The day of departure for the secret realm arrived faster than expected.
These past few days, Lu Fengmian had still gone to take walks in the small grove every day.
Xiao Jin appeared less frequently; it was said he was preparing for the journey to the secret realm, as the General Affairs Hall had arranged crash training for the selected outer disciples, teaching them how to handle ergency situations.
Hearing this, Lu Fengmian felt quite gratified.
However, compared to Xiao Jin, he now had another, more pressing matter to deal with.
The Ink Jade Swallowtail Dragon was still inside that small white sphere, showing no intention of coming out.
But the day of departure would not wait for anyone.
He could not possibly carry that little sphere into the secret realm.
He did not know what the situation inside would be like. If danger arose, he might not even be able to take care of himself, let alone protect this little ancestor who had yet to awaken.
He needed to find a place to settle it.
After so thought, Lu Fengmian picked up the small sphere and headed toward the Spirit Beast Garden.
The Spirit Beast Garden was as lively as ever.
Several disciples were feeding spirit beasts. When they saw him enter, their eyes imdiately lit up.
“Senior Brother!”
“Senior Brother is here!”
Lu Fengmian nodded to them. Before he could speak, however, a figure had already rushed out of the main hall at a speed that did not match his age.
“Junior Nephew Lu!”
Elder Sun’s face was flushed as he ran toward him in two or three steps, his gaze imdiately landing on the small white sphere in his arms.
“Oh! This is that Ink Jade Swallowtail Dragon? I heard it has the ability to awaken? Let see, let see!”
He leaned in for a closer look, clicking his tongue in amazent. “Good heavens, this spiritual energy, these spirit patterns—extraordinary, truly extraordinary!”
Lu Fengmian let him examine it for a mont before speaking. “Martial Uncle Sun, I ca today to ask you for a favor.”
Elder Sun imdiately lifted his head, his eyes shining even brighter. “What is it? Speak freely!”
“I’m leaving for the secret realm tomorrow,” Lu Fengmian lowered his gaze to the small sphere in his arms. “It hasn’t awakened yet, and it wouldn’t be convenient to bring it along. I would like to trouble you to look after it for a few days.”
At these words, the smile on Elder Sun’s face nearly overflowed.
“Does that even need asking? Of course, of course!” He snatched up the small sphere as though cradling a priceless treasure. “Go without worry! This old man guarantees I’ll keep it safe!”
As he spoke, he walked inward, muttering to himself, “I need to move it sowhere with denser spiritual energy; there’s a Spirit-Gathering Formation in my rear hall. I must record the changes in its spiritual energy every day in case any abnormalities appear, so I can detect them in ti…”
Lu Fengmian stood in place, watching his hurriedly departing back.
“Martial Uncle Sun.”
Elder Sun turned around.
“It hasn’t awakened yet. Please don’t worry too much.”
“I know, I know!” Elder Sun waved his hand. “This old man knows what he’s doing! You can rest assured!”
With that, he carried the small sphere farther inside, still muttering, “This spiritual energy, tsk tsk, truly worthy of an ancient bloodline…”
Lu Fengmian watched as his figure disappeared behind the hall doors and shook his head.
Entrusting it to Elder Sun should be fine.
Though this martial uncle was overly enthusiastic, his professional skills were beyond reproach.
He turned and left.
Tomorrow, they would depart.
Early the next morning, more than a hundred people gathered before the mountain gate of Lingyun Sect.
Disciples from each peak wore uniform attire, standing in rows according to their respective peaks.
At the very front of the formation, aside from that moon-white figure, stood a middle-aged man.
For this journey to the secret realm, the sect had dispatched an elder at the Soul Transformation stage to accompany them and provide protection. Although he could not enter the secret realm, he would supervise from outside to prevent any unexpected incidents.
Lu Fengmian stood not far behind Elder ng, holding his cloud-patterned fan, the usual gentle smile on his face.
His gaze swept across the crowd as he silently counted the numbers in his heart.
Wanren Peak had the most people and stood the most orderly. Zhou Wu of Baicao Peak stood at the front row and gave him a slight nod.
Lu Fengmian nodded back.
He Shi’an had not co.
That child had gained enlightennt at Enlightennt Cliff last ti. Upon returning, he had gone straight into seclusion, attempting to break through to the Nascent Soul stage. Peak Master Leng was overjoyed, smiling at everyone he t, saying this was the rare genius of Wanren Peak seen only once in a hundred years.
Hearing that, Lu Fengmian had also felt happy for him.
The position of vice-captain had fallen to Zhou Wu. As the chief disciple of Baicao Peak, he was ticulous and steady, indeed well-suited for the role.
Lu Fengmian’s gaze lingered toward the rear.
The five outer disciples from the General Affairs Hall stood at the very back of the formation, each carrying a bulging storage pouch on their backs.
Xiao Jin stood among them, head lowered, silent.
He wore the newly issued outer disciple robes. The fabric was thicker than before, and the cuffs were no longer frayed. Yet standing behind a group of inner sect elites, he still felt like a mortal who had wandered mistakenly into an immortal sect.
From the front, soone occasionally glanced back, then turned around to whisper to those beside them.
Xiao Jin lowered his eyes and tightened his grip on the strap of his storage pouch.
“Is everyone here?”
Elder ng’s voice carried to every ear.
The crowd quieted.
Zhou Wu stepped forward and cupped his hands. “Reporting to Elder, all peaks are fully assembled. The five from the General Affairs Hall have also arrived. One hundred in total.”
Elder ng nodded, his gaze sweeping across the crowd before settling on Lu Fengmian.
“Disciple Lu, you will lead this expedition. This old man is only responsible for escorting you. Once inside the secret realm, all decisions will be yours.”
Lu Fengmian cupped his hands. “This disciple understands.”
Elder ng said no more. With a sweep of his sleeve, a massive cloud ship slowly rose from behind the mountain gate, hovering before them.
“Board.”
The group entered one by one.
Xiao Jin followed the person ahead of him, stepping onto the gangway of the cloud ship. He kept his head lowered, not daring to look around, his eyes fixed only on the heels of the person in front.
Suddenly, he felt soone looking at him.
He lifted his head.
Lu Fengmian stood at the end of the passageway, seemingly counting the numbers. When his gaze swept across him, it paused ever so slightly.
Then he looked away and continued to the next person.
Xiao Jin froze for a mont.
He lowered his head and continued forward.
After finding a seat and sitting down, he quietly raised his head and glanced ahead.
That person stood at the bow, speaking with Zhou Wu.
Sunlight fell upon him, outlining his figure.
Xiao Jin withdrew his gaze and hugged his storage pouch tightly against his chest.
The cloud ship trembled slightly and slowly rose into the air.
The mountain gate of Lingyun Sect grew smaller and smaller in his field of vision, until it was finally obscured by clouds and mist.
Ahead lay the Northern Territory.
The cloud ship ascended above the clouds and sailed steadily northward.
Sunlight stread through the light curtains, warm and pleasant. Beyond the portholes, the sea of clouds churned. Occasionally, mountains and rivers could be seen winding below, like a scroll painting slowly unfurling.
Lu Fengmian stood at the bow. After confirming the supply list with Zhou Wu, he was about to turn and return to the cabin to rest when he suddenly heard soft exclamations behind him.
He glanced back.
At so point, a group had gathered by the railing. Those youthful faces were pressed together, heads poking out of the windows, eyes wide as they clicked their tongues in curiosity.
“Look, look, that river over there—it’s so bright!”
“That must be the Canglan River, right? I saw it on a map!”
“So Lingyun Sect is this vast… do all those mountain ranges belong to us?”
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