In all this unorganized peace, Lin Mu also noticed sothing else.
Flight was restricted.
He could feel the array's influence subtly pressing down on the space above. It
was not an obvious barrier, but it interfered just enough to make flight
impractical and disorienting.
"This is connected to the Grand Forest Array" Lin Mu said.
Xueyan nodded. "Yes. Flying would disrupt the balance and could trigger defensive asures."
That made the complexity of the city even more apparent.
They continued walking, guided by the guards.
Along the way, they saw countless foxkin.
Different tribes.
Different appearances.
White fur, red fur, silver, blue, and more.
Each one carried themselves with a certain grace, their movents fluid and natural. Many of them paused to observe the group, their eyes filled with curiosity.
After all, outsiders were rare here.
But what caught Lin Mu's attention the most...
Was their aura.
It was... pure.
Far purer than any foxkin he had seen before.
He could sense it clearly.
These were not mixed bloods.
These were true descendants of their respective bloodlines.
Even those who were technically mixed still carried the purity of two foxkin lineages, rather than any human or external influence.
"There are no human hybrids here..." Lin Mu noted internally.
This place was reserved for the core of their race.
An hour passed as they navigated through the ever-changing pathways.
Finally...
They reached the center.
Before them stood a structure unlike any other.
The Grand Sanctum of the Elder Council.
It was not a single building.
It was a convergence.
Massive trees had intertwined, their trunks rging and spiraling together to form a colossal structure that radiated authority and age. The roots extended outward like veins, connecting it to the entire forest, while the upper branches ford a canopy so vast it resembled a natural do.
At its entrance, ancient symbols were carved into the living wood, glowing faintly with power.
This was not just a place of governance.
This was the heart of the Mother Forest's will.
The guards halted at the entrance of the Grand Sanctum, their expressions composed yet reverent. They did not step inside. Instead, they turned slightly toward Lin Mu and bowed once more, their movents synchronized.
"Honored bearer of the decree," the lead guard spoke respectfully, "please proceed. The Elder Council awaits you within."
Lin Mu gave a slight nod in acknowledgnt. He did not speak, but his calm deanor was enough. With that, he stepped forward, his group following closely behind him.
As they approached the towering gates, sothing remarkable occurred. There was no creaking of hinges, no grinding of chanisms.
Instead, the gates... shifted.
The massive twenty-ter-tall entrance, which appeared to be made of intertwined vines, began to unravel. The thick, braided vines slowly loosened, retracting into the surrounding structure like living serpents responding to an unseen command. What had seed like a solid barrier monts ago now parted effortlessly, revealing a clear path forward.
ng Bai's eyes widened slightly.
"...It's alive," he whispered.
Lin Mu did not respond verbally, but inwardly, he agreed.
This was not just architecture. The entire sanctum was a living construct, grown and sustained by an imnse concentration of Wood Elent energy as well as being bound together by the Nature Dao far beyond ordinary
comprehension.
They stepped inside.
A corridor stretched ahead, its walls ford from smooth, curved wood that seed to have grown into perfect shape. Soft green luminescence flowed through faint veins in the structure, illuminating the passage without the need for any artificial light. The air was cool, rich with vitality, and carried a subtle fragrance that cald the mind.
Their footsteps were silent.
Not because they tried to be, but because the floor itself absorbed the sound, the wood beneath them yielding just enough to negate impact before returning to its original form.
They walked for several monts before the corridor opened into a small entry hall.
Waiting there were two figures.
An elderly foxkin man and woman.
Both carried an aura of deep cultivation, their presence steady and refined. Their fur, though aged with streaks of silver and white, still held a soft luster. Their eyes, however, were what stood out the most, filled with wisdom that spoke of centuries of experience.
The mont they saw Lin Mu...
They bowed deeply.
"This humble one greets the bearer of the Guardian Beast Decree," the male
elder said.
"And the honored guest sent to aid our people," the female elder added, her
voice gentle yet firm.
Lin Mu inclined his head slightly in return.
"You need not be so formal," he said calmly.
The two elders shared a brief glance before straightening, faint smiles
appearing on their faces.
"We have been expecting you," the male elder said.
Without further delay, they turned and gestured toward the door behind them.
The door did not open in the traditional sense.
Instead, the wood itself parted, layers peeling away and reshaping, creating a
wide entrance.
What lay beyond...
Was the central hall of the sanctum.
Lin Mu stepped in.
And for a brief mont...
He felt sothing akin to nostalgia.
The layout, the arrangent, the atmosphere...
It reminded him of the council hall of the Dark Bear King Sect.
But this...
Was far more refined.
Far more balanced.
The hall was vast, yet not overwhelming. Its design followed a natural symtry, with no excessive grandeur or unnecessary decoration. Instead of rigid structures, everything curved and flowed organically, creating a sense of harmony that was both calming and authoritative.
Seated within were the Elder Council.
Foxkin elders from every tribe that was present on this world.
They were arranged in two wide semicircles, facing inward toward the center
of the hall. There were no elevated thrones, no distinctions in seating height or
grandeur.
No hierarchy.
Every seat was equal.
Every elder held the sa standing.
The mont Lin Mu entered...
The entire council rose.
In unison.
They bowed.
"We greet the bearer of the Guardian Beast Decree," they spoke together, their
voices resonating through the hall.
"And the one entrusted to resolve our greatest affliction."
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