Jin Yu and the others subtly positioned themselves in front of Yun Jin, clearly sensing that something was off.
Duan Yiwei frowned slightly.
Originally, now was the moment to act.
But when he glanced at the giant turtle, a trace of wariness surfaced in his eyes.
The turtle's strength was clearly terrifying. It outright addressed Yun Jin as its master, if they made a move against her and enraged the turtle, he would likely die on the spot.
This plan would have to be shelved for now.
Through a communication talisman, Duan Yiwei gave Lin Xiao a brief report.
Then he signaled Mu Lan and the others not to act rashly and to wait outside instead.
He refused to believe the turtle could follow Yun Jin forever.
Once they left the secret realm, Jin Yu and the others would eventually disperse, and the turtle would most likely remain in the sea.
That would be the best moment to strike.
Mu Lan understood and restrained everyone from acting.
"A bunch of cowards," Tianpo shouted wildly inside Yun Jin's mind. "They should just make a move already! My master is a real schemer, backup plans stacked on backup plans. Let's see how they die then!"
Yun Jin: "…???"
Wait, does your master even know you're talking about him like that?
After shouting, Tianpo suddenly felt inexplicably guilty and hurriedly added, "I mean my master is extremely cautious and meticulous. Far beyond what this bunch of trash could ever comprehend."
Tianpo had no idea why he suddenly felt uneasy. His master was clearly long gone, yet just now, a vague sense of dread had surfaced.
Inside the extradimensional space.
The Sword Sage of Ten Thousand Daos sneezed again.
The others looked at him with concern.
"Boss, what's going on with you?"
Lately, their boss had been sneezing alot. At their level of cultivation, sneezing like this was unheard of.
Could something be wrong with his body?
The Sword Sage was also puzzled.
He could clearly sense that it wasn't anything bad, yet he had felt uneasy again and again lately.
And this had nothing to do with the Demon Clan.
Could something have happened in the outside world that concerned him?
Is his successor in danger?
That didn't seem likely.
If that were the case, he would have sensed it.
Moreover, he trusted Ji Wusi even if he didn't trust others.
Others aside, Ji Wusi would definitely give his full support once he learned that Wushuang Sect was to be rebuilt.
The Sword Sage sighed softly, "I'm fine. Probably just fatigue from fighting nonstop for a thousand years, my mind is worn down. There's no need to dwell on it. Come, look at this map. The Demon Clan may launch an offensive attack soon. Here, here, and here are all danger zones. We should…"
He went on explaining carefully, and the others listened intently.
The Sword Sage felt helpless.
He had no idea what was happening outside.
His incarnation had laid down layer after layer of contingencies. His successor was surely a peerless talent, and with Ji Wusi's assistance, there shouldn't be any real problems.
If something truly went wrong…
A trace of worry flashed through his eyes. That would be his fault.
He had left behind a legacy because he couldn't bear to see Wushuang Sect's lineage vanish. If that instead brought calamity upon his successor, how could he rest easy?
But now…
He's already struggling just to hold on himself. There's nothing more he could do.
So be it. Since things had come to this, all he could do was silently pray for his successor.
Beyond that, he's powerless.
On the beach.
Yun Jin was protected behind Jin Yu and the others.
But neither Yuehua Sect nor Qingxiao Pavilion showed any intention of making a move.
Duan Yiwei said expressionlessly, "What are you waiting for? Why aren't you entering the secret realm?"
Yun Jin smiled lightly, "This is Wushuang Sect's secret realm. One could say I'm its master. I'll enter first, you may follow afterward."
She led Yue Zhao and the others toward the giant turtle.
The turtle turned its head slightly and gave Yun Jin a kind smile.
Yun Jin clasped her hands, "Thank you, Senior Lightning, for guarding the secret realm."
Lightning's face showed a shy expression, "You flatter me, Master. I was only asleep. If not for the sound of your whistle, I wouldn't have slept enough yet."
Yun Jin's lips twitched.
That was a thousand-year nap, wasn't it?
"Regardless, please accept my thanks, senior," Yun Jin said again.
Lightning chuckled and shifted aside, turning the vortex passage toward her, "Master, you may enter the secret realm now."
Yun Jin nodded and stepped forward.
The moment she touched the vortex passage, her figure vanished from where she stood, clearly transported into the connected alternate-dimensional space.
Yue Zhao and the others followed one after another.
When Duan Yiwei tried to follow, Jin Yu immediately stopped him, vigilant, "You go in last. I'll enter first."
Kunlun Sword Sect entered in the second wave, followed by Beast Taming Sect and Xuandan Sect.
Duan Yiwei didn't argue. Staying behind, he sent a voice transmission to Mu Lan, "Wait here. Once we come out, we'll settle things."
Yun Jin's life would be his sooner or later!
Mu Lan gave a barely perceptible nod. Having made up his mind, he decided to wait here.
After giving his instructions, Duan Yiwei led the people of Qingxiao Pavilion into the vortex passage as well.
As everyone entered, the vortex passage closed again, and the great gate vanished into the void.
The giant turtle gave the remaining people on the beach a hearty grin, then slowly moved back into the sea.
The moment it entered the water, the giant turtle gave the group people one last look, then suddenly turned around.
In an instant, terrifying waves surged forth again as the turtle swam straight toward the depths of the ocean!
Mu Lan and the others' expressions changed drastically.
Duan Yiwei had told them to wait here.
But the turtle…
It ran off!
"Follow it!" Mu Lan shouted.
The cultivators of Yuehua Sect immediately gave chase at full speed.
Only then did they truly understand why this turtle was named Lightning.
Its speed on land compared to its speed in the sea were on completely different levels.
Once in the water, it was terrifyingly fast.
After chasing for a while, they could no longer even see the giant turtle's shadow. All they could do was track the towering waves, still a thousand meters high, and pursue in that direction.
Eventually, only a few Mahayana Stage cultivators could barely keep up.
But once they reached deeper waters, even they had to stop.
There was no other reason except.
They didn't dare go any farther.
If they continued, they might encounter sea monsters.
Sea monsters rarely came ashore, but if their domain was trespassed upon, they would show no mercy.
In the ocean, no matter how powerful one's cultivation, no one dared to be swallowed by the endless tide of sea monsters.
"Elder Mu, what now? We've lost it," a Yuehua Sect elder said anxiously.
Mu Lan said grimly, "This happened suddenly. It can't be blamed on us. That turtle has entered the sea, I'm afraid no one under heaven and earth will be able to track it. Return to Lin City. Yu Songnian is of the Yu Family. After leaving the secret realm, they'll most likely return there. We'll decide the next step then."
The Yuehua Sect cultivators all acknowledged the order. Given the situation, there was nothing else to be done.
But unease lingered in their hearts.
The Sword Sage of Ten Thousand Daos' arrangements were a bit outrageous.
Who could've imagined that Wushuang Sect's location was actually mobile?
With that terrifying turtle around, once Wushuang Sect truly emerged, others might not even be able to find its gates, let alone eradicate it.
Inside the alternate-dimensional space.
Yun Jin gazed curiously at the boundless heavenly staircase stretching out before her.