A stream of silver-gray liquid spread swiftly across her body. Jian Dan did not resist. She remained seated in meditation, allowing herself to gradually absorb the information imprinted in the defensive garment.
This wasn't a typical robe, despite its classification as a fayi. It came from the Beast Taming Sect, and in truth, it was a kind of protective spirit insect. Known as the Silver-Armored Insect, it was even smaller than an ant. Every one of these insects was born from the same mother and always in pairs—males were silver, females were gray. Once bound to a master, they would spread across their host's entire body.
When under attack, the male and female insects would secrete a sticky fluid, binding themselves and their companions together. This allowed them to either deflect the strike or convert it into a defensive barrier. If the barrier was broken, the insects would immediately release more secretion to mend the damaged area as fast as possible.
This species was developed by Yu Yan Zhēnzūn of the Beast Taming Sect. However, since their numbers fell short of what he required, he placed the garment in the "Hall of Ten Thousand Treasures" as a defensive robe for female cultivators. But in the world of cultivation, which high-ranking female cultivator would willingly let a swarm of insects crawl over her body, no matter how effective they were? And so, despite being among the top-grade defenses, it remained unsold, collecting dust on a high shelf.
Jian Dan bared her teeth slightly. If she had known it was made of insects, she likely wouldn't have picked it either. But she had been too focused on Feng Nianyue at the time. In the end, it turned out to be a lucky break. As long as she could find the right resources, she could help the Silver-Armored Insects evolve. Their defense would only become more formidable.
She gently touched the gray mother insect that hovered over her dantian. The insect extended an antenna and brushed against her fingertip. The contract was officially sealed.
Jian Dan was always generous with her own people. Without hesitation, she guided the spiritual spring water from her storage space into the pendant where the Silver-Armored Insects resided. The mother and her brood all entered the pendant to rest. When needed, she would summon them again. The insects retreated like water reversing its flow, disappearing back into the pendant. Not a drop of spiritual spring water was wasted, and as they absorbed it completely, they began to slowly evolve.
Outside her cave abode, the morning sun began to rise. Jian Dan closed her eyes and began to absorb the violet qi of dawn, continuing to refine her qi and stabilize her peak Foundation Establishment cultivation.
After the previous day's battle against a Golden Core cultivator, her cultivation was clearly more solid than before.
"Senior Sister Shan, same task as usual. We leave now. Meet me at the Sword Peak teleportation array in half an hour."
Jian Dan held He Jintang's transmission talisman, took a moment to organize the contents of her storage pouch, and checked her pills, talismans, and artifacts before heading toward the teleportation array.
"Halt. Who goes there?"
"Shan Yunzu, outer sect disciple of Sword Peak."
"Do you have a token? Without one, you cannot use the array."
"Yesterday my junior brother and I used the teleportation array without any token. Are you trying to trick me?"
"Apologies, Senior Sister. The requirement for a token was only issued to the peaks this morning."
Jian Dan was about to press further when He Jintang arrived just in time.
"This senior brother, please don't misunderstand. Here's the token. We're on an official sect mission and need to depart immediately."
He handed over a jade slip. After verifying it, the array guard found no issues and activated the formation, sending them on their way.
In a flash of white light, the two of them appeared inside the stationed disciples' hall in Tianshu City. They showed their identification jades and stepped onto another teleportation array. After using two arrays in succession, they finally left the city.
When they reappeared, it was inside a sword hall specializing in selling flying swords. There, they saw Kong Yu, Cao Chenfeng, and a pale-faced Feng Nianyue.
The five of them exchanged brief greetings. Then Feng Nianyue summoned a flying vessel, and the group boarded, heading toward the boundary between the cultivation world and the mortal realm.
The past few days had been tormenting for Feng Nianyue. She had suffered a serious injury from a hidden attacker and had yet to fully recover. But after learning the truth of what had happened, she still chose to join the team and complete the sect mission. Once aboard, she solemnly cupped her hands and bowed to the others.
"Thank you all for protecting me. You stood against a Golden Core Zhēnrén on my behalf. I truly appreciate it."
The four of them returned the gesture. He Jintang took the lead.
"You're too polite, Senior Sister. We're all disciples of the same sect. It's only natural to support each other. We would've done the same for anyone else."
Kong Yu added with a grin, "If anyone deserves special thanks, it should be Senior Sister Shan! She shattered Hua Zhēnrén's Golden Core with her bare fists after exhausting her spiritual power!"
Cao Chenfeng didn't say anything, but he nodded in agreement with Kong Yu's statement.
This time, Feng Nianyue looked at Jian Dan seriously and said, "Thank you, Junior Sister Shan. And I also want to apologize for my past rudeness."
Jian Dan smiled slightly. "No need. I already used your purple-gold card to buy what's supposedly the finest defensive garment. So you don't owe me anything."
Her tone was unexpectedly soft and gentle, which caught the others off guard.
Jian Dan reached out and retrieved the purple-gold card, placing it on her palm and offering it back to Feng Nianyue. Feng Nianyue took it without hesitation, just as she was about to thank her again.
But Jian Dan's gaze locked onto hers. Her eyes sparkled, and in the next instant, a wave of blue light shimmered across them.
Feng Nianyue froze, as if someone had hit a pause button. A faint blue ripple flickered through her pupils. Then her body slackened, and she collapsed onto the deck of the flying vessel.
"Senior Sister Feng?"