Little Shrubby tilted his head at Lin Mu, eyes bright with excitement. Clearly, he was just as eager to show off.

Lin Mu sighed softly but nodded. "Very well. But go far. I do not want half the city in panic again."

With that permission, Meng Bai leapt onto Little Shrubby’s back alongside the twin snakes, their laughter filling the air.

WHOOSH

In the next instant, the beast sprang forward, vanishing in a crackle of lightning as he shot beyond the city’s outskirts. A faint ripple in the air was all that remained of their departure.

The courtyard quieted once more, leaving Lin Mu with Grand Elder Huo and Daoist Chu. For a moment, the three of them simply watched the horizon, listening faintly to the echo of thunder that lingered from afar.

Then Lin Mu turned back, his expression returning to calm seriousness. "How are the preparations coming along?"

Grand Elder Huo clasped his hands together, his voice steady. "We are nearly ready. Only the last minute logistics remain. Supplies, coordination, and ensuring that no critical flaws remain in the plan. Otherwise, all is in place."

Daoist Chu nodded in agreement. "The elders have moved as we intended. Our forces are prepared to mobilize at a moment’s notice."

Lin Mu’s gaze sharpened slightly. "And the plan remains the same? We approach the location of the Hidden Cave Sect and then tear directly into the spatial layers surrounding it?"

The Grand Elder inclined his head. "Yes. You will use brute force to tear open the spatial fabric they are hiding behind. Once inside, our group will engage.

Meanwhile, the Silent Lotus Temple and the Xian Sword Sect will remain outside, encircling the area. They understand the importance of preventing escape or in case the reinforcements of the Ephemera Sect come."

Lin Mu’s voice carried a final edge of certainty as he completed the thought. "When the Hidden Cave Sect attempts to flee, the others will already be waiting. They will spring the trap, and the sect will be ended."

A heavy silence followed those words, carrying the weight of their resolve. The threat of the Hidden Cave Sect had lingered long enough. Now, the end drew near.

Daoist Chu’s eyes gleamed faintly. "So be it. The time of their reckoning approaches."

The Grand Elder folded his arms, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Indeed. With your plan, their doom is assured."

Lin Mu looked once more to the horizon where Little Shrubby’s lightning streak had vanished.

His thoughts lingered briefly on his companion’s growth, on the strength that they had all gained, and on the battle to come. Whatever trials lay ahead, he would face them head-on, not alone, but with allies at his side.

The wind swept softly through the courtyard, carrying with it the scent of morning dew and faint ozone left behind from Little Shrubby’s thunderous passage. The storm had passed, but the true storm was yet to come.

The days passed in a blur of preparation.

Every moment was filled with either training, honing weapons, or reviewing the plans once more. By the time the morning of departure finally arrived, there was no hesitation in anyone’s eyes. They had gone over every possible detail countless times and now only the execution remained.

Lin Mu stood with the others in the heart of Ash Crown City, gathered at one of the largest teleportation plazas in the region.

The array beneath their feet was etched with intricate patterns of runes that glowed faintly with immortal light. Around them, cultivators bustled, checking seals and stabilizing the channels, ensuring that nothing went wrong during the long-distance transfer.

Grand Elder Huo stood at the front of the group, his hands clasped behind his back.

His voice carried clearly across the courtyard. "Our next destination is Hawk Cliff City, located in the southeastern region of the continent. It is a coastal city that overlooks the vast ocean. From there, our operation will officially begin."

His gaze swept across the gathered members. "The Xian Sword Sect has already begun sending our forces over. They will be on standby by the time we arrive. The Silent Lotus Temple has prepared its flying vessel and will be sending its members to rendezvous with us at Hawk Cliff as well. Once both sects are gathered, we will make our way to the suspected location of the Hidden Cave Sect."

Daoist Chu nodded in affirmation, his calm eyes reflecting the resolve of someone who had prepared for this moment for a long time.

Beside him stood Meng Bai, who shifted slightly with excitement but remained focused. Cattaleya and Elyon were equally steady, their expressions composed, though Lin Mu could sense the faint flicker of anticipation in their auras.

Grand Elder Huo’s voice lowered but became even firmer. "As we have discussed, once we reach the destination, the two powers will form a net around the perimeter. The Silent Lotus Temple and the Xian Sword Sect will remain outside to prevent any escape attempts. Meanwhile, our smaller strike group will force our way inside. Lin Mu will take the lead. Once inside, there will be no turning back until the Hidden Cave Sect is eradicated."

There were no objections.

Everyone had heard these words several times in the last few days. The repetition had burned the plan into their minds like a seal etched into metal. They simply nodded in unison, their determination clear.

"Then it is time," the Grand Elder said finally.

He gestured to the array, and the formation masters tending to it began their work.

The teleportation formation roared to life as the runes lit up in succession, flooding the courtyard with waves of spatial energy. The air shimmered, and the familiar hum of the teleportation channel began to rise. Lin Mu and the others stepped forward, their bodies immediately embraced by the power of the array.

The world shifted.

Colors stretched and folded, space itself bent, and for a brief instant everything was weightless.