"Beast Lord, Xiao Yue went out to train with Jian Lu Zūnshàng!"
Xiao Yue bounded up to Nine Tails' side, head lifted high as he showed off his flawless snow-white fur.
"Look at you showing off, you're exactly like Lang Xiao back then. No wonder, you really are his son."
Nine Tails was in a great mood. She reached out and rubbed his head, just about to ask more when the lake below rippled again.
Jian Jing was the second to burst out of the whirlpool at the lake's center, followed by cultivators from the Purple Sky Sect, Artifact Gate, Yin Yang Gate, and the Loose Cultivator Alliance. One after another, they leapt out of the lake.
The moment Jian Jing emerged, she felt that familiar wave of spiritual energy. The surrounding aura slipped into her meridians on its own, and her strength immediately returned. She couldn't help feeling relieved.
The next second, she spotted Nine Tails and Ancestor Xuanwu hovering in the air, along with Xiao Yue who was acting cute beside them. One quick glance around told her exactly where they'd ended up. This was beast clan territory. She should've expected it. Since Xiao Yue was the one who opened the spatial passage, of course it would lead straight to the beasts.
"Jian Jing of the Heavenly Sword Sect greets Nine Tails Beast King and Ancestor Xuanwu!"
She cupped her fists respectfully. After all, they'd borrowed the beasts' territory and even alarmed two Beast Kings. She naturally had to keep her attitude humble.
Those who came out after her heard her greeting and understood the situation. Once they adjusted to the restored spiritual energy, they bowed as well.
"Looks like you all managed to come back thanks to Xiao Yue."
"Yes, it's all because of Xiao Yue that we found the path home."
Jian Jing praised Xiao Yue with a smile, and everyone else echoed her words. For a moment, the atmosphere remained harmonious.
Meanwhile, the spatial passage behind them was shrinking fast. Only then did Jian Jun, Jian Mao, Jian Xu, and Jian Chun finally rush out. Wu Siyuan and Kuang Dao, who'd been anxiously waiting, finally let out a breath of relief.
The moment Wu Siyuan stepped out, he opened his storage ring, swallowed an injury-healing pill, and stabilized the damage caused by Tan Songyu's arrow.
Kuang Dao stood beside him and steadied him when he swayed.
But after they saw Jian Jun return safely, they immediately turned their eyes back to the shrinking passage. Jian Lu Zūnshàng still hadn't appeared.
Hou San and the Bai sisters stood quietly behind Jian Jing. They glanced around, but didn't act rashly. In their hearts, they were secretly thrilled. The spiritual energy here was far denser than back on their continent. Like the others, they turned their eyes to the whirlpool. Fairy Lu, who was guarding the rear, still hadn't come out.
Suddenly, the shrinking passage contracted until it was only the size of a fist. It was just about to close. Everyone from the Heavenly Sword Sect panicked. Had something happened to Jian Lu Zūnshàng?
"Nine Tails Beast Lord, please…"
Jian Jun turned to ask for help. They weren't familiar with this place and couldn't act carelessly. If they interfered at the wrong moment, they might cause even more trouble.
Even Xiao Yue was panicking. He'd created this passage himself, and he could feel something tearing it apart.
"Beast Lord! Beast Lord! Help me stabilize it, Jian Lu Zūnshàng hasn't come out yet!"
He'd used his bloodline power to forge this passage for the first time. He'd been so proud that it worked on the first try, but now he was frantic. Once the damaged passage collapsed, Jian Lu Zūnshàng would be crushed by the spatial forces.
Nine Tails raised a brow. She formed a seal with one hand, flicked a glowing purple orb, and sent it straight into the whirlpool's core. The collapsing exit steadied, but she didn't force it open.
With her support, the exit lasted for five more breaths. The whirlpool slowed its retreat. Everyone's heart hung high in their throats.
Then the fist-sized exit shrank again.
The Heavenly Sword Sect disciples grew desperate. Jian Mao and Jian Jing had already drawn their swords, ready to force the opening wider, but Ancestor Xuanwu shot them a look that froze them in place.
The tiny exit shrank rapidly and the whirlpool pulled back. Everyone felt a chill. This was bad.
Jian Jun kept a calm face, but her clenched fists exposed her real thoughts.
Xiao Yue was panicked too. He leapt high above the whirlpool and let out a long howl that echoed from the center of the beast clan. Waves of sound rippled outward and shook the entire territory.
"It's my boy! Xiao Yue's back!"
Lang Xiao recognized his son's voice instantly. His eyes heated, and he shot straight toward the inner perimeter.
Nine Tails frowned.
"Ancestor Xuanwu, do you…"
She didn't even finish when something shot out of the water. A nearly invisible thread wrapped around Xiao Yue in midair.
Xiao Yue jerked in shock. Instinctively, he leapt upward, and the calm lake surface ruptured once again as a figure was yanked out of the water.
Jian Dan burst out, disheveled and exhausted. Her robe was torn, her hair was a mess, and blood stained the corner of her mouth. The parts of her skin that showed were covered in whip-like cuts.
Tan Songjia had been vicious. She'd thrown a massive thunder blast at her. Luckily, Xiao Yin sensed the danger and surged out at the last second, shielding her vital points. Otherwise, she would've been seriously injured.
That thunder blast wasn't meant to kill her, it was meant to destroy the spatial passage. Jian Dan had sprinted through the collapsing corridor with everything she had, but she still watched the exit fade in front of her eyes.
Fortunately, she'd heard Xiao Yue's howl. She'd grabbed her last chance, fired her Thousand Threads of Return, and latched onto Xiao Yue. That thread was the only reason she made it out alive.