The disciples quickly finished pondering further over the spells on the stone slabs and stood up four hours later, which was the time announced by the 'elders' until the barrier's opening.
At that moment, they were all positioned at the edge of that transparent energy shield, which prevented their access to that fairy-tale land outside the mountain peak where they had appeared upon entering the small world.
Since there were still a few minutes left before the opening, the disciples began to chat in a relaxed manner, without much of the pressure that the unknown and dangerous environment should have caused.
This happened because, in their minds, the elders had already infiltrated that place, and at the first crisis that arose, Aotian would warn them to intervene and save them.
Perhaps he would not even need to warn them, since the elders were probably already observing everything.
Yes, that was the degree of trust they had in the sect. And why wouldn't they? The sect had transformed most of them from trash cultivators into powerful and promising cultivators in just two years.
And it was not the first sect mission they had participated in, and the danger had always been informed with absurd precision, which made many disciples deduce that the sect either possessed an extremely powerful information network… or that it was the mythical divination of immortals. Which, in their minds, strangely enough, the first option seemed more unlikely.
"How are your gains from the last five days?"
The voice of the former toothless Hui Lang sounded slightly disinterested as he placed his arms behind his back and looked ahead, admiring the beautiful scenery outside, his white hair swaying gently in the wind.
His question was directed at the man beside him, who also had hair of the same color, betraying advanced age, but whose face did not look like that of an old man, only that of an ordinary man around fifty years old.
The person in question was the 'bravest member of the sect,' Cang Song, who scratched his head with an embarrassed smile.
"Well, in the end, I managed to learn all of the first twenty, but I still need more practice to really use the Nascent-Tier ones in combat," he replied, blinking innocently and awkwardly.
Hui Lang rolled his eyes inwardly, but merely nodded as if in agreement. He even patted the man's shoulder in a friendly gesture.
"Don't worry, everyone takes their own time to do things, the important thing is to never give up," Hui Lang comforted him with a friendly smile.
"Senior brother! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, your unbiased and patient words are exactly what I needed to hear. Sometimes I feel too pressured by other people's expectations…"
Cang Song widened his eyes, which soon became watery, as he seemed genuinely touched, even bowing deeply in gratitude while firing off a veritable machine gun of words that almost left Hui Lang dizzy.
Forcing himself not to let his mouth twitch, Senior Hui gave gentle and encouraging pats to Cang Song's shoulders while the latter spoke nonstop, as if he truly were someone without talent.
While the two old men each presented their own piece of theater, nearby, two little girls whispered to each other.
"Do you think your brother can do it?" Lin Xiaoxue lowered her voice as she asked Bai Jingjing beside her, her large curious eyes fixed on a nearby pair, with a hint of lively gossip.
"Th-That… it should be possible, right?" Jingjing hesitated as she looked at her brother awkwardly approaching the beautiful blue-haired Xiao Ling, who wore a serious expression.
"Uh… hello, senior sister Xiao, the weather is nice today, isn't it?" Bai Yan, at a distance, blushed slightly, trying to ignore the little girls' conversation, which was clearly audible to cultivators like him.
Xiao Ling, of course, heard everything as well, and Bai Yan's intentions to flirt were obvious from miles away, so she sighed helplessly in her heart.
"It's a bit hot," she replied politely, neither too close nor too distant, just polite.
Her eyes rested on him for only a second before returning to observe the immortal scenery below the mountain where they stood. The view was spectacular, with spiritual energy condensed into fluffy clouds, cranes and other spiritual beasts flying calmly or bathing in waterfalls that seemed to fall from the sky, alongside lush green grass, all composing a beautiful picture.
"R-Right, well, heat is very good, it's really pleasant. I personally hate cold climates. A few days ago I was talking to a friend, and he defended cold climates, so, you know… I found him a bit annoying for not being able to see how heat is better," Bai Yan continued his attempts, smiling nervously as he stumbled a bit over his own words.
Xiao Ling paused for a moment and looked at him in silence.
"My affinity is with water, so I'm not really a fan of heat. I prefer mild or even cold climates," she explained in a soft voice, before stopping paying attention to the now frozen and completely pale Bai Yan.
The little girls watching everything were also stunned.
"Ugh… it looks like your brother didn't make it again." Xiaoxue looked away, too embarrassed to keep watching the scene that gave her chills.
