A wisp of spiritual energy shot from Song Yao's palm, instantly knocking out the still-struggling Shuang Ming and Shuang Xi. "They are Feng Qing's people. They just sent a message out to her using a Heaven-grade talisman."
Messages from talismans could not easily penetrate the spatial realm's barrier, and people could not easily leave either, so there weren't many cultivators guarding the perimeter. That was how the two children had managed to exploit the loophole.
The group of children from Frost City who had come to seek refuge with Nine Saints Hall in the first place had most likely been acting under Beiyao Sect's instructions.
No one had expected them to have such a high-grade talisman hidden on their person.
She did not have time to explain in detail. Glancing outside the barrier, she spoke flatly and concisely, "The people from Beiyao Sect are coming. Master, Sixth Elder, Twelfth Elder, take everyone else, along with the elixir manuals, secret scriptures, sword techniques, and mental cultivation methods, and enter the array core."
The elders were all stunned. Twelfth Elder's expression shifted drastically, and she blurted out, "How do you know about the array core?"
This was Nine Saints Hall's ultimate safety measure, a secret entrance known only to successive Hall Masters and their designated successors.
Once the array core was activated, the entire spatial realm would completely collapse and vanish. It would be truly impossible for anyone to find, enter, or leave, leaving absolutely no trace behind.
It was designed not only to protect people, but also to safeguard the sect's accumulated thousands of years of elixir scriptures, secret arts, sword techniques, and mental cultivation methods.
—These were precisely the treasures that Taiqing Pavilion and Beiyao Sect had coveted for a long time.
Because those who entered risked being trapped inside forever, it was never used lightly.
Explaining would be too troublesome, so Song Yao frowned slightly and said, "If you don't leave now, it will be too late."
Seventh Elder's brow knit into a tight knot. He hesitated, saying, "No, once the array core is activated, this spatial realm will completely vanish. Moreover, only the Hall Master and Ah Zhao can activate the array core seal. Others simply cannot..."
His voice came to an abrupt halt.
He watched as Song Yao's fingers rapidly formed a complex hand seal.
A pale golden spiritual light erupted from her palm, spreading rapidly along the patterns on the ground. The entire spatial realm began to tremble violently, causing leaves and branches to rain down from the surrounding forest.
From the very center of the spatial realm, a blinding pillar of light soared into the sky. The entrance to the array core slowly emerged amidst the tremors.
The elders' pupils shrank in sheer disbelief.
Sixth Elder gasped, "Little Wood, how could you..."
Even among the personal disciples who had been around for a long time, not all of them knew how to open the array core. This child had never even met the Hall Master, so how could she possibly know...
Not to mention, the technique to open the array core was said to be extremely complex and difficult to learn...
Song Yao looked up. "Are you going or not?"
Seventh Elder took a step forward. "If we go, we go together. Come into the array core with us!"
Song Yao said, "...No need to worry about me."
To ensure security, this array could only be opened from the outside to release the people or things within. Therefore, to prevent the people inside the array core from being trapped forever, the person who activated it could not enter.
The array core of Nine Saints Hall had never been opened for thousands of years, so these elders probably did not know this rule.
She looked up toward the barrier.
—The sharp whistle of swords cutting through the air echoed from the distant mountains outside. Clearly, the message had already gone through, and Feng Qing's people had found them.
The ground beneath her feet cracked even further, and loose stones rolled down the slopes.
Song Yao couldn't help but sigh softly.
She had long said she didn't want to get involved in Nine Saints Hall's troublesome affairs, yet they kept piling onto her one after another.
She urged, "Don't waste time."
The elders didn't have time to argue further. Glancing at the other disciples and children who were rushing over after hearing the commotion, they grit their teeth.
Sixth Elder said in a low voice, "Let's go!"
Seventh Elder hesitated again. "But what about these children from Frost City?"
Song Yao replied, "Take them in too."
"These two children have been in the spatial realm for so long that they know exactly which elders are present. If they are locked inside the array core, they will have no way to send messages out, nor will they ever be able to leave."
Logically speaking, Song Yao was still young, and they shouldn't be taking orders from her. However, in the current situation, the elders somehow subconsciously followed her lead. They could only agree, quickly leading the disciples to turn and run, sweeping away everything of value in the spatial realm. Grabbing the children, they flew toward the soaring pillar of light.
Once the last figure vanished inside, the pillar of light suddenly rippled with spiritual energy.
Instantly, the rocks, trees, pavilions, and training grounds of the entire spatial realm vanished without a trace. The sound of sharp blades slicing through the air grew clearer.
In the next second, an overwhelming number of disciples from Beiyao Sect and Taiqing Pavilion hovered on their swords above the dense forest.
A forest of sword light pointed uniformly at Song Yao, who stood alone beneath a tree. A chilling pressure descended, bending all the surrounding grass and leaves.
Clad in luxurious robes woven with gold and dark patterns, Feng Qing stood calmly in midair, her hem fluttering in the wind, completely spotless.
Her gaze swept over the surroundings, her brow furrowing deeply. Her eyes fell heavily upon Song Yao, her voice cold as ice. "Where is everyone? Where did the others go? Why is there only you?"
Opening the array core just now had been extremely exhausting. Song Yao had no energy to pay attention to her. She staggered back a few steps, unable to keep her footing, and slowly slid down the trunk of an old tree beside her.
Coughing up two mouthfuls of blood, she struggled to pull her arm out of her cloak and wiped the blood with her sleeve.
Seeing her unhurried manner, a Taiqing Pavilion cultivator nearby immediately darkened his face and barked, "Impudent! How dare you neglect the Sect Master's question? Is this the discipline and upbringing of Nine Saints Hall?"
Song Yao pulled her legs up and finally deigned to look up, lazily eyeing him. "What is it? Sect Master Feng made such a grand scene and brought so many people here just because you wanted to see me so badly?"
Surrounded by so many people, there wasn't a trace of fear on her face. Her composure was chilling, and a sudden sense of familiarity welled up within Feng Qing.
If she remembered correctly, this girl was Fusheng's newly recruited seventh disciple.
How on earth did Fusheng manage to raise disciples who were all so incredibly annoying?
This seventh disciple was especially so.
The last time she went to Beiyao Sect to participate in the Myriad Bones Forest realm, she had caused Beiyao Sect to lose a significant amount of face.
Now, despite having clearly received a transmission to come here, there was only her!
She was so identical to the deceased Song Yao that it was infuriating!
With a flick of Feng Qing's sleeve, the slightly crumpled talisman fell straight into the mud at Song Yao's feet, the edges of the paper still glowing with a faint, lingering light.
She looked down at the person beneath the tree, her tone bone-chillingly cold. "This Venerable One followed this talisman here. The sender said the remnants of Nine Saints Hall were all hidden in this spatial realm. Where is the spatial realm?"
Song Yao covered her mouth and coughed again. When she looked up at her, her eyes were slightly watery, her expression almost innocent. "What spatial realm? I don't know. Sect Master Feng, be reasonable. I've only just joined the sect. My understanding of Nine Saints Hall is probably less than yours."
Feng Qing grit her teeth and suddenly raised her hand, gripping Song Yao's neck through the air. She forcefully lifted her from beneath the tree to hover before her, snarling, "Do you take this Venerable One for a fool? Stop being slick-tongued! Where on earth is the spatial realm?! Where are the others, and where are Nine Saints Hall's elixir manuals and secret scriptures hidden?!"
Choked until her face turned pale and her body went limp, her breathing grew erratic. Song Yao simply tilted her head back and closed her eyes, looking as though she might pass out the very next second.
Rate on N.U.
