Soul-Hooking Valley?
It seems I'll have to snatch that opportunity first.
Lin Yun didn't know the exact location of Soul-Hooking Valley, but he recalled that it wasn't in the Flowing Cloud Sect's territory. It was on the Beast Taming Sect's turf.
This was a unique advantage bestowed by heaven. A slight smile played on Lin Yun's lips. This was a golden opportunity. Weren't these people looking to cause trouble for him? This was the perfect chance to turn the tables.
A wave of dizziness washed over them, like being tossed in an industrial spin-dryer. When they came to their senses, they found themselves standing on ground that felt vastly different from before.
"Is this the Spirit Realm?"
The disciples looked at each other, all curious about their new surroundings.
Zhou Damao stood at the front. "Fellow disciples, are you all clear on the rules of the Grand Tournament?"
After being sent into the Spirit Realm, the disciples of all sects had no strict requirements placed upon them. However, after the realm closed, the number of disciples from each sect who remained would determine the outcome. The sect with more surviving disciples would naturally gain control over more resources.
"The Spirit Realm is indeed a place full of opportunities, but it is also fraught with danger," Zhou Damao continued. "Not to mention, the sects led by Flowing Cloud are already targeting us, waiting for an opportunity to make their move. I ask that all of you stay close to us to avoid unnecessary trouble."
This time, the Beast Taming Sect was facing multiple powerful opponents alone. Zhou Damao had no choice but to be cautious. Protecting all the disciples was the best way to ensure their safety.
"Senior Brother Zhou, Xiao Pingtian will not just sit and wait. Our only advantage is that we know this territory better than they do!" Lin Yun said, walking up to Zhou Damao's side. He had to admit, they had been incredibly lucky. If Wu Boyan had actually managed to hand over the Geomancy Map, the consequences would have been dire. The Beast Taming Sect would have had no chance of victory.
Zhou Damao sighed. "I understand that. Which is why my current task is to ensure the safety of all our junior brothers and sisters." He knew the other sects wouldn't let them off easy. His strategy was to protect the younger disciples. As long as more of their people made it out this time, he figured they could hold on to their position as one of the Four Great Sects.
Lin Yun nodded. "That is indeed a wise choice. But if we want to defeat our opponents, it is far from enough."
Zhou Damao's thinking was sound, but was it possible that the Flowing Cloud Sect and the others didn't know what he knew? They would surely make adjustments to their plans specifically for the Beast Taming Sect.
Zhou Damao looked at him. "What are you thinking?"
"Senior Brother, you continue to protect them," Lin Yun said with a smile. "I'm going to proactively seek out trouble with those guys."
His first target was Soul-Hooking Valley. He would seize the opportunity there before Xiao Pingtian could. He wanted to see just how Xiao Pingtian planned to break through to the Myriad Law Realm without that great fortune.
Hearing this, Zhou Damao grew anxious. "You must not! If we are together, they will be hesitant to act. But if you face them alone, Junior Brother Lin, you will only bring trouble upon yourself. Can you really escape their encirclement?"
His first thought upon hearing Lin Yun's plan was that it was madness. It might succeed, but it was far more likely to land him in a bitter, unwinnable fight. There was no doubt about Lin Yun's strength—he had survived the Ancient Forbidden Land, after all. But their enemies were not as simple as they appeared on the surface. Moreover, four sects were united against them this time. The moment Lin Yun revealed himself, he would become their primary target. As Lin Yun's senior brother, Zhou Damao couldn't just stand by and watch.
Lin Yun, however, just smiled casually. "I understand your concerns, Senior Brother. But in this situation, this is the best way for us to solve the problem."
He had his own reasons for saying this.
Zhou Damao still wanted to object.
"Has Senior Brother forgotten?" Lin Yun reminded him. "I left the Origin Realm and escaped from that place all by myself."
Zhou Damao was still worried. It was Fei Yuming who, having overheard their conversation, spoke up. "Senior Brother Zhou, I think Junior Brother Lin is right. At a time like this, we should be united and have each person attend to their own duties."
Looking at Fei Yuming's earnest expression, and then at Lin Yun's serious face, Zhou Damao mulled it over and finally nodded in agreement.
"You can go. But you must remember: if something cannot be done, you must not force it! Especially when facing Xiao Pingtian. Do not fight him head-on. That would be very dangerous for you."
Zhou Damao gave him many instructions, all of which Lin Yun committed to heart. But he wasn't overly worried. There was no question that the enemies they faced were beyond what an ordinary person could defeat.
But Lin Yun was no ordinary person.
After separating from the main group, Lin Yun quickly vanished into the forest. He held the Beast Taming Sect's known Geomancy Map of the Spirit Realm. The map was bound to each disciple; if it were lost, there would be consequences. If a disciple was killed, their map would be destroyed along with them. This was one of the ways the sects protected their intelligence. But generally, the disciples dispatched to the Spirit Realm were core disciples who had undergone rigorous trials.
Lin Yun moved stealthily through the forest, observing his surroundings carefully. The spiritual energy in the Spirit Realm was incredibly abundant; cultivating here would yield twice the result with half the effort. But normally, no one dared to cultivate here. If they ran into a powerful monster while meditating, they would be dead for sure.
Lin Yun was different. His body was like a self-circulating machine. In this environment, he didn't need to think about it at all; his body could carry on the process of cultivation all on its own. This was the advantage he was currently most proud of.
On his first day in the Spirit Realm, he encountered some monsters, but they posed no threat to him. His long period of training in the Ancient Forbidden Land had already endowed him with extremely efficient killing techniques. Some Origin Sea Realm monsters were slain the moment they laid eyes on him.
Unfortunately, after several days, Lin Yun hadn't seen a single disciple from the Flowing Cloud Sect or the other three allied sects.
"Sigh, this is boring," he muttered to himself. "I'm about to reach Soul-Hooking Valley. Is no one really planning to make a move against the Beast Taming Sect's disciples?"
He hadn't been moving at full speed, precisely because he wanted to ascertain the Flowing Cloud Sect's situation. But to have traveled this far without seeing a single one of their disciples was not normal.
Just as he was grumbling, he suddenly heard the sound of several people talking nearby.