"This... is such a thing possible?" Duanmu Yu was utterly dumbfounded. The impact of Wei Zhao's words was even greater than that of the jade pendant space, for it all but overturned the worldview she had grown up with—the Cloud-Step Island that existed only in legend actually existed?

Only after she had taken a moment to digest it did Wei Zhao continue: "I traveled from the mortal world to Cloud-Step Island, and the sect I joined was the Azure Cloud Pavilion of the North Island—which ought to share a common origin with your Grey Mulberry Sect of the North Island in the Ancient Little Jianghu. Their lineage, moreover, is more complete and more powerful, so to Xin Yi'an and the others, I can naturally be called Martial-Uncle Grandmaster."

"Uncle-Master Xin doesn't know about this?" Duanmu Yu asked.

"Perhaps he knows, perhaps he doesn't." Wei Zhao was noncommittal. At the start, Xin Yi'an certainly had not known; but over these many months, if he had cared to inquire, it should not have been difficult for him to learn of Wei Zhao's circumstances. It was only for some reason or other that he had kept it to himself.

Of course, on the other hand, whether for Xin Yi'an or for the Grey Mulberry Sect of the North Island, it hardly mattered whether Wei Zhao was truly an Ancient Martial-Uncle Grandmaster. What mattered was that he knew the complete advanced version of their sect's cultivation method; that alone was enough for him to deserve the title.

"Well. Today has truly been an eye-opener." Duanmu Yu let out a long breath. Her head was swimming a little; it would take several days to digest all this, especially the matter of Cloud-Step Island, which she could only come to accept slowly.

"By the way, what do you plan to do next?" Wei Zhao asked in turn.

"Go to the River of Divine Sense, of course," Duanmu Yu said.

Before this, she had still entertained the notion of wandering about in search of rare treasures, but now that notion was entirely gone. A single Guardian of the Sleeping Lotus had been enough to hold her life and death effortlessly in its grasp, and outside there were a whole host of powerful spirit beasts, the Brain-Eating Worm among them—and even that more terrible and more mysterious figure, that esteemed one. To wander about alone would be no different from courting death. So her only thought now was to find the River of Divine Sense, temper her divine sense, and then get out of this den of trouble as quickly as possible.

Pausing a moment, Duanmu Yu asked in return: "And you? You must be going to find Leng Leng and the others. But this place is so vast—finding them will be no easy matter. Why not come to the River of Divine Sense with me? I'm sure Leng Leng and the rest must be heading that way too, so it would actually be easier to find them."

"In theory, yes. But I have a simpler method." Before Duanmu Yu could ask, Wei Zhao grinned meaningfully, and with a flicker his figure vanished. A moment later he reappeared—but beside him now stood a familiar figure: none other than the Guardian of the Sleeping Lotus.

Duanmu Yu was startled half to death. The Guardian of the Sleeping Lotus's tremendous powers were beyond doubt; it was only because Wei Zhao had the jade pendant space that he could hold it in check. Now that it had escaped, was this not letting the tiger back into the mountains?

But to her surprise, once the Guardian of the Sleeping Lotus emerged, it made no move at all. It merely stood obediently to one side, its face a picture of utter misery.

Wei Zhao chuckled. "Don't worry—this is only one of its clones. Its true body is still trapped inside by me. If it dares make the slightest suspicious move, its true body will be dead and buried on the spot. It won't dare act rashly."

At these words, Duanmu Yu looked the Guardian of the Sleeping Lotus over carefully. Seeing that it was indeed frightened as a quail, she was left speechless and could only shake her head. The illustrious Guardian of the Sleeping Lotus—what a lofty and mighty existence it was! And now Wei Zhao had reduced it to this state. It was not merely bedraggled and downcast; it was enough to make one feel almost sorry for it.

"What did you bring it out for?" Duanmu Yu could not help asking.

"Doesn't it claim to command every blade of grass and every tree upon the ground? Since the Brain-Eating Worm could get its help, naturally I can too. I'll have it search for traces of Leng Leng and the others—and if it can't find them, I'll kill it." As he spoke, Wei Zhao jerked his chin at the Guardian of the Sleeping Lotus and urged, "What are you standing there dazed for? Hurry up!"

"Yes, yes!" The Guardian of the Sleeping Lotus nodded hastily. When sheltering under another's roof, one has no choice but to bow one's head; its little life was now entirely in Wei Zhao's hands, and it had no choice but to obey.

Watching this, Duanmu Yu felt both amused and speechless. To run into such a nemesis as Wei Zhao—the Guardian of the Sleeping Lotus had truly been unlucky for eight lifetimes.

After a short while, the Guardian of the Sleeping Lotus said cautiously: "Found them. They are approaching the River of Divine Sense, but before long they will encounter a spirit beast comparable to the early Golden Core stage. They should run into no small trouble."

"An early Golden Core spirit beast?" Wei Zhao frowned. A beast of that level—given the strength of Leng Leng and the others, it was not that they could not cope with it at all, but it would indeed be no small challenge. At once he said, "Take us there."

The implication was that Duanmu Yu was included as well, and she raised no objection. They were headed for the River of Divine Sense in any case, and she was glad enough to travel with Wei Zhao; at least she would have company.

The two of them at once returned to the outside world through the Tree-Cave Sky Ladder. Everywhere they looked was familiar primeval forest—but no sooner had Wei Zhao's figure appeared at the mouth of the tree cave than a voice full of delighted surprise came from nearby: "Senior! Senior Lin!"

Wei Zhao looked toward the sound. It was none other than Fei Yangnian, who had been released a step ahead of them. Somewhat surprised, he said, "Why are you still here?"

"I... I didn't dare wander off... so I simply stayed here waiting for you seniors to come out..." Fei Yangnian rubbed his hands and smiled an embarrassed, placating smile. This was in fact the truth: it was not that he did not want to leave, but that he truly dared not wander about. With his meager strength, there was no need for anything on the level of the Guardian of the Sleeping Lotus—any random late Foundation Establishment spirit beast would be enough to cost him his life. Better to cling tightly to Wei Zhao's thick leg; that was safer.

"Oh? Aren't you afraid I won't be able to handle those spirit beasts?" Wei Zhao said with amusement. Fei Yangnian's conduct was nothing short of a gamble: if the one who came out had been not Wei Zhao but some spirit beast, would he not have delivered himself up as a tribute?

"No, no, no—Senior's powers are vast, and I trust you would certainly have no problem," Fei Yangnian said, hastily flattering him. In truth, he simply figured that Wei Zhao was a primordial spirit who came and went without a trace; even if he could not defeat the other side, he would surely be able to preserve his own life. Besides, he had a fair measure of confidence in his own means of concealment, and that was why he had dared pluck up the courage to stay.

Of course, this was a den of trouble. If one or two days passed and Wei Zhao still had not emerged, he would certainly have turned tail and gone. (To be continued.)