Jin Yu and the others instinctively shielded Yun Jin behind them without drawing attention.
Clearly, they had also sensed something was off.
Duan Yiwei frowned slightly.
Originally, the plan was to strike right now.
But after one glance at the giant turtle, he couldn't help feeling some trepidation. That turtle's strength was clearly monstrous. It had immediately addressed Yun Jin as "Master." If they attacked her and provoked the beast, even he might not make it out alive.
It seemed today's plan would have to be postponed. Duan Yiwei used his communication token to send a brief report to Lin Xiao. Then, he gave Mu Lan a subtle signal, telling them all to stay put and wait outside. As if he would believe that turtle could stick with Yun Jin forever.
Once they left the secret realm, Jin Yu and the others would likely depart as well. The turtle would probably return to the ocean.
That would be the perfect time to strike.
Mu Lan understood the message and held his group back from making any moves.
"A bunch of cowards," Tian Po Sword shouted inside Yun Jin's mind, voice brimming with disdain. "Why aren't they attacking? My master is a devious schemer, always prepared with countless traps. Just wait and see how they die later!"
Yun Jin: "…???"
Wait, did your master know you talk about him like this?
After yelling, Tian Po Sword suddenly sounded unsure of himself. He quickly added, "What I meant was, my master is cautious and always has flawless strategies. His brilliance is far beyond what this trash can comprehend."
Tian Po Sword didn't even know why he'd felt uneasy. His master was already long gone. But just now, he had a strange, lingering sense of dread.
Inside the alternate dimension…
Wan Dao Saint sneezed again.
The others around him were starting to worry.
"Boss, what's going on with you lately?"
Their leader had been sneezing non-stop. With their level of cultivation, how could something so mundane affect him?
Could it be his body was showing signs of decline?
Wan Dao Saint looked troubled. He didn't sense danger exactly, but he'd been on edge for days. The feeling wasn't tied to the Demon race either.
Could something truly have happened out in the world?
Was his successor in danger?
That didn't seem right. If that were the case, he should have sensed it.
Besides—
He didn't trust most people, but he believed in Ji Wusi. He knew Wushuang Sect was trying to rebuild. While others might hesitate, Ji Wusi would undoubtedly lend his full support.
Wan Dao Saint let out a heavy sigh. "It's nothing. I've probably just exhausted myself after thousands of years of battle. Don't worry about these trivialities. Focus on this map. The Demon race is likely to launch an attack soon. Here, here, and here—these are critical danger zones. We should…"
As he began explaining in detail, the others gathered close and listened intently.
Wan Dao Saint was helpless.
He truly had no idea what was going on outside. He had laid down layer after layer of contingencies, and his successor had to be someone outstanding. With Ji Wusi aiding them, there shouldn't be any major issues.
If something did go wrong…
A flicker of worry crossed Wan Dao Saint's face. Then it would be his failure. He had passed on his legacy out of unwillingness to see Wushuang Sect's teachings vanish. But if it ended up bringing disaster to his successor, how could he live with that?
And yet, at this moment—
He had his hands full and couldn't offer any help.
So be it. Since it had come to this, all he could do was pray silently for his successor's safety.
Beyond that, he was powerless.
Back on the beach.
Yun Jin was still being protected by Jin Yu and the others. Yet the cultivators from Yuehua Sect and Qingxiao Pavilion didn't seem eager to make a move.
Duan Yiwei kept his face blank. "What are you all waiting for? Why haven't you entered the secret realm?"
Yun Jin smiled, casual and relaxed. "This secret realm belongs to Wushuang Sect. That makes me, in a way, its master. I'll go in first. You can follow after."
With that, she led Yue Zhao and the others toward the giant turtle. The turtle slowly turned its head and gave Yun Jin a warm, friendly smile.
Yun Jin cupped her hands in respect. "Thank you, Senior Shan Dian, for guarding the entrance."
Shan Dian looked sheepish. "Master flatters me. I was merely napping. If not for your whistle, I'd still be fast asleep."
Yun Jin's mouth twitched.
Had this turtle seriously been sleeping for a thousand years?
"Regardless, I still owe you my thanks," she said politely.
Shan Dian chuckled, then shifted its position so the whirlpool passage now faced Yun Jin. "Master may enter."