Even the cute Bai Jingjing, with her platinum hair, put her little hands in front of her face, helpless.
"Uhh… brother, this is already failure number one hundred and seventy-six at flirting with Sister Ling," she muttered softly, dejected.
Bai Yan, still frozen by Xiao Ling's response, pursed his lips when he heard his sister's words and looked at her from afar with a headache.
'Why is this girl keeping count?' He scratched his head in frustration.
As for Xiao Ling, she was triply helpless, one part from Bai Yan's flirting and another from the duo of commentator little girls. Despite her face maintaining its usual determined and calm expression, she felt a little exhausted at that moment.
Nearby, Mu Luyin, the sect's first disciple at the Nascent Soul realm, looked away from the couple's scene, finding it far too interesting, and then looked to the side, where her beloved, Lei Yun, with white hair as if kissed by lightning, was crouched down, one hand touching the grassy ground.
His eyes, which were normally an intense white, were now closed and focused, as if he were analyzing something deeply.
From what he had told her, what he was doing was exploring the mansion's arrays, trying to extract information that could help them on their journey. Despite her surprise, she took it very seriously, without thinking that he was joking or doing things beyond his capabilities.
Mu Luyin, after spending the past year living with the man she loved, had long since realized that Lei Yun was anything but normal. Even when acquiring techniques and spells for them from the sect, he casually produced high-level techniques to trade for contribution points, catching her completely off guard.
And as time passed, he gave her several cultivation tips that helped her a lot, which made her increasingly suspicious about the origins of her man. Still, that layer of mystery did not discourage her at all; it only made her more curious, more interested, and even more in love with this man who seemed capable of anything.
As for his defeat by Long Aotian a few months ago, although it was a bit disappointing, she did not take it very seriously, as Aotian seemed like an aberration of his own. There were even rumors that he had come from the immortal plane with the elders, and that his master must be an ancestor or some great figure from there who had not yet descended. That was why he had no clearly defined master or pavilion in the sect.
There were many rumors surrounding him in the sect, but one thing was certain: Long Aotian was not normal, and losing to him was not disappointing, it was expected.
Waiting in anticipation, the twenty-seven core disciples were in their own groups, some chatting, others lost in thought, awaiting the opening of the barrier.
Rihai looked at Aotian beside her and raised an eyebrow at him.
["Will there be any trouble this time?"]
Her voice was transmitted along with a hint of sparkling curiosity in her eyes.
Aotian looked at her, amused, and shook his head.
["I hope there won't be."]
He replied, sending a reassuring smile to her.
["Hmm… I don't know, trouble can be fun sometimes. I kind of miss causing trouble. Lord Aotian, my life has been a bit too stable since I met you."]
She smiled lightly, teasing him.
Aotian rolled his eyes at her.
["Please, avoid comments that bring trouble. And really, I picked up a troublesome girl who, in her free time, would go disrupt other people's beast hunts just because she didn't like them, and then gave her a stable life. You're welcome."]
He winked charmingly at her as he answered confidently, and continued.
["Besides, weren't you tired of fighting on the ship? Do you really want trouble to come so soon?"]
Taking her hand in his, he asked curiously, as the barrier in front of them shimmered lightly, putting everyone on alert, ready to move out.
["Well, that was devilish training, not an adventure. Now this is an adventure, and a little danger makes everything interesting."]
Rihai replied, shivering a bit at the memory of their time on the ship, but soon smiling as her eyes narrowed in anticipation while she held her husband's hand more tightly.
Aotian looked at her speechlessly, as she really did seem excited.
Shaking his head, amused by his wife's peculiarities, he also began to feel excited. An adventure with the woman he loved really didn't sound bad at all.
'Could this be the cultivation world's version of a romantic date?'
He reflected, and immediately kissed his wife's cheek, which was adorned with a light smile, making her even more beautiful.
They then prepared themselves, and with the fall of the barrier, they finally felt the aura of the outside world.
Taking a deep breath, everyone instantly assumed serious expressions, as the auras of the beasts they sensed were many times more terrifying than they had imagined. Formation-Tier beasts seemed to be everywhere, and even stronger auras could be perceived.
But Aotian did not panic.
He turned around, facing everyone with a serious gaze.
