This concerns not just Lin Yun’s own life, but the lives of every member of the Wuji Heavenly Palace, and the lives of all the participants in the Wuji Competition.
Lin Yun could not be careless, and he certainly could not take risks.
After all, Lin Yun was no longer alone. He had to consider the safety of the entire Wuji Heavenly Palace.
This was the responsibility he bore as Palace Master.
“Palace Master, what do you mean, then?” Zou Dongsheng asked.
After pausing for two seconds, Lin Yun said, “Abandon the Wuji Heavenly Palace. Immediately notify every member that within the time it takes one incense stick to burn, everyone must leave the palace and flee at full speed to the Elf Clan border.”
“Also, any participants in the Wuji Competition who are willing to withdraw with us, bring them along.”
“Understood. I will see to it at once.” Zou Dongsheng answered without delay.
Fight or flee, now that Lin Yun had decided, Zou Dongsheng would naturally obey.
As soon as he finished speaking, Zou Dongsheng hurried out of the sleeping chamber.
Lin Yun turned to Zitong. “Zitong, contact the Elf Clan powerhouses at the border right away. Tell them to meet us on the road and escort our people.”
“Right!!”
Zitong agreed at once, then immediately sent messages to the extreme realm experts at the border and to her grandfather.
Lin Yun sat down weakly in a nearby chair, closed his eyes, his face pale, as though all his vitality had been drained away.
This was the first real challenge the Wuji Heavenly Palace had faced since its founding.
Having to choose flight this time dealt no small blow to Lin Yun’s spirit.
He had believed he finally possessed the strength to hold the Ancestral Heart Realm and stand as one of three equal powers alongside the Dao Alliance and the six great forces.
Yet now, once again, he felt powerless.
The first Wuji Competition could no longer continue. It would clearly end in failure.
In future, it would become a joke across the world.
And how would these passionate participants, who had come full of zeal for the competition, now view the Wuji Heavenly Palace?
After this, anyone considering joining would surely think twice.
It was undoubtedly a severe blow to the palace’s future.
Seeing Lin Yun like this, Zitong quickly stepped forward and gently embraced him.
“Lin Yun, don’t worry. At least we received the news in advance. At least the situation has not yet become irreparable. And we still have the Elf Clan as our backing.” Zitong comforted him.
“I’m all right, Zitong. You go with everyone and withdraw.” Lin Yun opened his eyes and gave her a faint smile.
Zitong grasped his hand. “Lin Yun, I don’t know what you plan for yourself, but I will stand with you through everything. If you withdraw, I withdraw. If you stay, I stay here with you. I am yours now, in life and in death.”
Her voice was quiet, but utterly resolute.
…
After Zou Dongsheng spread the order to evacuate throughout the Wuji Heavenly Palace, many of the competition participants fell into panic.
A good number of them, upon hearing that the six great forces were about to attack, immediately chose to flee the palace.
For a time, the Wuji Heavenly Palace descended into chaos.
As for the palace members themselves, many had been part of it from the beginning, and many others were Lin Yun’s friends. Though shocked by the news, they did not panic excessively. They followed orders at once.
Roughly the time it took one incense stick to burn later,
Zou Dongsheng returned to Lin Yun’s sleeping chamber.
“Palace Master, An Yun, Elder Dong Jian, Elder Hong Yuan, and the others have already led everyone away at full speed toward the Elf Clan border,” Zou Dongsheng reported.
“Zou Dongsheng, why did you not withdraw with them?” Lin Yun asked.
“Palace Master, you have not left yet. How could I leave? I stay with you!” Zou Dongsheng declared loudly.
Lin Yun gave a wry smile and shook his head, warmth rising in his heart.
“Palace Master, since you are still here, what do you intend?” Zou Dongsheng asked.
“I will wait until everyone is ahead, then cover the rear. If the enemy catches up, I will hold them off. As long as I live, I will not let them overtake our people,” Lin Yun said.
As a Supreme, if Lin Yun wished to escape alone, he could reach the Elf Clan in no time.
But many members of the Wuji Heavenly Palace were of lower realms and limited speed. Their flight would be much slower.
Therefore, Lin Yun would stay behind to protect their retreat.
