Cattaleya kept her gaze sharp, but Lin Mu could see her hands relax at her sides as the minutes stretched into hours.

Even she, cautious as ever, could not completely resist the tranquility that the coastal view provided. Elyon, meanwhile, remained mostly silent, though Lin Mu noticed him occasionally glancing down at the waves as if recalling something from his past.

The group kept their speed steady, covering vast stretches of the coast with ease.

For five hours they traveled, the cliffs slowly lowering in places and rising again in others. As immortals, such a journey was no strain for them, plus the scenery made it easier and no one got bored.

Sometimes the beaches stretched out for miles, golden sand glittering under the sun. Other times, jagged black rocks jutted out into the sea like broken fangs, sending sprays of water skyward whenever the waves collided with them.

Despite the beauty, the group did not forget their purpose.

The calm before them was a gift, a way to steady their minds before the storm of violence that awaited. Lin Mu himself used the hours of flight to silently regulate his qi and refine his thoughts. His heart grew calmer, like the steady pulse of the tide.

When at last they reached their destination, the scenery shifted once more.

Before them lay a beach so plain and unremarkable that it would have gone unnoticed if not for the intelligence they carried.

Barely a few hundred meters across, the beach was hemmed in by rocky outcroppings on either side, its sands pale and mostly untouched. The waves here were gentler, breaking softly upon the shore, leaving lines of foam that faded almost instantly.

Lin Mu narrowed his eyes. "In such a place..."

If he had not known, he would have thought this was just another of the countless beaches scattered across the continent’s edge. Yet he could sense the faintest disturbances in the qi of the land, as if something beneath the surface was concealed from ordinary perception.

More obvious, however, was the presence of their allies.

A vast encampment had been set up along the length of the beach and just beyond it, spreading into the rocky terrain.

Lin Mu immediately recognized the banners and robes of the Xian Sword Sect. Tents and temporary formations dotted the sand, glowing faintly with protective light. Hundreds of cooking fires, weapon racks, and sparring grounds had been hastily arranged, yet maintained the strict order that was the sect’s hallmark.

And there were numbers.

At a glance, Lin Mu could tell there were at least ten thousand cultivators gathered here, all of them radiating the disciplined presence of battle-hardened disciples and elders.

These were no outer disciples or common members.

They were inner court disciples, core disciples, and senior elders. Even the younger faces among them carried themselves with confidence, and the older ones bore the weight of experience in their eyes. The collective presence of so many strong cultivators was like a tide pressing outward, faint but unmistakable.

As Lin Mu descended with his group, a familiar figure moved from the camp to greet them.

It was none other than High Elder Yan Dao, the stern and formidable man whom Lin Mu had once sparred against back at the sect. The elder’s sharp gaze softened slightly when it landed on Lin Mu, though his bearing remained as composed as ever.

"Lin Mu," Elder Yan Dao greeted, giving a firm nod.

His eyes flickered to Grand Elder Huo, Daoist Chu, and the others, offering respectful bows. "It is good to see you here. We have prepared everything as planned. The disciples are stationed, the arrays are ready, and our scouts have confirmed the surroundings are clear. Now we only await the arrival of the Silent Lotus Temple."

"Excellent," Grand Elder Huo said with satisfaction.

Lin Mu inclined his head as well. "It is good to see you again, Elder Yan. I trust the disciples are ready for what is to come."

"They are," Yan Dao replied. "The morale is high. The Hidden Cave Sect will not escape us this time."

The group exchanged a few more words, but before long the air itself shifted. A ripple of qi moved across the sky, causing many of the cultivators on the beach to look upward.

Lin Mu followed their gaze. From the distant horizon, a vast shape approached, moving with incredible speed. At first it seemed like a mirage, a bloom of color against the sky. But as it drew closer, its true form revealed itself.

SHUA

A massive lotus, radiant and breathtaking, flew across the heavens.

Its petals spread wide, glowing in hues of white and pale gold, with threads of light weaving between them. The vessel spanned nearly a kilometer in diameter, its movements graceful yet swift, as if it were a living flower soaring like a falcon through the air.

Its energy fluctuations rolled across the land and sea alike, resonating with power that left no doubt of its grade. This was no ordinary artifact.

Murmurs spread among the gathered disciples, awe in their voices. Even seasoned elders allowed a flicker of amazement to cross their features.

Meng Bai’s eyes widened. "What is that?"

Grand Elder Huo allowed himself a faint smile. "That is the Sky Cloud Immortal Lotus Vessel, one of the peak grade immortal tools of the Silent Lotus Temple. It is used for transport, though its capabilities extend far beyond that. On its own, the vessel possesses offensive and defensive powers enough to rival an army. Few things in this world can withstand its might."

The Grand Elder took a pause before adding, "To think I’d see it again after all these years."

The lotus descended with a hum like resonant chanting, its glow washing over the beach. As it came to a halt above the sand, its petals shifted and opened slightly, revealing figures within.

Lin Mu’s eyes immediately found a familiar presence among them. A smile appeared on his face, as he gazed at his companions he had not seen for a while.