"Everyone, there's no need to fear. Although we are limited to battling using the techniques contained within this small world… our opponents also have limits."
At that point, his serious expression immediately broke into a carefree smile.
"To prevent heir candidates from dying miserable deaths without even being able to display their talents, the formations also protect us, preventing us from being attacked by beings of a higher realm than ours, unless we attack first. So don't worry, you can split up and explore freely. As long as you maintain some caution, nothing bad should happen, considering your strength."
Under his explanation, the disciples' sense of apprehension froze and almost evaporated instantly.
Lei Yun nodded at the explanation, as he too had detected such rules when he explored the arrays earlier.
Rihai's mouth twitched slightly.
"Uhh… I thought it would be harder," she muttered, a little disappointed and dejected.
Everyone's mouths twitched slightly upon hearing that, and even Aotian rolled his eyes at her in front of everyone, speechless.
'Where is my beautiful and cautious wife from when we entered the sect? Who is this wild, thrill-seeking girl?' he reflected helplessly, wondering where everything had gone wrong.
The exact opposite of the current Rihai was another person.
Cang Song, who was trembling and pale upon sensing those auras, almost melted with relief when he heard Aotian's words, though he was still slightly apprehensive.
But at this moment, with the barrier opening, while they were talking, a shadow silently slid behind them. And its target? The poor disciple Song, who was sighing in relief.
Hui Lang noticed this and seemed calm, but then his eyes widened in horror, as if he had perceived something terrible. He quickly pointed behind Cang Song and shouted in alarm, trying desperately to warn him.
"Cang Song, watch out! There's a powerful creature disguising its cultivation behind you!"
His shout shattered the tranquil atmosphere, startling everyone.
Disciple Song, who never truly let down his guard, had actually noticed when the shadow tried to ambush him and was prepared to kill it discreetly. However, Hui Lang's desperate and sudden shout terrified him.
With no time to think, he dared not hesitate. In his hand, a terrifying aquatic dragon claw, emitting Nascent-Tier fluctuations, appeared instantly.
Without hesitation, he hurled it forward, striking directly the large green serpent that emitted fluctuations of an early-stage Third Level beast.
The serpent, as thick as a tree, which had ambushed him from the tall grass, widened its eyes in horror and didn't even have time to make a sound before being easily crushed in midair into a cloud of blood.
BOOMM!!
The impact of the strike did not stop, continuing onward and destroying a series of trees in its path, leaving a large trench in a trail of destruction.
"..."
Everyone froze at the scene, slowly moving their eyes to stare at the poor Cang Song, who was frozen in shock, and then slowly looked at Hui Lang, who smiled disarmingly at everyone.
"Oops, looks like I saw wrong. My bad, my bad…" He waved his hand with a sigh, as if he were getting old and seeing things.
Cang Song, who finally snapped out of his daze, immediately understood everything and discreetly clenched his teeth at Hui Lang.
'That old bastard tricked me!' He didn't know whether he wanted to hit him or cry for having believed such a stupid lie.
And as if that weren't enough, Hui Lang's next sentence almost made him faint.
"Sorry for scaring you, junior brother Song. But I have to say, you're really humble. Your Deep Sea King's Claws, which you said you had barely learned, looks incredibly proficient to me, inferior to nothing compared to mine," Hui Lang smiled gently as he praised him.
But inside, he laughed with amusement.
'Heeh… let's see if you won't think twice before trying to blatantly fool this senior brother next time.'
Cang Song, on the other hand, quickly waved his hands, smiling nervously.
"No, no, no, senior brother Lang, I wasn't being humble. It must be that, in the desperation just now, I drew out a bit of the potential of these old bones. If you ask me to repeat it, I doubt I could do it again," he explained quickly, with a helpless and embarrassed face.
But inside, he ground his teeth.
'Old Lang, let's see if I don't accidentally mix a spiritual diarrhea pill into your next batch of beauty pills!'
While the two old men pretended to smile gently at each other, the disciples watched speechlessly, with Aotian holding his forehead helplessly, alongside an anonymous observer shocked by the monstrous talent of those people.
Thus, amid an atmosphere of mischief and shock, the new journey of the Infinite Dao Sect's disciples, in the small world of the Mahayana Mansion, was about to begin.