more directly.
A few days later, Jian Dan arrived at the Heavenly Demon Palace's main hall. Divine Transformation cultivators had begun to gather, chatting in small groups.
When Gongzhu Mo Lie appeared on the central seat, everyone had already arrived.
"Greetings, Palace Master."
"Very good. I'll be brief. Here are the assignments for our upcoming trip to the Ming Valley. Our Heavenly Demon Palace is in the first wave. A total of eighteen Divine Transformation cultivators will take part. Each of us will lead nine Nascent Soul cultivators, making 126 in total.
Additionally, four Divine Transformation cultivators will be tasked with penetrating deep into the Ming Valley to investigate the cause of the beast uprising."
He paused before continuing.
"This assignment carries greater risk, so participation is voluntary. Regardless of the outcome, those who take part will be honored as heroes of our palace. Those who return safely will be rewarded with ten years of cultivation in the Mo Xuan Cavern."
The cultivators stirred.
Mo Xuan Cavern, located directly at the heart of the demonic vein, allowed energy to flow in without any effort. Ten years there was equivalent to a century of cultivation elsewhere—and without side effects.
"I, Mo Yue, volunteer for the mission," Jian Dan declared.
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悠然居, (Yōurán Jū) in here I translate as Serene Abode
悠然 (Yōurán)
Means "leisurely," "carefree," "unhurried," or "tranquil."
Conveys a sense of calm contentment, often associated with a peaceful state of mind
居 (Jū)
Means "dwelling," "residence," or "abode."
Also, well, maybe slight spoiler? If I remember correctly the (折影) Zhé Yǐng mirror have connection with Immortal Realm. It's will have 'cycle' with Jian Dan. Just like her relationship with the song 'Funeral for the Soul', she hear the song in her previous life and in this life she is the one who 'introduce' that song to the 'couple', and it's go around. You get what I mean, right??? (ಠ_ಠ)