“In that case, you two can take the lead. Cross the line first.” The Master of the Dark Night Hall said.
“You…” The faces of the God-Slaying Gate Master and the Heavenly Fire Divine Hall Master changed abruptly.
If the two of them charged ahead first and war truly erupted between the races, they would bear the infamy of having started it.
On the other side of the border.
“Pay them no mind. Zou Dongsheng, take everyone and withdraw deeper inside first.” Lin Yun turned and instructed Zou Dongsheng.
“Yes!”
After receiving the order, Zou Dongsheng immediately led all the members of the Infinite Heavenly Palace further into Elf Clan territory.
Once they had gone some distance.
“Let’s go too.” Lin Yun said to Zi Tong.
Immediately afterwards, Lin Yun and his group quickly departed as well.
The nine Supremes from the five great powers all stood on the opposite side of the border, watching helplessly as Lin Yun and the others left.
None of the nine Supremes was willing to be the first to stick their neck out and cross the line.
“Damn it! Are we really just going to let him escape like this?” The God-Slaying Gate Master gnashed his teeth, his face full of reluctance.
The Heavenly Fire Divine Hall Master and the Underworld Palace Master showed the same unwillingness.
Unwilling as they were, none dared to take the risk and charge ahead first.
If the Dao Alliance had led the way, they would certainly have followed. With the Dao Alliance gone, they felt even less confident.
“Our original plan was to eliminate him at the Infinite Heavenly Palace, not to pursue him into Elf Clan territory. Now that he has entered the Elf Clan, the matter changes entirely. We should head back too.” The Master of the Dark Night Hall said.
On the other side.
Lin Yun caught up with the Infinite Heavenly Palace group. After leading everyone for quite some time, he confirmed that the enemy had not crossed the border in pursuit.
“It seems they have decided against crossing after all. This crisis is finally over.” Lin Yun let out a long breath of relief.
“Wonderful!”
Zou Dongsheng and everyone from the Infinite Heavenly Palace were overjoyed to see the danger pass.
“Lin Yun, I never imagined you could resolve this crisis with words alone. It truly counts as victory without fighting.” Zi Tong smiled and gave him a thumbs up.
“Zi Tong, the words you stepped forward to deliver earlier also had a strong deterrent effect. I relied partly on the Elf Clan’s intimidating presence to succeed.” Lin Yun replied.
Lin Yun looked at Zi Tong and smiled. “But you certainly have courage, Zi Tong. Facing the Supremes of the Dao Alliance and the six great powers, you dared to step up and issue those stern warnings, and every word struck home.”
Lin Yun knew full well that in such a tense situation, simply stepping forward already required great bravery, let alone delivering such well-organised words.
“Does that make you see me in a new light? I’m not just a pretty ornament.” Zi Tong said with a beaming smile.
Zou Dongsheng smiled and sighed. “This time, we truly owe everything to the Palace Lord and Miss Zi Tong. My heart was in my throat earlier. I never thought words alone could actually dissuade them.”
“Yes, if they had crossed and attacked, it would have been catastrophic for our Infinite Heavenly Palace.” Master Hong Yuan could not help but lament.
Everyone shared the same feeling now. They all understood how terrifying the situation had been.
Lin Yun said, “Their greatest weakness is their lack of unity and differing motives. The reason for that disunity is the absence of a truly shared conviction.”
Lin Yun had seized precisely upon that weakness.
“Palace Lord, what do we do next? We probably cannot return to the Infinite Heavenly Palace. What about the future?” Zou Dongsheng asked.
Though the crisis had passed and everyone felt relieved, the Infinite Heavenly Palace had been destroyed, and a deep resentment lingered in their hearts.
“Is there truly no place left for our Infinite Heavenly Palace in the vast human race and the Ancestral Land?” Dong Jian also sighed.
Everyone turned their eyes to Lin Yun, eager to hear his plans.
“For now, we will settle temporarily in the Elf Clan. Though we have been driven from our home and forced to flee here, one day we will return! I promise you that!” Lin Yun declared firmly.
Having been hunted and compelled to escape to the Elf Clan, Lin Yun felt just as aggrieved and furious as anyone.
Yet he also understood clearly that life was never smooth sailing.
Adversity was nothing unusual.
