The two Guardians swept their gazes over the crowd. One stepped forward and spoke, his voice quiet but clear.
"Please, everyone, remain calm. There have been some problems with Rule Reflux inside the Holy Land, and we need time to bring things under control. We have not forgotten what you paid."
He paused.
"You may enter the Immortal Sacred Land, but we cannot currently guarantee your safety in the Outer Zone."
"If you insist on entering, come with us. We will escort you to the Inner Zone to wait."
"After that, the Holy Land will bear no responsibility for your safety. If misfortune strikes, you must bear the consequences yourselves."
At those words, the Authority Holders who had doubted the commander moments ago looked thoroughly won over.
Many had been about to leave, but now they stopped and watched the two Guardians expectantly.
Rule Reflux?
Shen Yi lowered his gaze slightly.
The words sounded simple enough, but if this were merely an ordinary disturbance in the rules, why would the mighty Immortal Sacred Land shut its gates to visitors?
The trouble inside the Holy Land was probably far worse than it had admitted.
He thought of how Aoyue and Byron's attitudes had exceeded Feng Qingyao's expectations. Could the two matters be connected?
He kept those thoughts off his face.
Standing among the crowd, Shen Yi and Xilos could both feel a faint probing force drifting slowly over them.
The aftermath of that slap had put the Holy Land on guard. Its people were checking everyone present, one by one.
Xilos tensed, but Shen Yi looked as composed as ever, as though the probing force were nothing more than a passing breeze.
She steadied herself and let it sweep over her.
The probing force came lightly and left just as quickly.