Yun Jin nodded and took the first step forward.
The moment she touched the swirling portal, her figure vanished instantly. Clearly, she had entered the alternate dimension.
Yue Zhao and the others quickly followed after.
Duan Yiwei made to step forward.
But Jin Yu blocked him with a sharp gaze. "You go in last. I'll go before you."
The Kunlun Sword Sect was the second group to enter.
Then came the Beastmaster Sect and Xuandan Gate.
Duan Yiwei didn't argue. He remained behind and transmitted a message to Mu Lan: "Wait here. Once we're out, we'll deal with it then."
Yun Jin's life would be his, sooner or later.
Mu Lan gave a nearly imperceptible nod. He had already resolved to wait here as long as necessary. Once his instructions were delivered, Duan Yiwei finally led the Qingxiao Pavilion into the vortex.
As the last of them disappeared, the whirlpool portal sealed shut. The massive gate dissolved into the void.
The giant turtle gave a toothy grin to the people left on the beach, then slowly turned back toward the sea. Once it returned to the water, it gave the shore one last look before spinning around.
In an instant, a terrifying wave surged upward again—the turtle was diving straight into the ocean depths.
Mu Lan and the others turned pale.
Duan Yiwei had told them to wait here.
But this turtle—
It was gone!
"Follow it!" Mu Lan barked.
The cultivators from Yuehua Sect immediately gave chase.
Only then did they truly understand why this turtle was called Shan Dian—Lightning.
Its speed in the sea and on land were two entirely different concepts.
In the water, it was terrifyingly fast.
They chased as hard as they could, but it quickly vanished from sight. Fortunately, the towering waves it left behind served as a trail, so they kept following in that direction.
By the end, only a few Mahayana cultivators could barely keep up.
But once they reached the deeper parts of the ocean, they had no choice but to stop.
There was no other reason—
They didn't dare go any farther.
If they pushed deeper, they would risk running into the sea's native monsters. Oceanic beasts rarely ventured ashore, but if someone intruded on their territory, they would not show mercy. Even with their cultivation, no one dared face an endless tide of sea beasts.
"Elder Mu, what now? We've lost it," a Yuehua Sect elder said, visibly concerned.
Mu Lan's expression darkened. "It happened too suddenly. We can't be blamed. Once Shan Dian dives into the sea, no one under the heavens can find it. We'll return to Lin City. That Yu Songnian is from the Yu family. When they leave the secret realm, they'll likely return there. We'll decide what to do next at that time."
The Yuehua Sect cultivators all nodded. Given the current situation, there was nothing else they could do.
Still, a sense of unease gnawed at them.
Wan Dao Saint's methods were too unpredictable.
Who could've imagined that the Wushuang Sect's main base was actually mobile?
With a creature like that guarding the entrance, even if Wushuang Sect returned to the world, who would be able to get close to them?
How could anyone even begin to eliminate them?
Inside the alternate dimension—
Yun Jin stared curiously at the endless skyward staircase stretching out before her.
===
Do you love the "misunderstood MC" trope?
You know, those protagonists who are accidentally seen as legendary figures while remaining completely oblivious? Think Momonga from Overlord, Tanya Degurechaff from Youjo Senki (Saga of Tanya the Evil), or Lin Jie from I'm Really Not The Demon God's Lackey.
Just like them, our MC is seen as a terrifyingly brilliant and powerful figure—except she has no idea why everyone fears her so much. If you enjoy watching side characters overanalyze every little thing the MC does—while the MC is just vibing—then you'll love this story!
"The Invincible Money-Grubbing Fairy"
Yao Ranran was just playing a cultivation game when she got isekai'd as a minor side character. Worse, the male protagonist ruined her cultivation, leaving her a cripple! But no worries—she's got a blacksmith shop, a laid-back attitude, and one goal: Get rich or die trying.
While others see her as an unfathomable, terrifying genius, the truth is… she's just winging it. Her disciples and allies? They're convinced every move she makes is 5D chess. Enemies? They tremble at her "ruthless schemes." Meanwhile, Yao Ranran is just sipping tea under her unbreakable 99,000-layer shield, wondering why everyone keeps calling her a peerless fairy.
Will the world ever realize the truth? Or will Yao Ranran accidentally ascend to legend while just trying to run her shop?