At the edge of the cliff, there’s a robust ancient pine tree, an ideal spot to pause and admire.
Ban Jie, accompanied by several maidservants, descended from the mechanism’s flying contraption, landing beneath the ancient pine.
The tree roots sprawled across the crevices of the rocks, its branches thrusting into the sky, with emerald cover like clouds filtering fragments of golden sunlight.
Ban Jie came here deliberately, shedding her usual luxurious attire for a simple moon-white broad robe, draped over with a translucent shark silk shawl of the same color, looking leisurely.
The mountain wind stirred her broad sleeves, and for a moment, her garments fluttered as if she would fly away with the wind.
Ban Jie gazed into the distance, only to see the sea of clouds extending over ten thousand miles, billowing like waves, occasionally forming into snow peaks, sometimes scattered like flying feathers, with sunlight pouring atop, flowing with molten gold and broken jade-like radiance.
Ban Jie revealed a joyful expression: "Such a splendid scene, suitable for savoring tea right here. Arrange it, everyone."
She ordered softly, and the maidservants responded in gentle unison.
They acted together, coordinating expertly, quickly arranging the cushion, tea table, tea set, and incense burner.
Ban Jie sat cross-legged on the cushion, with the ancient pine elegantly shading her, and the clouds steaming before her, golden clouds ablaze.
She took a deep breath and began lighting incense.
Though her actions seemed leisurely, she actually had another concern.
"I wonder how Ban Ji is faring at this moment?"
"I’ve come here specifically to be close to the Xuan Armor Cave; as soon as any news arrives, I can quickly and accurately react."
Ban Jie lit the incense, watching the smoke curl upwards, and while awaiting the latest news, she sank into her memories.
The scene before her departure replayed in her Divine Sea.
In the secret chamber, the Senior Elder of the Ban Family summoned her alone.
His expression was solemn, as he gazed at Ban Jie, speaking candidly: "Sending you to the Wanxiang Sect’s Main Mountain Gate this time is to secretly assist Ban Ji in successfully activating his King’s Order."
"Understood." Ban Jie had already learned of this beforehand; her eyes shone, revealing determination and courage, "I will exert myself fully, employing every means; for the family, even if I must sacrifice myself to achieve the goal!"
The Senior Elder’s expression softened slightly: "Good, Ban Jie, you are a good child."
"But my summoning you now has a more pressing matter to instruct—you must not exert too much force, or it will backfire, harming Ban Ji and our entire clan."
Ban Jie immediately showed a puzzled look, quickly seeking advice.
The Senior Elder sighed softly: "Activating the King’s Order is a complex matter."
"You need to help Ban Ji, but not excessively. You need to let Ban Ji undergo trials, even setbacks, as these are precisely the sparks that ignite the King’s Order."
"Only through the hammering of fate can the King’s Order ignite and enter a burning state."
"Just like Wild Phoenix Wood, Crystal Sand Willow, Immortal Salamander, Blade Wolf, and others."
Upon hearing the four examples cited by the Senior Elder, Ban Jie suddenly understood.
Wild Phoenix Wood is a tree that accidentally absorbed a phoenix’s blood, or perhaps the seed itself harbors related bloodlines, and after experiencing a great fire, it burns away its old shell, awakening the power of rebirth in its bloodline. Thus, it washes away old appearances and reshapes into something new, elevating the essence of its life, resembling a carp leaping over the dragon gate.
Crystal Sand Willow is a variant among sand willows. With countless sand willows collapsing in harsh environments such as rampant sandstorms, droughts, and being buried by shifting sands, the truly resilient ones persevere to the end. Their joints rapidly grow new adventitious roots, while their stems grow upwards piercing the sand layer, forming new plants. Their roots embed deeper, developing more extensive root systems, eventually stabilizing an entire desert.
Immortal Salamander is the type that faces calamity, repeatedly severing its tail for survival, and ultimately persists, developing stronger regenerative abilities through constant tail regrowth. It can accurately restore bones, muscles, blood, and skin, reconstructing more complex bodily structures. Through successive tail severing and regrowth, its entire body and mind receive training and enhancement, finally breaking calamity, extending life span to over ten thousand years.
Blade Wolf is rather unusual. This wolf species is not born naturally but is cultivated by cultivators mastering Beast Taming Skills. Blade Wolves are brave and combative, originally having a very short lifespan, akin to burning themselves out from birth, always pursuing battles. Before their death, Blade Wolves ingest various blade shards.
The blade shards cut through their mouths, tongues, throats, intestines, and stomachs, causing many Blade Wolves to cough blood and die. But a small portion of them withstand these arduous trials, ultimately absorbing the blades into their bodies, transforming into new species, with greatly enhanced strength, continuing life!
The Senior Elder pointed out the key to Ban Jie: aiding the King’s Order is highly complex. Never underestimate the importance of balance; you cannot shield from all the harsh elements. Without the trials, life cannot unfold its most brilliant form, nor can the King’s Order be triggered!
Yet if the help is too scant, the losses borne by the King’s Order can be excessively severe, also worsening the situation.
This balance is of utmost importance!
Ban Jie understood in her heart: "No wonder previously the family had always offered limited assistance to Ban Ji. For instance, they only started divining the Feiyun Conference of this current Wanxiang Sect a few years ago."
"Even though the treasure consumed during divination had long been stored in the family vault."
This led to the Ban Family only calculating appropriate opportunities for Ban Ji, such as Qinghuangzi, Che Zhuzi, Blind Fool, Xuan Armor Cave, etc., leaving Ban Ji with only a few short years of preparation time.